BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1

Metro, Lusail Light Rail ‘shift ’ demand dynamics Qatar’s al-Attiyah cruises to of Qatar’s offi ce market comfortable lead in Oman published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11452 February 8, 2020 Jumada II 14, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Demand for anti-virus Sir Geoff Hurst masks soars England legend Sir Geoff turns 100-fold ref for National Reuters/AFP started with producers of raw materi- Geneva/Beijing als, going “all the way back to the rub- A man in protective suit works on disinfecting the aircraft cabin for a Hainan Airlines flight, as China is hit by an outbreak of the ber plantation, all the way down the Sport Day novel coronavirus, at the Haikou Meilan International Airport yesterday. chain to that health worker, and every- emand for masks, gowns, thing in between”. fter a whirlwind visit to Qatar gloves and other protective “At every stage of the supply chain last year during which he was Dgear has risen up to 100-fold there is a possibility for disruption, or Agiven a brief glimpse of the and prices have soared due to the Chi- profi teering or diversion,” he said. country’s passion for sport, football- na coronavirus, producing a “severe” Chinese authorities have provided ing legend Sir Geoff Hurst will return disruption in global supply, the World some detailed data with a breakdown to Doha to experience the buzz around Health Organisation (WHO) chief said of 17,000 cases, WHO epidemiologist National Sport Day fi rst-hand. Qatari adventurer plans yesterday. Dr Maria van Kerkhove said. “We have In 1966, Sir Geoff scored the fi rst The situation has been made worse some data on 17,000 cases saying 82% ever and the only hat-trick so far in a by people who are not medical work- are considered mild, 15% severe and 3% World Cup fi nal as England won the ers buying the protective gear for their critical.” title at Wembley. own use, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye- Referring to overall numbers, she This time though, he will lace up Europe motorbike trip sus said. added: “We know that 2%, or less than as a referee in a tournament for inter- “When supplies are short and de- 2% now, of the reported cases have national property and construction By Joseph Varghese mand is high, then there could be bad died.” consultancy Gleeds. Staff Reporter practices like hoarding in order to sell The United States yesterday off ered “The notion of a National Sport them at higher prices, and that’s why up to $100mn to China and other im- Day is such a brilliant one and I am we ask for solidarity,” Tedros told a Ge- pacted countries to combat the fast- thrilled to be back in Qatar to experi- atari adventurer Khalid al-Jab- neva briefi ng. spreading coronavirus. ence it for myself. The enthusiasm for er, the fi rst Arab to travel the “Demand is up to 100 times higher “This commitment — along with the day has been overwhelming and QSilk Road route on a motorcy- than normal and prices are up to 20 the hundreds of millions generously it’ll be great fun to take on the role of cle, is planning to continue his passion times higher,” and the rush has cre- donated by the American private sec- referee – although I can’t promise my for travel by embarking on another ride ated supply backlogs of 4-6 months, tor — demonstrates strong US leader- decisions will please everyone, I know around Europe. he added. ship in response to the outbreak,” Sec- how competitive these tournaments “In the past three years, I have com- Frontline health workers in China, retary of State Mike Pompeo said in a can become with pride at stake,” said pleted 120,000km of motorcycling, where 31,211 confi rmed cases of coro- statement. Sir Geoff , who will arrive in Doha on covering around 45 countries on the navirus have been reported, need the The coronavirus death of a Chinese February 10. same bike on diff erent trips. Now I am bulk of such supplies, he said. doctor who had been reprimanded for The British icon has made no secret planning to ride around Europe next Tedros said he had spoken to manu- sounding an early warning about the of the fact that he believes the only summer to promote an event related to facturers and distributors to ensure disease triggered anger at the govern- way forward for one of the most pop- Qatar and arts. This will be announced Qatari adventurer Khalid al-Jaber at the southernmost tip of Africa. supplies for those who need them ment yesterday, while a major cruise ular events in the sporting calendar is later this year,” he told Gulf Times. most, with healthcare workers a prior- line took the extraordinary step of ban- to take it to as many diff erent coun- Al-Jaber, 43, holds two records in mo- ing laptops to students of Africa or op- such as Ajyal Film Festival 2018 and ity, followed by the sick and those car- ning citizens of China regardless of tries as possible and is happy to see it torcycling. In addition to being the fi rst tical glasses to children of Kenya,” the Cannes Film Festival 2019,” he said. ing for them. when they were last there. come to Qatar. Sport Page 1 Arab to cross the Silk Road from London adventurer explained. “The fi lm shows my passion for The WHO has sent major shipments The death of Li Wenliang, 34, came to Beijing, he is also the fi rst Arab to ride Al-Jaber who has completed the ex- travelling; how I am trying to fi t my- of gloves, masks, respirators and other as President Xi Jinping reassured the the longest road in the world, the Pan ecutive leaders programme from Qatar self in the role and also featuring the “personal protective equipment” — United States and the WHO of trans- American Highway, from Alaska to Ar- leadership Centre, currently has taken Silk Road travel and my feelings when known as PPE in its jargon — to every parency and maximum eff ort to com- gentina around 40,000km. adventure motorcycling as a full-time I am on the trip. Travelling to me is like region, he said. bat the virus. In brief Al-Jaber, a network computer en- activity. The globetrotter says he loves meditation, to know and appreciate life; “We call on countries and compa- Beijing’s communist leadership has gineer, and a master’s degree holder in travelling and right from his early child- see how people have nothing but hap- nies to work with WHO to ensure fair sealed off cities, cancelled fl ights and computer crimes from University of hood, he has been travelling. piness while we have everything but and rational use of supplies and the re- closed factories to limit an epidemic ARAB WORLD | Confl ict East London, has also got a bachelor’s “During my childhood, I was mov- happiness. I keep saying: the world is balancing of the market. We all have a roiling the world’s second-biggest Israeli troops kill degree in computing from Richmond, ing between Qatar, Geneva and Japan, so beautiful as long as we don’t watch part to play in keeping each other safe,” economy with ripple eff ects felt by glo- the American International University until I fi nished high school, due to my news,” noted the rider. Tedros said. bal markets and businesses dependent Palestinian teen in London. father’s job as an ambassador of Qatar. “I hope many youth consider their The public and private network on Chinese supply lines. Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian “I have done many trips around the Then, I moved to Germany and from hobbies as careers and they will just do was focusing fi rst on surgical masks The epicentre province of Hubei and during clashes in the West Bank world and covered 82 countries so far. I there to London for my university stud- great! Don’t look, how much you will because of the extreme demand and its capital Wuhan are in lockdown, and yesterday, the Palestinian health am planning to reach 100 countries by ies. I have always wanted to be a trav- earn but how much you will change,” he market pressures, Tedros said, adding: Beijing resembles a ghost town. ministry said. The fatality brings to next summer and mostly on motorcy- eller after watching “Sinbad” cartoon advised the youth. “We are appreciative of companies Deaths in mainland China reached five the number killed in the occupied cle. Through my adventures, I am en- when I was seven,” recalled al-Jaber. “I am inspired by Sinbad and wanted who have taken the decision to only 637 yesterday, with a total of 31,211 West Bank and Jerusalem since US couraging youth to leave their comfort Other than travelling, al-Jaber is also to confront the world and explore it as supply masks to medical profession- cases, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom President Donald Trump angered zone. I try to attach each trip to a char- is an avid fi lm buff as he has been a fi lm he did. I can say that I have achieved als.” Ghebreyesus said in Geneva, warning of the Palestinians with his peace plan ity campaign such as providing artifi cial producer for the last 10 years. “My fi lm most of my dreams and done well in my Dr Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergen- a worldwide shortage of gowns, masks released last week. The Palestinian limbs to children of the world, provid- ‘Voyager’ was selected to fi lm festivals career so far,” al-Jaber added. cies expert, said that the supply chain and other protective equipment. Page 7 health ministry said Badr Nafla, 19, died after being shot by Israeli forces in the neck during clashes near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. Page 3 EUROPE | Defence Zoo to woo visitors at renovated Al Khor Park Macron urges EU role zoo is among the major attrac- Arabic daily Arrayah reported yester- ing the train ride. He stressed that the in curbing N-threats tions at Al Khor Family Park, set day. The upgraded park includes more park has become much better after the French President Emmanuel Macron Ato reopen for the public around coff ee shops, restaurants, toilets and renovation works, expressing his hap- called yesterday for European nations the middle of this month after a closure other facilities and services for the piness that it will open its doors for the to play a more direct role in halting a for renovation and upgrade that lasted convenience of the visitors. public soon stressing that it would have new nuclear arms race, saying they nearly three months. The overall new design of the park, positive impact on increasing the tour- “cannot remain spectators” against In the zoo, the Ministry of Munici- spread across 240,000sq m, is con- ist activities at Al Khor city. a threat to the continent’s collective pality and Environment (MME) has sidered very interesting as it gives the He further thanked the MME for security. “In the absence of a legal housed a good number of animals such impression of a small forest for visitors. such great eff orts in maintaining and framework, they could rapidly face a as the rhinoceros, elephant, giraff e, Abdullah Maqlad al-Muraikhi, upgrading Al Khor Park and especially new race for conventional weapons, lions, crocodiles in addition to some member of the Central Municipal establishing a zoo. Al Khor Park, origi- even nuclear weapons, on their own types of monkeys, birds, and oryx. Council for constituency 25, said that nally opened in 1983, is considered one soil,” Macron told military off icers in a There is also a spacious kids’ play the entry ticket will include all the of the oldest in the country. There was speech. Page 9 area with new games and a train, local games at the kids play area exclud- a renovation in 2016. Page 16 A rhinoceros is among the attractions at Al Khor Park zoo. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, February 8, 2020 QATAR QU to host Youth Croatian president meets Qatari envoy Research Forum 2020 next month atar University (QU) dition, one of its objectives is specifi cations of the Unesco Students from multiple dis- will organise the Third integrating knowledge among Authority, such as with names, ciplines can participate in a sin- QYouth Research Forum young people, preparing them food, cities, mosques and gle research team. The student Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic met Qatar’s ambassador to the country Nasser bin 2020 titled “Identity and Cul- to do their duties, and taking museums. or group of students can apply Hamad Mubarak al-Khalifa in Zagreb yesterday, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. During tural Tourism: Towards a Cul- the initiative towards positive Prof Mariam al-Maadeed, to participate in the forum even the meeting, they reviewed the relations between the two countries, ways of supporting and ture of Sustainable Legacy,” on participation in maximising the vice president (Research and if it is a completed research or developing them, and matters of common concern. March 11 and 12. benefi ts of the World Cup. It is Graduate Studies) at QU, said has participated in another sci- The event aims to create re- also aiming to open channels the forum is a part of the uni- entifi c event provided it fi ts the search material covering the of communication for research versity’s strategy at develop- topics of the forum. knowledge and cultural con- and knowledge between the ing scientifi c research among The forum’s organising com- cerns of young people. In addi- university and community in- young people, particularly, mittee has selected several tion, it aims to create a database stitutions, especially those that the aspects related to identity theme and topics, which young on youth activities that have play a key role in the World Cup. studies, heritage and cultural people can research and ap- Culture Minister off ers support to distinct research capabilities One of the main targets of communication. ply to participate in. The top- in the fi eld of specialised and the forum is to create and open She added that the forum ics are: (1) World Cup facilities interdisciplinary studies, and to channels of communication plans to achieve several cog- and the sustainability of Qa- Youth Consultative Committee explore the research capabilities between young researchers and nitive, cultural, and commu- tar’s heritage in architecture, of young people in a