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Ooredoo nine-month net profi t rises by 16% to QR1.3bn published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11351 October 30, 2019 Rabia I 2, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir attends opening of Qitcom 2019, Munich Security Conference Core Group meeting O Rwandan President Paul Kagame and ministers from several countries also present at inaugural event

is Highness the Amir Sheikh The ceremony began with the screen- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ing of a fi lm that tells the story of the de- Hattended the opening of the velopment of the digital transformation Qatar Information Technology Con- in Qatar, and HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al- ference and Exhibition (Qitcom 2019), Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Com- organised by the Ministry of Transport munications, and Wolfgang Ischinger, and Communications under the theme Chairman of the Munich Security Con- “Safe and Smart Cities”, and the Mu- ference, delivered a speech. nich Security Conference (MSC) Core Addressing the opening ceremony, Group Meeting at the Qatar National HE al-Sulaiti said: “The Amir’s pa- Convention Centre yesterday. tronage of Qitcom 2019, held under the The ceremony was attended by Paul theme “Safe Smart Cities”, shows that Kagame, President of Rwanda, HE Qatar’s wise leadership is keen to sup- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa port the digital transformation of the al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister country, create an integrated digital so- of Interior, and a number of Sheikhs ciety, and prepare the human capital to and ministers. participate in the building of a knowl- The opening was also attended by edge-based economy. This would keep Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minis- Qatar up to date with the digital boom ter of Foreign Aff airs of Oman, Dr Mo- the world is witnessing and help ad- hamed Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign vance economic development.” Aff airs of Iran, Nijervan Barzani, Presi- The Minister said Qatar was one dent of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, of the fi rst countries to realise the and a number of ministers of informa- benefi ts of smart cities and their im- tion, communications and information portance for the comprehensive and technology from brotherly and friendly sustainable development the country countries, heads of diplomatic mis- is working to achieve. He said Qatar sions, senior offi cials, experts, board augmented its ITC infrastructure and presidents and executives in the fi eld improved the Internet quality, becom- of communications and information ing the fi rst country in the world to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomes Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. technology. launch 5G services. To Page 28 (right). More pictures Page 28 Qatar’s national artifi cial intelligence plan launched

By Joseph Varghese tween the government and a research Staff Reporter MoTC launches Theqa, institute. It aims to adopt the artifi cial intelligence and harness it to secure the Tawasol and Tasdeeq economic and strategic future of Qatar atar’s National Artifi cial In- as is envisaged by Qatar National Strat- telligence (AI) Strategy was On the sidelines of the Qitcom egy 2030,” noted the Minister. Qlaunched yesterday at the Qa- 2019, MoTC yesterday launched “We are honoured to have our blue- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with dignitaries attending the opening of Qitcom 2019 at the Qatar tar Information Technology and Com- Theqa (the new website of print accepted and launched as the Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. munication Conference and Exhibition Qatar’s e-commerce gateway), National Artifi cial Strategy. It is struc- (Qitcom) 2019 . Tawasol (a portal designed for tured around six thematic pillars and The announcement was made by HE secure electronic collaboration covers the areas in which AI contributes,” the Minister of Transport and Commu- between government Dr Ahmed K Elmagarmid, executive di- nications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. employees), and Tasdeeq (a rector, QCRI, told Gulf Times. The National AI Strategy is a blueprint shared service platform off ering Earlier this year, QCRI had produced MSC meeting discusses global produced by Qatar Computing Re- ratification and validation the blueprint with the aim of informing search Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad services to government and and advising Qatar’s leadership on the Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). corporate organisations in potential opportunities and challenges “This strategy is the fi rst of its kind Qatar). Pages 8, 10 relating to AI, and to propose a path and regional security issues to be developed in collaboration be- forward. To Page 10

By Joey Aguilar PM resigns as Staff Reporter

Lebanon crisis Gulf crisis no longer acceptable, he current situation in the region turns violent is one of severe risk of confl ict, must be resolved: Kuwait Amir Twith a number of unresolved ongoing issues, Munich Security Con- QNA brethren to continue. ference (MSC) chairman Wolfgang HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Kuwait Sheikh Sabah, who has been acting Ischinger said in Doha yesterday. Wolfgang Ischinger Dr Mohamed Javad Zarif Abdulrahman al-Thani as a mediator to resolve the dispute, He was addressing a press con- said: “Diff erences must be overcome at ference on the sidelines of the MSC eign Aff airs HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Qatar government for hosting the he Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah the Arab level and the supreme inter- Core Group Meeting 2019 at the Na- Abdulrahman al-Thani. event. “During the meetings, some of al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah ests of the nation must be placed above tional Museum of Qatar. The event Dr Zarif stated that Iran has the right the participants spoke of larger wars Tsaid that the Gulf crisis has all other considerations.” brought together high-level repre- to nuclear technology for peaceful pur- in the region. I am not making my own weakened the capabilities of the Gulf The Amir said the region is witnessing sentatives of governments, interna- poses. He encouraged countries to co- prediction but I am simply quoting to Saad al-Hariri resigned as Lebanon’s Co-operation Council (GCC) countries unprecedented diffi cult circumstances tional institutions, and academics to operate in the area of technology, tour- you about the assessment of the seri- prime minister yesterday, declaring and threatened their achievements, and there are concerns and pain over the discuss various global and regional ism, nuclear safety, and environmental ousness of the situation in the region. he had hit a “dead end” in trying to stressing that it is no longer acceptable escalation and instability in a number security issues. protection. I think it is good idea for us to get in- resolve a crisis unleashed by huge for the dispute to continue. of brotherly countries, expressing hope The event, under the patronage of The meeting, hosted in Doha for volved in the region again after 2013,” protests against the ruling elite and The Amir also called for strengthen- that brothers in these countries enjoy se- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim the second time since 2013, also held he said. plunging the country deeper into ing Gulf unity and transcendence above curity and prosperity. bin Hamad al-Thani and organised in a closed door discussion on regional MSC provides a platform for head of turmoil. Hariri addressed the nation diff erences. Sheikh Sabah reiterated the serious- co-operation with Qatar’s Ministry of security dynamics titled “Up in Arms states and other political leaders, top after a mob loyal to Hezbollah and During the fourth ordinary session ness of the volatile situation that af- Foreign Aff airs, witnessed Iran’s For- – Armament and Non-Proliferation in offi cials of international civil society Amal movements attacked and of Kuwait’s National Assembly’s 15th fl icts the region, and its serious reper- eign Minister Dr Mohamed Javad Zarif the Middle East”, attended by a number organisations from the region and their destroyed a protest camp set up by legislative term, the Amir said it is no cussions and eff ects that are felt and delivering a keynote speech at a wel- of dignitaries. counterparts from Europe and across anti-government demonstrators in longer acceptable or bearable for the threaten the security, stability and the come lunch, hosted by Qatar’s Deputy At the press conference, Ischinger the world to tackle several security is- Beirut. Page 13 dispute that erupted between GCC future of the generations. Prime Minister and Minister of For- thanked His Highness the Amir and the sues. To Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR

FM meets head of German parliament committee and president of Kurdistan region of Iraq

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, met the Chairman of the Foreign Aff airs Committee of the German Parliament Norbert Rottgen, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Core Group (MSC) meeting, which is being held in Doha in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. Right: HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Core Group (MSC) meeting, in Doha. During the meetings, aspects of co-operation as well as issues of common concern were reviewed. MSC core group chairman underlines importance of bridge-building eff orts

By Joey Aguilar bridge building in this region, not go on eternally and must end in “I think the awareness is rising Staff Reporter and in other issues, for example some shape or form.” that this must end because the think of Ukraine, in Europe, and other issues are so overwhelm- unresolved issues in the Balkans, “We are committed and are ingly important that the region he chairman of the Mu- North Korea, South East Asia,” going to continue this eff ort cannot aff ord, the speechless- nich Security Conference he said, citing the successful or- of bridge building in this ness between important players TCore Group (MSC) under- ganising of the MSC Meeting. region, and in other issues” in the region,” Ischinger said. lined the importance of “bridge- High-level representatives of He hopes to hit the right agen- building eff orts” to help foster governments, international in- “But quite frankly this is my da for the meeting in Munich in peace and security in the region stitutions, academics, and other personal assessment, this is of February 2020, which is expect- and across the world. dignitaries and diplomats have course, as other diplomatic issues, ed to include some discussions Speaking at a press conference gathered in Doha to take part in at the end of the day, also a ques- on the challenges in the region. yesterday at the National Muse- the Meeting, which concluded tion of face saving,” he pointed “We believe that the Middle um of Qatar (NMoQ), Wolfgang yesterday at the National Mu- out. “The solution that is neces- East and its unresolved problems Ischinger stated that the MSC is seum of Qatar. sary needs to be structured in a are among the biggest challenges off ering a platform, which can About eff orts to resolve the re- way that neither this country, nor to international peace and secu- be used to address some of the gional rift in the GCC, Ischinger the Saudi leadership, nor anyone rity and we would be making a pressing security issues. cited in his view ‘as a practising dip- else is seen as a loser, the question mistake if we did not put that at “We are committed and are lomat’ that “there is an increasing is can a win-win situation be cre- the top level of our list of priorities going to continue this eff ort of awareness by all sides that this can- ated?” for Munich,” Ischinger noted. Wolfgang Ischinger at the press conference yesterday in Doha. PICTURE: Ram Chand Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 3 QATAR

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with other dignitaries at the Munich Security Conference Core Group Meeting at National Museum of Qatar. MSC affi rms strong Qatar-Germany ties: envoy MSC meeting discusses important global and QNA will be addressed would help crises and wars. He expressed would present proposals and Doha fi nd new formulas and agree- the hope that the conference formulas that would lead to ments. would contribute to finding achieving security and sta- regional security issues He noted that the meeting new formulas on how to re- bility in the region and pro- mbassador of Qatar to will focus on a number of is- solve these issues, emphasis- moting commercial and eco- Germany, Mohamed sues, with a primarily focus on ing respect for the other and nomic exchange. From Page 1 AJaham al-Kuwari, has the issue of cybersecurity as the need of non-interference Qatar’s ambassador to Ger- underlined the importance one of the most pressing and in others’ foreign affairs. many said that his priorities “There is an enormous ab- of Qatar’s hosting of the Mu- sensitive issues at the moment, Regarding the blockade im- when assuming his duties would sence of comprehensive trans- nich Security Conference Core and is considered as a global posed on Qatar, the Qatari am- be to continue the solid, strong parent dialogue and trust Group Meeting, stressing that challenge resulting in global bassador said that the crisis of and strategic relationship be- building and this is where organ- organising the conference in crimes that could lead to acute Qatar is one of the clear exam- tween Qatar and Germany, isations like MSC Foundation the country emphasises the crises and wars. ples regarding cybersecurity. praising the role of by HE Sheikh can hopefully make a modest but strong relationship and part- He underlined that Qatar’s Qatar dealt with the crisis within Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, useful contribution by off ering a nership between Qatar and hosting of international con- the international framework and the former Qatari Ambassador to platform that allows everybody Germany. ferences is evidence that it Mohamed Jaham al-Kuwari international conventions. The Germany. to participate,” Ischinger said. In statements on the sidelines has become a major centrer conspiracies were unveiled and He pledged to continue “And even if it is not possible to of the Munich Security Confer- for organising conferences in which reflects the real part- the issue of Qatar blockade is strengthening the political bring everybody into one room, ence Core Group Meeting, cur- general, and that the country nership between Qatar and now exposed and all the friendly and economic co-operation we are creative enough to fi nd rently in session in the National has gained great credibility Germany. countries and allies of Qatar are and cultural co-ordination, ways to do it in diff erent rooms”. Museum of Qatar, the Qatari in organising various events. He pointed out that threats aware of this issue. especially through the Qa- “In 2009, it was on the fl oor of ambassador stressed the sig- He noted that this credibility and interventions in the in- As long as there is politi- tari Cultural Center in Berlin, the MSC that the initiative was Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr nifi cance of the topics to be dis- has created strong partner- ternal affairs of countries are cal security and stability, it where some new ideas will taken to start what has now be- Mohamed Javad Zarif delivering cussed during the conference, ships with intellectual in- unacceptable in the regional is natural that political ten- be introduced to promote the come the new START (Strategic his keynote speech at MSC especially in light of the current stitutions and international or international framework, sions will decrease and this cultural activities of the cen- Arms Reduction Treaty) agree- Core Group Meeting in Doha circumstances in the region. He conferences. Perhaps the noting that international in turn will contribute to tre and give a role for human ment on intercontinental ballis- yesterday. expressed the hope that the con- latest evidence of this is the conventions have stressed enhancing economic co- relations between the two tic missiles,” he said. ference will contribute to reach- fact that the Munich Confer- this matter, and everyone is operation in various fields peoples, as well as highlight- “Three years later, on the fl oor our platform is actually being used ing solutions that benefi t the ence is being held outside of now aware of the problems between countries, the am- ing the role of Qatari youth of MSC, the ratifi cation papers be- quite operationally and eff ectively region in general, and that the Germany for the first time resulting from external in- bassador said, looking for- and women through seminars tween Russia and America were to promote important international ideas and the discussions that since its inception in 1962, terventions that led to severe ward that the conference and conferences. exchanged in 2012. Occasionally initiatives,” Ischinger added. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR

Amir greets Turkish Al-Muraikhi meets president Greek deputy FM ‘Qatar supports peaceful His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir settlement of disputes’ Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior QNA to achieve the legitimate aspira- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Athens tions of people in accordance Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables with the principles and resolu- of congratulations to Turkish tions of international legitimacy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan atar took part in the 4th He explained that the challenges on his country’s Republic Day. EU-Arab World Summit, of climate change, migration, en- Qwhich was held in Athens ergy security, achieving the objec- Amir sends message yesterday under the slogan “A tives of sustainable development HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad Strategic Partnership”. through targeted investment, the to president al-Muraikhi met the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for HE the Minister of State for security of the sea, and the devel- of El Salvador Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis, in Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad opment of transport between the Athens, during his visit to Greece. Bilateral relations between al-Muraikhi chaired the delega- Arab countries and the European His Highness the Amir Sheikh Qatar and Greece as well as issues of common concern were tion of Qatar. Union, and the growing healthcare Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani reviewed. In his speech, HE al-Muraikhi industry issues are challenges of a has sent a written message to underlined that Qatar attaches regional and global nature, under- President of El Salvador Najib great importance to the peace- HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad scoring the reality of the common Abu Kila, pertaining to the ful settlement of disputes in or- al-Muraikhi addressing the 4th EU-Arab World Summit, in Athens, destiny of all humanity. bilateral relations between the der to contribute to global peace yesterday. He pointed out that the fl ows of two countries and means of building, noting that Qatar has refugees, displaced persons and supporting and developing them. Kahramaa, QTerminals succeeded in resolving many munication and historical ties, are sitions in international forums. migrants require concerted ef- The message was handed over national and regional disputes in urgent need, more than ever, to HE al-Muraikhi said that the forts to face the increase in illegal by Acting Charge d’Aff airs of the through the development of build a strategic partnership, im- situation in the Palestinian ter- migration and to deal with it in a embassy of Qatar in El Salvador collaborate to conserve “mediation diplomacy”. posed by the reality of the common ritories, the Syrian crisis, and manner that preserves the secu- Tariq Othman al-Othman during HE al-Muraikhi appreciated human destiny and the require- the situation in Yemen and Libya rity of States while preserving the a meeting with the president of El the continuation of the EU-Arab ments of stability and regional are transnational crises and have human dignity of these migrants Salvador. energy at Hamad Port World Summit, and praised the security of both groups, which in become a threat to security and and refugees, and this requires ad- choice of this year’s slogan “A turn contributes to achieving world stability in both the European dressing the root causes. Amir congratulates Strategic Partnership”. He said peace and stability. and the Arab regions, in addition He pointed to the initiatives president of QNA as heat energy. Therefore, the that the countries of the two He added that the Arab and to their negative implications for launched by Qatar to assist in Doha system is modifi ed to reuse the groups have come a long way in the EU regions face common, international security and peace development and emergency Mozambique excess power for other applica- establishing dialogue and pro- diff erent and pressing challeng- in their comprehensive sense. relief under the umbrella of the tion such as lighting, reefers and vided an important asset of co- es, which reinforces the need HE al-Muraikhi expressed the United Nations, which infl uence His Highness the Amir Sheikh ithin the framework of other crane auxiliary systems operation and co-ordination. to stand together to face these hope that the European and Arab the reducing of the refugees fl ow Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and increasing energy ef- within Hamad Port”. However, the countries of the challenges and discuss ways to countries would co-operate and curbing migration and miti- His Highness the Deputy Amir Wfi ciency and diversify- He added that “the National Arab world and the European Un- address them by intensifying prevent the dangers of wars and gate its eff ects and consequences Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad ing its resources in the country, Programme ‘Tarsheed’ wel- ion, which share common heritage co-operation in various fi elds confl icts and to resolve all issues in Europe and other countries of al-Thani have sent cables of Qatar General Electricity and comes co-operation with all and distinguished cultural com- and co-ordinating common po- through peaceful means, in order the world. congratulations to Filipe Jacinto Water Corporation (Kahramaa), sectors of the country to work to Nyusi on his re-election as represented by the National Pro- raise energy effi ciency, save the president of Mozambique. gramme for Conservation and State’s resources of electricity Energy Effi ciency (Tarsheed), and water and diversify energy Speaker of and QTerminals are collaborat- sources in accordance with Qa- ing through a unique initiative tar Vision 2030 and the global RACA signs MoU with labour ministry Shura Council to conserve and renew the use of goals of sustainability.” returns to Doha energy resulting from the opera- Director of Support Serv- tion of coastal cranes in Hamad ices at QTerminals, Abdul Hadi QNA changing information on the HE the Speaker of the Shura Port to conserve electrical power Fahad al-Hajri, stated that Doha licenses issued by the two par- Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin in the port. “the company is aiming to be ties in the fi eld of fundraising, Zaid al-Mahmoud returned to As an initial step in this Pilot world-class terminal operator external remittance licenses and Doha yesterday from the Turkish project, eight cranes are being by setting reliability bar with he Regulatory Author- relevant fi nancial transactions. city of Rize, after heading the utilised to regenerate power. Av- operational excellence and sus- ity for Charitable Activities It seeks to establish a joint action delegation of Qatar participating erage 380MWh per year of elec- tainability development.” T(RACA) and the Ministry of mechanism to implement it with in the first meeting of the trical energy can be saved from To maximise the power gener- Administrative Development, La- regard to information exchange Executive Council of the Asian each crane with total saving al- ation and utilise the full capacity bour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA) and enhance co-operation in Parliamentary Assembly. During most 3,000MWh per year. of Hamad Port: In addition to have signed a Memorandum of combating money laundering the meeting, Qatar joined the Conservation & Energy Ef- the current eight cranes, three Understanding (MoU) for sharing and terrorism fi nancing. Asian Parliamentary Assembly, fi ciency Department Manager more cranes will be added in oversight information in the fi eld The MoU also included co-or- which is the second largest Eng. Abdul Aziz al-Hammadi, the year 2020, bringing the total of supervision and control over dination and co-operation in the parliamentary group in the world said: “In the previous system, number of regenerative power private charitable institutions and understanding, analysis and evalu- after the IPU. the excess power is dissipated cranes to 11. granting licenses and co-ordina- The MoU was signed by Director General of the RACA Ibrahim ation of sectoral and national risks tion in this area. Abdullah al-Duhaimi and Assistant Undersecretary for Social Aff airs and the development of basis and Qatar takes part in The MoU was signed by Direc- at the MADLSA Ghanem Mubarak al-Kuwari. controls to mitigate the risks in the tor General of the RACA Ibrahim law on combating money launder- La Francophonie Abdullah al-Duhaimi and As- Aff airs at the MADLSA Ghanem The memorandum included ing and terrorism fi nancing prom- panel meeting sistant Undersecretary for Social Mubarak al-Kuwari. means of co-ordinating and ex- ulgated by law No 20 of 2019.

Qatar participated in the 108th meeting of the Permanent CNA-Q’s joint charity week for universities concludes Council of La Francophonie in the Principality of Monaco under the The College of the North Atlantic in Qatar (CNA-Q) concluded a joint Charity Week is an initiative that is active in a number of countries and chairmanship of the secretary- charity week for universities which aims to support the charitable its basic concept is to organise events in specific institutions and raise general of the International projects of Education Above All Foundation that’s related to spreading funds for humanitarian purposes. Organisation of La Francophonie, education in poor areas. The funds raised through this activity have “This is an excellent charity with which to be involved,” said Associate in preparation for the Ministerial been allocated to finance four projects, which are: cancer care in Gaza, Vice-President, Student Aff airs at CNA-Q Engineer Aljazzi Fetais. “It Conference of La Francophonie. healthcare in Pakistan, education in Niger, Afghanistan and the Middle provides an opportunity for our students to learn about giving back to The delegation was headed East, and first aid in Syria, Sudan, South Africa and Asia. The event, the community, and caring for those less fortunate. These are important by the ambassador of Qatar to which was held under the title ‘Superheroes’ in co-operation with many lessons that make our students more well-rounded as individuals.” France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al- educational institutions in the country, included the sale of food, games, Charity Week, organised by the college last year, raised QR182,800 and Thani. – QNA Off icials from Tarsheed and QTerminals announced the collaboration. photo booths, face painting, interactive competitions, henna and others. was used to finance 70 projects in 26 diff erent countries. – QNA

Qatar to attend GCC health ministers’ committee meeting

Qatar will participate in the of Customs Procedures at 5th meeting of the GCC GCC First points of Entry. Health Ministers Committee Furthermore, the agenda and the 82nd Conference will highlight smart card Council of Ministers of Health health file, medications, of the GCC countries to be medical devices and supplies held today in Oman. Qatar’s exempted from value-added delegation to the meeting tax (VAT). Additionally, the will be led by HE the Minister meeting will follow-up action of Public Health Dr Hanan plan of the GCC ministers of Mohamed al-Kuwari. health committee, as well as The 5th meeting of Health co-ordinating and unifying Ministers Committee will the positions of the GCC review a report of the countries in the international supreme council and the cartels in the health field, ministerial board decisions health cities, standardisation in the field of health and of registration and implementations. classification procedures for The 5th meeting’s agenda medical specialties. will address spectrum of The 82nd Conference Council topics including the supreme of Ministers of Health of council decision on Visa the GCC countries will Medical programme, as discuss several important well as following up its issues, most notably the decision on the procedures draft resolutions on unified of strategic stockpile of procurement, central medicines, vaccines and registration, expatriate medical supplies in case of screening and technical emergency and the list of committees. medical supplies guides. Qatar will also participate in In addition, the agenda will the GCC preparatory meeting review the supreme council’s of the undersecretaries of decision on the Unified Guide health ministries.

Qatar condemns attack on mosque in southwestern France

Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack on a mosque in southwestern France, which left two people injured. In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance on rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of the motives and reasons. The statement stressed Qatar’s total rejection of targeting places of worship and intimidating civilians. The statement also expressed Qatar’s wishing for speedy recovery to the two injured. – QNA Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 5 QATAR Qatar Airways signs interline agreement with Sky Express

atar Airways has signed “Sky Express is very pleased for air transport rating organisa- an interline agreement this new collaboration with such tion Skytrax. Qwith Greek airline Sky a well-respected carrier as Qatar It was also named ‘Best Airline Express, which will enable Greek Airways. This agreement allows in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best passengers outside of Athens to all 32 Greek destinations oper- Business Class’, and ‘Best Busi- travel seamlessly between Greece ated by Sky Express to connect ness Class Seat’, in recognition and Doha and onwards to desti- seamlessly with Qatar Airways’ of its ground-breaking Business nations in Asia, the Middle East global network across Europe, Class experience, Qsuite. and Australasia. Asia, Australia and Africa. This Qatar Airways currently oper- Qatar Airways’ passengers will way opening up new commer- ates a modern fl eet of more than benefi t from access to 24 excit- cial opportunities, thus off ering 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad Attendees at the WCM-Q simulation-based education symposium. ing new destinations in Greece passengers a whole new range of International Airport (HIA), including Santorini, Crete, Corfu destinations.” to more than 160 destinations and many other destinations on Qatar Airways has been oper- worldwide. Sky Express’s domestic network. ating to Athens since June 2005, Sky Express is the fastest Qatar Airways Group Chief and in 2015 increased its service growing airline in Greece today, Executive Akbar al-Baker said: to the Greek capital from twice operating more than 30,000 WCM-Q symposium discusses “With the largest domestic net- daily to three times daily to meet fl ights per year, to 32 destina- work in Greece, this agreement the growing demand. In 2018, the tions throughout Greece. with Sky Express signifi cantly airline added Thessaloniki and The airline operates a modern increases our ability to connect Mykonos as its second and third fl eet of ATR aircraft. Sky Ex- simulation-based education global travellers with iconic des- gateways to the idyllic Mediter- press is successfully expanding, tinations throughout Greece and ranean nation. continuously surprising and de- reinforces our commitment to A multiple award-winning lighting its passengers with its xperts in simulation- posium was ‘Institutional Cul- Scors survey, with the result- of faculty development for the supporting the nation’s tourism airline, Qatar Airways was new collaborations, while im- based medical educa- ture and Academic Journeys’, ing data then analysed in groups implementation of SBE and also industry.” named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by proving the quality and competi- Etion (SBE) convened at with a strong focus on helping of 12-14 with support from a discussed the critical need for a Sky Express CEO and presi- the 2019 World Airline Awards, tiveness of tourism products, in a Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar attendees cultivate a culture of trained facilitator. This allowed framework for procedural skills dent Theodoros Krokidas said: managed by the international fi ercely competitive industry. (WCM-Q) to share their knowl- positivity towards simulation- the participants to identify the training. She also emphasised edge at the college’s third annual based education in their home challenges they faced and list the importance of ensuring that, SBE symposium. institutions. This was based on priorities for change, such as in order to optimise the learning Medical professionals from feedback from the previous two the importance of transpar- of clinical skills, teaching strate- several healthcare institu- symposiums, in which partici- ency, open communication, gies must incorporate steps that tions in Qatar participated in pants noted they faced barriers documenting commitment for include elements to engender the event, with speakers from to the implementation of SBE, change, considering sustain- the development of both cogni- WCM-Q, Hamad Medical Cor- such as limited resources, time, ability, and planning to ensure tive and psychomotor skills. poration, Sidra Medicine, Qatar skilled staffi ng, as well as tech- appropriate manpower, space The participants then en- University’s Colleges of Medi- nical skills such as debriefi ng and budget. gaged in the ‘Sim Souq’, in which cine and Pharmacy, University and scenario writing, among The event benefi ted from the seven groups of presenters were of Calgary in Qatar and College others. participation of one of the world’s represented, with the goal of of the North Atlantic – Qatar. To assist them in prioritising leading experts in simulation- promoting interactive learn- Simulation-based education their needs, and in planning to based medical education, Debra ing and promoting interprofes- utilises a wide range of hi- and promote a culture of change, the Nestel, professor of Simulation sional networking opportunities low-tech learning aids and ar- Simulation Culture Organisa- Education in Healthcare, Monash using SBE. The event concluded tifi cially created scenarios to tional Readiness Survey (Scors) University, and professor of Sur- with a panel presentation by six allow medical students to learn was selected as the appropri- gical Education, Department of healthcare practitioners who and perfect and variety of key ate survey tool to be used in the Surgery, University of Melbourne, refl ected on how in-situ simula- practical skills in a safe environ- workshop. In total, 86 physi- Australia. tion is used to maintain teams in ment. cians, nurses and allied health Speaking at the event, Nes- a state of optimal readiness for Qatar Airways agreement with Sky Express enables Greek passengers outside of Athens to travel seamlessly The theme of this year’s sym- practitioners completed the tel highlighted the importance practice. between Greece and Doha and onwards to destinations in Asia, Middle East and Australasia. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR Congress of Criminology Al-Mal: Qatar has adopted many legislative measures ... on combating human traff icking. Accolades sees global participation By Shafeeq Alingal zewski from Poland’s University Staff Reporter of Białystok shed light into the for Qatar’s history of criminology in Poland and the stages of its development ontemplations and dis- in colleges and institutes across eff orts cussions continued yes- Poland, especially in the Depart- Cterday on the second day ment of Criminology at the War- of the World Congress of Crimi- saw Institute. atar’s support for the nology. He said that criminology has UN Global Action Plan The four venues witnessed a become a mandatory science Qagainst human traffi ck- series of sessions on various top- scheduled in some of the colleg- ing has won accolades at the on- ics. es, adding that this emphasises going World Congress of Crimi- They included Education for the importance of dissemination nology. Justice Initiative, Science, Tech- of research and studies, and the “Since the inception of the nology and Teaching Crimi- exchange of experiences with re- UN Global Action Plan, Qatar nology, Restorative Justice: the search centres in other countries. has adopted many legislative Brazilian and Italian Way to Professor Nurah Rashed al- measures to combat the threat Democratic Criminal Law, Fi- Sahlawi of Qatar University’s of human traffi cking,” said Mo- nancial and White Collar Crime, Faculty of Law presented a paper hamed Ali al-Mal, a legal expert Juvenile Delinquency, Victims of on Cyber-terrorism in Interna- at the Ministry of Administra- Crime, Response to the Legal and tional Laws. tive Development, Labour, and Criminal Justice System, Do- Her paper dealt with cyber- Social Aff airs. mestic Interpersonal Violence, crime and its multiple implica- He was presenting a working Restorative justice; Prevention; tions. paper on the National Commit- Public input, The Criminal Justice Al-Sahlawi pointed out that it tee to Combat Human Traffi cking Response, and Anti-corruption has become a new challenge to A session in progress at the World Congress of Criminology yesterday, held at the Ritz-Carlton Doha. and its Eff orts at Diff erent Levels and State Reform. the international community and at the conference yesterday. The sessions also discussed is diffi cult to control due to in- highlighted the most important Criminal Sciences at France’s Aix from it, to implement justice. quency, Criminal justice and “Human traffi cking continues innovative approaches and part- creasing technological and intel- trends in the Polish school of Marseille University, presented Perrier stressed that criminol- Human Rights, Prosecution, Sen- to be a grave violation of the fun- nerships to strengthen the co- lectual development, the spread criminology. a paper on the subject of Mod- ogy is not a new discipline, but it tencing and Prevention in South damental human rights includ- operation between universities of information in cyber-space She cited the issue of organ ern Technologies and Teaching in needs to keep abreast of recent Asia, Religion, and Crime and ing liberty, security and personal and the United Nations to imple- and the simplicity with which transplantation and the use of Criminology. developments that makes the In- Domestic Violence have been dignity,” he said. “There has ment the sustainable develop- information could be shared and criminology in traffi c accidents The academic noted that the stitute think of making a propos- scheduled. been increased interest in com- ment goals. used to facilitate the work of all while focusing on criminal law institute is working to dissemi- al for teaching through Internet. The fi nal day will also see the bating this threat at local, re- While presenting a paper on individuals and fi rms. and other subjects. nate modern concepts and teach The valediction of the three- General Assembly of the Inter- gional and international levels in Education, Research and Teach- Professor Ewa Guzik Makaruk Professor Jean Baptiste Per- students the science of criminol- day event will be held today. national Society of Criminology order to ensure the protection of ing Criminology, Emil Plywac- from the University of Bialystok rier, director of the Institute of ogy, and the best way to benefi t Sessions on Juvenile Delin- and a concluding session. human rights.” “Qatar has adopted many leg- islative measures, including the legislation of Law No. 15 of 2011 on combating human traffi ck- UNODC calls for innovative approaches to achieve UN SDGs ing,” al-Mal said. “Law No. 21 of 2015 repealed the sponsorship system and By Shafeeq Alingal “To put the Doha Declara- ing educators to teach the next Law No. 15 of 2017 on domestic Staff Reporter tion into reality, the United generation to better understand employees regulated their legal Nations Offi ce on Drugs and and address problems that can relationship with the employer Crime (UNODC), launched an undermine the rule of law and guaranteeing their rights and he World Congress ambitious global programme,” encourage students to actively equality with other workers,” he of Criminology has said Bianca Kopp of the UN- engage in their communication said. Tstressed the need for in- ODC’s Education for Justice and future professions in this “This is in accordance with novative approaches to put the (E4J) Initiative. “The initiative regard,” Kopp said. the International Labour Or- Doha Declaration into reality promotes peaceful, corruption She underscored the need to ganisation (ILO) Convention No. and implement the United Na- free and inclusive societies for bring in creative approaches and 189 of 2011 on appropriate do- tions (UN) Sustainable Devel- sustainable development. said that creative ways, includ- mestic work,” al-Mal said. opment Goals (SDGs). “The initiative consists of ing exhibitions, videos, comic “Law No. 1 of 2015 stipulated A session on innovative ap- four main components; judi- books, radio shows and cam- the wage protection system that proaches and partnerships to cial integrity, education for paigns, should be introduced in amended some provisions of the strengthen the co-operation be- justice, youth crime prevention order to explain concepts of the Labour Act No. 14 of 2004 that tween universities and the UN, to through sports, and prisoner rule of law to the students. stipulates that the salary of the implement the SDGs, cited a need rehabilitation.” Kopp highlighted the need to worker must be transferred to to make use of innovative edu- She explained that the UN- train the trainers and strength- a bank account, and that com- cational and teaching tools and ODC is extending support to en UN-academia partnership, panies are obliged to join the creative approaches for the easy educators through the E4J empower lecturers to teach to- system in order to preserve the accomplishment of UN SDGs and initiative in order to help the day’s most pressing issues, and workers’ rights,” he added. Doha Declaration on Crime Pre- world attain the UN SDGs. build bridges for holistic crime Kopp addressing the World Congress of Criminology yesterday in Doha. vention and Criminal Justice. “E4J is aimed at support- prevention approaches. Al Khor Mall observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

l Khor Mall, in association give the awareness initiative due breast cancer, and highlighting the cancer awareness campaign is a with Al Khor Hospital and visibility. importance of early screening and true testament to the dedication ARaha Medical Center, has Also, the mall’s retailers wore early detection. of our people, our values, and who conducted a CSR (corporate social special T-shirts for the occasion, As part of the activities, the we are as a group, and most impor- responsibility) campaign through- provided by LuLu Hypermarket mall’s customer service staff dis- tantly, the lives we can positively out the month of October to ob- Qatar, to show support for the tributed free pink ribbons to visi- impact in Qatar.” serve Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. tors so that they could become part Whether it’s a “personal health Snapshots from the Month. In partnership with Al Khor Hos- of the awareness campaign. journey, a family member, a col- campaign at Al Khor The campaign has been con- pital (part of Hamad Medical Cor- This also helped spread aware- league or a close friend who is bat- Mall: A display made up ducted with the aim to reach out to poration) and Raha Medical Center ness among as many people as pos- tling the disease, it’s important to of pink ribbons at the people, educate them on the issue, (Al Khor), the mall conducted vari- sible, the statement noted. step up and learn about the ways mall (above), and staff and increase awareness of the dis- ous activities during weekends, Commenting on the initiative, to support the cause, and Al Khor of the mall’s retailers in ease, a press statement notes. which included awareness classes, an offi cial spokesman of LuLu Hy- Mall is doing just that as a part of special T-shirts to mark As part of the campaign, the mall nutrition-specifi c sessions, pro- permarket Qatar, which manages its social responsibility towards the the occasion (left). was decorated with pink ribbons to viding tips on the symptoms of Al Khor Mall, said: “The breast community”, the statement adds. HBKU Press opens bookstore in Education City

