BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar Free Lyles to Zones focus on Authority 200m gold okays over in Doha – QR1bn and Bolt’s investments record

published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11290 August 29, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 28, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Chatham House is new Amir chairs 3rd SCEAI meeting

is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, strategic partner of HChairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Aff airs and In- vestment (SCEAI), chaired yesterday the council’s third meeting in 2019 at the Amiri Diwan. Doha Forum 2019 His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Tha- ni, Deputy Chairman of the council, he Doha Forum 2019 has an- person of the Qatar Ministry of For- of new global powers; and partnerships attended the meeting along with HE nounced the strategic partners eign Aff airs and executive director of have been acquired to support and en- the Prime Minister and Minister of Tas it prepares for the 19th edi- the Doha Forum, stated: “The Doha courage discussion on these topics. Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nass- tion, set for December 14-15 at the Forum is the region’s largest open Last year’s attendees included top er bin Khalifa al-Thani, Executive Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Con- platform for global discussion with world leaders, policymakers, busi- Member of the council, and their ex- vention Hotel. carefully curated topics that are meant ness leaders and advocates including cellencies the members of the coun- This year, The Royal Institute of to refl ect global concerns, bringing Lenin Moreno, President of Ecuador; cil. International Aff airs, widely known them to the forefront of discussion; Hassan Ali Khaire, Prime Minister of The council discussed topics on as Chatham House, is a new strategic and this cannot be achieved without Somalia; Teodor Viorel Mele canu, the meeting agenda and took the ap- partner, according to a statement is- the valuable insight of our partners. Minister of Foreign Aff airs, Romania; propriate measures regarding them. sued yesterday. Since its inception 19 years ago, the Tar K no, Minister of Foreign Aff airs, It reviewed the work process of the The Doha Forum has also renewed Doha Forum has welcomed many pol- Japan; Kamissa Camara, Minister of second National Development Strat- prior strategic partnerships with the icy leaders to Doha and contributed to Foreign Aff airs, Mali; Dr Mohamed egy 2018-2022. The council also re- International Crisis Group, the Euro- many issues of global concern through Maliki bin Osman, Senior Minister of viewed the latest developments with pean Council on Foreign Relations and alliance, consensus and dialogue. I am State, Singapore; UN Secretary-Gen- regard to the Free Zone Authority, the Munich Security Council. delighted that this year we will again eral Antonio Gutteres; Nobel Peace particularly the approval of invest- Welcoming many of the world’s work with such esteemed partners Prize Laureate Nadia Murad; Presi- ment applications from major inter- top decision makers and policy lead- who will all contribute to the success dent of the United Nations General national and local companies worth ers, the Doha Forum exclusively part- of the 19th edition.” Assembly, Maria Garcés; Robert Mal- more than QR1bn targeting key eco- ners with top policy institutions who The theme for the Doha Forum ley, President and CEO International nomic, industrial and technologi- lead research and debate on global 2019, ‘Reimagining Governance in a Crisis Group; Wolfgang Ischinger, cal projects in the free zones in the issues, while setting the agenda for Multipolar World’ has been specially chairman of Munich Security Con- country, in addition to the adoption discussion for the Doha Forum 2019, designed in light of recent develop- ference; Michael Rich, president and of privileged partnerships between themed “Reimagining Governance in ments this year on topics such as mi- CEO of RAND Corporation; Christian the private sector and internation- a Multipolar World.” gration, refugees, climate change, Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank and al companies from various fields. HE Lolwah AlKhater, the spokes- changing world leaderships and the rise Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor Hotels. (QNA) Business Page 1 Singapore president meets FM Italian opposition PD, In brief British parliament to be 5-Star back Conte Italy’s 5-Star Movement and the QATAR | Campaign opposition Democratic Party (PD) said 1,780 abandoned suspended before Brexit yesterday they would try to form a coalition, setting aside years of hostility vehicles removed to avert a snap election and ease The Committee for Removing Reuters October 14 and be preceded by a economic uncertainty. Abandoned Vehicles yesterday London suspension of the House of Com- Following days of often tense and announced that it removed 1,780 mons, meaning parliament will not diff icult talks, the leaders of 5-Star and abandoned vehicles from the sit between mid-September and the PD told Italy’s president that the Industrial Area and other places in rime Minister Boris Johnson mid-October. new government should once again Qatar during the latest inspection will suspend Britain’s parlia- The move, which had to be ap- be led by the outgoing prime minister campaign, QNA reported. The Pment for more than a month proved by Queen Elizabeth, limits Giuseppe Conte. announcement was made during a before Brexit, enraging opponents the time opponents have to derail a The two sides still need to agree on meeting held by the committee to and raising the stakes in the coun- disorderly Brexit, but also increases a shared policy platform and team of review the progress of inspection try’s most serious political crisis in the chance that Johnson could face a ministers, but 5-Star chief Luigi Di Maio campaigns. The head of the Singapore President Halimah Yacob met yesterday with HE the Deputy Prime decades. vote of no-confi dence in his govern- and his PD counterpart Nicola Zingaretti committee, Brigadier Ali Salman Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Cheered on by US President ment, and possibly an election. said they had pledged to find common al-Hassan al-Mohannadi, stressed the al-Thani, who is paying an off icial visit to Singapore. At the beginning of the Donald Trump, Johnson launched It also risks dragging the ground for the good of the country. importance of commitment to Law meeting, the foreign minister conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir his boldest move yet to take the 93-year-old, politically neutral “We love Italy and we consider it No 18 of 2017 on public hygiene. He Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Singapore president and his wishes country out of the European Un- queen into the dispute. worthwhile to try this experience,” also called for continuing work to of more progress and prosperity to the Singaporean people. For her part, the ion by October 31 with or without a So incensed were leaders of the Zingaretti told reporters. remove abandoned vehicles in order president reciprocated her greetings to the Amir, wishing him good health and divorce deal, by setting a new date opposition parties by Johnson’s Speaking shortly afterwards, Di Maio to maintain public health. happiness and the people of Qatar continued development and prosperity. for a state opening of parliament. plan that several have written to the said: “We made commitments to the During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance Known as the Queen’s Speech, monarch asking for a meeting to ex- Italians...and come what may we want ARAB WORLD | Confl ict them, besides issues of common concern. Page 2 the formal event will be held on press their concern. To Page 14 to fulfil them.” Page 16 Gaza under alert aft er suicide bombings Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas said Greta Thunberg sails into NY yesterday two overnight suicide bombings killed three Palestinian Palestinian Harvard student says US police off icers in the strip, placing the Palestinian enclave in a state of alert. Interior ministry nixed visa after social media search spokesman Iyad al-Bozm said in an evening statement that they had identified the two bombers who AFP “She said that she found people he could not legally discuss details blew themselves up at two police Washington posting political points of view that of the case but added: “Generally US checkpoints in Gaza City. He did not oppose the US on my friend(s’) list,” law does not authorise the refusal of name them but said security forces he said in the statement to the Crim- visas based solely on political state- “continue to investigate who is Palestinian teenager admitted son. ments or views if those statements or behind them”. Page 8 to Harvard University said he The 17-year-old said that he pro- views would be lawful in the United Awas detained for hours at Bos- tested that the comments came from States.” LATIN AMERICA | Politics ton’s airport and refused entry into friends and that he never posted his Ajjawi said he hoped to resolve his Bolsonaro fuels spat the United States after offi cers disap- own political views but said his visa case in time to start classes next week proved of his friends’ political com- was nonetheless cancelled and he was at Harvard, one of the world’s most with Macron over fi res ments on social media. sent home. prestigious universities, The Harvard Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro Ismail Ajjawi, who lives in Leba- The US Customs and Border Pro- Crimson said. yesterday repeated a demand for non, said that an offi cer also asked tection agency confi rmed that it re- President Donald Trump has made French leader Emmanuel Macron him about his religion during eight fused entry to Ajjawi but said it could a tough line on immigration a signa- to withdraw recent remarks, as hours of questioning on Friday at not provide specifi c information due ture issue, with his administration he accused France and Germany Logan International Airport, ac- to reasons of privacy and law enforce- deciding to monitor the social media of “buying” the Latin American cording to an account he provided to ment. use of all visitors as well as legal im- country’s sovereignty with Amazon the campus newspaper, The Harvard “This individual was deemed in- migrants. fire aid. Bolsonaro’s latest comments Crimson. admissible to the United States based The move has prompted strong come amid an escalating diplomatic After fi ve hours of searching his on information discovered during the criticism from civil liberties advo- spat between Brazil and Europe that phone and laptop, Ajjawi said that CBP inspection,” said Michael McCa- cates, who note that the US Consti- Swedish 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg sails on the Malizia II racing yacht in New threatens to torpedo a major trade an offi cer called him into a room and rthy, a spokesman for the agency. tution’s First Amendment guarantees York Harbor as she nears the completion of her trans-Atlantic crossing in order to deal. Page 19 “started screaming at me.” A State Department offi cial said freedom of speech. attend a United Nations summit on climate change in New York, yesterday. Page 16 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, August 29, 2019 QATAR

FM meets Singapore officials

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held separate meetings yesterday with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, the country’s Co-ordinating Senior Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and the Chief Executive Off icer of Singapore’s wealth fund (Temasek) Ho Ching, during his off icial visit to Singapore. During the meetings, bilateral relations between Qatar and Singapore and means to develop them were reviewed.

Lebanese PM meets Qatar’s ambassador

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Cabinet approves draft law on Saad al-Hariri yesterday met Qatar’s ambassador to Lebanon Mohamed bin Hassan al-Jaber in Beirut. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways of boosting them, besides regulating voluntary work issues of mutual interest. Qatar attends Arab QNA the benefi ciary. sion of HE the Minister of Fi- fees and conditions to be met in measures to ensure that danger- The Cabinet then approved a finance committee Doha Following the meeting, which nance on the rules of proving the each type. ous animals and organisms do draft agreement on cancelling was held at the Amiri Diwan, HE origin of imported goods. The Ministry of Municipality not escape. visa requirements for hold- meeting in Cairo the Minister of Justice and Act- The preparation of this draft and Environment has prepared The Ministry of Municipality ers of diplomatic, official and he Cabinet’s regular ing Minister of State for Cabinet decision replaces the ministe- this draft decision to implement and Environment prepared the private passports between the Qatar is participating in the meeting chaired by HE Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al- rial decision No 21 of 2011 on the some of the provisions of Law two draft decisions to imple- governments of Qatar and Vi- meeting of the standing Tthe Prime Minister Sheikh Nuaimi stated that the Cabinet rules of proving the origin of im- No 1 of 2012 on the regulation ment some of the provisions of etnam. committee for financial and Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa reviewed topics on its meeting’s ported goods, which leads to the and control of placing ads. Law No 10 of 2019 regulating the The Cabinet also gave approv- administrative aff airs (in its al-Thani, yesterday approved a agenda as following: simplifi cation of import proce- Moreover, the Cabinet ap- acquisition of dangerous ani- al for hosting the Arab civil avia- 96th ordinary session), at the draft law on regulating volun- The Cabinet also approved a dures and reduce costs. proved two draft decisions of HE mals and organisms. tion summit on the next genera- Secretariat of the Arab League tary work. draft decision to amend some The Cabinet also approved a the Minister of Municipality and The Cabinet also gave ap- tion of professionals working in in Cairo. Qatar’s delegation is led The draft law includes provi- provisions of resolution No 43 of draft decision of HE the Min- Environment on the conditions proval for accession to Montreal the fi eld of civil aviation in Doha, by the Director of Department of sions related to the conditions 2017 establishing the Standing ister of Municipality and En- and controls for the acquisition, Protocol of 2014 on off ences and for three days during February the Financial and Administrative and permit for the practice of Committee for Farms and Farm- vironment on the types and import and export of dangerous certain other acts committed on 2020, and the hosting of Unesco Aff airs at the Foreign Ministry voluntary work and the rights ers’ Aff airs. duration of advertising and in- animals and organisms, and on board aircraft, which amended Global Meeting on Education in ambassador Saad Mohamed al- and duties of the volunteer and It also approved a draft deci- surance licenses, as well as the the necessary precautions and Tokyo Convention of 1963. Doha, 2021. Tamimi. - QNA

SJC eff orts in promoting judicial integrity values win global praise

QNA Speakers at the opening Doha, which focused on network, particularly Qatar Vienna session said that the SJC supporting the rule of law University and Hamad Bin continues to make great and fi ghting all forms of Khalifa University. He ex- he participants in the contributions in promot- crime on a local and inter- pressed hope that there will third consultative ing the role of the network. national level. be academic courses that Tmeeting of the Global They added that the council The network itself is one focus specifi cally on judicial Judicial Integrity Network was keen on encouraging of the biggest successes of integrity. yesterday praised the eff orts all national entities related the Doha Declaration, giv- Dr al-Mohannadi also of Qatar, represented in the to the law to participate, so ing a bright image for in- informed the participants Supreme Judiciary Council that all parties involved can ternational co-operation that Qatar agrees in prin- (SJC), in promoting judicial hold a joint workshop and between the United Nations ciple on opening a UN of- integrity regionally and in- share expertise. and the legislative power. fi ce in Doha that serves the ternationally. The participants also Previously, the United Na- Middle-East region that Qatar’s delegation to the stressed the importance of tions co-operation was fo- is focused on studies and meeting was headed by HE academia in that regard. cused primarily on being training for judicial integri- the Chairman of the Su- They mentioned the rec- with the executive branch- ty, after Japan presides over preme Judiciary Council ommendations made at es. the criminal justice case and President of the Court the conclusion of the 13th Chairman of the SJC ex- from Qatar in 2020. of Cassation Dr Hassan United Nations Congress pressed his appreciation The council proposed es- Lahdan Saqr al-Mohanna- on Crime Prevention and of the role academia now tablishing the offi ce back in di. Criminal that was held in plays in the activities of the August 2018.

Qatar Authors’ Forum, Qalam Hebr sign co-operation agreement

QNA tural and community devel- Doha opment on which the forum focuses. For her part, al-Janahi said he Qatar Authors’ today’s intellectual is diff er- Forum, affi liated to ent from that of yesterday’s Tthe Ministry of Cul- as a result of the develop- ture and Sports, signed a ment of cultural tools that co-operation agreement at contributed to the expression the ministry’s headquar- of public conscience, and the ters yesterday with Qalam variety of tools that don’t Hebr Company for Creative stand on one axis in the liter- Writing to enhance the re- ary arena. lationship between authors She added that this re- and cultural and literary in- quires the integration of stitutions. Yassin al-Hammadi and Buthaina al-Janahi shake hands other expressive means The agreement was after signing the agreement. such as art, image, music signed by Director of the and poetry. Qatar Authors’ Forum Mar- tural talents by providing portant addition to the role Al-Janahi expressed her yam Yassin al-Hammadi conducive atmosphere. of the Qatar Authors’ Fo- happiness at signing a mem- and Founder and CEO of She added that culture rum in enriching the cul- orandum of understanding Qalam Hebr for Creative enriches the cultural scene tural movement, based on with the Ministry of Culture Writing Buthaina al-Janahi. through ways that suit dif- constructive criticism and and Sports, represented by Under this agreement, ferent groups, and seeks to intellectual analysis. the Qatar Authors’ Forum, al-Hammadi stressed that promote creativity and nur- She pointed out that the which is concerned with the Qatar Authors’ Forum is ture national talent, adding importance of the agree- activating creative writing working to increase the so- that culture is a complete ment lies in enhancing the platforms and contributing cietal cultural participation framework for preserving role of authors by support- to the development of the through partnerships with identity, promoting citizen- ing and encouraging them cultural and creative move- the authorities concerned ship and communication. to develop their creativity, ment and thanked the minis- in particular, in addition to Al-Hammadi pointed through agreed activities try for giving Qalam Hebr the those that are indirectly as- out that these partnerships and events, and provide ap- opportunity to co-operate to sociated with it, in order to with cultural and creative propriate mechanisms in achieve a common cultural create distinct national cul- entities constitute an im- order to promote the cul- goal.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, August 29, 2019 QATAR ‘Doha Oasis for Innovation’ Malaysia is major event to be held next month s part of the ‘Doha – The innovation, in addition to enhancing group event. The participants ing ceremony of the Doha- the Capital of Islamic Youth digital manufacturing skills. are distributed to fi ve teams Capital of Islamic Youth 2019. market for Qatar A2019’ activities, the Min- The Doha Oasis for Innova- with ten participants in each Fatima al-Mohannadi, man- istry of Culture and Sports tion is divided into two events: group, and each team enters a aging director of the Qatar Sci- has announced the ‘Doha Oa- The fi rst is an individual compe- competition in 48 hours. entifi c Club, said that the club sis for Innovation’ event from tition in which each participant The Qatar Scientifi c Club will will be ready to receive the par- September 14-20. presents his or her invention provide workshops and all tools ticipants from various Islamic The activities will be held un- within two days and there will be and devices that help innovators countries. Airways: al-Baker der the motto ‘Youth is power of a jury of international standards. to implement their collective in- Abdulrahman Saleh Khamis, the nation’, and under the super- The exhibition will have stand- novations. A workshop will be de- technical director, Qatar Scientifi c atar Airways Group vision of the Qatar Center for ards similar to the Exhibition of voted to each team to implement Club, said the event refl ects the Chief Executive HE Ak- Cultural and Heritage Events. Inventions of Geneva, as well as their idea, no matter how compli- pivotal role of Qatar in supporting Qbar al-Baker met with The event, in co-operation the participation of arbitrators cated it is, in cooperation with the the innovations of young people in Malaysian Prime Minister Ma- with the Qatar Scientifi c Club, from the international event to Islamic Youth Forum, of the OIC. the Islamic world. hathir bin Mohamed and other aims to stimulate youth crea- ensure transparency and integrity. Dr al-Jabri said that fi ve spe- He explained that the Qatar Sci- senior offi cials following the tivity in the fi elds of invention About the conditions of the cialisations were adopted in entifi c Club will present two impor- opening of the UNWTO World and innovation, which consoli- individual competition and its group competitions: mechan- tant programmes during the Doha Tourism Conference in Kuala dates a culture of science and most important criteria, Dr al- ics, electronics, programming, Oasis for Innovation. The fi rst in- Lumpur on Monday. work to achieve the demands of Jabri pointed out that it is availa- manufacturing, and robotics. cludes an exhibition of youth inno- Al-Baker took the op- development and prosperity. ble to everyone between the ages The main objective of the group vations in the Islamic world where- portunity to discuss several Dr Hareb al-Jabri, executive of 18 and 30. competition is to confi rm co- as the second will feature scientifi c issues of mutual interest, director, Qatar Scientifi c Club, Those wishing to participate operation and exchange of expe- projects of the young people who including developments in said that the Doha Oasis for In- from the Islamic world must riences among the youth of the are looking for opportunities. the global aviation indus- novation focuses on inventions register through the website Islamic world. David Farouqi, chairman, try and Qatar Airways’ up- and innovations and attracting of Doha, the capital of Islamic Gold, silver and bronze med- jury of the exhibition, observed coming launch of flights to talent in the Islamic world as Youth, provided that they obtain als will be awarded in the indi- that innovators from the Islamic Langkawi, during separate part of a week-long programme. a patent or its equivalent for the vidual competitions, and the world from Malaysia through to meetings with Prime Min- The objective is to inspire the Is- participating projects. winners of the group competi- Mauritania are expected to come ister Mahathir and Malay- Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker lamic youth towards creativity and The second competition is a tion honoured during the clos- up with very interesting ideas. sian Minister of Transport shaking hands with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Anthony Loke Siew Fook. Mohamed during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Al-Baker said, “It was a Kafoud, Chief Minister of the pleasure and an honour to meet State of Kedah Mukhriz Tun Qatar-Iraq military ties reviewed with Prime Minister Mahathir. Mahathir and Chief Executive Malaysia is an important, and Offi cer of Langkawi Develop- growing, market for Qatar Air- ment Authority (LADA) Hezri ways as shown by our new route Bin Adnan. to Langkawi, which will operate The new service to Langkawi from October 15. is part of the airline’s strong “We were able to discuss a expansion plans in Southeast wide range of mutually benefi - Asia and marks Qatar Airways’ cial issues and I look forward to third destination in Malay- a continuing dialogue with him sia after Kuala Lumpur and and his government.” Penang. Earlier al-Baker, who at- Qatar Airways will initially tended the World Tourism start with a four-times weekly Conference in his role as sec- service to Langkawi via Pen- retary-general of the QNTC, ang, increasing to a fi ve-times discussed the launch of Qatar weekly service from October Airways fl ights to Langkawi, 27 on its state-of-the-art Boe- HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem during a press conference in ing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, met Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army for Training Lieutenant-General Salahuddin Mustafa Kamal, who Kuala Lumpur. featuring 22 seats in business is visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed military relations between the two countries and ways to The press conference was at- class and 232 seats in econo- strengthen and develop them. tended by Qatari ambassador my, with spacious cabins and to Malaysia Fahad Mohamed specially-designed interiors. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 5 QATAR HMC highlights key role of breakfast for school students

ontinuing it’s eff orts to help secure higher scores as they concen- students in Qatar stay physi- trate better and maintain a healthy Ccally and mentally fi t during the weight,” she said. The HMC physi- new academic year, the Hamad Medi- cian, who cited making students eating cal Corporation (HMC) yesterday is- breakfast is a challenge, asked parents sued tips for healthy eating. to tempt children to wake up early. Dr Jennifer Jurado, paediatric clini- “And this will help them get enough cal dietitian at HMC, urged parents to time to take breakfast before leaving ensure that every child takes a proper Dr Jennifer Jurado home,” she said. and healthy breakfast before leaving “Healthy breakfast options include for school. The physician, who noted active throughout the day. It helps toasted bread, boiled egg, fresh fruit, breakfast is the most important meal of them stay more attentive to class and oats wholegrain waffl es, low-sugar the day, said several children are sent to show interest towards lessons and ac- wholegrain cereal, wholegrain toast school without breakfast, leaving them tivities,” she said, adding that breakfast and yoghurt. These could be easily sleepy, tired and less interested in the can avoid excess weight in both chil- prepared,” she added. If children are classroom. While explaining the ben- dren and adults and it helps them stay reluctant to have breakfast at home, efi ts of having breakfast, Dr Jennifer more active during the whole day. parents should pack the food and give said breakfast keeps children healthy “Children who eat breakfast tend so that it could be had either in the bus and energetic in the school. to have higher school attendance, less or school. Dr Jurado lauded schools in “Children who eat breakfast can take tardiness and fewer hunger-induced Qatar for not stocking junk food and part in physical activities and remain stomach aches in the morning. They soft drinks in their cafeterias.

Tilted Interchange tunnel to open on Sunday

he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced that the Tilted Interchange tunnel will be opened on Sunday Tevening to traffi c from Al Gharrafa towards Al Rayyan. The interchange tunnel was built as part of Khalifa Avenue road project implemented in co-ordination with General Direc- torate of Traffi c. In a bid to allow for opening of the new tunnel and accelerate the completion of remaining works at the Tilted Interchange, Ashghal will implement a temporary traffi c di- version for a month. During the closure, traffi c from Al Luqta Street and main Al Gharrafa Street through the Tilted Intersec- tion signals will not be able to go towards Huwar Street. Traffi c must continue towards Gharrafat Al Rayyan Interchange and follow signs to reach destinations. Ashghal has asked road us- ers heading towards local roads and Dukhan to make use of the existing Al Gharrafa Street instead of the new tunnel. Ashghal will install road signs and has requested road users to abide by the 50km speed limit.

Ministry extends closing date of tender

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education yesterday said the closing date of the call for tender, with regard to updating the student assessment and evaluation system, has been changed from September 2 to 9. The Procurement and Contracts Section of the ministry had invited specialised companies to submit their bids to obtain the related documents before August 29, as reported in Gulf Times yesterday. The ministry had earlier set September 2 as the closing date of the call for tender, and this has now been changed to September 9. For inquiries, interested companies may call the following telephone numbers - 44044350/44044204/44045582 - or contact via [email protected] or h.alkuthairi@edu. gov.qa Gulf Times 6 Thursday, August 29, 2019 QATAR

Qatar Rail hosts awareness event Joyalukkas brings joy to customers with gold bar giveaway this summer

housands visited Joy- before”. Accordingly, all Joy- trons participating than we alukkas showrooms alukkas showrooms across the could have expected,” said Joy Tacross the GCC, Singa- world featured the latest jewel- Alukkas, chairman and MD, pore, Malaysia, UK and US to lery collections. “The celebra- Joyalukkas Group. “I thank our participate in the Golden Sum- tion of success is passed on to loyal customers for their con- mer Surprise promotion. As patrons with irresistible off ers. tinued support and congratu- part of the promotion, draws This year’s edition was made late the winners for a win they to win up to 200 gold bars more special by the launch of an defi nitely deserve.” have been conducted across its extraordinary limited-edition Joyalukkas’s Golden Summer showrooms, the jeweller said in summer collection,” the state- Surprise promotion saw lucky a statement. ment noted. winners go home with gold bars Joyalukkas had geared up “The response to Golden via raffl e draws across the GCC, to celebrate this year’s sum- Summer Surprise has been Singapore, Malaysia, UK and Fusion mer with “off ers like never overwhelming, with more pa- US. show at ICC Qatar Rail yesterday hosted an event for Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) employees with the aim of raising awareness about the Doha Metro services. (Image courtesy of he Indian Cultural Cen- Qatar Rail Twitter page) tre (ICC), along with Tits associate organisa- tion, Friends of Pattanamtitta (FOPTA), will conduct “a fi - esta of instrumental fusion” at 7.30pm today. The event will be held at the ICC’s Ashoka Hall. QCDC opens registration Musicians who have served the Indian Navy for around two decades will present the instru- Joyalukkas conducted draws to win up to 200 gold bars across its showrooms. mental fusion along with vocal for career adviser course experts from Qatar. The show will feature musical instruments such as nadaswarum, fl ute, Car- atar Career Development natic violin, Western violin, sax- Centre (QCDC), a mem- ophone/fl ute, trumpet and key- New Ooredoo Qber of Qatar Foundation, board, mridagum, tavil, rhythm, has opened registration for the bass guitar, head guitar and the next edition of its Career Adviser keyboard, the ICC has said in a express shop Training Course (CATC), which statement. aims to equip participants with These will be presented along opens at the skills and tools to provide with classical fusion in Malay- career guidance to young people. alam, Hindi and Tamil, to be Launched by QCDC in 2015, showcased by some 13 experi- Ezdan Mall CATC is the fi rst customised enced artistes. training programme for career CATC will bring together career advisers, academic counsellors, The programme is a continu- oredoo has extended its retail advisers in Qatar and the Gulf re- HR personnel, mentors, and professors, as well as parents. ation of the initiative by Indian network with the opening of gion. It is off ered in collaboration Cultural Centre along with all Oa new Ooredoo Express shop with Kuder Inc, a world leader in they advise. A number of dif- between QCDC and the Min- ICC associate organisations, In- at Ezdan Mall in Al Wakrah. Custom- career planning services. ferent topics will be covered istry of Education and Higher dian schools and Indian cultural ers will now have yet another way of The course will be delivered throughout the programme, in- Education. As part of the new institutions in Qatar, to have getting in touch with Ooredoo to meet in both Arabic and in English cluding Helping Skills, Career CAS, participants will be able to cultural shows every week at the their service requirements. during separate sessions held at Development and Choice Theo- employ diverse and innovative Ashoka Hall located on the ICC The new Express shop will off er all Education City. The Arabic edi- ry, Assessment and Career Plan- psychometric and personality premises. Entry will be free for services, including the signing up for tion will run from September ning, The Role of Information in assessment tools to explore their all. new plans, recharging, subscribing to 8 to 12, between 8am and 2pm, Career Planning, Ethical Guide- personal skills and potential ca- home services, and accessing Ooredoo while the English edition will lines, Working with Groups, Us- reer tracks. Workshop on tv, among others. Opening hours for the run from November 10-14 from ing Technology, Employability Lecturers include Khalifa al- new Express shop will be from 9.30am- 8am-2pm. “Participants in this Skills, and Programme Planning Yafei, a certifi ed career coun- 2022 World Cup 10pm, Saturday through Thursday, edition of CATC will represent and Implementation. sellor with extensive experience security begins and from 9.30am-11.30am, and then the eighth and ninth batches of Applicants will also learn how in the fi eld of higher education, 1.30pm-10pm on Fridays. graduates, and will join more to guide and follow up with stu- who was recently appointed both A workshop on ‘security Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, direc- than 110 participants who have dents or clients using a career Director of Academic Aff airs command in accordance with tor, PR and Corporate Communications already acquired the knowledge planning system, and will also and Lecturer at Northumbria human rights principles’ began at Ooredoo, said: “Our Express stores and skills that this programme gain knowledge of technology- University in Qatar. The course yesterday with the participation provide a conveniently local outlet for exclusively off ers; skills that based applications that benefi t will be moderated by Anita Ab- of a number of off icers from the customers to visit us, while still allow- cannot be acquired elsewhere in career development. raham, a professional develop- Ministry of the Interior and the ing them to access all the products and Qatar or the region,” QCDC di- Participants will be given the ment specialist of Science at the Lakhwiya Force. services they expect from our regular rector Abdulla al-Mansoori said opportunity to use the new Ca- National Centre for Educational The workshop is organised retail shops. We’re delighted to add in a press statement. reer Advising System (CAS), a Development (NCED), College by the Security Committee of Ezdan Mall to our Ooredoo Express The course will bring together career planning system devel- of Education, Qatar University the Supreme Committee for network and look forward to meeting career advisers, academic coun- oped by QCDC, designed to as- (QU-CEDU). Abraham, who has Delivery & Legacy as part of customers there very soon.” sellors, HR personnel, mentors, sist students in planning their more than 25 years of experience the qualifying plans for national Details of all Ooredoo shops across and professors, as well as par- academic future. in the fi eld of education, will be cadres to secure the 2022 FIFA the retail network can be found at oore- ents. Participants will acquire QCDC rolled out CAS across joined by Susanna Mascarenhas, World Cup which will be hosted doo.qa. skills that will equip them to public secondary schools in Qa- a professional development spe- by Qatar. The two-day workshop, serve as potential career advis- tar during the second semes- cialist at NCED, QU-CEDU, who is delivered by Frederick Cox, ers, and will gain insight into ter of the 2017-2018 academic has seen fi rst-hand the role of security training adviser at the their own career development year, within the framework of a education in the growth of Qatar Training and Qualifying Unit of and those of the young people memorandum of understanding over the past 28 years. the Security Committee. Barbecue charges at Al Bidda Park

he Al Bidda Park management has decided to levy a barbecue rental fee from September 1, according Tto a notice put up at the site. The fee for using the barbecue facility at the park will be QR50 for four hours. The ‘Notice to the Public’ states that the booking timings are from 6am-10am, from 11am-3pm, from 4pm- 8pm, and from 9pm until clos- ing time. Only card payments will be accepted for barbecue booking purposes. “Strictly no cash,” the notice adds. One can call the following numbers to enquire about the booking procedures: for the Al Bidda and Al Rumailah areas, one has to contact the park offi ce at 44287709; and, for the Wadi Al Sail area, one has to contact the info centre at 44287777. Visitors are advised to present their payment invoice to security personnel upon arrival at the designated bar- becue location booked by them. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 7 REGION Yemen govt forces UAE loosens Saudi alliance retake Aden from to push peacemaker image

