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published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11339 October 18, 2019 Safar 19, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

PM meets Belarusian official New Brexit deal awaits UK House vote tomorrow Baladna IPO

Reuters Brussels seeks to raise uropean Union leaders unani- mously backed a new Brexit Edeal with Britain yesterday, leaving Prime Minister Boris Johnson QR1.43bn facing a battle to secure the UK par- liament’s backing for the agreement if he is to take Britain out of Europe By Santhosh V Perumal transfer 100% of the issued share capi- on October 31. Business Reporter tal (1.9bn) of BFI to the company upon British and EU negotiators reached its fi nal incorporation. In return, the the agreement after successive days founders will receive 25% of the share of late-night talks and nearly three aladna, the proposed holding capital of the new holding company. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday met in Doha with years of heated discussions that have entity of Qatar’s dominant dairy Of the 75% stake off er, as much as 52% Assistant to the Belarusian president on National Security Viktor Lukashenko. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral strained EU-UK ties. Bfarm, is aiming to raise as much is for eligible local retail investors and relations and means to boost them, in addition to a number of issues of common concern. The Prime Minster hosted a Johnson said he was confi dent that as QR1.43bn by off ering 75% equity corporates and 23% for strategic inves- luncheon banquet in honour of the Belarusian off icial and his delegation. parliament, which will sit for an ex- stake to public in its Initial Public Of- tors as General Retirement and Social traordinary session tomorrow to vote fering (IPO), it was announced yester- Insurance Authority (10%), Hassad Food on the Brexit agreement, would ap- day. (5%), Al Meera (4%), and Mwani Qatar prove the deal. The off ering provides eligible in- and Widam Food (2% each). But the arithmetic in the vote is vestors the opportunity to invest in “The time is ripe for this IPO, which not simple. Baladna Food Industries (BFI), Qatar’s refl ects Baladna’s commitment to pro- Turkey, US agree to pause Syria assault The Northern Irish party that beacon of self-suffi ciency in the dairy vide the highest value to consumers by Johnson needs to help ratify any sector, through the new holding com- continuing to share its successes with Reuters the Trump administration and cast by Turkey announced when it launched the agreement, the Democratic Unionist pany Baladna. the community. BFI already enjoys Ankara Turkey as a complete victory. assault eight days ago: control of a strip Party (DUP), has refused to support The shares are being off ered at an unparalleled position in Qatar as a The truce was announced by US Vice of Syria more than 30km deep, with the it, saying it is not in Northern Ire- QR1.01 per piece. The off er is open market leader with growing exports President Mike Pence after talks in An- Kurdish YPG militia, formerly close US land’s interests. from October 26 to November 7. Balad- and increasing economies of scale, a urkey agreed yesterday to pause kara with Turkey’s President Tayyip Er- allies, obliged to pull out. The head of the main opposition na is expected to be listed on the Qatar robust fi nancial basis and continuing its off ensive in Syria for fi ve dogan, and was swiftly hailed by President “The safe zone will be primarily en- Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, said he Stock Exchange by the second week of company support,” Baladna vice chair- Tdays to let Kurdish forces with- Donald Trump, who said it would save forced by the Turkish Armed Forces,” was “unhappy” with the agreement December this year. man Ramez al-Khayyat told reporters draw from a “safe zone” Ankara had “millions of lives”. But if implemented it a joint US-Turkish statement released and would vote against it. Page 8 The founding shareholders will in Doha yesterday. To Page 16 sought to capture, in a deal hailed by would achieve all the main objectives after the talks said. Gulf Times 2 Friday, October 18, 2019 QATAR

Chief of Staff meets Commander of US Marine Corps Forces, US defence delegation Off icial

Amir issues instruments of ratification

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (Left) HE Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen yesterday issued the following al-Ghanem, met the Commander of US Marine Corps Forces Central Command in the Middle East, instruments of ratification: Lieutenant-General Carl Mundy, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, military 1. An instrument of ratification relations between the two sides were discussed, as well as ways of developing them. The meeting was approving an air service attended by a number of senior off icers in the Qatari armed forces. (Top) HE Lieutenant-General agreement between the al-Ghanim met the Director of the US Defence Security Co-operation Agency Lieutenant-General governments of Qatar and Charles Hooper and his accompanying delegation, during their off icial visit to the country. During the Tunisia signed in Tunis on March meeting, they discussed military relations between the two sides and ways of enhancing them. 2, 2019. 2. An instrument of ratification approving the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on twinning between the Municipality of Doha and the Al-Hammadi meets senior US official Municipality of Tunis in Tunisia, signed in Tunis on March 2, 2019. 3. An instrument of ratification approving an MoU for co- operation in the fields of industry promotion, innovation, ‘Huge demand innovation and technological development between the governments of Qatar and Tunisia, signed in Tunis on March 2, 2019. 4. A ratification document approving a memorandum of globally to visit understanding for co-operation in the field of commercial sea ports between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Qatar and Tunisia, signed in Tunis on March 2, 2019. 5. An instrument of ratification Qatar for 2022 approving a memorandum of co- operation in the fields of tourism HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi and business events between yesterday met the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Aff airs David Schenker, who the governments of Qatar and is currently visiting Doha. During the meeting, they discussed co-operation relations between Tunisia, signed in Tunis on March the two friendly countries in addition to topics of mutual interest. 2, 2019. 6. An instrument of ratification World Cup’ approving a co-operation agreement in the field of maritime transport between zQatar is expecting around 1.5mn people to the governments of Qatar and Tunisia, signed in Tunis on March visit the country during the 2022 tournament Anti-graft centre signs pact with 2, 2019. By Joey Aguilar He expressed optimism that Amir appoints Staff Reporter stadiums in 2022 will attract a Sultan Qaboos University large number of fans for every envoys to Rwanda match, noting that some 3mn and Germany recent worldwide survey tickets will be available for the QNA conducted by the Su- entire tournament. Muscat Apreme Committee for De- “The last World Cup in Russia His Highness the Amir Sheikh livery and Legacy (SC) showed a (2018) they were able to achieve Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued massive demand from the inter- close to 99% of ticket sales, so it he Rule of Law and Anti- yesterday the Amiri Decision No national market to come to Qatar is achievable. There is a strong Corruption Centre (RO- 45 of 2019, appointing Abdullah for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, demand for football and the TLACC) in Doha signed a Mohamed Ahmed Yousef al- SC’s transport planner Tony World Cup is diff erent from oth- co-operation agreement with Sayed as ambassador to Rwanda. Sharpe has said. er local events,” he said. Sultan Qaboos University, to The Amir also issued the “There is a strong inter- In his presentation, Sharpe establish an academic chair at Amiri Decision No 46 of 2019, est in people to come and stay cited reports that the country the university to fi ght corrup- appointing Mohamed bin Jaham in Qatar,” he told reporters on is expecting around 1.5mn visi- tion, HE the Attorney General and Chairman of the Board of Trustees al-Kuwari, as ambassador to the sidelines of the PTV Mobil- Tony Sharpe speaking at the tors to come to Qatar during the This marks the continuation of ROLACC Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri and the President of Sultan Germany. ity Day event, organised by PTV event yesterday. tournament in 2022. of co-operation between the Qaboos University Dr Ali bin Saud al-Bemani, shake hands after Group, at W Doha Hotel yester- PICTURE: Ram Chand With classes to be suspended two sides, especially between signing the agreement at the University in Muscat. Chief of Staff day (October 17). during the entire event, he said the Centre and the College of Sharpe said the survey, con- With classes to be school children and their parents Law at Sultan Qaboos Univer- United Nations Convention joint eff orts exerted in this field. meets Nato ducted this year, covered 17,000 suspended during the will also have the opportunity to sity. against Corruption. Through its branches, RO- delegation people from around the world, entire event, school witness the matches during the The agreement was signed The establishment of this LACC works with the United where their inputs provided lots children and their holidays. by HE the Attorney General chair also helps to spread Nations in promoting anti- of data for the SC. parents will also have the About the preparations, he and Chairman of the Board of the legal culture among the corruption, developing con- HE Chief of Staff of the Qatar Respondents answered a opportunity to witness said: “I believe the stadiums will Trustees of ROLACC Dr Ali students of the college and ventions related to this subject Armed ForcesLieutenant-General series of questions about the the matches during the be there in advance, the road bin Fetais al-Marri and the the university community and organising international (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al things they want to do in Qatar, holidays network infrastructure is pro- President of Sultan Qaboos on the subject of combating initiatives. Ghanem, meeting the Head of their expectations, how will they gressing rapidly, you see every- University Dr Ali bin Saud al- corruption and the legal fol- The President of Sultan Qa- Middle East and North Africa spend their time, the number of here for several days,” he said. day new roads are being opened, Bemani, at a ceremony held on lowed mechanisms by organ- boos University Dr Ali bin Saud Section in Political Aff airs tickets they want, and accom- “They also want to see lots of the airport is expanding.” this occasion at the University ising legal activities among al-Bemani said that the estab- and Security Policy Division modations they prefer, among games, they like the idea of two “Infrastructure is not going in Muscat. the students such as legal lishment of this chair comes in at the North Atlantic Treaty others, he noted. matches in one day is a possibil- to be an issue, I think the big- The establishment of this researches, mock trial com- recognition of the university’s Organisation (Nato) Giovani Sharpe said they found out ity, but they also love the idea of gest challenge that we have is chair at the College of Law petitions and workshops and reputation in general and the Romani and the accompanying that many of the respondents coming for a week and seeing a the operation of the workforce, at Sultan Qaboos University conferences supported by College of Law, especially since delegation, currently on a visit prefer to come, watch, and match everyday.” training and bringing in this aims to institute a course on ROLACC. it was one of the fi rst universi- to Doha. During the meeting, stay where the event is taking Sharpe added that most of the enormous number of people the provisions of the United The agreement between the ties in the Arab world launching military relations between the place than going on regional respondents want to visit every to welcome the World Cup,” Nations Convention against Centre and Sultan Qaboos Uni- a specialised chair to fi ght cor- two sides were discussed, as tours. stadium – an opportunity for said Sharpe, who discussed Corruption based on the versity is the culmination of ruption. well as ways of enhancing and “They want football, the sta- football fans to have a unique ex- ‘Demand Forecasting for Mega developing them. diums in Qatar, so we expect a perience of the venues, and what Sporting Events’ at the seminar lot of people coming and staying a major event can be. yesterday. Sudanese PM ILO welcomes reforms to end Kafala system meets Qatari ambassador The International Labour marked the end of Kafala Social Aff airs co-operation Qatar well positioned to welcome Organisation (ILO) has system in the country. agreement signed in 2017, welcomed the comprehensive The ILO Director-General Guy which resulted in the opening The Prime Minister of Sudan reforms announced by Qatar, Ryder said that these steps of an ILO Project Off ice in Doha Dr Abdalla Hamdok met a large number of visitors in 2022 aimed at ending Kafala system will greatly support the rights in April 2018. On Wednesday, Qatar’s ambassador to Sudan and taking an important step of migrant workers, while the Cabinet approved a draft Abdulrahman bin Ali al-Kubaisi. forward in supporting the contributing to a more eff icient decision of the Minister of During the meeting, they By Joey Aguilar there is the right infrastructure rights of migrant workers. and productive economy. Interior on the controls and discussed the arrangements Staff Reporter in place to manage these people,” In a statement released The ILO said that these reforms procedures for the exit of some for holding the meetings of the Petti said. yesterday by the United are part of the ILO and the categories of expatriates who High Joint Committee between atar is well-positioned Petti added that the 2022 FIFA Nations News Centre, ILO Ministry of Administrative are not subject to the Labour the two countries, and reviewed to welcome hundreds World Cup serves as a major test said that the combined steps Development, Labour and Law. - QNA bilateral relations, in addition to Qof thousands of visitors for the country, its infrastruc- matters of mutual interest. during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, tures, and the ability to accom- PTV Group Middle East, India modate a large number of visi- and Africa managing director tors. Andrea Petti said yesterday. “We heard today (at the event) “Qatar has taken signifi cant that 1.5mn people are expected, Meeting of heads of GCC audit bureaus begins in Muscat steps to ensure traffi c manage- but I believe this number will be ment and crowd modelling and exceeded,” he said. The 16th meeting of heads of GCC Audit and Accounting pedestrian routes are being op- The seminar also saw Dr Bureaus started yesterday in the Omani Capital, Muscat. timised,” he said, stressing “the Wissam Elhamra from MoTC President of the State Audit Bureau HE Sheikh Bandar country is using the latest tech- Andrea Petti discussing the two transporta- bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani is heading Qatar’s nologies and software to give tion modelling pillars for Qatar, delegation to the meeting. visitors a stress-free visit.” and real-time traffi c manage- which contributed to the devel- The participants in the meeting are set to discuss a PTV Group organised a Mobil- ment, has been operating in Qa- opment of its transportation in- host of key topics, including the follow-up report of the ity Day in Doha yesterday, bring- tar for 14 years. “We are in close frastructure. 15th meeting of the heads of GCC audit and accounting ing together transport industry partnership with the Ministry of Some of the topics tackled bureaus, the 20th meeting of the undersecretaries leaders to discuss solutions for Transportation and Communi- during the event included crowd and the general framework for organising seminars Qatar’s transport infrastruc- cation (MoTC)”, Petti noted. modelling and planning for pe- and conferences, as well as a framework for the ture, including transportation “In 2018 over 1.8mn people destrians, logistics -vehicle development of specific criteria for organising systems that will be put in place travelled to the host city Mos- planning and routing: a key in- workshops and programmes to publicise decisions of for the prestigious tournament cow for the FIFA World Cup. As gredient for successful last mile joint action. The meeting will also review the training in 2022. Qatar prepares to host in 2022 fulfi lment, and creating smarter, plan for the year 2020, as well as the comprehensive The 40-year-old company, with new stadiums and facilities safer and less congested cities joint supervision. – QNA involved with crowd modelling for visitors, it is imperative that with location technologies. Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 3 QATAR/ARAB WORLD HBKU Press Italian envoy lauds Qatar for new labour reforms

By Joey Aguilar Salzano also welcomed the tion’s centenary celebrations Staff Reporter unanimous decision taken by in Doha. “These measures will participates in the Council of the Ministers to make Qatar a role model in eliminate the no objection cer- the region in the field of la- talian ambassador Pasquale tifi cate (NOC) from employers, bour protection, contributing Salzano lauded Qatar and which was previously necessary to advance social justice and Ithe Ministry of Administra- for workers to change jobs. support the rights of migrant tive Development, Labour and Qatar’s Cabinet also recent- workers,” Salzano said. Social Aff airs for the approval ly approved a draft law that “As soon as the reform en- Frankfurter of draft laws that further pro- would possibly allow workers to ters into force, this remarkable tect workers’ rights. switch jobs while their employ- transformation of the labour “This important reform es- ment contract is still valid. market will certainly ben- tablishes a non-discriminatory Minister of Administra- efi t and strengthen the Qatari minimum wage for all work- Italian ambassador Pasquale tive Development, Labour and economy,” he stressed. ers and completes the abolish- Salzano Social Aff airs HE Yousef bin “I am confi dent that foreign ment of the “kafala system” by Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro investors and companies will be Buchmesse removing the exit permit for covered by Law No. 13 of 2018,” announced the new labour re- particularly attracted by a lo- domestic workers and all other the envoy told reporters yester- form on Wednesday at the In- cal business environment more amad Bin Khalifa Uni- categories of expat workers not day. ternational Labour Organisa- friendly and dynamic.” versity Press (HBKU HPress) is participating in the 2019 edition of Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Interna- tional Book Fair), which opened on Wednesday. Heya Arabian Fashion event begins on Oct 25 The international exhibition hosts hundreds of publishing companies, publishing-related QNA tion will be held at the Doha Ex- ever recorded to date. event that enriches our calendar companies as well as media outlets Doha hibition and Convention Center This year’s edition also fea- of local events, especially busi- from around the world each year (DECC) between October 25-29. tures international brands from 11 ness events, which is one of the in a spectacular event that allows The event is delivered by De- countries, including neighbour- most important tourism sub sec- publishers and media from around eya Arabian Fashion Ex- sign Creationz, with the support ing Kuwait and Oman as well as tors. the world to interact and engage. hibition will return for its of the Qatar National Tourism India, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco, It also provides an excellent The world’s largest book fair HBKU Press at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019. H16th edition this month Council (QNTC), as part of its ef- China, Indonesia, Italy and Geor- platform for local entrepreneurs draws record numbers of visitors with a rich programme of more fort to empower the private sector gia. This edition will also see the to showcase their talent and in- each year, as some of the world’s rights of books that meet their in HBKU Press as we continue to than 20 fashion shows, seminars, to attract and host global events. Ministry of Commerce and In- troduce themselves to interna- biggest authors are set to give strategic vision, while establish- form new relationships and solid- designer workshops and more The exhibition continues to be dustry participating for the fi rst tional markets. We are delighted readings, lectures and sign books ing relationships with entities ify existing ones with publishers than 250 brands participating in the go-to platform for Qatari de- time at Heya through a variety to partner with Design Creationz for attendees. HBKU Press’s that can expand the reach of their around the globe.” this exciting array of fashion. signers to showcase their designs, of workshops. Jawaher al-Khu- to support the exhibition and presence will be among the ranks titles. “Each year, we are proud Founded on the principles of Held under the patronage of HE with Qatari brands representing zaei from Qatar National Tour- pleased to see that with its 16th of the world’s top publishing to boast of HBKU Press’s many international best practices, ex- Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad 75% of participants, the highest ism Council said: “Haya Arabian edition, it has established itself as houses along with hundreds of achievements to our colleagues cellence and innovation, HBKU bin Khalifa al-Thani, the exhibi- percentage of local participation Fashion Exhibition is a vibrant a leading Arabian fashion event.” visitors daily. in the publishing industry Press is a “world-class publish- HBKU Press’s booth repre- around the world,” explains Ba- ing house that aims to support sents over 10 years of the pub- char Chebaro, executive director the vibrant scholarly and literary lishing house’s catalogue of of HBKU Press. “This past year culture in Qatar”, the statement acclaimed works and innova- has been particularly rewarding notes. Through its participation tive publications, from award- as several of our books have won in such fairs, HBKU Press aims Relations reviewed with INCB president winning original titles in both international awards and hon- to maintain its standing as the English and Arabic, to translated ours, among them the works of leading choice for publishing in works by globally recognised local Qatari and Arab talents. Qatar, to attract and inspire new E the Permanent Rep- trol Board (INCB) Cornelis P de appreciation for the co-oper- conventions at the regional and authors and translators, a press “By highlighting and helping authors, illustrators and transla- resentative of Qatar to Joncheere. ation with Qatar, affi rming the international levels. statement notes. facilitate the dissemination of lo- tors, and be a cornerstone of Qa- Hthe United Nations Or- During the meeting, they re- INCB readiness for further co- He noted the visit of a delega- At Frankfurter Buchmesse, cal talent and local narratives to tar’s knowledge-based economy. ganisations Ambassador Sultan viewed bilateral relations be- operation in the fi eld of training tion from the INCB to Qatar in HBKU Press plans to promote the diff erent regions across the globe, HBKU Press’s booth is located in bin Salmeen al-Mansouri met tween Qatar and the INCB, as and prevention, with a view to October last year, and the suc- brand internationally, enter into it is exciting to see that each year hall 5.1, stand B143 at the fair, which in Vienna with President of the well as topics of mutual interest. enhancing the implementation cess achieved to deepen rela- agreements to buy and sell the there is a marked rise in interest is being held until October 20. International Narcotics Con- The president expressed his of international drug control tions between the two sides.

Temporary roundabout Closure of truck route ramp Closure of intersection

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the conversion of Electricity Intersection (formerly known as Nasser bin Khalid Intersection) on A Ring Road into a temporary roundabout while keeping the same number of lanes open in all directions. The change will be implemented in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic and the intersection will remain as temporary roundabout from today (Friday) for a period of four months. The conversion is to enable expansion and upgrading work Ashghal has announced that exit 20 truck route ramp towards Mesaieed on Electricity Intersection and installation of new traff ic lights as part of the at Rawdat Al Ghargat Interchange on Al Majd Road will be closed from Ashghal has announced the closure of the intersection of Al Khufous Street A-Ring Road Development Project. Ashghal will install road signs advising tomorrow for a period of two weeks. During the closure, exit 10 ramp at with Baaya Street in the area of Murraikh from today (Friday) for one month motorists of the temporary closure. The authority has requested all road Umm Shahrain Interchange will be the alternative route. while keeping traff ic from Al Khufous Street towards Baaya Street open. The users to abide by the speed limit and follow the road signs to ensure safety. closure is to complete upgrading of Al Khufous Street.