he grand opening of Ha- ment for HBKU Press,” explained The team also presented HBKU sons to sell books to audiences opening was HBKU Press’s up- mad Bin Khalifa University Bachar Chebaro, executive di- Press’s “commitment to publish- abroad and also as a platform to coming conference in co-op- T(HBKU) Press’s dedicated rector of HBKU Press. “From ing high-quality original Arabic participate in the “rights sale” of eration with the Qatari Forum bookstore in Minaretein (College our diverse portfolio of genres language works, accurate trans- books, whereby the transaction for Publishing and Distributors, of Islamic Studies building) took that includes award-winning lations to, and from, Arabic, and of buying and selling translation part of the Ministry of Culture place on Monday, highlighting and bestselling original works books with important moral/cul- rights occurs. and Sports: the inaugural 2020 over “10 years of excellence in the and works of translation, to how tural themes, all of which sup- This, coupled with added value Doha Publishing Fellowship Pro- publishing industry”. we are represented on the global port HBKU Press’s participation that many of HBKU Press’s books gramme (DPFP). In the morning, Qatar Acade- stage, HBKU Press has always in cross-cultural communica- receive when they win inter- The conference will host over my-Sidra students were invited sought to redefi ne the publishing tions”, a press statement noted. national awards, serves to fur- 40 foreign publishers from 25 to book readings by HBKU Press landscape in Qatar.” Additionally, HBKU Press ex- ther validate HBKU Press’s high countries around the world in a authors Muneera Saad al-Ro- During the event, guests were hibited its community outreach standards of publishing on an two-day forum in January 2020. maihi, Dr Jabr al-Naoimi, Zoya invited to explore the diff erent initiatives ranging from a multi- international level, the statement Scheduled activities include Anjum, and Johanna Handley. facets that make up HBKU Press tude of opportunities for writers, continues. seminars from leading publish- Later in the day, guests were publishing activities. authors, translators and illustra- HBKU Press stressed that it ing industry experts and one- The HBKU Press bookstore is open from Sunday to Thursday, 11am to invited to join members of the Academic publishing was tors, which serve to further pro- “is also committed to alternative on-one professional exchange 5.30pm. publishing house for an informa- explored with regard to HBKU mote literacy in the region. publishing options that support meetings with other publishers. tive evening to explore the pub- Press’s online, Open Access pub- HBKU Press’s international sustainability and accessibility The overall aim of the DPFP open forum for publishing ex- HBKU Press’s catalogue of works, lishing process and learn how lishing platform – QScience. initiatives were highlighted as through the publishing of eBooks will be to build bilateral relation- change. along with a dedicated space HBKU Press leads the way with com – which provides high-level well. and audiobooks to meet per- ships between local and Arab The HBKU Press bookstore is highlighting the books of other innovative initiatives that go be- services to researchers around HBKU Press defi ned the value sonal and environmental market publishers in the region with open from Sunday to Thursday, local Qatari publishing houses, yond producing books. the world in both Arabic and of participating in international needs”. international publishers from 11am to 5.30pm. can be found in the HBKU Press “This is a momentous achieve- English. book fairs for commercial rea- Also announced at the grand around the world to create an The complete collection of bookstore. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 7 Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR New website of e-commerce gateway launched at Qitcom he new website of Qa- the public and the retailers with channels. The programme seeks tar’s e-commerce gate- all information related to the to increase transparency be- Tway, Theqa, was launched e-commerce market in Qatar. tween merchants and consum- yesterday by HE the Minister of This includes a list of website ers and protect shoppers, who Transport and Communications providers, e-payment gateways should make sure that these on- Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and and logistics providers, support, line merchants are licensed to HE the Minister of Commerce coaching, incubation and cor- do business. and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al- porate fi nance programs, oppor- The MoTC is also working to Kuwari, on the sidelines of the tunities and initiatives, as well implement a consumer protec- fi fth edition of the Qatar Infor- as best online shopping prac- tion initiative under which com- mation Technology Conference tices and tips that ensure a se- plaints related to e-commerce & Exhibition (Qitcom 2019). cure and reliable online shopping are received, followed up, and Following the launch, the experience. resolved. This is part of Qa- ministers toured the pavilions The portal will also highlight tar’s eff orts to protect consum- of local companies providing the Qatar National e-Commerce ers, educate them about their e-commerce and certifi ed by Roadmap and the national rights, solve their problems, and Theqa, which so far has given its guidelines, the fi rst in the coun- prevent commercial fraud and stamp of trust to 42 companies. try, which aims at supporting unfair practices. The launch is part of Ministry local e-commerce enterprises Qatar has a favourable envi- of Transport and Communica- and helping traders understand ronment for the development of tion’s (MoTC) eff orts to enhance and adopt international best the e-commerce market, since consumer confi dence in the local practices and standards. the country has the highest an- e-commerce sector and improve Reem al-Mansoori, assist- nual average per capita spend- the quality of services provided ant undersecretary of Digital ing in the e-commerce market in by local online suppliers, in ad- Society Development Aff airs, the Mena region. Qatar also leads dition to providing traders and MoTC, said: “The MoTC seeks the Gulf countries in terms of the shoppers with the latest updates to meet the growing needs of average value of each electronic in the sector. the e-commerce sector and transaction, according to the lat- The portal, http://www. keep abreast of the latest de- est version of the Qatar National Theqa.qa, is a non-profi t and velopments by adopting and e-Commerce Roadmap. voluntary government pro- implementing additional high A recent survey conducted by gramme, aimed at stimulat- value and high quality electron- the MoTC, with the help of Glo- ing the e-commerce sector and ic services and creating a work bal Market Research Company develop local online retail sales HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed environment with controls and Ipsos, showed that 60% of con- by encouraging citizens and al-Kuwari at the launch of Theqa. follow-up mechanisms that sumers in Qatar have a desire to residents to trust the country’s help the sector grow and expand shop online. e-commerce ecosystem. It also local companies or e-commerce according to specifi cations be- including consumer rights, pri- ing new customers from outside in the future.” According to offi cial esti- seeks to encourage buyers to use businesses must fulfi l a set of fore it is granted a certifi cate and vacy policy, terms and conditions the country through more part- The ministries will work mates, the business-to-con- local websites and platforms for standards. The portal will help a trust mark, which is subject of service. The fi rst phase of the nerships with trust mark projects together to launch an aware- sumer e-commerce market in safe online shopping, and to pro- evaluate participating compa- to annual renewal on Theqa’s project is aimed at encouraging from around the world. ness programme to enlighten Qatar, ranked the seventh largest vide merchants with the tools, ny’s website to check if it meets website. increased patronisation of local Through the new website citizens and residents on ways online market in the Mena in 2015 capabilities and skills needed to up with Theqa’s security and Theqa works to ensure that lo- e-commerce sites instead of us- of Qatar’s e-commerce portal to verify the legitimacy of at $1bn, is expected to achieve a succeed quickly. safety requirements and also cal websites provide clear data ing foreign sites, while the sec- (http://www.ecommerce.gov. merchants and trade activity compound annual growth rate To obtain Theqa’s trust mark, ensure that services on off er are and information to customers ond phase will focus on attract- qa), the ministry will provide via websites and social media of 17% by 2025. FM meets Iranian counterpart Ooredoo off ers Web Application Firewall for service solution

oredoo, the region’s leading enabler of dig- Oital business innovation, announced yesterday at Qitcom the launch of Qatar’s fi rst end- to-end Web Application Fire- wall (WAF) as a service solution, which will aid customers in pro- tecting their online assets. In the wake of increasing de- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman mand for robust web application al-Thani met with Iranian Minister of Foreign Aff airs Dr Mohamed Javad Zarif in Doha, yesterday. protection, Ooredoo’s Cloud During the meeting, bilateral relations as well as issues of common concern were reviewed. WAF provides customers with a fully managed service protecting their digital presence from a va- riety of cyberattacks, according extensive managed security port- threats. With Qatar’s fi rst end- dent detection and response ca- to a statement. folio, Ooredoo will leverage its to-end Cloud WAF solution, we pability coupled with local and Mission-critical applications expertise as Qatar’s leading digital are helping organisations with a global experts. can come under fi re from au- communications provider, along digital presence to optimise their Al-Kubaisi, added: “Our in- tomated bot attacks, injection with its industry-leading con- cyber-security costs, scale up dustry-leading Cloud WAF is Supreme Judiciary attacks, as well as application- nectivity and data centre services, as their business expands, and built upon an end-to-end cyber- layer denial-of-service. These to deliver its new Cloud-based provide complete protection as security protection model, which cyber-attacks can in turn not managed WAF service. cyber-threats evolve.” has been localised to comply only lead to a loss of revenue, but Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi, In order to monitor and man- with Qatar’s data regulations. We may also impact a business’ rep- Ooredoo Qatar chief operations age the cloud-based WAF, are combining the best-in-class Council and labour utation. Ooredoo’s Cloud WAF offi cer, said: “As Qatar’s or- Ooredoo will leverage its state- practices and web application provides the shield to counter ganisations digitally transform, of-the-art Security Operations fi rewall technology to ensure these threats. they also face a larger number Centre. This Centre collectively our clients and their customers ministry sign MoU As the latest release under its of increasingly complex cyber- provides next-generation inci- remain protected at all time.”

he Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) signed a Ooredoo announces blockchain platform Tmemorandum of under- standing (MoU) with the Minis- try of Administrative Develop- oredoo announced at ment, Labour and Social Aff airs Qitcom yesterday the to co-operate in the fi eld of OOoredoo Exchange con- electronic linking and exchange cept of a new and innovative of information and data, on the blockchain platform for Qatar’s sidelines of fi fth edition of the end-users to exchange diff erent Qatar IT Conference and Exhibi- digital wallets, loyalty points, tion (Qitcom 2019), which start- and reward programmes from ed yesterday at Qatar National any platform and also make Convention Center (QNCC). instant and digital payments. The MoU stipulates the co- Off icials signing the MoU. In Qatar, merchants of any size operation in the exchange of or industry vertical can quickly information and data available safety, health and occupational, stance Court at the SJC, said that and easily get on-board a safe to each party on labour dis- labour inspection and stages of the MoU will help in the achieve- environment that allows them to putes, in particular all matters the lawsuit. ment of justice in labour disputes accept diff erent types of loyalty related to the inclusion of vo- The memorandum also in- more quickly. points and digital wallets. cabulary, sending judgments to cludes the possibility of forming For his part, Mohamed Has- End-users can turn their the Dispute Settlement Com- executive committees and joint san al-Obaidli, Assistant Under- digital assets into programme- mittee, inquiring about appeals task forces, holding consulta- secretary for Labour Aff airs at agnostic digital tokens, which judgments from the court, re- tion meetings to co-ordinate in the ministry, said that the MoU can then be used for any loyalty Visitors at the Ooredoo stand at Qitcom 2019. questing copies of employment the areas falling within the scope helps to quickly be informed on programme or digital wallet or be contracts and inquiring about of the MoU and the possibility of the judgments and appeals and converted into digital payments. get merchants on-board diff er- for open source blockchain tech- and make instant payments. salary, inquiring about the preparing one or more executive the stages of the proceedings. Ooredoo Qatar COO You- ent wallet, loyalty, and reward nologies. Ooredoo Exchange is Ooredoo Exchange aims to judgments issued against the programmes between the diff er- The SJC, through its pavilion suf Abdulla al-Kubaisi said, “In programmes faster.” currently in Closed Beta testing transform customer experi- violating establishment that did ent administrative sectors of the at Qitcom 2019, will review the response to feedback from our Ooredoo Exchange is built on with select partners. ences, and also supports fi nan- not commit to transfer the wag- two parties, and a representa- most important electronic serv- customers, Ooredoo Exchange R3’s Corda Enterprise, a next- Al-Kubaisi added: “As a se- cial inclusion and economic es and stages of the lawsuit, and tive will be appointed to act as a ices provided to the public and aims to solve three main cus- generation blockchain platform, cure, innovative, and interop- growth in Qatar.” inquiring about the judgments liaison between the two parties the most important develop- tomer challenges: lack of in- and is developed by IntellectEU, erable blockchain platform, The Ooredoo stand, under the issued against the establish- to follow up on the topics under ments adopted by the courts and teroperability among diff erent a fi nancial technology consul- Ooredoo Exchange provides a theme ‘Safe Smart Cities’, is in Hall ment violating the provisions of implementation. its departments in order to ‘digi- digital wallets and loyalty points, tancy. IntellectEU is a founding new level of convenience for 7, booth A&B 12 at the Qatar Na- the Labour Law No (14) of 2004, On this occasion, Ayedh Saad tise’ work and to move towards instant payment as another op- member of the Linux Founda- organisations and end-users tional Convention Centre. Qitcom as well as the requirements of al-Qahtani, Chief of First In- latest technology. (QNA) tion besides redemption, and tion’s Hyperledger collaborative to exchange digital tokens concludes on November 1. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 9 QATAR

PM meets offi cials attending Qitcom, MSC Core Group meeting

E the Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- Hrior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with several min- isters participating in the Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (Qitcom) 2019, organised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) un- der the theme “Safe and Smart Cities”, and the Munich Security Conference Core Group (MSC) meeting at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). The Prime Minister met with The Prime Minister also met of enhancing and developing bi- president of the Kurdistan region Gambian Minister of Infor- with Iranian Minister of Com- lateral relations between Qatar of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani on the mation and Communication munications and Information and these countries in various sidelines of Qitcom 2019. Infrastructure Ebrima Sillah, Technology Mohamed Javad fi elds and reviewed a number of During the meeting, they re- Somalia Minister of Posts Tel- Azari Jahromi and Bulgaria’s topics of common interest. viewed relations between the two ecommunications and Tech- Minister of Transport, Informa- HE the Prime Minister and countries and ways of developing nology Abdi Ashur Hassan and tion Technology and Communi- Minister of Interior Sheikh Ab- them, in addition to discuss- Ethiopian Minister of Transport cations Rossen Jeliazkov. dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- ing a number of topics on the Dagmawit Moges. The meetings dealt with means Thani also met yesterday with conference’s agenda. (QNA) Vodafone Qatar showcasing NextGen smart tech at Qitcom By Peter Alagos country, the statement said. The ning on Vodafone’s recently Business Reporter company is also demonstrat- launched NB-IoT network. ing industry-leading expertise Vodafone said the NB-IoT is a in technologies being driven by potential catalyst for companies odafone Qatar featured 5G, such as Internet of Things to connect things everywhere a host of next generation (IoT) innovations, Artifi cial In- anywhere unrestricted by lim- Vsmart technology yester- telligence (AI), and Virtual and ited connectivity. Its Low Power day at its 1,000sqm pavilion at Augmented Reality (VR/AR). Wide Area (LPWA) network Qitcom 2019, slated to further Vodafone Qatar CEO Sheikh technology is designed to enable draw more people to the Qatar Hamad Abdulla Jassim al- and scale a wide range of IoT National Convention Centre Thani said, “5G will enable a devices and services. (QNCC) until November 1. whole new generation of digital It is also showcasing solutions Supporting Qitcom 2019 services capable of improving for Connected Retail that will as Offi cial Sponsor, Vodafone transportation, housing, health- transform customer experiences Qatar’s participation “brings care, security, and connectivity and help stores and retailers to to life its vision for a 5G Gi- across Qatar. ultimately increase revenues. gaNet Society that will enable “5G will unlock human poten- Among them is a Vodafone the country to become one of tial and power breakthroughs for Smart Fitting Room, presented the most connected countries business that will fundamen- in collaboration with Galeries in the world,” according to a tally transform the way we live, Lafayette, with digital mirrors statement. how and where we do business off ering a digitalised customer The pavilion, modelled to look and how productive we can be experience. Using analytics cap- like a real city, introduces to visi- at work. For this, we are invest- tured, retailers can better un- tors a future smart city through ing heavily in rapidly rolling out derstand smart room traffi c and an array of high-tech demos, 5G across the country to support customer selections. each powered by Vodafone’s live the country’s ambitious plans Connected Industry is anoth- 5G GigaNet network. to build an integrated digital er area that will be transformed The Vodafone GigaNet 5G society.” by Vodafone’s 5G capabilities. City is presented through fi ve Vodafone Qatar’s intelligent Construction, manufacturing, distinct zones: Smart City, Con- platforms and smart solutions oil and gas, and other industries nected Retail, Smart Industry, presented in the smart city zone will be able to increase effi ciency Smart Home, and a 5G Arcade, “are the foundations for a con- and production, resulting in cost complete with thematic booths. nected, more effi cient, and safer reduction. HE the president of Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Vodafone said 5G GigaNet is city.” Among them is a 5G auton- This was highlighted in Vo- Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, and Vodafone Qatar CEO Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim al-Thani at the Vodafone pavilion. expected to unlock digital in- omous car, featuring technolo- dafone’s ‘5G Door to the Future’ novations that pave the way gies such as Artifi cial Assistants showcase that demonstrated the iconic Msheireb Company A Smart Home model can all be accessed and con- presents live AR, Cloud, and VR for a connected city in Qa- for drivers and passengers. the benefi ts of instant commu- House, which was once used equipped with the latest smart trolled remotely by customers gaming experiences over Voda- tar, integrated with cutting- The others also include Smart nications via 5G. The zone also as the headquarters for Qatar’s technologies, many already through their smartphones. As fone’s 5G network on 5G hand- edge technologies and smart City Traffi c Analytics and NB- includes a live 5G VR experi- fi rst oil company. Smart Worker available to subscribers of Voda- well as the convenience it off ers, sets and VR headsets. 5G tech- solutions. IoT (Narrowband IoT) based ence that highlights the use of Bands for worker safety, and a 5G fone GigaHome Smart, gives Qit- Vodafone Qatar’s smart home nology provides a more reliable With key locations across Qa- solutions, such as Smart Waste VR for remote, instant com- Industrial Drone for remote data com visitors a glimpse into the technology can lead to improved experience and ultra-low latency tar now covered, Vodafone Qatar Management, Smart Water Me- munication using the highest gathering from dangerous loca- connected homes of the future. energy effi ciency, comfort, and to enjoy gaming on the move, and is leading 5G deployment and tering, and Smart Parking, and data transmission quality, with tions, are some of the other in- Smart plugs, water leakage, and home security. without the need to purchase commercial availability in the Smart Lighting solutions run- a 360-degree virtual view of novations on show. smoke detectors and smart bulbs Meanwhile, the 5G Arcade expensive hardware. Vodafone’s 5G network goes live at HIA By Peter Alagos sidelines of Qitcom 2019, “sets availability of Vodafone Qatar’s forming the passenger experi- ing commitment” to building Business Reporter HIA on course to become one of 5G network will help to support ence, enhancing safety, boost- a world-class infrastructure in the smartest connected airports this by improving network re- ing operational effi ciencies, and support of the realisation of the in the world,” according to a sponse times and capacity, the generating revenue.” Qatar National Vision 2030. odafone Qatar signed a Vodafone Qatar statement. statement noted. Al-Meer added, “HIA has Last month, the company’s memorandum of under- As part of HIA’s digital strategy, Commenting on the agree- been a pioneer in adopting leading role in the deployment Vstanding (MoU) with Ha- the state-of-the-art airport is al- ment, Sheikh Hamad said, “Vo- emerging technology trends that of 5G was unveiled with the an- mad International Airport (HIA) ready investing in cutting-edge dafone Qatar is proud to support deliver tangible business out- nouncement that the extensive yesterday, highlighting the tel- smart technologies to transform HIA’s digital strategy through comes. HIA’s partnership with reach of its 5G network covers ecommunications operator’s 5G customer experience with an our 5G network. For airports, Vodafone Qatar will be pivotal key locations across the country. network, which is now live at HIA. end-to-end self-service passen- an intelligent 5G enabled wire- in delivering ubiquitous ultra- In parallel, Vodafone Qatar also The MoU, signed by Voda- ger journey enabled by biometric less network that can power high-speed communication, launched the country’s fi rst ‘Un- fone Qatar CEO Sheikh Hamad facial recognition, it continued. advanced technologies such as providing our passengers with limited 5G Plans’ to give mobile Abdulla Jassim al-Thani and Innovative technologies are the Internet of Things (IoT), Ar- connectivity like never before.” users the full 5G experience, and Vodafone Qatar CEO Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim al-Thani and HIA’s chief operating offi cer also being deployed to enhance tifi cial Intelligence (AI), and Big Vodafone Qatar said it has allow them to take advantage of its HIA COO Badr Mohamed al-Meer shaking hands after signing an Badr Mohamed al-Meer, on the operational excellence. The Data will be at the heart of trans- demonstrated “an unwaver- unprecedented speed. agreement yesterday. Milaha partners with Microsoft to build smart logistics platform

ilaha, Qatar’s lead- mier technology trade show, cur- build a smart logistics layer that enabling data driven insights, ing force in maritime rently underway at the QNCC. delivers boundless effi ciencies reducing operating costs and Mand logistics, yester- “We have always aimed to and sustain the mission of being further increasing effi ciency. day partnered with Microsoft to synchronise our off erings of lo- the partner of choice in Qatar “Milaha has taken a leap for- build a smart logistics platform gistics, port services, repairs and and beyond, he said. ward today in its digital trans- using Artifi cial Intelligence (AI) shipping agency services for a Milaha had previously adopt- formation journey by harnessing and Internet-of-Things (IoT) simpler, more effi cient and more ed Microsoft Azure Infrastruc- the power of the Microsoft in- elements from Microsoft’s Azure value-adding supply chain. Mi- ture Services to migrate its tech- telligent cloud,” said Lana Kha- cloud ecosystem. crosoft’s Azure PaaS, specifi cally nology stack to the Microsoft laf, country manager, Microsoft The collaboration will enable IoT and AI, was the most obvi- intelligent cloud. Qatar Azure. Milaha to better engage custom- ous path to future-proofi ng our With the new partnership an- The IoT and AI capabilities ers, empower employees, op- ability to adapt to our clients’ nounced, Milaha and Microsoft would empower the company timise operations and reinvent needs,” said Abdulrahman Essa will team up to focus on the de- to build a smart logistics plat- business models through digital al-Mannai, president and chief sign, implementation and de- form that is right for them – a transformation. executive, Milaha. ployment of systems that will catalyst for transforming its op- Both companies signed a mem- The partnership with Micro- enable smart logistics and con- erations that will enable Milaha orandum of understanding (MoU) soft will enable Milaha to digit- nected operations through Az- to achieve more, the Microsoft Milaha and Microsoft Qatar off icials shaking hands after signing a partnership agreement. during Qitcom 2019, Qatar’s pre- ally transform its operations and ure AI and IoT services, thereby offi cial said. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR

PM hosts Tasdeeq platform to facilitate banquet for Qitcom, MSC Core authentication of documents Group n its bid to provide a secure interact together through a as the digital signatures be- document system that al- single portal to validate and au- Tasdeeq is also available as a mobile app which comes automatically damaged Ilows users and organisa- thenticate documents. can be downloaded from both Android and iOS if document is tampered with. QNA tions to validate and authen- The portal allows users to Commenting on the occa- Doha ticate documents anytime and share information in a secured app stores and while the platform’s ratification sion, Hassan Jassim al-Sayed, anywhere in Qatar, the Min- manner and with a high level of assistant undersecretary of In- istry of Transport and Com- confidentiality, using their cre- service is exclusively for governmental formation Technology Affairs, E the Prime Minister and munications (MoTC) yesterday dentials in the national identi- organisations, its validation service, however, at Ministry of Transport and Interior Minister Sheikh announced the launch of Tas- fication system (i.e. Tawtheeq), Communications, said: “MoTC HAbdullah bin Nasser bin deeq. thanks to the encryption fea- is available to the general public is proud to launch this innova- Khalifa al-Thani hosted at the The shared service platform ture that allows only author- tive service which is aimed at Museum of Islamic Art yester- offers ratification and valida- ised parties to access and verify service, however, is available to tion process either by checking users can access the required ensuring a more secured han- day evening a dinner banquet in tion services to government user-information. the general public. the documents themselves or service only by using their cre- dling and accessing of docu- the honour of high-ranking of- and corporate organisations in Documents validation can With the launch, citizens through the QGCC. dentials in the national iden- ments in Qatar. fi cials of experts, chairpersons Qatar. additionally be done by call- and residents of Qatar can now The service will equally help tification system (Tawtheeq); Tasdeeq is a Qatar Digital and executives in the fi eld of The launch took place on the ing Qatar Government Contact check the status of their docu- in time-saving by reducing the data encryption which further Government initiative which communications and informa- sidelines of the Qatar IT Con- Center (QGCC), where infor- ments anytime and anywhere, number of visits to government enhances document security comes as parts of government’s tion technology attending Qit- ference and Exhibition (Qitcom mation can be communicated whether online or offline, and agencies for documents verifi- as documents will be released effort at further developing a com and Munich Security Con- 2019), which opened yesterday with the agent and vice versa in access their personal docu- cation while at the same time using a cutting-edge QR code sustainable digital ecosystem ference. at the Qatar National Conven- a secure manner. ments in their privacy, which help in curbing attempts to fal- that contains encrypted data, in Qatar by digitalising its op- The dinner banquet was at- tion Center in Doha. Tasdeeq is also available as a makes Tasdeeq the first citizen sify documents and make doc- where only authorised parties erations. tended by a number of Sheikhs Tasdeeq (www.tasdeeq.gov. mobile app which can be down- documents vault implemented. uments archived and retrieved can view and verify informa- With the launch of the new and ministers, Chairman of qa), a portal wholly owned and loaded from both Android and They can also enjoy more in a secure manner among oth- tion provided by users; and portal, the populace is assured the Munich Security Confer- managed by the MoTC, pro- iOS app stores and while the security for their documents, ers. digital signature which enables of having their documents han- ence Wolfgang Ischinger and a vides a collaborative environ- platform’s ratification service with forgery and tamper- Major features of Tasdeeq digital signage of any document dled and processed faster and number of heads of the diplo- ment where individuals, gov- is exclusively for governmen- ing prevented, and experience include personal identifica- or certificate electronically more efficiently without any matic missions accredited to the ernment and private entities tal organisations, its validation the simplicity of the valida- tion verification – in which thereby preventing tampering worries.” state.

Qatar’s national artifi cial intelligence plan launched MoTC unveils portal

From Page 1 to enable Qatar to create higher hub. HBKU is committed to ac- values and in the end gain con- tively contributing to achieving for staff workspace The six pillars which under- siderably from the opportuni- the Qatar National Vision 2030, pin the new national AI strat- ties created by AI,” explained Dr and is proud to be supporting egy are: Talent; Data Access; Ashraf Aboulnga, research direc- the government’s eff orts to make he Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) yes- Employment; Wealth Creation; tor, QCRI. “At QCRI, there is a Qatar a leading fi gure in AI. terday launched ‘Tawasol’ (https://tawasol.gov.qa/) – a portal Embracing an AI + X Future; and big spectrum of activities from The announcement that its Tdesigned for secure electronic collaboration between govern- Thought Leadership in AI Eth- research to advanced develop- blueprint has been accepted as ment employees – on the sidelines of Qatar IT Conference and Exhi- ics. “This strategy looks at vari- ment of products. QCRI will de- Qatar’s national AI strategy can bition (Qitcom 2019) being held under the theme “Safe, Smart Cities”. ous aspects such as education, velop new ideas related to AI that only enhance QCRI’s already im- Tawasol will off er a workspace where staff can set up audio and businesses, employment among will serve local economy,” con- pressive ability to attract top-tier video meetings, chat, perform panel discussions, and distribute tasks. others. tinued Dr Aboulnga. talent in this fi eld. The portal will also act as a knowledge sharing centre, whereby staff For example, it looks how AI Since its inception in 2010, “Qatar can lead by example and will have access to essential documents related to their roles, projects impacts employment. In some QCRI has been a thought leader show the rest of the world how to or domains, trainings manuals. The platform will enable staff to man- cases, you have AI replacing em- in the use of AI in areas of com- seamlessly embrace an AI+X Fu- age their meetings, upload and share documents, and calendars. HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed ployment but in other areas you puting research and has been ture, where almost every activity Additionally, it will provide employees with the latest news, related al-Sulaiti announcing the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy fi nd it creating new employment continuing to raise Qatar’s profi le of importance will be touched by laws and policies, guidance, and services. Hassan Jassim al-Sayed, yesterday at Qitcom 2019. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil opportunities. The strategy aims as a global technology innovation AI,” added Dr Elmagarmid. the assistant undersecretary of Information Technology Aff airs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications said, “Tawasol is a one- stop gateway for the employees in the public sector to access all wide range of information and resources, and share knowledge, and serv- ices to help build an effi cient working environment. “In line with Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy, Through Ta- MoCI partners with Microsoft on digital transformation wasol, we aim to empower government employees to share informa- tion, collaborate, and create knowledge centres. Tawasol has been de- signed to increase effi ciency in productivity and reduce overall costs. atar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry “It will also help governments achieve organisational excellence (MoCI) yesterday at Qitcom 2019, the coun- and improve corporate governance. Governmental staff across all sec- Qtry’s premier technology trade show, an- tors are encouraged to collaborate and use Tawasol to perform their nounced its partnership with Microsoft on a com- work more eff ectively.” prehensive digital transformation programme that During the launch, Fajr al-Ansari, project manager, Tawasol, MoTC, will modernise its infrastructure and enable the delivered a presentation on Tawasol as an e-collaboration platform ministry to achieve more. between government employees. Since its inception, Qitcom has been “We fi nd ourselves on the verge of remarkable responsible for bringing together consumers and global experts to un- change,” said Abdulla Ahmad al-Ali, director Infor- derstand, envision and build Qatar’s digital future. Qitcom 2019 aims mation technology, MoCI. “We can already see that to attract 30,000 visitors, sign several agreements and MoUs, enter so much of our daily routine has been transformed strategic sponsorships and link up investors with opportunities avail- by technology. To play our part in what is to come, able in the Qatari market. and to deliver our nation the tools it needs to suc- This year’s event will further contribute towards creating connec- ceed and further the promise of Vision 2030, the tions across the Smart Cities ecosystem at a national, regional and ministry has partnered with Microsoft on optimis- global level. ing our internal operations, enhancing our respon- siveness and agility, and boosting our innovation capabilities.” MoCI has adopted the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform & Dynamics 365 to attain high availabil- In focus ity for its mission-critical workloads, transform its business process and citizen services. Microsoft will support the ministry in the digital transformation of its infrastructure and the migration of its data centre to the trusted, secure and intelligent Azure Cloud, as well as provisioning high-availability and disaster-recovery-as-a-service capabilities. MoCI’s new platform capabilities are expected to signifi cantly reduce the time taken to launch new e-services in a cost-eff ective business-operations model, where MoCI only pays for what it uses. HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari and other off icials at the signing ceremony.

MoI’s security innovations on show at Qitcom

he Ministry of Interior such as drones. Latest systems de- (MoI)’s pavilion at Qatar IT veloped at the National Command TConference and Exhibition Centre are also on display at the (Qitcom 2019) is highlighting the pavilion. The systems are aimed at latest security innovations in the facilitating the response to disas- country. Qitcom 2019, organised ters and crises, and also cover crime by the Ministry of Transport and analysis. Communications (MoTC), is being The Security Systems Depart- held at the Qatar National Conven- ment is presenting state-of-the-art tion Centre until November 1. equipment such as drones, which The MoI’s pavilion features pres- are fi tted with cameras to secure entations by a number of depart- various activities and locations, the ments, including the General Di- security robot that is also equipped rectorate of Information Systems, with a number of cameras with the Security Systems Department, Cy- aim of carrying out security tasks in ber Security Centre, National Com- hard-to-reach areas like confi ned mand Centre, Communications spaces and others. Department and the Economic and The Cyber Security Centre is Cyber Crimes Combating Depart- showcasing its central operations ment. room that enables the centre to re- Sections representing these de- spond quickly to and deal with any partments envisage a large number potential cyber attacks. of security systems and electronic The Economic and Cyber Crimes services for the public. Combating Department features New initiatives include the secu- educational presentations on how rity robot for facial recognition as to deal with such off ences, as well as A view of people attending Qitcom 2019 at the Qatar National well as other types of latest equip- how to protect personal devices and HE the Director of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi visiting the MoI Convention Centre yesterday. ment, mechanisms and devices credentials. pavilion at Qitcom 2019. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 11 QATAR

Commercial Bank sponsors 16th MoPH symposium to focus on Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition Commercial Bank has sponsored the attend the opening ceremony of the 16th edition of Heya Arabian Fashion exhibition, Commercial Bank said in exhibition, held under the patron- a press statement. age of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Amit Sah, EGM, head of Retail ‘A Healthy City for Children’ Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Banking, said: “Our sponsorship The five-day event concluded of such a prime exhibition directly yesterday at the Doha Exhibition relates to the bank’s commitment to he Ministry of Public Health ban environment, the MoPH has said in in Tirana, the capital of Albania, Swe- and drink to healthy children’. The sym- and Convention Centre (DECC). supporting local events and talented (MoPH) is organising a symposi- a statement. den, Kuwait and Oman. posium will also support the priority of The fashion exhibition brought individuals. The Heya VIP day is the Tum, ‘A Healthy City for Children’, WISH is an initiative of Qatar Foun- It will include two key panel discus- ‘Healthy children and adolescents’ in together over 250 brands from 11 first of the many exclusive invita- in collaboration with the World Innova- dation. sions under the following themes: ‘The the National Health Strategy 2018-2022. countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, tions our Sadara Youth customers tion Summit for Health (WISH) at Man- “The symposium will offi cially mark challenges of combating childhood A healthy city is one that is continu- Oman and others, showcasing the are expected to enjoy.” darin Oriental, Doha hotel in Msheireb the start of a journey for building a coa- obesity at the city level: refl ections on ally creating and improving physical latest in Arabian and modest designs in Sadara Youth off ers a number of tomorrow. lition of policy-makers, researchers, international experiences’ and ‘Vision and social environments and expanding addition to hosting several discussions “first-in-market” features and has The symposium will see the partici- academics and leaders from diff erent for a healthy city in Qatar: solutions, community resources that enable peo- related to fashion and today’s trends. been designed to fit the needs and pation of decision-makers and local and sectors and industries to improve health sustainability and commitments’, with ple to mutually support each other in During the opening ceremony lifestyles of its young Qataris, the international experts. and well-being based on the ‘Health in the participation of local and interna- performing all the functions of life and that took place on October 25 at statement notes. It will showcase key local, regional all policies’ approach, which is one of tional offi cials and experts. developing to their maximum potential. DECC, VIP seats were reserved for It provides its audience with “a and international plans, initiatives and the National Health Strategy’s priori- Further, there will be two work- “The ‘Health in all policies’ approach Commercial Bank’s Private Banking style of banking through a dedicated experiences for innovation and the de- ties,” the statement notes. shops: ‘Health policy: polices needed will off er healthy choices and make our and Sadara customers. digital app that is educational and velopment of an action plan for a healthy The event will review regional and for healthy city for children’ and ‘Health cities a more child-friendly environ- In line with the “bank’s commit- fun to use at the same time”. city for children in Qatar, and focus on international experiences in the fi eld of curricula: the role of schools in educa- ment for children to live, play, learn and ment to providing best-in-class Customers who wish to join addressing childhood obesity in the ur- healthy cities, such as those developed tion and the provision of healthy food grow better in,” the statement adds. services for its valued customers”, the Sadara Youth programme are eligible members of Sadara Youth, a invited to visit the bank’s booths new proposition targeted for Qataris at Mall of Qatar and Doha Festival aged between 18 and 25 years, City, available from tomorrow until Al Wakra Hospital units get international accreditation received exclusive VIP invitations to November 2.

