QATAR | Page 16 BUSINESS | Page 1 China to counter latest US tariff s as Trump Indian community vows deal celebrates 73rd on America terms Independence Day published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11277 August 16, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 15, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Space tourism moves a step closer to reality

QATAR | Diplomacy Gibraltar Amir holds phone talk with Putin His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. decides to They reviewed strategic bilateral relations and means to enhance them in all fields. The Amir and the Russian president expressed their satisfaction with the strong level of bilateral co-operation, particularly in the commerce and economy fields. free Iran’s The Amir invited Putin to visit Qatar. The Russian leader congratulated the Amir on the advent of Eid al- Adha and invited him to participate in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2020. The Amir welcomed the invitation. The Amir oil tanker and Putin also discussed the latest regional developments. This undated Virgin Galatic and Spaceship Company handout photo obtained on Wednesday shows Virgin Galactic’s US seeks to detain ship, UK says Spaceflight System as it prepares for flight at Spaceport America in the desert near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Space QATAR | Offi cial Tehran must abide by assurances tourism moved a step closer to reality yesterday as Virgin Galactic unveiled its new Mission Control at the spaceport and the Amir greets Indian schedule for final test flights before taking paying customers into the final frontier. president on I-Day Reuters a new legal procedure for the detention His Highness the Amir Sheikh London/ Gibraltar of the vessel should be commenced,” Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Picardo said. His Highness the Deputy Amir “That is a matter for our independ- Israel bars visit Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- ritain’s Mediterranean territory ent Mutual Legal Assistance authori- GDI signs joint venture Thani yesterday sent cables of Gibraltar yesterday decided to ties who will make an objective, legal congratulations to Indian President Bfree a seized Iranian oil tanker, determination of that request for sepa- by two US Ram Nath Kovind on the occasion but did not immediately indicate when rate proceedings.” agreement with Seadrill of the anniversary of his country’s or if the ship would set sail after the Iran said the ship would sail shortly congresswomen Independence Day. HE the Prime United States launched a new, last- and Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Minister and Minister of Interior minute legal bid to hold it. Zarif characterised the US bid to pre- ulf Drilling International The fi rm terms of the well-based Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin The Grace 1 was seized by British vent it from leaving as “piracy”. (GDI), a wholly owned sub- contracts will commence in 2020 Khalifa al-Thani also sent a similar Royal Marine commandos in dark- “America desperately tried to block Gsidiary of Gulf International with initial terms concluding in 2023 cable to Indian Prime Minister ness off the coast of the territory at the t he release of the tanker at the last Services (GIS), has executed a joint and 2024 and an estimated total con- Narendra Modi on the occasion. western mouth of the Mediterranean minute, but faced a miserable defeat,” venture agreement with Seadrill tract value (including mobilisation on July 4 on suspicion of violating Eu- Iran’s ambassador to Britain, Hamid Limited to service the Qatar Petro- income) of QATAR | Cables ropean Union sanctions by taking oil to Baeidinejad, said on Twitter. leum North Field Expansion drilling QR 2.39bn. The contracts include Syria, a close ally of Iran. “All preparations are done for the programme. single well-based options which Amir sends greetings Two weeks later, Iran seized a Brit- tanker to sail into open waters, and the The joint venture, which will be could add up to an estimated 13.7 to S Korean president ish-fl agged tanker in the Strait of Hor- vessel will soon leave Gibraltar.” established by Qatar Financial Centre cumulative years of term and an ad- His Highness the Amir Sheikh muz leading into the Gulf. The tanker remains anchored, under a 50:50 ownership structure, ditional contract value of QR 2.55bn. This combination of pictures shows Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and The two tankers have become pawns though its prow has moved around by will be named “GulfDrill”. The options could be exercised only Ilhan (L) and Rashida during a press His Highness the Deputy Amir in the standoff between Iran and the at least 180 degrees. GIS is one of the largest service if the contractual stipulations are conference, at the US Capitol. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- West, their fate tangled up in the diplo- Earlier, a small vessel approached groups in Qatar, with interests in a realised prior to the end of the fi rm Thani yesterday sent cables of matic diff erences between the EU’s big the Grace 1, which lowered a step lad- broad cross-section of industries, contracts period. If the options are srael said yesterday it will bar a congratulations to South Korean powers and the United States. der that at least two persons used it to ranging from insurance, re-insur- exercised by the customer at a later planned visit by two US congress- President Moon Jae-in on the Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picar- reach the ship deck where they shook ance, onshore and off shore drilling, date, GIS will announce the award of Iwomen who have supported a boy- occasion of his country’s National do decided to lift the detention order hands with people already on board. accommodation barge, helicopter the options accordingly. cott of the country over its treatment Day. HE the Prime Minister and after formal written assurances from Te- Jalil Eslami, deputy head of Iran’s transportation, and catering services. William Ceppi, GDI’s Chief Execu- of the Palestinians, a decision strongly Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah hran that the ship would not discharge its Ports and Maritime Organisation, told The joint venture is formed to tive Offi cer, stated: “We are pleased encouraged by President Donald Trump. bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also 2.1mn barrels of oil in Syria. the semi-offi cial Mehr news agency the support the execution of the drilling with the continued collaboration Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a cable of congratulations to “In light of the assurances we have Grace 1 would head to “Mediterranean contracts which have been awarded with our joint venture partner. We called the highly unusual move against South Korean Prime Minister Lee received, there are no longer any rea- ports”, citing “an announcement by the to GDI, a release issued by GIS yes- look forward to working closely with Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib neces- Nak-yeon on the occasion. sonable grounds for the continued legal owner of the tanker”. terday said. all stakeholders on this signifi cant sary, charging that their “sole purpose detention of the Grace 1 in order to en- Britain’s Foreign Offi ce said Iran GDI has no required capital con- project and we remain honoured to is to harm Israel and increase incite- AMERICA | Weather sure compliance with the EU Sanctions must abide by its pledge that the ship tribution to the joint venture. GDI be entrusted to continue our safe and ment against it”. Regulation,” Picardo said. would not sail for Syria. will be subcontracted by the joint effi cient operations for Qatar Petro- US politicians called on Israel to re- July 2019 hottest However, Gibraltar officials did not There was “no comparison or link- venture to mobilise and manage the leum.” consider, while senior Palestinian of- month on record make clear whether the US legal bid age between Iran’s unacceptable and rigs to meet the requirements of the The joint venture comes in line fi cial Hanan Ashrawi labelled it “an July 2019 temperatures were the would mean the ship would have to illegal seizure of, and attacks on, com- drilling contracts. The joint venture with GIS’s strategy to capture new outrageous act of hostility against the hottest ever recorded globally, be detained further or, if so, for how mercial shipping vessels in the Strait will source rigs directly from Seadrill, business opportunities that would American people and their representa- the US National Oceanic and long. of Hormuz and the enforcement of EU and any additional rigs required will potentially help increase revenues tives”. Omar said it was a “chilling” Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “Separately, the United States De- Syria sanctions by the Government of be sourced from an unrelated third- and ultimately maximise shareholder decision and an “insult to democratic said yesterday. Page 5 partment of Justice has requested that Gibraltar,” it added in a statement. party shipyard. value. values.” To Page 3 S Indian stars rock Qatar audience at awards event

By Shafeeq Alingal the Telugu and Kannada fi lm indus- Staff Reporter tries, including actors, singers, direc- tors, writers, music directors, produc- ers and technicians. lamour and glitter marked the They included Keerthy Suresh, Vijay fi rst day of the eighth annual Deverakonda, Yash, Shriya Saran, Raai GPantaloons South Indian Inter- Laxmi, Ashish Gandhi, Dhananjaya, national Movie Awards (SIIMA) at the Nidhhi Agerwal, Anasuya, Andrea Jer- Lusail Sports Arena yesterday, as a gal- emiah, Sundeep Kishan, Shanvi Srivat- axy of stars descended on Doha to be a sava, Ananya Bhat, Vijay Raghavendra, part of the two-day mega show. Sharmila Mandre, Anupama, Malvika Yesterday saw the celebration of Telu- Sharma, Hebah Patel, Rajasree Pon- gu and Kannada cinema, as awards were nappa, Radhika Sarathkumar and Devi given away in various categories and stars Sri Prasad. enthralled the crowd with some scintil- Also present was noted trade ana- lating performances on stage. lyst Taran Adarsh. A number of dig- Among those present on the occa- Payal Rajput with the award for Best nitaries were also in attendance yes- sion were superstar Chiranjeevi and a Superstar Chiranjeevi with Indian ambassador P Kumaran and others at the SIIMA Anupama Gowda with the award for Debut Actor Female (Telugu). Courtesy terday, including Indian ambassador host of other famous personalities from 2019 ceremony at Lusail Sports Arena yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma Best Debut Actor Female (Kannada). of SIIMA Facebook page P Kumaran.To Page 16 Gulf Times 2 Friday, August 16, 2019 QATAR Eid al-Adha festivities conclude at Katara

QNA Doha

he Cultural Village Foun- dation’s Eid al-Adha Tfestivities concluded on Wednesday. The festivities were held dur- ing the Eid holidays during which hundreds of families en- joyed an exciting day full of fun and joy with plenty of entertain- ment facilities dedicated for the children to enjoy. Director of Public Relations Department, Katara, Salem Mabkhout al-Marri said the Katara’s Eid al-Adha festivities were successful in attracting large numbers of citizens, resi- dents and visitors from outside Qatar who enjoyed the beautiful A musical show was performed by the Police Training Institute. Children receiving gifts on the occasion. performances in an exceptional atmosphere of entertainment and real fun. Katara was keen on making the excitement of Eid al-Adha a better experience by blending fun with knowledge as the cul- tural village is full of art and cul- tural activities. A fascinating fi reworks show was featured to mark the end of the Eid festivities in Katara. A musical show was per- formed by the Police Training Institute. The Qatari national anthem was performed at the event. Meanwhile, the Al Thuraya Planetarium screened 3d fi lms – The Space dawn age fi lm, The perfect little planet and The As- tronaut. Fireworks light up the sky above Katara. Families enjoyed an exciting day full of fun and joy. Spectacular show at Souq Waqif Bangladesh embassy marks National Mourning Day

he Bangladesh embassy in Doha yesterday ob- Tserved the 44th anniver- sary of the martyrdom of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and National Mourning Day with due solemnity. On the occasion, the na- An entertainment show at Souq Waqif, held as part of the Eid al-Adha celebrations. tional flag was hoisted at half- mast to commemorate the martyrdom of Bangabandhu and his family members, who were killed on August 15, 1975, the embassy said in a state- ment. The occasion was marked by Poor visibility, strong winds recitation of the holy Qur’an, and a fl oral wreath was also laid at a portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of the embassy, the during day, humid by night Bangladesh school and diff er- ent political and community organisations in Qatar to pay trong winds are expected Humid conditions will prevail The maximum temperature tribute to the Father of the Na- in some places by this af- by night, the report adds. is expected to be 41C today in tion for his great contribution Sternoon, the Qatar Met de- The wind speed will be less Wakrah, Mesaieed and Abu to the independence of Bang- partment has said. than 5 knots at first, later Samra, 40C in Doha, 39C in Al ladesh. Ambassador Ashud Ahmed delivering a speech on the occasion. This will follow a likely spell turning northwesterly-north- Khor, 38C in Dukhan and 36C in Messages delivered on the of poor visibility in parts of the easterly with a speed of 10-20 Ruwais. day by the president, prime country in the early hours of the knots. It is likely to reach a high Yesterday, a maximum of 44C minister, foreign minister and day, according to the weather re- of 24 knots in some places by was recorded in Sheehaniya, Ka- state minister for foreign aff airs port. the afternoon. rana, Turayna and Jumayliyah, of Bangladesh were read out be- In its detailed forecast, the Visibility, meanwhile, may followed by 43C in Abu Hamour, fore the gathering. department has said misty to drop to 2km or less in some areas Batna and Ghuwairiyah, 41C in In his remarks, ambassador foggy conditions are expected in by early this morning. Doha (airport area), the Qatar Ashud Ahmed paid homage to some places by early this morn- On the other hand, it will be University area and Mesaieed, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur ing, followed by a hot day with misty in some off shore areas in and 40C in Abu Samra and the Rahman whose “heroic leader- slight dust in some areas as well the early hours of the day, fol- Hamad International Airport ship ushered the Bengali nation as clouds. lowed by fi ne conditions. area. to its long-cherished dream of independence”, the statement noted. He applauded the lead- ership of Prime Minister Minor diversion on Mesaieed Road Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who has “uplifted Bangladesh as a role model of development in the comity of nations”. The envoy reaffi rmed his commitment to render maxi- mum services to the people in line with the government’s ef- forts to turn Bangladesh into ‘Golden Bengal’. He also took the opportunity to call upon all members of the Bangladeshi community in Qa- Hoisting of the national flag at half-mast. tar to abide by the law and up- hold the image of Bangladesh in Qatar. A documentary titled Our Bangabandhu was screened to highlight the life and work of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A Milad and special prayer was held “to seek eternal sal- vation of all martyrs and the peace and prosperity of Bang- ladesh”. A large number of peo- The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a minor diversion on Mesaieed Road from ple representing different tomorrow until August 23. During the diversion, which will be implemented in co-ordination with the professions, political and General Directorate of Traff ic, the service road below Hamad Port Interchange towards Al Wakrah community organisations in will be closed for the completion of bridge works, Ashghal has said in a statement. Motorists can use Qatar participated in the ob- the right turn to reach their destinations. servance of National Mourn- ing Day. The gathering at the National Mourning Day event. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Libya capital fl ights suspended after deadly rocket fi re

AFP fi re “killed a guard and wounded Mitiga airport were suspended as leading to repeated suspensions voy’s report. Haftar’s self-styled 5,752 others, according to the which is not open to commercial Tripoli several security agents tasked a result, Mejii said. Located east of fl ights. United Nations en- Libyan National Army (LNA) has World Health Organisation. fl ights, LNA spokesman General with protecting the airport,” said of Tripoli, Mitiga is a former mil- voy Ghassan Salame, in a report encountered fi erce resistance More than 120,000 people Ahmed al-Mesmari wrote on Fa- Moustafa al-Mejii, spokesman itary airbase that has been used to the UN Security Council last from pro-government forces in have been displaced. The LNA cebook. lights at the Libyan capi- for the Tripoli-based Govern- by civilian traffi c since Tripoli month, urged “authorities in the battle for Tripoli. said yesterday its air force car- The GNA, however, posted tal’s sole functioning air- ment of National Accord (GNA). international airport suff ered Tripoli to cease using the (Mitiga) A stalemate on the ground in ried out a strike against an air- pictures of a huge crater and de- Fport were suspended yes- He blamed the attack on “the severe damage during fi ghting in airport for military purposes and the capital’s southern outskirts field in Zuwara, a town west bris on the tarmac. terday after deadly overnight militias of (Khalifa) Haftar” 2014. for the attacking forces to halt has led to a greater reliance on air of Tripoli, and destroyed two Libya has been mired in chaos rocket fi re, a spokesman for the whose forces launched an of- Mitiga is in a zone under the immediately their targeting of strikes by both sides. hangars allegedly used to house since a Nato-backed uprising country’s unity government fensive on the Libyan capital in control of forces loyal to the GNA it.” The GNA protested at what it The fi ghting since April has drones. “The runway and termi- that toppled and killed dictator said. Wednesday night’s rocket April. Arrivals and departures at and has often been targeted, said were “untruths” in the en- killed 1,093 people and wounded nals were spared” at the airfi eld, Muamar Gaddafi in 2011. Sudan opposition set to nominate economist Abdalla Hamdok as PM

Reuters Freedom and Change (FFC). A dan’s Ministry of Finance in the group that spearheaded the pro- Khartoum planned new sovereign council, 1980s, before the military coup test movement and is part of the comprising fi ve members each that put Bashir in power. FFC, said in a statement. from the two sides plus a civilian Sudanese economist Amin The opposition alliance will udan’s main opposition alli- agreed by both, will name the new Hassan Sayed Ahmed said also nominate former judge and ance will nominate Abdalla premier based on the nomination Hamdok had good connections human rights activist Mohamed SHamdok, an economist by the FFC, according to a con- in the African Union and Unit- Alhafi z Mahmoud as public pros- Israeli security forces gather at the site of shooting at one of the entrances of the Al Aqsa Mosque who has served in international stitutional declaration agreed on ed Nations and might help get ecutor, opposition sources said, compound in the Old City of Jerusalem yesterday. institutions, to be prime minister earlier this month. Sudan removed from the US list and Abdelqadir Mohamed Ahmed in the country’s transitional gov- The sovereign council will be of state sponsors of terrorism, as head of the judiciary. Their ernment, opposition sources said formed on Sunday, according to which has impeded Khartoum’s appointment would also be con- yesterday. the agreed schedule, after which access to IMF and World Bank fi rmed by the sovereign council The nomination is the fi rst step the Transitional Military Council funding. after its formation. One Palestinian youth shot dead towards the creation of a transi- will be dissolved, with the prime “I think he knows how to get in The FFC and Transitional Mili- tional government that will pre- minister to be appointed on Tues- through the system, much more tary Council are expected to put pare for free elections after the day next week. than anyone else who tried be- fi nal signatures on the constitu- AFP fi cer was moderately wounded. Jerusalem’s Old City this week overthrow of veteran autocratic Hamdok, long rumoured as the fore,” said Sayed Ahmed. tional declaration tomorrow at a Jerusalem The Palestinian health min- after overlapping Jewish and president Omar al-Bashir in April FFC nominee, was last working as “We wish Dr Abdalla Hamdok ceremony in Khartoum with for- istry said one was killed, while Muslim holidays led to clashes following months of unrest. Deputy Executive Secretary of the success in one of the hardest pe- eign dignitaries attending. Israel’s Shaare Tzedek hospital at a fl ashpoint holy site. The development came after UN Economic Commission for riods in the history of our country Some caution that it is still too wo Palestinian youths said the second was left in criti- The clashes on Sunday be- protracted negotiations between Africa, and has held positions at and people, a period that the rev- early to tell how events will unfold were shot by Israeli po- cal condition. tween Israeli police and Pal- the Transitional Military Council the International Labor Organisa- olutionary Sudanese people are in the lengthy, three-year, three- Tlice offi cers in Jerusa- Another person in the area estinian worshippers at the (TMC), which has ruled Sudan tion and the African Development looking forward to and observing month transition period agreed to lem’s Old City yesterday leav- was injured in the leg, police Al Aqsa Mosque compound, since April, and the opposition Bank. with hopefulness,” the Sudanese prepare for elections after three ing one of them dead, offi cials said, without providing further wounded dozens of Palestin- alliance known as the Forces of He served as an offi cial in Su- Professionals Association, the decades of rule under Bashir. said. Israeli police said an of- details. Tensions ran high in ians. Syrian rebels launch attack Anniversary ride after government advances

Reuters ernment units, its spokesman have killed hundreds of thou- Beirut said. sands of people and driven half “It was decided to start the pre-war population of 22mn sending troops from the Na- from their homes, including rebel group will send re- tional Army starting tomor- more than 6mn as refugees to inforcements to the front row,” spokesman Major Youssef neighbouring countries. Alines of the last major Hamoud said. The United Nations and aid rebel enclave in northern Syria While the National Libera- agencies have warned of a new to oppose a government off en- tion Front normally operates humanitarian catastrophe in sive, it said yesterday. in Idlib, the National Army’s northwest Syria, as hundreds of Over the past week, the Syr- strongholds are located in an thousands of people have fl ed ian army has advanced towards area north of Aleppo. The most their homes since the govern- the town of Khan Sheikhoun in powerful group in Idlib is wide- ment’s off ensive began in late Idlib in a pincer movement that ly seen to be Hayat Tahrir al- April. could encircle the southern part Sham. On Wednesday a US agency of the rebel enclave. Colonel Mustafa Bakour, a which supports health facilities The British-based Syr- commander in the Jaish al-Izza in opposition-held areas of Syr- ian Observatory for Human rebel faction, which is also ac- ia said government air strikes Rights said that the rebels had tive in the confl ict area, told had targeted an ambulance launched a counter-attack on Reuters that rebel forces had centre, killing a paramedic, an the eastern pincer at the village advanced against government ambulance driver and a rescue of Sukeik, and that dozens had forces in the east of the prov- worker who was trying to free been killed in the fi ghting. ince. them from the rubble. The National Army and Na- On Wednesday, rebel fi ght- Mark Cutts, a UN offi cial tional Liberation Front, have ers shot down a Syrian mili- working on Syria, condemned Hezbollah members start their motorcycles in the Lebanese village of Aitaroun yesterday, during a parade marking the 13th anniversary joined forces to oppose the of- tary Sukhoi 22 jet near Khan the strike in a statement, saying of the end of the 2006 war with Israel. fensive. The National Army will Sheikhoun, a town that was hit it “highlights again the horror send more of its fi ghters to the by a sarin poison gas attack in of what’s going on in Idlib and front lines to oppose the gov- 2017. Eight years of war in Syria northern Hama”. Iran’s top diplomat to start Nordic tour Iraqi PM tightens airspace next week Israel bars visit by two US congresswomen Iran’s foreign minister is due to visit several Nordic capitals next week, the From Page 1 and Rep. Tlaib to visit,” Trump “Israel’s law prohibits the permissions after attack foreign ministries of Finland, Sweden wrote on Twitter. entry of people who call and and Denmark said yesterday. Omar and Tlaib, who is of He continued with typical act to boycott Israel, as is the Mohamed Javad Zarif’s first stop - on Palestinian origin, were ex- bombast: “They hate Israel case with other democracies DPA mand said. All parties “must campaign that routed radical IS Monday - is Helsinki, where he is pected to arrive in Israel at the & all Jewish people, & there that prevent the entry of people Baghdad comply with this directive and militants in Iraq in 2017. scheduled to meet with Finnish Presi- weekend for a visit that would is nothing that can be said or whom they see as harming the any air traffi c violation will be Abdel-Mahdi also ordered a dent Sauli Niinisto, Foreign Minister have taken them to the Pales- done to change their minds. country.” considered hostile and will be comprehensive investigation Pekka Haavisto, and the minister for tinian territories. Minnesota and Michigan will In 2017, Israel passed a law ll military planes will handled by our air defences im- into the explosion, with results development co-operation and foreign Israeli offi cials said they have a hard time putting them banning entry to foreigners need authorisation from mediately,” it added. expected within one week. trade Ville Skinnari. Finland currently would consider a separate hu- back in office. They are a dis- who support boycotting the AIraqi Prime Minister Ab- On Monday, at least one ci- He urged fi nalising plans to holds the rotating presidency of the manitarian request from Tlaib grace!” country. del Abdel-Mahdi to fl y in Iraqi vilian was killed when a weap- move all camps and depots af- European Union. Tensions in the Gulf to visit family members in the Tlaib is from Michigan and The law was passed in re- airspace, a statement said yes- ons depot blew up at al-Saqr fi liated with “the Interior and were expected to be at the centre of occupied West Bank, a trip for Omar from Minnesota. sponse to a movement to boy- terday, days after an explosion camp, which is run by militia Defence Ministries as well as talks in the Nordic capitals, as well as which she would have to pass Netanyahu alleged the itin- cott Israel. took place at a weapons depot Hashd Shaabi, in south-west the Hashd Shaabi and other bilateral relations, international and through Israel. erary of the congresswom- Israel sees the movement as a in Baghdad. Baghdad. factions that took part in the regional issues. Zarif continues to Swe- Israel announced its decision en showed they intended to strategic threat and accuses it of Iraqi or non-Iraqi recon- The cause of the explosion is fi ght against IS to outside the den on Tuesday for a two-day visit, shortly after Trump called on strengthen the boycott move- anti-Semitism — a claim activ- naissance fl ights, fi ghter jets, still unclear, though some re- cities.” including talks with Foreign Minister the country to bar the Demo- ment against Israel. ists deny. helicopters and drones must get ports said it was due to a strike In December 2017, Iraq de- Margot Wallstrom. cratic congresswomen who are “As a vibrant and free de- Both Omar and Tlaib have permission from Abdel-Mahdi targeting the depot. Hashd clared victory over IS, having The Iranian top diplomat’s last stop on among his sharpest critics. mocracy, Israel is open to any been critical of Israel’s occupa- – who is also the Commander Shaabi, or the Popular Mobi- recaptured the large swathes of Thursday is Oslo, where he is due to “It would show great weak- critic and criticism, with one tion of the West Bank and treat- of the Armed Forces, the Iraqi lisation Forces, have played a territory taken by the extrem- meet with Prime Minister Erna Solberg ness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar exception,” Netanyahu said. ment of Palestinians. — AFP army’s Joint Operations Com- major role in the US-backed ists in 2014 and 2015. among others. Gulf Times 4 Friday, August 16, 2019 AFRICA Zimbabwe rights activists abducted and beaten ahead of protests