Wasag Al Markh Street closure Temporary closure of two lanes Protests in Lebanon after move to tax calls on apps

AFP ple demand the fall of the regime.” Beirut Protesters in the capital blocked the road to the airport with burning tyres, while others massed near the interior undreds of people took to the ministry in central Beirut, NNA said. streets across Lebanon yes- “We elected them and we will re- Hterday to protest dire eco- move them from power,” one protester nomic conditions after a government told a local TV station. decision to tax calls made on messag- Public anger has simmered since ing applications sparked widespread parliament passed an austerity budget outrage. in July with the aim of trimming the The far-reaching demonstrations country’s ballooning defi cit. forced the government to walk back The situation worsened last month on its decision to approve the tax late after banks and money exchange yesterday, Telecommunications Min- houses rationed dollar sales, sparking ister Mohamed Choucair said. fears of a currency devaluation. Demonstrations erupted in the The government is assessing a se- capital Beirut, in its southern sub- ries of further belt-tightening meas- Ashghal has announced a full closure on Wasag Al Markh Street at urbs, in the southern city of Sidon, in ures it hopes will rescue the country’s Gharrafat Al Rayyan area for one week with immediate eff ect. The closure, the northern city of Tripoli and in the ailing economy and secure $11bn in implemented in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic, has Ashghal has announced a temporary closure of two lanes on Dukhan Road Bekaa Valley, the state-run National aid pledged by international donors been announced in order to maintain the road that leads to one of the from today for one week for the traff ic from Dukhan towards Doha, over News Agency reported. last year. venues hosting FIFA Club World Cup 2019. Ashghal has advised road users 700m. The closure is to enable the asphalt works as part of Khalifa Avenue Across the country, demonstra- And it is expected to announce a se- to use temporary alternative roads as shown on the map. Project. tors chanted the popular refrain of the ries of additional tax hikes in the coming 2011 Arab Spring protests: “The peo- months as part of next year’s budget. Gulf Times 4 Friday, October 18, 2019 AFRICA Putin signals Russia’s return to Africa with summit

AFP chance to revive Soviet-era rela- player on the continent in the ditionally low, like Nigeria and But Putin’s Kremlin – embold- cess, Moscow is attempting to It has fl aunted its growing Moscow tionships and build new allianc- Soviet era, backing independ- Ghana. ened by its growing presence in mobilise its Cold War-era con- presence in the country, with es, bolstering Moscow’s global ence movements and training a “This forum signals Russia’s the Middle East and the success nections and convert its old ide- Russian military contractors pa- clout in the face of confrontation generation of African leaders. decisive pivot towards Africa,” of its military intervention in ological links into business,” said trolling the streets of the capital resident Vladimir Putin with the West. Remnants of that infl uence re- said Yevgeny Korendyasov, an Syria – is trying to play catch-up. Arnaud Dubien, the head of the Bangui and a Russian, Valery Za- hosts dozens of African “Russia has always been main, from the Kalashnikov rifl e expert at Moscow’s Institute for Russian companies have in- Franco-Russian Observatory. kharov, serving as security ad- Pleaders next week as Russia present in Africa, this is a very on the fl ag of Mozambique to the African Studies and former am- vested in oil and gas in Nigeria, in The Central African Repub- viser to Touadera. seeks to reassert its infl uence on important continent,” Putin’s Angolan fl ag with its hammer- bassador in Burkina Faso and diamonds in Angola and in met- lic – whose president Faustin- Moscow has struck a series of the continent and beyond. spokesman Dmitry Peskov said and-sickle-style gear and ma- Mali. als in Guinea and South Africa. Archange Touadera will attend military agreements with other The heads of some 35 African ahead of the summit. chete. Russia’s ties with Africa de- Moscow has also used a com- the summit – has been one of the African countries and thousands countries are expected for the “Russia has things to off er in The leaders of former So- clined with the collapse of the bination of arms exports, securi- most prominent examples. of private Russian security con- fi rst Africa-Russia Summit in terms of mutually benefi cial co- viet client states like Angola and Soviet Union in 1991 and in re- ty expertise and support for local Moscow has delivered weap- tractors – many of them with the Black Sea resort of Sochi next operation to African countries.” Ethiopia will be at the forum, but cent years China has emerged as governments to deepen its politi- ons along with contractors to experience fi ghting in eastern Wednesday and Thursday. Though never a colonial power so will others from where Mos- a key foreign power on the con- cal and economic presence. train soldiers in the former Ukraine and Syria – are reported For Putin, the summit is a in Africa, Moscow was a crucial cow’s engagement has been tra- tinent. “With varying degrees of suc- French colony. to be working on the continent. EU observers Fuel tanker blast sparks major fire fl ag concerns over polls in Mozambique

Agencies independent,” the EU said, add- Maputo ing that there was also little pub- lic trust in the independence of the police. European Union observer The run-up to the vote was mission to Mozambique’s marred by sporadic violence, Aelection raised the alarm including the killing of an elec- yesterday over unfair conditions tion observer and attacks from and unjustifi ed use of state re- a breakaway group of Renamo sources by the ruling party, as fi ghters, with one person report- well as widespread violence. ed killed. Results are not in yet from The Electoral Institute for Tuesday’s presidential, legisla- Sustainable Democracy in Africa tive and provincial poll. (EISA) said it was regrettable that But its outcome will test a irregularities in voter registra- fragile peace deal between the tion had not been addressed be- ruling Frelimo party and its old fore the vote. civil war foe turned opposition Local non-profi t observer People gather at the scene of a fire at one of the biggest markets in Nigeria following an explosion of a fuel tanker, in Onitsha, Anambra State in southeast Nigeria, rival Renamo. groups had reported the pres- yesterday. Two people died and several shops were damaged in the fire. Any reports of irregularities or ence of 300,000 “ghost voters” fraud are likely to put the two- – names not aligned with real month-old agreement at risk. voters – on the electoral roll in “An unlevel playing fi eld was the southern Gaza province. evident throughout the cam- “Key aspects of the process paign,” the EU mission said in a such as the security challenges, statement. voter registration, the campaign “The ruling party dominated and selective accreditation of the campaign in all provinces citizen observers posed chal- and benefi ted from incumbency, lenges to the integrity of the including unjustifi ed use of state elections,” said EISA Mozam- South Africa endures resources, and more police es- bique head and former Ghana corts and media coverage than president John Dramani Ma- opponents.” hama. The election is widely ex- Former Kenyan vice president pected to return President Filipe Kalonzo Musyoka said the Com- Nyusi to power, and extend his monwealth’s observer mission party’s decades-long rule over “remained concerned about the 2nd day of power cuts a southern African nation set to impact” of the suspected ghost become one of the world’s main voters on the election. Reuters (MW) of power from 9am (0700 to service over the next few days. coal-fi red power stations. generation until 2030, a cabinet gas exporters. African observer missions Johannesburg GMT) until 11pm (2100 GMT) South Africa’s rand currency It is also grappling with a statement said ahead it being Very few results have yet were more sanguine, with both yesterday on a rotational basis fell as much as 1% against the debt pile which stood at around publicly gazetted. trickled out, although an offi cial the African Union team lead by across the country. dollar on Wednesday after Es- 440bn rand ($31bn) as of March. The Integrated Resource Plan at the electoral commission said former Nigerian president Good- outh Africa was hit by “Contingency measures have kom announced the cuts. Ramaphosa has pledged 59bn (IRP 2019) will replace a previ- they may start coming out today luck Jonathan and the Southern power cuts for a second been put in place to manu- The power cuts also aff ected rand of support for Eskom over ous blueprint not updated for – the law allows 15 days in total Africa bloc SADC praising the Sday yesterday as state util- ally feed coal to Medupi (power supplies to Zimbabwe, where the next two years, on top of almost a decade, and deals with after the vote. poll for being peaceful and well- ity Eskom said a number of gen- plant) whilst we look into a per- Eskom exports up to 400 MW 230bn rand in bailouts spread electricity generation and ener- Under the peace deal, Renamo organised. erating units were still out of manent solution to the coal con- daily, the country’s electricity over the next 10 years. gy mix South Africa will rely on will be able to choose governors “Parties and people must be service and some would not be veyor belt failure at the station,” utility ZESA Holdings said in a Offi cials say its operational in the immediate future. for the fi rst time in any provinces patient and remain committed back up and running for a few Eskom said. notice yesterday. losses mean Eskom will also have “The plan proposes nine in- it wins, instead of them being to peace as the results are be- days. “We have started receiving Power cuts are a daily occur- to take other measures to make it terventions to ensure the coun- appointed by the central govern- ing compiled for validation,” On Wednesday Eskom was additional diesel supplies from rence in Zimbabwe but Eskom’s fi nancially sustainable. try responds to the energy needs ment in Maputo. said Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is forced to impose fi rst power the major oil service providers supply problems were com- Natasha Mazzone, South Af- for the next decade,” the state- Yet there are fears of unrest if it Zimbabwe’s defence minister. cuts for the fi rst time in around and as such we are comfortable pounding the situation. rican shadow minister of public ment said without elaborating. fails to win any. The former rebel movement seven months, highlighting the that we can build the necessary In South Africa, the resump- enterprises at offi cial opposition The interventions consider The electoral campaign has al- Renamo seeks to control its tra- challenge facing President Cyril diesel and water reserves to ac- tion of power cuts pose another Democratic Alliance, yesterday energy demand and supply as ready been marred by violence. ditional heartlands in central and Ramaphosa in rescuing the state ceptable levels over the week- risk to the already weak econo- said the government’s “mis- well as international obligations “Inter-party violence was northern provinces but it faces company, which has been beset end.” my. management” of Eskom was to for South Africa to reduce harm- prevalent as well as mistrust be- the waning popularity of its can- by fi nancial and technical prob- Late on Wednesday Eskom Eskom produces more than blame for the power cuts. ful greenhouse gas emissions, tween the main political parties didate, Ossufo Momade, and a lems, and putting further pres- said some generating units have 90% of South Africa’s electricity South Africa yesterday ap- the cabinet added. The govern- and a lack of confi dence that the challenge from younger opposi- sure on the economy. already returned to service and but has been hobbled by tech- proved the promulgation of its ment will disclose more details electoral administration...(was) tion party, the MDM. Eskom cut 2,000 megawatts it expects more units to return nical faults at its fl eet of mainly long-delayed plan for electricity at a media briefi ng today.

Dozens arrested in Kenyatta refuses to sign Burundi crackdown

Reuters The central bank said in Oc- the budget over rate cap tober that offi cial reserves in the Nairobi fi rst quarter of the year covered Reuters Last month, lawmakers rejected workers and real estate develop- only three weeks of imports, and Nairobi a June request by the Treasury to ers fi nd it hard to sell homes to a ore than 40 people have has not answered requests for remove the cap, saying lenders had credit-short market. been arrested in Burun- more recent information. not proven they could be trusted to “Investors will react positively Mdi since the penalties Dollars are sold at the offi cial enyan President Uhuru lower rates without pressure. to this news, in light of the harm- for black market trading were in- rate only to importers of essential Kenyatta has demanded The move was the second at- ful eff ects of the loan rate cap on creased last month, the ministry goods such as fuel and fertiliser. Kthat lawmakers remove a tempt by the government to re- Kenya’s growth prospects, and the of public security has said. Many businesses say they cap on commercial lending rates, peal the cap after a similar try last unnecessary complication that The central African country are unable to import merchan- refusing to approve the 2019/20 year was blocked by lawmakers. it creates for policy,” said Razia has been short of foreign currency dise and could be forced to shut (July-June) budget unless the “The capping of interest rates Khan, head of research for Africa since foreign aid was frozen in down. limit is lifted, a document sent to has not addressed the intended at Standard Chartered in London. 2016, after President Pierre Nku- One woman who imports dec- parliament from the presidency objective particularly in expand- The central bank, which found runziza ran for a third term despite orations for weddings said she showed yesterday. ing credit access,” Kenyatta said in a study last year that the cap protests from opponents who said could no longer pay for supplies. The move was the latest in a in the note to parliament. had probably cut 0.4% from he was violating the terms of a deal “We no longer make profi ts running dispute over the rates Kenyan bank shares surged on 2017’s economic growth, has that ended a civil war. since we cannot continue in- cap, which the government and the Nairobi bourse after the news. complained that the cap has also A ministry spokesman said creasing the prices of our goods banking offi cials say is debilitat- The cap has cut private sec- made it hard it to transmit its on Wednesday that those who in order to avoid losing clients,” ing to the economy because it tor credit growth as commercial monetary policy signals. had been arrested were accused she said. stalls lending. banks cut off millions of low-in- It takes an average of three-fi ve of “breaching the central bank A dozen foreign exchange In 2016, the government limited come customers deemed too risky months longer for policy deci- regulation on foreign exchange”. traders in Bujumbura said that, rates banks can charge customers to lend to, government offi cials sions to be transmitted under the The dollar fetches about 2,900 because they could not buy dol- to four percentage points above the and bank executives say. capping regime compared with a Burundian francs on the streets lars at the offi cial rate, they pur- central bank’s benchmark – cur- It has also had a knock-on free interest rate regime, Kenyatta of the capital Bujumbura, nearly chased them from neighbouring rently 9% – saying they were con- eff ect on the real economy as said, citing research by the central double the offi cial rate of 1,876, Democratic Republic of Congo to cerned about high rates. credit-starved businesses lay off bank. Kenyatta: dispute with lawmakers traders said. sell on the black market. Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 5 AMERICAS

Trudeau receives Obama President ‘told’ offi cials support

Reuters Ottawa to liaise with Giuliani Reuters anadian Liberal Prime Washington Minister Justin Trudeau, Cfacing a tough election next week, has accused his rivals resident Donald Trump of fi ghting a dirty campaign and directed senior US offi - picked up an endorsement from Pcials to talk directly to his former US president Barack personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, Obama. about US policy in Ukraine, rais- Polls show that Trudeau’s ing concern that the president party, in power since 2015, is tied was outsourcing American for- with the opposition Conserva- eign policy to a private citizen, tives and will lose its majority in the US ambassador to the Euro- the House of Commons. pean Union said yesterday. Obama called Trudeau a hard- The envoy, Gordon Sondland, working, eff ective leader who told lawmakers in the House of tackled big issues like climate Representatives impeachment change. inquiry against Trump that he “The world needs his progres- did not understand “until much sive leadership now, and I hope later” that Giuliani’s agenda our neighbours to the north sup- included a push for Ukraine to Sondland arriving yesterday at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. port him for another term,” he investigate a domestic political said in a tweet. rival, former vice-president Joe vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt those of us present at the meet- The two men formed a close Biden. on a domestic political oppo- ing to talk to Mr Giuliani, his friendship when Obama, a Dem- In prepared testimony to the nent, inviting foreign meddling personal attorney, about his ocrat, was still in offi ce. Democratic-led inquiry, Sond- in an American election after concerns,” he added. Trudeau was the fi rst Cana- land said he and two other of- Russia interfered in the 2016 “It was apparent to all of us dian prime minister that the fi cials – Energy Secretary Rick election, according to US intel- that the key to changing the Trump supporters hold a ‘Stop Impeachment’ rally yesterday in front of the US Capitol n Washington, United States honoured with a Perry and Ukraine Special Envoy ligence agencies and a special President’s mind on Ukraine was DC. state dinner in almost two dec- Kurt Volker – were disappointed counsel probe, to boost his can- Mr Giuliani,” he said. ades, when Obama invited him in Trump’s May order, but he didacy. Giuliani did not immediately est sign yet that Trump’s eff orts Trump ousted her based on “un- summary of the call public. and his wife to Washington in followed it anyway. The impeachment inquiry respond to a request for com- to erect a fi rewall around the founded and false claims” after “None of the brief and general March 2016 after Trudeau won Sondland said he felt foreign could lead to the House passing ment on Sondland’s testimony. White House and frustrate the she had come under attack by call summaries I received con- power the previous October. policy should be the work of the formal charges – known as ar- He told Reuters on Wednesday Democratic-led inquiry’s eff orts Giuliani, who has accused her tained any mention of Burisma Obama’s endorsement came State Department, not the presi- ticles of impeachment – which that he did not talk to Sondland to interview administration of- of blocking eff orts to persuade or former vice-president Biden, just hours after Trudeau, speak- dent’s personal lawyer. would prompt a trial in the Sen- about the need for help from fi cials are proving unsuccessful. Ukraine to investigate the Bi- nor even suggested that Presi- ing to reporters in Montreal, ac- Sondland, a Republican ate on whether to remove Trump Ukraine in investigating the Bi- While he expressed misgiv- dens. dent Trump had made any kind cused the Conservatives of run- Trump political donor and a from offi ce. dens. ings in his testimony about Trump has accused the Bidens of request of President Zelen- ning “one of the dirtiest, nastiest wealthy Oregon hotelier before The Senate is controlled by Sondland is the latest witness Giuliani’s role, other witnesses of corruption related to Ukraine skiy,” Sondland added. campaigns based on disinforma- being named by the president to Trump’s fellow Republicans, to speak to lawmakers about his have described Sondland as be- without off ering evidence. Sondland said he was una- tion that we’ve ever seen in this his envoy post last year, also said who have shown little inclina- knowledge of eff orts by Trump ing among a trio of senior US The Bidens have denied any ware of the connection between country”. that “inviting a foreign govern- tion toward removing him. to urge Ukraine to investigate offi cials who were considered wrongdoing. Hunter Biden and Burisma “un- A Nanos Research overnight ment to undertake investiga- Sondland said that on May 23, Biden. more reliable than career dip- Sondland said he did not ful- til more recent press reports”. poll for CTV and the Globe and tions for the purpose of infl u- three days after Zelenskiy’s in- Trump withheld $391mn in lomats in pressing Ukraine to ly appreciate in late May what There were media reports in Mail newspaper put the Con- encing an upcoming US election auguration, US offi cials who had military aid to Ukraine before launch investigations that might Giuliani’s intentions were re- the spring about Hunter Biden’s servatives at 32.5%, the Liberals would be wrong”. attended the event debriefed making the request. help Trump’s re-election bid. garding Ukraine. role in Burisma and Giuliani’s at 31.9% and the left-leaning His written testimony un- Trump and key aides at the “Please know that I would Sondland said Ukraine was “I did not understand, until eff orts to publicise the issue. New Democrats (NDP) at 18.8%. derscored the pivotal role of White House. not have recommended that part of his portfolio since the much later, that Mr Giuliani’s Sondland also said in his tes- Canadians vote on Monday. Giuliani in the Ukraine scandal. The ambassador said the of- Mr Giuliani or any private citi- time he took the post in June agenda might have also included timony that he was only quoting On Wednesday, Trudeau, The impeachment inquiry fi cials taking part in the meet- zen be involved in these foreign 2018. an eff ort to prompt the Ukraini- Trump when he sent a text mes- Conservative leader Andrew centres on Trump’s request on a ing emphasised the strategic policy matters,” Sondland said, He said he was never part of a ans to investigate vice-president sage to US diplomat Bill Taylor Scheer and NDP chief Jagmeet July telephone call that Ukrain- importance of Ukraine and the but added that given Trump’s campaign to remove Marie Yo- Biden or his son or to involve denying that the president had Singh were all stumping for ian President Volodymyr Zelen- importance of the relationship “explicit direction” that “we vanovitch, the US ambassador to Ukrainians, directly or indirect- demanded a quid pro quo – a votes in Quebec, a predomi- skiy investigate Biden, a leading with Zelenskiy, who he called a agreed to do as President Trump Ukraine who was recalled from ly, in the President’s 2020 re- Latin phrase meaning a favour nantly French-speaking prov- contender for the 2020 Demo- reformer planning to fi ght cor- directed”. the post in May by Trump. election campaign,” Sondland for a favour – in which Ukraine ince that is a key political bat- cratic presidential nomination ruption. Sondland became the latest “I found her to be an excellent said. would have to investigate the Bi- tleground, home to 78 of the 338 to face Trump. “We asked the White House in a series of current and former diplomat with a deep command Sondland said he was not on dens to receive the withheld aid. seats up for grabs. Before the call, Giuliani to arrange a working phone call Trump administration offi cials of Ukrainian internal dynamics, the July 25 call between Trump According to text messages Scheer said last week that had been working to persuade from President Trump and a to testify in the impeachment the US-Ukraine relationship, and the Ukrainian leader, did released earlier this month, Trudeau was “a phony and a Ukraine to investigate Biden and working Oval Offi ce visit. inquiry as lawmakers investigate and associated regional issues,” not know about the president’s Taylor, the top US diplomat in fraud” who did not deserve to his son Hunter Biden, who had “However, President Trump whether Trump committed any Sondland said. request regarding a Biden inves- Ukraine, texted Sondland that govern. served as a director for Ukrain- was sceptical that Ukraine was “high crimes and misdemean- Yovanovitch appeared before tigation – and did not see a tran- he thought “it’s crazy to with- Scheer has repeatedly said ian energy company Burisma. serious about reforms and an- ours”. the impeachment inquiry last script until two months later, hold security assistance for help Trudeau will raise taxes imme- At issue is Trump pressing a ti-corruption, and he directed His testimony was the clear- Friday, telling lawmakers that when the White House made a with a political campaign”. diately after the election – which Trudeau has denied. The Conservatives were the source of a video of Trudeau in “blackface” in the early 1990s. They gave it to Global News Trump Twitter photo attack backfi res as Pelosi owns it to authenticate and it emerged a day after the fi rst “blackface” picture was published by Time AFP “Thanks for the new cover fast! There is either something magazine. Washington photo @realDonaldTrump!” wrong with her ‘upstairs,’ or she Trudeau targeted his Con- tweeted Pelosi’s deputy chief of just plain doesn’t like our great servative counterpart near the staff Drew Hammill. Country. She had a total melt- end of the nearly six-week offi - resident Donald Trump’s Others pointed out that sever- down in the White House today. cial campaign period, which has Twitter attack on House al members of Trump’s cabinet It was very sad to watch. Pray for been characterised by mudsling- PSpeaker Nancy Pelosi fol- looked as if they would rather be her, she is a very sick person!,” ing on both sides. lowing an acrimonious White somewhere else. Trump tweeted. “We may wake up Tuesday House meeting appears to have “The men on your right refl ect One of the Democrats who morning and have a government backfi red spectacularly. the embarrassment we all feel,” attended the meeting, Senate led by Andrew Scheer. Trump tweeted a picture of tweeted actress Mia Farrow. Minority Leader Chuck Schum- And the only way to avoid that the encounter on Wednesday Pelosi has previously gone vi- er, said Trump launched into a is to vote for the Liberal Party,” showing a standing Pelosi point- ral with her apparent trolling of “nasty diatribe” against them, Trudeau said. ing at the president while he and Trump, with her slow clapping while Pelosi said the president For his part, Scheer has had everyone else in the room was of his last State of the Union experienced a “meltdown”. to deal with repeated references seated, with the caption “Nerv- speech becoming a meme. Trump’s spokeswoman by Trudeau to his anti-abortion ous Nancy’s unhinged melt- After leaving the White House Stephanie Grisham rejected the stance, even though he has said down!” meeting, she told the press that Democratic version of events, he will not limit a woman’s right However, far from being upset she prayed for the president and saying that the president had to choose. at the picture, Pelosi posted it as his family “all the time”. been “measured and decisive,” “Justin Trudeau has been her Twitter banner, and her sup- “Now we have to pray for his and that Pelosi walking out was dividing Canadians – pitting porters said it showed her liter- health, because this was a very “baffl ing but not surprising”. regions of our great country ally standing up to Trump. serious meltdown on the part of The meeting was the fi rst against each other,” Simon Jef- “Can a woman beat Donald the president,” she said. face-to-face encounter between feries, a spokesman for Scheer’s Trump? Yes. Speaker Pelosi does Hours later, Trump suggested Trump and Pelosi since her ex- campaign, said in a statement, This off icial White House handout photo released yesterday shows Pelosi and Trump during a meeting it every day,” Democratic Sena- Pelosi had mental problems of plosive September 24 statement adding Trudeau “should take a on Wednesday about Syria between lawmakers, the president, and members of the Trump tor Amy Klobuchar said as she her own. announcing a formal impeach- look in the mirror”. administration in the White House cabinet room. retweeted the picture. “Nancy Pelosi needs help ment inquiry. Senior Democrat Cummings, at centre of Trump inquiry, dies at 68