QNA important milestone in the continuing highest clinical care standards. We are As part of the accreditation process, Doha growth and success of Al Wakra Hospi- proud to have met the challenge of ob- three surgeons from the Urinary Stone tal’s Urinary Stone Centre and Bariatric taining this international accreditation Centre and two surgeons from the Bari- Surgery Centre, and demonstrates the and intend to consistently uphold the atric Surgery Centre have been awarded Qatar takes part in he Urinary Stone Centre and Bari- excellence of our surgeons, in which we principles of quality improvement and the ‘Excellent Surgeon’ certifi cate from atric Surgery Centre at Al Wakra take great pride.” patient care in the future.” the SRC. THospital (AWH) have been suc- “The accreditation validates our AWH Surgical Divisions chairman Dr The recognition of these fi ve surgeons Shanghai forum cessfully accredited as Centres of Excel- commitment to applying the latest sur- Ahmad Shamsodini said: “The interna- is a testament to their dedication, exper- lence by the US-based Surgery Review gical techniques and implementing ev- tional accreditation of the Urinary Stone tise and hard work and to their ongoing Corp (SRC), making AWH the fi rst hospi- idence-based best practices, which will Centre and the Bariatric Surgery Cen- commitment to using the latest surgical QNA meetings of international technical tal in the world to receive this award from ensure we continue to deliver on HMC’s tre as Centres of Excellence by the SRC techniques, as well as their adherence to Shanghai committees for electro-technical the SRC for its Urinary Stone Centre. commitment to providing the safest, is the result of having state-of-the-art the best international surgical and pa- specifi cations, in addition to nu- Five surgeons were also recognised for most eff ective and most compassionate equipment and ongoing professional tient safety policies and protocols. merous technical fi eld visits. their excellence as part of the accredita- care to each and every one of our pa- education and training programmes for SRC is a non-profi t organisation from he State of Qatar, represent- The 83rd general meeting con- tion process. tients,” added Dr al-Ansari. our highly-skilled surgeons. This recog- the United States, known globally for ed by the Qatar General Or- cluded with the meeting of the IEC Stressing the importance of the in- AWH Medical Director Dr Sabah nition shows the enormous expertise we their accreditation of Centres of Excel- Tganization for Standards and Technical Board, which represents ternational accreditation, HMC’s act- Alkadhi said: “This accreditation shows have in diff erent aspects of urinary stone lence in diff erent branches of surgery. Metrology, has participated in the the legislative body of the organi- ing Chief Medical Offi cer Dr Abdulla our commitment to improving patient treatment and bariatric surgery and our They have accredited a number of 83rd general meeting of Interna- sation, during which the fi nancial al-Ansari said: “This recognition is an care through the implementation of the dedicated approaches to patient safety.” centres in the United States. tional Electrotechnical Commis- budget, the reports of the auditors sion (IEC) in Shanghai. and the distribution of fi nancial A number of specialised meet- benefi ts to the national bodies for ings were held during the event, in 2020 and the reports of the techni- which the assistant to the chairman cal work and activities of the Com- of Qatar General Organization for mittee were approved. QNL to celebrate diversity of cultures, identities and artistic voices Standards and Metrology, Engineer In addition, the organisation of Nawaf Ibrahim al-Hamad al-Ma- elections for the vice-chairman of atar National Library has said it Al Arab) of the Ministry of Culture and na, represented the State of Qatar. the committee, members of spe- will celebrate people, cultures Sports. These include the meeting of cialised technical boards, and the Qand events that have shaped the The library will host the ‘Young Writ- the standardisation board, which appointment of a new Secretary- world through a comprehensive pro- ers Programme: Open Mic Night’ on manages the international techni- General were also held. gramme of events this November, which November 16 in collaboration with Doha cal committees for electrotechnical The State of Qatar has been a include a remarkable exhibition and dis- Learning Days, the country’s fi rst expe- specifi cations, and the meeting of member of the International Elec- plays of art, poetry and music. riential learning festival organised by the the board of conformity assess- trotechnical Commission since The ‘Qatar, India and The Gulf: His- World Innovation Summit for Educa- ment, which supervises the ac- 2008. tory, Culture and Society’ exhibition tion. Members of the public can submit tivities and programmes of issuing It also participates in the mem- opens tomorrow and will run for three a piece of writing of up to two minutes to certifi cates of examination, testing bership of a number of technical months. be performed. Pieces must interpret one and conformity with electrical and committees concerned with the The exhibits examine thousands of of the themes of Doha Learning Days: electronic standards. preparation of electro-technical years of connections between India, Re-centering Learning Around Hu- The event also saw a number of standards. Qatar and the Gulf, and is part of the man Values; De-constructing Existing library’s celebration of the Qatar India Learning Frameworks; or Re-learning to 2019 Year of Culture. Build Thriving Societies. On November 13, in co-operation Other events in November are ‘Map- with the Qatari Authors Forum, the ‘Qa- ping Planets’, presented by the Science Camping season begins today tar and India: Common Customs and Book Forum, on November 17 with Dr Traditions’ lecture will delve into shared The lineup includes a remarkable exhibition and displays of art, poetry and music. Alessandro Frigeri. he 2019-2020 winter camp- the total number of camps avail- customs and traditions, and how time (File picture) The monthly Philharmonic at the li- ing season will begin today able. Some 180 camps are still and societal developments have changed brary concert series will present ‘Clara Tand continue until March 30, available. them. History at Oxford University, will deliv- development and enjoyment through Schumann: The Artist and The Woman’ 2020, the Ministry of Municipality A total of 17 areas are included Modern Indo-Arabic numerals have er a lecture on November 28 that traces lifelong learning.” on November 21. and Environment (MME) has said. in the 2019-2020 winter camping evolved over many millennia, and this Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence and ‘Fire up Your Imagination’ with au- In collaboration with the British Registration for camps will be season. history will be unravelled in ‘A Brief their relevance today. thor, illustrator and performance poet Council, the library will present ‘Edi- open until December 31. The Information Systems De- History of Indo-Arabic Numerals’ on Arab identity and its preservation is Chris White on November 7 promises to fi ce//Artifi ce’ on November 20 as part In a statement, the MME — partment has set up an operations November 16. the theme of the November 3 event, ‘Be- be a creative hour of imaginative ideas. of the Qatar British Festival ‘Reading the represented by the Information room to manage and monitor the The lecture will be presented by Na- fore It Is Too Late: Protecting and Pre- White will reveal how he became a City’ programme. Systems Department — said electronic registration system for huel Gonzalez, the co-founder and chief serving Arab Audiovisual Heritage’. writer and share tales of his global trav- On November 22, ‘Every Thing Every 2,438 winter camps had been the camping season, as well as to technical offi cer of ADGS, a high-tech Dedicated to safeguarding cultural els performing poetry. Time’ will ask what kind of stories ur- booked from October 14 until deal with related enquiries and ad- Qatari startup successfully incubated at heritage, and held in co-operation with He will then guide participants as they ban data can tell about a city, its citizens, yesterday, accounting for 93% of dress them accordingly. Qatar Science & Technology Park, and the University College London-Qatar pen and illustrate a poem of their own. workers and visitors. the creator of Strokk, a password veri- and British Library Qatar Foundation For a musical treat, the Ministry of Turning to current and contemporary fi cation system now used across the re- Partnership, the library is organising the Defence Music Battalion Unit will per- issues, ‘The Arab Revolutions’ on No- Can-AM Ryker recalled over safety concerns gion. event to celebrate the unique audiovisu- form at a concert of Qatari music on No- vember 24 will host Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, Gonzalez will also present a work- al heritage of Qatar and the Middle East. vember 12, where they will play pieces professor of political science at Kuwait he Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Speed shop, ‘Ancient Numeral Systems: Arith- Dr Sohair Wastawy, executive director inspired by the Qatari arts, using tradi- University, to talk about his book The Marine Co, has announced the recall of Can-AM Ryker bike, model metic the Hard Way’, on November 16. of the library, said: “The themes of the tional instruments to refl ect local cul- Arab Revolutions and refl ect on diff er- Tof 2019, due to a potential defect in the wheel nuts that may crack Participants will better understand November events are as rich in diversity ture. ent dimensions of the 2011 revolutions. and result in loss of control and cause accident. how successively improved number sys- as our community. The library has col- ‘Poetry Night Doha 2019: Flavours On November 25, the library and The recall campaign comes within the framework of the Ministry’s con- tems can be sped up with algorithmic laborated with a host of institutions and and Aroma’ on November 15 is a local Georgetown University in Qatar will host tinuous eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car and bike dealers improvements only made possible by partners, and the result is to produce a edition of an international event cre- ‘The Blockade Against Qatar: A Blessing follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. Hindu-Arabic numerals. programme with a strong international ated in 2016 by the Arab World Institute in Disguise?’. Alexis Antoniades, chair The Ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow Celebrating the life of a man known as fl air. We are delighted to celebrate the in Paris, in memory of the attacks in the of International Economics at Georget- up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with cus- India’s Father of the Nation, the library heritage and traditions of a nation such French capital of November 2015. own, will examine the impact the block- tomers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. and Qatar Foundation Community En- as India and its shared a history with This event is organised as a joint col- ade has had on Qatar’s economy and the The Ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consum- gagement have partnered to celebrate Qatar that dates very far back. We en- laboration between the library, l’Institut policy responses that followed. er Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, which processes the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma courage our visitors to visit and engage Français du Qatar, the embassy of Sen- Details of the library’s full programme complaints, inquiries and suggestions through the following channels: Gandhi. with our speakers and our exhibitions egal in Qatar, the embassy of Mali in Qa- of events are available online at www. Call Centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ MOCIQATAR, Dr Faisal Devji, director of South Asia and fi nd a path for their individual self- tar and the Qatar Poetry Centre (Diwan qnl.qa/en/events Instagram: MOCIQATAR, mobile app for Android and IOS: MOCIQATAR

Partial diversion on B-Ring Road 5-month road upgrade project announced he Public Works Author- he Public Works Authority (Ash- ity (Ashghal) has an- ghal) has announced a partial Tnounced that it will di- Tclosure in one direction of Jabber vert part of the B-Ring Road to bin Mohammed and Al Dostour Streets a parallel alternative road with from November 1 for a period of fi ve the same number of lanes from months. November 1 for three months. The closure, to be implemented in co- The change will be in one ordination with the General Directorate direction from Al Rufaa Inter- of Traffi c, will facilitate completion of section (known as Sanaa Inter- the surface-water drainage network and section) to Al Doha Al Jadeeda upgrading works of roads, as part of the Intersection as shown on the A-Ring Road Development Project. attached map. Around 200m of Jabber bin Moham- The diversion, implemented med Street will be closed in the direc- in co-ordination with the Gen- tion from Dar Al Kutub Intersection eral Directorate of Traffi c, has (temporary roundabout) to the intersec- been announced in order to tion of Jabber bin Mohammed Street/Al facilitate completion of infra- Dostour Street; and around 150m of Al structure works on the B-Ring Dostour Street closed in the direction Road. from Jabber bin Mohammed Street to- Ashghal will install road wards Ali bin Amur Al Attiya Street. signs advising motorists of the During the closure, road users can temporary traffi c shift and re- use Al Rufaa Intersection than get on Al quested road users to abide by Dostour Street to reach their destina- the speed limit and follow the tions, as shown on the map. vising motorists of the temporary traf- abide by the speed limit and follow the road signs to ensure safety. Ashghal will install road signs ad- fi c closure and requested road users to road signs to ensure safety. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR

HBKU-CIS WISE launches Doha Learning to host roundtable Days to promote innovation of Islamic The country’s first nouka, WISE CEO at a press and Public Aff airs, ExxonMo- experiential learning festival conference. bil Qatar, said, “Doha Learning fi nance will be held at Education City Yiannouka discussed the Days is an important event that from November 14-19 overall vision of WISE and ac- presents the local community knowledged the role initiatives with an exciting opportunity to leaders he World Innovation such as DLD play in the educa- engage in innovative and mean- Summit for Education tional enrichment of the com- ingful activities to help them T(WISE), has announced munity. explore education. Education is he College of Islamic Doha Learning Days (DLD), Dr Ibrahim al-Naimi, un- the fundamental building block Studies (CIS) at Hamad the country’s fi rst experiential dersecretary, Ministry of Edu- of individual opportunity and TBin Khalifa University learning festival, from Novem- cation and Higher Education, economic growth – by support- (HBKU) will host the fi fth CEOs ber 14 to 19 in Education City. said, “The WISE Summit re- ing programmes that improve and Islamic Finance Leaders Designed to be a space for fl ects the importance that our teaching and learning in these Roundtable on November 3. incubation and a catalyst for wise leadership places on edu- key areas, we’re dedicated to Experts, policymakers, and innovation in education, the cation, and its persistent com- making a diff erence in our chil- thought leaders will gather in DLD festival will off er the com- mitment to its development by dren’s lives and their future.” Doha to discuss eff orts to help munity unique opportunities welcoming world-class expe- Qatar Rail addressed their or- Muslim countries recover after for active learning, experiential riences and transferring them ganisation’s role in community prolonged periods of confl ict learning and refl ection ahead of to our schools, and within our education, and what Qatar Rail and economic instability. the global Summit that follows a classrooms. This enhances our hopes to achieve by collaborat- Specifi cally, the roundtable week later. utilisation of interdisciplinary ing with WISE. “We are com- aims to facilitate dialogue among In collaboration with more methodologies and improves mitted to developing education leaders of institutions belonging than 50 local partners and inno- our educational outcomes, ena- in Qatar in the fi elds of science, to the social fi nancing ecosys- vators, DLD is being held in the bling our students to compete technology, engineering and tem. lead up to the WISE Summit, at international universities, mathematics, in co-operation These include philanthropic and will include activities that thereby contributing to our hu- with leading educational in- and charitable organisations, range from coding labs, well- man development pillar and the stitutions in the State of Qatar, Awqaf institutions and local ness master classes, sensorial realisation of Qatar National Vi- which allows us to reach a wide government agencies. experiences, drumming, pho- sion 2030.” segment of the student com- A signifi cant proportion of tography exhibitions and work- The press conference includ- munity. Qatar Rail aims to en- funds from these institutions, shops, leadership master class- ed a panel discussion with its courage students to be creative, which is channelled into fragile es, hands-on science classes, to partner organisations; Exxon- innovative, and link theoretical Muslim countries is allocated to Lego Serious Play sessions, and WISE launches Doha Learning Days. Mobil, Qatar Rail, and the Min- concepts and general knowledge social fi nancing projects. many more. istry of Education and Higher with the practical side,”Ajlan However, the complexity “We focus on dialogue and and this year we’re refl ecting a community where our learners to link education and innova- Education. Eid al-Enazi, chief of strategy & of problems facing vulnerable conversation amongst a glo- commitment to take the Sum- and educators can gain from our tion to help us build thriving Mohammed al-Hashimi, business development of Qatar countries requires comprehen- bal community of educators, mit into the heart of our diverse eff orts and those of our partners societies,” said Stavros N Yian- senior adviser, Government Rail, added. sive responses that current so- cial fi nancing initiatives alone cannot provide. HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud al-Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank, will be among the HBKU extends partnership for environment law conference keynote speakers at this year’s roundtable. Key members of CIS will also join other high-level or a second consecutive blanca. Morocco’s Laboratory dignitaries to discuss collabora- year, the College of Law at for Research on Comparative tive and empowering approach- FHamad Bin Khalifa Uni- Democratic Transition and Lex- es to post-confl ict and socio- versity (HBKU) will be a strate- isNexis Middle East and North economic development across gic partner in the Association of Africa join HBKU as strategic the Muslim world. Environmental Law Lecturers in partners. Dr Syed Nazim Ali, director, Middle East and North African Dean of the College of Law, Research Division and Centre Universities’ (ASSELLMU) an- Susan L Karamanian, said, of Islamic Economics and Fi- nual conference. “Our partnership builds upon nance, CIS, said: “Bringing the Taking place in Settat, Mo- our successful hosting of last 5th CEOs and Islamic Finance rocco, from November 4-5, year’s event and demonstrates Leaders Roundtable to Doha un- the conference brings together that the College of Law is at derscores Qatar’s status as a hub leading environmental law the forefront of key debates of Islamic fi nance. The meeting scholars, practitioners and shaping regional and global le- will also provide an opportu- policymakers to discuss legal gal discourse. We are particu- nity to reinforce the country’s approaches to tackling climate larly keen to lead discussions commitment to supporting the change with a focus on the to advance the teaching of cli- socio-economic development of Middle East and North Africa mate change law, a subject that Muslims across the globe. HBKU (Mena). In doing so, participants is just now gaining traction in is, of course, honoured to be will consider how Mena coun- major law schools of the world hosting such a high-level event.” tries can advance investment yet one in which the College Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, in climate-smart infrastructure of Law has unique expertise chief executive offi cer, QFC that reduces greenhouse gas given the work of Dr Damilola Authority said, “The Qatar Fi- emissions while helping socie- Olawuyi, an expert within the nancial Centre is committed to ties adapt to climate change. college.” reaffi rming Qatar’s position as a The conference also represents “ASSELLMU, a brainchild of global leader in Islamic Finance. an opportunity to help integrate the College of Law, fi lls a sig- We are therefore proud to partic- the teaching of climate change nifi cant gap. It fosters dialogue ipate in the 5th CEOs and Islamic law in law school curricula. and inquiry into the teaching, Finance Leaders Roundtable, Sponsored by the United Na- research, practice and imple- A group of experts who attended the 2018 Middle East Environmental Law Conference, hosted by HBKU. which will address important tions Environment Programme, mentation of environmental topics on social fi nancing that the ASSELLMU conference will law throughout the Mena re- year’s conference will allow academic spheres to exchange that could enhance legal pre- ciate professor of Law and chair will undoubtedly play an in- be co-hosted by Hassan the gion. Building on the gains of stakeholders in government, information on progress made paredness for climate change in of ASSELLMU, Dr Damilola creasingly important role in the First University, Settat, Casa- the inaugural conference, this business, private practice and so far, as well as innovations the region,” added, HBKU asso- Olawuyi. years to come.”

New Metrolink route added to network Improved weather with drop A new Metrolink route has been added to the existing network of the feeder bus service, it was in temperature expected: Met dept announced on the Doha Metro & Lusail Tram Twitter page of Qatar Rail yesterday. etter weather conditions times in some areas, according to see misty conditions in the The new route, M143, will extend are expected in the coun- to the weather offi ce. early hours today and scattered from the Corniche Metro station Btry with a relative drop in In addition, a relative drop in clouds. to the Al Jazeera Media Network temperature due to northwest- temperature is expected with the The maximum temperature off ice. Metrolink is a feeder bus erly winds, the Qatar Met de- maximum ranging from 30-35C today is expected to be 36C in network providing first and last partment has said. and the minimum from 20-26C Abu Samra and 35C in Doha, mile connectivity to Qatar Rail In a report yesterday, the de- across the country. Wakrah, Mesaieed and Al Khor. customers within a 2-5km radius of partment said weather charts The Met department has The minimum, on the other Doha Metro stations, the Qatar Rail indicate that the country will urged people to be cautious, hand, will range from 21C in Abu website stated. be aff ected by northwesterly avoid going to sea and follow the Samra to 29C in Doha. The service is available for free, fresh to strong winds, especially latest updates through its offi cial Yesterday, a maximum tem- running from 6am to 11pm between off shore, between tomorrow social media accounts. perature of 37C was recorded in Saturday and Thursday, and from evening until the middle of next Meanwhile, today’s forecast Karana and Ghuwairiyah, fol- 2pm to 11pm on Friday. week. The wind speed during says it will be misty in some lowed by 36C in Abu Hamour, this period is expected to range places at fi rst, followed by a Abu Samra, Batna, Turayna and from 8-18 knots, exceeding 25 relatively hot day and scattered Jumayliyah, and 35C in Doha knots in off shore areas. This will clouds. There is a chance of rain (airport area), the Qatar Uni- cause the wave height to rise to in some places by this afternoon. versity area, Sheehaniya and 4-7ft, which may reach 9ft at Off shore areas are also likely Dukhan.

Qatar keen on ‘optimal utilisation of resources to give economy competitive advantage’

QNA of its trend towards a knowl- Qatar National Strategy pillars. Second National Development He added that the Second Na- ment Strategy have been reduced fi nancial management. Doha edge-based economy. Dr al-Nabit praised the role Strategy (2018-2022) promoted tional Development Strategy is from 14 to eight as a result of the He pointed out that Qatar Na- Speaking at a lecture organ- of women in achieving national partnerships with the private a national path towards achiev- administrative structure. The tional Vision was launched in ised by the College of Public goals, especially in light of the sector and other stakeholders, ing Qatar National Vision 2030, sectors included in the Strategy 2008 to determine the general E the President of the Policy at Hamad bin Khalifa Uni- State’s keenness on overcoming and supported steps to improve and supports the improvement cover economic diversifi cation, trends of the future, and to iden- Planning and Statistics versity on Monday with the title, all obstacles that women face in governance and performance by of performance of the public private sector development, eco- tify the options available to the HAuthority Dr Saleh bin “Qatar National Vision 2030 and order to empower them, noting supporting government mod- sector in an eff ort to ensure the nomic infrastructure, natural Qatari community and to high- Mohamed al-Nabit underlined National Development Strate- that the Qatarisation of jobs in ernisation, development pro- continued well-being of society resources, environmental sus- light the values that refl ect the as- Qatar’s attention to the eco- gies”, Dr Saleh bin Mohamed the State is based on objective grammes and projects, improv- while providing security, peace tainability, healthcare, education pirations, goals and culture of the nomic structure and in raising al-Nabit said relying on the hu- foundations, including effi cien- ing organisational coherence, and sustainability to all citizens and training, social protection, State of Qatar and its people, and the level of performance and op- man element, empowering it and cy, qualifi cation for the job and capacity-building and address- and residents living in the State security and public safety, culture to mobilise the energies of Qataris timal utilisation of resources, in enhancing its knowledge as well self-development. ing the challenges that faced of Qatar. and sports, international techni- and the country’s resources in or- order to give the Qatari economy as focusing on development, in- The President of the Planning the First National Development He explained that sectors in cal co-operation, institutional der to develop common goals that a competitive advantage in light novation and research are among and Statistics Authority said the Strategy. the Second National Develop- development, service delivery and guide their future. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Baghdadi’s successor also killed: Hariri quits as Lebanon Trump

AFP Washington crisis turns violent Plans to present resignation turned to central Beirut wav- head of the Amal Movement. S President Donald of ruling coalition shortly; ing Lebanese flags, seemingly “We heed your call, we heed Trump said yesterday the Says Lebanon needs unfazed by the violence. your call, Nasrallah!” they Uperson likely to be fi rst “big shock” to tackle Some described Hariri’s chanted. in line to replace Islamic State’s economic crisis resignation as a victory for Security forces did not ini- slain leader Abu Bakr al-Bagh- the “Oct 17 uprising” and said tially intervene to stop the as- dadi has also been “terminated.” Reuters the attack on the protest camp sault, in which protesters were “Just confi rmed that Abu Bakr Beirut had redoubled their determi- hit with sticks and were seen al-Baghdadi’s number one re- nation. “What happened is a appealing for help as they ran, placement has been terminated point of strength for us...If the witnesses said. by American troops. Most likely aad al-Hariri resigned as thugs come in bigger numbers, Tear gas was eventually fired would have taken the top spot Lebanon’s prime minister so will we,” said Kamal Rida, to disperse the crowds. — Now he is also Dead!” Trump Syesterday, declaring he a protester in central Beirut. Hariri did not refer to the vi- tweeted. had hit a “dead end” in trying “The tents that are broken can olence in his address but urged Trump did not identify the to resolve a crisis unleashed by be rebuilt, easy.” all Lebanese to “protect civil person or give more detail on huge protests against the ruling The turmoil has worsened peace and prevent economic how he was killed. A top Kurdish elite and plunging the country Lebanon’s acute economic deterioration, before anything offi cial said Baghdadi’s spokes- deeper into turmoil. crisis, with financial strains else”. man and right hand man, Abu Hariri addressed the nation leading to a scarcity of hard France, which has supported Hassan al-Muhajir, was killed after a mob loyal to the Hezbol- currency and a weakening of Hariri, called on all Lebanese Sunday in a separate raid in the lah and Amal movements at- the pegged Lebanese pound. to help guarantee national village of Ain Al-Baydah. tacked and destroyed a protest Lebanese government bonds unity. It was unclear if that was the camp set up by anti-govern- tumbled on the turmoil. Lebanon’s allies last year person Trump was referring to in ment demonstrators in Beirut. On the streets of Beirut, pledged $11bn in financing his tweet. It was the most serious strife black-clad men wielding to help it revive its economy, Mazloum Abdi, commander on the streets of Beirut since sticks and pipes attacked the conditional on reforms that of the Kurdish-led SDF, had said 2008, when Hezbollah fi ghters protest camp that has been the Hariri’s coalition government on Twitter that al-Muhajir was seized control of the capital in focal point of countrywide ral- has largely failed to imple- targeted in what he described as a brief eruption of armed con- lies against the elite. ment. a “co-ordinated operation be- fl ict with Lebanese adversaries Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, But there has been no sign of tween SDF intelligence and the loyal to Hariri and his allies at head of the heavily armed, Hez- a rush to help. US army.” the time. bollah, said last week that roads A senior US State Depart- That raid was carried out a day Hariri’s resignation yesterday closed by protesters should be ment official said last week after US commandos stormed points to rising political ten- reopened and suggested the this was not a situation where Baghdadi’s hideout in north- sions that may complicate the Men run as others destroy tents at a camp set up by anti-government demonstrators in central demonstrators were fi nanced by the Lebanese government western Syria. formation of a new government Beirut, yesterday. its foreign enemies and imple- should necessarily get a bail- The Islamic State founder capable of tackling Lebanon’s menting their agenda. out, saying they should reform detonated a suicide vest, killing worst economic crisis since its It also defi es Hezbollah, corruption of the political class. “To all partners in political life, Smoke rose as some of the first. himself and three children, as 1975-90 civil war. which was part of his coalition “For 13 days the Lebanese our responsibility today is how protester tents were set ablaze Banks were closed for a 10th he was being chased into a dead The departure of Hariri, who and wanted him and the gov- people have waited for a deci- we protect Lebanon and revive by Hezbollah and Amal sup- day along with schools and end tunnel, according to the US has been traditionally backed by ernment to stay on. sion for a political solution that its economy.” porters, who earlier fanned out businesses. Hariri last week account. the West and Gulf allies, raises Hariri is seen as the focal stops the deterioration (of the Under Lebanon’s constitu- in the downtown area of the sought to defuse popular dis- A Kurdish offi cial on Monday the stakes and pushes Lebanon point for Western and Gulf aid economy). And I have tried, tion, the government will stay capital and cursing anti-gov- content through a batch of re- said the SDF provided crucial into an unpredictable cycle. to Lebanon, which is in dire during this period, to fi nd a way on in a caretaker capacity as ernment demonstrators. form measures agreed with intelligence from a source who Lebanon could end up further need of fi nancial support prom- out, through which to listen to talks begin on forming a new “With our blood and lives other groups in his coalition infi ltrated Baghdadi’s house, under the sway of the Hezbol- ised by these allies. the voice of the people,” Hariri one. It took nine months to we offer ourselves as a sac- government, including Hezbol- bringing out underwear that lah, making it even harder to Lebanon has been paralysed said. form the Hariri coalition cabi- rifice for you Nabih!” they lah, to — among other things provided positive DNA identifi - attract badly-needed foreign by the unprecedented wave of “It is time for us to have a big net that took office in January. chanted in reference to Par- — tackle corruption and long- cation. investment. protests against the rampant shock to face the crisis,” he said. As night fell, protesters re- liament Speaker Nabih Berri, delayed economic reforms.

Tunisia’s defence and foreign Troops arrest six Palestinians Russia tells Turkey Kurdish fi ghters ministers dismissed Tunisia’s defence and foreign min- in Jerusalem and West Bank have left NE Syrian border area isters have been sacked from their posts, the prime minister’s off ice said yesterday. QNA The Israeli police arrested a continued practising various Reuters the Syrian side of the border. Sea town of Sochi, reinforced an The dismissals came after consul- Occupied Jerusalem guard from Al-Aqsa Mosque forms of repression and op- Moscow/Ankara Bilateral talks on how those existing US-brokered ceasefi re tations with President Kais Saied, and assaulted others after pression against the citizens. patrols will work are continuing, that had halted Turkey’s off en- who has been in power for one breaking into the area around In its monthly report, the Erdogan said. sive in northeast Syria targeting week. The prime minister’s off ice he Israeli occupation Bab Al-Rahma. Department said that 469 ussia has informed Tur- “Russia has conveyed to our the YPG, which Ankara views as said that Justice Minister Karim forces arrested yester- According to local sources, detainees were from the West key that Syrian Kurd- relevant authorities that terror- a terrorist organisation because Jamoussi will serve as acting de- Tday six Palestinians in the Israeli occupation forces Bank, 15 from the Gaza Strip, Rish YPG fi ghters have ist organisations have fully with- of its links to Kurdish insurgents fence minister, replacing Abdelkrim Jerusalem and the West Bank, arrested the Jerusalem guard noting that among the de- withdrawn from a strip of land drawn from (the border area),” in southeast Turkey. Zbidi. Zbidi was a presidential including a guard at Al-Aqsa and took him to one of the tainees were 50 children, four near the Syrian-Turkish border Erdogan said in a speech at a Russia’s defence ministry, cit- candidate and came fourth in the Mosque and a former prisoner. detention and investigation women, seven university stu- within a deadline set by Ankara celebration in Ankara marking ing Major General Yuri Borenkov, September vote. Secretary of State Israeli forces rounded up centres in the occupied city dents, a minister and five sol- and Moscow, President Tayyip the anniversary of the Turkish a senior military offi cial working for Foreign Aff airs Sabri Bachtabji four Palestinians after ran- of Jerusalem, while assault- diers. Erdogan said yesterday. Republic. on Syria, said 68 Kurdish defence has replaced Khemaies Jhinaoui as sacking their families’ houses ing a number of other guards It pointed out that resi- Under an accord clinched by “Of course, our talks (with units comprising 34,000 peo- foreign minister, the off ice added. in Asira Ash-Shamaliya town, present in the area. dents of the occupied Jeru- Erdogan and Russian President Russia) will continue tomorrow ple had left the “safe zone” with Jhinaoui was quoted by the off icial north of Nablus city. In Jenin district, Israeli salem topped the list with Vladimir Putin a week ago, Syr- as before,” he added. their weapons and equipment by TAP news agency as saying that The Israeli occupation forces barged their way into 127 detainees, adding that ian border guards and Russian Earlier, Russian Defence Min- the deadline. he had resigned due to the “impos- forces also arrested a young Burqin town, southwest the aggression the occupied military police were meant to ister Sergei Shoigu said the YPG Borenkov also said the forces sibility of continuing his duties as man from Duheisha refugee of Jenin, where they held a forces practised caused the clear all YPG forces and their had completed their withdrawal of Syrian President Bashar al- required by diplomatic standards.” camp, south of Bethlehem former prisoner and his son martyrdom of five Palestin- weapons from a 30km “safe ahead of the deadline, but a Assad — a close ally of Moscow Secretary of state for economic city, after raiding and search- for several hours. ians and the injury of 319 oth- zone” south of the border by top aide to Erdogan said Tur- — had set up 84 border outposts diplomacy Hatem Ferjani has been ing his father’s house. Meanwhile, the Depart- ers, mostly from Gaza Strip, 6pm local time (1500 GMT) yes- key would now see through its on the Syrian-Turkish border. also sacked. Saied was backed by The Israeli occupation ment of Palestinian Affairs as the Israeli forces continued terday. planned joint patrols with Rus- A Russian delegation is cur- Tunisia’s Islamist party Ennahdha, forces stormed the towns of stated that the occupation with their barbaric practices In the next phase of the plan, sia whether the militia had truly rently in Turkey for talks on which emerged as the strongest Al-Dawha, Al-Khader, Artas forces arrested 484 Palestini- of suppressing marches near Russian and Turkish forces are left. how the patrols will work and on force in parliament after legislative and Harmala in Bethlehem. ans in the West Bank and Gaza the border security fence in due to conduct joint patrols of a The Putin-Erdogan deal, the wider security situation in elections held earlier this month. No arrests were reported. Strip last September, and the Strip. narrower, 10km strip of land on clinched in the Russian Black northeast Syria.

