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SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11243 July 13, 2019 Dhul-Qa’da 10, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief

QATAR | Reaction Suicide bombing in Afghanistan slammed Qatar has strongly condemned the suicide bombing that targeted a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan, killing and injuring several people. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry Amir leaves Washington of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of motives and ending four-day US visit reasons. The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to the victims’ QNA the accompanying delegation during families, the government and people Washington the visit. of Afghanistan, wishing the injured a His Highness the Amir also expressed speedy recovery. satisfaction with his talks with the US is Highness the Amir Sheikh president and senior offi cials, which Qatar condemns Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani provided an opportunity for exchanging Benghazi blast Hleft Washington, DC, after a views on the most important regional four-day offi cial visit to the United and international issues of common Qatar has strongly condemned the First parts of a Russian S-400 missile defence system are unloaded from a Russian plane at Murted Airport, known as States. concern and also contributed to the explosion that took place in Eastern Akinci Air Base, near Ankara, Turkey, yesterday. The Amir sent a cable to US Presi- consolidation of bilateral relations and Libyan city of Benghazi, killing dent Donald Trump, expressing deep the strategic partnership between the and injuring several people. In a thanks and appreciation for the hospi- two countries in various fi elds for the statement yesterday, the Ministry tality and honour accorded to him and benefi t of the two friendly peoples. of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of motives and reasons. The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to the victims’ families, the government and people Russian S-400 Workers’ Welfare Forums of Libya, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. AFRICA | Unrest prove successful: ministry Seven killed in attack on Somalia hotel he Ministry of Administrative of the SC Workers’ Welfare Depart- defence systems Development, Labour and Social ment, said: “We are extremely proud At least seven people were killed TAff airs (MADLSA) has studied the impact our Workers’ Welfare Elec- yesterday in a suicide bomb and the impact of the Supreme Committee tions have had over the last few years. gun attack on a hotel in southern for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Workers’ “We have worked closely with our Somalia, a security off icial said. Welfare Forums (WWF) to support the colleagues at the MADLSA and ILO to “We have confirmed the death of replication of joint worker-employer demonstrate the impact of our forums seven people including a former committees in Qatar. and will continue to support their ef- local administration minister and arrive in Turkey The SC introduced WWFs in 2015 forts introducing similar concepts a lawmaker,” said Abdi Dhuhul, to amplify workers’ voices and off er across Qatar.” a security off icial. “The toll may QNA/Reuters showed us that Russia is the most ister Melvut Cavusoglu has con- greater access to remedy. A total of 62 The ministry and ILO are currently increase since the attack is not Ankara compatible country,” Akar said. fi rmed that deployment of the S-400 elections have been held since, with leveraging their three-year technical over yet.” Authorities said a suicide Telling how the contract to purchase Russian missile hardware is going as more than 21,000 workers covered by co-operation agreement to support bomber rammed a vehicle loaded the S-400s from Russia was signed in planned without any problem. the process, sc.qa reported. the establishment of joint committees with explosives into the popular hree cargo aircraft carrying April 2017, Akar said three aircraft had In a joint press conference with Offi cials from the MADLSA and In- with partners from the private sector. Medina hotel in the southern town components of Russian S-400 carried components of the systems to his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis ternational Labour Organisation (ILO) A representative for MADLSA said: of Kismayo before several heavily Tmissile defence systems ar- Murted Air Base in Ankara. held in Ankara yesterday, Casvusoglu Project Offi ce for Qatar have spent the “We have worked closely with the Su- armed gunmen forced their way rived in the Turkish capital Ankara Turkish broadcasters showed foot- said: “The deal is done and is going as last few months observing the SC’s preme Committee to understand why inside, shooting as they went. yesterday, said Turkey’s national de- age of huge Russian Air Force AN-124 planned, and we are organising every- WWF meetings and elections – demo- these forums have proven successful. fence minister. cargo planes offl oading equipment at thing related to the receiving process,” as cratic platforms protecting workers We have been encouraged by the level of BRITAIN | Diplomacy “Three planes were planned for the air base. he responded to a question on the arrival engaged on 2022 FIFA World Cup Qa- participation and voter turnout in their Police launch probe today. As planned, all the aircraft ar- “The training of our personnel for of the fi rst deployment of the S-400. tar projects. elections and recognise they help raise rived and all activities planned for to- installing and operating the Russian “There are no issues in the proc- So far, 62 WWF elections have been the voice of workers in Qatar. We will into DC envoy leaks day have been completed. This proc- S-400s has been ongoing in both ess of receiving the hardware and will held at 32 diff erent accommodations continue working with the SC to under- British police said yesterday it had ess will continue in the coming days,” Turkey and Russia,” said Akar, add- continue so in the future,” he added. covering 16,000 workers – roughly stand their process and implement best launched a “criminal investigation” Anadulo news agency quoted Hulusi ing that the process would continue In the fi rst comments from Wash- 57% of the SC’s workforce. practice. The experiences gained will into the leak of British diplomatic Akar as telling reporters. in the coming days. ington, acting Defence Secretary MADLSA and ILO representatives have be applied to the committees as we roll cables critical of US President Donald Stressing the threats facing Tur- Possible procurement of US Pa- Mark Esper said the US position on already attended four WWF elections and them out nationwide in the near future.” Trump that led to the resignation of key, Akar pointed to the country’s triot missiles is also being evaluated the issue has not changed. 10 WWF meetings in order to gain an in- Houtan Homayounpour, head of the the UK ambassador to Washington. longstanding eff orts to acquire long- by Turkish offi cials and institutions, The United States has threatened sight into establishing joint committees – ILO Project Offi ce for Qatar, added: London’s Metropolitan Police said range air and missile defence systems. Akar said. to impose sanctions on Ankara, say- mandated by Qatar’s Labour Law – aimed “The SC’s elections have played a crit- its terrorism command, which “There are some principles that The 2017 contract with Russia fol- ing Russian military hardware is not at preventing and resolving issues be- ical role amplifying the voices of work- investigates potential breaches of we have set in this regard. In line lowed lengthy eff orts to purchase an compatible with Nato systems and tween employees and employers. These ers. We value the opportunity to learn Britain’s Off icial Secrets Act, had with these principles, we have had air defence system from the US with that the acquisition may lead to Tur- committees will be rolled out across Qa- more about their success to help dem- initiated the probe into the leaking of negotiations with China, Russia, the no success. key’s expulsion from an F-35 fi ghter tar over the next 12 months. onstrate the importance of dialogue Kim Darroch’s correspondence. US, and France. These negotiations Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Min- jet programme. Mahmoud Qutub, executive director between employer and employee.” Federer in Wimbledon final Qatar tourism sees ‘positive trend’ this summer

By Peter Alagos so this summer is witnessing a very tions”, such as Georgia, Armenia and Business Reporter positive trend,” he said. Azerbaijan, as well as Greece. In May, QNTC secretary-general “There is a mix of younger expa- and Qatar Airways Group chief exec- triates and Qataris who are exploring mmigration policies and initia- utive HE Akbar al-Baker announced other destinations and new places as tives launched by the Qatar Na- the launch of SiQ – which is described alternatives to popular vacation spots Itional Tourism Council (QNTC) as “Qatar’s biggest summer pro- in Europe and the US. The new gen- have helped the country witness a gramme” and runs until August 16. eration wants something diff erent; “positive trend” this summer season, HE al-Baker said QNTC’s main there is a surge among younger tour- according to an industry expert. objective this summer season “is to ists who want to go to Georgia, Arme- “Thanks to the marketing and pro- bring public and private stakeholders nia and Azerbaijan. motional programmes of QNTC, as together under one summer theme “These are the new, key destina- well as the government’s easing of campaign that can be packaged to tions coming up for the youth, as well visa policies for more than 80 coun- Rehan Ali Syed both citizens and residents of Qatar, as for a lot of families. While Greece tries, these initiatives have given along with attracting international does not off er visa on arrival to resi- more tourists the chance to come to the country this time of the year, at travellers to showcase what our lovely dents here, it is still a popular desti- Qatar and experience Arab hospital- the same time, initiatives like QNTC’s country has to off er.” nation for Qatar’s younger audience. Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates beating Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the ity,” Al Tawfeeq Travel country head – ‘Summer in Qatar’ (SiQ) are keeping a Asked about outbound tourism, Lebanon’s beaches and mountains, as semi-finals of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Qatar Rehan Ali Syed told Gulf Times. lot of people in Qatar very busy with Syed said there is a trend among well as its mixed weather, are also at- Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, yesterday. Federer won in four “It’s not just about going outbound. many diff erent activities happening younger people in Qatar who are tracting a lot of tourists from Qatar,” sets and will clash with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in tomorrow’s final. Sport Page 1 While there are people going out of around, especially inside the malls, seeking “new, alternative destina- Syed pointed out. To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 13, 2019 QATAR Concern over use of plastic items to serve hot food

ome consumers have ex- by local Arabic daily Arrayah. awareness on the issue to let be adversely aff ected if they con- In this connection, he ac- monitoring of the situation is a Conducting seasonal inspection pressed concern over the A number of consumers and consumers know about the risks sume any such plastic item, he knowledged that many eateries shared responsibility of the mu- campaigns would not be enough Scontinued use of harmful, experts stressed that there is a involved and convince them to pointed out. and food outlets across the coun- nicipality concerned and con- to curb such violations, he felt. non-biodegradable plastic items pressing need for the authori- avoid the use of such plastics Eventfully, this would harm hu- try have started replacing plastic sumers. Ahmed al-Jabir said many to serve or pack hot food and ties concerned to exert greater items - especially to serve and man health and negatively impact bags and cups with paper ones, Mohamed Shaheen al-Atiq people do not have a clear idea of beverage (F&B) items in spite of control on the local marker to pack hot food and drink items. the quality of life, as the harmful which is a positive development. said further awareness eff orts this issue and the risks involved, the health hazards involved. enforce the relevant rules and Speaking to the daily, Mo- eff ects of plastic bags extends to Dr Qassim al-Qahtani said need to be exerted to spread and consequently do not take This also violates a 2009 regulations to ensure the protec- hamed al-Hosny said the use of plants as well. He recommended there is an alternative to low- knowledge on this issue and, si- things seriously. Accordingly, he decision prohibiting the use tion of public health and the en- plastic bags posed serious risks the use of biodegradable bags to quality plastic bags and cups, multaneously, the relevant law said there was a need to intensify of plastic bags, plates, glasses vironment, the daily said. to the overall environment as maintain the well-being of both known as food-grade plas- needs to be strictly enforced public awareness eff orts in this and cups to serve hot F&B In this regard, they felt the they take hundreds of years to humans and the environment with tic, which provides a relatively through regular and sudden area alongside stringent control products, according to a report need to spread more public decompose. Animals, too, could its various components. healthier option. He said proper campaigns to detect violators. measures. Youth ‘positive, Youth turn spotlight overcoming on pressing issues hardships’ number of youth of the Islamic world have moni- despite unrest Atored the most impor- tant issues that concern them to achieve development and advance By Shafeeq Alingal “A trend where the youth their countries and societies, Staff Reporter are overcoming hardships which includes political reform, is becoming increasingly freedom of expression, education evident in the Muslim and development, job opportuni- he unrest prevailing in world and confl icts have ties and the distribution of true some Muslim countries not prevented them from Islamic values in societies. Thas not deterred the youth pursuing their dreams” On the sidelines of the Doha there and, in fact, it has had a Islamic Youth Forum, which positive impact on them, ac- the use of all available resourc- concluded on Thursday, the cording to Dr Arif Abdeljalil, es even if they are limited,” he OIC Youth Capital in 2019, a commissioner for Peace and explained. group of young people partici- Security of the African Youth Dr Abdeljalil, who noted that pated in talks with Qatar News Union Commission . the younger generation tends to Agency (QNA) regarding urgent “A trend where the youth are think positively and approach issues that governments need overcoming hardships is becoming things accordingly, said they are to highlight to address many of increasingly evident in the Mus- doing their bit to beat negativity. the problems that lead to youth Participants during a discussion at the Doha Islamic Youth Forum which concluded recently. lim world. Confl icts have not pre- “They are aware of the challeng- to be inactive in society or drive vented them from pursuing their es and remain vigilant against them to extremism, violence or noble human values to ensure the Olfa Ben Faraj from Tuni- ernance, sustainable develop- He added that the issue of eco- dreams. And they are also active in bad tendencies. They are also irregular migration. achievement of human dignity. sia said that one of the most ment and social networking, all nomic development, especially discharging their duties by ensur- engaged in maintaining peace Mohamed Hassan al-Jefairi, di- He added that Islamic so- important issues of interest of which one needs. in African countries, was another ing participation and involvement and security and ensuring the rector, Creativity Makers Centre, cieties need to strengthen the to young people in the Islamic Al-Husseini Sheikho from Ni- concern as some countries lack in diff erent strands of life, rang- welfare of all,” he said. and a participant at the forum, values of freedom and accept- world and from Tunisia is ac- ger told QNA that young people resources and services. ing from administration to social For Dr Abdeljalil, the forum said: “As Qatari youth, we may not ance of opinion, as well as pay cess to good governance that need political awareness to know He praised the Doha Islamic work,” Dr Abdeljalil told Gulf Times was an ideal venue to get mo- have the problems other countries greater attention to issues of ensures the elimination of their rights, as well as develop Youth Forum for enriching the recently on the sidelines of the tivated and share experiences. face, but being one Islamic society education and development, corruption and cronyism that their educational and academic discussion on the issues and the Doha Islamic Youth Forum, where “Such initiatives help the youth makes us think about the prob- which leads to the creation of a result in young people moving skills through workshops and themes. he presented a paper on ‘Youth is from various countries get a lems of Muslim societies as we are labour market, and fi nd real op- to dangerous hotspots, such courses that help them fi nd jobs Kramba Bayou from Guinea- the real wealth of the nation’. clear picture of the social and part of this nation.” portunities for employment, as as drifting towards subversive and earn a project at the same Bissau stressed the need to cor- The forum, held at the Qatar political scenario in the Islamic Al-Jefairi pointed out that he there are Muslim communities ideas, drugs or irregular migra- time. rect the image of Islam in the National Convention Centre, world. They also help them stay believes that the most important suff ering from unemployment, tion and so on. Buraq Omar Demir from Tur- Western world and provide the concluded on Thursday. together and plan strategies to problems that concern Muslim poverty and ignorance. She added that the issue that key said that the most important true picture of the Islamic reli- “Today’s youth are more crea- ensure comprehensive social youths is the issue of Islamopho- These issues, and empower- concerns youth is freedom and issues of concern to the youth of gion, as well as the importance tive and more committed. The and cultural development of the bia, which caused concern for ment of women rather than mar- participation in decision-mak- the Islamic world is the Palestin- of working to provide good edu- more they face political instabil- Muslim world. These forums many who don’t know the truth ginalisation in some societies, ing, noting that the Doha Islamic ian cause, which needs continu- cation and training to address ity, the more they are motivated. keep them motivated and draw about Islam because of false- need the eff orts of all, especially Youth Forum has chosen impor- ous awareness of the rights of the economic problems in the And they tend to take up eff orts them towards new dreams,” he hood, whereas Islam protects all young people, he said. tant axes, which are good gov- Muslim people. Islamic world. (QNA) to make things better through added. QNL organises skills programme for conservation specialists from Jordan atar National Library Unesco Offi ce in Doha and the Digital Library and how it helps quired many rich experiences hosted a group of fi ve spe- IFLA Regional Preservation and in achieving the objectives of through a tour of the library Qcialists in the fi eld of her- Conservation Center at the li- the library in the preservation of facilities, the preservation and itage conservation from the King- brary. It comprised workshops, digital heritage. conservation centre, and digi- dom of Jordan from June 24-26 in tours of the library facilities and Ahmad Khraisat, director of tisation centre. The workshop its role as the International Fed- digitisation centre, and lectures the Department of Technical provided us with the unique ex- eration of Library Associations from the library’s specialists, Services at the Documentation perience of co-operating with and Institutions (IFLA) Regional where participants were able and Manuscript Centre at the a range of entities, including Centre for Preservation and Con- to learn about the methods and University of Jordan, said: “This Unesco Amman, Unesco Doha servation for Arab Countries and procedures for the preservation is my fi rst visit to Qatar and its and the library.” the Middle East. and conservation of manuscripts national library, a pearl in the The library is undertaking The participants represented and heritage items. desert. I was impressed by the several projects to support the Jordan’s Ministry of Culture, A series of lectures addressed facilities and the international preservation of documentary the National Library of Jordan, risk management and assess- experience of the staff , and es- heritage in the Arab region. An the Documentation and Manu- ment in libraries, while other pecially with their dedication to 18-month-long project in col- script Centre at the University topics included the theoreti- collecting manuscripts related laboration with Unesco focuses of Jordan, and the Royal Jorda- cal and practical preservation to the history of the Arab and Is- on identifying documentary nian Hashemite Documentation methods for long-term digitised lamic world.” heritage in Arab countries and Centre. materials to make them avail- Hanan Daghmash, director of off ers support in capacity build- The three-day capacity build- able to researchers. Attendees Heritage Authority at the Min- ing and professional develop- ing programme was organised also learned about the technol- istry of Culture, Jordan, said: ment to specialists working in by the Unesco Offi ce in Amman, ogy used to set up the Qatar “During the workshop, we ac- this fi eld. Jordanian conservation specialists at the library.

Qatar tourism sees HMC dinner honours Patient-Family Advisory Councils’ members ‘positive trend’ From Page 1

amad Medical Corpo- of our patients and their family Nursing Service. Members of He said: “Also, a lot of Asian ration’s (HMC) Center members. Our PFAC members the various councils represent expatriates such as Indians and Hfor Patient Experience are valuable partners and this the patient population and the Filipinos, among several other and Staff Engagement (CPESE), celebratory dinner was about community at large and in- nationalities, also prefer these under the leadership of Nasser recognising them and their con- clude both Qatari and expatri- destinations - especially those who al-Naimi, deputy chief of Qual- tribution in improving health- ate representatives. cannot get visas quickly. So, they ity at CPESE and director of the care for HMC and for Qatar,” he Al-Naimi said while the go to these countries, which off er Hamad Healthcare Quality In- added. PFACs are currently being pi- visa on arrival for tourists with a stitute, held a dinner recently PFACs are made up of pa- loted at fi ve sites, there are residency permit in Qatar.” to recognise members of its tients, families and caregivers plans to form PFACs at each of With schools closing for the summer, Patient-Family Advisory Coun- who collaborate with clinical, the HMC hospitals and facilities Syed said there is a big demand cils (PFACs). administrative and support staff in the future. among expatriates to go back home The purpose of the dinner at HMC to provide guidance on HMC is currently working for their annual vacation. Similarly, was to acknowledge the coun- Nasser al-Naimi how to enhance the patient and towards the Planetree Person- Qatari citizens want to go to Turkey cil’s members and to thank family experience. Centred Care certifi cation, the and other European countries, as them for their vital contribu- “Working with patients and Around 55 patient and fam- statement notes. The only pro- well as “other big destinations” this tion, HMC said in a statement. families as advisers at the or- ily members are currently part gramme of its kind, the certifi - summer season, he said. “In December 2018, we ganisational level is a critical of HMC’s PFACs, with each cation formally recognises an “As a lot of people want to go formed PFACs across fi ve of our More than 65 people attended HMC’s dinner to recognise members component of patient and fam- council meeting monthly and organisation’s ability to deliver to Europe, many embassies are sites. These PFAC groups meet of its Patient-Family Advisory Councils. ily engagement at HMC. This representing the Ambulatory excellence in person-centred witnessing a huge rush right now. monthly to discuss concerns person-centric approach to Care Center, Enaya Specialised care and is designed to connect But when people don’t get visas to that infl uence patient and family initiatives, work with hospital in its future endeavours around care ensures that the service we Care Center, Communicable healthcare professionals with Europe, some of them opt for the US members’ experience, prioritise teams to design and implement the delivery of person-centred provide at HMC best meets the Disease Center, Home Health- the voices and perspectives of because they usually have five- or patient experience improvement these initiatives, and guide HMC care,” said al-Naimi. needs, values and preferences care Service and the Private patients and their families. 10-year visas,” Syed added. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Iran calls on Britain to release seized oil tanker

Iran called on Britain yesterday to immediately release an UK sends second warship to oil tanker that British Royal Marines seized last week on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a foreign ministry spokesman told state news agency IRNA. Gulf after Iran tanker standoff “This is a dangerous game and has consequences... the legal AFP waters off Iran for a period that pretexts for the capture are not London might last a number of weeks. valid... the release of the tanker A government spokesman is in all countries’ interest,” the said the HMS Duncan was “de- spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said. ritain said yesterday it ploying to the region to ensure Iran has warned of reciprocal was sending a second we maintain a continuous mari- measures if the tanker is not Bwarship to the Gulf and time security presence while released. raising the alert level in the re- HMS Montrose comes off task Britain said on Thursday that gion as tensions spike after Ira- for pre-planned maintenance three Iranian vessels tried to nian gunboats threatened a UK and crew changeover”. block a British-owned tanker supertanker. Sky News television reported passing through the Strait of The decision was disclosed that HMS Duncan would not be Hormuz, which controls the as US President Donald Trump part of the international military flow of Middle East oil to the stepped up his war of words with escort team for vessels in the world, but backed off when the Islamic republic over its nu- Gulf proposed on Thursday by confronted by a Royal Navy clear programme and its alleged the United States. warship. support for terror groups in the HMS Duncan is an air defence Iran denied that its vessels had Middle East. destroyer that carries a set of done any such thing. “Iran better be careful,” heavy Harpoon anti-ship mis- British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan (D37) sails in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, yesterday. Tension between Iran and the Trump told reporters outside the siles and a crew in excess of 280. West has increased a week after White House. The BBC reported that it had authorities detain an Iranian A source said the British gov- “We want to do everything we “These important decisions Britain seized the tanker and “They’re treading on very reached Turkey’s Bosphorus tanker that US offi cials believe ernment decided at the start of can to make sure that we don’t about breaches of our laws London said the British Heritage, dangerous territory. Iran, if Strait as it makes its way from was trying to deliver oil to Syria the week to raise the alert level have an unintended escalation were certainly not decisions operated by oil company BP, had you’re listening, you better be the Black Sea through the Suez in violation of separate sets of EU for ships travelling through which could be very dangerous taken at the political behest or been approached in the strait careful.” Canal to the Gulf. and US sanctions. Iranian waters to three on a for the world,” Hunt said. instruction of any other state between Iran and the Arabian British offi cials said the naval HMS Montrose was forced to Iran has bristled at the arrest three-point scale. The authorities of Gibral- or of any third party,” Gibral- peninsula. deployment was part of a pre- warn off three fast Iranian gun- and issued a series of increas- The decision means that Brit- tar – a British overseas terri- tar’s Chief Minister Fabian Mousavi accused Britain of planned rotation and meant to boats on Wednesday that UK ingly ominous warnings to both ain views the security threat in tory on Spain’s southern tip Picardo said. seizing the tanker under US ensure a continued British naval offi cials said were trying to “im- the United States and Britain Iranian waters for commercial – said yesterday that the Ira- The Gibraltar police on Thurs- pressure. “Such illegal measures presence in one of the most im- pede” the progress of a British about its right to take unspecifi ed ships as “critical”. nian supertanker was carry- day announced the arrest of the could increase tensions in the portant but volatile oil shipment supertanker through the Strait actions in reprisal. But UK Foreign Secretary Jere- ing 2.1 million barrels of light Iranian tanker’s Indian captain Gulf,” he told IRNA. routes in the world. of Hormuz in the Gulf. “If the enemy had made my Hunt called yesterday for “cool crude oil. and offi cer. Britain is among European parties But a source said the switch- Iranian offi cials have denied the smallest assessment they heads” to prevail as threats mount They also insisted that they Yesterday they detained two to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six over was brought forward by the incident ever happened. wouldn’t have done this act,” and Iran’s response to its growing had asked British Naval Marines more Indian crew members as major powers, which President several days and should see The Strait of Hormuz episode Iran’s Revolutionary Guards isolation – and economic suff er- to help with the Iranian tanker’s part of an “investigation of the Donald Trump pulled out of it last two of Britain’s most advanced occurred a week after UK Royal deputy commander Ali Fadavi ing from US sanctions – becomes arrest without any outside po- suspected export of crude oil to year, reimposing sanctions on warships jointly navigating the Marines helped the Gibraltar said on Thursday. increasingly unpredictable. litical pressure. the Banyas refi nery in Syria”. Tehran. (Reuters)