Reuters zFissures have emerged over Yemen war had launched to neutralise the London Houthis. apparent decision to pivot to- shakeable.” UAE authorities did A senior Emirati official southern rebels wards narrower national inter- not respond to questions about said the move was a natu- audi Arabia and the Unit- ests, casting itself as the more the remark. ral progression due to a UN- AFP ed Arab Emirates (UAE) mature partner that can stabi- A UAE offi cial earlier told sponsored peace deal in the Aden Shave looked inseparable lise the region, even if it means Reuters both countries were western port of Hodeidah. on the world stage, working to- cutting losses and moving on “completely aligned” on Yemen But some diplomats say the gether to project power in the without Riyadh. and that with Iran, de-escala- UAE accepted there was no emen government forces Middle East and beyond, and The UAE also appears keen to tion was the only way forward. military solution, were sen- reclaimed the interim courting US President Donald salvage its image in Washing- Any divisions may worry the sitive to criticism of the hu- Ycapital Aden and its pres- Trump to counter Iran. ton, where the murder of Saudi White House, which has in- manitarian disaster and coali- idential palace yesterday, a min- From Egypt to Sudan and journalist Jamal Khashoggi vested much of its Middle East tion air strikes that have killed ister said, pushing back sepa- the Horn of Africa, the two deepened worries that the policy in the pair. civilians, and that rising Iran ratists who seized the city and Gulf states have co-ordinated kingdom’s foreign policy was The Saudi deputy defence tensions precipitated the de- other parts of the south earlier their use of fi nancial clout and growing impulsive and inter- minister is meeting the US sec- cision. this month. — in Yemen — military force ventionist. retary of state in Washington. “It was not perceived in a The separatists’ losses came to redraw the region’s political “The UAE wants to be seen A US offi cial said talks would positive way. The Saudis felt nearly three weeks after the pro- landscape to their advantage. as the small country that facili- focus on Yemen and include a abandoned,” said a Western independence Southern Transi- But this month, at his tates peace and stability rather push for Riyadh to mend fences diplomat. tional Council (STC) took con- Makkah palace, Saudi King Sal- than an appendage to a trium- with the UAE. Abu Dhabi says the move trol of Aden, the government’s man took the unusual step of phant expansionist Saudi,” said The White House did not was co-ordinated with Riy- base since Houthi rebels took expressing “extreme irritation” a source familiar with the gov- immediately respond to a re- adh in advance and reflected over the northern capital Sanaa with the UAE, his closest Arab ernment’s thinking. quest for comment. Strains realities on the ground as the in 2014. partner, according to sources “It is in a way (putting) their grew acute this summer over UN moved to pave the way Forces loyal to the interna- familiar with the matter. interests fi rst, because they Yemen, after months of unease for peace talks. tionally recognised government The comment appears to be think if you have an expansion- on other issues. When MbS Another diplomat said the of Yemeni President Abd-Rab- Fighters of the Security Belt Force, dominated by members of the evidence of a fi ssure in the al- ist Saudi, it’s going to engulf and MbZ went to war in 2015 relationship was fracturing: bu Mansour Hadi were able “to Southern Transitional Council (STC) which seeks independence for liance, which is led in practice them,” the source added. against Yemen’s Houthi rebels “Their strategic interests secure the presidential palace south Yemen, patrol a street in an area near the Aden International by the king’s son, Crown Prince The king’s annoyance was and later imposed a boycott on are similar but don’t quite in Aden and the surrounding airport, yesterday. Mohamed bin Salman (MbS), voiced in a conversation on Aug Qatar, supporters hailed a new match.” areas,” Information Minister and the UAE de facto ruler 11 with President Abd-Rabbu era of decisive action in a region The UAE also downplayed Moammer al-Eryani tweeted. An AFP correspondent in issued a statement urging the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Mansour Hadi, head of Yemen’s more accustomed to time-con- divisions after separatists it “The national army and se- the east of the city witnessed separatists to “lay down their al-Nahyan (MbZ). A loosening Saudi-backed government, ac- suming conciliation. backs seized Aden, interim curity services have full control shelling by advancing govern- arms” and surrender. of UAE-Saudi ties has implica- cording to two Yemeni sources The two men also waded seat of Hadi’s government, over the province’s districts.” ment forces who came fresh The new fighting comes de- tions far beyond bilateral ties. and one other briefed on the into conflicts in Egypt, Sudan this month, but did not ask The clashes between the STC from their success in taking spite repeated calls for a cease- A rift could undermine meeting. and Libya.They sought to con- them to cede control and and government forces — who back control of Abyan province fire by a Saudi-led coalition, Trump’s “maximum pressure” Hadi’s forces in Aden had tain Iran and hardliners seen criticised Hadi’s government for years have fought alongside to the east yesterday. which intervened in the war in push against Tehran, damage just been routed by troops sup- as threatening their dynastic as “weak” and “ineffective”. each other against the Houthis A pro-government source 2015 in support of the govern- Israeli-Palestinian peace ef- ported by the UAE, as nominal rule following the 2011 Arab The Arab powers also ap- — have raised concerns that said that fighting had erupted ment after the Houthis seized forts, and reverberate in other allies in the country’s south Spring. pear divergent over Iran. the famine-threatened country in the streets of Aden as loyalist the capital Sanaa and much of theatres of confl ict, so exten- turned on each other in a power But as Riyadh flexed mus- They both pushed for a could break apart entirely. troops fanned out there. Yemen. sive has the two partners’ infl u- struggle. cles by cutting ties with stronger US stand against The separatists’ seizure of Abyan was the second south- Since then, the conflict has ence been in a region critical to Asked for comment, a Saudi Canada, briefly detaining Tehran’s regional activities Aden was seen as a major gain ern province to be retaken by killed tens of thousands of world oil supplies. offi cial described that account Lebanon’s prime minister, and missile capabilities, but allowing the Security Belt, a par- government forces in southern people, mostly civilians, in The immediate source of as false and said: “Saudi Arabia and aggravating relations with the UAE struck a softer tone amilitary force loyal to the STC, Yemen in days following clash- what the United Nations has strain is Yemen’s ruinous war. and the UAE remain strategi- Jordan and Morocco, the UAE after tanker explosions in to press on to take other strategic es with the Security Belt. described as the world’s worst Friction had been growing for cally aligned on the sources of saw its carefully crafted image Gulf waters that Washington areas. Earlier in the week, govern- humanitarian crisis. months over the confl ict, which instability in the Middle East as a stabilising force imper- and Riyadh blamed on Iran. However, the Yemeni govern- ment forces also regained con- While they have also fought was initially expected to last and cooperate very closely to illed by association. Iran denies involvement, ment drafted in reinforcements trol of Shabwa province after against the Houthis, STC forc- a few weeks but has dragged counter a wide array of secu- Then, in June, the UAE but some in the Gulf fear a from the north and mounted a beating back an attack by STC es want to see South Yemen re- on for years and killed tens of rity threats in the region and scaled down its military pres- direct confrontation that pushback that appears to have forces. gain the independence it gave thousands with no end in sight. beyond. Bilateral relations be- ence in Yemen, saddling Riy- could endanger the UAE and met little resistance. The Yemeni interior ministry up with unification in 1990. A wider cause is the UAE’s tween the two nations are un- adh with an unpopular war it its economy. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, August 29, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD

US ready to open direct Gaza under alert after blasts talks with Yemen rebels kill three police offi cers AFP bombed a Hamas military Gaza City post after fighters in the strip AFP fired a mortar round across Washington the border. On Monday, Israel aza’s rulers Hamas said launched air strikes against yesterday two overnight Hamas in response to rocket he United States is pre- Gsuicide bombings killed fire, while it also halved fuel paring to open direct talks three Palestinian police offi cers deliveries to the enclave. Twith Houthi rebels in a in the strip, placing the Pales- The punitive reduction in bid to end Yemen’s war which tinian enclave in a state of alert. the flow of fuel to the strip’s has claimed thousands of lives, Interior ministry spokesman main power station means a the Wall Street Journal reported Iyad al-Bozm said in an evening cut in Gaza’s already rationed yesterday. statement that they had identi- electricity supply. The proposed initiative, the fi ed the two bombers who blew The incidents have threat- fi rst direct negotiations between themselves up at two police ened a fragile truce that had Washington and the Houthis checkpoints in Gaza City. cooled several severe flare-ups in over four years, comes as the He did not name them but between Hamas and Israel in rebels have stepped up missile said security forces “continue to recent months. Brokered by and drone attacks on neighbour- investigate who is behind them”. UN and Egyptian officials, the ing Saudi Arabia. Witnesses said that both bomb- ceasefire also involves aid to “The United States is looking ings were carried out by assail- the Gaza Strip. to prod Saudi Arabia into taking ants on motorbikes. Israeli Prime Minister Ben- part in secret talks in Oman with A source familiar with the in- jamin Netanyahu is widely Houthi leaders in an eff ort to vestigation said a movement in seen as wanting to avoid an broker a ceasefi re in Yemen,” The Gaza that sympathises with the escalation in Gaza before the Wall Street Journal reported, Islamic State group was sus- polls due to the political risk citing unnamed people familiar pected. involved, but he has faced with the plans. The interior ministry said two calls for strong action from his The move could open the fi rst of the police offi cers were 32 and electoral opponents. signifi cant channel between the third was 45. As a result, there has been President Donald Trump’s ad- Hamas’s military wing hailed speculation in Israel that Ha- ministration and the Houthis at them as members. Security forces loyal to Palestinian movement Hamas stop a vehicle at a checkpoint in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. mas has turned a blind eye to a time when fears of a broader New police checkpoints were recent rocket fire and infiltra- regional war are growing, the set up in Gaza City as authori- to undermine the stability and der with Egypt. Hamas has run The bombings come at a ment, adding that it “did not tion attempts by more radical newspaper said. ties investigated the attacks. steadfastness of our people,” he the Gaza Strip since 2007 but sensitive time. cross into Israeli territory”. elements instead of prevent- The toppling of the Yemen Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said in a statement. has been regularly criticised Israel and Hamas have In response Israeli air craft ing them in a bid to pressure government by the Houthis in sought to calm fears of unrest in Hundreds gathered for funer- by more radical groups in the fought three wars since 2008 struck “a position of the Ha- Netanyahu into further con- 2015 triggered the launch of a the enclave of 2mn people. als for the three police offi cers. Israeli-blockaded coastal ter- and tensions have again risen mas group” in northern Gaza, cessions. Hamas has not Saudi-led military intervention “We assure our people that Suicide bombings are rare in the ritory. in recent weeks ahead of Is- the army said. claimed responsibility for the to quell the rebel forces, but the whatever these explosions are, Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said it rael’s September 17 elections. There were no immediate recent cross-border incidents. Yemen confl ict has since become they will be brought under In August 2017, a suicide had not carried out any air Late yesterday, a projectile reports of damage or casual- Other fighter groups, most even more complex and multi- control as with every previ- bomber killed a Hamas guard raids at the time of the latest was fired at Israel from Gaza, ties in Gaza. prominently Islamic Jihad, layered. ous event, and will not be able in southern Gaza on the bor- bombings. the Israeli army said in a state- On Tuesday, the Israeli army also operate in the Gaza Strip. The US negotiating team would be led by Christopher Henzel, a veteran diplomat who became the Trump administra- tion’s fi rst ambassador to Yemen in April, the newspaper said. US will not release Middle East Iran says delegation Under the administration of former president Barack Obama, US offi cials held brief talks with to visit France Houthi leaders in June 2015, just peace plan before Israeli election three months after the Saudi in- tervention began, to convince as talks progress them to attend UN-sponsored Reuters A goal to raise tens of bil- Trump’s Middle East team, for votes partly by highlight- peace talks in Geneva to resolve Washington lions of dollars to fund the including Kushner, had wanted ing his close relationship with the crisis. plan was announced earlier to roll out the plan during the Trump, whom he has featured AFP since last week,” Vaezi was The Geneva conference and this year, but the political de- summer but Netanyahu’s fail- on election billboards.“Who Tehran quoted as saying by state news further rounds of negotiations he United States will not tails have remained under ure to put together a governing do you want to negotiate with agency IRNA. failed to resolve the crisis, which release the long-delayed wraps, with Kushner refusing coalition after April elections President Trump on the ‘deal The newly announced visit has pushed Yemen to the brink Tpolitical portion of its to say even whether it would prompted a delay. Netanyahu of the century’?” Netanyahu ran is sending a delegation comes after Iran’s top dip- of famine. Israeli-Palestinian peace plan offer Palestinians a state of now faces a fresh vote on Sept asked the crowd at yester- to France next week after lomat Mohamed Javad Zarif The Wall Street Journal said before Israel’s elections next their own. 17 and, if successful, will try day’s rally.”Me, at the head of Iprogress was made in talks travelled to France on Sunday there were also “simmering con- month, White House Middle Trump on Monday had said again to form a coalition. a right-wing and Likud gov- to defuse tensions since the for the second time in a matter cerns” in Washington that Saudi East envoy Jason Greenblatt the plan might be revealed be- Announcing a peace plan ernment, or Gantz and (Blue US withdrew from a landmark of days. Zarif held meetings on Arabia is not serious about end- said yesterday. fore the Israeli election. before Sept 17 could have com- and White co-leader Yair) nuclear deal, a senior offi cial the sidelines of the G7 summit ing the confl ict, and that US offi - The move, announced in At a campaign rally yester- plicated a tight race in which Lapid? “That’s the question in said yesterday. in Biarritz after which Trump cials were set to meet with Saudi a tweet by Greenblatt, keeps day, Netanyahu said he ex- Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud this election, because we will Tehran and Washington said he was open to meeting leaders to push them to take a the plan’s details from be- pected the US proposal would party and its strongest rival — be faced, full force, with the have been locked in a bitter his Iranian counterpart. diplomatic approach. coming an issue in the elec- not be delayed for much long- Blue and White, led by former (peace) issue in a few weeks’ standoff since last year when Rouhani has since played Prince Khalid bin Salman, the tion, in which the leadership er. “This evening we learned armed forces chief Benny Gantz time.” US President Donald Trump down the prospect of meeting Saudi deputy defence minister of Prime Minister Benjamin that President Trump’s ‘deal — are running neck and neck in The White House in June an- unilaterally pulled out of the Trump, however, saying the and brother of Crown Prince Netanyahu, a close ally of US of century’ would be pub- the polls. nounced the economic piece deal that gave Iran relief from Americans would have to take Mohamed bin Salman, arrived in President Donald Trump, is lished and presented to the Netanyahu has praised of the Trump peace plan and sanctions in return for curbs the fi rst step and lift all sanc- Washington this week for talks at stake. world after the election. I can Trump policy moves such as sought support for it at a con- on its atomic programme. tions against Iran. with a number of US offi cials. “We have decided that we reasonably estimate that it the transfer of the US Embassy ference of global fi nance minis- At the height of the crisis In response to the US with- The Journal said he would will not be releasing the peace will happen very soon after from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and ters in Bahrain. in June, Iran shot down a US drawal and its imposition of meet with Secretary of State vision (or parts of it) prior to the election,” Netanyahu said. his recognition of Jerusalem It proposes a $50bn invest- drone in the Gulf and Trump crippling sanctions, Iran has Mike Pompeo. the Israeli election,” Greenblatt Peace talks between Israel and as Israel’s capital and its an- ment plan that would create a approved a retaliatory strike hit back by abandoning com- said on Twitter. the Palestinians collapsed in nexation of the occupied Golan global investment fund to lift against the Islamic republic mitments under the nuclear Trump’s son-in-law Jared 2014. Heights. the Palestinian and neighbour- before cancelling it at the last deal known formally as the Kushner has been working be- The Palestinians seek to es- But any perceived conces- ing Arab state economies, and minute. “A delegation is going Joint Comprehensive Plan of hind the scenes on the plan to tablish a state in the West Bank sions towards the Palestin- fund a $5bn transportation cor- to France next week and they Action (JCPOA). French Presi- resolve the decades-old Israeli and Gaza, with East Jerusalem ians in the peace plan in the ridor to connect the West Bank will negotiate...issues,” said dent Emmanuel Macron has Disaster Palestinian confl ict, although as its capital, areas Israel cap- run-up to a ballot only three and Gaza. Mahmoud Vaezi, the chief of been leading eff orts to ease the Palestinians, who say the tured in a 1967 war. weeks away could have harmed Gulf leaders, however, want staff of Iran’s President Has- situation, urging the United Trump administration is too Israel moved troops and set- Netanyahu’s chances of re- to see details of the political san Rouhani. States to allow Iran to sell oil to feared if pro-Israel, say it is dead in the tlers out of Gaza in 2005 and maining in offi ce. plan before signing on to the “These negotiations have China or India or give it access water. still occupies the West Bank. Netanyahu has campaigned economic plan. made relatively good progress to a new line of credit. tanker Sudan starts trial explodes of agents linked to Nine killed after air strikes hit Lebanese army fi res teacher death: lawyer

AFP Sudan began the trial yesterday Dubai rebel-held northwest Syria at Israeli drones of 41 security agents accused of involvement in the death of a teacher held in custody, a n abandoned oil tanker Reuters Reuters their mission and no IDF dam- lawyer said. Ahmed al-Kheir, 36, anchored off war-torn Beirut Beirut age was reported,” the state- died in prison after his arrest AYemen that is degrading ment said.A security source in January by members of the along with its cargo could ex- told Reuters that troops fi red feared National Intelligence and plode and cause an environmen- ets believed to be Syrian or Russian yester- he Lebanese army shots from M16 assault rifl es. Security Services (NISS), used by tal disaster, experts said yester- day struck a main rebel-held city in north- opened fi re at two of The Lebanese army does not now-ousted veteran leader Omar day as UN inspectors prepared Jwest Syria, killing at least nine civilians, in Tthree Israeli drones that possess air defence systems. al-Bashir to crush dissent. to visit. stepped up strikes on the last rebel bastion in breached Lebanese airspace The fi rst drone entered Leb- Kheir was detained in his vil- The ship “Safer”, used as a northwest Syria, residents and rescuers said. yesterday evening in the south anese airspace at 19:35 over the lage of Khashm el-Girba, in the fl oating storage platform, is The air strikes hit Maarat al-Numan, from of the country near the Israeli border village of Adaisseh and eastern province of Kassala, on laden with some 1.1mn barrels of which tens of thousands of people have fl ed in border, and all three returned returned to Israel after shots allegations of organising anti- crude oil and has been stranded the last two weeks fearing an imminent assault A young boy runs past a fire started in a building to Israeli airspace, the army were fi red, the Lebanese army Bashir protests. with no maintenance since early by advancing Russian-backed Syrian troops. following a reported air strike by Syrian regime said. statement said. Days after his arrest, Kheir’s fam- 2015, leaving it to deteriorate and Residents said heavy air strikes hit other vil- forces in the area of Maaret al-Numan in Israeli aircraft regularly en- A second drone returned to ily was told to collect his body potentially allowing explosive lages and towns in Idlib province. northwestern Idlib province, yesterday. ter Lebanese airspace, but this Israel without being fi red at af- from a local mortuary. gases to build up. A strike hit a market in the city of Saraqeb, is a rare case of the army tar- ter entering over Kfar Kila, also His death fuelled protests against United Nations spokesman causing injuries and extensive damage to a soldiers were not aff ected. Russian and Turkish geting one. a border village. Bashir who was toppled in April Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday main residential area. forces in northern Syria — allies of opposing Beirut has repeatedly com- The army then fi red at a after months of mass rallies that a technical assessment team Earlier air strikes hit rebel positions near a sides in the civil war but partners in a ceasefi re plained to the United Nations third one which also returned against his iron-fisted rule. was waiting in nearby Djibouti Turkish military post in Sher Maghar village agreement — have been brought closer than about Israel, which Lebanon back to Israel, it said. “Trial proceedings for the 41 NISS preparing to board the Safer for at the edge of Hama and Idlib provinces, where ever to direct contact on the ground as the gov- considers an enemy country, Lebanese President Michel agents started,” said lawyer Adel a fi rst-hand evaluation. the army has waged a fi erce off ensive against ernment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad breaching its airspace. Aoun had said on Monday his Abdelghani, adding that the case “We expect the assessment rebels, according to activists and a senior presses a months-long off ensive into the last The Israeli military said country had a right to defend involves off icers and other ranks. to start either later this week or Turkish security source. major rebel stronghold. shots were heard from Leba- itself after two Israeli drones “They are accused of subjecting early next week. There are obvi- There were heavy clashes between Syr- President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday nese territory towards an air- crashed in Beirut southern the deceased Ahmed al-Kheir to ously some technical prepara- ian government forces and fi ghters about 500 that Russia and Turkey had agreed steps to space in which Israeli Defence suburbs, dominated by the torture which led to his death,” tions that need to be made,” he metres from the Turkish observation post, the tackle militants in northwest Syria and “nor- Force (IDF) drones were oper- Iran-backed Hezbollah group, he said. told reporters in New York. Turkish source told Reuters, adding Turkish malise” the situation there. ating. “The drones completed on Sunday. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 9 HOL STIC Wellbeing Meat eaters are fuelling the What diet are you on? Amazon Fire ies available around the house for that occasional sweet tooth crav- million tonnes. As a result, 80% of ing. Amazon forest destruction is due Don’t get me wrong, if you feel to cattle ranching. good following a more restricted The reality is that every meat-eater diet, then continue what you are on the planet is helping to fuel the doing because you might have Amazon forest fires. Fact. found the right formula for your I’ve written extensively before body. Everyone’s body is diff erent about how research consistently and that’s why it takes years of trial shows that drastically reducing and error fi guring out the right diet animal food intake and eating for you. From my own learning plant based foods is one of the curve, I limit my intake of diary, most powerful things you can By Reem Abdulrahman Jassim eggs, gluten and refi ned sugars be- do to reduce your impact on the al-Muftah cause I feel it keeps me lighter and By Ghanim al-Sulaiti planet over your lifetime, in terms feel it works better for my digestive of energy required, land used, system. But it’s not the end of the greenhouse gas emissions, water hat type of diet do you world if those items are in my food The Earth’s lungs are on fire. As used and pollutants produced — follow? When I say every once in a while, because life you might have already seen but on this occasion, the world is W‘diet’, I mean what type is too short and I am not going to reported and as you read this, needs to act quickly to ensure we of food do you eat? These days complicate everything. I also took thousands of fires are currently are doing the right thing for the there are way too many diets that a food intolerance blood test and destroying the Amazon rainforest future of our planet, for our future I have literally lost track. Let’s ex- try to avoid the foods that were in Brazil – the most intense blazes generations, our children and plore the diff erent types as I briefl y listed, but do not deny myself the for almost a decade. Fires in Brazil grandchildren. describe my understanding and occasional food item that may have increased by 85% in 2019, Let me be very clear. These are evaluation of these trending diets cause me to bloat. This brings me with more than half in the Amazon not wildfires, but rather fires set and discuss my personal choice to my last point, you might have region, according to Brazil’s space by people seeking to create more of diet and the importance of the a severe reaction to a certain food agency. The planet is losing an space for more cattle in order to right diet for you. product where you need medical important carbon sink, and the export more meat to the rest of the So here is what I understand Pescatarian: eats seafood but combination of the above or you vouring. Balance is key, especially attention, where you defi nitely fires are directly injecting carbon world. Beef is one of the most de- from all the diets I keep hearing no meat or chicken and no dairy don’t really care and you eat any- in food, and one of the defi nitions need to follow that diet or you into the atmosphere. structive foods for our planet – and about: or eggs thing you want or we are similar. of balance is good proportions, might have noticed how your body As the world watches in horror… claims the lives of millions of cows Pollotarian: eats poultry but From my personal experience, I meaning healthy meal propor- reacts to certain food groups over take a moment to reflect on what every year. Just this month the UN Ovo-vegetarian: vegetarian no seafood or meat and no dairy follow my balanced diet: a little bit tions and eating what you’re body the years and now understand the main reason for the long-term declared that we must move away but includes eggs, but no dairy or eggs of everything, but try my hardest biologically needs and requires. what was causing that minor re- destruction of the Amazon rainfor- from consuming beef and instead Lacto-vegetarian: vegetarian Pollo-pescatarian: eats poul- to consume mostly fresh, natural Following a balanced diet also re- action. Whatever it is, trust your est is: it’s the world’s global de- adopt more plant-based diets if we but includes dairy, but no eggs try and seafood but no dairy or and unprocessed food. To me, that quires mental strength because body when it reacts to the food you mand for meat products. Brazil is are to fight climate catastrophe. Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: veg- eggs means trying to be consistent in you have to be able to eat a bit of eat, because it is, and if you aren’t home to around 200 million cows, As you watch the news and wit- etarian but includes dairy and eggs Macrobiotic: raw but cooked eating home-made food using the everything but have the control to already listening, start listening to and is the largest exporter in the ness the flames spread across Flexitarian: primarily vegetar- food and eats seafood least possible amount of processed not over-do it when it comes to the it. Secondly, be real with yourself, world, supplying one quarter of South America, remember that ian but occasionally eats meat Carnivore: red meat is the pri- ingredients and sticking to natu- not-so healthy meals that you may don’t give into those mind games the global beef market. The desire eliminating meat is far bigger Vegan: does not eat any animal mary focus of the diet ral, fresh and raw ingredients with want to eat every once in a while. and lose control while eating, be for new land for cattle farming has (in terms of impact) than cutting products Paleotarian: does not eat the addition of natural herbs and That’s why you should always sure to coach yourself and realise been the main driver of destruc- down on your flights or buying an Vegan “before 6pm”: vegan grains, legumes, most diary and spices for extra fl avouring. Eating think of ways that help you main- what your body needs because tion of the Brazilian Amazon since electric car. It is the demand for only from morning to 6pm sugar and avoids processed foods out might be the only option for tain your balance and make sure to your body needs you as much as the 1970s — and it’s worsening. animal products that are responsi- Beegan: vegan but includes Fruitarian: only eats fruit and you, but when I occasionally eat fi nd those tricks that work for you you need your body. Scientists across the globe are ble for so much of this. dairy products possibly nuts and seeds out, I always try to opt for meals by training yourself. For example, now stating that the most practical It’s time to cut the Amazon out of Raw: vegan but only eats natu- that are colourful with fresh ingre- I always leave dried fruit, nuts or solution people can adopt to help your diet completely, and protect ral, fresh, raw and mostly un- So what are you? If you’re not dients and use the least amount of unprocessed vegan sweets like my „ The author is a wellness advocate is to reduce – or stop – their meat our Earth’s lungs before it’s too cooked food items on the list than you are either a ‘sauces’ and extra processed fl a- homemade date and tahini brown- and infl uencer @keys2balance. intake. late…some scientists suggest it Brazil remains the world’s number already is. one beef exporter, accounting for nearly 20% of global exports, and „ The author is an expert in vegan still growing. As of 2018, Brazilian wellbeing and health. Six reasons why Apple Cider Vinegar should be your next buy! beef exports reached a record 1.6 Instagram handle: @Ghanim92  plan and feel completely full having pressure, as an overworked heart consumed much lesser calories than deteriorates over time. Apple cider you usually require. vinegar includes acetic acid as its Studies have revealed that vinegar as main component, crucial in aiding a product helps increase satiety, so regular blood pressure levels. An ani- Wellness Meal Plan even with the consumption of a lower mal study conducted, demonstrated level of calories, you usually feel full that vinegar can block the actions of quite soon. High carb meals paired a specific enzyme that is responsible with vinegar can make a person for raising blood sugar and thereby feel extremely full and even reduce blood pressure. calorie consumption throughout the Once again apple cider vinegar is rest of the day. As mentioned before, only an additional component that lowering glucose and insulin levels can help lower blood pressure. Other also helps in losing weight. natural ways include increasing the By Sanah Thakur However, in order to be eff ective, amount of magnesium and potas- it’s important to maintain an overall sium intake along with your fibre weight loss diet and only use apple intake. So, funny enough, I’ve been bumping cider vinegar as a complimentary aid into a bottle of Apple cider vinegar to the process. 6. Relieving the Acid Reflux everywhere I’ve been on my holiday; Acid reflux usually happens when whether it’s been on my salad or 4. Insurance for your heart there are low levels of stomach acid, in fashion magazines for its health As humans who are constantly grow- causing acid backflow from the stom- benefits. Having been consumed ing, every food item we consume ach all the way up into the throat since 5000 B.C, it has a long history is potentially improving our body usually leading to symptoms such as of use as folk remedy for common or increasing the risk towards a heartburn, nausea or belching. Apple health problems such as colds and disease. To balance out the eff ect, cider vinegar can help provide relief coughs to even aiding with major it’s important to consume certain from these symptoms by adding health concerns like diabetes, cancer, supplementary food items that could more acid into the digestive flow and high cholesterol and heart problems. help lower this risk. Heart disease is preventing any backflow. Scientific research on the benefits of currently one of the major reasons For maximum eff iciency, two this vinegar has revealed that it can for death and maintaining a strong tablespoons of apple cider vinegar regulate blood sugar levels, improve Type 2 diabetes is characterised by disinfectant haven’t been backed by heart is almost inevitable in every should be diluted in a glass of water weight loss and provide that clear high blood sugar levels, because of research, use of it for acne and scar- adult’s health plan. and had right before eating. Along skin you’ve been aiming for. either insulin resistance or the basic ring is heavily supported. By fighting Apple cider vinegar is known for with this, it’s important to follow an Apple cider vinegar contains healthy inability to produce it. Apple cider the numerous strands of bacteria improving some of the major risk acid reflux diet that will take care of probiotics and enzymes which give vinegar is known to increase insulin that contribute to acne, Apple Cider factors linked to cardiovascular dis- your vegetable, fats and fermented the product the hazy appearance it sensitivity, enabling diabetic patients Vinegar has shown to cure acne and ease. Studies on rats have revealed foods intake. has while also containing less sugar to improve insulin responses. reduce scarring. Some of the com- that apple cider vinegar can lower While being extremely beneficial and fewer calories than its related This is how vinegar keeps your sugar ponents of apple cider vinegar, like cholesterol and triglyceride levels, internally for the body, apple cider products such as apple cider or juice. level in check: lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid and as well as reduce blood pressure. vinegar also has certain non-health Consuming just 1-2 tablespoons can a. Improves insulin sensitivity. succinic acid, are all known to inhibit Research claims that it may contain related applications, for example as do the trick! b. Reduces blood sugar. the growth of Propionibacterium the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, that a hair conditioner, cleaning agent, The six major benefits include: c. Two tablespoons before sleeping acne, the major bacteria causing protects LDL cholesterol particles skin and dental care. For chemically- can help reduce fasting blood sugars. acne. Applying apple cider vinegar from oxidising, an important level in free diets and cleansing routines, 1. Keeping that blood sugar level d. Significantly lowers blood sugar mixed with a little honey using a cot- the heart disease process. apple cider vinegar is your best bet. in check responses while eating. ton ball on acne scars can heal and However, most studies have been Though it might not be a single cure The most researched benefit of lighten them eff iciently. conducted on animals and yet to anyone specific problem, consum- Apple Cider Vinegar is its ability to 2. Bid farewell to your acne scars remains to be confirmed in human ing two tablespoons of it can provide normalise the blood sugar levels. Pa- Apple Cider Vinegar is known for its 3. Feel full without actually eating studies. a variety of benefits as discussed tients with diabetes, especially type antibacterial properties and was even too much above. 2 diabetes, tend to apply this vinegar used traditionally as a disinfectant for Instead of having to starve yourself 5. Reduces Blood Pressure to their diets as it reduces post-meal treating infections. Though most of to lose those extra kilos, just add a Another major risk factor for „ The author can be contacted on glucose levels. the applications of the vinegar as a bit of apple cider vinegar to your diet cardiovascular disease is high blood Instagram @sincerelysanah