By MacDonald Dzirutwe, Reuters Mangwana pointed a fi nger at disgruntled Harare former members of Mugabe’s government, saying they were determined to soil Mnan- gagwa’s reputation through “various acts of ix Zimbabwean political activists were malice and criminality to cause both local abducted from their homes at night and international outrage”. Sand beaten by armed men this week, The US embassy in Harare said in a state- a coalition of rights groups said yesterday, ment it was concerned by the torture alle- ahead of planned street demonstrations by gations and urged protesters to be peaceful. the main opposition party. It said political dialogue and political and The opposition Movement for Democratic economic reforms were the answer to Zim- Change (MDC), which disputes Emmer- babwe’s problems. son Mnangagwa’s presidential election win Authorities are jittery following violence Guinean President Alpha Conde, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara take part in a ceremony marking the 75th last year, has called today’s protest against that rocked the country in January, when anniversary of the Allied landings in Provence during World War II, in Saint-Raphael yesterday. the government’s handling of the economy, protests against a sharp fuel price rise re- which is facing its worst crisis in a decade. sulted in looting of shops. The MDC has said the demonstrations will When the army was deployed, some pro- be peaceful, but police have said they believe testers were shot and rights groups said doz- the protest will turn violent. ens of activists were seized from their homes Macron recalls role of African troops in WWII The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Fo- in night raids and badly beaten by security rum, a coalition of rights groups, said it sus- agents. pected state security agents were behind the Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said law en- DPA African fi ghters in the French Army locations after African fi ghters. occupying Nazi Germany. abductions and beatings of the rights activ- forcement offi cers had recovered stones and Saint-Raphael during World War II. The landing operation on the Macon mentioned at the celebra- ists accused of planning the protests. catapults stashed in central Harare, that he France carries a part of Africa southern French coast began on Au- tion, for example, snipers from Mo- “The developments so far point to a real said were part of evidence that showed that within itself, Macron said yesterday gust 15, 1944. rocco, Tunisia and Algeria who took risk that the people of Zimbabwe’s funda- Friday’s demonstrations would be violent. rench President Emmanuel at the ceremonial act in the southern While the military operation in part in the operation. mental freedoms are once again in danger He said he was not aware of the abduc- Macron yesterday used the coastal city of Saint-Raphael. the Provence region is less known Guinean President Alpha Conde and this must be stopped before it gets out tions. F75th anniversary of the landing “The life of these African heroes than the so-called D-Day landing in and Ivorian President Alassane of control,” Jestina Mukoko, who chairs the Since Wednesday, the police have in- of allied troops in south-east France must be part of our lives as free Normandy on June 6, 1944, Ouattara as well as former French forum, told reporters. creased patrols in Harare ahead of the MDC to call for the renaming of streets citizens,” he said, calling on French the Provence operation led to the president Nicolas Sarkozy also par- “Sadly, these developments remind us of protests, which the party said would be and monuments in the honour of mayors to name important public liberation of southern France from ticipated in the memorial event. the atrocities committed earlier this year rolled out in other cities next week. in January,” she said, referring to a military Soaring infl ation is eroding wages and crackdown on violent protests that led to the pensions, bringing back memories of hyper- death of more than a dozen people. infl ation a decade ago. Mnangagwa’s government said while po- Shortages of hard currency, fuel, electric- lice were investigating the abductions, it be- ity and bread have added to public anger at SA hits offi cial with second punitive costs order lieved a “third force” comprising supporters Mnangagwa’s government. of former leader Robert Mugabe were behind Hopes that the economy would quickly Reuters bane should personally pay 7.5% of In July, the Constitutional Court political and business interests. them. recover and political rights would be ex- Johannesburg the legal fees incurred by both parties. ordered Mkhwebane personally to pay “The failures and dereliction of Nick Mangwana, secretary at the informa- panded after Mugabe was removed in a coup Oupa Segwale, a spokesman for legal fees, estimated at 900,000 rand duty of the Public Protector in the tion ministry, said in a statement that three in 2017 have turned to despair amid the eco- the Public Protector, said yesterday ($59,000), after a report her offi ce Estina matter are manifold. They abductions had been reported to police. nomic hardship. South Africa court yesterday that Mkhwebane would appeal the published in 2017 demanded the man- speak to her failure to execute her awarded a second punitive judgment as the ruling on personal date of the Reserve Bank, the coun- duties in terms of the constitution Acosts order against the coun- costs will instil fear in the anti-cor- try’s central bank, be changed. A lower and the Public Protector Act,” Judge Tanzania fuel tanker blast toll hits 85 try’s top anti-corruption offi cial, ruption offi ce and prevent it from court said that report was fl awed and Tolmay said. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwe- conducting investigations without had been published in “bad faith”. “Her conduct during the entire he death toll from a weekend fuel Morogoro regional commissioner Stephen bane, after fi nding an investigation fear or favour. The judge said yesterday that investigation constitutes gross neg- tanker explosion in eastern Tanzania Kebwe told Reuters by phone. conducted by her offi ce showed “She believes she has done this Mkhwebane had failed to investigate ligence. She failed completely to ex- Trose to 85 yesterday, a regional offi cial More than 20 other survivors are receiving “gross negligence”. investigation in good faith. She does numerous irregularities properly ecute her constitutional duties,” said said. The tanker burst into fl ames on Satur- medical attention at the country’s biggest Pretoria High Court Judge Ronel not just litigate haphazardly, she and objectively by not interview- the judge. day as crowds gathered to siphon petrol from referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, the com- Tolmay ordered the Public Protec- thinks long and hard about it,” Seg- ing victims and provincial politi- Prosecutors in the Estina case the vehicle in Morogoro, about 200km west missioner said. tor’s offi ce to pay 85% of the costs wale said. cians implicated in the Estina mat- have said the public money invested of the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Offi cials said some relatives had to use of the Democratic Alliance and the The decision nonetheless height- ter, among the best known cases of in the dairy project was siphoned Government offi cials initially reported at DNA tests to identify bodies burned beyond Council for the Advancement of the ens scrutiny of Mkhwebane, an offi - “state capture” in South Africa. off , some of it into accounts linked to least 60 deaths. “The offi cial death toll now recognition. South African Constitution (Casac). cial who has been accused by Presi- Estina refers to a government the Gupta business family and high- stands at 85...there are 17 accident victims On Sunday the prime minister called for Both had challenged a report con- dent Cyril Ramaphosa of abusing project set up in 2013 to help land- ranking members of the African Na- with burn injuries admitted here at the re- an offi cial inquiry into the response of gov- ducted by Mkhwebane’s offi ce into her offi ce after she said he was in- less black farmers. tional Congress. gional hospital who are in stable condition,” ernment agencies to the disaster. an allegedly corrupt farm deal in- volved in serious misconduct linked The project was eventually found The Guptas deny any wrongdo- volving ruling party offi cials. to donations to his campaign for to have been defrauded of about ing, their lawyer Rudi Krause said The court also ruled that Mkhwe- leadership of the ruling party. 230mn rand ($15mn) by powerful earlier this year.

Nigeria’s divisive tradition of facial markings fades

By Joel Olatunde Agoi, AFP head, insisted that there was still a Ibadan, Nigeria role for traditional methods, as he showed AFP his metal instruments wrapped in white handkerchiefs at hen six-year-old Naziru his dark clinic. Abdulwahab was ab- He inherited his position from his Wducted from northern father. He dismissed criticism that Nigeria, his kidnapper transported his practices were unsafe. him across the country and tried to “It’s a smear campaign by NGOs sell him — but the potential buyer and people in government to...put backed out. us out of business,” he said. What saved the boy from the For another Ibadan-based oloola, child-smuggling rings, police said, Babatunde Hamzat, the dying out of was the traditional facial scarrings the tradition has had serious conse- on his cheeks that he had been quences for Nigerian society. marked with at birth. He said its loss had contributed to Fearing they would make him too the high levels of crime in the coun- recognisable, the would-be pur- try. chaser refused to buy him. “In the time of our fathers, a child After suspicions were then raised A woman bearing tribal marks on her cheeks poses in Lagos. with tribal marks would not want to by local residents, the traffi cker was commit any crime for fear of being arrested and the child rescued. ting of the skin during childhood. Opponents have pushed for a identifi ed,” he said. The incident in June shone a spot- From the Yoruba in the southwest, country-wide ban on facial mark- “But nowadays, people commit light on the practice of tribal mark- to Igbo in the east and Hausa in the ings. In 2017, the Nigerian Senate crimes with levity since there is ings that has been fading since the north, the marks serve diff erent debated a bill for the “prohibition of nothing to identify them with.” 1980s in the fast-changing country purposes: identifi cation, healing, facial mutilation” that would have Trader Dauda Lawal, 60, proudly of nearly 200mn people. spiritual protection, beautifi cation. introduced punishments for those sports the facial marks his parents Traditional practitioners, known lo- Prominent fi gures, including ex- who perform it and protection for gave him as a child and says he was cally as oloola, said it showed the bene- president Olusegun Obasanjo, have those at risk. happy to do the same to his off - fi ts of the practice that critics have long tribal marks on their cheeks. Proponents of the move argued spring. argued is unsafe and child abuse. “In the days of inter-communal that the “barbaric” practice left “Being the fi rst son, my parents “Our taste for foreign things has wars, tribal marks helped to identify people disfi gured for life and put gave me tribal marks. Though the robbed us of our customs,” Mashopa fi ghters. You would know who were them at risk of contracting HIV. practice is dying, I still made sure my Adekunle, an oloola in the south- your friends and enemies in the bat- The proposed legislation is cur- fi rst son got it to preserve the family western city of Ibadan, told AFP. tlefi eld,” said Adekunle. rently bogged down in parliamen- identity,” he said. “Nobody wants to put tribal He agreed that the traditional tary procedure. Lawal claimed his wife married marks on his child anymore. People practitioners needed to move with The practice of facial markings him because of the facial marks he see the practice as archaic, fetish the times if they wanted to remain has been waning for around 40 bears. and unhygienic.” relevant — pointing to the growing years, said the Oloola Descend- But he is not sure if his son will The incisions have traditionally numbers of Nigerian youths em- ant Association in Ibadan, whose follow suit. been performed in an array of styles bracing western-style tattoos. members barely carry out one case a “I will be happy if he does a simi- by diff erent ethnic groups in Nigeria. “The oloola have to do more to month now, compared to about 10 in lar thing to his own son because it’s The scarring is done — both to convince their critics that their tools the 1980s. part of our culture that should not boys and girls — by burning or cut- are safe for use,” he said. Sefi u Yusuf, the association’s be allowed to die,” he said. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 5 AMERICAS

Canada’s Trudeau accepts he breached ethics rules

Reuters I take full responsibility. The to reconsider the prosecutor’s showed the centre-left Liberals propriate pressure over SNC- Ottawa buck stops with the prime min- decision to press ahead with a edging in front of their right- Lavalin and was particularly crit- ister,” said Trudeau, adding that trial. leaning rivals. ical of the role played by Butts, he nevertheless disagreed with “What we did over the past Dion found Trudeau had con- who has rejoined Trudeau’s team anadian Prime Minister some of Dion’s conclusions. year wasn’t good enough. But at travened confl ict of interest rules to focus on the election. Justin Trudeau has ac- The scandal over SNC-Lava- the same time I can’t apologise forbidding public offi ce holders “The report confi rms criti- Ccepted a watchdog’s re- lin, which erupted in early Feb- for standing up for Canadian from trying to improperly further cal facts, consistent with what port that he breached ethics rules ruary, battered Trudeau’s image jobs,” he told a televised news another person’s private inter- I shared with all Canadians, by trying to infl uence a corporate as a youthful progressive at the conference in Niagara-on-the- ests. and affi rms the position I have legal case but refused to apolo- helm of a government that had Lake, Ontario. “Because SNC-Lavalin over- taken from the outset,” Wilson- gise, saying that he had been try- vowed to be open and transpar- The aff air marked the low whelmingly stood to benefi t from Raybould said in a statement on ing to defend jobs. ent. point of Trudeau’s almost four- Ms Wilson-Raybould’s interven- Wednesday. “There were multi- Independent ethics commis- He is the fi rst Canadian prime year tenure and prompted the tion, I have no doubt that the ple attempts to improperly infl u- sioner Mario Dion said Trudeau minister found to have broken resignation of two high-profi le result of Mr Trudeau’s infl uence ence my decision.” and his team attempted last year federal ethics rules. female cabinet ministers, his would have furthered SNC-Lav- Trudeau sidestepped ques- Trudeau: What we did over the past year wasn’t good enough. But at to undermine a decision by fed- The fi rm, a major employer in closest personal aide Gerry Butts, alin’s interests. The actions that tions as to whether he would fi re the same time I can’t apologise for standing up for Canadian jobs. eral prosecutors that construc- the politically important prov- and the head of the federal bu- sought to further these interests Butts and other senior aides. tion company SNC-Lavalin ince of Quebec, wanted to take reaucracy. were improper,” he said. Conservative leader Andrew televised news conference in Re- confl ict of interest rules. Group Incorporated should face a advantage of a 2018 law allow- The case proved politically Wilson-Raybould refused to Scheer described Trudeau’s be- gina, Saskatchewan. In December 2017, then-eth- corruption trial. ing it to escape with a fi ne rather harmful and Trudeau’s Liber- overrule the prosecutor’s deci- haviour as “unforgivable” and The Royal Canadian Mounted ics commissioner Mary Dawson Dion’s scathing 58-page as- than be prosecuted for bribing als trailed the offi cial opposition sion, and was demoted in a cabi- said a police investigation was Police said it was examining the said Trudeau acted wrongly by sessment could hurt Trudeau’s offi cials in Libya. Conservatives for several months net shuffl e in January. warranted. matter carefully and would take accepting a vacation on the Aga chances of retaining power in a Trudeau has admitted he tried in opinion polls ahead of the She resigned the next month. “He has stated so many false- appropriate action as required. Khan’s private island. general election in October. last year to persuade then-justice election. She later told legislators that hoods that no one can believe The report marks the second On that occasion, Trudeau “I fully accept this report ... minister Jody Wilson-Raybould Recent surveys, however, she had been subjected to inap- anything he says,” Scheer told a time Trudeau has fallen afoul of apologised.