Palestinian child shot during clashes

A Palestinian child was seriously Israeli live fire in the head, wounded yesterday during while other reports said it was a Regime air clashes between Israeli forces rubber-coated bullet. and protesters in the occupied Residents of Kafr Qaddum West Bank, the Palestinian regularly protest against the health ministry and off icial Israeli closure of a nearby road. media said. An eyewitness accused the strikes kill 13 In a statement the ministry said Israeli army of using unusually the child was in the operating violent tactics to break up room in a “critical condition, yesterday’s protest. after being shot in the head with A spokeswoman for the Israeli live ammunition”. army said around 60 people in Syria Off icial news agency Wafa took part in a “riot.” named him as Abdelrahman “The rioters burned tyres and Shteiwi, saying he was 10 years hurled rocks toward IDF troops. AFP being confi ned until now to its old and was wounded during In response, the troops used riot Idlib suburbs,” said Observatory head clashes in Kafr Qaddum near dispersal means,” she said. Rami Abdel Rahman. Nablus in the northern West She added reports of a Last month, a civilian was Bank. Palestinian being injured were t least 13 civilians were killed in an air strike on the out- It said he had been shot by being “looked into”. (AFP) killed yesterday in Syrian skirts of the regional capital, Aregime air strikes in the considered the stronghold of country’s northwest, including Syria’s former Al Qaeda affi liate Kuwait arrests ‘terrorist’ cell members three children, a war monitor Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). said. The group in January took full Kuwaiti authorities have arrested by Egypt where some of them Another 45 civilians were administrative control of the Members of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) search for bodies or survivors in a collapsed members of a “terrorist” cell have been sentenced to up to 15 wounded in the strikes across Idlib region, home to three mil- building following a reported regime air strike on the town of Ariha, in the south of Syria’s Idlib province, linked to Egypt’s outlawed years in jail. the jihadist-held Idlib region, lion people, although other ji- yesterday. Muslim Brotherhood, the interior The interior ministry did not according to the Syrian Observ- hadist groups and rebel factions ministry said yesterday. disclose how many people were atory for Human Rights. are also present. city’s largest squares, Sabaa Bah- northern sliver of Hama prov- September deal between Rus- A statement carried by the state- arrested and said investigations Those killed included three Russian and regime aircraft rat, an AFP photographer said. ince in recent days, killing more sia and rebel backer Turkey, run news agency KUNA said the were ongoing. people in Idlib city, which have ramped up strikes on Idlib Ambulances were dispatched than 120 since late Wednesday, but a buff er zone planned un- militants were allegedly members of Egyptian authorities have until yesterday had been since the end of April, killing to the scene to tend to the vic- according to the Observatory. der that accord was never fully a “terrorist cell”, including some who led a crackdown on Muslim spared strikes by the regime more than 580 civilians. tims, he added. The recent uptick in violence implemented. have been “convicted of terrorism” Brotherhood members after the and its Russian ally since Rebel and jihadist fi re has Meanwhile in neighbour- has forced 330,000 people to fl ee Syria’s war has killed more and sentenced to jail in Egypt. military overthrew president they stepped up bombard- killed 45 civilians over the same ing Hama province, six children their homes, according to the than 370,000 people and dis- “Those arrested carry Egyptian Mohamed Mursi in 2013. ment of the region more than period, the Britain-based Ob- were wounded by opposition United Nations. placed millions since it started nationalities and belong to Later that year Egypt outlawed two months ago. servatory says. fi re in the regime-held area of The Idlib region is sup- in 2011 with a brutal crack- the Muslim Brotherhood the Muslim Brotherhood “It’s the fi rst time that the Yesterday’s air strikes hit resi- Karnaz. posed to be protected from a down on anti-government organisation,” the ministry said. and declared it a “terrorist raids hit the centre of Idlib, after dential buildings in one of the Fierce clashes have raged in the massive regime off ensive by a protests. The suspects, it said, are wanted organisation”. (AFP) UN drafts ‘list of shame’ US House votes to over child deaths in Yemen curb Trump powers AFP voy who determined that the maiming children in Yemen, the UN ‘alarmed’ at death United Nations coalition should remain on the coalition doesn’t deserve any sentences separate section of the list that praise for its empty promises to recognises measures taken to protect them,” she said. The UN said yesterday it was to start Iran war n upcoming UN report avoid targeting children. “In 2018 and into 2019, the “alarmed” at death sentences featuring a blacklist of This recommendation comes Saudi-led coalition continued to given by a court run by Yemen’s AFP States was fed up with war. lengthy legislative process. Achild rights violators is after 40 children were killed in Au- carry out well-documented at- Houthi rebels to 30 academics, Washington “Frankly, what it will prevent “This will tie our military’s expected to refrain from tough- gust last year when their bus was tacks on schools and hospitals, trade unionists and preachers is what this president prom- hands at a perilous time. We ening criticism of the Saudi-led attacked in Saada governorate. The as well as other grave violations for alleged spying. ised to the American people need Iran and its terrorist prox- coalition fi ghting in Yemen de- coalition admitted that “mistakes” against children in Yemen,” said “The UN Human Rights Off ice he US House of Repre- not to do – to get into another ies to think twice before they spite a bus bombing last year were made in targeting. Louis Charbonneau, UN director has received credible informa- sentatives voted yester- endless, costly war in the Mid- attack Americans, our friends that killed scores of children, ac- The UN envoy for children for Human Rights Watch. tion suggesting that many of Tday to restrict President dle East,” he said on the House or our interests,” he said. cording to diplomats. and armed confl ict, Virgina The coalition “should not re- those convicted were subjected Donald Trump’s ability to at- fl oor. But 27 Republicans plus UN Secretary-General Antonio Gamba, also recommended that ceive undeserved praise through to arbitrary or unlawful deten- tack Iran, voicing fear that his Trump, who walked out Republican-turned-inde- Guterres is due to release the an- the armed forces of Myanmar, inclusion in section B” of the list tion, as well as torture,” rights hawkish policies are pushing of a nuclear accord with Iran pendent Justin Amash joined nual list of shame later this month Syria and South Sudan be moved of shame, he added. off ice spokeswoman Ravina toward a needless war. and instead slapped sweeping the overwhelming major- ahead of a Security Council meet- to the sub-section of the list to A spokesperson from Gamba’s Shamdasani told reporters. The Democratic-led House sanctions, last month author- ity of Democrats in backing the ing on children and armed con- recognise measures that they offi ce declined to comment, say- Those condemned were approved an amendment on a ised a strike on the Islamic re- amendment. fl icts scheduled for August 2. have taken to protect children, ing the fi nal report had yet to be accused of spying for the Saudi- broad defence bill that would public after it shot down a US Representative Matt Gaetz, a The coalition was put on the according to the diplomats. published. led coalition, which intervened prohibit funding for military spy drone – but called it off at Republican who co-sponsored UN blacklist in 2016 and later It remains unclear if Guterres Gamba reported to the Security in Yemen in March 2015, shortly operations against Iran un- the last minute. the amendment with Khanna, removed after Saudi Arabia re- will endorse the recommendations Council in April that the number after the Iran-backed Houthis less they are in self-defence Trump has said he believes accused his colleagues of not acted furiously, threatening to of his envoy in his fi nal report, but of verifi ed rights violations against seized the capital Sanaa. or explicitly approved by he has the legal right to at- levelling with US troops on cut funding to UN programs. rights groups expressed dismay. children in Yemen was “stagger- Shamdasani noted the group will Congress. tack Iran. US administrations why they could be sent to die. To appease Riyadh, the United “Secretary-General Guterres ing,” blaming the coalition and the likely appeal to a higher court, But a similar measure failed have used an authorisation of “My war-hungry colleagues Nations split the list into two should not mince words when Huthi rebels for the violence. which is also under Houthi control. in the Senate, where Trump’s force passed by Congress after – some of whom have already sections in 2017 and put the it comes to calling out the per- More than 3,000 children have The rights off ice urged the Republican Party holds the the September 11, 2001 attacks suggested that we invade Ven- coalition on “Section B” - which petrators behind these crimes been recruited as child soldiers appeals court to consider “the majority. The two chambers to justify a slew of operations ezuela, North Korea and prob- highlights eff orts by the Saudi- and must put all violators on a and at least 7,500 children have serious allegations of torture will have to negotiate over the around the world. ably a few other countries be- led group to avoid killing and single ‘list of shame’,” said Adri- been killed or maimed between and other ill-treatment, and language as they fi nalise the Michael McCaul, the top Re- fore lunchtime tomorrow – if maiming children in Yemen. anne Lapar, program director at April 2013 and the end of 2018. of violations of the fair trial defence bill. publican on the House Foreign they’re so certain of their case According to diplomats with Watchlist on Children and Con- The UN has verifi ed 350 at- and due process rights of the Representative Ro Khanna, Aff airs Committee, called the against Iran, let them bring knowledge of the report, Gu- fl ict, a coalition of NGOs. tacks against schools and hospi- convicted people,” Shamdasani the Democrat who led the amendment “reckless,” say- their authorisation to use mili- terres has received a draft rec- “As long as Saudi- and Emira- tals in Yemen during that period, said. (AFP) amendment, said the meas- ing that the military should tary force against Iran to this ommendation from his UN en- ti-led airstrikes keep killing and she said. ure showed that the United not be held up by a potentially very fl oor,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 13, 2019 AFRICA

Congo won’t use South Africa sending in other trial Ebola the army to Cape Town vaccines AFP/Reuters “We’ll go door to door, we’ll cording to World Bank measure- Reuters Cape Town collect every illegal fi rearm, ments. Goma we’ll collect all criminals that we Many wealthy people live in want, we’ll collect all outstand- fortifi ed homes with high walls outh African soldiers will ing criminals that have been on topped with electrical wires, ongo will not permit deploy in Cape Town’s bail and that is happening from CCTV monitoring and armed the use of further ex- Scrime-ridden townships two o’clock this (Friday) morn- guards. Cperimental vaccines as it after a surge of shootings, gang ing,” Cele told reporters. Known mainly for its stunning combats an Ebola outbreak be- violence and murders in one of Cape Town, an international tourist attractions, including cause doing so risked “confusing the country’s top tourist desti- tourist destination with stun- Robben Island and Table Moun- the population”, the government nations, the head of the defence ning coastal and mountain scen- tain, Cape Town also has some said yesterday. forces said yesterday. ery, has the highest murder rate of the country’s highest murder Health workers have vacci- “The South African National in the country, according to the rates. nated more than 130,000 peo- Defence Force will deploy a bat- latest offi cial crime fi gures. Similar to Los Angeles, there ple during the nearly year-long talion with support elements Last year, over 20,000 people is an entrenched gang culture epidemic in eastern Democratic during Operation PROSPER,” were murdered in South Africa – with thousands of young men Republic of the Congo with an the defence ministry said in a 57% per day – and Cele has de- belonging to street gangs with experimental vaccine manufac- statement yesterday. scribed the country as “close to names like “Hard Living” and tured by Merck that has proven They will bolster the city’s the war zone”. “Young Americans”. highly eff ective. struggling police force for three The main opposition Demo- In places like Philippi or However, the outbreak, which months, patrolling on foot and cratic Alliance (DA) party, which Khayelitsha, the largest black is the second worst in history, in vehicles through districts that has governed the Western Cape shantytown about 30km (18 continues to spread, due largely have been identifi ed as criminal since 2011, has welcomed the miles) from the city centre, to mistrust by people in east- hotspots. temporary military intervention, tens of thousands of people live ern Congo of the response and Soldiers have been used in saying that it was long overdue. cheek by jowl in a squalid sea of armed attacks against health similar missions in Cape Town This file picture shows Cape Town’s crime-ridden Khayelitsha township. “Countless mothers have shacks – unnumbered homes on workers that have limited access before, but violence has peaked buried their innocent children nameless streets that are perfect to patients. in recent months in the sprawl- Cele to the Philippi shanty town in Philippi, said Albert Fritz, a ment” of the military would last and life in these communi- for criminals and a nightmare “Due to a lack of suffi cient sci- ing townships of the Cape Flats on the Cape Flats after several Western Cape provincial offi cial three months. ties has been a never-ending for police. entifi c evidence on the effi cacy area, one of the most violent murders last week. tasked with ensuring commu- “We believe that by the time nightmare,” the party said in a But, deploying the army, and safety of other vaccines, and places in South Africa. In a crime last Friday which nity safety. that time comes, we would have statement. “The DA trusts that which occurs regularly over the the risk of confusing the popu- Neighbourhoods including made national headlines, six “In the Western Cape, 1,875 normalised the situation and the deployment of the SANDF festive season when crime spikes lation, it was decided that no Bonteheuwel, Delft, Hanover women between the ages of 18 people were murdered in the past we’ll sustain that through nor- to various communities in the and soldiers back up normal po- clinical trial of vaccines will be Park and Philippi East have been and 26 were murdered when un- six months alone. This means mal policing,” he said. Western Cape will bring much- licing activities, is not a lasting authorised during the current plagued by gang-related vio- known gunmen entered a home that many of our most vulner- According to Cele, murders needed stability in the Western solution, analysts said. Ebola outbreak,” the health min- lence, with the much-criticised and opened fi re. able residents in the province are in the Western Cape province, Cape.” Gareth Newham at the Pre- istry said in a daily bulletin. police force unable to impose The next day another fi ve living in a war zone,” Fritz said which includes Cape Town, in- Youth unemployment is over toria-based Institute for Secu- But the government did not order. men, aged 18 to 39, were shot after more than a dozen murders creased by 6.3% from 3,729 to 50% in many poorer parts of rity Studies, said: “It is a short- rule out using other vaccines in The latest deployment follows dead and one was injured in over one weekend last month. 3,963 during the year to April South Africa, which is the most term, unsustainable response to the future, “once their effi cacy a visit by Police Minister Bheki two separate shooting incidents Cele said the “intense deploy- 2019. unequal country in the world ac- a crisis.” has been proven”, a government directive to health workers said on Wednesday. In May experts advising the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that other vaccines be introduced to help Nigeria’s Lagos battles Atlantic erosion ensure that vaccine supplies last and specifi cally mentioned a new experimental vaccine man- By Emmanuel Akinwotu, AFP millions of tonnes of sand have been washed away.” ufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Lagos been hauled from the ocean fl oor The shore-hugging Alpha “There are legitimate con- to create a manmade peninsula Beach road has disappeared un- cerns that the stock of the Merck jutting out into the Atlantic from der the waves and apartment vaccine is not suffi cient to sus- an Lagos hold back the the affl uent Victoria Island. blocks built with prized ocean tain any increased fl ow of sup- waves? Sprawled around Surrounding it is what the views just 10 years ago are now ply for more than a few months, Ca lagoon, Nigeria’s fre- developers call the “Great Wall occupied only by squatters. and there is unfortunately no netic economic capital faces a of Lagos”, a barrier of rocks and A barrier has now gone up to guarantee that this epidemic will threat from the Atlantic on its fi ve-tonne concrete blocks in- try to protect the area, but for be controlled by then,” Natalie doorstep. tended to run for 8.5km (more many residents it appears too Roberts, Medecins Sans Fron- The ocean has pounded the than fi ve miles), designed to late. tieres’ operations manager, told soft, sandy shoreline on a times- withstand the worst storms the “The way the tides would re- Reuters. cale far surpassing human his- Atlantic can throw at it. act to the wall was clear to any- The Congolese government tory – but now its waves spell a While the barrier has still not one who understands this,” said said there were currently no is- major threat to the city and its reached full length, those re- Tunji Adejumo, an ecologist at sues with the supply of the Mer- booming population. sponsible say it has “saved” the the University of Lagos. ck vaccine. The coastline is eroding, driv- business hub of Victoria Island “It shows that the promoters Misinformation propagated en partly by higher water levels standing behind it from the rav- had no consideration” for the by some community leaders in caused by global warming but ages of the ocean. rest of the coast, he said. eastern Congo has led people also from the impact of dredging “Today, Lagos is already see- Eko Atlantic did not respond An aerial picture taken on June to refuse vaccinations or treat- to provide sand for construc- ing the benefi ts of the Great to questions from AFP about the 11 shows the Eko Atlantic project ment, and the government fears tion. Wall, once fl ooded roads are now impact of its construction. in Lagos. using a second vaccine would Global warming, according to passable and abandoned prop- Experts say Eko Atlantic is stoke further conspiracy theo- a World Bank study in March, is erties have been reinvested,” Eko simply the most prominent ex- holes up to eight metres deep, ries. causing the Atlantic to invade Atlantic’s website says. ample of the impact of large- some of them perilously close to More than 2,400 cases con- Africa’s western coast by up to But while it is seen as a solu- scale land reclamation in Af- the shore. fi rmed and probable cases have 4m (13’) a year, badly hitting tion for some, the mammoth rica’s largest metropolis. Experts say such craters can been registered since the out- some economically vital areas. project is described as a major With more than 20mn resi- compromise the safety of coast- break was declared last August, Attempts have been made to problem for others. dents – no one knows its exact line properties, and some struc- including over 1,600 deaths. defy the ocean – but critics say Around 12km (eight miles) to size – Lagos is also one of the tures in poorer waterfront com- that they have sometimes just the east, landowner Wasiu Ele- world’s fastest growing cities. munities are already collapsing. led to new problems. gushi says the Eko Atlantic has The city has long been vulner- Elsewhere, what were once Zuma’s son cleared In particular, a high-end con- caused devastating changes to able to fl ood surges, but envi- shallow swamplands in Lekki, struction project called Eko At- coastal currents, destroying his ronmental safeguards are weak. a peninsula dividing the Lagos A South African court has found lantic has divided opinion. small middle-class neighbour- One unanticipated conse- lagoon from open sea, were re- Duduzane Zuma, son of former Launched in 2007 by billion- hood, Alpha Beach. quence of the city’s headlong claimed in the 1990s to become A man walks past a house destroyed by tidal erosion at Alpha Beach. president Jacob Zuma, not aire investors with strong po- Since construction began in rush for growth has been that a middle-class residential area. guilty of culpable homicide and litical backing, the scheme has 2007, locals and researchers say parts of the seabed have become Lekki is now home to hun- away. If nothing is done, La- On Alpha Beach, people are negligent driving over a fatal car been billed as a Dubai for Africa displaced currents have washed a moonscape as dredgers have dreds of thousands of people, gos will be submerged by 2050,” gloomy. crash, saying that prosecutors – a hyper-luxury enclave of sky- away more than 25m of land pillaged its sand to make con- but the former wetlands are Chief Ede Dafi none, president of “People have land here but had failed to prove their case scrapers built on land reclaimed from the shoreline. crete. progressively sinking and poor Nigerian Conservation Founda- don’t even build on it; they’re beyond reasonable doubt. from the seas. “Before Eko, we had nature, An extensive impact study for drainage is a major source of tion has cautioned. afraid,” said Bobby Isowshe, who Duduzane Zuma’s sports car An economic downturn in re- palm trees and coconut trees,” the state government seen by fl ooding. And in the oceanfront areas sells refreshments on the beach. collided with a minibus taxi on cent years has stalled the mam- Elegushi told AFP. “The water AFP shows that the once smooth “Several communities (in the bearing the brunt, locals are al- “The businesses don’t really do a highway in Johannesburg in moth undertaking, but already started to rise. Everything has ocean fl oor now has gigantic city) have already been swept ready counting the cost. well anymore.” February 2014, killing a woman. Eritrean cleared of being traffi cking kingpin in mistaken identity case

AFP was a case of mistaken identity. Calantropo, told reporters. would wait for the court’s rea- and disbelief within the Eritrean ‘we made a mistake’,” lawyer Palermo, Italy It did however give him a fi ve- Calantropo said he had ap- soning to be published before diaspora around the world. Calantropo told AFP on Thurs- year prison sentence for aiding plied for asylum on behalf of deciding whether to appeal. Those who had had dealings day ahead of the verdict. illegal immigration. Behre as they feared he could be Mered ended up on an inter- with Mered said it was not him. Calantropo said that the man n Italian court ruled that The judge ordered that he be deported upon release. national wanted list after being Berhe’s family recognised him behind bars had only one thing an Eritrean accused of immediately set free, having Behre had been accused of identifi ed as the man who or- instantly. in common with the traffi cker: Abeing a human traffi cking spent more than three years be- running a vast traffi cking net- ganised the packing of migrants According to American, Ital- his fi rst name, Medhanie. kingpin known as “the General” hind bars already. work, with branches in Eritrea, onto a boat that sank off Italy ian and Swedish investigative “This is one of the biggest in- was telling the truth when he Behre’s friends hugged and Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan and the in October 2013, killing at least journalists, Mered spent part of justices on the face of the earth,” claimed it was a case of mistak- cheered in the court gallery as United Arab Emirates, as well as 360 people in one of the worst 2016 in prison in Dubai for using he said. en identity. the sentence was read out in- Europe. such disasters in the Mediter- a false passport and now lives in Medhanie was the name Carpenter Medhanie Tes- side a massive bunker, built in Italy, Sudan and Britain at the ranean. Uganda. fl agged by Britain’s National famariam Berhe was arrested in the 1980s for a trial against the time hailed his capture as the The “cynical and unscrupu- DNA evidence also suggested Crime Agency in 2016 when it Sudan in 2016 on suspicion of mafi a. stellar result of a joint operation lous” Mered had been “con- the wrong man was behind bars: heard someone going by that being at the heart of one of the His sister, who was wearing a which had dealt a signifi cant tinuously and constantly reap- tests on Behre’s mother showed name calling the tapped phone world’s largest migrant traf- T-shirt calling for his liberation, blow to the people smuggling ing vast profi ts while showing the defendant was her son. of a suspected smuggler in Lib- fi cking networks, but after a wept with joy. business. a contempt for human life”, Further tests, on Mered’s ya. 21-month trial the court ruled Behre quietly thanked and Despite diff erences in ap- according to a joint statement three-year-old son, who lives in The man who made the calls that police had the wrong man. shook hands with his inter- pearance between the two men, by Sudan, Italy and Britain an- Sweden, showed the defendant was tracked down and arrested Behre was accused of be- preter. and DNA evidence supporting nouncing his arrest in May 2016. was not his father. in Khartoum. This file picture shows Medhanie ing Medhanie Yehdego Mered, He was then taken by police Berhe’s case, Italian prosecutors But the images broadcast by A New Yorker investigative But while prosecutors said the Tesfamariam Behre, who was accused known as “the General”, and was van to prison to collect his be- stuck to their guns throughout Italian police of a thin young reporter was told by “the Gen- calls were made to organise mi- of being Medhanie Yehdego Mered, extradited to Italy. longings. and had called for a 14-year jail man with frizzy hair, looking eral” himself in 2017 that the grant trips, Calantropo said his the head of one of the largest migrant But the Palermo court ac- “I believe they have found a sentence. frail as he walked off the plane Italians had the wrong man. client was just looking out for traff icking networks. cepted his argument that this solution,” his lawyer, Michele Yesterday they said they in handcuff s, sparked confusion “They should just have said loved ones heading to Europe. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 5