specifi c fi eld community institutions organ- nity purposes where the forum arts and culture; (2) The role of E the Minister of Cul- He praised the electoral proc- that they took part in the elec- linked to FIFA World Cup Qa- ising the World Cup. Moreover, represents an opportunity for museums in promoting cultural ture and Sports Salah ess that took place during the tion out of their awareness of the tar 2022 events and associated it aims to promote a culture of young people to serve the needs identity; (3) Economy and cul- Hbin Ghanem bin Nasser past two days and the remarka- responsibility towards the youth cultural, sports, environmental scientifi c research and link it of society in the next crucial ture tourism; (4) Heritage cities al-Ali met on Thursday with ble participation of Qatari youth, in building the country. and urban activities. to important historical events, phases of development. and their role in culture tour- members of the new Youth Con- as well as the civilised image that The Qatari Youth Forum wit- The forum also has an objec- and promote cultural tourism Participation in the forum is ism; (5) Symbols and compo- sultative Committee that were came out to be a role model for nessed the fi rst elections for the tive of highlighting the roles and build a knowledge soci- open for postgraduate and un- nents of identity; (6) Collecting elected at the conclusion of third youth. members of the Youth Consulta- played by institutions, such as ety. One of the most important dergraduate student research. and documenting parts of the Qatar Youth Forum. He said that all means and tive Committee, which resulted the National Museum of Qa- targets is that it is aiming to The student can submit his or culture heritage; (7) Challenges The minister welcomed the support tools will be provided to in the victory of Hamad Khaled tar and Katara – The Cultural introduce Qatari heritage in all her research alone or as a group of identity and globalisation; seven members of the commit- facilitate the work of the com- Labdeh, Muhamed Hamad al- Village, in promoting the cul- its forms in a scientifi c and ac- of students (no more than six) (8) Medicine, pharmacology tee, affi rming the leadership’s mittee to achieve its goals to Dahabib, Sheikha Ali al-Marri, tural identity in Qatar. In ad- curate manner according to the participating in one research. and community health. enduring confi dence in Qatari serve the Qatari youth and to Sharifa Youssef al-Sa’i, Fayza youth. enhance their empowerment in Sinan al-Kaabi, Ahmed Jas- He pointed out that the elec- society. sim al-Jasem, Khadija Abu Al Rayyan tions were an important stage in On their part, the elected Haleeqa, to the membership of the history of Qatari youth to- youth committee members ex- Youth Consultative Committee Municipality Al Sheehaniya Municipality carries wards enabling them to partici- pressed their commitment to to the Minister of Culture and conducts 760 out inspection drive on food outlets pate in the progress of society. serve the Qatari youth, stressing Sports. (QNA) inspection tours in 2019

Al Gharafa technical control off ice Awareness lecture for students under Al Rayyan Municipality conducted 760 regular inspection tours in 2019, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) said in a statement. During these tours, new buildings were inspected and 245 site cleanliness certificates issued. A total of 221 violation reports were issued and 113 of these were resolved through reconciliation on payment of the stipulated fines, the MME statement noted. The remaining 108 violation reports were referred to the security entities concerned. Further, the off ice issued 35 licences for holding diff erent celebrations. Meanwhile, the state property unit conducted 173 inspection campaigns and issued 62 violations, 18 of which were resolved through reconciliation and 44 referred to the security authorities concerned. The workers’ accommodation unit issued 39 warnings to owners to evacuate buildings that violated Law No 22 of 2019, which prohibits workers’ camps within Al Daayen Municipality’s Gardens Section presented an awareness lecture on the importance of family residential areas. The municipal control department of Al Sheehaniya Municipality carried out an inspection trees for the local environment and sustainable development, which was attended by 22 students One house was evacuated campaign on food establishments at the cities of Dukhan and Zekreet. Off icials checked 13 from Al Daayen school for girls. They also took part in a workshop on growing trees and other by force and two decisions food establishment and violations were found. Notices were served and establishments plants. The initiative is part of the campaign to plant 1mn trees, launched by the Ministry of to evacuate were issued, the instructed to take corrective measures. Municipality and Environment, and some 15 trees were planted at the Simaisma beach. statement added. Moulding young SC promotes sustainability features coders on the rise of Qatar 2022 during Tarsheed event he Supreme Committee oCode Gulf, established by StudyPlus, for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is moulding young coders on the rise, Trecently participated in a Gin Qatar. key sustainability event organ- One of them is Tharuka Herath, pictured, ised by Tarsheed, the National a 12-year-old student from Doha College who Programme for Conservation started his coding journey with GoCode Gulf in and Energy Effi ciency, an initia- April 2019. tive of the Qatar General Elec- When most children sit in front of computers tricity & Water Corporation playing games, Tharuka spends the time coding (Kahramaa). them. The SC has played a proac- Tharuka, from being a simple coding enthu- tive role in promoting envi- siast who knew very little about text-based pro- ronmental sustainability, the gramming, has now transformed into a coding fourth pillar of Qatar National specialist. His latest achievement is creating his Vision 2030, through various very own game with more than a thousand lines means, according to a report of codes using Python. support of its mentors, according to a statement. on sc.qa. In recent years, it has Olan Santos, Tharuka’s coding mentor at GoC- “GoCode does not only help me in coding but teamed up with Kahramaa to ode, is proud of his student’s improvement and also in presenting myself and my ideas in front of establish a long-term collabo- accomplishments. others. After Python, I am very excited to move ration with Tarsheed, which He said, “Tharuka was tasked to create his very on to the next web development course with aims to promote environ- own Python game — from brainstorming the GoCode,” said Tharuka. mental awareness across the concept and designing the core gameplay to pi- With over a decade of experience in delivering country. The children in attendance participated in a tailored Generation Amazing activation. lot-testing the whole game. Eventually, he creat- tuition and academic support to hundreds of stu- Recently, SC employees at- ed ‘Jumanji’, his very own strategy