Sanctions threaten Iranians’ right to health: HRW Anti-govt movement gains momentum in Iraq Washington’s sanctions against Tehran have drastically constrained its ability to pay for humanitarian Reuters opened fi re on protesters and go,” protester Salah al-Suweidi basic health care and education. imports and are threatening the Baghdad killed at least 18 people. said in Tahrir Square Most of the protesters are health rights of Iranians, Human At least 865 people were “Yesterday we broke the cur- young men who above all want Rights Watch said yesterday. wounded, the sources said. few and stayed the night, we jobs. Many Iraqis criticise a US President Donald Trump ens of thousands of Iraqis Kerbala’s governor and police will do so again today, even if 10, political elite they say is sub- unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 protested in Baghdad’s chief, Iraq’s prime minister and 20, 100, 1,000 die. What hap- servient to one or another of Iran nuclear deal last year and Tcentral Tahrir Square the military all denied anyone pened in Kerbala will not be ig- Baghdad’s two main allies, the reimposed punishing sanctions yesterday for a fi fth day, angered was killed. But the security and nored, the blood of our brothers United States and Iran. as part of a stated campaign of by reports of security forces medical sources said local au- in Kerbala and other provinces These powers use Iraq as a “maximum pressure” against the Is- killing demonstrators in the city thorities had been ordered to will not be in vain.” proxy to pursue their struggle lamic republic. Off icially, the punitive of Kerbala and the prime min- cover the deaths up. The United In southern Iraq, protesters for regional infl uence, without measures make exceptions for food, ister’s refusal to call early elec- Nations representative in Iraq blocked the entrance to Umm concern for the needs of ordi- medicine and other humanitarian tions. condemned the violence and Qasr commodities port near nary people, they say. goods, but most companies are It was the largest gathering called for dialogue. Basra, slowing operations by Despite promising reforms unwilling to do any trade with Iran in the capital since a second “The recent developments around 80%, port employees and ordering a broad reshuffl e for fear of repercussions. Trump wave of demonstrations against across many parts of Iraq, in and local offi cials said. of the cabinet, Abdul Mahdi has “administration off icials claim they Prime Minister Adel Abdul particular in Kerbala last night, The protests, driven by dis- struggled to address the dem- stand with the Iranian people, but Mahdi’s government and the are most alarming. Witness re- content over economic hard- onstrators’ complaints. the overbroad and burdensome ruling elite resumed on Friday. ports indicate that live fi re was ship and corruption, have bro- Populist cleric Moqtada al- US sanctions regime is harming A populist cleric who helped used against demonstrators, ken nearly two years of relative Sadr, who backs parliament’s Iranian’s right to health, including install the premier called for his causing high numbers of casu- stability in Iraq. largest bloc and helped bring access to life-saving medicines”, removal. Demonstrators are seen at Al Jumhuriya bridge during a protest over alties,” the United Nations As- The country has suff ered for Abdul Mahdi’s coalition gov- said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle Security forces stationed on corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, yesterday. sistance Mission for Iraq (UNA- decades under the rule of Sadd- ernment to power, invited his East director at HRW. the nearby Jumhuriya bridge, MI) said in a statement. am Hussein and UN sanctions, main political rival Hadi al- “The comprehensive web of US lobbed tear gas at protesters in The crowd consisted mostly nounced that they would call The death toll since the un- the 2003 US invasion and civil Amiri yesterday to help him sanctions has led banks and compa- Tahrir Square who tried to break of young men, many draped in strikes, following the lead of rest started on Oct 1 is now at war it unleashed, and the bat- oust the premier. nies to pull back from humanitarian through to the heavily fortifi ed Iraqi fl ags. lawyers and teachers. The latest least 250 people. tle against Islamic State, which Sadr had asked Abdul Mahdi trade with Iran, leaving Iranians who Green Zone, which houses gov- Surrounding streets brimmed protest in Baghdad took place “We want the government was declared won in 2017. to call an early election but the have rare or complicated diseases ernment buildings and foreign with cars, taxis, motorcycles after a night of violence in the gone. Our demand is not for An Opec member, it has vast premier refused, saying yester- unable to get the medicine and missions. and tuk-tuks as more people holy city of Kerbala, where, ac- Abdul Mahdi to resign, if he oil wealth, but many Iraqis live day it would be quicker if Sadr treatment they require,” she added. “With life and blood we de- made their way in. cording to medical and security resigns, it’s not enough. Parlia- in poverty or have limited ac- agreed with his rival on a re- fend you Iraq,” they chanted. Earlier, trade unions an- sources, Iraqi security forces ment must go, the parties must cess to clean water, electricity, placement. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 AFRICA

FINANCE JAIL BREAK POLITICS CIVIL STRIFE INFLATION Zimbabwe to boost cash Prison inmates escape Opposition off icials held Mali militants release five Harare hikes fuel prices by supply with new notes after torrential rains over ‘attempted murder’ teachers, says government 12%, hitting consumers

Zimbabwe will introduce new notes and coins Torrential rains in central Nigerian Kogi State Security forces have arrested 23 local off icials Suspected militants have freed at least Zimbabwe has raised the price of petrol and next month in a bid to resolve cash shortages allowed more than a hundred inmates to escape of one of Burundi’s main opposition parties five teachers kidnapped last week at their diesel by 12%, the second increase this month, stifling the country’s ailing economy, the reserve from prison, a spokesman for the country’s prison following the “attempted murder” of a school in central Mali for using French in the the energy regulator said yesterday, piling more bank said yesterday. But some economic analysts service said yesterday. The “perimeter fence” of the government off icial, a party off icial said yesterday. classroom, a government statement has said. pressure onto consumers hit by soaring inflation. say the measure will do nothing to address the prison was destroyed by rains and cells flooded, The wave of arrests outside the country’s largest “The government is grateful for the good will The last round of fuel price hikes on October 5 country’s underlying economic problems. The forcing inmates “to break out of custody for safety,” city Bujumbura began on Friday, when 16 off icials involved for the freeing of the hostages,” the saw prices rise 27% and was followed by a 320% bank announced plans to roll out two new notes Francis Enobore of the Nigerian Correctional of the National Freedom Council (CNL) were statement said, without detailing the conditions increase in the cost of electricity, triggering a and an additional coin in the next fortnight. “We Service said in a statement. “A torrential downpour picked up, the party’s international representative of the release. Local sources said six teachers spike in the cost of basic goods such as sugar, are going to have coins of two dollars in circulation on Monday caused a surging flood that overran Aime Magera told AFP from exile in Belgium. were abducted, while the government said five maize meal and milk. Petrol will now cost Z$16.67 and we are going to have Z$2 notes and Z$5 notes,” the centre, pulling down a section of the perimeter They included a member of the party’s politburo, were snatched from the school in Korientze, (US$1.07) a litre while diesel will cost Z$17.47, the bank’s governor John Mangudya told reporters fence,” he said, “122 of them took the opportunity he said. The governor of Bujumbura Rural some 150km north of the regional capital Mopti, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Agency said. in the capital Harare. The new money would be to escape, 105 remained on the spot,” Enobore province, Nadine Gacuti, confirmed the arrests on Friday. A municipal council member said The latest hike has failed to ease nationwide added to existing “bond” coins and notes “to said, adding that “25 of the escapees have been but told reporters: “It’s just a matter of hunting for the attackers were “numerous, armed and on shortages, with most of the fuel pumps in the ensure we don’t starve the market”, he added. recaptured, leaving 97 still at large.” suspects, and not a purge.” motorcycles”. capital still dry.

Sacked premier refuses to go in Guinea-Bissau

Reuters Bissau

uinea-Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz yesterday named a new prime Gminister but his sacked predecessor refused to step down, intensifying a bitter power struggle between Vaz and the ruling party weeks ahead of a presidential election. Vaz, who is running for again in the No- vember 24 poll, dissolved the government late on Monday saying the political situation was undermining the normal functioning of state institutions in the West African coun- try. It has suff ered repeated bouts of instability since it became independent from Portugal in 1974, including nine coups or attempted coups and a surge in cocaine traffi cking from South America that has been linked to senior military offi cials. The country has been largely peaceful since Vaz came to power in a 2014 election that fol- lowed a coup two years earlier. But he has repeatedly clashed over the A student walks on a flooded street in Bangui yesterday. balance of power in the semi-presidential system with a string of prime ministers put forward by the African Party of the Inde- pendence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which controls a majority in parliament. In a decree yesterday, Vaz named as prime minister Faustino Fudut Imbali, who served in the same post from 2000-2003 and repre- Thousands homeless as fl oods sents the small Manifest Party of the People. Gomes, who was put forward for the job by PAIGC, told Reuters he was refusing to go: “I am in my offi ce, working.” Gomes said Vaz’s orders were illegitimate since the president’s term technically expired lash Central African Republic on June 23. West African regional bloc ECOWAS de- AFP entire neighbourhoods are “un- 37 killed in Cameroon landslide armed groups despite a peace pact clared a few days later that Vaz could stay in Bangui derwater”. signed this year, is one of the world’s offi ce through to the November election. In the capital Bangui, with a popu- A landslide caused by heavy rains and when it dissipated, I saw that the poorest countries. Vaz won the 2014 presidential election as lation of about 1mn, mud homes have in western Cameroon killed at least mountain had collapsed.” With more than two-thirds the PAIGC’s candidate but fell out with the he worst fl ooding in two dec- literally dissolved in the fl oods. 37 people overnight, state media Heavy rains continued beyond the of the country controlled by party after sacking his prime minister in 2015. ades in the Central African Re- “Today our country, and not just reported yesterday, as rescue teams end of Central Africa’s rainy season, militias fi ghting the government He is now running for re-election as an in- Tpublic has left at least 28,000 the city of Bangui, faces a huge scoured the rubble of destroyed causing severe flooding which has or each other, about a quarter dependent candidate. people homeless, the country’s Red natural catastrophe,” government houses for survivors. displaced nearly 30,000 people in of the population have fl ed their In a rare political protest, demonstrations Cross said yesterday, with the gov- spokesman Ange-Maxime Kazagui At least a dozen more people were Cameroon’s neighbour, the Central homes. from a party opposed to Gomes’s government ernment calling the disaster a “huge said in a television address on Mon- still reported as missing in the town of African Republic. Kazagui said Bangui residents liv- took to the streets of the capital Bissau at the natural catastrophe”. day night. Bafoussam in the western highlands, The United Nations children’s agen- ing on the banks of the Oubangui had weekend, demanding the election be post- Torrential rains have pounded the “The Oubangui River has burst about 200km north of Cameroon’s cy Unicef said last week that excep- been hit especially hard. poned so that voter lists could be checked for country for several days, causing the its banks, and its tributaries can no main port city of Douala. tionally heavy rain in South Sudan had “Drinking water is lacking. There irregularities. Oubangui River and its tributaries to longer fl ow into it, creating a phe- “Around 10pm, I heard a noise,” destroyed health centres and roads, are problems with latrines, mosqui- One protester died on Saturday and several overfl ow. nomenon of massive overfl ow.” said Albert Kenge, who survived the making access to food and water more tos, cold and the risk of epidemics were wounded, according to the government, “The latest toll is 28,000 peo- The country’s main river overfl ows landslide. “I saw a big cloud of dust diff icult for nearly 1mn people. such as cholera,” he said. a hospital source and march organisers. ple made homeless” across the about once a decade, with a 1999 “We don’t have the infrastructure Instability in Guinea-Bissau has typically former French colony, Central Af- disaster causing major destruction to shelter people, but we expect that taken the form of military coups, led by offi c- rican Red Cross president Antoine — but Mbao-bogo said the current “Add to that the deep poverty of The country of some 4.7mn peo- NGOs will provide tents and shel- ers drawn mostly from a narrow military elite Mbao-bogo told AFP, adding that fl ooding is even worse. our compatriots,” he said. ple, which faces brutal violence from ters,” Kazagui said. who fought for independence in 1963-1974.

Boko Haram displaced suff er Kenyan researchers aim to stop fatal snake bites as Nigeria closes aid groups By Ayenat Mersie, Reuters “Up to (now), no one has pro- Nairobi duced any kind of antivenom in Kenya,” said senior snake han- By Audu Abba Kurama, AFP The NGO denied the charges gling to contain the insurgency dler Geoff rey Maranga Kepha. Maiduguri and, along with Mercy Corps, that has seen the militants split enyan mother Beth Two eff ective antivenoms are called for the army to reverse the into rival factions. Mwende heard her sleep- available in Kenya, from India closure. A Boko Haram off shoot King three-year-old cry and Mexico, the centre says. almata Ibrahim is at a loss The United Nations says stop- aligned to the Islamic State group out, but did not worry further But many ineff ective prod- on how to feed her family ping the work of the aid groups frequently carries out attacks on after the child quickly settled ucts circulate in sub-Saharan Fas she sits by the makeshift has left nearly 400,000 people government troops. — until the next morning, when Africa, said David Williams, shelter they have called home “without food and other essen- The army has pulled back its she found her daughter, Mercy, head of the Australian Venom since fl eeing Boko Haram fi ve tial help for the last month”. soldiers from forward operat- semi-conscious with two fang Research Unit. years ago. During a visit to Nigeria, the ing bases into so-called “super marks in the neck. “One Indian product marketed Like hundreds of thousands UN’s humanitarian chief Mark camps” as part of a new strategy, “I did not know that it was a in Ghana as a replacement to Sa- of others displaced by the dec- Lowcock said on Friday he had but residents say that has left snake,” Mwende said, as she re- nofi ’s actually increased the death ade-long insurgency, she has received assurances the suspen- swathes of territory unprotected. counted going out early to fetch rate for snakebites,” he added. relied on monthly support worth sion would be lifted in the “next Those displaced by the fi ght- water from a nearby river. Vaccine maker Sanofi Pas- around $50 from international few days”. ing live by their thousands in “And on my way back, I met teur, part of French drugmaker aid groups to get by. But when exactly this might sprawling camps studded around my eldest daughter, who told me Sanofi -Aventis, stopped pro- But that lifeline was cut when happen remains unclear. the region. my child is not waking up.” ducing antivenom for African the Nigerian army shuttered the A spokesman for the Nigerian Very few have any stable work Although snakebites are snakes in 2010 because low offi ces of humanitarian organi- army refused to comment on the and the government provides al- common in their home town in demand and competition from sation Action Against Hunger UN statement. most no support. Kitui county, 160km east of the a cheaper supplier made it un- (ACF) in the region some six Representatives for the hu- Humanitarian organisations Kenyan capital of Nairobi, an- profi table. weeks ago. manitarian organisations told provide a crucial safety net. tivenom medication is hard to Sanofi wants to share its “I don’t know how I will sur- AFP that they had no more infor- Aid workers on the ground come by. A nurse from Kenya snakebite research and intervention centre knowledge with partners who vive with my children,” she told mation. insist that now is the time for So Mwende took her daugh- shows how a snakebite victim should be handled, during an could handle production, the AFP at the camp where she lives While the uncertainty drags additional support — not barri- ter to a traditional healer, who awareness campaign at Malalani village in Mwingi, Kenya. company told Reuters in a state- in the city of Maiduguri. on, it is the victims of the confl ict ers — to tackle the humanitarian placed stones over the bites to ment. Without warning in Septem- who continue to suff er. catastrophe. draw out the poison. Liverpool School of Tropical problem, as snakes get pushed The centre is teaching com- ber the military moved in and Ten years of fi ghting has killed “Today, the population of Mercy died within hours, be- Medicine, is working to change out of natural habitats into pop- munities that swift use of an- closed down the offi ces of ACF an estimated 35,000 people, northeast Nigeria and humani- coming one of about 700 Ken- that. ulated areas. tivenom saves lives, said vet- and a second NGO Mercy Corps spilt into neighbouring coun- tarian organisations seeking to yans killed by snakebite each It plans to have East Africa’s Nearly 100 snakes live at the erinarian and head researcher in northeast Nigeria. tries and forced millions from care for them need more support year, according to an article in a fi rst antivenom on the market research centre in a forest on the George Adinoh. Soldiers surrounded their their homes. than ever,” Doctors Without Bor- scientifi c journal, Toxicon. within fi ve years, at a cost it es- outskirts of the capital. “It’s a weird or risky job, but compounds in trucks and de- The UN says this year alone ders said in a statement over the Experts say the number is timates will be about a third that Researchers extract venom after seeing how people die in manded staff leave the premises. 140,000 people have been dis- weekend. probably higher, since bites of- of an imported product, often and study it before inject- Kenya from snakebites I decided After shutting its offi ces, the placed by renewed violence and “We must urgently and collec- ten go unreported and few vic- priced at about $100. ing small amounts into donor to devote my life to coming up military accused Paris-based ACF more than 3mn people are food tively reassert the fundamentals tims make it to hospital. More than 70,000 people are animals, such as sheep, which with a rescue measure that will of “aiding and abetting terrorists insecure as farmers have been of humanitarian action, and to The Kenya Snakebite Re- bitten in East Africa each year, then produce antibodies to be help, or prevent people from and their atrocities” by supplying unable to plant crops. protect the right of any individ- search and Intervention Centre and climate change and de- harvested and purifi ed into an- dying from snakebites,” snake food and drugs to the militants. The Nigerian army is strug- ual in need to receive assistance.” (KSRIC), partly funded by the forestation are worsening the tivenom. handler Kepha added. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 15 AMERICAS

DEFENCE CAMPAIGN GOVERNANCE POLITICS Pentagon announces F-35 Warren to bar corporates Trudeau takes first step to Chicago more dangerous jet prices for three years from hiring ex-off icials rebuild next cabinet than Afghanistan: Trump

The Pentagon yesterday announced pricing Democratic presidential contender Elizabeth Warren Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday President Donald Trump came not to praise details for its agreement with Lockheed Martin said yesterday she would bar large corporations and took the first formal step to creating a new cabinet Chicago but to condemn it — and did he ever. Co that lowers by 12.7% the cost of the F-35 jets major government contractors from hiring former after his ruling Liberals lost their parliamentary In remarks to a meeting of the International it plans to purchase through 2022, which may senior government off icials for at least four years, majority in an election last week, leaving him Association of Chiefs of Police, Trump said encourage other nations to buy warplanes. The filling in more details of the anti-corruption platform reliant on opposition parties to govern. Trudeau Chicago with its high rate of murders compared F-35A, the most common version of the aircraft, that has driven her campaign. Warren’s campaign visited Governor General Julie Payette — the unfavourably with Afghanistan. “It’s embarrassing will each cost $82.4mn in 2020, $79.17mn in has been animated by a series of plans intended to representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s to us as a nation. All over the world, they’re talking 2021 and $77.9mn in 2022, the Pentagon told end the influence of big money in Washington. She head of state — for a private meeting to tell her about Chicago. Afghanistan is a safe place by reporters yesterday. The agreement means the previously said she would prevent large companies he planned to stay in power. The prime minister’s comparison, it’s true,” said Trump. Homicides in US government and allies plan to purchase 478 from hiring senior government off icials for four spokesman described the meeting as a formality. Chicago in 2018 numbered 561, down from 653 in President Donald Trump addresses the F-35 fighter jets at a cost of $34bn over the three years after they leave off ice. Yesterday, she said she Trudeau said he intended to unveil his new slate of 2017. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, International Association of Chiefs of Police years. In June, the Department of Defense had would apply the ban to any company that is worth ministers on November 20. The Liberals won 157 of responded to Trump on Twitter, saying it was Annual Conference and Exposition at the revealed that the price for the F-35A fell by 8.8% more than $150bn or exercises significant control the 338 seats in the House of Commons while the no surprise that Trump “brought his insulting, McCormick Place Convention Center in to $81.35mn in fiscal 2020. over its industry’s market. main opposition Conservatives took 121. ignorant buff oonery to Chicago.” Chicago on Monday.

N Carolina Trump adviser testifi es on congressional map is ‘illegal alarm over Ukraine call gerrymander’ Reuters Reuters Sondland gave a diff erent account New York Washington of the July 10 events in his own testi- mony in the inquiry, saying that “if Ambassador Bolton, Dr Hill or others North Carolina court on Mon- top adviser to President Don- harboured any misgivings about the day temporarily blocked the ald Trump on Ukraine testifi ed propriety of what we were doing, they A state from using its congres- Ayesterday that after listening to never shared those misgivings with sional map in next year’s elections and Trump ask Ukraine’s president to in- me, then or later.” strongly suggested it would eventu- vestigate a domestic political rival he Democrats have accused Trump of ally rule the districts were illegally was so alarmed that he reported the pressuring a vulnerable foreign ally to gerrymandered to favor Republicans. matter to a White House lawyer out of interfere in an American election for The decision was a victory for concern for US national security. his own political benefi t. Democrats, who have struggled to Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Federal law prohibits candidates gain a foothold in both the state leg- Vindman, director of European aff airs from accepting foreign help in an elec- islature and North Carolina’s 13 US on the National Security Council, ar- tion. congressional districts, in part be- rived at the US Capitol clad in his mili- Biden is a leading contender for the cause of how Republicans drew the tary dress uniform as he became the Democratic presidential nomination electoral lines. fi rst current White House offi cial to to face Trump in the November 2020 The ruling seems likely to ensure testify in the House of Representatives election. that the state’s 2020 congressional impeachment inquiry against Trump. Vindman said he became aware of elections will take place under a Vindman, a Ukraine-born American a shadow Ukraine policy promoted by new map, dealing a blow to Repub- citizen and decorated Iraq War combat “outside infl uencers” in the spring of licans’ hopes of recapturing the veteran, also became the fi rst person this year. US House of Representatives after to testify who listened in on the July 25 In his role as a director on the Na- Democrats swept to power in that call at the heart of the Ukraine scandal. tional Security Council, he provided chamber last year. Even before his arrival, some allies readouts of relevant meetings and Republicans hold 10 of the state’s 13 of the Republican president, includ- communications on Ukraine and other US House seats, despite a nearly even ing Fox News host Laura Ingraham, countries in his portfolio. split between Democratic and Repub- sought to attack Vindman’s integ- Trump denies any wrongdoing in his lican votes in the popular count. rity and questioned his loyalty to the dealings with Ukraine and has called In an 18-page ruling, the judges United States. the impeachment probe politically said the voters who brought the law- “I was concerned by the call,” Vind- motivated. suit had shown a “substantial likeli- man said in his opening statement to “Why are people that I never even hood” of succeeding if the case were the three House committees conduct- heard of testifying about the call. to reach trial. ing the Democratic-led impeachment National Security Council director for European Aff airs Alexander Vindman arrives for a closed-door deposition at the US Just READ THE CALL TRANSCRIPT The three-judge panel in Wake inquiry. Capitol in Washington yesterday. AND THE IMPEACHMENT HOAX County Superior Court that issued “I did not think it was proper to de- IS OVER! Ukrain (sic) said NO PRES- the decision is the same group that mand that a foreign government in- House Democrats to vote tomorrow on impeachment SURE,” he wrote yesterday on Twitter. struck down the state’s legislative vestigate a US citizen, and I was wor- In his testimony, Vindman said, “I map in September, fi nding that it ried about the implications for the US Democrats in Congress, answering James McGovern said on Monday: “I will be the House will vote this week — tomor- am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty violated the state constitution’s free government’s support of Ukraine.” Republican complaints that their im- introducing a resolution to ensure transpar- row, according to a senior Democratic and honor to advance and defend elections, equal protection and free During the call, Trump asked peachment investigation of US President ency and provide a clear path forward.” aide — on a resolution that spells out OUR country, irrespective of party or speech clauses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel- Donald Trump is being conducted in House Intelligence Committee Chair- how future public hearings will be held. politics.” A similar challenge failed at the enskiy to investigate former vice presi- secret, plan a vote tomorrow on a format man Adam Schiff said in a statement that Pelosi promised to provide legal Democrats rallied to defend US Supreme Court in June, when the dent Joe Biden, a Democratic political for going public with their inquiry, mark- the legislation would establish “a format protections for Trump. Vindman. Democratic US Repre- court ruled federal judges had no ju- rival, and his son Hunter Biden, who ing a significant new stage in the probe. for open hearings.” A source familiar with the probe said sentative Katherine Clark wrote risdiction over partisan gerrymander- had served on the board of Ukrainian Meeting behind closed doors, the The US Constitution gives the House the public hearings will be held by the on Twitter that Republicans were ing, the act of drawing electoral lines gas company Burisma. House Intelligence, Foreign Aff airs and broad authority to set ground rules for Intelligence Committee and that the attacking “a purple heart recipi- to benefi t one party over another. Trump also asked Zelenskiy to in- Oversight committees have been looking an impeachment inquiry and Democrats transcripts from closed depositions with ent because they can’t defend the But the Supreme Court’s decision vestigate a debunked conspiracy theo- into the possibility that Trump violated say they are following House rules on witnesses will be made public. President’s actions.” explicitly said that state courts may ry that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered federal law by seeking foreign help for his investigations. A senior House Democratic aide said The Purple Heart is awarded to consider the issue under state law. in the 2016 US election. November 2020 re-election eff orts. In a letter to her fellow House Demo- the hearings could begin within the next those wounded or killed while serving Numerous state constitutions, like Trump had withheld $391mn in US House Rules Committee Chairman crats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said month. in the US military. that of North Carolina, contain lan- security aid to Ukraine approved by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had guage that goes further than the US Congress to fi ght Russia-backed sepa- said on Monday that the House will Constitution in governing the way ratists in the eastern part of the coun- security,” he said in his testimony. European Union Gordon Sondland, a that his statements were inappropri- vote this week on procedures for mov- elections are held. try. After the call, Vindman added, he former Trump political donor, told the ate, that the request to investigate Bi- ing into the public phase of the im- “With judges deciding behind Zelenskiy agreed to Trump’s re- reported his concerns to the National Ukrainian offi cials they needed to “de- den and his son had nothing to do with peachment inquiry. closed doors how many members of quests. Security Counsel’s lead counsel. liver specifi c investigations in order to national security,” Vindman said, add- Kathryn Wheelberger, acting as- Congress from each party is accept- The aid was later provided. The call prompted a complaint from secure a meeting with the president.” ing that he also reported his concerns sistant secretary of defense for in- able, judicial elections have become Vindman, who appeared after re- an intelligence community whistle- At that point, Vindman said, then-Na- to the National Security Counsel’s lead ternational security affairs, and two the most consequential in America,” ceiving a subpoena from lawmakers, blower, whose identify has not been tional Security Adviser John Bolton cut lawyer. State Department offi cials who are ex- Phil Berger, the Republican leader of recounted listening in on the call. revealed, that triggered the impeach- the meeting short. Trump’s former Russia adviser, Fio- perts on Ukraine, Catherine Croft and the state Senate, said in a statement. “I realised that if Ukraine pursued an ment inquiry. According to Vindman’s prepared na Hill, testifi ed in the impeachment Christopher Anderson, were slated to Last year, the Pennsylvania Su- investigation into the Bidens and Bur- In his statement, Vindman denied remarks, Sondland told other US offi - inquiry on October 14 that she too testify on Wednesday in the impeach- preme Court threw out the state’s US isma, it would likely be interpreted as a being the whistleblower or knowing cials in a debriefi ng after the meeting was alarmed by Sondland’s reference ment inquiry. congressional lines. partisan play which would undoubted- the identity of the individual. that it was important that the Ukrain- to a probe of Biden during that July 10 Tomorrow, Timothy Morrison, an- The new map was credited with ly result in Ukraine losing the biparti- At a July 10 meeting in Washing- ian investigations centre on the 2016 meeting and was advised to see NSC other NSC staff member, is due to ap- helping Democrats split the state’s 18 san support it has thus far maintained. ton with visiting Ukrainian offi cials, election, the Bidens and Burisma. lawyer John Eisenberg, a person famil- pear. congressional seats in 2018 after years This would all undermine US national Vindman said US Ambassador to the “I stated to Ambassador Sondland iar with her testimony told Reuters. of Republican dominance.

Los Angeles tells wealthy to warn staff of dangers from wildfi res

Reuters “I want to encourage people to as well other celebrities, said on er shut off , starting early in the Los Angeles be reaching out to anybody who Twitter they had been forced to day, as a fi re prevention measure may be showing up at their home evacuate their homes. ahead of the wind storms. and urge them to stay away,” Weather forecasters say there This is on top of the 970,000 wildfi re raged yesterday Council member Mike Bonin could be worse to come, with the PG&E customers already shut through some of Los An- told a news conference yesterday National Weather Service (NWS) off , although about half of those Ageles’ upscale neighbour- morning. predicting gusting winds in the were restored by Monday night, hoods, prompting city offi cials The brush fi re that broke out mountains around Los Angeles, the company announced. to chide wealthy evacuees to re- on Monday near the Getty Center where planes have been dousing As of yesterday morning, the member to tell their housekeep- art museum on the city’s West the fi re from the air. Kincade fi re had scorched more ers and gardeners not to enter the Side grew about 40 acres over- The Santa Ana winds in the than 75,000 acres, destroyed 123 danger zone. night to 658 acres, Mayor Eric south could hit their worst levels homes and other structures and Wind-driven blazes were Garcetti told a news conference. of the season and last into tomor- was 15% contained as it burned burning largely uncontrolled in “That’s a good sign, actually, row, according to Marc Chenard across parts of Sonoma County’s tinder-dry areas around Los An- that it didn’t grow by more,” he of the NWS Weather Prediction wine country, state fi re offi cials geles as well as further north in said. Center. said. California. Eight homes have been de- Until at least today, in the California Governor Gavin Firefi ghters were battling to stroyed so far. bone-dry countryside about Newsom said he was confi dent try to save thousands of imper- Across the state, hundreds of 115km north of San Francisco, that fi refi ghters had secured illed homes as thousands of resi- thousands of people were left in winds are expected to hit up enough perimeters around the dents fl ed the area. the dark as power companies cut to 100kph in the mountain ar- Kincade fi re that it no longer Los Angeles offi cials reminded off electricity to try to prevent eas and 56kph in the valleys and posed an imminent threat to wealthy evacuees to alert their more fi res from being sparked coast around where the Kincade two communities north of Santa service employees of the danger by snapped cabling in the brush- Fire, the state’s biggest, is burn- Rosa, although he conceded the in light of news reports that sev- land. ing, he said. fi ght was not over. eral turned up for work at some of Los Angeles Lakers basketball Pacifi c Gas and Electric Com- The cause of the Kincade fi re in the 10,000 homes and businesses great LeBron James, Terminator pany said yesterday morning that Sonoma County, where 190,000 under smoky skies in the manda- actor and former California Gov- almost 600,000 more electric people were ordered to evacuate, A wind-driven fire burns along Faught Road during the Kincade fire in Windsor, California, late on Monday. tory evacuation zone. ernor Arnold Schwarzenegger, customers would have their pow- remains under investigation. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 ASIA Nepal climber claims new record for 14 highest peaks

AFP humbling six months, and I hope in British army famous for their almost sprinting up and down Sherpas – Nepalis who often Kathmandu to have proven that anything is fearlessness – as well as the elite fi ve of Pakistan’s highest peaks work as guides for foreign moun- possible with some determina- Special Boat Service, kicked off including Gasherbrum I, Gash- taineers – are the backbone of tion, self-belief and positivity,” “Project Possible” in April. erbrum II and K2, the second the lucrative climbing industry, Nepali mountaineer yes- the 36-year-old said. In the fi rst part of his record highest in the world. but don’t attract anywhere near terday smashed the speed “We started with nothing, but attempt, Purja ticked off An- Twenty-three days later he the same amount of attention or Arecord for summiting the look how far we’ve come.” napurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchen- was standing atop Broad Peak, accolades as their international world’s 14 highest peaks, rac- Starting with Italy’s leg- junga, Everest, Lhotse and his fi fth and fi nal mountain of companions. ing up all “8000ers” in just six endary Reinhold Messner in Makalu in just one month. the second phase. “International attention and months and six days, organisers 1986 – who yesterday praised He was not alone on Everest, Purja began his fi nal push in sponsors rush easily towards said. Purja’s “unique mountaineer- reaching the summit on May 22 September, reaching the tops of foreign climbers but Nepalis The previous record for the ing accomplishment” – around with 320 others and snapping a Cho Oyu and Manaslu within a don’t get such opportunities,” he 14 mountains above 8,000m 40 climbers have climbed the photo of a traffi c jam of climbers week. said. (around 26,250ft) – completed Earth’s 14 highest mountains, on the world’s highest mountain Yesterday’s summit of Purja’s record was yet to be by Nirmal Purja at 8.59am (1259 but none have come close to that went viral. Shishapangma was the fi nal hurdle. verifi ed independently, although GMT) yesterday – was almost Purja’s speed. This season a record 885 peo- When he fi rst told others he has individual summit certifi - eight years. The late Polish climber Jerzy ple climbed the famous moun- about his new quest, “everyone cates from Nepal and Pakistan “MISSION ACHIEVED! says Kukuczka took seven years, 11 tain. A total of 11 people died, was laughing at me,” Purja said and will apply to Guinness World @nimsdai from the summit of months and 14 days in 1987. with at least four of those deaths in a recent interview in Kath- Records for recognition, his #Shishapangma,” read a post South Korean Kim Chang-ho blamed on overcrowding. mandu as he awaited permission expedition organisers said. on Purja’s Facebook page, while completed the challenge one A month later, Purja headed to from the Chinese government to He also said he broke seven a statement quoted the former month faster – although unlike Pakistan for the second part, where tackle Shishapangma. other records, including the fast- British soldier as being “over- Kukuczka and also Purja, he never he fi rst tackled the notorious He said then he wanted his est summit of the world’s three whelmed and incredibly proud” used supplementary oxygen. Nanga Parbat at 8,125m. feats to inspire the next genera- highest mountains and climbing This handout photo taken on May 22, and released by Nepali climber after his 189-day feat. Purja, a former member of the Battling sleep deprivation to tion of Nepali climbers to break Everest, Lhotse and Makalu in 48 Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja and his “Bremont Project Possible” team, shows “It has been a gruelling but Gurkhas – a brigade of Nepalis meet his target, Purja said he was his records. hours. Purja standing at the summit of Mount Everest. Court stalls Lanka Thailand to open ‘fake president’s bid to resume hangings