AMERICAS

TRAVEL CRIME FALLOUT WEATHER ENVIRONMENT Air Canada flight diverted Mom drives with daughters Google launches review as New Orleans braces for Philanthropists vow to raise to Hawaii after turbulence in inflated pool on car roof audio conversation leaked flooding as storm nears millions for climate activists

An Air Canada flight was diverted to Hawaii after A mother in Dixon, Illinois, trying to transport Google said it was conducting an internal New Orleans braced for severe flooding with A group of wealthy US philanthropists and severe turbulence left several passengers with an inflated pool from her friend’s house to her review after it discovered confidential audio residents told to hunker down as a growing investors have donated almost half a million minor injuries, the carrier said in a statement. own had her two juvenile daughters ride inside had been leaked by a contractor of private tropical storm in the US Gulf of Mexico headed pounds to support the grassroots movement Flight AC33, carrying 269 passengers and 15 the pool as she drove with it atop her SUV, conversations with its digital assistant. The US for landfall early today as the first Atlantic Extinction Rebellion and school strike groups – crew, was flying from Vancouver to Sydney, police said. Jennifer A Janus Yeager, 49, has Internet giant acknowledged “misconduct” in hurricane of 2019. US President Donald Trump with the promise of tens of millions more in the Australia, when the Boeing 777 aircraft been charged with child endangerment and the leak of the Dutch language conversations declared a state of emergency for the state of months ahead. Trevor Neilson, an investor and “encountered unforecasted and sudden reckless conduct in connection with the alleged by one of its language experts contracted Louisiana, hours after the region’s oil production philanthropist who has worked with some of turbulence approximately two hours past incident, Dixon police said in a news release to help refine its Google Assistant, the was cut by half as energy companies evacuated the world’s richest families, has teamed up with Hawaii,” the carrier said. The plane was diverted posted on their Facebook page. According artificial intelligence-powered system off shore drilling facilities and a coastal refinery. Rory Kennedy – daughter of Robert Kennedy to Honolulu and landed at 12.45pm EST. Thirty- to police, Yeager was spotted driving a white for voice interactions. Google made the Tropical Storm Barry was packing maximum – and Aileen Getty, to launch the Climate seven passengers were admitted to local Audi Q5 west on Illinois Highway 2 just west of announcement following a report by sustained winds of 85km/hour early yesterday. Emergency Fund. Neilson, who has worked hospitals and discharged after assessment, Air Palmyra Road with a blue inflatable pool on the Belgian broadcaster VRT that it could Authorities were keeping a watchful eye on the with figures such as Bill Gates and Richard Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur said. Nine roof and two juveniles inside the pool. Off icers access fragments of conversations from levee system built to contain flooding along the Branson, said the fund was inspired by Swedish of those passengers required observation for conducted a traff ic stop on River Lane, just smart speakers and other Google devices in lower Mississippi River, which winds through teenager Greta Thunberg and the Extinction injuries including bumps and small lacerations. south of Highway 2. Belgium and Netherlands. the heart of New Orleans. Rebellion protesters in the UK. Immigration raids set for the weekend, says Trump

AFP ters with agents, and to call immi- Washington gration attorneys for help. Democrats warned the Trump administration on Thursday about S President Donald breaking up long-resident families Trump yesterday con- with members who are inside the Ufi rmed that agents of the country legally. Immigration and Customs En- House leader Nancy Pelosi forcement agency will launch called the ICE plan “heartless” raids across the country this and said Sundays are when many weekend to round up thousands Hispanic immigrant families are in of undocumented migrants for church. deportation. “These families are hardwork- “They came in illegally,” he ing members of our communities told reporters at the White and our country. This brutal ac- House. “They are going to take tion will terrorise children and people out and they are going to tear families apart,” she told re- send them back to their country.” porters. Trump said ICE would focus “Many of these families are mainly on people with convic- mixed-status families,” she add- tions, including gang members, ed, referring to families who in- but also others. clude members in the US legally “It starts on Sunday and and illegally, such as migrants US President Donald Trump listens to labour secretary Alexander Acosta during a media address yesterday at the White House in Washington, DC. they’re going to take people out with children born inside the and they’re going to bring them country. back to their countries,” Trump According to the Pew Research told reporters at the White Centre, there are about 10.5mn House. undocumented migrants in the “Or they’re going to take crim- US, and two-thirds have been in inals out, put them in prison, or the country more than 10 years. put them in prison in the coun- Ken Cuccinelli, acting director Labour secretary Acosta tries they came from.” of US Citizenship and Immigra- While the focus will be on re- tion Services, said Wednesday that moving criminals, Trump said ICE has removal orders for some the raids would also target “peo- 1mn migrants, but added that it ple that came into our country, has nowhere near the manpower not through a process, that just or facilities to arrest and deport quits over Epstein aff air walked over a line. that many. They have to leave.” Trump meanwhile praised the AFP step aside,” Acosta said in a joint already been told.” Acosta said prosecutors Another alleged victim of Ep- The ICE raids are expected Mexican government for helping Washington appearance with President Don- According to prosecutors, agreed to the deal rather than stein went public on Wednesday to take place in 10 major cities, to crack down on the number of ald Trump at the White House. Epstein sexually exploited doz- take Epstein to trial on more se- with her claim that he raped her pursuing people for whom courts migrants passing through Mexico Epstein, 66, was charged on ens of underage teen girls at his rious charges because that would when she was 15 years old. have already issued removal or- to cross the southern US border. S labour secretary Alex Monday by prosecutors in New homes in Manhattan and Palm have been a “roll of the dice.” Jennifer Araoz, 32, told NBC ders, according to media reports. He noted that the number of Acosta resigned yester- York with one count of sex traf- Beach, Florida, between 2002 “The goal here was straightfor- News that she was recruited by They could potentially target migrants detained while entering Uday, amid a backlash over fi cking of minors and one count and 2005. Some were as young ward,” he said. a woman outside her New York families who have been inside the the US had fallen in June, after a secret plea deal he negotiated a of conspiracy to commit sex as 14. “Put Epstein behind bars, en- City high school in 2001 to meet US for many years, with homes, he threatened punitive tariff s on decade ago with Jeff rey Epstein, traffi cking of minors. Acosta fi elded a barrage of sure he registered as a sexual of- Epstein at his Manhattan town- businesses and US-born chil- imports from Mexico that could the fi nancier accused of sexually He faces up to 45 years in pris- questions on Wednesday from fender, provide victims with the house. She said that in the fall of dren, the reports said. have crippled its economy. abusing young girls. on if convicted. reporters about his offi ce’s han- means to seek restitution, and 2002, Epstein assaulted her. Migrant communities and im- On Wednesday, the depart- Acosta, 50, a former federal Trump, described Acosta as a dling of the Epstein case when protect the public by putting She said she was afraid at the migration and rights activists ment of homeland security said prosecutor, had been facing “tremendous talent” and “great he was a federal prosecutor in them on notice that a sexual time of going to the authorities. around the country were girding 104,344 migrants were detained mounting calls to quit over the secretary of labour” who had Florida. predator was in their midst.” Top Democrats in Congress, for the raids. after crossing the border in June, deal that saw Epstein serve just done a “very good job.” The deal reached with Epstein Acosta welcomed the revived including House speaker Nancy Migrants were being told to not down 28% from May’s 13-year 13 months in a county jail. The president said Patrick required him to admit a single charges against Epstein but de- Pelosi and Senate minority lead- open their doors to ICE agents if record high but still an extremely “I called the president this Pizzella, Acosta’s deputy, “will state charge of soliciting prosti- murred when asked whether he er Chuck Schumer, have called they do not have search or arrest high fi gure, some 60,000 more morning and told him that I do the job. Highly recommended tution from a minor and register should apologise to the victims this week for Acosta’s resigna- warrants, to record their encoun- than the same month last year. thought the right thing was to by Alex. Going to be acting. He’s as a sex off ender. in the Florida case. tion. Bid to include citizenship Accused of assault Singer R Kelly question in census dropped arrested in Chicago AFP his current state indictment and Washington the former state charges that he Reuters number of responses from peo- and that is done every 10 years in was acquitted of,” Greenberg said. Washington ple in areas more likely to vote the census, not by other means. “Most, if not all of the conduct Democratic. “We will vigorously challenge &B superstar R Kelly has alleged is decades old,” he added. Trump, a Republican, and his any attempt to leverage census been arrested on federal Kelly has a decades-long his- S President Donald supporters say it makes sense to data for unconstitutional redis- Rcharges stemming from tory of abuse allegations, espe- Trump has dropped a know how many non-citizens are tricting methods,” said Michael previous allegations of sexual cially of underage girls, and was Ubid to add a contentious living in the country. Waldman, president of the Bren- abuse of underage girls and child acquitted in a child porn trial over question on citizenship to the “We will utilise these vast nan Center for Justice, a law pornography, his lawyer con- a decade ago. 2020 census, but insisted he was federal databases to gain a full, and policy institute at the NYU fi rmed yesterday. In 1994 he wed his protege Aali- not giving up his fi ght to count complete and accurate count of School of Law. Kelly was arrested by federal yah, the late R&B star who was 15 how many non-citizens are in the non-citizen population, in- Waldman said his group would agents on Thursday night while at the time. the country and ordered govern- cluding databases maintained also challenge “any administra- walking his dog in Chicago, his Kelly, then 27, had produced ment agencies to mine their da- by the department of homeland tion move to violate the clear lawyer Steve Greenberg said in a the teenage singer’s debut album tabases. security and the social security and strong rules protecting the statement. titled Age Ain’t Nothing But a Trump’s plan to add the ques- administration. We have great privacy of everyone’s responses, US media reports said he was Number. Their marriage was later tion to the census hit a roadblock knowledge in many of our agen- including the rules barring the charged in a 13-count indictment annulled, and Aaliyah died in a two weeks ago when the US Su- cies,” Trump said in remarks in use of personal census data to returned by a federal grand jury plane crash in 2001. preme Court ruled against his the White House Rose Garden. conduct law or immigration en- that included enticement of a Despite unsettling claims administration, which had said “We will leave no stone un- forcement activities.” minor and obstruction of justice against him, the decorated musi- new data on citizenship would turned,” he said. Trump said he was order- charges. cian — known for hits including I help to better enforce the Voting Trump said he was not revers- ing every government agency to Kelly, whose legal name is Rob- Believe I Can Fly — has continued Rights Act, which protects mi- ing course. “We are not backing provide the department of com- ert Kelly, was already facing Illi- to perform and maintain a solid nority rights. down on our eff ort to determine merce with all requested records nois state felony charges of aggra- fan base. But his fortunes began to The court ruled, in considering the citizenship status of the US regarding the number of citizens vated sexual assault, and was out shift after the January release of a the litigation by challengers, that population,” he said. and non-citizens. on bail at the time of his arrest. six-part documentary called Sur- the rationale was “contrived.” But there could be more legal The US Census Bureau is part The new federal charges arose viving R Kelly. Critics of the eff ort said asking challenges ahead for the admin- of the commerce department. Singer Jacob Hoggard arrives at a Toronto courthouse from the singer’s alleged conduct The documentary, which al- about citizenship in the census istration because the US Consti- “That information will be use- alongside wife Rebekah Asselstine for the second day of his in both Illinois and New York, his leged that Kelly engaged in sexual, would discriminate against racial tution states that every person ful for countless purposes, as preliminary hearing to determine if his sexual assault case lawyer said. mental and physical abuse of girls minorities and was aimed at giv- living in the country should be the president explained in his goes to trial in Toronto, Canada. Hoggard, frontman of the “The conduct alleged appears to and women, prompted Chicago ing Republicans an unfair advan- counted to determine state-by- remarks,” US attorney-general band Hedley, has pleaded not guilty. largely be the same as the conduct prosecutors to publicly seek out tage in elections by lowering the state representation in Congress William Barr said in a statement. previously alleged against Kelly in potential victims. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 13, 2019 ASIA Lanka car-free day sparks debate over women’s safety

Thomson Reuters Foundation from women in the city, who say Dozens of women backed the Foundation by telephone from and girls had faced sexual har- cially women,” said Weerabang- a response highlighted “the pa- New Delhi cars off er them much-needed journalist, Marianne David, de- Colombo yesterday. assment on public buses and sa, who tweeted a series of in- triarchal attitudes prevalent in protection from sexual har- scribing experiences from being Responding to the criticism, trains in Sri Lanka. cidences of sexually harassment societies” in Sri Lanka and urged assment on the streets and on ogled, cat-called and fl ashed at the offi ce of the Colombo mayor, Misha’ari Weerabangsa, a she said she had suff ered. women to report any sexual har- hen Colombo’s mayor public transport. on the streets to being groped Rosy Senanayake, said she was graduate student, said it was The Dutch embassy did assment they experienced. announced Sri Lan- A tweet from a journalist say- upon in crowded trains and working to addressing the issue “galling” that the car-free idea not immediately respond to a A 2018 Thomson Reuters Wka’s congested capital ing she could “barely walk 100m buses. of sexual harassment. was spearheaded by two wom- request for comment. Foundation survey of 1,000 would go car-free this Sunday to (110 yards) without some sick “Street harassment is kind of “Clearly it’s something that en - the mayor and Dutch am- Some responded angrily to women in fi ve of the world’s big- promote a “healthier” lifestyle, pervert or inbred idiot saying getting worse. I can’t walk 10 needs a sustained eff ort,” they bassador to Sri Lanka Joanne David’s tweet, among them a gest commuter cities - London, she might have expected a few something perverted or stupid” steps without being stared at said in an e-mail. Doornewaard. former navy chief who told her New York, Mexico City, Tokyo grumbles from petrolheads. unleashed a torrent of anger or cat-called,” Pabasara Palle- A 2015 survey by the United “They fail to take into consid- to leave the country. and Cairo - found 52% cited But no one appears to have from female residents of the city tanne, a public bank employ- Nations Population Fund (UNF- eration the ground realities that Randima Jayasinghe, spokes- safety as their top concern while anticipated the furious backlash over the plan this week. ee, told the Thomson Reuters PA) found nine out of 10 women are faced by commuters, espe- woman for the UNFPA, said such using transport. Thai man Heavy monsoon rains sentenced kill at least 17 in Nepal to death for AFP New Delhi killing tourist

t least 17 people have AFP of the body and using meth- been killed across Nepal Bangkok amphetamines. Aafter torrential monsoon Last year, Thailand carried rains induced fl oods and land- out its fi rst execution since slides, offi cials said yesterday. Thai garbage collec- 2009 by putting a 26-year-old Heavy rains since Thursday tor has been sentenced convicted murderer to death have hit several districts in Ne- Ato death for the grisly by lethal injection. pal, especially in the country’s abuse and murder of a German Human rights groups con- eastern region and the southern tourist holidaying on a beach demned the “deplorable” de- plains. island. cision to resume the practice According to fi gures released Ronnakorn Romruen was after almost a decade with no by Nepal’s police, 17 people have arrested in April, hours af- executions. died, seven are injured and an- ter the bloodied body of a The country, which has other seven have been reported 27-year-old German woman some of the highest incarcera- missing. was found buried under dried tion rates, has more than 500 Kathmandu has recorded leaves and rocks on the pictur- people on death row. 115mm of rainfall in the past 24 esque island of Koh Sichang in A popular tourist destina- hours. the Gulf of Thailand. tion, Thailand is expected to Three were killed when a A Thai court announced receive upwards of 40mn visi- wall collapsed in the capital the verdict and sentenced the tors this year and is generally Kathmandu. 24-year-old garbage collector considered safe for travellers. The Department of Hydrol- to death on Wednesday. But several high-profi le in- ogy and Meteorology has urged Ronnakorn was under the cidents have tarnished its rep- the people in the areas around infl uence of methampheta- utation in recent years. the rivers and streams to remain mines when he raped the vic- In 2014, the battered bod- alert. The Home Ministry has tim, the court said. ies of two British backpackers urged the people in settlements When she attempted to es- were found on the dive resort near the rivers to move to safe cape, he used a rock to repeat- island of Koh Tao. zones as rainfall will continue Residents look at floodwaters after the Balkhu River overflowed following monsoon rains at the Kalanki area of Kathmandu yesterday. edly batter her head and face. The following year two My- till tomorrow. This “caused severe wounds anmar migrant workers - who There has been heavy rainfall past 24 hours. Pokhara, Dipay- curity offi cials are all working to Nepal’s weather department Nearly 150 people died last that led to her death,” the remain behind bars today - across the country with Simara al, Dadeldhura and Dhangadi, rescue people and bring them to warned on Thursday that heavy year in Nepal during the rainy court said in a statement. were sentenced to death for recording 311mm, Okhaldhunga however, have recorded lesser safety. Helicopters are on stand- rains were expected to continue season, which typically begins in Ronnakorn had pleaded the murders after a controver- 101mm, Dhankuta 675.5mm, rainfall. by if needed,” Home Ministry of- for two days, and advised people late June and lasts until the end of guilty to all charges - includ- sial investigation and trial that and Bhairahawa 43mm in the “Local authorities and our se- fi cial Umakanta Adhikari said. to stay alert. August. ing rape, murder, concealment were criticised by observers. Lanka seeks Nepal airport closed after plane skids off runway fresh trial AFP general manager Raj Kumar Kathmandu Chettri said. over student Chettri said that removing the Franco-Italian-made tur- epal’s only interna- boprop plane was taking a long massacre tional airport was time because heavy rain has Nclosed yesterday af- made the area muddy. AFP ter a plane skidded off the Authorities took 11 hours Colombo recently repaired runway, to remove a domestic aircraft injuring two people, offi cials that suff ered a similar runway said. excursion in September last ri Lanka’s state prosecutor is to The country has a poor year, months after a Malaysian seek a fresh trial over the no- fl ight safety record - Nepali jet with 139 people on board Storious murder of fi ve students airlines are banned from Eu- had aborted its takeoff and during the country’s Tamil separa- ropean Union airspace - and skidded off the runway. tist war after a magistrate dismissed its airports are notoriously In March 2018, a US-Bangla a case against security forces, a diffi cult to land in. Airways plane crashed near the spokeswoman said yesterday. The Yeti Airlines ATR 72- airport, killing 51 people. Attorney-General Dappula 500, arriving into Kathmandu The Himalayan nation has de Livera ordered police to trace from southern Nepal with 66 some of the world’s most re- three key witnesses to the 2006 passengers, skidded about 15m mote and tricky runways, killings that drew international (yards) into the grass. fl anked by snow-capped condemnation, his spokeswom- “Our teams are working to peaks with approaches that an Nishara Jayaratne said. remove the plane and reo- pose a challenge for even Nepali Army along with emergency and airport personnel are seen next to a Yeti Airlines aircraft after it skidded off the runaway during land- The move came after a mag- pen the airport,” the airport’s accomplished pilots. ing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu yesterday. istrate this month discharged 13 security personnel, including 12 Special Task Force (STF) com- Hike in tourist visa mandos, accused of gunning down the Tamil students in the fee from July 17 eastern port of Trincomalee. Students badly hit after 10% duty on imported books A decision of the Nepal Medical records showed that government to raise visa fees for the students were shot dead. But foreign tourists will come into the STF said one of them was IANS most of it from India. Now sold at the printed price. With was because “as soon as we and with moves like this book eff ect from July 17, as per the carrying a hand grenade which New Delhi/Kathmandu the students, including those the customs duty and the add- import we will have to increase sellers may not survive for Department of Immigration (DoI). exploded and killed them. in Classes 10 and 11, are not ed charges, it is going to be dif- the price, and secondly the old long.” Citing that the tourist visa fees Despite international pres- getting text books on time. fi cult to sell imported books to stocks have to be sold at the old Many Nepali publishers for foreigners have not been sure for prosecutions, an inquiry n Nepal, a 10% duty on The National Booksellers’ academic institutions, libraries price”. print their books in India and raised since almost a decade, the dragged until all the suspects were imported titles has left and Publishers’ Association and students,” Maharjan said. “Thus there will be two earlier would have to pay 15% government had decided to hike freed on July 3. A Trincomalee Ipublishers and booksellers of Nepal (NBPAN) has decid- He said they have requested prices of the book in one book tax. “Now they are asked to pay such fees in May, The Himalayan magistrate said there was insuffi - reeling, with students hit badly ed not to import any books in the government to remove the store. This will create misun- 10 per cent duty on total im- Times reported yesterday. cient evidence to proceed. as Kathmandu imports over protest. We import 90-95% tax. “We have a long tradition derstanding with students, ports. The earlier system was The department has hiked visa fee The so-called “Trinco 5” case 80% of its books from India. of academic and text books of importing books from In- readers, scholars, researchers better to protect the local in- for tourists in a range between $5 fi gured at UN Human Rights Coun- A few days after the Ne- from India,” a noted book dia. Now the import of books and academics at large with dustry,” Maharjan said. and $35. While the tourist visa fee cil sessions with calls for Sri Lanka pal government on May 29 seller in Kathmandu told is restricted to New Delhi,” whom we have to deal with The number of students for 15 days (multiple-entry) has been to bring the perpetrators to justice. announced a 10% duty on IANS on phone, declining to said Maharjan, adding that everyday,” Maharjan said. pursuing higher education in raised by $5 to $30, tourist visa fee Seven months after the killings, imported books, publishers be named. scholars, academics and ex- He added: “We do not want Nepal under Management, for 30 days (multiple entry) has security forces were again prime sus- stopped picking up books at According to Madhab Ma- perts are raising their voices any one taking undue advan- Humanities, Science and been raised to $50 from $40. pects in the deaths of 17 workers - in- the Nepal customs point in harjan, adviser, NBPAN, and in protest against the move tage of the situation, including Education stands at around Similarly, the tourist visa fee for cluding four women - from the French protest and have demanded owner of Mandala Book Point through the print and social politically motivating the stu- 400,000, and they would be 90 days (multiple-entry) has been charity Action Against Hunger (ACF) roll back of the move. With no in Kathmandu, the 10% cus- media. dents. Thus we have opted for directly hit by the duty on raised by $35 to $125. but no one has been prosecuted. text books coming in to Nepal, toms duty will attract other The 10% tax will hamper the this move not to import books books imported from India. The DoI has also raised the visa That was the worst attack the student community has taxes, like the cost, insur- free fl ow of books and also af- till we come to a fi nal decision.” According to Maharjan if In- extension fee for foreign tourists. against humanitarian workers been aff ected the most, say ance and freight tax and other fect the reading habit of stu- According to him, the onset dia revokes the 5% duty on im- As per the department, the visa during the 37-year-long war that publishers. charges, further pushing up dents, says Maharjan. of the digital era has hit book ported books the move “may extension fee (within valid visa ended in 2009 that claimed more “Around 80-90% of books the price of imported books. The reason for stopping the sellers and publishers. “There help to revoke 10% duty in period) has been raised to $3 per than 100,000 lives. in Nepal are imported, and “Books all over the world are books at the customs point are not many book shops left, Nepal too”. day from $2 per day. (IANS) Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Four Britons held in China Four Britons have been arrested in an eastern China province, the British embassy said yesterday, two days after Chinese police S Korea, Japan hold talks as announced a drug bust there involving 16 foreigners. Police in the city of Xuzhou in Jiangsu province said on Wednesday that a total of 19 people were arrested in a drugs case centring on a local branch of a language school. diplomatic row worsens Those arrested included seven foreign teachers and nine foreign AFP and the possibility of price hikes cluding removing South Korea Shinzo Abe unlikely to off er students, police said. Tokyo for consumers. from a “white list” of countries concessions. Police gave no other details on specific Tokyo says the constraints, that face minimal constraints “As the dispute deepens, it is nationalities or facts of the case. which apply to three chemicals on technology transfers with increasingly diffi cult for either “We are in contact with the apanese and South Korean as well as technology trans- national security implications. Moon or Abe to yield,” wrote Chinese authorities following offi cials held hours of talks fers, were made necessary by a Seoul has threatened to take Tobias Harris, an analyst at the the arrest of four British people Jyesterday to discuss a wors- “loss of trust” in relations with the issue to the World Trade Teneo consultancy group, in in Jiangsu province, and are ening diplomatic row that has Seoul, but also accuses South Organisation and also urged a note. providing consular assistance,” prompted Washington to of- Korea of improperly handling Washington to intervene. Any compromise by Moon a spokeswoman with the British fer to mediate between the US exports of sensitive materials US offi cials said they would “would likely be seen as capit- embassy in Beijing said. allies. from Japan. “do everything we can” to ease ulation to Japanese economic The spokeswoman said the The meeting between rep- And Japanese offi cials said tensions, without off ering a coercion and could trigger a embassy could not confirm resentatives from Japan’s trade they defended their decision in specifi c opinion on Japan’s backlash,” Harris wrote. whether the arrests were related ministry and South Korea’s yesterday’s talks. measures. “Meanwhile, the South Kore- to the drugs case. foreign ministry ran hours “We confi rmed Japan’s safety Relations between the an reaction has likely convinced Swiss-based Education First, which longer than expected but there management system on ex- American allies have long been Abe that he has hit a pressure operates a chain of language was no sign of a detente in the ports,” a spokesperson from the Working level off icials from Japan, left, and South Korea hold a strained over issues related to point... and could encourage schools in China, released a simmering dispute. Ministry of Economy, Trade and meeting about Japan’s recent restrictions on exports of high-tech Tokyo’s brutal 1910-45 colonial his administration to intensify statement this week acknowledging Japan last week ramped up Industry told reporters, speak- material to South Korea in Tokyo yesterday. rule over the Korean peninsula. the pressure to goad Moon into a suspected drug case at one of its long-running tensions over ing on condition of anonymity. But ties have been further surrendering.” branches in Xuzhou. the use of forced labour during “We answered all their ques- Korea had done nothing wrong their South Korean counter- hurt by a series of rulings from Japanese offi cials appeared to It said the company was World War Two by announcing tions in a careful manner and and called for a third-party in- parts arrived, off ering no appar- South Korean courts order- rule out further talks. cooperating with police on the restrictions on exports used by explained that this is based on vestigation into Japan’s claims. ent greetings or handshakes be- ing Japanese fi rms that used “We think we fully answered investigation and that employees South Korean chip and smart- international rules. It is not a The brief glimpse given to fore reporters were ushered out. wartime forced labour to all the questions,” the spokes- found to be involved in phone companies. World Trade Organisation vio- media of the meeting suggested The new restrictions, which compensate victims. person from Japan’s Ministry of wrongdoing would be dismissed. The move sparked anger in lation, and it is not a counter- an environment that was any- signifi cantly slow exports, took Experts said there was lit- Economy, Trade and Industry Drug convictions can attract Seoul, but also raised interna- measure.” thing but warm - the two Japa- eff ect from July 4. tle hope of either side backing said. long prison sentences in China, tional concern about the eff ect But earlier in Seoul, President nese offi cials remained stony- Japanese offi cials are weigh- down quickly, with both Moon “We will accept emails if they or the death penalty in cases of on the global tech supply chain Moon Jae-in’s offi ce said South faced and sitting at a table when ing additional measures in- and Japan’s Prime Minister have technical questions.” traff icking. (AFP) Canadian convicted of abusing students granted clemency