game inspired dents, StudyPlus is on a “mission to inspire the tended the Sustainability Tar- ed by 330 schoolchildren from 25 Bodour al-Meer, the SC’s frastructure projects, notably by the latest Jumanji movie.” next generation of digital creators” with GoCode sheed Annual Event to raise local schools. Sustainability & Environ- the eight stadiums which will “Aside from the impeccable concept and de- UK, a multi-award-winning coding academy, the awareness among schoolchil- SC sustainability experts Ab- ment senior manager, said: host the matches.” sign, Tharuka’s Python game consisted of more statement notes. dren about the importance of dulrahman al-Muftah, Dr Talar “The SC promotes environ- The children in attendance than 2,000 lines of code!” Accordingly, the centre has established GoCode an environmentally friendly Sahsuvaroglu and Orjan Lun- mental sustainability as one also participated in a tailored Tharuka admitted it was not that easy to be a Gulf to cater to the needs of young learners in Qa- lifestyle and the sustainability dberg spoke to students about of its core values. We are Generation Amazing activation. young coder; hence, he needed a reliable support tar and off ers after-school programmes and holiday aspects of the FIFA World Cup preparations for Qatar 2022 and working to deliver a sustain- The session introduced pupils system. He is thankful to GoCode Gulf not only for tech camps for kids and teenagers (6-16 years). Qatar 2022. emphasised the SC’s vision to able World Cup and drive to the football for development providing a platform for young coders like himself For more information, one may call 44325503 The event took place across deliver the most environmen- positive change across the programme and included details where they can transform their ideas into digital or visit the StudyPlus GoCode Gulf centre three days at the Kahramaa tally friendly FIFA World Cup in country, with sustainability about the diff erent ways they innovations, but also for the constant help and in Al Sadd. Awareness Park and was attend- history. at the centre of all of our in- can care for the planet. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

New ‘mercy Troops kill Palestinian in fl ight’ from Yemen capital clash amid uptick in violence delayed AFP Ramallah AFP Dubai sraeli forces shot dead a Palestinian during clashes Iin the West Bank yesterday, he evacuation of 24 criti- the Palestinian health ministry cally ill Yemenis from the said, part of a spike in violence Trebel-held capital was de- after Washington announced a layed yesterday, the World Heath controversial Middle East plan. Organisation said, citing techni- The fatality brings to fi ve the cal reasons. number killed in the occupied “It is unfortunate that the West Bank and Jerusalem since fl ight did not take off today as US President Donald Trump planned,” a WHO spokesperson angered the Palestinians with said. his plan released last week. “We are making every eff ort The Palestinian health min- and working very hard to ensure istry said Badr Nafl a, 19, died the fl ight does take off as soon as after being shot by Israeli forces possible.” in the neck during clashes near The spokesperson said the the northern West Bank city of evacuation would “most likely Tulkarem. happen in the coming day or Earlier, Palestinian and US days”. leaders blamed each other for a “We urge everyone engaged in surge of violence, as mourners this eff ort to allow this medical gathered in the occupied West air bridge operation to happen,” Bank for the funeral of a Pales- the WHO spokesperson said. tinian police offi cer shot dead No further details on the rea- during the unrest. sons for the delay were provided. On Thursday, two Palestin- A fi rst “mercy fl ight” evacuat- ians were killed in clashes in the ed seven children from Sanaa on West Bank and an Arab Israeli A Palestinian demonstrator uses a ladder to climb a section of the Israeli barrier during a protest against Relatives of Palestinian police off icer Tareq Badwan, who was killed Monday for medical treatment was shot dead after opening US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, in the village of Bilin in the occupied West in a raid by troops in Jenin, mourn during his funeral near Qalqilya in the Jordanian capital Amman. fi re on police near the Al-Aqsa Bank, yesterday. in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. The United Nations is eager to mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City. build the necessary confi dence Fourteen Israelis were injured gathered at Al Aqsa for noon increased police presence would car into a group of Israeli sol- full control of disputed Jerusa- tions. Palestinian chief negotia- between the warring parties to in a car ramming targeting sol- prayers that passed off without remain. Small clashes broke out diers, injuring 14 before fl eeing lem and a green light to annex tor Saeb Erekat said on Twitter enable more such evacuations. diers in Jerusalem the same day. incident, an AFP photographer in diff erent parts of the West the scene, offi cials said. all settlements and other parts yesterday that Kushner’s plan A WHO source confi rmed On Wednesday, a Palestinian said. The site is a fl ashpoint in Bank yesterday, AFP reporters He was later arrested and is of the West Bank. had “enabled Israel to move earlier yesterday that a plane teenager was shot dead by Is- the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict. said. being questioned, Rosenfeld In exchange the Palestin- ahead with further annexation/ carrying 24 patients and their raeli troops during a clash in the Israeli police spokesman On Thursday, two Pales- said. The rise in violence comes ians would be off ered a state colonisation. companions was scheduled to West Bank city of Hebron. Micky Rosenfeld said there was tinians were killed in clashes a week after Trump’s release of in the remaining parts of the “But he blames President Ab- leave later in the day from Sanaa Israeli security had deployed “heightened security in Jeru- between the Israeli army and his vision for resolving the Is- West Bank and Gaza. Palestin- bas because according to those to Amman. additional forces yesterday salem,” including extra units, stone-throwing demonstrators raeli-Palestinian confl ict. ian president Mahmoud Abbas like him, our mere existence A coalition that has been in the West Bank and Jerusa- particularly “in and around the in the northern city of Jenin. It would grant Israel a number immediately rejected the plan and rights... are the problem,” fi ghting in support of the be- lem, where 25,000 Palestinians area of the Old City”.He said an In Jerusalem a man drove his of its long-held goals, including and called for street demonstra- Erekat added. leaguered Yemeni government has kept Sanaa airport closed to commercial fl ights since 2016. But in November, the coalition announced that it was prepared to allow medical evacuations Plane makes emergency from the airport as a confi dence- Russians head to Turkey for building measure to support UN peace eff orts. landing to avoid