Beetroot and Raspberry Energy Balls: Makes 8-10 medium sized energy balls Ingredients: Wanderlust 1/2 cup of powdered walnuts 1/2 cup of almond flour starting from when we were babies. and you’re on your own. You can be everything for the first time, even if Each time I come home, I find myself 1/4 cup of beetroot powder Travelling as a child instilled a sense anyone and do anything. It’s fun. it’s my morning cup of tea. It allows even more of a minimalist, simply 1 tbs of macadamia or cashew cheese (or any cream cheese you of adventure in me. The feeling of just Tomorrow we are going on a road me maintain a sense of joy through- because realising that what you need prefer) wanting to get out and explore, to see trip to Seville. I’m so excited, have out my day. to live with and what you don’t. Ever 5-6 raspberries these new worlds; to see how I react never been to Seville before. Seeing As I pack for our day trip tomorrow, heard the saying, ‘the more you own, 1 tbs of any sticky sweetener you like (we used caramel agave syrup) when I am in those worlds never a place for the first time brings about I am reminded just how little stuff the more it owns you’? leaves me. the child like sense of wonder. I love I actually need. Travelling always Travel is much more than just tak- Method: Travel makes me ‘feel’ that I’m not that feeling and try and incorporate makes me feel that all the stuff I buy ing photos and getting the most Mix all ingredients in a food processor and there you have your deli- that staying in one place and can it in my daily life. Even when I am at online or have in my room is pretty Instagram-worthy spot for getting cious velvety tarty energy balls. move one to the depth of emotion, home, I tell myself that I am doing useless in leading a truly happy life. those likes on the gram. It’s about travelling always seems to heighten how it makes you feel and how it Enjoy the taste of eating right! my emotions. I think this is why stretches into other areas of your life, I often get restless when I don’t from your career to social group, to By Shefa Ali travel for a while. It’s like I need a bit self-motivation and new understand- of adrenalin in my life! Even if that ings and perspective. So, now I want means a day doing something diff er- to hear from you. What do you love I am writing to you this week from ent in Qatar and bringing myself out about travel? Let me know via direct the beautiful Portugal, although I of my everyday environment. message on Instagram. have been to Portugal before, but it’s I love the feeling of being a tourist; my first time in the town of Tavira. kinda like that quote by Bill Bryson “I My love for travel started with my love the feeling of being anonymous „ The author is a consultant and parents and the adventures they in a city I’ve never been before.” It’s coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ would take me and my sister to, the feeling that no one knows you shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times 10 Thursday, August 29, 2019 AFRICA

CRACKDOWN TOURISM INVESTIGATION POLITICS AFTERMATH Zambia opposition leader Uganda cancels hydro-power Ex-minister questioned Court halts Malawi demos Cameroon ferry sinking held for defaming Lungu project near Murchison Falls over use of Ebola funds after contentious elections toll is 17: state media

Police yesterday arrested the leader of a Uganda has scrapped plans for a hydro power Oly Ilunga, who resigned as DR Congo health Malawi’s top court has barred demonstrations for at The death toll from a Cameroon ferry that small Zambian opposition party on charges of station near Murchison Falls, an off icial said minister last month, has been questioned as least two weeks, after months of sometimes-violent capsized earlier this week has risen to 17 after defaming President Edgar Lungu by describing yesterday, a project tourism operators had part of an enquiry into the use of public funds protests over a disputed presidential election. more bodies were found, state radio said the head of state as a dog, his lawyer said. warned would irreversibly scar on one of East earmarked to tackle the Ebola epidemic, his Negotiations will take place in that time period to see yesterday, though the total number of victims Chishimba Kambwili, leader of the National Africa’s natural wonders. Cabinet agreed the lawyer said. The former minister’s evidence was how organisations can exercise their right to gather was still unknown. Fourteen more bodies were Democratic Congress (NDC), defended his proposed 360-megawatt project on the Victoria heard by the attorney general and “trusts in “without resorting to violence,” the country’s highest recovered from the Bakassi Peninsula on Tuesday, comments as he was led by off icers, telling Nile in Murchison Falls National Park would the justice system of his country,” lawyer Guy appeals court said late on Tuesday. Demonstrations two days after the ferry sunk off southwestern journalists that his statement in an online “aff ect the scenery, ecosystem and subsequently Kabeya told AFP. A judicial source said Ilunga had have been ongoing since June in the south-east Cameroon, Cameroon Radio Television reported. video had been misunderstood. Kambwili told tourism”, said Tourism Minister Ephraim left “freely”. Three of the minister’s former co- African country, sparking clashes with police who A source with local authorities confirmed the journalists his statement in the local Bemba Kamuntu. More than 100,000 tourists visit the workers, including a doctor, were held in custody have at times responded with tear gas. The court details to AFP. State media had initially reported language has been misunderstood, but did park every year. “Cabinet took a decision at its the source added, confirming a report by the Top ruling comes after Malawi’s government on Monday that three victims — of Cameroonian, Nigerian not explain what he meant. Police released a latest sitting that there will be no construction of Congo radio station. The hearings were part of declared that no more protests would be sanctioned and French nationality — were found and more statement saying Kambwili had been detained, the hydro power dam in Murchison Falls National a preliminary inquiry “into the management of until organisations could show they were able to than 100 people were rescued when the ship but did not go into further details. Park,” Kamuntu told AFP. funds for the battle against the Ebola virus.” organise “peaceful” demonstrations. went down overnight Sunday to Monday. Cabbies’ protest Wildlife protections tightened amid African protests

By Nina Larson, AFP after fears the gentle giants are reconsider whether there are any Geneva facing a “silent extinction”. meaningful benefi ts from our The African giraff e population membership to CITES,” he said. has shrunk by an estimated 40% Such a scenario “is of great global wildlife summit has over the past three decades to concern to me,” Higuero told re- decided to regulate trade just under 100,000 animals, ac- porters, saying she regretted that Ain giraff es and tighten cording to fi gures available to the some countries felt their argu- protections for endangered ani- International Union for Conser- ments were not being heard, but mals including elephants, trig- vation of Nature (IUCN). insisting that “to leave is not the gering a threat from disgruntled Giraff es have been especially solution”. southern African nations to leave hard-hit by habitat loss, but In another controversial move, an international treaty. with their vote, the delegates delegates in Geneva also decid- Parties to the Convention on acknowledged that international ed to list 18 species of rays and International Trade in Endan- trade in skins, horns and bones sharks, including the mako — the A woman runs for cover during the rioting of taxi drivers near the Bloed Taxi Rank in Pretoria’s Central Business District. The drivers gered Species (CITES) yesterday are contributing to their decline. fastest shark in the ocean — in were protesting in retaliation following the fatal shooting of a taxi driver on Tuesday when they were allegedly chasing drug addicts wrapped up a 12-day meeting in But the proposal met stiff re- Annex II. in the Central Business District. Geneva after approving a long sistance from the southern Afri- The delegates also decided to list of proposals to tighten pro- can region, where giraff e popu- signifi cantly tighten protections tections. lations are healthier and have for a number of species already The treaty, created more than traditionally been better pro- on the CITES radar. four decades ago, regulates trade tected. For example they opted to in some 36,000 species of plants Southern African countries strengthen protections of two and animals and provides mech- also voiced frustration at a endangered species of Asian ot- South African lawmakers told Eskom may anisms to help crack down on number of decisions involving ters that have come increasingly illegal trade and sanction coun- African elephants, including a under pressure after a social me- tries that break the rules. near ban on sending elephants dia-fuelled craze for acquiring need more bailouts if funding plan fails The sense of urgency was pal- caught in the wild from the con- the silky mammals as pets. pable at the conference against tinent to zoos. The Asian small-clawed ot- the backdrop of fi res raging in the Zimbabwe, a major provider of ter and the smooth-coated otter By Wendell Roelf, Reuters ject 59bn rand over two years. tors who want to see evidence ing yesterday about the impact Amazon and following UN warn- wild-caught baby elephants to were both moved from Annex II Cape Town That is on top of a 23bn rand offi cials will follow through on Eskom was having on Africa’s ings in May that climate change, facilities in China, attempted in to Annex I, meaning all interna- a year bailout for the next three promises to reform the utility. most industrialised economy. habitat loss and other factors are vain to block a vote on the issue tional trade will be banned. years. Those conditions could in- “You’ve seen the shedding pushing one mn species to the by invoking a mechanism never The same was true for a he South African govern- “Failure to execute its funding clude having Eskom use state of government bonds by inter- brink of extinction. before used in CITES’s four-dec- number of other species un- ment may be forced to plan may result in Eskom expe- fi nancial support to pay off debt national bondholders because “Humanity needs to respond ade history. der pressure from the exotic pet Tinject more money into riencing liquidity shortfalls at and interest, rather than paying they are concerned about the to the growing extinction cri- Zimbabwe’s President Em- trade, including the Indian star state power fi rm Eskom by the 31 March 2020 and require ad- bonuses. eff ect Eskom might have on the sis by transforming the way we merson Mnangagwa also lam- tortoise and several turtle and end of March if the struggling ditional funding in addition to If Eskom intends to use bail- economy,” Rachel Kyte, a special manage the world’s wild animals basted the CITES conference’s lizard species. utility fails to meet its borrow- funding provided through the out money for other reasons, representative of UN Secretary- and plants,” CITES Secretary- rejection of a request by a number The conference also upped ing plan, a Treasury offi cial told Special Appropriation Bill,” the pre-approval could be required. General Antonio Guterres, told General Ivonne Higuero said at of countries in southern Africa to the pressure on Mexico to rein parliament yesterday. National Treasury’s director Eskom could also need to reporters via videolink during the close of the conference. sell their stockpiles of ivory. in illegal fi shing that could rap- Eskom supplies more than general, Dondo Mogajane, told submit a schedule of debt re- a discussion on climate change. The delegates from more than Global trade in elephant ivo- idly doom the critically endan- 90% of South Africa’s electric- lawmakers. demptions, report daily to the “It’s a very clear example that 180 countries appeared to have ry has largely been outlawed gered vaquita marina porpoise ity but does not generate suf- The government plans to re- Treasury on liquidity issues and people do not want to be ex- heeded her call, with 139 species since 1989 after their numbers to extinction, hinting that trade fi cient cash to meet its debt- structure, or “unbundle”, the sell its mortgage-lending unit, posed to a heavily intensive car- either listed for the fi rst time or plunged, falling from millions in sanctions could be on the table service costs and relies on state huge organisation into separate Mogajane said. bon portfolio.” given stronger protections. the mid-20th century to an esti- if more is not done in the coming bailouts to stay afl oat. generation, distribution and “There will be more stringent Eskom generates most of its “The world is waking up to mated 415,000 in 2015. year. Plant outages this year led to transmission units. ones (conditions), one can im- power from heavily polluting the reality that we are at a turn- But countries in southern Conservationists widely some of the worst blackouts in It is also exploring debt relief agine,” he added. coal-fi red power plants, some ing point for saving our planet’s Africa, where populations are hailed the conference for tight- years in South Africa and ratings options including the state tak- Mogajane said the govern- of which are nearing the end of wildlife,” said Jeff rey Flocken, considered healthy and well- ening protections for a long list agencies regularly cite Eskom ing on Eskom debt, while a pol- ment’s fi nancial support to Es- their commercial lives. president of Humane Society protected, argue they should be of species. as one of the biggest threats icy discussion paper published kom, whose ballooning debt has “How government manages International, noting that coun- allowed to sell stockpiles to help But Susan Lieberman of the to South Africa’s investment- on Tuesday raised the idea of reached 440bn rand, was prem- the (Eskom) situation, and the tries “seem to be shifting their fund conservation eff orts. Wildlife Conservation Soci- grade credit rating status. selling Eskom’s coal-fi red pow- ised on its ability to execute its extent to which it attracts in- focus from exploiting animals to Speaking on behalf of 10 ety acknowledged that providing The Treasury has already er plants. funding plan of 46bn rand for vestment into clean energy, the protecting them.” southern African countries, Tan- more CITES protections to spe- earmarked 26bn rand ($1.7bn) Mogajane also outlined some 2019/20, with 58% already se- extent to which unbundling At the conference, giraff es zania’s representative warned cies was a “bittersweet success”. to Eskom in the fi nancial year of the conditions the Treasury cured. has to be part of that solution, were listed for the fi rst time in yesterday that they might with- “It means that more and more which ends in March 2020 as was considering imposing on Separately, a United Nations are things that we are watching CITES Annex II, thus requiring draw from CITES. species are threatened or endan- part of special legislation to in- Eskom, a key concern for inves- climate offi cial sounded a warn- closely,” Kyte added. tracking and regulation of trade, “Time has come to seriously gered,” she said in a statement.

Congo intelligence unit to Nigeria closes part of border to check rice smuggling audit interim govt expenses By Felix Onuah, Reuters Abuja

By Stanis Bujakera, Reuters Widespread corruption has helped Kinshasa make the country one of the world’s igeria has partially closed its poorest despite copious reserves of cop- western border with Benin per, cobalt and gold. Nto curb rice smuggling that is he intelligence agency in Demo- Kabila’s anti-corruption czar esti- threatening the country’s attempt to cratic Republic of Congo has or- mated in 2015 that the country loses up boost local production, the govern- Tdered an audit of spending by the to $15bn a year due to fraud, three times ment said yesterday. interim government that has run the the federal budget. The government wants Nigeria to country for seven months since Presi- The intelligence agency letter, written be self-suffi cient in rice and has im- dent Felix Tshisekedi’s inauguration, on Inzun’s behalf by his deputy, orders posed import controls but these have the agency’s head said yesterday. the inspector general of fi nances to “au- kept prices high and led to smuggling Intelligence chief Justin Inzun Kakiak dit all spending from the public treasury from Benin into Nigeria. declined in a phone interview to elabo- to all government ministries since (Tsh- President Muhammadu Buhari has rate on reasons for the audit, ordered in isekedi’s) inauguration”. introduced policies since taking of- an August 17 letter to the inspector gen- It says the order is “for urgent reasons fi ce in 2015 that are aimed at curbing eral of fi nances, but civil society groups of state security”, without elaborating. imports to boost local production and have accused the interim cabinet of Inzun confi rmed its authenticity. conserve foreign exchange reserves. profl igate spending. Watchdog groups have criticised He said rice smuggling across the Since taking offi ce in January af- heavy spending by the interim govern- western border threatened his policy ter a disputed election, Tshisekedi has ment, some of whose ministers have of self-suffi ciency. promised to clean up the corruption he overseen two or three portfolios at a “The country has saved huge sums said proliferated under his predecessor, time after other ministers left to take up of money which would otherwise Joseph Kabila. seats in parliament. have been expended on importing rice Kabila, who had been in offi ce for 18 For example, it sent a delegation of more using our scarce foreign reserves,” years, was prevented by term limits from than 170 people to the African Cup of Na- Buhari was quoted as saying in a continuing in power. The interim cabi- tions soccer tournament in Egypt in June. statement issued by his spokesman. net consists largely of holdovers from By the end of July, the presidency had al- “We cannot allow smuggling of the Kabila’s fi nal government. ready exceeded its budget for the entire product at such alarming proportions They have remained in place as ne- year by 37%, according to offi cial data. to continue.” gotiations to form a new government Tshisekedi’s spokesman could not The statement did not say when the A vendor arranges bags of rice at the Wuse market in Abuja. dragged on between Tshisekedi and Ka- immediately be reached for comment. border was partially closed. bila, whose coalition won large parlia- Tshisekedi has previously dismissed Buhari also said there would be a ited to allow security forces stem the people rely on imports for most of from outside its dominant oil industry. mentary majorities in December’s vote. media reports about wasteful spending meeting with Benin and Niger, Ni- trend and that he would consider fully what they consume due to limited Earlier this month, Buhari told the Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Il- as “speculation” pushed by his adver- geria’s northern neighbours, to de- re-opening the border in the future. manufacturing capacity. central bank to stop providing foreign unkamba fi nally named new ministers saries. Tshisekedi’s authority is tenu- termine measures to check smuggling The government has said Nigeria’s The country has considered develop- exchange for food imports as part of and vice ministers on Monday, but they ous given the large majorities enjoyed by across the borders. imports of rice and wheat together ing agriculture for export to earn more his drive to bolster the country’s ag- have yet to be sworn into offi ce. Kabila’s allies in parliament. He said the border closure was lim- cost almost $4bn a year but its 190mn hard currency and to increase revenues riculture sector. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 11 AMERICA

INVESTIGATION POLITICS ADVERTISING ENERGY CRACKDOWN Suspicious deaths at Mattis warns US cannot Facebook tightens rules US mulls way to boost FBI widens graft veterans hospital survive without allies ahead of 2020 election demand for biofuel probe, raids homes

Authorities are investigating suspicious deaths at Former defense secretary yesterday warned Facebook Inc is tightening its political ad rules President Donald Trump will announce a plan to The FBI yesterday conducted searches at the a veterans hospital in West Virginia, the Veterans that the United States cannot survive without its in the United States, it said yesterday, requiring boost demand for biofuels, which farmers and home of United Auto Workers president Gary Aff airs department said on Tuesday, and a US allies, days after the G7 summit showed President new disclosures for its site and photo- producers say has suff ered from waivers the Jones, a union retreat and at multiple other senator said the probe may involve up to 11 Donald Trump out of step with America’s key sharing platform Instagram ahead of the US administration has issued exempting oil refiners from locations as part of a corruption probe into illegal deaths. Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia partners. “An oft-spoken admonition in the presidential election in November 2020. The requirements to blend ethanol into the fuel supply, payments to union off icials. The news comes Democrat, said there was a “person of interest” Marines is this: When you’re going to a gunfight, social media giant is introducing a “confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said yesterday. at a very sensitive time for the UAW, which is in the investigation of as many as 11 deaths, and bring all your friends with guns,” Mattis wrote organisation” label for US political advertisers Perdue was speaking at an agriculture policy forum holding contract talks with Detroit automakers that VA off icials assured him this person “is no in the Wall Street Journal, in his first public who show government-issued credentials to as part of the Illinois Farm Progress Show. He did not General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat longer in contact with veterans at the VA facility.” comments since quitting in a policy dispute with demonstrate their legitimacy. All advertisers provide a timeline. “The president wants to deliver.. Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA). The FBI has been A hospital spokesman, Wesley Walls, confirmed Trump last December. “A leader must display running ads on politics or social issues will over the mitigation” of small refinery exemptions, conducting a wide-ranging investigation into yesterday the allegations “do not involve any strategic acumen that incorporates respect for also have to post their contact information, Perdue said, adding the Department of Agriculture illegal payoff s to UAW off icials by FCA. The off ice of current Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center those nations that have stood with us when even if they are not seeking the official label. has presented proposals on strengthening the US Attorney in Detroit said the raids included employees,” and that “safeguards” to ensure trouble loomed,” Mattis wrote. “Alone, America Advertisers must comply by mid-October or infrastructure to allow more widespread use of E15, a one on the home of current UAW president Gary patient safety have since been implemented. cannot protect our people and our economy.” risk having their ads cut off. higher ethanol blend of gasoline. Jones in the western suburb of Canton. No bump for bottom-tier Democratic candidates

By Amanda Becker, Reuters nors, with at least 400 unique which candidates make it onto Washington donors per state in at least 20 the debate stage. states, and earned at least 2% The campaign of author support in a minimum of four Marianne Williamson, who wo national opinion qualifying polls. qualifi ed for the fi rst two de- polls of the 21 Demo- Environmental activist and bates by receiving contribu- Tcrats vying for their par- billionaire Tom Steyer, US tions from 65,000 donors and ty’s 2020 presidential nomina- Representative Tulsi Gab- reaching 1% in three sanctioned tion released yesterday did not bard of Hawaii and US Senator polls, complained in an e-mail SpaceX’s Mars Starship prototype Starhopper hovers over its launchpad during a test flight in Boca Chica, Texas. show any of the candidates at Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to supporters early yesterday the back of the crowded pack all have at least one qualifying that she had hit 2% in four polls picking up enough support to poll but need more ahead of but just one was considered an qualify for the next debate in the deadline. None of the three “offi cial” poll by the DNC. September. crossed the 2% threshold in ei- “If the DNC had followed Yesterday night was the ther of the two polls released the process they announced SpaceX’s Mars rocket prototype deadline to meet the par- yesterday. in February and kept to the ty’s polling and fundraising In the Quinnipiac poll, promised 17 qualifying polls, thresholds for next month’s former vice president Joe Bi- the lineup of the upcoming televised debate. den was in the lead with 32% third debate might be very dif- Appearing on stage with the support from Democratic vot- ferent,” Williamson spokes- rattles nerves in Texas fl ight test other candidates is crucial to ers and independent voters woman Patricia Ewing said in a keeping alive hopes for being who lean Democratic. statement. By Joey Roulette, Reuters The Raptor is designed to pow- had been urged in advance by local She said excitement surround- the Democratic nominee to Progressive US Senators Gabbard has likewise com- Boca Chica, Texas er Musk’s forthcoming heavy-lift authorities to vacate their homes ing the launch reminded her of take on Republican President Elizabeth Warren of Massa- plained that she has hit 2% Starship rocket, a reusable two- as a precaution at the sound of “feeling like you’re going on a Donald Trump in November chusetts and Bernie Sanders support in dozens of polls but stage booster taller than the Stat- police sirens that blared minutes Ferris wheel.” 2020. of Vermont were in second and just two accepted by the DNC. paceX test-launched an ue of Liberty that is expected to before launch. Other residents bemoaned The 10 candidates who have third, with 19% support and Montana Governor Steve early prototype of the com- play a central role in Musk’s inter- “It almost looked like a cartoon SpaceX’s presence on the Texas already made the cut are due to 15% support respectively. Bullock, who also has not qual- Spany’s Mars rocket on Tues- planetary space travel objectives, or something,” nearby resident coast, frustrated with road clo- debate in Houston on Septem- US Senator Kamala Harris ifi ed for the September debate, day, rattling the nerves of people including missions to Mars. Cheryl Stevens told Reuters just sures and confusing public notic- ber 12. of California, with 7% sup- has said the DNC created a living near the Texas site and The prototype “hopper” vehi- after Starhopper’s fl ight. “After es worrisome to those unaccus- If at least one more candi- port, and South Bend, Indiana, qualifying process akin to the clearing another key hurdle in bil- cle, resembling a chrome water all the buildup, it was kind of nice tomed to the trials of spacefl ight date qualifi es, a second debate Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with 5%, Hunger Games TV programme. lionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s tower with four landing legs, was to actually see it happen.” experimentation. will be held on September 13. rounded out the top fi ve. The DNC announced the interplanetary ambitions. originally slated for its test liftoff The notices, circulated by “It’s kind of like a double- Polls released yesterday by Biden also led in the USA two-prong criteria for debate The prototype, dubbed on Monday. sheriff ’s deputies three days in edged sword,” said resident Terry Quinnipiac University and Today/Suff olk poll with 32% qualifi cation earlier this year Starhopper, slowly rose about But a “rather embarrassing” advance, warned of a possible Heaton, adding that access to USA Today/Suff olk University support, up slightly from a to contend with a Democratic 500ft (152m) off its launch pad in wiring issue with the single Rap- “overpressure event” that could the nearby beach was blocked off showed no signifi cant gains previous poll taken in June. fi eld that has at times swelled Brownsville, Texas, and propelled tor engine halted the countdown shatter windows and endanger every time SpaceX attempted an made by any of the candidates Warren was at 14% and to as large as 24 candidates. itself some 650ft (198m) eastward less than a second before ignition, anyone remaining inside their engine test. still seeking the needed sup- Sanders at 12%. DNC chairman Tom Perez onto an adjacent landing plat- Musk, the SpaceX founder and homes in the event of an explosive The next step for Raptor will be port. Some of the lower-polling has defended setting stepped- form, completing a seemingly chief executive, said on Twitter. malfunction. to carry out additional ground- To qualify for the Septem- candidates have complained up qualifying criteria for the successful low-altitude test of About a dozen people living in Maria Pointer, another resi- based fi rings of the engine bolted ber debate, candidates must about the process the Demo- third and subsequent debates, SpaceX’s next-generation Raptor the adjacent village of Boca Chica, dent, set up cameras and invited to a stationary test stand, Musk have received donations from cratic National Commit- saying candidates need to show engine. just over a mile from the test site, photographers to her home. said. a minimum of 130,000 do- tee (DNC) used to determine they are making progress. Let it burn: US fi ghts wildfi res with fi re, backed by Trump

By Andrew Hay, Reuters “We learned from our mistakes welcomed the shift towards “for- of the USFS budget in 2018, up Coyote, New Mexico of putting fi res out, building up a est restoration”, but were alarmed from 16% in 1995, forcing the continuous fuel base,” said James by Trump’s tactics, especially in- agency to raid other internal pro- Casaus, the US Forest Service creased logging. grammes to pay for rising sup- t was the kind of fi re that has (USFS) offi cial running the man- The USFS, distrusted by some pression costs. terrifi ed communities across aged fi re near mountains where environmentalists for its role as a Christiansen expects USFS haz- Ithe drought-ridden US West his grandfather used to burn for- giant timber agency during much ardous fuel and restoration work in the past few years: a ponderosa est clearings to improve sheep of its history, in June proposed to remain at around 3.4mn acres pine forest ablaze in the moun- pasture. a change to the National Envi- in 2019 but sees projects increas- tains of New Mexico fi lling the air The federal shift took on new ronmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ing in 2020 when “fi re borrowing” with thick, aromatic smoke. urgency after wildfi res burned exclude certain projects from en- ends following creation of a disas- Except this fi re was deliber- over 10mn acres in both 2015 and vironmental assessments (EAs) ter fund to pull from should sup- ately set by state penitentiary 2017, the highest rates since 1952, and public comment to speed pression costs go over budget. prisoners, dressed in red fl ame- according to National Interagen- hazardous fuel and restoration “This will make our agency resistant clothing and dripping a cy Fire Center data. work. budget more stable and will free mix of gasoline and diesel around At the same time, federal and Controversially, these categor- up funds to accomplish critical trees and scrub. state fi refi ghting costs more than ical exclusions included projects on-the-ground work that creates The managed burn — a low- tripled to more than $4.5bn in the to log up to 17sq km of forest and healthy, resilient forests,” Chris- intensity controlled fi re — was decade to 2018. were not limited to areas near tiansen said. meant to clear undergrowth and The tipping point came last communities but applied to all US states, which share the bur- protect the Santa Fe National year when fl ames engulfed Para- national forests. den of frontline and prescribed Forest, and surrounding villages, dise, California, killing 86 people “What this rule does is it is burns, want some of those liber- from future wildfi res that are in the state’s deadliest wildfi re on an excuse to ramp up damag- ated funds, given forecasts that growing more frequent and se- record as the number of homes ing logging and road building on wildfi re acreage and severity will vere across the West with climate and structures destroyed nation- national forests,” said Randi Spi- continue to climb, said Jay Farrell, change. wide more than doubled from vak, public lands director for the executive director of the National After a century of trying to ex- 2017. Tucson, Arizona-based Center Association of State Foresters. tinguish blazes within hours, US Walking around the ruins for Biological Diversity, who ex- A firefighter from The New Mexico Inmate Work Camp Program stands by during a controlled burn in Back in New Mexico, Daniel forest managers are increasingly of Paradise, President Donald pected the move to be challenged Gallina, New Mexico. Lara sloshes burning fuel onto starting them or letting natural Trump blamed the tragedy on in court. scrub oak as fellow New Mexico fi res burn to clean out fuel that California’s poor forest manage- In an e-mailed statement, mercial mechanical treatments, posed no signifi cant impact to ning October 1 to drive hazard State Penitentiary inmates torch can turn a wildfi re into a catas- ment, even though the blaze be- USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen prescribed fi re, federally funded forest health. fuel reduction long held back by trees and scrub that, if left to trophe that destroys watersheds gan in an area of federal forest. said logging played a role in fuel state assistance programmes, and “We found we do more analy- the cost of fi ghting fi res. grow, can send fi res into the for- and homes. In December, he signed an ex- reduction work, but most of it naturally occurring wildfi res,” said sis than we need, take more time USFS fi re suppression costs est canopy, creating a blaze that Above-average moisture levels ecutive order to speed projects was achieved by other means. Christiansen, a former wildland than we need and slow down im- have skyrocketed since the is diffi cult to contain. this summer have reduced the to reduce “hazardous fuels” “While timber production does fi refi ghter. portant work to protect commu- 1980s as the agency found it- “It needs to be thinned out, all number of large wildfi res across through forest thinning, burn- contribute to hazardous fuels ac- She said studies of hundreds of nities, livelihoods and resources,” self defending the mushrooming of it,” says Lara, who received a the country and allowed more ing and a nearly 20% increase in complishments, the majority of past USFS projects showed ac- she said. number of US homes in areas at week’s classroom training, as he controlled fi res that mimic light- USFS timber sales. our annual fuel reduction comes tivities earmarked for exclusion Christiansen expects the 2020 risk to wildfi res. started his 12-hour shift in the for- ning strikes. Environmentalists generally from activities such as non-com- from EAs and public comment budget for the fi scal year begin- Firefi ghting consumed 57% est. “Hopefully we’ll get it done.” Gulf Times 12 Thursday, August 29, 2019 ASIA