Reuters tained their innocence and the His clemency petition in- Jakarta lack of transparency in the case cluded a handwritten note in was criticised by Canada and the which he appealed to President United States, adding to concern Joko Widodo to allow him to re- ndonesia has granted clem- about the lack of legal certain- turn to his family in Canada to ency to a Canadian teacher ty in Southeast Asia’s biggest have the “opportunity to once Iconvicted of sexually abus- economy. again become a contributing and ing students, an offi cial said Sri Utami, director general productive member of society”. yesterday, in a case that critics of correctional aff airs at Indo- His jail sentence had been say was riddled with irregu- nesia’s Law and Human Rights reduced from 11 years to 5 years larities and threw a spotlight on ministry, confi rmed in a text and one month, though he Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman looks out from a holding cell before the Southeast Asian country’s message to Reuters that Bantle- would still be required to pay a the start of his trial at a court in Jakarta. justice system. man had been granted clemency. fi ne of 100mn rupiah ($7,100), Neil Bantleman and Indo- Bantleman’s brother, Guy, according to a copy of Widodo’s arrest, a decision the Canadian Bantleman in his statement nesian teaching assistant Fer- said in a statement: “I am clemency decision. embassy in Jakarta called unjust. thanked family and friends dinand Tjiong were convicted pleased to confi rm that my The two were originally sen- Lawyer Denny Kailimang, around the world for their in 2014 on charges of abus- brother Neil has safely returned tenced to 10 years in jail but were who represents both men, said support and “the government ing kindergarten students to Canada.” acquitted in August 2015, after Tjiong remained in jail because of Canada for their stead- at the Jakarta Intercultural Bantleman was cited in the nearly a year behind bars, and he felt sending a petition for fast commitment to seeing School, where the children of statement as saying: “Five years released. clemency meant he would be us home”. many expatriates, diplomats ago I was wrongfully accused However, Indonesia’s Su- admitting guilt. “We are asking for privacy at and wealthy Indonesians are and convicted of crimes I did not preme Court later overturned Five janitors from the school this time so we can reconnect enrolled. commit and furthermore never the acquittal, extended their jail were also jailed over the case. Police with family and move forward The pair have always main- occurred.” sentence and ordered their re- said a sixth suspect killed himself. with our lives,” he said.

A sign declaring the popular climb to the summit of Uluru “closed” in the World Hertage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in central Australia. New N Korea charter calls Kim head of state

Reuters The new constitution, un- ing the president of North Korea treaty with the United States. although fresh talks with Tourist rush at Seoul veiled on the Naenara state por- and he eff ectively made it come “The amendment may well be Pyongyang are supposed to take tal site on Thursday, said that true,” said Kim Dong-yup, a pro- a chance to establish Kim’s sta- place this month. Kim as chairman of the State fessor at Kyungnam University’s tus as the signer of a peace treaty North Korea has frozen nuclear im Jong-un has been for- Aff airs Commission (SAC), a top Far East Institute in Seoul. when it comes, while projecting bomb and long-range missile Australia’s Uluru mally named head of state governing body created in 2016, “He has long sought to shake the image of the country as a testing since 2017. But it tested Kof North Korea and com- was “the supreme representative off the abnormal military-fi rst normal state,” Hong said. new short-range missiles after a mander-in-chief of the military of all the Korean people”, which policy the country has stuck to Washington had baulked at second summit with the United in a new constitution observers means head of state, and “com- for a long time.” signing a comprehensive peace States in February broke down, before climb ban said was possibly aimed at pre- mander-in-chief”. Kim shifted his focus to the treaty before North Korea takes and US offi cials believe it has ex- paring for a peace treaty with the A previous constitution sim- economy last year, launched nu- substantial steps toward de- panded its arsenal by continuing AFP “We are getting people that United States. ply called Kim “supreme leader” clear talks with the United States nuclearisation, but US offi cials to produce bomb fuel and missiles. Sydney are leaving their rubbish behind North Korea has also long who commands the country’s and moved to revamp his image as have signalled they may be will- The new constitution contin- and lighting fi res,” he added. called for a peace deal with the “overall military force”. a world leader via summits with ing to conclude a more limited ued to describe North Korea as a “Sadly, people are also United States to normalise rela- Previously, North Korea’s of- South Korea, China and Russia. agreement to reduce tensions, nuclear weapons state. looming ban on climbing emptying their toilet waste tions and end the technical state fi cial head of state was the presi- Hong Min, a senior researcher open liaison offi ces, and move In reality Kim, a third-gen- Australia’s Uluru rock, out of their vans on what they of war that has existed since the dent of the titular parliament, of the Korea Institute for Na- toward normalising relations. eration hereditary leader, rules Aintended to protect the think is unpopulated land, but 1950-1953 Korean War conclud- known as the Presidium of the tional Unifi cation in Seoul, said Denuclearisation talks be- North Korea with an iron-fi st sacred site from damage, has is actually private land.” ed with an armistice rather than Supreme People’s Assembly. the title change was also aimed tween the United States and and the title change will mean instead triggered a damaging In the 12 months to June a peace treaty. “Kim had dreamed of becom- at preparing for a potential peace North Korea have stalled, little to the way he wheels power. infl ux of visitors, tourism op- 2019, more than 395,000 peo- erators said yesterday. ple visited the Uluru-Kata Clambering up the giant red National Park, according to monolith, also known as Ay- Parks Australia, about 20% ers Rock, will be prohibited more than the previous year. from October - in line with Yet just 13% of those who the wishes of the traditional visited also climbed the rock, South Korean dog Aboriginal owners of the land, the government agency said. the Anangu. Tourism operators say that Aus- But a rush to beat the ban has tralian and Japanese tourists most led to a sharp increase in tour- commonly seek to climb Uluru. ists and is causing its own prob- The Aboriginal connection meat protesters lems for the World Heritage Ul- to the site dates back tens of uru-Kata Tjuta National Park. thousands of years and it has Families arriving in camp- great spiritual and cultural ers vans and RVs are a particu- signifi cance to them. lar problem, chief executive “Since the hand back of Uluru hounded by farmers of Tourism Central Australia and Kata Tjuta to traditional own- Stephen Schwer told AFP. ers in 1985, visitors have been AFP in the country, where the greasy red meat “We have got so much of encouraged to develop an under- Seoul is part of traditional cuisine. one particular market com- standing and respect for Anangu But consumption has declined as the ing, we don’t have enough and their culture,” a spokesperson nation embraces the idea of dogs as pets American actor Kim Basinger and Chris DeRose, president of Last Chance for Animals, infrastructure to handle the for Parks Australia said. outh Korean dog farmers defi antly instead of livestock, with slaughterhouses attend a rally against the practice of eating dog meat in front of the National Assembly number of drive travellers.” “This is refl ected in the gobbled down canine meat at a closing and pressure mounting from ac- in Seoul, yesterday. While most visitors are do- ‘please don’t climb’ message,” Scounter-protest to an animal rights tivists - at home and abroad - to ban ing the right thing, camping they added. demonstration in Seoul yesterday, hand- eating the animals altogether. which is good for the skin and makes one is the fi rst of the summer’s three hottest venues in the area are at ca- Lyndee Severin from Cur- ing out leafl ets touting “the health ben- Hollywood actress Kim Basinger, a long- a beautiful woman,” the farmers’ leafl et “dog days”, as dictated by South pacity with advance bookings, tin Springs station and road- efi ts of the divisive delicacy.” time vegetarian, joined the group of black- said, adding that “it is also good for the Korean folk belief. leaving many less organised house, one of just a few camp- Wearing headbands saying “Fight! clad animal rights protesters carrying health of the elderly.” Many Koreans believe that eating chick- arrivals to set up illegally. ing venues within 100km of Unite!” and dipping each stringy morsel handmade models of emaciated dead dogs. “Dear citizens, please eat dog meat - a en soup or dog meat on this particular day “People don’t realise when Uluru, said “the vast majority in spicy sauce, the small but vocal group But the farmers, who oppose legal traditional, delicious delicacy that has helps them beat the heat. they go off the road they are of people are doing the right gathered paces away from a rally against measures currently tangled up in the been enjoyed by our ancestors for gen- A 2017 survey found that 70% of actually trespassing on pasto- thing” but hundreds were set- the dog meat trade in front of South courts to make killing pooches for meat il- erations - without shame and thereby lead South Koreans do not eat dogs, but only ral land, or Aboriginal land, or ting up illegally by the side of Korea’s parliament. legal, were doggedly stating their case. happy and healthy lives.” about 40% believe the practice should be protected land,” Schwer said. the road or down a bush track. Around 1mn dogs are eaten every year “Dog meat itself is a chunk of collagen, The two protests took place on what banned. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, July 13, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

DECISION INVESTIGATION MEMORABILIA HEALTHCARE CRIME YouTube rules out banning Man in custody over Diana’s sweatshirt Hospital trolley Ex-navy off icer who stole disputed drill music London double homicide sells for £43,000 waits soar 70% stepson’s inheritance jailed

YouTube UK managing director Ben McOwen Detectives investigating the double A sweatshirt that Princess Diana often wore The number of hospital patients stuck on A Royal Navy veteran who stole almost £60,000 Wilson yesterday ruled out banning a homicide of a pregnant woman and her to the gym has sold for nearly £43,000 trolleys has increased by 70% in a year as NHS of inheritance from his young stepson has controversial style of street music that some baby arrested a 25-year old male on – more than 10 times its reserve price. A waiting times reach the worst level on record. been jailed for three years. Iain Shepherd, who activists blame for fuelling London gang suspicion of murder, the Metropolitan police collector from California snapped up the And figures released show a record 4.4mn received an MBE from Prince William, targeted violence. Anti-knife crime campaigners said. Kelly Mary Fauvrelle, 26, who was eight Virgin Atlantic-branded item after ‘intense’ patients are now on waiting lists for routine the money Joshua Powell inherited from his smeared their hands with fake blood during months pregnant, was found stabbed to bidding in the online auction. The final sale surgery for planned treatment, such as hip father. The former lieutenant commander, who a rally in May outside YouTube’s London death in a house in Croydon, south London, price was £42,713; the reserve was £3,989. US operations. Waiting times at A&E departments served in the Falklands, siphoned off £58,895 off ices in protest against the Google-owned last month. Her baby boy Riley, who was auctioneers RR Auction said that interest in were worse in May and June this year than in from the £83,000 inheritance – starting when video sharing platform’s alleged promotion delivered after the attack, was taken to a Diana remained strong and has been boosted the run up to Christmas, figures released show. grieving Joshua was 10 years and struggling of graphic content. They criticise drill music hospital in a critical condition and later by the birth of her grandchildren in recent The number of patients stranded on trolleys with learning diff iculties. Joshua, now 23, in particular — a London hip hop style filled died. “The male has been taken to a central years. The dark blue cotton and polyester while they wait for a bed has increased by 70% branded his stepfather ‘a despicable apology with sparse beats and explicit lyrics especially London police station where he remains at sweatshirt was a gift from airline owner since last June. And 119,320 patients endured a of a human being’. Shepherd, 56, had served popular in black communities. The capital’s this time,” the Metropolitan Police said in Sir Richard Branson and features a screen- trolley wait of more than four hours in May and alongside Joshua’s father Stephen in the Navy force has asked for dozens of videos to be a statement adding that enquiries into the printed image of the Virgin Atlantic ‘flying June this year – almost treble the number four and married his widow Mary after Powell’s death taken down. crime would continue. lady’ logo with the words ‘Fly Atlantic’. years ago. in 2004. Minister urged Twelfth of July parade to review early release of vile nursery abuser

Daily Mail After the sentencing, one an- London guished parent lunged towards the dock and threatened to kill George. The Parole Board has now ritain’s most notorious fe- released its ruling saying that male paedophile is to be George, who has reverted to her Breleased from prison after maiden name Vanessa Marks, no ‘showing remorse’ for abusing up longer posed a signifi cant risk. to 30 infants in her care. Her ex-husband Andrew Former nursery worker Vanessa George, who divorced the paedo- George, 49, photographed herself phile after learning of her appall- abusing dozens of babies and tod- ing activities, said he feared she dlers and sent the sickening im- had ‘manipulated’ board mem- ages to fellow perverts. bers. Her ex-husband Andrew said Andrew, 51, said her crimes had he was ‘staggered’ by the Parole left him a ‘broken man’, adding: Board’s decision. Victims of the “I am staggered. I just don’t know predator, who are now secondary what to say.” school age, were said to be ‘horri- Doctors have warned Andrew fi ed’. that he may be suff ering from One victim attended George’s post-traumatic stress disorder. parole hearing to read out a state- “While she’ll be returned to so- Orange men participate in the annual Twelfth of July parade in Belfast yesterday. July 12 is the main marching day in the Protestant Orange Order calendar. The parades ment describing the trauma they ciety, possibly with a new look mark the commemoration of the victory by King William III — the Dutch-born Protestant better known as William of Orange or King Billy — over Catholic King James II at the suff ered in the hope of preventing and identity, I face a life sentence Battle of the Boyne in 1690. her release. knowing that for me this night- Amid mounting fury, Justice mare will never disappear,” he said. Secretary David Gauke faced calls He demanded that the board to urgently review the decision. fully explain why it thinks George For a decade, the parents of has changed her ways, adding: infants at Little Ted’s Nursery in “Vanessa is manipulative and Plymouth, Devon, have faced the she’s like the leopard which never agony of not knowing what hap- changes its spots. She should have pened to their children. George, a stayed locked up.” mother of two teenage daughters, The Parole Board said George PM rues Brexit polarisation, refused to name which of the 30 “presented as showing remorse for babies and toddlers on a police her actions”, adding that she had shortlist she attacked. attended courses to address her This was despite trial judge Jus- sexual off ending and ‘risk factors’ tice Royce pleading with her, say- at the time of off ending. avoiding 2017 poll debate ing: “If I were a parent, I would These included ‘seeking inti- want to know.” macy and focusing on her needs George was jailed in Decem- to the detriment of others, being DPA “I did everything I could to get the newspaper. “But they didn’t.” May’s deal and played an impor- Ireland’s Democratic Unionist ber 2009 for what the judge said self-centred, being desperately London it over the line. I was willing to sit May agreed that she should tant role in pushing May to resign. Party to keep her in power. “plumbed new depths of deprav- keen to be liked and avoid con- down with (opposition Labour have done more to halt “the po- May said she also regrets her She previously expressed regret ity”. The 18-stone paedophile was frontation, rigid thinking, low leader) Jeremy Corbyn, willing larisation between the language of refusal to take part in televised that her focus on Brexit prevented given an indeterminate sentence self-esteem, an ability to override utgoing Prime Minister to sacrifi ce my premiership, give soft and hard Brexit” that divided debates before a disastrous snap her from promoting plans to im- with a minimum term of seven major taboos and insecurity and Theresa May said she re- up my job!” May told the popular the Conservative and Labour par- election in June 2017. “I should prove social cohesion in Britain. years, which meant she could be dependency”. Ogrets allowing too much right-wing tabloid The Daily Mail, ties, as well as British voters. have done the TV debates. I didn’t Yesterday, she announced a new set free only if the Parole Board Prison staff said she had been polarisation over Brexit and avoid- in what is likely to be one of her fi - She is expected to hand over the because I had seen them suck the Offi ce for Tackling Injustices to considered she was no longer a well behaved behind bars. ing televised debates before a dis- nal interviews as prime minister. reins on July 24 to the victor in a life blood out of David Cameron’s monitor progress by all govern- threat to public safety. George will face strict condi- astrous snap election in 2017, in an “I had assumed mistakenly that run-off to succeed her as leader campaign,” she said, referring to ment agencies in tackling social Justice Royce told her: “I cannot tions when she walks out of pris- interview published yesterday. the tough bit of the negotiation of the Conservatives and the her Conservative predecessor as injustices. emphasise too strongly that this on, probably in September. She May resigned as leader of the was with the EU, that parliament country, after a vote by the party’s prime minister, who resigned af- “Deep-seated societal injustice is not a seven-year sentence. It is will be banned from using social ruling Conservatives last month would accept the vote of the British 160,000 members between strong ter losing the Brexit referendum. requires a long-term focus and emphatically not. It is, in eff ect, a media, having any contact with after she conceded defeat in her people (in the 2016 Brexit referen- favourite Boris Johnson and For- May called the 2017 snap elec- cannot be eliminated overnight,” life sentence. Many, and I suspect children, going to the Plymouth two-year battle to persuade parlia- dum) and just want to get it done; eign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. tion to ask voters to back her lead- May said in a statement. She said everyone so deeply aff ected by area. Taxpayers will have to pay for ment to approve the deal she had that people who’d spent their Johnson is backed by many of ership and her Brexit plan, but she she is “proud” of her eff orts as your dreadful deeds, will say that ‘enhanced monitoring’ at a proba- agreed to with Brussels for Britain lives campaigning for Brexit the “hard” Brexiteer Conservative lost her majority in parliament, prime minister to “make the UK a would not be a day too long.” tion hostel. to leave the European Union. would vote to get us out,” she told lawmakers who strongly opposed forcing her to rely on Northern more just society.”