news’ monitoring hub AFP June 26 that he had signed the Colombo four death warrants and that AFP gations by civil society that the he expected them to be hanged Bangkok new centre would be one-stop- within weeks, or by before he shop for monitoring dissent. ri Lanka’s top court leaves offi ce at the latest. “We don’t focus only on yesterday eff ectively Sri Lanka’s last hangman hailand is set to open its politics and other people that Sblocked a plan by the retired in 2014, but offi cials fi rst centre to combat fake oppose the government.” president to bring back hang- said they had selected two out Tnews, a minister said yes- But Sunai Phasuk, senior re- ings for the fi rst time since of 26 candidates to succeed terday, the latest Asian country searcher with Human Rights 1976 before he leaves offi ce him. Their names are being to push for greater cyber scrutiny Watch, said it was just another next month. kept secret for fear of attacks. in what activists fear is a smoke- tool for censorship. Maithripala Sirisena said in Sirisena justifi ed his de- screen for targeting critics. “A chokehold on free expres- June that he had signed death cision by saying there were The Anti-Fake News Centre sion in Thailand is tightening warrants for four drug off end- 200,000 drug addicts in the will start work on Friday us- even further,” he said. ers, alarming rights groups and country, and 60 percent of ing AI and trained monitors to Free speech campaigners have the international community. the 24,000-strong prison fl ag posts on everything from grown alarmed over the spread A three-judge bench of the population were drug off enders. healthcare to government poli- of government-led eff orts to Supreme Court extended yes- The Sri Lankan leader has cies, Digital Economy and So- combat fake news. terday a stay order until the also snubbed UN Secretary ciety Minister Buddhipongse Analysts say many authoritar- hearing of 15 petitions fi led General Antonio Guterres who Punnakanta said. ian regimes have been embold- against Sirisena’s bid. urged him three months ago to “Every country faces the is- ened by US President Donald “The bench extended the reconsider. sue of fake news... especially Thai Trump’s fi ery rhetoric against stay order till December 9,” a The death warrants that people,” Buddhipongse said, after the media. lawyer representing civil so- Sirisena says he signed will explaining the initiative to Prime A law against fake news came ciety groups, who call hanging remain in force once leaves Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha. into force in Singapore this a “cruel and degrading”, said offi ce, but his successor can Prayut took power in a 2014 month, providing for hefty fi nes after a brief hearing. withdraw them. coup, muzzling dissent for sev- and even jail terms in extreme Sirisena is not seeking re- The ruling party candidate eral years with special laws, but cases. election and must leave offi ce in the election, Sajith Prema- became civilian premier after In Vietnam there has been as soon as a winner is declared dasa, has supported Sirise- tainted polls in March. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, right, attends the launching of anti-fake news centre at the an uptick in arrests for online after the November 16 elec- na’s call to resume hangings Rights groups say the arch- Government House in Bangkok yesterday. posts since a controversial cy- tion, more than three weeks for drug off enders, but has royalist administration is still bersecurity bill was passed in before the court resumes stopped short of saying he will stifl ing dissent while keeping misleading, Buddhipongse added. The former junta banned gath- sion has barely improved. January, according to Amnesty hearings. actually carry out executions. a close eye on public discus- The new centre has a Facebook erings of more than fi ve peo- The head of Thailand’s army International. There has been a morato- His main rival Gotabhaya sion of Thailand’s unassailable page, Line messaging group and ple and arrested hundreds for has railed against fake news and In a rare bright spot for advo- rium on capital punishment in Rajapaksa, brother of former monarchy. website, where examples of its violating new restrictions. online propaganda, calling it a cates this month Malaysian law- the Indian Ocean island nation strongman president Mahinda Almost 80% of online or so- fi ndings will be published and While the ban was lifted ad- form of hybrid warfare. makers voted to repeal fake news since 1976. Rajapaksa, has remained silent cial media posts are false or where users can submit tip-off s. vocates say freedom of expres- Buddhipongse rebuff ed alle- legislation. Sirisena told reporters on on the issue. Mass prayer on fi rst anniversary of jet crash Lanka secures AFP Java Sea where the plane dived (MCAS), an anti-stall mecha- Jakarta moments after takeoff from nism, that pilots in both disas- Jakarta. ters had struggled to control as $480mn Some were stoic, but others their jets careered downwards. rieving relatives tossed broke down as they remembered The system’s certifi cation by fl owers into the sea yes- loved ones, with women in Lion US regulators was “inadequate”, US grant Gterday where an Indone- Air fl ight attendant uniforms the report said. sian Lion Air jet crashed a year seen embracing grief-stricken Yesterday, some grieving rela- ago, killing all 189 on board, after relatives. tives opted not to attend the AFP a fi nal accident report pointed to “I hope that a year since the sea ceremony. Colombo plane design fl aws as a key factor incident Lion Air will heed all “Whatever happened, hap- in the disaster. of its obligations to the victims’ pened - I cannot change it,” said The crash on October 29 last families,” Anton Sahadi, who Aldhi, who goes by one name, ri Lanka will accept a year was followed months later lost his cousin in the crash, said. as he remembered his lost wife $480mn grant from the US by a second accident - involving On Friday, Indonesia’s Na- at a private prayer session at his Sto improve infrastructure the same model Boeing 737-Max tional Transportation Safety home in Jakarta. and traffi c management, offi cials aircraft – when an Ethiopian Committee issued its fi nal crash Yoda, who like many Indo- said yesterday, after President Airlines plane went down with report, which said a Boeing nesians also goes by one name, Maithripala Sirisena withdrew 157 people aboard, leading to design fl aw, inadequate pilot visited a Jakarta cemetery to re- his opposition. the global grounding of the US training and poor fl ight crew member his best friend who died “This is a great victory for planemaker’s entire MAX fl eet. performance contributed to the in the crash. the government and augurs well Yesterday’s ceremony was deadly accident. “That night I stayed at his place. for the future,” Finance Minis- closed to media, but video foot- It highlighted design and me- I woke him up because he had to fl y ter Mangala Samaraweera said age supplied by relatives showed chanical problems with the MAX in the morning,” Yoda said. in a statement after the cabi- victims’ family members pray- model’s Manoeuvring Charac- “His last words to me were: A Lion Air flight attendant carries a wreath of flowers onboard a navy ship on the Java sea yesterday, net formally approved accept- ing and casting fl owers into the teristics Augmentation System ‘I’m leaving now, man’.” during a ceremony for victims of a Lion Air plane crash in 2018. ing the Millennium Challenge Corporation Grant. The US had withheld the funds 15 pilgrims killed as truck plunges off last year after Sirisena sacked his former ally, Prime Minister Ranil 300m cliff in eastern Myanmar Wickremesinghe, and called 10 ‘unlawfully killed’ in Indonesia election riots snap elections, prompting a con- Fifteen Buddhist pilgrims, while 10 were severely injured,” stitutional standoff . including a monk, were killed he said, adding that the steep AFP capital Jakarta and demonstra- The commission accused police took to the streets after Joko Sirisena’s shock move – which after their flatbed truck and challenging terrain made Jakarta tions in Kalimantan, Indonesia’s of using unnecessary force against Widodo won re-election in the followed a host of personality plunged off a 300m (1,000ft) for a risky overnight search for section of Borneo island. protesters, including minors. world’s third-biggest democracy. and political clashes since they cliff in eastern Myanmar, police victims. Indonesia’s rights commis- “The police used violence Police detained some 465 peo- formed a coalition in 2015 – was said yesterday, blaming faulty Buddhist-majority Myanmar en people, including sion called on police to fi nd the against children who joined the ple during two nights of street later ruled unconstitutional brakes. sees thousands of people travel several teenagers, were perpetrators, who it suspected rally (in Jakarta) during which battles that paralysed central Ja- by the Supreme Court, which The accident happened on widely on journeys to religious Tkilled in Indonesia’s post- were “actors trained, organised they said that they were beat- karta, leaving hundreds injured, restored Wickremesinghe’s Monday evening in Shan state as festivals and pagodas during election riots, the human rights and professional in using guns”. en and kicked when arrested,” the rights agency said. government. the truck carrying 25 people was summer. commission said yesterday, as It did not elaborate. according to the report. Also yesterday, police on the But tensions between the two returning from a festival. But poorly maintained vehicles it accused police of beating up “This is a tragedy,” commis- A Jakarta police spokesman island of Sulawesi said a half remained and Sirisena had re- Police off icer Myint Soe said the are often go-to options for cheap protesters. sioner Beka Ulung Hapsara said. declined to comment, saying dozen offi cers had been slapped sisted signing off on the funds, cause of the crash was brake travel and the country lags In its fi nal report on the May “These are unlawful killings - that authorities had yet to see with three-week suspensions which the government had been failure as the vehicle rounded a behind others in the region on riots, the agency Komnas HAM or killings that took place outside the agency’s report. for bringing guns to protests last banking on to improve traffi c in turn. road construction and safety said four victims were underage legal mechanisms - and that vio- Supporters of losing presiden- month in Kendari city, where the congested capital Colombo “Fifteen people were found dead enforcement. (AFP) and most had been shot in the lates the criminal code,” he added. tial candidate Prabowo Subianto two students died. and its suburbs. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

New Zealand to lift Pacifi c defence capabilities to protect interests

Reuters rising infl uence in the South Pa- est and to tackle regional issues valued partner, as our region ners to enhance security, stabil- It also bought four Boeing the Americas and Asia. China in Wellington cifi c could undermine regional of climate change, transnational undergoes change and adapts to ity and resilience in the region. P-8A Poseidon planes last year. recent years has signifi cantly in- stability, drawing a complaint crime and geopolitical competi- new realities,” it said. The report discusses humani- The report discussed plans for a creased its political and econom- from the Asian giant. tion. “New Zealand Defence aims The report warned that the tarian assistance and disaster dedicated Southern Ocean pa- ic infl uence among South Pacifi c ew Zealand yesterday re- It released a defence capability to be a reliable and valued de- Pacifi c is confronting a series of relief missions associated with trol vessel in 2020 and plans nations that have traditionally vealed how it plans to lift plan earlier this year prioritising fence and security partner and to complex disrupters like climate climate change being a priority. for smaller crewed aircraft, Re- been strongholds of the United Nits defence capabilities in operations in the Pacifi c to the be present to maximum eff ect,” change, transnational organised New Zealand, earlier this year, motely Piloted Aircraft Systems States and its regional allies Aus- the Pacifi c to protect its interest highest level. said the report. crime and resource competition, selected Lockheed Martin Corp’s and satellites, for air surveillance tralia and New Zealand. but stayed clear of naming China, The latest report by the de- “We have an imperative to as well as an increasing presence C-130J Super Hercules as the capabilities. South Pacifi c is- New Zealand has had a rocky whose growing infl uence in the fence ministry does not mention continue to safeguard New Zea- of external actors that is raising preferred replacement for fi ve lands have emerged as a strategic relationship with its top trading region has raised concerns, as a of China, but says New Zealand land and Pacifi c security inter- the geostrategic competition. ageing C-130 Hercules military priority as global powers seek partner China in recent years, af- reason. Last year, New Zealand’s will have to act in new ways and ests, and to be present – to be a It said New Zealand would transport aircraft, which is useful infl uence over the vast swaths ter it criticised Beijing’s lending defence report warned China’s at new levels to protect its inter- source of stability and a reliable, work with “likeminded” part- for airlift missions. of resource-rich ocean between to South Pacifi c islands. Hong Kong bars activist Joshua Wong from polls

AFP sparked criticism that it could Hong Kong intensify the ongoing protests. “When you keep rigging the only — and lowest level — elections on Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks to the media in Hong Kong. ong Kong democracy ac- off er, you’re going to make many tivist Joshua Wong was in #HongKong... conclude that Hbarred yesterday from the only way to be heard is on the standing in upcoming local elec- streets,” Maya Wang, Senior Chi- tions after months of huge and na Researcher for Human Rights Lam rejects rumours frequently violent protests in the Watch, said on Twitter. city. Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing leader Wong, one of the most promi- warned that the city’s economy of plan to replace her nent fi gures in the otherwise could end the year in recession leaderless movement, accused the as the fi nancial hub is battered by government of “political screen- months of seething pro-democ- DPA Chinese Foreign Ministry ing” after an election offi cer ruled racy protests that her struggling Hong Kong spokeswoman Hua Chunying invalid his nomination for the No- administration has been unable to last week called the FT report “a vember poll. end. She said the city’s economic rumour with ulterior motives” The 22-year-old was sent to woes cannot be fi xed unless there ong Kong Chief Execu- and stressed that Lam contin- prison earlier this year over the is an end to violence, but off ered tive Carrie Lam denied ues to have Beijing’s support. democracy protests he helped lead no political solution to stop the Hwhat she called “ru- The Financial Times reported in 2014. He immediately joined unrest. mours” of Beijing’s alleged in July that Lam had off ered to the historic anti-government Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and his campaign team shout slogans after Wong has been disqualified The pro-democracy camp plan to replace her by March resign, but Beijing had refused. protests rocking the city upon his from running in local district council elections in November, in Hong Kong. could secure 117 seats on the 2020, saying that China’s cen- Candidates for the Hong Kong release in June. Wong was the only 1,200-strong committee that tral government has been “very chief executive position are pre- candidate barred from standing in fi cation was simply a hard order ence incenses Beijing as Chinese tered by nearly fi ve months of chooses the city’s leader if they supportive” of her attempts approved by the central govern- an election for district councils, from Beijing, a political mission President Xi Jinping increasingly pro-democracy protests which win a majority in the district to assuage social unrest in the ment in Beijing. which tackle regional issues. handed down from Beijing.” emphasises the importance of Beijing and its local leaders have council elections, which have no semi-autonomous city. Hong Kong has been rocked The election is the fi rst to be The election offi cer wrote in territorial integrity. A Hong Kong taken a hard line against. power to pass legally binding mo- Speaking at a press conference since June by anti-government held since the current mass pro- her reasoning that Wong’s con- government spokesman said that Millions have hit the streets, tions. yesterday morning, Lam called protests against a proposed bill tests started. cept of self-determination does the administration supported the with hardcore activists clash- In 2016 and 2017, the city’s a report by the Financial Times that would have allowed for He accused the government of not rule out the independence of decision, and denied any political ing repeatedly with police in the courts ousted six pro-democracy (FT) last week which detailed criminal suspects to be extra- censorship in disqualifying him. Hong Kong as an option, which censorship. biggest challenge to China’s rule lawmakers, including Demosisto the alleged replacement plan dited to China. “The decision to ban me from she deemed inconsistent with the “There is no question of any since the city’s handover from member Nathan Law, for breach- “very malicious” and “maybe Since then, protesters’ de- running for offi ce was clearly po- Basic Law, the city’s mini-consti- political censorship, restriction of Britain in 1997. es of their swearing-in ceremony politically driven speculation.” mands have evolved to include litically driven,” he told a press tution. the freedom of speech or depriva- Wong is one of the best-known and oaths of allegiance, a move The Financial Times, citing calls for greater democracy conference yesterday. “The Wong and his party, Demo- tion of the right to stand for elec- pro-democracy fi gures in Hong backed by Beijing. anonymous sources, reported while clashes with police have true reason is my identity, Josh- sisto, have denied supporting tions as alleged by some members Kong today after becoming the Last year, Agnes Chow, anoth- that the Chinese leadership intensifi ed. ua Wong, is the crime in their independence for the city. They of the community.” “The candi- poster child of the huge pro-de- er young pro-democracy leader wanted to appoint an “interim” Lam has indicated that no minds.” He also accused the elec- advocate self-determination and date cannot possibly comply with mocracy “Umbrella Movement” from Wong’s party, was barred chief executive for Hong Kong further demands of the protest- tion offi cer of misinterpreting his a referendum for Hong Kong peo- the requirements of the relevant protests of 2014 that failed to win from standing in by-elections due to massive anti-government ers will be met “until and unless political ideology. ple to decide how they want to be electoral laws,” the spokesman any concessions from Beijing. The because her party advocates self- protests that have marred Lam’s (the government) tackles the “This says that the disquali- governed. Any talk of independ- added. Hong Kong has been bat- decision to disqualify Wong has determination for Hong Kong. mandate. violence and puts an end to it.”

UK ex-headmaster Anti-terrorism drill jailed in Singapore Sadako Ogata, fi rst female drug case A British former headmaster of an international school in China has been UN refugee chief, dies at 92 jailed for 10 months in Singapore after admitting possession and consump- tion of methamphetamine, off icials AFP said yesterday. Damien Michael Char- Tokyo nock used to be the head of Dulwich College Shanghai, a branch of the exclusive London private school. apan’s Sadako Ogata, the fi rst Police arrested the 60-year-old in woman appointed to head the March at an apartment in the city-state JUN’s refugee agency UNHCR, and discovered bags containing the has died at the age of 92, Japan’s drug and a glass contraption for smok- foreign aid agency said yesterday. ing it, according to court documents. Ogata was widely respected for The case has echoes of hit American her eff orts to help refugees and in- TV show ‘Breaking Bad’, which tells ternally displaced people around the story of a chemistry teacher who the world and emphasised mak- is diagnosed with cancer and turns ing visits to confl ict zones during to making meth to raise money to her tenure from 1991-2002. secure his family’s future. Charnock She worked to help Kurd- Former Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi welcomes Sadako Ogata, Koi- pleaded guilty to three drug charges, ish refugees from Iraq after the zumi’s special representative for Afghanistan, prior to their meeting at and the attorney-general’s chambers Gulf War and was also known for the prime minister’s off icial residence in Tokyo in a file picture. confirmed he was jailed on Friday. tackling the refugee crises in the His off ences represented “a precipi- former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. She also served as the head of and who have been forced to fl ee tous fall from grace”, defence lawyer She was credited with reestab- her country’s development aid in the middle of the night with Remy Choo was cited as saying by lishing UNHCR’s credibility and organisation Japan International nothing but the clothes on their Singapore news outlet CNA. “His life’s was even touted as a potential Co-operation Agency (JICA) backs,” she said in a speech in A South Korean soldier takes part in an anti-terrorism drill as onlookers watch in Seoul, yesterday. work as a talented and immensely successor to former UN chief from 2003 through 2012. She was 2000. devoted educator lies in tatters.” Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali. known as a passionate advocate “But I have also witnessed the A petite woman with a calm for the rights of refugees, urging courage and resilience of so many demeanour, she won special “understanding and compassion” people who have lost everything praise for her tough action in for their plight. “I have seen with but hope. Refugees are the great former Yugoslavia where she my own eyes the despair in the survivors of our times and they managed to draw the world’s at- eyes of people who have lost eve- deserve our respect and our soli- Two injured in shark attack in Queensland tention to humanitarian issues rything, whose loved ones have darity.” Ogata died on October despite bitter political disputes been killed, whose houses and 22, but her death was only an- among Western countries. livelihoods have been destroyed, nounced publicly yesterday. DPA The men were fi rst treated on- a shark attack this morning. governments put public safety Canberra shore by paramedics before be- Our thoughts are with them, as their number one priority,” ing transported by helicopter to their families and the other state lawmaker for Whitsunday Australian jailed for rape, murder of Arab-Israeli student the nearby Mackay Hospital, the guests on the tour,” ZigZag said Jason Costigan told Australian wo British men have been Queensland Ambulance Service in a statement. newswire AAP. seriously injured, with said. “My main concern today is for He said the entire area should An Australian man was jailed on her way home. She was killed every right to do,” she added. Tone losing his foot, in a The two remain in a serious the welfare of these two people be protected by a more robust for 36 years yesterday for the after getting off a tram near the There was an outpouring of grief shark attack at a popular tourist but stable condition, they said. who have been injured by what shark control programme. After rape and murder of Arab-Israeli university where she was com- among Melbournians, who held spot in the Whitsunday region The shark fi rst attacked one appears to be a shark attack,” one of the attacks last year,the student Aya Maasarwe, a brutal pleting a year-long exchange. emotional vigils after Maasarwe’s of Australia. The incident took of the pair, then returned and Queensland Premier Annasta- state government conducted a crime that rocked the country’s “The rape and murder were com- murder, with thousands of place near Airlie Beach in the bit the second man, said Tracey cia Palaszczuk told reporters in shark bait operation, in which second-largest city. Codey Her- pletely random off ences, commit- protesters taking to the streets state of Queensland yesterday Eastwick, an offi cial with the Brisbane. “They will get the best six sharks were hooked and rmann, now 21, will spend at least ted against a total stranger late at calling for an end to violence when the young tourists were service. care possible,” she said. killed within a week. 30 years in prison for the January night,” Victorian Supreme Court against women. snorkelling. It is not clear what There were 20 people on board The eastern Australian coast More than 750,000 people murder that the judge described judge Elizabeth Hollingworth There have been several violent kind of shark attacked them. the boat with tour company Zig- near the Great Barrier Reef has visit the Whitsunday Island re- as a “savage attack”. said while handing down the sen- attacks against women in Mel- The 28-year-old lost his right Zag Whitsundays but it is not seen a spate of shark attacks gion a year. According to the The body of 21-year-old Maasar- tence. “Ms Maasarwe was doing bourne in recent years, fuelling foot, while the 22-year-old suf- clear how many were in the wa- since last year, including one country’s Shark Attack File, un- we was found by passers-by near nothing more than walking along concerns authorities were not fered severe calf lacerations, ter at the time of the attack. “We death in November. provoked shark attacks have in- a tram stop in outer Melbourne a public street, on her way home doing enough to improve safety Queensland emergency authori- are saddened to confi rm that “We are going to have more jured 10 people in Australia this just hours after she was attacked from a night out, as she had in Australia’s major cities. ties said. two of our guests were injured in and more of this happening until year, with no recorded fatality. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 BRITAIN Dead teenager’s family to sue US govt over fatal car crash

Guardian News and Media Lawyers for Sacoolas have ment about the fresh legal action Seiger claimed the US gov- legal costs facing the family are The Dunn family had been in The Dunn family’s cause has London admitted she was driving on the after instructing lawyers in the ernment had tried to “twist and mounting. New York to put pressure on Sa- the political backing of the La- wrong side of the road before her US. contort the laws on diplomatic The lawyers are also planning coolas to return to the UK to an- bour party, which has called for a car hit Dunn’s motorcycle on Au- “We are bringing claims immunity”. to take action against North- swer questions from Northamp- parliamentary inquiry. he family of a 19-year-old gust 27. against both Sacoolas in the US He added: “The Trump ad- amptonshire police and have tonshire police. The shadow foreign secretary, motorcyclist killed in a She then left the UK against for civil damages as well as the ministration is not only hellbent launched a claim for judicial re- Seiger called the White House Emily Thornberry, said: “It now Tcrash involving the wife of the wishes of the Foreign Offi ce, Trump administration for their on breaking international laws, view over the Foreign Offi ce de- attempt to get the family and Sa- looks increasingly clear that the a US diplomat have announced claiming diplomatic immunity lawless misconduct and attempt rules and conventions on diplo- cision-making process. coolas in the same room a “dis- foreign secretary and his offi cials they are planning to sue the under a relatively obscure agree- to cover that up,” he said in a matic immunity, but they have Trump tried to engineer an gusting stunt”, adding: “Presi- have something to hide in terms Trump administration for law- ment covering RAF Croughton, statement. no care or concern for the wel- impromptu meeting between dent Trump told Harry’s mum, of how they responded to this less misconduct and a cover-up. where her husband worked, and “No one is above the law and fare of Harry’s family or any real Dunn’s parents and Sacoolas Charlotte, at the meeting that we dreadful tragedy, why they al- Harry Dunn’s family are also the British government. the family are determined to en- intent on fi nding a solution.” The when the family were granted an would look to approach the prob- lowed Anne Sacoolas to leave the going ahead with previously an- The Dunn family’s lawyer, sure that this never happens to Dunn family have so far raised extraordinary meeting with the lem from a diff erent angle, but country and why they delayed nounced plans to sue Anne Sa- Radd Seiger, who left for the US another family again. It will be nearly £75,000 through a Go- US president in the White House the family have heard no further informing Harry Dunn’s family coolas for damages in a civil action. on Sunday, made the announce- Harry’s memorial. His legacy.” FundMe page, but the potential a fortnight ago. and have no faith in his words.” of her departure.

Britons brace for yet another vote In 2017, a flabbergasted pensioner named Brenda gained viral fame for her reaction to news that Britain set for Britain was to go to the polls for the third succes- sive year. “You’re joking,” the woman who will forever be known as “Brenda from Bristol” told a BBC televi- Dec 12 election sion crew. “Not another one!” Brenda was seen as speaking for a weary nation. But yesterday, off ice workers bustling around London to break Brexit seemed to relish the chance to settle the Brexit crisis started by one of those votes, as a third general election in four years loomed. “It was inevitable,” market deadlock researcher John Puleston said of the deadlock that has been Reuters highly unpredictable: Brexit has the main players — Johnson, 55, gripping Britain’s decision London variously fatigued and enraged and his rival Corbyn, 70. makers and painfully playing swathes of voters while eroding When Johnson’s predecessor, out on marathon news shows. traditional loyalties to the two Theresa May, bet on an early elec- “It’s nice that it’s going back ritain will hold its fi rst De- major parties, Conservative and tion in 2017, she lost her slender to the people,” civil servant cember election in almost Labour. majority — a failure that ultimate- Helena MacIntyre agreed Ba century after Prime Min- Some politicians feel an elec- ly prevented her from ratifying her as she picked at a takeaway ister Boris Johnson won approval tion so close to Christmas could Brexit deal in parliament and sank lunch box on a scenic park from parliament yesterday for an irritate voters, while campaign- her political career. bench. “I think it’s time for early ballot aimed at breaking the ing and getting the vote out Johnson’s Conservatives are the public to give their views Brexit deadlock. could be hampered by cold win- ahead of Labour by an average on things,” the 20-something As the European Union grant- ter weather and darkness setting of about 10 percentage points in Londoner said. ed a third delay to the divorce in by mid-afternoon. polls this month, though poll- The UK capital is a global city that was originally supposed Ultimately, voters would have sters underestimated the support that in 2016 voted heavily in to take place on March 29, the a choice between an emboldened for Brexit in 2016 and admit that favour of the country keeping United Kingdom, its parliament Johnson pushing for his Brexit the models they use are wilting its nearly half-century ties and its electorate remain divided deal or a socialist government beside the Brexit furnace. with its closest trading part- on how, or indeed whether, to go under Labour leader Jeremy Cor- Both major parties will have ners in the 27-nation EU bloc. ahead with Brexit. byn renegotiating the deal before to fi ght on at least three fronts: Government workers also Johnson, who had promised another referendum. against each other while the tend to have pro-European to deliver Brexit on October 31 The election result will be an- hard-line Brexit Party led by Nigel views that they are meant to “do or die”, demanded a Decem- nounced in the early hours of Fri- Farage seeks to poach Brexit voters keep private as they go about ber 12 election after parliament day the 13th. and the Liberal Democrats seeks to performing their civil duty of — where he has no majority — If no party wins conclusively, win over opponents of Brexit. helping the government to frustrated his attempts to ratify the Brexit deadlock would con- “This will probably be the deliver Brexit. the last-minute divorce deal he tinue. most unpredictable election I But even the most experi- struck with the EU earlier this After four years of arguing over have ever known,” Anand Me- enced servants of the British month. Brexit, almost all British politi- non, director of The UK in a crown recognise the impact In a rare parliamentary suc- cians now agree an election is Changing Europe, told Reuters. of the stalemate on the pub- cess for Johnson after a string of needed to break the cycle of in- “Is it Brexit or is it not? We lic’s patience. defeats, his short bill calling for action that has shocked allies of don’t know. Second, the election “Most people on the street a December 12 election was ap- a country once considered a bas- is as volatile as ever and, thirdly, are just fed up with it and proved 438 to 20 in the House of tion of stable Western capitalism the potential for tactical voting want a resolution one way or Commons. and democracy. — and tactical voting to go wrong another,” 60-year-old govern- The bill now goes to the House An election, though, could de- — is very high given the Leave- ment worker Mark Durgin of Lords. cide the fate of Brexit as well as Remain split,” he said. said. Younger ones like Diana Before the vote, Johnson had Blake also seemed genuinely said parliament was obstruct- Barnier warns government curious about the mood of ing Brexit and thus damaging the the nation after years of economy by preventing invest- British companies risk trade standards. The EU and UK have arguing in parliament and the ment decisions, and corroding barriers to the European Union agreed to negotiate a free-trade nation’s pubs. faith in democracy. if a future government seeks to agreement as part of Boris “It will be interesting to see “There is only one way to get abandon EU standards on work- Johnson’s revamped Brexit deal, what the public think because Brexit done in the face of this ers’ rights and environmental but Barnier stressed that tariff right now I feel like a lot of unrelenting parliamentary ob- protection, Michel Barnier has and quota-free access to the people are a bit confused and structionism — this endless wil- signalled. In an interview with EU were linked to maintaining don’t know what’s going on,” ful fi ngers-crossed ‘not me Guv’ the Guardian and seven other regulatory standards. “Access to said Blake, who is in her 20s. refusal to deliver on the man- European newspapers, the EU’s our markets will be proportional Not everyone agreed that a date of the people — and that is, chief Brexit negotiator said any to the commitments taken to pre-Christmas election would Mr Speaker, to refresh this par- British government would face the common rules,” he said. settle what is turning into an liament and give the people a a “proportional” response if it “The agreement we are ready existential crisis aff ecting the choice,” Johnson said. sought to roll back core social, to discuss is zero tariff s, zero public’s mood. The fi rst Christmas election environmental and consumer quotas, zero dumping. Pro-Brexit demonstrators hold up placards outside the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. in Britain since 1923 would be

Film premiere Ex-partner faces life term OBR to publish for woman’s murder borrowing forecasts Guardian News and Media announcement that it would London update predictions made in Daily Mail bitter and controlling” when he scribed as a 5½ft ‘gravediggers’ March will ensure that the tax London hatched a “deliberate, planned shovel was found in his shed. and spending pledges made by and careful” plot to murder his A jury at Woolwich Crown resh predictions for bor- all parties in a possible gen- former lover. Court in London heard during rowing taking account of eral election campaign will be he former partner of Sarah He was aware that Wellgreen a four-week trial how Lacom- Fthe sharp deterioration judged against what are certain Wellgreen is facing a life planned to buy him out of their ba claimed to have bought the in the public finances since to be gloomier OBR forecasts Tjail term after being con- home in the Kent village of shovel as a Christmas gift for his the spring will be published by for the public finances. victed of her murder – and may New Ash Green after winning a pain-ridden mother Marilyn, 66. the government’s independ- In a letter to Tom Scholar, spend longer behind bars un- custody battle over their three As an emotionless Lacomba was ent forecasting body early next the Treasury’s top civil servant, less he reveals the location of the young children. Twice-married led away – he turned to her as she month it has been announced. Chote said the shape of the Brex- beautician’s body. Wellgreen had two adult sons blew him a kiss from the public Robert Chote, the chairman it withdrawal agreement struck Taxi driver Ben Lacomba has from a previous relationship. gallery. of the Office for Budget Re- between the UK and the EU made been convicted of killing the They off ered to help her obtain The jury had taken three-and- sponsibility, said that despite little diff erence to the OBR’s 46-year-old mother-of-fi ve af- a mortgage to own the property a-half hours to reach its verdict. Sajid Javid’s announcement forecasts but the data in the fi rst ter she vanished from her home outright. Lacomba may now become one last week that he was scrapping six months of the 2019-20 fi nan- in October last year. Lacomba knew he would then of the fi rst criminals to be sub- plans for a budget on November cial year suggested that borrow- But in what has been described have limited contact with their jected to the proposed ‘Helen’s 6, the OBR would publish new ing would be £10bn higher than as a ‘highly unusual case’, exten- children and so decided to kill Law’, named after Helen Mc- forecasts for the public financ- previously estimated. sive searches have not located a her and bury the body in the Court, whose killer Ian Simms es anyway. Chote said the likely reining body and no forensic evidence Kent countryside, police be- refused to reveal the wherea- The chancellor’s decision in of spending in the second was uncovered. lieve. Lacomba is thought to have bouts of her body in 1988. to postpone the biggest fis- half of the year meant it would Despite the challenging cir- drowned Wellgreen in the bath A Bill was brought before Par- cal event of the year prompted be misleading to extrapolate cumstances, police built a early on October 10 last year be- liament last week making it a legal speculation that the govern- from the figures for the April “compelling case” that the only fore driving her body away in his requirement for the Parole Board ment planned to announce pre- to September period but added suspect was Lacomba and have distinctive red Vauxhall Zafi ra to take into account a killer’s fail- election tax cuts without the that the outlook had also been vowed to continue to try to lo- taxi. ure to disclose the location of their British actor Nell Williams poses as she arrives to attend plans being scrutinised by the affected by a series of method- cate her body. The 39-year-old He may have dug her grave days victim’s remains when consider- the world premiere of the film The Good Liar in London. OBR. ological changes and revisions Lacomba was said to be “angry, before her murder. What was de- ing them for release. However, the watchdog’s to back data. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 19

BRITAIN/IRELAND Proportion of low-paid workers at lowest level on record Guardian News and Media But despite the above-infl ation pations. However, taking infl ation London had the smallest per- by more than 4% for the lowest the past 11 years. Men, especially year, but this follows a disastrous London rise in median wages, the annual into account, real pay is still some centage of low-paid employees, paid 30%. those with low weekly pay, peo- decade meaning pay remains be- survey for hours and earnings way below its pre-crisis level.” while Northern Ireland, the east Frances O’Grady, the TUC ple in their 30s, and Londoners low pre-crisis levels,” he said. “But shows that workers are still claw- Tackling low pay looks set to Midlands and the north-east had general secretary, said: “Pay had been aff ected by a bigger fall there have been notable excep- boost from an above- ing back the ground lost when pay play a big role in the next general the highest. packets are still worth less than in their real pay than the median, tions. Britain’s lowest earners en- infl ation increase in the was cut and frozen during the deep election, with Labour pledged to The highest-paid full-time 11 years ago. That’s not right. but women – most aff ected by joyed the strongest pay rises last A“national living wage” has recession of 2008-09. an immediate increase in the mini- jobs were paid almost fi ve times as The Conservatives have presid- the rising minimum wage – were year as a result of another big in- reduced the percentage of people The ONS said that when adjust- mum wage to £10 an hour for all much an hour as the lowest paid, ed over the worst wage squeeze better off than in 2008. crease in the national living wage. classifi ed as low paid in Britain ed for infl ation median pay was up workers over 18 and the Conserva- though the gap has narrowed in the since Napoleonic times. Years Nye Cominetti, an economic “The strong pay performance to its lowest level since modern by 0.9% on the year to April 2019 tives promising a rise to £10.50 past fi ve years as a result of a series of austerity and inaction have analyst at the Resolution Founda- for the lowest earners – on both an records began. but still 2.9% – or £18 a week – over the next fi ve years. of above-infl ation minimum wage deepened Britain’s cost of living tion, said pay growth for the typi- hourly and a weekly basis – fully A 4.4% jump in the low-pay lower than it was in 2008. The ONS said that the propor- increases. crisis. It’s about time politicians cal worker had returned to pre- vindicates that ambition of both fl oor to £7.83 a week in April 2018 The ONS senior statistician tion of low-paid employees – The ONS said that in the year to deliver for working families and fi nancial crisis norms but that this main parties for a higher minimum contributed to a jump in average Roger Smith said: “Earnings con- those on less than two-thirds of April 2019 hourly pay for the top- get wages rising.” followed a “disastrous” decade. wage. But more work will be need- weekly earnings of 2.9% in the tinued to increase in the latest year. median hourly earnings – stood at paid 5% of workers increased by The Institute for Fiscal Stud- “Pay growth for the typical ed to get everyone else’s pay pack- subsequent 12 months, the Offi ce In recent years this has been fast- 16.2%, the lowest since the survey 1.8% – slightly less than the 1.9% ies think-tank said some groups worker in Britain returned close ets beyond where they were before for National Statistics (ONS) said. est among the lowest-paid occu- series began in 1997. median – while hourly wages rose had fared better than others over to pre-crisis norms over the past the crisis.” Fury as royal Queen meets Maldives ambassador chemist backs anti-vaxxers

Daily Mail by the emotional pressure to have London their child vaccinated, enabling a well-considered and safe out- come. The fi rst is a as a complete he Queen’s chemist has alternative to vaccination, the sec- been condemned as “dan- ond is a means of damage limita- Tgerous and irresponsible” tion for the ill-eff ects of conven- for claiming homeopathic rem- tional vaccinations administered.” edies can provide a “complete al- It continues to explain how ternative to vaccination”. “remedies based on childhood Ainsworths, which has two roy- diseases” including measles, al warrants, prints and sells a book mumps, rubella, polio and menin- for new mothers which claims gitis can form “an alternative pre- homeopathy “will strengthen the ventative programme”. child’s immune system more ably The book claims these “will than any vaccine”. strengthen the child’s immune The 114-page guide, which has system more ably than any vac- the coat of arms for the Queen and cine”. Queen Elizabeth II receives the ambassador of Maldives, Farahanaz Faizal and her husband Mohamed Ahmed Didi during a private audience at Buckingham Palace, the Prince of Wales printed on its It lists seven diff erent clinically London, yesterday. cover, also claims that vaccine- unproven homeopathic remedies preventable infectious diseases for measles including aconite, including mumps and measles can which it says “is a remedy for the be treated homeopathically. very early stages of measles”, and In addition the pharmacy sells pulsatilla which it calls “one of tablets which are often promoted the most important remedies for by other homeopaths as vaccine measles”. alternatives for diseases including Separately, Ainsworths also measles, polio and meningitis. sells substances online which oth- Leading doctors criticised Ains- er homeopaths say provide “natu- worths for promoting “irrespon- ral immunity” against infectious Search for missing woman sible anti-vaccine propaganda” diseases including measles. and putting the health of children The pharmacy does not make at risk. It now faces calls for its any claims on their website about royal warrants – meaning it has what the substances should be supplied products to the two royal used for. However, they are all used households for fi ve years – to be in a practice called homeoprophy- focuses on fi shing boats withdrawn. laxis – which involves administer- The revelation comes after Si- ing tiny doses of diseased tissue Guardian News and Media are being questioned,” the pro- regarding the search. He said bridge went missing. Her back- ments are here: police, navy, mon Stevens, the head of NHS called ‘nosodes’. Koh Rong vincial deputy police chief, Nop the family met police in their pack, containing items including military.” England, warned that homeo- Critics say this amounts to Panha, said. “We are not draw- HQ in Sihanoukville yesterday her bank cards and phone, was Ryan Harris, 18, from Worces- paths are spreading “misinforma- ‘dangerous quackery’ and that the ing any conclusions yet.” It is morning. He wrote on social found on rocks by the beach on ter, travelled to Koh Rong with tion” about jabs which pose “a sig- pills are typically so dilute that not ambodian offi cials look- believed the men were being in- media: “Everyone (Cambodian Thursday morning. Bambridge on October 19 after nifi cant danger to human health”. a single molecule of the substance ing for a British woman terviewed as potential witnesses officials) said that they’re not Ben Warner, a leader of the befriending her in Phnom Penh. A copy of the Ainsworths book, remains. They include morbilli- Cmissing on Koh Rong is- rather than as suspects in any going to stop until she’s found, volunteer search team, said: He spent Monday with her fam- called the Mother & Child Rem- num, promoted as an alternative land are focusing their search crimes. On Monday a Koh Rong so I feel a little bit more posi- “We’re running out of areas ily on the island and appealed edy Prescriber, which costs £4.95, to the measles jab, and a ‘polio no- on fi shing boats and have inter- offi cial working with police said tive.” where we can look on land, so for anyone with information to promises to “help parents through sode’ and a ‘meningeoma nosode’, viewed six men about her disap- that there had been no arrests On Monday Amelia’s father, we’re trying to look at ways that come forward. the emotional and physical chal- promoted by some homeopaths pearance. related to the search. Phil Bambridge, said he was she could have got off the is- “We’re appealing for informa- lenges of pregnancy, childbirth as “natural” ways to prevent polio Amelia Bambridge, 21, from The Guardian understands losing hope she would be found land.” Laura Link, another leader tion from anyone who was at the and baby/infant stages”. and meningitis. Sussex, was last seen at a beach that at least one of the men being alive. Sniff er dogs from Phnom of the volunteer search team, party then (Wednesday night) or In a section titled ‘Vaccination’, Ainsworths is continuing to party at about 3am on Thursday. questioned worked at a hostel on Penh were expected to arrive appealed for anyone with photos in the last few months, anyone the ‘self-help’ booklet says: “Ho- sell the remedies despite the gov- Nearly 150 Cambodian offi cials Koh Rong. On Monday Harry on Koh Rong to help with the of boats around Police Beach to who might have seen anything meopathy was the forerunner of ernment’s medicine watchdog, and seven volunteers continued Bambridge, Amelia’s brother, search. Extra boats were being get in contact. sketchy or suspicious,” Harris conventional vaccination and of- the MHRA, taking action against searching the island and sur- was accompanied by police as he dispatched from Sihanoukville A police spokesperson said: said. fers the clearest answer as to how it in 2013, aiming to ensure it was rounding areas yesterday, the searched the man’s possessions for the ocean search. “At this point it’s still an all-area He added: “The family are do- to deal with the prevention of dis- “no longer advertising homeo- fourth day of large-scale search- in the hostel. Offi cials and volunteers have search. They’re searching under ing well considering the circum- ease. pathic products as alternative es. Harry Bambridge has com- placed added focus on checking the rocks in the ocean and on top stances. They just want to know “Homeopathy off ers two clear treatments to proven, conven- Offi cers have been speaking plained about a lack of support fi shing boats that may have been of the ocean, but now they want what happened, same as every- options for mothers confronted tional vaccines”. to six Cambodian men. “They from the British government near Police Beach, where Bam- to get in the jungle. All depart- one else.”