Cargo ship and crew Six protesters killed in vanish from Indonesian Papua clash: eyewitness waters AFP er who was shot in the stomach AFP Jakarta by an arrow – and suggested Jakarta the deaths might be the fault of demonstrators. ndonesian authorities shot “The protesters shot arrows cargo ship and two dozen dead six protesters during a and threw rocks at our offi cers,” crew have vanished in Iviolent clash in its unrest- he said. Awaters off Indonesia’s re- wracked Papua region yester- “We even heard gunshots mote Maluku islands, authorities day, according to an eyewitness coming from their direction said yesterday. and a media report, but police so that is why we shot back,” The 190m (620ft) vessel, disputed that account. Kamal added. carrying nickel ore, was trav- Local priest Santon Tekege Earlier yesterday, Indonesia’s elling from Halmahera island said chaos erupted after sev- military said a soldier had been to Sulawesi island when it eral thousand people ral- killed and several more were sent a distress call shortly be- lied in the remote district of injured by Papuans armed with fore losing radio contact last Deiyai – following riots and machetes and bows and arrows. week. demonstrations across the re- About 150 protesters had Rough seas hampered earlier gion last week when buildings descended on Deiyai’s govern- eff orts to reach the remote area were torched and street battles ment offi ce, demanding that of the vast archipelago where the broke out between police and the district head sign an agree- ship was last detected, according protesters. ment to hold a referendum on to local search and rescue chief In Deiyai, authorities fi red Papuan independence, said na- Muslimin Samaila. tear gas to disperse the demon- tional police spokesman Dedi “We got there and found noth- stration yesterday, sparking an Prasetyo. ing,” he said. “There was no sign angry response that saw a group Confl icting accounts are of the boat or its crew. Its where- of protesters attack a soldier, common in Papua, a resource- abouts are a mystery.” Tekege added. rich but impoverished island The incident comes after three The military then opened that shares a border with Papua people died and more than 300 fi re on the crowd, according to New Guinea. were rescued when a boat trav- Tekege, who said he was at the The recent riots appear to elling from Indonesia’s second- rally. have been triggered by the ar- biggest city Surabaya to Balikpa- “Six of them died,” he said, rest this month of dozens of Pa- pan on Borneo island burst into adding that several more dem- puan students in Java, who were fl ames on Friday. onstrators were injured and also pelted with racist abuse. The Southeast Asian nation sent to hospital. Police in riot gear stormed a of more than 17,000 islands is A report on the local news dormitory in the city of Sura- heavily dependent on boat trans- website Suarapapua.com also baya to force out students port, but safety standards are lax said six demonstrators were accused of destroying an In- and fatal maritime accidents are gunned down. donesian fl ag, as a group of pro- Papuans take part in a rally in front of the presidential palace and army headquarters in Jakarta yesterday, in the latest protest after riots common. The deaths could not be in- testers shouted racial slurs at and demonstrations last week brought several Papuan cities in eastern Indonesia to a standstill. In June, 21 people died when dependently verifi ed and au- them, calling them “monkeys” an overloaded ferry sank in rough thorities disputed the number and “dogs”. that it feared would spark more Indonesia sent in 1,200 extra a former Dutch colony, in the cultural ties with the rest of seas off Java’s north coast. of deaths. Last week, the government violent protests. police and military to Papua as 1960s after an independence Indonesia – say they have not Some 160 people drowned Papua police spokesman Ah- moved to shut down Internet Critics slammed the move as tensions soared, while President referendum widely viewed as a gotten a fair share of vast min- when an Indonesian ferry sank mad Mustofa Kamal said that services in the region, saying it a threat to free speech and jour- Joko Widodo has off ered to meet sham. eral wealth in the region, which into the depths of one of the two protesters had died, one was trying to stop a stream of nalists say it has made verifying with Papuan leaders. Many Papuans – who are eth- is home to the world’s biggest world’s deepest lakes on Sumatra from a bullet wound and anoth- off ensive and racist online posts information more diffi cult. Jakarta took control of Papua, nic Melanesian and have few gold mine. island last year. Thailand to buy 120 US armoured vehicles Myanmar to

Reuters civilian rule under a govern- He said the armoured vehi- The source declined to be centre with China to produce Bangkok ment led by former junta leader cles would be deployed at a base identifi ed because he was not and maintain military gear, Prayuth Chan-ocha. in Chachoengsao, south of the authorised to speak to the as relations cooled between join US-Asean Army chief General Apirat capital of Bangkok. media. Washington and its oldest ally hailand’s military plans Kongsompong told reporters US embassy offi cials were In July, the US State Depart- in Southeast Asia after the to acquire 120 American- that Thailand would receive 70 not immediately available to ment said it had approved a 2014 coup. Tmade armoured vehicles US made armoured infantry car- comment on the army chief’s government-to-government The United States remains an by 2020, with the fi rst batch of rier vehicles by the end of the remarks. foreign military sales deal for 60 important ally for Thailand. maritime drills 10 arriving next month, a Thai year and 50 more next year, but A defence ministry source Stryker armoured vehicles and Next week, Thailand will host defence ministry source said did not give the value of the deal. told Reuters that Thailand paid equipment, at an estimated cost the opening of the fi rst-ever yesterday. “The fi rst delivery will con- for 47 vehicles and the US would of $175mn. maritime drill between the na- The United States curbed mil- sist of 10 vehicles and by the supply 23 free in this year’s pur- Under junta rule, Thailand vies of the United States and itary aid to Thailand following a end of the year there will be 70 chase, while 50 more will be bought tanks and infantry the Association of Southeast despite curbs 2014 army coup, but ties are im- vehicles,” Apirat said. bought next year. The US will fi ghting vehicles from China to Asian Nations (Asean) and the proving after disputed elections “There will be 50 vehicle in also help the Thai army in the replace old US models, as well 11th Indo-Pacifi c army chief this year that offi cially restored the next lot.” maintenance of the vehicles. as planning to set up a joint conference on September 9. AFP The drills come at a Yangon time of stepped-up US engagement in the Bangladesh region and tensions yanmar’s navy between China and removes ‘virgin’ will join maritime several Southeast from marriage Nepal busts Mdrills with the US Asian nations over rival certificates Bangkok street in Southeast Asia next week, claims in the South a spokesman said yesterday, China Sea human in a rare show of military co- The word “virgin” must be operation despite Washing- of the regional bloc provide an removed from Muslim marriage ton slapping sanctions on top opportunity “to work with all certificates in Bangladesh, sweeper carries smuggling army brass over the Rohingya members of Asean on shared the country’s top court has crisis. maritime security priorities in said, a landmark verdict after The inclusion in the drills the region.” campaigners challenged the ring; 6 held does not violate US travel A UN fact-fi nding mis- “humiliating and discriminatory” bans against Myanmar’s sion wants Myanmar’s term. pet to work DPA commander-in-chief and commander-in-chief Min Under the South Asian country’s Kathmandu three senior fi gures for over- Aung Hlaing to face charges Muslim marriage laws, a bride seeing a bloody campaign of genocide after docu- has to select one of three options By Jiraporn Kuhakan, that drove 740,000 Rohingya menting arson, extra-judi- on the certificate – whether she Reuters epal police have busted a Muslims into Bangladesh two cial killings and rape dur- is a kumari (virgin), a widow or Bangkok human-smuggling ring and years ago. ing the military’s August divorced. Narrested six people suspect- But there are growing calls 2107 campaign against the In a brief verdict, the court ed of smuggling Nepalese migrants to further isolate the military, Rohingya. ordered the government to street sweeper in Thai- through Indonesia towards Austral- expand sanctions and pros- Myanmar has rebuff ed the remove the term and replace land has become an In- ia, an offi cial said yesterday. ecute senior leadership for allegations, saying it was de- it with “unmarried”, deputy Aternet sensation after a The six-member ring, includ- genocide against the stateless fending itself from Rohingya attorney general Amit Talukder picture of her carrying her dog ing an Indian living in Jakarta minority. insurgent attacks. said. on her back while sweeping and a Nepalese woman, prom- The drills come at a time of The crisis has also shattered The court is expected to publish the streets of the Thai capital ised young people a visa for jobs stepped-up US engagement the reputation of civilian lead- its full verdict by October, with went viral. and employment in Australia in the region and tensions er Aung San Suu Kyi. the changes to the certificate Mazda, a year-old Poodle- through postings on a Facebook between China and several Allegations of abuses on the expected to come into eff ect Shih Tzu mix is seen calmly page, said Yadav Thapaliya, a Southeast Asian nations over ground in Rakhine state have then. hanging in a vest attached to spokesman of the police’s anti- rival claims in the South China been largely directed against “It is a landmark verdict,” Aynun the back of his owner like a traffi cking bureau. Sea. army units, but rights groups Nahar Siddiqua, a lawyer for backpack while she sweeps the “The ring members charged “We were invited as part of say naval vessels were also the groups which filed the case street in a Bangkok suburb, each migrant between 1.5mn Asean (Association of South- implicated. challenging the term in 2014, not bothered by passersby and Nepali rupees ($13,000) to 2mn east Asian Nations) for the “The US should be work- said. the traffi c. Nepali rupees. They were trying exercise,” said Zaw Min Tun, ing with members of the Rights groups have long “I asked my boyfriend to to smuggle at least 10 people to a spokesman for the com- international community criticised the term – used in buy me a dog to keep me com- Australia,” Thapaliya said. mander-in-chief’s offi ce in to push for accountability certificates since they were pany,” Mazda’s owner, Thitirat “The smugglers kept the mi- Myanmar. in Myanmar, not joining its introduced in 1961 – saying it is Keowa-ram, 28, said. grants in an apartment in Jakarta. He said the exercise, start- military in exercises,” said “humiliating and discriminatory”, “My boyfriend agreed un- Their passport and money were ing in the Gulf of Thailand on John Quinley with the NGO and that it breaches the privacy der the condition that I bring confi scated. They have complained September 2, focus on crime, Fortify Rights. of the woman getting married. it to work,” she said. of being left without food and tor- piracy and security, and the Prominent Rohingya activ- The judgement also ordered Thitirat has kept her prom- tured,” said the police offi cer. travel bans were separate ist Tun Khin called the joint authorities to introduce the ise and carried the fl uff y black Nepalese authorities helped issues. exercises “shocking”. options “unmarried, widower or and white dog to work every the migrants return home from “The sanctions imposed “Just weeks after the divorced” for the groom on the day for a year now, not both- Thitirat Keowa-ram carries her one-year-old poodle-shih tzu Indonesia and made the arrests were personal and this exer- USA designates the head certificate. ered by the almost 10kg (22 lb) mix breed as she works at a street in Bangkok yesterday. in Kathmandu last week, accord- cise is a coordination between of the military as responsi- Bangladesh is the world’s third- of weight in the pooch pouch ing to police. Asean and the US,” he said. ble for gross human rights largest Muslim majority nation on her back. larity in Thailand in recent see the dog-friendly policy as If convicted, the six each face a The US State Department violations, they are work- and nearly 90% of its 168mn A bring-your-dog-to-work years particularly in fi rms a way to alleviate employee jail sentence of up to 20 years and said in a media advisory that ing together with that same population are Muslim. (AFP) trend has been gaining popu- with irregular workhours that stress. a fi ne of 200,000 Nepali rupees. the drills with the 10 nations military.” Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

South Korea slams Japan as ‘white list’ removal takes eff ect

AFP dispute over Japan’s use of forced which has security treaties with liance between the US and the allies faced with an overbearing triggered the dispute by impos- are essential to making memory Seoul labour during its colonial rule both. “Prime Minister Abe com- South. But last week’s announce- China and nuclear-armed North ing restrictions in July on exports chips, while the third chemical, over the peninsula from 1910 to mented twice that Korea cannot ment caught many off guard, in- Korea. But their relationship crucial to South Korean tech gi- fl uorinated polyimide, is used 1945. be trusted and is treating us like cluding Washington, with Secre- continues to be heavily aff ected ants such as Samsung Electron- for high-spec TV screens and outh Korea yesterday They came as Tokyo’s removal an adversary,” said Kim Hyun- tary of State Mike Pompeo saying by Japan’s 35-year colonial rule of ics, the world’s biggest smart- smartphone displays, including slammed Japan for eff ec- of the South from its so-called chong, a national security offi cial the US was disappointed by the the Korean peninsula in the early phone and memory chip maker. hotly-anticipated folding mod- Stively downgrading Seoul’s “white list” of trusted trade part- at the Blue House. move. 20th century. The move has raised interna- els from Samsung. Tokyo says its trade status and accused Prime ners went into eff ect. Seoul has He insisted Seoul’s decision to Separately, Seoul’s foreign Japan says all reparations tional concern about the eff ect decision was made on national Minister Shinzo Abe of treating already announced it will recip- terminate the intelligence-shar- ministry summoned the Japanese claims were settled under a 1965 on global supply chains and pos- security grounds, but it followed the neighbour as an “adversary”. rocate, and last week said it will ing deal — known as the General ambassador to protest against treaty and associated economic sible price hikes for consumers a series of South Korean court The comments are the latest in terminate a military informa- Security of Military Information its removal from the white list. agreement that was supposed to worldwide. Two of the Japanese rulings ordering Japanese fi rms a bitter tit-for-tat row stemming tion-sharing pact with Japan, Agreement (GSOMIA) — would Both Japan and South Korea are have normalised relations. Blue chemicals targeted, hydrogen to pay for forced labour during from a long-running diplomatic raising concerns in Washington, not lead to “fi ssures” in the al- market economies and major US House offi cial Kim said Japan had fl uoride gas and photoresists, World War II. HK protesters slam Cathay Pacifi c for fi ring cabin crew

Reuters Cathay Pacific caught in crosswinds of pro-democracy Hong Kong protests; Protests continue despite warnings from HK

undreds of people pro- leader, Beijing; Cathay says it has no choice but to Protesters gather to condemn alleged sexual harassment of a detained demonstrator at a police station, tested in Hong Kong comply with China’s rules in Hong Kong. Hyesterday to denounce Cathay Pacifi c Airways for dis- in its aff airs in Hong Kong. It has our regulatory duties, includ- tive actions by radical demon- missing crew taking part in or sent a clear warning that force- ing those prescribed by the au- strators, we must strengthen our supporting anti-government ful intervention is possible. thorities in mainland China. The confi dence and act as a defender rallies that have swept the Chi- Rebecca Sy, former head of a airline must do this; there is no of ‘one country, two systems’,” nese-ruled city for weeks. fl ight attendants’ association, ground for compromise.” she said. But Lam has not ruled The Hong Kong Confedera- said she was fi red without ex- The Basic Law is the mini- out the possibility of invoking tion of Trade Unions (HKCTU) planation after managers saw constitution under which Hong emergency powers. switched the protest venue, her Facebook account. Kong is ruled. The protests in A mannequin dressed as a Ca- originally planned to be outside “We never faced any discipli- the Asian fi nancial hub have thay fl ight attendant held a sign the airline’s airport headquar- nary action from the company posed the biggest challenge for saying “all fi ve demands must be ters, Cathay City, to the central before. How come now they just Communist Party rulers in Bei- fulfi lled”, referring to the broad- fi nancial district after police re- terminate me without any valid jing since President Xi Jinping er protest calls to withdraw the fused permission. reason? By simply showing me took power in 2012. Unrest es- extradition bill, set up an inde- The airport was forced to those printouts of my own pri- calated in mid-June over a now- pendent inquiry into complaints close two weeks ago after pro- vate Facebook account?” suspended extradition bill that of police brutality, stop describ- testers thronged the arrivals hall China’s aviation regulator de- would have allowed people to be ing the protests as riots, waive for days, grounding about 1,000 manded Cathay suspend staff sent to mainland China for trial charges against those arrested fl ights and occasionally clashing from fl ying over its airspace if in Communist Party-controlled and resume political reform. with police. they were involved in, or sup- courts. Thousands also gathered to Cathay was targeted for sack- ported, the demonstrations. At It has since evolved into calls protest against what demon- ing 20 pilots and cabin crew and least 20 pilots and cabin crew for greater democracy under the strators say is sexual violence by what staff have described as have since been fi red, the HKC- “one country, two systems” for- police. It has been dubbed the “white terror”, a phrase used to TU said. mula under which Hong Kong “#MeToo” rally and some wrote describe anonymous acts that Cathay’s director for corpo- has been administered since “#ProtestToo” on their arms create a climate of fear. “Revoke rate aff airs, James Tong, said the 1997, guaranteeing freedoms with red lipstick. Police said termination, stop terrorising CX Civil Aviation Administration that include an independent ju- they respected the rights of peo- staff ,” proclaimed a black ban- of China had issued a directive diciary. ple in detention and were aware ner in English at the protest site “with regards to new safety and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, of online “rumours” that a per- where at least 2,000 gathered People react over the presence of police during a rally held by the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade security measures” with which attending a ceremony celebrat- son had been sexually harassed, peacefully. “Uphold our freedom Unions after a number of crew members in the aviation industry were let go for joining the anti-extradition the airline was bound to comply. ing the 70th anniversary of the which they said were false. of speech.” bill protests, in Hong Kong. “We fully support the uphold- People’s Republic of China on Hong Kong is on the verge of CX is airline code for Cathay. ing of the Basic Law and all the Oct. 1, said “we must stop vio- its fi rst recession in a decade, The airline has been caught in who have staged sometimes vio- challenge for authorities in the China has denounced the pro- rights and freedoms aff orded lence” by the rule of law. “Facing weighed down by the protests the crosswinds between author- lent demonstrations since June former British colony since it tests and accused the United by it. At the same time, we are the current escalation of vio- and a prolonged US-China trade ities in Beijing and protesters that have grown into the biggest returned to Chinese rule in 1997. States and Britain of interfering also required to adhere to all of lence and the massive destruc- war.

Australia moves to counter foreign Japan orders 870,000 to fl ee heavy rains interference in universities AFP rescue boat told public broadcast- Tokyo er NHK she had been saved from the fl oodwaters. “I was so scared AFP more intensive consultation versities’ “freedom to pursue as I have a little child. I’m wor- Sydney between schools and govern- research and collaboration wo people were confi rmed ried there could be worse damage ment offi cials — including spy that expands our knowledge dead yesterday as heavy because there’s an ongoing power agencies. and leads to life-improving in- Trains pounded southwest outage,” she said. ustralia moved to coun- The group will focus on bol- novations”. Japan, prompting fl ood and land- Elsewhere, a man in a shelter ter foreign interfer- stering cyberdefences, pro- That balance has been called slide warnings and orders for in Saga said he was sleeping as Aence at its universities tecting sensitive intellectual into question by a series of 870,000 people to seek safety. the fl oodwater entered his home. yesterday, establishing a task property and making sure col- hacks, controversial donations More than a million more people “When I woke up, water surged force to help protect sensitive laboration with foreign indi- and incidents of on-campus were advised to leave their homes to my feet,” he told NHK. “I’ve research, cyberdefences and viduals or organisations does intimidation linked to Beijing. after the country’s weather agen- never seen anything like this. It’s free speech. not hurt Australia’s national A data breach at the Australian cy raised the alert to its highest important to evacuate early.” The With concern growing about interests. National University last year level for parts of northern Ky- JMA’s emergency warnings aff ect China’s clout on campuses Tehan stressed the need to exposed sensitive staff and ushu. areas in Saga, Fukuoka and Naga- Down Under, education min- strike a balance between the student data going back two The emergency warning is is- saki, where the severe weather has ister Dan Tehan announced “national interest” and uni- decades. sued “if there is a signifi cant also disrupted transport, forc- likelihood of catastrophes”. Of- ing the suspension of some train fi cials confi rmed two deaths, one services and some road closures. China cancels in western Saga prefecture where Television footage showed riv- a man was found in a car that had ers swollen by the rain and parked TICAD opening US ship port call been swept away. A second man cars sitting in muddy brown wa- amid tensions: died in Fukuoka as he tried to es- ter nearly up to the vehicles’ roofs. cape from a car trapped in rising Small landslides have already off icial fl oodwaters. been reported. At a station in China has refused another Government spokesman Saga, stranded passengers sat on planned port call by a US Yoshihide Suga said a third per- benches with water around their warship amid soaring tensions son, in Saga, was in a state of “car- ankles. between the Pacific powers on diorespiratory arrest” — a term A woman living near an over- trade, a US off icial said yester- usually employed by Japanese of- fl owing river said she had been day. “We did recently receive fi cials to indicate a person’s death woken by the sound of heavy rain word that it was inconvenient before it is offi cially confi rmed by and a warning alarm on her phone for them to host a previously a doctor. indicating a disaster alert. “This planned port call to Qingdao,” “There are many reports of An aerial view shows a flooded road following heavy rains in Ogi, is very rare. Rice fi elds and other said Randall Schriver, the as- damage in diff erent areas due to Saga prefecture yesterday. places are fl ooded. It’s like a sea,” sistant secretary of defence fl ooding of rivers, landslides, and she told NHK. in charge of Asia. Qingdao is submerged houses, and there is The fi re and disaster manage- fi cial Yasushi Kajiwara said. He Japanese authorities regularly a major port in eastern China a possibility of serious damage ment agency said it had already also urged those living in areas urge people to take evacuation that has long been considered occurring in the coming hours,” received multiple reports of currently under evacuation advi- orders seriously, particularly af- strategic and has become a ma- Suga added. fl ooded houses in Saga and Naga- sories to act quickly. The weather ter disastrous heavy rains last jor hub for the country’s “Belt Evacuation orders and adviso- saki prefectures. agency issued its highest warning summer in Japan’s west killed and Road” global infrastructure ries issued by local authorities are “We are seeing unprecedent- for heavy rain early morning, be- more than 200 people. Many of initiative. It is the latest cancella- not mandatory, although offi cials ed levels of heavy rains in cities fore downgrading it mid-after- the deaths were blamed on the tion by China, which earlier this urge residents to heed them. where we issued special warn- noon. fact that evacuation orders were month denied requests for two For those leaving after such ings,” a spokesman for the Japan Still, the agency said heavy issued too late and some peo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech during US Navy ships to dock in Hong warnings, government shelters Meteorological Agency told re- rain was likely to continue in ple failed to follow them. Entire the opening session of the Tokyo International Conference on Kong, which has been rocked are available, and some choose porters. “It is a situation where western Japan, with high risks of neighbourhoods were buried be- African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama yesterday. by protests seeking to preserve to stay with friends and family as you should do your best to protect landslides and fl ooding. In Saga, neath landslides or submerged in the city’s autonomy. well. your lives,” weather agency of- a mother wearing a life vest in a fl oodwaters during the disasters. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, August 29, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND Man sets legal landmark as fi rst deaf juror in English court

Guardian News and Media court, concluding last Thursday. Deaf people have previously with court offi cials to discuss I could lip-read, and when they as foreman of the jury – a measure emotional when somebody said London He read subtitles from court- been denied the opportunity to how he could still fulfi l his civic met me there was no problem.” that encouraged his fellow jurors to that. They had confi dence in me.” room stenographers and relied serve on juries in the UK as many duty. Johnston assured them he After being convinced of speak clearly and direct their words Deaf people have served on ju- on his lip-reading skills to par- rely on sign language interpreters. did not require a sign language Johnston’s ability to serve with- at him during deliberations. John- ries in Ireland, Australia and the 54-year-old technology ticipate in jury deliberations. English and Welsh law prohib- interpreter, and also noted that out hindrance, and discussions ston said he had requested that US, but challenges to existing laws consultant from London Johnston has a small amount of its the presence in the jury delib- the round table in the jury delib- with a judge, the offi cials secured colleagues raise their hand before to permit the same in England and Ais believed to have es- hearing as a result of his cochlear eration room of anybody except eration room would allow him to fi nancing for a two-person team talking and refrain from speak- Wales have consistently failed. In tablished a legal landmark this implant, and is able to speak. the 12 sworn jurors, and an in- lip-read his fellow jurors. of stenographers to transcribe ing over one another, to ensure he 1999, the then chief executive of month by becoming the fi rst “It’s all about inclusivity, isn’t terpreter would be considered a Johnston said deaf people are everything spoken in court, could follow everything being said. the British Deaf Association (BDA), profoundly deaf person to sit on it,” Johnston said. “It’s a big disqualifying “13th stranger”. usually automatically precluded which Johnston read on a tablet “I think it made the delibera- Jeff McWhinney, lost a court battle a jury in a crown court in Eng- thing for me … We don’t want After receiving a jury sum- from selection, but insisted that device from the jury benches. tions clearer, more structured,” to allow a sign language interpreter land and Wales. to turn our backs to society, we mons in January, and initially was a mistake as eff ective meth- He sat on separate trials for Johnston said. “I was really to accompany him. A judge ruled Matthew Johnston served on want to be part of society. We having a request for a stenogra- ods of communication exist for sexual assault, violent disorder pleased when somebody said: that a 13th person in jury delibera- three trials during a two-week want to feel included. I feel great pher refused for lack of fi nances, many. He said: “They wanted to and actual bodily harm. In two of ‘Matthew, you’re going to be the tions would amount to an “incur- period at Blackfriars crown that I can be one of a jury.” Johnston arranged a meeting see me, how deaf I was, how well the three cases, Johnston served foreman.’ I actually felt a little bit able irregularity”. EU condemns ‘sinister’ move by Johnson