Sunny London Man admits to killing Force fi ghts police woman with hammer

Daily Mail of Graves, and replied: “I’m very qualifi cation rule sorry, I’m really sorry. I did not London mean to harm her. It was an ac- Daily Mail ter learnt on the job. At present, special constables cident. London Lincolnshire chief constable have the same police powers as he Romanian suspect in “I was young, 21, childish, Bill Skelly is seeking a judicial our regular offi cers but do so the killing of a British without a job, I did not have review as he claims the chang- after a limited period of train- Tgrandmother has made much money, it was my fi rst time police force is taking un- es would mean there could be ing and a lower required level of a sensational courtroom con- in England. precedented legal action 40 fewer offi cers on the beat – educational qualifi cations. I see fession – and apologised to her “I never did any harm in my Ain an attempt to stop a roughly a 10%. this as unsustainable after the family. life. Someone told me there was controversial policy that says all He said study time would be introduction of Police Education Cristian Sabou, 27, was picked a lot of money in that house – I new recruits must have a degree. signifi cantly increased compared Qualifi cations Framework.” up by police on Wednesday un- never went there to kill someone. Cash-strapped Lincolnshire to the current recruitment pro- The force described it as an der a European Arrest Warrant, I thought everybody was away. Police said the degree rule would gramme and there would be a “exceptional legal move”. The having been wanted over the She was sleeping in bed, she lead to a drop in the number of higher drop-out rate. chief constable said the new re- claw hammer killing of Valerie woke up and she surprised me. I offi cers on front-line duties – Skelly insisted: “The college gime was being “imposed’ de- Graves, 55. panicked. I had a hammer with because they would be in the has pushed forward, ignoring the spite reservations. Lincolnshire She had been house-sitting for me. I did not mean to harm her.” classroom. growing evidence that demon- predicts by 2024 it would be a friend when she was killed in an In the 40-minute extradition It is now launching a £10,000 strates the impracticality of their spending £1.15mn a year on the idyllic coastal Sussex village over hearing in the province of Tran- legal challenge. Under the proposals for Lincolnshire.” He training. Christmas in 2013. sylvania, Sabou agreed to a bid scheme set by the College of wants a delay to 2023 to see how The current training scheme At his fi rst appearance in court by Sussex Police to bring him Policing, from next year trainee the training impacts other forces is coming to an end, leaving only yesterday, Sabou – who lived in back to Britain to face a charge of constables will have to have a across the country. the PEQF as an option for new England for fi ve years – spoke murder. Two detectives from the degree-level qualifi cation by the He added: “In the meantime recruits. from the dock, in the presence force were in court to assist the time they complete their proba- we are developing an enhanced Officers are already under- of the judge, to admit to the kill- prosecution. tion or they will not qualify. initial training package that going the updated training at ing in Bosham, West Sussex. He Judge Claudia Ilies ruled that The changes are designed meets the requirements of the forces including Nottingham- claimed it happened after he he would be fl own to the UK to increase professionalism modern police offi cer without shire, Derbyshire, Leicester- panicked when his victim caught within 10 days – but added that amid concerns offi cers are not creating an unaff ordable impact shire, Northamptonshire and him burgling the house in the if he was sentenced to prison for equipped to deal with the in- on the police in Lincolnshire. the West Midlands. It features dead of night. the crime, he would be allowed to creasing number of complex of- “The college is requiring that digital policing and also focuses Standing below the chande- serve his sentence in Romania, as fences, such as online fraud, cy- every new police offi cer should on vulnerability, mental health, People relax in the warm weather near St Paul’s Cathedral in liers of the grand appeal court he had requested. bercrime and child exploitation. be a degree holder and have un- stop and search and domestic central London yesterday. hearing room, Sabou was asked Sabou was not formally asked But critics argue skills are bet- dertaken years of initial training. abuse. what he had to say to the family to give a plea to the charges. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 9 EUROPE

Dutch police find thousands of letters buried Dutch police found thousands of letters buried in holes in a forest by a postman, off icials said yesterday, adding that they were UN agencies want EU to seeking a motive. Police made the bizarre discovery on Wednesday after a walker near the central town of Laren alerted them to mounds of earth and part of a shovel. They round a “significant amount” of mail in eight holes resume migrant rescues each measuring 1m deep. Some were buried for weeks. DPA rescue operations saved thou- Italy’s far-right Interior Min- Libyan coastguard and crack “To be clear, we [alone] cannot isters on Monday and informal “They were mostly bills, Geneva sands of lives,” UN Refugee ister Matteo Salvini had previ- down on human traffi ckers and save migrants from [the situa- talks among the bloc’s interior magazines, and publicity letters,” Agency UNHCR and the Inter- ously rejected the existing ar- smugglers. tion they face in] Libya. To do ministers later in the week. Margot van de Coterlet, a national Organisation for Mi- rangement whereby all those According to the UNHCR and that, we need agreements at the “Expressions of outrage over spokesman for the Sandd postal wo United Nations agen- gration (IOM) said in a state- rescued were taken to Italian the IOM, “every eff ort should be European level.” dire conditions and dangers company, told AFP. cies are calling on Euro- ment. ports. taken to prevent people rescued In Libya, where an armed to detainees amid fi ghting in The company said it was not Tpean countries to resume “They should resume this vi- “Our overarching aim ... is on the Mediterranean from be- confl ict is raging around Tripoli, Tripoli ring hollow without ur- revealing the identity of the migrant rescue operations in the tal work,” they added. to continue to focus on saving ing disembarked in Libya, which a July 3 bombing on a detention gent life-saving measures to get postman. “It was someone who Mediterranean Sea and to stop They also said that charity lives,” EU foreign policy spokes- cannot be considered a safe centre east of the capital killed people out of harm’s way,” Judith has unfortunately not respected returns to Libya, where migrants vessels “have played a similarly woman Maja Kocijancic said port”. more than 50 migrants. Sunderland of Human Rights our work standards. We are face dire conditions. crucial role on the Mediterra- yesterday in response to the But Italy’s deputy premier The UN agencies say all the Watch said in a joint statement taking the necessary measures.” The appeal, issued late on nean and must not be penalised UNHCR and the IOM request, Luigi Di Maio, leader of the an- 5,600 migrants detained in with Amnesty International and She did not comment on why the Thursday, comes in the wake of for saving lives at sea”. while referring to the dispute ti-establishment 5-Star Move- Libya should be freed and guar- the European Council on Refu- postman buried the letters. a deadly air strike on a Libyan The EU’s Operation Sophia that has prevented Operation ment, defended the policy of anteed protection elsewhere in gees and Exiles. The letters that were still in good migrant detention centre and ended its naval patrols in Medi- Sophia from continuing its naval rescued migrants being returned Libya or else repatriated or re- They called on EU govern- condition were being sent to their continued tensions between terranean in March because of patrols. to Libya. settled to third countries. ments to help Libya shut down destinations. Italy, Malta and migrant rescue disagreements on how rescued Since April, the EU has moni- “We cannot take in all of Libya Human rights groups also detention centres and evacuate Those that had rotted would be charities. migrants should be divided be- tored Mediterranean migration and all the problems it has and weighed in yesterday, with mi- the most vulnerable, arguing destroyed after consultations “In the past European state tween European Union member activities from the air, while bring them to Italy,” he told Il gration challenges due to feature that the bloc has been closing its with the senders, she added. vessels conducting search and states. continuing eff orts to train the Fatto Quotidiano newspaper. at a meeting of EU foreign min- eyes to the issue. “They’ve spent several weeks underground in a forest. They are mouldy and dirty,” added van de Coterlet. “We very much regret what happened. Our goal is clearly to deliver mail on time. Hundreds of migrants occupy Paris landmark Clearly that didn’t happen.”

AFP National Rally, tweeted her in- Ukrainian fighter Paris dignation. “It is UNACCEPTABLE to see Minister de Rugy and his wife convicted over protesting illegal aliens occupy, Severine. Italian’s death undreds of undocu- with wholesale impunity, this is mented migrants the centre of the Republic,” Le An Italian court sentenced a Hsurged into the Pan- Pen said. “Expulsion should be Ukrainian man to 24 years in theon in central Paris yesterday, the immigrants’ future – that is jail yesterday over his role in briefl y occupying the vaunted the LAW.” French the 2014 killing of an Italian memorial complex to demand “The Pantheon is a symbol photographer covering fighting talks with the prime minister of great men. Inside there are between pro-Russian forces and on regularising their status, ac- symbols representing the fi ght minister Ukrainian troops. tivists said. against slavery. We are fi ght- Journalist Andrea Rocchelli and Around 700 migrants and ing against modern-day slav- his Russian colleague Andrey their supporters joined the ery,” said Laurent, an activist defi ant Mironov were killed after they demonstration, with some from French rights group Droits were hit by mortar fire near the pushing into the historic com- Devant. town of Slaviansk in eastern plex around midday (1100 “Many people have been liv- despite Ukraine five years ago. GMT) yesterday, a member of ing without rights for years. We Italian prosecutors in the the Chapelle Debout collective have done this to ask the prime northern city of Pavia said Vitaliy said. minister for an exceptional scandal Markiv, a volunteer fighter with Footage posted on Twit- regularisation. There has never the Ukrainian forces at the time, ter from inside the building’s been such a thing since (Fran- had taken part in the deadly main dome showed hundreds cois) Mitterand took power” in AFP attack and accused him of being of people waving papers in the 1981. Paris an accessory to murder. air shouting “Black vests, black “It’s about time we had one.” The prosecution had requested vests!” and “What do we want? The “Black Vests” are known a 17-year sentence for Markiv Papers!” Police vans are seen in front of the Pantheon, occupied by undocumented migrants in Paris. for staging headline-grabbing French cabinet minister but the judge ignored this and The so-called “Black Vests” protests in support of the un- defi antly vowed yesterday imposed a much tougher term. is a Paris-based migrant asso- gathered under the watchful want to talk to Prime Minister said 37 arrests had been made. documented. Ato stay in his job despite Markiv holds joint Ukrainian- ciation that takes its name from eyes of a heavy police presence. Edouard Philippe now!” they “France is a country based In June, they briefl y occupied fresh claims he used the pub- Italian citizenship and was the “yellow vest” anti-govern- In a statement, the Black Vest wrote. on the rule of law which means the headquarters of the Paris- lic purse to fund an extravagant arrested after he flew back to ment protest movement. protesters said they wanted They stayed there for several respect for the rules that apply based Elior Group which works lifestyle including lobster feasts. Italy in 2017 to see his mother. As they went inside, tourists “papers and housing for eve- hours until they were calmly to the right to remain, respect in contract catering and prop- Environment Minister Fran- Under Italian law, a defendant has were evacuated from the Pan- ryone”, describing themselves evacuated through a back en- for public monuments and for erty. cois de Rugy has endured a torrid the right to two appeals before a theon, which is the fi nal resting as “the undocumented, the trance mid-afternoon, AFP the memory they represent,” he And a month earlier, its ac- week after the Mediapart inves- sentence becomes definitive. place of France’s greatest non- voiceless and the faceless of the correspondents said. added. tivists occupied terminal 2F at tigative website said he hosted Ukrainian Interior Aff airs military luminaries includ- French Republic”. “All of the people who gained Some leftist lawmakers came the city’s Charles De Gaulle air- lavish dinners while serving as Minister Arsen Avakov said the ing the writers Voltaire, Victor “We don’t want to negoti- entry to the Pantheon have been to the site to off er moral sup- port against “Air France’s col- parliament speaker. verdict was unfair and would be Hugo, and Emile Zola. ate with the interior minister evacuated,” Philippe tweeted port to the migrants but Marine laboration” in the deportation Piling on the pressure, Me- appealed. Outside, hundreds more were and his offi cials any more, we early evening as a police source Le Pen, leader of the far-right of undocumented migrants. diapart published a new report saying that Rugy rented a coun- cil fl at with subsidised rent in western France, even though his salary was “far higher” than the maximum allowed for such aid. Stores looted, woman killed in However Rugy, who also holds the portfolio of minister of state which makes him the govern- France after Algeria football win ment number two after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe – in- sisted that he was not shifting. AFP “Of course, you feel like giv- Paris ing up” when “you’re attacked morning, noon and night”, he said, close to tears in an inter- hops in central Paris were view on French TV channel BFM. looted and a woman was Mediapart said that the din- Skilled in a car crash in ners hosted by Rugy included southern France in what the luxuries like lobster, champagne government slammed yesterday and vintage wines from parlia- as “unacceptable” unrest fol- ment’s cellar. lowing a key victory for Alge- Most damagingly, it alleged ria’s national football team. that the dinners had little con- Fans of the Algerian team nection to his function and were fl ocked to the Champs-Elysees essentially social gatherings in central Paris and the Vieux hosted by his wife, a journalist Port area in Marseille late on with the people magazine Gala, Thursday after their side de- Youths are seen at a looted scooter store on Thursday night on the and funded by the taxpayer. feated Ivory Coast on penalties ‘Avenue de la Grande Armee’, near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. On a visit on Thursday to the to reach the semi-fi nals of the central town of Deux-Sevres, Africa Cup of Nations. Tourists and locals passing injuries and was rushed to hos- the minister was met by a giant Two stores near the Champs- through aff ected area in central pital. infl atable lobster and protesters Elysees in Paris were looted, Paris yesterday morning were The 17-year-old had a slight brandishing slogans like “were including a Ducati motorcycle confronted with shards of bro- ankle injury. the lobsters organic?” shop where people took hel- ken glass on the streets. Algeria, the favourites in this Rugy has not denied the exist- mets, gloves and even bikes, an Paris’s top police offi cial Di- year’s Africa Cup of Nations, Children run yesterday during the ‘Encierro Txiki’ (Small Bull Run) in Pamplona. ence of the dinners but insisted AFP journalist said. dier Lallement visited the scene defeated Ivory Coast 4-3 on they were linked to his work, de- Police used tear gas to dis- yesterday, saying that it is time penalties in the Egyptian city fending the gatherings as “infor- perse thousands of people who that “this kind of irresponsible of Suez to set up a semi-fi nal mal working dinners”. had gathered in Paris. behaviour stops”. showdown with Nigeria. He told BFM that he has “nev- The same measures were In the southern city of Paris and Marseille are home Five sent to hospital on day seven er paid more than €30 for a bot- used to scatter crowds in Mar- Montpellier, an Algerian foot- to large minority communities tle of wine”, doesn’t eat lobster seille. ball supporter celebrating his of Algerian origin. because of a “shellfi sh allergy”, “The damage and incidents team’s victory lost control of The far-right National Rally of San Fermin fest in Pamplona and avoids champagne, which last night on the sidelines of the his car and drove into a family, party said in a statement the “gives him a headache”. celebrations ... are unaccepta- killing a woman and seriously incidents marked a “rejection of In another blow, French daily ble,” Interior Minister Christo- injuring her baby, a security of- France” and urged authorities Reuters The festival began on July 6, half dozen, specially bred, ag- Le Parisien reported yesterday phe Castaner said in a tweet. “I fi cial said. to ban access to the Champs- Pamplona with the bull runs starting from gressive bulls, led by six larger, that Rugy’s wife used public hail the actions of the security The 21-year-old man was Elysees for the Algeria-Nigeria the second day. more docile steers race from money to buy herself a golden forces in Paris and across the driving at high speed, the offi - match tomorrow evening. Each morning at 8am (0600 their pen to the city’s bull ring hairdryer worth €499 (561$). country to maintain order and cial said. The mayor of Paris’s 17th dis- ne man was gored and GMT) between July 7 and 14 as as runners dodge horns and The revelations come as the contain the excesses.” The driver was taken into po- trict near where the violence at least four other peo- part of the week-long festival, stampeding hooves. centrist government of Presi- In total, 73 people were de- lice custody. took place, Geoff roy Boulard, Ople were sent to hospital thousands line the streets of Yesterday’s run lasted two dent Emmanuel Macron looks to tained, the interior ministry The woman was walking said that it “appears there was with injuries following the sixth the mediaeval city to take part minutes and 18 seconds, though recover from six months of anti- said. with her one-year-old baby and a security problem yesterday day of the running of the bulls in the centuries-old tradition of most runners sprint just briefl y government protests sparked by Forty of the detentions came 17-year-old daughter when the night” and added he had been at the San Fermin festival in the running with the bulls. before being overtaken. economic inequality and claims in Paris, where 10 minors were accident happened. told measures would be rein- northern Spanish city of Pam- In the 875m chase through The bulls are later killed in that French leaders are out of also detained. The baby suff ered traumatic forced for tomorrow’s match. plona, the Red Cross said. the narrow streets of the city a the bull ring by matadors. touch with ordinary people. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, July 13, 2019 INDIA

SETBACK CLAIM LEGAL OBITUARY OFFBEAT Bedi petition in Puducherry Woman ‘forced to get off Lalu Prasad gets bail Filmmaker Radhakrishnan Man in trouble for teaching turf war dismissed bus with husband’s body’ in fodder scam case dies aged 60 three-year-old to load gun

The Supreme Court refused to intervene in the In an act that showed the complete lack of The Jharkhand High Court yesterday granted Seven-time Kerala State Film Award winning A viral video of a man teaching his three-year-old Madras High Court order that curbed Puducherry sensitivity, a woman was forced to get off a Uttar gave bail to RJD chief Lalu Prasad in a fodder cinematographer, M J Radhakrishnan died son to load a gun sparked a police investigation lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi’s powers on the Pradesh Roadways bus with the body of her scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal yesterday Friday evening at a private hospital in yesterday. The clip shows the boy being shown administrative control of the Union territory. A husband who had died while travelling. According of funds from the Deoghar treasury. However, Thiruvananthapuram. The 60-year-old cameraman how to load bullets into the revolver. The man top court bench declined to intervene with the to reports, the couple was travelling in the bus he will remain in jail in two other cases related suff ered a cardiac arrest at his home died on his then hands the gun to his son with the barrel high court ruling and disposed of the petition from Bahraich to Lucknow on Wednesday night to the scam. “Lalu Prasad has been given bail way to the hospital. He had helmed films like pointed towards the boy. Police said that the filed by Bedi seeking clarity on the row. Bedi and when the passenger Raju Misra, 37, suff ered a heart in one fodder scam in which he was awarded Deshadanam, Karunam and Naalu Pennungal man who runs a school for poor children in Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy have attack near Barabanki and died before he could get three-and-a-half years jail. He will remain in jail to name a few. He began his film career as an Maharashtra has a permit for the weapon. “It’s been at loggerheads ever since she took off ice any medical help. The bus was about 25km from in two more fodder scam cases in which he was assistant to ace filmmaker and cinematographer a licensed pistol and he has sent us the relevant in May 2016. Following the stand-off , Bedi moved Lucknow when the incident took place. Murli Misra, awarded five years and 14 years imprisonment,” Shaji N Karun. In a career spanning over a documents,” police inspector B Pandhare said, the court seeking clarity on control of bureaucrats the elder brother of the deceased, claimed the bus the RJD chief’s lawyer Prabhat Kumar said. Lalu quarter of a century, he helmed 75 films and had adding that the questioning would continue. The in Puducherry. The high court stated that the conductor and driver forced his sister-in-law to Prasad had filed his bail petition on June 13. The also worked for acclaimed film maker Adoor man told police that the boy was “curious”. In the lieutenant governor “cannot interfere with the de-board with her husband’s body. However, the high court granted him bail after the CBI filed its Gopalakrishnan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan video the man can be heard saying that the gun’s activities of the elected government”. bus driver and conductor denied the allegations. reply on his plea on July 5. condoled the death of Radhakrishnan. safety catch was on. BJP ‘to revive Water train brings Chennai respite proposal to resettle Pandits in Kashmir’

Reuters state government in 2015 had New Delhi/Srinagar proposed self-contained, heavi- ly guarded colonies for returning Pandits, complete with schools, he central government shopping malls, hospitals and will revive a plan to build playgrounds. Tsecured camps to reset- Separatist groups in the region tle scores of Hindus in Kashmir had opposed the project, with Valley, a senior leader said, a some likening it to Israeli set- proposal that would almost cer- tlements within Palestinian ter- tainly heighten tensions in the ritories. restive region. The plan eventually stalled, Ram Madhav, who is the particularly after the BJP’s alli- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) na- ance with a major regional party tional general secretary respon- collapsed in June 2018, leading sible for Kashmir, said his Hindu to the state coming under New nationalist party was committed Delhi’s direct rule. Residents and government off icials gather around a special train of 50 wagons carrying water at Villivakkam railway station in Chennai yesterday. The train brought to helping bring back some of the New state elections are likely water to Chennai which has been reeling under its worst water shortage in decades. The 50 wagons filled with 2.5mn litres of water were hauled by a locomotive estimated 200,000-300,000 before the end of the year. decorated with flowers and a “Drinking Water for Chennai” banner on the front at the start of the trip. Hindus who fl ed the Kashmir The BJP is confi dent that it Valley in the aftermath of an will win the upcoming state poll, armed revolt that began in 1989. Madhav said, adding that the re- “Their fundamental rights of settlement plan would be back in returning to the valley have to be play. respected. At the same time, we “I am sure when we come back have to provide them proper se- to power, we will again take it up curity,” Madhav said in an inter- and try and see if a solution can view, referring to the Kashmiri be found,” he said. Hindus, also known as Pandits. Unlike the last time, the BJP Nearly 7mn people live in the isn’t looking to come to power Kumaraswamy ready to Kashmir Valley, 97% of them through alliances, Madhav said, Muslim, surrounded by hundreds freeing itself of major regional of thousands of troops and armed parties that represent the re- police deployed to quell an upris- gion’s Muslims. ing against New Delhi’s rule. The issue of Hindu resettle- About 50,000 people have ment in Kashmir has long been on seek trust vote in assembly been killed in the confl ict in the the agenda of the BJP, but appears last three decades, according to to have received fresh impetus af- IANS ready to face a trial of strength Congress and JD-S legislators. MLAs on July 15 to ensure that Six more Congress lawmak- offi cial fi gures. ter the party’s second successive Bengaluru in the Assembly if the BJP The 10 rebels, including sev- they had resigned from their ers who resigned, did not go Madhav said that a previous general election victory in May. moved a no-confi dence motion. en of the Congress and three Assembly seats voluntarily and to the top court against the BJP-backed government in Jam- The BJP won 303 out of 542 “I leave it to you to decide if of the JD-S, had petitioned the genuinely. Speaker. mu and Kashmir had considered seats on off er, handing Prime defi ant Karnataka Chief I should seek trust-vote or face apex court on July 10 that the building either separate or mixed Minister Narendra Modi another Minister H D Kumaras- a no-confi dence motion on the Speaker was deliberately delay- MLAs shifted to resorts to stop ‘poaching’ resettlement townships, but had fi ve-year term. Awamy yesterday said he fl oor of this House when you ing acceptance of their resigna- been unable to make headway. After living side-by-side with was ready to seek trust vote to fi x the date and time,” the chief tions they submitted to his of- Resort politics is back in outskirts of the city. “No consensus could be built Kashmiri Muslims for centuries, prove that his JD-S-Congress minister told the Speaker in fi ce on July 6. Karnataka as the ruling While senior leaders like around any one view,” he said. Pandits fl ed for safety after a coalition government had ma- Kannada. The Speaker, however, said Congress-JD(S) and the Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief The construction of segre- sharp rise in killings and attacks jority in the Assembly. “As I am “I can continue as chief min- that of the 13 resignations re- opposition BJP attempt to Minister G Parameshwara and gated enclaves has little or no by militants when the insurgen- ready to seek trust vote to prove ister after the fl oor test in view ceived by his offi ce eight were guard against their legislators the ministers are staying at support from the region’s local cy fl ared in 1989. my government has major- of the prevailing political situa- not in the prescribed format and being poached ahead of a their off icial bungalows in the political parties, Muslim leader- One of the largest migrations ity, I request you to fi x date and tion caused by the spate of res- he wanted them re-submitted possible vote of confidence in city, other legislators whose ship and groups representing the since India’s independence from time to move it in the House,” ignations by some of our legis- by July 11. The rebel MLAs re- the state Assembly. assembly segments are outside Hindus who fl ed. Britain in 1947, many Pandits Kumaraswamy told Assembly lators,” added Kumaraswamy. submitted their resignations to The Congress, whose 13 of 79 Bengaluru and across the state The federal home ministry, settled in refugee camps around Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, as Kumaraswamy’s sudden him on Thursday here. MLAs have already submitted have been shifted to the resort which would be involved in any Jammu. the 10-day monsoon session of act of bravado came soon af- Resignations of the remain- their resignations from the though many of them have such building activity in the Only around 800 Pandit fami- the legislature began here. ter the Supreme Court in New ing fi ve MLAs were in order Assembly, has moved about rooms in the legislature home Kashmir Valley, did not respond lies now remain in the Kashmir Catching an upbeat Bharatiya Delhi gave the Speaker time till and so the Speaker asked three 50 MLAs to the Clarks Exotica behind the Vidhan Soudha in to a request for comment. Valley, according to some esti- Janata Party (BJP) by surprise, Tuesday (July 16) to decide on of them to meet him yesterday Convention Resorts on the the city centre. A blueprint unveiled by the mates. Kumaraswamy said he was also the resignations of the 10 rebel and agreed to hear two other ‘Fascist’ SFI unit at Trade talks Top court refuses stay on Maratha quota