Harry meets athletes Police hunt for N Ireland MPs voice solidarity brothers over truck deaths with Meghan Markle Reuters oncile,” she said. London Lawmaker Holly Lynch or- Reuters from Northern Ireland. gave an address matching that of ganised and published the let- London On Monday, Robinson, 25, ap- the haulier, C Hughes Transport,” ter, which was signed by 71 of her peared in court accused of man- the lawyers told Reuters in an e- omen lawmakers from member of parliament (MP) col- slaughter, money laundering, mail. across Britain’s politi- leagues. olice were yesterday hunt- conspiracy to traffi c people and GTR had previously said the Wcal spectrum have ex- “As women MPs of all political ing two brothers from conspiracy to assist unlawful im- container was leased out on Octo- pressed solidarity with Meghan persuasions, we wanted to express PNorthern Ireland whom migration. ber 15 and it was unaware of what it Markle, the wife of Prince Harry, our solidarity with you in taking a they described as “crucial” to an For the two latter alleged of- was to be used for. in the stand she is taking against stand against the often distaste- investigation into the deaths of fences, the charge-sheet stated Christopher Hughes, who is the media over stories about her ful and misleading nature of the 39 people found in the back of a he had conspired with Ronan listed as a director of C Hughes character and family. stories printed in a number of our truck near London last week. Hughes and others, prosecutors Logistics based in Armagh, said in Earlier this month, Markle be- national newspapers concerning The discovery of the bodies said. a 2016 interview with Irish Truck- gan legal action against a newspa- you, your character and your fam- in a refrigerated truck on an in- Police leading the investiga- er magazine that his company ran per in response to what the couple ily,” the letter said. dustrial estate near London has tion said Hughes, 40, and his a fl eet of nine trucks, working in described as “bullying” by some “On occasions, stories and shone a spotlight on the illicit brother Christopher, 34, from Sweden, Denmark, Italy and Eng- sections of the British media. headlines have represented an in- trade that sends the poor of Asia, Armagh, were also wanted on land as well as Ireland, with six At the time, Harry said the way vasion of your privacy and have Africa and the Middle East on suspicion of manslaughter and full-time employees. newspapers were treating his sought to cast aspersions about perilous journeys to the West. human traffi cking. Police, who have said their in- American-born wife was remi- your character without any good The 39 victims — 31 men and “Finding and speaking to the vestigation would be lengthy, have niscent of their approach to his reason as far as we can see,” they eight women — have yet to be Hughes brothers is crucial to our arrested three other people but mother, Princess Diana. said. identifi ed but Vietnam said investigation,” said detective chief later released them on police bail. The couple, who have a fi ve- Some of the coverage had it was trying to accelerate the superintendent Stuart Hooper. Irish police have also arrested a month-old baby, spoke of the “what could only be described as process. It fears many of the dead “At this time we believe they are man in connection with the inves- pressure of intense media atten- outdated, colonial undertones”, were its citizens. in Northern Ireland but they also tigation. tion in a recent documentary. which could not be allowed to The bodies were found in the have links to the Irish Republic.” Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Markle, a former actress, said go unchallenged, the lawmakers early hours of October 23 after Ronan Hughes had signed the Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong British friends had warned her added. the container arrived in Britain lease papers to rent the trailer the told Reuters yesterday the na- about tabloid newspapers when They said that although they from Zeebrugge in Belgium. bodies were found in, according tionality of the victims had not she had fi rst met Harry. had a very diff erent role, they The container was picked up at to lawyers for the owner Global been offi cially confi rmed but his Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the launch of Team UK, “I never thought that this shared an understanding of the Purfl eet dock, to the east of Lon- Trailer Rentals (GTR). country and Britain were “trying selected for the ‘Invictus Games The Hague 2020’ at would be easy, but I thought “abuse and intimidation” that don, by a truck allegedly driven “The lease document was to speed up identifi cation of the Honourable Artillery Company in east London yesterday. it would be fair, and that is the were often used to disparage by Maurice Robinson, who is signed by Ronan Hughes, who bodies”. part that is really hard to rec- women in public offi ce. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 EUROPE 300mn face annual coastline fl ooding by 2050: study

By Marlowe Hood, AFP More than two-thirds of the to increase 2bn by 2050 and an- Several factors conspire to At current rates of carbon are projected to increase 100 to A big part of the problem was Paris populations at risk are in China, other billion by 2100 – mostly in threaten populations living pollution however, the increase 1,000-fold by 2100, the IPCC re- that the Nasa system mistook Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, In- coastal megacities – even greater within a few metres of sea level. would be nearly twice as much. port said. rooftops and trees for ground donesia, and Thailand. numbers of people will be forced One is the expansion of water A second ingredient is tropi- Finally, many of the 1bn peo- level. oastal areas currently Using a form of artifi cial in- to adapt or move out of harm’s as it warms and, more recently, cal storms – typhoons, cyclones ple living at less than 9m above “It turns out that for most of home to 300mn peo- telligence known as neural net- way. ice sheets atop Greenland and or hurricanes – amplifi ed by a sea level today are in urban areas the global coast, we didn’t know Cple will be vulnerable by works, the new research corrects Already today, there are more Antarctica that have shed more warming atmosphere. literally sinking under their own the height of the ground beneath 2050 to fl ooding made worse by ground elevation data that has up than 100mn people living below than 430bn tonnes per year over “It doesn’t take a big rise in weight. our feet,” said Strauss. climate change, no matter how to now vastly underestimated the high tide levels, the study found. the last decade. sea level to lead to catastrophic Researchers studying the im- The researchers detailed these aggressively humanity curbs extent to which coastal zones are Some are protected by dykes Since 2006, the waterline has problems,” said Bruce Glavovic, pact of rising seas on human set- shortcomings and the merits of carbon emissions, scientists said subject to fl ooding during high and levees, most are not. gone up nearly 4mm a year, a a professor at Massey University tlements have long known that their new system, which is called yesterday. tide or major storms. “Climate change has the po- pace that could increase 100- in New Zealand who was not in- the Shuttle Radar Topography CoastalDEM, in peer-reviewed By mid-century and beyond, “Sea-level projections have tential to reshape cities, econo- fold going into the 22nd century volved in the study. “Sea level Mission (SRTM) data provided journals before matching them however, choices made today not changed,” co-author Ben mies, coastlines and entire glo- if carbon emissions continue rise is not a slow onset problem freely by Nasa has a fairly wide to populations data in the new will determine whether Earth’s Strauss, chief scientist and chief bal regions within our lifetime,” unabated, the UN Intergovern- – it’s a crisis of extreme weather margin of error. study. coastlines remain recognisable to executive of Climate Central, a said lead author and Climate mental Panel for Climate Change events.” But about fi ve years ago Kulp Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, a future generations, they reported US-based non-profi t research Central scientist Scott Kulp. “As (IPCC) warned in a major report Major storms that until re- and Strauss realised that – com- professor of climatology at Bel- in the journal Nature Communi- group, told AFP. “But when we the tideline rises higher than the last month. cently occurred once a century pared to more accurate data for gium’s Universite Catholique de cations. use our new elevation data, we ground people call home, nations If global warming is capped will, by 2050, happen on average the US gathered by laser-based Louvain and a former IPCC vice- Destructive storm surges fi nd far more people living in vul- will increasingly confront ques- below 2° Celsius – the corner- once a year in many places, es- systems on aircraft – SRTM was chair, said that the new method fuelled by increasingly powerful nerable areas that we previously tions about whether, how much stone goal of the Paris climate pecially in the tropics, the IPCC systematically showing eleva- represented “very signifi cant cyclones and rising seas will hit understood.” and how long coastal defences treaty – sea level is projected to report found. tions to be higher than they actu- progress” in understanding the Asia hardest, the study said. With the global population set can protect them.” rise about 50cm by 2100. Annual coastal fl ood damages ally were. risks posed by rising seas.

EU states need Ukraine, separatists pull better recycling troops ahead of key talks policies: AFP report Kyiv

AFP he Ukrainian army and Copenhagen Moscow-backed separa- Ttists said yesterday that they had begun to withdraw U countries need to adopt their troops from a key area in policies to boost recycling, the war-torn east ahead of a Eto help tackle growing high-stakes summit with Rus- waste, particularly from plas- sia. tic and electronics, according to The long-awaited pullback is two reports by the European En- a precondition for the fi rst face- vironment Agency (EEA) pub- to-face talks between Russian lished on Monday. President Vladimir Putin and “The EU must fi nd circular Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy, This picture taken and released by Ukrainian presidential press and climate-friendly ways of to be mediated by the leaders of service on October 14 shows President Zelenskiy (centre) with managing its plastic waste e.g. France and Germany. off icers during his visit to Donetsk region. by increasing reuse and recy- “The process of troop with- cling,” the EEA said in a state- drawal began by both sides ... “If everything works out in is unacceptable,” the party said ment. in the area of Zolote-4” in the Zolote, similar procedures in in a statement. “Such actions of The European body, head- Luhansk region, Ukraine’s army Petrivske should follow imme- the president and his team are a quartered in Copenhagen, said said on Facebook. diately,” he told Russian Tass mistake.” the EU produced 30mn tonnes Monitors from the Organisa- news agency. In the run-up to the planned of plastic waste in 2015, of which tion for Security and Co-op- Political opponents were summit, Ukrainian, Russian only 17% was collected for recy- eration in Europe (OSCE) con- quick to criticise Zelenskiy yes- and separatist negotiators also cling. fi rmed the move. Protesters take part in a rally in front of the building of presidential administration in Kyiv against troop terday. agreed on a roadmap that en- Conversely in 2017, demand “Today the sides have just re- withdrawal in eastern Ukraine. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, visages a special status for the for plastic in the 28 EU coun- sumed the withdrawal of troops a lawmaker from Poroshenko’s separatist territories, if they tries, Switzerland and Norway, and arms in Zolote,” Martin But those eff orts have stalled ro Poroshenko have protested in to personally travel to Zolote in party, called the troop with- conduct free and fair elections amounted to 51mn tonnes – Sajdik, an OSCE special repre- as Kyiv’s forces and the Krem- the capital Kyiv and other cities, an eff ort to convince his nation- drawal a “capitulation on the under the Ukrainian constitu- mainly for use in packaging and sentative, told journalists. lin-backed separatists have slamming a pullback of troops as alist critics not to stand in the Kremlin’s conditions”. tion. construction. The rival forces also need to repeatedly failed to pull back an act of “surrender”. way of the peace process. Another opposition party Critics say the proposal fa- Annual global plastic produc- withdraw troops from the vil- troops from the frontline be- Nationalists were set to hold a “We have to look for ways and Golos condemned Zelenskiy vours Russia but Zelenskiy has tion is also expected to double by lage of Petrivske in the Donetsk cause of exchanges of gunfi re. new protest rally outside Zelen- work to end the war,” Zelensky for breaking his own promise pledged not to betray Ukraine’s 2035, and almost quadruple by region for the high-profi le sum- Zelenskiy’s peace plan includ- skiy’s offi ces last night. said on Saturday during his trip to withdraw troops only after interests. 2050, and European countries mit to go ahead. ing the troop pullback has been Various nationalist organisa- to the village. “There will be no fi ghting stops for seven days, Relations between Ukraine lack the capacity to manage the Since coming to power in May, strongly criticised by many in tions even deployed their own surrender in any case ... I am while there was shooting across and Russia were shredded after a growing amount of plastic waste comedian-turned-president Kyiv, especially war veterans and troops to Zolote in an eff ort to sure we will succeed and Ukraine the frontline as recently as the bloody uprising ousted a Krem- in sustainable ways, one of the Zelenskiy has sought to revive a nationalists. prevent a retreat of Ukrainian will be united again.” weekend. lin-backed regime in 2014. reports concluded. peace process to end a fi ve-year- Over the past few weeks, forces. Putin’s aide Vladislav Surkov “The withdrawal of troops Moscow went on to annex “Poor management of plastic old confl ict in eastern Ukraine thousands of Ukrainians includ- Last week the 41-year-old expressed satisfaction about the without fulfi lling the conditions Crimea and support insurgents waste has negative environmen- that has claimed 13,000 lives. ing Zelenskiy’s predecessor Pet- Ukrainian president was forced move. of the seven-day silence regime in eastern Ukraine. tal and climate eff ects, such as deposits of plastic and micro- plastics appearing on land and Polish Supreme in rivers and oceans worldwide,” the agency stated. Court rejects vote In early 2019 the EU exported recount request Turkey foils IS plot, 150,000 tonnes of plastic waste every month, since European Poland’s Supreme Court has countries typically don’t sort rejected one of six requests for detains 43 suspects and recycle enough of this waste. a vote recount by the ruling The fi gure was twice as high in nationalists following the October 2016, when exports went mainly 13 election in which they lost their Reuters were underway to deport them. to China and Hong Kong, but re- majority in the upper house. Istanbul The other 14 suspects were strictions on waste import has The Law and Justice (PiS) party’s sent to the police, it added. led to a decrease and a shift of setback in the Senate, coupled Turkish police later said a exports to other Asian countries with a smaller than hoped-for urkish authorities have further 14 suspected religious with less strict regulations. majority in the lower house, dealt detained 43 people sus- extremists, three of them Turk- When it comes to electron- a blow to its bid for a stronger Tpected of belonging to ish nationals, were detained in ics, of 10.3mn tonnes of waste mandate to pursue disputed Islamic State (IS) and of plotting Istanbul. produced in 2015, 40% was col- overhauls of the judiciary, media attacks targeting celebrations of It said the suspects were plan- lected, the agency said. and cultural institutions. Turkey’s national day yesterday, ning to attack the celebrations in Many electronic products in- Supreme Court justices rebuff ed police and state media said. Istanbul following al-Baghda- clude hazardous materials and the government’s bid for a The detentions came two di’s death, but did not elaborate. chemicals that pose risk to both recount in one Senate district, days after US President Donald Turkey has said it shared health and the environment. saying that the diff erence Trump announced that IS leader information with the United The EEA also noted that between the candidates’ Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been States, its Nato ally, ahead of “high-quality recycling” can respective results was too small, killed in a raid by US special Sunday’s raid in northern Syr- help to limit the impact on cli- and reserved a ruling on five forces in northwest Syria, near ia and that it is proud to have mate, citing a 2016 Norwegian other challenges. the Turkish border. helped bring “a notorious ter- study that found that the recy- PiS had said that it was The suspects were detained in rorist to justice”. Military personnel and others have their photograph taken at the Anitkabir, the mausoleum of cling of a single mobile phone demanding recounts because in Istanbul and the northwestern Yesterday Turks were mark- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of Turkish Republic, as part of 96th Republic Day saved the equivalent of 1kg of some of the districts where it lost province of Bursa in three sepa- ing the 96th anniversary of the commemorations in Ankara. CO2 emissions. by a narrow margin there were rate operations, according to a founding of the secular Turkish a lot of ballots that were spoiled, police statement and the state- republic on the ashes of the Ot- not counted or left blank. run Anadolu news agency. toman Empire. German spy chief says right-wing radicalism harder to detect, and spreading “The purpose of an electoral Three of the suspects who The Islamic State has carried protest,” the court said in a were believed to have been pre- out atrocities against religious The head of Germany’s domestic longer exists,” Haldenwang, president of the to focus more on German rather than Jewish statement, “is to point out paring an attack to disrupt Re- minorities and attacks on fi ve intelligence agency said yesterday that BfV domestic intelligence agency, said in a suff ering in World War II, is intent on pulling specific violations of law aff ecting public Day celebrations in Is- continents in the name of an militant right-wingers were mixing with parliamentary hearing. the party further to the right. the outcome of the election ... tanbul, were detained yesterday, ultra-fanatic version of Islam less radical conservatives, blurring the lines “We are increasingly dealing with mixed In Thuringia, he overtook Chancellor Angela not to recalculate votes because Anadolu said. that has horrifi ed mainstream to make extremism more acceptable and scenes including people who are open to Merkel’s conservatives to come second in an of the slight diff erence between It said anti-terror and intel- Muslims. harder to detect. the right – such as at the demonstrations in election on Sunday. individual candidates.” ligence units established that The death of al-Baghdadi is a Speaking less than three weeks after a Chemnitz in 2018,” he said. Haldenwang said individuals belonging to Opposition parties hold 48 of the suspects had been in contact severe blow to the group, which man who had published a racist and anti- Last August, Germany saw the worst far- the “new right” were becoming politically 100 seats in the upper house, but with people who would provide has been in disarray and has no Semitic manifesto shot two people near a right riots in decades after in the city of active with the aim of making right-wing wield a majority thanks to three logistic support for the attack. declared successor as leader yet. synagogue in Halle, Thomas Haldenwang Chemnitz after a man was stabbed to death. radical thinking, even extremist thinking, independent senators. Anadolu said another 26 sus- But it has in the past proved added that lone attackers were also an The leader of the anti-immigrant Alternative acceptable. The Senate has the power to pected IS members were de- resilient, continuing to mount or increasing threat. for Germany (AfD) in the state of Thuringia, Haldenwang reiterated his agency’s delay legislation and appoint tained in Bursa yesterday. inspire attacks in the region and “The proverbial ‘right-wing corner’ which Bjoern Hoecke, a hardliner within the party, estimates that around half of the roughly some prominent figures in the It said 12 of them were Syrian beyond despite losing most of its allows for a clear distinction between joined in those demonstrations. 24,100 “right-wing extremists” in Germany state. nationals and that proceedings territory in recent years. extremists and the conservative camp, no Hoecke, who wants to rewrite history books were potentially violent. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 21 INDIA

Telangana bus strike continues, court allows public meeting

IANS There were no signs of an early The court asked the JAC to crore required to meet some of The court also found fault with Rs1,099 crore and out of this Tel- government owed to RTC in un- Hyderabad end to the strike by over 48,000 hold the meeting from 2pm to the demands of the employees, the manner in which offi cials angana has to pay 42% and Andhra divided Andhra Pradesh, the cor- employees of the state-owned 5pm tomorrow. The striking em- adding it had already given to submitted only selected statis- Pradesh 58%. The court was told poration has not received Rs1,375 transport utility with both the ployees had invited leaders of the TSRTC more money than what tics while avoiding details of the that the issue of RTC bifurcation crore towards bus passes subsidy n indefi nite strike by em- government and the employees unions of government employ- was required. money the government owed to was still under the consideration from 2014 to 2019. He said that ployees of the Telangana sticking to their stands. ees, teachers and workers for the The division bench headed by the corporation. It asked the gov- of the central government. the government owes another AState Road Transport The court granted conditional meeting. Chief Justice R S Chauhan once ernment to submit details by Oc- When Prasad informed the Rs1,496 crore to RTC under the Corporation (TSRTC) entered permission to the Joint Action Meanwhile, the court yes- again took exception to the stand tober 31 and adjourned the hear- court that the government has so Municipal Act. the 25th day yesterday as state’s Committee (JAC) of the striking terday continued hearing argu- taken by the government and ing to November 1. far given Rs4,235 crore to RTC, Earlier, Chief Minister K high court allowed them to hold employees to hold a public meet- ments on a batch of Public Inter- asked why money can’t be re- Earlier, Advocate General B the bench asked for details of the Chandrashekhar Rao held a re- a public meeting in Hyderabad ing at Saroornagar in Hyderabad. est Litigations seeking an end to leased to solve a problem which S Prasad told the court that re- arrears towards reimbursement. view meeting with top offi cials to today after police earlier denied The JAC approached the court af- the strike. The government told will provide relief to people of the imbursement arrears to RTC in JAC lawyer claimed that in discuss the points to be raised in them permission. ter the police denied permission. the court it can’t provide Rs47 entire state. undivided Andhra Pradesh were addition to Rs1,099 crore the the court. Researchers move closer to new TB vaccine

AFP to interrupt TB transmission and Hyderabad get control of the epidemic.” Ann Ginsberg, of the Inter- national Aids Vaccine Initiative cientists said yesterday which has been taking part in the they are closing in on a research, said 15 possible vac- Snew game-changing vac- cines are at various stages of de- cine for tuberculosis, the world’s velopment around the world but deadliest infectious disease that this was the most “exciting”. claimed some 1.5mn lives last If successful, the vaccine year. could “avert tens of millions of A chronic lung disease that is new cases of TB and save mil- curable, TB was one of the top 10 lions of lives globally.” killers worldwide last year, par- “We are one more cautious, ticularly in developing countries. but exciting, step closer to a vac- The existing Bacille-Cal- cine for tuberculosis,” said Paula mette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine – Fujiwara, scientifi c director of licensed for humans in 1921 – is the Paris-based International only proven to be eff ective for Union Against Tuberculosis and children under fi ve for limited Lung Disease. forms of tuberculosis. The results have to be further It does not protect against tested in longer and larger trials pulmonary TB, the most com- across broader ranges of popu- mon form of the disease among lations and countries, the sci- adults and teens. entists said in the New England In a trial in three African na- Journal of Medicine, where the tions, GlaxoSmithKline said its report was published. vaccine had 50% eff ectiveness Breuer said it would take sev- European Union lawmakers enjoy a boat ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar yesterday. three years after it was given to eral years to complete the trials participants who already have and get a licence for a vaccine. TB bacteria but have not fallen ill About one in four people from the disease. worldwide carry latent TB, “These results demonstrate meaning they are infected with that for the fi rst time in almost a the bacteria but are not sick and century, the global community cannot transmit the disease. potentially has a new tool to help Between 5 to 15% develop ac- provide protection against TB,” tive TB. Clashes erupt as EU GSK Vaccines’ chief medical offi c- Those with compromised im- er Thomas Breuer said in a state- mune systems such as people ment released at a conference on with HIV are more vulnerable to lung health in Hyderabad. falling sick. Campaigners said the trial in The announcement came as Kenya, South Africa and Zam- thousands of researchers, TB bia, involving more than 3,000 survivors and activists gathered team visits Kashmir adults, was a crucial step amid in Hyderabad for a global confer- a push for more funding for TB ence on lung health. Agencies The delegation of around 30 the Brexit Party and Poland’s At dusk, the EU lawmakers ed up, most of whom still remain research. India accounts for a quarter of Srinagar European lawmakers – includ- Law and Justice. made their way to Srinagar’s in detention. South African Tuberculosis the world’s TB cases and Prime ing far-right deputies from Local residents voiced anger picturesque Dal Lake for boat Access to postpaid mobile Vaccine Initiative director Mark Minister Narendra Modi has set Poland, France, Germany and that the federal government was rides on the mirror-calm waters, phones was only restored on Hatherill said a vaccine would be an ambitious target of ending the ozens of clashes erupted Britain – met Prime Minis- trying to show the delegation while security men swarmed the October 14 and the Internet “the only way in the short-term epidemic by 2025. in Jammu and Kashmir ter Narendra Modi on Monday, Kashmir was returning to nor- popular tourist site. remains cut for the Muslim- Dyesterday, offi cials said, prompting accusations that it mal. The Indian government said majority area’s more than 7mn as a delegation of mostly far- aimed to blunt criticism of New The EU delegation was driven that the aim was to give the dep- people. right European lawmakers paid Delhi over Kashmir. in a cavalcade of black SUVs, ac- uties “a better understanding of The UN High Commission a contentious visit to the region One MEP from Britain’s cen- companied by armed troops and the cultural and religious diver- for Human Rights said yester- stripped of its autonomy in Au- trist Liberal Democrats, Chris security jeeps, to a military can- sity” of the region. day that it was “extremely con- gust. Davies, said the Indian govern- tonment in Srinagar. An EU offi cial in India stressed cerned” at the situation. With a curfew in many parts ment withdrew his invitation This was followed by meet- that it was “not on an offi cial “We urge the Indian authori- of the main city, Srinagar, police after he insisted on being able ings with civil society members visit”. ties to unlock the situation and fi red tear gas and shotgun pel- to talk to locals without a police and businessmen, two govern- On August 5 New Delhi re- fully restore the rights that are lets as around 40 clashes fl ared escort. ment offi cials said. voked Article 370 of the consti- currently being denied,” it said. across the Kashmir Valley, offi - “I am not prepared to take “The government is trying to tution which gave Kashmir the Amid allegations of torture cials said. part in a PR stunt for the Modi fool them. If they want to know special status. and unconfi rmed reports of at It was unclear if there were government and pretend that all the ground reality, they should Since then New Delhi has least six dead civilians, it said any injuries. is well,” Davies said in a state- meet the common people,” said barred scores of its own politi- major political decisions about Late Monday militants also ment. Srinagar resident Altaf Ahmed, cians and a US senator from vis- the region had been taken with- shot dead a truck driver, the The delegation included standing near the site of a pro- iting the region. out the “participation of the af- English actress and ambassador for the International Union Against sixth such killing targeting the members of the nationalist, an- test in the city’s old quarter. Visits by foreign journalists fected population”. Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Claire Forlani dances with vital apple sector, while a gre- ti-immigration and eurosceptic “We want to tell them that the are also off limits. However, the UN also said it children during the field visit to meet TB survivors at Malakpet slum nade injured 20 people else- Alternative for Germany (AfD) government of India is holding Hundreds of local politicians, had received reports of armed area in Hyderabad yesterday. where, authorities said. party, France’s National Rally, us at gunpoint.” lawyers and others were round- groups threatening residents.

80 endangered turtles rescued AAP govt rolls out free bus Eighty endangered turtles have been recovered and three men arrested in the Fatehabad area of Agra in Ut- travel for women in Delhi tar Pradesh. The turtles were being smug- gled to New Delhi and were Agencies Before, bus fares cost between them,” she said on a bus in cen- worth estimated Rs1.8mn. New Delhi Rs5 and Rs25 for vehicles with air tral Delhi. According to the police, the conditioning, according to gov- “For me, I don’t end up joint operation was carried out ernment data. spending a lot on buses because by the forest department and elhi’s Aam Aadmi Party The safety of women in the I only use it occasionally. But Fatehabad police who had government rolled out Indian capital has been under for those who go to work regu- received a tip-off . The suspects Dfree bus travel for women the spotlight since the 2012 gang larly, this will make a positive have been charged under the yesterday in what the capital’s rape and murder of a female stu- difference,” said Urmila Devi, a Wildlife Protection Act. chief minister called an “historic dent on a bus that sparked major housewife. Parvesh Kumar, Station House step” for safety and female em- protests. “It was a great feeling when I Off icer (SHO) of Fatehabad, ployment. But Kejriwal said that from was told this morning that I will said: “The three accused were Female participation in the yesterday, there would be 13,000 not have to purchase any bus heading towards Delhi with 80 Indian workforce is among the “marshals” on buses to ensure ticket henceforth. It has been endangered species of turtles. lowest in the world, while vio- safety for the 850,000 women made free for women by the During interrogation, they con- lence against women in the who take the bus regularly in the Delhi government,” said Radha, fessed that they captured the world’s second-most populous chaotic megacity of 20mn peo- who travels more than 15km turtles from the Yamuna and country is rife. ple. daily from her home in Sangam Chambal riverbed.” A forest of- Yesterday women were given Sonia Rathore, 24, who works Vihar. ficial said that the turtles were pink tickets entitling them to as an assistant at a fi rm in cen- “This is a big saving for me. I identified as flapshell, crown free travel, with a message from tral Delhi said she was set to save would be spending Rs50 daily and other species. They are Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal around Rs2,000 per month. on bus travel, and this amount often captured for their meat on the back that said he hoped “Those women who don’t earn saved means a lot to me,” Radha, and are also exported illegally the move would empower them more than Rs10,000 or Rs15,000, who works as a domestic help in to South Asian countries, Ku- and their families. this move will be very helpful for South Delhi, said. Women travel in a Delhi Transport Corporation bus yesterday. mar said. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 INDIA

JUDICIARY APPOINTMENT INVESTIGATION EDUCATION CRIME Bobde to be next chief Anup Kumar Singh takes Police in the dock Online correction in Man beaten to death justice of India charge as new NSG chief over custodial death certificates for students over alleged cattle theft

Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde will be the Senior police off icer Anup Kumar Singh Amethi police are in the dock after a Nearly 5.6mn students taking the Uttar Pradesh A man was beaten to death in Bihar for alleged next Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will be has taken over the director general of the businessman died in custody yesterday. The Board examination will no longer have to face theft of cattle, police said yesterday. The incident sworn in on November 18 and will serve the elite National Security Guard (NSG). The case is related to the stealing of Rs2.6mn from hurdles in getting rectification done in their took place on Monday night when some men post for around 18 months. Bobde’s career Appointments Committee of the Cabinet a bank in Amethi on October 5. The police educational certificates as the board has made belonging to Barahpur village entered More as a judge began on March 29, 2000 when (ACC) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrested Satya Prakash Shukla as a suspect online arrangements now. Board secretary village with the intention to steal cattle. “During he was appointed the additional judge in had approved his appointment as the chief of yesterday morning and he died hours later. Nina Srivastava said district schools would the commotion, while the cattle were being the Bombay High Court. He was elevated as the ‘Black Cats commando’ force. “The Black According to reports, the UCO bank branch collect the existing certificates from schools untethered, some villagers woke up and started a judge of the Supreme Court on April 12, Cats welcome their new DG and look to move is located on the ground floor of Shukla’s and corrections would be made as per the chasing the alleged thieves. The villagers caught 2013. He was sworn in as the chief justice forward for achieving greater heights under his house and the robbery took place when bank school records. She said the corrected versions hold of one of them while the rest managed of Madhya Pradesh High Court on October command,” National Security Guard tweeted. off icials were coming out of the branch with would be uploaded on the website. Teams of to escape,” locals told the police. The villagers 16, 2012. Bobde was born on April 24, 1956 He took charge from Indo-Tibetan Border Police the money. According to the police, Shukla the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) would mercilessly beat the suspected thief with sticks, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He completed (ITBP) director general S S Deswal, who was had given a tipoff to the robbers. “We called investigate the cases for corrections from the police said. The police reached the scene graduation and obtained a law degree from holding additional charge of the post since the him to the police station. After some time, he Class 9-12 till November 15. This will also help and extracted the victim from the clutches of the Nagpur University. He was enrolled on the retirement of Sudeep Lakhtakia on July 31. The complained of uneasiness and was taken to a in checking fake cases, said the off icial. Links villagers. He was admitted to a hospital, where he roll of the Bar Council of Maharashtra in 1978 NSG is a federal contingency “zero error” force to clinic. Doctors said he had taken poison and have been provided in the off icial website of succumbed to his injuries. “We have taken 12-15 and was designated as a senior advocate in deal with anti-terrorist activities. The force set up referred him to the district hospital where he the education board, where student can give people into custody. The investigation is on,” a 1998. to counter terrorists and hijack-like incidents. died,” the police added. information about the error for correction. police off icer said. Suspense in Maharashtra as BJP, Sena remain defi ant

IANS It was a clear reference to the seats, the party is not in a posi- Mumbai way the BJP cobbled up a gov- tion to move forward but wait- ernment in Haryana where it fell ing for the right signals from the six short of the magic number, Sena. n a fresh twist to the ongoing but formed the government with The Congress is questioning political drama in Maharash- the help of Dushyant Chautala, diff erences between friends who Itra, the Shiv Sena has called whose Jannayak Janata Party ran are now targeting each other. off its scheduled meeting with an election campaign on Jat con- Former Congress chief minis- the Bharatiya Janata Party lead- solidation and anti-BJP rhetoric. ter Prithviraj Chavan has also re- Demonstrators hold placards during a protest demanding justice for two sisters, who according to local media were sexually assaulted and ership. Chautala senior who is con- iterated that there is no proposal murdered by three men in 2017, in Kochi yesterday. This comes following outgo- victed of corruption and lodged from the Sena yet, while asking ing chief minister Devendra Fad- in Tihar was released on a 14-day the BJP and the Sena to make the navis’s assertion that the chief furlough a day after Shah and deal between them public. minister’s post belongs exclu- Dushyant announced their deal Maharashtra Congress sively to the BJP and rubbished in Delhi, sitting on the sprawl- spokesperson Sachin Sawant its ally’s claims of a 50-50 deal. ing lawns of the BJP’s president’s also told IANS that “there is no Earlier in the day, Fadnavis told residence. proposal from the Shiv Sena yet. Kerala offi cials to be questioned reporters: “I assure you that this In a clear hint, Raut said they If they approach us, we will talk will be a BJP-led government. had “other options” too, which to our high command in Delhi The Shiv Sena was not promised they were not keen to explore. before taking any decision.” the CM’s post for two-and-a- This was a clear message to The Congress high command over probe into death of sisters half years when the alliance was the BJP that it can form the gov- is, however, cautious on the bat- formalised before the Lok Sabha ernment, regardless of the BJP’s tle between the two parties, with polls.” support. This is coming in the leaders in Delhi saying that the IANS Central Bureau of Investigation hanan also visited the home as an emotional matter, as it in- Bhupendra Yadav, a close backdrop of the off er of support Sena may not take the extreme Palakkad probe. Social media too have ac- of the girls and said that it’s a volves two young kids and view aide of Home Minister and BJP by an independent legislator step of dumping the BJP. A senior cused Chief Minister Pinarayi shame that Kerala has a home this as a serious matter,” said president Amit Shah, fl ew in to Shankarrao Gadakh, backed by leader, speaking on the condition Vijayan’s government of infl u- minister like Pinarayi Vijayan. Behra. Mumbai to sit on the negotiat- the Nationalist Congress Party, of anonymity, revealed that there he National Commis- encing the probe. Even the girls’ “Everything in this case has Meanwhile, the mother of the ing table along with senior leader on Monday. The Sena, which won was “a back-channel delibera- sion for Scheduled Castes mother has said that the rul- been a goof-up right since the girls said: “Had this sort of en- Chandarkant Dada Patil. From 56 seats in the assembly elections, tion” with the Shiv Sena, but it T(NCSC) yesterday said it ing Communist Party of India incident took place. We have thusiasm been there after the the Sena’s side, Sanjay Raut and has claimed that its tally now has has not “kicked off ”. will summon Kerala’s chief sec- (Marxist) saved the accused. been raising this issue. A CBI incident took place, the accused Subhash Desai were tasked with reached 61 with the support of fi ve A Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress retary and state police chief over Speaking to reporters after probe has to take place,” said Be- would not have walked free. We the job. But now, in a brazen more legislators. The Sena is bar- combine is a scenario being the manner in which the case of visiting the home of the girls, hanan. want a CBI probe into this.” move which is seen as a retort gaining hard for an equal share in fl oated by some Congress leaders ‘death’ of two minor sisters was Murugan said it is very clear now Former state BJP president The case surfaced in January to Fadnavis’ statement, the Sena the power, which means an equal in Mumbai, but the party is wary handled. that the public prosecutor did and former governor Kum- 2017, when an 11-year-old girl’s has called off the meeting. number of ministries and the rota- about any such combinations. This was announced by L not co-ordinate with the mother manem Rajasekheran too visited body was found by her nine- Fadnavis’s statement, in tional chief minister’s post. The Congress will only move Murugan, vice-chairman of of the victims. girls’ house, and later said eve- year-old sister in her house in a turn, came against the back- As the deadlock continued, the ahead when Shiv Sena chief Ud- the NCSC who came to visit “The police never did a proper ryone who messed up the case village in Palakkad district. drop of a no-fi lter attack on the Congress said it could support dhav Thackeray leaves the BJP the home of the girls who were probe and there was no co-ordi- should be taken to task. Two months later, the young- BJP by Raut. He said yesterday: the Shiv Sena for government offi cially, a leader said. found hanging in their house in nation at all with the mother of State police chief Loknath Be- er girl was also found dead in her “There’s no Dushyant Chautala formation. With the Congress-NCP com- 2017. the kids. Hence both the chief hra told reporters that he is yet to home in similar circumstances. here whose father is in jail. We “We can think of supporting the bine ruling the state for 15 years The acquittal of three sus- secretary and the DGP (director get the October 25 order acquit- Though the police arrested do politics of truth in Maharash- Shiv Sena but Uddhav Thackeray before being swept out of power pects by a Palakkad court has general of police) will be sum- ting the suspects. three suspects, they were let tra. If someone tries to keep us has to decide fi rst on the issue ... in 2014, the Congress strategy triggered a huge public outcry moned,” he said. “We are waiting for it and I as- off last week by a court for lack away from power, it’s not called whether he wants to break away will also depend on the moves since last week and opposition The Congress-led United sure that after going through the of evidence as the prosecution politics of truth. We are seeing from the BJP or not,” party leader of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Congress and the Bharatiya Ja- Democratic Front convener and order, strict action will be taken failed to prove the case against what’s happening and how low Hussain Dalwai told IANS. whose party is the senior partner nata Party have demanded a Lok Sabha member Benny Be- if there are any lapses. I see this them. people can stoop.” Having come fourth with 44 in the state in terms of seats.