Trump: has sent mixed Gunman injures six cops messages. Trump urged to in Philadelphia stand-off DPA taken, Ross said he had person- Narcotics offi cers were at- 58 children and adults from the Philadelphia ally tried to talk to the shooter tempting to serve an arrest war- location. shift wall in an eff ort to negotiate a sur- rant at the house when shots Police offi cers carried babies render. were fi red. and mothers comforted shaken gunman who Phila- He said the man had picked up Two Narcotics Strike Force children as the day care was money delphia police say shot the phone but had not verbally bicycle offi cers were pinned evacuated. Asix city offi cers late on responded. down on the second fl oor with “We had to stay calm and Wednesday afternoon surren- “He can end this peacefully three other people who were collected and get the children to gun dered around midnight, ending now,” said Ross, who was wear- handcuff ed, police said. calm,” one staff er said. a dramatic stand-off that had ing a ballistic vest. The offi cers did not say they Police set up two city buses two offi cers trapped for several Shortly before 9.25pm, the were hurt, but they were at risk to hold children whose parents measures hours inside a house with the two remaining offi cers in the of getting shot because the sus- hadn’t yet arrived to pick them suspect after a shootout erupted building were able to escape. pect on the fi rst fl oor was fi ring up. at 4.30pm. “Update: 2 PPD Offi cers who into the ceiling. Other parents rushed fran- Reuters Earlier, Police Commissioner were in house with shooter have None of the injuries sus- tically down the block, asking Washington Richard Ross confi rmed that the been safely evacuated by PPD tained by the six offi cers was after their children at the bus offi cers and several people they SWAT. Suspect is still armed and life-threatening, they said, and doors. had handcuff ed during the tense inside house. Continue to avoid within hours, all were released “I’m just happy I got my wo senior Senate Demo- stand-off had been safely ex- the area,” a police spokesperson from two hospitals. daughter,” said Shere Calhoun, crats have asked President tracted from the property in the tweeted at 9.36pm. Other offi cers sustained inju- smoothing her eight-year-old’s TDonald Trump to with- 3700 block of North 15th Street The stand-off with the gun- ries not related to gunfi re. hair. “I didn’t want her to be a draw his $5bn request for border in the Tioga section of North man continued. Three offi cers were taken to victim.” wall funding and use the money Philadelphia. At a news conference just Temple University Hospital, and “Calm down, calm down,” an on initiatives to combat gun vio- Police sources identifi ed the before 10pm, Ross praised the three were treated at Einstein offi cer called to another parent lence in the aftermath of back- suspected gunman as Maurice bravery of the Philadelphia Po- Medical Centre. running down the block. “The to-back mass shootings in Texas Hill, 36 – a Philadelphia man lice Department (PPD) offi cers “Fortunately, everybody’s go- kids are safe.” and Ohio. with a lengthy history of gun who responded to the scene of ing to be OK,” Ross said at the Earlier in the day, Temple Uni- In a letter, Senate Democrat- convictions and of resisting at- the gunfi re and called the work A resident reaches out from her front door as a police off icer is evening news conference. versity issued a lockdown for its ic leader Chuck Schumer and tempts to bring him to justice. of the SWAT team that got the reflected while responding to an ‘active shooter’ situation in Earlier, police said a suspect nearby health and science cam- Senator Patrick Leahy informed Several minutes before he ex- offi cers out of the house “abso- Philadelphia. inside the house was livestream- pus, which includes the hospital. Trump that he does not have ited, police fi red tear gas into lutely remarkable”. ing on Facebook. “Lockdown is in eff ect on enough support in Congress for the property, making a series of “It is nothing short of remark- “It’s nothing short of a mira- ernment don’t want to stand Police had been attempting to Health Sciences Centre Cam- his wall funding request to be in- booming sounds. able in such a confi ned space, cle that we don’t have multiple up to the NRA (National Rifl e communicate with the gunman pus. Seek shelter. Secure doors. cluded in the federal budget for Hill fi nally came out to a that we didn’t have more of a offi cers killed today,” Ross said Association), then let us police through a loudspeaker as resi- Be silent. Be still. Police are re- fi scal year 2020, which begins on sea of cops shouting: “Hands tragedy that we did,” the com- as he stood in the rain outside ourselves,” he said. “Our offi cers dents were being evacuated from sponding,” Temple advised staff October 1. up! Hands up! Get down! Get missioner said. Temple University Hospital. deserve to be protected.” nearby streets. and students. “Instead, we urge you to sup- down!” He said that the offi cers serv- Philadelphia Mayor Jim Ken- The White House and Penn- A daycare centre near the It was lifted after 7pm. port spending funds you have At an earlier news confer- ing the arrest warrant were met ney, at his side, called for stricter sylvania Governor Tom Wolf had shooting scene was under lock- Temple advised people to requested for the border wall, ence outside the hospital, where with gunfi re almost immedi- gun control measures. been briefed earlier on the un- down until around 7.10pm when continue to avoid the area on other pressing needs such as some of the injured offi cers were ately. “If the state and federal gov- folding situation. police said they were escorting around the incident. proven initiatives that will ad- dress the threats of gun violence and white supremacist extrem- ‘July was the hottest month on record for planet’ ism in America,” wrote Schumer and Leahy, who is the top Demo- July 2019 temperatures were the hottest ever recorded globally, the crat on the Senate Appropria- US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Students caught in visa sting at fake tions Committee that oversees yesterday, confirming earlier observations by the European Union. government outlays. “Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as tem- The request, which was ex- peratures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. pected, surfaced as Democrats in The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic university may sue US, court rules the Senate and House of Repre- lows,” the agency said. sentatives are trying to pressure According to the NOAA, the average global temperature in July was Senate Republican leader Mitch 0.95° Celsius (1.71° Fahrenheit) above the 20th century average of Reuters the students, including many nounced when the university “It would be a cruel irony in- McConnell to call the Senate 15.8C (60.4F), making it the hottest July in its records, which go back New York from China and India, who “closed” in April 2016. deed if we were to allow the gov- back early from its August re- to 1880. thought they had “enrolled” The Department of Home- ernment’s own fl ip-fl op on that cess and allow votes on universal The previous hottest month on record was July 2016. at the fi ctitious University of land Security then revoked the characterisation to deprive us of background check legislation “Nine of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2005-with the last federal appeals court said Northern New Jersey were in- visas of many aff ected students, the ability to review the disput- that passed the House in Febru- five years ranking as the five hottest,” the NOAA said. foreign-born students nocent victims, or participants citing their “fraudulent enrol- ed governmental action,” Mc- ary. Alaska had its hottest July since it began keeping records in 2005, Amay sue the US govern- in the fraud. ment”, prompting the lawsuit to Kee wrote. “The fl ip-fl op un- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi several countries in Europe saw new temperature records, and it was ment over claims it wrongfully Spokespeople for the US De- restore their legal status. derscores the need for judicial said on Wednesday that public also the hottest month ever across Africa as a whole. cancelled their visas, follow- partment of Justice had no im- In October 2017, US District review of a decision that would pressure should force McCon- Average Arctic sea ice meanwhile set a record low for July, running ing a sting where it set up a fake mediate comment. Judge Jose Linares in Newark, otherwise escape review by any nell to bring the House legisla- 19.8% below average, and surpassing the previous historic low of university to entrap corrupt visa The government in 2013 cre- New Jersey, dismissed the law- court or agency.” tion up for a vote and said her July 2012 according to an analysis by the National Snow and Ice Data brokers. ated the University of Northern suit, saying that it was fi led too Ira Kurzban, a lawyer for the chamber would soon move for- Centre using data from the NOAA and the National Aeronautics and The 3rd US Circuit Court of New Jersey, supposedly located soon because US Immigration students, welcomed the deci- ward with new gun measures in- Space Administration (Nasa). Appeals in Philadelphia revived in the town of Cranford, to catch and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sion, calling it the “fi rst salvo” cluding a ban on high-capacity Average Antarctic sea ice was 4.3% below the 1981-2010 average, a proposed class action on be- brokers of fraudulent student had yet to act on the students’ in eff orts to stop the ICE from gun magazines. making it the smallest for July in the 41-year record. half of more than 500 students visas, even creating a website reinstatement applications. “trying to entrap students”. The Democratic push on gun who said they were deprived of and social media accounts for McKee, however, said visa McKee said it may still prove control follows mass shootings due process when the govern- the school that looked real. revocations were “fi nal” or- a “formidable challenge” to cer- in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, ment revoked their lawful im- It said that brokers recruited ders that could be challenged tify a class action because of dif- Ohio, that killed 31 people and ‘Hollywood Ripper’ found guilty migration status after ensnaring more than 1,000 students to en- in court, even if students had ferences among students. propelled the wide availability of them in the sting. rol, typically charged thousands other means to fi ght removal, The case is Fang et al v Direc- guns in the United States back to A man dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper” was found guilty yesterday Writing for a three-judge of dollars for visas so they could and criticised the government’s tor, US Immigration & Customs the forefront of political debate. of the murders of two women, including a student who was due to panel, Circuit Judge Theodore stay, and sometimes arranged shifting views on whether the Enforcement et al, 3rd US Cir- Trump has called for congres- go out with actor Ashton Kutcher the night of her death. McKee also faulted the govern- illegally for work visas. students were victims or con- cuit Court of Appeals, No 17- sional action on guns but has Michael Gargiulo, 43, was convicted of two counts of first-degree ment’s “fl ip-fl op” over whether Twenty-one arrests were an- spirators. 3318. sent mixed messages on the kind murder by a Los Angeles jury who deliberated for four days before of legislation he would sign. reaching their verdict. He has appeared at times to Prosecutor Dan Akemon had told jurors that Gargiulo targeted the endorse expanded background women in “frenzied knife attacks”, referring to him as a “stone-cold checks but has also shifted his serial killer who preys on women”. focus to mental illness, violent Gargiulo’s lawyers said there was no evidence he was at the scene Second Democrat quits White House race video games and “red fl ag” in- of the two murders, and indicated that his dissociative identity centives for states to deny guns disorder could have caused him to go into a “fugue” state during a to people deemed a danger to separate attack on a third woman who survived. AFP day, the second victim of poor But he failed to make a mark “This morning, I’m announc- themselves and others. The trial will move next week to a second phase to assess if Washington polling in a hugely crowded race. nationally after two televised ing that I’m no longer running McConnell has declined to call Gargiulo was sane at the time of the killings, before sentencing then The centrist 67-year-old had debates in June and July. for president,” he said via Twit- the Senate back early and instead takes place. pitched his experience leading a He could not bring his poll- ter and video messages. has instructed the chairs of three He is also awaiting a separate trial for the earlier 1993 killing of a ormer Colorado gover- state with a sizeable Republican ing support above 1%, and was Hickenlooper was the second Senate committees to work on third woman in the state of Illinois. nor John Hickenlooper minority, warning Democrats struggling to meet the new do- to drop out of the race, follow- legislation that can be debated Gargiulo was arrested in Santa Monica in 2008 following an attack Fdropped out of the race against straying too far leftward nor and polling thresholds to ing congressman Eric Swall- when lawmakers return from on another woman who survived being stabbed eight times in her for the Democratic party’s 2020 in the fi ght to dethrone Presi- qualify for the next Democratic well who dropped out early last their recess on September 9. home. He was also found guilty of attempted murder for that case. presidential nomination yester- dent Donald Trump next year. debate, in September. month. Gulf Times 6 Friday, August 16, 2019 ASIA Teen’s death due to starvation, no sign of foul play: autopsy report

AFP ple, helicopters and sniff er dogs. persons case. But the family’s cious girl and we love her infi - Seremban, Malaysia She went missing from the Du- French lawyer, Charles Morel, nitely. The cruelty of her being sun Resort, not far from Kuala told AFP that “at this stage for taken away is unbearable. Our Lumpur, on August 4, a day after the family, it is premature to hearts are broken. “We will al- Franco-Irish teen who checking in for a holiday with rule out a criminal element. “We ways love our Nora.” disappeared from a Ma- her London-based family. need to wait to fi nd out all the While insisting it was a miss- A laysian resort likely Speaking after the post- results from the autopsy to know ing persons case, police vowed starved and died of internal mortem examination, Negeri more.” to investigate every angle. They bleeding after about a week in Sembilan state police chief Mo- Her body was airlifted by heli- questioned witnesses and in- the jungle, with no immediate hamad Mat Yusop told report- copter out of the ravine – about vestigated witness accounts of a sign of foul play, police said yes- ers the teen suff ered “bleeding 2.5km from the resort – and truck heard early on the morning terday. in her intestines due to not eat- transported to hospital in Ser- the girl disappeared. There was no indication that ing” as well as “extreme stress”. emban town where her relatives A group of volunteers who 15-year-old Nora Quoirin, who The schoolgirl is believed to have identifi ed it. were part of the search and res- had learning diffi culties, was died two to three days before her Medics conducted a long au- cue team found the body after abducted or sexually assaulted, body was found, he said. topsy Wednesday, starting in the being tipped off by a member they said, announcing the re- “For the time being, there is morning and only fi nishing late of the public. It was discovered sults of an autopsy. But the law- no suspicion of foul play,” he at night, as a media pack waited in the offi cial search zone, in an yer of her family, who believe she said. outside the hospital for news. area that the team had previ- may have been abducted, said it There were “some scratches In a statement released by The ously covered. Nora Quoirin was too early to rule out a crimi- on her body” after days in the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity On Monday, the fam- nal element in the case. rainforest, but nothing suspi- that supports relatives of British ily had off ered a 50,000 ringgit the teenager disappeared is next youngster would have wandered ited verbal communication and Her unclothed body was dis- cious, he said. people missing overseas, her rel- ($11,900) reward, donated by a to a patch of thick jungle and off on her own. She had a con- could only write a few words. covered Tuesday in a ravine in “The parents can claim her atives said she was the “heart” Belfast business, for information in the foothills of a mountain dition known as holoprosen- She attended a school for young dense jungle following a 10-day body.” Police had classifi ed her of the family. that could lead to her return. range. Her family had said it was cephaly, where the brain fails to people with learning and com- hunt involving hundreds of peo- disappearance as a missing “She is the truest, most pre- The fi ve-hectare resort where extremely unlikely the reserved develop normally. She had lim- munication diffi culties. Malaysia to interrogate Indian preacher for racial remarks

Reuters sia for about three years and faces ministry will not think twice to were quoting him out of context Kuala Lumpur charges of money laundering and take legal action against anyone to malign him. State news agen- hate speech in India, has come who attempts to threaten public cy Bernama quoted Malaysian under fi re for comments alleg- harmony and peace,” Muhyid- Prime Minister Mahathir Moha- alaysian authorities will edly pitting the country’s ethnic din said in a statement. Asked mad as saying this week that Naik summon Indian Islamic and religious minorities against for comment, a representative cannot be sent back to India be- Mpreacher Zakir Naik for the ethnic Malay majority, who for Naik told Reuters he would cause of fears for his safety. questioning after he allegedly are predominantly Muslim. fi rst need to study the minister’s “If any (other) country wants made racially sensitive remarks Police will question Naik statement. to have him, they are welcome,” in the multi-ethnic nation, the and several other individuals Race and religion are sensitive Mahathir added. India banned government said yesterday. and groups for making “racial- issues in Malaysia, where Malay Naik’s Islamic Research Founda- The move comes after sev- ly-tinged statements” and for Muslims make up about 60% of tion in late 2016, accusing him of A damaged truck is seen near a drug control checkpoint in Naung Cho, Shan State after it was eral ministers demanded Naik’s spreading false news that has af- a population of 32mn. The rest encouraging and aiding its fol- attacked by ethnic rebel groups. expulsion on Wednesday after fected public sensitivities, Home are mostly ethnic Chinese and lowers to “promote or attempt he said Hindus in Malaysia had Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said. Indians, most of whom are Hin- to promote feelings of enmity, “100 times more rights” than the “I would like to remind all par- dus. Naik, who has repeatedly hatred or ill-will between diff er- Muslim minority in India. ties, including non-citizens, that denied the charges against him ent religious communities and 14 dead in rebel attack on Naik, who has lived in Malay- enforcement agencies under my in India, has said his detractors groups”. Myanmar military town Seven killed in Bangladesh road crash At least seven people were said, adding that the bus had people from Dhaka’s Mirpur launched to determine the cause killed when a bus carrying veered off the road. neighbourhood had rented two of the crash. Bangladesh has a AFP soldiers and one civilian, had alliance with the other rebel holidaymakers slammed into Two others died at a nearby buses to travel to the south- high rate of road fatalities, due Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar been killed and that fi ghting groups. “We assume they car- a roadside tree in eastern health facility, said Abu Taher eastern beach town of Cox’s Bazar to lax implementation of laws was “still ongoing”. ried out the attacks because Bangladesh yesterday, police said. Patwari, a medical off icer at Feni as Muslims celebrate the Eid and the poor condition of roads. This brings the death toll to at the Tatmadaw seized tonnes of Five people died at the scene, General Hospital. Ten critically al-Adha holiday, Khan said. According to the Bangladesh t least 14 people have least 14. One of the fi ve attacks drugs a few weeks ago,” military in Lemua of Feni district on the wounded passengers have been One of the two buses crashed Passenger Welfare Association, been killed in ongoing targeted the town’s Defence spokesman Zaw Min Tun said. Dhaka-Chattagram highway, moved to Dhaka Medical College on the way while the other a civic group, more than 7,000 Afi ghting yesterday be- Service Technology Academy, In July, narcotics police nearly 150km south-east of Hospital for improved medical reached its destination, the off icer people were killed in more than tween Myanmar’s military and where military engineers are were met with heavy artillery Dhaka, off icer Shahjahan Khan care, he added. More than 60 said. An investigation has been 5,500 road crashes in 2018. rebels who mounted a series of trained, the fi rst-ever time the fi re when they launched a ma- attacks, including an unprece- training centre has been hit. jor drugs crackdown in Kutkai dented strike on an army acad- The military said rebels had township in neighbouring Shan emy, apparently in retaliation fi red 107mm rockets at the state. for massive drug seizures. academy from a nearby hill- Huge stockpiles of chemicals In memoriam Ethnic armed rebel groups side. Images from local media as well as millions of dollars have for decades fought against showing burned out cars and worth of ice, the highly addic- the military — and often be- damaged buildings showered in tive crystalised form of meth, tween themselves — for land debris. were seized in a single raid. and resources in Myanmar’s The Taaung National Libera- The “Golden Triangle” — east. tion Army (TNLA) claimed the a lawless wedge of land in- Experts say the area is now attacks, saying they had acted tersecting China, Myanmar, the world’s largest meth-pro- in retaliation. Thailand, and Laos — has long ducing region, funding the “The military launched of- served as a base for opium and complex web of confl icts. Yes- fensives in our area so we are heroin production. A unilateral terday’s brazen assault targeted fi ghting to defend ourselves,” ceasefi re in Shan state declared Pyin Oo Lwin, a tourist town TNLA spokesman Major Mai by the military in December is near Mandalay, that is also Aik Kyaw said. offi cially due to fi nish in two home to barracks teeming with He also confi rmed the at- weeks, even though clashes soldiers receiving training. An tacks were co-ordinated with with armed groups have con- AFP reporter at a police post, the Myanmar National Demo- tinued. the site of one of the attacks, cratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) China’s plans to invest in counted the bodies of seven and Arakan Army (AA). major infrastructure projects soldiers and four policemen. The AA is currently fi ght- have added another dimension Military spokesman Briga- ing the military, or Tatmadaw, to the confl ict with groups vy- dier General Zaw Min Tun told in confl ict-scarred western ing for control of increasingly AFP three more people, two Rakhine state, but is in a tight valuable territory.

Philippines alarmed by Chinese warships in its waters

The Philippine government said. “We express concern with these days.” Philippine President yesterday expressed concern that kind of incident because Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled over the passage of Chinese they (China) keep on saying to visit China later this month, warships in the country’s waters that we’re friends,” presidential and plans to discuss the need without prior co-ordination, spokesman Salvador Panelo said. for a code of conduct in the saying it was not “an act of “I don’t think that this is an act disputed South China Sea when friendship.” Five Chinese of friendship.” “We will call their he meets with Chinese President warships have been spotted attention,” he added, noting he Xi Jinping. But Panelo said it Political activists and supporters of Awami League lay a wreath at the memorial of the Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur passing through a strait in the would raise the matter when he would be up to Duterte whether Rahman, in Dhaka, yesterday. Bangladesh’s Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father, was killed along with many of his southern Philippines in separate meets with China’s ambassador he brings up the unco-ordinated family members in a military coup on August 15, 1975 by a group of disgruntled army off icers. incidents since July, the military to Manila for dinner “one of passage of the Chinese warships. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Powerful Japan storm slams into southern Hiroshima, snarls holiday travel

AFP riod. Severe Tropical Storm Krosa broke their banks and swamped broadcaster NHK and local au- disaster management agency said bullet train services were either weather. Krosa weakened signifi - Tokyo — one notch below a typhoon — nearby roads. Authorities issued thorities said at least 34 people a party of 18 people, including scrapped or sharply reduced. cantly from earlier in the week as slammed into the southern Hiro- a voluntary evacuation advisory sustained injuries, including a children, were stranded during a Ferries connecting the south- it stalled in the Pacifi c Ocean but shima region, packing wind gusts to around 430,000 people in the man in his 50s, who broke his leg. barbeque in a valley when a river ern Shikoku island and other parts it boasts an unusually large eye, powerful tropical storm of up to 126km per hour. storm’s path although few ap- “We still have intermittent down- rose rapidly on Wednesday. They of Japan were also cancelled as meaning it is likely to dump rain lashed Japan yesterday, Dramatic television footage peared to have heeded the warn- pours,” said Takayoshi Sugimoto, were rescued yesterday morning. high waves lashed the coast. The over a wide area. Abringing strong winds and showed violent winds uprooting ing. a disaster management offi cial Krosa also sparked travel cha- storm, located some 600km from It was moving north at 35km torrential rain that claimed at trees, snapping lampposts and A 82-year-old man was con- in the southwestern province of os as people battled to return to Tokyo, brought strong winds and per hour and the rain is still ex- least one life, prompted warnings spinning pods on a Ferris wheel. fi rmed dead after he fell in the Tokushima. major cities following the Obon downpours to the capital. Several pected to last for an extended pe- of landslides and fl ooding, and Meanwhile, high waves smashed sea in Hiroshima while trying to “We will remain vigilant as holiday. More than 800 domes- ceremonies commemorating the riod. The storm crossed Japan’s sparked evacuation advisories and into a breakwater, engulfi ng a 10m moor his boat, a local govern- more rain is expected in the after- tic fl ights were cancelled to and end of World War II were can- mainland and hit the Sea of Japan travel chaos at a peak holiday pe- lighthouse, while swollen rivers ment spokesman said. Public noon,” he told AFP. The national from cities in western Japan and celled in western Japan due to bad last night. Moon off ers olive branch to Japan

AFP series of North Korean missile Seoul tests in recent weeks. Pyongyang and Washington are engaged in a long-running outh Korean President diplomatic process over the Moon Jae-in struck a con- North’s nuclear and missile pro- Sciliatory tone towards Ja- grammes that has seen three un- pan yesterday, off ering to “join precedented encounters between Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend the annual memorial ceremony to remember those hands” if Tokyo chooses dialogue their leaders in the space of a year lost at war, yesterday, in Tokyo as the country marks the 74th anniversary of its surrender in World War II. as relations between the two although little progress has been countries dip to fresh lows. made on denuclearisation. Seoul and Tokyo — both of Moon sought to play down them democracies and market North Korea’s recent tests — fol- economies — are mired in long- lowing the example of US Presi- Japan’s new emperor speaks running disputes over Japan’s use dent Donald Trump — as he as- of forced labour in the fi rst half of sured Seoul had “even stronger” the 20th century. defence capabilities and was The two neighbours have been working to prevent an escalation of ‘deep remorse’ over war embroiled in a tit-for-tat trade of tensions. war that saw them remove each But, he added: “The ultimate other from their lists of trusted goal that these actions serve is AFP Meanwhile, conservative lomatic rebuke from close ally trading partners this month, dialogue, not confrontation.” Tokyo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shied the United States. He has since raising concerns over global sup- Moon pledged yesterday that he away from visiting a controver- stayed away as the leaders of ply chains. That came after To- will “solidify the foundation” sial shrine that commemorates both China and Japan attempt kyo imposed restrictions on ex- with the goal of “achieving peace apan’s new emperor spoke war dead, including convicted to maintain their improving but ports crucial to tech giants such and unifi cation by 2045”, al- yesterday of “deep remorse” war criminals, that has become delicate relations, with Chinese as Samsung last month, follow- though his single fi ve-year term Jover the country’s wartime a fl ashpoint with Japan’s neigh- President Xi Jinping expected ing a series of South Korean court presidency ends in 2022. past in his fi rst speech to com- bours, especially China and to visit Japan next year during rulings ordering Japanese fi rms One analyst dismissed Moon’s memorate the end of World War South Korea. spring cherry blossom season. to pay for wartime labour. mention of a unifi ed Korea. “His II since his enthronement in May. This year’s ceremonies came Yasukuni honours 2.5mn war But Moon sought to dial down outlook is overly rosy and it will Emperor Naruhito’s com- as Tokyo and South Korea — one dead, mostly Japanese, who per- the temperature yesterday, say- be diffi cult to create a consensus ments were being monitored in of the countries that suff ered ished in the country’s wars since ing Seoul was willing to work around it,” said Shin Beom-chul, Tokyo and throughout Asia for most from Japan’s wartime mili- the late 19th century. It also en- with Tokyo to secure “fair trade an analyst at the Asan Institute any change in tone, but he closely tary atrocities — are embroiled shrines senior military and po- and co-operation” in the region. for Policy Studies, describing the echoed the language employed in a war of words over trade and litical fi gures convicted of war “If Japan chooses the path of dia- claim as “meaningless”. by his father Akihito. history. crimes by an international tribu- logue and co-operation, we will Pyongyang has recently re- “Looking back on the long The foreign ministry in Seoul nal after World War II. gladly join hands,” Moon said in buff ed Seoul, saying nuclear talks peaceful years after the war, re- voiced “deep concern” at the of- This makes it a magnet for a speech to mark the anniversary will be “strictly” between the fl ecting on our past, and bear- ferings to Yasukuni, which it said criticism from countries that of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s North and the US and refusing to ing in mind the feeling of deep “glorifi es Japan’s past colonial suff ered from Japan’s colonial- 1910-45 rule. hold separate dialogue with the remorse, I earnestly hope that plunder and war of invasion and ism and aggression in the fi rst Dressed in a pale grey-blue South. The dovish South Korean the devastation of war will never enshrines war criminals.” “The half of the 20th century. There hanbok, the traditional Korean president has long favoured dia- be repeated,” said the 59-year- government urges Japan’s po- were no reports of members of attire, Moon – who earlier this logue with Pyongyang, dangling old Naruhito. “During the 74 litical leaders to show humble Abe’s cabinet visiting the shrine month vowed South Korea will South Korean protesters hold a placard showing a picture of Japanese cross-border business projects as years since the end of the war, refl ection over historical issues,” although dozens of parliament “never be defeated again by Ja- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an anti-Japanese rally marking the incentives. Moon said economic the peace and prosperity of our said the ministry. members made their annual pil- pan” – insisted that Seoul has anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule, in co-operation with the North country today has been built Meanwhile, Abe sent an aide grimage. “not dwelt on the past”. central Seoul yesterday. will provide a one-stop solution through the tireless eff orts of the and a cash off ering to Yasukuni Abe also stuck closely to the “Refl ecting on the past does to “problems we currently face, people. Shrine but continued his policy, script in his speech, off ering not mean clinging to the past but Asia while it contemplates a past ties, including a package of about such as low growth, low birth “Yet when I think of their that has been in place for several “heartfelt respect and gratitude” overcoming what happened and that brought misfortune to its $800mn in grants and cheap rate and an ageing society”. past full of suff ering, I am truly years, of not visiting. to Japan’s war dead and vowing moving toward the future,” said neighbouring countries.” loans for the former colony. The But proposed projects are cur- overcome with deep emotion,” The nationalist premier last to “never again repeat the dev- Moon. Tokyo maintains that all issues dispute has raised concerns over rently blocked because of inter- Naruhito told the solemn cer- visited the shrine in Decem- astation of war.” “This pledge “We hope that Japan will play a of wartime compensation were the potential implications on the national sanctions imposed on emony in central Tokyo which ber 2013 to mark his fi rst year in has never changed and will never leading role together in facilitat- settled under the 1965 treaty security co-operation between the North over its nuclear and also featured a minute’s silence power, sparking fury in Beijing change” in the new era under ing peace and prosperity in East that re-established diplomatic the two US allies in the face of a ballistic missile programmes. for the war dead. and Seoul and earning a rare dip- Emperor Naruhito, Abe vowed.