Kerala college attacked IANS for quashing the reservation for New Delhi Marathas for admission in edu- cational institutions and gov- IANS protesting students said. the lead alliance partner of the ernment jobs and then issued Thiruvananthapuram “There is total disarray and ruling Left Democratic Front he Supreme Court yes- notice to the Maharashtra gov- we are forced to speak against (LDF). terday refused to stay the ernment. SFI, to whom we all belong,” he “Akhil was sitting under a TMaratha quota and sought The court order came on pleas n a fi rst public outburst by added. tree and singing a song. Soon a response from the Maharashtra by two individuals, Jaishri Lax- Students’ Federation of In- Reacting quickly to the situ- the unit members came and government on a plea challeng- manrao Patil and Sanjeet Shukla. Idia (SFI) members, angry ation, SFI president V P Sanu, started to beat him. The unit ing the reservation to the com- They argued that the Maratha students at the University Col- told the media that it has been members know that whatever munity in jobs and education. reservation breached the 50% lege here yesterday slammed decided to dismiss the SFI unit they do, they will get the nec- The Maratha quota was intro- ceiling set by the apex court for the functioning of the SFI unit of the University College. essary support from the CPI- duced in November 2018. The quotas in each state and the high at the college, forcing the un- M. What happened to a probe Bombay High Court upheld it court had overlooked certain ion’s national president to dis- “There is total disarray when a girl tried to commit and ordered its implementation. fundamental and legal clauses. band the college unit. and we are forced to speak suicide?” another protesting Maharashtra standing counsel The pleas claimed that the The turn of events followed against SFI, to whom we student asked. Nishant Katneshwarkar said: “It state does not have the authority the stabbing of a student, all belong” Akhil’s father Chandran told is a big relief for the government or law to create a class like Mar- Akhil, and injuries to two oth- the media that his son had been as the apex court did not stay the atha as a separate socially and ers, in a fi ght at the college be- “The other details of what threatened by SFI leaders in the Maratha quota. And the quota educationally backward class. tween the SFI unit members happened are being ascertained past. Following a conciliation will be applicable from Novem- The counsels for the petition- and other students. and we will take action if any meeting involving the CPI-M ber 2018.” The court refused to ers contended that expanding the Akhil and the other two in- member of the SFI is involved,” district secretary, he had been give any retrospective eff ect of ambit of reservation was under jured students have been ad- Sanu said. assured that there would be no the quota before November. the authority of the Centre and mitted to the Medical College Following the stabbing, an- more trouble. The quota will be applicable in not the state government. There- hospital. gry students of the college Meanwhile, University Col- connection with reservation in fore, the reservation would require “We are all supporters of protested by blocking the main lege principal K Viswambharan US ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster (right), US Trade jobs and educational institutions. a constitutional amendment. the SFI, but the 13 unit mem- road, forcing the police to act. tried to play down the incident, Representative (USTR) assistant for south and central Asia A bench headed by chief jus- The Bombay High Court in bers in the college are acting The college is regarded as saying he was busy with new Christopher Wilson (left) and deputy assistant USTR for south tice Ranjan Gogoi also issued June upheld the validity of the like fascists. No one can freely an SFI bastion and is located admissions and is yet to fi nd and central Asia Brendan Lynch arrive at the Parliament notice returnable in two weeks reservations granted to the Mar- move around the college and a stone’s throw from the state out what occurred. He also house for a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. US and Indian wherein the parties will fi le more atha community under the so- if we sit around a tree or sing secretariat. The SFI is affi liated asked the media to leave the trade teams started negotiations yesterday as tensions documents. cially and educationally back- songs, we are abused beaten to the Communist Party of In- college campus and threatened mount over protectionist measures taken by both sides. The observation came as the ward class (SEBC) category but and chased away,” one of the dia-Marxist (CPI-M), which is to call the police. court agreed to hear an appeal reduced the quantum from 16%. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 11

LATIN AMERICA Caracas government, opposition agree to pursue crisis talks

AFP leader Juan Guaido met from a television and radio interview, tions,” the statement added. end to the suffering.” la’s 30mn-strong population are “They say: the government’s Caracas Monday-Wednesday in the Car- though he did not specify what Venezuelan government ne- Crisis-wracked Venezuela has in need of aid, according to the going to Barbados because there ibbean island nation for negotia- the points were. gotiator Hector Rodriguez said been mired in a political impasse United Nations. are going to be presidential elec- tions, which Maduro has hailed Earlier, Norway’s Foreign Min- he anticipated a “complex path,” since January when Guaido pro- Three million people have left tions in I don’t know how long enezuela’s government as successful. ister Ine Eriksen Soreide said in a but one that leads to an “agree- claimed himself acting presi- the country since the start of and the candidates are X and Y,” and the opposition have The Barbados talks were an ex- statement that the two sides had ment of democratic co-exist- dent, quickly receiving the sup- 2016. he told state television channel Vagreed to set up a plat- tension of the fi rst round of ne- established a negotiation table ence” where each side recognises port of more than 50 countries. Guaido and the opposition ac- VTV. form for ongoing negotiations to gotiations in Oslo in May, which that will “work in a continuous the other. The oil-rich, cash-poor coun- cused Maduro of having rigged the “Here there are no presidential resolve the country’s simmering ended with no concrete advanc- and effi cient manner to reach an Guaido representative Stalin try has been in a deep recession 2018 poll that saw him re-elected. elections, here the president’s political crisis after three days of es. agreed-upon solution within the Gonzalez said on Twitter that for fi ve years. They want him to stand down so name is Nicolas Maduro,” said talks in Barbados, mediator na- “After an intense day of work, framework of the constitution.” Venezuelans need “answers and Shortages of food and medi- new elections can be held. Cabello, who heads the Constit- tion Norway said. we developed six points with “It is foreseen that the par- results,” and said his delegation cine are frequent, and public But Maduro’s right-hand man uent Assembly and is considered Representatives of President the government of Norway and ties will carry out consultations would “make consultations to- services are progressively failing. Diosdado Cabello ruled out early the country’s second most pow- Nicolas Maduro and opposition the opposition,” Maduro said in in order to advance the negotia- ward progress and putting an Around a quarter of Venezue- elections. erful politician. Fugitive Farc Flood-hit lawmaker ‘may have fl ed to Venezuela’

Reuters/DPA fuel hostilities between the two Bogota South American countries that earlier this year led Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to fugitive lawmaker and close their border. former Farc rebel com- Colombian authorities believe Amander sought by US and dissident Farc rebels and fi ght- Colombian authorities may have ers for leftist rebel National Lib- fl ed to Venezuela, Colombia’s eration Army (ELN) are hiding in president said, threatening to Venezuela and receiving protec- denounce any country that pro- tion from Maduro, according to a tects him. military intelligence report seen President Ivan Duque said his by Reuters. government was looking into Maduro’s government has whether Seuxis Paucias Hernan- previously denied protecting dez — known in Colombia as “Je- Colombian rebels. sus Santrich” — fl ed to Venezuela The US requested Hernandez’ after ditching his bodyguards at extradition last year, accusing The city of Coronel Joao Sa, in Bahia state, Brazil, lies flooded after a dam overflowed submerging several roads. At least 120 families were evacuated from their homes a reintegration camp for former him of smuggling 10 tonnes of after heavy rains caused the dam and a nearby river to overflow. The dam is located in the town of Pedro Alexandre – about 430km from Salvador, the capital of Bahia. rebels near the countries’ shared cocaine in 2017, allegations that border on June 30. he has denied. Duque’s government has of- This week, Colombia’s Su- fered a reward of up to 3bn pesos preme Court issued a warrant for ($935,000) for information lead- his arrest after he failed to appear ing to his capture. for scheduled questioning about “Could he be in Venezuela? the charges. That’s a real probability, because Hernandez’ disappearance it’s close to the area he fl ed from,” has been a blow to Colombia’s Duque was quoted telling a radio landmark 2016 peace deal, which station in a statement from his sought to end one of the region’s offi ce. longest and deadliest internal Top aide to Brazil farm “No country can protect him,” confl icts by encouraging former Duque added. “And if there is any rebels to put down their weapons country protecting him, we’re and enter politics and normal so- going to denounce it interna- ciety. tionally.” Hernandez was one of just 10 Venezuela’s information min- former Farc commanders given istry did not immediately re- congressional seats under the minister faces graft probe spond to a request for comment. terms of the deal. Hernandez was already in cus- Another Farc lawmaker also Reuters triggered a criminal investiga- In December 2018, Souza was It declined to make Dias or the two people familiar with tody for more than a year, then went missing last year, leaving Sao Paulo tion, according to prosecutors. let go from the project, the gov- Souza available for comment the matter. There is no indica- released in May after the coun- eight active Farc lawmakers. The probe comes as the min- ernment’s offi cial gazette said at and said it was co-operating tion that she is implicated in any try’s post-confl ict tribunal, the Farc’s political party has criti- istry tries to turn the page on the time, without giving a rea- with authorities investigating wrongdoing. Special Jurisdiction for Peace cised Hernandez’ failure to show senior adviser to Brazil- bribery scandals, with new Pres- son. That same month, he joined the contract, which involved Souza’s public agenda shows (JEP), said there was not enough up in court this week. “It disap- ian Agriculture Minister ident Jair Bolsonaro vowing zero the transition team for the in- more than one civil servant. he is one of the minister’s busi- evidence to justify his extradi- points and hurts us deeply,” it ATereza Cristina Dias is tolerance for graft. coming Bolsonaro government It also declined to disclose est aides, joining her frequently tion to the US. said in a statement earlier this being investigated over his man- Souza, an offi cial at govern- and a month later the president’s details of the internal investiga- on domestic and foreign trips, He was immediately rear- week. agement of a public contract ment agriculture research agency chief of staff Onyx Lorenzoni tion, adding that the “reason- and representing the ministry in rested and later released again on Earlier Hernandez’s lawyer, fi ve years ago, according to two Embrapa since 1976, was in charge named him as special adviser to able” duration of such proceed- meetings with the World Bank the order of the Supreme Court, Eduardo Matias, said Colom- people familiar with the matter of co-ordinating a project which the minister. ings was 140 days. and the Japan International Co- which said it would handle the bian and US authorities are try- and documents from an internal involved awarding a contract in Lorenzoni’s press offi ce de- Federal prosecutors had asked operation Agency. case. ing to ruin his client’s reputation. ministry probe. 2014 to an IT fi rm to revamp pro- clined to say if he knew of the police to start an investigation The agriculture ministry Hernandez’s apparent escape “There’s a public lynching by According to the documents cedures for the quality control of probe at the time of Souza’s ap- into the awarding of the con- is still recovering from a 2017 was seen as dealing a blow to the executive branch and the US and the sources, who spoke on agricultural goods at the ministry. pointment. tract, a media representative for scandal that saw police present the credibility of the JEP and the embassy,” Matias told crowds of condition of anonymity, special In October 2018, the minis- The agriculture ministry said the prosecutors said, declining evidence of a bribery scheme peace process, which had already reporters on Tuesday after Co- adviser Francisco Basílio Freitas try’s internal auditors opened in a statement sent to Reuters, to provide details. in which offi cials helped meat- been criticized by Duque as being lombia’s Supreme Court ordered de Souza is under investigation a formal investigation into the “there is no legal impediment to Federal police did not respond packers to cheat on sanitary in- too lenient on the rebels. his capture for failing to appear for bid-rigging and misspending winning IT fi rm’s contract and a civil servant targeted in an ad- to a request for comment. spections. The scandal led major If Hernandez did fl ee to Ven- for questioning about US drug- of public funds. alerted police and prosecutors to ministrative probe from taking a Dias is aware of the ongo- foreign markets to ban meat im- ezuela, it would likely further traffi cking charges. The confi dential probe has the probe, the documents show. politically appointed role.” ing investigation, according to ports from Brazil.

World Cities Summit Bolsonaro off ers son Violence against girls in post of US envoy

Reuters Brazil’s previous ambassador Mexico rising: Unicef to Washington retired in April. Brasilia The far-right Brazilian presi- Thomson Reuters Foundation son Reuters Foundation. do whatever you want with a boy dent, who said his campaign last Mexico City In Mexico, a conservative or a girl, and nothing is going to razilian President Jair Bol- year was inspired by US Presi- country where traditional con- happen,” said Juan Martín Perez sonaro said he had invited dent Donald Trump, has made cepts of gender are deeply en- Garcia, REDIM’s executive di- Bhis son Eduardo to become friendly overtures to the Ameri- iolence against girls in trenched, violence against rector. ambassador to the US, under- can leader. Mexico by members of women and girls is an ongoing Unicef said the most common scoring his family’s infl uential Carlos Bolsonaro, another son Vtheir own family has in- problem. form of abuse was emotional, role in the country’s diplomacy of the president and a Rio de Ja- creased sharply in recent years, More than 1,100 women were followed by physical and fi nan- and domestic politics. neiro city councilman, has taken rising by nearly a third from 2010 murdered in Mexico from Janu- cial abuse, while almost 2% of Eduardo Bolsonaro, currently a role in his father’s social me- to 2014 alone, a Unicef report ary through May this year, ac- young girls suff ered some form a federal congressman, told re- dia communications and stirred said. cording to government fi gures, of sexual violence in the family. porters separately he would ac- controversy by attacking mem- Girls suff er far more violence, with nearly 370 killed by men be- It also said about 60% of the cept the role if nominated. bers of the Brazilian Cabinet. rape, harassment and abuse at cause of their gender. more than 5,000 children miss- His father said earlier that the Eduardo Bolsonaro, the third home than boys in Mexico, said Skoog said changing cultural ing in Mexico were girls or young appointment would hinge on his of the president’s four sons and Christian Skoog, a representative attitudes was essential to combat women. son’s acceptance. a daughter from three marriages, for Unicef, the United Nations’s the rising tide of gender-based Violence in Mexico, where “If it is a mission given by the has counselled his father on for- children’s agency, in Mexico. violence. more than 200,000 people have president, I would accept,” Edu- eign aff airs. Unicef’s report on violence “In a more equal society with been murdered in cartel-fuelled ardo Bolsonaro told reporters, After his father’s election in against Mexican children found less gender diff erences, gender violence since former president adding he was prepared to resign October, Eduardo Bolsonaro some 18,000 girls had suff ered violence decreases,” he said. “We Felipe Calderon set out to tackle from Congress if the president was one of his first envoys to family abuse in 2010, but by 2014 can reduce (violence) a lot if we drug traffi cking in 2006, often appoints him. Washington, where he met the number jumped to about change these cultural patterns.” impacts children and girls in par- He added the ultimate nomi- with Trump’s son-in-law and 24,000. Impunity, he added, is also an ticular. nation still depended on con- adviser, Jared Kushner, and About one in fi ve girls ages ongoing problem. Unicef found nearly 1,500 Singapore’s Minister of National Development Lawrence versations with his father and was spotted wearing a “Trump 15-17 — almost 700,000 young According to REDIM, a col- children were killed in 2017, Wong and his wife visit the Comuna 13 neighbourhood during Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo. 2020” cap. women — experienced some lective of children’s advocacy compared to just over 1,100 the the World Cities Summit in Medellin, Antioquia’s department, The appointment would need Former Trump adviser Steve form of family violence in 2015, groups, 99% of crimes against previous year — an average of Colombia. The 2019 World Cities Summit is the first to be held to be approved by the Senate For- Bannon named the younger Bol- the report said. children investigated by the state four each day. “We’re in the mid- in Latin America and is attended by high-level off icials, eign Relations Committee before sonaro the Latin American leader “The situation of violence is do not result in a sentence. dle of a human rights crisis,” said including mayors, businessmen and experts in urban areas. passing to the full upper house of his right-wing nationalist or- alarming,” Skoog told the Thom- The result is an incentive “to Perez Garcia. for confi rmation. ganisation, “The Movement.” Gulf Times 12 Saturday, July 13, 2019 PAKISTAN Judge who jailed former premier Sharif is sacked Prime Minister Khan: Two slum Reuters/Internews against former prime minister a PML-N worker, and told him areas in Islamabad have been Islamabad Shaukat Aziz. that he was feeling guilty and identified to start the project. He is also hearing several Na- having nightmares ever since he The housing project will be tional Accountability Bureau announced the verdict that led expanded across Pakistan in senior judge was sacked (NAB) references. to Sharif’s imprisonment. phases. yesterday following a The scandal adds to an already Malik was “blackmailed” Ascandal over blackmail heated political climate in Paki- into handing down the sentence claims relating to the jailing of stan where Prime Minister Im- against Sharif after some people former prime minister Nawaz ran Khan’s government, which threatened that they would re- Sharif on corruption charges, came to power last year vowing lease a private video of his, she PM lays the law ministry said. to root out corruption, has been alleged. The removal of account- facing increasing economic dif- Yesterday, following the IHC’s ability court judge Arshad Malik Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif: have demanded that former Nawaz Sharif: serving a seven- fi culties. decision to remove Malik, Mar- foundation prompted immediate calls by prime minister Nawaz Sharif be released from prison. year prison sentence. Earlier this month it agreed yam called for the verdict against Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League to a $6bn bailout deal with the her father to be expunged. – Nawaz (PML-N) party for parently showing Malik saying basis of the alleged video and quest the law ministry to remove International Monetary Fund In a series of tweets, she said stone for the release of the 69-year-old that he had been pressured into the press release,” Law Minister him from the post. (IMF), which has demanded that the matter was not about former premier, who is serving a ruling in favour of conviction by Farogh Naseem told a news con- The spokesperson further a tough package of austerity the removal of a judge but about seven-year jail sentence. individuals with compromising ference. said, on the order of Chief Jus- measures. suspending the verdict that the housing “The decision against Nawaz footage against him. Earlier in the day, Malik had tice Farooq, Malik’s affi davit As the problems have mount- judge had issued. Sharif should be dismissed and Malik later issued a statement written a letter to the high court, and letter has been made part of ed, opposition parties have Maryam wrote: “The matter he should be released immedi- denying he had been black- refuting PML-N vice-presi- Sharif’s acquittal plea. stepped up attacks, accusing the is about removing the verdict, project in ately,” party spokeswoman Mar- mailed to convict Sharif, and dent Maryam Nawaz’s allega- Sources said that the IHC government and its allies in the which this judge had given under riyum Aurangzeb said, adding saying that the video had been tions and the video purportedly chief justice had summoned powerful military establishment pressure, from the court record.” that Sharif’s conviction should manipulated. showing him admitting to lack Malik several times and inter- of crushing dissent and orches- While calling for Sharif’s im- Islamabad be considered “void”. He also declared in an affi davit of evidence against Sharif. rogated him regarding the con- trating Sharif’s removal from mediate release, Leader of the Sharif was convicted and that he had been off ered bribes In an affi davit submitted to troversy. power and conviction. Opposition in the National As- jailed last year after failing to followed by blackmail threats by the IHC, Malik denied the con- They said that Chief Justice Last week, the PML-N had sembly Shehbaz Sharif said that Internews prove the source of income that fi gures close to Sharif to rule in tents of the video and termed Farooq found Malik’s answers released a video clip allegedly the verdict against his brother Islamabad had led to his ownership of a favour of the former premier. them as edited, fabricated, and unsatisfactory. showing Malik admitting that had become void. steel mill in Saudi Arabia. After days of growing pres- aimed to defame him, sources Malik is currently hearing no evidence of embezzlement The PML-N president said Under Pakistani law, this is sure, the Islamabad High Court said. the fake accounts case against of funds in Pakistan or in Saudi that following the judge’s re- rime Minister Imran Khan taken to prove corruption. (IHC) asked the law ministry to According to an IHC spokes- former president Asif Ali Zard- Arabia was found against Sharif. moval, there was no justifi cation has laid down the founda- The PML-N has disputed the remove him from his position. person, acting IHC Chief Justice ari, the rental power case against Maryam – the daughter of ex- for keeping Sharif in jail: “Keep- Ption stone of the Naya Pa- conviction and last week party “Judge Arshad Malik was Amir Farooq received Malik’s former prime minister Raja prime minister Sharif – said that ing Nawaz Sharif in jail for even a kistan Housing Programme near leaders presented a video ap- asked to stop working on the letter and then decided to re- Pervez Ashraf, and references Malik had contacted Nasir Butt, minute is now illegal.” Islamabad. Last year, the prime minister had launched the Naya Paki- stan Housing Programme, under All in a day’s work which 5mn aff ordable houses have been promised by the gov- Qureshi to stay on in ernment for the under-privi- leged class in the next fi ve years. Addressing the ceremony, the US after Khan’s visit prime minister said his govern- ment is committed to providing housing to the public at aff ord- Internews cerns, sources said. able rates. Islamabad The embassy in Washington Khan said the housing units has not shared any details of will be built on a public-private the meetings. partnership basis, wherein the oreign Minister Shah However, the Foreign Of- government will provide land Mahmood Qureshi will fi ce has released a statement and the private sector will con- Fstay on in the US after highlighting that the prime struct housing units. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s minister will also be meeting “18,500 housing units will visit is over. prominent members of the US be built on this site, of which Khan will meet US President Congress, corporate leaders, 10,000 will be allocated to peo- Donald Trump on July 22. and opinion makers as well as ple with lower income back- The White House confi rmed members of the Pakistani di- ground,” the prime minister said. on Wednesday that both lead- aspora. Khan added that balloting will ers will focus on strengthening The visit will contribute to- be held to choose the eligible co-operation between the two wards building a broad-based, people, keeping in view the large countries to bring peace, sta- long-term and enduring part- number of applicants. bility, and economic prosper- nership between the two coun- The project is expected to be ity, and will also discuss a range tries on the basis of mutual completed in a year and a half’s of issues, including counter- interest and mutual benefi t, time. terrorism, defence, energy, and according to the Foreign Offi ce. Rice farmers work in a paddy field on the outskirts of Lahore. “The Naya Pakistan Housing trade, “with the goal of creat- “During his various en- Programme will enable govern- ing conditions for a peaceful gagements in Washington, the ment servants and other people South Asia and an enduring prime minister will outline his to get a house at aff ordable in- partnership between our two vision of ‘Naya Pakistan’, and stalments,” he assured. countries”. underscore the importance He also vowed to provide The focus is likely to be on Pakistan attaches to a broader housing to people living in the the regional security situation, and multi-faceted relationship Death toll in train collision rises to 24 slums of the country. as the US desperately wants with the United States.” “Two slums areas in Islama- to reach a peace deal with the In the regional context, the bad have been identifi ed to start Afghan Taliban so that it could prime minister will under- AFP/Internews senger train, instead of running Another senior railways offi - Sheikh Rasheed, while speaking the project. The housing project withdraw from Afghanistan. score Pakistan’s commitment Islamabad on the mainline, went on the cial confi rmed the toll and said to Geo News, said that the train will be expanded across Pakistan Prime Minister Khan is to peace and stability and the wrong track. that “rescuers have pulled out accident near Sadiqabad was in phases,” he added. scheduled to stay for three days importance of constructive The accident saw mangled all the dead and injured from the the result of human negligence: Earlier, while chairing a meet- in Washington along with his engagement to promote a po- he death toll from a train carriages fl ipped on their sides wreckage”. “The train accident occurred ing to discuss the progress on cabinet members including the litical solution in Afghanistan. collision in central Paki- and left debris strewn by the “We are now focusing on due to negligence and I have or- Naya Pakistan Housing Pro- foreign minister, the adviser on He will also highlight Pa- Tstan rose to 24 yesterday sides of the tracks as rescuers quickly clearing the track,” he dered an investigation into the gramme, the prime minister said fi nance, and the adviser on in- kistan’s policy of “peace- after several people succumbed used cranes to enable them to said, adding that an investiga- incident.” the government is taking meas- vestment and commerce. ful neighbourhood”, aimed at to their injuries overnight. pick through some of the twist- tion has already been ordered. Rasheed further said all as- ures to engage Pakistanis over- Qureshi would remain in the resolving disputes through The incident took place on ed wreckage. Prime Minister Imran Khan sistance will be provided to the seas in the housing project to US for at least four more days dialogue, and promoting the Thursday in Rahim Yar Khan “According to the latest up- has asked the railways minis- families of the deceased and the ensure their participation in the to meet offi cials, US dignitar- vision of peace, progress and district in Punjab province, dates available with us, the ter to take emergency steps to injured. national development process. ies and lawmakers, and other prosperity in South Asia and when the Akbar Bugti Express death toll rose to 24 overnight counter decades of neglect in He added that Rs1.5mn will The meeting also deliberated stakeholders to discuss matters beyond, the Foreign Offi ce travelling from Lahore to Quet- after more people died of their railway infrastructure and en- be given as compensation to the over the legal, administrative of mutual and regional con- statement said. ta collided with a stationary wounds in diff erent hospitals,” a sure that safety standards are families of those killed in the ac- and other matters related to the freight train at the Walhar Rail- senior Pakistan Railways offi cial upheld. cident, while Rs500,000 will be execution of the housing pro- way Station in Sadiqabad tehsil told AFP. An initial investigation report given to those who were criti- gramme. WEF president praises Pakistan for of Punjab province. He said more than 70 people into the accident pointed to the cally injured. Khan was also apprised on in- The freight train was standing were still being treated for in- failure of the signal system. Rs200,000 will be given to terest by foreign investors in the overcoming power, security problems on the loop line when the pas- juries. However, Railways Minister those with minor injuries. project.