Guardian News and Media mittee in the German Bundestag, London sounded incredulous about the move. The request to the Queen was uropean sources have made as Johnson’s Brexit envoy warned that Boris John- met senior EU offi cials in Brus- Eson’s move to suspend sels. parliament for fi ve weeks has in- David Frost, the prime min- creased the chances of a no-deal ister’s EU adviser, met offi cials Brexit, while a leading MEP said: working for Michel Barnier, the “Taking back control has never EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, as looked so sinister.” well as Jean-Claude Juncker’s The plan to suspend par- chief of staff , Clara Martinez Al- liament for fi ve weeks, which berola. would drastically reduce MPs’ Frost, a former Foreign Offi ce ability to infl uence changes to diplomat who went on to lead the withdrawal agreement or the London Chamber of Com- seek a delay, is seen in Brussels as merce and Industry, replaced Labour politician John McDonnell, speaks during an anti-Brexit protest outside the Houses of the Parliament in London yesterday. a move to overpower rebels and Olly Robbins when Johnson took force through Johnson’s Brexit offi ce in July. agenda. Jean-Claude Piris, a former The European parliament’s head of the EU council legal co-ordinator on Brexit, Guy service, told the Guardian that Verhofstadt, said the move the move to suspend parlia- was unlikely to deliver a sta- ment had convinced him that ble future relationship. “‘Tak- Johnson “is determined to go for ing back control’ has never no-deal”. The UK was in “a re- PM sparks outrage with looked so sinister,” he wrote. ally deep political and probably “As a fellow parliamentar- a deep constitutional crisis”, but ian, my solidarity is with those there was nothing the EU could fighting for their voices to be do, he added. heard. Suppressing debate on An EU diplomat said it was re- profound choices is unlikely to ally hard to say what Johnson’s help deliver a stable future EU- “scheme” was, adding that he parliament suspension UK relationship.” EU officials was pessimistic about a compro- said it heightened the chances mise in talks. “We have no idea From Page 1 try’s most contentious policy that, tramples it and throws it A spokeswoman for the Euro- to ask Brussels for a delay to of a no-deal outcome, as par- what his aim is apart from stay- decision in decades prompted out,” said 17-year-old student pean Commission, when asked Brexit beyond October 31. liament could refuse to back a ing prime minister. This is his The queen acts on the advice an immediate outcry. Dylan Butlin, one of the pro- about the British suspension of They may now try to bring compromise presented to MPs, ultimate aim and all other things of her prime minister. Her offi ce “Make no mistake, this is a testers. parliament, said it was a matter him down. just days before the October 31 are being subjected to this aim.” declined to comment. very British coup,” John Mc- In a sign that Johnson’s move for Britain to answer. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn deadline. Before the meeting, Johnson saw Her speech at the opening Donnell, the second most pow- had marked a signifi cant es- More than three years after said he would call a no-confi - Nathalie Loiseau, a former EU leaders in Berlin, Paris and of parliament is written by the erful man in the opposition La- calation in the long-running the United Kingdom voted 52% dence vote when the time was Europe minister, who is a close the G7 summit in Biarritz – a government, outlining its plans bour Party, said. dispute, a group of cross-party to 48% to quit the European right. ally of the French President, Em- series of meetings that have in- for legislation. More than half a million peo- lawmakers sought a legal in- Union, it is still unclear on what With Johnson holding a manuel Macron, said the move jected a new dynamic into talks, “There will be ample time in ple signed an online petition to junction and the speaker of par- terms the bloc’s second largest working majority of just one showed there was a “disease” in according to EU offi cials. parliament for MPs (members object and the pound fell sharp- liament said the nation’s demo- economy will leave the club it seat in the 650-seat parliament, British democracy. But the move to suspend par- of parliament) to debate the EU, ly. cratic process was at risk. joined in 1973. members of his party who op- “We could see a Brexit with- liament is now seen as height- to debate Brexit and all the oth- Cries of “Shame on You” and The Church of England said With just 65 days until exit pose a no-deal Brexit will have out an agreement,” the MEP ening the risk of no-deal. It has er issues, ample time,” Johnson “Stop the Coup” could be heard a chaotic Brexit would hurt the day, parliamentarians are bat- to decide where their loyalties wrote on Twitter. “It is, moreo- also been pointed out that it does told reporters. from inside the walls of the par- poor and further damage a frac- tling to prevent the prime min- lie. ver, a Brexit without debate that buy Johnson more time to strike Asked if he was trying to liamentary estate, as a couple tured nation. ister from steering the country The pro-EU Conservative is looming. From what disease a deal, if there are fewer parlia- block MPs from delaying Brit- of hundred protesters gath- But Johnson’s gamble was out of the EU without a transi- Party lawmaker Dominic Grieve is British democracy suff ering mentary sessions. ain’s EU departure, he replied: ered near the bank of the River welcomed by Brexiteers, in- tion deal, pitching one of Eu- said he would fi nd it diffi cult to from that there is a fear of debate EU diplomats remain sceptical “That is completely untrue.” Thames to wave EU fl ags and cluding Trump, an early backer rope’s most stable countries “keep confi dence in the gov- before taking one of the most about whether the prime minis- While suspending parliament show their disgust. of Britain’s departure from the into uncharted territory. ernment” in the circumstanc- important decisions in its his- ter can fi nd alternatives to the ahead of a Queen’s Speech is the “It’s taught from such a EU, who said “Boris is exactly On Tuesday, the leaders of es while Philip Hammond, a tory?” Irish backstop – the main stum- historical norm in Britain, the young age as such a vital thing what the UK has been looking Britain’s opposition parties had former fi nance minister, said Norbert Rottgen, the chair- bling block – that can win over decision to limit parliamentary about being a British person for, & will prove to be ‘a great agreed to seek to use parliamen- pro-EU politicians needed to man of the foreign aff airs com- his party. scrutiny weeks before the coun- and today just completely ruins one!’ Love UK” tary procedure to force Johnson act now. Irish deputy PM clashes Tories’ Scotland leader with Barclay over backstop Davidson ‘set to quit’ Reuters son’s policy of leaving the Euro- London pean Union without a transition Guardian News and Media Coveney said the backstop hind after Brexit. He said they deal if necessary. Paris remained “currently the only vi- would have fewer rights than the Johnson yesterday said he able, if temporary, solution” for 300,000 French nationals in the uth Davidson, leader of would suspend parliament for the Irish border, with sources UK in the event of no-deal. the Conservative Party in more than a month before Brexit, reland’s deputy prime min- saying the suspension of parlia- “EU leaders repeatedly tell me RScotland, is set to quit due enraging opponents. ister has hit back at sugges- ment will not make a diff erence how important citizens’ rights to political disagreements with The BBC and Scottish broad- Itions that the EU is fi nally to that view unless Johnson has are to them but not only has the Prime Minister Boris Johnson caster STV also reported that bending to Boris Johnson’s de- fresh, viable plans. commission refused to agree a and the pressures of being a new Davidson would quit as leader of mands to drop the backstop on Barclay hit back immediately, specifi c deal on citizens’ rights – mother, British media reported Scotland’s Conservatives. the Irish border. saying the backstop was dead as requested by all political par- yesterday. There was no immediate com- Speaking at a conference in and that “parliament will not al- ties in the UK parliament – the A prominent counterweight ment from the party. Paris, Simon Coveney said “no low the people of Northern Ire- off er here in France falls short of to the dominance of the Scottish Davidson has been leader of one has yet come up with cred- land to be subject to an indefi nite what we have set out in the UK in National Party north of the bor- the Scottish Conservative party ible arrangements, or techno- period of continued alignment”. several respects,” he said. der, Davidson, 40, revived the for eight years, turning them logical solutions, which could “It would mean Northern Irish “We have guaranteed the fortunes of the Scottish Con- into the second largest party at replace those temporary ar- citizens, UK citizens, being gov- rights of the approximately servatives. Holyrood. rangements in the withdrawal erned by rules in which we have 300,000 French nationals, and Her decision to quit is likely to She was once touted as a fu- agreement”. no say,” he said, adding that as indeed all EU nationals living in add to questions about Scotland’s ture leader of the United King- “This is why Prime Minister it stands the backstop would be the UK,” he added. future in the United Kingdom as dom Conservatives but her Johnson’s proposal to abolish harder to leave than the EU. “I call on the French govern- the Brexit crisis escalates. standing among party members the backstop, in the absence of He said discussions about the ment and others in the EU to “She’s tried to juggle mother- fell dramatically after Johnson agreed alternative arrangements, Irish border had to be taken out of match our off er and provide hood with being the very high- took offi ce last month, accord- is something we cannot support,” any exit deal and moved to talks on certainty for UK nationals in profi le leader of the opposition in ing to a survey of members con- he told an audience yesterday the future trade relationship. France.” The campaign group Scotland, and it’s taken its toll,” ducted by Conservative Home that included the Brexit Secre- Coveney’s and Barclay’s re- British in Europe, which repre- the Sun newspaper quoted a sen- website. tary, Stephen Barclay. marks show the continued sents an estimated 1mn Britons ior Conservative source as saying. Firmly on the liberal wing Coveney reminded Barclay that gulf in thinking on Brexit and settled in EU states, has repeat- “All of this has been made of the Conservative Party, she the backstop had been an agree- put paid to the suggestion of a edly criticised the government more diffi cult with the current campaigned in 2016 for Britain ment with the UK on the basis of breakthrough made at the G7 for making them “bargaining political climate, where she’s to remain in the European Un- a “shared understanding” of the summit in Biarritz. chips” in the Brexit negotia- Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Simon Coveney attends found herself at increasing odds ion. That year Davidson became unique situation in Ireland and Barclay went on to accuse tions in the fi rst place and then the MEDEF union summer forum renamed La Rencontre des with the new leadership in Lon- engaged to her partner, Jen Wil- that it had the support of the ma- France of leaving British peo- not doing enough to secure their Entrepreneurs de France, LaREF, at the Paris Longchamp Racecourse don,” the source added. son, and gave birth to a boy last jority in Northern Ireland. ple resident in the country be- rights in the event of no deal. in Paris, France, yesterday. Davidson has opposed John- October Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 15

BRITAIN Young drug dealers in Bristol off ered driving lessons, job training

Guardian News and Media The force accepts the project The programme of activities cause others are putting them up sters without a record for vio- ed on to the scheme, the police or violent off ences. London will attract criticism and fl ies includes access to workshops, to it. They are absolutely being lence who were being forced into present the case to the Crown The force said the trial scheme in the face of the national illegal motivational speaking events exploited.” dealing. Prosecution Service. If it as- would be subject to a “rigorous drugs strategy, which focuses on and one-to-one mentoring. A Bennett said the force won- The scheme launched in Feb- sesses that the case would almost review process” and independ- oung people caught drug- enforcement through the crimi- course with the Bristol organi- dered if, by putting such young ruary and so far 17 youngsters certainly lead to prosecution, a ent academic evaluation to judge dealing in Bristol are being nal justice system. sation Street2Boardroom, which people on a rigorous six- to nine- aged 16 to 19 have taken part. local protocol allows the police its success and sustainability and Yoff ered the chance to ac- But it argues that if the pilot aims to help people to apply “the month course rather than charg- Two have so far lost their places. to off er the suspect a place on the the impact on gang- and drug- cess job training, driving lessons scheme works and is extended, hustle” they have learned on the ing them, it could lead to them One was found dealing drugs and project. related crime. and even gym membership rather hundreds of youngsters on the street to legitimate business, is getting apprenticeships or jobs will appear in court next month, Bennett said: “The govern- A spokesperson said: “There than being charged and hauled fringe of a life in crime could be also available. and divert them from crime. and another was caught with a ment has told us that while it is no other scheme in the coun- before a court. saved from jail. Superintendent Andy Ben- He said he realised some knife. doesn’t fi t neatly into drugs try that deals with drug-dealing Avon and Somerset police say It also points out that if any nett of Avon and Somerset po- would be sceptical. “The rhetoric But the fi rst graduate is due strategy, we have operational off ences in this way. It avoids a the scheme is the only one of its of the youngsters taking part get lice said: “It was becoming clear around at the moment is about to complete the scheme in a few authority to make decisions like criminal justice outcome with a kind in the country and is de- into more trouble or fail to engage to us in our drug enforcement locking them up and throw away weeks’ time. “The strong indi- this.” complete emphasis on encourag- signed to divert youngsters away properly, they are arrested and work that these young level-one the key.” Bennett said for some cation is that it’s working,” said Participants are handpicked ing the young person to follow a from gangs, prison and a possible face prosecution for the original street dealers are not doing this this approach was appropriate Bennett. by a panel and must not have any guided pathway to education and life of crime. off ence. by choice. They are dealing be- but not necessarily for young- Before a person can be accept- previous convictions for sexual employment.”

Time out BA told to reimburse travellers Extinction for e-mail blunder Rebellion Daily Mail London

ritish Airways has been ordered to reimburse pas- Bsengers who booked al- set to target ternative fl ights after they were wrongly told their BA journeys had been cancelled. The Civil Aviation Authority said those aff ected “should not be left out of pocket” for extra expenses, including travel, food and accommodation, incurred as Manchester a result of the mistake. The airline is facing a mounting Guardian News and Media ing an address by an Amazonian coming public realm and infra- compensation bill after the plans London tribesman who is studying Eng- structure investments, alongside of hundreds of thousands of cus- lish in Manchester. all related policy programmes, tomers were thrown into disarray There will be dedicated zones have walking and cycling inte- by three days of strikes scheduled undreds of climate pro- within the occupied area, in- grated at the development stage”. for September 9, 10 and 27. testers plan to occupy cluding the “rebel camp”, which Earlier this month residents To make matters worse, the Hone of Manchester’s will include art installations, a of Ancoats, a rapidly expanding airline e-mailed many unaf- busiest streets for four days this garden and activities for families neighbourhood just outside the fected passengers in error, telling weekend to expose the “huge and children. city centre, opened a “people’s them their fl ight had been can- contradictions” of a city region Greater Manchester police park” on a 10.5-acre site formerly celled and that is “it is likely that that has declared a climate emer- (GMP) said its aim was to “fa- occupied by the Central Retail you will not be able to travel”. gency while planning to massive- cilitate the protest, whilst try- Park, which the council wants to These holidaymakers later re- ly expand its airport. ing to minimise disruption to turn into a huge interim car park ceived another e-mail informing The Extinction Rebellion all those who work, live or who despite it being next to New Is- that, in fact, their fl ight would group says that from 10am to- will be visiting Manchester over lington free school. go ahead as planned – prompt- morrow at least 750 people this period”. There will be an in- The people’s park is the brain- ing fury from those who swiftly have pledged to take over part creased police presence in and child of Gemma Cameron, a lo- acted on the fi rst message, and of Deansgate, a popular area for around the city centre and across cal resident with asthma who has booked another fl ight. shopping and entertainment the transport network, a spokes- started the Trees Not Cars cam- BA said it will reimburse pas- that has illegal levels of air pol- woman said. paign. “They’ve declared a climate sengers on a ‘case by case basis’, lution. The occupation is the lat- emergency but it just feels that but this had many fearing they A “canvas city” is expected to est headache for Manchester every single decision that has been will be left out of pocket. The in- be pitched on the street outside city council, which has come made by the council in the mo- cident could have ramifi cations House of Fraser, with tents oc- under increasing pressure af- ment is in complete contradiction for similar gaff es in the future. cupied around-the-clock until ter announcing plans to open to this climate emergency,” said Compensation remains a grey Monday evening for what or- a 440-space car park next to Cameron. “It’s cheaper to park in area, and the CAA stepped up the ganisers have billed the north- a primary school and spend- Manchester than it is to get public pressure on BA, saying: “Those ern rebellion. A similar action ing £9.1mn on a revamp of a key transport and it’s unsafe for peo- consumers that took action in April across various sites in thoroughfare that will remove ple to walk or cycle and there’s no should not be left out of pocket, London, including Oxford Cir- cycle lanes. green space.” and any reasonable costs of re- cus, resulted in more than 1,000 A recent report found motor- Next door in the Northern booked fl ights should be claimed arrests. ists already occupied 59% of the Quarter, the residents’ forum has from the airline.” All of the events will be open transport infrastructure area in consulted lawyers to challenge Passengers who have seen their to the public and will include Manchester despite making 13% the council over the car park, be- fl ights cancelled should be of- talks from experts, including the of the journeys. All of Greater lieving it would harm the human fered a refund or alternative travel climate scientist Prof Julia Stein- Manchester’s 10 boroughs have rights and health of the people arrangements. They also have berger – one of the authors of the vowed to prioritise people over who live and work in the area. A the right to a later fl ight. Richard UN climate change report, which cars as the region develops. They spokesperson said the forum had Stephenson of the CAA said: “We warned there are only 12 years left have even signed up to a plan by found a barrister willing to work are seeking an explanation to con- to limit global warming to 1.5C to Chris Boardman, the region’s cy- pro bono on a potential judicial fi rm how BA complied with its re- People paddleboard in the sea at Lyme Regis, Britain. avoid a climate emergency. cling and walking commissioner, review should the scheme pass routing obligations.” Organisers are also expect- which pledges to “ensure all up- planning. Couple fi nd treasure Musicians, daughter die in plane crash

Daily Mail his score to the BBC fi lm Primo. hoard worth millions London The couple, who were mar- ried in 2016, were keen fl yers. Goldstein was an experienced Guardian News and Media amongst historians is the extent silver coin, “an amazing fi nd composer and his Proms pilot who passed his solo cross- London to which there was continu- in its own right”, said Staples, musician wife died along- country fl ying examination in ity or change, both in the years something a detectorist might Aside their baby in a plane 2011 and bought the Piper Arrow immediately after the conquest only fi nd once in 30 years. “Two crash in the Alps, their family in 2015. millennium-old tax scam and across a longer period,” he steps later, there was another said. It was not known if he or his has been revealed with the said. “The coins help us under- signal and it was another coin. Jonathan Goldstein, 50, was wife was at the controls at the Adiscovery of thousands of stand how changes under Nor- Then there were beeps every- in the tiny four-seater light air- time of the crash. They had fl own coins in a muddy fi eld that to- man rule impacted on society where, it took four or fi ve hours craft with his wife Hannah, 36, in the plane from London on gether make up the largest hoard as a whole.” Three of the coins to dig them all up.” and their daughter Saskia, seven Saturday morning and landed in to be unearthed from the im- have been identified as “mules”, They soon had a bucket con- months. France before making a second mediate post-Norman conquest a combination of two types of taining a staggering number of The British family was on a stop in Lausanne, Switzerland, period. coin – essentially an early form coins, probably worth millions holiday fl ight to Italy on Sunday that night. The British Museum an- of tax-dodging by the moneyer, of pounds. The total hoard value when it went down in a 6,100ft On Sunday morning they took nounced the discovery of the the person who made them. would have been enough to buy mountain pass in Switzerland. off safely and were due to fl y to coins from a pivotal moment in These coins have designs a fl ock of 500 sheep in 1067-68, The cause is not yet known Perugia in Umbria but disaster English history yesterday. and language that relate to but its precise value today has yet but a hiker reportedly saw fl ames struck 90 minutes into the fl ight. Some depict Harold II, the both Harold and William, and to be revealed. coming from the Piper PA-28 Ar- A hiker in the Simplon Pass, last crowned Anglo-Saxon king would have been easy to pass The legal process will involve row before the crash. a route through the mountains of England, and an almost equal off as legal tender as the average a coroner’s examination to con- A family spokesman said: “We between Switzerland and Italy, amount show the man who re- Anglo-Saxon was illiterate and fi rm whether it is treasure. If it is, are all devastated by the news of said he saw burning metal falling placed him after the Battle of the stylised images of the kings it will then be valued by an inde- Jonathan, Hannah and Saskia’s from the sky and then heard two Hastings in 1066, William the looked similar. pendent treasure valuation com- deaths. We loved them all so huge bangs above him. Christian Conqueror, the fi rst Norman king The fi nd was made in January mittee and museums will have to very much. They were so happy Merz, 63, from Dorneck, Swit- of England. in a farmer’s fi eld near the Chew raise money to acquire the hoard. together and we will miss them zerland, told local media how Gareth Williams, the mu- Valley in Somerset by Lisa Grace Interest has already been ex- terribly.” he saw two people rush towards seum’s curator of early medieval and Adam Staples, a couple from pressed by the Roman Baths and Goldstein, a stage and screen the blazing wreckage but they coinage, said the hoard of 2,528 Derbyshire who were teach- Pump Room in Bath. composer, worked on several could not reach it because of the coins was unusually large and ing friends how to use their new The reward would then be A museum employee poses with coins from a collection of Hollywood fi lms including Mar- intensity of the fl ames. The bod- “massively important” in shining metal detectors. shared between the land owner 1,000-year-old recently discovered coins, from the Harold II and tin Scorsese’s 1991 thriller Cape ies have been recovered and the light on the history of the period. One of the friends came across and the metal detectorists who William I period, now on display at the British Museum in London Fear. He was nominated for an plane’s remnants have been re- “One of the big debates a single William the Conqueror made the discovery. yesterday. Ivor Novello award in 2007 for moved for examination. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, August 29, 2019 EUROPE

CRISIS HAIR GROWTH CONSERVATION CRIME TOMATO FIGHT Migrants, babies rescued ‘Werewolf syndrome’ hits Russia seizes 4,100 Robbers steal treasured at sea, 6 feared drowned kids in medicine mix-up smuggled tortoises Provence church bells

A charity ship yesterday rescued some 100 At least 17 children have developed so-called Russian border guards have seized more than Police are hunting for robbers who have stolen migrants in the Mediterranean, including 22 small “werewolf syndrome” in a major medicine mix-up 4,000 endangered wild tortoises after they were bronze bells from the steeples of Provencal churches children who had survived their dinghy sinking, in Spain, the health ministry said yesterday. They smuggled out of Kazakhstan. Traff ickers drove the in the dead of night over the past month. Residents of fellow occupants said drowned six people. are suff ering from the rare condition known as 4,100 Central Asian tortoises, which are classed Ginasservis and Brue-Auriac as well as the village of Charity Mediterranea Saving Humans said the hypertrichosis that causes abnormal hair growth. as globally vulnerable, across the border into Esparron-de-Pallieres have been left dumbfounded survivors were taken aboard the Mare Jonio The alert was given in June after parents started Russia’s Orenburg region in a trailer where they by the disappearance of their churches’ chimes. The vessel, which was still seeking safe port hours noticing their kids — some of them babies — were were disguised as cabbages. Their market value first to be targeted was Ginasservis 80km northeast later with hardline Italian interior minister Matteo growing hair all over their body after taking what was estimated at 7.8mn roubles ($117,000). The of Marseille, where two bronze bells weighing Salvini barring it from entering Italian waters. they thought was omeprazole, a drug that helps reptiles were placed under the care of a college in between 50kg and 80kg each, one dating from The rescued migrants included 26 women, eight with gastric reflux. After investigating, authorities Orenburg. “They were put into an old sports hall 1737 and the other from 1867, were stolen from two A reveller covered in tomato pulp takes part of whom are pregnant. The survivors told the discovered the drugs they took actually contained and we had to feed them every other day for over a diff erent churches on July 21. On August 10, they in the annual ‘Tomatina’ festival in the eastern Repubblica daily on board the ship that six people minoxidil, a medication used for the treatment month while the paperwork was being prepared,” struck again, this time 25km away in Brue-Auriac, Spanish town of Bunol. The iconic fiesta, which had drowned. “Six of us didn’t know how to swim of hair loss. It is unclear how the laboratory in said Sergei Ryabtsov, who co-ordinated the rescue where they made off with a bell from a 12th-century is billed at “the world’s biggest food fight” has and died,” they reportedly said. Malaga made the mistake. eff ort at Orenburg Pedagogical University. Romanesque church weighing 85kg. become a major draw for foreigners.

Climate activist sails into New York on PD, 5-Star agree on Italian zero-carbon yacht By Peter Hutchinson, AFP New York

wedish climate activist Greta Thunberg sailed into New coalition with Conte as PM SYork yesterday for a UN sum- mit after a 15-day journey across the Reuters Atlantic in a zero-carbon yacht. Rome The 16-year-old was photo- graphed waving at journalists and well-wishers as she neared the talian President Sergio Mattarella end of her 3,000-nautical-mile has summoned outgoing Prime (5,550km) trip. IMinister Giuseppe Conte for a “Land!! The lights of Long Island meeting today morning, a presidential and New York City ahead,” she tweet- offi cial said yesterday. ed early yesterday alongside a dark, The announcement signalled that blurry photo of lights in the distance. Conte is likely to receive a mandate to Her yacht later anchored off the try to form a new government with the entertainment district of Coney ruling 5-Star Movement and the oppo- Island in Brooklyn to clear customs sition Democratic Party (PD). and immigration. Conte resigned last week after the Thunberg is expected to dock at far-right League party withdrew from North Cove Marina near the World its coalition with the 5-Star, forcing Trade Center in Manhattan, ac- Mattarella to hold consultations with cording to a spokesperson. all Italy’s main political parties to try The United Nations sent a fl otilla to fi nd a way out of the political chaos. of 17 sailboats, one for each of their Both 5-Star and the PD told the pres- sustainable development goals for ident they were willing to try to form an 2030, to meet her for the last short administration with Conte at the helm. leg of her journey. Following days of often tense and Thunberg sailed to New York to diffi cult talks, the leaders of 5-Star and attend a UN summit on zero emis- the PD told Italy’s president that the sions next month after refusing new government should once again be to fl y there because of the carbon led by Conte. emissions caused by planes. The two sides still need to agree on The visit sees her bring her envi- a shared policy platform and team of ronmental message for the fi rst time ministers, but 5-Star chief Luigi Di to the United States, led by climate Maio and his PD counterpart Nicola change sceptic Donald Trump. Zingaretti said they had committed to Thunberg was off ered a ride on fi nd common ground for the good of the Malizia II racing yacht skip- the country. pered by Pierre Casiraghi, the son “We love Italy and we consider it of Monaco’s Princess Caroline, and worthwhile to try this experience,” German round-the-world sailor Zingaretti told reporters. Boris Herrmann. The previous coalition made up of The yacht left Plymouth in 5-Star and the far-right League col- southern England on August 14, and lapsed this month when League leader the teenager marked the fi rst anni- Matteo Salvini withdrew from the alli- versary of the start of her school ance hoping to trigger an early election strike on August 20. and cash in on his surging popularity. Thunberg, who was diagnosed But his move backfi red when Conte with Asperger syndrome at the refused to resign immediately, giving age of 12, began sitting outside the 5-Star and the PD time to try to over- Swedish parliament in August 2018 come their fi erce mutual animosity and to get members of parliament to act agree to a government that had previ- on climate change. ously appeared impossible. She was quickly joined by other “The only thing that unites them is students around the world, as word their hatred of the League,” Salvini said of her strike spread through the bitterly after meeting Mattarella in an 5-Star Movement leader Luigi di Maio speaks to the media as Francesco D’Uva and Stefano Patuanelli look on at the Presidential Palace in Rome. media, and the “Fridays for future” eff ort to convince him to call elections. movement was born. “Millions of Italians are being held The League is highly eurosceptic and unleashed by Salvini. As negotiations went down to the when he was chosen by the League and The teenager has become a fi g- hostage by a hundred parliamentar- had promised swingeing tax cuts for 5-Star and the PD have yet to agree wire, one of the posts still in play was 5-Star to lead their new government urehead for climate action with her ians who are looking to cling onto their 2020 that economists warned could on other top government posts or re- that of deputy prime minister. last year, was seen as a voice of reason stark warnings of catastrophe if the posts.” put unsustainable pressure on Italy’s veal a common policy platform. The PD wants this job for one of its within the outgoing coalition and has world does not act now to cut carbon The prospect of a new administra- towering debt mountain. In an added complication, 5-Star has own, now that it has agreed to Conte good relations with Mattarella. emissions and curb global warming. tion led by Conte, an academic who is However, a coalition pact is not yet a said it will put its proposed deal with staying on as prime minister. An opinion poll yesterday in daily Ahead of the UN summit on Sep- considered close to the 5-Star, has bu- done deal. the PD to an online vote of its members. “The problem is that if there is a Corriere della Sera showed Salvini’s ap- tember 23, Thunberg will take part oyed markets, which are betting that The tentative accord could still un- Many 5-Star supporters have taken premier from the 5-Star it is fair that proval rating had plunged by 15 points in youth demonstrations, before Italy will get a fi scally prudent gov- ravel even as Mattarella wraps up his to social media to denounce any pact his deputy is from the PD,” PD deputy since he pulled the plug on the gov- heading to Canada, Mexico and ernment that will avoid confrontation consultations aimed at resolving the with the centre-left and a ‘yes’ vote leader Andrea Orlando said on Twitter. ernment, and is now 16 points behind then to Chile for another UN con- with Europe. political chaos that was unexpectedly cannot be taken for granted. Conte, a virtually unknown lawyer Conte’s. ference in December.