Toddler stuck in well found Assam CM fi rm on dead during rescue attempt two-child policy IANS be implemented and there is no Agencies the boy because of the rocky not called in. Guwahati question of any compromise,” Chennai ground. Stalin said the government has Sonowal said while speaking at Attempts to use robotic devic- the land profi les of each district, a function yesterday. es to lower ropes to latch onto the and whether the underground he Assam government’s State Finance Minister he body of a two-year-old boy’s wrist failed on Saturday. terrain was rocky or not must be recent announcement Himanta Biswa Sarma ac- boy trapped 26m down Politicians had started a vigil there in the records. Ton two-child policy cused Ajmal of provoking Ta well in Tamil Nadu for at the site and Prime Minister But it took three days for the seems to have stirred a hornet’s Muslims. more than three days was recov- Narendra Modi and Congress government to realise that the nest but Chief Minister Sarba- “Ajmal’s comment is in bad ered yesterday, authorities said. leader Rahul Gandhi off ered their underground terrain was rocky. nanda Sonowal said yesterday taste. He is in a way provok- Sujith Wilson was the second “prayers” in Twitter statements Telangana Governor Tamilisai the policy will be implemented ing Muslims to have more toddler in four months to grab as national attention focused on Soundararajan said the child’s and that there was no question children and continue to live nationwide attention after falling Tiruchirappalli. death has taught the world sev- of a compromise. in the cycle of poverty,” the into the 30cm diameter pipe while The death provoked anger in eral lessons. The Assam cabinet recently minister said. playing near his home in Tiruch- Wilson’s village of Nadukat- According to the offi cials, the decided to reserve government “Ajmal wants to keep Mus- irappalli district on Friday. tupatti, where villagers moni- well has been closed and the hole jobs in the state for those who lims poor. He indirectly wants “The body was retrieved using tored the rescue attempt and drilled near it to rescue the boy adhere to the two-child policy that these people must have special equipment and he was in later attended the boy’s funeral. would also be closed soon. – a part of the state’s new pop- more children and demo- a decomposed state,” district of- The boy’s family accused the It is the latest in a series of in- ulation policy which will bar graphically affect our land. fi cial S Sivarasu told journalists. state government of “negligent cidents involving children falling couples from having more than We have taken strong excep- A thermal camera had been behaviour” but offi cials said res- into disused wells in rural India. two children. tion to Ajmal’s comment,” used to monitor the child’s tem- cue teams made all possible ef- In June, a two year-old boy All India United Democratic said Sarma. perature while oxygen was sup- fort to pull the child out. died after spending four days Front chief and Lok Sabha MP Ajmal, a perfume baron plied through a pipe. In his condolence message, trapped inside one in Punjab. from Dhubri, Badaruddin Aj- and alumnus of Darul Uloom Rescuers said the toddler was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K In 2006 the rescue of a six- mal, said Islam did not permit Deoband, said: “We all know unconscious but breathing until Palaniswami said it was painful year-old made international the two-child norm. that Muslims are the deprived Sunday morning, but they had to hear about the death of the boy headlines when he was recov- The Congress had also op- lot under the BJP government. been unable to check his condi- despite the rescue eff orts. ered safely in Haryana after being posed the policy and said no- Their prospect for government tion since then as he had slipped Blaming the government for stuck in an 18m well for 48 hours. body can impose it in a democ- job is already bleak under the further down. reacting slowly in rescuing the The wells are very common racy. BJP rule. So, why should they Workers used an oil drill to dig boy, opposition Dravida Munne- across rural India as they are a But the chief minister was follow the two-child norm? a hole parallel to the well, but the tra Kazhagam president M K Sta- key source of water for farmers A man places flowers on the coff in of Sujith who died after getting fi rm. Our religion does not have rig broke down around 10m from lin wondered why the army was and domestic users. stuck in a borewell, in Trichy, yesterday. “The two-child policy will such a norm.” Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 23

LATIN AMERICA

APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT SURVEY DECISION WILDLIFE Argentina’s Grossi named $133mn aid pledged for Mexico economy ‘to grow Panama govt raises budget Amazon river dolphins head of UN nuke watchdog Venezuelan migrant crisis 0.2% in third quarter’ borrowing cap for 2019 threatened by pollution

Argentina’s Rafael Grossi was yesterday Approximately $133mn in additional aid for the Mexico’s economy is expected to have posted Panama’s government has decided to Amazon river dolphins are showing alarming elected head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog. Venezuelan migrant crisis has been pledged at a marginal growth in the third quarter, underlining borrow more funds this year than previously levels of contamination mainly because of Grossi beat Romanian diplomat Cornel conference in Brussels, reducing the shortfall in the challenge facing President Andres Manuel authorised, as President Laurentino Cortizo illegal panning for gold, conservationists say. Feruta to become director general of the United Nations-requested funds. Spain, the US, Lopez Obrador as Latin America’s second hopes to boost economic growth in the Central Researchers measured contamination levels in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Italy, Germany, Britain and Ireland all promised largest economy fails to pick up steam, a survey American nation. The plan was authorised 46 of these large freshwater creatures known for following the death of the former head more money, UN refugee commissioner Filippo showed. Gross domestic product growth in after Cortizo, who took off ice in July, argued long, bottle-like snouts in major basins of Brazil, Yukiya Amano of Japan in July. Grossi Grandi announced yesterday. These funds will Mexico is seen at 0.2% in the third quarter versus his administration inherited more public Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. All of them had some received 24 votes to Feruta’s 10 from the be mobilised in the coming days and weeks, EU the previous three-month period, in seasonally debt than anticipated, which forced him to degree of mercury contamination and in more IAEA’s 35-member board of governors in the foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, as adjusted terms, according to the median propose a bigger deficit. The plan will allow than half the level was high, said Marcelo Oliveira third official round of voting, reaching the well as 30mn euros more from the European forecast of 11 analysts and economists. The the government’s 2019 deficit to reach 3.5% of the Brazilian chapter of the World Wide Fund two-thirds majority needed to become the Union. The new pledges still leave a significant economy’s sluggish performance has dogged of gross domestic product, up from a 2% limit for Nature, one of several NGOs that carried out new director general. Grossi, who becomes gap in the UN’s request for $738mn for 2019. Lopez Obrador since taking off ice in December approved by lawmakers at the beginning of the the study. It said illegal gold panning, in which the first IAEA head from Latin America and is Mogherini and Grandi thanked host states for 2018. The poll forecasts no GDP growth in the year. The higher borrowing limit was proposed mercury is used to separate the precious metal believed to have had the backing of the US, the solidarity they have shown in taking in third quarter versus a year earlier and when by Cortizo’s finance ministry, and announced in from other minerals, is a real threat, especially in said he was “delighted”. Venezuelans. unadjusted for seasonal swings. a brief statement from the national assembly. the Orinoco River.

Bolivia opposition urged to Chile Cabinet back vote tally audit reshuffl e by AFP La Paz

olivia’s government yester- day invited defeated presi- Bdential candidate Carlos Pinera fails Mesa to take part in an audit of the hotly disputed election results that sparked more than a week of riots amid accusations of fraud fa- vouring the incumbent. President Evo Morales was re- elected in a controversial October to stop riots 20 vote that featured a sudden and unexplained vote tally shift that Reuters ly $400mn in damages. last week resembled similar benefi ted the 60-year-old social- Santiago Pilar Zofoli, a 30-year-old scenes around the world in re- ist leader. schoolteacher, said the violence cent months, with demonstra- “We’d like to ask Mesa, the los- and destruction to public spaces tors from Hong Kong to Barce- ing candidate, to submit to the au- ear gas lingered in the air and services was making life lona angry at ruling elites. dit that will be carried out by the in downtown Santiago miserable for Santiago’s working Firefi ghters late on Monday Organisation of American States,” Tyesterday as Chilean com- class. battled fl ames in a downtown Vice-President Alvaro Garcia told muters made their way to work “I support this cause, but I tower, home to a medical centre reporters. The government has following another night of fi re, don’t like the way things are go- and a popular hotel, not far from agreed to an OAS audit, although looting and riots, in a sign that ing,” she said. “In the end, this the iconic Santa Lucia hill. no start date for it has been an- a Cabinet reshuffl e by President aff ects us, not the rich.” Tourists had been evacuated nounced. Sebastian Pinera was still not With Pinera’s popularity at an from the hotel the previous week Dozens of people were injured enough. all-time low, Chileans on social amid the riots. in street battles between rival gov- Hooded vandals emerged sud- media once again called for an- A putrid blend of smouldering ernment and opposition support- denly late on Monday following a other round of marches fi re and tear gas hung heavily in ers on Monday as protests went largely peaceful day of protests, Many schools, shopping cen- the morning air hours later. into a second week. wreaking destruction on many tres and businesses closed early Many Chileans in business at- Opposition supporters set up downtown streets and sowing yesterday for fear of more vio- tire wore makeshift masks or wet road blocks and continued strike chaos amid a melee of fi re trucks, lence. towels over their faces as they action. In the eastern city of Santa protesters banging pots and Protests over a hike in metro headed to work. Cruz, one person suff ered a gun- heavy black smoke. fares spun out of control earlier Catalina Barrera, an 18-year- shot wound while fi st fi ghts broke Pinera’s newly appointed this month, prompting Pinera old high school student, said she out in La Paz, degenerating into spokeswoman Karla Rubilar con- to pledge worker-friendly social felt Pinera’s announcements had running battles among people demned the continuing violence, and economic reforms. missed the mark. The protests armed with sticks and stones. saying it did not refl ect the wish- The centre-right billionaire would go on, she said. Mesa and his allies — ranging es of the majority. has vowed to boost the mini- “If, after that massive march from the centre-left to the right — More than a million Chileans mum wage and pensions, lower on Friday, we get nothing but a are demanding the election results marched peacefully against in- the prices of medicines and pub- Cabinet change in which they be annulled while several foreign equality in Santiago last Friday. lic transport and assure proper continue to nominate more of the powers, including the European It was the largest protest since health insurance. same people, then violence is our Union and US, have called for a Chile’s return to democracy in Many have said the reforms are only option,” she told Reuters. run-off . 1990. still not enough. Students, unions and other so- Although he didn’t earn an ab- “We are talking about 6,500 Pinera on Monday replaced cial groups have joined the Chile solute majority in the fi rst round, people who think they can take eight members of his Cabinet, protests in massive numbers, yet Morales did garner a lead of more over Santiago, but we will fi nd including his interior and fi nance a leader or spokesperson has yet than 10 points over Mesa, and un- them,” Rubilar told reporters, ministers. to emerge. der Bolivian law that gave him an ruling out a return to a military- Chile, the world’s top copper Chile’s fractured opposi- outright victory. enforced state of emergency in producer, has long boasted one tion parties have supported the Otherwise there would have the capital. of Latin America’s most pros- demonstrations but have not led been a run-off next month. The continuing unrest in Chile perous and open free-market them, leaving a power vacuum Morales reached the crucial follows a week of riots, arson and economies. that has hindered negotiation. 10-point cushion in controversial protests over inequality that has A plummeting copper price Support for Pinera, mean- fashion on October 21 when his left at least 17 dead. and global trade tensions, how- while, has plunged to just 14%, lead suddenly jumped during the Thousands were arrested, pros- ever, have dragged on the export- the lowest approval rating for a ballot count — an incident that led ecutors said, and Chilean busi- oriented economy and exposed Chilean president since the re- the OAS to voice “surprise” and A demonstrator holding the Chilean national flag walks in front of a police vehicle during a protest in nesses lost more than $1.4bn. entrenched inequality. turn to democracy, a Cadem poll “concern.” Santiago. The city’s metro suff ered near- The protests that broke out showed.

Nowhere to go Argentine markets on edge Ecuador set to ship fi rst big copper export as Fernandez names team Reuters neighbouring the world’s No. 2 Melbourne copper producer Peru, has large mineral reserves but is only be- Reuters The group does not include until the new government starts ginning to develop industrial- Buenos Aires any economists, leaving up in on December 10. cuador plans to ship its scale mining projects. the air the key question investors “The only way to release mar- fi rst large copper cargo The highly conductive metal are asking, which is who will lead ket tension is to give a confi dence Ewithin weeks, a milestone is in demand for use in electric rgentina’s president-elect Fernandez’s economic team as boost with a credible economic in its ambitions to evolve from vehicles and renewable energy Alberto Fernandez has ap- the country’s grapples with cur- team and a preventive plan for exploration hotspot to copper technology, but big, new depos- Apointed a small transition rency and debt crises. negotiations with the IMF,” said exporter. its are rare. team until his government takes “Traders are sensitive and im- Siobhan Morden, managing di- The El Mirador copper mine, Canada’s Lundin Mining over in December, but fi nancial patient given the high vulner- rector of Amherst Pierpont Se- owned by a unit of the Chinese which is developing its Frute markets were left still on edge ability with the complex current curities. consortium CRCC-Tongguan, del Norte mine in the country’s with no clear sign yet of his picks scenario,” said Gustavo Ber, Bue- Argentine media has reported started operations in July but the south, will be the second of half for key economy roles. nos Aires-based senior econo- that Cafi ero could be in line to company imposed some restric- a dozen big projects, when it gets The country’s wobbly markets mist at Estudio Ber. be the Cabinet chief, while Pedro tions in October as a precaution- underway in two weeks time, he edged down yesterday, with the “They want him to defi ne is a potential interior minister. ary measure to protect workers said. peso weakening 0.33%, while things quickly, to allow them to Ibarra, who previously dated amid unrest over the govern- Ecuador has been reshaping over-the-counter bonds and the not only get past the electoral Fernandez, wrote a book called ment’s austerity plan. its investment environment for Merval stock index dipped. uncertainty but also make clear “Cristina vs Cristina” about his The company has resumed miners, including remapping its The black market peso howev- the future economic outlook.” now running mate. normal operations and was mining concessions, and plans er jumped with high month-end Fernandez and Macri met on Beliz served under former readying its fi rst shipment for to have a bidding process ready demand for local currency. Monday to discuss a transition of president Nestor Kirchner, dur- November 14, Vice Minister of by the third quarter of next year Moderate Peronist Fernandez, power as Fernandez looks set to ing whose administration Fern- Mines Fernando Benalcazar told centred on six highly prospective who won an election victory on take Argentina in a new direction andez was chief of staff . Reuters on the sidelines of the regions. Sunday, appointed a four-per- to the business-friendly reform Argentina’s sovereign dollar Imarc mining conference in Mel- The Opec nation, which has son team of confi dante Santiago agenda espoused by Macri, a bonds came under pressure ear- bourne. struggled with low oil prices in Cafi ero, “Kirchnerist” Eduardo staid former magnate with close lier yesterday, with the bench- “Initially we planned to have recent years, has been drumming de Pedro, former justice minister ties with the US. mark international 2028 dollar Migrants, most of them asylum seekers sent back to Mexico it done by the end of this month. up foreign investment to tap its Gustavo Beliz and former sena- Markets are closely watch- bond down 1.1 cents to 37.1 cents from the US under the “Remain in Mexico” programme They have already stockpiled big copper, gold and silver de- tor Vilma Ibarra to negotiate the ing for signals from Fernandez in the dollar, while the 2023 issue off icially named Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), wait 30,000 tonnes. It will be the fi rst posits. transfer of power with defeated about how closely he will work slipped 0.9 cents to 39.36 cents in in line to receive bottles of drinking water by a makeshift time we have a larger scale ex- It aims to more than double incumbent Mauricio Macri’s with Macri to smooth what has the dollar, according to Refi nitiv encampment in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. portation going out,” he said. the value of mining to its cash- team. potential to be a tricky transition data. Ecuador, an Andean country strapped economy by 2021. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 PAKISTAN China criticises

Prime Minister Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Pakistan leader’s recent visit to China, anti-Pakistan where the FATF also came up for discussion. blacklisted. rection. “We are working closely “China is willing to play a con- At the meeting, the FATF ex- on CPEC, and the issues of Kash- structive role for the peaceful pressed satisfaction over the mir and the FATF.” resolution of Kashmir issue,” he initiatives taken by and progress He welcomed the establish- said. shown by Pakistan in various ar- ment of the CPEC Author- The offi cial said during the last eas. ity (CPECA) by Pakistan, which fi ve years, many achievements On Pak-China ties, Yao said would help expedite work on had been made, with about 20 moves at FATF the bilateral relationship is at its CPEC projects. road infrastructure projects and best since Prime Minister Imran Responding to a question, the power generation plants com- Internews countries, which want to include States and India that we cannot China would also help Pakistan Khan visited Beijing thrice with- offi cial said that China had se- pleted under the CPEC. Beijing Pakistan in the blacklist. We con- do it. It goes beyond the purpose build its capacity to handle issues in a year, and had meetings with rious concerns over the India’s “Now we are working with the sider (them as having) political of the FATF,” Yao said. related to terror fi nancing. Chinese President Xi Jinping four move to revoke the autonomy of government of Pakistan on new designs. That is something China He added that the FATF was Yao said that instead of pres- times. Indian-administered Kashmir projects,” he said. eiterating its support to is against. China stands for jus- not meant to put any country in a suring it, FATF member coun- He said that Prime Minister on August 5, which he said even Yao added that in the next Pakistan at the Financial tice,” said Yao Wen, the deputy blacklist; rather, it is intended to tries should assist Pakistan to Khan’s latest visit to China was challenges Chinese sovereignty phase of the CPEC, there would RAction Task Force (FATF) director-general for policy plan- support a country to take action improve its system. a productive one, during which and interests. be focus on the establishment of platform, China has categori- ning at the Chinese ministry of against terror fi nancing. Besides China, a traditional he interacted with many heads of China, he said, had expressed special industrial zones, which cally announced that it does not foreign aff airs. Pakistan is eff ectively pursu- ally of Pakistan, Turkey and Ma- state. its strong position against India’s would create job opportunities want the forum to be politicised Speaking to a group of visiting ing its National Action Plan and laysia also supported the country Yao said that China and Paki- action. for local people, besides increas- as some countries were pursuing Pakistani journalists yesterday, China encourages it to act against at the FATF meeting held earlier stan are “all-weather” strategic Yao said that China has a clear ing exports, uplifting of social their political agenda in a bid to he said that China stands with terrorists and strengthen its fi - this month. partners, with close co-opera- position that the Indian-admin- economic and eliminating pov- blacklist Pakistan. Pakistan and would block any at- nancial system. According to the 36-member tion in multiple fi elds. istered Kashmir is a disputed ter- erty. “China does not want the tempt to include Pakistan in the “China will help [Pakistan] FATF’s charter, the support of at The China-Pakistan Economic ritory, adding that China does He said that China and Paki- FATF to be politicised by any FATF blacklist. technically and politically to im- least three countries is required Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese of- not back the unilateral action stan also has strong co-operation single country. There are some “We made it clear to the United prove its system,” Yao added. to keep any state from being fi cial said, is moving in right di- taken by India. in area of defence.

Media regulator in Sharif Traders strike over steps to boost tax revenue U-turn on curbs The Pakistan Electronic Media fi ghting Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has Reuters/Internews chanting slogans against the backtracked from its earlier curbs Islamabad/Karachi government held protests in on media, which barred TV talk for his life: cities across the country. show anchors from appearing on The government of Prime other similar programmes. arkets and many busi- Minister Imran Khan has made On Sunday the Pemra issued a doctor nesses closed across getting the economy back on notification banning regular TV MPakistan yesterday track its main priority. anchors from being guests on for a strike to protest against The fi scal defi cit has bal- other talk shows. AFP/Internews government measures aimed looned to about 7% of gross do- In its latest advisory, issued late Islamabad at meeting International Mon- mestic product and a balance of on Monday night, the regulatory etary Fund (IMF) demands to payments crisis is looming. authority said that there is no ban boost tax revenues to bolster Pakistan has long suff ered on the participation of journalists ormer Pakistan prime depleted public fi nances. from a weak tax base, with only in talk shows. minister Nawaz Sharif The IMF approved a $6bn about 1% of its 208mn popula- “There is no advisory to ban Fis “critically unwell”, his loan package for Pakistan in tion fi ling income tax returns participation of journalists in talk doctor said yesterday, days after July, but warned that it would and major industrial sectors shows. There is no restriction the three-time leader now serv- require ambitious fi scal meas- dominated by powerful lobbies on appearance of any number ing a prison sentence for cor- ures and a sustained commit- paying little or no tax. of anchors to do long duration ruption suff ered a minor heart ment to mobilise tax revenue to The agricultural sector, for group marathon transmission on attack. ensure funds for development example, dominated by po- a special current issue on their He is currently in hospital in while reducing debt. litically powerful landowners, channels while also taking other Lahore, where he is “critically The two-day strike is the makes up about 20% of the relevant guests where require/ unwell” and is “fi ghting the bat- second since July, called by economy but accounts for only possible,” the statement clarified. tle for his health & life”, his per- business groups after negotia- 0.22% of direct taxes, accord- The Pemra said that it did not sonal physician, Adnan Khan, tions with government on ef- ing to the World Bank. mean to restrict freedom of tweeted yesterday. forts to enforce the paying of The general secretary of A barber and his client are seen at a shuttered market in Lahore during the countrywide traders expression as “being projected” As his condition worsened, sales tax and catching tax dodg- the All Pakistan Association strike. by certain quarters. the Islamabad High Court eff ec- ers. of Traders (APTA), based in According to the Pemra’s earlier tively extended his bail for two “This taxation system ... will Lahore, said the government gering traders is a rule requir- has not responded. business community for nego- announcement, anchors are months yesterday to allow him bring death,” Atiq Mir, presi- risked enraging voters. ing anyone buying items worth “Why won’t they listen to tiations. liable to host the show impartially access to medical care. dent of the All Karachi Traders “This government has in- Rs50,000 ($315) or more to pro- us? We’ll protest, protest, and Sources said that traders and objectively without giving Sharif remains on a “stop list”, Alliance, told Reuters. creased infl ation, it has raised duce identity papers, a measure protest,” he said. “The future have been assured that their verdict on any issue. meaning he cannot leave the All major wholesale markets discount rates ... it has made the aimed at helping authorities of the trading community and issues will be resolved in the TV anchors who host regular country for the time being. in the commercial hub were life of the common man miser- track tax evaders. their children is at stake.” meeting. shows cannot participate as Members of Sharif’s Pakistan closed, along with most shop- able because of its economic Mir said traders had called Yesterday Adviser to the Traders are likely to meet an expert or commentator in Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- ping centres. policies,” Naeem Mir said. for the amount to be raised to Prime Minister on Finance Ab- an IMF delegation during the any other talk show, said the N) party meanwhile bristled at Traders holding banners and Among new measures an- Rs100,000 but the government dul Hafeez Sheikh invited the meeting as well. notification. the former premier’s treatment by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. “Sharif’s condition deterio- rated because of Imran Khan’s vengeance against the former Govt getting nervous as protest march heads to Islamabad prime minister. Let it be known to everyone that, God forbid, if something happens to Sharif, AFP/Internews Minister Imran Khan’s own being increased around main Khan will be responsible for the Islamabad party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e- government buildings and the consequences,” senior PML-N Insaf (PTI), in 2014. diplomatic enclave. leader Ahsan Iqbal told report- In 2014, the PTI “march” Authorities have already be- ers. he agreement between turned into a sit-in in front of gun sealing off the capital’s dip- In addition to the minor heart the Imran Khan govern- Parliament House on Constitu- lomatic enclave with shipping attack, Sharif has a low platelet Tment and opposition Ja- tion Avenue’s D-Chowk of the containers. count, both of which are being miat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazlur Red-Zone, and stayed put for A senior law enforcement further complicated by “deteri- (JUI-F) led by Maulana Fazlur over 140 days. offi cial also confi rmed the de- orating kidney functions”, phy- Rehman pertaining to the “Aza- The ruling party now fears a ployment of reinforcements. sician Adnan Khan said. di March”, aimed at staging a similar action by the JUI-F. Rehman has repeatedly He said that poor blood sugar mammoth protest in Islamabad, The sources said the govern- claimed that Prime Minister and blood pressure control was is reportedly in trouble. ment has provided the JUI-F Khan took power following taking its toll, adding that “es- Sources here say that tension enough grounds for reneging “rigged” polls in 2018, and is tablishing a defi nitive diagnosis is building up within the ranks on the agreement, allegedly to calling for fresh elections – but and subsequent management of the government as it is start- create justifi cation for the use of has remained vague about what poses considerable risk to #Na- ing to believe that once the JUI- force, but the opposition party tactics he and his supporters wazSharif’s fragile and unstable F marchers reach Islamabad, it has declined to commit and is will use once they arrive in the health”. would become all but impossi- expected to make up its mind capital. The 69-year-old former pre- ble to confi ne them to the pro- once the protest march reaches “The whole nation has de- mier, known as the “Lion of visions of the agreement. Islamabad. veloped a consensus that this Punjab”, was fi rst taken to hos- The sources said that the Government offi cials have is a fake government which pital last week when his blood government appears to be get- ordered additional security doesn’t enjoy the public’s man- platelet count dropped to dan- ting nervous now due to un- forces be deployed to Islama- date,” Rehman told thousands gerous levels. known reasons. bad, authorities confi rmed yes- of demonstrators in the central Hospital sources said the The JUI-F is unwilling to terday. city of Multan yesterday. former premier had lost close to comment on whether the party Islamabad police spokesper- Khan has labelled the march 7kg since he had been admitted plans to stick to, or renege on, son Zia Bajwa said extra police as an attempt to “blackmail” his in the hospital four days ago. the agreement when the march forces from across the coun- government and dismissed rec- Sharif is a political survivor reaches Islamabad tomorrow try are being deployed “at the onciling with Rehman, insisting who has repeatedly roared back This picture taken on Sunday shows supporters and activists of the JUI-F gathering in Multan for the start (October 31), at the stipulated main entry points” of the capi- the cleric has benefi ted from to the country’s top offi ce, un- of the anti-government ‘Azadi March’ towards Islamabad. place, a stunt pulled by Prime tal, adding that security is also large-scale graft for years. derscoring the unpredictable nature of Pakistani politics. He earned a reputation for combativeness during his two previous terms as prime minis- ter, from 1990 to 1993 – when Ex-premier Abbasi withdraws application for better prison facilities he was sacked, also on corrup- tion charges – and from 1997 to 1999, when he was deposed by Internews Abbasi had moved the appli- oven, a refrigerator, an air con- accountability judge Mohamed ties because he did not want to According to his medical re- the powerful military. Islamabad cation under rules 245 and 248 ditioner, a television, newspa- Bashir that he did not require bother the Punjab chief minister port, he is suff ering from hernia Sharif was elected for his third of the Pakistan Prison Rules, ar- pers, books and a bed at his own improved prison facilities and and the prime minister for B- pain, gallbladder pain and hy- term in 2013. guing that the non-provision of expense. would rather stay with the rest Class facilities. pertension. He blamed the security estab- ormer prime minister Sha- required facilities had aff ected However, when Abbasi was of the inmate population. Abbasi said he withdrew his The court extended Abbasi, lishment for again targeting him hid Khaqan Abbasi has his health, thereby violating Ar- produced before the account- Abbasi is on judicial remand request because he decided “not Ismail and a former Pakistan in 2017, when the Supreme Court Fwithdrawn an application ticles 9, 10 and 14 of the Consti- ability court by National Ac- during the investigation of the to create problems for them”. State Oil managing director’s disqualifi ed him from politics for seeking better prison facilities, tution. countability Bureau (NAB) pros- LNG Terminal case. Abbasi also told the judge that judicial remand for 14 days and life over graft allegations, which his counsels confi rmed yester- He had sought a prescribed ecutors alongside former fi nance He said that he wanted to sur- a medical board had recom- adjourned proceedings until he denies. day. diet, a toaster and microwave minister Miftah Ismail, he told render his right to better facili- mended he undergo surgery. November 11. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 25 PHILIPPINES

Duterte likely to push for ‘sea code’