Visiting World Economic Forum (WEF) president Borge Brende has lauded Pakistan for overcoming problems of power blackouts and security, and said that skill acceleration is now required to cater to the needs of the country. “A few years back when I visited Pakistan as a minister from Norway, Pakistan rejects India’s request to open airspace the country was facing severe power blackouts and deteriorated security environment, but now both these challenges have been overcome,” Brende told a function held in his honour, arranged by Internews tor Mushahidullah Khan, was to lift the airspace restriction. tigation Agency (FIA) had not inquiry into the matter as he be- Ikram Sehgal, chairman of the Pathfinder Group and member of the Islamabad informed that Pakistan had shut “However, Indian offi cials proved fi nancial irregularities. lieved that the construction of WEF. its airspace to India following the have been told that Indian air- “However, the investigation the airport suff ered from fi nan- He said that Pakistan needs “skill acceleration” now, as 60% of the escalation of tensions between bases are still laden with fi ghter agency has identifi ed some tech- cial irregularities at the hands of population is below the age of 30, and 80% of these are poorly akistan has turned down the two countries in February jets, and Pakistan will not allow nical glitches in the fi nancial CAA offi cials. educated. India’s request to lift the this year. resumption of fl ight operations records,” she added. He requested the committee to He praised the Billion Tree Project, terming it as “incredible”, and Prestriction on the use of its Following the restrictions, In- from India until their removal,” The standing committee ex- give eight weeks to complete the hailed Prime Minister Khan for taking a leadership role in the airspace, with the Civil Aviation dia has been diverting all of its said Nusrat. pressed dissatisfaction with the inquiry, which the committee ac- context of climate change. Authority (CAA) linking the use passenger fl ights to alternative The CAA offi cials also briefed briefi ng provided by the CAA, cepted. of its airspace to the removal of routes. the committee regarding inves- observing that the authority had During the session, PIA’s chief fi ghter planes from Indian air- The CAA offi cial also contest- tigation into fi nancial irregulari- provided confl icting statements. executive Air Marshal Arshad Pakistan, India off icials engage in bases. ed India’s claim that Delhi had ties during the construction of The committee maintained Mahmood Malik presented a Aviation Secretary Shahrukh opened its airspace for Pakistan. Islamabad airport. that one of the earlier reports had briefi ng over the performance of Track-II diplomacy in Islamabad Nusrat, who is also the director- “Pakistani fl ights from Thai- The director of human re- established corruption while the the national carrier and observed general of the CAA, informed the land have not been restored sources of the CAA, Samar Rafi q, other stated the opposite. that the institution was showing In order to ease tensions and normalise ties, Pakistan and India Senate Standing Committee on since the closure of the Indian briefed the committee regarding Federal Minister Ghulam Sar- improvement. engaged in Track-II dialogue yesterday in Islamabad. Aviation that his department has airspace. Pakistan International two inquiries conducted in the war Khan said that the investiga- The routes contributing to Utilising diplomatic channels, delegations from the two countries intimated to Indian offi cials that Airlines (PIA) fl ights for Malaysia matter. tion into the matter was incom- defi cits have been shut, he said, included Foreign Off ice off icials and former envoys. Pakistani airspace would remain also remain suspended,” the CAA She said a commission, headed plete, and vowed to ensure that along with the restoration of The talks for reviving Track-II diplomacy would be for two days. unavailable for use by India until chief informed the committee. by Justice Shamsul Malik, in- no one is given special treatment. profi table routes and improve- The second phase of talks will take place in New Delhi. war jets are removed from Indian He further apprised the com- vestigated the allegations, and “We will bring all those in- ment in administrative activities, Following the rise in tensions in February, the recent talks are of airbases. mittee that Indian offi cials have added that the inquiry report volved to book,” he said, adding resulting in a marked decrease in utmost importance for the neighbouring countries. The session, chaired by Sena- contacted Pakistan requesting it submitted by the Federal Inves- that he is personally holding an the defi cit faced by the PIA. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 13 PHILLIPINES Governor denies claims of black-sand mining in Cagayan

The Manila Times referring to a report by an in- black sand operations in the Ca- “What the inspection team footage of the absence of a sand so that the river gets deeper for confi rmed an earlier report by a Tuguegarao City spection team from the provin- gayan River from Aparri to La-lo found out was an ongoing separator in the said barge and ships and boats to dock when the composite team of the provin- cial government. circulating on social media and dredging in the Aparri vessel except for dredging at port is reopened,” Mamba said. cial environment and natural Mamba said an inspection broadcast over local TV and ra- town with the use of a barge the heavily silted part of the He said no ship had docked resources offi ce, environment he Cagayan government team on Thursday was led by dio,” he said. and a vessel for the initial river. in Aparri in the last 10 years be- management bureau and the has denied the existence Rodolfo Alvarado, provincial The governor added that dredging operation” “The ongoing dredging is just cause of heavy siltation traced to department of public works and Tof a black sand mining administrator, Allacapan town during an aerial survey aboard hauling of sand into the barge the Cagayan River. highways which negated any operation in the Cagayan Riv- mayor Harry Florida and other Florida’s helicopter, the in- dredging in the Aparri town without the conduct of any “The port would take in ag- black sand operations in the Ca- er from Aparri town to Lallo provincial offi cials to investigate spection team found no black with the use of a barge and a processing,” Mamba said. ricultural products and other gayan River Delta. town. reports of black sand operations sand activities or any barge or vessel for the initial dredging Mamba said the dredging goods to compliment other Earlier, the provincial board Governor Manuel Mamba in the river particularly in the vessel in the Lal-lo and Ca- operation or declogging in the operations were in preparation northern Luzon ports in Claveria has authorised governor Mamba claimed that posts circulating towns of Lal-lo, Camalaniugan malaniugan towns’ part of the mouth of the Cagayan River,” for the reopening of the Port of town in Cagayan province and to enter into a memorandum of on social media on the Cagayan and Aparri. Cagayan River. Mamba said. Aparri, which has been idle for Currimao town in Ilocos Norte agreement with the Pacifi c Re- River activity was “dredging “The inspection conducted “What the inspection team The inspection team also the past 10 years. province,” Mamba said. sources for the dredging of the and not black sand mining,” was to verify reports of illegal found out was an ongoing showed photographs and video “The river has to be dredged The inspection team also Cagayan River Delta. Duterte choice of Speaker fails to win broad support

The Manila Times Cayetano in a gathering with Manila other lawmakers on Wednesday evening. “From the bottom of my ust days after President Ro- heart, on behalf of this group, drigo Duterte endorsed Rep. on behalf of those who were not JAlan Peter Cayetano as the even here, we are fi rmly, solidly, next Speaker of the House of unanimously behind your lead- Representatives, the fi ght for the ership,” he told Cayetano in front top House post seems to be far of around 30 other lawmakers, from over, with an alleged coup most of whom were known allies d’etat being plotted against the of Romualdez. Taguig lawmaker, according to The president, however, dis- Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte. missed as “wishful thinking” talks A screenshot of a text mes- of a possible coup at the House. sage, which reportedly came Duterte expressed confi dence from Paolo was shared with that Cayetano would be elected the media, claiming that one of Speaker. Human rights advocates and defenders in the Philippines led by Tinay Palabay (second right) of Karapatan, an alliance for the advancement of people’s rights, show the three other Speaker hope- “You heard of wishful think- placards during a press conference in Manila yesterday, a day after the United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution mandating a comprehensive fuls is planning a coup against ing?” Duterte told reporters dur- international review of the drug war in the Philippines. Cayetano. ing a chance interview, when “There will be an election on asked about the alleged coup July 22 and that is where I am in- against Cayetano. terested, who will win. Because Asked if he was confi dent there are talks that one of the that Cayetano would get enough three is planning a coup d’etat on votes for the top House post, the that day,” the text read. president answered, “Alan? He “It looks like the battle is not will.” over yet for the three and their Palace spokesman Salvador Duterte mocks Iceland over backers,” it added. Panelo said the reported coup Three other lawmakers were against Cayetano did not show gunning for the speakership: the chief executive’s lack of au- Marinduque Rep. Lord Al- thority in the chamber. lan Velasco, Leyte Rep. Martin “It’s not the refl ection of the Romualdez and Davao City Rep. clout of the president because UN vote on war on drugs Isidro Ungab. the president didn’t want to Velasco was the popular interfere in the fi rst place. He Reuters/DPA speech to corrections depart- impossible to independently Duterte’s spokesman, Sal- “They are inutile,” he added. choice among lawmakers, but didn’t want to intrude. It’s them Manila ment offi cials. verify. vador Panelo, said yesterday “If they have no money, they the president announced last who somehow persuaded him to “So you can understand why Police say they have killed Iceland had introduced a reso- steal, kill. Now if you want to week that Cayetano and Velasco come in,” Panelo told reporters. there is no crime, no policeman 6,600 who were armed and lution “based on false informa- destroy a man or if you want to would share the Speaker’s term. Panelo, also Duterte’s chief le- hilippine President Rod- either, and they just go about fought back during attempts to tion, bogus news”, and relied on destroy a family, place one ad- Ungab was backed by the Du- gal counsel, noted that the pres- rigo Duterte took a swipe eating ice. arrest them, but activists say there narratives of Duterte’s oppo- dict in that family. It would be terte Coalition formed by Paolo ident only gave his “suggestion” Pat Iceland yesterday for “They don’t understand may have been as many as 27,000 nents and biased media. hell for them for all-time.” and his sister, Davao City Mayor because the three front runners spearheading a UN resolution the social, economic, political drug-related killings overall. He told news channel ANC Referring to frequent criti- Sara Duterte-Carpio. for Speaker sought his advice. to investigate his bloody war problems of the Philippines.” Human rights groups say that Duterte would permit cism that he publicly gave po- Congressmen in favour of oth- “The vote on the Speaker on drugs, saying it was a nation The resolution on the Phil- there is a pattern of executions, United Nations investigators to lice orders to kill, he said there er bets were left with no choice would lie on the members of made entirely of ice, with no ippines, led by Iceland, was planted evidence and falsifi ed conduct a probe in his country was nothing wrong with pro- but to adhere to the president’s Congress. The only reason why understanding of his country’s adopted by the UN Human reports, and a state unwilling to “if he fi nds the purpose legiti- tecting his country. “I am ask- decision that Cayetano would the president gave that sugges- problems. “What is the problem Rights Council on Thursday by investigate widespread allega- mate”. ing the human rights people. Is be the Speaker for 15 months and tion is because those who were of Iceland? — Ice only. That is a vote of 18 countries in favour tions of systematic abuses by Duterte defended his crack- it wrong to say if you destroy Velasco, 21 months. vying for it went to him and your problem. and 14 against, with 15 absten- police during the three-year- down and said something had my country I will kill you? Is Of the three bets, only sought his suggestion to set- “You have too much ice and tions. old crackdown. to be done because millions of that a crime for a president Romualdez had so far given in, tle the row between and among there is no clear day and night The exact number of dead The government rejects that Filipinos were “slaves to a drug mayor or a governor to say that and even rallied support for them,” he said. there,” he said in a rambling in Duterte’s war on drugs is as lies. called shabu”. in public?” Politician in trouble UN ruling anniversary P18mn smuggled goods seized after ‘punching’ waiter “Customs Modernisation and By Manila Times Manila Tariff Act.” By Manila Times Lawrenz Castillo of Barangay gressman delos Santos if we Records showed that from Manila 15, and Joseph Wendell Tril- establish that this was an un- April to June this year, over lanes Morasa, both of Legazpi provoked attack,” said lawyer ome P18mn smuggled P60mn worth of smuggled City. Joco Sabio, the party-list’s cigarettes and agri- cigarettes were confi scated by ust weeks before the 18th spokesman. Scultural products were the customs bureau. Congress formally opens, “We will not hesitate to “Despite all the fl ak that our seized by the Bureau of Cus- The contraband will be Jneophyte representative suspend or even remove party is getting because of this toms (BoC) in two separate destroyed as part of the pre- Alfred delos Santos of the Ang Congressman delos Santos incident, we will still accord Rep. operations in Mindanao and condemnation procedure as Probinsyano party-list is in hot if we establish that this was delos Santos the right to due Manila. the port of Zamboanga lacks water after punching “without an unprovoked attack” process,” he said. In a report submitted to manpower and available stor- any apparent reason” a 20-year- “I would like to make it very commissioner Rey Leonardo age area. old waiter on Sunday. The video shows that after clear however that Rep. delos Guerrero, Zamboanga district Meanwhile, over at the Ma- Based on the police blotter of Alejo hands out the menu to de- Santos is our nominee but he collector Segundo Sigmun- nila International Container the Legazpi City Police Offi ce los Santos and his companions, is not the entire representation dfreud Barte said the 2,125 Port (MICP), four shipments Community Precinct 2, Chris- the fi rst nominee of Ang Prob- of the Ang Probinsyano party- reams of smuggled cigarettes of misdeclared agricultural tian Kent Alejo, an employee of insiyano stands up from his seat list. worth P1.2mn were seized by products from China worth Bigg’s Diner Rizal Street, Old and tries to hit the waiter with “His actions and decisions are joint operatives of the customs at least P15.5mn were also or- Albay District, reported that his left hand. Alejo evades the his own and should not refl ect on bureau and joint task force dered seized. delos Santos hit him at around punch. Ang Probinsyano as a party-list Zamboanga on board three The misdeclared shipments, 3.40am on July 7 without prov- The incident was not reported and as an organisation,” Sabio passenger vessels from Jolo, which arrived at the MICP on ocation. immediately in local media here added. Sulu. separate dates last month, were The incident, which was as the case was reportedly being A few days before the May They said the contraband issued corresponding alert caught by the diner’s closed hidden from the public. 13 polls, the party-list was en- were already turned-over to orders after examinations re- circuit television (CCTV), im- On Thursday, Ang Probin- dorsed by TV series “Ang Prob- BoC for the issuance of war- vealed that there were discrep- mediately went viral on social syano party-list confi rmed the insyano” lead star Coco Martin, rant of seizure and detention ancies in the weight and de- media after it was leaked on- incident and vowed that it would who even joined the province- for violating Executive Order clared value of the shipments. line. conduct an impartial probe on wide motorcade of the party-list 245, the Amended Rules and Based on x-ray and physi- The CCTV footage shows Al- the incident. in Albay province. Regulations Governing the cal inspection, one of the four fred, the son of prominent local “Definitely we will not tol- Ang Probinsiyano party-list, Protesters holding a streamer march towards the Chinese Exportation and Importation shipments was declared as contractor Grace Delos Santos, erate any kind of abuse in our won two seats in the House of consulate for a rally in Manila, to coincide with anniversary of of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco 3,300 boxes fresh apples but with three companions, two of party. We will not hesitate to Representatives after placing the arbitral ruling by United Nations on the South China Sea. Products and Section 117 of the containers were actually whom were identified as Kim suspend or even remove Con- fi fth in the May 13 polls. Republic Act 10863 or the found to contain red onions. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, July 13, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF City dwellers can have a big Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko impact on curbing warming Production Editor Amjad Khan

By Julia Rosen P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Los Angeles Times [email protected] 44350478 (News), t’s no secret that city folk like to eat, shop and travel. But all that 44466404 (Sport), consumption adds up to a hefty 44466636 (Home delivery) Iclimate bill. On the fl ip side, that means urbanites 44350474 have a lot of power to rein in greenhouse facebook.com/gulftimes gas emissions. By changing their diets, their purchasing habits and how they twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar get around, city dwellers can help avert the worst eff ects of warming. A new report from C40 Cities – a coalition of nearly 100 local-level governments committed to addressing GULF TIMES climate change – off ers a sweeping plan for city leaders and residents to reduce the emissions associated with their consumption. Along with other urban climate initiatives, these measures World’s major cities would allow C40 cities to achieve 35% of the emissions cuts the world needs from them to meet international targets. to face ‘unknown’ “Cities can do a massive amount,” said Tom Bailey, head of research at C40 and a lead author of the report. “It’s actually quite a wonderful opportunity.” warming by 2050 The reason cities have so much sway is that they are responsible for up to 70% of the greenhouse gases that are A fi fth of the world’s major cities will face “unknown” pumped into the atmosphere, according climate conditions by 2050, researchers have warned, as rising to the United Nations. temperatures heighten the risks of drought and fl ooding. Some of those emissions come from the tailpipes of cars stuck in traffi c and These well-off urban dwellers need to eliminate two-thirds of their consumption-related emissions by 2030 to stay on track to Climate scientists at the Crowther Lab, a research group limit global warming to 1.5C above preindustrial temperatures, the most ambitious goal of the Paris climate accord. based at ETH Zurich, a science and technology university, the power plants that keep our iPhones charged. Others are released in distant analysed 520 cities across the world, including all capitals and lands where our shoes, medicines and above preindustrial temperatures, the Pincetl recommends buying high- But these measures are not enough most urban centres with a population of more than 1mn. computers are made. most ambitious goal of the Paris climate quality items that will last a long time. to bring urban emissions in line with Looking at current climate conditions in these cities — Until recently, these consumption- accord. (Low-income residents of cit- “It sounds like deprivation, but it’s also global climate targets, the report found. including precipitation and seasonal data — scientists projected related emissions weren’t included ies like Nairobi, Kenya, actually have a way to make your consumption much Cities have to transition to renewable what would happen as temperatures rise another half degree, in most cities’ accounting, since they to increase consumption to meet their more thoughtful.” energy, make buildings more effi cient to near the lower 1.5C target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement on occur outside city limits. Adding them basic needs.) Other measures listed in the report and build low-carbon transporta- climate change. up makes urban carbon footprints even It sounds like a tall order, but the will fall on city governments more than tion options. Along with changes in It showed that 22% of the cities will experience bigger – and uncovers new avenues for report lays out a few key steps that, individual residents, like creating in- consumption habits, such eff orts would get C40 cities a third of the way to their unprecedented climate conditions by 2050, such as more city leaders and residents to combat together, could deliver 20% of cities’ centives for better building practices. climate change. necessary emissions cuts. And many By using materials more effi ciently, emissions targets. intense dry and monsoon seasons, said Jean Francis-Bastin, the The new report, produced by C40, are things that individuals can do now. substituting green alternatives like Beyond that, cities will need help lead author of the report. the consulting fi rm Arup, and re- For instance, eating less meat and sustainable timber or low-carbon from national governments on changes “It is a change in climate conditions that is likely to increase searchers at the University of Leeds in dairy and reducing food waste could cement, and ensuring that buildings like moving power grids to clean energy the risk of fl ooding and extreme drought,” he told the Thomson England, focused on cities in the C40 cut cities’ food-related emissions are fully occupied, cities could reduce sources. That would reduce the carbon Reuters Foundation. “It is unknown conditions.” network. They include Los Angeles, San in half. (Local governments could construction-related emissions 44% by footprint of the things city-dwellers Almost 70% of the world’s population is expected to be living Francisco and New York (former mayor encourage these changes by launch- 2050, according to the analysis. consume, no matter where they’re in urban areas by 2050, according to the United Nations. Michael R. Bloomberg is president of ing meatless campaigns in schools These measures would also lower the made. But many cities, especially C40’s board) as well as international and creating community gardens, the cost of a new apartment by $10,000 in If countries follow through with the hubs like Beijing, Moscow, Dubai and authors suggested.) New York and by $15,000 in London, commitments they’ve already made in poorer nations, face Globally, Sao Paolo, Brazil. No one has to go vegan, although that the report found. under the Paris deal, C40 cities could signifi cant challenges, Together, consumption in these cit- couldn’t hurt. The report found that “That makes construction and infra- accomplish 70% of their needed emis- temperatures including large and growing ies accounts for more than 10% of the cities would be off to a good start if each structure a really exciting opportunity,” sions reductions. Closing the rest of slum populations that world’s greenhouse gas emissions. resident reduces meat consumption to Barrett said. “It ticks all the boxes.” that gap – which must happen by 2050 are likely to be lack basic services and are Cities are increasingly home to the 35lb a year (compared with the current Reducing car ownership would help to hit the 1.5-C temperature target – increasingly at risk from wealthiest people, who tend to consume US average of 222lb) and cuts their an- shrink cities’ emissions as well. Not would require even more aggressive 2.4C warmer on climate disasters. more, and thus have bigger carbon foot- nual dairy consumption to 200lb (down only does burning gasoline produce actions across the board. Under the Paris Agreement, prints, Bailey said. By 2050, consump- from nearly 650lb). carbon dioxide, just building a car racks Cutting consumption-related emis- average tion-related emissions are projected to Such changes would produce sig- up a big carbon footprint due to the sions may ultimately mean rethinking which has been ratifi ed by nearly double as cities grow even bigger nificant health benefits too; the au- impact of mining and manufacturing its the growth-oriented nature of our more than 200 countries, and more affl uent. thors estimated that shifting toward components. modern economies, Pincetl said. governments have pledged to keep global warming “well below” That’s why dealing with climate a plant-based diet would prevent Convincing urbanites to abandon “What reducing consumption implies 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and strive for a lower limit change will require getting a handle on 170,000 deaths due to heart disease, their cars will likely require government is a reduction of economic activity,” she of 1.5C. urban consumption, said John Barrett, cancer and other ailments in C40 cit- policies to promote alternative trans- said. “And in a capitalist economic sys- Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C would avoid an economist at the University of Leeds ies each year. portation. It’s particularly important tem, it’s a little scary for people to think economic losses of $12tn by 2050, according to the United who contributed to the report. “We The report also recommended in a city like Los Angeles, Pincetl said, about that kind of change.” Nations. can’t ignore demand,” he said. changing shopping habits, like ex- adding, “We can create a totally transit- Many cities show encouraging signs. Crowther Lab scientists said their study, published in the Wealthy cities in the Northern Hemi- tending the lifetime of computers and viable region. But we have to be willing Already, 27 C40 cities have seen their sphere have to take the most dramatic other electronic devices and buying to combat the car.” emissions drop. San Francisco has re- journal PLOS ONE, was the fi rst global analysis of the likely action. Already, the consumption habits fewer clothes (the authors suggest no The report also notes that fl ying is a duced its carbon footprint by 36% since shifts in climate conditions in major cities as a result of global of a C40 resident in a rich country like more than eight new items per person major source of urban emissions, and 1990 and aims to be carbon-neutral by warming. the US or Japan give them a carbon per year as a progressive target and one that won’t get greener anytime 2050. In April, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti It showed that 77% of the cities it looked at will experience a footprint more than four times bigger three items as an aggressive goal). soon. Air travel is growing far faster unrolled his version of the Green New striking change in climate conditions by 2050. than her counterpart in a C40 city in That can be a challenge, since many than progress on electric planes and Deal to put the city on the same path. Across the northern hemisphere, many cities in 30 years time Africa or Southeast Asia. people want to keep up with trends, said low-carbon jet fuel, Bailey said. Bailey said he hopes the report will could resemble places that are over 1,000km (620 miles) further These well-off urban dwellers need to Stephanie Pincetl, director of the Cali- So the authors recommend that city help city leaders and residents see just south towards the equator, said the study, which projected eliminate two-thirds of their consump- fornia Center for Sustainable Commu- dwellers cut back on fl ights under 1,000 how much they can do. tion-related emissions by 2030 to stay nities at UCLA, who was not involved in miles to one every two years, and to “This is a conversation starter,” he conditions if current plans to cut climate-changing emissions on track to limit global warming to 1.5C the report. choose options like trains instead. said. – Tribune News Service go ahead. In Europe, cities will warm by an average of about 2.5C across the year, but summers and winters could be 3.5C and 4.7C warmer, respectively, Francis-Bastin said. Globally, temperatures are likely to be 2.4C warmer on average — enough to kill nearly every coral reef and soar past targets set out in the Paris Agreement. Science fi ction: Is ‘immortality’ worth it? Under the study scenario, London’s climate in 2050 could be way to extend the life of rats is to give yielded interesting insights into our of having an Arizona-based company similar to Barcelona’s current climate, with Madrid feeling more By Martin Rees Cambridge them a near-starvation diet. But the vulnerability to some diseases, as well called Alcor freeze just their heads. The like Morocco, Seattle more like San Francisco, and Tokyo more naked mole rat may have some special as regarding our ancestry. And Craig three accept that the chance of resur- like Changsha in central China, it said. biological lessons for us; some of them Venter, a pioneer in mapping the human rection is small, but point out that it Cities in tropical regions, which are likely to see the strongest umans have long sought the live more than 30 years – several times genome, aims to analyse the genomes would be zero otherwise. impacts from climate change, will experience smaller changes elixir of youth, so it is not longer than the lifespan of other small of the thousands of species of bacteria I fi nd it hard to take this aspiration in average temperature, the study said. surprising that even non- mammals. in our gut – an internal ecosystem that seriously, and I would rather end my But they will see shifts in rainfall patterns, leading to more Hscientists closely follow the Any major breakthrough in extending may very well be crucial to our health. days in an English churchyard than an severe fl ooding and droughts, researchers said. latest research into ageing. But is what human life expectancy would drastically The longing for eternal youth in American freezer. And I don’t think most people consider simply a fact of alter population projections. The social Silicon Valley stems not only from the it would be good if cryonics ever did Of the 22% of cities that will see “unprecedented” climate life actually a “disease” that can be eff ects, while obviously huge, would immense wealth of its leading lights, succeed. Let’s suppose Alcor stays in shifts, 64% are located in the tropics and include Kuala Lumpur, cured? Or is there some insurmountable depend on whether the years of senility but also from a culture that regards business and dutifully cares for its cryo- Jakarta, Rangoon and Singapore, researchers said. limit to the lifespan of human bodies? were prolonged, too; whether women’s those above the age of 30 as over the genically frozen bodies for the requisite The study may help cities modify their planning to combat Of course, almost everyone would age at menopause would increase; and hill. The futurist Ray Kurzweil hopes number of centuries. The corpses would specifi c climate risks, Francis-Bastin said. welcome an extension of their healthy how families would be structured if for a metaphorical “escape velocity,” then be “revived” in a world where they He said he also hoped it would help persuade people to change lifespan, and some scientists are looking many generations were alive at the same when medicine advances so fast that would be strangers – refugees from the their lifestyles to cut planet-warming emissions and cut the at increasingly extreme ways to achieve time. Expensive treatments to extend life expectancy increases by more than past. risks. that. Yet if we could stay alive only with human lives could also have implica- a year each year, offering the prospect Perhaps they would be treated indul- the help of extreme measures, many of tions for inequality; as in many other of immortality. Or perhaps computers gently, as most people believe distressed us would opt instead for non-resusci- areas of technology, the wealthy would will become so advanced that we will asylum seekers or displaced Amazonian tation and solely palliative treatment. be most able to aff ord such services. be able to download our brains into an tribespeople should be treated today. To Advertise We might also fi nd comfort in having The powerful desire for a longer electronic simulacrum, and perpetu- The diff erence, however, is that the the option of “assisted dying” as soon lifespan creates a ready market for ate our consciousness and memories thawed-out corpses would be burden- [email protected] as our quality of life and our prognosis exotic therapies of untested effi cacy. that way. ing future generations by choice, so it is Display dipped below a certain threshold. More- For example, Ambrosia, a US start-up But hardcore longevity enthusiasts not clear how much consideration they over, a huge increase in life expectancy founded in 2016, has been off ering Sili- worry that “escape velocity” may not be would deserve. 44466621 44418811 could have undesirable and far-reaching con Valley executives a transfusion of reached within their expected natural The prospect of human immortality consequences for society as a whole. “young blood,” although the company lifetime, and therefore want their bodies has long been the stuff of science fic- Classified Much serious research into ageing halted the treatment earlier this year frozen from the moment they die until tion. The world will be a better place if it 44466609 44418811 now focuses on stretches of DNA called following a warning from US regulators. immortality is possible. Not so long ago, remains so. – Project Syndicate telomeres that shorten as people age. Another recent life-extending craze was three academics in the United Kingdom Subscription By adjusting the telomeres of nematode metformin, a drug intended to treat dia- (though not, I’m glad to say, from Cam- Martin Rees, a cosmologist and worms, for example, scientists have betes, but which some claim can stave bridge, my university) signed up to have astrophysicist, has been Britain’s [email protected] managed to increase the lifespan of off dementia and cancer in otherwise their dead bodies’ blood replaced with Astronomer Royal since 1995. He is these creatures tenfold, although the healthy people. liquid nitrogen. One went all-in with a former Master of Trinity College, same approach has less eff ect on more More credibly, human-genome the Michigan-based Cryonics Institute, Cambridge, and former President of the © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved complex animals. The only eff ective analysis by US company 23andMe has while two took the lower-price option Royal Society. Gulf Times Saturday, July 13, 2019 15 COMMENT No excuse for violence against children