AFP man of the House Oversight and include a question about citizen- Trump suggested the African- the most powerful Democrats in Tributes to Cummings quickly Washington Reform Committee, Cummings ship in next year’s census. American Democrat spend more Congress and a key ally of House poured in from members of Con- – a big man with a booming voice Trump set aside his feud with time there. speaker Nancy Pelosi. gress. and gift for oratory – was at the the Democrats to extend condo- Cummings wrote in response: The Baltimore Sun said he was “We lost a giant today. Con- enior Democratic con- centre of the impeachment in- lences to Cummings’ family. “Mr President, I go home to my “known for his devotion to Bal- gressman Elijah Cummings was gressman Elijah Cum- quiry into President Donald “I got to see fi rst-hand the district daily. Each morning, I timore and civil rights, and for a fearless leader, a protector of Smings, who was at the cen- Trump and had clashed with him strength, passion and wisdom wake up, and I go and fi ght for my blunt and passionate speech- democracy, and a fi ghter for the tre of the Trump impeachment repeatedly in recent months. of this highly respected political neighbours. It is my constitu- making”. people of Maryland. Our world is inquiry, died yesterday at the age The House panel is one of three leader. His work and voice on so tional duty to conduct oversight It said he had particularly re- dimmer without him in it,” Dem- of 68, his offi ce said. probing whether Trump pres- many fronts will be very hard, if of the Executive Branch. But, it sented Trump’s tweet that four ocratic presidential candidate The veteran Baltimore rep- sured Ukraine to dig up dirt on not impossible, to replace!” he is my moral duty to fi ght for my congresswomen of colour should Kamala Harris wrote. resentative passed away at a Democratic White House hope- wrote on Twitter. constituents.” “go back” to their countries. “He was an amazing man,” said hospital in his home city “due ful Joe Biden and help the presi- In July, the president described One of seven children, Cum- Since winning his seat in 1996, Senate minority leader Chuck to complications concerning dent win re-election next year. Baltimore as a “rat and rodent mings was the son of South Caro- Cummings never faced a serious Schumer. longstanding health challeng- Cummings had also super- infested mess” unfi t for humans lina sharecroppers who moved challenge for it. “He had a combination of be- Cummings: known for his es”, a statement from his offi ce vised probes into issues includ- and blamed it on the Cummings, north to improve their lot in life. He was also an early supporter ing strong when he had to be, and devotion to Baltimore and civil said without giving the cause of ing the Trump administration’s who has represented much of the He earned a degree in political of Barack Obama’s drive to be- had to be quite often, but also be- rights, and for blunt and death. treatment of migrants at the bor- majority-black city in Congress science and later a law degree, come America’s fi rst black presi- ing kind and decent and caring passionate speechmaking. As the highly-respected chair- der with Mexico and its eff ort to since 1996. and went on to become one of dent. and humble,” Schumer said. Gulf Times 6 Friday, October 18, 2019 ASIA Thai child traffi cker sentenced to record 374 years in jail

Thomson Reuters phy after he lured children aged provided to the Thomson Reu- the imprisonment period at 50 result in authorities and judges Since January this year, courts level offenders. But she said Bangkok 7-12 to play computer games ters Foundation by the Court of years in accordance with Thai being more careful when han- have handed down 170 prison this must be accompanied by at his house where he filmed Justice. law. Papop Siamhan, an inde- dling such cases,” he said. Ear- sentences in trafficking cases seizure of assets which should sexual acts with them and sold The case was the second pendent lawyer with expertise lier this year the United States of which 74 were sentences of be used to pay compensation to Thai trafficker was sen- the videos on a chat app, po- trafficking case in Thailand in human trafficking, said such praised Thailand for sentencing more than 10 years, according victims. tenced to a record 374 lice said. A court in Thailand’s in which offenders were sen- cases resulted in long prison convicted traffickers and com- to the Court of Justice. “Deterrence aimed at the A years in jail for child southern province of Phang tenced to more than 300 years sentences because they often plicit officials to significant Archana Kotecha, Asia re- freedom and assets of offend- trafficking in a ruling that law- Nga sentenced him to 374 years in jail. Last year the criminal involved several laws and many prison terms in its annual Traf- gion director and head of legal ers is likely more effective and yers say will send a deterrent to in jail for his crimes and or- court sentenced three men to children. ficking in Persons (TIP) report. at anti-slavery charity Liberty holistic as it takes into account other criminals. dered him to pay 800,000 Thai up to 309 years each for traf- “Long prison sentences will Thailand was ranked as a Tier Shared, said long sentences can the need to compensate victims Yuttana Kodsap, 31, was baht ($26,000) in compensa- ficking children for prostitu- act as a deterrent because peo- 2 country in the report, mean- be effective deterrents when for what they have endured and found guilty of child trafficking tion to each of the five victims, tion. ple will be afraid to commit ing it is making significant they are addressed at kingpins removes the commercial gain for the purpose of pornogra- according to court documents In both cases, courts capped such crimes, and it will also efforts to combat the crime. in trafficking cases and not low made by the offender,” she said.

Malaysia New Thai govt looks to bolster faces major test navy AFP Kuala Lumpur

alaysia must strengthen its in fi rst budget Mnavy to better defend the country’s wa- ters, a minister said yes- terday, as tensions mount over Beijing’s growing as- sertiveness in the contest- ed South China Sea. debate China has laid claim to nearly all of the sea and has Reuters built numerous military Bangkok outposts on small islands and atolls, angering other countries with competing hailand’s parliament yes- claims to the waters, in- terday began debate on a cluding Malaysia. Tbudget bill that is set to Tensions have also test the strength of a new civil- fl ared between China and ian coalition government headed the US, which has sent by a former military junta leader. warships through the Opposition parties object to an South China Sea to as- increased allotment in the budg- sert international rights to et for central government spend- freedom of navigation. In a ing, to be dispersed at the discre- speech to parliament, Ma- tion of Prime Minister Prayuth laysian Foreign Minister Chan-ocha. Saifuddin Abdullah said The draft bill for 2020, which the government wanted to was approved by the cabinet PM Prayuth Chan-ocha. “control the presence” of last week, faces a vote in coming warships in the sea, in part days that will gauge the strength The proposed budget for the spend the central budget allo- by boosting the strength of Prayuth’s coalition, which 2020 fi scal year that began on Oct cation without parliamentary of its navy. “We need to has a slim majority in the lower 1 is for 3.2tn baht ($105.54bn), a approval gives the former army improve our asset capabil- House of Representatives. The 6% increase from 2019, drafts of chief, in eff ect, unchecked pow- ities to control the waters, government’s 16-party coali- the budget tabled in parliament ers, similar to those he wielded especially in the context of tion has 249 seats compared with on Thursday showed. for fi ve years as head of a military facing superpowers in the 243 seats in the opposition bloc. The government is operating junta. The government rejects South China Sea,” he said. Several seats in the 500-member on the 2019 budget until the of- the opposition criticism. Pray- “Even Malaysian war- house are vacant. fi cial 2020 budget is approved. uth told parliament he would not ships in the navy are much If the draft bill is defeated at The largest item is a central spend the budget frivolously. smaller than coastguard the end of the fi rst reading, ex- budget allocation of 518.77bn The Ministry of Defence, boats from China.” Thai oarsmen row during the first full dress rehearsal for the Royal barge ceremony along the Chao pected by tomorrow, then the baht ($17.11bn), a 10% increase which has seen increasingly Saifuddin added that Phraya river in Bangkok yesterday. government will be hamstrung from 2019, which represents higher spending since the mili- Malaysia, or regional without funds and may need to nearly a quarter of this year’s tary seized power in 2014, was bloc the Association of Thai king postpones royal barge procession until December either resign or dissolve parlia- budget increase. set to see a 2.7% increase in its Southeast Asian Nations ment, according to the constitu- It is also signifi cantly larger budget in 2020. (Asean), could ask the tion. If the bill is passed, it will than the budget for the educa- The government also proposed US and China to “reduce Thailand’s newly crowned king been moved to mid-December from the river journeys of still have to go through second tion ministry, which usually gets a palace budget of 7.69bn baht or not increase the pres- has postponed next week’s due to worries over the “water ancient Thai kings as they lead and third readings, expected in the largest amount among all 19 ($253.63mn) next year, a 13% rise ence of their ships”. Other final event marking his historic conditions and weather”. “After their battle flotillas into war. The early January, before being sub- ministries. in support of monarchy of King claimants in the sea in- coronation – a royal barge 10 small rehearsals and a final Royal Household Bureau also mitted for royal approval in late Opposition parties say the Maha Vajiralongkorn’s state and clude Vietnam, the Philip- procession down Bangkok’s rehearsal today, we realised the announced late yesterday that the January. ability of the prime minister to personal aff airs. pines, Brunei and Taiwan. Chao Phraya river – by almost procession would not maintain king’s sister, Princess Sirindhorn, Last month, a US Navy two months, a deputy premier the traditional formation and was admitted to hospital for an destroyer sailed close to announced yesterday. The beauty and the event should infection in her large intestine. the Chinese-controlled 52-barge procession was wait,” he said. “The king has Vajiralongkorn is the tenth Paracel Islands in the scheduled for October 24, and decided to postpone it to monarch of the Chakri dynastry, South China Sea, to as- yesterday Thai oarsmen donning December 12”. which has reigned over the Five dead in Philippine quake sert freedom of navigation hats and gold-flecked attires The elaborate ceremony is the kingdom since 1782. While he rights. It did not request rowed down the Chao Phraya final phase of the coronation of ascended the throne three years permission from Beijing, river for the first full-dress King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ago following the death of his AFP Mindanao’s major cities. Local homes,” Zaldy Ortiz, civil de- or from Hanoi or Taipei, rehearsal. will travel on a barge downriver beloved father, Vajiralongkorn’s Manila authorities had earlier told AFP fence offi cer of Magsaysay town, which also claim owner- But deputy prime minister – allowing Thais a rare chance off icial coronation was only held three children were among the told AFP. ship of the archipelago. Wissanu Krea-ngam later told to greet the monarch and his in May in an elaborate three-day dead. Local school and government reporters the procession has queen. The procession originated aff air. ive people were killed and holidays were announced in dozens were injured af- The Philippine seismology Magsaysay, where the landslides Fter a powerful earthquake offi ce has recorded struck, to allow building inspec- hit the southern Philippines, more than 300 weaker tors to check structures for dam- authorities said yesterday. The aft ershocks in the area age, Ortiz added. 6.4-magnitude quake struck the since the big quake Power was being restored in Indonesia’s anti-corruption bill ushered in Mindanao region on Wednesday the bigger cities, but there was night, reducing dozens of houses The Philippine seismology of- substantial damage to some hos- to rubble on the southern third of fi ce has recorded more than 300 pitals, government buildings, AFP thought the new law would the Philippines. weaker aftershocks in the area schools, churches and houses in Jakarta weaken the agency. Yesterday afternoon, authori- since the big quake, but authori- the small towns, the council said Weeks of demonstrations ties said fi ve people were killed ties said they do not expect the in a report. that started in September were and 53 injured, mainly in a clus- toll to rise signifi cantly. The dis- In General Santos City, fi re- controversial law critics also fuelled by a proposed bill ter of small farming towns. Three aster council’s spokesman Mark fi ghters fi nally put out a blaze say would weaken Indo- that included dozens of legal people were killed in landslides Timbal told local television it that started at a shopping mall Anesia’s anti-corruption changes – from making it ille- while another was crushed by had not received any reports of shortly after the quake. agency came into eff ect yester- gal to insult the president ... to the collapsed wall of a house. The missing people from any of the The Philippines is part of the day after it sparked nationwide toughening the country’s blas- fi fth suff ered a fatal heart attack, quake-hit areas. Pacifi c “Ring of Fire”, an arc of protests that left at least three phemy law. the National Disaster Risk Re- “People have returned home... intense seismic activity that students dead and scores in- Those changes were delayed duction and Management Coun- They are OK now, unlike last stretches from Japan through jured. after the backlash. The country- cil said. night when they were terrifi ed Southeast Asia and across the The new bill was introduced wide protests were among In- No fatalities were reported in and slept on roads beside their Pacifi c basin. as the Southeast Asian nation is donesia’s biggest student rallies on high alert ahead of President since mass street demonstra- Joko Widodo’s second-term in- tions in 1998 toppled the Suhar- Nepal police arrest 21 Maoists from banned faction auguration Sunday, after Islamic to dictatorship. Three students State-linked militants tried to die in the unrest. assassinate a government min- Widodo’s inauguration Police in Nepal yesterday to the district headquarters,” he group is a breakaway faction of ister. comes just over a week after arrested 21 members of an said, adding that two of them ruling Maoists, and is considered Under tight security in the Police spokesman Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo briefs his chief security minister was outlawed Maoist faction near were the group’s leaders. The the most radical among the capital Jakarta yesterday, about journalists during a media presentation of suspected militants stabbed in an unrelated attack the country’s southern border government in March banned the country’s half-dozen Maoist a hundred students protested in Jakarta yesterday following an assassination attempt on by two IS-linked militants, who with India. The members of the group and arrested hundreds of factions. The main Maoist faction against Widodo not rolling back Indonesia’s chief security minister Wiranto. were arrested at the scene. Yes- Communist Party of Nepal had its members. is part of the current ruling party the law after he earlier pledged terday, police said 40 suspected gathered for a regional meeting The group has been accused of in Nepal. Maoist rebels fought an to consider a revision. graft-riddled nation. “The new fi dence in him is going to drop ... militants had been arrested in a in an abandoned house close arson and bomb blasts in several armed insurgency against state The legislation will see the law will make it diffi cult to ar- It would show he is a prisoner of nationwide dragnet following to a forest in Dang district in parts of the country. Four people security forces between 1996 appointment of a board to over- rest big fi sh,” said Syamsuddin the oligarchy. It’ll kill his image the attack last week on Secu- mid-western Nepal, police off icer were killed in May when a crude and 2006 that killed more than see Indonesia’s graft-busting Haris, a political analyst at the as a man of the people.” rity Minister Wiranto, a former Binod Bikram Shahi said. bomb being carried by the 16,000 people. agency – known as the KPK Indonesian Institute of Scienc- A recent survey by poll- general who goes by one name. “We have also seized pistols at the group’s members exploded in a A peace accord was signed in – and limits its ability to wire- es. “If Widodo doesn’t stop or ster Lembaga Survey Indone- The 72-year-old is recovering in site. We have brought the people rented room in Kathmandu. The November 2006. tap corruption suspects in the annul the law, then public con- sia found 70% of respondents hospital. Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Chaos in HK legislature as Lam heckled once again

AFP Hong Kong

ro-democracy lawmakers Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam walks past protesting pro-democracy lawmakers as she arrives for a question and answer session in the were dragged out of Hong Legislative Council (Legco) in Hong Kong yesterday. PKong’s legislature by secu- rity guards yesterday after they ries of record-breaking, peaceful heckled the city’s pro-Beijing marches earlier this summer. leader for a second day running, The CHRF have called for a the latest outburst of political major rally on Sunday – although rancour in the strife-torn city. they are currently waiting for po- Chief Executive Carrie Lam lice permission for the event to go has faced an outpouring of an- ahead. ger from her opponents since the Hardcore pro-democracy legislature opened its doors for a protesters have also increas- new session on Wednesday, three ingly meted out their own street months after the building was justice, beating people who vo- trashed by masked protesters. cally disagree with their goals Lam was unable to give a State Security personnel block a lawmaker waving a placard at Hong Kong’s or are viewed to be government of the Union-style policy speech Chief Executive Carrie Lam during a Legislative Council meeting regard- loyalists. Hong Kong’s instabil- on Wednesday after pro-de- ing her policy address, in Hong Kong yesterday. ity is fuelled by years of growing mocracy lawmakers, who form fears Beijing is eroding the city’s a minority on the pro-Beijing- Millions have taken to the streets, said yesterday he was recovering unique freedoms, contrary to a stacked legislature, repeatedly initially against a now-dropped after being set upon by a gang of deal that outlined Hong Kong’s interrupted her. Instead, she was bid to allow extraditions to the hammer-wielding thugs, the lat- 1997 return to China from British forced to deliver the address via a Chinese mainland. But after est assault on Beijing critics in colonial rule. pre-recorded video. Beijing and Lam took a hard line, Hong Kong. Jimmy Sham, one Lam, who was appointed by a Lam returned to the Legisla- the movement snowballed into a of the protest movement’s most pro-Beijing stacked committee tive Council yesterday to answer broader push for democracy and recognisable faces, was left lying and has historically low approval questions from lawmakers about police accountability. in a pool of blood late Wednesday ratings, has struggled to end the the content of that policy speech. Violence has escalated on both after he was jumped by around political crisis. Wednesday’s But chaos erupted once again sides of the political divide with fi ve men in the district of Mong policy speech was billed as an at- as her opponents chanted slogans hardcore protesters wielding pet- Kok. “I will continue to fi ght for tempt to win hearts and minds Anti-government protesters hold flowers during a demonstration in Tiu Keng Leng in Hong Kong. and were dragged one-by-one rol bombs and stones, and police the fi ve demands in a peaceful, after four months of seething from the chamber. responding with ever-increasing rational and non-violent man- pro-democracy protests. crease housing and land supply in ment and said progress could police, an amnesty for the more Later in the evening she hosted amounts of tear gas, rubber bul- ner,” Sham wrote on Facebook But it was heavily criticised a city that has one of the least af- only be made once violence from than 2,500 people arrested and a Facebook Live event in which lets and even live rounds in recent from his hospital bed. both by opponents and even her fordable property markets in the protesters ends. fully free elections. Both Lam angry emojis and critical com- weeks. Vigilante attacks have also Sham is the main spokes- allies for off ering little in the way world, and announcing a handful Activists have said they will and Beijing have repeatedly dis- ments dominated her page. Hong fl ourished. man of the Civil Human Rights of a substantive political solu- of subsidies. only end their huge rallies if core missed those demands and say Kong has been rocked by the A leading fi gure within Hong Front, a group which advocates tion. Instead, Lam focused on But she gave no political con- demands are met, including an Hong Kong’s freedoms are being worst political unrest in decades. Kong’s democracy movement non-violence and organised a se- economic gripes, vowing to in- cessions to the democracy move- independent inquiry into the protected.

China signs deal to ‘lease’ Pacific In the spotlight Hundreds of dignitaries to attend as island in Solomons Japan emperor declares enthronement A Chinese company signed an agreement to lease an entire island in the Solomon Islands a Reuters Three Sacred Treasures, placed Diana also attended Akihito’s Naruhito’s enthronement. day after Beijing recruited the Tokyo beside him. Together with a enthronement ceremony, US Another daily, the Mainichi, Pacific nation as its latest ally mirror called Yata-no-Kagami, Transportation Secretary Elaine said this month the planned par- in the strategically important which is kept at the Ise Grand Chao, Chinese Vice President don is targeted at petty criminals, region, according to documents apanese Emperor Naruhito is Shrine, the holiest site in Ja- Wang Qishan and South Korean and they will have restrictions on obtained by AFP yesterday. set to proclaim his enthrone- pan’s Shinto religion, the ancient Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. their legal rights lifted. The leaked papers reveal that Jment to the world next week sword and jewel comprise the re- Domestic media said Turkish In Japan, those who are con- the Solomons’ Central Province in a centuries-old ceremony at- galia that symbolises the legiti- President Tayyip Erdogan will victed and fi ned are banned from made a “strategic co-operation tended by some 2,500 people, macy of the emperor. also likely attend, and that Abe obtaining physicians’, nurses’ agreement” on Tulagi island, including heads of state and Emperor Akihito pledged dur- will hold talks with some 50 for- and some other licenses for fi ve which has the type of deep- other dignitaries from nearly 200 ing the previous ceremony in eign leaders. years. water harbour coveted by the countries. 1990 to observe Japan’s pacifi st A court banquet will begin at The government has post- military, with the state-owned Emperor Naruhito, 59, ac- constitution and fulfi l his duty as 7:20pm with foreign dignitaries poned a procession due after the China Sam Group on Septem- ceded to the throne in May after a symbol of the state and of the as well as the representatives of enthronement ceremony as the ber 22. A day previously, China his father, Akihito, became the unity of the people. the Japan’s executive, legislative country grapples with the after- and the Solomons off icially fi rst monarch to abdicate in two Emperor Naruhito’s procla- and judicial branches and their math of Typhoon Hagibis, which established diplomatic relations centuries. Following are the main mation will be followed by Prime spouses. hit over the weekend and killed at after Beijing persuaded the events planned for Oct 22, a one- Minister Shinzo Abe’s congratu- Emperor Naruhito and Em- least 77 people. Emperor Naruhi- impoverished Pacific nation to off national holiday. latory address. Abe will then lead press Masako, his Harvard-ed- to and Empress Masako were due sever ties with arch-rival Taiwan Emperor Naruhito, like his fa- three cheers for the new emperor, ucated, ex-diplomat wife, will to ride in an open-top Toyota and become its ally. Tulagi, ther nearly three decades ago, bringing the 30-minute ceremo- host a tea party for foreign roy- Century limousine through cen- an island about 2sq km with a will wear a traditional robe and ny to a close. About 16.1bn yen alty the following afternoon. Abe tral Tokyo. population of 1,200, is the site of headdress to the ceremony that ($148mn) has been earmarked for will then host a banquet for about Abe said a new date had not a former Japanese naval base will start at 1pm at the Imperial succession-related ceremonies 900 foreign leaders and other been picked but public broad- and was the scene of fierce Palace’s Matsu no ma, or Hall of throughout the year, including delegation members at Tokyo’s caster NHK reported it would be fighting in World War II. The Pine, the most prestigious space the enthronement ceremony. Hotel New Otani in the evening. rescheduled to Nov. 10. agreement with China Sam in the palace. Abe has said representatives The Asahi Shimbun daily re- Some 120,000 people, many mentions developing a refinery He will declare his enthrone- from more than 190 countries ported on Wednesday the gov- waving national fl ags, lined the on the island, but its potential for ment from the “Takamikura” — a and international organisations ernment had told the ruling route to cheer Emperor Akihito dual use as a Chinese military Models display creations by Ryan Li for the 2020 Spring/Summer 6.5m high pavilion that weighs will likely join the celebration. Liberal Democratic Party that and Empress Michiko as they base is certain to raise concerns collection at Tokyo Fashion Week yesterday. about 8 tonnes — with a sword Those include Britain’s Prince it planned to grant pardons to passed by in a Rolls-Royce Cor- with the US and Australia. and a jewel, two of the so-called Charles, who along with Princess about 550,000 people to mark niche III after his enthronement. PM Abe takes stock at disaster zone Japan minister visits war shrine