More protests likely in Hong Kong over weekend Tuvalu meeting

Reuters The protests represent the biggest Opposition to the extradition Hong Kong bill has developed into wider populist challenge for Chinese concerns about the erosion of President Xi Jinping since he came to freedoms guaranteed under the ong Kong braced yester- “one country, two systems” day for more mass dem- power in 2012 and show no immediate formula put in place after Hong Honstrations through the signs of abating Kong’s return to Chinese rule in weekend, as China again warned 1997. against foreign interference in Chinese state media had fi rst re- Beijing resolving the unrest “hu- It was not yet clear whether the city’s escalating crisis and ported on the exercises on Mon- manely”, and suggested he was the airport clashes had eroded as mainland paramilitary forces day, prompting US concerns they willing to meet Xi to discuss the the broad support the move- conducted exercises just across could be used to break up the crisis. “I have ZERO doubt that ment has so far attracted in Hong the border. protests. if President Xi (Jinping) wants Kong, despite adding to the city’s Western governments, in- However, several western and to quickly and humanely solve faltering economy. The protests cluding the United States, have Asian diplomats in Hong Kong the Hong Kong problem, he can could push Hong Kong into a stepped up calls for restraint, told Reuters Beijing has little ap- do it. Personal meeting?” Trump recession, research fi rm Capital following ugly and chaotic petite for putting the PAP or the said on Twitter. Economics said, and risked “an scenes at the city’s airport this People’s Liberation Army onto The US State Department said even worse outcome if a further week, which forced the cancel- Hong Kong’s streets. it was deeply concerned over re- escalation triggers capital fl ight”. lation of nearly 1,000 fl ights and Ten weeks of increasingly vio- ports that Chinese police forces Hong Kong’s property market, saw protesters set upon two men lent confrontations between po- were gathering near the border one of the world’s most expen- they suspected of being govern- lice and protesters have plunged with Hong Kong and urged the sive, would be hit hard in that Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison talking with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ment sympathisers. Hong Kong into its worst crisis city’s government to respect scenario, it added. at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu. Australia’s Scott Morrison arrived at a meeting of Pacific The airport, one of the world’s since it reverted from British to freedom of speech. Financial Secretary Paul Chan island leaders in Tuvalu with Canberra’s regional leadership in question amid intense scrutiny of busiest, was returning to nor- Chinese rule in 1997, and police It also issued a travel advisory unveiled a series of measures his government’s climate change policies. mal but under tight security af- tactics have been toughening. urging US citizens to exercise worth HK$19.1bn ($2.44bn) ter thousands of protesters had The protests represent the caution in Hong Kong. China has yesterday to tackle economic jammed its halls on Monday and biggest populist challenge for frequently warned against what headwinds, but he said it was Tuesday nights, part of a protest Chinese President Xi Jinping it regards as outside interfer- not related to political pressure Apology issued over NZ mosque accused’s ‘hateful’ letter movement Beijing has likened to since he came to power in 2012 ence in an internal issue. Other from the protests. Business and terrorism. and show no immediate signs foreign governments urged calm. citizens’ groups have been post- Off icials in New Zealand apolo- revealed he had been allowed to the correction department’s vetting Across a bridge linking Hong of abating. Late on Wednesday France called on city offi cials to ing full-page newspaper adver- gised yesterday after the alleged send mail from his prison cell. One system. “Corrections themselves Kong’s rural hinterland with the night, police and protesters faced renew talks with activists, while tisements that denounce the Christchurch mosque gunman was of the letters from the self-avowed have acknowledged the failing booming mainland city of Shen- off again on the streets of the fi - Canada said China should han- violence and back Hong Kong’s allowed to send a letter from prison white supremacist, addressed to here ... this individual should not be zhen, hundreds of members of nancial hub, with riot offi cers dle the protests with tact. government. espousing “hateful” views that a Russian man named Alan, was able to share his hateful message the paramilitary People’s Armed quickly fi ring tear gas. The Civil Human Rights Front, The head of Macau casino op- a supporter then shared online. posted to the website 4Chan. Hand- from behind prison doors,” she told Police conducted exercises at Seventeen people were arrest- which organised million-strong erator Galaxy Entertainment, Lui Australian Brenton Tarrant is in a written in block letters, the six-page reporters in Tuvalu, where she is a sports complex in what was ed on Wednesday, bringing the marches in June, has scheduled Che-woo, urged talks to restore maximum-security jail in Auckland note discusses a trip Tarrant made attending a regional summit. widely seen as a warning to pro- total detained since June to 748, another protest for Sunday. The harmony. The protests have af- awaiting trial for the murder of 51 to Russia in 2015, his admiration for Corrections Department chief testers in Hong Kong. police told a news conference, protesters have fi ve demands, in- fected the neighbouring Chinese Muslim worshippers on March 15 in British fascist Oswald Mosley and executive Christine Stevenson said The police could be seen car- adding that police stations have cluding the complete withdrawal territory of Macau, with some the worst mass shooting in modern his belief “there is a great conflict the letter should never have been rying out crowd-control exer- been surrounded and attacked of a now-suspended extradi- visitors avoiding the world’s big- New Zealand history. Yet despite on the horizon”. Prime Minister sent. “I would like to apologise for cises, and more than 100 dark- 76 times during the crisis. tion bill that would have allowed gest gambling hub amid trans- the government vowing to deny Jacinda Ardern, who has vowed the distress that this has caused painted paramilitary vehicles US President Donald Trump criminal suspects to be sent for port disruptions and safety con- Tarrant a platform to disseminate never to mention Tarrant by name, to those impacted by the tragic fi lled the stadium’s parking lots. tied a US-China trade deal to trial in mainland Chinese courts. cerns. hate speech, corrections off icials was furious the letter had bypassed events of 15 March,” she said. Gulf Times 8 Friday, August 16, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

INVESTIGATION DANGEROUS WATERS MAKING HIM HAPPY DISRUPTION EDUCATION Second off icer exposed to Migrant missing after Irishman, 99, tangos at Brexit protester jailed for Novichok nerve agent falling into Channel world championship halting international trains

A second UK police off icer was exposed to a British and French campaigners have warned A 99-year-old Irishman competing at the World A pro-Brexit protester who blocked Britain’s Soviet-era nerve agent used in last year’s attack on about the dangers of migrant Channel crossings Tango Championships in Argentina has received rail link to continental Europe, disrupting up a former Russian spy in the English city Salisbury, after a woman attempting the journey went an ovation for his performance from aficionados at to 22,000 passengers, has been jailed for British detectives said yesterday. Former double missing after falling into the sea last week. If the Buenos Aires venue. “Tango brings me a lot of a year, British police said yesterday. Terry agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fell into confirmed, the woman’s death would be the first happiness,” James McManus told local newspapers Maher, 44, climbed on top of a tunnel above comas after coming into contact with a banned casualty in what is one of the world’s busiest through an interpreter. “Dancing is very important the railway line outside London’s St Pancras chemical called Novichok in March 2018. Detectives shipping lanes. Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy socially.” Tango fans in McManus’ native Ireland terminal on March 29, the day Britain was from Britain’s Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) at Britain’s Refugee Council, called for “more safe raised money for his transatlantic trip. The fit originally due to leave the European Union. network said “traces of the nerve agent” were and regular routes of travel” for migrants. British nonagenarian said he only took up tango in 2002. The disruption is estimated to have cost more found in blood samples taken from a second police rescuers launched a search last Friday after reports Dressed in a white jacket, black trousers and tie, than £1mn ($1.2mn). Maher, who lives near St off icer who showed signs of exposure at the time. It that three people with life jackets had fallen into he danced in the first qualifying round with an Pancras station, was found guilty of malicious said the dose was “very small” and the off icer, who the sea from a boat carrying migrants across the Argentine partner, Lucia Seva. The couple won the obstruction of the railway and was sentenced Sixth form students celebrate their A-Level has requested anonymity, “continues to receive Channel. Two of the missing migrants were found biggest round of applause from the knowledgeable to one year in jail at Blackfriars Crown Court in results at Stoke Newington School in London support” from the Salisbury police. but a woman remained unaccounted for. audience at the Usina del Arte venue. London, the British Transport Police said. yesterday.

Aircraft ferrying US troops catches Rival plans to block fi re at Shannon

Reuters Dublin no-deal Brexit clash plane that regularly carries US troops through Ireland’s Shannon Airport caught Reuters Afi re yesterday shortly before it was due to London take off , forcing a fi ve-hour suspension of fl ights at Shannon and cancellation of some trips. Shannon Airport temporarily suspended op- pposition parties have erations at 0537 GMT after the incident involving launched rival campaigns to an Omni Air International Boeing 767-300 due to Otopple Prime Minister Boris depart for the Middle East. Johnson and stop him taking Britain All 145 passengers and 14 crew disembarked out of the European Union without after emergency services were called. a deal, illustrating fractures in the Air traffi c controllers noticed a fi re and smoke anti-Brexit movement that make coming from the aircraft as it taxied along the neither scheme likely to succeed. runway after having to abort its take-off for Johnson has promised to push technical reasons, according to Niall Maloney, through Brexit by October 31, with operations director at Shannon Airport. or without a deal, setting the scene “The problem with an aborted take-off is you for a showdown in parliament where can probably get things like hot brakes and when a majority of lawmakers are opposed the aircraft went around again to come back on to an EU divorce without a transition the apron, a fl ame was spotted,” Maloney told agreement. Irish national broadcaster RTE. With parliament the main obsta- Omni Air International is a civilian airline that cle to Johnson’s “do or die” pledge, says it transports US and foreign military troops lawmakers are urgently seeking a and military family members around the world. way to remove him or change the law In a Twitter post, Omni Air said it was partici- to delay Brexit. pating in an investigation of the incident after Jeremy Corbyn, the veteran social- the aircraft “rejected take-off ” and was safely ist leader of the Labour Party, said evacuated. Initial reports indicated no serious lawmakers should support a vote of injuries to passengers or crew, it added. no confi dence and back him to lead Ireland provides landing and refuelling facili- a “strictly time-limited temporary ties to the US military at Shannon, the country’s government” that would postpone second busiest airport, particularly for transat- Brexit and hold an election. lantic fl ights. “This government has no mandate An average of around 300 US troops passed for No Deal, and the 2016 EU refer- through Shannon Airport each day in the fi rst endum provided no mandate for No three months of the year, according to Ireland’s Deal,” Corbyn said. “I therefore in- Transport Ministry. tend to table a vote of no confi dence The incident forced the cancellation of 10 at the earliest opportunity when we fl ights including eight to and from Britain oper- can be confi dent of success.” ated by IAG’s Aer Lingus, and an American Air- A handful of lawmakers from lines aircraft that was due to arrive from Phila- Johnson’s own Conservative Party delphia before it returned to the US city. said they would listen to Corbyn’s Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson delivers a keynote speech on Brexit in London yesterday. Swinson called on MPs who oppose no-deal to set The airport reopened just before 1030 GMT. proposals. aside their diff erences and get behind a caretaker leader without long-term ambitions to govern in the event of a vote of no confidence, rejecting the idea “A short-term Jeremy Corbyn gov- that main opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn could united the House to form a temporary government. ernment is less damaging than the gen- erational damage that would be caused Swinson’s rival idea for a senior A spokeswoman for Johnson’s Opponents of a sudden departure He said he hoped his proposal to by a no-deal Brexit,” Conservative law- parliamentarian to lead a national offi ce said the Labour leader was without a deal say it would be a dis- lead a caretaker government could maker Guto Bebb told the BBC. unity government is unlikely to be showing contempt for the 2016 ref- aster for what was one of the West’s “halt the serious threat of No Deal, Ryanair expects The leader of the Scottish Na- accepted by Corbyn. erendum. “Jeremy Corbyn believes most stable democracies, shatter- end the uncertainty and disarray, tional Party, Nicola Sturgeon, said Britain’s electoral law lets another that the people are the servants and ing supply chains, damaging global and allow the public to decide the her party and its 35 lawmakers would party try to form government within politicians can cancel public votes growth, and weakening Britain’s best way ahead”. little impact of explore any option to stop Brexit 14 days of a successful no-confi - they don’t like,” she said. standing in the world. But he is a divisive fi gure and even in parliament and did not rule out dence vote, but only if they have a Lawmakers return from their Brexit supporters say while there his own party, which has faced accu- backing Corbyn. majority in the 650-seat parliament. summer break on September 3 for a may be short-term disruption, it sations of anti-Semitism under his planned strikes However, his chances of success Johnson has a working majority in battle over Brexit that will determine would provide a clean break from the leadership, would struggle to form a were crippled by the leader of the parliament of just one seat, includ- the fortunes of the world’s fi fth- struggling bloc and eventually allow majority of his own. anti-Brexit Liberal Democrat party, ing several lawmakers who have said largest economy. the economy to thrive. While the political turmoil has led Reuters Jo Swinson, who said Corbyn was they could vote to bring down the Labour’s business spokeswoman The pound, which tumbled in re- to an unprecedented level of cross- Dublin not the right fi gurehead for an emer- government. said a challenge in parliament could cent weeks on the prospect of a tur- party cooperation, many in John- gency government. However, without the Liberal come days later. bulent exit, was largely unmoved by son’s Conservative Party and others “We are facing a national crisis. Democrats’ 14 votes, Corbyn’s plan Johnson, who led the 2016 cam- Corbyn’s and Swinson’s proposals. would still fi nd it diffi cult to vote for yanair expects minimal cancellations with We may need an emergency gov- is unlikely to succeed. paign to leave the EU, has staked Corbyn, a low-key Remain cam- a Corbyn-led administration. aff ected passengers fl ying out at diff erent ernment to resolve it but if Jeremy And without the support of Cor- his premiership on getting Britain paigner during the 2016 referendum, Conservative lawmaker Alistair Rtimes if pilots in Britain and Ireland go Corbyn truly wants that to succeed, byn and his sizeable circle of com- out by October 31 and accused some has been under pressure within his Burt, a former foreign offi ce minister ahead with a two-day strike next week, the air- surely even he can see, he cannot mitted supporters, any other plan lawmakers of “collaborating” with party to step up eff orts to prevent it who is opposed to a no-deal Brexit, said line’s chief people offi cer said yesterday. lead it,” she said. also has little chance. Brussels. from happening. he could not support the Labour leader. Ryanair staff unions in Ireland, Britain, Spain and Portugal have announced plans to strike in the coming weeks, a year after an initial wave of strikes over pay and conditions forced it to cancel hundreds of fl ights and hit its profi ts. Members of its British pilot union, which the airline said represents half of its pilots there, vot- Man stabbed outside Home Offi ce ed last week to stage a two-day strike from Au- gust 22, when directly employed pilots in Ireland also plan a strike. DPA the country in the past of the incident and “keep- Unionised Irish pilots represent less than half London year. ing an open mind about of Ryanair’s pilots in its home market. Yesterday, police also any possible motive at this “Our hope is that we’re going to cover the ma- said a murder investiga- early stage.” jority of the operation both in the UK and Ireland, man sustained tion has been launched Witnesses said the vic- and unless you hear from us, your fl ight is going non-life threat- into a separate fatal stab- tim entered the Home ahead as normal,” Eddie Wilson told Reuters in Aening injuries in bing of an 18-year-old Offi ce seeking help after a telephone interview, adding that planned ac- a stabbing near Britain’s man in the southern Lon- the attack, temporar- tion by Portuguese cabin crew next week would Home Offi ce in London’s don borough of Lambeth. ily putting the building be minor. government district of “Knives have no place on lockdown, the Press “We’ll be protecting as a priority the summer Westminster yesterday on our streets. Vio- Association news agency destinations and there may be some cancella- afternoon, police con- lence has no place on our reported. tions on multi-frequency routes between Ire- fi rmed. streets,” London Mayor One witness told the land, the UK or on UK domestics where people Ambulance services Sadiq Khan tweeted, add- agency the man then ex- can make free changes, etc. There will not be said they attended to the ing that police were work- ited the ministry escorted travel chaos.” man at the scene and he ing to “remove weapons by paramedics with “quite Responding to the British Airline Pilots As- was taken to a trauma cen- and catch off enders and a bloodied face and with sociation’s call yesterday to meet for mediated tre for further treatment. keep all Londoners safe.” dressing pressed into his talks to resolve the dispute on pay and benefi ts, One man had been The victim in Westmin- face.” Wilson said Ryanair was still waiting on the un- taken into custody near ster was a man in his 60s, Prime Minister Boris ion to reply to a legal letter stating it had to re- the incident, the capital’s police said, adding that his Johnson last week prom- engage directly fi rst, as per a deal struck last year. Metropolitan Police said family had been notifi ed. ised 20,000 more police Mediated talks broke down on Wednesday in in a statement. A 29-year-old man offi cers on the streets Ireland, where a series of one-day strikes last “All my thoughts are was taken into custody a and additional stop-and- year were quelled when concerns on transfers with the victim and their few blocks away in Smith search powers in order for and promotions when settled. family following hor- Square, arrested “on sus- police to “come down hard Wilson said yesterday that subsequent union rifi c unprovoked knife at- picion of grievous bodily on crime.” claims for increases in total earnings of between tack on Marsham Street,” harm” and possession of a Patel on Wednesday 57% and 101% for some pilots were “off the wall,” Home Secretary Priti Patel tear gas spray. said she would do “every- particularly at a time when “the world is falling Police off icers inspect items, including a bag and a sheathed knife, at the former parish church of St John’s tweeted. Police said they were thing in my power to stop apart aviation-wise.” Asked if there had been Smith Square in central London following the arrest of a suspect in connection with a stabbing incident Britain has witnessed still reviewing the “exact (knife crime) traumatising any impact on bookings, Wilson said that talk of outside the nearby Home Off ice building. rising knife crime across circumstances” and cause communities.” strikes could worry some potential customers. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 9 EUROPE Six EU countries ready to take in some migrants stranded off Italy

AFP “Once again, my European He added: “My obsession is to The fate of the scores of mi- ty member with the authority to Rome counterparts are off ering us a fi ght every kind of crime, includ- grants aboard the Open Arms sign off on Salvini’s decree, an- helping hand,” Conte wrote, ing clandestine immigration. I vessel, operated by Spanish nounced that she has decided not while slamming Salvini for “dis- am a minister to defend the bor- charity Proactiva, found itself at to do so. ix EU nations have agreed honest collaboration”. ders, the security, the honour, the the centre of the political crisis in “I took this decision for solid to take in some of the 147 He criticised what he called dignity of my country.” Rome. legal reasons, listening to my The Spanish migrant rescue ship Open Arms is seen close to the Smigrants stranded on a res- Salvini’s “obsessive focus” on an Salvini, head of the anti-immi- Earlier this month Salvini, conscience,” Trenta said in a Italian shore in Lampedusa. cue ship near the Italian island immigration policy reduced to gration League party, broke with who is also deputy prime minis- statement. “We must never for- of Lampedusa, Rome announced the phrase “closed ports”. his coalition partner the Five Star ter, signed a decree banning the get that behind the polemics of certainly not opening Italian disembark its passengers. yesterday, amid a war of words Salvini has taken a hard line Movement (M5S) last week, hop- Open Arms from Italian waters, the past few days, there are chil- ports.” Spain had on Tuesday dis- between Italy’s interior minister against migrants rescued at sea ing for a no-confi dence vote that saying that it was needed to pro- dren and young people who suf- Salvini enjoys 36-38% support missed a request from the ship’s and the premier over policy. being brought to Italy, which he would topple the 14-month-old tect public order. fered violence and abuse of all among the electorate, thanks captain to take 32 minors off “France, Germany, Romania, says bears an unfair burden in the government. However, Proactiva appealed types. Politics must never lose largely to his hard line against il- the Open Arms, arguing that he Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg crisis. However, his gamble failed, to an administrative court, which sight of humanity.” legal immigrants. did not have the legal authority have told me that they are ready Responding to Conte’s an- and his abandoned partner found on Wednesday suspended the Salvini also retorted to Trenta, The mainly African mi- to make an asylum request for to welcome the migrants,” Prime nouncement, Salvini wrote on an unexpected ally in the opposi- decree. saying: “It is thanks to the sup- grants aboard Open Arms had them. Minister Giuseppe Conte said in Facebook: “It is clear that with- tion Democratic Party (PD). Salvini then signed a new one posed concept of ‘humanity’ that been plucked from boats in the Another rescue ship, the an open letter to Interior Min- out (my) resolve, the European Both the M5S and the PD on blocking the ship, but in a dem- through years of Democratic (PD) Mediterranean this month with Ocean Viking, operated by SOS ister Matteo Salvini, who has Union would never have lifted a Tuesday voted against Salvini onstration of his diminished government Italy has become weather conditions encouraging Mediterranee and Doctors with- sought to ban the Open Arms fi nger, leaving Italy and the Ital- despite his last-minute off er to power, Italy’s defence minister Europe’s refugee camp.” more departures from Libya. out Borders (MSF), is also looking rescue vessel from entering Ital- ians on their own like (previous back a plan to slash the number blocked it yesterday. He added: “Humanity would Both Italy and Malta have re- for a port to dock with more than ian waters. governments) did for years.” of the country’s lawmakers. Elisabetta Trenta, an M5S par- be investing seriously in Africa, fused it permission to dock and 350 migrants on board.