Feeling its WWII wounds, Poland seeks German reparations 80 years on

By Stanislaw Waszak and rule of law and respecting human But Polish conservatives con- is talk of rehabilitating the We- Mathieu Fouulkes, AFP rights,” Mularczyk told AFP. test the validity of the 1953 accord, hrmacht. Warsaw/Berlin He claims “discrimination,” claiming Warsaw acted under Ahead of the 2017 general elec- saying Germany provides com- pressure from the Soviet Union. tion, the co-leader of the far- pensation to other war victims They also focus on insisting right party Alternative for Ger- ighty years after the fi rst while there are still Poles alive that Germany has a “moral duty” many (AfD), Alexander Gauland, Nazi bombs fell on Poland, “who experienced the same suf- in the matter, perhaps trying to said Germans “have the right to Eechoes of the blasts can be fering as the Jewish nation.” avoid it ending up as a thorny le- be proud of the achievements heard in the bickering between Berlin has accepted responsi- gal dispute. of German soldiers in two world Warsaw and Berlin over the pos- bility for Nazi war atrocities but Poles themselves are divided wars.” sibility of billions of euros in war routinely rejects demands for on the question of reparations. The comments triggered out- reparations. reparations, be they from Poland For Tadeusz Sierandt, who was rage from German politicians of It was only recently that the or Greece. a child when the Nazis bombed all stripes, but the criticism did neighbours, allies within Nato “The German government’s his hometown of Wielun, the not stop the AfD from becom- and the European Union, had ap- position remains unchanged. The matter has been settled since the ing the country’s fi rst national- peared to have turned the page on matter of German reparations Allies redrew Poland’s borders at ist party to win dozens of seats World War II. is legally and politically closed,” the war’s end. in parliament since World War II. But that changed with the 2015 said government spokeswoman At the time Poland lost almost Poland has not yet made a for- election of Poland’s Law and Jus- Ulrike Demmer. half of its eastern territory to the mal demand for reparations, but tice (PiS) party, which sees wari- According to Berlin, Poland, Soviet Union but it also gained a PiS lawmaker Mularczyk stressed ness of the EU and Germany as a then a Soviet satellite, relin- smaller chunk of land to its west that the issue must be addressed. useful political tool. quished its claims for reparations that had belonged to Germany. “With the issue (of repara- And the right-wing party has to the former communist east “I would just be happy with the tions) left unsettled, we reach reopened discussion on repara- Germany — the German Demo- land recovered in 1945,” Sierandt, the point of relativising the role tions. cratic Republic — in 1953. 88, told AFP. played by the Germans during “Poland has yet to receive In 1990, Poland and a united But for historian Tadeusz Ole- World War II,” he said. proper compensation from Ger- Germany signed a border agree- jnik, the current call for repara- Two weeks after Germany in- many...We lost 6mn people over A September 6, 1939, file photo of Germans tanks crossing a river into Polish territory. ment after the Two Plus Four tions remains “morally justifi ed”. vaded Poland from the west in the course of the war — many conference on the reunifi cation However, there is consensus 1939, the Soviet Union invaded more than did countries that re- relaunched the issue in 2017, and The fi gures could be even high- “It’s been so many years since of Germany, followed by a good among Germans that reparations from the east. ceived major reparations,” Polish since then, a parliamentary com- er than those drawn up by Poland the war ended and Germany neighbour agreement in 1991. are a closed case. But “the Polish side is not rais- Prime Minister Mateusz Moraw- mission has been working on a in 1947, which are equivalent to hasn’t refl ected on its past. It’s The question of reparations But at the same time among ing the issue of war reparations iecki said earlier this month. “It’s new analysis of the extent of Po- around $850bn today, according more concerned with the stability was never raised, leading Berlin the country’s rising political with Russia right now,” Poland’s not fair. This can’t continue.” land’s wartime human and mate- to the commission head, PiS law- of its budget than with observing to assume a tacit agreement that far-right — especially present in foreign ministry told AFP, with- PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski rial losses. maker Arkadiusz Mularczyk. the democratic guidelines of the the matter had been settled. areas bordering Poland — there out elaborating. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 17 INDIA India set to outlaw six single-use plastic products

Reuters scrap such plastics by 2022, is ing, usage and import of such wide about plastic pollution, tering, and its island province Penalties for violations of the companies to cut back on plastic New Delhi set to launch the campaign with items,” one offi cial said. with a particular focus on the of Hainan has already vowed to ban will probably take eff ect af- packaging that makes up nearly a ban on as many as six items on India’s environment and oceans, where nearly 50% of completely eliminate single-use ter an initial six-month period to 40% of India’s annual plastic October 2, the birth anniversary housing ministries, the two main single-use plastic products end plastic by 2025. allow people time to adopt alter- consumption, offi cials say. ndia is set to impose a na- of Mahatma Gandhi, two offi - ministries leading the drive, did up, killing marine life and enter- India lacks an organised sys- natives, offi cials said. Cheap smartphones and a tionwide ban on plastic bags, cials said. not respond to e-mails from Re- ing the human food chain, stud- tem for management of plastic Some Indian states have al- surge in the number of Internet Icups and straws on Octo- These include plastic bags, uters to seek comment. ies show. waste, leading to widespread lit- ready outlawed polythene bags. users have boosted orders for e- ber 2, offi cials said, in its most cups, plates, small bottles, In an Independence Day The European Union plans tering across its towns and cities. The federal government also commerce companies, such as sweeping measure yet to stamp straws and certain types of sa- speech on August 15, Modi had to ban single-use plastic items The ban on the fi rst six items plans tougher environmental Amazon.com Inc and Walmart out single-use plastics from cit- chets, said the offi cials, who urged people and government such as straws, forks, knives and of single-use plastics will clip standards for plastic products Inc’s Flipkart, which wrap their ies and villages that rank among asked not to be identifi ed, in line agencies to “take the fi rst big cotton buds by 2021. 5% to 10% from India’s annual and will insist on the use of re- wares – from books and medi- the world’s most polluted. with government policy. step” on October 2 towards free- China’s commercial hub of consumption of about 14mn cyclable plastic only, the fi rst cines to cigarettes and cosmet- Prime Minister Narendra “The ban will be comprehen- ing India of single-use plastic. Shanghai is gradually reining in tonnes of plastic, the fi rst offi cial source said. ics – in plastic, pushing up con- Modi, who is leading eff orts to sive and will cover manufactur- Concerns are growing world- use of single-use plastics in ca- said. It will also ask e-commerce sumption. BJP, Congress spar after Pak cites Rahul on Kashmir issue

IANS Speaking to reporters, Con- New Delhi gress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said: “It is tragic that Javadekar is twisting a statement he ruling Bharatiya Janata made by Rahul Gandhi which Party and the Congress refl ected that Congress and all Twere yesterday engaged other parties are united.” He said in war of words after Pakistan we are in “unison” to take on the quoted former Congress chief “fake and false propaganda” of Rahul Gandhi in a petition sub- Pakistan vis-a-vis the state of mitted to the United Nations on Jammu and Kashmir. the issue of Kashmir. “Rahul Gandhi categorically Upping the ante against Gan- said that Jammu and Kashmir dhi, Information and Broadcast- and Ladakh were, are and shall ing Minister and senior BJP lead- always remain an integral part Residents drive along a busy road in Srinagar yesterday. Kashmir is under a strict lockdown – with movement restricted and phone and Internet services cut since. er Prakash Javadekar demanded of Indian Union. No one on the an apology from the Congress planet, including Pakistan, has leader, as well as the party for a right to question that,” he “insulting the country”. said. Describing Gandhi’s com- Defending the former party ment criticising the revocation chief, Surjewala said: “Rahul of Article 370 as “shameful”, Gandhi also said that the vio- Javadekar said: “He is now be- lence in Kashmir is instigated ing forced to retract and change and supported by terror groups Kashmir ‘has seen several his statement. This is being in Pakistan that thrive under the done after the nation erupted political and military patronage in fury.” of the Pakistani government. Javadekar said the shift in Earlier, Gandhi said in a se- the Congress’ position is not ries of tweets: “I disagree with because of its change of mind- this government on many issues. protests’ since August 5 set but due to political compul- But let me make this absolutely sions. clear: Kashmir is India’s inter- AFP including in the main city of sary because “every Kashmiri ate 50,000 jobs in the next few been detained across the valley, He also called the opposition nal issue and there is no room Srinagar Srinagar, with police using pel- life is valuable to us”. months. security and government sourc- delegation to Kashmir led by for Pakistan or any other foreign let guns and tear gas to disperse “There has been no civilian The lockdown would be eased es told AFP last week, with a few Gandhi as “irresponsible”. country to interfere in it. the crowds. casualty, only the few who got gradually, although Internet released since then. Javadekar’s attack came while “There is violence in Jammu t least 500 incidents of A senior government source violent were injured, these also services will continue to be sus- Another senior government Pakistan, in its latest bid to raise and Kashmir. There is violence protest have broken out told AFP at least 500 protests have below the waist (non-fa- pended for some time, he said, offi cial told AFP yesterday that the issue of India’s abrogation of because it is instigated and sup- Ain Jammu and Kashmir and incidents of stone throwing tal) injuries.” stressing that the web was being at least 1,350 protesters – de- the Constitution’s Article 370 at ported by Pakistan.” since New Delhi revoked its au- have occurred since August 5, AFP has spoken to relatives of used by agitators. scribed by police as “stone-pel- the UN, quoted Gandhi’s com- Gandhi’s name being openly tonomy more than three weeks with more than half taking place three people they alleged died The Supreme Court yester- ters” – have been arrested since ments to justify its stand. bandied by Pakistan in support ago, a senior government source in Srinagar. due to violence from the secu- day gave the government one August 5. Pakistan’s plea to the UN said: of its stand on Kashmir is likely told AFP yesterday, as authori- Nearly 100 civilians have rity forces, including a man and week to respond to a legal chal- Meanwhile in Muslim-ma- “These, and other, acts of vio- to harm his image and that of the ties promised to create 50,000 been injured so far, with a fur- woman who died in separate lenge calling for an end to the jority Kargil, activists said the lence have even been acknowl- Congress party. jobs in the restive state. ther 300 police and more than incidents after tear gas was re- communications blackout to town was observing a “com- edged by mainstream politicians Gandhi had tried to lead an The Kashmir Valley is under a 100 paramilitary troopers hurt, leased near them, and a teen- allow for media reporting. plete shutdown” yesterday and such as the leader of the Con- opposition delegation to Srina- strict lockdown, imposed hours the offi cial added. ager who drowned while being The court also said several today to protest against its sep- gress Party, Mr Rahul Gandhi gar on Saturday, but was turned before India’s decision to bring “The number of protests chased by police. petitions challenging the re- aration from Kashmir. who has noted ‘people dying’ back. He has been locked in a war the state under its direct rule. could be much higher and big- Malik added that the deci- moval of the constitutional New Delhi’s move will split in Jammu & Kashmir, in light of of words with Kashmir Governor Movement is restricted and ger without the blockade in sion to revoke Article 37 of the clause on Kashmir’s autonomy the state into two territories, events going very wrong there.” Satyapal Malik, who has refused phone and Internet services force,” the offi cial told AFP, constitution – which will al- would be heard in October. with Kargil becoming part of Earlier, federal Textiles Min- to allow him into the valley, say- have been cut. adding that “anger and public low non-residents to buy land In Srinagar, residents are re- the Ladakh region and Jammu ister Smriti Irani also criticised ing that it would upset the move The lockdown, as well as the defi ance is constantly rising”. and apply for government jobs fusing to resume their normal and Kashmir forming the sec- the senior Congress leader for towards normalcy that the ad- deployment of tens of thou- “Eff orts for easing the condi- in the state – would “change lives in an act of defi ance, an ond territory. putting India in an “awkward” ministration is striving to bring sands of extra troops to re- tions are made all the time but the face of Kashmir in six AFP reporter said. “The authorities promised position internationally. about. inforce the 500,000 based in nothing seems to be working months”. While authorities have reo- to negotiate with us since the Responding to the BJP’s Gandhi has been maintaining Kashmir, was ordered amid for now. There is nervousness He vowed to preserve the pened schools, students have majority of the people in Kargil charge, the Congress hit back that if the government claims fears of unrest in a region where spreading in the security estab- “identity, language, culture and stayed away. want to stay with Jammu and saying that the “misinformation things are returning to normalcy, separatists have waged an lishment.” heritage of Kashmir”, which lo- Told to keep open all day or Kashmir,” Sajjad Hussain Kargili minister” has “lost his political then he and other opposition armed rebellion against Indian Jammu and Kashmir Gover- cals fear will be diluted if there “don’t open at all”, some shops told AFP. balance,” a reference to Java- leaders should be allowed to see rule since 1989. nor Satya Pal Malik said yester- is an infl ux of migrants from have remained shut. But no offi cials had met with dekar. it for themselves. But protests have broken out, day the lockdown was neces- other parts of India, and cre- At least 4,000 people have local leaders so far, he said.

Odisha govt expands work Moscow meeting Delhi Congress likely scheme to tackle exploitation to get new chief soon IANS held a meeting with leaders Reuters daily rate from Rs180 to 286. against a loan they have taken New Delhi from the Delhi unit. New Delhi “As per our records, 140,000 or debt inherited from a relative, The hunt for a new leader people migrate for work after labour rights activists say. to head the Congress in Delhi registering with the labour de- Trapped in debt bondage, the he wait for Delhi Con- started after its chief Sheila he eastern state of Odisha partment,” said Niranjan Sahu, most common form of slavery in gress chief may end be- Dikshit died on July 20. The with some of the coun- Odisha’s labour commissioner. India, they then spend the next Tfore the weekend. 81-year-old had served as Ttry’s highest levels of mi- “But there are studies that six months or more working to According to party sourc- Delhi’s chief minister for three gration driven by poverty is dou- suggest that three times that pay it back. es, the party will fi rst focus terms from 1998 and 2013. bling the amount of paid work number migrate, many duped India’s rural jobs guarantee on election-bound Harya- The assembly elections are it gives some of its poorest citi- by illegal agents. We want to give scheme was set up in 2006 and na. While the tenure of the crucial for the Congress as it zens, in a bid to curb debt bond- them work near their homes.” provides unskilled work to about Bharatiya Janata Party govern- will give an opportunity to the age, a common form of slavery. The project will provide extra 70mn rural people building eve- ment in Haryana ends in Oc- grand old party to bounce back Authorities in the the state paid work in two of the worst hit rything from dams to school toi- tober, that of the Aam Aadmi in Delhi, which it ruled for 15 said hundreds of thousands of districts in the drought-prone lets. Party government in Delhi will years until an AAP tsunami people were estimated to be west of the state, from where Wages can take up to two end in February. destroyed it in 2015. leaving to fi nd work every year, tens of thousands of families weeks to be paid – a delay labour “As Haryana is likely to go The Congress vote share fell with many traffi cked into ex- leave their villages each autumn rights campaigners have argued for elections before Delhi, the from 24.55% in the 2013 as- ploitative jobs in the brick kilns to seek work across India. pushes poor families into exploi- party will fi rst announce the sembly polls to 9.65% in 2015. fuelling the country’s construc- Odisha has one of India’s tation – but the Odisha govern- new names for Haryana units. After Dikshit returned to tion boom. highest migration rates, fuelled ment has pledged to ensure they The names are likely to be an- head the Congress, the party’s To address this, they are ex- by drought and a lack of jobs. are paid within 24 hours. nounced by Thursday,” a Con- vote share went up to 22.46% panding a national scheme An estimated 500,000 peo- Migration expert Umi Daniel gress leader told IANS. the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from that provides state-funded ple migrate from this part of the said the Odisha government had After that, the Delhi unit 15.10% in 2014. The Congress employment to the neediest, state every year, more than half in the past provided only 34 days External Aff airs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and chief is likely to be named in secured the second position doubling the annual number to work in brick kilns. of work – not the 100 days the Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands during a the next three days. in Delhi after the BJP in the of paid work days to 200 per Most are duped into off ering scheme is supposed to guaran- news conference after a meeting in Moscow yesterday. On Tuesday, Congress in- Lok Sabha battle, stunning the household and increasing the themselves for work as security tee. terim president Sonia Gandhi AAP. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, August 29, 2019 INDIA

CRIME ART FACILITY INVESTIGATION SCAM Kerala businessman’s Govt fellowships for Baby feeding room CBI summons TMC, BJP Raman Singh’s son son jailed in UAE Delhi street artists at Taj from today leaders in Narada sting case named in 27 cases

Byju Gopalan, son of Kerala businessman The Delhi government yesterday announced Here’s some good news for mothers visiting The Central Bureau of Investigation has A total of 27 complaints have been lodged against Gokulam Gopalan, is lodged in a United Arab Street Performance Fellowships for 1,000 artists, the iconic Taj Mahal: an air-conditioned baby summoned Trinamool Congress MP Aparupa former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh’s Emirates jail for forging documents, officials to encourage, promote and mentor young feeding room will be opened at the complex Poddar and Trinamool-turned-BJP leader Sovan son and former BJP MP from Rajnandgaon said yesterday. Gopalan senior is a millionaire street artists. The Art, Culture and Languages today. The Taj Mahal, with an average of Chatterjee in connection with the Narada case, Abhishek Singh in a chit fund scam. While the with huge interests in chit funds, owns Department, under the leadership of Deputy Chief 22,000 daily visitors, is a major hotspot for an off icial said yesterday. While Chatterjee, the BJP calls the complaints “politically motivated”, hospitals, hotels, jewellery shops, and is a Minister Manish Sisodia, said Rs5,000 per month Indian and international tourists. Earlier this former Kolkata mayor who defected to the saff ron the state’s Congress government says they have leading producer and distributor in the South will be given to the artists individually. Applications year, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) party earlier this month, has been summoned been filed on the orders of the Supreme Court. Indian film industry. His son has business were invited from individuals working in the announced plans to build a breastfeeding on August 31, Poddar, the Trinamool MP from Some 100 fly-by-night chit fund companies are interests in the UAE. The UAE authorities field of acting, direction, scriptwriting, dance, room. The nursing room will be inaugurated Arambag, has been asked to appear before reported to have duped around 20 lakh investors imposed a travel ban on him in a cheque music and other forms of street performance, the by federal Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel the agency on September 2. Both Chatterjee in Chhattisgarh of their hard-earned savings dishonour case after which he is unable department said. “Fellows will be divided into 100 today. “It is the first baby feeding room to and Poddar featured in the Narada sting tape worth Rs1,105 crore during the previous BJP to travel out of the UAE. Two weeks back, groups. Each group will have a maximum of 10 open at any Indian monument,” Vasant Kumar that surfaced before the 2016 state assembly regime. Basant Sharma, who has been fighting however, Byju was caught by officials at the artists,” it said. The department added that each of Swarnkar of ASI told IANS. The nursing room elections. In the footage of the sting operation for the victims of the scam, says the Raman Singh Oman-UAE border when he was trying to leave these 100 groups will be performing at least four could be the first of a series of such centres conducted by Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel, government actively supported the chit fund the country by road. He is now lodged in a jail times a month. Sisodia said the step is being taken at other monuments. The ASI official said a a number of Trinamool leaders and elected companies, including 60 illegal and 40 banned, in in Al Ain city. His father is now to secure get to encourage young talents. Artists, between 18 similar baby feeding room is getting ready at representatives were purportedly seen taking cheating the people by off ering them stalls in job bail for his son. and 40 years of age can apply. the Agra Fort. cash while promising favours in return. fairs and other state events. Not shifting capital from Amaravati:

Trinamool Congress activists take part in a rally during the Foundation Day celebrations of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the Andhra leader students’ wing of the party, in Kolkata yesterday. IANS ring to Naidu’s rented house. showing cinema to people by Hyderabad Rambabu disagreed that Ama- unveiling graphics after graph- ravati is not a priority of the new ics. Even after four years, Ama- government. “It is a priority. It ravati is in initial stages. Nothing he Andhra Pradesh gov- is the new state capital. Without permanent has come up there,” ernment has no plans to developing a capital, how can we the YSRCP chief had told the Will go to jail but not bow election rallies. Tshift the state capital out move forward?” of Amaravati but works on vari- After the YSRCP stormed to Rambabu said the YSRCP ous projects will only resume power in May, works on various government would not make after a probe into scams that oc- projects in Amaravati launched tall claims like Naidu of building curred during the previous gov- during the TDP’s tenure came to Amaravati on the lines of Singa- down to BJP, says Mamata pore. “Nothing in our country ernment, a top leader of ruling a grinding halt, triggering spec- YSR Congress Party said. ulations that Reddy may have will be like Singapore, China and IANS I will not bow down my head People suspect that the ‘cut- Meanwhile, in a video of Party legislator and spokes- second thoughts about develop- Malaysia. Whatever we build Kolkata before the communal politics money’ was passed on to the top Banerjee that has emerged, the man Ambati Rambabu told IANS ing the state capital in Amara- will be Indian. It could be better of the BJP,” she said amid thun- of the TMC leadership, Ghosh chief minister is seen feeding that the opposition Telugu De- vati. than Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai derous applause by her party said. cake to a police offi cer who in sam Party (TDP) was spreading “What is the need to shift? or Mysore,” he said. est Bengal Chief Min- workers at the meeting. “She must be feeling if the turn touches her feet. falsehoods that the government The previous government al- He alleged that Naidu has a ister Mamata Baner- Banerjee also said that im- offi cers can reach (Congress BJP leader Kailash Vijayvar- was planning to shift the state ready acquired 53,000 acres of habit of boosting and uttering Wjee yesterday accused portant institutions of the leader) P Chidambram, they giya has claimed the man in capital. land here. If there is a need to lies to mislead people and said the central government of try- country were being headed by can easily reach Kalighat (Ban- the video is West Bengal’s west “Can we shift the state capital shift, we would have announced this was the reason why people ing throttle her government us- retired bureaucrats, who act as erjee’s residence). The preva- zone Inspector General of Po- just because work was started by it by now,” said Rambabu. rejected him in the recent elec- ing federal “agencies” and said “yes men” of the government. lent corruption in the state and lice Rajeev Mishra. Chandrababu Naidu? We will set He said that works have tions. she would not bow down before “All the institutions are tough steps being taken by the The video is a few days right the things and take action stopped not just in Amaravati Naidu had got the master plan the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headed by retired persons. They CBI have made her afraid,” he old when the chief minister wherever there are allegations of but on all projects. “We are look- for Amaravati prepared by Sin- even if she had to go to jail. are just following orders of the claimed. was touring the coastal town corruption and irregularities,” he ing into the irregularities com- gapore. With nine theme cities, Referring to summonses by government like ‘yes men’. They If the agencies had facts and of Digha. TMC MP Shishir said. mitted by the previous govern- and 27 townships, it was planned the Central Bureau of Investi- have no accountability towards proofs, they had every right to Adhikari can also be seen in the “If we had any such plans (to ment in awarding the works. in an area of 217sq km as a world- gation to a number of her state people,” she alleged. summon anyone from across video. shift) why would our Chief Min- Work will resume after reverse class city. ministers and party leaders, the However, the BJP refuted the country, the BJP leader said. The offi cial touched her feet ister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy tendering wherever neces- Designed not merely as an ad- Trinamool Congress supremo Banerjee’s claims and said her “(Prime Minister) Narendra while in police uniform. have built his house in Amara- sary,” said Rambabu, who hopes ministrative capital but an eco- claimed that the BJP was try- words showed that she was Modi was questioned by of- “What kind of a system and vati,” the senior leader asked. things will become normal in six nomic and job creating hub and ing to capture West Bengal as scared. fi cials for hours when he was democracy is this,” Vijayvargiya He said unlike Reddy, his months. tourism centre, it was planned her party protests and fi ghts West Bengal BJP chief Dilip chief minister. Amit Shah was asked. predecessor N Chandrababu The YSRCP leader said their to be developed in three phases against its atrocities. Ghosh asked why Banerjee was questioned and even the case Another BJP leader Arjun Naidu lacked sincerity in build- intention was not delay or cancel - seed area or core capital, the “They want to capture Ben- repeatedly talking about jail was shifted from Gujarat to Singh, who had jumped ship ing the state capital and this is the projects. “We only want to capital city and the capital re- gal because we protest and and investigating agencies if Bombay High Court. We were from TMC, tweeted the video evident from the fact that the see that the public money is not gion. fi ght against them. Our voice she and her party leaders were not worried. We fought it in the that was re-tweeted by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief wasted.” Naidu’s grandiose plans to cannot be suppressed. We are innocent. court. Innocent should have West Bengal unit of the BJP. did not build a house in Amara- Slamming Naidu, Rambabu build the state capital require not scared of death. We are not “Other political leaders are faith in the law,” Ghosh said. It is unclear whether any dis- vati. said they would not show graph- an estimated Rs1.5 lakh crore. scared of agencies,” Banerjee not afraid, and are not talking On Banerjee’s remark that ciplinary action will be taken “We have full confidence ics, make big statements like Works worth Rs38,000 crore on said while addressing a student about jail. She keeps saying a her party would not bow to any against the offi cer but politics that Amaravati will remain the developing a magnifi cent city or projects like roads and state sec- rally in Kolkata. conspiracy is being hatched to communal force, Ghosh said has clearly peaked over the in- capital and that is why we have hosting Olympics. retariat complex were launched “Today they have summoned kill her or send her to jail. Her the BJP didn’t want anyone to cident in a state where almost our house here. Why is Naidu During this year’s poll cam- last year but went into a pause my brother, tomorrow they will manner of speaking makes it bow. Opposition leaders in oth- anything has the potential to not building a house here? He paign, Reddy had targeted Naidu mode with the announcement of summon me. I am prepared for apparent that she nurtures er states were not feeling scared create a political spat between is living in somebody else’s for not going beyond unveiling election schedule in March this that. I am ready to go to jail, but some fear,” Ghosh said. like Banerjee, he added. the ruling TMC and the BJP. house,” Rambabu said refer- graphics on Amaravati. “He is year. Judge who refused bail to Declared dead at birth, Chidambaram gets top job UP girl is KBC winner IANS KBC, the proud mother said that Unnao, Uttar Pradesh whenever the game show was IANS case, Chidambaram is accused of Mehta revealed this in- shown on TV, Noopur would New Delhi facilitating foreign direct invest- formation while addressing answer the questions correctly ment clearance in the company Chidambaram’s argument that he was declared “born even before the contestants. and is currently being investi- the transaction happened before dead” and thrown in a gar- “When this season began, we Delhi High Court judge, gated by the CBI and the En- it was made an off ence, which Sbage dump by doctors of a asked her to apply and she was who rejected former forcement Directorate. points at the retrospective appli- Kanpur hospital. A relative saw selected. Our happiness knew no Afi nance minister P Meanwhile, the ED yesterday cability of Prevention of Money signs of life in the newborn and bounds when she ended up win- Chidambaram’s bail plea two days told the Supreme Court that spe- Laundering Act (PMLA) law. picked her up. ning Rs12.5 lakhs,” she said. before his retirement, has been cifi c information had been re- “We have robust material to The baby girl grew up physi- Noopur, her mother said, holds appointed chairperson of the Ap- ceived from foreign banks which show money laundering,” argued cally challenged due to the fi rst no grudges against the doctors pellate Tribunal for Prevention of include inputs on Chidambar- the ED counsel. Mehta informed few minutes of negligence by who were responsible for her dis- Money Laundering Act. am’s properties abroad. These the court that the records in the the doctors. Twenty-nine years ability. “She says that it was her The tribunal comprises a chair- included house numbers and case had been offi cially received later, Noopur Singh, won Rs12.5 destiny and she does not blame man and four members. It has its companies which owned them. and not manufactured or fabri- lakhs at the country’s most cel- anyone,” the mother said. headquarters in New Delhi. Solicitor General Tushar Me- cated. ebrated game show Kaun Banega Asked what gave her more Justice Sunil Gaur had turned hta told before a bench headed He insisted that it was the ED’s Crorepati (KBC) hosted by su- happiness - reaching the hot down the anticipatory bail of the by Justice R Banumathi: “As a statutory right to arrest the ac- perstar Amitabh Bachchan. She seat or winning a big amount, Congress leader in the INX Me- result, we have issued Letters cused. The ED had the right to ar- answered 12 questions. Noopur said: “Defi nitely being dia case, paving the way for his Rogatory in the matter... well rest and many conditions are sup- Noopur, who lives in Bighapur on the hot seat. I knew if I man- arrest by the Central Bureau of crafted and layering of money posed to be met before an arrest is in Unnao district, was born to age to reach there, my knowledge Investigation. laundering was adopted by the made. Mehta told the court that farmer Ramkumar Singh and his will help me in the game. I have While rejecting the petition accused in this case.” the information received from wife Kalpana Singh. always been a KBC fan but never on August 23 for interim protec- The court has extended the pro- various banks across the world Kalpana said: “Noopur, de- tried to audition as I feared my tion, the judge had said that the tection from arrest of Chidambar- cannot be made public in the case. spite her disability, has always speed will not let me go ahead in facts of the case prima facie re- am by ED for another day. He told the court that the been a good student. She was the game. This time I was ada- veal that Chidambaram was the The ED refused to share statute provides that material on the merit list in Intermedi- mant. And when I got selected, I kingpin and the key conspirator. its investigation report with should be handed over to a neu- ate and got through the BEd en- would spend days practising the He had termed the case as a Chidambaram as the charge sheet tral adjudicatory authority to trance test in the fi rst attempt. fastest fi nger through various classic one of money laundering, in the case is yet to be fi led and help in avoiding a probe agency “Today, she teaches children apps. The team of KBC also en- and said granting bail would send urged the court to look into the to tamper with them. These were in a play group and also gives free couraged me once I reached the a wrong message to the society. report fi led in a sealed envelope to statutory checks and balances education to Class 10 students.” set. It was also their support that In the high-profi le INX Media decide his anticipatory bail plea. involved in the process. Bachchan congratulates Noopur after the winning round. Talking about her journey to I could fi nally fulfi l my dreams.” Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 19

LATIN AMERICA

Argentina central bank sells $262mn reserves as currency falls

Reuters nominated debt obligations pesos needed to fund opera- further,” he said. woes, spurring market fear that to control the peso’s fall. On Tuesday, the bank ex- Buenos Aires have increased since the peso tions. The markets have been in an eventual Fernandez presi- Minutes later the bank sold ceeded for the first time a got trounced by political un- “It is not clear whether firms turmoil since the primary vote, dency would lead to a severe $65mn more of its reserves at an guideline on reserve sales certainty after an August 11 pri- will actually respond by selling which revealed thinner-than- break from Macri’s orthodox average 58.7269 pesos per dol- agreed as part of Argentina’s rgentina’s peso currency mary election. foreign exchange, particularly expected support for the re- economic policies. lar, traders said. $57bn standby deal with the traded 2.85% weaker at The peso has lost 21.78% of in the current environment,” election of business-friendly Country risk rose 135 basis The bank quickly followed IMF, selling $302mn in the A57.95 per US dollar yes- its value against the US dollar Edward Glossop, Latin America President Mauricio Macri. points to 2,125 yesterday, its up with a third auction, selling foreign exchange market. terday, cutting what had been since August 12. economist for Capital Econom- His center-left Peronist rival, highest level in 14 years, accord- $55mn at an average 58.2354. The agreement with the IMF steeper losses early in the day as The central bank issued a ics, told Reuters. Alberto Fernandez, is now fa- ing to the JP Morgan Emerging In its fourth intervention of limits Argentina’s central bank the central bank sold $262mn of press release saying it would “With capital flight pick- voured to win the presidency in Markets Bond Index Plus. the day, the bank sold $21mn to $250mn in reserve sales daily, its reserves in five interventions limit financing in pesos for ma- ing up and concerns about the the October 27 general election. Argentina’s central bank at an average 57.2346 pesos per set when the exchange rate was aimed at controlling the peso’s jor exporters, a move aimed at International Monetary Fund At the start of the week, sold $50mn of its reserves in dollar. above 51.5 pesos per dollar, with fall. strengthening the local curren- deal and debt restructuring still Fernandez blamed Macri and its first dollar auction of the The bank later sold $71mn in the option to intervene further Worries about Argentina’s cy by encouraging companies dominating, this is unlikely to the International Monetary day at an average 58.833 pesos reserves at an average 57.6684 to “counteract episodes of ex- ability to meet its dollar-de- to sell dollars in order to obtain prevent the peso from falling Fund for Argentina’s economic per dollar, as part of its effort to the greenback, traders said. cessive volatility.” Soaring prices fail to dent Argentines’ love for beef

Reuters as they lined up to buy at butcher Buenos Aires shops across the capital. “Prices are up 15% to 20% since the primary. The election imes are hard in recession- result was really a surprise,” said hit Argentina and the peso Julio Basmagian, 70, as he left a Tcurrency’s latest crash has butcher’s store with purchases jolted food prices higher. under his arms. But in a country where eating “Beef for us is very important. beef is considered more a right It’s very unusual for an Argentine than a luxury, people are stretch- to get through a day without eat- ing their budgets to keep buying ing beef in one form or another.” steak while butcher shops see But as a retiree living on a fi xed profi t margins shrink. income, Basmagian said he may People wait outside a bar where 23 people were killed by a fire in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, yesterday. Social life revolves around have to cut back if prices keep weekend barbecues for Argen- rising. “I just don’t have the tines, rich and poor. budget,” he said. The cherished image of the Consumer price infl ation is gaucho cowboy, wandering the expected at more than 3% this pampas on horseback and dining month, Macri said on Tuesday, on top quality steak around the up from 2.2% in July. fi re, is as much a part of the na- But meat price increases seem tion’s identity as the tango, Evita to be outpacing infl ation, ac- Peron, and fi nancial crises. cording to consumers and butch- Attackers kill 26 The latest economic setback ers. occurred earlier this month Offi cial price data for August when a landslide victory for the will not be available until next populist opposition in an August month. 11 primary vote sparked a run on With Argentina’s main par- the peso and hobbled business- ties having already chosen their friendly President Mauricio presidential candidates, the pri- Macri’s campaign to win a sec- mary served as an opinion poll in Mexico bar fire ond term in October’s presiden- ahead of October’s election. tial election. Macri’s poor performance AFP racruz, a fl ashpoint in bloody the door and took control of the needs to be investigated regard- gic route for drug cartels and for Stunned by the peso’s fall, caused an 18% slide in the peso, Coatzacoalcos, Mexico turf wars between Mexico’s rival entrance,” one survivor told a ing the actions of the Veracruz human traffi ckers bringing un- Argentina’s cattlemen — who raising default fears by making it drug cartels and a hotbed of po- reporter, speaking on condition prosecutor’s offi ce,” said Lopez documented migrants to the US. export much of their produce harder for Argentina to honour litical corruption. of anonymity, as frantic relatives Obrador, a leftist elected last Coatzacoalcos, a port city of — pulled back from selling and its dollar-denominated debts. unmen burst into a Mexi- Survivors said gunmen gathered at the bar looking for year on an anti-corruption plat- 235,000 people, has been among waited for the volatility to pass. It has revived memories of Ar- can strip club in a hail of sprayed bullets as they descend- their loved ones. form. those hardest hit by the resulting The supply cut had the eff ect gentina’s 2001-2002 default and Gbullets and killed at least ed on the bar, the Caballo Blanco Veracruz Governor Cuitlahuac “There are two things going on violence. of raising prices. economic crisis, which tossed 26 people as they trapped revel- (White Horse), then blocked the Garcia tweeted that authorities here: one is this shameful act by The governor told report- Many Argentines kept buying millions of middle-class Argen- lers inside and started a raging exits and set the club alight. had identifi ed one of the attack- organised crime, the most inhuman ers the group that attacked the steak, nonetheless, opting to cut tines into poverty. fi re, offi cials said yesterday. Because of the loud reggaeton ers as Ricardo “N” – Mexican thing possible; the other, which White Horse was vying for con- household budgets in other areas “It is not that meat is very ex- President Andres Manuel music pounding inside, many law bars the release of suspects’ is also reprehensible, is a possible trol of the drug trade there. before depriving themselves of pensive. It’s that wage earners Lopez Obrador condemned the patrons and dancers did not even full names – adding that he was conspiracy with the authorities,” he Some survivors said the at- their main source of protein. believe it is very expensive be- “shameful” attack in the city of notice the attack until the bar a repeat off ender known as “La told a news conference. tackers doused the nightclub in “Argentines can stop buying cause they believe they have the Coatzacoalcos, and said federal was in fl ames, they said. Loca” (“The Crazy One”). The Veracruz prosecutor’s of- gasoline to set it alight. clothes and other items but they right to eat beef every day,” said authorities would investigate Authorities said many of the The suspect was previously fi ce denied wrongdoing, and said Others said they threw Molo- won’t stop buying meat, even Miguel Schiariti, head of Argen- evidence it may have stemmed victims died of smoke inhala- arrested last month, but was in a statement that it was in fact tov cocktails. The interior of the while they complain about pric- tina’s CICCRA meat industry from collusion between local tion. It was not immediately released by state prosecutors the federal prosecutor’s offi ce bar was wrecked and charred, es,” said Orlando Mamani, work- chamber. authorities and organised crime. clear whether some died of gun- within 48 hours, Garcia said. that released Ricardo “N.” with chairs overturned and de- ing a meat counter in a grocery Schiariti said supply had The Tuesday night attack, shot wounds. President Lopez Obrador said Veracruz is one of the most bris littering the fl oor. store in the Buenos Aires neigh- dropped 30% at Buenos Aires’ which offi cials said also left 11 “They arrived in several vehi- federal authorities would inves- violent states in the country. The body of a woman who had bourhood of Belgrano. main livestock market of Liniers people badly wounded, is the cles, with rifl es and pistols. They tigate why. Its location on the Gulf of been mid-routine was sprawled And complain they did, even after the primary. latest to rock the state of Ve- threatened the security guards at “There’s a problem there that Mexico coast makes it a strate- on the dance fl oor.