By Zoleka Mandela, Etienne Krug, justice, large segments of the public and Howard Taylor sector in some countries lack appro- Geneva priately trained professionals to care for child survivors of violence. The global health community t the World Health Assembly has confronted similar challenges in May, we made the case for before. There has been tremendous why governments and United progress toward ending childhood ANations agencies need to deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, spend more on measures to prevent and other preventable diseases. noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), These gains are the result of politi- injury, and violence against children. cal and financial commitments, and One of us – Zoleka Mandela – spoke of sustained attention and action of losing her 13-year-old daughter to on the part of governments and a drunk driver, and of suff ering sexual multilateral institutions. The same violence as a child at the hands of level of commitment and action is adults who should have been taking needed to address the scourge of care of her. “It was an abuse of power, violence against children. and it was a violation of trust,” she told Making the investments needed to the assembly. “It left me emotionally end violence against children will also and mentally scarred. It led me to self- accelerate progress toward a number of harm and to try to take my own life other Sustainable Development Goals. several times. It led to alcohol and drug But if we do not make those invest- dependency.” ments, the hard-fought progress that We hope this personal account of has already been made toward univer- trauma will serve as a reminder to sal healthcare, high-quality education, leaders around the world that violence, and other SDGs will be off set, or even mental and sexual trauma, and sub- reversed. stance abuse are interrelated issues Nelson Mandela once observed that, that can have a deep and lasting impact “There can be no keener revelation of on the lives of children. The evidence a society’s soul than the way in which for this is overwhelming. In this year it treats its children.” To keep the alone, an estimated 1bn children will momentum from the WHA’s 72nd ses- experience physical, sexual, or psycho- sion this year, we must appreciate the logical violence at home, in school, on- personal stories and shocking statistics line, and in their communities. One in about the ongoing scourge of violence four will suff er physical abuse; if they against children. Finding inspiration in are girls, nearly one in fi ve will suff er of violence lasts long after the abuse available, and the political will to in reducing violence against children. children, and to co-ordinate policies the progress made so far, world leaders sexual abuse in their lifetimes. itself. Victims often experience life- address the problem is at an all-time Health policy is a crucial component between ministries of health and child must redouble their commitment to Violence against children is persist- long social, emotional, and cognitive high. As part of the Sustainable of progress, and there are some en- protective services. More governments ensure that all children are aff orded the ent and pervasive, regardless of gender consequences. They are at higher risk Development Agenda in 2015, world couraging signs on this front. In 2017, and public-health agencies are recog- safety and opportunities they deserve. and geography. If we open our eyes, we not just of depression, anxiety, and leaders committed to ending all forms for example, India’s National Health nising the link between violence and – Project Syndicate will see a constant stream of stories suicide, but also heart disease, obes- of violence, abuse, and neglect against Policy identifi ed gender violence mental health, and are taking positive about its victims. They come from all ity, and HIV/Aids. And these eff ects children by 2030. To defend the right as one of the country’s seven major steps to provide psychosocial support Zoleka Mandela is a writer and walks of life, from a young girl in India are regularly passed down to the next of every child to live free from fear, ne- public-health concerns. Likewise, for victims. activist. Etienne Krug is Director of the who reports that her family sold her generation, because children who grow glect, abuse, and exploitation, the Glo- Rwanda’s national reproductive health But the battle is not won. Violence- World Health Organisation’s (WHO) to sex traffi ckers to the French actor up in abusive homes are more likely bal Partnership to End Violence against strategy now includes prevention and prevention and response services Department for Management of Non- Thierry Beccaro, who has revealed that to become abusers themselves, and to Children and its associated Fund were response to sexual violence as a top are still absent in many areas; where communicable Diseases, Disability, he was brutally beaten by his father fi nd themselves in abusive relation- established in 2016. The same year, priority. services are available, children are Violence, and Injury Prevention (NVI). throughout his childhood. ships as adults. the World Health Organisation issued In addition to these specifi c exam- too often treated without the benefi t Howard Taylor is Executive Director of What these and countless other Still, prevention is possible, re- its INSPIRE report, outlining seven ples, a broader eff ort is under way to of evidence-based protocols. From the Global Partnership to End Violence trauma stories show is that the impact sponse services can be made more strategies that have proven successful promote universal health coverage for medicine and counselling to criminal Against Children (GPEVAC).

Making the most of malaria vaccine Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 440c Minimum Temperature : 340c By Ifeanyi M. Nsofor young children, RTS,S is now being company, which has so far given 13mn Instead of perpetuating vertical health Abuja made available through routine im- people access to urgent treatments, programmes that focus on specifi c SUNDAY munisation programmes in selected recently expanded its drone delivery diseases, international partners should Maximum Temperature : 430c areas in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. services to Ghana. Another tech-based be supporting this process in the Minimum Temperature : 330c new malaria vaccine now But while an estimated 360,000 solution that should be considered is countries where they work. MONDAY being piloted in Sub-Saharan children are expected to receive RTS,S the use of mobile phones to manage Of course, even if countries fulfi l Maximum Temperature : 430c Africa, where 90% of malaria each year, those programmes – and the vaccine stocks and prevent shortages all of these imperatives, the RTS,S Minimum Temperature : 330c cases occur, could be a game health systems in which they operate – at primary healthcare facilities. vaccine’s effi cacy is only partial. Other A Fisherman's forecast changer in global health. But, if the have serious weaknesses. Yet another imperative for countries proven methods for preventing malar- new vaccine is to fulfi ll its potential, One weakness lies in the storage and across Asia and Africa is to reduce ia – such as long-lasting insecticide- WARNING health ministries will need to make delivery of vaccines. The potency of their dependence on Gavi, the Vac- treated nets (LLIN), intermittent pre- Inshore : Strong wind at some places by midday some important changes. a vaccine dose depends on whether it cine Alliance, for funding vaccination ventive therapy for pregnant women, Each year, malaria kills 1mn people has remained in a well-functioning programmes. Since 2001, Gavi has dis- proper sanitation, and the application Offshore : Nil worldwide, the majority of whom are “cold chain” – a system for storing bursed $893mn to Pakistan, $565mn to of residual insecticide – must be WEATHER children under fi ve years of age. The and transporting vaccines at recom- Nigeria, and $222mn to Afghanistan, sustained and improved. For example, Inshore : Hot daytime with slight economic costs of the disease in Africa mended temperatures – from the to name three examples. LLINs that are distributed to protect dust to blowing dust at – treatment expenses, absentee- point of manufacture to the point of Rather than continue to depend on against malaria are often repurposed some places ism from work, foregone education, use. To fulfi l the purpose of childhood external donors – and risk suff ering as fi shing nets in Kenya, household Offshore : Slight dust at times with decreased productivity, and loss of in- vaccinations, the cold chains leading the consequences of donor fatigue – curtains in Madagascar, and protection some clouds vestment and tourism – are estimated to children everywhere – including in countries need to take control of their for plant seedlings in Nigeria. WIND Inshore : Northwesterly-North- to reach $12bn annually. remote areas – must be safeguarded vaccination programmes. One way Immunisation is one of the most easterly 12-22/28 KT The new RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) vac- and, where necessary, strengthened. to do that is by introducing publicly cost-eff ective public-health inter- cine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline This means investing in reliable funded universal health coverage. ventions. The RTS,S vaccine is no Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- over 32 years at a cost of more than equipment for vaccine storage and As it stands, millions of people diff erent, especially because it can be easterly 05-15/20 KT $700mn, could go a long way toward transport, adequate maintenance of in Asia and Africa lack access to deployed through existing immunisa- Visibility : 4-8/3 KM changing that. In clinical trials among that equipment, personnel to manage adequate, aff ordable, and reliable tion programmes. But delivering them children aged 5-17 months who vaccine distribution, and eff ective healthcare. Many are forced to forego remains a challenge in some areas. Offshore : 2-4/6 FT received four doses, the vaccine pre- monitoring of the whole system. It life-saving health interventions, If leaders fail to meet that challenge, Around the region vented approximately four in 10 (39%) also means investing in infrastructure simply because they cannot cover the millions more children may not make Weather cases of malaria over four years of (such as roads) and, where confl ict and astronomical out-of-pocket costs. it to their fi fth birthdays. – Project Weather tomorrow follow-up, and about three in 10 (29%) insecurity drive up the costs of such In line with the United Nations Sus- Syndicate today Max/min Max/min Sunny cases of severe malaria, with signifi - investment, in innovative delivery tainable Development Goals, countries Baghdad Sunny 43/27 42/27 Sunny cant reductions in hospital admis- mechanisms. should be working to change this, by Ifeanyi M. Nsofor, a medical doc- Kuwait CityCloudy 46/32 44/32 Cloudy sions. The need for blood transfusions Zipline, a Rwandan tech fi rm, has ensuring health coverage – includ- tor, is CEO of EpiAFRIC, Director of Manama Cloudy 40/34 39/33 M Sunny in severe cases was cut by 29%. pioneered the use of drones to deliver ing fi nancial-risk protection and Policy and Advocacy for Nigeria Health Muscat Sunny 38/32 38/33 M Sunny The fi rst vaccine shown to provide blood, vaccines, medications, and access to essential healthcare services, Watch, and 2019 Atlantic Fellow for Tehran M Sunny 41/28 41/28 partial protection against malaria in other essential healthcare goods. The medicines, and vaccines – for all. Health Equity at George Washington Live issues Obsessing over good eating

Do you feel intensely guilty if you stray from your By Barbara Quinn Around the world The Monterey County Herald diet? If these are indicators of disordered eating, let’s Weather Weather turn them around to look at what most experts would today Max/min tomorrow Max/min hen does one’s concern for proper consider normal eating: Athens M Sunny 30/22 S Showers 31/21 nutrition turn into a pathological You’re more preoccupied with living life than you Beirut Sunny 29/24 Sunny 29/24 condition? When the desire to eat a are with food. You take time to plan balanced meals, Bangkok P Cloudy 34/27 S T Storms 35/27 Whealthful diet turns into an unhealthy shop for and prepare healthful food but it doesn’t take Berlin S Showers 25/13 S Showers 24/13 obsession, say experts. Mental health experts call it over your entire day. Cairo Sunny 37/23 Sunny 37/24 “orthorexia nervosa” which literally means “proper You actually enjoy a variety of healthful foods and Cape Town Sunny 17/10 P Cloudy 15/11 appetite ... carried to the extreme.” you make a point to include fresh ingredients in your Colombo S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 Hey, we all get a little crazy about food at times, meals. But you don’t necessarily look down on others Dhaka T Storm 31/27 T Storm 31/27 right? I went through my share of rigid eating habits who may not share the same joy in your dietary choices. Hong Kong S T Storms 29/27 S T Storms 29/27 in my younger years. Orthorexia is rigid eating on Many experts recognise orthorexia as an obsessive- You don’t preach to your children or others that Istanbul M Sunny 26/18 S Showers 25/18 steroids. Not to be confused with anorexia or bulimia compulsive-type of eating disorder although the certain foods are made by the devil. Instead, you set Jakarta Sunny 32/24 M Sunny 32/23 which focus on the quantity of food eaten, those with American Psychiatric Association has not yet made a good example by choosing healthful foods most of Karachi Cloudy 33/29 Cloudy 33/29 orthorexia focus on the quality of food eaten. Eating it an off icial diagnosis. the time. And you recognise that movie popcorn is not London S Showers 24/14 M Cloudy 21/12 becomes a ritual. And any food believed to be un- going to kill you. Manila S T Storms 33/26 T Storm 33/26 healthy or impure is rigidly avoided. In this desire to these questions that indicate a tendency toward this You strive to make reasonable decisions about Moscow P Cloudy 19/11 P Cloudy 19/12 achieve a perfect diet, many end up with nutritional condition: food, such as saying no to fried Oreos at the county New Delhi P Cloudy 38/29 M Sunny 37/28 defi ciencies, medical complications and not much Do you care more about the virtue of what you eat fair. But you might share an ice cream cone with your New York Sunny 32/23 P Cloudy 31/20 fun in their lives. That’s why some have described than the pleasure you receive from eating it? grandchildren without feeling bad about it. Paris M Sunny 27/14 P Cloudy 24/12 orthorexia as “a disease disguised as a virtue.” Do you spend more than three hours a day think- You don’t avoid social gatherings simply because Sao Paulo P Cloudy 26/13 P Cloudy 27/15 Many experts recognise orthorexia as an obsessive- ing about healthy foods? some of the food may not be up to your standards. You Seoul S T Storms 28/21 S T Storms 29/21 compulsive-type of eating disorder although the Do you look down on other people who do not eat make reasonable choices within the choices you have. Singapore S T Storms 31/27 S T Storms 31/27 American Psychiatric Association has not yet made it like you? You realise that sometimes life happens and per- Sydney Cloudy 14/06 Sunny 15/09 an offi cial diagnosis. Nevertheless, in 1997, Dr Steven Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality fect meals are not always a reality. You forgive yourself Tokyo Clear 27/20 Cloudy 24/20 Bratman coined the term “orthorexia” and devised of your diet increased? and go on. – Tribune News Service Gulf Times 16 Saturday, July 13, 2019 QATAR

A young visitor enjoying a game in the SEC’s VR section. Children in the VR and e-Gaming arena. SEC a hub for video and VR gaming

By Joey Aguilar massive and high-end VR gam- footfall despite the summer sea- Besides the SEC, QSports is Staff Reporter ing setup that has been highly son when people tend to travel, also currently running the Doha popular among the local com- due to the wider range available Workers Cricket Cup, which is munity. in the VR and e-Gaming arena, supported by QNTC as part of he 2019 Summer En- As part of the highlights of the more shopping outlets and food SiQ 2019. tertainment City (SEC) SEC, QSports allotted a 6,000sq options, among others, Kassab “This tournament is for blue- Temerged as a hub for video m dedicated area to this section, said. collar workers,” Yousri said. “We and virtual reality (VR) gaming in which hosts “some of the world’s “The SEC is where everyone are also running two summer Qatar since it opened in the fi rst most advanced VR simulators, can come and enjoy as a family camps at two state-of-the-art week of June at Doha Exhibition gaming stations and themed under one roof. We are proud to facilities. One is happening at and Convention Centre, the or- gaming areas”. announce that we have served Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The ganisers said. Other popular video/arcade up to 54,000 visitors so far,” she Pearl-Doha and the other at Al “Games such as PUBG and and VR gaming options for both added. Dana Club.” Fortnite are very popular among children and adults include Pac- According to QSports media SiQ also features the Heritage the adults. We have seen groups Man, Beat Sabers and FIFA. manager Qazi Yousri, the City’s Week Old Souk at Tawar Mall, of men coming and challeng- The SEC, organised by shopping souq also received a which runs until July 20 from ing each other at these games,” QSports in partnership with the positive response from the pub- 7pm to 10pm. QSports head of Business Man- Qatar National Tourism Council, lic, off ering a wide range of food Other malls such as Gulf Mall, agement Unit Aya Kassab told concludes today while other SiQ and non-food items from diff er- Doha Festival City, The Mall, Gulf Times. activities and off erings will con- ent shops in Qatar and 25 diff er- Mirqab Mall, Al Khor Mall, La- Kassab stressed that the SEC, tinue until August 16. ent countries, including India, goona Mall, Landmark Mall, a 29,000sq m entertainment fa- “We believe the biggest Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ser- Tawar Mall and Hyatt Plaza are cility for the ‘Summer in Qatar achievement of SEC 2019 is that bia, Turkey, Kuwait, South Korea hosting the Ice Age’s ‘Meet & (SiQ) 2019’ programme, hosts a we were able to have a higher and Thailand, among others. Greet’ sessions until today. The VR section occupies a 6,000sq m area at the SEC. 300 students graduate in fi rst group of ‘Tomorrow’s Offi cers’ programme

he graduation ceremony of staff , in preparing the students to ing and implementing the youth as well as the services rendered by cation, health, as well as the value the fi rst group of this year’s attain this level. programme from summer last the Qatari government. of security and safety, he added. T‘Tomorrow’s Offi cers’ pro- He highlighted the skills and year and the experience proved Students aged 9-11 years are The ceremony included a doc- gramme was held at the Police military discipline the students successful as they received some given training in self-defence, umentary fi lm, presenting the College on Thursday. showed during the parade of self- 2,000 students from the primary archery, martial arts, swimming, programme’s daily activities, the A total of 300 students gradu- defence skills and arresting the stage, the offi cial Qatar News horse-riding and shooting. Par- training and the various sports and ated in the group after completing wanted, which indicated that they Agency (QNA) reported. ticipants are given training in educational activities the students the training programme, which learned about an important aspect He noted that due to the pro- policing and military skills. Be- took part in. The students also included infantry, self-defence, fi t- of security work and the role played gramme’s success and the par- sides, learning sessions that help presented a number of military ness, archery and horse-riding, the by the police in maintaining the se- ents’ satisfaction, the college students acquire behavioural and and sports shows at the ceremony. Ministry of Interior said in a tweet. curity and safety of the country and continued to work this year to in- leadership qualities and educa- Further, the event featured a The ceremony was held in the all members of society. crease the number of students to tional skills are also held as part of poetry recital and a speech on the presence of Maj Gen Dr Abdullah Maj Gen Dr al-Mal added that 2,600. He thanked the faculty of the programme. participating students, expressing Yousif al-Mal, adviser to HE the the programme came as part of police offi cers and trainers for the Head of training at the college, appreciation for the programme’s Minister of Interior and vice-pres- the directives of HE the Prime success of this programme. Maj Fahad Saeed al-Subaie, said participants as well as refl ecting ident of the Supreme Council of the Minister and Minister of Inte- The ‘Tomorrow’s Offi cers’ ini- the programme is implemented by their happiness with what they Police College, parents of the grad- rior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser tiative includes training sessions, highly qualifi ed offi cers with long gained during the programme. uates and offi cials from the MoI. bin Khalifa al-Thani to the Police physical exercises, and various experience in dealing with young Parents attending the event Maj Gen Dr al-Mal expressed College to set a plan to develop learning and entertainment pro- people. This year, the college en- also expressed their happiness admiration for the skills of the an interest among the youth at an grammes. The camp was envi- sured that the sports activities with the programme and appre- participating students, refl ect- early age, and train and rehabili- sioned in order to help the stu- highlighted diff erent social values ciated the attention given to their ing the success achieved by the tate them scientifi cally, intellec- dent community learn about the such as ethics, honouring parents, children by the ministry, repre- programme. He also valued the tually, religiously and sports-wise values of the country, groom them giving, honesty, loyalty to work, sented by the college. eff orts made by the offi cers and during the summer vacation. as ideal citizens and make them serving the country and appreciat- The two-week training pro- trainers, from among the college The college started design- aware of their duties to the nation ing the State’s sponsorship of edu- gramme had started on June 30.

Snapshots from the graduation ceremony. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam and supplied