Nuclear testing near city Russians hail ‘hero’ pilot is a crime: ecologist after emergency landing

Reuters AFP Moscow Moscow

n ecologist in northern Russian pilot was hailed Russia said yesterday that as a hero yesterday for Athe state nuclear agency Asafely landing an Airbus Rosatom had committed a crime carrying more than 230 people by carrying out a mysterious test in a Moscow corn fi eld after a last week close to inhabited ar- bird strike. eas, which caused a spike in ra- The Ural Airlines A321 fl ying diation in his native city. to Crimea hit a fl ock of seagulls Rosatom has said that the Au- shortly after take-off from Mos- gust 8 accident occurred during cow’s Zhukovsky airport early a rocket test involving “isotope yesterday, the Rosaviatsia air power sources” that was car- transport agency said in a state- ried out on a sea platform in the ment. White Sea. Birds were sucked into the At least fi ve people were killed engines and the crew decided This still image taken from a drone video footage shows the Ural in the accident. to immediately land, bringing Airlines Airbus 321 passenger plane following an emergency landing The defence ministry ini- the plane down in the corn fi eld in a field near Zhukovsky International Airport in Moscow Region. tially said radiation levels had about a kilometre from the run- remained normal, but offi cials way, with the engines off and the making “strange noises”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry in the northern city of Severod- landing gear retracted. “We have to pay tribute to Peskov also hailed the “hero pi- vinsk recorded a brief spike. The aircraft, carrying 226 the pilot, in the circumstances lots” who landed the plane. Days later, the state weather passengers and seven crew, he landed as softly as possible,” Prime Minister Dmitry Off icers stand guard near the site of hard landing of the Ural Airlines A321 plane on a corn field. agency said radiation had risen was evacuated using infl atable she told the RIA Novosti news Medvedev ordered the transport by up to 16 times. ramps. agency. ministry to prepare state awards Investigators could be seen ing sites near Moscow’s airports. Russia was once notorious for “To carry out (this test) with- The health ministry said 23 “Everyone is alive! The pilot for the crew, saying their actions examining the interior of the “The problem with birds is plane accidents but its air traf- out preparing or warning the people were sent to hospital but is a genius,” passenger Olga told “deserve the highest praise”. cockpit. enormous,” aviation safety ex- fi c safety record has improved in local population and not to there were no serious injuries. tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russian media called the The plane had taken off for pert Alexander Romanov told recent years. take into account the ecologi- Only one patient, a 69-year- saying that applause broke out landing a “miracle” and drew Simferopol, the main city in RIA Novosti. “It comes from, The last major accident was cal risks – of course it’s a crime,” old woman with moderate inju- following the landing. comparisons with US pilot Russian-annexed Crimea, a among other things, landfi lls nonetheless in May, when a Alexei Klimov, an ecologist from ries, required further hospitali- The pilot, identifi ed as Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s popular summer destination for that are scattered in violation of Sukhoi Superjet belonging to Severodvinsk, said by phone. sation, it said. 41-year-old Yekaterinburg na- 2009 landing of a disabled US many Russians. all regulations.” national carrier Aerofl ot crash- He said the test was carried “It all happened in a few sec- tive Damir Yusupov, was praised Airways airliner in the Hudson Zhukovsky, about 40km (25 Residents of the town of Zhu- landed and burst into fl ames at out when the wind was blowing onds ... we took off and came for his quick thinking. River after a bird strike. miles) southeast of Moscow, kovsky said an illegal landfi ll Moscow’s Sheremetyevo air- towards Severodvinsk which, back down,” passenger Irina “The crew of the Ural Airlines Russia’s investigative com- opened in 2016 as its fourth in- was located between the airport port, killing 41 people. like neighbouring Arkhangelsk, Usacheva told state television fl ight showed fantastic skill and mittee said it had opened a probe ternational airport. and the Moscow river and that The plane, bound for the is located on the bay where the channel Rossiya 24. cool-headedness,” said Yevgeny into the incident. A Soviet-era test fl ight centre, seagulls gathered there. Arctic city of Murmansk, had test was conducted. Passenger Svetlana Babina Kuyvashev, the governor of Yu- The committee posted a video it hosts the biennial MAKS in- City authorities insisted there turned around after being The cities have a combined said that the bird strike could be supov’s home region. “He and on its website of the plane on its ternational air show. were no dumps near the airport, struck by lightning, bounced on population of more than half a heard from inside the aircraft, his team saved 233 lives. They belly in the fi eld of corn, with the Experts pointed to a growing saying that the nearest landfi ll the runway while landing and million. and that the engines started are heroes.” evacuation ramps deployed. problem of birds at illegal dump- was 14km (nine miles) away. caught fi re. “Children were strolling on the sea front. No one issued a warning. We should have been warned,” Klimov said, adding that the test should have been Moon rising done at one of Russia’s remote EU water bombers join Greek test sites. A spokesman for Rosatom de- clined to comment on Klimov’s battle against massive island fi re allegation, but said the test had posed no risk to residents in Severodvinsk or elsewhere. AFP “My shed was burned, there Greece has been hit by a spate Klimov said local residents Athens are no more trees for resin col- of wildfi res since the weekend, had fi led a complaint to pros- lection, so apart from my house, fanned by gale-force winds and ecutors to look into the circum- I have nothing else,” a local resi- temperatures of 40° Celsius stances of the test, and were reece has deployed nearly dent told state TV ERT The EU’s (104° Fahrenheit). gathering signatures to demand 400 fi refi ghters backed by Copernicus emergency manage- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mit- that such tests are never carried GEU fi rebombers to try to ment service has calculated that sotakis, who cancelled his sum- out again. put out a massive wildfi re on the at least 2,300 hectares (nearly mer vacation and returned to It remains unclear what Rus- island of Evia burning through 5,700 acres) have been lost to the Athens on Tuesday, called for the sia was actually testing and a pristine pine forest for a third fi re. EU to further bolster fi re assist- some analysts have said there day. Local community head Dimi- ance services. is still not enough information “We are more optimistic to- tris Yiannoutsos told web TV He paid tribute to the fi re available to make a clear call. day because the winds have died Open there was “total destruc- crews coping with an average of Russia, which has said the The full moon rises last night next to the Temple of Poseidon at the Cape of Sounion, some 70km down,” Yiorgos Kostopoulos, tion” in the forest but admitted 50 forest blazes daily. missile will have an “unlimited south of Athens. civil protection supervisor for that with the fi re still active, of- Other fi res on Tuesday were range” and be able to overcome Evia, told state TV ERT. fi cials were “unable to fully esti- contained on the island of Thas- any defences, calls the missile Firefi ghters managed to con- mate the extent of the damage.” sos, the central region of Viotia, the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm tain the fi re in a ravine near the The fi re broke out in the early and in the Peloponnese region. Petrel). Sweden detains man suspected of plotting ‘terrorist crime’ village of Platana, backed by hours of Tuesday on Greece’s On Monday, a major blaze The North Atlantic Treaty nearly 100 vehicles, nine heli- second-largest island, prompt- threatening homes in Peania, an Organisation (Nato) alliance has Police have detained a man in central Sweden police and re-designated as conspiracy to commit copters and 12 planes, includ- ing the evacuation of four vil- eastern suburb of Athens, was designated it the SSC-X-9 Sky- on suspicion of conspiracy to commit “a terrorist “a terrorist crime”. ing two from Italy and one from lages including Platana. brought under control. fall. crime”, the country’s Prosecution Authority said Akilov, now serving life in prison, said during his Spain. EU Humanitarian Commis- At least two houses were The pro-Kremlin Izvestia yesterday. trial that he wanted revenge on Sweden for its “We are doing whatever we sioner Christos Stylianides on burned and radio broadcast newspaper, however, disputed Swedish Radio said the man was from Uzbekistan support in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in can to create additional fi re de- Wednesday called the mobilisa- equipment was damaged on any connection with the Bu- and the daily Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, Syria and Iraq. fences near the village,” Ko- tion of Greek forces “exemplary” nearby Mount Ymittos. revestnik, and said yesterday said police were checking possible links between A Security Police spokesman declined to comment stopoulos said as an earth mover after emergency crews managed On Sunday, a fi re on the small that the authorities had been the suspect and Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek militant on the suspect’s nationality with the investigation dug a trench behind him. to save inhabited areas. island of Elafonissos, in the Pelo- testing an advanced booster de- convicted of killing five people with a stolen truck at a preliminary stage, but said there was no The wildfi re has caused in- A fi refi ghter suff ered burns on ponnese, was brought under vice. in Stockholm in 2017. reason to suspect any attacks were imminent. estimable damage to the local Tuesday after trying to cross the control after a two-day battle. It said the device featured a In a statement, the Prosecution Authority said the “Had there been any threat or reason to increase 550-hectare mountain wildlife fi re on a motorbike, and at least Two more fi res were doused liquid propellant rocket engine man was stopped on Wednesday while driving vigilance, we would have said so,” the spokesman sanctuary of Agrilitsa. four cars have been burned, state on Saturday in Marathon, close mounted with “nuclear batter- in the city of Ostersund and detained due to said. “We are continuing with our preliminary It could take another two days agency ANA said. to Mati, the coastal resort where ies” – military jargon that Izves- probable cause of conspiracy to commit murder. investigation. We are conducting further to extinguish the fl ames, a fi re No other injuries or respira- more than 100 people were killed tia said was used to describe new Based on findings from a search of his car, questioning and reviewing the findings made in department spokesman told tory problems that required hos- last year in Greece’s worst fi re isotope sources of power. however, the case was turned over to the security connection with the arrest.” Thema radio. pitalisation have been reported. disaster. Gulf Times 10 Friday, August 16, 2019 INDIA

POLITICS INVESTIGATION BREAKTHROUGH ANNOUNCEMENT POLICY Sovan’s move will boost Questioned for over 600 NIA arrests terror Free bus travel for women Vellore district to be BJP in W Bengal: Ghosh hours by ED, CBI: Michel suspect in Indore in Delhi from Oct 29: Kejriwal trifurcated: TN CM

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief British national Christian Michel, the The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Women can travel for free on DTC and cluster Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Dilip Ghosh yesterday welcomed the decision alleged middleman in the Rs3,600-crore arrested Zahirul Sheikh, a key accused in the buses in Delhi from October 29, Chief Minister yesterday announced the trifurcation of Vellore of former Kolkata mayor and Trinamool AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, has 2014 Burdwan bombing case, two days before Arvind Kejriwal announced yesterday. Speaking district and creating two new districts – Ranipet Congress (TMC) legislator Sovan Chatterjee to been interrogated for more than 600 hours the Independence Day from Indore, Madhya at an Independence Day event at Chhatrasal and Tirupattur. He made the announcement join the BJP. “His joining will boost the BJP’s by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Pradesh. In order to trap Sheikh, some of the Stadium, Kejriwal said: “On the day of Raksha after unfurling the national flag to mark the 73rd chances in the coming civic body elections Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according NIA off icials even posed as vegetable sellers Bandhan, I want to give a gift to our sisters. They Independence Day at Fort St George. Besides and put the party in an advantageous position to bail pleas filed by him. “The applicant has in the Kohinoor colony, the area where Sheikh can travel for free in all DTC (Delhi Transport Vellore’s trifurcation, he also announced an in Bengal,” Ghosh said. “Many TMC leaders undergone almost 600 hours of custodial used to live. The NIA was looking for Sheikh for Corporation) and cluster buses from October 29.” increase in the family pension of freedom fighters and MLAs have contacted us in the past few interrogation by both agencies. As of today, a long time. Sources had informed the police Kejriwal said women’s security was of utmost to Rs8,000 from Rs7,500. Palaniswami added months. Many of them will soon join us. The the applicant has spent 375 days in custody about the whereabouts of Sheikh, who was importance for his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that a decision has been taken to purchase 7,000 BJP’s door is open for those who want to fight including the period which he spent in Dubai working as a painter and a labourer in Indore. government. He said his government had taken new buses. He said the state government will TMC’s misrule for the welfare of the people,” jail,” His lawyer Aljo K Joseph told Special CBI The NIA team carried out the operation in two important decisions: to install CCTV cameras take steps to implement recycling of water and he said. Ending months of speculation, Judge Arvind Kumar. The plea also claimed total secrecy, without even informing the local across Delhi and to provide free public transport also desilt reservoirs supplying water to the state Chatterjee and his friend Baisakhi Banerjee that Michel has made no attempt to pollute police. Police sources said Sheikh has been for women. He said his government did not need capital Chennai. He also said the government was joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday. or obstruct the judicial process. Michel was working as a labourer in other cities for the last the Centre’s permission to provide free travel to steadfast on following the two-language formula While Chatterjee is an MLA from the Behala, extradited to India on December 4, 2018, from two years. He is an active member of Jamaat-ul- women in buses as the government would meet in the state and would oppose any attempts to Baisakhi headed the TMC education cell. the United Arab Emirates. Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). the subsidy. impose Hindi.

BBC expands shortwave radio news coverage in Kashmir

AFP London

he BBC said yesterday it will expand shortwave Tradio news coverage in Kashmir to ease the impact of a communications blackout im- posed by the Indian government. The British broadcaster’s an- nouncement came after New Delhi scrapped Article 370 of the constitution granting special Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers a speech to the nation during a ceremony to celebrate India’s status to Jammu and Kashmir. Independence Day at the Red Fort in New Delhi yesterday. Artists perform during a cultural event in Srinagar. Kashmir has been under lock- down since the day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi an- nounced the change on August 5. The BBC said the number and length of programmes will grow in a variety of languages spoken in Kashmir. “Given the shutdown of digital We can now proudly say ‘one services and phone lines in the region, it’s right for us to try and increase the provision of news on our short wave radio servic- es,” BBC World Service director Jamie Angus said in a statement. “The provision of independ- nation, one constitution’: PM ent and trusted news in places of confl ict and tension is one of Reuters Critics of the policy say it will to announce a major decision... the core purposes of the World New Delhi bring a backlash from Kashmiri India will have a chief of defence Service.” Muslims, who had valued the staff ,” Modi said. The BBC said its News Hindi previous ban on non-residents However, he did not address Subdued Independence Day radio output will be extended by rime Minister Narendra buying property in the state, and the weakening economy and calls 30 minutes from today. Modi delivered an Inde- benefi ted from the reservation of from industry for swift govern- News Urdu will launch a Ppendence Day speech yes- state government jobs for resi- ment measures to spur demand. 15-minute daily programme on terday that spotlighted a decision dents. India’s growth rate has fallen celebrations in Kashmir Monday. to remove the special rights of In a clampdown in the state to 5.8% for the three months The World Service added that Jammu and Kashmir among the since the August 5 decision, au- ended March 2019, its lowest in Reuters dances of Jammu, Ladakh and spectators in the stadium, most its English morning broadcasts bold moves of the fi rst 10 weeks thorities have cut Internet and 17 quarters, while research group Srinagar Kashmir,” said Sharma. of them from the security forces will end an hour later than usual. of his second term. phone links, restricted move- CMIE estimates the jobless rate “We will return to Jammu this or government offi cials. The evening English-language Modi talked about his aim to ment with police roadblocks, and rose to 7.51% in July from 5.66% evening, because communica- The stadium was sealed at news will start an hour earlier turn India into a $5tn economy detained more than 500 leaders a year earlier. ndia tightened security yes- tion is a big problem here.” least a week in advance for secu- and end at their usual time. within fi ve years, by spurring and activists. Modi said he would invest terday in Jammu and Kash- Similar performances were rity reasons. It has a capacity of The BBC said India is now its wealth creation, boosting ex- Wearing a fl owing bright Rs3.6tn to improve water infra- Imir, sealing off many roads also held by the cultural units of at least 2,000, a local police offi - radio service’s largest market ports and tourism, and spending saff ron-coloured turban, Modi, structure and pipe clean water to with barbed wire in the main city the police and border security cial said. Surveillance helicopters – picked up by 50mn people a Rs100tn ($1.4tn) on infrastruc- who won a landslide election vic- every home. of Srinagar, as government of- forces. During yesterday’s pa- and drones with cameras hovered week. ture. tory in May, also highlighted his Standing below a fl uttering fi cials and security forces held rade, there were fewer than 500 overhead. Short wave transmissions But he did not touch on sag- government’s ban on triple ta- Indian fl ag, Modi urged a halt to an Independence Day parade at- travel thousands of kilome- ging demand that has hit parts of laq, some Muslim communities’ use of single-use plastics, sug- tended by only a few local people. tres and are able to bounce over the economy in recent months, practice of allowing a husband to gesting a phase-out date of Oc- Streets were empty outside UN Security Council to discuss Kashmir mountains that dominate the especially the auto sector. instantly divorce his wife. tober 2, the birth anniversary of the Sher-i-Kashmir cricket sta- region. Modi said Article 370, which A major announcement he Mahatma Gandhi. dium, where the event was held, The United Nations Security (1400 GMT), the diplomats Meanwhile, several thousand gave a special constitutional sta- made was the creation of a new During the last fi ve years, with most residents of the city Council is scheduled to hold a added. It is extremely rare for people protested yesterday out- tus for Jammu and Kashmir, had post of chief of defence staff to Modi’s government has made it keeping indoors as a travel and rare meeting on Kashmir after the Security Council to discuss side the Indian embassy in Lon- encouraged corruption and nep- ensure better co-ordination of much easier to do business in In- communications blockade in the India stripped the state of its Kashmir. The last time there don against the country’s move otism, while creating injustice the army, navy and air force, dia, he added, vowing to further state entered its 11th day. autonomy, sparking a row with was a full Security Council to scrap Article 370. for women, children and minor- along the lines of Western mili- streamline government proce- A dance troupe of about 50 Pakistan, diplomats told AFP meeting on the Himalayan The protesters held up signs ity communities in India’s only tary forces. dure. young men and women in col- yesterday. The meeting will region was in 1965. Today’s reading “Kashmir is bleeding” majority-Muslim region. Defence experts have long More small vendors should ac- ourful traditional attire was take place behind closed doors discussion is not considered and waved Kashmiri and Pa- “Today every Indian can called for such a post, recom- cept digital payments, Modi said, called into Srinagar from the today morning, the diplomats a full security meeting but kistani fl ags. Police separated proudly say ‘One Nation, One mended by a government panel returning to a theme fi rst spot- state’s other main city of Jam- said. Poland, which currently rather referred to as closed them from a smaller pro-Indian Constitution’,” Modi, speaking in 1999, after India came close to lighted in 2016, when his govern- mu, said Archana Sharma, the holds the council’s rotating door consultations, which are counter-demonstration. from the ramparts of the historic war with Pakistan over Kashmir. ment ordered an overnight ban of group’s leader, adding that she presidency, has listed the becoming increasingly more AFP reporters saw police Red Fort in New Delhi, said of the “To further sharpen co-ordi- high-value banknotes. was a television anchor. matter for discussion at 10am common, diplomats said. making at least one arrest. decision. nation between the forces, I want “We will perform the cultural