S America nations to meet Salvadoran police on Amazon crisis: Brazil faulted for 116 deaths Reuters countries in Central America, San Salvador along with Guatemala and Hon- Reuters be met while respecting “na- by French President Emmanuel duras, that has seen thousands Brasilia tional sovereignty,” and that each Macron at the Group of Seven of desperate migrants fl ee raging country should have control over wealthy nations summit over the t least 116 people were gangland violence and bleak eco- the “rational and sustainable use weekend. killed by police in El Sal- nomic prospects over the past razilian President Jair Bol- of their natural resources, in line Bolsonaro dismissed the off er Avador in recent years in couple years. sonaro yesterday said that with their environmental obliga- as an insulting attempt to “buy” cases involving excessive use of Salvadoran authorities blame BSouth American coun- tions and needs of their citizens, Brazil’s sovereignty. force and abuse of authority, the the gangs for the violence, even tries would meet to determine a including indigenous peoples.” Macron has accused Bol- country’s human rights prosecu- as rights groups have accused common policy in defence of the It also highlighted as “valu- sonaro, a longtime skeptic of tor said in a report. the police of carrying out extra- Amazon rainforest, and took an- able and important” the use of environmental concerns, of ly- The report covers the period judicial killings and other rights other swipe at France for an off er bilateral co-operation and inter- ing about climate change. “Only from 2014 to 2018 when the then violations in confrontations with of $20mn in aid. national fi nancial support to deal after it (the French government) leftist Farabundo Marti Na- gang members. In an indication that Bol- with the crisis. has recanted what it said about tional Liberation Front (FMLN) Caballero’s offi ce launched its sonaro, a far-right conservative, Pinera, who has a close rela- my person, which represents government waged a campaign investigation in August 2018 in is forging closer ties with neigh- tionship with Bolsonaro, is an Brazil,...can we talk again,” Bol- against criminal gangs blamed response to a rise in reports of bouring countries than European increasingly important fi gure in sonaro said. for one of the highest murder police abuse and completed its nations, he also accepted Chile’s the environmental crisis trig- Meanwhile, Brazil’s Environ- rates in the world. work in May. off er of four aircraft to help fi ght gered by the Amazon fi res, and ment Minister Ricardo Salles, Investigators examined 48 One of the more disturbing the fi res sweeping through the visited Brasilia on his return from who shares Bolsonaro’s skepti- cases in which 116 people were fi ndings was the level of police world’s largest rainforest. a G7 summit in France where he cism of environmental concerns “brutally assassinated” by the impunity, she said. Speaking to journalists after a attended as the rotating repre- and has been at the forefront of police, said Raquel Caballero, In the 48 cases of exces- meeting with Chilean President sentative for Latin America. the government’s response to the head of the Prosecutor’s Offi ce sive police force, only 19 were Sebastian Pinera in Brasilia, Bol- Chile will also hold the COP25 Amazon crisis, remained in the for the Defence of Human Rights. prosecuted and two cases led to sonaro said a meeting with re- climate summit in December, Armed Forces Hospital in Brasilia “We have identifi ed patterns convictions. She urged the new gional neighbours except Vene- having taken it over from the yesterday. of behaviour of members of the government to act on the report’s zuela to discuss a common policy original host — Brazil — after Salles, 44, was admitted to the national civil police,” she told a fi ndings. in defence of the Amazon will be Bolsonaro was elected. hospital’s emergency unit on Tues- news conference in the capital “It is important that... the held on September 6 in the Co- Bolsonaro waded back into a day after complaining of not feeling San Salvador. facts are investigated, that re- lombian city of Leticia. spat with France, saying Brazil’s well, the hospital said in a statement. A spokesman for the ministry sponsibilities are deduced, that In a statement released by sovereignty had “no price, not Hospital staff opted to carry out Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro (left) and Chile’s President of security and justice declined the respective convictions are Chile, the two leaders said en- even $20tn,” a reference to an “routine examinations,” and he is in Sebastian Pinera head for a meeting at Alvorada Palace in to comment. prosecuted and obtained,” Ca- vironmental challenges must off er of $20mn aid announced stable condition, it said. Brasilia yesterday. El Salvador is one of a trio of ballero said. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, August 29, 2019 PAKISTAN

Opposition accuses govt of not providing ‘Kashmir Hour’ to be adequate healthcare to Nawaz, Zardari

Internews hospitals [Punjab Institute observed tomorrow Lahore of Cardiology and Services Institute of Medical Scienc- Internews ‘Kashmir Hour’, said Ghafoor show solidarity with the Kash- to take part in the initiative, Minister on Information Fir- es] due to excessive medical Rawalpindi while speaking at a confer- miri people, starting with Au- adding that national heroes, dous Ashiq Awan said that Pa- he Pakistan Muslim cover that is being provided ence held to discuss ceremo- gust 30 between 12pm-12:30pm. people from the entertain- kistan will give a “strong mes- League – Nawaz (PML- to VIPs, VVIPs, foreign del- nies for Defence and Martyrs “They (India) have played ment industry, and media rep- sage to the world by expressing TN) and Pakistan Peoples egations and honourable akistan military spokes- Day 2019 that is observed on their trump card, they don’t resentatives would be among solidarity with oppressed people Party (PPP) have accused the members of the provincial man Major General Asif September 6. have any card to play now. those showing solidarity with of Kashmir on Friday”, Radio government of not providing assembly, and judiciary and PGhafoor yesterday said Civil and military leaders from Now whatever needs to be Kashmiris. Pakistan reported. adequate health facilities to their families”. that in line with the govern- across Pakistan participated in done will be done by us and Speaking on Defence Day, he She said that people will come their leaders - Nawaz Sharif “Sharif’s multiple co- ment’s announcement to ob- the conference, according to a the world,” he had said, as he said Chief of Army Staff General out at noon and stand for three and Asif Ali Zardari - say- morbidities include ischernic serve ‘Kashmir Hour’ on Au- statement by the army’s media took the nation into confi - Qamar Javed Bajwa will meet minutes to express solidarity ing that the government will heart disease, cardiac con- gust 30, the national anthems wing. dence on the government’s the families of the martyrs and with Kashmiris. be responsible if anything duction defects (LBBB/heart of Pakistan and Kashmir will be While addressing the nation strategy regarding Indian- ghazis (victorious), while cer- Prime Minister Imran will ad- happens to them. blocks), chronic kidney dis- played at noon on the day across on Monday, Prime Minister Im- administered Kashmir. emonies will be held across the dress the UN General Assembly Expressing concern over ease (stage 3), extra cranial the country. ran Khan had announced that an Ghafoor appealed to the country. on September 27 to highlight re- the government’s apathetic carotid and vertebral artery Sirens will also be blared for event will be held every week to youth, particularly students, Special Assistant to the Prime cent developments in Kashmir. attitude towards the health disease (carotid artery steno- of Nawaz Sharif, PML-N sis), extracardiac atheroscle- president and Leader of the rotic vascular disease (renal FM to attend Opposition in the National artery stenosis/PAD), diabetes Assembly Shahbaz Sharif mellitus, hypertension and Human Rights alleged that the govern- pathological lymphadenopa- Council session ment was not providing thy. And he requires constant adequate health facilities medical attention and the jail Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah to the former prime min- authorities must be prepared Mahmood Qureshi will attend the ister and even denied him to tackle any cardiac/medical coming session of the UN Human cardiac ambulance. emergency he may encounter,” Rights Council next month for “This is the worst kind of Dr Khan said. highlighting the plight of the Kashmiris political revenge. Depriving a He said Sharif’s health could in Indian-administered Kashmir. patient of treatment is tanta- be aff ected during imprison- “I’ll personally attend the Human mount to killing him,” he said. ment. “Restrictions on access Rights Council meeting and Dr Adnan Khan, a person- to proper medical care dur- apprise the members about al physician of the former ing incarceration are violative the aggravating human rights prime minister, has written of his constitutional rights to situation in Indian Kashmir,” to the Punjab chief secretary, life, dignity and equality. It is Qureshi told the National asking the provincial gov- requested that proper medical Assembly Standing Committee on ernment to provide Sharif facilities and care be provided Foreign Aff airs. specialised medical care to Sharif,” he demanded. The 42nd session of the council is round the clock. PPP secretary-general Nay- beginning from September 9 and He said Sharif had not been yar Hussain Bokhari and in- arrangements are being made provided adequate “medical formation secretary Dr Nafi - for Qureshi’s participation in it. facilities to cope with multiple sa Shah expressed concern Recently appointed special envoy co-morbidities which cannot over former president Asif Tehmina Janjua is already in Geneva be treated from within the jail Zardari’s health and said he for the arrangements. “A slot is premises”. should be under medical care being worked out,” an off icial said. Dr Khan said the Punjab immediately. The position of Pakistan’s Prisons Department cogni- They said the govern- permanent representative at the zant of the inadequate medical ment should not play with United Nations in Geneva had facilities had sought a spe- someone’s life. The court been lying vacant since March. cialised cardiac ambulance should take notice of this The situation in Kashmir is not from government institutions mistreatment. on the agenda of the session. which was denied. Nawaz Sharif is serving sev- Qureshi said that he would make He cited a media report en-year imprisonment in Kot a statement on Kashmir. saying “a request of the Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia The foreign minister had last Punjab Prisons Department Steel Mills case, while Asif week written to the UN human seeking a specialised car- Zardari is on judicial remand rights chief to call upon India to Demonstrators shout slogans against India for stripping the Jammu and Kashmir of its special autonomy and impose a lockdown earlier this diac ambulance has been in Adiala jail in the fake bank end rights abuses in Kashmir. month, during a protest in Lahore yesterday. denied by two government accounts case.

IHC hears petition on ECP Judge withdrawn midway court hearing appointments The Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday started hearing Internews president Rana Sanaullah after his other two colleagues, PML- za and Salman. He had been sApp message! The Lahore High riyum Aurangzeb termed it a petition challenging the Lahore learning through a WhatsApp N president Shahbaz Sharif, tasked with hearing these Court has repatriated me. I can- as a direct attack on the free- appointment of two members message that he had been repat- who is also leader of the oppo- cases as the main judge was not lend my expertise to this dom of judiciary. “Those who of the Election Commission of riated back to the Lahore High sition in the National Assembly, on summer holidays. case anymore,” judge Arshad had made the case up against Pakistan (ECP). he judge of a court in La- Court (LHC). and Maryam Nawaz, also senior Judge Ilahi was not hear- said during hearing against Sanaullah could not bring IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, hore yesterday was with- Following the development, vice president of PML-N. ing any high-profi le cases. He, Sanaullah. a single piece of evidence while hearing the petition which Tdrawn midway during a it emerged that a notifi cation Judge Arshad was the duty however, was on the benches The counsel for Sanaullah, against him, so they did this was accepted by the court a court hearing of a case against from the Federal Ministry of judge currently presiding hearing a number of National while talking to the media out- instead,” she said. day earlier, issued notices to a senior opposition leader Law and Justice, dated August over the Chaudhry Sugar Accountability Bureau cases. side the court, said that this de- The development comes as the respondents named in the accused of drug traffi cking. 26, had abruptly recalled three Mills case against Maryam No reason has been men- velopment was unprecedented. former accountability judge petition, including the secretary Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) accountability judges - Masood, and her cousin Yousuf Ab- tioned in the recall order which He said that arguments had Arshad Malik is being investi- to the president, principal court judge Masood Arshad judge Mushtaq Ilahi, and judge bas; the Ramzan Sugar Mills sent shockwaves across the concluded in the case when the gated by the LHC for being at secretary to the prime minister, stopped the hearing of the case Naeem Arshad. case against Shahbaz Sharif; country with the social media government decided to with- the centre of a video leak scan- the two members in question, and against Pakistan Muslim League All the judges were in charge and money laundering cases erupting in protests. draw the judge. dal that grabbed headlines last the ECP. – Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice of cases against Sanaullah and against Shahbaz’s sons Ham- “I have just received a What- PML-N spokesperson Mar- month. The petition challenged the appointment of Ghaff ar Soomro and Shakeel Baloch as members of the ECP, arguing that their appointments were made without fulfilling the legal parameters. According to the petition, the Court seeks Facebook blocks 31 two members in question were appointed by the president while bypassing mandatory consultation of the prime minister and leader of the details of bank pages over propaganda opposition in the National Assembly. The ECP chief commissioner refused to swear in the two appointees. The court adjourned the hearing accounts of Pervez Musharraf against polio vaccine till September 12. money from Musharraf’s frozen Maryam’s remand bank accounts and directed it to Internews prime minister’s focal person polio cases have been con- present a report. Islamabad on polio Babar Bin Atta said. fi rmed in the country as com- extended by 14 days Musharraf At the time, the court was told “As per the autopsy report, pared to 12 in 2018 and only that no huge amounts were deb- the girl died due to suff oca- eight in 2017. This year as An accountability court in Lahore Internews bank managers, the court di- ited and only bank charges were fter a vicious campaign tion as a peanut got stuck in many as 44 polio cases have has extended Pakistan Muslim Islamabad rected them to submit details of deducted. However, despite the was launched on social her throat. Just after getting been reported from Khyber League – Nawaz (PML-N) vice the amount withdrawn from the passage of over three months, Amedia against the polio the report we contacted Face- Pakhtunkhwa and its tribal president Maryam Nawaz’s bank accounts, which had been the FIA is yet to submit a com- vaccine, Facebook blocked as book and offi cially launched districts, fi ve each from Pun- remand by 14 days. special court formed to frozen on the court’s orders. prehensive report on the illegal many as 31 accounts/pages in- a campaign against those ac- jab and Sindh, and four cases Maryam had appeared before hear the high-profi le The special court judge also fi nancial activity. volved in propaganda against counts which were involved from Balochistan. an accountability court in Amurder case of former directed the bank managers to In August 2017, the ATC con- vaccination in Pakistan on the in propaganda against the Polio is a highly infectious connection with the Chaudhry prime minister Benazir Bhutto apprise the court of reasons be- victed former additional in- request of the government’s vaccine,” he said. disease caused by poliovirus Sugar Mills case. has summoned 12 branch man- hind allowing withdrawal from spector general Saud Aziz and polio programme. Atta said that within one mainly aff ecting children un- Yousaf Abbas, a cousin of agers of diff erent banks, along the frozen accounts and a delay senior superintendent of police On Monday, rumours were hour Facebook blocked all der the age of fi ve. It invades Maryam who was also arrested with details of former mili- of two years in sharing these Khurram Shehzad in the Benazir circulated on social media those accounts/pages so that nervous system and can cause by National Accountability tary ruler General (retd) Pervez details with the court. murder case and awarded both that a one-year-old girl had they would not continue their paralysis or even death. Bureau (NAB) the same day, Musharraf’s bank accounts, to The special court has of them 17 years’ imprisonment. died in Swabi due to the polio malicious campaign against While there is no cure was produced before the court appear before it on October 7. been seeking details of the It acquitted fi ve suspects be- vaccine. the polio vaccine. for polio, vaccination is the alongside the PML-N leader Judge Mohamed Asghar transactions for months now. longing to the banned Tehreek- “Print and electronic me- “We are thankful to Face- most eff ective way to protect and was also remanded into Khan, while hearing the case, On February 15, the FIA had e-Taliban Pakistan Rafaqat Hus- dia showed responsibility and book for cooperating with us. children from this crippling the accountability watchdog’s expressed displeasure over the submitted details of Musharraf’s sain, Hasnain Gul, Aitzaz Shah, decided to wait till getting We have also taken the polio disease. custody for 14 days. Federal Investigation Agency’s properties in Pakistan. The agen- Sher Zaman and Rashid Ahmed. the autopsy report of the de- team members into confi - Polio immunisation cam- Both Maryam and Yousaf have (FIA) failure to share details cy told the court that its report Musharraf is also absconding ceased. However, an organ- dence that they should share paigns have suff ered due to a been ordered to appear before of transactions in frozen bank contained complete details of the in the high treason case and the ised campaign was launched the pro-polio vaccine posts propaganda campaign on so- the court on September 4. accounts of the former presi- former army chief’s assets except murder case of Lal Masjid cleric on the social media that the with those who hesitate to cial media that the vaccine is On August 8, NAB had arrested dent with the court despite the for some of his bank accounts. Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his girl had died because of the vaccinate their children due to becoming reason for a number Maryam along with her cousin passage of two years. The court had reprimand- properties have been confi scated vaccine and people should not the campaign,” he said. of diseases and it should not Yousaf Abbas in the Chaudhry While issuing notices to the ed the FIA for withdrawal of in these cases as well. vaccinate their children,” the During the current year 58 be administered to children. Sugar Mills case. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES Nearly ‘4mn bags of rice rotting in depots’