By Catherine S Valente Manila Times

resident Rodrigo Duterte is expected to push for the Pcompletion of the long- delayed code of conduct in the South China Sea when he attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Thailand this week, the Depart- ment of Foreign Aff airs (DFA) has said. Foreign Aff airs Assistant Sec- retary Junever Mahilum-West said discussing the sea code was “unavoidable” because several members of Asean have confl ict- A resident walks past destroyed houses after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit Tulunan town, North A damaged local town hall is seen in Mabini, Davao Del Sur, after an earthquake struck yesterday, in ing claims over the disputed wa- Cotabato province, on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday. this picture obtained from social media. ters. “I think it will be featured in the discussions. It’s unavoid- able. In the meetings of the leaders, they will have a tour of the horizon of what’s happen- ing throughout the region,” Ma- hilum-West told reporters. “So, it will be discussed there Death toll rises to seven after and then I think we could expect the countries to give their posi- tions,” she added. With the Philippines as co- ordinator of the Asean-China dialogue partnership until 2021, Mahilum-West said Duterte was southern Philippines quake “expected to say something” about the issue during the re- zTemblor leaves cracks in gional summit. buildings, disrupts power The sea code was among the supply maritime issues raised by Duterte z People scramble for open when he fl ew to China in August spaces, some faint in fear z this year after complaining about Disaster off icials monitor the delay in negotiations. situation as reports trickle in In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Duterte Reuters cited the need to fi nish the code Manila of conduct, saying it would help resolve numerous confl icts. Xi agreed and expressed hope he death toll from a that the code would be crafted strong earthquake in the within the last remaining years Tsouthern Philippines has of Duterte. risen to seven, disaster and po- In 2017, China and Southeast lice offi cials said yesterday, as Asian countries with confl ict- aftershocks continued to jolt ing maritime claims agreed to many parts of Mindanao. start talks on a sea code, seen to The 6.6 magnitude quake replace the non-binding 2002 hit early yesterday, damaging Declaration on the Conduct of buildings, toppling power lines Parties in the South China Sea. and triggering landslides in the Asean member-states had central area of the Philippines’ committed to “exercise self-re- southern island. straint” in the conduct of activi- A seven-year-old child and ties in the disputed waters and to his 44-year old father were “avoid actions that may further among those who were killed complicate the situation.” in the North Cotabato province Medical workers and residents evacuate patients to a safe place outside the hospital after an earthquake hit Makilala town, North Cotabato, on the southern island of Mindanao. Meanwhile, Presidential As- after they were struck by a boul- sistant on Foreign Aff airs Robert der, disaster offi cials said. Reuters, as he recalled seeing yards, Espadera said. In Mag- Mediterranean Seismological Earthquakes are common in power cuts in nearby General Borje said the Philippine delega- Authorities said the death toll collapsed homes and demol- saysay town in Davao del Sur Centre, was the second power- the Philippines, which is on the Santos city, media said. tion expects Duterte to attend all could rise further because many ished buildings in the province, province, rescuers were trying ful quake to strike Mindanao in geologically active Pacifi c Ring Some schools in the area have meetings during the regional injured were not immediately including schools. to recover three bodies after two weeks. of Fire. Power cables swayed suspended classes. Duterte’s of- bloc’s event in Thailand. brought to hospitals. Smaller tremors rattled nerv- landslides in two separate towns Authorities had fl agged the in Davao city, the home town fi ce has called for calm as it mo- But if the president decides to “It was depressing to see the ous residents throughout the swallowed parts of agricultural risk of landslides after the of President Rodrigo Duterte, bilised all government agencies skip a meeting, Borje said For- damage left by the earthquake,” day and those who were afraid areas, police said. The quake, 6.3 quake on Oct 16 in central where people rushed to open to undertake damage assess- eign Aff airs Secretary Teodoro Abril Espadera, a disaster of- to return to their homes set whose magnitude was initially Mindanao that killed seven and spaces, and some fainted out of ment and to co-ordinate rescue Locsin Jr would represent the fi cial in North Cotabato, told up tents to shelter near school put at 6.7 by the European- injured more than 200. fear. The quake also triggered and relief operations. Philippines instead. Sugar farmers seek resignation Palace warns service providers of of regulatory agency chief ‘drastic action’ over water crisis By Eugene Y Adiong and an ARB owns fi ve hectare of sugar industry and “sugar liber- Manila Times/Bacolod City sugar land or less. “Serafi ca can’t alisation will cause unemploy- By Catherine S Valente started implementing rota- make a stand. It seems he can- ment and economic dislocation Manila Times tional water interruptions on not defend the sugar industry,” for these workers.” October 24 because of the re- arious groups of sugar Toreja said. The labour leaders urged the ceding water level in the An- farmers and workers have He said as head of SRA, Sera- country’s economic managers to resident Rodrigo Duterte gat Dam.In March this year, Vjoined calls demanding fi ca has not fully implemented call for a consultation of indus- may take “drastic action” Duterte castigated officials of for the resignation of Herminig- the Sugar Industry Develop- try stakeholders before pushing Pagainst water conces- the MWSS, Manila Water and ildo Serafi ca as head of the Sug- ment Act. “He has fully imple- through with the proposed lib- sionaires if they fail to resolve Maynilad because of the wa- ar Regulatory Administration mented the educational scholar- eralisation. the water crisis in Metro Manila ter shortage gripping parts of (SRA). ships and farm to market roads Tatak Kalamay, a national and nearby provinces, Malaca- Metro Manila and Rizal prov- Farmers, workers and agrar- programmes of the law. But the group of sugar industry stake- nang has warned. ince. Duterte had claimed that ian reform benefi ciaries (ARBs) agency is lacking the implemen- holders, has not made a categor- Palace spokesman Salva- the officials knew about the are dismayed over the continued tation in terms of farm mecha- ical stand calling for the resigna- dor Panelo reiterated Duterte’s problem leading to the water silence of Serafi ca and Agricul- nisation, research and social tion of Serafi ca. warning to the Metropolitan shortage but they did not re- ture Secretary William Dar on credit,” Toreja added. Raymond Montinola the Waterworks and Sewerage Sys- solve it to prevent it from hap- the proposed liberalisation of He said many sugar farms are groups spokesman, said they tem (MWSS) and water conces- pening. the sugar industry in the Philip- now being converted into com- have “no stand yet as of now be- sionaires Manila Water Com- In May, the president also pines. mercial or residential land. cause we need to get consensus pany Inc. and Maynilad Water questioned the concession Arnel Toreja, president of “Sugar liberalisation will has- nationwide from our other af- Services Inc to “shape up or agreement with a water com- both the Luzon Federation of ten the land conversion rate,” fi liates.” ship out.” pany, which he did not identi- Sugar Planters and Batangas Toreja said. “We continue to demand, “I suppose the fact that they A boy receives a free water container from the local government fy, as it bound the government Sugar Planters Integrated Multi Winnie Sancho, convener however, for the SRA and De- have not undertaken correc- of Mandaluyong City, a day after Manila Water and Maynilad to the deal until 2070. Purpose Cooperative, said 90% of the Save the Sugar Indus- partment of Argriculture (DA) tive measures that will prevent announced the rotational water interruption in Metro Manila due Meanwhile, Panelo denied of sugar farm lands in the coun- try Movement, said there were to make a stand on sugar import the evolution of this upcoming to low water supply from Angat Dam. claims that the water service try are owned by small farmers about 840,000 workers in the liberalisation,” Montinola said crisis again would be a factor interruptions were being used that would make the president out,” he said. Panelo made the a shortage. Do not pass the bur- to push forward the deal with decide on drastic action against statement after Sen. Christo- den to the people. You entered China to construct the con- them,” Panelo said in a news pher Lawrence “Bong” Go and into that business, you should troversial Kaliwa Dam. Labour dept reminds employers on pay rules for holidays briefi ng. Panelo said the MWSS other senators sought account- have an answer for that. You He said if the investigation and the two water concession- ability from the two water con- should have not signed the con- concluded that the project The Department of Labour and Employment to observe proper pay rules, saying that voluntary aires failed to undertake meas- cessionaires servicing Metro tract if you cannot comply with would do citizens more harm (DoLE) reminded private sector employers to compliance with labour laws, including payment of ures to improve supply and Manila, as residents suff er from (your commitment) to supply than good, the government observe proper payment of wages for workers on correct wages on holidays, is good for business. avert another crisis. a new wave of service interrup- water,” Go said in a statement. could scrap the deal. regular and special non-working holidays in Novem- For employees who will not work on November 1 He added that Duterte might tions. “The president should have “If the findings show that it ber, Manila Times reported. and 2, the “no work, no pay” policy shall apply, un- seek accountability from the Go, the president’s former those (concession agree- is indeed disadvantageous and Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd yesterday less there is a favourable company policy, practice water concessionaires or even aide, said he would suggest to ments) reviewed. I will sug- against the people there, it can issued Labour Advisory 11 enumerating the correct or collective bargaining agreement granting pay- revoke their contracts. Duterte to review the contracts gest to the president to review be rescinded,” Panelo said. pay rules for November 1 and 2, which were de- ment on a special day. For work done during special “Well, the message again is of Maynilad and Manila Water, the contracts that are not in The dam contract was signed clared special non-working holidays, and November days, the workers shall be paid an additional 30% of shape up or ship out. That has noting that these private fi rms favour of our countrymen,” he when Chinese President Xi 30, a regular holiday. Bello reminded employers their daily rate on the first eight hours of work. always been the message of the were penalising consumers. added. Jinping visited the country in President. If you can’t do it, get “I do not believe that there is Maynilad and Manila Water November 2018. Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Qatar reiterates call for unconditional EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka dialogue with blockade countries Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko QNA New York P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] atar has renewed the call for 44350478 (News), unconditional dialogue with the blockade countries to 44466404 (Sport), Qresolve the fabricated crisis, 44466636 (Home delivery) stressing the failure of these countries to provide any evidence of their claims. 44350474 Qatar has also reiterated that these facebook.com/gulftimes countries’ insistence on imposing illegal unilateral measures and unfair blockade twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar contradicts the eff orts led by the United Nations in the fi eld of preventive diplomacy and the promotion of peaceful resolution of disputes, and that these illegal actions constitute a fl agrant GULF TIMES violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and human rights. This came in a statement delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of Lagarde at the helm Qatar to the UN, ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani at the “The Situation in the Middle East, of ECB: Growing Including the Palestinian Question” debate held at the UN Security Council meeting. challenges on all sides HE Sheikha Alya stated that the gravity of the situation in the Middle East and the increasing Neither trained as an economist, nor experienced as a and complexity of crises make central banker, 63-year-old Christine Lagarde starts as respect for the international law, international humanitarian law and the European Central Bank’s fi rst female president on the international human rights law November 1. irreconcilable, calling on the Security As the former French fi nance minister as well as Council to shoulder its responsibility International Monetary Fund managing director takes and to take the necessary measures to stop the violations and alleviate over from Mario Draghi, the outlook for the 19-nation tensions that have only had more HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN, ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani. eurozone is going from bad to worse. Figures are due to catastrophic effects on international show the euro area’s worst economic performance since peace and security. Middle East gives the international Qatar’s allocation this year of $480mn to against Tripoli and the targeting of the The ambassador added that the system the responsibility to end the strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s internationally recognised legitimate 2013 and infl ation slipping further from the ECB’s goal. insistence on imposing unilateral tragedy of the Palestinian people and budget and provide humanitarian needs government threaten the national unity With a manufacturing slump threatening to spill over illegal measures and unfair blockade enable them to get their rights and in the Gaza Strip. and stability of Libya. into services, euro-area growth was probably just 0.1% in on Qatar after more than two years of achieve their legitimate aspirations. This allocation contributed to the She renewed Qatar’s call for all actors the fabrication of the crisis and the She added that after testing several increase in the production of the Gaza to assume their responsibilities and the third quarter. France is cooling, while Italy’s economy crime of electronic piracy of Qatar solutions that did not lead to the goal Power Plant with the support of fuel respect the will of the Libyan people is predicted to have stagnated. Germany is likely in a News Agency in order to justify the that the UN Council and the world seek, supply, which made a diff erence in the for a peaceful solution, warning that technical recession. campaign of disinformation and stressing that it has been confi rmed that status of electricity, she added. the intervention in the Libyan aff airs Adding to the problems, the ECB got a warning last extortion against Qatar, contradicts the settlement of the Palestinian issue She also noted Qatar’s support for UN increases the complexity of the crisis, the efforts led by the United Nations will be achieved only according to the temporary employment programmes prevents reaching a national consensus week that faith in its ability to maintain price stability in the field of preventive diplomacy criteria and foundations agreed upon by in the Gaza Strip, stressing that it and contradicts Security Council is waning. In its survey of professional forecasters, the and the promotion of the peaceful the international community, namely will continue to work with partners resolutions. outlook for longer-term core infl ation was cut to 1.6%. resolution of disputes, stressing the ending of the Israeli occupation in the international community She also renewed Qatar’s full support that such illegal actions constitute a of Palestinian and Arab territories, to push forward all eff orts to find for the Special Representative of the The ECB aims to keep the headline rate – seen at 0.7% in flagrant violation of the Charter of the including the occupied Syrian Golan a comprehensive, just and lasting Secretary-General for Libya Ghassan October – below, but close to, 2%. United Nations, international law and and Lebanese territories, the acceptance solution to the Palestinian cause and to Salame’s eff orts. Lagarde comes to the human rights. of a two-state solution and the achieve stability and peace in the entire Regarding Yemen, she reiterated She added that what confi rms the bad establishment of an independent and region. Qatar’s assertion that ending the Euro-area helm of the ECB against intentions behind the imposition of the viable State of Palestine on the 1967 Regarding Syria, HE Sheikha Alya confl ict requires the engagement of the backdrop of a global blockade and campaign of incitement as borders, with East Jerusalem as its reiterated Qatar’s call for a political all parties in a dialogue to achieve growth is seen economy badly in need of well as the attempts to off end Qatar, is a capital, living side by side with Israel in solution to the crisis in Syria, and said a political solution and national treatment. failure for the blockade countries. peace and security. that the brotherly Syrian people are reconciliation, based on UN Security at just 0.1% HE Sheikha Alya al-Thani explained She underlined the need for this still looking for their right to security, Council Resolution 2216, to preserve The IMF has lowered its that Qatar, in order to ensure the solution to be in line with the relevant peace and a decent life through a Yemen’s unity and achieve its security in the third growth forecasts yet again. security and stability of the region Security Council resolutions and the political solution that meets their and stability. Global output is projected which is of great importance to the Arab Peace Initiative, and the need legitimate aspirations in accordance She also expressed Qatar’s support quarter world, and in line with its well-known for the return of refugees, halting with the Declaration of Geneva and for the eff orts of the Special Envoy of to rise by just 3% this year policy of respect for international settlement, dismantling Israeli the Security Council Resolution 2254, the Secretary-General, stressing the (down from the 3.3% predicted in the spring) and by a law and the resolution of disputes by settlements in the occupied territories, affi rming in this context Syria’s national urgent need to secure the basic needs still-sluggish 3.4% (down from 3.6%) in 2020. Economic peaceful means specifi ed by the Charter and lifting the siege on the Gaza and regional unity, sovereignty and of all Yemenis, facilitate the arrival of of the United Nations, continued to Strip and the rest of the Palestinian independence. humanitarian assistance and protect momentum is fading almost everywhere — the IMF calls affi rm its readiness to resolve the crisis territories. She expressed Qatar’s aspiration at human rights. it a “synchronised slowdown.” through unconditional dialogue based Qatar, she said, has not stood idly out this stage to complete the steps towards Concluding the statement, HE The revised outlook is already the weakest since the on mutual respect, and in this context, of its concern towards achieving peace starting the work of the Constitutional Sheikha Alya said that the challenges reiterated Qatar’s appreciation for the and stability in the Middle East, and has Committee and realising the facing the region as a result of policies crash 10 years ago. sincere eff orts of the Amir of Kuwait continued tireless and concrete eff orts expectations placed upon it, reiterating based on disrespect for international Draghi pushed the interest on bank deposits well below Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al- amid the obstacles facing the peace Qatar’s continued support to all eff orts will and disregard for international zero, buying €2.6tn worth of assets, mostly government Sabah. process. aimed at removing obstacles to peace law require eff ective and speedy action On the Palestinian issue, HE Sheikha HE Sheikha Alya also drew attention to and a political solution based on UN and to stop those policies and hold those bonds. He has credited this policy with averting defl ation Alya said that the international the eff orts exerted by Qatar to alleviate the legal references. responsible accountable, in line with in the eurozone and helping create 11mn jobs. community’s assertion that ending the humanitarian situation and the positive About the situation in Libya, she the purposes and objectives of the But more than a third of the ECB’s Governing Council Arab-Israeli confl ict is a prerequisite impact of those eff orts in easing tension said that the continuation of the Charter and in a manner that maintain opposed a decision to resume bond purchases at for restoring stability and peace in the towards achieving peace, referring to military operations launched by militias international peace and security. the September meeting, and policymakers from the Netherlands, France and Germany took the unusual step of making their disagreement public. Draghi will be known for his “whatever it takes” approach to save the euro during the global fi nancial crisis. But some 95% of respondents in a Reuters poll said the stimulus package would not signifi cantly help in bringing infl ation back to the ECB’s target of just under 2%. Turmoil within the ECB is likely to persist, and Lagarde will have to deal with objections that the ultra-easy policy hurts savers, squeezes banks and pension funds and infl ates fi nancial bubbles while doing little for infl ation. Given the ECB’s depleted arsenal and growing aversion against further action, Lagarde may fi nd herself following Draghi’s lead of encouraging European governments to add some of their fi repower. Lagarde brings a diff erent skill set than her predecessors. Draghi’s successor (a former member of the French national team for synchronised swimming) is going to synchronise all her political and technocratic skills to steer European monetary policy toward growth – in spite of bureaucracy, nationalism and populism – with a long- term vision.

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© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Wednesday, October 30, 2019 27 COMMENT Which wealth tax?

By Michael Spence return on investment down to 7%, valuable companies (and deserve Milan amounting to a 30% tax on investment to be wealthy) would abandon their returns, to be paid when those returns eff orts if they knew that their after- are converted into income. However, tax wealth would be reduced from, roposals for a broad tax the same tax on a 5% pre-tax return say, $12bn to $8bn? The fact is that on wealth are not new, but would be equivalent to a 60% tax, incremental wealth gains at the level they are receiving renewed whereas on a 20% pre-tax return, being discussed (above $1bn) have little Pattention in the United it would be equivalent to a 15% tax. to do with consumption and lifestyle. States. Steadily increasing income That is a very big diff erence. As these They are signals of success and status. and wealth inequality has raised examples show, when a wealth tax is A wealth tax would adjust the scales, social and ethical concerns, even held constant, the magnitude of the but it would not change the overall among a subset of the wealthy. This tax on investment returns declines rankings. trend, along with declining social proportionately as the pre-tax return Finally, some contend that they mobility, is contributing to political increases. should be able to keep all their wealth polarisation, which in turn leads to Moreover, wealthy individuals because they earned it on their own. poor and erratic policy choices. And generally have access to a broad But this argument ignores reality: we know from history that rising range of asset classes, many of them anyone who succeeds in America is a inequality and intensifying social illiquid. Owing to various regulatory benefi ciary of a broader system that and political polarisation can lead restrictions and the illiquidity aff orded them the means and the to more dramatic and even violent premium, the pre-tax returns on these opportunity to do so. outcomes. asset classes tend to be higher. In this As debates over inequality have Fortunately, there is a growing case, a wealth tax of 2% on assets of gained steam, an influential group body of fi rst-rate research on the $500mn and of 3% on assets of $1bn of wealthy individuals has emerged magnitude, dimensions, history, and (as under Warren’s proposal) would to advocate a moderate wealth tax, trajectories of income and wealth not be all that high. A benchmark of provided that it is deployed in such inequality. If there is growing demand $500mn would not limit most peoples’ a way as to expand opportunities for some type of tax-policy response capacity to spend, and would leave available to the bottom 50% to the problem, we have ways to them free to invest in higher-return of earners. There is legitimate determine which measures would liquid assets for which the implied disagreement about whether this is be most eff ective, depending on the incremental tax on investment returns best done through a direct transfer of specifi c objective. would be relatively low. income to lower-income households, Listening to the contenders for There is another important point to or through an expansion of publicly the Democratic Party’s presidential consider: under the current system, funded social services focused nomination, it would seem that the eff ective tax on investment income on educational and employment diff erent wealth-tax proponents declines substantially as the deferral options. have quite diff erent objectives period increases. Wealthy individuals That is an important debate to have, indeed. Bernie Sanders, who has who have created valuable companies Elizabeth Warren wants to tax wealth to pay for an ambitious expansion of social security and other services. but it is a separate issue. In any case, said, “Billionaires should not exist,” tend to hold on to the stock, and the current proposals for a moderate seems to regard extreme inequality can defer realisation of capital gains Clearly, deferral has a very large current value, perhaps with a modest Still, those who oppose a new wealth wealth tax deserve serious attention. as off ensive in and of itself. But for long periods of time – or even eff ect on eff ective tax rates. It also discount for more recent investments. tax off er several arguments against it. There may be better and worse ways to others focus more on what inequality indefi nitely if they donate the assets. happens to be the normal practice And taxes on investment returns would One – the foot-in-the-door argument address the catastrophic distributional means for those in the bottom half or If, for example, the tax on realised among the wealthy and the moderately continue to be levied on realised gains. – holds that once a wealth tax is trajectory of the US economy. But the two-thirds of the income and wealth investment income is 30%, the pre- well off (say, the top 5%). A wealth tax, Given that a wealth tax is less enacted, it will rise over time. But the absolute worst option is to do nothing. distribution. Elizabeth Warren, for tax return on assets is 15%, and the however, is harder to defer, because deferrable, and that its impact depends downward trajectory of income-tax – Project Syndicate example, wants to tax wealth to pay realisation of gains is deferred for 25 holding on to a large collection of (inversely) on pre-tax returns, it rates in the US in recent decades does for an ambitious expansion of social years, the eff ective tax on investment assets that have no realised market stands to reason that a modest wealth not seem to support this argument. zMichael Spence, a Nobel laureate security and other services. returns comes to only 10.5%. The value is not easy. tax would lead to only a slightly A second claim is that productivity, in economics, is Professor of Economics A wealth tax is essentially a levy that 25-year deferral reduces the tax rate to In practice, then, a wealth tax higher implied eff ective tax rate on growth, and jobs will suff er. But are at New York University’s Stern School reduces investment returns. A 3% tax one-third of its value and allows for a would likely be levied on something investment returns than under the we really supposed to believe that of Business and Senior Fellow at the on wealth would bring a 10% pre-tax near-doubling of after-tax assets. approximating an asset’s actual current system. entrepreneurs who have created highly Hoover Institution.

The ‘VIP packages’ enticing Vietnamese to UK Three-day forecast end,” Chung Pham, who works with the family paid $17,500 to get him there often forced to work to pay for the next TODAY AFP Maximum Temperature : 350c Nghe An, Vietnam Locate International, a UK-based group via Russia. The fi nal instalment was due stage of the trip, and face being caught by that helps to fi nd missing Vietnamese on arrival in Britain. police or border agents. Minimum Temperature : 290c migrants in Britain said. But Tiep’s family never heard from They work as cooks, factory workers THURSDAY or up to $50,000, Vietnamese Once in the UK, they are even him again. or market vendors. Some, including Maximum Temperature : 340c migrants can get the “VIP provided with Vietnamese lawyers and They didn’t pay for the fatal truck minors, are forced into sex work, Minimum Temperature : 280c package” to Britain – fl ight, fake translators in the event they are caught journey – the smuggler has since according to a report by Anti-Slavery FRIDAY passport and even a lawyer – by police. disappeared – but his family still owe the International, ECPAT UK and Pacifi c Maximum Temperature : 320c F Minimum Temperature : 260c illegal, but billed as safer than cheaper “It shows you how organised and bank $4,300. Links Foundation. systematised they are,” Pham said. “If I knew he was going to get on that Many migrants are duped by overland routes by people smugglers Fisherman's forecast who provide a menu of options for those Britain has long been a prime lorry, I would have never let him go,” his smugglers into believing the journey trying to reach the UK. destination for Vietnamese migrants stricken mother said. ahead will be cushy if they pay enough. WARNING Despite the promises, VIP packages “These people take big risks,” said Inshore : Nil Details of well-oiled smuggling routes thanks to well-entrenched criminal spanning Vietnam to Europe have come networks off ering work – though often will only get migrants as far as France or a Vietnamese man who worked with Offshore : Nil under renewed scrutiny after 39 people at lower salaries than promised. Belgium, common entry points into the cannabis farmers in the UK before WEATHER were found dead in a truck in Britain. The poor central provinces of Vietnam UK. recently returning. Inshore : Misty at places at first becomes relatively hot Initially identifi ed as Chinese, many are riddled with people smugglers and Regardless of their journeys from “They can’t check the promises of daytime with scattered are now believed to be Vietnamese after brokers with underground contacts Vietnam, migrants have few choices traffi ckers, they just believe them,” he clouds and chance families came forward saying they feared stretching across the world. beyond hiding in containers to cross the said, requesting anonymity. of rain at places by afternoon their relatives were in the refrigerated Families sell land or take on huge English channel. For many, the shot at a new life is Offshore : Misty at first and scat- trailer. loans for the journeys, believing the The people found in the truck last irresistible. tered clouds The nature of their journey depends investment will eventually pay itself back week were likely a mix of VIP and That’s what drove Nguyen Van Hung WIND Inshore : Southeasterly-North- on how much money their families can several times over. regular passengers, said Pham, based on overseas in 2018, paying smugglers easterly 05-15 KT stump up. The family of Hoang Van Tiep believes information she received about the fees $17,000 for a new passport and a fl ight Faster, comfortable and supposedly he was one of the 39 who died in the they paid. to Russia. Offshore : Southeasterly-North- easterly 03-12/17 KT safer, the “VIP package” goes for as truck in Britain. For those without the cash, or credit The family secured a loan from the much as $50,000 – compared to around Smugglers promised them that access to secure VIP trips, journeys are state-run credit fund to help him leave, Visibility : 4-8/3 KM $15,000 for so-called “grass” overland $13,000 would secure his safe passage for often longer – and riskier. telling the bank they planned to start a journey, according to several experts AFP the fi nal leg of his journey from France “With the ‘peasant’ route you will peanut-growing business. Offshore : 1-3/4 FT From there he made his way to France spoke to. into the country. travel all the way either on foot or in a Around the region The VIP deal off ers travel documents “I heard he would go on a VIP route, lorry through the forest and it will take – his family doesn’t know how – and Weather and fl ights to Europe, often to France, in a four-seater car. But they lied to us,” you months,” Pham said. called a few weeks ago to ask his mum to Weather tomorrow Max/min Germany or Spain, before the fi nal the 18-year-old’s mother Hoang Thi Vietnamese smugglers call these low- get some more money together for the today Max/min M Sunny 26/14 passage into the UK. Ai said from their home in Dien Thinh fare options “grass” packages, which fi nal leg of the trip. Baghdad P Cloudy 27/15 Sunny 30/19 “They put you in contact directly with commune in central Nghe An province. often start in Russia or China. “We haven’t heard from him since,” Kuwait City P Cloudy 28/22 Sunny 33/27 a group in France that helps you at that Tiep had lived in France for a year – Making their way westward, they are his mother Nguyen Van Hung said. Manama Sunny 34/28 Muscat I T Storms 31/25 P Cloudy 31/24 Tehran S Showers 18/09 Sunny 19/11 Live issues Widely-used healthcare algorithm racially biased

By Linda Carroll In concrete terms, “the top 3% of the study team notes. also fi x bias: by paying close attention Reuters Health patients in terms of algorithm risk Obermeyer and his colleagues aren’t to the technical choices we make when score are auto-identifi ed for enrolment disputing the need for software to building algorithms, choices that are in high-risk care management discover the sickest patients. They are grounded in awareness of the deep Around the world widely used healthcare programmes – this doesn’t guarantee concerned that the algorithms currently social and historical inequalities that Weather Weather algorithm that fl ags patients they get in, but it’s a bit like a fast track,” in use are emphasising the wrong factors shape the data,” Obermeyer said. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min at high risk of severe illness Obermeyer explained. in their calculations. The researchers have highlighted Athens M Sunny 26/16 Showers 22/16 Aand targets them for extra But the problem with the algorithm “This is obviously a critical activity the error of “using cost as a surrogate Beirut Sunny 25/20 Sunny 24/20 attention has an unintentional built-in examined by Obermeyer and his for our health system to be doing – we marker for who has poor health and Bangkok P Cloudy 34/23 M Cloudy 33/23 bias against black patients, a new study colleagues is its use of healthcare want algorithms to help predict who who needs most to have healthcare Berlin M Sunny 09/-2 P Cloudy 08/-2 fi nds. expenditures, rather than actual medical gets sick, and to help us prevent illness services wrapped around them,” said Dr Cairo Sunny 28/18 Sunny 28/17 After examining the records of 6,079 data, to identify the sickest patients. before it happens,” Obermeyer said in an Cardinale Smith, an associate professor Cape Town M Sunny 18/12 Cloudy 21/13 black and 43,539 white patients through As it turns out, although healthcare e-mail. “But we want the algorithms to of medicine at the Icahn School of Colombo T Storm 28/24 S T Storms 28/24 the lens of the software tasked with providers are spending about the same do that in a fair way.” Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York Dhaka P Cloudy 31/23 M Sunny 31/23 identifying those at highest risk of serious amount of money caring for black and When they were done with their City and director of quality for cancer Hong Kong M Cloudy 26/21 M Cloudy 25/22 illness, researchers determined that the white patients, African-Americans are analysis, Obermeyer and his colleagues services at Mount Sinai Health System. Istanbul P Cloudy 21/13 M Cloudy 19/14 algorithm was more likely to fl ag white generally less likely to seek care in the approached the company that created “When you use this surrogate marker, Jakarta P Cloudy 34/24 I T Storms 34/25 patients for extra medical attention than earlier stages of illness – when costs of the algorithm and suggested changes you are creating a bias against racial and Karachi Cloudy 33/25 M Sunny 33/25 blacks who were just as sick. providing care would be relatively low – be made to remove the inadvertent bias ethnic minorities who don’t always get London M Cloudy 12/07 S Showers 11/08 The study results were published in and more likely to run up a big bill near and better identify patients at risk of care for the diseases they have and so tend Manila S T Storms 32/26 P Cloudy 33/26 Science. the end of life, when chronic conditions becoming severely ill. to present later in the illness,” Smith said. Moscow S Showers 01/-4 Cloudy -1/-4 “This family of algorithms operates have resulted in very sick patients. “The manufacturer independently “If you take the example of cancer, we New Delhi Cloudy 32/19 Sunny 33/20 behind the scenes at nearly every health “Black patients generate very diff erent replicated our analyses on its national know minority patients (are less likely to) New York S Showers 19/17 Rain 22/12 system in the US, said lead author Dr kinds of costs,” the researchers write. “For dataset of 3,695,943 commercially get the standard of care compared to their Paris Cloudy 11/08 Showers 13/09 Ziad Obermeyer of the University of example, fewer inpatient and outpatient insured patients,” the researchers non-minority counterparts.” Sao Paulo M Sunny 32/21 M Sunny 32/20 California, Berkeley, School of Public specialist costs, and more costs related to write. Since then, the company and the And that means minority patients Seoul Sunny 17/04 Sunny 22/07 Health. “They are used to screen emergency visits and dialysis.” researchers have been working together may cost the system less for years, Singapore S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 millions of patients for important The reasons for that disparity are to root out biases in the software. but there is a big price tag at the end Sydney P Cloudy 25/16 M Sunny 25/17 decisions – like who gets extra help with complicated and include a distrust of the “Our results show that, while there when the patients are very sick, Smith Tokyo Clear 22/12 Clear 23/14 managing their chronic illnesses.” medical system by African-Americans, is enormous scope for harm, we can explained. Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 QATAR

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurated Qitcom 2019, organised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications under the theme ‘Safe and Smart Cities’. His Highness the Amir toured the exhibition during which he was briefed by a number of exhibitors in the fields of entrepreneurship, technological and digital projects, and programmes related to smart transformation and ICT. The Amir also listened to a brief explanation on smart city building services, infrastructure development, smart solutions and their role in promoting digital transformation and ways to benefit from them.

Amir attends opening of Qitcom, MSC Core Group meeting

From Page 1 Institute and with participation gional challenges in general and delegations, speakers, sponsors, Over 400 local tion. The MoTC has a special able digital society in Qatar. of a number of top experts in in- the challenges that Qatar is fac- exhibitors, entrepreneurs, and pavilion in which the ministry The MoTC launched a dedi- He noted that government ternational universities. He said ing in particular. innovators participating in this and international and all its affi liate sectors show- cated Qitcom Android- and IOS- ministries and agencies began the strategy is aimed at using ar- He noted that Qitcom, which year’s event. exhibitors case projects and programmes on based smartphone app, a smart using technologies and systems tifi cial intelligence to secure Qa- is now a key element in MoTC’s For his part, Wolfgang smart transformation at the vari- platform to facilitate communi- that better the quality of services tar’s economic and strategic fu- digital strategy, continuously Ischinger, Munich Security Con- participating in ous government sectors. cation between exhibitors and they off er to the public, improve ture as desired by Qatar National developed over the past editions, ference Chairman, said: “I am Qitcom 2019 Another pavilion for Qatar E- visitors. The app will provide full the lifestyle of individuals, sup- Vision 2030. with the current edition seeing honoured to attend the opening government showcases projects information about the sessions port scientifi c research and in- HE the Minister said that Qa- partnership with Fira Barcelona, of Qitcom 2019 to discuss the Qitcom 2019 is diff erent from by all ministries and government and activities in the conference novation in the digital industry, tar has already started to reap the organiser of the international digitisation challenge from the previous editions in that it is a bodies featured in the Qatar e- and exhibition, their times, and and off er more financial, tech- the fruits of smart city technolo- Smart City Expo World Con- perspective of the MSC. We are world-level edition featuring 104 government programme. There direct streaming of events. Qit- nical, and logistical support for gies on various levels and across gress, to organise the fi rst edition pleased to be here today in one of speakers from around 30 coun- is also a dedicated entrepreneur- com 2019 is expected to attract entrepreneurs and startups in various sectors, noting that these of Smart City Expo Doha 2019 the leading events in the Middle tries, more than 400 local and ship zone bringing together 100 about 30,000 visitors. the digital sector through various technologies helped develop the (October 29-30), in which 71 East and to organise a roundtable international exhibitors, around local and international startups, Participants will be able to ac- initiatives such as the Digital In- traffi c system and contributed to speakers from 23 countries will on cyber security in co-operation 300 innovators and entrepre- more than 300 innovators, and cess a B2B matchmaking plat- cubation Center. the development of the health- participate to discuss entrepre- with the Ministry of Transport neurs, and 29 local and interna- more than 55 speakers. form, one of the key initiatives He said that in continuation care sector and the education neurship, artifi cial intelligence, and Communications under the tional sponsors. Through this zone, the MoTC of the fi fth edition, through Qit- of these eff orts and initiatives, sector, with the latter ranking cyber security, and urban plan- headline “securing digitisation More than 60 countries from will off er fi nance and busi- com smartphone app or through and as part of the Qatari Gov- fi rst on the Arab level and fi fth on ning. in the Middle East” to discuss cy- the region and beyond are par- ness incubation opportunities mediators who can help arrange ernment’s endeavours to accel- the global level. He said the coun- He noted that in tandem with berspace governance, in addition ticipating in the various Qitcom through fi ve main platforms joint meetings between compa- erate the achievement of all the try’s main ports, such as Hamad Qitcom 2019, Doha is hosting to the challenges and experiences activities. The United Kingdom, for the various digital sectors; nies and investors. pillars of Qatar National Vision Port and Hamad International the MSC Core Group meeting to in the Gulf region in particular. the United States, Armenia, Jor- namely, Make the Deal, Idea The platform is expected to 2030 and the comprehensive and Airport, were also equipped with discuss regional and global se- “This would help us learn les- dan, Rwanda, Italy, and Oman Camp, Code Camp, Startup Hub, feature more than 300 busi- sustainable development goals, state-of-the-art smart solutions curity issues and raise awareness sons for future events, such as have pavilions in the exhibition, and Innovation Theatre. ness owners from diff erent parts the Smart Qatar programme and technologies. of cyber security and its implica- the cyber security summit that while 11 high-level ministerial Qitcom 2019 is expected to of the world, who can network, “Tasmu” was launched, noting The Minister said the MoTC tions. This, he said, is in line with will be held in Berlin after one delegations from Iraq, Somalia, showcase many investment op- exchange knowledge, and raise that the programme will pump co-operated with partners in the Qatar’s eff orts to enhance its re- month on the sidelines of the UN Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Iran, Ar- portunities in the Qatari market innovative ideas. The platform massive investments to develop government and the private sec- gional and international co-op- Internet Governance Forum. We menia, Bulgaria, Ghana, Gambia, and announce about 200 initia- seeks to bring together and co- the digital infrastructure in the tor to promote Qitcom as an ideal eration to create a safe and strong hope to see new ideas in the next Romania, and Oman are partici- tives, digital systems, trade part- ordinate between more than 500 country. platform to exchange expertise, cyber ecosystem. two days on how to advance digi- pating in the conference. nerships, and agreements with companies, government bodies, He said the Qatar National Ar- discuss ideas, provide insights, Concluding his speech, the tisation and improve governance Around 276 local private com- companies and local, regional, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and tech- tifi cial Intelligence Strategy was review new trends in the dig- Minister thanked the Amir for and international co-operation, panies and government estab- and international parties, all nology solution providers on the also fi nalised in co-operation ital world, and develop smart his kind patronage of the event. and on how to do this in a safe lishments, including 50 startups, aimed at supporting the plans to one hand and potential investors with Qatar Computing Research solutions that can address the re- He also thanked the international and trustworthy manner.” are participating in the exhibi- build an innovative and sustain- on the other.