Reuters to restore your lives,” Abe told 500bn yen in reserves for dis- ference, adding that new dates AFP ing a ritual off ering, public gression launched by Japanese Tokyo two elderly women at an evacu- aster recovery and would con- were still being considered. Tokyo broadcaster NHK reported. The militarism.” ation centre, getting down on his sider an extra budget if needed. Other events connected with the Yasukuni Shrine honours 2.5mn “We urge the Japanese side knees to talk to them as they sat With winter approaching and enthronement will proceed as war dead, mostly Japanese, who to earnestly abide by, face up apan’s prime minister vis- on blankets on the fl oor. some parts of Fukushima see- scheduled, he added. Japanese minister yes- perished in the country’s wars to, and self-examine its atti- ited communities yesterday Abe visited Fukushima and ing below-average temperatures, “We are looking into new dates terday visited the Yasu- since the late 19th century. It tude and commitments to the Jthat were hit by a powerful Miyagi prefectures, which suf- concern is rising about the health after considering a number of is- A kuni war shrine at the also enshrines senior military history of aggression,” Geng typhoon, while the government fered heavy damage in the storm. of people in evacuation centres, sues,” Suga said. centre of long-running tensions and political fi gures convicted said. The South Korean foreign said it was postponing a parade Both were also hard hit by a tsu- some of whom lost everything in He declined to be more spe- with regional neighbours — the of war crimes by an internation- ministry said the government for Emperor Naruhito’s formal nami set off by a March 11, 2011, the fl oods. cifi c, but national broadcaster fi rst cabinet-level offi cial visit al tribunal after World War II. “expresses deep regrets over the enthronement next week be- earthquake, which triggered a The Ministry of Land and NHK said the parade would be in over two years. Visits to the shrine by gov- fact that the Japanese govern- cause of the disaster. meltdown at a nuclear power sta- Transportation said yesterday rescheduled to Nov 10. Emperor Seiichi Eto, the minister in ernment offi cials have angered ment and parliamentary leaders Typhoon Hagibis killed at tion in Fukushima. that levees had broken in more Naruhito is set to proclaim his charge of Okinawa and what Ja- countries that suff ered at the again sent off erings or paid vis- least 77 people last week when Fukushima has seen the high- than 100 places, and authorities enthronement in a centuries- pan calls “the Northern Territo- hands of the Japanese military its to the Yasukuni Shrine that it lashed wide swathes of Japan est number of casualties from the warned that with heavy rains old ceremony attended by some ries” — disputed with Russia — during World War II, particu- romanticises Japan’s history of with heavy rain and powerful typhoon, with at least 28 dead as forecast for the weekend, more 2,500 people, including heads of visited the shrine at the start of larly South Korea and China. wars of invasion.” wind, setting off landslides and of yesterday. Abe said the gov- fl ooding could occur. state and other dignitaries from the annual autumn festival, an Chinese foreign ministry Relations between Tokyo and widespread fl ooding as rivers ernment would spend 710mn yen The government will post- nearly 200 countries. offi cial at Eto’s ceoffi told AFP. spokesman Geng Shuang lashed Seoul are already at their lowest burst their banks. Nine people ($6.53mn) to help with disaster pone the parade celebrating the The emperor, 59, acceded to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe out at the visit and Abe’s ritual point in years over a long-run- are missing and 346 were in- relief. emperor’s October 22 enthrone- the throne in May after his father, meanwhile continued his re- off ering, saying: “The Yasukuni ning dispute related to Japan’s jured. Finance Minister Taro Aso ment, said Yoshihide Suga, chief Akihito, became the fi rst mon- cent practice of staying away shrine is a spiritual tool and use of forced labour during the “We’ll do everything possible has said the government had cabinet secretary, at a news con- arch to abdicate in two centuries. from the shrine, instead send- symbol of the war of foreign ag- war. Gulf Times 8 Friday, October 18, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Meghan kept copy of letter to father at centre of legal row Guardian News and Media London her legal case against the Mail on or inform Meghan that they were legislation and breached copyright pared the treatment of Meghan to The letter was posted via FedEx of the legal action was revealed, Sunday for copyright infringement preparing to print the letter, in an laws by publishing large chunks of coverage of his mother, Princess by Markle’s Los Angeles-based the Mail on Sunday ran a staunch and invasion of privacy. apparent attempt to avoid an ap- the letter without her permission. Diana. He also launched legal representative. defence of its reporting, saying eghan, the Duchess of The duchess’s lawyers also al- plication for an injunction. “Although the claimant is well proceedings against the publish- Earlier this year Thomas Mar- Thomas Markle had originally Sussex, kept a copy of a lege that the letter was selectively Meghan, who is described by known to the public, the details ers of the Sun and the Mirror for kle handed the letter to the Mail intended to keep the existence of Mhighly personal hand- edited by the Mail on Sunday to her solicitors as a “well-known of her feelings about her rela- alleged phone hacking, as part of on Sunday, which ran excerpts of the letter private. written letter she sent to her father remove paragraphs which were American actor, business entre- tionship with her father are not a the couple’s all-out legal war on the correspondence as a “world According to Markle, he de- Thomas Markle, suggesting she highly critical of the British tabloid preneur, and women’s rights activ- matter of public interest, nor do the UK’s tabloid media. exclusive”, alongside his com- cided to go public after reading may have correctly feared it would media, as well as comments which ist” is claiming the Mail on Sunday they relate to her public profi le or Meghan wrote to her father in ments about being cut out of the a lengthy piece in the February later be leaked to the media. showed that Meghan retained invaded her right to a private life work,” her lawyers state. August 2018 begging him to stop relationship with his daughter. edition of the US magazine Peo- Court fi lings seen by the Guard- genuine concern for her father’s under the Human Rights Act. She Her husband, Prince Harry, talking to reporters and saying The Mail on Sunday has stood ple, with quotes attributed to ian show that the duchess has a well-being. is also claiming damages over alle- last month warned of newspa- he had broken her heart “into a its ground since the fi rst legal “close friends of Meghan”, which full record of the correspondence, The documents also state that gations that the newspaper did not pers “waging campaigns against million pieces” with his constant letters were sent in February, the royal household has never including unpublished sections, the Mail on Sunday did not request handle her personal information individuals with no thought to media interventions during her with the case currently head- denied was authorised by the which is now being used to assist a comment from the royal family correctly under data protection the consequences” and com- relationship with Prince Harry. ing to court. After the existence duchess. Climate activists to change tack after London Tube mayhem

AFP Service along both lines was London halted during the morning com- mute. The disruptions sparked a so- nvironmental campaigners cial media backlash and drew yesterday expressed regret angry headlines in the tabloid Eand promised to change press. their ways after one of their pro- “Muppets!” the mass-circu- tests caused a near-riot on the lated Sun newspaper fumed. London underground. Extinction Rebellion issued a The Extinction Rebellion pres- carefully worded statement sev- sure group has been staging 10 eral hours later that did not ex- days of colourful but disruptive plicitly apologise but did express action across London and other regret. “It is regretful that there global cities to draw attention to was violence at yesterday’s ac- climate change. tion at Canning Town tube sta- Protests yesterday targeted tion. London Underground trains and “We would like to express our Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attend a news conference an overground train station dur- sadness that events escalated after agreeing on the Brexit deal, at the sidelines of the European Union leaders summit, in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. ing the morning rush hour com- this way.” mute. London police have reported The British Transport Police making more than 1,600 arrests said it had arrested eight people since activists fi rst took to the and was also “reviewing the un- streets at the start of last week. acceptable violent clashes” that The campaign has seen activ- erupted at the Canning Town ists try to “occupy” London City underground stop. Airport and other sites in and A clip that went viral on Twit- around the UK capital’s two vi- Johnson secures EU nod ter showed furious Londoners brant fi nancial districts. tossing their morning snacks The group accuses big busi- and cups at an activist who had nesses and the government of climbed atop a train at the east inaction in the face of fast-rising London station. global temperatures that sci- He was then shown being entists link to polluting carbon for ‘no delay’ Brexit deal dragged to the ground by his feet emissions. before scuffl es broke out. But the rumbles of Londoners’ Reuters cellor Angela Merkel and French to be approved rapidly, with no The head of the main opposi- he will not do it. Video journalist Elliot Laugh- discontent have been growing Brussels President Emmanuel Macron. need for any further extension of tion Labour Party, Jeremy Cor- Negotiators worked franti- lin told the BBC that he was also and police imposed a blanket ban He then left them to decide the Brexit deadline. byn, said he was “unhappy” with cally this week to agree a com- attacked while trying to fi lm the on gatherings of more than two whether they approved the deal. Brexit was initially supposed the agreement and would vote promise on the question of the incident from the back of the people at the start of the week. uropean Union lead- After a little over an hour of to have happened on March 31 against it. border between EU member Ire- crowd. “They said I was with Campaigners yesterday were ers yesterday gave their discussion, the leaders issued a this year. It will now take place on Labour has said it wants any land and the British province of them. I said I was here to fi lm refused an urgent high court Eunanimous backing to a joint statement endorsing it. October 31, as long as the deal is deal to be subject to a public Northern Ireland, the most dif- this action. Several individuals hearing to challenge what they Brexit deal with Britain, putting “Now is the moment for us approved by the British and Eu- vote, but as yet has not indicated fi cult part of Brexit. grabbed me and pulled me on the called an “unprecedented and the onus on Prime Minister Boris to get Brexit done and then to- ropean parliaments. whether it will back any move for The conundrum was how to fl oor and about 20 Londoners disproportionate” ban. Johnson to secure parliament’s gether to work on building our “There must be no prolonga- a second referendum tomorrow. prevent the frontier becoming beat me down,” Laughlin said. Anger at the disruption ap- approval for the deal in a vote in future partnership, which I think tion — it has to happen now,” Johnson appears intent on a backdoor into the EU’s single He said he remained “in a foe- peared to reach boiling point two days’ time. can be incredibly positive both Juncker said. presenting parliament with a market without erecting check- tal position while being kicked” with the Canning Town incident, British and EU negotiators for the UK and for the EU,” John- Johnson now needs to secure stark choice — the deal he has points that could undermine the before three Londoners jumped prompting Extinction Rebellion reached the agreement after son told a a joint news confer- the votes needed at an extraor- struck or no deal — in the hope 1998 Good Friday Agreement, in and covered him to shield him to acknowledge the backlash and successive days of late-night ence with commission president dinary session of parliament to- of securing enough votes to get which ended decades of confl ict from the blows. promise a change of tack. talks and nearly three years of Jean-Claude Juncker before the morrow. approval. in the province. A separate protest saw two “In light of yesterday’s events, heated discussions that have summit began. But the arithmetic is not easy “The PM’s position is that it’s The agreement reached will priests climb atop a Docklands Extinction Rebellion will be strained EU-UK ties. “I hope very much... that my or straightforward for him. new deal or no deal but no de- keep Northern Ireland in the Light Railway (DLR) train and looking at ways to bring peo- After the deal was announced, fellow MPs in Westminster do The Northern Irish party that lay,” said a senior government UK customs area but tariff s will read an impromptu prayer vigil ple together rather than create Johnson joined the EU’s 27 other now come together to get Brexit Johnson needs to help ratify any offi cial. Even though parliament apply on goods crossing from at the Shadwell stop just east of an unnecessary division,” the leaders at a summit in Brussels, done, to get this excellent deal agreement, the Democratic Un- has passed a law obliging him to mainland Britain to Northern the City of London fi nancial hub. group’s statement said. shaking each by the hand as he over the line and to deliver Brexit ionist Party (DUP), has refused ask the EU for a delay if a deal has Ireland if they are headed to Ire- A third protest member glued It also hinted at disagreements entered the room and laughing without any more delay.” to support it, saying it is not in not been fi nalised and approved land and into the bloc’s single himself to the train. over tactics within its ranks. and joking with German Chan- Juncker said he wanted he deal Northern Ireland’s interests. by tomorrow, Johnson has said market.

They’re back Trump claims over Ex-IRA chief cleared Dunns’ meeting denied over McConville killing Guardian News and Media at the White House, but at that London stage we weren’t aware of any plans for the family to go (to the Guardian News and Media seize the Boston tapes and used the Boston College tapes. US), so it wasn’t discussed fur- London them to prosecute Bell, claim- The Guardian obtained le- owning Street has de- ther.” ing he was “interviewee Z”. This gal documents showing that nied that Boris Johnson The family, who have been interview contained accounts of the head of the US university Dasked Donald Trump in New York this week to raise he case against a former how the IRA killed McConville library where the tapes of self- to organise a meeting between awareness of the case, were IRA commander accused and hid her body. confessed IRA and UVF activ- the family of Harry Dunn and called by the White House and Tof involvement in the But a judge in Belfast crown ists were held had won the right the wife of an American diplo- asked out of the blue to travel to murder of a Belfast widow who court yesterday said Bell could to withdraw from criminal cases mat who has admitted she was Washington DC, but were not was kidnapped, killed and buried not be found guilty. relating to the oral history pro- driving on the wrong side of the told they would meet the presi- in secret has collapsed. Justice O’Hara told the jury: gramme. road before the teenager died in dent or that Sacoolas would also Ivor Bell, a veteran republi- “As a result of some legal rul- Legal sources and campaign- a collision. be in the building and ready to can, was cleared of soliciting the ings which have been made over ers on both sides of the Atlan- At a briefi ng on Wednesday, meet them. A photo opportunity murder of Jean McConville in the last two days there is now no tic claimed the withdrawal on the US president said he had was being arranged by the White 1972. McConville became known evidence that the prosecution health grounds of Bob O’Neill arranged the widely criticised House press team. as one of the “disappeared” of can put before you to support the would potentially collapse meeting at the suggestion of The family resisted Trump’s the Northern Ireland Troubles. case it was putting against Bell. some of these cases. O’Neill is Prime Minister Johnson. pressure to have a meeting, say- The prosecution’s case against My ruling now is to direct you to understood to have a deterio- But No 10 said Johnson was not ing it was not appropriate to do 82-year-old Bell, from west Bel- return a verdict of not guilty be- rating health condition and his aware of Trump’s plans to set up so at such short notice and they fast, was based on alleged ad- cause you simply cannot fi nd him Boston-based lawyers argued a meeting between Harry Dunn’s wanted Sacoolas to return to the missions he gave to the Boston to have done the acts alleged.” he was unfit to take part in any family and Anne Sacoolas. UK to help with the police inves- College/Belfast Project tapes, The judge lifted reporting re- trials. “The prime minister and the tigation. an archive of taped testimonies strictions that had prohibited O’Neill’s evidence was re- president spoke last Wednesday Lawyers for the Dunn family from IRA and loyalist paramili- the reporting of the case. garded as crucial given that he Austrian-US actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and US actress and the PM asked the president accused the White House of be- taries who admitted their part in The restrictions had prevent- was the person who allegedly Linda Hamilton pose during a photo call to promote the film to do all he could to resolve the ing directed by the national se- terrorist crimes including mur- ed the Guardian from revealing knew the identities of all the Terminator: Dark Fate in London yesterday. Hamilton and issue,” a No 10 spokeswoman curity adviser, Robert O’Brien, der during the Troubles. earlier this year that a key Amer- former paramilitaries on the Schwarzenegger reprise their iconic roles in the forthcoming said. who they described as a “nin- Detectives from the Police ican academic could no longer tapes. None of the participants sixth instalment in the Terminator franchise in Terminator: “During the conversation, the compoop”. More private eff orts Service of Northern Ireland testify in the Bell trial and other gave their names on the record- Dark Fate. president raised a possibility of at arranging a meeting are under went to the US supreme court to upcoming cases connected to ings. a meeting with Anne Sacoolas way. Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 9 EUROPE

Fastest ant clocks nearly Catalan president calls 1m per second for independence vote AFP Reuters a referendum that Madrid ruled Barcelona today, and unions by validating independence,” the Paris Barcelona was illegal. have called a general strike for president added. Cars and rubbish bins were the day. The regional parliament’s torched in the Catalan capital Addressing the Catalan par- term expires in December 2021. t’s offi cial: The Saharan sil- atalonia should hold a Barcelona overnight and Inte- liament, pro-independence The Constitutional Court ver ant is the fastest of the new vote on independ- rior Minister Fernando Grande- regional chief Quim Torra criti- warned Catalan offi cials on Iworld’s 12,000 known ant Cence from Spain within Marlaska said 97 protesters had cised the rioting, saying that the Wednesday of legal conse- species, clocking a blistering two years, the head of the re- been arrested since the outbreak separatist cause was a peaceful quences if they broke the law by 855mm – nearly a metre – per gion’s government said yester- of some of the worst violence movement. pursuing independence. second, researchers said yester- day in a fresh challenge to Ma- seen in Spain in years. However, he also pushed the A source close to Torra said day. drid following days of unrest by With further demonstrations case for forging ahead with the any eventual vote could be a re- Measured another way, the pro-separatist protesters. planned, Grande-Marlaska said stalled secessionist drive, saying gional election that would be six-legged sprinter covers 108 Nearly 100 people were in- security reinforcements would that Monday’s sentences would considered a plebiscite on inde- times its own body length per jured across the northeastern be sent in. not deter a new vote on inde- pendence – a move that could second, a feat topped only by two region on Wednesday in a third Yesterday thousands of stu- pendence. circumvent Madrid’s refusal to other creatures, the Australian day of violence after Spain’s dents took to the streets, some “We’ll return to the ballot box sanction a referendum. tiger beetle and the California Supreme Court sentenced nine of them hurling eggs at police again on self-determination,” he Spain’s main parties have coastal mite. Catalan leaders to lengthy jail holding riot shields. said. “If all parties and groups consistently rejected calls for To run 100 times his body terms over their failed eff ort to Protesters from around the make it possible, we have to be an independence referendum in length as quickly, the fastest secure independence in 2017 via region are due to converge on able to fi nish this legislative term Catalonia, although the ruling man in the world, Usain Bolt, Socialists say they are open to would need to sprint the 200m dialogue on other issues. Torra: We’ll return to the ballot box again on self-determination. If all dash in less than a second. Catalonia is a semi-autono- parties and groups make it possible, we have to be able to finish this Making the exploit even more mous region with some 7.5mn legislative term by validating independence. remarkable, the Saharan silver inhabitants, who have their own hits its top speed racing at mid- language, parliament and fl ag. €1mn ($1.1mn) in two days of querra spokesperson Sergi Sab- day across desert sands that It is Spain’s wealthiest region. unrest. ria. reach 60° Celsius (140® Fahren- Independence is a highly di- Residents condemned the ri- Catalan nationalists began heit), the researchers reported in visive issue, with a poll in July oting. protest marches across the re- the Journal of Experimental Biol- showing backing for secession “This doesn’t represent the gion on Wednesday and have ogy. in the region at its lowest level in majority of Catalans, whichever said they will all reach Barcelona A quartet of researchers from two years, with 48.3% of people side they are on, be they pro- today to coincide with the gen- the Universities of Ulm and against and 44% in favour. constitution or pro-independ- eral strike. Freiburg in Germany tracked Pro-independence leaders ence,” said Joan, a 50-year-old Carmaker Seat, a unit of down Cataglyphis bombycina in staged their banned referendum small-business owner who de- Volkswagen, has halted produc- the Tunisian desert and set up a in 2017 and then declared they clined to give his family name. tion at its plant in Martorell, fi eld lab as a race course. were breaking away from Spain. In his address to parliament, near Barcelona, from yesterday “Once we had located a nest, it The Spanish government im- Torra trod a careful line, ac- afternoon until tomorrow, as it was simply a matter of connect- mediately seized control of the knowledging that he can only expects the planned marches ing an aluminium channel to the Catalan administration and the move if other parties backed his to disrupt traffi c, a company entrance and placing a feeder ringleaders were put on trial. calls for a renewed secessionist spokeswoman said. at the end to lure the ants out,” The Supreme Court found drive. The Catalan question has said lead author Sarah Pfeff er. nine politicians and activists Torra’s party, Junts per Cat- dominated domestic politics in “They shuttled back-and-forth guilty of sedition on Monday alunya (United for Catalonia), recent years and was instrumen- in the channel and we mounted and sentenced them to up to 13 rules the region with its allies, tal in triggering national parlia- our camera to fi lm them from the years in jail, sparking increas- the separatist Esquerra Republi- mentary elections in April. top.” ingly violent demonstrations. cana de Catalunya (ERC). The Socialists have called a Pfeff er and her team also ex- Barcelona town hall said 400 But the ERC appeared luke- fresh election next month, but a cavated a nest and transported garbage containers were set warm about Torra’s proposal. poll released yesterday suggest- it back to Germany, where they ablaze on Wednesday and esti- “This is not the moment to ed that parliament would remain recorded C.bombycina’s running mated that the city had suff ered lay down dates ... but rather to split, with neither the left or prowess in cooler climes. Students wave the Esteladas (Catalan separatist flags) during a protest in Barcelona. damage totalling more than achieve consensus,” said Es- right set to secure a majority. As expected, when the tem- perature dropped to a chilly 10C, the ant slowed down by more than a third. At top speed, the Saharan sil- ver easily outpaces its nearest French MPs support move to halt millionaire tax fl ight ant competitor Cataglyphis for- tis – despite having signifi cantly shorter legs. AFP leaders of 765 companies with pay lower taxes, has long been a came in for a torrent of criti- in 2012 to avoid a tax on high by three left-wing and one cen- It does this by swinging its Paris turnover in excess of €250mn source of frustration in France. cism when he took up residence earners. trist party to lower the bar to tiny 5mm long appendages at ($276mn). In 2012, France’s richest man in a tiny village in Belgium, a fa- Ghosn was a resident in the €250mn. speeds of up to 1,300mm per “The vast majority are paying Bernard Arnault, head of the voured spot for wealthy French Netherlands for tax purposes. Darmanin said the new rule second. rench MPs have over- their taxes in France but a small luxury goods conglomerate nationals seeking to reduce their President Emmanuel Ma- would take account of bilat- The length of the ant’s strides whelmingly backed a gov- proportion are not and this will LVMH, came under fi re after tax bill, before later accepting a cron pledged to tackle the issue eral tax agreements with other increased four-fold as the ani- Fernment proposal to force solve that,” he said. it emerged he had applied for a Russian passport from President which had fuelled “yellow vest” countries. mal shifted into high gear, they the bosses of big French com- The measure is included in the Belgian passport at a time when Vladimir Putin. protests which erupted last year “There will be no double taxa- found. panies to declare their income in 2020 budget bill, which also has the government was mulling a The subject resurfaced last over policies seen as skewed to- tion,” he said. The scientists also dis- France, part of a bid to halt the to be cleared by the Senate be- 75% tax on top earners. year after it emerged that the wards the rich. Welcoming the vote, Jean- covered that – at its fastest tax fl ight of the rich. fore becoming law. Arnault denied his applica- former head of French carmaker The government had initially Paul Mattei, an MP from the – C.bombycina switches from Budget Minister Gerald Dar- The issue of the mega-rich tion was tax-related but faced Renault, Carlos Ghosn, awaiting proposed applying the measure centrist MoDem party, said it running to a gallop, with all six manin said the proposal, adopt- squirrelling away their millions with the outcry later withdrew trial in Japan on charges of fi - to bosses of companies with rev- would “give a good image of feet off the ground at regular in- ed by the National Assembly, away in countries such as Bel- his citizenship application. nancial misconduct, had moved enues in excess of €1bn but later what the manager of a French tervals. would apply to about 1,500 gium or Switzerland where they Actor Gerard Depardieu also some of his money out of France backed an amendment brought company should be like”.