strike “This is the fi rst of what we hope will be a number of fl ights in the medical air bridge,” UN talks on Syria’s Idlib off ensive Reuters Israel has declined to Resident Co-ordinator for Yem- Moscow comment. The Airbus A320 en Lise Grande said after Mon- had been coming into land day’s fl ight. Reuters Speaking at a news conference said yesterday that 586,000 regularly and without any prob- at Damascus International She said she hoped there Istanbul/Ankara in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Min- were displaced. Ankara has lems,” he said. passenger plane car- Airport when it was forced would be more evacuations in ister Mevlut Cavusoglu repeated backed rebels looking to oust Asked if any Turkish troops rying 172 passengers to divert to the nearest al- the following days, to Egypt as that Turkey would do whatever Syrian President Bashar al-As- were pulled from the posts after Afrom Tehran to Da- ternative airfield, the Hme- well as Jordan. ussian offi cials will arrive is necessary to stop a humani- sad, while Moscow and Tehran the advances by Assad’s forces, mascus made an emergency imim Air Base near Latakia The reopening of Sanaa air- in Turkey today for talks tarian tragedy in Idlib, where on have supported Assad’s forces. the offi cial said this was “abso- landing at the Russian-con- in northwest Syria, which port is a key demand of the Raimed at stopping the Thursday Russian-led Syrian The three countries have also lutely out of the question” and trolled Hmeimim Air Base in is operated by the Russian Houthi rebels and one of the is- Syrian government’s off ensive forces entered the strategic town collaborated on a political solu- the posts would remain. Syria on Thursday to avoid military. sues being pursued by UN me- in Syria’s northwestern Idlib re- of Saraqeb. tion to the confl ict. The Syrian Observatory for coming under fi re from Syr- Konashenkov did not diators as they seek to relaunch gion and halt a humanitarian ca- “A delegation from Russia After Monday’s attack, Turkey Human Rights, a UK-based ian air defences, Russia said name the airline. Data from peace talks. tastrophe there, Turkey’s foreign will arrive in Turkey. We will and Russia cancelled a regular war monitor, said that Turkish yesterday. Flight Radar showed a flight minister said yesterday. hold talks. Our goal is to stop the joint military patrol in northern troops were establishing a new The Syrian forces were from the Iraqi city of Najaf Russia-backed Syrian forces (Syrian) regime’s aggression and Syria. A Turkish security source military post east of Idlib city, responding to Israeli strikes had been diverted from Da- have pressed to capture Idlib, move the political process for- said the patrol was postponed home to more than 1mn people, on targets in Syria, Defence mascus towards Hmeimim. the last rebel stronghold in the ward,” Cavusoglu said, adding over “harsh weather”. many already displaced from Ministry spokesman Igor That was a Syrian Cham country, displacing more than the Russians would arrive today. “There is co-ordination at all other parts of Syria. Konashenkov was quoted as Wings plane. The airline AIU to half a million people since early In Washington, US Secretary times,” the source told journal- Turkey’s state-run Anadolu saying by Interfax and other could not immediately be December. of State Mike Pompeo discussed ists in Ankara.”The patrol was news agency reported on Thurs- Russian agencies. reached for comment. Their shelling on Monday support for a lasting ceasefi re not halted.” day that Ankara had sent about The incident took place The United States im- meet in killed eight Turkish personnel, and return to a political process Turkey established a dozen 20 tanks to Hatay, along the Syr- a month after a Ukraine posed sanctions on Cham prompting a retaliation. in both Syria and Libya with EU military observation posts in the ian border, to be deployed to the International Airlines Wings in 2016 for allegedly The escalation in Syria’s near- High Representative Josep Bor- Idlib region positioned around a observation posts under heavy passenger plane crashed transporting fighters to Jordan ly nine-year-old war disrupted rell, the State Department said “de-escalation zone” agreed by security. shortly after take-off from Syria to support President fragile co-operation between in a statement. It said the two Turkey, Russia and Iran in 2018. Yesterday it said commandos Tehran, killing all 176 peo- Bashir al-Assad and for Ankara and Moscow and raised discussed prospects for peace in The latest Syrian push has led and ammunition were sent to ple on board. helping Syrian military in- today concern over future collabora- the Middle East. to three posts falling in areas un- Idlib with a 150-vehicle convoy. Iran later said its forces telligence transport weap- tion given they support oppos- Turkey, which hosts 3.6mn der Syrian government control, The source said the reinforce- had shot it down uninten- ons and equipment. ing sides. Syrian refugees, fears another the security source said, adding ments, aimed at halting clashes tionally due to human error. The flights, which almost QNA Turkish President Tayyip Er- infl ux towards its border. While all such posts are equipped with and protecting Turkish per- The Syrian defence min- always land late at night, do Amman dogan threatened this week to Erdogan has said the latest as- enough personnel and equip- sonnel there, would continue. istry said on Thursday it not appear in any airport or drive back the Syrian forces in sault has displaced close to 1mn ment to defend themselves. “We have no problems there had intercepted Israeli mis- airline timetables, and fly Idlib unless they withdraw from people, the United Nations Of- “There are no issues (at the (Saraqeb).Our forces are ready to siles over Damascus that in from either Damascus or he 30th emergency con- the region by the end of the fi ce for the Co-ordination of surrounded posts), deployment retaliate against any attack in the were fired at military tar- Latakia, where Russia has a ference of the Arab In- month. Humanitarian Aff airs to Geneva of reinforcements are made harshest way,” the source said. gets in southern Syria. military base. Tter-Parliamentary Union (AIU) will be held in the Jorda- nian capital, Amman. The conference, due today, will discuss the recent US pro- posals for peace in the Middle East and ways to support the Iraqi cleric scolds forces over protesters’ deaths brotherly people of Palestine in their fair cause. “The Arab Inter-Parliamenta- Reuters protesters against many of government which Allawi will Sadr has regularly threatened ry Union meets in Amman amid Baghdad Sadr’s followers, known as blue form be representative of the to call all his followers out to delicate Arab conditions, pend- hats for the caps they wear. Iraqi people and said it must protest alongside the anti-gov- ing issues, and dangerous diver- The blue hats turned on pro- have their full trust. ernment movement. gences that the Palestinian issue raq’s top cleric yesterday testers in several incidents after “It must be capable of calm- The followers including the is passing through,” said Atef berated security forces for Sadr entered a deal with po- ing the situation and take steps blue hats had been unoffi cially al-Tarawneh, speaker of the Jor- Ifailing to protect protest- litical blocs last week to bring in towards early elections free of involved in the demonstrations danian House of Representatives ers killed in clashes with rival new Prime Miniser-designate the infl uence of money, weap- and at times protected protest- and President of the Arab Inter- groups this week in the south- Mohamed Tawfi q Allawi — a ons and foreign interference,” ers from assaults by security Parliamentary Union, in a press ern city of Najaf, and urged move the protesters reject. he said. forces and militiamen. statement yesterday. politicians to pick a government Sistani, in remarks delivered Some protesters had hoped His move to support Al- Tarawneh stressed the impor- trusted by the people. by his representative during Sistani would reject Allawi who lawi, and subsequent calls for tance of unifying the Arab par- The violence in the holy city his weekly sermon yesterday in was named last week ending the blue hats to remove protest liamentary position in rejecting of Najaf, where Grand Ayatol- the holy city of Kerbala, con- weeks of deadlock between po- camps deemed to be prevent- any settlement that undermines lah Ali al-Sistani is based, killed demned the violence in Najaf litical blocs. ing schools or businesses from the Palestinian right, foremost eight anti-government dem- and blamed security forces for “We hope Sistani will reject functioning, is seen as betrayal among which is the establish- onstrators after followers of failing to stop it. Iraqi protesters chant slogans and wave national flags during an Allawi and the deal between the by many. ment of an independent State populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr “It is the security forces that anti-government demonstration in the capital Baghdad’s central parties on Friday,” Mahdi Abdul “I used to support the and the right of return and com- stormed their sit-in protest. must take responsibility to keep Tahrir Square, yesterday. Zahra, a protester in Baghdad, Sadrist movement. But the pensation to refugees. The incident laid bare new the peace, protect the protest said. minute he did this, I stopped. Representatives of 20 Arab tensions on the street in Iraq, squares and peaceful demon- ing that duty.” Sistani holds His withdrawal of support for The rival and two most pow- I’ve erased all by Facebook parliaments, including 16 Speak- where nearly 500 people have strators and identify attackers great infl uence over public the government of Adel Abdul erful parliamentary blocs of posts that supported him,” ers of Parliament, will discuss been killed in months of unrest. and rabble rousers,” the repre- opinion among Iraq’s major- Mahdi in November sealed the Sadr and a grouping of parties Abdul Zahra said from a main the position on the US peace plan The most recent events have sentative said. ity. He avoids commenting on outgoing premier’s fate. put their diff erences aside to square where protesters skir- in the Middle East dubbed the pitted young anti-government “There is no excuse for shirk- politics except during crises. Sistani urged that the new approve Allawi’s nomination. mished with police. “Deal of the Century”. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, February 8, 2020 AFRICA

Malawi electoral commission seeks to suspend annulment of vote

AFP vote over allegations of electoral the hearing and determination” date should be chosen by more on the independence and immu- The court also castigated the day of next week or face a fresh Blantyre fraud. of an appeal. The court ordered than 50% of the ballots cast. nity of parliament.” electoral commission, ordering round of demonstrations. The normally stable country a fresh election within 150 days Under the current fi rst-past- After marathon six-month an investigation into the “com- “They (commissioners) are was hit by protests throughout — as well as an investigation the-post electoral system for hearings broadcast on public petence and conduct” of its sev- going to see the biggest or the alawi’s electoral com- last year over the election re- into the conduct of the electoral choosing a president, Mutharika radio, the court on Monday de- en members and staff . mother of all demonstrations mission is seeking to sult, and yesterday the activists commission. won his second term as president clared that Mutharika was “not Ansah said the court acted in Malawi,” Gift Trapence, vice Msuspend a landmark threatened the electoral com- But Ansah accused the Con- with just 38.5% of the May vote. duly elected”.It cited what it in “excess of its powers” by or- chairman of the Human Rights court order that annulled last mission with “the mother of all stitutional Court of acting in His closest rival Lazarus Chak- called massive and widespread dering such a probe and that Defenders Coalition (HRDC) year’s re-election of President demonstrations” if they don’t “excess of its jurisdiction”. wera lost by just 159,000 votes, irregularities, especially the “having condemned them al- told a news conference in the Peter Mutharika, court papers step down in the next week. She said organising an election quickly crying foul and heading use of correction fl uid on ballot ready, any such enquiry would capital Lilongwe yesterday. showed yesterday. In the court papers, the Mala- would require more time — at to court to challenge the result. sheets. be sham”. Meanwhile the activ- He warned that protesters The southern African na- wi Electoral Commission chair- least 261 days — suggesting Oc- Ansah said she believes that Mutharika has slammed the ists who led the long-running would “shut down” the electoral tion made history on Monday woman Jane Ansah sought an tober 28 for the new polling date. “by ordering the legislature to Constitutional Court decision, protests following the contested commission offi ces, adding “this when its Constitutional Court order “suspending the enforce- In its historic ruling, the court convene and pass (new) legisla- vowed to appeal and even to run vote last year have given Ansah time we are actually prepared to ruled in favour of an opposition ment of the judgement of the ordered a number of legislative tion, the court acted in excess of in the fresh election ordered by and her team of commissioners even do vigils in their (commis- bid to cancel May’s presidential Constitutional Court pending changes including that a candi- its jurisdiction and had infringed the judges. an ultimatum — resign by Fri- sioners) homes.” Botswana holds disputed elephant hunting auction