Veteran Bollywood actress Bond of love and affection Several lapses in Pehlu Vidya Sinha dies aged 71 murder probe: court IANS The court said even the pic- IANS a gangster in Josh (both 1981) and Jaipur tures submitted as evidence Mumbai Salman Khan’s mega-hit Body- failed to prove the crime. guard (2011). It also questioned how Khan Gracefully sailing into senior Rajasthan court which knew the names of the accused eteran Bollywood actress roles in fi lms and television, she acquitted six men accused since he was from Haryana and Vidya Sinha, known for was seen in serials like Kkavy- Ain the Pehlu Khan mob the accused were from Alwar, Vher role in Basu Chatter- anjali (2005), Haar Jeet (2012), lynching case has said there were Rajasthan. The court said the jee’s fi lm Rajnigandha died yes- Qubool Hai (2012), Isqh Ka Rang several serious lapses in the po- accused were not identifi ed and terday, family sources said. Safed (2015), Chandra Nandini lice investigation. the statement of Khan was not She was 71 and died at a private (2016) and lately in Kulfi Kumar In April 2017, Khan, a recorded according to proper hospital in Juhu where she was Vidya Sinha Bajewala (2018 onwards). 55-year-old native of Harya- norms. rushed last Sunday after severe Born in Mumbai on November na, left his village to purchase Meanwhile, the Congress gov- breathing problems. ably straddling both commercial 15, 1947, to fi lm producer Rana cattle. But he was surrounded ernment in the state led by Chief Since her condition was criti- and alternate cinema, Sinha was Pratap Singh, she started her by a mob of cow vigilantes on Minister Ashok Gehlot has de- cal she had been put on a ventila- noted for her sad and sombre as professional career as a model the Delhi-Alwar highway who cided to challenge the decision tor but failed to recover and died well as light and romantic roles and even won the Miss Bombay thrashed him with rods and in the high court, a senior offi cial around 1pm. Until very recently with many top actors of the era. contest, catching the eye of re- sticks. He died two days later. said. she was acting in a television se- Among her other notable fi lms nowned fi lmmaker Basu Chat- The case shocked the nation “The government is review- rial – Kulfi Kumar Bajewala. were: Hawas (1974), Chhoti Si terjee, making her mark in the after a video of the attack went ing the verdict given by the But in between, she had been Baat (1975), Mera Jeevana (1976), industry though she entered it Women tie ‘rakhi’ (sacred threads) on the wrists of Border viral on social media. lower court and after studying missing from the serial due to her the crime-thriller Inkaar, Ki- after marriage. Security Force (BSF) personnel during a ceremony observing The Alwar court in its fi nal it thoroughly, we shall appeal in illness but bounced back a few taab (both 1977), Pati, Patni aur Though her fi rst fi lm was Raja the festival of Raksha Bandhan at the India-Pakistan Wagah verdict said it was not clear who the high court. We have decided weeks ago. Woh and Basu Chatterjee’s Safed Kaka (1974), it was Chatterjee’s Border Post about 35kms from Amritsar yesterday. The festival shot the video as the police failed to make an urgent appeal in the A major fi gure in Bollywood Jhooth (both 1978), horror fi lm Rajnigandhaa that year which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. to seize the mobile phone on high court against the verdict,” in the 1970s-1980s, comfort- Saboot (1980), Love Story and as brought her to fame. which the attack was fi lmed. he said. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA

CONVICTION NO AMNESTY NUMBERS GAME JUSTICE FRESH BREAD Indigenous Peru governor Criminal trial ordered for Paraguay president’s Woman faces homicide faces jail over protest Brazil regime-era crimes popularity plummets charge for stillborn son

A Peruvian court ordered the arrest of the A Brazilian court on Wednesday for the first time Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo has reached his first The retrial of a Salvadoran woman convicted indigenous governor of a mineral-rich southern ordered a criminal trial for a former military year in off ice with a 69% disapproval rating amid an of aggravated homicide after having a stillbirth region after sentencing him to six years in prison off icial accused of dictatorship-era crimes, enduring political crisis and a significant economic was scheduled to resume yesterday, off ering a on Wednesday for leading 2011 deadly protests saying an amnesty law was not applicable slowdown, according to a survey published on possibility to overturn her 30-year sentence in a against a Canadian open-pit silver project. in cases of rape or torture. Antonio Waneir Wednesday. Abdo, elected by the conservative country that bans abortion in all circumstances. In Walter Aduviri, 39, the governor of Puno and an Pinheiro de Lima, who was a sergeant during Colorado Party in April 2018 with 46% of the vote, February, the Supreme Court had ordered Evelyn indigenous Aymara leader, was found guilty in the 1964-1985 military dictatorship, is accused of avoided an impeachment vote at the start of the Hernandez released and re-tried because the absentia by a criminal court of disturbing public kidnapping, imprisoning and sexually assaulting month over the signing of an energy pact with Brazil original judge’s decision was based on prejudice order, the off ice of the judiciary said on Twitter. a historian in the early 1970s. The off ences that opposition lawmakers said went against the and insuff icient evidence. Hernandez, now 21, has Aduviri did not appear at the trial and ignored a allegedly took place in the so-called “House of country’s sovereignty. The survey, published in the served three years of the three-decade sentence previous judicial order to be held in jail ahead of Death” in Petropolis, a city near Rio de Janeiro. Ultima Hora, found that 69.3% of respondents among that was handed down after prosecutors said she it. His current whereabouts are unknown, leaving An appeals court on Wednesday ruled that rape the 1,200 people polled thought the president’s had induced an abortion, despite her account it unclear who has been governing the highland and torture were crimes against humanity and management was “bad or very bad,” compared with that she was unaware of her pregnancy when she An employee works at a bakery in Buenos region rich in gold, silver, tin, lithium and uranium. therefore were not protected by the amnesty. 30.7% who considered it “good or very good.” delivered a stillborn son in 2016. Aires.

Saving a species Norway team in Venezuela to restart dialogue

Maduro accuses former strategy” launched last October. Colombian president Uribe of The appeal includes 98 projects that will be implemented by more than 60 UN agencies plotting to kill him and partners, and covers health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, Reuters food security and protection, the United Na- Caracas tions said. “It seeks to strengthen the capacity of hu- manitarian organisations and further open delegation from the Norwegian gov- the operational space in country, thus laying ernment has come to Venezuela to re- the foundation to widen the response and Astart talks between the government of reach a larger target population in 2020,” the President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition UN Offi ce for the Coordination of Humani- that were halted last week after Maduro’s al- tarian Aff airs said. lies pulled out, according to four sources and Separately on Wednesday, Maduro accused opposition leader Juan Guaido. former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe of Maduro last week said the government plotting to assassinate him in cohorts with would not attend a scheduled round of talks in Colombia’s US ambassador Francisco San- Barbados to protest the opposition’s support tos, and exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Chile’s national animal, the Huemul deer, explores its environment after being raised and released in captivity to save the species from extinction, for new US sanctions against his government. Lester Toledo. in the Huilo Huilo nature reserve in Temuco, Chile. The Norwegian delegation arrived late on It was not the fi rst time Maduro, a social- Tuesday to speak separately with the op- ist, accused politicians from neighbouring position and the government to restart the Colombia of plotting against him, as rela- proceedings, which are meant to resolve tions between the two countries deteriorate the country’s political stalemate, two of the amid an economic crisis in Venezuela that has sources said. prompted more than 1mn migrants to settle in Neither Venezuela’s Information Minis- Colombia. try nor the Norwegian Foreign Ministry re- During a state television broadcast on UN: Hunger driving migration sponded to requests for comment. Wednesday evening, Maduro gave a detailed “There is no new (meeting) planned, but account of how the three plotted the at- yes, the representatives of the Kingdom of tack from “a bunker” in a house belonging Norway are here in the country,” Guaido told to Uribe, a right-wing leader who has been reporters. an outspoken critic of Maduro and his pred- in drought-hit Central America “The regime in previous years used (dia- ecessor and mentor, the late president Hugo logue) to stall for time or to generate doubts Chavez. within the opposition. They will not do so in “It is a plan for 32 mercenaries to enter to By Anastasia Moloney, Reuters Dry Corridor, mostly small-scale Latin America and the Caribbean. to the WFP in emergency food aid this case.” try to assassinate me and leaders of the revo- Bogota farmers, said they plan to migrate “One of the coping strategies is to support thousands of families in Guaido in January invoked the constitu- lution,” Maduro said. “But we are here, pro- because they lack food. fi rst internal migration — so they Honduras aff ected by the drought. tion to assume a rival interim presidency on tected by God.” Some 1.4mn people living in the go to the cities to fi nd income. But “Climate change and its conse- the grounds that Maduro’s 2018 re-election Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holm- oor harvests and prolonged Dry Corridor need food aid, ac- when these coping strategies are quences have resulted in more and was fraudulent, and has promised to end an es denied the allegation in a post on Twitter, drought are driving rural cording to the WFP, which aims to exhausted, they migrate external- more people now seeing emigra- economic crisis that spurred mass migration. saying the government “rejects the delirious Pfamilies in parts of Central help 700,000 people this year in ly,” Bottone told the Thomson Reu- tion as the only way out,” said Tho- Guaido, who has been recognised by more and slanderous accusations by the dictator America from their homes to seek El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras ters Foundation. mas Wriessnig, Germany’s ambas- than 50 countries including the United Maduro against two Colombians who have better opportunities in their own and Nicaragua. WFP research in 2017 found a sador in Honduras. States as Venezuela’s legitimate president, dedicated their lives to serving democracy.” or neighbouring countries and in So far 160,000 people have re- clear link between food shortages Bottone said it was increasingly described the new Washington sanctions as A press advisor to Uribe did not respond to the United States, the United Na- ceived support. and emigration in Honduras, El vital to help rural communities, “penalties for those who steal and profi t from a request for comment. tions said on Wednesday. Climate change is causing more Salvador and Guatemala, where where many farm by hand, to cope misery.” Toledo, who is based in Colombia, has been Five years of recurring droughts frequent and severe droughts, as destitute families are also driven to with climate change. Maduro calls Guaido a Washington-backed designated by Guaido as his international co- have destroyed maize and bean well as torrential and erratic rains, migrate because of extreme pov- WFP is working with aff ected puppet who is seeking to overthrow his gov- ordinator for eff orts to bring in humanitarian harvests, leaving poor subsistence leaving families with little choice erty and gang violence. communities to improve water ir- ernment. aid. He could not be reached for comment. farmers in the so-called Dry Corri- but to migrate, the WFP said. While many leaving the Dry Cor- rigation systems and reforest areas. The Norway-backed talks began in May Maduro frequently calls current Colom- dor that runs through Guatemala, El “People fi rst start to lose their ridor are men, more women have “The climate change is there, following a failed uprising against Maduro bian President Ivan Duque a “lackey” for US Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua income source, they then start to been migrating with their children but the other side is how people are but have not yet yielded any offi cial results. interests. struggling to feed their families. sell their assets, then they start to north to the United States over the equipped to cope,” Bottone said. Separately, the United Nations launched Maduro has accused Colombia and the A 2018 survey by the UN World look for other possibilities,” said past year, Bottone said. “When people are better an appeal on Wednesday calling for $223mn United States of being behind a drone explo- Food Programme (WFP) found that Rossella Bottone, the WFP’s moni- Earlier this month, Germany an- equipped, they can better face the of humanitarian aid for 2.6mn Venezuelans sion at a military parade last year, which he 8% of families interviewed in the toring and evaluation offi cer for nounced it would provide $1.1mn shock.” until the end of the year as part of a “scale-up describes as an assassination attempt. Mexico startup fi ghts air pollution with artifi cial trees

By Yussel Gonzalez, AFP out the natural process (of pho- just stand by and let people keep The project is reminiscent of Puebla tosynthesis), just like a tree,” says dying,” says Ferrer. another launched by a German Jaime Ferrer, a founding partner Launched in 2016, BiomiTech fi rm in 2015, the ‘City Tree’ — a in BiomiTech, the company be- has so far “planted” three trees: giant, vertical square of moss rees are one of the best hind the invention. one in the city of Puebla, in cen- that also uses photosynthesis to things we have to clean the Mexicans know a thing or two tral Mexico, where it is head- clean the surrounding air. TEarth’s air, but they have about air pollution. quartered; one in Colombia; and Ferrer insists the idea of the certain drawbacks: they need Mexico City, a sprawling urban one in Panama. BioUrban is not to replace real time and space to grow. area of more than 20mn people, It has a contract for two more trees, but complement them in Enter the BioUrban, an artifi - regularly grinds to a halt under in Turkey, and projects in the areas where planting a forest cial tree that sucks up as much air air pollution alerts, triggered works to install them in Mexico would not be viable. pollution as 368 real trees. by emissions from the capital’s City and Monterrey, in northern “They can be used in high- Designed by a Mexican star- more than 5mn cars, its polluting Mexico. traffi c areas, transportation tup, the towering metal structure industries and even the nearby A BioUrban typically costs terminals, where you can’t just uses microalgae to clean carbon Popocatepetl volcano. about $50,000, though the fi nal plant a hectare of trees,” he told dioxide and other contaminants Ferrer says the company’s price varies depending on the site. AFP. from the air, returning pure oxy- goal is to help such cities achieve The company has mainly sold “The system isn’t going to end gen to the environment. cleaner air in targeted areas — them to local governments so far, air pollution in Mexico City. But Measuring 4.2m tall and nearly those used by pedestrians, cy- though private donors are pro- it can alleviate the problem in 3m wide, the device looks some- clists or the elderly, for example viding the funding in Monterrey, high-traffi c areas.” thing like a cross between a tree — when planting large numbers an industrial hub that is also no Maria Jose Negrete, 21, who and a post-modernist high-rise, of trees is not an option. stranger to air pollution. goes to university near the spot with a steel trunk that radiates Worldwide, an estimated 7mn Each tree weighs about one where the fi rst tree was installed, rising bands of concentric metal. people die from exposure to air tonne, and cleans as much air as a is a fan. “What this system does, pollution each year, according to hectare of forest — the equivalent “It uses technology to help the through technology, is inhale air the World Health Organisation. of what 2,890 people breathe in a environment. That’s what we pollution and use biology to carry “We decided our job was to not day. need right now,” she said. A view of the BioUrban 2.0 air purification system in Puebla, Mexico. Gulf Times 12 Friday, August 16, 2019 PAKISTAN KP cabinet okays bill for integrated tourism zones

Internews which would be presented in the any area in the province as an ITZ However, Atif said it is unlikely tation conditions exist. The minister said that in the public, anyone could stay there Peshawar provincial assembly for consent. through a notifi cation in offi cial to cause any harm as even today, He said after the formation of second phase, 49 more rest after booking rooms. Besides other things, the bill gazette. the cabinet had power to notify the tourism authority, investors houses would be opened to peo- Wazir said the cabinet also ap- also proposed to dissolve the According to Section 20(2), af- any area as forest or otherwise. would deal with a single entity. ple, while the people would get proved a proposal to purchase 52 he Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Corporation Khyber Pa- ter an area is declared as an ITZ, He said no felling of trees The minister said the authority access to the rest totalling 120 vehicles for offi cials in merged cabinet has approved a bill khtunkhwa (TCKP) and directo- at least seven legislations includ- would take place in areas de- would comprise nine wings. afterwards. districts, while approval was also Tproposing the formation rate of culture, and form the KP ing the Forest Ordinance 2002, clared as ITZs, while there would The cabinet also decided to He said millions of rupees are accorded to the reconstituted of integrated tourism zones (ITZ) Tourism Authority in their place. the River Protection Ordinance be more plantations to attract open 174 government rest houses being spent annually on that rest board of the KP Economic Zones across the province, where sever- Under the law, employees of 2002, the Wildlife and Biodi- tourists. across the province to the people. houses, which were off -limits to Development Management al crucial laws for the protection these bodies running into hun- versity Protection Act 2015, the The minister said all construc- Atif said as the fi rst step, fi ve members of the public. Company, a feasibility study for of forests, environment, wildlife dreds will either be placed at a Mines and Minerals Act 2017, and tion works in the area would be rest houses located in Nathi- The minister said the gov- Jica-assisted rural roads, amend- and rivers will lose eff ect. surplus pool at the establishment the KP Environmental Protection carried out in areas without trees. agali were immediately opened to ernment was not interested in ments to the civil procedure Briefi ng reporters after the department, absorbed in other 2014, will have no jurisdiction in He said soon after the promul- people. spending the taxpayers’ money code, and payment of compensa- cabinet’s meeting this week, sen- departments or will be part of the said area. gation of the law, the government He said people would be able on the upkeep of those places, tion to the heirs of Tarbela boat ior minister Mohamed Atif Khan the new authority as decided by a Sections 20(3) and (4) declared would announce tourism zones. to make online booking for those adding that the rest houses capsizing incident. and spokesman for the govern- scrutiny committee. that after the authority issues a Atif said that the authority rest houses – the Chief Minis- would instead generate revenue The cabinet also passed a reso- ment Ajmal Wazir said that the Section 20 of the proposed law notifi cation declaring an area as would ensure that no unplanned ter’s House, Governor’s House, for the government. lution condemning Indian deci- cabinet had approved the pro- empowers the Provincial Tour- an ITZ, the said area ceases to be construction takes place in these Speaker’s House, Police’s Rest The minister said once those sion to revoke the Indian-admin- posed KP Tourism Act 2019, ism Strategy Board to declare reserved forest or national park. zones, and ensure that good sani- House, and Kanak House. rest houses are opened to the istered Kashmir’s special status.

Govt HR division Kashmir exchange of fi re admits fl aws

Internews leaves at least fi ve dead Islamabad

DPA/AFP/Reuters Islamabad he Establishment Division (ED) – the government’s Thuman resources (HR) t least three Pakistani sol- arm – has admitted to failure diers were killed in an ex- of its accountability system for Achange of fi re with Indian civil servants under the Effi cien- troops in Kashmir yesterday, the cy and Discipline Rules (E&D Pakistani army said, at a time Rules), and explained the proc- of peak tensions in the disputed ess of disciplinary proceedings border region. against government offi cials for Indian troops fi red artillery non-adherence to rules is slow. across the Line of Control (LoC), In its yearbook for 2017-18, a de facto frontier that divides published recently, the ED said the Himalayan valley into parts the E&D Rules and relevant in- controlled by the two countries, structions are not followed by the Pakistani army said in a the Inquiry Offi cers and Author- statement. ised Offi cers (IO/AO), but there “In eff orts to divert atten- is no legal provision available to tion from precarious situation proceed against such offi cials. in IOJ&K (Indian-administered “In a majority of cases, the AO Kashmir), Indian Army increas- and IO take long time in com- es fi ring along LOC. 3 Pakistani pleting the process. In many soldiers embraced shahadat cases, AOs and IOs do not follow (martyrdom). Pakistan Army the due process as indicated to responded eff ectively,” the Paki- them through the checklist. stani military said in a statement. “Thus, at time, the reports are It also claimed that “5 Indian sent back to AO to remove and soldiers (were) killed, many in- rectify the defi ciencies,” the re- jured, bunkers damaged. Inter- port said. mittent exchange of fi re contin- Foreign Minister Shah There are also cases, it says, ues”, without specifying further Mehmood Qureshi and other when new proceedings have to where the incident took place. party leaders take part in be conducted to remove the in- Pakistani troops killed fi ve In- a rally in Lahore yesterday fi rmities and lacunae in such dian soldiers in retaliatory fi re, against India, as the country cases or when the authority does the army claimed, but media observes ‘Black Day’ on India’s not agree with the recommen- reports quoted army offi cials in Independence Day over the dations of the AO. New Delhi denying deaths on recent move to strip Occasionally, it is said, disci- their side. Indian-administered Kashmir plinary proceedings stand abat- An Indian army spokesman of its autonomy. ed against accused offi cers, on told the Press Trust of India their superannuation, because late yesterday that the Pakistan Right: The Pakistan national of this inordinate delay. claims were “fi ctitious”, adding flag flies at half-mast over the Another very important and that the army was on high alert to picture of the founder of weak link in the process, the deal with any “misadventure” by Pakistan, Mohamed Ali Jinnah, yearbook says, is that there is Pakistan. on the Pakistani side of the no clause or rule which outlines Indian defence ministry Wagah border checkpoint. any action against the AO or IO, spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel where it is observed that they are Devender Anand accused Pa- delaying the inquiry or where it kistani troops of “unprovoked is observed that they have not mortar shelling and fi ring”. diligently carried out the proc- “The Indian army retaliated ess. befi ttingly,” he told the Indian The yearbook mentions revi- Express, adding that the fi ring sion of the E&D Rules which will stopped around 5.30pm (1200 incorporate clauses to rectify the GMT) and no casualties were re- anomalies in the relevant rules. ported on the Indian side. It says that during the year Police in Pakistan-adminis- 2017-18, 96 disciplinary cases tered Kashmir said two civilians were initiated against the of- were also killed in what would fi cers belonging to the Pakistan be the fi rst clash since New Delhi Administrative Service (PAS), stripped Indian-administered the Police Service of Pakistan Kashmir of its special autonomy (PSP), the Secretariat Group, last week. the Offi ce Management Group A police offi cial, Mirza Arshad (OMG), and other groups and Jarral, said that intermittent ex- services, controlled by the min- changes of fi re between the two istries and divisions. militaries had been going on Out of these 96 cases, 42 cases since morning. were fi nalised or closed. The Indian decision on Kash- During the year, only four ma- mir and a subsequent security jor penalties and six minor pen- lockdown on the region has trig- alties were imposed on offi cers gered a fresh wave of tensions and 23 offi cers were exonerated. between the South Asian rivals, Action on the remaining cases who have fought three wars in Riot police prevent protesters as they try to reach the Indian High People carry black flags during a protest in Karachi to observe ‘Black Day’ over India’s decision to is under process. the past. Commission in Islamabad. revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Both Pakistan and India con- trol only parts of Kashmir, but Modi and the end to Kashmir’s international community to take along with similar groups. The 15-member United Na- Islamabad sees ideal air quality each lays claim to the entire re- special status. action. Islamabad denies this, though tions Security Council could dis- gion since the countries gained Islamabad has reacted to New Yesterday supporters of the it does not ban the group. cuss the dispute soon, but Paki- Islamabad is embracing the healthy vibes during the monsoon independence from Britain in Delhi’s move by downgrading Hizbul Mujahideen militant Newspaper issues carried stan says it only has guaranteed season, maintaining ideal ambient air quality with consistent 1947. diplomatic relations with India, group were among more than black borders and politicians, support from China, which also declined pollutants ratio. Meanwhile, tens of thousands halting bilateral trade and sus- 1,000 people who marched including Prime Minister Khan, claims part of India’s Jammu and The pollution level comprising particulate matter of 2.5 microns of people angered by the Indian pending all cross-border trans- through Muzaff arabad, capi- replaced their social media pic- Kashmir state. (PM2.5) has dropped (improved) below the permissible ratio of 35 decision to alter the status of port links. tal of Pakistan’s region of Azad tures with black squares. Flags Permanent security council micrograms (mcg) per cubic metre (mcg/m3), being recorded at Indian-administered Kashmir Prime Minister Imran Khan Kashmir, holding black fl ags and on government buildings fl ew at member Russia said on Wednes- 26.77mcg/m3. rallied across Pakistan as Islama- on Wednesday accused India of shouting anti-India slogans. half-mast. day that it supported India’s The 24-hour average recorded ratio of other environmental bad called for the Indian Inde- planning to attack a part of Kash- “As long as India continues its Pakistan’s largely symbolic stance that the dispute should be pollutants has been recorded below permissible limits, with a pendence Day yesterday to be mir administered by his country, occupation of Kashmir, we will ‘Black Day’ comes amid growing resolved through bilateral means, healthy and ideal ambient quality in the federal capital. observed as a “Black Day”. warning New Delhi of a tit-for- fi ght within the occupied terri- frustration in Islamabad at the while the United States has called The atmospheric pollution increased at times due to high vehicular The protesters were carrying tat reaction. tory, with full force,” Hizbul Mu- lack of international response India’s decision an internal mat- emissions emitted by large number of automobiles on the roads. black fl ags, banners and placards He vowed that the time had jahideen’s deputy commander, over the Kashmir dispute. ter for New Delhi. According to the daily ambient air quality report of the federal with slogans slamming Indian come to teach Delhi a lesson and Saifullah Khalid, told the crowd. Pakistan was isolated dip- Earlier this year Pakistan and capital by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA), the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. promised to “fi ght until the end” “Until the eviction of the last In- lomatically and faced “a world India came close to all-out con- 24-hour average ratio of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide There were also rallies in ma- against any Indian aggression. dian soldier, our armed struggle in denial” over the situation in fl ict yet again, after a militant at- (SO2) were 13.02mcg/m3 and 5.95mcg/m3 respectively. jor cities in Pakistan-adminis- The prime minister has likened will go on.” Kashmir, Dawn, the country’s tack in Indian-held Kashmir in The respective National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) tered Kashmir, where members India’s moves in Kashmir to Nazi India has banned Hizbul Muja- most infl uential English-lan- February was claimed by a group for these are 80mcg/m3 and 120mcg/m3. of families divided by the Line Germany, accused them of ethnic hideen as a terrorist outfi t, which guage newspaper, said in an edi- based in Pakistan, igniting tit- The data was recorded by calibrated air quality monitors fixed at of Control marched to condemn cleansing, and appealed to the it has long said Pakistan funds, torial. for-tat air strikes. particular positions with proper readings. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Examples of good ends