Italy retrieves seven bodies from October 7 shipwreck

Reuters Wooden coffi ns were laid on island at a depth of 60m “in a the whole of October last year. but is linked to the reduction in Lampedusa, Italy the port side. rather complex operation”, pros- A further 176 disembarked on the number of people attempting On the day of the shipwreck, ecutors said. Wednesday after arriving in the to cross, the IOM said. October 7, the bodies of 13 wom- After the shipwreck, prosecu- charity ship Ocean Viking. Interior ministers from fi ve taly has recovered the bodies en were recovered and the coast- tors in the southern city of Agri- Dozens of migrants have also European Union countries, in- of a child and six other peo- guard said 13 men and women gento opened an investigation, been killed trying to make the cluding Italy, said last month Iple from the bottom of the had survived the sinking of the with proceedings against persons crossing in recent months. they had agreed on a new scheme Mediterranean Sea, more than boat. unknown.authorities said yes- Confi rmed deaths on the three to distribute migrants saved from a week after a crowded migrant The boat, which appeared to terday. main Mediterranean Sea mi- the Mediterranean under a deal boat capsized off the coast of the have started its trip in Libya and The migrants coming to Eu- gratory routes in the fi rst nine aimed at relieving the pressure island of Lampedusa. stopped in neighbouring Tunisia, rope in recent years have mainly months of the year were 994, on southern EU states. Personnel from the Italian was carrying more than 50 peo- been fl eeing wars and poverty in fi gures released by the Interna- Italy and neighbouring Malta coastguard, dressed in white ple at the time of the disaster. the Middle East, South Asia, and tional Organisation for Migration have long complained that they suits and wearing masks over Most of the passengers came Africa. (IOM) showed. have been left alone to deal with their faces, transported the bod- from Tunisia or sub-Saharan Af- Offi cial statistics show that The number is the lowest re- the hundreds of thousands of Coff ins are seen as emergency services move bodies from a mi- ies on to the dock of the island’s rica. more than 800 migrants have corded since 2014. migrants who have crossed the grant shipwreck that took place on October 7 back to the island of small port in black bags yester- The bodies were retrieved by arrived in Italy over the past two It is not because of an im- Mediterranean in recent years Lampedusa. day. a team of 29 scuba divers off the weeks compared with 1,007 for provement in safety conditions looking for a better life in Europe.

Bosnia urged to move migrant camp The UN migration agency and the Council of Europe’s human rights Drowned mum ‘held baby to the last’: Italian diver commissioner have urged Bosnia to relocate an overcrowded migrant camp, warning of a humanitarian risk. Bosnia has been struggling with a rise in migrant arrivals since nearby AFP “The sight of that baby down “We were driven not only by team saw the images “tears came their children, but all four had European Union member states Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia sealed Rome there was unbearable, a blow to duty, but passion. We could have to our eyes”. gone missing. their borders against undocumented immigration. the heart,” he told the Repubblica given up ... but we stubbornly “Seeing that little body lying She already identifi ed one sis- The Vucjak camp, about 8km from the border with Croatia, lacks running daily. “You are never prepared for wanted to continue searching, on the bottom next to what was ter among the fi rst bodies to be water and electricity and was built over a former landfill where land n Italian diver who led something as intense as that.” to give these people their dig- probably his mother was like a recovered, but was still looking mines remain as a legacy of the 1990s wars triggered by the disintegra- a search for victims of a Raiteri’s team had been look- nity back. People, not ‘migrants’,” punch in the stomach. for her four-year-old nephew, tion of Yugoslavia. AMediterranean shipwreck ing for victims of a disaster on Raiteri said. “The fact they were so close to as well as a second sister and her “The living conditions in this camp ... are already deplorable ... with has described the horror of fi nd- October 7, when a small, over- The team eventually traced the each other, and the way the arms eight month old baby, it said. winter coming, the situation cannot but worsen,” Dunja Mijatovic, the ing the body of a baby, whose loaded boat capsized off Italy’s sunken vessel late last week. of the woman were positioned, Raiteri said bringing the bodies Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement. mother had clutched him to her Lampedusa island. Images fi lmed using an un- made us think she had held him up would be hard. The Council of Europe is the continent’s main human rights watchdog. as they drowned. Only 22 of the 50 or so people derwater drone show the wreck, close until the last,” he said. “They are at a depth of 60m Peter Van Der Auweraert, the sub-regional co-ordinator of the Western Rodolfo Raiteri, head of the on board were saved. with items of clothing lying The International Organisa- (200’), and we cannot last more Balkans at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), urged the coast guard divers, helped pull The bodies of 13 women, some nearby on the sea fl oor. tion for Migration (IOM) told than fi ve minutes down there. So authorities to find “alternate, safe and secure accommodation in line bodies from the Costa Concordia of them pregnant, were recov- Other photographs published the daily Corriere della Sera it we’ll have to be quick. We’ll go with national and international laws and obligations (and) humanitarian cruise ship which overturned off ered the day of the accident. in the Italian press showed bod- believed it had tracked down the down two at a time ... and hope principles and practices”. Italy in 2012, but said in an in- Bad weather hampered the ies of those drowned fl oating ee- baby’s aunt. to be able to put the bodies in More than 40,000 migrants have entered Bosnia since 2018, of whom terview published yesterday that search for the others, reportedly rily around the sunken ship. A survivor from Ivory Coast body bags on the sea fl oor, but around 7,300 have settled in the northwest Bihac area, hoping to cross fi nding the baby on the seabed including eight children and oth- Raiteri, 52, who has a toddler, called Aminata had been on the that won’t be easy because of the into nearby Croatia and go on to the aff luent north and west of the EU. had been worse. er pregnant women. said the moment that he and his boat with her two sisters and condition they are in.” Gulf Times 10 Friday, October 18, 2019 INDIA

LEGAL CONTROVERSY POLITICS OFFBEAT DECISION Ex-cricketer Prabhakar, Kerala minister, opposition Sonia to address rally Man jumps into lion’s Mexico deports actress-wife booked leader row turns personal in Haryana today enclosure at Delhi zoo 300 Indian migrants

Former cricketer Manoj Prabhakar and his A row between Kerala’s Higher Education Minister After returning as interim Congress president, A visitor to a Delhi zoo yesterday entered an Mexico has deported over 300 Indian nationals to actress-wife Farheen were yesterday booked K T Jaleel and opposition leader Ramesh Chen- Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to address her first adult lion’s enclosure and sat face-to-face with New Delhi, the National Migration Institute (INM) in a criminal case by the Delhi Police on the nithala turned personal yesterday with the former rally in Haryana today. The party has released the animal and survived. A video of the incident said, in what it described as an unprecedented trans- basis of charges lodged by London-based NRI, alleging foul play by the latter to ensure his son a detailed programme, which says the Con- shows the man calmly sitting down and staring atlantic deportation. The 310 men and one woman Sandhya Prabhakar, first wife of the ex-cricket star. got high marks in the civil service interview. Chen- gress president will address a public meeting into the lion’s eyes. A zoo worker confirmed that INM said were in Mexico illegally were sent Sandhya alleged that Prabhakar, backed by a few nithala has been attacking Jaleel after it surfaced at Govt College Khel Parisar, Mahendragarh the video’s authenticity. Police described the on a chartered flight, accompanied by federal im- top politicians, connived with police off icers and that the minister had allegedly violated rules in (Haryana) at 3pm today. This is the last ditch man as appearing mentally unstable, local migration agents and Mexico’s National Guard. The fraudulently sold off her flat in south Delhi. When awarding marks to an engineering student at the effort by the Congress to regain ground media reported. It was unclear how the man people had been scattered in eight states around Sandhya tried to approach the couple, she was Mahatma Gandhi University. With documents in the state before campaigning ends in had entered the enclosure. He was rescued by the country, INM said, including in southern Mexico threatened with dire consequences by Farheen. putting Jaleel in the dock, he levelled a personal Haryana today. In Mahendragarh district, the staff. “A lion of this size can kill a human being where many Indian migrants enter the country, hop- Sandhya alleged that Farheen has demanded allegation, without naming Chennithala, saying Congress scored zero in the 2014 Assembly within 15 seconds,” Anish Andheria, head of ing to transit to the US. border. “It is unprecedented Rs15mn to return the property. Sandhya has ac- that journalists can go ahead and find out how elections. Sonia Gandhi has not campaigned the Wildlife Conservation Trust, which seeks to in INM’s history – in either form or the number of cused Prabhakar of hatching a conspiracy with a top Kerala political leader ensured his son got in 2019 general elections due to ill health. protect tigers as India’s natural heritage, told people – for a transatlantic air transport like the one Farheen and a few aides to grab her property. very high marks in the civil service interview. broadcaster NDTV. carried out on this day,” INM said. Praful faces Setback for Chidambaram ED grilling today over land deal

IANS the purported scam may have New Delhi been “leaked” to media. “It’s obvious you are in pos- session of some papers, which he enforcement direc- have never been brought to my torate (ED) is all set to attention,” Patel said. T question former Union The enforcement directorate minister and senior Nation- source further said that the alist Congress Party (NCP) agency will also ask Patel about leader Praful Patel for alleged over a dozen of shell companies deals between Millennium identified during questioning Developers – promoted by of several people linked with him and his wife Varsha – with Mirchi’s family. underworld don Dawood Ibra- The probe agency earlier this him’s close aide Iqbal Mirchi’s week had questioned Mirchi’s family members and also brother-in-law Mukhtar Mem- about the money transactions on, who controls most of the with over a dozen of shell properties in India. companies, official sources On Saturday, the ED also said yesterday. questioned two aides of Mirchi The enforcement directorate on their links with politicians has summoned Patel for ques- and builders, who were alleg- tioning today at its Mumbai edly involved in transaction of office and will record his state- prime properties reportedly Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram arrives at the enforcement directorate off ice in New Delhi yesterday. Chidambaram has been sent to ED ment under the sections of Pre- belonging to Dawood Ibrahim’s custody till October 24 in INX Media case. Judicial custody in the CBI case has also been extended. vention of Money Laundering D-company. (PMLA) Act. The accused, who are from The source said that the fi- Mumbai, have been identified nancial probe agency will ask as Haroun Yusuf and Ranjeet Patel about Millenium Devel- Singh Bindra. Bindra acted opers’ deal with the Hajera as a broker for the land deal Memon, the first wife of while Yusuf transferred the Mirchi. money to a trust and facili- The enforcement directorate tated the deal. officials contend that Patel’s The agency found that Yu- Trinamool fumes as Centre company Millennium Devel- suf became a British national opers constructed a building in 2004 and played a crucial called Ceejay House in 2006- role in illegal land deals be- 07. Millennium Develop- tween Mirchi and developers ers constructed the 15-storey that were carried out by Bind- building on a plot allegedly ra for a brokerage of around takes over governor security owned by Mirchi, an aide of Da- Rs300mn. wood Ibrahim, who runs an in- According to the enforce- IANS the Jadavpur University where ring around Dhankhar. Ghosh backed the centre on the insulted, with students blocking ternational crime syndicate. ment directorate, the purchase Kolkata he had gone to “rescue” Union “I have never seen anything like issue, and said even the chief his car and kicking it,” he said. At the Ceejay House, two of the three assets by Mirchi, Minister Babul Supriyo who was this. He is the constitutional head minster did not have faith in the Another BJP leader Mukul floors were transferred to who died in London in 2013, heckled by a section of students of the state. He can get any form state police. Roy said even the governor’s life Mirchi’s wife. However, the were allegedly made from the he continuing friction in the campus. of security he desires. He could Ghosh pointed out that as was not secure in the state where Nationalist Congress Party proceeds of crime. The three between West Bengal’s Dhankhar was stranded for have easily told the administra- railway minister (2009-11), “there is no democracy”. leader claimed that Hajera re- buildings – Sea View, Marium TMamata Banerjee gov- close to an hour in the campus as tion that his security needed to Mamata was provided security “Democracy is being murdered ceived the properties through Lodge and Rabia Mansion – ernment and governor Jagdeep the radical Left protesters held a be enhanced,” said veteran Trina- by the Railway Protection Force, in Bengal. People have no security M K Mohamed who earlier were sold to a firm for Rs2.25bn Dhankhar intensifi ed yesterday sit-in demonstration and even mool leader and state Panchayat and continued the arrangement in Bengal. There is a police rule in owned restaurants on the prop- in 2010, out of which Mirchi with the Centre deploying the lay prostrate before his vehicle. Minister Subrata Mukherjee. for the fi rst fi ve years of her chief the state. The state governor is in- erty that was knotted in legal allegedly received the majority CRPF to provide him ‘Z’ cat- It is learnt that following the Taking a dig at Dhankhar, ministerial tenure. vited to offi cial functions only to disputes. share. egory security cover, a decision incident, the Raj Bhavan had in- he said: “Why he overlooked “It will be good if the Centre be insulted. Even the governor’s Patel has denied any wrong- The source further said that the ruling Trinamool Congress timated to the state administra- the administration and went provides security to the gover- life is not secure. doing or any links with finan- the agency will also seek an- called “unprecedented”. tion the need to review the gov- straight to the people in Delhi, nor. When the chief minister “The central government has cial dealing with Mirchi or his swers about the financial deal- A person under the Z category ernor’s security. only he can say. There was no herself doesn’t have faith in the taken the right decision by ex- associates. ing of Patel as the agency has security cover is assigned 22 Sources said the Union home need for the extent of personnel police how can they be relied tending its security to him,” he Earlier Patel had dismissed identified several bank ac- personnel. ministry has informed the state being or that will be deployed by upon for providing security to added. charges as “mere speculation” counts through which the The decision apparently administration of its decision. Delhi. I have never heard a gov- the governor? Ghosh and Roy themselves are by sections of the media. He laundered money was routed to stemmed from the situation From now on, central forces ernor feeling insecure,” he said. “We have seen in Jadavpur provided security cover by Cen- said that documents claiming London. Dhankhar faced last month at will be deployed in the security State BJP president Dilip university how the governor was tral paramilitary forces. Netfl ix and Amazon Royal visit Firing by Bangladesh face censorship threat soldiers kills trooper IANS Indian fi shermen went fi shing in Kolkata the River Padma in the border area. Reuters sible censorship had prompted All of this has heightened con- Later two fi shermen returned and New Delhi/Mumbai Netfl ix and Indian rival Hotstar cerns within government and approached the BSF outpost Kak- to signs a self-regulation code prompted talks between the in- Border Security Force (BSF) marichar stating that BGB person- in January, Amazon did not sign formation & broadcasting and trooper was killed and an- nel at post Charghat apprehended he government is deliber- up and said “the current laws are IT ministries in an eff ort to come Aother injured yesterday them and later released two of them ating potential censorship adequate”. up with an acceptable regulatory when Border Guards Bangladesh to call the BSF post commander for Ton streaming platforms “The self-regulation isn’t the framework for such content pro- fi red on them after a fl ag meeting a fl ag meeting.” such as Netfl ix and Amazon same for all, which is raising viders. for securing the release of a fi sh- Around 10.30am, the post com- Prime Video, a senior govern- a concern...the directions are Though it is possible the gov- erman in BGB’s custody at Kak- mander, along with fi ve troopers in ment source disclosed. clear, we have to see how to ad- ernment will decide against any marichar along the riverine inter- the BSF speed boat, went to hold a While film and TV certifi- dress the problems,” the govern- regulation, several other options national border in West Bengal’s fl ag meeting with the BGB to get cation bodies already moder- ment offi cial said. are being explored, the govern- Murshidabad district. the Indian fi sherman released. ate public content in India, Netfl ix’s fi rst Indian original ment source said. According to the BSF, head “During the fl ag meeting, the the country’s laws do not al- series, ‘Sacred Games’, faced a These include a self-regula- constable Vijay Bhan Singh was BGB party commander informed low censorship of content on court challenge last year over tion code without government killed after the team came un- that they can release the Indian the increasingly popular online “off ensive scenes” and deroga- interference, a government- der fire while returning from fi sherman only after getting or- streaming platforms. tory remarks about a former monitored code or measures re- the flag meeting in the water ders from their higher headquar- The government’s concern has prime minister, but the case was quiring platforms to obtain con- channel near Boundary Pillar ters. The BSF party waited for a been sparked by several court later dismissed. tent approval in advance. 75/7-S. Constable/crew (boat- considerable time, but the BGB cases and complaints fi led to the There was also a police com- Neither ministry responded man) Rajbir Singh sustained a patrol did not release the Indian police in recent months, alleging plaint fi led last month by a poli- immediately to requests for bullet wound to his right wrist. fi sherman at the fl ag meeting. that some content was obscene tician who accused some Netfl ix comment. Following the incident, the BSF “While the BSF party was on or insulted religious sentiment, shows of “defaming Hindus”. The government official said apprised the Union home ministry its way back, there was fi ring said the government offi cial, who It is unclear whether this will there was also concern about about the incident and senior BGB from the Bangladesh side, caus- has direct knowledge of the de- go further and a Mumbai police disparity in how some content Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima offi cials have been contacted. ing an head injury to Vijay Bhan liberations. spokesman had no immediate appeared on different medi- visit the Mattancherry Palace in Kochi, Kerala, yesterday. Giving details, a BSF offi cial while constable/crew (boatman) Though concerns around pos- comment yesterday. ums. said: “Yesterday morning, three Rajbir was also injured.” Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 11

LATIN AMERICA

Guatemalan migrant who was shot in the head and detained granted US asylum

Chile’s Codelco A Guatemalan migrant who was shot in , rights groups and news organisations Rolando, who asked not to use his full had no criminal record or immigration the head, then detained for months by the across the country. His Immigration and name to protect his safety, has no family, violations, and was suff ering from US, has been granted asylum, marking Customs Enforcement (Ice) medical continues to suff er from undiagnosed complex and potentially life-threatening a major victory for an indigenous man records showed that he was repeatedly and serious medical conditions and only medical crises. Al Otro Lado was able to whose story sparked widespread outrage. bleeding from his eyes, ears and nose, and speaks limited Spanish, since his native get him released in September, but only ditches ‘green Rolando, 27, won his asylum case on sometimes losing consciousness – and Mayan language is Qeqchi. after paying a $5,000 bond, covered by Tuesday after a lengthy trial in San that medical staff were mainly responding “He still has a very long journey in front of the organisation’s revolving fund. Diego about the persecution he faced by prescribing him ibuprofen. He was also him,” said Rios, who said she was working At trial, the US continued to argue that he in Guatemala, which included physical placed in solitary confinement. to find him a permanent home and is should be denied asylum and sent back abuse by police and attempts on his life “It’s really exciting,” said Anne Rios, exploring options across the US. “It’s to Guatemala despite forensic evidence copper’ push after his father’s murder. Rolando first his attorney with Al Otro Lado, an really about where he can go to be safe of the torture he survived, as well as the spoke to the Guardian last month about organisation that provides services for and comfortable.” detailed claims of violence he faced as an surviving a gunshot wound to the head migrants on both sides of the border. Ice had repeatedly refused to release indigenous Guatemalan, Rios said. Reuters once the ore left the mine, it still and fleeing to a US port of entry, which “Many people are fighting so hard to win Rolando from the Otay Mesa detention Rolando said returning to Guatemala Santiago had to be driven to its markets, resulted in his long-term detention and a their case, and when it happens, it’s almost centre in San Diego while his asylum case would mean a certain death. A judge and transformed into cathodes in series of medical crises behind bars. like they are in shock, which is what I found was pending this year, even though he ultimately sided with Rolando and smelters largely powered by coal. His case caught the attention of lawmakers with him. It’s also about what’s next.” had presented himself at a port of entry, granted asylum. n 2017, the world’s largest cop- “Since there was no approved, per producer — Chile’s Codel- industry-wide methodology (for Ico — announced a plan to sell sustainability) we were not willing “green copper” at a premium price to pay more for this copper,” one to customers using more sustain- trader, who asked for anonymity able practices like renewable en- so as not to aff ect his commercial On the campaign trail ergy and recycled water to cut its relationship with the fi rm, said. carbon footprint. “That is why Codelco had to con- The project has run aground tinue selling its copper without at- however, Codelco insiders and an tracting a premium.” executive said, as the miner real- Sanhueza confi rmed Codelco ised it would struggle to guarantee would set aside price diff erentia- its copper’s sustainability once it tion for now. “We’ve refocused to left the mine to be melted down an extent to be able to make a real- and taken to market. ity the issue of traceability within Without that, traders said, the short term and from that point higher prices were unjustifi able. move towards a copper which is Now, the world’s largest miner produced with a lower carbon of the prized red metal said it footprint and social cost,” he said. would drop the “green copper” Rachel Bartels, a senior man- plan piloted in one of its smaller aging director at consultancy mines in favour of a broader ini- fi rm Accenture, said Codelco was tiative to make its product more “ahead of their time” with its ini- sustainable. tiative at the one small mine but The move by the infl uential the company’s eagerness could copper giant could, if successful, still give it an advantage. pave the way for more signifi - “You need a tipping point and cant industry-wide sustainability we’re not quite there yet,” she said standards for the historically high- in London. polluting copper mining trade, “They may not get a premium analysts said. for it, but they may become the But the failure with more ambi- preferred supplier.” tious “green copper” also repre- To “trace” its copper, the com- sents something of a setback for pany has set 75 parameters includ- Codelco, which is already strug- ing water and clean energy use, gling with ageing mines and lower gender equality and compliance copper prices due to the US-China with international labour regula- trade war. tions. Jorge Sanhueza, Codelco’s As there is at present no in- newly minted chief of climate ternational benchmark for sus- change and traceable copper, said tainable production of copper, in an exclusive interview at the it reviewed standards for other fi rm’s Santiago headquarters that products such as aluminium and it would instead seek to ensure used guidelines from the indus- that all its production, upwards try-funded International Copper of 1.7mn tonnes a year, could be Association (ICA), Sanhueza said. Bolivia’s president and current presidential candidate for the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party Evo Morales speaks during a closing campaign rally in El Alto, Bolivia tracked and measured for sustain- Codelco is building a $1bn de- ability within two years. salination plant to supply its oper- “We have to get the deadlines ations in the north of the country, approved by the board of directors and assessing its energy contracts but this is more ambitious than for ways to strip carbon emissions what we had before,” said Sanhu- from them, albeit without a set eza. deadline to migrate completely to Codelco’s latest bid to ride clean energies, Sanhueza said. the sustainable wave comes just “The good news is that one way weeks before Chile is due to host or another, Codelco’s contracts are US aid to Central America the United Nations’ annual en- going to be decarbonised,” he said. vironmental summit, COP25, in The state-owned miner faces December. another challenge to improve wa- Codelco did not disclose the es- ter recycling levels in its produc- timated cost of the eff ort. tion processes. Heavy industry globally and the Although some of its mines in back after migration deals South American nation’s miners Chile’s north have rates of almost particularly are under pressure 90%, that drops to 54% and 62% Reuters reaching immigration agree- of his “zero tolerance” anti-im- pended aid would be released. The Trump rule requires asy- from governments and environ- in its key Andina and El Teniente Washington ments with the US. migration policy. The Washington Post, cit- lum-seekers to fi rst seek safe ha- mental groups to cut carbon emis- mines. “Guatemala, Honduras & El Trump campaigned on a ing an unnamed person familiar ven in a third country they pass sions and make operations less As well as its internal targets, Salvador have all signed historic promise to reduce illegal immi- with the decision, reported it through on the way to the US. resource-hungry. Codelco and other miners have he US has restored eco- asylum co-operation agree- gration in 2016 and has already amounted to $143mn. The administration contends Customers are also demand- been told by government to pro- nomic aid to El Salvador, ments and are working to end the made the issue part of his 2020 The US used the aid suspen- the majority of asylum-seekers ing products with a lower carbon vide concrete plans to cut emis- TGuatemala and Honduras scourge of human smuggling. To re-election bid. sion as leverage over the three are really economic migrants footprint as scientifi c evidence sions before the spotlight of that had been cut off after the further accelerate this progress, Pompeo said in a statement impoverished countries that are who will stay home if their only mounts that emissions are driving COP25 arrives. Trump administration com- the US will shortly be approving that he had cut off the aid earlier still feeling the eff ects of the US- option is to seek asylum some- climate change. In recent weeks there has been a plained the three Central Ameri- targeted assistance in the areas this year on Trump’s direction Soviet proxy wars in region in where else. Immigrant aid or- A source linked to Codelco’s fl urry of announcements. can countries had done too little of law enforcement & security,” “until the governments of these the 1980s. ganisations have sued to stop the commercial strategy said that the BHP Group Ltd has said that to halt a surge in migration. Trump said on Twitter. countries took suffi cient ac- In response, they all reached rule, but the US Supreme Court original plan had been to sell the the world’s largest copper mine, US President Donald Trump The three countries from the tion to reduce the overwhelming at least partial agreements with has allowed it to remain in eff ect “green copper” at a higher price, Escondida, will be run entirely and Secretary of State Mike so-called Northern Triangle number of migrants coming to the US that could help Trump pending trial. but that initiative was shelved. on renewable energy while Anglo Pompeo announced that some of Central America have sent the US border.” implement a new rule that Pompeo said the resumed aid Copper traders said Codelco American and French utility Engie “targeted assistance” would record numbers of migrants Neither Trump nor Pompeo would deny asylum to migrants would help the three countries had struggled to be able to cer- have unveiled plans for hydrogen- resume as they praised govern- toward the US in recent years, said how much of the hundreds and return them to Central “build stronger local asylum tify its copper as traceable because powered lorries. ments of the three countries for fuelling Trump’s rhetoric as part of millions of dollars of sus- America. systems” among other uses.