AFP ers but the regime is poaching Gaborone the same elephant and calling it hunting”. Audrey Delsink, Africa’s wild- otswana, home to the life director for the global con- world’s largest elephant servation lobby charity Humane Bpopulation, yesterday held Society International said “the its fi rst major auction for trophy Botswanan elephant hunting elephant hunting quotas since auctions are deeply concerning scrapping a hunting ban last and questionable”. year. “Hunting is not an eff ective The one-hour sale was con- long-term human-elephant ducted by a local fi rm Auction mitigation tool or population It from the premises of the Min- control method,” she said from istry of Environment, Nature neighbouring South Africa. Conservation and Tourism in the Neil Fitt, who heads Kalahari capital Gaborone. Conservation Society in Bot- President Mokgweetsi Masisi swana, said hunting was a new raised the ire of conservationists source of revenue for the coun- A staff member prepares a milkshake in the kitchen at Gibson’s in May when he revoked a mora- try, but cautioned it had to be restaurant, recently recognised by the Guinness World Records torium, just a year after he suc- practised “ethically and prop- as having the “Most Varieties of Milkshakes Commercially ceeded Ian Khama, an avid en- erly”. With unfenced parks and Available”, in Cape Town. vironmentalist, who introduced wide-open spaces, Botswana a blanket ban in 2014 to reverse has the world’s largest elephant a decline in the population of population with more than wild animals. Masisi fended off 135,000 animals — about a third criticism of his government’s of the African continent’s total. Cape Town restaurant decision, saying the move would File photo shows a pair of male elephants in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Most of the animals are in the not threaten the elephant popu- northen Chobe National Park, lation. expected to start in April. to lift the hunting ban last year His predecessor Khama was an important tourist draw. But wins Guinness world Seven hunting licences of 10 According to an auction ad- was highly praised by local com- bitter. “I have been against elephants invade villages located elephants each were on off er, visory, bidders had to have munities but derided by conser- hunting because it represents a near wildlife reserves, knocking and six were sold at the auction, “demonstrable appropriate el- vationists and ignited tension mentality (of) those who sup- down fences, destroying crops, milkshake record according to an industry source. ephant hunting experience” and between Khama and Masisi. port it, to exploit nature for self and at times killing people. Prices ranged from 3.6-4.7mn have no previous wildlife crimi- The auction was barely men- interest that has brought about “Elephants are a menace in our pula ($330,000-$430,900). nal convictions. tioned in local papers, despite the extinction of many species area,” said Tshepang Mogogoma, Reuters cause they were so popular, Government said hunting would Hunting of collared elephants high interest among interna- worldwide,” he said in a phone who lives in the central village of Cape Town it became 100, 150 then 200, be “controlled” and confi ned to will be prohibited. tional news outlets. interview. Nata. “I don’t know about the then 207. So it happened over areas most impacted by “human All elephant hunting expedi- Masisi has defended his deci- He said allowing commer- elephants auction taking place in a period of five years,” said wildlife confl ict,” a reference tions will have to be accompa- sion to end the hunting ban say- cial hunting could “demotivate Gaborone but I think they must uinness World co-owner Ian Halfon. to elephants roaming off game nied by a guide and a profession- ing Botswana has an overpopu- those who are engaged in anti sell as many elephants for hunt- Records has named a “We’ve always sold a lot of parks into communities. al, at all times, according to the lation of elephants, and pledged poaching, who are being told ing as possible.” GSouth African restau- milkshakes, and we’ve always The 2020 hunting season is auction notice. Masisi’s decision to regulate the practice. to save elephants from poach- rant as the official titleholder come up with cutting-edge for ‘Most Varieties of Milk- flavours,” he added. shakes Commercially Avail- Mainly served in a stand- able’. ard 330 millilitre glass remi- With a total of 207 varie- niscent of the American soda ties on their menu, Gibson’s shop era of the 1930s, the Ramaphosa opposes axing carrier’s domestic fl ights Gourmet Burgers and Ribs double-thick cold beverages has a milkshake to satisfy are also garnished with a va- every sugarholic. riety of toppings depending AFP Government-appointed independent Ramaphosa told reporters before board- a decade, surviving on government bail- Located in Cape Town’s on the order. Pretoria business administrators have cancelled ing his presidential plane to Addis Ababa, outs. The Public Enterprises Ministry said bustling Victoria & Alfred First-time visitor Marcell dozens of domestic and some interna- Ethiopia, where he will take up chairman- the administrators’ recent decisions had Waterfront, Gibson’s offers a Brown said he saw a Face- tional fl ights to streamline services and ship of the African Union. caused market and customer uncertainty brain-freezing array of exotic book advertisement about resident Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday save cash in recent weeks. “We want to fi nd out what the rationale that may jeopardise the long-term future combinations from nutella the Guinness world record said his government opposed South This week they unexpectedly an- is and we want to have a discussion with of the airline. and mascarpone to Oreo and decided to have a look for PAfrican Airways’ business rescue nounced the airline would scrap all of its them because SAA is not only a great sym- “Government will be making represen- cheesecake, while catering himself. plans to close most of the national airline’s domestic routes apart from Johannesburg bol for the country but it is also an eco- tations to the business rescue practition- for more staid palates too. “It exceeded my expecta- domestic routes and some international to Cape Town, as well as fl ights to nine in- nomic enabler, it enables people to move ers in order to balance the necessity for Fat-free, vegan and adults- tions so much, like I’m going fl ights. ternational cities, including Hong Kong around the country and we would like SAA trimming unprofi table routes with the only alcoholic options are to come here as soon as pos- The cash-strapped fl ag carrier was and Sao Paulo. to remain a robust and successful airline.” need to ensure the future sustainability of also available. sible again to try out every placed under a state-approved turna- “We are not in agreement with what the Like most South African state-owned both the airline and South Africa’s avia- “When we initially opened single milkshake as far as round plan in December following years of rescue practitioners have come up with, enterprises (SOEs), the national airline tion industry,” the ministry said in a state- up the restaurant, we had I can, because it just looks mismanagement and increasing debt. that domestic fl ights should be cancelled,” has failed to make a profi t for more than ment. about 40 milkshakes. Be- amazing,” he said.