ear of an evil end had broken rected in the state upon which he died” They went to check on him and found the hearts of our righteous [Muslim]. Imaam As-Suyooti said: him in the position of prostration and Salaf (predecessors). Sufyaan “This narration refers to the state of when they moved him he fell to his FAth-Thawri cried one night obedience or disobedience”. Maalik Ibn side. until the morning, and when he was Deenaar used to say: “If I can aff ord A young man prayed the Fajr prayer asked whether he cried due to his fear (physically) not to sleep ever I would with the congregation and sat in the of his sins, he replied: “No, I am more not sleep.” He was asked about the mosque reciting the Qur’an and wait- scared of having an evil end.” reason, to which he said: “I fear that ing for the sun to rise so that he may Ibn Katheer said: “People who are the angel of death would come to me pray two Rak’ahs and he did not know righteous inwardly and outwardly whilst I am sleeping and I would like that it was the last hour of his life, and and whose actions coincide with their that he comes whilst I am engaged in a died whilst in that state. words, Allah willing, will not have an righteous deed”. A 55- year-old lady was admitted evil way to end their lives; and never An example highlighting one of the into the emergency room as a result of was this reported about anyone before. best ways to die is for a disbeliever to getting a heart attack which made her It is only those who are evil inwardly embrace Islam then immediately die. heart stop beating completely. When and outwardly; those who are daring Anas reported: “A young Jewish boy the physicians were trying to make a and indulge in major great sins and who was in the service of the Prophet heart massage with special equipment who are frequent in committing minor fell ill. The Prophet went to visit him. a very astonishing thing happened, sins. This type of people, who are used He sat down by his head and said to which doctors had never seen before to this practice will continue to do so him: “Embrace Islam.” The little boy that day … the woman suddenly until they die without repenting.” looked at his father who was sitting opened her eyes and spoke calmly The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa beside him. He said: ‘Obey Abul- saying a few words … she did not com- sallam, said: “Verily, deeds are but by Qaasim (i.e., the Messenger of Allah ).’ plain of any pain … she did not scream the way they end.” [Al-Bukhari]. This So he embraced Islam and the Prophet asking for their assistance … she did is why our right predecessors feared stepped out saying: “Praise be to Allah not ask for her husband or children … their ends because no one knows how Who has saved him from Hell-fi re.” she simply uttered the two testimo- he will end his life and in which state [Al-Bukhari]. nies of faith … then the heart stopped he will depart. Recently Allah guided a man from again. She repeated this three times … For this reason, Huthayfah was the Philippines to the light of Islam in then she died … and her face illumi- happy to die before the trials about the city of Taif in Saudi Arabia, and he nated. When her husband was asked which the Prophet informed them and was taught some of the merits of Islam. about the type of woman she was, he said: “All perfect praise be to Allah who The very next day after embracing said: “I married her more than 35 years has hastened my death before these Islam he started reciting some chapters ago, and since then I have never seen trials”. of the Qur’an and on the following her abandon the Witr prayer (i.e. the One of the signs indicating that the morning he passed away, after only two odd-numbered Rak’ahs after the op- Muslim pilgrims gather around the Ka’aba, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah during the person died while having a good end days of him becoming a Muslim. tional night prayer) unless she was sick annual Haj pilgrimage. is dying while performing a righteous Uttering the testimonies of faith or during her monthly period”. deed. Anas narrated that he heard the prior to death is a good deed and Dying while fasting is yet another that the Prophet said: “A martyr has is not why I believe in you and follow them and when he woke up they told Prophet saying: “Do not be impressed another example for one’s good end. example exemplifying a good end, like six bounties: He will be forgiven with you; rather, I follow you so that I can him to perform Ghusl (ritual bath) with someone’s actions (thinking they Mu’aath ibn Jabal narrated that the in the case of Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr the fi rst drop of his blood that is spilt; get shot by an arrow right here, (and which he did, then they instructed him are righteous) until you see how his Prophet said: “He whose fi nal words and her son ‘Urwah. He will see his place in Paradise (at then he pointed to his throat) then die to pray, and after he prayed they said end is, because one would be perform- are ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’ (i.e., ‘None is Some people die whilst in the state the time of death); He will be saved and enter Paradise.” The Prophet, sal- to him: “Allah has rescued you from ing a (righteous) deed for a long period worthy of worship except Allah’) will of Ihraam which entitles the person from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “If you death and had you died upon the state of his life, and should he die upon such enter Paradise.”[Al-Haakim]. to a great reward, as in the narration Judgment): A Crown of Dignity will are sincere then Allah will grant you you were in, it would have been the a deed he would enter Paradise, but ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Aas re- about the Companion who died as a be placed on his head, which contains your wish.” worse way to die and be resurrected. he switches to performing evil deeds ported that when his father was on his result of his animal kicking him whilst many corundum, each one being more After a short while, fi ghting re- You should repent to Allah and shun (before his death). The slave would be deathbed he said: “O Allah! You com- in the state of Ihraam (for either Haj precious than this life and all that it sumed and the bedouin’s body was all sins.” performing a (bad) deed for a long pe- manded me with many commands and or ‘Umrah), the Prophet, sallallaahu contains; He will have 72 Women of brought to the Prophet, sallallaahu Their words aff ected him deeply, riod of his life, and should he die upon I fell short in many of them. O Allah! ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Wash him Paradise; And, he will be allowed to ‘alaihi wa sallam, with an arrow in his and he shunned his evil company with such a deed he would enter Hell, but You forbade me from many matters, with water and lote-tree (leaves), intercede for 70 of his family members throat at exactly the spot where he had whom he used to hang around, and he switches to performing good deeds but I transgressed. O Allah! None has shroud him in his own garments and do (who would have otherwise gone to pointed to the Prophet. Thereupon The started practising. A few months later, (before his death) and when Allah Wills the right to be worshipped but You” not cover his head, because he will be hell).”[At-Tirmithi] Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he travelled to Bosnia for Jihad, and good for a slave He uses him before his then he continued repeating this until resurrected on the Day of Resurrection Shaddaad Ibn al-Haad narrated: “A said: “He was sincere so Allah granted Allah granted him martyrdom there. death.” he died. uttering the Talbiyah.”. Bedouin came to the Prophet, sallal- him his wish.” His body remained with the enemies The companions asked: “O mes- Many of the Salaf died while pray- There are some people who die laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, accepted Islam Then using his own garment, the thrown in an open fi eld for two and a senger of Allah! How does Allah use ing, which is another example for a whilst reciting the Qur’an, like in the and said: ‘I wish to migrate (to Madi- Prophet shrouded the bedouin, prayed half months after he was killed, and him?” He responded: “He enables him good way to end life. ‘Abdullah Ibn Abi case of ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Aff aan¸ who was nah)’. So the Prophet asked some of his the funeral prayer over him and was then a swap of dead bodies happened to perform a good deed, then ends his As-Sarh supplicated one night after known to be a person who continu- Companions to take care of him. Then heard by his companions to say during between the Mujahideen and the life upon it.” [Ahmad] having performed Qiyaam saying: “O ously recited the Qur’an day and night. after a battle, the Muslims had gained the prayer: “O Allah! This is Your slave Serbs, and when the brothers opened Huthayfah narrated that the Mes- Allah! Make my last deed in this life He was martyred whilst reciting the some booty so the Prophet divided it who migrated for Your sake and was the plastic bag in which he was kept senger of Allah said: “He who says ‘Laa the performance of Fajr prayer.” Then Qur’an in his house. and gave the Bedouin’s share to some killed as a martyr – and I testify to for this long period, they saw his face ilaaha illallah’ (i.e., None is worthy he performed ablution and prayed Fajr Once Ibn ‘Abbaas recited the saying of his companions to look after, as the this”. Which testimony could ever be smiling and an extremely pleasant of worship except Allah) seeking the and died while concluding his prayer. of Allah which means: “Is one who is bedouin was still at the rearguard. more honourable, sincere and truth- scent emanating from his body. pleasure of Allah, and it being his fi nal Abu Tha’labah used to say: “I hope devoutly obedient during periods of When the bedouin returned, they ful than this great one given by the These were but some examples of statement, will enter Paradise; he who that Allah will not make me suff er the night, prostrating and standing [in gave him his share, so he asked them: Prophet? how a good end may be, and we ask Al- fasts sincerely, seeking the pleasure of upon death like I see some people do.” prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hop- ‘What is this?’ they replied: ‘It is A truck driver named Abu Dujaanah lah to bless us and grant us a good way Allah, and died whilst in this state, will Then he started performing Qiyaam ing for the mercy of his Lord, [like one your share from the booty which the was known in his town to be an evil to end our lives. enter Paradise; he who spends in char- and died while in the position of pros- who does not]?” [Qur’an 39: 9] then he Prophet gave us to hold on to for you.’ person who consumed intoxicants. Article source: http://www.is- ity, sincerely seeking the pleasure of tration. That night his daughter saw said: “I swear by Allah! This applies to So the Bedouin took the booty and One day, he got in a deadly car ac- lamweb.net/emainpage/ Allah, and it being the last thing he did in her dream that her father died, so ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Aff aan”. went to the Prophet and asked: ‘What cident, but Allah saved him. Allah before dieing, will enter Paradise.” she woke up terrifi ed and went to her One of the best examples indicat- is this?’ The Prophet, sallallaahu decreed that two righteous young men Jaabir reported: “I heard the Prophet mother asking about her father, so she ing a good end is being martyred. ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “Your share see the accident and rush to him whilst saying: “Every slave will be resur- told her that he was praying Qiyaam. Al-Miqdaam Ibn Ma’di Karib narrated of the booty.” The bedouin said: “This he was unconscious and took him with Rulings for mortgage Istikharaah – The

he linguistic meaning of the someone else. But it is not required he repays his debt or the mortgage is Arabic word ‘rahn’ is “set- from the mortgagee (the lender) for he sold to pay off the debt. tlement”, and “permanence.” can cancel it at any time, because it is The judge can also sell the mortgage TThe Islamic legal meaning his right alone. in the debtor’s place, if the debtor Guidance Prayer for rahn is “a security of a debt by 7. It is permissible to mortgage refuses to do so. If there is money left something with which the debt can one’s share from a partnership. This after selling the mortgage and repay- e are humans, power- ing the mosque, and so on, during in Your knowledge it is bad for me and be fulfi lled.” In other words, it means is because the share can be sold at the ment of the debt, then the excess is less in this sphere of any time of the day or night, and to for my religion, my livelihood and my mortgaging an item with monetary time the debt is due and then it will be returned to the debtor. If there is a life, knowledgeable recite therein whatever one wishes of aff airs (or: for me both in this world value or collateral as security against fulfi lled. It is also permissible to mort- portion of the debt that is not covered Wonly enough to survive. the Qur’an after reciting Al-Fatihah. and the next), then turn me away a debt. gage something sold for its value. For by the value of the collateral, then it So why shouldn’t we turn to Allah Then one praises Allah and sends from it, [and turn it away from me], Rahn is permissible as indicated in example, if one buys a car or a house remains as a liability of the mortgager and seek His perfect help whenever salutations to the Prophet and recites and ordain for me the good wherever the Book, the Sunnah and by Ijmaa’ for a deferred price, then one can that must be paid. we require it? Allah responds to the the supplication in the Hadith below. it may be and make me pleased with (consensus of scholars). Allah says, mortgage it until he pays the price. 15. It is permissible for the lender to call of His servant when he asks for The description of Salaat-ul- it.” “And if you are on a journey and can- 8. Neither the mortgager nor the use the collateral (mortgaged item) in guidance, and we are after all seeking Istikharah was narrated by Jaabir ibn The Prophet, added that “then the not fi nd a scribe, then let there be a mortgagee can use the mortgaged (col- some cases, such as riding or milk- to do something in order to please ‘Abd-Allah al-Salami (may Allah be person should mention his need.” rihaan (mortgage) taken.” (2:283) lateral) item without the permission ing the animal if it was mortgaged, Him. pleased with him) who said: [Sahih Bukhari] When the Prophet, sallallaahu of the other party. This is to protect but the lender should spend on it and Istikharaah means to ask Allah to “The Messenger of Allah used Salaat-ul-Istikharaah is just two ‘alaihi wa sallam, died, his armour was both parties’ rights. If the mortgager feed it. This is based on the hadith, guide you to the path best for you to teach his companions to make rak’ats of a non-obligatory prayer, mortgaged. uses it, then he nullifi es the right of “The mortgaged animal can be used concerning an aff air with two halal istikharaah in all things, just as he prayed at anytime during the day, Scholars are in agreement that rahn the mortgagee in securing the debt. On for riding, as long as it is fed and the options. In matters that are waajib used to teach them Surahs from the with a specifi c du’a at the end. While is permissible while travelling. The the other hand, if the mortgagee uses milk of the animal can be drunk ac- (obligatory), haraam (forbidden) or Qur’an. He said: ‘If any one of you is reciting the du’a, you should be majority of scholars have held the it, then he is actually using something cording to what one spends on it. The makrooh (disliked) there is no need to concerned about a decision he has to thinking about the situation you want opinion that it is also permissible in owned by others. one who rides the animal or drinks its pray Istikharaah. make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of to be advised about with pure inten- residence. The following points outline 9. Benefi ting from rahn is permis- milk should provide the expenditures.” Salaat-ul-Istikharaah should non-obligatory prayer, then say: tions and from the bottom of your the rulings of mortgage: sible, but it should be agreed upon (Bukhari) only be used for matters that are Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi heart. And Allah says that whenever 1. The wisdom behind rahn’s validity between both parties. Imam Ibn al-Qayim said: “This mubaah (allowed) or in matters that ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika he guides a heart aright it can never is to preserve the wealth and protect 10. The growth of the rahn and the hadith, together with the principles of are mustahabb (liked or encouraged), wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka be misguided. Afterwards, you should it from loss. Allah also commanded benefi t derived from it becomes a rahn Shari’ah indicate that the mortgaged in which there is a decision to be taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta’lamu “have a good feeling” about one of us to document debts in writing. He added to the original rahn that can also animal should be treated with respect, made as to which one should be given wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al- your options. Whatever option you says, “O you who believe! When you be sold to pay off the debt. and this is Allah’s right. Its owner has priority. ghuyoob. Allaahumma fa in kunta feel is best right after you say the dua contract a debt for a fi xed period, write 11. All expenses incurred from the right of ownership. And the animal Many wrong notions exist con- ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the should be your decision. If you’re still it down ... and if you are on a journey keeping the rahn is the liability of the is in the possession of the mortgagee, cerning istikharaah. Many Muslims matter should be mentioned by name) in doubt, you can repeat. and cannot fi nd a scribe, then let there mortgager, including storage, guarding but does not milk it, then the milk is will pray, read the du’a, and run to khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi Some people mistakenly wait for a be a rihaan taken.” (2:282-283) the mortgage, etc. wasted. Therefore justice, qiyas, and bed expecting to see a dream show- (or: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqi- dream to give a clear sign as to what This is a sign of Mercy from Allah 12. If part of the mortage gets de- the welfare of the mortgager, mort- ing them their future wife, what her bati amri) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li decision to make, but this is not true, where He guides us to do good for stroyed, then the remainder becomes gagee and the animal require that the favourite colour is, and some other thumma baarik li fi hi. Allaahumma and often times it never really hap- ourselves. rahn for the entire debt. mortgagee benefi t from the animal in weird fantasy. That is not the purpose wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun pens. In fact, dreams may lead you 2. For rahn to be valid, its amount 13. If the mortgager pays off some of riding and milking it. This is compen- of this salaat. li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati away from what Allah wants you to and nature should be known. The the debt, the rahn remains as the entire sated for by providing the expenses. The results of an istikharaah can amri (or: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) do, as Shaytaan might try to deceive mortgager should have the right to dis- collateral and none of it can be released By benefi ting from the animal and take many forms. Basically, you go by fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waq- you in your dreams. pose of the item, whether he is owner until the entire debt is paid. paying for its expenses, all rights will your feelings, whether you now feel dur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma Salat-ul-Istikharaah is for or has permission to dispose of it. 14. When the payment of the debt is be fulfi lled.” more favourable or not. Also, you may radini bihi. everybody. It’s a way for all of us to 3. It is permissible to mortgage from due, the indebted party must repay the Some scholars said: “There are two notice events have changed, either for “O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in implore Allah for divine guidance your money on behalf of someone debt, just as one must repay a debt that types of mortgage. One requires provi- or against you. Note that you must making a choice] by virtue of Your and mercy. It is yet another invalu- else’s debt. does not have a rahn attached. Allah sion and the other doesn’t. The fi rst follow the results of an istikharaah, knowledge, and I seek ability by able resource from Allah to keep us 4. The mortgaged item should be says, “Let then one who is entrusted type of mortgage is further divided because not doing so is tantamount virtue of Your power, and I ask You of on the straight and narrow Siraat sellable so that the mortgage can be discharge his trust (faithfully), and let into two diff erent types. One is the to rejecting Allah’s guidance once Your great bounty. You have power, al-Mustaqeem. The Prophet told all paid off . him have taqwah for Allah, his Lord.” animal which is ridden and milked, and you’ve asked for it. Also, you should I have none. And You know, I know Muslims about Istikharaah, not just 5. The rahn can be conditioned in the (2:283) and “Let him have taqwah for the second is the slave. The latter can- fi rst clear your mind, not have your not. You are the Knower of hidden the scholars. Despite this gift, too contract or after the contract. Allah Allah, his Lord and diminish not any- not be used for benefi t by the mort- mind already decided, and then after- things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, many of us take the advice of our made the rahn in lieu of writing a debt, thing of what he owes.” (2:282) gagee without the permission of the wards follow the results willingly. this matter (then it should be men- friends and parents, or accept the as He says, “And if you are on a journey If the debtor refuses to pay, he will owner. The second type of rahn that It is a Sunnah that, if one must tioned by name) is good for me both norms of our society and act without and cannot fi nd a scribe, then let there be accused of delay and the judge will does not require provision includes a choose between permissible alterna- in this world and in the Hereafter (or: ever wondering what Allah wants us be a rihaan taken.” (2:283) then force him to pay. If he continues house, furniture, etc. The mortgagee tives, one may pray two non-oblig- in my religion, my livelihood and my to do. We must stop looking to the 6. Rahn is required from the mort- to refuse, then he should be disciplined cannot benefi t from this type without atory rak’at, even if they are of the aff airs), then ordain it for me, make it dunya for guidance. We must begin gager only because the right is for by imprisonment or other means until the permission of the mortgager.” Sunnah prayers or a prayer for enter- easy for me, and bless it for me. And if to consult Allah. Gulf Times 14 Friday, August 16, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Trump’s attack on Endangered Species Act must be resisted Chicago notched a win for an endangered species this summer as Great Lakes piping plovers Monty and Rose nested at Montrose Beach and successfully launched two off spring, with the help of many watchful volunteers and one cancelled music festival. Elsewhere, news was dire for struggling species and their habitats. July was equal to or warmer than the hottest month ever recorded on planet Earth. Some 11bn tonnes of ice melted off the Greenland ice sheet in a single day. The United Nations biodiversity report recently warned that 1mn species of animals and plants are In fl ood-prone south India, vulnerable to extinction, some within just decades, because of development, climate change and other causes. How does the Trump administration, which already has a dismal record on the environment, respond? By doctors tend mental scars clubbing the Endangered Species Act, which has been widely popular with both Democrats and Republicans By K Rajendran village of Upputhodu has again been healthcare programme off ered at village council has ensured follow-up Idukki lashed by severe rains this month, in a community health centres saw patient measures. since it was signed into law by president Richard Nixon place where many still bear the mental numbers almost double in 2018 to about A permanent psychological in 1973. The act protects more than 1,600 species and scars of the fl ash fl ood a year ago. 25,000, from 14,000 the previous year. counsellor was appointed at the family is credited with saving iconic wildlife including the Divakaran, 65, stood beside the Divakaran was diagnosed as suff ering Dr P S Kiran, state nodal offi cer for health centre, with children off ered bald eagle, grizzly bear and California condor. road where his sister and three from “adjustment disorder”, a condition mental health, said fl ood-related stress regular sessions in schools. other family members were that causes feelings of sadness and was one of the main reasons for the Dolly Jose, president of the village Industries including oil and gas, agriculture and Pkilled when a landslide caused hopelessness after unexpected “abysmal rise”. As the fi rst anniversary council, said a new centre was due to be ranching resist limits on their activities. This move by by heavy rains demolished their house disasters. of the fl ood approached, S set up to help people recover from mental David Bernhardt, secretary of the interior and a former almost a year ago. He has now improved after receiving Krishnan, associate professor in health problems by enabling them to “Even after 11 months, the mortal medication and counselling, said the Department of Psychology at participate in activities like handicrafts. oil industry lobbyist who remains of my sister have not yet been Joe Sunny, a mental health doctor at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, After 11 months, Dr Sunny returned We can no came under an ethics recovered. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. warned that fl ashbacks could trigger to check on his patients. investigation days after Still I am afraid to hear the sound Thaghachan, 60, also underwent further stress and trauma for the “Most of the people who were earlier longer continue of rain,” he told the Thomson Reuters treatment for psychological problems victims. suff ering from flood-related mental he was confi rmed to the Foundation in Upputhodu village, in after the 2018 disaster. The Kerala government has ailments are today recovered,” he told to destroy the job, puts their interests southern India’s Idukki district. “I am afraid to hear even the noise of announced a second stage of its eff ort the Thomson Reuters Foundation. paramount. This month, Idukki, in Kerala state, an aeroplane fl ying over our village,” he to manage mental health problems after But while environmentalists have diversity of life The Trump has again been battered by torrential said. “It brings back horrible memories disasters, aiming to bring psychosocial praised the initiative, they said it was monsoon rains and landslides that killed of last year’s disastrous landslide.” support closer to people’s doorsteps. important to deal with the underlying administration had already slowed the pace of new at least fi ve people and forced about Nine in 10 villagers in Upputhodu It has deployed almost 17,650 causes of people’s anxiety. additions to the protected list. Under the new rules, 1,400 to evacuate to shelters, known who spoke to the Thomson Reuters trained mental health workers across “Deforestation, rampant mining, economic cost can be taken into account when the locally as relief camps. Foundation over two days in late July the state and set up a free helpline for encroachment etc have triggered the This year’s danger hit an area, appeared to be still haunted by the counselling. intensity of the fl oods and landslides,” federal government weighs protecting a struggling alongside other parts of the ecologically after-eff ects of what they experienced. In Mariyapuram village in Idukki said V S Vijayan, former chairman of the species. Conservationists – and Congress, which fragile Western Ghats mountains, where P Geetha, a state-employed social district, help has been at hand since the Kerala State Biodiversity Board. has specifi cally stipulated that cost not be a factor in local people had yet to recover from health activist who has been keeping fl ood. “Unless and until we ensure faultless the trauma and stress they experienced in regular touch with families in A year after it was hit by a fl ash fl ood, environmental protection measures, we deciding whether to protect an animal – want such from the disaster in August 2018. Upputhodu, said 42 out of 250 homes in there are still traces of crumbled hills, won’t be able to root out the real fear.” decisions made on the basis of science alone, the AP That was the worst recorded in local the village were vacant. boulders strewn on river beds, collapsed Psychological experts are worried reported. history, with 51 deaths and destruction “They all migrated due to relentless houses and faces that show the strain. that this year’s fl ooding in Kerala will estimated at Rs2.1bn (almost $30mn). stress,” she said. Two weeks after the disaster, a team compound anxieties in existing patients Saving endangered species is vital but not free. The But the damage was also refl ected in a Many have gone to neighbouring of mental health experts from the and bring a wave of new suff ering — but gray wolf should remain protected in Minnesota, jump in the number of people suff ering districts where they feel safer, she Thiruvananthapuram college visited hope they are better prepared. Michigan and Wisconsin, which now have nearly 4,000 mental health problems. added. houses all over the village, off ering help Heavy monsoon rains this month wolves, rather than being subjected to a slaughter that In the year to July 2019, the Idukki S Pramod was a chronic psychiatric to about 1,000 fl ood survivors. have caused 80 landslides in the state, District Mental Health Programme saw patient who suff ered from depression “Scrupulous intervention in relief as well as fl ooding. could devastate their revived population. Illinois has 4,678 patients, up about 25% on the for more than a decade before the 2018 camps, schools and door-to-door visits More than 160 people are dead or a variety of animals and plants on the threatened and previous year. disaster. “Flood-related stress has helped us to fi nd 50 people suff ering missing, nearly 3,000 homes have endangered list, including birds, bats, mussels and “It has been found that the fl ood aggravated my ailment,” he said. (from) fl ood-related mental disorder,” collapsed and close to 300,000 people has caused various mental ailments. Full state-level data on those who said Sunny. were evacuated to safer shelters, one crustacean (the Illinois cave amphipod, since you Depression and anxiety were mostly have sought psychological help could Counselling and medicine were according to offi cial data. asked; picture a white prawn or crayfi sh). Not every prevalent. This is the reason for the rise not be obtained because people visiting provided, said the doctor who was “We know the seriousness. Mental protected creature is as iconic as the polar bear. But all in the number of patients,” said Amal private hospitals and practitioners are involved in the mission. health experts are being deployed in Abraham, a doctor with the programme. not registered by the government. Despite struggling with limited relief camps,” said state doctor Kiran. - life is connected. The tiny, picturesque mountain But the Kerala State mental fi nancial resources, the Mariyapuram Thomson Reuters Foundation Indeed, the move by the Interior Department contrasts starkly with the warning issued by Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay along with a biodiversity report in May. “We can no longer continue to destroy the diversity of life. ... We can and must all mobilise, urgently and together, to save our planet and thus humanity.” Democratic leaders and presidential candidates immediately pounced on Trump for gutting wildlife protections, while states and conservation groups promise to sue. Putting America’s most vulnerable species in the crosshairs at a time of environmental crisis isn’t a winning position, nor a tenable one.