Controversy Mexican oil union boss Colombian court overturns tax reform

Reuters reduction in business duties and quits amid graft charges an additional tax on banks’ earn- Bogota ings. Reuters But Romero Deschamps said While a government audit The elements of the old law Mexico City he was resigning and that there later revealed anomalies cover- olombia’s constitutional that were overturned or modi- was no longer “the co-operation ing 2.3bn pesos in the so-called court has overturned a fi ed will come back into eff ect if that must exist between workers Pemexgate scandal, Romero De- Ctax reform law that came lawmakers do not pass an alter- he longtime head of Mex- and administration to promote schamps himself escaped un- into force this year, potentially native proposal by December 31, ico’s powerful oil work- projects that allow Pemex’s true scathed. aff ecting investment and forcing the court ruled. Ters union, Carlos Romero progress towards consolidation.” Others were not so lucky and the government to unexpectedly The government has not sup- Deschamps has resigned after Romero Deschamps was a fed- were punished and fi ned. fi nd millions in resources in or- plied a calculation of the fi scal the president hinted he should eral lawmaker with the opposi- Now Romero Deschamps and der to meet its fi scal goals. impact of the court’s decision. step down to face allegations of tion Institutional Revolutionary “other people” face two com- The court ruled in a 6-3 vote It is targeting a defi cit of 2.2% wrongdoing. Party (PRI), which ruled Mexico plaints for “the crime of (fi nan- that the law would remain valid of gross domestic product next The departure of Romero De- for most of the past century, fi ve cial) operations with funds of only through the end of 2019, year, down from 2.4% this year. schamps could allow President times. He served three times in illegal origin,” according to in- obliging right wing President Finance Minister Alberto Car- Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to Mexico’s lower house of Con- formation provided by the fi nan- Ivan Duque’s government to seek rasquilla warned recently that take a fi rmer grip of the future of gress, and twice in the Senate. cial intelligence unit of Mexico’s to pass a new law. a decision to overturn the law national oil company Pemex, the The posts gave him immunity fi nance ministry. It said the law was not proper- could aff ect investor confi dence world’s most indebted. from prosecution. Earlier this year, sources said ly published in the legislative ga- and bring lower growth for Co- Lopez Obrador this week said After assuming leadership of the attorney general’s offi ce had zette between votes in the lower lombia’s $350bn economy. Romero Deschamps was under the oil workers union in 1993, accused him and several relatives and upper houses, violating nor- “If it is not upheld, no one will investigation, and on Wednesday he wielded considerable power, of illicit enrichment and money mal procedure. believe again. The eff ect is per- revealed the union boss could keenly aware that taxes levied on laundering. The decision was the latest manent and in present circum- face prosecution over two com- the giant company accounted for Romero Deschamps has previ- in a series of headaches for Du- stances is worth about a point plaints fi led against him. a large chunk of the federal gov- ously denied all charges. que, whose economic projects and a half of GDP growth each In a statement, Romero Des- ernment’s annual budget. Past media reports of the lav- Argentine actress Thelma Fardin reads a declaration during a have faced strong opposition year,” Carrasquilla said. champs defended his record as In 2000, Romero Deschamps ish lifestyle of him and his fam- press conference in Buenos Aires yesterday. The Nicaraguan from lawmakers, complicating The head of the tax agency union boss, pointing to positive was accused of helping divert ily, which included trips on private attorney’s off ice accused Argentine actor Juan Darthes of his eff orts to reduce debt, boost said the government would pro- changes for workers that include 1.5bn pesos from Pemex accounts jets and the purchase of a yacht raping his underage colleague Thelma Fardin, when they growth and avoid a potential pose a new law to keep benefi ts improvements in pensions and to the presidential campaign of and luxury sports cars, despite his were in the country touring with the cast of a TV show they downgrade in credit ratings. for businesses and raise the re- healthcare as well as salary in- the then PRI contender Francisco modest offi cial salary, had stoked both starred in, called Patito Feo (Ugly Duckling). The law included increased sources required for the budget if creases. Labastida. accusations of corruption. income tax on high earners, a the reform was overturned. Gulf Times 12 Friday, October 18, 2019 PAKISTAN

Discovery of 7th Pakistan expects to avert century temple blacklisting by watchdog attracts Reuters/Internews If blacklisted, Islamabad faces Beijing, Pakistan’s civil and mil- on progress made by Islamabad leadership of the JuD, including ghanistan still brewing, I don’t experts Islamabad fi nancial consequences and eco- itary leadership secured a guar- since last year. its chief Hafi z Saeed, the alleged think we are close to cleaning nomic setbacks at a time when antee from Chinese leaders that Of the 40 recommendations, mastermind of the Mumbai at- our house.” its economy is facing a balance Islamabad would not be placed the report said, Pakistan fully tacks in 2008, which killed 166 The blacklisting of a country Internews acked by long-time ally of payment crisis. on blacklist. complied with only one, largely people. by the FATF usually results in Peshawar China, Pakistan is confi - “The main challenge for Pa- China is presiding over the complied with nine, partially “My sense is that Pakistan has economic sanctions and trade Bdent it will avert black- kistan is to convince the FATF ongoing FATF plenary being complied with 26, and totally taken very real steps against ter- penalties, imposed and imple- listing over terrorism fi nancing that it is taking complete and ir- held in France. missed four parameters, which rorist fi nancing, but so long as mented by the G7 nations. rchaeologists and his- by a global watchdog today, but reversible steps against terrorist “God willing, we’re trying were mandatory if Islamabad the state retains ties to militant Greylisting by the FATF does torians in Pakistan have it will not be completely off the fi nancing,” Michael Kugelman, that we get out of this grey-list wanted to be removed from the groups, concerns will remain not lead to sanctions. Adiscovered a unique Turki hook until it proves it is genu- deputy director Asia Programme as soon as possible, and I think grey list. within the FATF about Islama- Pakistan, already suff ering Shahi-period temple, con- inely severing ties with religious at the Wilson Centre thinktank, you should believe that a com- It said that Pakistan should bad’s genuine commitment to from a fi nancial crisis, was ill- structed in the 7th century, on militants, offi cials and analysts told Reuters by e-mail. prehensive eff ort is being put in adequately identify, assess and act conclusively,” the Wilson equipped to deal with the eco- the top of Ghwandai mount at said. Pakistan, which blames arch- place,” fi nance chief Abdul Ha- understand risks associated Centre’s Kugelman said. nomic impact of being placed on Bazira in Barikot Swat in north- The Financial Action Task rival India for lobbying to black- feez Shaikh told a news confer- with militant groups operat- Pakistani author and analyst the blacklist, and as such, readi- west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Force (FATF) last year placed Pa- list it, is relying for support on ence over the weekend. ing in Pakistan such as the Is- Ayesha Siddiqa said that Paki- ly agreed to implement the FATF province. kistan on a grey list of countries friendly countries like China, If Pakistan does avert black- lamic State group, Al Qaeda, stan is unlikely to completely action plan back in 2018. Experts say that the discov- with inadequate controls over Turkey, and Malaysia. listing, it will be just a temporary the Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the abandon militant proxies any In June 2019, the fi nancial ery is of immense importance terrorism fi nancing. Three votes are mandatory for relief until the FATF meets again Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Jaish- time soon. task force had reviewed Paki- for lovers of history, archaeology The group, holding a fi ve- any country to escape the black- in February, 2020. e-Mohamed (JeM), which con- “I would start believing when stani progress on the action plan and cultural heritage across the day meeting, will decide today listing. Ahead of the current plena- tinue to raise funds openly. JeM infrastructure gets down- and given Islamabad four more globe. whether to retain that, or black- Two top government offi cials ry, the watchdog’s Asia Pacifi c Islamabad says it has seized sised, its leader Masud Azhar is months to improve compliance The temple was discovered by list it alongside Iran and North and a security personnel told Group on Money Laundering the groups’ assets, and put the publicly arrested and put on tri- in several key areas related to the Italian Archaeological Mis- Korea. Reuters that in a recent visit to (APG) issued a critical report militants on trials, like the entire al,” she told Reuters. “With Af- terror fi nancing. sion in Pakistan, in collaboration with the provincial directorate of archaeology, and a team of local students. Italian archaeological mission director Dr Luca Maria Olivieri said that there are only few ex- William follows in his mum’s footsteps amples of cultic buildings of the Shahi period in Pakistan. The recent discovery could DPA/AFP/Reuters be considered extremely impor- Lahore tant for the understanding of a crucial historical phase in late Gandhara, he added. ritain’s Prince William “The temple was actually followed in the footsteps built during the Turki Shahi pe- Bof his late mother, Prin- riod around 700 AD. At that time cess Diana, with a trip to Lahore Uddiyana (Swat) was ruled by a yesterday with his wife Kate. king known as From Kesar (King Security was high in the me- ‘Ceasar of Rome’). tropolis of around 10mn people, “He was the son of Tegin Shah with thousands of troops, para- Khurasan, a well-known Turki military guards and police per- Shahi king from Kabul,” said Ol- sonnel securing the royal route. ivieri. The royals were given a red- He said that the temple was carpet reception by the Punjab re-established and maintained governor and chief minister on till the Hindu Shahi time (circa their arrival in the city. 1000 AD). Punjab Chief Minister Usman The temple is also mentioned Bazdar told the couple that their in a Hindu Shahi inscription, visit “will further strengthen found in Barikot in the late 19th relations between the two coun- century and conserved in Lahore tries”. Museum. The couple had arrived in Pa- “It was very crucial time as kistan on Monday for a fi ve-day it was the end of ancient times, trip. and the last historical macro The royal couple kicked off event before the arrival of Is- their fourth day in Pakistan with lam, which marks the beginning a visit to the SOS Children’s Vil- of mediaeval time in this part of lage orphanage, where Kate gave William and Kate at the SOS South Asia,” he said. a brief speech along with a short Children’s Village in Lahore. The archaeologists, histori- greeting in Urdu and celebrated ans and tourists said that Ba- children’s birthdays. Right: The duchess at the rikot in Swat was a landmark “Earlier this year I talked National Cricket Academy. and unique site with its visible about the fact that it takes a vil- archaeological ruins of diff erent lage to raise a child. The village Left: The royal couple with Grand eras, including Achaemenian, we’ve seen here today is the best Imam Abdul Khbeer Azad (right) Indo Greek, Kushan, Sasanian, representation of that ideal that at the Badshahi Mosque. Hindu Shahi, Turki Shahi, and I could have possibly imagined,” Ghaznavid fortifi cation. she said. Below: William and Kate with a The students of Quaid-e- The royal couple later took to patient at the Shaukat Khanum Azam University and Jahanzeb the crease at the National Crick- Memorial Cancer Hospital. College were also part of the et Academy, where they both hit 40-member excavation team. a few runs as they played along- The students said that they side a host of current and former were lucky to take part in the ex- cricket stars, including current cavation. bowling coach Waqar Younis, “Taking part in practical exca- and former captains of the Pa- vations helped a lot in my intel- kistan men and women’s teams, lectual growth and enriched my Azhar Ali and Sana Mir. academic knowledge to a great They were gifted cricket bats extent. for their three children by the “I am excited that I am taking head of Pakistan’s cricket board. part in archaeological excavation After an outfi t change, the in Swat,” said Sirat Gohar, a stu- duo headed to Lahore’s famous dent of MPhil in Asian Studies of Badshahi Mosque – one of the Quaid-e-Azam University. world’s largest. He said that very few students William sported a cream- of archaeology get the opportu- coloured linen suit and Kate nity of practical work in Paki- donned a light green shalwar stan, although fi eld work is ex- kameez, wrapping her hair in a tremely important. matching headscarf and walking The team of students said that in stockinged feet. Swat is one of the most impor- William’s mother, the late tant areas in the world in the Princess Diana, caused a con- fi eld of archaeology, with many troversy at the same mosque in places yet to be re-discovered. 1991 when she wore an above- the-knee dress, sparking a Khanum Memorial Cancer Hos- Kensington Palace has called country in the Commonwealth. backlash from some Muslim pital, founded by Prime Minis- the Cambridges’ fi ve-day trip, The couple have spent much Apex court promises to define ‘terrorism’ within a month leaders who argued that she ter Imran Khan, where Diana is which ends today, their “most of the trip promoting various should have covered up. remembered fondly for helping complex” tour to date as the causes, from girls’ education Chief Justice of Pakistan Saeed Asif Khosa has definition of terrorism, due to which terror cases are The couple rounded off the raise money for the facility in royals seek to boost ties between to conservation and climate promised that the Supreme Court will announce being piled up. trip with a visit to the Shaukat the 1990s. the UK and the second largest change awareness as they criss- this month a verdict that will decide the definition of The state prosecutor said that private citizen Kale crossed the country. terrorism. Khan murdered another private citizen Ghulam Storm forces royal plane to abandon Islamabad landing Security has improved dra- “Much confusion would be removed after this Mohamed in court premises. matically since the army inten- definition of terrorism [by the court],” the chief The chief justice said the murder incident happened A fierce storm in Islamabad forced a plane carrying felt in a plane,” added ITV royal correspondent Chris sifi ed a crackdown on militant justice said while heading a three-judge bench because of personal enmity. Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate to abandon Ship. groups in 2015, with several hearing case of an accused Kale Khan. Khan was sentenced to death by the trial court while two landings before returning to Lahore late yester- Daily Telegraph correspondent Ben Farmer said that countries changing their travel During the course of proceedings, Khosa said not the high court commuted his death sentenced into day, reporters travelling with them said, in a dramatic the pilot had tried to land twice, once at a military warnings for Pakistan as a re- every serious crime falls in the category of terrorism. life imprisonment. end to a day of cracking cricket balls and touring the base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi adjacent to sult. He asked the state prosecutor to correct the The apex court later acquitted Khan. towering historic Badshahi Mosque. Islamabad, and once at Islamabad International Air- There are promising signs, The Voyager, a British Royal Air Force jet transporting port, before abandoning the attempt and returning such as the British Airways re- the couple during their five-day tour of Pakistan, was to Lahore, some 270km (170 miles) flying distance turn earlier this year after more Local elections in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in February caught in one of the thunderous storms that periodi- away. than a decade, and the slow but cally rock the capital in October. However all on board appeared to be safe, with steady revival of international In a move that has taken political circles by surprise, that the first phases of the local elections in both “The pilot circled for an hour but the lightning – and English tweeting that Prince William – himself a pilot cricket. the Imran Khan government has decided to hold provinces will be held in February 2020. turbulence – was so bad we had to fly back,” tweeted – had joked with the press pack that he had been The Pakistan government local elections in two of the country’s four provinces This, the prime minister said, will help improve the Daily Mail’s royal correspondent Rebecca English, flying. hopes the royal couple’s offi cial under the control of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI). governance by resolving issues of the people at the who was on board the plane. English said it was unclear when they would be able visit will boost the country’s Off icial sources said yesterday that a meeting of the grassroots level. “Few of us have experienced turbulence as bad as to take off again. image as a tourist and business core committee of PTI chaired by Prime Minister More details will be off icially announced once that,” she added. There was no immediate statement from Kensington destination, after decades of Imran Khan at his private residence decided to hold additional input is received from the relevant “If I’m honest ... that was the most nervous I’ve ever Palace. sectarian violence and political local polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. authorities, including the Election Commission of unrest. Party sources said that the PTI has initially decided Pakistan. Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Islamic solution to eco-problems