Manila Times Villar said the NFA should Manila have immediately sold its stocks so that it would have money to buy the produce of he National Food Au- local farmers. thority (NFA) admitted “You are supposed to buy Tyesterday that it has and sell to stabilise the prices 4mn bags of imported rice of rice. You are part of this stocked in its warehouses, the mess. People are blaming you,” reason why it has not been Villar told the NFA offi cial. buying palay (unmilled rice) Dansal, however, main- from local farmers. tained that the NFA was com- This was uncovered during plying with its mandate to buy a Senate hearing by the agri- palay from local rice farmers. culture and food committee Villar said there have been chaired by Senator Cynthia complaints that the NFA Villar. The inquiry was held to refuses to buy from local farm- determine the impact of the ers. liberalisation of rice importa- The senator also warned tion, exportation and trade. against the slow disbursement NFA administrator Judy of the Rice Competitiveness Carol Dansal admitted that the Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a agency could not buy rice from component of the Rice Tarif- This handout photo released yesterday by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows coast guard personnel attending to rescued ferry passengers from Lite Ferry after it caught fire local farmers because of the fi cation Law that seeks to up- early yesterday off Dapitan, in the southern island of Mindanao. fl ood of grains stocked in their grade farmers’ competitive- warehouses. ness. When asked by Sen. Maria “If we do not give RCEF a Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos chance to be fully implement- if the agency has indeed 9mn ed and deliver on its promise bags of imported rice rotting to improve the competitive- in warehouses, Dansal an- ness of our agriculture sector, swered, “Only 4mn.” I don’t think we can ever make “Let us be truthful. NFA is it,” Villar said. Three dead, over 240 not buying or selling because “In this age of liberalisation, of the huge stocks of imported our farmers will continue to rice in your possession,” Mar- fear competition because they cos said. were not given the chance to Dansal admitted that the improve their ways.” government imported The Committee on Agricul- 1.2mn metric tonnes (MT) ture and Food, along with the rescued after ferry blaze of rice last year to fi ll up its committees on fi nance, trade, dwindling buff er stock. Of commerce and entrepreneur- AFP this, 290,000 MT have not ship, yesterday continued its Manila been sold. She informed the inquiry on the implementa- committee that from January tion of Republic Act 11203or to August this year, the NFA the “Rice Tariffi cation Law.” hree people were killed purchased 293,642 MT of rice The law calls for RCEF to re- and over 240 plucked to worth P6bn. Last year, the ceive P10bn a year for the next Tsafety in the southern agency bought a measly 4,046 six years from tariff s collected Philippines yesterday after a fi re MT. on liberalised rice imports. tore through a crowded ferry, Based on her computation, The funds will be used to ex- authorities said, as rescuers Marcos said 4.5mn bags of rice pand farm mechanisation and hunted for more survivors. are equivalent to 225mn kilos, increase farmers’ access to fi - The blaze broke out before which could be sold for P6.7bn nancing, inputs and technical dawn as the Lite Ferry 16 was at P27 per kilo. know-how. cruising to Dapitan City from Cebu, prompting some of the terrifi ed passengers to throw themselves overboard, one wit- ness said. It is not clear how many pas- sengers were on the vessel, but the Philippine Coast Guard said 245 people had so far been res- cued, and three confi rmed dead. The boat’s offi cial manifest listed just 172 passengers and This undated handout photo released yesterday by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the Lite Ferry boat anchored on an unknown location. crew. The Philippines, an archipel- accidents. Coast Guard spokes- number of people on the boat. Lines, said a team was deployed Philippine ferry, the Dona Paz, ago of more than 7,000 islands, man Captain Armand Balilo said “We have ordered the captain to to assist the rescued passengers collided with an oil tanker in an is plagued by poor sea transport, search and rescue operations explain the discrepancy,” Balilo and tugboats dispatched to bring accident that claimed more than with badly regulated boats and were continuing as authorities said. the stricken ferry back to port. 4,000 lives in the world’s worst Workers stack bags of rice in a warehouse of the National Food ships prone to overcrowding and worked to determine the exact The ferry’s operator, Danilo Some 30 years ago another peacetime disaster at sea. Authority in Quezon City. Universal Health Care plan Duterte readies to raise rollout hit by lack of funds maritime ruling with China Manila Times ing in the diff erent provinces retary Duque,” House minor- Manila which will be the convergence ity leader Bienvenido Abante points of integration,” Duque of Manila Sixth District told Reuters in 2016 when he announced his Some diplomats and analysts told the committee. reporters. Manila “separation” from closest ally say building a unifi ed position ealth Secretary Fran- The budget of DoH in the Former Health secretary the United States, in favour of against China’s militarisation cisco Duque bared 2020 National Expenditure Janette Garin, now a repre- a bumper business relationship is still possible, despite China’s Hyesterday that the Uni- Programme is 5% less than its sentative of Iloilo First District, hen Philippine leader with Beijing, worth billions in strengthened hand. versal Health Care (UHC) pro- current appropriations be- and Quezon City Sixth District Rodrigo Duterte vis- loans and investment. Former Philippine Foreign gramme that seeks to provide cause of lower allocation for Rep. Jose Christopher “Kit” Wits China this week, Most of that has yet to mate- Secretary Albert del Rosario said healthcare coverage for all Fili- the Health Facilities Enhance- Belmonte stressed the need to he’ll need to salvage something rialise. In return, Duterte heaped the presence of fi ve other South- pinos is not ripe for implemen- ment Programme and the cleanse the DoH amid corrup- from a “pivot” to Beijing that eff usive praise on Xi, set aside east Asian states and Japan as tation for lack of funds. transfer of the entire personnel tion allegations. has left him empty-handed, the arbitration ruling and helped observers at The Hague arbitra- During the budget delib- service funds to the miscella- “If you’re really driven to do and exposed his neighbours to a keep it off the regional agenda, tion showed there was signifi - erations in the House of Repre- neous personnel and benefi ts it, you will do it. But now that new level of brinkmanship in the creating an environment that cant support, and a “compelling sentatives, the appropriations fund. we have UHC, you say that you South China Sea. enabled China to expand its rebuke to those who doubt that panel questioned the Depart- The DoH earlier said it would are not ready?” Garin said. Despite his huge domes- navy, coastguard and fi shing international justice does exist ment of Health’s (DoH) readi- need as much as P257bn for “The people, the pro- tic popularity and great aff ec- fl eet and further militarise its and will prevail”. ness to implement the pro- the full implementation of the grammes should not suff er be- tion for China, Duterte is under artifi cial islands. Philippine Supreme Court gramme, which is part of the UHC Law or Republic Act (RA) cause of the incompetence of growing pressure to push back at A commentary yesterday car- Judge Antonio Carpio has been agency’s P160bn budget pro- 11223, a landmark legislation some offi cials,” she told Duque. its growing maritime assertive- ried by China’s Xinhua news advocating that Southeast Asian posal for 2020. passed in February. “The problem with health ness. agency said Xi and Duterte had countries conduct freedom of “The (UHC) is a progres- Members of the House mi- services remains big. No mat- After avoiding the issue for “a fi rm faith and strong will to navigation and overfl ight activi- sive realisation. We cannot do nority said Duque’s admission ter who you assign, it’s really three years, he has vowed to raise Duterte: under pressure? bridge their diff erences and push ties together, and join those of a national roll-out because of implies a bigger problem in the complicated due to competing with President Xi Jinping a 2016 aside any distractions”. the United States, Japan, India budgetary constraints and also country’s health services. interests. But nonetheless, the arbitration ruling that invalidat- a defence establishment that has After some initial calm, ten- and Britain. because of the readiness that “That’s an irresponsible people really need the UHC,” ed China’s claim to sovereignty started to fi nd its own voice. sions have resurfaced this But fi nding a common ap- we need to do capacity-build- statement coming from Sec- said Belmonte. over most of the South China “If that’s all it is, then this is year, with Chinese coast guard proach would be diffi cult, ac- Sea. just a cynical political play. But tracked around an oil rig on Ma- cording to Jay Batongbacal, a The trip comes amid a recent it could be eff ective if it marks laysia’s continental shelf, and South China Sea expert. He said rise in tension on multiple fronts, the start of a concerted eff ort to near an oil block in Vietnam’s Duterte had weakened the in- Investigation bureau files charges against PhilHealth officials with Chinese vessels challenging raise diplomatic costs on Beijing Exclusive Economic Zone oper- ternational position by allow- energy assets and sea boundaries for its bad behaviour,” said Greg ated by Russia’s Rosneft, anger- ing China to consolidate power The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yester- the papers of Wellmed — Dr Rizza Majella Herrera, of Malaysia, Vietnam and the Poling, director of the Asia Mar- ing Vietnam, which is calling for “without interference or even a day filed multiple charges against top off icials and acting senior manager and head of the Accreditation Philippines, prompting warn- itime Transparency Initiative, a international support. peep from us”. employees of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Department of the PhilHealth; Dr Bernadette Lico and ings and rebukes by the United Washington think-tank. Duterte’s top defence offi cials Much depended on China’s (PhilHealth) for their “negligence” in the WellMed Dr Janice Gem Perlas, chairmen of accreditation sub- States, which accuses China “That would mean bringing it are outraged after a Chinese actions, and whether Western controversy, Manila Times reported. committee; and sub-committee members Dr Leilani of “coercive interference” and up not just now, but at every op- trawler sank a Filipino boat in powers were convinced that Du- The Anti-Graft Division (AGD) of the NBI filed before Joy Asprer, Dr Rofien Ison, Dr Manuel Lampitoc, holding hostage $2.5tn of oil and portunity, including introducing June and scores of Chinese mi- terte and other Southeast Asian the Department of Justice charges of violation of lawyer Recto Panti, Henry Almanon, Dr Jeff rey Pe, gas. resolutions to the UN calling for litia boats surrounded a Philip- leaders were prepared to con- Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Cheryl Welan, Lolita Tuliao, Dr Quintin Callueng, China called that “warrantless Chinese compliance, and rally- pine-held island. front Beijing. Practices Act,” RA 10606 or the “National Health lawyer Mary Grace delos Santos, Maricel Maglalang, criticism” with distorted facts. ing international support.” Repeated unannounced “If China pushes, it may raise Insurance Act of 2013” and RA 6713 or the “Code of Susan Rebecca Romero, Yvonne Fernandez, Dr Duterte’s motivation, ex- “That will be a tall order...but movements of Chinese warships the possibility of us unifying Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Off icials Katrina Marie Aguilar, Dr Cynthia Camacho, Dr Imelda perts say, is to tackle public un- it’s the only option that could within the Philippines’ 12-mile around that ruling,” he told news and Employees” against members of the accredita- Trinidad de Vera-Pe, Dr Arsenio Alcantara and Dr ease over his refusal to speak actually work.” territorial waters has incensed channel ANC. “If we don’t speak tion sub-committee of PhilHealth which processed Leticia Gay Aguda. out against a deeply mistrusted It would require an about-face the military, and is stoking con- up, they will not be able to take a China, and frustrations among by Duterte, who caused a storm cern about spying. stronger position.” Gulf Times 22 Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Amazon is burning and Brazilian President Bolsonaro doesn’t care The fires raging at the edges of the Amazon rainforest are, at the moment, largely consuming lands that had already been converted from their natural state into tracts waiting to be farmed or developed. Nevertheless, some of the blazes are eating away at the rainforest itself, reducing its size by a football field a minute. And one of the most disturbing things about them is that they aren’t part of the cycle of nature, like a California wildfire might Can power napping solve be, but are intentionally set in many cases to get rid of brush and felled trees to make way for soy fields and beef grazing grounds. That reflects Brazil’s troubling return to a policy of deforestation that, if unabated, could have grave consequences for efforts to counter electric car charging challenge? the worst effects of global warming. The reason the Amazon is burning is because By Vera Eckert head teacher who drove a Renault Zoe the wrong impression about the speed of ing points accordingly. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who followed Stuttgart, Germany during the trial. “I grew used to the car loading,” she said. “Loading processes off er so much Donald Trump’s populist, anti-establishment and became more at ease in handling the Utility companies developing so- fl exibility that the overload on the loading process.” called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, networks can be reduced by deferring playbook to win election last year, wants it to. He utomakers around the world Simianer and his neighbours were however, are struggling to persuade some loading times or reducing the load that is thinks the Amazon should not be protected, and that are pushing hard for new net- given electric cars and 22 kilowatt (kW) automakers to use technology that al- supplied,” said Thomas Werner, expert at lands reserved for indigenous peoples should not be works that can charge electric wall-boxes for their garages, alongside lows two-way fl ows of information, and Siemens Digital Grid. recognised – all in the name of economic growth. Acars fast. two charging points in the street, all free power, between batteries and grids. “This happens through the digitisa- In Europe, some power companies of charge. Carmakers such as Volkswagen, Daim- tion of hardware and software and with That see-no-evil approach is another point Bolsonaro and grid operators are testing whether it In return, they gave up their normal ler and Ford, for example, are prioritising communication technology,” he said. has in common with Trump, who has sought to make might be smarter and cheaper to move cars and allowed Netze BW, which is a one-directional fast-charging instead to Using software to help protect age- an alarming amount of public lands available for oil into the slow lane. subsidiary of German utility EnBW, to overcome consumer resistance to EVs. ing power networks from predictable and gas drilling and other A 15-month study of electric car monitor and carry out a deferred and Japan’s Nissan has been leading the surges could also avoid costly hardware charging behaviour in Germany has con- down-scaled charging process dur- way among carmakers exploring V2G upgrades to parts of the 1.7mn km of Our continued extractive industries, cluded that consumers can be persuaded ing a seven-and-a-half-hour period though Germany’s BMW has now distribution grids in Germany. such as uranium mining to accept slow, overnight recharging that overnight. decided to develop it too, saying co- With few than 100,000 electric-only release of – the health of the planet could help avoid brownouts from surges Netze BW tried various options, either operation between cars and grids will be cars in Germany at the moment, there be damned. in electricity demand or costly upgrades slotting cars in at the maximum 22 kW key to making e-mobility ready for mass is little threat of blackouts from over- carbon into the to power grids. charging fl ow one after another, or markets. demand. But the Transport Ministry in At the just-concluded The prospect of millions of EVs hitting lengthening the charging time for indi- “It is about making sure there is Berlin envisages up to 10mn electric cars atmosphere is G-7 meeting in France, the roads as governments gradually ban vidual cars by adjusting the power fl ow, enough supply for the electric cars and on the roads by 2030. international leaders new diesel and gasoline cars is seen as a or combining both methods, Lossau said. that the lights do not go out elsewhere,” The number of charging points across endangering major challenge for power companies, The participants, who used apps to a BMW spokesman said. “The cars don’t the country also only stands at 21,000. criticised Bolsonaro especially in Germany which is switching check the status of their car batteries, just load when it’s best for the market, That’s up 50% over the last year but us all for his land-use and from nuclear and coal to less predictable grew accustomed to the lack of instant but they can also supply power back to still barely a fraction of future needs. environmental policies, sources of energy such as wind and solar. charging capability because their vehi- the grid to help even out demand spikes.” Next up for Netze BW is a trickier test. which include telling those who would cut the rainforest The small study in the wealthy Stutt- cles could always handle their everyday “There has to be more progress on the Managing the power for 10 house- gart suburb of Ostfi ldern-Ruit though commutes of up to 50km. EnBW said data exchanges, however. It is not yet the holds with electric cars in a suburban that his government would no longer stop them. So the has helped alleviate the concerns of some nine of the 10 households in the trial on standard,” he said. street of 22 homes is one thing, now the rate of deforestation, while still far below what it had grid operators that too many electric ve- Ostfi ldern-Ruit’s Belchenstrasse had Nevertheless, the Ostfi ldern-Ruit power company is launching a study of been a dozen years ago, has been increasing. The G-7 hicles (EVs) charging at peak times could opted to keep the wall-boxes and most trial has raised hopes that power grids car charging behaviour in an apartment also announced more than $20mn in aid to Brazil and cause network crashes. were exploring leasing electric car. might be able to cope with an infl ux of block with 80 fl ats, where quarrels over The engineers at Netze BW, the local Lossau said monitoring 10 households electric cars, especially if the consumers access are likely. Bolivia for fi refi ghting equipment – a drop in the bucket grid operator behind the trial, found that did not in itself provide the “empirical play ball. Even if drivers resist overnight It is also looking at a study in rural considering the need, advocates say – and French all the households involved came around mass to draw conclusions for the load charging, suppliers of software and areas, where the longer cables required President Emmanuel Macron pledged to put together an to leaving their electric cars plugged in profi le of all of Germany”. She also said equipment to power grids, such as Ger- present challenges in maintaining stable alliance to push for reforestation. overnight and only half ever charged there would need to be better two-way many’s Siemens, are also looking at safer voltages for charging. simultaneously. communication between EVs, the grid and more effi cient ways to manage how But that’s still only part of the story. Bolsonaro was not receptive; he accused the leaders of “Since the experience with the project and consumers for the system to func- and when power is used to charge cars. Lossau said power companies would embracing colonialism by telling Brazil what to do. But we have become a lot more relaxed. tion effi ciently on a large scale. The German city of Hamburg, for ex- have to work more closely with carmak- there’s nothing colonial in asking a neighbour to stop We can imagine that, in future, half “There will have to be more exchange ample, started a three-year pilot project ers to fi ll knowledge gaps and exchange lighting fi res that aff ect the rest of us. of the inhabitants of such a street own of information between e-cars and the this month with Siemens to pre-emp- information. electric vehicles,” said Netze BW engi- grid to update the loading status in real- tively identify overloads on transformers “It can only work if we get more data The Amazon rainforest, with its vast canopy of neer Selma Lossau, project manager for time, because otherwise, there can be and along cables, and manage EV charg- from each other.” trees and other lush vegetation, removes about 5% of the study. the global carbon humans emit into the atmosphere Still, with limited EV battery ranges for now, slow, overnight charging doesn’t every year. That positive effect is offset to a degree get around the problem of how to by the carbon released by burning brush and trees in persuade drivers to ditch petrol cars and around the rainforest, as well as by the cattle that altogether. roam the range that is taking up acreage carved from Without a network of fast-charging stations off ering quick refuelling, drivers the rainforest – much of whose beef is destined for may be wary of using EVs for long trips — foreign markets. which is why some automakers want lots We are all joined by the hard reality that our continued of fast-charging stations to encourage release of carbon into the atmosphere – whether it be the widespread adoption of electric cars. Slower, or delayed, charging has from the cars we commute in or the forest Brazilians already gained traction in Norway, Eu- burn to grow food – is endangering us all. It’s a reality rope’s leading EV market, where nearly not recognised by Bolsonaro. Nor by Trump, who 50% of new car sales are zero-emission neither joined the criticism of Bolsonaro’s policies nor vehicles. A study by energy regulator NVE showed up for the G-7 climate talks that led to the fi re showed that Norway faces a bill of 11bn aid package. Both presidents’ disregard for the well- crowns ($1.2bn) over the next 20 years being of the world is, literally, playing with fi re. That for low- and high-voltage grids, substa- won’t end well. tions and high-voltage transformers — unless it can persuade car owners to charge outside peak afternoon hours. The investment cost to the country of To Advertise 5.3mn people could drop to just over 4bn crowns if cars are charged in the evening, [email protected] and may fall close to zero if batteries are Display only plugged in at night, NVE said. NVE is now working a tariff proposal 44466621 44418811 which will penalise peak-hours charging. Some of the 10 households participat- Classified ing in the Stuttgart trial said they initially 44466609 44418811 wanted to keep topping up their cars for fear of running out of juice, but soon Subscription adapted to leaving the power company to handle it as it saw fi t overnight. [email protected] “At the start, I did not want to take any risks and charged frequently in order to feel secure. Over time, I changed my With limited EV battery ranges for now, slow, overnight charging doesn’t get around the problem of how to persuade drivers to © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved outlook,” said Norbert Simianer, a retired ditch petrol cars altogether. Gulf Times Thursday, August 29, 2019 23 COMMENT Is stakeholder capitalism really back?

By Joseph E Stiglitz That’s why many corporations want New York regulations against bribery, as well as rules protecting the environment and workplace health and safety. or four decades, the prevailing Unfortunately, many of the mega- doctrine in the United States banks, whose irresponsible behaviour has been that corporations brought on the 2008 global fi nancial Fshould maximise shareholder crisis, are not among them. No sooner value – meaning profi ts and share was the ink dry on the 2010 Dodd-Frank prices – here and now, come what fi nancial reform legislation, which tight- may, regardless of the consequences ened regulations to make a recurrence of to workers, customers, suppliers, and the crisis less likely, than the banks set communities. So the statement en- to work to repeal key provisions. Among dorsing stakeholder capitalism, signed them was JPMorgan Chase, whose CEO earlier this month by virtually all the is Jamie Dimon, the current president of members of the US Business Round- the Business Roundtable. Not surpris- table, has caused quite a stir. After all, ingly, given America’s money-driven these are the CEOs of America’s most politics, banks have had considerable powerful corporations, telling Ameri- success. And a decade after the crisis, cans and the world that business is some banks are still fi ghting lawsuits about more than the bottom line. That brought by those who were harmed is quite an about-face. Or is it? by their irresponsible and fraudulent The free-ma rket ideologue and behaviour. Their deep pockets, they Nobel laureate economist Milton hope, will enable them to outlast the Friedman was infl uential not only in claimants. spreading the doctrine of shareholder The new stance of America’s most primacy, but also in getting it written powerful CEOs is, of course, wel- into US legislation. He went so far as come. But we will have to wait and see to say, “there is one and only one social whether it’s another publicity stunt, responsibility of business – to use or whether they really mean what they its resources and engage in activities say. In the meantime, we need legisla- designed to increase its profi ts.” tive reform. Friedman’s thinking not The irony was that shortly after Jamie Dimon, chief executive off icer of JPMorgan Chase & Co, is the current president of the Business Roundtable. only handed greedy CEOs a perfect Friedman promulgated these ideas, and excuse for doing what they wanted to around the time they were popularised education institutions. And it is true the face of a popular backlash against with the highest level of inequality, the ployees. And a few auto companies do all along, but also led to corporate- and then enshrined in corporate govern- when they profi t by exercising market widespread misbehaviour? There are worst health-care outcomes, and the (Honda, Ford, BMW, and Volkswagen) governance laws that embedded ance laws – as if they were based on power, as many banks and technology reasons to believe that they are being lowest life expectancy among major have done so, endorsing stronger shareholder capitalism in America’s sound economic theory – Sandy Gross- companies do. more than a little disingenuous. developed economies.) And while regulations than those the Trump legal framework and that of many man and I, in a series of papers in the late But it is even true more gener- The fi rst responsibility of corpora- these business leaders championed administration wants, as the president other countries. That must change, so 1970s, showed that shareholder capital- ally: the market can drive fi rms to be tions is to pay their taxes, yet among the claim that the tax cuts would lead works to undo former President Barack that corporations are not just allowed ism did not maximise societal welfare. shortsighted and make insuffi cient the signatories of the new corporate to more investment and higher wages, Obama’s environmental legacy. There but actually required to consider the This is obviously true when there are investments in their workers and com- vision are the country’s leading tax workers have received only a pittance. are even soft-drink company execu- eff ects of t heir behaviour on other important externalities such as climate munities. So it is a relief that corporate avoiders, including Apple, which, Most of the money has been used not tives who appear to feel bad about their stakeholders. – Project Syndicate change, or when corporations poison leaders, who are supposed to have according to all accounts, continues for investment, but for share buybacks, role in childhood obesity, which they the air we breathe or the water we drink. penetrating insight into the function- to use tax havens like Jersey. Oth- which served merely to line the pockets know often leads to diabetes. zJoseph E Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate And it is obviously true when they push ing of the economy, have fi nally seen ers supported US President Donald of shareholders and the CEOs with But while many CEOs may want in economics, is University Professor at unhealthy products like sugary drinks the light and caught up with modern Trump’s 2017 tax bill, which slashes stock-incentive schemes. to do the right thing (or have family Columbia University and Chief Econo- that contribute to childhood obesity, or economics, even if it took them some taxes for corporations and billionaires, A genuine sense of broader respon- and friends who do), they know they mist at the Roosevelt Institute. He is the painkillers that unleash an opioid crisis, 40 years to do so. but, when fully implemented, will raise sibility would lead corporate leaders have competitors who don’t. There author, most recently, of People, Power, or when they exploit the unwary and But do these corporate leaders re- taxes on most middle-class households to welcome stronger regulations to must be a level playing fi eld, ensur- and Profi ts: Progressive Capitalism for vulnerable, like Trump University and so ally mean what they say, or is their and lead to millions more losing their protect the environment and enhance ing that fi rms with a conscience aren’t an Age of Discontent (WW Norton and many other American for-profi t higher statement just a rhetorical gesture in health insurance. (This in a country the health and safety of their em- undermined by those that don’t. Allen Lane).

Sharing private data for public good Three-day forecast TODAY gence (AI). But they must be designed ity, depth, complexity, and diversity of systematic, sustainable, and ethical Maximum Temperature : 420c By Stefaan G Verhulst Minimum Temperature : 320c New York responsibly and take data-privacy of data underpinning them. Data col- collaborative eff orts. The aim is to concerns into account. laboratives can thus play a vital role in build a network of individuals from the FRIDAY Understanding the societal and building better AI models by breaking private and public sectors promoting Maximum Temperature : 410c fter Hurricane Katrina business case for data collaboratives, down silos and aggregating data from data stewardship. Minimum Temperature : 320c struck New Orleans in 2005, as well as the forms they can take, is new and alternative sources. Given heightened concerns over data SATURDAY the direct-mail marketing critical to gaining a deeper appre- Public-private data collabora- privacy and misuse – the so-called Maximum Temperature : 420c Acompany Valassis shared its ciation the potential and limitations tions have great potential to benefi t techlash – some will understandably be Minimum Temperature : 320c database with emergency agencies of such ventures. The GovLab has society. Policymakers analysing traffi c wary of data-sharing initiatives. We are Fisherman's forecast and volunteers to help improve aid identifi ed over 150 data collaboratives patterns or economic development in mindful of these legitimate worries, and delivery. In Santiago, Chile, analysts spanning continents and sectors; they cities could make their models more of the reasons for the more general ero- WARNING from Universidad del Desarrollo, ISI include companies such as Air France, accurate by using call-detail records sion of public trust. But we also believe Inshore : Poor visibility expected Foundation, Unicef, and the Gov- Zillow, and Facebook. Our research generated by telecom providers, that building rigorous frameworks and at some places by early Lab collaborated with Telefonica, suggests that such partnerships can for example. And researchers could more systemic approaches to data col- morning the city’s largest mobile operator, to create value in three main ways. enhance their climate-prediction laboration are the best ways to address Offshore : Nil WEATHER study gender-based mobility patterns For starters, data collaboratives models by adding data from commer- such concerns. Inshore : Misty to foggy at in order to design a more equitable can improve situational and causal cial satellite operators. Data exchanges Data collaboratives bring together some places by early transportation policy. And as part of analysis. Their unique collections of could be equally useful for the private otherwise siloed data and dispersed morning becomes hot daytime with slight the Yale University Open Data Access data help government offi cials better sector, helping companies to boost expertise, helping to match supply and dust at times, humid by project, healthcare companies Johnson understand issues such as traffi c prob- their brand reputation, channel their demand for such information. Well- night & Johnson, Medtronic, and SI-BONE lems or fi nancial inequality, and de- research and development spending designed initiatives ensure that the Offshore : Misty at times with some clouds give researchers access to previously sign more agile and focused evidence- more eff ectively, increase profi ts, and appropriate institutions and individu- WIND walled-off data from 333 clinical trials, based policies to address them. identify new risks and opportunities. als use data responsibly to maximise Inshore : Southeasterly-North- opening the door to possible new in- Moreover, such data exchanges Yet for all the progress and promise, the potential of innovative social easterly 05-15 KT Offshore : Southeasterly-North- novations in medicine. enhance decision-makers’ predictive data collaboration is still a nascent policies. And accelerating the growth easterly 03-12 KT These are just three examples of capacity. Today’s vast stores of public fi eld, and we are only starting to of data collaboratives is crucial to the Visibility : 4-8/3 KM “data collaboratives,” an emerg- and private data can yield powerful understand its benefi ts and poten- further development of AI. Offshore : 1-3 FT ing form of partnership in which insights into future developments tial drawbacks. Our approach at the Sharing data involves risks, but it participants exchange data for the and thus help policymakers plan and GovLab emphasises the mutual benefi t also has the potential to transform the Around the region public good. Such tie-ups typically implement more eff ective measures. of collaboration and aims to build trust way we are governed. By harnessing Weather Weather involve public bodies using data from Finally, and most important, data between data suppliers and users. the power of data collaboratives, gov- today Max/min tomorrow Max/min corporations and other private-sector collaboratives can make AI more As part of this process, we have ernments can develop smarter policies Baghdad Sunny 47/29 Sunny 48/29 entities to benefi t society. But data robust, accurate, and responsive. begun designing an institutional that improve people’s lives. – Project Kuwait City Sunny 44/32 Sunny 45/30 collaboratives can help companies, Although analysts suggest AI will be framework that places responsible Syndicate Manama Sunny 41/33 Sunny 41/33 too – pharmaceutical fi rms share data at the centre of twenty-fi rst-century data collaboration at the heart of pub- Muscat M Sunny 36/28 P Cloudy 34/28 on biomarkers to accelerate their own governance, its output is only as good lic- and private-sector entities’ opera- z Stefaan G Verhulst is Co-Founder Tehran Sunny 34/22 Sunny 33/23 drug-research eff orts, for example. as the underlying models. And the tions. This includes identifying chief and Chief Research and Development Data-sharing initiatives also have huge sophistication and accuracy of the data stewards in these organisations Offi cer of the GovLab at New York potential to improve artifi cial intelli- models generally depend on the qual- to lead the design and implementation University. Live issues Most long-term acute care hospital patients die within fi ve years

By Lisa Rapaport sion with your doctors and those only 18% remained alive after 5 years. making these decisions and consider- Reuters Health closest to you about whether staying By comparison, 75% of breast able eff orts should be made to include in a hospital setting and undergoing cancer patients typically survive fi ve them in these discussions.” Around the world invasive procedures is most closely years, as do 69% of prostate cancer Patients and families should also Weather Weather ost elderly patients aligned with your values and goals,” patients and 51% of colorectal cancer understand that elderly patients today Max/min tomorrow Max/min admitted to long-term Makam said by e-mail. “For some patients, the study team notes. admitted to the hospital face a longer, Athens Sunny 33/23 Sunny 33/23 acute care hospitals die the answer will be yes, but for others, During their hospital and subse- steeper path to recovery than their Beirut Sunny 31/27 Sunny 31/26 Mwithin 5 years, and spend they might prefer to focus on relieving quent LTACH stay, 31% of patients younger counterparts, said Dr Alok Bangkok T Storm 32/26 T Storm 29/26 two-thirds of their remaining life as an their symptoms and optimising their received an artifi cial life-prolonging Kapoor, a researcher at the University Berlin P Cloudy 30/18 M Sunny 29/19 inpatient, a US study suggests. quality of life, even if that means they procedure, with feeding tubes being of Massachusetts Medical School who Cairo M Sunny 38/24 Sunny 36/24 The goal of long-term acute care hos- might not live as long.” the most common at 22%. wasn’t involved in the study. Cape Town P Cloudy 16/09 S Showers 14/11 pitals (LTACHs) is to help patients recover LTACHs provide extended, com- A mere 1% were seen by a palliative “Admission to hospital causes a Colombo T Storm 28/26 T Storm 28/26 from debilitating illnesses and injuries and plex, post-acute care to more than care physician, and only 3.2% saw a number of diff erent stresses on the Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 M Cloudy 35/27 regain their ability to live independently. 120,000 Medicare benefi ciaries annu- geriatrician. body and brain of older adults,” Ka- Hong Kong T Storm 29/26 T Storm 28/25 Patients in LTACHs are very ill and may ally, researchers note in the Journal of This scant access to palliative care poor said by e-mail. Istanbul Sunny 28/22 Sunny 28/21 need cardiac monitoring, intravenous the American Geriatrics Society. They suggests that patients and families “The constant simulation by alarms Jakarta P Cloudy 33/24 Sunny 33/23 lines and mechanical ventilators. diff er from acute-care hospitals and need to advocate for themselves to and personnel in the hospital setting Karachi T Storm 30/27 T Storm 31/27 But the study of 14,072 Medi- skilled-nursing facilities by focus- make sure any treatment plans match including long-term acute care can ex- London M Sunny 24/13 P Cloudy 24/13 care patients who were transferred ing on treating patients who require their wishes, said Dr Jennifer Gold- acerbate underlying dementia and con- Manila T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/25 from regular acute-care hospitals to extended inpatient care. stein, a hospitalist with Christiana fusion that manifests itself in the form Moscow Sunny 22/09 Sunny 23/10 LTACHs found that the average pa- The current study focused on pa- Care Hospitalist Partners who wasn’t of acute episodes of confusion/delirium New Delhi P Cloudy 34/27 S T Storms 34/27 tient spent 66% of their remaining life tients 65 and older who were covered involved in the study. that can manifest itself as agitation and New York Sunny 29/19 Sunny 31/20 in a hospital or inpatient setting. And, by Medicare and transferred to an “Patients and families should self-injury,” Kapoor said. “The process Paris P Cloudy 26/13 P Cloudy 28/17 37% of these patients died in a facility LTACH to recover after a hospitalisa- discuss their prognosis and goals of of diagnostic testing with required fast- Sao Paulo P Cloudy 27/14 Sunny 29/16 without ever returning home, often tion from 2009 to 2013. care with their care providers to align ing episodes in the hospital can also lead Seoul T Storm 28/19 M Sunny 27/18 without receiving any hospice care in Overall, 40% of the patients in the their care plans with their wishes,” to malnutrition and subsequent muscle Singapore S T Storms 31/28 P Cloudy 31/28 their fi nal days. study were admitted to an LTACH for Goldstein said by e-mail. “Discussions breakdown and protein loss which might Sydney Rain 13/11 Showers 14/12 “Even before going to the LTACH a respiratory diagnosis. These patients with hospice and palliative care pro- make the patient more susceptible to Tokyo Cloudy 34/26 Cloudy 31/25 you should have an honest discus- survived an average of 8.3 months and viders can be extremely valuable when falls and infection.” Gulf Times 24 Thursday, August 29, 2019 QATAR Ghadeer signs deal to set QU students score further up ‘Juice Factory’ for kids international accolades atar University’s Col- lege of Pharmacy (QU- The collaboration for our children through a role- QCPH) students bagged play-based educational environ- nine awards at the 65th Inter- between KidZania ment,” the statement adds. national Pharmaceutical Stu- Doha and Ghadeer Ric Fearnett, governor of Kid- dents’ Federation (IPSF) World aims “to educate Zania Doha, said: “KidZania Congress in Rwanda, it was an- Doha is excited to partner with nounced yesterday. children on the Ghadeer. The event gathered around juice production The one-of-its-kind Qatari 300 pharmacy students and concept will be a nutritional oa- recent graduates from 53 coun- process” sis for kids, aligning with our ob- tries worldwide. jective to help children become MSc student Shimaa Ahmed idZania Doha, an award- healthy and develop their skills Aboelbaha won best scientifi c winning educational and curiosity. poster award for her study on Kconcept, and Ghadeer, a “We are proud that we will “Potential Cardiotoxic Eff ects leading dairy and juice brand in contribute to the achievement of Venetoclax: In-vitro study Qatar, have signed a partnership of Qatar National Vision 2030 on Rat Cardiomyocyte H9C2 agreement to create a kid-sized Off icials at the signing ceremony. through the development and Cell Line,” which was con- realistic ‘Juice Factory’ inside the empowerment of children.” ducted with Bodoor Aboujabal, QU-CPH students score international awards. city of KidZania Doha. It also seeks to educate chil- mium juices extracted from the Khaled Jayoussi, chairman of under the supervision of Dr The collaboration between dren on nutritional facts and im- carefully selected fresh fruits are Arab Qatari Company for Dairy Hesham Korashy. Provision of Extended Pharma- Patient Counselling Advanced KidZania Doha and Ghadeer portance of having fresh juice in of the highest quality”. Also, chil- Production (Ghadeer), added: Aboelbaha also won fi rst cy Services in the Middle East: while P2 student Diala Kadri aims “to educate children on their diet for a healthy lifestyle, dren will be working as juice de- “This strategic partnership be- place in Best Advanced Coun- A Systematic Review,” which Alhaj Moustafa won the sec- the juice production process, while also promoting hygiene livery crew to help develop their tween KidZania and Ghadeer selling while P2 student Khe- was conducted with Wafaa ond place in Patient Counsel- including the selection of only and developing their critical- communication and collabora- refl ects our strong belief in the loud Khaled Hemida Awad won Demdoum, under the supervi- ling Beginners. QU-CPH is the the freshest and fi nest fruits thinking ability and piquing their tive skills. impact of entertainment that the fi rst place in Patient Coun- sion of Dr Zachariah Nazar. fi rst and only pharmacy degree as in the Ghadeer factory, and curiosity about the production “The partnership between is intended to be educational selling Beginners. Alasmar also won fi rst place programme in Qatar, off ering help them experience a real-life process, the statement notes. In KidZania Doha and Ghadeer is to for future generations. Ghadeer PharmD student May Riyad in Individual Clinical Skills for a fi ve-year bachelor’s degree, activity with hands-on experi- the ‘Juice Factory’, children will empower national brands to pro- holds itself socially responsible Alasmar won third place for beginners, second place for six-year Doctor of Pharmacy ence”, according to a press state- take on the role of juice produc- mote skills, values and positive towards the good of the people the educational poster award Individual Clinical Skills Ad- and a two-year MSc (Pharm) ment. tion operators to ensure that pre- qualities in an entertaining way and the community in Qatar.” on “Stakeholder Perspective on vanced and second place for degree programme.

Bedaya Centre organises workshop on ‘Labour Sector Services for Entrepreneurs’

By Ayman Adly ant at Bedaya, said the workshop was department and how to access them delays or mistakes that could lead to Staff Reporter held in co-operation with the MADLSA in addition to the penalties and fi nes the imposition of fi nes or hurdles for with the participation of a number of stipulated for failing to comply with the business. company owners and representatives the diff erent requirements. Al-Mah- Further, he said on sidelines of the edaya Centre for Entrepreneur- in order to raise their awareness of the moud noted that the participants of workshop that there are some compa- ship and Career Development Labour Law and the services off ered by the workshop would have the oppor- nies which off er various kinds of sup- B(Bedaya Centre) and the Min- the ministry to facilitate their business. tunity to communicate with MADLSA port services that could benefi t the istry of Administrative Development, The workshop was hosted by offi cials directly and make enquiries participants in starting their business. Labour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) MADLSA offi cials and representatives, about their concerns. He stressed that These pertain to labour recruitment yesterday held a workshop on ‘Labour including Ahmed Saleh al-Khalaf from the workshop was of great importance and managing the Wage Protection Sector Services for Entrepreneurs’ to the labour inspection department, for companies starting businesses or System, among others. introduce Qatari entrepreneurs and Abdullah al-Mahasna from the labour those that were planning to launch new The workshop also dealt with top- project owners to the relevant legal recruitment department and Ali Saleh projects because it introduced them to ics such as health & safety and occu- procedures to carry out their business al-Khalaf from the work relations de- the laws and regulations to be followed pational health, labour contracts and effi ciently. partment. Each of them talked about and informed them on how to comply complaints, and the system of recruit- Mahmoud al-Mahmoud, consult- the services off ered by their respective with the necessary procedures to avoid ing workers, QNA added. Off icials at the event. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam