QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Duhail, Sadd set for Sheikh Jassim Cup F&B, retail shops at Entertainment encounter City record sales growth today published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11278 August 17, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 16, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief

QATAR | Reaction Qatar condemns blast Tlaib scraps in Pakistan mosque Qatar has strongly condemned the blast that took place inside a mosque in western Pakistan, causing deaths and injuries. In a W Bank trip statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of the motives and causes. It stressed Qatar’s total rejection of targeting over Israeli places of worship and intimidating innocent people. The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of victims as well as to the government and people of Pakistan, wishing the injured a demands speedy recovery. AFP Attack in Iraq’s Diyala Jerusalem The sixth annual edition of the ‘Back to School’ campaign for the academic year 2019/2020 kicked off yesterday at the Governorate slammed Mall of Qatar. PICTURES: Nasar K Moidheen Qatar has expressed strong alestinian-American lawmaker condemnation of the attack that Rashida Tlaib yesterday turned took place in Diyala Governorate, Pdown Israel’s off er to let her visit northeast of Iraq, killing one security her grandmother in the occupied West man and wounding two others. In Bank, owing to restrictions she termed a statement yesterday, the Ministry ‘Back to School’ campaign for oppressive. of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s It was the latest twist in a saga hing- firm stance rejecting violence and ing on Israel’s war against those who terrorism regardless of the motives would boycott it over its treatment of US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. and causes. It expressed Qatar’s new academic year kicks off the Palestinians. condolences to the families of On Thursday, Israel barred from en- sity to refer to her grandmother. victims as well as to the government try the US Congress’ fi rst Muslim wom- “Silencing me & treating me like a and people of Iraq, wishing the QNA en lawmakers, Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, criminal is not what she wants for me. injured a speedy recovery. Doha on the grounds that they support the It would kill a piece of me.” boycott movement, and after President Yesterday, Palestinian activists had ARAB WORLD | Media Donald Trump urged the Jewish state to been urging Tlaib on social media not Sudan allows Jazeera he sixth annual edition of the block the two Democrats. to visit her grandmother under the Is- to reopen offi ce ‘Back to School’ campaign for But it held out the carrot of allow- raeli terms. Tthe academic year 2019/2020 ing Tlaib to make a private visit to her In the family’s village of Beit Ur Al- Sudan has allowed Qatari kicked off yesterday. elderly grandmother, if she agreed to Foqa, Muftia Tlaib had been excitedly broadcaster Al Jazeera to reopen its It is organised by the Ministry of abide by conditions including a pledge awaiting her granddaughter’s arrival. Khartoum off ice, which they had shut Education and Higher Education in not to advocate boycotting Israel. She intended to slaughter a sheep in down in May, the channel’s director in co-operation with a number of part- “This could be my last opportunity her honour, in accordance with custom. the Sudanese capital said yesterday. ners and supporters under the slogan to see her. I will respect any restric- “I see her coming to the village in tra- “The Sudanese authorities have ‘With Education We Build Qatar’. tions and will not promote boycotts ditional (Palestinian) dress,” she said on agreed to let us resume our work The campaign is being held at the against Israel during my visit,” she ini- Thursday, before the latest development. in covering Sudan,” Al-Musallami Mall of Qatar from August 16-24 and at tially wrote. The United States, particularly un- al-Kabbashi said. The Al Jazeera crew KidZania Doha from August 18-24. Yesterday, Israel’s Interior Minister der Trump, is Israel’s strongest ally. had been informed in late May, at the Hassan Abdullah al-Mohamma- Aryeh Deri announced that she would But the two congresswomen are seen height of the protests that brought di, Director of Public Relations and be permitted a “humanitarian visit”, by many as enemies of Israel because of down longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, Communication at the Ministry of but a few hours later Tlaib announced their support for the Boycott, Divest- that their licence and work permits Education and Higher Education, a change of heart. ment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. were being withdrawn. said that the aim of the campaign is to enhance the abilities and capabili- and parents and all members of the “I have decided that visiting my Israel sees the movement as a stra- to enhance communication with the ties of students and develop and en- community and schools as well. grandmother under these oppressive tegic threat and accuses it of anti- REGION | Diplomacy public, prepare school students to re- courage the spirit of competition and The campaign aims to prepare stu- conditions stands against everything Semitism — a claim activists deny — Freed Iranian tanker ceive the new school year more eff ec- creativity through a number of guid- dents for the new academic year and I believe in — fi ghting against racism, and in 2017 passed a law banning entry tively, and provide support to schools ance and useful educational advice, provide them with the necessary ad- oppression & injustice,” she wrote in a to foreigners supporting a boycott. preparing to set sail and educate parents and all those in- to serve the educational system in the vice and guidance in this regard and series of tweets. Israel illegally occupied the West An Iranian tanker seized by volved in the educational process. State of Qatar in all its aspects and to emphasise the importance of moral “When I won, it gave the Palestinian Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Gibraltar last month is preparing The campaign includes fun, edu- dimensions at the beginning of a new and psychological readiness to start people hope that someone will fi nally Six-Day War and has for decades built to set sail after being released, cational, recreational, cultural and academic year. the academic year and sharpen the speak the truth about the inhumane con- settlements considered illegal under a senior Iranian shipping official health activities along safety and He noted that the co-operation of motivation for regular school attend- ditions,” added the 43-year-old fresh- international law. said yesterday. The Grace 1 will be traffi c tips. partners with the ministry is the ba- ance since the fi rst day, in addition to man congresswoman, elected in January. Israel’s initial refusal to allow Tlaib renamed and switch to the Iranian Speaking to Qatar News Agency sis of the success of the campaign, the participation of parents and all “I can’t allow the State of Israel and Omar to transit the Jewish state flag for its onward journey, the (QNA), al-Mohammadi termed the where each party will provide a set of the partners of the educational proc- to take away that light by humiliat- on their way to the West Bank sparked deputy head of Iran’s Ports and campaign as one of the successful valuable services to consolidate the ess in its activities to benefi t from the ing me & use my love for my sity to outrage among Palestinians and de- Maritime Organisation, Jalil Eslami, initiatives of the Ministry of Educa- educational and educational values support services provided to students bow down to their oppressive & rac- bate about the intimate ties between told state television. Page 3 tion and Higher Education as it seeks among students and their families and schools. ist policies,” she said, using the word Netanyahu and Trump. Glittering fi nale to South Indian fi lm awards event

By Shafeeq Alingal Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran, lar actor in Middle East, expressed his Staff Reporter Tamil superstar Dhanush, National gratitude to his supporters and Qatar Award winning south Indian actress residents and urged all to stay with Keerthy Suresh, young Malayalam ac- the deluge hit Kerala and support it he star-studded eighth annual tor Tovino Thomas and a number of to overcome the hardship. The South Pantaloons South Indian Inter- other actors, singers, directors, writ- Indian superstar received best male Tnational Movie Awards (SIIMA) ers, music directors, producers and debut actor award (Malayalam) on concluded at a glittering ceremony at technicians were present. behalf of his son Pranav and said he is the Lusail Sports Arena yesterday on its They included Anirudh Ravichand, a proud father. He also presented the second night with electrifying perform- Vignesh Shivan, Sathyan Anthikkad, lifetime achievement Award to actress ances that included songs and dances. Sanjana Galrani, Radhika Sarathku- Menaka and producer Suresh Kumar, The second day witnessed celebra- mar, Menaka, Yogi Babu, Aishwarya who are the parents of actress Keerthy tions, award distribution and honour- Lekshmi, Trisha, Aishwarya Rajesh, Suresh. ing Tamil and Malayalam cinema. The Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar, Vijay Yesudas, The show which continued late into evening started with a prayer in soli- Radhika Sharath Kumar, Aju Varghese, the night also marked distribution of darity with the fl ood-aff ected Kerala Roshan Mathew and Sharafudheen. more than 20 awards. Tovino Thomas followed by a classical dance perform- Indian ambassador P Kumaran and won the best actor award in Malay- ance by Nikhila Vimal and few per- his Sri Lankan counterpart Kithsiri alam. Prithviraj Sukumaran took home formances by Saniya Iyyapan and An- Athulathmudali were among the other the best critic award male in Malay- Popular South Indian actor Mohanlal speaks after presenting the lifetime achievement award to actress Menaka and her drea Jeremiah. dignitaries. alam and Trisha the female award in husband, producer Suresh Kumar, as their daughter and Indian National Film Awards best actress winner Keerthy Suresh Apart from Malayalam superstars Mohanlal, who won the most popu- Tamil. To Page 16 looks on. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 17, 2019 QATAR

Amiri Naval Forces celebrate graduation of Owners suggest four officers at Britannia Royal Naval College camel complex number of camel own- the daily. Such limited spaces living in a limited space. ers from across Qatar also lead to problems such as Misfar Safran al-Marri, Ahave suggested that a concentration of odours and another owner, said the new camel farm complex be set up the spread of germs and worms, complex could include a track to boost investment in pro- besides adversely aff ecting the measuring at least 5km as cam- ductive camels. Such a facility breeding process. els need to walk around 10km a can be established somewhere The camel owners said the day to stay healthy and in good in the western parts of the country has a large number of shape. This would also help the country, they feel. camels and there is a pressing females while delivering their Local Arabic daily Arrayah need to create a comprehen- off spring, he added, explaining recently spoke to a number of sive complex in order to invest that he lost 72 newborn cam- camel owners who stressed in them and make them more els this year due to the limited that the suggested complex productive. space available for his camels. should provide comprehen- One of them, Mubarak al- Mohamed Zafi r al-Hajiri, a sive services and facilities such Dosari, said the country has member of the Central Munici- as adequate supply of sweet provided owners with various pal Council, suggested that a water, open spaces for cam- key facilities and also given camel milk processing factory els to graze, a slaughterhouse, them a considerable amount of could be set up near the sug- outlets to sell camel meat and subsidised fodder in addition gested camel complex to make dairy products and services for to free veterinarian services. proper use of the increased the staff . It should also off er In this context, creation of a production levels. facilities such as veterinarian comprehensive complex would Marzouq al-Ahbabi stressed clinics, a drug store and fodder further enhance camel produc- the country’s eff orts to support storehouses. tivity, according to him. livestock owners and encour- The facility should also pro- Besides, each camel can age them to improve their pro- vide camels with ample space be given an identifi cation duction. At the same time, he The Amiri Naval Forces have celebrated the graduation of four candidate off icers participating in the training course held at the to walk instead of the relatively number to follow up on its said there is a need to introduce Britannia Royal Naval College. The 45-week training included a preparatory course and an intensive foundation course in marine limited space available in the development. Also, cam- camel tracks where the animals sciences. The ceremony took place at the Britannia Royal Naval College headquarters in Dartmouth, southwest England, and was existing smaller farms, where els will enjoy better health could move freely over long attended by a delegation from the Amiri Naval Forces including Brigadier General (Naval) Hamad Abdullah al-Dosari, and Colonel camels have to stand in small and not suff er from diseases distances in order to be healthy (Naval) Nawaf Hassan al-Naimi, assistant to the Qatari military attache in the United Kingdom. areas round the clock, they told that they may contract while and productive. Doha lensman football photos on Fraudsters using social media to seek display at Sao Paulo exhibition monetary help eeking monetary help further explored in accord- arlier this year the Su- that happens almost every day through social media ance with the standards and preme Committee for during childhood.” Shas emerged as a new rules set by Islamic law. He EDelivery & Legacy (SC) Another picture is from phenomenon, with fraudsters suggested that these messages handed out disposable cam- an area opposite Barwa City, often taking advantage of peo- and requests be forwarded to eras to more than 50 people where thousands of peo- ple’s empathy and goodwill the designated phone num- across Qatar. The brief for ple live. “Every Friday peo- with false claims. bers and e-mails of various each participant was simple: ple come here to play sport. In a recent report, local charitable organisations in take photos of what football Cricket used to dominate this Arabic daily Arrayah said as the country to check whether means to you. area, as many of the residents security initiatives have made they are genuine requests for The project was organised in are natives of India, where it diffi cult to seek alms in pub- people in need and determine collaboration with Goal Click, the sport is very popular, but lic, the practice of begging has if they should be given aid or which is active in more than over the years more and more started going online – with not. 40 countries and aims to help people have started playing social media being the medi- Speaking to the daily, Ib- people around the world un- football.” um of choice. rahim al-Rumaihi said ‘e- derstand each other through Yet another picture was Those involved are often begging’ has become a daily football. taken at Al Sadd Sports Club fraudsters who trick their phenomenon on social media The objective was to show- during a training session. It sympathetic victims into and messages pertaining to case Qatar’s football culture shows a coach instructing the sending them some money, people seeking monetary help and its deep-rooted passion players. claiming that they are in dire also come from other coun- for the beautiful game, while need of cash to pay their rent tries around the world. Such shining a light on the country’s Right: Children trying to shake a or for some treatment and messages contain fabricated diversity. football out of the tree. medication, clear debts or for stories of suff ering in order to “We also wanted to give peo- Below: A coach instructs players other urgent reasons. Mostly trick the recipient into off er- ple around the world the chance during a training session at Al they use e-mails, WhatsApp, ing money. to fi nd out more about the next Sadd Sports Club. Facebook and other online However, people should try FIFA World Cup host nation,” SC means to prey on potential to avoid such messages and said in a report on its website. victims. never respond to them as it is Local photographer Hanson Experts in the fi eld strong- clear that such stories are false Joseph, who has lived in Qa- ly recommended that such and tailored with the aim of tar for 13 years, took part in the messages be ignored and the gaining sympathy. project and recently had three sender should be blocked, Saleh Rashid al-Jarallah, of his photos featured in the Qa- especially in view of the fact a Qatari man who has gone tar @roadto2022 Exhibition in that the country has a good through a similar experience, Sao Paulo. number of authorised chari- said he receives messages “My objective was to show ties that are ready to off er seeking aid from diff erent everyone how important support and assistance to the people in other countries – football is in the modern needy, according to the daily. who claim to be in dire need world,” said Joseph, who is They also stressed that the of help. also a qualifi ed football coach. best way to spend charity In one such case, a woman “I tried my best to take mean- money is to give it to such or- claimed that she was a widow ingful photos and I’m really ganisations and refer any per- with a number of children and proud that three of them were son in need to these, as they needed $10,000 to pay off her selected for the exhibition in are better equipped to deal debts and be able to raise her Brazil.” with such cases. kids. One of his friends sym- As for Joseph’s favourite pho- Dr Sultan Ibrahim al-Hash- pathised with the woman and to, it’s the one which features imi, assistant dean at the Col- transferred the sum to her. children trying to get their ball lege of Shariah and Islamic However, the victim soon back in Barwa City. Studies at Qatar University, discovered that it was a trick “I love the photo of the chil- said using the Internet and so- and such scams were often dren trying to shake the football cial media for begging is a the handiwork of specialised out of the tree as it’s something critical issue that needs to be gangs, the report added.

Souq Waqif street painted blue

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has been working on an experimental project with a Japanese company, to paint the Abdullah Bin Jassim Street near Souq Waqif in Doha in blue to reduce the temperature of the asphalt by around 15- 20C, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday. Engineer Saad al-Dosari tweeted that the temperature of the black asphalt is 20C higher than the actual temperature as black colour absorbs and radiates heat. In addition, the blue colour of the street is pleasing to the eye. The off icial added that the street and the experiment will be under evaluation for 18 months. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Iran says tanker freed by Gibraltar preparing to set sail

AFP overseas territory said it had Tehran received assurances from Iran that the Grace 1 would not head to any country subject to Euro- n Iranian tanker seized pean Union sanctions. by Gibraltar last month The vessel had been de- Ais preparing to set sail tained on suspicion that its after being released, a senior cargo was destined for the Iranian shipping offi cial said Banyas oil refi nery in Syria in yesterday. breach of an EU embargo. The ship’s seizure on July 4, But Iran denied it had pro- with the help of British Royal vided any assurances to se- Marines, triggered a sharp cure the ship’s release, saying Palestinians demonstrate near the fence along the border with Israel in the eastern Gaza Strip, yesterday. deterioration in relations be- Gibraltar was only seeking to tween Tehran and London “save face”. and the tit-for-tat detention “Iran has given no assuranc- by Iran of the British-fl agged es over the Grace 1 not going to tanker Stena Impero. Syria to secure its release,” the The Grace 1 will be renamed state broadcaster’s youth web- and switch to the Iranian fl ag site quoted foreign ministry for its onward journey, the spokesman Abbas Mousavi as deputy head of Iran’s Ports and saying yesterday. Maritime Organisation, Jalil “The tanker’s destination Palestinian fi ghter Eslami, told state television. was not Syria...and even if it “At the owner’s request, was, it did not concern anyone the Grace 1 will depart for the else.” Mediterranean after being But the Gibraltar govern- refl agged under the Islamic ment insisted that Tehran had Republic of Iran’s fl ag and re- given a written commitment. named as Adrian Darya for the “The written position... voyage,” Eslami said. confirms that the Islamic Re- dies in West Bank “The ship was of Russian public of Iran has provided origin and Panama-fl agged the commitment referred Agencies and lightly wounded an Israeli and is carrying 2mn barrels of to...The facts speak louder Elazar policeman in east Jerusalem’s Rocket intercepted Iranian oil,” he added. than the self-serving politi- walled Old City. after weeks of calm But a source with knowledge cal statements we are hearing One of the fi ghters was shot of the case told the Gibraltar today,” it said in a statement wo Israelis were wounded dead by police at the scene and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Chronicle daily that the tanker from its spokesman. yesterday in what the Is- the other was taken to hospital fired a rocket at southern Israel is unlikely to set sail before to- It added that “the evidence Traeli army called a car- where he was said to be in a criti- last night in what the army said morrow. located aboard the Grace 1... ramming attack near a Jewish cal condition. was the first such attack in over a “Six seafarers including a demonstrates that the ves- settlement in the occupied West The attack took place near month. A military statement said master will arrive on Sunday,” sel was going to Syria”. Hours Bank, while the suspected fi ght- one of the gates into the Al Aqsa the projectile was intercepted by the source said on condition before the court’s ruling, the er was shot dead. Mosque compound. the Iron Dome missile defence of anonymity. “The ship is un- United States launched a “A fi ghter ran over two civil- 18 PALESTINIANS system, after air raid sirens likely to sail before then.” last-minute legal move de- ians,” an English-language army INJURED IN GAZA sounded in the southern town of Gibraltar’s Supreme Court manding that the Gibraltar statement said. Meanwhile, Israeli occupa- Sderot and its surroundings. ordered the tanker released authorities extend the ves- “The civilians were injured tion forces injured yesterday 18 An army spokesman said it was on Thursday after the British sel’s detention. and evacuated to hospital for Palestinians after shooting live the first attack since July 12. medical treatment. The fi ghter and rubber-coated metal bullets Earlier, the Palestinian health was neutralised,” it said. on the peaceful weekly marches ministry said in a statement that The two wounded were in the Gaza Strip, QNA reported 32 Palestinians were wounded brother and sister from Elazar from Gaza. by Israeli live fire along the Gaza settlement, adjacent to the scene The occupation forces at- border fence as part of weekly Houthis claim drone of the incident, south of Bethle- tacked the peaceful marches protests there. An Israeli army hem. The mother of 14-year-old Naseem Abu Roumi, who was killed by and fi red live ammunition, rub- spokeswoman said that about A police statement said an Israeli police in Jerusalem’s Old City the day before, mourns at their ber bullets, and teargas, injuring 5,600 people demonstrated attacks on Saudi airport off -duty policeman passing by home in the Palestinian West Bank village of Eizariya, yesterday. nine youth with live ammuni- along the border. She said that the scene near Elazar settlement tion. troops responded with “riot saw the alleged fi ghter trying to lem’s Hadassah hospital, said the same area. Two Palestinian Nine others were wounded dispersal means” but she was Reuters reported attacks and disrup- exit his vehicle, and fi red at him. one of the Israelis was a man suspects were later arrested. with rubber bullets and there unaware of any live fire. Cairo tion to air traffi c at the airport, The Palestinian health min- aged “about 19” with serious Elsewhere in the West Bank, were dozens of cases of suff o- which is in the southwest of istry later said that the man had head injuries, correcting earlier Palestinians and Israeli forces cation due to tear gas, Palestine Saudi Arabia about 150 kilo- died of his wounds, without reports of his age. clashed in the village of Kfar news agency Wafa reported. displaced in 1948 and breaking emen’s Houthis metres from the border with naming him. “He is undergoing surgery but Qaddum, near the northern city Since March 30, 2018, Pal- the siege on Gaza. The Israeli launched more drone Yemen. Police video, shot by the same is not yet out of danger,” he said of Nablus, an AFP photographer estinians have participated in army suppresses these peaceful Yattacks on Saudi Ara- However, later Saudi state off -duty offi cer, showed the in a video clip on Whataspp. at the scene said, in what has peaceful marches near the fence marches, fi ring poison gas and bia’s Abha international air- television cited the Saudi-led white suspect vehicle travelling A young woman — less seri- become weekly protests against separating the Gaza Strip and the tear gas at the demonstrators, port yesterday, halting air traf- coalition fi ghting the Houthis at speed and veering off the road ously injured — was taken to the the expropriation of Palestinian Palestinian Territories occupied which resulted in the death of fi c there, the group’s military in Yemen as saying that a towards a bus stop. city’s Shaare Zedek hospital. land by Israel. in 1948, demanding the return 326 Palestinians and the injuring spokesman said. Houthi drone targeting the Dr Bala Miklosh, head of the Last week, an off -duty Israeli On Thursday evening, two of refugees to their towns and 31,000 others, including leaving Saudi authorities did not kingdom had been intercepted trauma department at Jerusa- soldier was stabbed to death in young Palestinians stabbed villages from which they were 500 in serious condition. immediately comment on the and downed.

Fears growing daily for abducted lawmaker: Amnesty Libya reopens southern Air strikes kill 15 civilians in Amnesty International voiced growing concern yesterday for the airport closed since 2014 safety of a Libyan lawmaker after her “horrific” night-time abduction in the city of Benghazi. Agencies ernment in northern Libya, the northwest Syria: monitor Siham Sergewa disappeared Benghazi UN-recognised government on July 17 in an attack that also said. Tripoli’s sole function- allegedly saw her husband shot ing airport Mitiga and Zuwara AFP Four children where among in the leg, shortly after she spoke ibya reopened yesterday airfi eld were targeted for the Beirut 13 civilians killed in a Russian on Al-Hadath television — which its airport in the main second time in less than 48 air strike on a camp for the dis- backs eastern Libyan commander Lsouthern city of Sebha hours — the former hit over- placed near the town of Hass in Khalifa Haftar. which had been closed since night Thursday and the latter ir strikes yesterday by southern Idlib, said the Britain- She called during the broadcast January 2014 due to security on Friday morning. Syria’s regime and its based Syrian Observatory for for “an end to the bloodshed”, re- problems, residents said. Airport management at ARussian ally killed 15 ci- Human Rights. ferring to an off ensive launched A commercial fl ight landed Mitiga reported rocket fi re vilians, most of them in a camp Two other children were in April by Haftar’s forces to wrest from the main eastern city of against the runway “as planes for the displaced in Idlib prov- killed in regime air raids in dif- control of Tripoli from those loyal Benghazi, they said. took off and landed”. The UN- ince, a war monitor said. ferent parts of the region con- to a unity government. Southern Libya has been recognised Government of trolled by Syria’s former Al ”The horrific abduction...illus- gripped by worse insecurity National Accord (GNA) said Qaeda affi liate Hayat Tahrir trates the acute dangers facing and chaos than the rest of the on Facebook that Haftar’s Turkey says Syria al-Sham (HTS), the monitor publicly active women in Libya North African country since forces “targeted employees of safe zone centre to said. The strikes came as regime who dare to express criticism of the toppling of Muammar the airport services company” start work next week forces battled HTS militants militias,” said Amnesty’s Middle Gaddafi in 2011, although se- at Mitiga with Grad missiles, and allied rebels in the region, East and North Africa deputy curity in Sebha is better than causing shrapnel wounds to A joint Turkish-US operation where fi erce fi ghting yesterday director Magdalena Mughrabi. in other parts of the impover- two workers and damaging a centre to establish and manage claimed the lives of 13 loyal- “Fears for her safety are grow- ished region. bus. a safe zone in northeast Syria will ists and 18 militants and allied Members of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the “White ing by the day,” she added in In Murzuq town to the west Flights were temporarily be fully operational next week, rebels, the Observatory said. Helmets”, search for survivors in a collapsed building following a a statement from the rights of Sebha, at least 90 people suspended or rerouted to Mis- Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Over the past week, pro- reported air strike in Kfar Ruma in the northwestern Idlib province. group.The United Nations called have been killed and 6,500 rata, 200 kilometres east of Akar said yesterday. regime fi ghters have advanced on July 18 for an investigation displaced since fi ghting broke Tripoli. Turkey and the United States on the southern edges of Idlib forces from rebels in December Idlib region’s inhabitants from into Sergewa’s disappearance out between diff erent tribes- In the attack against Zuwara agreed last week to set up the province, with the aim of 2016. an all-out regime off ensive, but and for her immediate release. men in August, according to airfi eld, Haftar’s self-styled joint operations centre for the capturing the town of Khan HTS has since January con- it was never fully implemented. The lawmaker “appears to have the United Nations. Libyan National Army said proposed zone along Syria’s Sheikhoun, which lies on a key trolled most of Idlib province Regime and Russian air come under attack as punish- THREE INJURED it targeted a hangar “which northeast border but gave few highway coveted by the regime. as well as parts of neighbour- strikes and shelling since late ment for peacefully expressing Meanwhile, three peo- houses Turkish drones and details, such as the size of the The road in question runs ing Hama, Aleppo and Latakia April have killed more than her opinions and criticising” ple were wounded in raids by their ammunition”. The Tripo- zone itself or the command through Idlib, connecting gov- provinces. 820 civilians, according to the Haftar’s offensive, Mughrabi forces loyal to strongman Kha- li-based GNA said a member structure of forces that would ernment-held Damascus with A buff er zone deal brokered Observatory. The violence has said. lifa Haftar against two airports of civil protection was wound- operate there. the northern city of Aleppo, by Russia and Turkey last year displaced 400,000 people, ac- controlled by the unity gov- ed in that attack. which was retaken by regime was supposed to protect the cording to the United Nations. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, August 17, 2019 AFRICA

17 Chinese, Ukrainian seamen kidnapped

AFP Yaounde

ine Chinese and eight Ukrainian seamen were Nabducted on Thurs- day when two merchant vessels came under attack in Cameroo- nian waters, sources said yester- day. “Seventeen Chinese and Ukrainians were kidnapped... (of whom) nine (are) Chinese who were abducted on one of the ships,” an offi cial in the port of Douala said. A Cameroonian security of- fi cial, likewise speaking on con- dition of anonymity, confi rmed the account. The abduction was reported A protester holds a copy of the Constitution of Zimbabwe during a demonstration and clashes with the police in Harare, yesterday. on Thursday by sources in the Cameroonian navy and the country’s port service, but their number and nationality were not then known. The navy source had said the kidnappers “are probably Zimbabwe opposition backs down Nigerian pirates,” adding that Cameroon’s security forces had launched a search for them. The Gulf of Guinea, whose coastline stretches in a huge arc from Liberia to Gabon, is notori- ous for piracy as well as oil theft, from protest to avoid ‘bloodshed’ illegal fi shing and human and drugs traffi cking. zMDC court appeal from a city square. Armed po- Mugabe, its ruler for nearly 40 In Malaysia, Noel Choong, fails to lift protest ban lice barred access to the MDC’s years. who heads the Internation- z Chamisa calls for Harare offi ces. “Today we didn’t Opponents say Mnangagwa al Maritime Bureau (IMB), a change in strategy want to risk people’s lives by has failed to make good on watchdog agency, said the 17 continuing to be confronta- promises of political and eco- seamen were seized from two Reuters tional because if we had chosen nomic reform.The economy is ships that were attacked within Harare to be confrontational there will mired in its worst crisis in a dec- hours of each other while they be blood in the streets,” Nelson ade, and Mnangagwa is strug- were anchored off Douala. Chamisa, the MDC leader, told gling to convince the growing Choong said one of the ships imbabwe’s main oppo- reporters in Harare. ranks of poor that austerity was a multipurpose German- sition party called off “We will continue to mobi- measures and reforms can trig- owned ship that fl ew the fl ag of Zplanned anti-government lise but what you are going to ger a recovery. Antigua and Barbuda. demonstrations yesterday, say- see is a mutation of our strategy Zimbabweans had also ex- ing it aimed to avert bloodshed because when you are facing pected an election last year to after police rounded up its fol- a confrontational regime you help usher in a new dawn of ex- lowers and dispersed them with must also use tactics that are panded rights and an end to the batons and water cannon. going to be above them,” he said, country’s international pariah The Movement for Demo- without elaborating. status, but so far society has 32 missing cratic Change, which accuses Police said in a statement that only become more polarised. President Emmerson Mnan- 91 people were arrested for vari- In January, more than a dozen gagwa’s government of re- ous off ences. “The police is fi rm people died during a crackdown after boat pression and economic mis- on the ground to ensure that law in Harare against fuel demon- management, had called a and order is maintained,” the strations. In the days before demonstration for yesterday as statement read. yesterday’s planned demon- sinks the start of a nationwide protest Outside the court that re- stration, six political activ- movement. jected the appeal to lift the ban ists were abducted from their But police announced on on protesting, MDC Vice Presi- homes at night and beaten by AFP Thursday that the protest would dent Tendai Biti said: “The con- Zimbabwean anti-riot police patrol the streets of Harare, yesterday. armed men, rights groups said. Bukavu be banned, and an MDC court stitution guarantees the right to Yesterday, police and soldiers appeal to have the ban lifted demonstration... power cuts and shortages of US tions imposed by the West more the UN human rights commis- searched buses, taxis and pri- failed. yet this fascist regime has de- dollars, fuel and bread — bring- than a decade ago as well as a sioner urged the government to vate vehicles at checkpoints and hirty-two people are Police patrolled the usually nied and proscribed this right.” ing back memories of the hy- drought this year. engage with citizens on legiti- demanded identity documents. missing, feared dead, af- bustling city centre in lorries “We have jumped from the perinfl ation of a decade ago that He also said Chamisa had re- mate economic grievances and One woman was taken to Tter a boat carrying more and on foot, fi ring tear gas to frying pan into the fi re after the forced Zimbabwe to ditch its jected his invitation to talks. “stop cracking down on peace- hospital with a deep gash on than 70 passengers capsized disperse any groups that at- (anti-Mugabe) coup of Novem- currency. The MDC leader has said he sit ful protesters.” her head after police charged at on Lake Kivu in the east of the tempted to gather as most shops ber 2017...We don’t accept the In a letter to church lead- down only if there is a neutral ar- The demonstrations are MDC supporters. Democratic Republic of Congo, and business shut. conduct of this regime, the con- ers published yesterday in the biter. “The doors of national dia- viewed as a test of Mnangagwa’s “We are tired, enough is offi cials said yesterday. Around 100 MDC supporters duct of Mr Mnangagwa.” state-owned Herald newspaper, logue are still open to all political willingness to tolerate dissent enough,” MDC member Pa- Initial reports after the mo- who gathered early were chased Anger is mounting over Mnangagwa said the economic leaders,” Mnangagwa said. in a country tainted by a long tience Gurure said moments be- torised piroque — a large canoe by baton-wielding offi cers triple-digit infl ation, rolling hardship had its roots in sanc- In Geneva, a spokesman for history of repression under fore police dispersed her group. — sank Thursday evening “indi- cate that 46 people were rescued and 32 are missing,” local au- thorities in the province of South Kivu said in a statement. It did not give a death toll but Ebola spread to new Congo area Cleric returns to Nigeria said each aff ected family had been given money to organise “funeral arrangements worthy after medical row of our drowned countrymen.” shows fl awed response: aid workers “Overloading was the main cause of the capsize,” local head AFP doctors and was kept under close Christian Chiringwi in Luhihi Thomson Reuters Foundation Abuja guard. said. Dakar On Thursday Zakzaky said he In the neighbouring province and his wife were told to leave of Tanganyika meanwhile a sim- eader Ibrahim Zakzaky, India. ilar accident late Thursday left bola’s spread to a new part of Demo- who was granted permis- The Nigerian authorities had two people dead, local offi cials cratic Republic of Congo is a dis- Lsion to travel to India for said Zakzaky would still stand said. Eturbing sign that health workers are medical care after years in de- trial on his return from India. Such incidents occur regu- failing to keep track of high-risk people on tention, returned to Nigeria yes- Fears about the health of the larly in DR Congo, with poorly the move, aid agencies said yesterday. terday following a row over his cleric, in his mid-sixties, had built and maintained boats of- A woman and her child were confi rmed treatment, his supporters said. fuelled near daily protests by his ten overloaded with people and to be the fi rst two Ebola cases in Congo’s Zakzaky, founder of the Is- followers in Abuja that descend- cargo while safety equipment is South Kivu province this week, after trav- lamic Movement in Nigeria ed into bloodshed after a crack- minimal. elling more than 700 kilometres south (IMN), and his wife Zeenah Ib- down by security forces. from where they likely caught the disease, rahim were “whisked away by His lawyers say he has lost according to offi cials. security agents” to avoid waiting sight in one eye, is on the verge of The outbreak had previously been con- media after touching down at going blind in the other and has Boy stages own tained to North Kivu and Ituri provinces, the airport in the capital Abuja, blood poisoning caused by bul- kidnap, demands with a few cases in neighbouring Uganda. group member Abdurrahman let fragments lodged in his body father pay ransom Ebola has killed at least 1,900 people in Abubakar said. from the 2015 violence. the past year, the biggest toll after 11,300 There was no offi cial comment In a statement released after A 15-year-old Nigerian boy has died in West Africa in 2014-2016. from the Nigerian authorities on Zakzaky’s return the IMN said it been arrested for demanding The 24-year-old woman had been iden- the couple’s whereabouts. would “continue its struggle to a ransom from his father after tifi ed as a high-risk contact of an Ebola A recent photo shows the Congolese government’s Ebola response co-ordinator, The cleric had been in custody ensure that our leader gets the staging his own kidnap with patient in the city of Beni last month, but Jean-Jacques Muyembe, and Pierre Kangudia, Minister of State for Budget and Interim in Nigeria along with his wife appropriate medical treatment his friends in central city of Jos, travelled with her children by bus, boat Health Minister, visiting the new MSF (Doctors Without Borders) Ebola treatment since December 2015 after they he deserves”.At least eight peo- police said yesterday. and road for hundreds of miles before she centre in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. were arrested during violence in ple, including six protesters, a The teenager and four accom- died on Tuesday night. which the army killed some 350 senior police offi cer and a trainee plices aged between 15 and 22, “This highlights a disturbing trend of may be a cure as two experimental drugs ris said. The response has been hampered of his followers and buried many journalist, were killed during were apprehended by police cases originating from current hotspots were found to boost survival rates. by militia violence causing people to fl ee in mass graves. clashes on July 22. last week, after demanding a which then leave the area and, despite But stopping the outbreak still depends and by mistrust of health workers, which The couple fl ew to India on The IMN said 20 of its mem- 500,000 naira (1,250 euros) ran- the control measures in place along the on tracing and monitoring people who has driven patients to hide symptoms and Monday after a court gave them bers were shot dead. The Nige- som from his distressed father. corridor, are not detected,” said Whitney might have been exposed to the disease to avoid detection. permission to travel abroad for rian government offi cially out- “It was staged perfectly”, Plateau Elmer, country director for charity Mercy prevent is spreading further, health work- South Kivu presents similar challenges medical treatment under Ni- lawed the group late last month State police chief Terna Tyopev Corps.“It is very concerning, especially ers said. to North Kivu in terms of insecurity and gerian government supervision in a move that sparked fears of a said. given the eff orts over the last few months “This is very indicative of one of the confl ict, said Jamie LeSueur, Ebola Re- following a spate of bloody pro- harsher clampdown. “We are detaining them to ascer- to scale up the response,” she told the challenges we face, which is that people are sponse Operations Manager for the Inter- tests by IMN supporters. A court in 2016 ordered Za- tain why they did it and whether Thomson Reuters Foundation. so mobile,” said Margaret Harris, a spokes- national Federation of Red Cross and Red But the medical care was held kzaky and his wife be released they have been behind other Ebola causes vomiting, bleeding and di- woman for the World Health Organization Crescent Societies (IFRC). up by a row over the conditions — but the authorities ignored kidnaps that have been occur- arrhoea and spreads via contact with bod- (WHO). WHO deployed a rapid-response “This is a stark reminder that we are still for the treatment as the IMN the demand and fi led charges ring in the area,” he said. ily fl uids of the infected. team and plans to vaccinate everyone in far from containing and ending Ebola in complained its leader had been including homicide against the A breakthrough this week showed there the village where the woman died, Har- DR Congo,” LeSueur said. denied access to his preferred cleric. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 5 AMERICAS

Court deals partial setback to Trump Abandoned pots cook rule to cut asylum

Reuters could provide an incentive for Washington more asylum-seekers to cross the US border in California and up havoc in New York Arizona, as opposed to Texas US appeals court has and New Mexico. AFP/Reuters/DPA dealt a setback to the The Justice Department de- New York ATrump administration clined to comment yesterday, attempt to bar almost all asy- and the Department of Home- lum applications at the US- land Security did not immedi- ew York went on alert Mexico border, but stopped ately respond to a request for for two hours yesterday short of applying its decision comment. Nduring the morning rush nationwide. The Trump administration hour because of three suspicious While ruling against a pro- has said it needs to curtail asy- objects that turned out to be vision of President Donald lum cases because the vast ma- empty rice cookers. Trump’s hardline anti-im- jority are ultimately found to be Police said the alarm was fi rst migration policy, the 9th US without merit. sounded in Manhattan around Circuit Court of Appeals said Opponents counter that it 7am (1100 GMT) when a passen- the decision would only apply is unrealistic to expect peo- ger saw a cooker abandoned at to the nine Western states that ple fl eeing persecution to seek the Fulton Street subway station make up the 9th Circuit, only asylum in ill-equipped coun- near the World Trade Centre – a two of which – California and tries they may have travelled neighbourhood rebuilt after the Arizona – are on the southern through on their way to the September 11 attacks in 2001. border. United States, such as Mexico A second rice cooker was That left open the possibility or Guatemala. found in another part of the same This NYPD image shows the individual being sought by police for that the sweeping ban, which In yesterday’s other legal de- station. questioning. requires most asylum-seekers velopment, four states led by The station was quickly evacu- to fi rst seek safe haven in a third California plus the District of ated, service on two subway lines religious extremist causes, was found at Fulton Street. country, could be applied in the Columbia sued the Trump ad- was suspended and trains on sentenced to life in prison over Miller said he did not know if border states of Texas and New ministration over its attempt to other lines serving Fulton Street that incident. the third cooker was linked to the Mexico. curtail legal immigration. bypassed the station. He had actually placed three fi rst two, although they were all The appellate court ruling At the same time, a coalition As police announced the ob- bombs that day but only one the same model. came on the same day Califor- of immigrant advocacy groups jects turned out to be harmless, went off . Governor Andrew Cuomo said nia and other states, as well as fi led a similar suit. a third suspicious object was de- Surveillance video shows a during an interview on CBS 880: a coalition of advocacy groups, Both lawsuits were fi led in tected on 16th Street in the Chel- dark-haired man in his 20s or 30s “It turned out to be nothing, but, fi led lawsuits to stop a separate US District Court in San Fran- sea district further to the north. with a shopping cart placing the look, this is a frightening world Trump initiative to reduce legal cisco. It, too, turned out to be a rice devices at two locations inside we live in. All of these situations immigration by denying visas The two new cases mirrored cooker, said John Miller, the New the busy downtown Fulton Street have to be taken seriously be- This picture released by the NYPD shows one of the suspicious to poor migrants. two legal challenges fi led ear- York Police Department’s deputy subway station, said Miller. cause, God forbid, one day, it’s devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. The fl urry of legal activity is lier this week by 13 states and commissioner for intelligence “Because of the timing and the not.” attempting to halt major policy two local California jurisdic- and counter-terrorism. placement and items we’re car- “Unfortunately we learned the hattan, killing eight people and ing three people slightly injured. moves by the Trump adminis- tions. It was in Chelsea that a pres- rying this right now as a hoax de- hard way after 9/11 and we are injuring 12. He was found guilty of terror- tration to crack down on immi- All are challenging a Trump sure cooker containing a home- vice,” Miller told reporters at the prepared,” Cuomo said. His trial is scheduled for April ism-related off ences and will be gration, an issue central to the administration rule that would made explosive device detonated scene. “That’s the investigative Since the attack by Rahimi, the of next year. sentenced on September 10. Republican president’s politi- deny or revoke visas for legal in September 2016, injuring 31 category.” US fi nancial capital has been hit If convicted, Saipov could face Pressure cookers were turned cal fortunes. immigrants who might become people and triggering panic in a The unidentifi ed man is “not by two other attacks. the death penalty. into bombs by a pair of ethnic One of the Trump adminis- a public charge because they city that had not endured an at- a suspect but certainly someone In October 2017, an Uzbek man In December 2017, a Bangla- Chechen brothers when they tration’s main objectives has fail to make enough money, or tack since 9/11. we’d want to interview”, he said. named Sayfullo Saipov used a deshi immigrant named Akayed killed three people and injured been to reduce the number of because they receive – or might Ahmad Rahimi, an Afghan- Police posted two photographs truck to run over bikers and pe- Ullah set off a bomb in a subway more than 200 at the 2013 Boston asylum claims by mostly Cen- in the future receive – public born man who sympathised with on social media of the cookers destrians on a bike path in Man- tunnel near Times Square, leav- Marathon. tral American migrants who assistance such as welfare, food have crossed the US-Mexico stamps or public housing. border in record numbers dur- Some experts say the rule ing his presidency. could cut legal immigration in Pokemon goals His July 15 rule promptly half. drew legal challenges, includ- California Governor Gavin Two more women ing from a coalition of groups Newsom and Attorney-Gen- led by the American Civil Lib- eral Xavier Becerra announced erties Union (ACLU). the lawsuit in a news confer- sue Epstein’s estate On July 24, US District Judge ence, calling it illegal in part for Jon Tigar in San Francisco is- violating the equal protection sued a preliminary injunction guarantee of the Fifth Amend- Reuters blocking it from taking eff ect. ment of the US Constitution New York The government appealed by disproportionately blocking Tigar’s decision. non-white and non-European In yesterday’s ruling a three- immigrants. wo women who said judge panel found that the “As a son of immigrants, I they were recruited 15 Trump administration had will tell you this Trump rule, Tyears ago to provide failed to comply with portions the way it targets and attacks massages to Jeff rey Epstein, of the law that governs rule- immigrants, it is personal,” only to be later molested by making. Becerra said. “As the attorney- him at his Manhattan mansion, “The court properly refused general of the state of Cali- have fi led a $100mn lawsuit to let the new asylum ban go fornia, I will tell you that this against the fi nancier’s estate. into eff ect, though currently Trump rule is unlawful.” The lawsuit fi led on Thurs- limited to the Ninth Circuit. The advocacy groups in their day night in US District Court We will continue fi ghting to complaint said that the Trump in Manhattan is at least the end the ban entirely,” ACLU administration was “deter- second against the estate over She did not immediately re- attorney Lee Gelernt said in a mined to prevent immigrants A visitor looks at trophies on display yesterday during the first day of the 2019 Pokemon World Epstein’s alleged misconduct, spond yesterday to a request statement. of colour from coming to and Championships, at the Washington Convention Centre, in Washington, DC. following his August 10 death for comment. In the meantime, the ruling remaining in the United States”. at age 66 of an apparent sui- According to the complaint, cide. Roe off ered the plaintiff s hun- Lawyers who represented dreds of dollars each to mas- Epstein (pictured) did not im- sage Epstein at his Manhattan mediately respond yesterday to mansion. requests for comment. The complaint said Roe told Poll: Shootings have changed how 24% US adults live The plaintiff s, identifi ed as Jane Doe 1 that her “boss” Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, said thought Jane Doe 1 was beauti- they now live in Okinawa, Ja- ful and liked to give young girls DPA shaking,” she said. “Bullets have or events”, according to the non- by 25% of blacks/African Ameri- spondents said they strongly or pan and Baltimore. “opportunities”, and that Roe Philadelphia no name on them.” profi t American Psychological cans, and 15% of non-Hispanic somewhat agreed. Prior to his death, Epstein “intimated” to Jane Doe 2 that But mass shootings in the Association, which commis- whites. And 32% said they agreed had pleaded not guilty in July there might be opportunities United States are causing stress sioned the poll in the wake of the “We don’t have to experience strongly or somewhat with the to charges of sex traffi cking to make more money. t is no surprise that Tif- and behavioural changes for mil- shootings in El Paso, Texas, and these events directly for them to statement “I can’t go anywhere involving dozens of underage Both plaintiff s said that de- fany Burris was distraught on lions who are not directly im- Dayton, Ohio. aff ect us,” said Arthur C Evans Jr, without worrying about being a girls from 2002 and 2005. spite Roe’s assurances that Ep- IWednesday. pacted, suggests a national sur- One in fi ve adults said they chief executive offi cer of the psy- victim of a mass shooting”. Prosecutors said he recruited stein would not subject them Her three-year-old son, vey conducted just days before “often” or “constantly” experi- chology organisation and a past The online survey was con- and paid girls to give him mas- to unwanted touching, his Tyaan, was among those con- six offi cers were shot in North enced stress from the possibility commissioner of Philadelphia’s ducted on behalf of the psycho- sages, which became sexual in conduct became “aggressive” fi ned to the Precious Babies day- Philadelphia. of a mass shooting, though the Department of Behavioural logical association by the Harris nature. during the massages. care centre in North Philadelphia One in three adults said they responses varied by race or eth- Health and Intellectual Disability Poll between August 8 and 12. Attorney-General William The plaintiff s said they were for hours while a gunman was agreed “strongly” or “some- nic group. Services. Responses from the 2,017 par- Barr said the US government unaware they were victims of locked in a stand-off with police what” with the statement “Fear The proportion that reported Asked if they allowed fear of ticipants were weighted to match will continue its investigation Epstein’s alleged sex-traffi ck- nearby. of a mass shooting prevents me such stress was highest among a mass shooting to change how the demographic traits of the na- into any possible co-conspir- ing scheme until last month “I couldn’t stop crying and from going to certain places and/ Hispanic adults, at 32%, followed they lived, 24% of survey re- tion as a whole. ators. when he was arrested. Epstein’s death deprived Bloom said more plaintiff s his alleged victims of a chance will likely join the case. Canada awards multi-billion contract to face him at a criminal trial, On Wednesday, Jennifer leaving civil lawsuits against Araoz, 32, sued Epstein’s es- Canada announced yesterday a multi-billion dollar contract his estate among their legal tate in a New York state court with General Dynamics Corporation for equipment that will be Celebrities issue plea against hate options. in Manhattan, saying Epstein manufactured in a region where the ruling Liberals need to do well It is not known if Epstein sexually abused her when she in an October election. had a will. was 14. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Ottawa would buy 360 light Reuters barrage of attacks on our com- and justice,” the letter said. His lawyers last month es- That lawsuit was made pos- armoured vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems Canada in Los Angeles munity, you are not alone,” said It called on allies of the Latino timated his assets at about sible under the Child Victims a deal worth up to C$3bn ($2.26bn). the letter, addressed to the Que- community to “speak out loudly $559mn, including two pri- Act, a New York state law that It is also off ering the firm a repayable loan of C$650mn. rida Familia Latina (Dear Latino against hate, to contribute your vate islands and four homes, opened a one-year window to The vehicles will be built in London, in the province of Ontario. ctresses Eva Longoria, Family) and published in the New resources to organisations that and said his mansion on Man- sue over alleged sexual abuse, The Liberals hold most of Ontario’s seats in the House of Commons America Ferrara and more York Times, La Opinion and other support our community, and to hattan’s Upper East Side was regardless of when it occurred. and need to retain them to stand any chance of holding onto power Athan 200 other Latino newspapers. hold our leaders accountable”. alone worth $77mn. Thursday’s lawsuit, in con- in the October 21 election. artists and civil rights leaders The letter followed a shooting Former Desperate Housewives Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 trast, accused Epstein, Sue penned a letter of support yes- in the predominantly Latino bor- star Longoria said in a statement said they were aspiring mod- Roe and other unnamed al- terday to the Latino community der city of El Paso, Texas on Au- that the US is facing “a moral els working at a restaurant off leged accomplices of violating Canadian city falls for phishing scam in the United States after a mass gust 3 that killed 22 people and crisis ... and we chose to use this Manhattan’s Union Square the federal Traffi cking Victims shooting in Texas and immigra- is believed to have been racially- moment to raise our voices and when they were approached Protection Act. The city of Saskatoon in Canada’s western prairies has lost more tion raids in Mississippi. motivated, as well as the arrest of speak up”. in June 2004 by an unnamed An autopsy of Epstein found than C$1mn to a fraudster posing as a construction executive, in the Musicians Jennifer Lopez, 680 people in immigration raids The letter was signed by many female “recruiter”, identifi ed that his neck had been broken latest online phishing scam to plague one of the country’s cities. Ricky Martin and Lin-Manuel last week on seven agricultural of the leading Latino voices and as Sue Roe, who worked for in several places, two law en- The fraudster impersonated the chief financial off icer of a local Miranda gave their backing to processing plants in Mississippi. activists in United States, in- Epstein. forcement sources said. construction company to advise the city of a change in banking the letter, which called on those “We will not be broken. We will cluding veteran labour leader Lisa Bloom, the plaintiff s’ Epstein had been alone in his information in an e-mail, the local government said in a statement. outside the Latino community to not be silenced. We will continue Dolores Huerta, novelist Sandra lawyer, said in a statement that cell when he was found hang- The city then deposited C$1.04mn ($780,000) into the fake account. “speak out loudly against hate”. to denounce any hateful and in- Cisneros, and Voto Latino politi- her clients were 18 and 20 years ing there. Police are investigating the fraud, which was discovered earlier this “If you are feeling terrifi ed, humane treatment of our com- cal group president Maria Teresa old at the time, without saying He had previously been on week. heartbroken and defeated by the munity. We will demand dignity Kumar. which was which. suicide watch. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, August 17, 2019 ASIA

At least fi ve killed in Dhaka mulls fresh bid Myanmar rebel raids DPA Local media have reported un- Yangon offi cial death tolls of at least 15. The targets, which included the Defence Services Tech- t least fi ve people have nology Academy, a prominent been killed in a series military training school in the to repatriate Rohingya Aof co-ordinated attacks town of Pyin Oo Lwin, mark by ethnic minority militias an unprecedented escalation AFP volunteered to return to Myan- Dhaka later forwarded the list anonymity that the possible re- Myanmar has till now de- on military and government in the confl ict between the Dhaka mar, where the group has faced to the UN’s refugee agency seek- patriation has been slated for nied the minority citizenship installations across northern three insurgent groups and the decades of repression. ing its assistance to survey the August 22. and refers to them as “Benga- Myanmar, state media an- Myanmar government. A previous attempt in No- refugees’ “intentions regarding However, Rohingya commu- lis” - inferring that the Rohingya nounced yesterday. “I am always very hesitant to angladesh and Myanmar vember 2018 to return 2,260 repatriation”. nity leaders expressed “grave are illegal immigrants from Two civilians and three po- suggest confl ict events in Myan- are considering a fresh Rohingya on a repatriation list Kimberley Phillips, the UN- concern” saying they were not Bangladesh. lice offi cers were killed when the mar are game-changers or even Battempt next week to re- fell fl at, with those earmarked to HCR spokeswoman in Yangon, aware of any repatriation plan. The massive camps in south- combined forces of three rebel escalations in what is predomi- patriate a few of the hundreds of return refusing to leave without said they would “meet with They said no refugees would east Bangladesh have sparked groups - the Ta’ang National nantly a cycle that has changed thousands of Rohingya refugees guarantees for their safety. those who express an interest return without confi rmation tensions between the neigh- Liberation Army (TNLA), Ar- little since the late 1980s. But eth- who fl ed a military crackdown The mooted new push follows in returning - in a confi den- of their preconditions - safety, bours, with Bangladesh blam- akan Army (AA), and the Myan- nic armed organizations bringing two years ago, Dhaka offi cials a visit last month to hill camps tial setting - to confi rm that security and citizenship. ing Myanmar for delays in mar National Democratic Alli- the fi ght to Pyin Oo Lwin is new,” said yesterday. that are home to the Rohingya by voluntariness”. Mohib Ullah, a top commu- repatriating the refugees. ance Army (MNDAA) - attacked independent researcher Kim Some 740,000 Rohingya fl ed high-ranking offi cials from My- Top Bangladeshi foreign nity leader, said nobody shared Dhaka said it would not force fi ve targets across Mandalay Joliff e said on Twitter. to Bangladesh in August 2017 anmar led by Permanent Foreign ministry offi cial Delowar Hos- any information about the any Rohingya to leave while region and Shan state with artil- TNLA spokesperson Brigadier from a military off ensive in My- Secretary Myint Thu. sain said there were “possibili- repatriation attempt. Myanmar has faced interna- lery and small arms on Thurs- General Tar Phone Kyaw told The anmar that the United Nations Bangladesh’s foreign ministry ties” for the repatriation of the “We don’t know what is tional pressure to allow the refu- day morning, according to the Irrawaddy news site that the at- likened to ethnic cleansing, has forwarded a list of more than cleared individuals within a few happening... We will only gees to return and grant them Global New Light of Myanmar tacks were a response to Myan- joining 200,000 already there. 22,000 refugees to Myanmar days. “However we cannot con- repatriate through dia- citizenship rights. newspaper. mar military off ensives against The two nations signed a re- for verifi cation and Naypyidaw fi rm anything yet,” he said. logues (about the precondi- The UN complained the The state-run paper also the Arakan Army in Rakhine patriation deal later that year cleared 3,450 individuals for Another top offi cial from the tions). Without dialogues, no progress to address the refugee said 10 civilians and two police state, which have displaced more but virtually no Rohingya have “return”. ministry said on condition of repatriation,” he said. crisis has been far too slow. offi cers were wounded. than 30,000 civilians. Vietnam calls on Dancing at festival China to remove ship from its zone Reuters Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Pompeo has criticised Chi- Hanoi Thu Hang said in a statement. nese “coercion” in the dis- At least fi ve Chinese coast puted South China Sea, while guard ships were escorting the Beijing’s top diplomat, Wang ietnam has demanded survey vessel, and at least two Yi, said last month that mari- that China remove an Vietnamese navy vessels were time problems involving Viet- Voil survey vessel and following the group of Chinese nam should not interfere with its escorts from the South- ships as of late Friday, accord- two-way ties. east Asian country’s exclu- ing to data from Marine Traf- After the Haiyang Dizhi 8 sive economic zone, amid a fi c, a website that tracks vessel left Vietnam’s EEZ on August 7, month-long standoff in wa- movements. the survey ship docked at Fiery ters seen as a potential glo- The Haiyang Dizhi 8 fi rst en- Cross Reef, a man-made island bal fl ashpoint as the United tered the zone under Chinese controlled by China and built States challenges Beijing’s coast guard escort in July and on a disputed South China Sea maritime claims. appeared to conduct a seismic reef claimed by Vietnam and Reuters fi rst reported on survey of waters there. the Philippines. Tuesday that the Haiyang The latest impasse has Hang said in her Friday Dizhi 8, conducted by the fuelled anti-Chinese senti- statement that Vietnam is de- China Geological Survey, had ment in Vietnam, where pre- termined to protect its legiti- returned to the area escorted vious tension between Beijing mate and legal interests in the by at least two Chinese coast and Hanoi over the disputed area. guard vessels. waters has triggered protests. “Vietnamese authorities “Vietnam has made contact Last week, police broke up continue to take measures to with China to protest its re- a brief protest outside China’s exercise sovereignty, sovereign peated violations and demand- embassy in Hanoi against the rights and jurisdiction in ac- ed that China withdraw the operations of the survey vessel cordance with Vietnamese law People in traditional attire dance during a parade to mark Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Bhaktapur, near vessel group from Vietnamese and its escorts. and international law,” Hang Kathmandu, yesterday. waters,” Vietnam’s Foreign US Secretary of State Mike said. Lanka launches probe into Sri Lanka Thai anti-graft may waive elephant cruelty at parade visa fee for offi cial accused

AFP 48 nations Colombo IANS of amassing Colombo ri Lanka yesterday ordered an inves- tigation following the collapse of a Sskeletal 70-year-old elephant after ue to an increase in the being forced to parade at a high-profi le pag- number of tourists visit- eant popular with local and foreign tourists. Ding Sri Lanka with arrivals assets abroad Tourism and Wildlife Minister John Am- expected to hit the 3mn mark by aratunga said he ordered wildlife authori- the end of the year, the govern- AFP was holding the apartment for ties to investigate how the elephant, known ment announced yesterday that Bangkok other people. as Tikiri, was forced to take part in a lengthy it might waive the entry visa fee The case had raised public parade despite her failing health. of 48 countries, including concerns and risked further Animal-lovers slammed the authorities for ndia, indefi nitely. top anti-corruption damaging the reputation of deploying the aged animal at the annual Esala Wildlife and Christian Re- offi cial in Thailand anti-corruption investiga- pageant wearing elaborate clothing at a night Iligious Aff airs Minister John Ahas been accused tors in the country, said Su- festival watched by tens of thousands in the Amaratunga said that last year of concealing millions of nai Phasuk of Human Rights central city of Kandy earlier in the week. Sri Lanka attracted more than dollars in assets including Watch. After a howl of protests over social me- 2.3mn tourists and had set a tar- an upscale London apart- Many in Thailand’s up- dia, festival organisers withdrew the aged get of over 3mn tourists this year, ment, according to the per ranks of power are animal from the grand fi nale on Wednesday. but arrivals had declined since agency tasked with tack- dogged by some history “I have been informed that the elephant the Easter day suicide attacks on ling endemic graft in the of graft, fuelled by tainted collapsed yesterday,” the minister said in a April 21, Xinhua news agency kingdom. offi cials, underground ma- statement. reported. National Anti-Corruption fi as and shady patronage “Considering what has transpired, I have “But now, tourist arrivals have Commission deputy secretary networks. ordered offi cials to initiate an inquiry and as- picked up again after the attacks, Prayat Puangjumpa amassed Thailand’s civilian pre- certain how and why an elephant in such poor and we may see arrivals hit the several undeclared assets in mier and former junta lead- health was used in the (pageant) and to take 3mn mark this year,” the minister his wife’s name, among them er Prayut Chan-o-cha has necessary action against those responsible.” said. a $6.9mn apartment in the vowed to stamp out corrup- The minister said he had also instructed Amaratunga added that the British capital’s Kensington tion, but critics say that ac- wildlife authorities to ensure there was no sudden surge in tourist arrivals neighbourhood, the agency cusations and prosecutions repetition of such cruel treatment to some was partly due to waiving the en- said. are often fuelled by political 200 elephants in captivity and routinely Elephant Tikiri, 70, stands at the Temple of the Tooth in the central city of Kandy, where she try visa fee for the 48 countries. “He intended not to dis- infi ghting. paraded at Buddhist festivals. was brought to attend an annual pageant. Sri Lanka implemented this close six items belonging Prayut’s own adminis- Elephants are considered scared in Sri policy from August 1 and it will to his wife,” NACC spokes- tration was tarnished in Lanka and protected as an endangered spe- to a sanctuary where she could live and be Lek Chailert, the founder of the Save El- last for six months. man Worawit Sukboon late 2017 when his dep- cies, but there are reports of cruelty to many treated by veterinarians. ephant Foundation, said on social media However, Amaratunga said if said. uty Prawit Wongsuwan, animals who have been domesticated. Offi cials of the Temple of the Tooth - that spectators did not realise how weak more tourists arrive in the coun- The remaining assets were dubbed the “Rolex General”, A number of rich Sri Lankans keep ele- which organised the Esala festival in Kandy Tikiri was because she was covered in an try, the government might waive worth a total of $400,000, came under fi re for a luxury phants as pets, but there have been numer- - said Tikiri was not a temple elephant, but elaborate costume. the entry visa fee for these 48 according to a nine-month watch collection worth an ous complaints of ill treatment and cruelty. they withdrew her from Wednesday’s fi nale “No one sees her bony body or her weak- countries indefi nitely. investigation by the commis- estimated $1.2mn. “Many more elephants in Sri Lanka are suf- which involved dozens of other jumbos. ened condition, because of her costume,” Through the free of charge sion, which said it will ask The NACC dismissed the fering similar or worse treatment in service to Asian elephant expert Jayantha Jayewardene Chailert said. “No one sees the tears in her entry visa policy, travellers from the attorney general to indict case in last December, cit- an exploitative and abusive tourism industry,” described the animal’s treatment as inhumane. eyes, injured by the bright lights that deco- the listed countries will be issued Prayat. ing “no grounds” for cor- said People for the Ethical Treatment of Ani- “Owners parade their elephants to gain merit rate her mask, no one sees her diffi culty to a free 30-day visa and if anyone Prayat told local media the ruption as the watches were mals senior vice president Jason Baker. for themselves and not for the animal. This step as her legs are short shackled while she needs an extension, they will be charges were a misunder- lent to Prawit by a wealthy Peta off ered to transfer the ailing Tikiri should never have been allowed,” he said. walks,” Chailert added. required to make a payment. standing and that his wife businessman. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Imperilled by climate change, Pacifi c nations chide Australia

Reuters their meeting in Funafuti, the a nation that risks disappearing it clear that Australian Prime Prime Minister Samiuela Pohiva mining, an important sector of ington and Canberra has caused Funafuti, Tuvalu capital of Tuvalu, with a commu- to the seas, but unfortunately, we Minister Scott Morrison, whose cried during 12 hours of talks. its economy. The Western allies concern. Other countries, aside nique that lacked any commit- settled for the status quo in our strong backing of a controversial An emotive and existential have been the dominant diplo- from Australia, had some con- ment to the policies it endorsed. communique,” Fiji Prime Min- new coal mine was a key factor in issue for the Pacifi c, climate matic player in the Pacifi c since cerns over the communique. mall Pacifi c islands na- The fi nal document encour- ister Frank Bainimarama said on his recent election victory, was change could reshape diplomatic the end of World War II, but in On her return to New Zealand tions at risk from rising sea aged policies to limit tempera- Twitter. central to the dispute. relations in the region. recent years their sway has been yesterday, Prime Minister Jacin- Slevels lambasted Australia ture rises to no more than 1.5C “Watered-down climate lan- “I said to the Australian prime Prime Minister Jacinda Ar- challenged by China. da Ardern told reporters that she yesterday after it blocked moves above pre-industrial levels and guage has real consequences minister that ‘you are concerned den had said at the start of the China has channelled large had only agreed to the language at a regional forum to set down called for an immediate halt to – like water-logged homes, about your economy, I am con- meeting that Australia would amounts of loans and aid to the with qualifi cations as leaders tough policies to combat climate coal mining. schools, communities, and an- cerned the future of my people,’” have to answer to the Pacifi c for region and won favour with its were given insuffi cient time to change. But it also said member states cestral burial grounds.” Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele its climate change policy, which calls for stronger action to tackle consider the wording. Morrison Leaders of 18 countries in the could ignore any measures they After being unable fi nd a con- Sopoaga told reporters. opposes stronger environmen- climate change, while the scepti- said Australia’s stance would not Pacifi c Islands Forum concluded opposed. “We came together in sensus, host nation Tuvalu made Sopoaga also revealed Tonga’s tal action that would aff ect coal cism of the science from Wash- dent its standing in the region. N Korea launches missiles, derides Moon as ‘impudent’

Reuters The launches have complicated continue to seek working-level Seoul talks with North Korea but the attempts to restart talks between allies should also prepare new US and North Korean negotiators sanctions and renewed military orth Korea launched at cooperation if Pyongyang con- least two short-range over the future of Pyongyang’s tinues to violate United Nations Nballistic missiles yes- nuclear weapons and ballistic missile resolutions and threaten its terday, South Korea’s military neighbours, Easley said. said, shortly after Pyongyang programmes The South’s Moon said in a described South Korea’s presi- Liberation Day address it was dent as “impudent” and vowed tude of 30km, South Korea’s JCS for the Peaceful Reunifi cation only through his policy of Ko- that inter-Korean talks are over. said. of the Country said in a state- rean national peace that dia- The North has protested The launches have compli- ment carried by the offi cial logue with the North was still against joint US-South Korea cated attempts to restart talks KCNA news agency. The com- possible. military drills, largely compu- between US and North Korean mittee manages relationships “In spite of a series of wor- ter-simulated, which kicked negotiators over the future of with the South. The rival Koreas rying actions taken by North off last week, calling them a re- Pyongyang’s nuclear weap- are technically still at war after Korea recently, the momentum hearsal for war. It has also fi red ons and ballistic missile pro- the 1950-53 Korean War ended for dialogue remains unshaken,” several short-range missiles in grammes. with a truce rather than a peace Moon said in a speech marking Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo gives his state-of-the-nation address at a general assembly at recent weeks. Those denuclearisation talks treaty. Korea’s independence from Ja- parliament in Jakarta yesterday. North Korea fi red two more have been stalled despite a com- South Korea’s unifi cation pan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. The short-range projectiles into the mitment to revive them made at ministry called North Korea’s North’s spokesman described Indonesia president proposes to move capital to Borneo sea off its east coast yesterday a June 30 meeting between US comments about Moon “not in Moon as an “impudent guy” morning, South Korea’s Joint President Donald Trump and line” with inter-Korean agree- who is “overcome with fright”. Indonesia’s president yesterday coal mines, orangutans and and leaving rock and sediment to Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a North Korean leader Kim Jong- ments and unhelpful for devel- He said Moon had no stand- proposed to move the capital home to just over 16 million peo- pancake on top of each other. statement. un. oping relations between them. ing to talk about engagement from Jakarta, a crowded, polluted ple. Widodo toured Kalimantan in Moving the capital to a safer, less Japan’s defence ministry said Earlier yesterday, Pyongyang After an emergency meeting with the North because of the city of 10mn people, to the island May to survey potential sites and congested location would cost up it did not see any imminent se- rejected a vow by South Ko- of South Korea’s National Se- ongoing military manoeuvres. of Borneo, though he left Indo- last month tweeted a shortlist of to $33bn, according to planning curity threat from the latest rean President Moon Jae-in a curity Council held to discuss “His open talk about ‘dia- nesians guessing as to the exact three provinces: Central, East and minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. projectile launch. A US offi cial, day earlier to pursue talks with the launches, offi cials reiterated logue’ between the North and location. President Joko Widodo South Kalimantan. The price tag includes new speaking on condition of ano- the North and to unify the two that the joint drills are simply an the South under such a situation suggested a new capital in Kali- The new capital should tick sev- government off ices and homes nymity, said initial information Koreas by 2045. The loss of dia- opportunity to evaluate wheth- raises a question as to whether mantan, on the Indonesian side eral boxes, off icials say. It must for about 1.5mn civil servants indicated at least one projectile logue momentum between the er South Korea could eventually he has proper thinking faculty,” of the island shared with Malaysia be in the centre of Indonesia, an expected to pack up and start was fi red by North Korea and North and South and the stale- assume wartime control of the the spokesman said. and Brunei, in a speech to parlia- archipelago of more than 17,000 moving in 2024. appeared to be similar to the mate in implementing pledges allied forces on the peninsula. It was “senseless” to think ment, a day before the country’s islands that stretches some Indonesia is not the first South- short-range missiles fi red in made at an historic summit be- Moon and Kim have met that inter-Korean dialogue independence day holiday. 5,000km from its western to east Asian country to move its previous weeks. tween their two leaders last year three times since April last year, would resume once the military “I hereby request your permis- eastern tips. The risk of natural capital. In 2005, Myanmar’s Another offi cial said the was entirely the responsibil- pledging peace and co-opera- drills with the United States sion to move our national capital disasters should also be lower ruling generals moved abruptly United States was consulting ity of the South, a North Korean tion, but little progress has been were over, he said. to Kalimantan,” said Widodo, who than other parts of Indonesia to Naypyidaw, a town in remote with South Korea and Japan. spokesman said. made to improve dialogue and However, the spokesman left will be sworn in for a second term often hit by earthquakes, floods hills some 320km away from the An offi cial at Seoul’s defence The unidentifi ed spokesman strengthen exchanges and co- open the possibility of talks with in October after winning an elec- and volcanoes. colonial era capital, Yangon, and ministry said the latest test in- repeated criticism that the joint operation. the United States. tion in April. Jakarta is one of the world’s most the occasional mass protests that volved ballistic technology and US-South Korea drills were a “North Korea makes it ex- Trump and Kim have met “A capital city is not just a symbol densely populated cities, home erupted there. detailed analysis was under way sign of Seoul’s hostility towards ceedingly diffi cult to build trust twice since their fi rst summit of national identity, but also a to more than 10mn people and In the 1990s, Malaysian leader with the United States with the the North. when it interprets restraint as in Singapore last year and said representation of the progress three times that number when Mahathir Mohamad built an ad- possibility that the North fi red “We have nothing to talk any weakness and looks to exploit their countries would continue of the nation. This is for the counting those who live in sur- ministrative capital in Putrajaya, the same type of missiles it used more with the South Korean au- divisions within South Korea,” talks. However, little progress realisation of economic equality rounding towns. The city is prone about 33km from Kuala Lumpur, on August 10. The missiles were thorities nor have any idea to sit said Leif-Eric Easley, a profes- has been made on the North’s and justice,” he added. He did not to floods and sinking due to one of the mega-projects that launched shortly after 8am and with them again,” the North’s sor at Ewha University in Seoul. stated commitment to denu- give the exact site of the new city subsidence, caused by millions of helped to define his first stint in fl ew around 230km to an alti- spokesman for the Committee Seoul and Washington should clearise. in a region known for rain forests, residents using up groundwater power. HK protesters face crucial weekend test Cathay Pacifi c CEO resigns amid scrutiny AFP a major rally tomorrow, which is vowed to gather in Hung Hom Hong Kong being billed as a “rational, non- and To Kwa Wan – two har- violent” protest designed to bourside districts popular with Reuters sponsibility as leaders. Hogg’s show the movement still main- mainland Chinese tourists – Hong Kong resignation was fi rst announced ong Kong’s pro-democ- tains broad public support after despite police banning their by Chinese state television, racy movement faces a suff ering a setback earlier in the proposed marches. And while CCTV. It was unclear, however, if Hmajor test this weekend week. police have given permission for athay Pacifi c Airways said it would help revive the compa- as it tries to muster another huge On Tuesday, protesters protesters tomorrow to rally in a CEO Rupert Hogg has re- ny’s reputation on the mainland. crowd following criticism over blocked passengers from board- major park on Hong Kong island, Csigned in a surprise an- “The roots are rotten. It doesn’t an airport protest earlier this ing fl ights at the city’s airport they have forbidden demonstra- nouncement, amid mounting make a diff erence no matter who’s week – and as concerns mount and later assaulted two men they tors from marching through the Chinese regulatory scrutiny of leading the company,” a Chinese over Beijing’s next move. accused of being Chinese spies. city. the Hong Kong fl ag carrier over social media user said on the Ten weeks of protests have The shocking images damaged Previous bans in the last few the involvement of its employees Twitter-like Weibo platform in a plunged the international fi - a movement that until then had weeks have simply been ignored in the city’s protests. post liked more than 900 times. nance hub into crisis, with the largely only targeted the police by demonstrators, leading to Augustus Tang, the head of Cathay, which has been under communist-ruled mainland or government institutions, and running battles with riot police. Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering pressure from the Chinese avia- taking an increasingly hardline prompted some soul-searching Authorities say they have been Company – which like Cathay is tion regulator, said it was fully tone, including labelling the among protesters. compelled to ban recent rallies managed by Swire Pacifi c Ltd , committed to Hong Kong under more violent protester actions China’s propaganda appara- because of increasing violence will take over as the carrier’s new the principle of “One Country, “terrorist-like”. A pro-democracy protester holds a luminous sign as she attends a tus seized on the violence, with used by hardcore protesters, chief. Two Systems” and was confi dent Chinese state media have rally in Hong Kong yesterday. state media churning out a del- who have often targeted police The airline also said Paul Loo Hong Kong would have a great released images of military uge of damning articles, pictures stations alone their marching had resigned as chief customer future. personnel and armoured per- sophisticated approaches. “We are affl icted in every way, and videos. routes with bricks, slingshots and commercial offi cer, to be The airline, which is 30% sonnel carriers across the bor- It was a rare reference to the but not crushed ... our hopes for Tomorrow’s rally is being put and Molotov cocktails. replaced by the head of its low- owned by Air China, became em- der in Shenzhen, while the bloody events, which are taboo justice and freedom will never together by the Civil Human Hong Kong maintains cost arm Hong Kong Express, broiled in crosswinds between United States has warned Bei- in China. Hong Kong’s protests come to an end,” protester Brian Rights Front, a protest group freedoms unknown on the au- Ronald Lam. Cathay Chairman Beijing and pro-democracy jing against sending in troops, a were sparked by opposition to Leung, who fl ed Hong Kong af- that advocates non-violence thoritarian mainland under a John Slosar said recent events groups in the Asian fi nancial hub move many analysts say would a plan to allow extraditions to ter participating in a June oc- and was the driving force be- 50-year deal that came into ef- had called into question Cathay’s after some of its employees took be a reputational and economic the mainland, but have since cupation of the local legislature, hind record-breaking rallies in fect when the former colony was commitment to fl ight safety and part in the Hong Kong protests. disaster for China. morphed into a wider call for told the crowd in a recorded June and July that saw hundreds handed back to China by Britain security and put its reputation This week, Cathay terminated The nationalistic Global democratic rights in the semi- message. of thousands of people hit the in 1997. and brand under pressure. the employment of two pilots Times newspaper said there autonomous city. Millions of US President Donald Trump streets. Many Hong Kongers say those “This is regrettable as we have over their involvement in the would not be a repeat of the people have hit the streets while began speaking up about the “This coming Sunday should liberties are being eroded, yet always made safety and security protests, after being ordered by Tiananmen Square crackdown, clashes have broken out between unrest this week, suggesting any be another million-strong their demands to elect their our highest priority,” he said in a China’s aviation regulator to sus- in which hundreds – or even police and small groups of hard- potential trade deal with Beijing march. Hong Kong people can’t own leaders and halt sliding statement. “We therefore think it pend personnel who had engaged thousands – are believed to have core protesters. could be upended by a violent be defeated, Hong Kongers sol- freedoms have fallen on deaf is time to put a new management in illegal protests. been killed, if Beijing moves to Another weekend of demon- response from the mainland. dier on,” prominent pro-de- ears. The current protests are team in place who can reset confi - Cathay last week reported its quash the protests. “The inci- strations began yesterday when Speaking on Thursday, Trump mocracy lawmaker Claudia Mo the biggest threat to Beijing’s dence and lead the airline to new fi rst profi t for the January-June dent in Hong Kong won’t be a thousands gathered at a park in urged his Chinese counterpart wrote on Facebook. But the like- authority since the handover heights.” period since 2016 and said the repeat of the June 4th political the city’s Central district to call Xi Jinping to meet protesters and lihood of renewed clashes over and as violence has escalated, Hogg said these had been second half was likely to be better incident in 1989,” it said, insist- on other countries to impose solve the crisis “humanely”. Ac- the weekend remains high. party leaders have only hard- “challenging weeks” and it was despite a lower forward bookings ing the country now had more sanctions on public offi cials. tivists are now planning to hold Yesterday, activists have ened their tone. right for Loo and him to take re- due to local unrest. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, August 17, 2019 BRITAIN Dundee drug deaths report recommends radical change to services

Rigid and punitive treatment and become “ambitious” on be- tration of drug-related deaths in The report condemns the cur- with what will be a diffi cult task management to more preventa- northeast Scotland, who is based regime is failing to stem half of the people they work with. Scotland in 2017. rent system of treatment and over the coming months and tive work. There has to be a sense in Dundee, called on the Scot- record number of fatalities The Dundee Drugs Commis- The latest fi gures, released support in Dundee as “not fi t for years ahead”. of urgency from the city’s leader- tish government to collect data sion evaluation comes the day af- in July, were no better, with purpose”, recommending a new Calling for a new culture of ship. Dundee has a real opportu- on the numbers of problem drug By Libby Brooks ter alarming fi gures for England 53 deaths in 2018, the highest partnership between primary “openness, honesty, respect and nity to use these recommenda- users who were able to access the Guardian News & Media and Wales showed drug-related number recorded. care and the third sector that trust”, Peat said: “Every life is tions positively and implement treatment they needed. deaths had hit record levels, as Drug treatment services in would prioritise access, retention precious and every death mat- rapid change.” “The fact that there is no in- they have done across Scotland, Dundee have faced tough scru- and quality of care, with a “no ters. These are the thoughts that Barrie said the eff ect of weekly spection process for drugs serv- hard-hitting report on suggesting Britain is facing a tiny: drug users and support unplanned discharges” policy have guided our work.” deaths across the city had taken ices is a scandal. All National drug deaths in Dundee, public health emergency amid services have criticised the rigid, – meaning that addicts are not Nationally, the report also calls a devastating toll. “We need to Health Service (NHS) services Awhich has been named the cuts to treatment services. often punitive approach taken by thrown off their treatment be- for the Scottish government to recognise that these deaths aff ect should be subject to inspection, drug deaths capital of Europe, Experts say the solutions it the integrated substance misuse cause they miss an appointment consider regulation of treatment the whole community. With eve- not only for patient safety but is demanding a radical culture proposes are applicable across service at Constitution House, – and assertive outreach. services. ry loss the sense of hopelessness to ensure that we are providing change within treatment serv- the country. the city’s main source of pre- Robert Peat, chair of the com- Dave Barrie, service manager builds up. There’s still so much good services and public money ices. The independent commission scriptions, with staff not readily mission, called for collective for Addaction Dundee, wel- stigma around, and a feeling that is well spent. The Scottish gov- It calls on them to abandon was set up in spring 2018, after available, delays to prescriptions leadership across the city “to comed the report. some lives are dispensable.” ernment needs to rectify this im- their decades-long infl exibility the city had the greatest concen- and sub-optimal dosing. show the determination to stick “We need a shift from crisis Jenny Marra, Labour MSP for mediately.”

Another youth Veteran politicians asked held over Newcastle to lead anti-Brexit govt stabbing

Reuters them to lead an emergency gov- By Josh Halliday London ernment to get our country out Guardian News & Media of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a no deal, eteran British lawmakers then yes they are prepared to do etectives investigating from the ruling Conserv- that.” the murder of a lawyer Vative and opposition La- Clarke is the longest-serving Dwho was stabbed with a bour parties have both said that member of parliament and held screwdriver have arrested an- they would be willing to lead an senior cabinet positions under other youth. emergency government to halt a Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Peter Duncan, 52, sustained a no-deal Brexit, the leader of the and David Cameron. fatal chest wound after becom- pro-EU Liberal Democrats said Harman is parliament’s long- ing involved in what police de- yesterday. est-serving woman and was scribed as a chance encounter. The suggestion that either briefl y Labour’s acting leader Northumbria police arrested Conservative Ken Clarke or La- before Corbyn took charge. seven boys aged 14 to 17 on sus- bour’s Harriet Harman – parlia- Clarke later confi rmed that picion of murder. ment’s longest-serving man and he would be willing to serve as Four of them, two aged 15 and woman – could take charge was a temporary prime minister to two aged 17, have been released the latest sign that one group of block a no-deal Brexit. with no further action taken, foes of an abrupt exit from the Corbyn: We’re ready to serve. “If it was the only way in Swinson: (Clarke and Harman) put public duty first and they don’t and the 14-year-old has been re- EU is joining forces to unseat which the plain majority of the want to see a no-deal Brexit. leased under investigation. Boris Johnson to stop it. majority of just a single seat in Anti-Brexit politicians have House of Commons that is op- Two 17-year-olds remained Johnson, who became prime parliament, and several of his yet to settle on a strategy for posed to a no-deal exit could tion party, we’ve an aspiration eventually thrive if cut free from in custody and a 15-year-old has minister last month after win- own Conservatives have sug- what would happen next. fi nd a way forward ... I wouldn’t to go into government ... we are what they cast as a doomed ex- now been arrested in relation to ning a vote among Conservatives gested that they could vote no The main opposition Labour reject it,” he told the BBC. ready to serve,” he told the BBC. periment in integration. the incident. for party leadership, says Britain confi dence in his government to Party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, Clarke said he had been on He said “all those people that Finance minister Sajid Javid The teenagers were arrested must leave the EU on October 31 stop a no-deal Brexit they be- wants a caretaker government holiday in Norway when Swin- are now making lots of noises in said after meeting his German after the fi ght in front of shop- with or without a deal. lieve would be disastrous for the with himself as head, and then son made the suggestion, and the media” should support La- counterpart for the fi rst time pers near a Gregg’s store in El- However, he has a working economy. an election. that it was unclear if opponents bour’s motion as the best way to yesterday that Britain would be don Square mall at 6.20pm on But other opponents of a no- of a no-deal Brexit were suffi - prevent a no-deal Brexit. ready on October 31 for a no-deal Wednesday. deal Brexit worry that Corbyn, a ciently willing to compromise Clarke and Liberal Democrats Brexit, if that was unavoidable. Duncan, a lawyer for the mar- staunch leftist, would not have amongst themselves to make a said the convention was dif- Labour wants a vote of no- itime services company Royal enough support from other par- temporary government viable. ferent in the case of a caretaker confi dence in the government IHC, was taken to Royal Victoria ties to form a government. With Johnson staking his government, which should not shortly after parliament returns hospital but later died. Jo Swinson, leader of the cen- premiership on Brexit, the EU be led by the leader of the main from its summer break on Sep- Yesterday Duncan’s family trist pro-European Union Lib- refusing to re-open a previous- opposition party. tember 3. paid tribute to a man who was eral Democrats, has proposed ly-negotiated withdrawal deal, Opponents of no-deal say that Energy Minister Kwasi Kwart- “loved by all who knew him”. a caretaker government led by and a majority of lawmakers op- exiting the EU without an agree- eng told Sky News that the gov- According to his LinkedIn either Clarke or Harman, former posed to both a no-deal divorce ment on the transition would be ernment would win such a vote. profi le, Duncan was an electri- cabinet ministers from the more and the negotiated deal, Britain a nightmare for what was once “I don’t see Jeremy Corbyn cal engineer before training as centrist wings of the two main is heading for a parliamentary one of the world’s most stable being able to come together a solicitor at Northumbria Uni- parties. showdown and constitutional democracies. with the numbers, nor do I see versity in 2003. Yesterday Swinson told BBC crisis. It would hurt global growth, any prospect of him leading a He worked in Newcastle for radio that she had spoken to Corbyn said that by conven- send shockwaves through fi - so-called national unity govern- Royal IHC, which has an offi ce both of them, and both said they tion when a government col- nancial markets and weaken ment,” he said. “He’s the most close to where he was attacked. would be willing to serve. lapses, the leader of the main London’s claim to be the world’s unpopular leader of the opposi- Northumbria police said the “They put public duty fi rst opposition party is called upon preeminent fi nancial centre. tion we’ve ever had, and the idea investigation was at an early and they don’t want to see a to form a government. Brexit supporters say there that he’s going to lead a unity stage but it appeared there had no-deal Brexit,” Swinson said. “The principle is that the La- may be short-term disruption government … I think is ridicu- been a “coming together” at the Johnson: has a working majority of just a single seat in parliament. “If the House of Commons asks bour Party is the main opposi- but that the economy would lous.” entrance to the shopping centre.

UK mall scans shoppers in facial-recognition trial Sheeran design

Reuters tection watchdog launched an Heinz Ketchup bottle London investigation into the use of fa- cial recognition by a property developer in London’s central sells for £1,500 British mall that scanned King’s Cross area. shoppers using facial- The Information Commis- Arecognition cameras said sioner said she was “deeply Reuters yesterday that it was no longer concerned” about the use of the London using technology that advocacy technology in public spaces. groups called a threat to privacy. “We will assess any reports Meadowhall in the northern and intelligence we receive about hree limited-edition city of Sheffi eld, which attracts uses of the technology and will bottles of Heinz Tomato more than 25mn visitors a year, consider regulatory action,” a TKetchup based on the used the surveillance with police spokeswoman for the Infor- tattoos of British songwriter in 2018, according to its owners mation Commissioner’s Offi ce Ed Sheeran, a dedicated fan of British Land. (ICO) told the Thomson Reuters the condiment, sold at auction “We conducted a short trial Foundation. in London on Thursday, with at Meadowhall, in conjunction Big Brother Watch, a civil lib- one going under the hammer with the police, and all data was erties group, said the trial at for £1,500 ($1,816). deleted immediately after the Meadowhall in Sheffi eld was part Only 150 of the “Ed Sheeran Sheeran poses with a bottle of trial,” said spokeswoman Claire of a nationwide “epidemic”. X Heinz Tomato Ketchup, the Heinz Tomato Ketchup, based Scicluna. The technology had been used Tattoo Edition” bottles, fea- on his tattoos. She said that British Land at a 2018 exhibition on China’s turing a copy of Sheeran’s own would change its privacy policy terracotta warriors at Liverpool’s Heinz inking, will be available on Sheeran’s Instagram ac- to show “we don’t use the tech- World Museum and at Birming- across the world. count, and the remainder nology at our sites” but refused ham’s Millennium Point confer- The fi rst three were sold for would go to Sheeran and Heinz to rule out using facial recogni- ence centre, it said. £1,050, £1,100, and £1,500 on superfans and museums. tion at a later date. National Museums Liverpool Thursday. All money raised from the A police spokeswoman said its group, which runs the World Nigel Dickie, Kraft Heinz di- bottles will be donated to East offi cers had supported a four- Museum, said that it used facial rector of corporate aff airs, said Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, week trial to develop “opportu- recognition during the exhibition An Avigilon CCTV camera is seen on a wall in King’s Cross, London. The Information Commissioner’s Off ice 150 of the bottles were made to a charity nominated by Sheer- nities associated with the use of due to a heightened security risk, has announced that it would launch its own investigation into the use of facial recognition cameras after it mark Heinz 150th birthday. an, and Rise Against Hunger, this technology”. after seeking advice from police was revealed that scanners were being used in the King’s Cross area of London. “What’s special about them which is supported by Heinz. From speeding up airline and local counter-terrorism ad- is that they have his tattoos The 28-year-old star, who boarding to boosting security, visers. privacy notice, which states the “Facial recognition is the per- Ubiquitous cameras could in on the label,” he said. “They’re has sold more than 150mn facial recognition is increasingly “This ... was clearly communi- company “sometimes” uses fa- fect tool of oppression and the theory discourage perfectly law- part of the label, so it’s his records worldwide, is a long- pervasive. cated in signage around the ven- cial recognition at the request of widespread use we’ve found in- ful behaviour, be it attending a sleeve on our sleeve.” time fan of the sauce and has Computers have become adept ue. World Museum did not re- law enforcement. dicates we’re facing a privacy protest, conducting an aff air or He said he suspected not the “Heinz Tomato Ketchup” at identifying people by match- ceive any complaints and it is no “The collusion between po- emergency,” she said in a state- meeting someone with a criminal many people would open the label tattooed on his arm. ing a scan of their facial features longer in use,” it said in a state- lice and private companies in ment. conviction, rights group say. bottles, but they had “perfectly Earlier this year he teamed against a photograph, but critics ment, adding that any future use building these surveillance nets Big Brother Watch said a Critics say the technology enjoyable ketchup” inside. up with the brand to release say the technology is still prone would be with ICO guidance. around popular spaces is deeply number of casinos and betting also has accuracy problems, par- Some 104 bottles will be the “Tomato Edchup” and wrote to errors. Millennium Point declined disturbing,” said Big Brother’s shops also had policies that re- ticularly identifying people from prizes in a free global draw, ac- and starred in a TV advert for This week, Britain’s data pro- to comment but pointed at its director, Silkie Carlo. ferred to using facial recognition. ethnic minorities. cording to a statement linked the release. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 9 EUROPE Politicians see red over Trump’s alleged talk of buying Greenland

Reuters ber, and the Arctic will be on the joke. Totally out of season,” It handles its own domestic The US embassy in Copen- Mike Pompeo said that Russia minister, called the idea “a gro- Copenhagen agenda during meetings with the former prime minister Lars Lokke aff airs while Copenhagen looks hagen was also not immediately was behaving aggressively in the tesque proposal” which had no prime ministers of Denmark and Rasmussen said on Twitter. after defence and foreign policy. available for comment. Arctic, and that China’s actions basis in reality. Greenland, an autonomous Dan- “If he is truly contemplating “I am sure a majority in Green- “Oh dear lord. As someone there had to be watched closely “We are talking about real peo- reenland has dismissed ish territory. this, then this is fi nal proof, that land believes it is better to have who loves Greenland, has been as well. ple, and you can’t just sell Green- the notion that it might Talk of a Greenland purchase he has gone mad,” foreign aff airs a relation to Denmark than the there nine times to every corner A defence treaty between land like an old colonial power,” Gbe up for sale after reports was fi rst reported by the Wall spokesman for the Danish Peo- United States, in the long term,” and loves the people, this is a Denmark and the United States Lidegaard told Reuters. “But that US President Donald Trump Street Journal. ple’s Party, Soren Espersen, told Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, Danish complete and total catastrophe,” dating back to 1951 gives the US what we can take seriously is that had privately discussed with his Two sources familiar with the broadcaster DR. “The thought of MP from Greenland’s second- former US ambassador to Den- military rights over the Thule Air the US stakes and interest in the advisers the idea of buying the situation told Reuters that the Denmark selling 50,000 citizens largest party Inuit Ataqatigiit mark, Rufus Giff ord, said in on Base in northern Greenland. Arctic is signifi cantly on the rise world’s biggest island. notion had been laughed off by to the United States is completely (IA), told Reuters. “My immedi- Twitter. There has been no indication and they want a much bigger in- “We are open for business, but some advisers as a joke but was ridiculous.” ate thought is ‘No, thank you’.” Greenland is gaining attention that a Greenland purchase will be fl uence.” we’re not for sale,” Greenland’s taken more seriously by others in Greenland, a self-ruling part Prime Minister Mette Freder- from global super powers includ- on the agenda for Trump’s talks In 1917 Denmark sold off the foreign minister Ane Lone Bag- the White House. of Denmark located between iksen and Foreign Minister Jeppe ing China, Russia and the United with Danish offi cials. then-Danish West Indies islands ger told Reuters. Yesterday Danish politicians the North Atlantic and Arctic Kofod were not available for States due to its strategic location Martin Lidegaard, senior law- for $25mn to the United States, The US president is due to poured scorn on the idea. oceans, is dependent on Danish comment but offi cials said they and its mineral resources. maker of the Danish Social Lib- which renamed them the United visit Copenhagen in Septem- “It has to be an April Fool’s economic support. would respond later. In May, US Secretary of State eral Party and a former foreign States Virgin Islands.

Kremlin hands top state Migrant rescue boat off honours to pilots Italy in ‘explosive’ state Reuters AFP perilous journey across the Salvini then signed a new one Moscow Rome Mediterranean and Salvini, but blocking the ship, but in a dem- this time set against the back- onstration of his diminished ground of a political crisis in power, Italy’s defence minister ussian President Vladimir he captain of a Span- Rome. blocked it on Thursday. Putin bestowed yesterday ish charity ship carry- Thursday saw sparring be- Elisabetta Trenta, an M5S Rtop state honours on two Ting 134 rescued migrants tween Prime Minister Giuseppe party member with the author- pilots for courage and heroism has warned of the “explosive” Conte and Salvini, who last week ity to sign off on Salvini’s decree, after they safely landed a packed situation on board the vessel pulled his party out of the ruling announced that she decided not passenger plane in a cornfi eld anchored within swimming dis- coalition in the hope of toppling to do so after “listening to my near Moscow as its engines were tance of Italy’s Lampedusa is- the 14-month-old government. conscience”. failing. land but forbidden to approach. Salvini’s anti-immigrant It is estimated Salvini enjoys Russians have said it was a Italy has evacuated a hand- League party has been squab- up to 38% support among the miracle that no one was killed ful of medical cases from the bling with coalition partner the electorate, thanks largely to his when the Ural Airlines Airbus Open Arms, but far-right Inte- anti-establishment Five-Star hardline against immigrants. 321 struck a fl ock of gulls on rior Minister Matteo Salvini has Movement (M5S) over a host of Spokeswoman Vanessa Mock Thursday, disrupting its engines been refusing to allow the vessel issues. said the European Commission and forcing it to land less than to dock despite a European deal “France, Germany, Romania, welcomed the willingness of two minutes after it took off . to take in those remaining. Portugal, Spain and Luxem- member states to help relocate Putin, in a decree published The captain of the ship oper- bourg have told me that they are the migrants. on the Kremlin’s website, hand- ated by Proactiva Open Arms, ready to welcome the migrants,” The Commission is ready to ed captain Damir Yusupov and Marc Reig, said that those on Conte said in an open letter to help “once a solution has been co-pilot Georgy Murzin Russia’s board, rescued after leaving cha- Salvini, who has sought to bar all found for the disembarkation highest state award – the Hero of os-stricken Libya, were “broken NGO rescue vessels from enter- of the persons rescued at sea. Russia. psychologically”. ing Italian waters. The situation where persons He granted the Order of Cour- “Every second that passes, the In a distinct change of tone are stranded at sea for days and age, another top state award, to bomb ticks a second closer. Ei- since the coalition disintegrated Migrants are seen aboard the Open Arms ship, close to the Italian shore in Lampedusa. weeks on end is untenable”. fi ve fl ight attendants. ther someone cuts the red cable last week, Conte slammed what The mainly African mi- The plane took off from Zhuk- and defuses this bomb now, or he called Salvini’s “obsessive fo- European Union would never gional and fair approach urgent- now at the centre of Italy’s po- grants aboard Open Arms had ovsky International Airport car- the Open Arms will explode,” he cus” on an immigration policy have lifted a fi nger, leaving Italy ly needed so no rescued person is litical crisis. been plucked from boats in the rying 233 people to Simferopol in told Spain’s TVE television. reduced to the phrase “closed and the Italians on their own like again left at sea for so long,” the Earlier this month, Salvini Mediterranean this month, with Crimea. “This is inhuman. We’re close ports”. (previous governments) did for UNHCR tweeted. signed a decree banning the weather conditions encouraging More than 70 passengers were to land and people could swim Salvini says that Italy bears years.” After Salvini pulled the plug Open Arms from Italian waters, more departures from Libya. treated for injuries following the there. They want to throw them- an unfair burden as the fi rst port The UN refugee agency wel- on his coalition with M5S last saying it was to protect public Another rescue ship, the emergency landing but nobody selves in the water. It’s untena- of call for refugees crossing the comed the news of a deal to dis- week, he had hoped for a imme- order. Ocean Viking, operated by SOS was killed. ble. They can’t take it anymore.” Mediterranean. tribute the migrants but regret- diate no-confi dence vote but his But Proactiva appealed to an Mediterranee and Doctors with- “I did what I had to do,” said This is the umpteenth stand- Responding to Conte, Salvini ted it took so long. gambit failed. administrative court which on out Borders (MSF), is also look- Yusupov who guided the Airbus off between a charity vessel wrote on Facebook: “It is clear “People cannot be left at sea The fate of the migrants Wednesday suspended his de- ing for a port to dock with more down. “I saved the plane, the rescuing migrants making the that without (my) resolve, the for days on end. Predictable, re- aboard the Open Arms vessel is cree. than 350 migrants on board. passengers, the crew. I think that was the only decision. I don’t think I’m a hero.” “I wasn’t scared,” he told re- porters in Yekaterinburg where Ural Airlines has its training Court rejects bid for centre. “I saw the cornfi eld in Denmark sees resolution front of me ... I tried to minimise our vertical speed to ensure a girl to join boys’ choir soft landing.” Murzin was receiving treat- ment for a bruised chest in hos- to EU rift on climate goal DPA sponded to the sound of a boys’ pital yesterday, the RIA news Berlin choir, it said. agency reported. The mother noted that the Russia’s natural resources Reuters only aim for a 2050 target.” choir relies on state funding, watchdog said late on Thursday Copenhagen With greenhouse gas emis- Berlin court has thrown which must be equitably dis- that it had identifi ed an illegal sions currently on course to out a claim of discrimi- tributed. rubbish dump roughly 2km from push average global tempera- Anation brought by the Limiting admission to boys Zhukovsky International, which he new energy and cli- tures more than three degrees mother of a nine-year-old girl would discriminate against the is southeast of Moscow, as being mate minister of Den- higher by the end of this cen- who was rejected by a famous girl, she argued. the possible home of the birds Tmark, a frontrunner in tury, United Nations Secretary- Berlin boys’ choir. After an audition, choirmas- which caused the emergency fi ghting climate change, said General Antonio Guterres is The right to artistic freedom ter Kai-Uwe Jirka said the girl landing. yesterday that he is confi dent working to wrest bigger pledges took precedence over the girl’s lacked the requirements for a Offi cials from the watchdog fellow EU countries would soon from governments at a UN cli- rights in the decision taken by top ensemble. and the ecology ministry were agree to go carbon-neutral by mate summit in New York in the State and Cathedral Choir In a written report on the due to check the site as well as 2050 despite resistance in the September. of Berlin, the court ruled. audition in March 2019, re- others nearby, RIA news agency east of the bloc. He has among other things The choir, which dates back quested by the mother, Jirka reported. A push by most European called on the European Union to the middle of the 15th cen- said the girl had a good voice, Union nations for the world’s to aim for a 55% cut in green- tury, has to date only had boys but was not highly gifted. biggest economic bloc to go house gas emissions by 2030, in its ranks. She also lacked the motiva- Greek fire crews carbon-neutral by 2050 was Jorgensen: We have set the target based on what science says, not far greater than the EU’s current But the court did leave open tion to sing in the choir, the dropped to a footnote in June on what we can agree on or have money for. target of a 40% cut. the route to an appeal, saying report said. make progress on after fi erce resistance from Po- Denmark’s Social Democratic that the case could serve as a Jirka stressed yesterday that island blaze land, the Czech Republic and between carbon emitted and be to discuss a European 2030 government recently set one of “pilot” for others. the girl’s gender had not played Hungary who fear it would hurt removed from the atmosphere target.” the most ambitious climate tar- Ahead of the ruling, the a role in his decision. Firefighters in Greece made economies like theirs dependent within the next three decades. Informal EU talks on a 2030 gets in the world when it vowed choir said it had rejected the The girl has had experience progress yesterday against a on nuclear power and coal. “I don’t hear Poland saying target had already begun, ac- to deliver a 70% reduction in application on the grounds with major German choirs, four-day wildfire on the island “I think it will happen in the ‘no way’ ... The talks I’ve had cording to the Social Demo- greenhouse gas emissions by that the girl lacked the neces- including singing for Berlin’s of Evia that has burned through near future,” energy and climate with my Polish colleagues have cratic minister who took over 2030 compared to 1990 levels. sary basis for singing training. Komische Oper and a youth a pine forest and threatened minister Dan Jorgensen said, been constructive,” Jorgensen Denmark’s energy and climate Jorgensen said that while the She would have been ac- training choir at Frankfurt Ca- villages, off icials said. referring to an EU-wide com- said in an interview with Reu- ministry after a June 5 election. technology needed to reach cepted if her voice had corre- thedral. “The situation looks better today, mitment to achieving a balance ters. “And then the next step will “It is too far out in the future to reductions of 60-65% exists there is no active front, but our today, the remaining leap to forces remain in place,” a fire Swedish activist Thunberg ‘strikes’ for climate on US-bound yacht carbon-neutral levels would be Austria shelves probe into spying department spokesman told extremely challenging. AFP, adding that there were still Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg Earlier yesterday, Casiraghi tweeted: “All is well on the “We have set the target based Austrian prosecutors confirmed yesterday that they had shelved “pockets of fire” smouldering. displayed her iconic hand-painted sign yesterday, boat, good vibes and no sea sickness. I’m on watch on what science says, not on an investigation into allegations that Germany’s BND secret service A force of nearly 400 firefighters declaring a school strike while onboard a racing yacht now sailing along in the dark with everyone asleep.” what we can agree on or have had systematically spied on politicians, international organisations backed by more than 100 ferrying her to New York. The yacht set sail on Wednesday from a marina in money for,” he said, adding and companies on Austrian territory. vehicles, nine planes and four Thunberg’s post on social media shows her displaying Plymouth in England for the two-week voyage. that his government would now The probe “has been broken off as currently there are no helicopters remains in the area. her sign against the backdrop of a big wave and the Conditions on the yacht are spartan. work with other parties in par- approaches available for the investigation”, Nina Bussek, Two water bombers from Italy position of the yacht, and the entry “School strike Herrmann said there are no toilets, and only thin, liament on climate legislation to spokeswoman for the Vienna prosecutor’s off ice, told AFP. and one from Spain are assisting week 52”. tube-like bunks for beds. make the target legally binding. According to reports in two Austrian newspapers in June 2018, the eff ort, the spokesman said. She began her strike outside the Swedish parliament In the US, Thunberg plans to attend the UN Climate Last year, the UN-backed a long list of targets had been allegedly spied upon by the BND “It’s quite a large perimeter that on August 20, 2018. Action Summit in New York on September 23 on Intergovernmental Panel on between 1999 and 2006, including 2,000 landline and mobile needs to be monitored,” civil Her activism inspired other young people across the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as well as Climate Change (IPCC) warned telephone numbers, faxes and e-mail addresses of ministries, protection spokesman Spyros Europe and beyond to demand action on climate climate protests planned for September 20 and 27. that emissions must start fall- international organisations, embassies and companies operating in Georgiou told AFP. change under the “Fridays For Future” slogan. She will also visit Canada and Mexico before joining ing next year at the latest to Austria. But as the situation was The 16-year-old refuses to fly, citing the CO2 emissions the annual UN climate change conference hosted by stand a chance of achieving the However, the Austrian investigation into the allegations “has little improving, the Italian and caused by aviation, and is travelling on the Malizia, a Chile in December. goal of holding the rise in global prospect of success” because of the diff iculty Germany would have Spanish crews would be racing yacht captained by German sailor Boris Her- Her father Svante Thunberg and filmmaker Nathan temperatures to 1.5° Celsius set in co-operating with it, Peter Gridling, head of the BVT domestic withdrawn from the operation by rmann and Pierre Casiraghi of Monaco. Grossman were also on board the 18m yacht. by the 2016 Paris agreement on intelligence agency, told the Standard newspaper. the evening, he said. limiting global warming. Bussek added that the probe had not been off icially dropped. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, August 17, 2019 INDIA

PROTEST DISASTER PROBE WEATHER MISHAP Hospitals in Telangana One killed, 16 injured Government to set up Punjab on high alert after Mumbai fireman dies of stop healthcare services in lightning in Kolkata SIT in Pehlu Khan case heavy rainfall forecast heart attack during training

Healthcare services under Telangana’s Arogyasri One person was killed and 16 others were injured Soon after Congress general secretary Priyanka Amid a forecast of heavy rainfall in the state A Mumbai Fire Brigade fireman died of a scheme came to a halt yesterday as about 240 in a lightning strike near Kolkata’s Victoria Gandhi yesterday termed the verdict by the in the next 48-72 hours, Punjab Chief Minister suspected heart attack while he was receiving private hospitals in the state stopped providing Memorial as heavy rain lashed the city for Alwar lower court in the Pehlu Khan lynching Amarinder Singh yesterday night ordered a high training on handling breathing apparatus services over non-payment of dues to the tune around two hours yesterday, police said. The case as ‘shocking’, the Rajasthan government alert and directed all the Deputy Commissioners yesterday, a top official said. “The incident of Rs1,500 crore by the state government. Talks deceased, identified as Subir Pal from North 24 decided to form a Special Investigation Team to monitor the situation closely. The Bhakra Beas happened post-lunch hours when the firemen between Health Minister Etela Rajender and Parganas district’s Dumdum, was among a group (SIT) to reinvestigate the matter, off icial sources Management Board also opened flood gates of had reassembled in the classroom for Telangana Network Hospitals Association (TNHA) of people who took shelter under a big tree confirmed. Sources further added that Chief the Bhakra Dam to flush out excess water, which further training. The fireman complained of failed. The minister said after the talks with near the Victoria Memorial to shield themselves Minister Ashok Gehlot yesterday called a increased water level in rivers in the state, said uneasiness and was rushed to the LTMG Sion representatives of TNHA that the dues amount from the incessant downpour. “A person was meeting to discuss the reinvestigation in the off icials. This has led to water-logging in some Hospital where he was declared dead,” Chief to only Rs600 crore and that the government killed after being hit by a lightning strike near Pehlu Khan mob lynching case as the lower places. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the Fire Officer of Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) P will immediately release Rs200 crore. He said the gate number three (of Victoria Memorial) court in Alwar had acquitted all six accused on Deputy Commissioners to be prepared to deal S Rahangdale said. The deceased has been the decision on the demand to increase the around 3.30pm. Many sustained injuries in the August 14. An order for reinvestigation will be with any exigency in view of the warning from identified as Vijay Balkrishna Malvankar, aged charges for various services would be taken after incident,” a CISF personnel, deployed to guard issued soon, confirmed sources in the Chief the Indian Meteorological Department. He has around 48, and attached to the Dindoshi Fire consultation with CM K Chandrashekhar Rao. the monument, said. Minister’s off ice. also asked them to be ready with an action plan. Brigade in Malad east. Schools, telephone Clashes erupt in Kashmir lines to be opened UN Security Council the main road in the main city of began its first meeting Srinagar after Friday prayers yes- on the territory in nearly terday. after lockdown half a century; Protesters Protesters hurled stones and raise slogans after Friday used shop hoardings and tin prayers, police fire teargas sheets as improvised shields, as there has not been a single loss of to disperse crowd; New police shot dozens of rounds into Reuters life. There were some fresh pro- Delhi begins easing of the crowd. No injuries were re- Srinagar tests in Soura, a tightly-packed communications lockdown ported. “We are trying to breach northern Srinagar neighbour- the siege and march to the city hood, after prayers yesterday. AFP centre but police is using force to uthorities will begin re- But unlike a demonstration Srinagar stop us,” one protester told AFP. . storing some telephone that pulled in many people from Sporadic clashes were reported Alines in Indian Kashmir surrounding areas a week ago and yesterday in other parts of the (from Friday night), including in grew to involve 10,000 people, undreds of protesters Kashmir Valley. Major towns the main city of Srinagar where according to local police, these in Indian-administered and cities in the valley remained afternoon prayers went peace- protests were much smaller with HKashmir clashed with po- under curfew, with government fully amid heavy security, the top only hundreds participating. lice yesterday as the UN Security forces allowing people to move state offi cial said. Telephone and They were also confi ned to Sou- Council began its fi rst meeting on only on special passes. Govern- Internet links were cut and public ra’s narrow lanes and didn’t spill the territory in nearly half a cen- ment forces erected steep barri- assembly banned in Kashmir just out onto major roads. tury, with tensions soaring over cades and used concertina wires before New Delhi removed the Men carried posters that called New Delhi’s move to strip the dis- to block roads. decades-old autonomy territory for reinstating Article 370, the puted region of its autonomy. No big gatherings were allowed enjoyed under the Indian consti- constitutional provision that In- The meeting began as Pakistani in the valley and most mosques tution. The measures were aimed dia revoked. Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke were shut for the second con- at preventing protests. A group of women marching with US President Donald Trump, secutive Friday. The protesters “You will fi nd a lot of Srinagar separately chanted: “We nurtured who last month controversially marched along the lanes of Sri- functioning tomorrow morning,” this Kashmir with our blood, this off ered to mediate in the seven- nagar, carrying black fl ags – sig- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Sec- Kashmir is ours.” Separately, hun- decade old Kashmir dispute be- nifying grief – and placards with retary B V R Subrahmanyam told dreds of people came out to pro- tween nuclear-armed rivals India slogans including “Go India, go reporters. test in the Mehjoor Nagar area of and Pakistan. back”. A Kashmiri child looks from behind a fence at a protest site after Friday prayers yesterday. “Over the weekend, you’ll have southern Srinagar following Fri- New Delhi ended the autono- Fearing an angry and potential- most of these lines functional,” day prayers at a mosque. mous status of its portion of the ly violent response to its move to he said, responding to a question They shouted anti-India and Muslim-majority territory in the end Kashmir’s autonomous sta- about landlines. He did not say pro-freedom slogans. Paramili- fi rst week of August, stepping up tus, New Delhi deployed 10,000 when Internet and mobile phone tary troops intercepted them at movement restrictions and cut- additional troops – joining the services would be restored, add- Mehjoor Nagar bridge, leading ting off phone and Internet ac- half a million already there – se- ing that militant groups could use to violent clashes and stone- cess to head off civil unrest, and verely restricted movement and the latter to organise “terror ac- throwing by some of the protes- igniting calls from Pakistan for cut telecommunications. Kash- tions”. tors, according to a Reuters eye- the international community to miri politicians – alongside uni- Security forces were deployed witness. Subrahmanyam said intervene. versity professors, business lead- outside mosques across Srinagar 12 of 22 districts in Jammu and Police fi red teargas and pellet- ers and activists – are among the yesterday, while police vans fi tted Kashmir were functioning nor- fi ring shotguns to disperse resi- more than 500 people that have with speakers asked people not to mally, with night time restric- dents who tried to march down since been taken into custody. venture out, according to two Re- tions in fi ve of the 12. uters witnesses. In some parts of In the Kashmir valley, Sub- the city, posters appeared calling rahmanyam said schools would for protests and asking preach- open after the weekend, and re- ers in mosques to talk about the strictions on movement would be current situation in Kashmir val- lifted after a review of each area. ley. “People must try to occupy “It is expected that over the next the streets defying curfew,” one few days, as the restrictions get poster read. eased, life in Jammu and Kashmir The lockdown of the Kashmir will become completely normal,” valley, home to nearly 7mn peo- he said. ple, has drawn widespread criti- Hundreds of political leaders cism but the government does and activists remain in detention, seem to have succeeded in isolat- some of them in prisons outside ing any protests. Jammu and Kashmir. Subrahmanyam said that the At least 52 politicians, most of immediate reports from Friday them belonging to the National prayers were that they had gone Conference and Peoples Demo- off quite peacefully in the state. cratic Party regional parties, are Kashmiris shout slogans at a protest after Friday prayers in Srinagar He also stressed that in the 12 being held at a hotel on the banks yesterday. A Kashmiri woman shows her hands with messages at a protest after Friday prayers in Srinagar. days since the announcement of Srinagar’s Dal lake.

Kerala records first arrest in India says committed to ‘no fi rst triple talaq Businessman shoots case dead parents, wife, The police in Kerala yesterday arrested a man use’ of nuclear weapons for now for giving triple talaq son, self in suicide pact (divorce) to his wife. Reuters The arrest was based New Delhi on the Narendra Modi IANS where Omprakash allegedly shot government’s The Muslim Bengaluru his parents, wife and son, before Women (Protection of shooting himself with a pistol in ndia has stuck to its com- Rights on Marriage) Bill. the wee hours, Kumar said, cit- mitment of ‘no fi rst use’ of This is the first-ever arrest n a horrifying incident, a ing the preliminary report on the Inuclear weapons but future in the southern state since 36-year-old Mysuru busi- incident and visuals taken of the policy will depend on the situ- the passage of Triple Talaq Inessman allegedly shot dead crime scene for investigation. ation, the defence minister said Bill. his parents, wife and son before Omprakash’s father was Na- yesterday, which analysts said According to the bill, an killing self near Bandipur in Kar- garaja (65), mother Hema (60) introduced a level of ambiguity in instant triple talaq in any nataka’s Chamarajanagar district, eight-month pregnant wife Ni- a core national security doctrine. form – spoken, in writing, police said yesterday. kitha (36) and four-year-old son India declared itself a nuclear or electronically, is illegal Bandipur is 45km from Cha- Aryan Krishna. weapons power after conduct- and void. marajangar town and 73km from “The incident came to light ing underground tests in 1998 Speaking to IANS, a police Mysuru. “Omprakash and his when Omprakash’s driver and and long-time rival Pakistan off icer attached to the four-member family appear to attendant returned to the farm- responded with its own tests Mukkom Police station have entered into a suicide pact, house earlier in the day and found shortly afterwards. Since then, near Kozhikode said the unable to bear the harassment of them missing inside. On search- nuclear experts say the rivals 34-year-old man, E K debtors and the burden of mount- ing around, the two found their have been developing nuclear Hussam, was arrested. “He ing losses from his businesses, in- bullet-ridden bodies in a grass weapons and the missiles to de- was arrested following a cluding a call centre, real estate fi eld. They informed the police liver them. warrant issued by a court and mining at Mysuru and Ben- and an FIR was fi led based on In a visit to Pokhran in west- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. in Thamarassery. galuru,” Chamarajanagar Super- their deposition. ern India, the site of the nuclear Hussam had divorced intendent of Police H D Anand The 0.32 inch bore pistol which tests, Defence Minister Rajnath At the time of the tests, India den attack by India. “Rajnath kistani fi ghter jets clashed over his wife by pronouncing Kumar told IANS on phone. Omprakash used in the crime is Singh paid tribute to late former said it needed a deterrent against Singh is measured and not given the territory. Vipin Narang, a nu- ‘talaq’ thrice on August Bandipur is 220km southwest a licensed fi rearm of his gunman prime minister and revered lead- nuclear-armed China but it has to loose talk or bluster. He isn’t clear aff airs expert at MIT in the 1,” the police off icer said, of Bengaluru on way to the popu- that was in his car. The Bandipur er of the ruling BJP, Atal Behari also long been concerned about signalling a shift, but an open United States, said that Singh’s requesting anonymity. lar hill station Ooty in Tamil Nadu police station registered a case of Vajpayee, for making India into a Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. mind on the NFU (No First Use) comments were a sign the policy “The woman then across the inter-state border. murder and unnatural death un- nuclear power. Shekhar Gupta, a political com- inherited from Vajpayee’s Nucle- on ‘no fi rst use’ could change in approached the court and “Though Omprakash and fam- der various sections of the Indian “Pokhran is the area which mentator and defence expert, ar Doctrine,” he said on Twitter. the future. filed a petition. Based on ily live at Mysuru, they drove to Penal Code and investigation is witnessed Atal Ji’s fi rm resolve said the government appeared to Tensions between the two “Make no mistake: this is by far that, the court had issued a rented farmhouse on Thursday underway to ascertain the reasons to make India a nuclear power have an open mind on the issue of countries have increased follow- the highest offi cial statement- an arrest warrant,” he said. near Bandipur for an overnight for the alleged suicide pact. and yet remain fi rmly committed ‘no fi rst use’ of nuclear arms and ing India’s move to revoke au- from the Raksha Mantri’s (De- The police off icer said stay. He sent away his driver and “The fi ve bodies were handed to the doctrine of ‘No First Use’. the comments could be aimed at tonomy in the disputed region of fence Minister) mouth directly- Hussam was presented an attendant, asking them to over to Omprakash’s sister after “India has strictly adhered to this Pakistan, which has said previ- Kashmir, the cause of two of their that India may not be forever before the Thamarassery come back next morning. autopsy at a state-run hospital doctrine. What happens in future ously it needed to develop small three wars. bound by No First Use,” Narang court after his arrest After midnight supper, the and were taken on road to Mysuru depends on the circumstances.” nuclear weapons to deter a sud- In February, Indian and Pa- said on Twitter. yesterday. — IANS family went out in an open fi eld for the last rites,” added Kumar. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA

Brazil Macri shelves sales taxes as threatens to leave Mercosur he seeks to cut left’s lead DPA Bogota Reuters The shelving of the sales taxes tion-linked mortgages. There had been few signs of Buenos Aires was an awkward about-turn On Sunday, centre-left rapprochement between Macri for a president who took offi ce presidential candidate Alberto and Fernandez in the immedi- razil will leave the South in 2015 vowing to slash public Fernandez trounced Macri by a ate aftermath of the vote, but as American trade bloc Mer- rgentina President Mau- subsidies and to correct what he margin of 15 percentage points, markets continued to tumble on Bcosur if Argentina’s cen- ricio Macri, smarting called years of leftist economic suggesting he could win Octo- Wednesday, they spoke on the tre-left opposition wins presi- Afrom a bruising primary mismanagement. ber’s presidential ballot in the phone, agreeing to try to calm dential elections in October and election loss, has announced an “I hope this will be a relief for fi rst round. volatility. Fernandez later said resists the bloc’s free trade poli- end to sales taxes on basic food the pockets of millions of Argen- The result spooked markets his economic plans did not con- cies, President Jair Bolsonaro products until the end of the year tines,” Macri said. “I will con- on fears of a return to protec- template a debt default. said yesterday. in a bid to salvage his re-election tinue working to bring peace of tionist policies and the end of The central bank also an- Bolsonaro said he endorsed prospects and end an economic mind so that this electoral proc- free-market economic reforms nounced on Thursday that from his Economy Minister Paulo crisis. ess does not aff ect the daily life should Fernandez triumph in August 20 private banks would Guedes, who made similar com- In a televised address to the of all Argentines.” October. His vice presiden- be barred from having total dol- ments on Thursday, according to nation, Macri announced that In a news conference after tial candidate is former leftist lar holdings exceeding 5% - es- the national news agency Agen- sales taxes of around 21% would Macri spoke, Labor and Produc- President Cristina Fernandez de sentially prompting them to sell cia Brasil. be axed on basic foodstuff s - in- tion Minster Dante Sica said the Kirchner. US currency if their inventory of Bolsonaro and Argentinian cluding bread, sugar, milk, oil, measures would cost about 10bn Argentina is no stranger to fi - greenbacks exceeds that level. President Mauricio Macri - the fl our, pasta, eggs and rice - to pesos ($174.2mn), coming into nancial crises and memories of a The plan would unleash li- conservative leaders of South soften the impact of an IMF- eff ect yesterday. painful 2002 debt default - that quidity into the market without America’s two largest economies backed austerity program on the Macri has already announced plunged much of the population the central bank having to tap - helped to negotiate a free trade growing ranks of the poor. a series of welfare subsidies and into poverty - still linger. its reserves in dollar auctions, deal with the European Union, The tax cut represents the tax cuts for lower-income work- But its latest lurch, in which a source with knowledge of the Argentinian President Mauricio Macri speaking during a meeting which was agreed in June and boldest of a series of measures ers since the weekend. He has the peso lost about a quarter of plan said. The source added it with his cabinet and activists in Buenos Aires yesterday. is to create a market of nearly Macri has unveiled since his also promised to raise the mini- its value in three days, comes was likely banks had already 800mn people. overwhelming defeat on Sunday mum wage, temporarily freeze amid widespread volatility started selling dollars to comply. the value of the dollar,” said Gus- not undertake dollar auctions Both countries have also ex- by the leftist opposition, as he gasoline prices and increase the and fears of a global recession “The measure adopted by tavo Quintana of brokerage PR from its own reserves to prop up pressed interest in negotiat- seeks to bolster his waning sup- income tax bracket fl oor by 20%. sparked by the US-China trade the central bank seems to have Corredores de Cambio. the peso. Since Sunday’s vote, ing similar agreements with the port and revive Latin America’s On Thursday, he announced war, and ongoing protests in had an eff ect... and managed to Thursday was the fi rst day this the central bank has auctioned a United States. third-largest economy. plans to help people with infl a- Hong Kong. slowly cut the successive rises in week that the central bank did total of $503mn. But Argentinian opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez won a resounding victory over Macri in Sunday’s primary elec- tions, raising the possibility that he could also defeat the presi- Mexico does dent in the October 27 elections Salvadoran woman in court and reverse his liberal economic policies. Fernandez’s candidate for vice not want El Paso president is former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, for retrial over stillborn son who adopted protectionist policies while in power from 2007-2015. shooter executed Their victory sent the peso and Reuters due to the illness of a witness. Argentina’s stock market into a Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador Hernandez, a domestic worker nosedive. who was studying to be a nurse, AFP explore the possibility of re- “The market has signalled that has said she was impregnated af- Mexico City questing this person’s extradi- it will not forgive the left in Ar- he retrial of a Salvadoran ter being raped by a gang mem- tion,” he added. gentina again,” Bolsonaro said. woman convicted of ag- ber. “We do not want impunity. “Entrepreneurs will not invest Tgravated homicide after “My goals are to keep study- resident Andres Manuel We want the punishment to be more until they resolve the po- a stillbirth has been adjourned ing, and I only ask the pros- Lopez Obrador said yes- exemplary.... It should serve litical situation there.” without a verdict, in a closely ecution to think things through Pterday that Mexico does as an example that human be- Alberto Fernandez has ques- watched case that could over- because I am really innocent,” not want the El Paso shooter ings must end such acts. These tioned the agreement between turn a 30-year prison sentence Hernandez said in a steady voice. who killed 22 people - target- irrational acts of extreme hate Mercosur and the EU, Bolsonaro handed down after prosecutors “Also, to the judge, I know that ing Mexicans - to be executed, are not good for the United pointed out. said she had induced an abor- he will do justice. God willing, and will seek to extradite him States or any country.” The candidate has said the deal tion. all will end well.” from the United States. Crusius published an online could create disadvantages for El Salvador bans abortion in Any intentional termina- The confessed shooter in manifesto before the August Argentina. all circumstances. tion of a pregnancy in El Sal- the mass killing in the Tex- 3 shooting in which he vowed If there is “trouble,” Brazil “will The judge ordered a recess on vador can be prosecuted as a as border city, 21-year-old to fi ght a “Hispanic invasion” leave Mercosur,” Bolsonaro added. Thursday afternoon after a wit- crime, including stillbirths due Patrick Crusius, faces the of the US. When he later con- However, he expressed will- ness for the prosecution failed to home delivery or abortions death penalty in the US. fessed to the killings, he told ingness to talk to Fernandez if the to appear. induced because of medical Lopez Obrador, an anti- police he had been targeting Argentinian took the initiative. “I only wish to tell you that Evelyn Hernandez (second right) leaves after a hearing in Delgado, emergencies. establishment leftist, said that “Mexicans.” The relations between the two I am an innocent girl. I have San Salvador department in El Salvador. Some 147 Salvadoran women while Mexico condemns Cru- The shooting came at a time soured after Bolsonaro openly always told you that I am in- were sentenced to up to 40 years sius’s “reprehensible, abomi- of already strained ties be- expressed support for Macri and nocent,” the defendant Evelyn has failed to prove that her cli- Hernandez has served three in prison in such cases between nable” crimes, it does not tween the United States and claimed that an eventual victory Hernandez, 21, told reporters as ent “wanted to kill the newborn, years of the three-decade sen- 2000 and 2014, according to the want to see him put to death. Mexico, a frequent target of of the left could unleash a wave of she entered the court. but instead it was a complicated tence that was handed down. Citizen Group for the Decrimi- “Our constitution does not President Donald Trump’s at- Argentinian migration to Brazil. As she left the courthouse she birth.” Hernandez had said that she was nalization of Abortion. allow the death penalty. We tacks. Mercosur comprises Argen- told a small mob of reporters In February, the Supreme unaware of her pregnancy when Hernandez’s retrial is the do not want the death penalty, Trump critics accuse him tina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uru- that she is “expecting justice” Court had ordered Hernandez she delivered a stillborn son in fi rst such case to be heard un- as a matter of conviction. Life of stoking white nationalist guay, encompassing a popula- and praying that she will be ex- released and retried because the 2016. der President Nayib Bukele, imprisonment does not exist hatred in the US with com- tion of 260mn people. onerated. original judge’s decision was She again stated her inno- who took offi ce in June and has (in Mexico), either,” he told a ments referring to Mexican Brazil is Argentina’s main trade Bertha de Leon, Hernandez’s based on prejudice and insuffi - cence in the retrial, which began supported the right to abortion press conference. immigrants as criminals and partner, according to Argentina’s lawyer, said the prosecution cient evidence. in mid-July but went on recess when a woman’s life is at risk. “I have given instructions to rapists. Chamber of Commerce. Offi cial: Vessels from Climate change forces Chile’s ski Venezuela can still transit Panama Canal stations to make fake snow Reuters waterway should not submit Panama City to pressure from third coun- By Paulina Abramovich, AFP never melts all year round - is now – and even then the ski tries on the issue of whether Santiago keeps creeping upwards. station is only operating at 70% or not vessels could use the The snow melt is even more capacity. he Panama Canal will canal, which connects the At- pronounced in the central zone But even if the situation gets allow vessels com- lantic and Pacifi c Oceans. nce deep in powder this due to pollution from the Chil- worse, the ski stations will man- Ting from Venezuela to “We are signatories to a time of year, Chile’s ski sta- ean capital, one of the most age, according to Montenegro. transit the waterway provided treaty of neutrality, also signed Otions are fi ghting the rav- contaminated urban areas in the “There’s no risk. However, we they present the necessary pa- by the United States,” he said. ages of climate change and pollu- region. need to manage the snow and perwork, the canal authority’s “We have to continue with that tion that have brought less and less A recent study led by Cordero manage the water in the moun- chief has said, suggesting a commitment as long as they snow to the central Andes. found that soot, or black carbon, tain range in a good way.” new round of US sanctions on (vessels from any country) fol- Just a few decades ago, the from Santiago was settling in the El Colorado has already in- the South American country low the rules of the game, and Andes mountain range could Andes and accelerating the snow vested almost $4mn in buying may not make any diff erence the rules of the game are that be buried under four meters of melt. snow cannons and hopes to in- to canal traffi c. it’s an innocent passage.” snow, forcing the closure of ac- As it’s black, it absorbs more crease that to $10mn over the President Donald Trump’s Panama earlier this year cess roads and requiring the use solar radiation and heats up coming years. administration last week is- withdrew its fl ag from dozens of tractors to get around. quicker. Last weekend, some 7,000 sued an executive order freez- of vessels linked to Iran and But this year, it’s snowed only “When this pollution is over people descended on El Colo- ing all Venezuelan government Syria. One of the tankers, the three times in the Chilean An- the cities it poisons people and rado where ski and snowboard assets in the United States. Grace 1, was later seized in Gi- des, and never more than 30cm. when the wind blows, this pol- national teams come to train - Shortly thereafter, US offi cials braltar’s territorial waters on It’s not just Chile aff ected, but lution goes and is deposited on although, they’re not necessarily ratcheted up threats against suspicion of violating sanc- the whole of the Andes where the mountains and contributes happy. companies that do business tions, raising tensions in the the area of snow cover in the to the snow melt,” said Cordero. “If there’s not enough snow, with Venezuela. Gulf, where Iran detained a central zone has diminished by The upshot is that Chile’s ski there’s not as many hills. We The measure did not explic- UK-fl agged ship in retaliation. fi ve to 10 percent each decade, stations have had a diffi cult season. don’t get the variety, we don’t itly place sanctions on non-US Panama’s Maritime Author- according to Raul Cordero, an But thanks to the snow cannons, get steepness, (or) diff erent fi rms linked to Venezuela, but it ity last month said the country academic at the University of the erection of fences and a tai- slopes: it’s so important for us threatened to freeze the US as- will continue de-fl agging ves- Santiago. lored piste management policy, the to have that variety,” Megan Far- sets of any person or company sels that violate sanctions and “But it’s not just snow cover resorts have managed to stay open Snow cannons spray artificial snow on a ski slope at El Colorado skiing rell, a member of the Canadian determined to have “materi- international legislation, but that’s decreasing, the thickness throughout a winter in which there centre, in the Andes Mountains, some 30km from Santiago. snowboard team, said. ally assisted” President Nicolas the Canal has not refused pas- of the snow cover is also reduc- has been almost no snow. Amateur skiers also noticed the Maduro’s government. sage to boats that comply with ing,” he said. “All the ski centres in the cen- erations director at Andacor, Low temperatures and high diff erence from previous years. Asked if the Panama Canal rules on the basis of neutrality. “So when we talk about a de- tral zone are without natural which operates the El Colorado humidity is what’s needed for “You can see that the snow is would continue allowing ves- Under international law, crease of the cover of fi ve to 10%, snow. However, thanks to the and Parque Farellones ski sta- the snow cannons to chug into harder. It’s not very deep, there sels from Venezuela to transit every merchant ship must this probably signifi es a much fabrication of snow we’ve been tions, told AFP. gear and churn out snowfl akes are a lot of stones and snow the waterway following the be registered with a country, greater reduction in the volume able to keep open pistes that El Colorado is 50km from from water. made by the cannons, which latest US sanctions, Panama known as its fl ag state, which of available snow over the Andes.” without this fabrication would Santiago and sits at 2,800m. It This technology has been makes it feel like you’re skiing Canal Authority chief Jorge is responsible for safety and Rising temperatures mean the not have been able to stay open,” pumps out snow whenever the around since 1994, but it’s never on a diff erent type of snow,” said Quijano told reporters that the the crew’s working conditions. snow line - above which snow Fernando Montenegro, the op- conditions allow it. before been in use as much as it Chilean Rado Milosevic, 24. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, August 17, 2019 PAKISTAN Govt orders staff to declare assets by September 1

Internews federal ministries and divisions, submit a certifi cate to the eff ect Discipline) Rules 1973”. of the last annual return. applicable to the employees of tonomous or semi-autonomous Islamabad chief secretaries of the four prov- that such declarations had been The declarations of assets are Under Rule 13 (A) of the said autonomous and semi-autono- entities have also been directed inces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, obtained from all employees un- also required to be placed before rules, the assets of all those who mous bodies and corporations, to forward the cases of only exec- the National Accountability Bu- der their administrative control. the promotion boards in compli- are paid from the government ex- which have adopted the federal utive and supervisory staff with he government of Pakistan reau (NAB) chairman, the Wafaqi The Establishment Division ance with a judgment of the Su- chequer are required to be made government’s basic pay scales in the recommendations of their has directed all federal Mohtasib (ombudsman), the fed- maintains the record of declara- preme Court. public. totality. respective boards for concur- Tministries and institutions eral tax ombudsman, the Elec- tions of assets of offi cers of the Under Rule 12 of the Govern- In a separate order, the min- This will, however, not be ap- rence of the fi nance ministry to and the governments of four tion Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Administrative Service, ment Servants (Conduct) Rules istry of fi nance said the govern- plicable to those public sector the grant of ARA 2019 subject to provinces, Azad Jammu Kash- the Intelligence Bureau, and the the Police Service of Pakistan, 1964, every servant is required, ment had granted ad hoc relief for corporations and autonomous/ the existing conditions with ef- mir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, Auditor-General of Pakistan to the Secretariat Group, and the at the time of entering a govern- the fi scal year 2018-19 at the rate semi-autonomous bodies which fect from July 1, 2019. to submit by September 1 the ensure submission of declara- Offi ce Management Group. ment service, to make a declara- of 10% of basic pay to the man- have adopted diff erent pay scales. Subsequently, on the same declarations of assets held and tions of assets held by govern- The declarations of assets of tion of all immovable and mov- agement grades (M-I, II and III) In case of such organisations, analogy, this benefi t will be al- acquired by their employees dur- ment servants working under all other service groups, includ- able properties, including shares, with eff ect from July 1, 2018 and the grant of ad hoc relief sub- lowed to non-executive/supervi- ing the fi scal year ending June 30, their jurisdictions. ing the Foreign Service and the certifi cates, securities, insurance ad hoc relief at the rate of 5% of ject to existing conditions will sory staff of these bodies with the 2019. It reminded that all the serv- Judicial Service, are maintained policies and jewellery having a basic pay with eff ect from July 1, be allowed with the concurrence approval of their boards. In separate offi ce memoran- ants were required under Rule by their respective ministries, di- total value of Rs50,000 or more, 2019 to the M-III. of the standing committee of Likewise, the government has dums, the government has also 12 of the Government Servants visions and departments. belonging to or held by him/her The amount of ARA will be fi nance division on the recom- also issued a notifi cation of a 25% issued a notifi cation for 15% ad (Conduct) Rules 1964, as well as The Establishment Division or a member of his/her family. admissible during leave, except mendations of the respective increase with eff ect from July 1, hoc relief allowance (ARA) to the administrative instructions is- has recalled that “non-compli- Every government servant is extraordinary leave, and will be boards of directors. 2019 in the rates of special pay offi cers in management grades, sued by the government from ance of these instructions [are] also required to submit annual subject to income tax but not be The grant of ARA 2019 to the admissible to senior private sec- besides extending the benefi t of time to time, to declare their as- tantamount to misconduct in declarations of income, assets treated as part of emoluments for employees of these entities will retaries, private secretaries and 5-10% ARA to selective corpora- sets and liabilities. terms of the Government Serv- and expenses for the fi nancial calculation of pension, gratuity, invariably be tagged with fi nan- assistance private secretaries of tions and autonomous bodies. The administrative heads of ants (Conduct) Rules 1964 and year ending June 30, showing any house rent, etc. cial positions of the organisa- the ministers, ministers of state, The Establishment Division the respective ministries and in- cognisable under the Govern- increase or decrease of property The ministry has also an- tions. parliamentary secretaries and has asked the secretaries of all stitutions have also been asked to ment Servants (Effi ciency and value as shown in the declaration nounced that ARA will also be These corporations and au- additional secretaries.

PM raises Kashmir Seven killed, scores issue Prime Minister Khan: with exchanged views with Trump on the situation in the region, and particularly the Trump situation in Indian-adminis- hurt in mosque blast tered Kashmir. Internews/DPA/Reuters/AFP killed and 13 others wounded in AFP came after Pakistan warned Quetta/Islamabad a bomb explosion in a shoe mar- Islamabad it was ready to respond to any ket near Quetta’s busy Meezan Indian aggression. Chowk. “Today (Khan) has talked to t least seven people have The Baluchistan cabinet had rime Minister Imran President Trump. Views were been killed after an explo- last month vowed to bring ter- Khan spoke to US Presi- exchanged on the situation in Asion rocked a madrassa rorists and their facilitators to Pdent Donald Trump the region and particularly the located in Kuchlak area, on the justice, and said that such at- about his concerns over the situation in Occupied Kash- outskirts of Quetta, local police tacks could not weaken the de- situation in disputed Kashmir mir,” said Foreign Minister said. termination of the government region, Islamabad’s foreign Shah Mehmood Qureshi dur- More than 20 people have been against terrorists and their mas- minister said, ahead of a UN ing a press conference. wounded in the blast, which took ters. Security Council meeting to Trump and Khan also dis- place after Friday prayers. Baluchistan is Pakistan’s larg- discuss the issue. cussed Afghanistan, where the They have been shifted to the est and most volatile province, The call comes a day after at US is engaged in talks with the Quetta Civil Hospital. sharing borders with both Af- least fi ve people were killed in Taliban, and pledged to remain Kuchlak, an impoverished, ghanistan and Iran and frequent- cross-border fi re between In- in constant contact moving sleepy town located on a highway ly targeted by Islamist militants, dia and Pakistan, amid height- forward, the minister added. leading to neighbouring Afghan- sectarian groups and sub-na- ened tensions between the nu- During a meeting with Khan istan outside the city, is allegedly tionalist rebels. clear-armed rivals since New in July, Trump said that Modi the headquarters of Afghan Tali- The province is key to the Chi- Delhi ended the autonomous had asked him to help mediate ban’s Quetta Shura in Pakistan. na-Pakistan Economic Corridor status of the portion of Kash- the Kashmir dispute – a claim Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper (CPEC), part of Beijing’s Belt and mir it administers. Delhi strenuously denied. put the death toll at fi ve. Road initiative. Skirmishes are frequent India has always insisted The imam of the mosque con- The CPEC seeks to connect across the so-called Line of the Kashmir issue can only be nected to the seminary, located China’s western province of Xin- Control (LoC) that divides the resolved bilaterally with Paki- 25km from Quetta, was killed in jiang with the Pakistani port of territory, but the latest deaths stan. the explosion, police said. Gwadar, giving Beijing access to “The blast was carried out the Arabian Sea. through a timed device that was Meanwhile, the brother of the 33 deaths, 5,500 injuries in Punjab planted under the wooden chair leader of the Afghan Taliban was of the prayer leader,” said Quetta among the seven people killed road accidents during Eid holiday police chief Abdul Razzaq Chee- in the bomb blast, two Taliban ma. sources told Reuters. As many as 33 people reportedly died and more than 5,500 others No group has claimed respon- The latest blast comes as the injured in 4,677 road accidents in Punjab during three Eid days. sibility for the blast. Taliban and the United States are Most deaths and injuries were reported on August 14, when many “The death toll could increase in the fi nal stages of negotiations rode on bicycles and motorcycles across Punjab to observe as some of the victims were seri- on an agreement letting America Independence Day. ously injured,” Shafqat Janjua, a end its longest war and withdraw According to the report released by Punjab Emergency Service, police offi cial. its troops from neighbouring Af- 80% of the total deaths and injuries were of bikers. TV footage showed the blast ghanistan. It stated that of the total deaths, 15 occurred in various accidents on caused extensive damage to the Taliban leader Haibatul- Independence Day. walls and ceiling of the seminary. lah Akhundzada was not in the Similarly, out of total victims, 2,048 were injured the same day. This is the fourth explosion mosque when the bomb went off The report further stated that most accidents – 915 – occurred in that has taken place in Quetta but his younger brother, Hafi z the provincial capital Lahore during the three days of Eid al-Adha. over the past four weeks. Ahmadullah, was among those The police experts believed that one of the major reasons behind On July 23, a blast had oc- killed. fatal and other accidents was rash driving to reach destinations in curred in the Eastern Bypass The Taliban leader’s son was a hurry. area, which left four people dead wounded, one of the sources They said bike driving without safety measures like helmets and and 32 injured. said. violation of traff ic signals were other reasons, besides driving by On July 30, another attack The mosque was known to be teens and untrained drivers. took place near a police station in visited by members of the Af- They said the main blame for the high accident rate fell on the which fi ve people were killed and ghan Taliban, the sources said. parents who allowed their kids to take vehicles to roads. 30 others were injured. Pakistani police did not con- Similarly, they said, the dangerous trend of wheelie (riding with the The banned Tehreek-e-Tali- fi rm the identity of the victims. front wheel/tyre off the ground), skidding, fast driving and other ban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed One of the Taliban sources, stunts by young men on motorbikes were other main reasons for responsibility for that blast. who was at the site after the accidents. Last week, a man belonging to blast, said security at the mosque Rescue 1122 also responded to 77 fire incidents in Punjab during the Shia Hazara community was was always very tight. Security off icials examine the blast site at a mosque in the town of Kuchlak, southwest Quetta. these days, with most of them reported in Lahore.

Strategy to boost exports Ban on plastic fails to bag its intended goal in Islamabad of horticulture The Pakistan Horticulture Internews to halt the trade and use of plastic bags. Thereafter, she said that a spe- Change Aslam had said that “around Development and Export Islamabad Plastic bags continued to be in use in cial campaign has been devised and 80% of the drains across the country Company (PHDEC) is working on the federal capital, a day after the ban launched by the Prime Minister are choked due to plastic bags and are a comprehensive plan to enhance was supposed to have gone into eff ect. House, which will sensitise the public a potential cause of urban fl ooding and exports of fruits and vegetables hile the federal capital Is- Meanwhile, the chief environment about the hazards of polythene bags various diseases among the masses”. to $1 billion mark within the next lamabad celebrated freedom body in the federal capital, Pakistan so that they can be eradicated with the The River Indus is now the sec- three years. Wfrom British rule with zeal Environmental Protection Agency public’s support. ond most plastic-polluted river in the The five products identified by this week, the city failed to fully win (Pak-EPA) director-general Farzana The idea for banning plastics from world, behind only the Yangtze River PHDEC are kinno (mandarin), back its freedom from the vicious grip Altaf said that they have formed four the federal capital was raised in a in China, according to a study by Ger- mangoes, dates, onion, and of plastics, with polythene bags seen teams to ensure implementation of the meeting of a Senate panel in February. many’s Helmholtz Environmental Re- potatoes. trading hands and dangling from the ban on polythene bags. Later, it was backed by the climate search Centre. “We have almost finalised the hands of shoppers in various markets “People will see action very soon,” change ministry. Minister of State for Climate Change marketing strategy for promoting of the federal capital. she said, adding that the Pak-EPA In July, the federal cabinet approved Wazir had suggested introducing a tax exports of these products until The government had imposed a teams will be comprised of offi cials a motion to ban the use of plastic bags on the use of plastic bags ranging from 2021-22,” a senior off icer of the complete ban on polythene bags in the from the environment watchdog, the in the ICT. Ra1 to Rs2 to discourage the use of toxic ministry of commerce said. federal capital from August 14. climate change ministry, the Capital A Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) plastic as part of their ban. In the year 2019-20, horticulture Announcements in this regard have Development Authority (CDA), the to ban plastic bags in the ICT was sup- Earlier this month the Islamabad exports will be increased to been made over the past few months Islamabad Municipal Corporation posed to come into force from August High Court (IHC) refused to grant a $800mn from the current by the district administration, the (IMC), and the Islamabad Capital Ter- 14, which allowed the conditional use stay order on the imposition of the $700mn, reflecting an increase environmental agencies and even top ritory (ICT) administration. of polythene bags for specifi c purposes ban. of 14.28%. government offi cials, including the These teams, the Pak-EPA chief such as industrial packing, primary The ban had been challenged by The PHDEC is a public sector Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cli- said, will raid stores across the city. industry packing, municipal packing, plastic bag manufacturers, claiming organisation established by mate Change Amin Aslam and Minis- Noting that the action will be hospital waste and hazardous waste that ban imposed on the manufacture, the ministry of commerce ter of State for Climate Change Zartaj phase-wise, Altaf said that in the fi rst after due permission from the compe- import, sale, purchase, storage and us- as the Pakistan Horticulture Gul Wazir. phase, they will target the wholesal- tent authority. age of plastic bags in the federal capital Development Board in 2002, This file picture shows a trader displaying However, in the absence of feasible ers of plastic bags in a bid to cut off the After the cabinet’s decision, Ad- by the Pak-EPA, was unconstitutional later converted into a Section-42 plastic bags for sale. alternatives, the authorities have failed supply of plastic bags to markets. viser to the Prime Minister on Climate because it violated their basic rights. company in 2009. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 13 PHILIPPINES

Free Wi-Fi programme draws crowds Probe against two cabinet members in ‘fi nal stage’

By Catherine S Valente an interview on dzBB radio. about it so let’s them give The Manila Times The PACC official said that time to answer the allega- the commission still has to tions against them,” Belgica study the findings before said. “They should answer, he Presidential An- they would submit a report then send evidence to prove ti-Corruption Com- to the president. their innocence, then we will T mission (PACC) is in “It means that the inves- appreciate the evidence that the final stage of its inves- tigating team will forward they sent and look at the evi- tigation into allegations of the findings to us. That’s the dence against them and then corruption against the two investigators’ appreciation. we will draw our own con- members of President Ro- It doesn’t mean that we will clusions,” he added. drigo Duterte’s cabinet, its carry it as a whole,” he said, Meanwhile, Palace spokesman said yesterday. when asked if there was evi- spokesman Salvador Panelo In a radio interview, PACC dence against the two cabi- said Duterte would wait for Commissioner Greco Belgica net officials. the result of the investiga- said the investigators were Belgica on Wednesday tion initiated by the PACC. now just finalising the “pen- announced the two cabi- “That’s the job of the alties” that may be slapped net officials were under in- PACC. We will await its final on the two cabinet members. vestigation over corruption report and recommendation “Actually, it’s almost fin- complaints filed early this on the matter,” Panelo said. ished. I checked the other year. “When the investigation is day, they’re just discuss- He, however, yesterday done that’s the time he will Students gather at a kiosk that doubles as a Wi-Fi and charging booth at the Andres Bonifacio Monument near the Manila City ing the penalties and then again refused to name the decide on its recommenda- Hall. Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Domagoso launched the free Wi-Fi programme. The kiosk, named ‘Iskonek,’ is powered by Eastern they will submit it to the concerned officials amid a tion. He doesn’t interfere Communications and can serve 100 users. commission for our dispo- pending investigation. with the work of the PACC,” sition,” Belgica said during “The public will know he added. House bill Cam ready to reveal sets sights corruption in agency on standard

By Catherine S Valente were also submitted to President “We are interested to hear The Manila Times Rodrigo Duterte when they met what she has to (say) to us, not to ATM fee in Tokyo, Japan in May. take it as the truth, but to inves- “President Duterte and I tigate and allow it to go through hilippine Charity Sweep- met in Tokyo. He asked me the process,” he added. The Manila Times withdrawal and fund transfer. stakes Offi ce (PCSO) di- for proof. I then gave him the The PACC is currently in- Manila “Banks with ATM facilities Prector Sandra Cam has documents that proved that vestigating some 15 officials should serve the public and said she was ready to “spill the there is corruption in PCSO. of the PCSO. On July 26, the spare them from unnecessary beans” on the supposed corrup- He then asked me to hand president stopped all gaming awmakers of Bay- trouble or anxiety by imposing tion in the agency. over these documents to Sen. operations of the PCSO, cit- an Muna have fi led a at least a standard rate of ATM She said she would disclose (Christopher Lawrence) ‘Bong’ ing “massive corruption” in Lbill seeking to regu- transaction fees and charges,” the names of those allegedly in- Go and the latter gave these the agency. late transaction fees amid a Bayan Muna said in its explan- volved in corruption if she was documents to Commissioner The suspension on the op- looming increase in charges atory note. called to a congressional inquiry. Belgica, who is in charge of the eration of the more popular lotto for withdrawing cash from “With diff erent ATM trans- “Philippine Presidential Anti- investigation,” Cam said. was lifted on July 30 after Mala- Automated Teller Machines action fees and charges, ATM Crime and Corruption (PACC) She added that she had ad- canang found no irregularities in (ATMs). users often get confused as to Commissioner Greco Belgica ditional information she would its operation. Bayan Muna Reps. Car- the remaining balance of their already has in his possession all disclose either before the Senate Gaming schemes such as the los Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, bank accounts after making a the documents to prove cor- or the House of Representatives. Peryahan ng Bayan, small town and Eufema Cullamat fi led transaction or series of trans- ruption in Philippine Charity On Wednesday, Belgica said lottery and keno, however, re- House Bill 4019, which aims actions. Worse, some ATM Sweepstakes Offi ce since May he would ask Cam to substanti- main suspended pending the to standardise ATM transac- users are not informed of the 2019,” Cam said. ate her allegations of corruption results of an investigation into tions and require disclosing of fee or charge imposed or auto- These documents, she said, at the PCSO. alleged corruption. Cam: set for disclosure these fees on ATM screens and matically deducted from their monitors prior to the comple- bank account,” it added. tion of any transaction. Makati City Rep. Luis Cam- Under the bill, an interbank pos Jr said yesterday that the transaction will cost not more Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas than P5, while an intrabank (BSP) has a Financial Con- Gaming operators blamed for rise in kidnappings transaction and balance in- sumer Protection Department quiry will be free of charge. that could disclose the names Aside from balance inquiry, of the banks who petitioned The Manila Times render their passports. The lenders would passport in the guise of helping her renew such transactions covered by to impose higher fees on their Manila get 20 to 30% of the winnings as a com- her expired tourist visa. She was threat- the measure include deposit, customers. mission. If the victim loses, he or she is ened with deportation if she failed to pay detained and tortured. A video will then P15,000. he police has attributed the in- be sent to their families to demand pay- The AKG said it had stepped up its op- creasing number of abductions ment through wire transfer in exchange erations and intensifi ed its co-ordination ‘Ineligible’ contractors received NIA deals Tinvolving Chinese to the infl ux of for their release. with other agencies in the resolution of Philippine Off shore Gaming Operators Such was the case on Thursday night cases. The National Irrigation Admin- with the lowest bids. But these (POGOs). when four Chinese were arrested in Pasay Defence Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana istration (NIA) awarded 106 contractors did not pass the The Philippine National Police’s Anti- City for kidnapping a fellow Chinese. also expressed concern over the operation contracts to “ineligible” contrac- eligibility requirements due to Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) said since Qion Hui, Tan Shengtao, Luo Kaisi and of POGOs near military camps. tors, the Commission on Audit incomplete documents and 2017, recorded 52 cases of casino-related Fei Pu were arrested for illegally detaining Lorenzana cited POGO operations near (CoA) said in its audit report on questionable availability of kidnappings, mostly by Chinese, and 119 Samuel Chang at Resorts World Manila. Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and Vil- NIA for 2018 and 2017, Manila resources. Chinese kidnappers were arrested. The abductors threatened to kill Chang if lamor Air Base in Pasay City. Times reported. There were also inadequate As of June 9 this year, 56 licensed POG- Delfin Lorenzana: concerned he did not pay back the money loaned to “There are a lot of people going there. Based on the audit report, the evaluation procedures during Os are operating in the country, which him. Chang managed to get help, which It’s very easy for these people to shift their P4.3bn contracts were awarded the bidding itself. employ an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 in a wicked business of loan sharking in- led to the arrest of the suspects. activities to spying, if there will be people by NIA’s central off ice and In one observation, there was Chinese. side the casino premises,” the PNP-AKG Meanwhile, in Makati City, four Chi- who will spy. So, it’s just quick for them to seven regional off ices. a “failure to post perform- “In recent years, the upsurge of hotel said in a statement. nese were also arrested for extortion. make such a shift,” he told reporters. These contracts were awarded ance security (PS) by the and casino leisure in the Philippines, led It added that kidnappers lure their vic- Police identifi ed them as Zhang Xu, Liyu PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles by the Bids and Awards Com- awarded contractors within the to the infl ux of Chinese and other foreign tims to play in casinos by off ering them Han, Xhou JurFeng and Leng Shung. earlier expressed his opposition to the mittee (BAC) and Technical prescribed period/prior to the nationals in the country. This invites the money and accommodation on condition The victim, Wang Jiangwen, fi led a setting up of POGO facilities near military Working Group to contractors signing of the contract.” syndicates with criminal mind to involve that they sign a promissory note and sur- complaint after the suspects took her headquarters. Go favours resumption of peace talks with rebels

The Manila Times students. “Children are being to recruit and indoctrinate stroyed. Now that they decide Manila brainwashed in school and they students to join the rebellion to return to the fold of the law, become angry with the gov- against the government. we will guarantee that they will ernment. We should look into Ano urged “disillusioned” not feel abandoned,” Ano said. enator Christopher Law- this,” he said. members of the New People’s The DILG chief added that rence “Bong” Go favours Justice Secretary Menardo Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed laws should be strengthened so Sthe resumption of peace Guevarra earlier said amend- wing, to surrender, vowing that that the government could put talks with communist rebels ing and giving more teeth to the they would not be abandoned an end to active communist re- over the revival of the Anti-Sub- Human Security Act would be by the government. cruitment in schools and facto- version Law. enough to curb the communist “The NPA does not care ries and among farmers. “I am not in favour of reviv- insurgency. about the welfare of its mem- Ano said for next year, ing the Anti-Subversion Law “Mere membership in the bers. They are just mere dis- P121mn would be allotted for because I am for the resump- (CPP) is not a crime unless pensable pawns in the CPP- the Enhanced-Comprehensive tion of peace talks with the overt criminal acts are com- NPA-NDF’s senseless advocacy Local Integration Programme communist party,” he said yes- mitted,” Guevarra said. to overthrow the government (E-Clip) — a programme for terday. The Department of the In- through armed struggle,” Ano surrendering communist rebels Reviving the Anti-Subver- terior and Local Government said yesterday, two days after that include the giving of liveli- sion Law, Go added, could un- (DILG) is determined to have former NPA rebels showed up hood, medical, educational and dermine peace talks since it the Anti-Subversion Law re- at the Senate and recalled their housing assistance. would outlaw the Communist vived. The law was repealed in experiences with the rebel “We are allotting millions of Party of the Philippines (CPP) 1992 by then-President Fidel group. NDF refers to the Na- pesos for (former rebels) for we and its affiliated organisations, Ramos. tional Democratic Front. believe in reconciliation and including party-list groups. Local Government Secre- “These stories only substan- redemption,” he added. Despite his disagreement, Go tary Eduardo Ano proposed its tiate NPA’s deceitfulness and Since 2018, 2,129 former expressed concern about the revival amid reports of left- lies. They were students when rebels have been given assist- influence of leftist groups on ist groups infiltrating schools recruited, their future was de- ance through E-Clip. Christopher Go: seeking dialogue Gulf Times 14 Saturday, August 17, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor Amjad Khan

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 Combating violence by white nationalists 2020 White House contenders Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. in the United States After the shooting rampage in El Paso, allegedly by a man who Growing worries Warren and railed against the “Hispanic invasion of Texas,” even President Donald Trump felt obliged to acknowledge that racism, bigotry and white supremacy are “sinister ideologies” that “must be defeated.” Trump was only confi rming what law enforcement offi cials realised long ago: Violent white supremacists pose a major threat Sanders will split leftist vote comparable to that presented by foreign terrorists and their US sympathisers. By James Oliphant for Sanders and Warren would eclipse had Sanders in second place by a wide end of the primaries. Legislation was introduced in Congress in March that calls for Des Moines, Iowa Biden’s buttresses progressives’ margin over Warren. But Warren may have appeal to the establishment of domestic terrorism units in the Justice and arguments that the party is lurching Sanders “can make a case for himself women, particularly college-educated Homeland Security departments and the FBI. But some have leftward. at this juncture how he is a unique can- women, that Sanders cannot match. called for a more sweeping new law to ensure that the FBI could t rallies at the Iowa State Fair “They are a 1-2 punch and they are didate without denigrating others,” said “I am sick and tired of men running investigate domestic terrorism as aggressively as it does terrorism last week, 2020 White House having a gravitational pull on the rest of his campaign manager Faiz Shakir. the world,” said Janet Caldwell, 66, of contenders Elizabeth Warren the fi eld,” said Adam Green, co-founder Warren’s campaign declined to com- Washington, Iowa. with international connections. Congress needs to proceed and Bernie Sanders drew rau- of the Progressive Change Campaign ment for this story. Sanders’ campaign in fact views Bi- cautiously on any such proposals. A cous crowds who chanted their names, Committee (PCCC), an advocacy group Watching Sanders at the state fair den as their primary challenge, because Domestic terrorism motivated by racial or religious hatred is waved signs and cheered at their every that supports Warren. on Sunday, Alexis Johnson, 33, of Des both are courting the kind of working- undoubtedly a pressing problem. Michael C McGarrity, the FBI’s pledge. Two dozen Democrats are compet- Moines, said beating Trump was her top class voters and union voters who assistant director for counterterrorism, told the House Homeland Friends and liberal standard bear- ing to secure their party’s nomination priority as a voter and expressed little gravitated to Trump in 2016. Security Committee in May that “there have been more arrests ers of the Democratic Party, the two and battle Republican President Donald enthusiasm for Warren. Biden did little in Iowa to boost his and deaths caused by domestic terrorists than international US senators espouse many of the same Trump in the November 2020 general “It’s going to Bernie or Biden, I feel status as a front-runner. terrorists in recent years” and that racially motivated extremists causes: universal healthcare, taking on election. like,” she said. “And Bernie’s my man.” He made several gaffes, including Wall Street, and raising the minimum Sanders and Warren insist they are Misty Cornelius, 38, of Des Moines, when he said in a speech that “poor were responsible for “the wage. friends, not rivals. was sporting a Sanders tattoo on her kids are just as bright and just as most lethal incidents.” Both candidates also have robust, And they have so far stayed true to chest at the fair, but she said Warren talented as white kids” — a sensitive Congress and It’s also true that, while well-funded campaigns and strong their pledge not to turn on each other might be a better choice against Trump. slip-up in an election where race is in federal law contains a claims on this state, which holds the for political gain, as moderate candi- “Bernie has been stigmatised,” she the spotlight. the nation must defi nition of domestic fi rst Democratic presidential nominat- dates warn that their reformist agenda said. “Warren is a fresh face.” Also waiting in the wings in Iowa is deplore terrorist terrorism, there is no statute ing contest in February. will only ensure Trump’s re-election. Despite sharing many of the same US Senator Kamala Harris of Califor- that makes all domestic That has some voters preoccu- In Iowa, which has an outsized role talking points, the two are noticeably nia, who ranked third in the state in the in picking presidential nominees, there diff erent on the stump. Monmouth poll with 11% support. terrorism a federal off ence pied with a question: is Iowa, or the acts by white presidential fi eld in general, big enough are signs that Warren could be chipping Drawing upon her working-class After Iowa, Sanders and Warren will with prescribed penalties. for two popular progressives running away at some of Sanders’ long-held Oklahoma roots, Warren casts herself as clash in New Hampshire, which holds nationalists as But Congress could run into head-to-head, or is there a risk that support on the left. a sort of prairie populist, while Sanders the fi rst Democratic primary later in constitutional problems if it they could split the vote on the left, to A recent poll by Monmouth Univer- talks more in terms of leading a “move- February. much as they do seeks to combat suspected the benefi t of a centrist such as former sity of Iowa Democrats showed Warren ment.” Many Warren voters, like Mather of domestic terrorism using the vice president Joe Biden? in second place with 21% of the vote, There is evidence too that the two do Richmond, fear Sanders will not yield acts of violence same legal tools employed “Of course it concerns me,” said trailing Biden by just seven percentage not chase the same kind of voters. if his fellow senator continues to gain against foreign terrorist Sherma Mather, 50, who was visiting points. Patrick Murray, the polling direc- momentum. committed the fair from Richmond, Virginia, to Sanders had dropped to 9% in the tor at Monmouth, said while “there is Right now, the foremost concern of groups. Besides, it’s not clear support Warren. state, according to the poll. ideological overlap,” Warren’s recent the two campaigns is not to siphon sup- by foreign that the laws already on the Although the fi eld is unsettled Advisers to Sanders on Monday surge has her pulling support away from port off the other. books prevent the FBI from with the Iowa caucuses still nearly six said the survey was flawed on the virtually every other candidate, not just Instead, they both want to convince extremists aggressively investigating months away, early opinion polls have grounds his supporters were under- Sanders. large swaths of voters that a progressive violent white supremacists consistently shown Biden in the lead sampled. “Sanders has core support that will Democrat can win the election against or other domestic terrorists, or that they unduly hamper the US with either Sanders, of Vermont, or Nationally, the news is better for not desert him,” Murray said. Trump, the PCCC’s Green said. Justice Department in prosecuting them. Warren, of Massachusetts, in second him, with Sanders and Warren basically That grassroots support led Sand- “Many ‘electability voters’ are parked David Cole, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties place. neck-and-neck behind Biden. ers in 2016 to battle the eventual in Joe Biden’s column,” Green said, “but The fact that combining support The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll nominee Hillary Clinton to the very that perception is changing.” – Reuters Union, told The New York Times that proposals for a new domestic terrorism law “tend either to be duplicative of laws that already exist or expansive in ways that violate 1st Amendment rights of speech and association.” An analysis by the Brennan Centre for Justice at New York University Law School notes that “there are already dozens of federal statutes carrying severe penalties that are available to investigators and prosecutors pursuing these crimes.” Social policy starts at home Those who are calling for a new domestic terrorism statute say there are still gaps in federal law. If so, Congress should fi gure out By Shahra Razavi a large share are extended households, This signifi cantly reduces women’s – such investment is needed even if what they are in a deliberative way. New York which include, for example, aunts, uncles, access to independent income. Only unpaid work is more equally shared But Congress needs to recognise that some approaches to the or grandparents. About a quarter of all about half of married or cohabiting within households. investigation of foreign terrorism raise constitutional questions households are either single-parent or women aged 25-54 are in the labour A second key priority must be to when applied to domestic activities. olitical economy has come a single-person. force, compared to nearly all married or deliver comprehensive social protections, Some advocates of new legislation admit that their purpose is long way. Many fi gures and Moreover, while marriage remains cohabiting men. And whereas the pres- including paid leave – which enables par- institutions that have long em- virtually universal in some parts of the ence of young children in the household ents to care for children without becom- to send a message that Congress and the nation deplore terrorist braced neoliberalism increas- world, it is becoming less common in decreases women’s employment rates, ing disconnected from the labour market acts by white nationalists as much as they do acts of violence P ingly recognise the failures of markets others, with even long-term partners it increases that of men. – and income support. Family benefi ts, committed by foreign extremists. That is an important message, and acknowledge that states may have a often choosing to cohabitate before An independent income strengthens such as childcare allowances, mitigate the and one that Trump has been shamefully slow to embrace. role to play in improving socioeconomic or instead of getting married. In some women’s bargaining power, enables heightened risk of poverty that accompa- But legislation is about more than symbolism; it has practical outcomes. Even the International Mon- countries in Latin America, Southern them to exit abusive relationships, and nies childrearing. Single parents should consequences. etary Fund now discusses the “macro- Africa, and Europe, up to three-quar- provides security in old age. Moreover, receive additional support. The best way to demonstrate that the federal government is criticality” of social protection, the ters of women aged 25-29 who are in the share of women earning an inde- Meanwhile, universal pensions can serious about terrorism by white nationalists, anti-Semites and need for progressive taxation, and, relationships are cohabiting with their pendent income is inversely correlated support women – who are likely to have potentially, universal transfers. partners. to the share of households in poverty. fewer savings and assets than men, but other bigots is for the Justice Department and the FBI to make But the conversation – which focuses All of this has important policy im- As the Danish sociologist Gøsta Esping- live longer – in old age. The establish- full use of the ample authority they already have. – Tribune News almost exclusively on co-ordination plications. Given their greater longev- Andersen put it, “The single most eff ec- ment of accessible long-term care Service between state and market – remains too ity, women over 60 are twice as likely tive remedy against poverty is maternal services and reform of marital-property narrow to produce eff ective solutions. as men of the same age group to be employment.” regimes would also help. Finally, to For that, as a new report by UN Women living on their own, often subsisting on To enhance women’s economic protect women’s rights to joint assets, shows, social factors – especially the a meagre pension and/or little, if any, autonomy, the fi rst priority must be to social benefi ts, and child custody, To Advertise role of families and gender equality – savings. invest in care systems, including early family laws and social policies must must also be included. Furthermore, single-parent house- childhood education and care (ECEC). recognise cohabitation, rather than just [email protected] These two factors are inextricably holds – more than three-quarters of This is particularly urgent in develop- marriage. Display linked, with gender inequalities being which are headed by single moth- ing countries, where the gap between By designing a policy package around heavily reinforced by family dynamics, ers – are, on average, twice as likely as the supply of childcare services and the needs of contemporary families, 44466621 44418811 in a way that, say, racial inequalities are dual-parent households to be living in demand for such services is largest, political leaders can promote women’s not. The problem is compounded by the poverty. Single parents often struggle owing to the relatively small childcare rights, children’s development, and Classified fact that outdated assumptions about to balance paid work with their care workforce. employment. The same policies would 44466609 44418811 families and gender dynamics continue responsibilities. Beyond enabling women to pursue therefore be a boon to economic dyna- to shape social and economic policy- But even in dual-parent and higher- economic opportunities, quality, af- mism and poverty reduction. – Project Subscription making. income households, women face sig- fordable childcare helps to fuel job crea- Syndicate As it stands, only about one-third of all nifi cant challenges in juggling paid work tion (within the care sector) and build [email protected] households adhere to the “ideal” family and unpaid care work. Globally, women human capital (particularly among the O Shahra Razavi is Chief of the structure (two parents with children) on perform over 76% of unpaid caregiving, children who benefi t from it). Given Research and Data Section and Research which policies are typically based. Among on average – more than three times as this – as well as the time commitment Director of the Progress of the World’s © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the two-thirds that take a diff erent form, much as men. that paid work represents for all genders Women reports at UN Women. Gulf Times Saturday, August 17, 2019 15 COMMENT ‘Kolams’ help women set up businesses

By Anuradha Nagaraj “Now when I am drawing this map “It was at one of these mother group Tirucharapalli, India and we are discussing it, I can see why meetings that the question of regular my tailoring shop didn’t take off .” she income was discussed by the women,” said. “Location matters so much and said Radhakrishnan of CFCA, which utside her house in south that is something I am now beginning facilitates the meetings. India, Maria Victor em- to understand.” “The need to understand the chal- barks on a decades-old Both Robert and Victor have no lenges led to the idea of the maps, Omorning ritual that has sustained income and said they spent which has slowly resulted in fl ourish- turned into a key planning tool for many days a month worrying where ing jobs.” impoverished women running small the next meal would come from. When Savariyammal’s group first enterprises. Victor tried selling home made drew their community resource map, Before her family wakes up, she soaps and cleaning products where she the distance of 12km between her sweeps her doorstep, splashes water worked and in her village but never home and the nearest market stood to settle the dust and sits down with made a profi t. out. a box of rice fl our to draw a kolam, a At the end of a one-month process “All of us were travelling to town to traditional drawing found across south of “memorising and mapping” her buy our essentials at least once a week India thought to bring prosperity to neighbourhood, Victor now has a few and it took us half a day to go, shop homes. ideas that may work. and come back,” said Savariyammal, Over the past year, Victor has used “I have cows and hens and usually between attending to a steady fl ow of her skill of drawing a sequence of dots sell my produce to traders who come customers at her shop. and deftly making geometric patterns home and buy from me,” Victor said. “The map made me see that there around them to draw maps that are “But now when I look at the map we was no grocery story anywhere in my helping women in Tamil Nadu state to have drawn, I see that selling directly neighbourhood and I decided to start identify lucrative locations to set up at the wholesale market might get me one.” businesses. a better price. The map shows me the Taking a loan from her self-help “Just like our beautiful kolams, we market is really not as far as I imagined group, Savariyammal opened her shop also draw beautiful maps,” said Victor, it to be.” with just a few basic essentials. who works as a daily labourer. Distance has been a big considera- Three years later, she now stocks “We observe every single detail on tion for both women. vegetables, stationery, groceries and the streets near our homes, making Like many Indian women, they are anything else her customers demand. notes of the shops, tea stalls, water not keen on taking jobs far from home Like her, the map helped Jaya Bharati points, temples and everything,” she due to safety fears, leaving them with a open her tailoring shop in a neighbour- said. “Then we draw it on the ground limited options. hood with schools and hostels to meet and understand what we have and “Most of these women are illiterate a steady demand for uniforms and what we don’t.” and dependent on daily wages to sur- clothes. The kolam inspired maps are now Women drawing a community map using the kolam art form in Ayyampatty in southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. vive,” said Indhumathi Radhakrishnan, Devi, who goes by one name, makes a ready reckoner for thousands of a co-ordinator with the CFCA. disinfectant from home. women, all budding entrepreneurs The aim of the maps, made in were held by women. in tailoring but she works on a “Drawing kolams comes naturally The mapping helped her take trapped in low paying jobs, to decide schoolyards, often over weekends, is “The fi rst response from many government-run rural jobs guarantee to them and they have used that eff ec- her products to small companies in which business to start or where to set to ensure a steady income to provide women when you ask them what they programme, which off ers work at the tively to understand the surroundings the area and her business suddenly up shop. for the families, a challenge faced by do is ‘nothing’,” said Nitya Nangalia of minimum wage for 100 days a year. they live in. The maps show them the boomed, like Savariyammal’s. Complete with pie charts on millions of women working in the Self-Employed Women’s Association She also sells milk and works as a ground reality and future possibilities.” “Business is not bad,” Savariyammal exports and imports from the vil- informal sector. (SEWA) Bharat, an umbrella organisa- day labourer to ensure there is a steady Roselin Savariyammal’s grocery said, smiling. lage, the maps have helped more In India, an estimated 80% of wom- tion of India’s largest trade union of income to bring up her three daugh- store is easy to spot, bang on the high- “I still go to the town market, but than 5,000 women earn a sustain- en workers toil in the informal sector, informal women workers. ters. way connecting the cities of Tiruch- now only to buy things for my shop. able income in six districts of Tamil with no scope for better-paid work and “That means they don’t even iden- “I tried setting up a tailoring busi- irappalli to Dindigul and a stone’s I recently added a small fridge and Nadu, according to the Community little job security or legal protection, tify themselves as workers even though ness, but it didn’t take off ,” Robert told throw from her village home. am selling milk, curd and soft drinks Foundation for Children and Aging labour rights campaigners say. they are doing multiple jobs. the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Like most mothers in her self-help as well. I chose the right place to set (CFCA), an Indian affiliate of US According to the private Centre for That is the starting point in a long taking a break from drawing a com- group, she was going with her husband up my shop and it has turned things charity Unbound, which supports the Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), journey to become entrepreneurs.” munity map at a school in Ayyampatty to work at construction sites or gov- around for me.” – Thomson Reuters mapping project. 90% of around 10mn jobs lost last year Vimala Robert, 41, has a diploma in Tiruchirappalli district. ernment run job sites. Foundation

Image crisis for Trudeau Three-day forecast TODAY other pollster. “Will Justin Trudeau have Maximum Temperature : 430c Reuters Minimum Temperature : 340c Ottawa enough time to absorb this set back?” The election is set for Oct 21. SUNDAY “(Trudeau) promised he would be Maximum Temperature : 400c anadian Liberal Prime Min- diff erent. Instead, we now know, beyond Minimum Temperature : 310c ister Justin Trudeau’s already a shadow of a doubt, that Justin Trudeau MONDAY tough re-election bid got is not as advertised,” Scheer said. Maximum Temperature : 380c Ctougher this week when the Trudeau has stuck to his guns, say- Minimum Temperature : 320c country’s ethics watchdog delivered ing he was seeking to prevent potential Fisherman's forecast a scathing rebuke less than 10 weeks job losses at SNC-Lavalin that could before the October vote. arise out of a costly trial. WARNING Inshore : Strong wind expected Independent ethics commissioner “I won’t apologise for being there at some places by Mario Dion on Wednesday said Tru- to defend Canadian jobs. It’s my job as afternoon deau improperly pressured his former prime minister to defend those jobs,” attorney general to spare engineering he repeated yesterday in Fredricton, Offshore : Nil WEATHER fi rm SNC-Lavalin Group from a cor- New Brunswick, where he announced Inshore : Misty at some places ruption trial. an C$11.4mn investment in fl ood pro- by early morning tection for the city. becomes hot daytime The scandal, which fi rst erupted in with slight dust at times, February, helped catapult Trudeau’s For Trudeau, it was business as and some clouds Conservative rival, Andrew Scheer, to usual, which in the summer before an the top in polls for several months. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about a watchdog’s report that election means making almost daily Offshore : Fine Recently, with no new developments he breached ethics rules by trying to influence a corporate legal case regarding federal funding announcements in WIND or headlines, Liberal Party support was SNC-Lavalin, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday. districts the Liberals hope to pick up. Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- recovering. Frank Graves, president of EKOS ly 10-20/24 KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 08-18/21 But Wednesday’s 63-page report, top asset — the prime minister’s It’s too early for pollsters to measure Research Associates polling company, KT chock full of new details about the brand,” said Darrell Bricker, head the damage, but before the report most said that it is possible that the eff ects Visibility : 4-8/3 KM saga, provides fresh ammunition of polling company Ipsos Public polls had Scheer slightly leading or of the ethics report will be limited to Scheer and further undermines Aff airs.”It’s what won the last election. tied with Trudeau, while the Liberals because Canadians have already had Offshore : 2-4/6 FT Trudeau’s narrative, which is that he is He IS their strategy.” were gaining momentum in the prov- time to digest the scandal, but polls Around the region a young and dynamic progressive on a Konrad Yakabuski, a columnist for inces key to winning a parliamentary will provide an accurate picture of the Weather Weather mission to “do things diff erently” and the Globe and Mail — the country’s majority — Ontario and Quebec. damage in a couple weeks. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min more transparently in Ottawa. most infl uential newspaper — was “It really comes down to a matter “It will put some wind in the sails Baghdad Sunny 42/27 Sunny 43/28 “The big issue for the Liberal Party more blunt: “Mr Trudeau may not get of timing,” said Shachi Kurl, executive of the Conservative attack plan, and Kuwait City Sunny 44/31 Sunny 43/31 of Canada is that this undercuts their a second term.” director of the Angus Reid Institute, an- Trudeau will take a hit,” Graves said. Manama Sunny 38/32 Sunny 38/31 Muscat Sunny 34/28 Sunny 33/27 Tehran Sunny 36/23 Sunny 36/23 Live issues In-fl ight reminders

By Barbara Quinn known as dietary fi bre is one essential The Monterey County Herald food component guaranteed to make you more comfortable on your travel. Sitting for long periods and not drink- just love the airport in our ing enough fl uids can make for miser- Around the world small town. As soon as you able travellers, especially when dietary Weather Weather enter the terminal (I use that fi bre intake is low. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min term loosely), you are greeted Take a look around the next time Athens P Cloudy 32/22 Sunny 32/22 I Beirut 31/25 by two clerks behind a lone counter. you have a delay between fl ights. Fruit, Sunny 31/26 Sunny A couple of nearby TSA agents vegetables, whole grains, nuts and Bangkok T Storm 32/27 S T Storms 33/27 smile and nod as they anxiously other sources of fi bre are not always at Berlin Cloudy 26/17 M Cloudy 27/16 wait to carefully check your luggage the top of airport menu boards. Maybe Cairo Sunny 38/25 Sunny 36/23 since there are only eight people on that’s why many travellers look so ... Cape Town Sunny 21/12 P Cloudy 18/12 the flight. strained. Colombo T Storm 28/26 S T Storms 29/26 When your bags are checked, the Ideas on ways to bring the fi bre Dhaka T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/26 agent presents your ticket and says with you include fresh fruit, trail mix Hong Kong T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 politely, “Help yourself to coff ee and and unsalted nuts (the last things we Istanbul S T Storms 26/20 M Sunny 27/19 cookies around the corner. We’ll let need when travelling are swollen legs Jakarta Sunny 33/23 Sunny 33/23 you know when it’s time to go through and elevated blood pressure). Or look Karachi M Cloudy 30/27 M Sunny 30/27 security.” closely and you may fi nd these at many London M Cloudy 22/14 P Cloudy 22/13 When we fi nish our second cups of airports: fruit and granola parfaits, Manila S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 coff ee, a TSA agent strolls over to tell During longer flights drink plenty of water and keep your fibre intake up to keep vegetable omelets, salads and whole Moscow S Showers 19/14 Showers 18/12 us it might be a good time to visit the your body working and your journey more pleasant. grain breads or crackers. New Delhi T Storm 27/25 T Storm 29/25 restroom as they will soon begin the New York I T Storms 29/23 P Cloudy 31/24 security process. I love that. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUID or other nonalcoholic beverage and KEEP MOVING Paris Showers 22/18 Rain 22/13 Air travel isn’t always that easy, Pressurised cabins at high altitudes drink at least 8 ounces for every hour From fi dgeting in your seat to walk- Sao Paulo Sunny 28/14 Sunny 29/16 however, especially when it comes to can suck the water right out of our in fl ight, suggests the experts with the ing around until fl ight time, the more Seoul S T Storms 29/21 P Cloudy 29/19 staying on track nutritionally. Here system if we don’t replenish often. Aerospace Medical Association. we move when travelling, the better Singapore S T Storms 32/28 P Cloudy 32/27 are some crucial details to remem- While we’re not likely to get dehydrat- our circulation and digestion. Sydney Sunny 17/08 Cloudy 19/09 ber that make for a more pleasant ed on short fl ights, longer trips are an- FOCUS OF FIBRE Happy trails! – Tribune News Tokyo Very Hot 37/28 Clear 35/27 journey: other story. Ask for water (preferably) The indigestible part of plant foods Service Gulf Times 16 Saturday, August 17, 2019 QATAR

The Entertainment City has a wide range of food options available for visitors. Customers visit one of the popular shops at the SEC. Entertainment City F&B, retail businesses record sales growth

By Peter Alagos ferent food stalls for either dine- SEC last August 9 added more Business Reporter in or takeaway to provide a vari- interesting activities so that kids ety of options for visitors, Kassab have a reason to come back and pointed out. enjoy the venue and its ameni- ood and beverage (F&B) “The response of the people ties, and this eventually helped outlets and retailers at to the selection of vendors and these retail and food vendors Fthe ‘Summer Entertain- stalls during the fi rst phase of grow their businesses,” Kassab ment City’ (SEC) have recorded SEC was quite excellent, and for stressed. a growth in sales during its initial this reason, we are not limiting Earlier, Kassab said the SEC run this year following an “excel- the number of food options dur- had added more entertainment lent” response from visitors, an ing this next stage. options, which included more offi cial of QSports has said. “All our food vendors had re- rides and several more activities For the second staging of the ported growth in terms of sales for diff erent age groups, such as SEC until August 23 at the Doha during the previous SEC, consid- an infl atable maze, giant slide, Exhibition and Convention Cen- ering that the fi rst phase of the and other attractions. tre (DECC), F&B and retail ven- Entertainment City had served QSports, which had organised dors are expecting more sales close to 60,000 people. Most of the Entertainment City, in col- considering the Entertainment the visitors, of whom around 70- laboration with the Qatar Na- City attracted around 10,000 75% were Qataris, mostly spend tional Tourism Council (QNTC) visitors in the fi rst four days of for the food options available in had earlier lauded the council’s Eid al-Adha. the venue,” she explained. eff orts in spurring more activi- SEC head of Business Develop- According to Kassab, taking ties during the summer break. ment Unit Aya Kassab told ‘Gulf centre stage at this year’s at SEC Kassab underscored the “vital Times’ that there are as many as are food entrepreneurs, 90% of role” QNTC has been playing in 57 retail shops at the SEC off er- whom are mostly young Qatari off ering residents and tourists ing a variety of products from startup owners introducing new with more options to enjoy the perfumes, assorted toys, furni- coff ee shops, snack bars, and summer season in Qatar. ture and lamps, as well as men’s, other homegrown novelty prod- Similarly, the QNTC’s ‘Sum- women’s, and kids’ apparel, ucts. mer in Qatar’ (SiQ) 2019 pro- among other items. Similar to the “The Entertainment City has gramme garnered a huge success fi rst phase of the SEC, QSports is become a good platform for small in promoting Qatar as a tourism also showcasing around 45 dif- businesses. The reopening of the destination in the region. Retail outlets expect brisk business during the second staging of the SEC. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed

SIIMA Telugu and Kannada list Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) Glittering fi nale to South Indian fi lm awards event Ram Charan for Rangasthalam Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male – Critics) Telugu Vijay Devarakonda for Geetha Govindham From Page 1 Award for Best Director Sukumar for Rangasthalam Dhanush was adjudged the best actor Award for Best Film Telugu in Tamil for Vada Chennai, which went Mahanati on to win the best critic fi lm award. Award for Most Popular Celebrity on Social Media Sathyan Anthikkad and Pandiraj Vijay Devarakonda were the best directors in Malayalam Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role and Tamil, respectively, for Njan Pra- Sarath Kumar for Na Peru Surya Na Illu India kashan and Kadaikutty Singam. R D Award for Best Comedian Rajesekhar and Gireesh Ganghadharan Satya for Chalo received best cinematographer awards Award for Best Debutant Actor Telugu (Male) in Tamil and Malayalam, respectively Kalyaan Dhev for Vijetha for Imaika Nodigal and Swathanthryam Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) Ardharathriyil. Rajendra Prasad for Mahanati The best Tamil fi lm was Pariyerum Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) Perumal directed by Pa Ranjith. The Anasuya Bharadwaj for Rangasthalam best Malayalam fi lm was Sudani from Award for Best Debutant Actor (Female) Nigeria directed by Zakaraiya Moham- Payal Rajput for RX100 ed, who also took home the best debut Award for Best Music Director Telugu director award in Malayalam. Devi Sri Prasad for Rangasthalam Lyrics writer awards went to Vignesh Award for Best Playback Singer (Male) Siva and Vinayak Sasikumar in Tamil Anurag Kulkarni (Pilla Raa) — RX100 and Malayalam, respectively. Antony Award for Best Playback Singer (Female) Dasan and Vijay Yesudas were selected M M Manasi (Rangamma Mangamma ) — Rangasthalam as the best male playback singers in Malayalam best critic award winning Award for Best Lyricist Telugu Tamil and Malayalam, respectively. Malayalam best actor Tovino Thomas. Tamil best actor Dhanush. actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. Chandrabose (Yentha Sakkagunave ) — Rangasthalam Dhee and Sithara Krishnan won best Award for Best Cinematographer Telugu female playback singers. R Rathnavelu for Rangasthalam Raiza Wilson and Dinesh Master Award for Best Actor In a Leading Role (Female) emerged to be the best debut actors in Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati Tamil along with Saniya Ayyappan and Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female–Critics) Telugu Pranav Mohanlal in Malayalam. Nelson Samantha for Rangasthalam Dilipkumar was the best debut director Award for Best Art Director in Tamil. S Rama Krishna for Rangasthalam Easwary Rao and Prakash Raj were Special Appreciation Award (Jury) for the year 2019 best actors in a supporting role in Tamil Naga Sudheer Babu while Lena and Roshan Mathew won (Some of the awards were mentioned in Friday’s newsreport) the same award in Malayalam. Yogi Source: Sakshi Babu and Aju Varghese won the best comedian awards. Samantha won Style Icon Award while Kathir was elected for overall best performance. The show was held in collaboration with Qatar National Tourism Coun- cil as part of Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture. The previous editions of SIIMA were held in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The other partners were: Ministry of Culture and Sports, Qa- tar Airways, Teyseer Motors, W Doha, Doha Bank, Al Mana Leasing, Gulf Car, Royal Regis, Talabat, Rayyan Water, Tamil best critic award winning and 98.6 Radio Malayalam. A dance performance at the event. PICTURES: Jayan Orma actress Trisha. Malayalam best director Sathyan Anthikkad.