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Volunteers, local residents, fire force off icials and members of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search for survivors following landslides at Puthumala village in © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Kerala’s Wayanad district on Wednesday. Gulf Times Friday, August 16, 2019 15 COMMENT The IMF’s latest victims By Jayati Ghosh The loan may have been New Delhi unprecedented in size, but it had all the familiar characteristics of past IMF financing programmes. he process of selecting the In exchange for the cash, Argentina International Monetary was to implement massive budget Fund’s next managing cuts, in order to balance its primary Tdirector must change. In budget in 2019 and significantly particular, the tradition of choosing a reduce its external deficit. Argentina European for the post – based on an complied – and the economy steadily unfair and anachronistic “gentlemen’s deteriorated. agreement” reached with the United Today, infl ation is running at over States when the institution was 55%, the poverty rate has surpassed established 75 years ago – needs to be 30%, and output and employment discarded. But even more important, are shrinking. Argentina is nowhere the IMF’s longstanding approach to near the IMF’s targets for investment lending should be transformed. and GDP growth, which have already The Fund has a long history of policy been revised twice. More downward mistakes. Yet, as Christine Lagarde’s revisions are undoubtedly coming. just-completed tenure showed, it has The IMF has been here before. learned little from them. Consider In 1998, when East Asia was in the case of Argentina. In mid-2018, the throes of financial crisis, the the IMF agreed to provide the country Fund had to sign no less than five with a heavily frontloaded three-year Memorandums of Understanding loan worth nearly $57bn – the largest with Thailand, precisely because in the institution’s history – following fulfilling all of the austerity a series of reckless decisions by requirements the Fund had President Mauricio Macri. imposed on it meant missing its One such decision, made soon after macroeconomic targets. he took offi ce in 2015, was to strike a Yet, far from learning from its deal with the holdout creditors who mishandling of the 1990s Asian fi nancial were still fi ghting in US courts to be crisis, the IMF made the same mistakes The International Monetary Fund has a long history of policy mistakes. repaid in full, following Argentina’s in Europe after the 2008 global fi nancial 2002 debt default and subsequent crisis sent the eurozone into a tailspin. apparent realisation was not refl ected the Center for Economic and Policy net private capital infl ows of 4.9% of accountability that permeates the restructuring. Another was Macri’s In particular, instead of allowing in its deal with Argentina. Nor is it Research, these steps will likely lead GDP in 2020. institution’s bureaucracy, right up subsequent borrowing spree, Greece to default on its massive debts refl ected in a more recent fi nancing to an immediate drop in GDP and As usual, the folly of this logic to the very top. If that’s the case, which caused public debt – mostly to private creditors, the IMF – together deal with another Latin American cause the current recession to persist will become apparent in due course. boosting accountability should be the denominated in dollars – to swell by with the European Central Bank and country. for the four years of the program. (A fl oundering economy, it should next IMF managing director’s fi rst more than one-third, to $321bn in 2017. the European Commission – lent it the In March, the IMF approved Yet the IMF has somehow convinced be clear, is not attractive to private order of business – that, and aligning By last year, Argentina’s fi scal and money. The accompanying austerity a $4.2 billion, three-year loan itself that growth will decline only capital.) In the meantime, the people the Fund’s lending approach with current-account defi cits exceeded 5% conditions made repayment of those for Ecuador, as part of a plan to mildly in 2019, before recovering in of Ecuador will suff er greatly, owing to economic realities. – Project Syndicate of GDP. In the ensuing economic and debts – now held by offi cial creditors – reduce public debt and reform the 2020, as a huge boost in private-sector rising unemployment, declining living fi nancial crisis, public debt ballooned impossible. Greece continues to struggle economy. In exchange, the Fund confi dence – naturally brought about standards, widening inequality, and z Jayati Ghosh is Professor of to nearly 90% of GDP, capital fl ight to this day. is predictably demanding rapid by fi scal restraint and privatisation greater poverty. Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru caused the peso’s value to collapse, and In 2013, the IMF produced a fiscal consolidation, through cuts – leads to a surge in inward foreign The IMF’s bizarre belief in University in New Delhi, Executive infl ation soared. So, under pressure report acknowledging that it had to wages and public-sector jobs, investment. According to the Fund’s “expansionary austerity” would be Secretary of International Development from US President Donald Trump (who “underestimated” the eff ects austerity hikes in energy prices, new charges logic, even if employment and laughable if it were not so damaging. Economics Associates, and a member had business ties with Macri), the IMF would have on Greece’s economy. for government services, and higher consumption are falling, and the How can the IMF justify an approach of the Independent Commission for stepped in – with Lagarde’s active It seemed like a promising portent. indirect taxes. As Mark Weisbrot and economy is in recession, net capital with such a poor track record? the Reform of International Corporate support. Yet, a mere fi ve years later, the Fund’s Andrés Arauz note in a report for outfl ows of 1.9% of GDP will turn into One explanation could be a lack of Taxation.

Scientists fi nd micro plastic in Arctic ice Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 400c Reuters Minimum Temperature : 320c London SATURDAY Maximum Temperature : 420c iny pieces of plastic have Minimum Temperature : 310c been found in ice cores SUNDAY drilled in the Arctic by a Maximum Temperature : 400c TUS-led team of scientists, Minimum Temperature : 310c underscoring the threat the growing Fisherman's forecast form of pollution now poses to marine life in even the remotest waters on the WARNING Inshore : Poor visibility expected planet. at some places by early The researchers used a helicopter morning & strong wind to land on ice fl oes and retrieve the by afternoon samples during an 18-day icebreaker Offshore : Nil expedition through the Northwest WEATHER Passage, the hazardous route linking Inshore : Misty to foggy at the Pacifi c and Atlantic Oceans. some places by early morning becomes hot “We had spent weeks looking out at daytime with slight what looks so much like pristine white dust at places & some sea ice fl oating out on the ocean,” clouds, humid by night Offshore : Misty at places at first, said Jacob Strock, a graduate student becomes fine later researcher at the University of Rhode WIND Island, who conducted an initial Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- ly 03-12/15 KT onboard analysis of the cores. Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- “When we look at it up close and easterly 10-20/24 KT we see that it’s all very, very visibly Visibility : 4-8/2 KM contaminated when you look at it with Offshore : 1-3/4 FT the right tools — it felt a little bit like a Around the region punch in the gut,” Strock told Reuters Weather by telephone. Weather tomorrow Max/min Strock and his colleagues found today Max/min Baghdad Sunny 44/28 Sunny 42/27 the material trapped in ice taken from A researcher picks up ice cores drilled from the Arctic as part of an 18-day icebreaker expedition taking place in July and Kuwait City Sunny 46/32 Sunny 44/31 Lancaster Sound, an isolated stretch August 2019 in the Northwest Passage, in a still image taken from a handout video obtained by Reuters on August 14, 2019. Sunny 39/32 of water in the Canadian Arctic, which Manama Sunny 39/33 Sunny 34/28 they had assumed might be relatively University of Rhode Island and chief cooling system is being compromised regions of the Arctic. Muscat Sunny 34/28 Sunny 36/23 sheltered from drifting plastic scientist of the expedition, known as by the rapid vanishing of summer sea The team plans to subject the plastic Tehran Sunny 35/23 pollution The team drew 18 ice cores the Northwest Passage Project. ice. they retrieved to further analysis to of up to two metres in length from The scientists’ dismay is But the plastic fragments — known support a broader research eff ort to four locations, and saw visible plastic reminiscent of the consternation as micro plastic — also served to understand the damage plastic is beads and fi laments of various shapes felt by explorers who found plastic highlight how the waste problem has doing to fi sh, seabirds and large ocean and sizes. waste in the Pacifi c Ocean’s Marianas reached epidemic proportions. mammals such as whales. The scientists said the fi ndings Trench, the deepest place on Earth, The United Nations estimates that Funded by the National Science reinforce the observation that during submarine dives earlier this 100mn tonnes of plastic have been Foundation and the Heising-Simons micro plastic pollution appears to year. dumped in the oceans to date. Foundation in the United States, the concentrate in ice relative to seawater. The Northwest Passage Project is The researchers said the ice they expedition in the Swedish icebreaker “The plastic just jumped out in primarily focused on investigating the sampled appeared to be at least a year The Oden ran from July 18 to Aug. both its abundance and its scale,” said impact of manmade climate change on old and had probably drifted into 4 and covered some 2,000 nautical Brice Loose, an oceanographer at the the Arctic, whose role as the planet’s Lancaster Sound from more central miles.

Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 33/23 M Sunny 32/22 Beirut Sunny 31/27 P Cloudy 31/26 Live issues Bangkok S T Storms 33/27 T Storm 33/27 Berlin P Cloudy 22/14 Cloudy 27/17 Cairo Sunny 39/25 Sunny 38/25 Cape Town Cloudy 17/12 Sunny 21/11 ‘Intensive BP management’ may preserve brain health Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 28/26 Dhaka T Storm 30/26 T Storm 29/26 Hong Kong T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 QNA The white matter of the brain White matter lesions, which appear limited “progression of small vessel Istanbul P Cloudy 29/23 P Cloudy 27/22 Washington consists of bundles of axons, which are on an MRI scanner, refl ect such myelin ischemic disease, as refl ected by Jakarta P Cloudy 32/24 P Cloudy 33/24 the thin elongations of neurons. disruptions. cerebral white matter lesion volume.” Karachi S T Storms 30/27 M Cloudy 30/27 White matter is “white” due to White matter lesions can also Dr Nick Bryan from the Department London P Cloudy 22/14 Rain 18/17 umerous large, cohort myelin the protective substance that indicate high water content, higher of Diagnostic Medicine at the University Manila S T Storms 31/27 S T Storms 31/27 studies have linked midlife covers the axons. glial cell sensitivity to injury, porous of Texas at Austin, is the corresponding Moscow P Cloudy 23/14 S Showers 21/14 hypertension to mild Unlike gray matter, white matter brain blood vessels, or ministrokes. author of the new paper. New Delhi P Cloudy 32/27 S T Storms 31/26 Ncognitive impairment and continues to evolve in our adulthood New research explores the Dr Bryan and team examined the New York P Cloudy 28/21 M Cloudy 27/22 dementia later on, Medical News and midlife. connection between midlife brain scans of 449 participants and Paris P Cloudy 24/13 M Cloudy 26/17 Today reported. Previous studies have tied hypertension and white matter found that intensive control of blood Sao Paulo P Cloudy 21/09 Sunny 24/11 Some of these studies found a abnormalities in the brain’s myelin, lesions, which may lead to cognitive pressure in their 50s did, indeed, Seoul Rain 29/24 S T Storms 31/23 higher risk of lesions in the brain’s such as the thinning of this layer, with impairment later in life. corresponded with a lower likelihood Singapore S T Storms 31/27 P Cloudy 32/27 white matter in older age among a range of neurological conditions, Specifi cally, a team of researchers of white matter lesions later on. Sydney Sunny 19/07 M Sunny 22/11 people with high blood pressure in including Alzheimer’s and other asked themselves if intensive blood The fi ndings of the research now Tokyo Cloudy 32/28 Cloudy 35/29 their 50s. dementias. pressure treatment correlates with a appear in JAMA. Gulf Times 16 Friday, August 16, 2019 QATAR Indians celebrate Independence Day By Shafeeq Alingal Staff Reporter

he 73rd Independence Day of India was celebrated yesterday Tat a ceremony marked by pa- triotic fervour and attended by a large number of community members at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in Doha. Indian ambassador P Kumaran hoisted the Indian fl ag on the occa- sion to the accompaniment of the na- tional anthem, which was followed by a speech and presentation of patriotic songs. The event was attended by a large number of Indian expatriates, includ- ing representatives of various social and cultural organisations, communi- ty leaders from diff erent Indian states and students from various Indian schools. P Kumaran cutting the ceremonial cake along with children. After the Tricolour was raised, a special function was held at the ICC’s racing towards becoming a socially from colonial rule,” the president said ebrate the occasion with community Ashoka Hall, which was packed with and economically developed country. in his message. members and students. community members. The envoy read out excerpts of the “Earlier this summer, the people of Students from MES Indian School, Independence Day functions were Independence Day speech by Indian India participated in the 17th general Birla Public School and Bhavan’s Pub- also held at diff erent Indian schools in President Ram Nath Kovind in Hindi election, the largest democratic exer- lic School and members of various Qatar. and English. cise in human history. community organisations sang patri- Addressing the gathering at the “This is a happy and emotional day For this, I must congratulate our otic songs. ICC, ambassador Kumaran greeted for all the children of Mother India, voters,” the message continued. “I ICC president A P Manikandan wel- the gathering and commemorated the whether living at home or abroad. We am confi dent that the recent changes comed the gathering. Rajesh Kamble, sacrifi ces and achievements of free- remember with gratitude the count- made in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh counsellor at the Indian embassy; dom fi ghters and soldiers. less freedom fi ghters and revolution- would be of immense benefi t to those Captain Kapil Kaushik, defence atta- He hailed their eff orts to move the aries who struggled, strived and made regions.” che at the embassy; and Anjan Gan- Ambassador P Kumaran hoisting the Indian national flag at the ICC yesterday. country forward and said India was heroic sacrifi ces to win us our freedom The ambassador cut a cake to cel- guly, ICC member, were also present. PICTURES: Jayan Orma

A glimpse from the cultural show at the ICC. Schoolchildren presenting a patriotic song.

South Indian stars rock Qatar audience at awards presentation

From Page 1 Prasad for Rangasthalam; Best Playback Singer Female (Kan- The second and conclud- nada) - Ananya Bhat for Hold ing day of the show will focus On from Tagaru; Best Playback on Malayalam and Tamil cin- Singer Female (Telugu) - M M ema, with superstar Mohanlal Manasi for Rangamma Man- scheduled to attend. gamma from Rangasthalam; Artistes from Telugu and Best Playback Singer Male Kannada fi lm industries were (Telugu) - Anurag Kulkarni for honoured during yesterday’s Pilla Ra from RX 100; Best Lyr- event in various categories. ics Writer (Kannada) - Chetan These included awards for Kumar for Yennammi Yennam- best actor, actress, director, mi from Ayogya; Best Lyrics music director, lyricist, cin- Writer (Telugu) - Chandra Bose ematographer, producer, debut for Yentha Sakkagunave from actor, debut actress and debut Rangasthalam; Best Cinema- director. tographer (Kannada) - Bhuvan According to the organisers, Gowda for KGF:Chapter 1; and the show is being attended by Best Cinematographer (Telu- some 600 artistes over the two gu) - Ratnavelu for Rangastha- days, including 200 leading ce- lam, according to updates lebrities. posted on the offi cial Facebook At the time of going to press, page of SIIMA. awards had been given out The event partners are Qatar for categories such as Best National Tourism Council, the Debut Actor Female (Kan- Ministry of Culture and Sports, nada) - Anupama Gowda for Qatar Airways, Teyseer Mo- Aa Karaala Ratri; Best Debut tors, W Doha, Doha Bank, Al Actor Female (Telugu) - Payal Mana Leasing, Gulf Car, Royal Rajput for RX 100; Best Music Regis, Talabat, Rayyan Water Ananya Bhat, winner of the Best Playback Singer Female Director (Telugu) - Devi Sri and 98.6 Radio Malayalam. Anurag Kulkarni receiving the award for Playback Singer Male (Telugu). PICTURE: Jayan Orma (Kannada) award. (Courtesy of SIIMA Facebook page)

Chiranjeevi shares a lighter moment with Keerthy Suresh. (Courtesy of SIIMA Facebook page) Shanvi Srivastava performs during yesterday’s SIIMA ceremony at Lusail Sports Arena. PICTURE: Jayan Orma