slam expresses great concern Ibn Mas’ood, radhiallah ‘anhu, for the environment. A number reports, “While we were on a journey of verses in the Qur’an and the with Allah’s Messenger he went a Isayings of Prophet Muhammad short distance from where we had (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) have encamped. There we saw a small bird addressed this issue. Islam’s solution with two of its chicks and caught to environmental problems lies in them. The bird was fl uttering when the man’s adaptation of its guidance. Prophet came back, so he asked, ‘Who Allah has stated that He made all the has distressed it by taking its chicks ?’ material objects on earth for man’s Then he asked us to return the chicks. use, not for his abuse. There we also saw an anthill and burnt Allah Almighty has not prevented it out. When the Prophet saw that, he humankind from enjoying a luxurious asked, ‘Who has burnt it?’ When we standard of living, but this should informed him that we had done it, he not be maintained by damaging and said, ‘Only the Lord of fi re has the right abusing natural resources. This is to punish with fi re.’” clearly stated in a number of verses Allah says in the Qur’an (what in the Qur’an. Allah says (what means): “And there is no creature means): “But seek, through that on (or within) the earth or a bird that which Allah has given you, the home fl ies with its wings except that they of the Hereafter; and (yet), do not are nations (communities) like you.” forget your share of the world. And [Qur’an 6:38] do good as Allah has done good to We infer from the Prophet’s you. And desire not corruption in statement and this Qur’anic verse that the land. Indeed, Allah does not like all living things are partners to man in corruptors. “ [Qur’an 28:77] existence and they deserve our respect. The Qur’an and the Sunnah of We must be merciful toward animals Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu and strive to ensure the preservation of ‘alaihi wa sallam) contain diff erent species. instructions for Muslims to preserve Islam forbids wasting water the environment, which includes not and using it without benefi t. The cutting down trees unnecessarily. preservation of water for the In this respect, Prophet Muhammad nourishment of humankind, animal (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) life, bird life and vegetation is a pointed out that there are benefits practice that gains Allah’s pleasure. in planting trees, which will last In his article Islam and the until the Day of Judgment. This is Environment, Arafat El Ashi, director illustrated in the saying of the Noble of the Muslim World League in Prophet : “If the Hour is imminent Canada, [www.al-muslim.org] writes, and anyone of you has a palm shoot “Human life is sacred in the sight of (to plant) in his hand and is able Islam. No one is permitted to take the to plant it before the Hour strikes, life of another person except as life- then he should do so and he will be for-life.” rewarded for that action.” Under Islam, El Ashi states, “It Allah has ordained severe [is] incumbent on every Muslim to punishments for those who damage contribute his/her share in improving and abuse natural resources. He says greenery. Muslims should be active of “signs” of Allah’s Power, Wisdom, (what means): “Eat and drink from in growing more trees for the benefi t Beneficence and Majesty. The the provision of Allah, and do not of all people.” Even during battle, responsibility of humankind is to commit abuse on the earth, spreading Muslims are required to avoid cutting keep Allah’s creation undistorted. corruption.” [Qur’an 2:60] down trees that are useful to people. The environment is a trust presented “Corruption has appeared Humankind’s stewardship by Allah to humankind and its abuse throughout the land and sea by (reason of the earth entails a profound is a misuse of Allah’s trust. Prayer for seeking of) what the hands of people have responsibility. Other living earned, so He (i.e. Allah) may let them species, as mentioned above, are Article source: http://www.islamweb. taste part of (the consequences of) also considered by Allah to be net/emainpage/ what they have done that perhaps they “communities”. Creation itself, in its will return (to righteousness).” [Qur’an boundless diversity and complexity, 30:41] may be thought of as a vast universe rain from Allah his prayer is a means of hasan (good) and saheeh (authentic) performing the prayer. This is the view seeking rain from Allah, the hadith, and Al-Hakim and others of some scholars, but the fi rst view Exalted, during times of view it as a saheeh hadith, as well. (delivering the sermon after performing Tdrought. That is, people are The one performing the Prayer prayer) is more preponderant; and Allah naturally disposed to ask help from for Rain is to recite the chapter of Knows best. the One Who is able to support them; Al-A’laa in the fi rst rak’ah, and the In the sermon of asking for rain, Pondering over the Allah Alone. This prayer was known chapter Al-Ghashiyah in the second the Imam should ask for Allah’s among the previous nations. It is one. People are to perform it in a forgiveness as well as recite the verses regarded also as one of the acts of the vast spacious place, away from the that command asking for forgiveness, prophets, peace be upon them all, as place of residence, as the Prophet, in abundance, as this is considered a Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means): sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did cause for sending rain. Moreover, the “And [recall] when Moses prayed for not perform it except in the desert. Imam should supplicate Allah, the signs of Allah water for his people...” [Qur’an 2: 60] This is because performing it in such Exalted, with much invocation, asking Similarly, the Seal of Prophets, a place is a means of showing much for rain. When supplicating Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu need to Allah, the Exalted. When the Imam should raise his hands, as the n the Qur’an, it is mentioned that picture of a tree, but on the other “Unquestionably, to Allah belongs ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his Imam wants to proceed to perform the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, the unbelievers are the people hand a simple seed can produce that whatever is in the heavens and earth. mention) performed Prayer for Rain Prayer for Rain, he should start with used to raise his hands when invoking who does not recognise and extremely complex object using the Already He knows that upon which you for his people many times, and in many reminding people of what may soften Allah in the Prayer for Rain, so much Iappreciate the signs of Allah. The substances in the soil. [stand] and [knows] the Day when they ways. In addition, Muslim scholars their hearts by mentioning Allah’s that the whiteness of his armpits signifi cance of a believer is his ability This observation concludes that will be returned to Him and He will unanimously agree on the legality of reward and punishment. They should became visible. to see those signs and proofs. They a seed is extremely intelligent and inform them of what they have done. such an act. also be commanded to turn to Allah in The Imam should also confer know that these are not created in vain; wise, even more than us. Or better to And Allah is Knowing of all things..” The Prayer for Rain is ordained repentance and return rights to whom blessings upon the Prophet, sallallaahu they can realise the power and great art say, there is an amazing intelligence [Qur’an 24: 64] during times of drought and times they are due. This is because sins are ‘alaihi wa sallam, as this is a cause of Allah everywhere and fi nd ways to in what a seed does. But what is the “Unquestionably, they are in doubt when rain fails, which causes harm amongst the main reasons that cause for (Allah, the Exalted) answering his appraise Him. About such people Allah source of that intelligence? How can about the meeting with their Lord. to people. Then there is no way out rain and blessings to be withheld. On supplication. He may invoke Allah, the Almighty says (what means): “Who it be possible for a seed to have such Unquestionably He is, of all things, except by supplicating their Lord and the other side, repentance and asking Exalted, with the supplication related remember Allah while standing or an intelligence and memory like a encompassing.” [Qur’an 41:54] asking Him for water (rain). People Allah, the Exalted, for forgiveness about the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi sitting or [lying] on their sides and give computer “chip”? One should train himself to may supplicate Allah in various are reasons for Allah’s answering of wa sallam, in such situations, as a thought to the creation of the heavens The chips are produced by people recognise the signs of Allah and should ways. For instance, people may supplication. Allah, the Exalted, Says means of following him. In this regard, and the earth, [saying], ‘Our Lord, You who have intelligence and knowledge. always keep this in mind. Otherwise, supplicate Allah in Prayer, whether (what means): Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means): did not create this aimlessly; exalted Just like a seed which is created by mind will start to wander, jumping in congregation or alone. They may “And if only the people of the cities “There has certainly been for you are You [above such a thing]; then Allah with the ability to develop a tree. from one topic to another, wasting also supplicate Him by invoking Him had believed and feared Allah, We in the Messenger of Allah an excellent protect us from the punishment of the Every seed on earth is encompassed by time thinking about useless things. during the sermon of the Jumu’ah would have opened [i.e. bestowed] pattern for anyone whose hope is in Fire.’”[Qur’an 3:191] Allah and grows within His knowledge. Mind is like water; unless it is (Friday) Prayer, in which the Imam upon them blessings from the heaven Allah and the Last Day...” [Qur’an 33: 21] Many times in the Qur’an, there He Almighty says (what means): directed which way to fl ow, it spreads may invoke Allah, and Muslims say, and the earth; but they denied [the It is viewed as an act of the Sunnah are expressions like “will you not take “Indeed, Allah is the cleaver of grain away, to the places that you would “Aameen (Amen)”. messengers], so We seized them for to face the qiblah at the end of heed?” “...there is a sign for thinking and date seeds. He brings the living not want it to fl ow. This is a kind of Furthermore, it may be by invoking what they were earning” [Qur’an 7: 96] supplication, and to reverse one’s men” which emphasise the importance out of the dead and brings the dead out unconsciousness; you can not control Allah, the Exalted, after performing Furthermore, the Imam should clothes, as related in the Two Saheehs of pondering on the signs of Allah. of the living. That is Allah; so how are your mind. You cannot focus and prayers, or by supplicating Him in command people to give charity to the (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the two Allah has created an endless list of you deluded?” [Qur’an 6: 95] concentrate on a subject. Actually, seclusions with neither prayer nor poor and needy, as this is regarded as a authentic books of Hadith) that the things to be the subjects of pondering. A seed is merely one of the you can not conceive the truth behind sermon. All such acts are related about cause for sending Allah’s mercy. After Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, Everything we see and sense is indeed numerous signs that Allah has created the events happening and also can the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa that, he is to set for them a certain turned his back toward the people a manifestation and sign of Allah; so in the universe. If men begin to think not ever have the competence to sallam. day, at which they are to come out and and faced the qiblah asking Allah (for all those in heavens and in earth and in with not only their minds but also with interfere in them. On the contrary, The Prayer for Rain is regarded as a be prepared for such an honourable rain). Then he reversed his cloak. The between may be a means of pondering their hearts, asking the question of your mind gets directed by those stressed Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) occasion, and according to that which wisdom behind this - Allah Knows for us. Allah says (what means): “He ‘why’ and ‘how’ to themselves, they events. You are “bewildered” all the as ‘Abdullah Ibn Zayd, may Allah be best suits it as an act of the Sunnah. At best - is that it is like a good omen that causes to grow for you thereby the can understand that all the universe is time, which is not an attribute of a pleased with him, said: “The Prophet, that date, people are to go out to the the present hard condition may turn crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, a proof of the existence and power of believer, but the unbelievers, as Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, went out to place of prayer showing humbleness, into prosperity and the sending of rain. and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is Allah, the Most Exalted. Almighty Says (what means): “...And invoke Allah for rain. He faced the qiblah submissiveness and neediness of Allah, People should also follow the Imam a sign for a people who give thought.” However, the unbelievers cannot he who associates with Allah – it is (the direction of Ka’aba in Makkah), the Exalted, as Ibn ‘Abbas ( may Allah and reverse their clothes, as Imam [Qur’an 16: 11] understand such things, since they as though he had fallen from the sky invoking Allah. Then he reversed his be pleased with him) said: Ahmad related, “... the people followed Let’s think for a while of one of the don’t have the ability to “see” this and was snatched by the birds or the cloak and performed two Rak’ahs (units “Allah’s Messenge,r sallallaahu him (the Prophet) and reversed their items mentioned in the above verse; purpose- as the Qur’an expresses wind carried him down into a remote of prayer) and recited the Qur’an aloud in ‘alaihi wa sallam, went out to perform clothes.” In addition, what is stated for instance, the “date-tree, as well (what means): “…They have eyes place.”[Qur’an 22: 31] them.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] the Prayer for Rain showing humility, as done by the Prophet, sallallaahu known, grows up from a seed out of with which they do not see…” [Qur’an Believers, on the other hand, are There are many hadiths in support humbleness, and submissiveness, and ‘alaihi wa sallam, is to be done by his the earth. From this tiny seed (a seed 7: 179] i.e., they do not have the the ones who direct their minds, try to of this practice. supplicating (Allah).” [At-Tirmithi said nation, unless it is proved that he alone is not even 1 cm3 in size), an enormous wisdom and comprehension to realise better perceive Allah, and who try to The Prayer for Rain is similar to that this is a hasan and saheeh (good is particularised with such a thing. wooden mass of several metres long the important reality with their better serve His religion. The believers that of the Eid Prayer concerning its and authentic) hadith.] This would be until Allah, the and hundreds of kilograms of weight, materialistic vision. are the ones “who turn away from ill relevant rulings and the place where No Muslim should stay behind (from Exalted, sends down rain; otherwise, forms. The only thing that seed can use On the other hand, believers are speech” [Qur’an 23:3]. They free their it is performed. That is, it is viewed going out) while able, even boys and Muslims should repeat asking for rain, while constituting this great mass is diff erent than this ‘blind’ group, minds from any useless thoughts and desirable to perform it in the place women, whose presence does not cause as long as there is a need for that. It is the earth in which it is buried. because they realise and accept that whenever they realise the appeal of where the Eid Prayer is performed; temptation, are to go out to perform considered an act of Sunnah that when How can a seed know how to the whole universe is created by Allah Satan, they rescue themselves just like outside the mosque. Moreover, its it. Then, the Imam is to lead people rain starts to fall, one is to stand and constitute a tree? How does it know with a certain aim and wisdom. This Allah Almighty Says in the Qur’an (what rulings and practices are the same as performing two rak’ahs, as mentioned receive some of it and say, “O Allah! how to decompose the necessary belief is the fi rst step of faith. As means): “Indeed, those who fear Allah those of the Eid Prayer, namely the before. After doing so, he is to deliver Let it be a strong fruitful rain,” and say, substances in the soil to form food? faith and wisdom, both of which are – when an impulse touches them from number of Rak’ahs, the loud recitation one sermon. However, some scholars “The rain is due to the Favor and Mercy How can it predict the required shape in parallel, increase, they will start Satan, they remember [Him] and at once of the Qur’an, being performed view that the Imam is to deliver two of Allah.” However, when rain falls and structure? This last question to identify every detail of Allah’s they have insight.”[Qur’an 7: 201] before delivering the sermon, and the sermons. Both opinions are permissible, heavily and there is fear that it might is especially important, because creation. Therefore, the believers should be additional Takbeers (saying ‘Allahu but the soundest opinion is to deliver cause harm, one should say as the it is not an ordinary wooden piece One of the things to be done to careful to keep their minds free of Akbar’) in the fi rst and second Rak’ahs one sermon, according to the most Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, that emerges out from the seed. identify the details of Allah’s Creation useless thoughts and ponder only on before the recitation of the Qur’an. preponderant legal proof. In most cases, used to say: The seed develops a complex living is to be careful and observant. useful things that serve them in their Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, “O Allah! (Let the rain be) around us, organism with roots for assimilating Because the ability to see the signs life and keep them close to the Mighty with him, narrated: delivered the sermon after performing not on us. O Allah! (Let the rain be) on substances from the earth, with veins of Allah and not to be “blind” like Creator. “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa the Prayer for Rain, and Muslims acted the plateaus, on the mountains, on the in itself and with branches that are the unbelievers, require a high sallam, performed two Rak’ahs as he according to this. However, it is related hills, on the hillocks, in the valleys, and perfectly organised. A human being concentration. Article source: http://www.islamweb. does in the Eid Prayer.” that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa on the places where trees grow” [Al- has difficulty while drawing even a Allah Almighty says (what means): net/emainpage/ At-Tirmithi says that this is a sallam, delivered the sermon before Bukhari and Muslim] Allah Knows best. Gulf Times 14 Friday, October 18, 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 Protect democracy against social media manipulation The United States may not be the only target of Vladimir Putin’s social media warfare, but many Americans do seem particularly vulnerable to Russian agents’ tricks. Consider Russian operatives’ malicious use of social media platforms to upend the American democracy and infl uence the 2016 election, outlined in a Senate Intelligence Committee report released last week. Despite social media companies’ eff orts to stop the malicious activities, researchers say the Russian interference is ongoing. It would be naive to think Russia is the only entity attempting to destabilise American society using tweets and posts. According to the report, the St Petersburg-based Internet Improving nutrition can Research Agency fl ooded social media with fake news, divisive content and targeted advertising that extended far beyond promoting absurd fantasies about Trump’s benefi cence and alleged evils of Democratic contender Hillary Clinton. The lies left verifi ed news accounts in the dust – with intentionally false save lives – and the planet articles outperforming top stories from 19 major news outlets on Facebook in the fi nal months leading up to the 2016 election, according to the report. By Venkatesh Mannar leading advanced economies such as the paper published by the Global Nutrition organisations, governments have turned Toronto United States. Report shows that food production to regulations to compel businesses But tipping the outcome in favour of President Donald Trump According to the 2018 Global uses 70% of the world’s freshwater to do more. Denmark, for example, was only one goal, the report concluded. More broadly, the Nutrition Report, the US is off track on supply, agriculture produces 13% of all introduced a virtual ban on the sale of foreign agents sought to capitalise on societal fractures and hen world leaders, activ- all its nutrition targets except under-fi ve greenhouse-gas emissions, and livestock products containing trans fats, while deep ideological divisions to undermine Americans’ confi dence ists, campaigners, and stunting and wasting, and also is one of uses 77% of the world’s agricultural South Africa was the fi rst country in the democratic process. chief executives gathered seven countries where more than one land. And climate change, in turn, aff ects to legislate maximum salt levels in It is diffi cult to say which is more outrageous: the attack or Wlast month at the United million children are overweight. Rates food systems and diets. The American processed foods. the fact that it seems to be working. Nations in New York City to discuss the of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular Association for the Advancement of Food companies must choose: they can world’s most pressing challenges, the disease in the US have reached alarming Science has found that increasingly either wait for governments to impose Then again, America’s climate crisis dominated the headlines. By levels. Moreover, poor nutrition is not frequent droughts and fl oods are reducing tougher regulations, or they can get ahead The status political discourse in recent contrast, nutrition – one of the corner- just harming people’s health; it is also agricultural productivity, while rising of the curve, work with the nutrition years has primed its people stones of human, economic, and environ- the most serious threat to the country’s levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere community, and show their consumers quo cannot for this moment. Small mental progress – received surprisingly public healthcare system. are robbing plants of the nutrients and and stakeholders that they care about wonder that an electorate, little attention. Nutrition is one of the smartest vitamins we need to survive. what people eat. Good nutrition can also be allowed to so accustomed to politicians True, world leaders began the week investments a country can make. Given this knowledge, those of us be good business. dehumanising dissenters of UN General Assembly meetings by According to the World Bank, a stronger tackling nutrition and climate challenges It would be easy simply to blame continue signing a landmark political declaration focus on nutrition within health services cannot simply keep fi ghting in our governments or the private sector for and demonising opponents, on universal health coverage. But could save 3.7mn lives globally by respective corners. Over the next few the lack of action so far. But if nutrition would willingly enlist in such battles, even if the lines were although the declaration recognised 2025. Nutrition investments also make years, we have the chance to turn is simultaneously everywhere and drawn and outrage stoked at the behest of a smug despot on nutrition as a contributing factor to good economic sense: every $1 spent on these two global crises into one great nowhere, that is partly because we have another continent. The question is, how do Americans back health, it did not single it out as a priority. basic nutrition programmes results in opportunity: to reshape the world’s failed to make the issue visible and away from this ledge? That was not unusual: policymakers an estimated $16 returning to the local agriculture and food systems, while relevant to those actors that can bring The status quo cannot be allowed to continue. But many often cite inadequate diet as a key barrier economy. Given these benefi ts, the world ensuring that everyone has access about change. of the intelligence committee’s recommendations require to progress, but only rarely make better must push nutrition much higher up the to nutritious food. But nutrition, The nutrition community must nutrition the focus of action. By taking agenda. agriculture, and climate experts must therefore leave its comfort zone and action from the executive branch – an unworkable prospect, this approach, the world is missing a huge As with many global challenges, collaborate to seize that opportunity and engage with decision-makers focusing on given the current administration’s outright disdain for opportunity. policymakers often take an outdated, build a future in which people consume health, agriculture, climate change, and the truth. The committee’s suggestion, for example, that World Food Day (October 16) and the silo-based approach to nutrition. Yet, the food they need while preserving the other big global issues. At the 2020 Global the White House “reinforce with the public the danger International Day for the Eradication of at least 12 of the 17 SDGs contain targets planet. Nutrition Summit in Japan, key players of attempted foreign interference in the 2020 election,” Poverty (October 17) off er an opportunity and indicators that are relevant to Finally, the private sector needs a bigger from around the world are expected is laughable. Other recommendations, including urging to address some of the misconceptions nutrition. That means there is a clear, seat at the table. After all, a single global to renew their commitments to end the executive to form a task force to monitor and assess regarding nutrition. This is a vitally mutually reinforcing benefi t in increasing food company can reach over one billion malnutrition. Part of our duty will be to important eff ort, because each of us can collaboration across diff erent areas of people every day through its products. If ensure there is space for a wider range of foreign agents’ use of social media, to notify candidates play a role in helping to end all forms of development – in particular between such a fi rm chooses to make nutritious stakeholders to help meet this goal. and elections officials of social media attempts to interfere malnutrition by 2030 – one of the targets nutrition and climate change. foods more accessible and aff ordable, the Malnutrition is one of the greatest with elections and develop a framework for deterrence, will of UN Sustainable Development Goal In that regard, I was pleased to hear impact on consumers’ diets and health challenges facing the world, but it is likewise have to wait for another day. (SDG) 2. food systems being mentioned during could be huge. solvable. We already know how to protect Similarly anaemic are recommendations that media Many people associate malnutrition last month’s UN Climate Summit. Some businesses have already made our planet while improving the diets and establish guidelines for using social media as sources for exclusively with undernourishment in Furthermore, various expert reports, positive moves, such as introducing more health of millions of people. Now we must news accounts – a long-standing practice of reputable news the world’s poorest countries. But, as the including by the UN’s Intergovernmental transparent content labelling or reducing start doing it. – Project Syndicate Global Nutrition Report has repeatedly Panel on Climate Change, have started the amount of sugar in their products. organisations. stated, malnutrition can take multiple to warn about the negative links between But, given the private sector’s capacity z Venkatesh Mannar is Co-Chair of the That does not mean that nothing can be done. forms and is a universal issue that no food systems, diets, and the climate crisis. and reach, progress is simply too slow. Independent Expert Group of the Global Although, as the report notes, paid advertisements represent country can aff ord to overlook – including These connections are signifi cant. A Following pressure from civil-society Nutrition Report. only a small fraction of the problem, they also may be the easiest to address. Washington is among a handful of states that have enacted laws requiring transparency in digital political advertising. Federal law should follow suit, as intelligence committee members recommend. Social media companies must accelerate eff orts to identify and eliminate malicious users. Although the companies co- operated with the Senate investigation, even they themselves do not know the full extent to which their platforms have been twisted and manipulated into tools of information warfare, according to the intelligence committee’s report. A long-term, cohesive, federal-level plan to protect democracy will need to be crafted, including media literacy. Here, the United States can take cues from other countries that have proved more impervious to similar attacks. – Tribune News Service

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Miss Philippines 2018 candidates lead the “QCPD District Director’s Gift Giving and Feeding Programme” for over 200 rescued indigenous people in Quezon City in this © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved December 17, 2018, file photo. (PNA photo by Joey O Razon) Gulf Times Friday, October 18, 2019 15 COMMENT Anti-globalisation bias and public policy

By Shang-Jin Wei shortcomings. After all, teachers New York and parents vote, and technology fi rms donate to political campaigns. Foreigners, by contrast, do neither. pponents of globalisation Finally, the asymmetric benefi ts constantly point to the of bad policies also fuel an anti- uneven impact of open globalisation bias. Companies and Otrade. Although trade individuals who profi t from trade liberalisation can make the overall barriers have a strong incentive to economic pie bigger, not everyone organise themselves and lobby for gets a larger slice, and many may such measures. By contrast, most receive a much smaller piece than people who lose out as a result of before because of competition from protectionism do not spend enough foreign-made products. Such concerns time and eff ort to understand the help to explain why many blue-collar issues, or lack the resources to lobby American workers voted for Donald for better public policies. Trump in the 2016 US presidential These three sources of bias suggest election, and why French farmers that societies can all too easily adopt and workers often take part in anti- anti-globalisation measures that hurt globalisation demonstrations. most people. In fact, most countries But we should not exaggerate the have barriers to economic openness importance of this point. In fact, three which, upon careful scrutiny, tend to other inherent anti-globalisation hurt citizens’ well-being. biases are at work in many societies, To be sure, societies need to and often contribute to the emergence do a better job of distributing the of misguided public policies that gains from globalisation and new benefi t neither employers nor workers. technologies. But they also must step First, although globalisation up their eff orts in two other areas. frequently creates many more winners Higher-quality research and than losers, even before government journalism would help citizens to redistribution programmes, many understand better the indirect as well winners mistakenly think they are as the direct eff ects of open trade. losers because they fail to recognise A demonstrator throws an object at the police at a protest during the G7 summit, in Bayonne, France, August 24, 2019. Furthermore, better education systems globalisation’s signifi cant indirect and greater individual eff orts would benefi ts. Yet, opponents of globalisation often quarters of American workers have fi res workers, its human-resources “You’ve got your jobs because I am a improve skills and boost workers’ ability Consider the example of US ignore such findings. increased (whereas if one focuses only manager may say, “Sorry we have to great entrepreneur.” This asymmetry in to seize opportunities arising from imports from China. As many often Moreover, whereas only a subset of on the direct competition eff ect, real let you go, but you should blame our perception generates an inherent anti- technological progress and globalisation. point out, US sectors or regions US manufacturing jobs is displaced by wages would appear to have declined country’s imports from China.” globalisation bias. The globalisation debate is often that compete most directly with imports from China, America’s much for most workers). In other words, Trump and much of the US media The second source of such bias is tinged with nationalism, self-interest, Chinese imports tend to fare less larger service sector (and many of its even before the redistribution of some have repeatedly reinforced this idea. an asymmetry in public discourse. and lack of economic understanding, well, because these imports displace manufacturing industries) benefi ts gains from employers to workers, an Our analysis, however, suggests that Technology, education, and resulting in misguided public US jobs. But as my colleagues and from cheaper Chinese-made inputs. overwhelming majority of the US US job expansion is also linked to trade globalisation all contribute to the policies. Redressing the negative I highlighted in a recent paper, US Less than one-fi fth of all US jobs are in labour force already benefi ts from with China. reshuffl ing of the job market and its bias in the discussion could enable sectors that use relatively more manufacturing, while the service sector trade with China, and the total gains On the other hand, when a US fi rm impact on individuals. But national more enlightened policies. – Project Chinese-made intermediate inputs accounts for about three-quarters of for workers are also positive. hires new workers, often at higher wages politicians and media often fi nd it Syndicate – such as computers and other employment – a pattern that also holds However, although most Americans than they would receive in shrinking more convenient to blame societal electronic equipment, furniture, for all US states and almost all US cities. understand the direct eff ect of Chinese sectors, its boss is highly unlikely to say, woes on foreign fi rms or governments z Shang-Jin Wei, former Chief and lab coats – tended to experience We therefore estimate that when imports on jobs and wages, they do not “Congratulations, and you should thank than on technological advances, the Economist of the Asian Development faster job growth and larger increases the total eff ects of US-China trade are recognise the positive indirect eff ect. imports from China for your new jobs.” failure of public education systems, Bank, is Professor of Finance and in real wages between 2000 and 2014. considered, the real wages of three- That is not surprising. When a US fi rm Instead, they are far more likely to say, inadequate parenting, or individual Economics at Columbia University.

How fact-checking can trump misinformation Three-day forecast

TODAY By Peter Cunliff e-Jones, the world’s almost 200 fact-checking including across international borders. to teach critical thinking and news lit- organisations operate on the assump- At the same time, fact-checking eracy skills to young people. The results Maximum Temperature : 350c Laura Zommer, Noko Makgato Minimum Temperature : 270c and Will Moy tion that presenting the public with organisations should not simply focus of this eff ort to inoculate the young Johannesburg corrected information will generally on tackling false information, but against the harm caused by misinfor- SATURDAY convince them to update a false view. also on identifying sources of reliable mation mirrored those of a 2016 study, Maximum Temperature : 340c Not surprisingly, most academic work information and pointing their readers which showed a huge leap in the ability Minimum Temperature : 280c ccording to fact-checkers on fact-checking has aimed to test this and followers to them. And we should of school-age children in Uganda to dis- SUNDAY at the Washington Post, US assumption. The results are promising. work with schools and other educational tinguish good and bad health informa- Maximum Temperature : 350c President Donald Trump has While nobody could claim that present- platforms to help teach people to iden- tion after being taught similar skills. Minimum Temperature : 280c made more than 13,000 false ing people with correct information tify false or misleading claims. This is Finally, eff ective fact-checking A Fisherman's forecast or misleading claims since his inaugura- guarantees that they will adjust their the approach taken by our organisations, requires eff orts to improve public access tion. It is no wonder some people doubt views, repeated studies have shown that and as small and under-resourced as to reliable information. In the United WARNING they are, the impact is already apparent. Kingdom, for example, Full Fact has Inshore : Strong wind expected that the fact-checking of politicians’ fact checking helps the public revise at some places with t claims is an answer to the problems of their understanding of claims, even For example, in January, Ibrahima worked with the Offi ce of National rain by afternoon this misinformation age. when the fi nding contradicts a fi rmly Diouf, the economist in charge of writ- Statistics not only to open up its data to Offshore : Nil When politicians and journalists held belief. ing the manifesto for one of Senegal’s a wider audience, but also to ensure that WEATHER Inshore : Misty at some places at from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and But simply publishing fact-checks major political parties, Parti de l’Unité it is delivered in a form the public will first becomes relatively Asia met at the Global Conference for is not enough. For starters, even with et du Rassemblement, told a University understand. hot daytime with local Media Freedom in London in July, they the greatest resources it would not be of Dakar researcher that, because of the While we shouldn’t underestimate clouds and a c of thundery rain at some acknowledged that the rise of misin- possible to trace all those who have seen Africa Check team’s work, writers of the scale of the threat posed by misin- places by afternoon formation has contributed to declining the misinformation being corrected and political-party manifestos paid more at- formation and declining trust, or the Offshore : Sctd clouds with a public trust in politicians and the media. put our fact-check in front of them. And tention to the accuracy of their fi gures. complexity of their causes, the problem weak c of light rain at some places by But eff ective solutions have not been there is simply too much misinforma- Similarly, in South Africa, Febe is not nearly as intractable as some afternoon forthcoming. When Europe’s political tion circulating online and in public Potgieter-Gqubule, the general manager seem to believe. By addressing not only WIND and business elite met the same month debate to fact-check every false claim of the ruling African National Congress, the symptoms of misinformation and Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly- 05-15/28 KT for the conference Les Rencontres made. declared in a public meeting that Africa mistrust, but also the systemic problems Offshore : Northwesterly-North- Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence 2019, That is why, beyond identifying and Check “plays an important role” in that underlie them, fact-checking easterly 04-14 KT they, too, saw few options for renewing correcting important misinformation, keeping political parties and their lead- organisations, media, government, and trust. fact-checkers must engage with politi- ers accountable. A few months earlier, business can resist these worrisome Visibility : 4-8/3 KM the South African Police Service offi cial- trends. – Project Syndicate But that does not mean that there cians, the traditional media, social- Around the region are none. As the leaders or founders of media platforms, and other relevant ly revised the national crime statistics, Weather fact-checking organisations in Africa, institutions to reduce the supply. This following an Africa Check intervention, zPeter Cunliff e-Jones is the founder of Weather tomorrow Max/min Latin America, and Europe, we know means reaching out to public fi gures admitting that the data were worse than Africa Check. today Max/min M Sunny 37/23 that our work can play a powerful role in to request on-the-record corrections, they had initially reported. Reducing the zLaura Zommer is Executive Director Baghdad Sunny 37/21 M Sunny 39/24 countering the eff ects of misinformation lodging complaints with standards bod- supply of misinformation by engaging of Chequeado. Kuwait City M Sunny 39/25 Sunny 34/28 and restoring faith in reliable sources. ies, and providing training to media or- with those in power works. zNoko Makgato is Executive Director Manama M Sunny 34/28 Sunny 33/24 Fulfi lling this duty requires, fi rst and ganisations. It also means working with At the same time, in Argentina, the of Africa Check. Muscat Sunny 34/25 M Sunny 27/16 foremost, a comprehensive understand- tech companies to fi nd ways to prevent fact-checking organisation Chequeado zWill Moy is Chief Executive of Full Tehran P Cloudy 26/15 ing of the challenges we face. Most of the wider circulation of misinformation, has created the country’s fi rst program Fact.

Live issues Weight-loss surgery tied to lower risk of birth defects

Around the world By Lisa Rapaport blood sugar are associated with neural tube defects, while there were of the minimally invasive surgery Reuters Health increased risk of birth defects in a 20 cases of neural tube defects among fellowship at UC Irvine Health and Weather Weather dose-dependent manner,” Neovius women who didn’t have surgery. chief of surgery at the VA Long Beach today Max/min tomorrow Max/min said by e-mail. “This means that the For the study, researchers examined Healthcare System. Athens M Sunny 26/17 M Sunny 26/16 omen with severe obesity more obese you are, the greater the risk data on singleton births in Sweden from “Many women elect to undergo Beirut P Cloudy 27/23 M Sunny 27/23 who have gastric bypass of birth defects, and the worse blood 2007 to 2014. bariatric surgery in order to facilitate Bangkok P Cloudy 34/25 S T Storms 34/26 surgery to lose weight be- glucose control, the greater the risk of All of the weight-loss surgeries were pregnancy and/or treat polycystic Berlin Showers 19/10 Showers 16/11 Wfore becoming pregnant birth defects.” procedures known as Roux-en-Y gastric ovary syndrome, a major contributor to Cairo P Cloudy 32/21 M Sunny 33/21 may be less likely to have babies with In the surgery group, women started bypass, in which surgeons divide the infertility,” Smith, who wasn’t involved Cape Town P Cloudy 23/16 M Sunny 21/14 birth defects than similar women who out with an average body mass index stomach to create a small pouch about in the study, said by e-mail. Colombo S T Storms 29/24 T Storm 29/25 don’t have weight-loss surgery, a new (BMI) of 43.5 and an average weight the size of an egg. Then, surgeons “Fewer birth defects appears to be Dhaka M Sunny 33/26 Sunny 34/26 study suggests. of 122kg (269 pounds). After surgery, connect the pouch to the end of the yet another important health benefi t Hong Kong Sunny 27/22 Sunny 27/22 As reported in JAMA, researchers their average body weight was 82kg (181 small intestine, so that food travels of weight loss surgery (specifi cally Istanbul P Cloudy 22/15 P Cloudy 22/14 examined data on more than 33,000 pounds) prior to conception. directly there, bypassing the stomach gastric bypass), and women considering Jakarta P Cloudy 33/25 P Cloudy 34/25 women with a history of severe obesity Before gastric bypass surgery, 9.7% and the fi rst portion of the small pregnancy and bariatric surgery should Karachi Sunny 35/23 M Sunny 36/25 who gave birth, including 2,921 who had of the women in that group had been intestine. consider postponing pregnancy until London S Showers 14/10 P Cloudy 16/07 gastric bypass surgery and lost weight taking prescription diabetes drugs to One limitation of the study is that it after they have achieved meaningful Manila S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 32/26 before conception. Overall, 3.4% of lower their blood sugar. But in the six only included data on live births, not postoperative weight loss and their Moscow M Cloudy 14/09 Cloudy 15/09 women who had surgery had babies months prior to conception, only 1.5% miscarriages or pregnancy terminations weight is stable,” Smith said. New Delhi M Sunny 32/22 Sunny 33/21 with major birth defects, compared of them took diabetes drugs. or stillbirths. It’s possible the results Weight loss without surgery may also New York P Cloudy 16/07 M Sunny 17/09 with 4.9% of women who didn’t have “These improvements may be the might underestimate birth defects help, however. Paris Showers 17/12 Rain 15/09 weight-loss operations. mechanism behind the observed lower by excluding these pregnancies, at “One can also infer that non-surgical Sao Paulo M Sunny 33/20 M Cloudy 28/16 Changes in weight and blood sugar risk of birth defects,” Neovius said. least some of which might have ended weight loss MAY have similar benefi ts in Seoul P Cloudy 23/11 Sunny 23/09 may explain these results, said lead Major heart defects accounted because babies had birth defects too reducing birth defects if women are able Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/26 study author Martin Neovius, from the for 60% of the birth defects among severe to survive. to achieve similar blood glucose control Sydney Sunny 21/12 M Sunny 26/11 Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. mothers who underwent gastric bypass Obesity can contribute to infertility, through diet and exercise alone,” Smith Tokyo Cloudy 18/15 Rain 22/17 “Both obesity and poorly controlled procedures. No babies in this group had noted Dr Brian Smith, co-director added. Gulf Times 16 Friday, October 18, 2019 QATAR Dates expo at Al-Mahmoud reaffi rms Souq Waqif draws crowds Qatar’s support for IPU QNA ised meetings of the Inter-Par- Belgrade liamentary Union, reports and By Shafeeq Alingal “We are looking to help local resolutions of the Commission Staff Reporter farmers get direct access to cus- on Human Rights of Parliamen- tomers and make locally grown E the Speaker of the tarians, reports of other com- products popular. Production Shura Council Ahmed mittees and bodies of the Union, he second edition of the of local dates deserves consid- Hbin Abdullah bin Zaid al- the draft adoption of the consol- Local Dates Exhibition eration and support,” al-Kuwari Mahmoud has reaffi rmed Qatar’s idated budget for 2020, besides a Tthat opened at Souq Waqif told Gulf Times. support to the plans and strate- number of other topics. in Doha on Wednesday is draw- The items which are on sale at gies of the Inter-Parliamentary The 142nd General Assembly ing a good number of visitors. the exhibition include Al Khalas, Union (IPU) in order to make the of the IPU and its accompanying Organised by the Ministry of Al Shishi, Al Khenaizi, Al Barhi, work of the IPU a success for all meetings will be held in Geneva Municipality and Environment Al Iraqi and Al Silji, Al Saqai, people of the world. from 15 to 19 April. (MME) and Souq Waqif manage- Nabt Saif, Al Lulu and Al Razizi. During the two-day meeting HE al-Mahmoud headed ment, the event running until These varieties are available at of the 205th session of the Gov- Qatar’s delegation during the October 26 has more than a doz- special prices at Souq Waqif. erning Council, which conclud- closing session of the 141st HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud attending the concluding en local varieties of dates on sale. Khalid Nasser Ahmed, direc- ed yesterday in the Serbian capi- General Assembly of the Inter- session of the 141st session of the IPU General Assembly in Belgrade. The MME yesterday said tor manager, Al Rayyan Agricul- tal Belgrade, HE al-Mahmoud Parliamentary Union and related 14,702kg, or 14.702 tonnes, of tural, said the festival provides said that the issues raised by meetings that lasted for fi ve days. diff erent kinds of dates were sold farmers with the opportunity to the Inter-Parliamentary Union During the closing session the on the fi rst day of the event. fi nd a market for their products. (IPU) were of great importance General Assembly adopted the A total of 54 farms from across The fourth edition of the Local and touched human lives, “so Belgrade Declaration, ‘Strength- Qatar, Hassad Food Company Dates Festival, held at Souq Wa- we can all, through parliaments, ening international law: Parlia- and Al Rayyan Agricultural are qif earlier this year, recorded a succeed because parliaments af- mentary roles and mechanisms, participating. The exhibition is sale of over 170 tonnes. The ten- fect governments”. and the contribution of regional open from 10am to 9pm. day festival witnessed a total of This was evidenced by the co-operation’. Ahmed al-Kuwari, general su- 51,000 visitors. fact that the United Nations, Participants expressed their pervisor of the MME’s Agricul- The MME has plans to hold respecting and appreciating the support for strong and eff ec- ture Sector, said the exhibition such festivals at Katara – the IPU, had requested the support tive multilateral institutions, is organised as part of Qatar’s Cultural Village and Qur’anic of the IPU in its plans, which with the United Nations at their eff orts to ensure availability of Botanic Garden at Qatar Foun- demonstrated the eff ectiveness core, designed to fi nd solutions quality dates for all and promote dation along with various fairs of the IPU, he added. to common challenges and settle local farmers. across Qatar. HE al-Mahmoud noted the disputes between States. great eff ort exerted by the IPU, The 142nd General Assembly including the president of the of the IPU and its accompanying IPU and the Secretary-General. meetings will be held in Geneva “We have seen this eff ort and from 15 to 19 April. sincerity in the work when the Meanwhile yesterday, HE al- State of Qatar hosted the 140th Mahmoud met the Speaker of session of the General Assembly the Chamber of Deputies of the of the Inter-Parliamentary Un- Republic of Rwanda Donatille ion,” he said. Mukabalisa. The meeting took He praised the Republic of place on the sidelines of his par- Serbia for hosting the 141st ses- ticipation in the 141st General sion of the General Assembly Assembly of the IPU and the ac- and the good organisation. companying meetings. HE al-Mahmoud honoured The meeting reviewed the ex- the President of the Inter- isting parliamentary relations Parliamentary Union Gabriela between the two countries. and Cuevas and Secretary-General discussed topics on the agenda Martin Chungong for their ef- of the General Assembly. forts towards the success of the HE al-Mahmoud also met work of the IPU, as well as for Robert del Picchia, a member of the success of the 140th General the Senate of the French Repub- Assembly and its accompanying lic. During the meeting, they re- meetings in Doha. viewed the existing parliamen- In a related context, the Gov- tary relations between Qatar and erning Council adopted in its France and discussed the topics Off icials touring the second edition of the Local Dates Exhibition fi nal report covering several on the agenda of the General As- yesterday at Souq Waqif. PICTURE: Anas Khalid topics, including recent special- sembly. HE al-Mahmoud meeting Robert del Picchia, a member of the French Senate, in Belgrade yesterday. Ministry warns people Qatar Airways celebrates about phishing attacks launch of Langkawi services

he Ministry of Interior posted on social media. is used to obtain sensitive in- atar Airways Group Chief (MoI) has urged people “By falling victim to such an formation by disguising as Executive HE Akbar al- Tto beware of phishing attack, you risk having your a reputable entity or person QBaker has highlighted the attacks. highly sensitive information through e-mail or other com- award-winning airline’s robust “Please be cautious of be- stolen and/or your computer munication channels. It often expansion plans as well as its ing victimised by phishing infected. Attackers will make directs users to enter personal commitment to bringing more attacks that use e-mails or their e-mail look like it came information on a fake website, visitors to Malaysia and con- messaging services to trick or from someone or something the look and feel of which are necting Langkawi to its exten- fool you into taking an action, you know, such as a friend or a identical to a legitimate site. It sive global network via Hamad such as clicking on a link or trusted company you frequent- mostly steals banking informa- International Airport (HIA) in opening an attachment that ly use,” it continued. tion, data related to e-shopping Doha. contains malicious files,” the Phishing, the MoI noted, is accounts and social media ac- The observations came during ministry said in an advisory a form of fraud to obtain that counts, the ministry added. a press conference hosted by HE al-Baker yesterday to celebrate the launch of Qatar Airways’ in- augural fl ight to Langkawi. The press conference, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, Baladna announces QR1.43bn IPO was attended by Qatar’s ambas- sador to Malaysia, Fahad Mo- hamed Kafoud; charge d’aff aires From Page 1 Saifullah Khan, chief fi nan- Barwa Bank and al khaliji. The at Malaysia’s embassy in Qatar, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker with other dignitaries. cial offi cer of Baladna Food In- lead banks are expected to pro- Mohamad Shahir Sabarudin; He said the proceeds from dustries, said “since the com- vide fi nancing to Qatari indi- general manager, Airline Mar- Langkawi International Airport amazing, natural and luxuri- international air cargo carriers, the maiden off er will be used pany will not be having more viduals wishing to subscribe to keting of Malaysia Airports, (LGK). Early last year, Qatar Air- ous experience for all visitors in Qatar Airways Cargo already has to strengthen the fi nancial po- investments in capex (capital the IPO. Mohamed Sallauddin Mat Sah; ways began fl ying direct to Pen- Langkawi.” a large presence in Malaysia, op- sition and meet future invest- expenditure), there will be On the exports, al-Khayy- and the chief executive offi cer of ang International Airport from Qatar Airways began direct erating belly-hold fl ights to and ments. more room for profi tability and at said the company’s prod- Langkawi Development Author- Doha. services to Kuala Lumpur in from Kuala Lumpur that off er up BFI, which so far invested returns for investors in the fu- ucts have lot of demand and ity (LADA), Dr Hezri Bin Adnan. This new fl ight to LGK, which 2001 and launched its Penang to 300 tonnes per week with effi - QR2.9bn, has its own plastic ture.” been getting requests from HE al-Baker said, “We are is an extended route via Penang, service in 2018. cient connections to Europe, the factory and on-site packag- The IPO prospectus is avail- many countries in North Af- very pleased to launch our new will defi nitely be a great addition The airline currently provides Middle East and Africa via the ing/bottling plants, a water able from its offi ces, the lead rica and Asia, including Ma- direct service to Langkawi, our to the international airlines op- more than 25 fl ights per week to carrier’s state-of-the-art hub in treatment facility to meet farm receiving bank (QNB) through- laysia. third gateway into Malaysia. erating at LGK. Malaysia. Doha. operation needs, a feed stor- out its branch network, as well BFI has already entered into “Langkawi is both an impor- “Being the fi rst Middle East- In October 2001, Qatar Air- Langkawi will also join Qatar age facility with a six-month as selected receiving banks as an agreement with Felcra on tant tourist destination and a ern carrier to operate at LGK, ways announced its codeshare Airways’ air freight network, reserve capacity, and the most QNB, Ahli Bank, Doha Bank, the sidelines of the Qatari-Ma- growing conference and exhibi- this long-haul fl ight will expand agreement with Malaysian Air- with the carrier’s cargo arm of- advanced milking parlour in Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar Islamic laysian Joint Trade Committee tion centre, which is becoming the tourism opportunities in lines, and this was expanded in fering up to 40 tonnes per week the region. Bank, QIIB, Commercial Bank, in Kuala Lumpur. increasingly popular with inter- Malaysia, particularly in Lang- 2018. to and from Langkawi via Pen- national visitors. kawi, the ‘Jewel of Kedah’. We Langkawi is fast becoming ang each week. This new gateway will off er look forward to creating many an internationally recognised The new service to Langkawi, our Malaysian passengers even more memorable moments with tourist destination, seeing tre- is part of the airline’s strong ex- more convenience and enhanced Qatar Airways.” mendous growth in its number pansion plans in Southeast Asia connectivity to an extensive The chief executive offi cer of of visitors, having grown almost and marks Qatar Airways’ third choice of destinations on our LADA added, “We are thrilled to 10% since 2013, according to a destination in Malaysia after global route network. welcome Qatar Airways’ direct press statement by Qatar Air- Kuala Lumpur and Penang. “We invite all our global pas- fl ights to Langkawi, which will ways. Qatar Airways will initially sengers to experience the ‘Jewel surely become a game changer to The place holds the status of start with four-times-a-week of Kedah’, and look forward to position Langkawi as one of the Unesco Global Geopark, one of Langkawi tag services via Pen- welcoming you all on board.” preferred tourist destinations in only 64 in the world. ang with an increase of up to The general manager, Airline the world. It is also a Duty-Free Zone, five-times-a-week services Marketing of Malaysia Airports, It will defi nitely mark Lang- making it popular with shop- from October 27 on itsBoeing noted: “We take immense pleas- kawi as an important air con- pers, and provides various MICE 787 Dreamliner aircraft, featur- ure in welcoming Qatar Airways, nectivity hub to more than (meetings, incentives, confer- ing 22 seats in Business Class who has been our airline partner 160 international destinations encing and exhibitions) facili- and 232 seats in Economy, with at Kuala Lumpur International worldwide. ties. spacious cabins and specially- Off icials announce details of Baladna IPO at a press conference yesterday. Airport for the past 18 years, to We look forward to off er an As one of the world’s leading designed interiors.