Congo president’s son charged in Cameroon elections overshadowed by boycott

France for money laundering AFP of Cameroon (MRC) is refusing a threat to snub it. ing stations in Cameroon’s Far Yaounde to field a single candidate. In parallel with the leaden North region, which has been Its leader, Maurice Kamto, political mood, Cameroon is battered by Boko Haram mili- AFP authorities started several years for using public money to fund spent nine months in jail after struggling with two conflicts. tants crossing from Nigeria. Paris ago, and in 2017 a daughter of a jet-set lifestyle. Paris has long oters in Cameroon will his defeat in 2018 presidential In two English-speaking re- The government yesterday the president and her husband been a favoured destination for cast their ballots tomor- elections and is now abroad. gions in the west, the armed announced that all of Cam- — Julienne Sassou Nguesso and the ill-gotten gains of wealthy Vrow in a country where “We could have had a few forces are battling separatists eroon’s borders would be son of Republic of Con- Guy Johnson — were charged fi gures linked to political lead- the mood has been darkened by seats in parliament and some who want to secede from the closed until Monday, and shops go President Denis Sas- along with two nephews. ers in Africa, particularly in separatist violence and calls for town councillors, but how majority French-speaking and drink outlets had to close Asou Nguesso has been France’s former colonies. an election boycott. would that enable us to influ- country. on polling day. indicted in France on money- Denis Christel Sassou Campaigners hope that the Elections to renew the cen- ence events in Cameroon?” The 28-month conflict has Municipal elections will laundering charges in a probe Nguesso, 45, was latest investigations signal a tral African country’s legis- Kamto said in an interview with claimed more than 3,000 lives also take place on polling day, into the family’s foreign assets, charged by the French new willingness of French au- lature and local councils are AFP in Paris last month. and caused more than 700,000 something that has excited a source close to the case said investigating magistrate thorities to tackle money laun- taking place for the first time “I would have voted for the people to flee, according to most media interest given the yesterday. in December 2019, dering. in seven years, after two post- MRC but tomorrow I’m going tolls compiled by NGOs. seemingly inevitable outcome Denis Christel Sassou the source added The Republic of Congo is ponements. to stay at home,” said a young “How can the state guaran- of legislative vote. Nguesso, 45, was charged by struggling with an image of Despite the delays, the cam- Yaounde voter, who gave his tee security for elections in the Some cities, including Doua- the French investigating mag- Property assets — including corruption and mismanage- paigning has been low key. name as Xavier. anglophone regions, given that la, the country’s economic hub, istrate in December 2019, the two Paris apartments owned by ment. In the capital Yaounde, the The boycott will all but guar- some towns are now inacces- could swing to the opposition, source added, the fi rst time the the president’s wife Antoinette It rated 165th out of 180 few banners put up by the rul- antee a crushing victory for the sible by road?” an independ- according to some forecasts. charges have been revealed. — have been confi scated as part states on Transparency Inter- ing Cameroon People’s Demo- RDPC, which in the outgoing ent observer from one of these City chiefs are to gain powers His father has ruled the of the investigation. national’s 2019 Corruption cratic Movement (RDPC in its legislature had 148 out of 180 regions asked at a meeting of under measures taken in De- Republic of Congo, a former The probe, opened in 2009 Perceptions Index. French initials) are barely more seats. the electoral commission in cember to decentralise some of French colony also called Con- after a complaint brought by On Monday, the investigative numerous than posters calling “Where’s the opposition?” Yaounde on Wednesday. the authorities out of Yaounde. go-Brazzaville, for the last 36 three associations, is also look- NGO Global Witness said the on people to pick up their litter. was the whimsical question The SDF traditionally draws The reforms have been trig- years and plans to contest elec- ing into assets of the family of SNPC — the Societe Nationale The RDPC supports Presi- aired by a local RDPC chief, Au- much of its support from the gered by the anglophone crisis tions again in 2021. Gabonese President Ali Bongo des Petroles du Congo — had at dent Paul Biya, one of the gustin Tsafack, on the sidelines anglophone regions but now although they fall far short of Denis Christel Sassou Ondimba. Teodorin Obiang, least $2.7bn in previously un- world’s oldest and longest- of a party rally in Yaounde. fears that it has been out- meeting the separatists’ de- Nguesso, known in Congo the son of Equatorial Guinea’s disclosed debts to oil majors. serving leaders, who has ruled The other large opposition flanked by the radicals — and mands. as “Kiki,” was until 2016 the leader Teodoro Obiang Ngue- Global Witness, which ana- with a steely fist for 37 of his 86 party, the Social Democratic says its candidates there have “The stakes (on Sunday) are number two in the powerful ma, is appealing a three-year lysed a trove of documents, years. Front (SDF), which currently come under attack. local,” said Stephane Akoa, a national oil company SNPC. suspended prison sentence said the debts could end up on The main opposition party, has 18 seats, will take part in Similar worries are being researcher at the Paul Ango Ela An investigation by French handed down in France in 2017 the state’s books. the Movement for the Rebirth tomorrow’s vote, going back on voiced for the safety of poll- think tank in Yaounde. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 5 AMERICAS

US court rejects lawsuit Reports: Trump eyeing against Trump White House changes businesses President says Congress obstruction of justice charges ported the planned White House earlier this week for a post at the fellow House Democrats as well stopped short of announcing should ‘expunge’ his from the Democratic-controlled removal of Vindman, citing two US Central Command, accord- as Republican Senator Mitt any specifi c actions to be taken impeachment House of Representatives. people familiar with the matter ing to Bloomberg News. Romney, the party’s 2012 presi- against anyone. Reuters However, the president, who said the move would be cast Trump has cast both Vindman dential nominee and the only White House spokeswoman Washington Reuters/AFP whose term has been clouded as part of a larger NSC downsiz- and Williams as “Never Trump- Republican senator to back an Stephanie Grisham had told Fox Washington by a series of investigations – ing. ers” who oppose him. impeachment charge. News that Trump was consid- fi rst into Russian interference in Three other people familiar CNN reported Trump was “So many people have been ering “just how horribly he was federal appeals court the 2016 election and then the with the matter, however, told weighing a permanent chief of hurt, and we can’t let that go on,” treated and that maybe people has thrown out a lawsuit S President Donald impeachment inquiry over his Bloomberg that some reassign- staff to replace his acting aide Trump told the typically bipar- should pay for that”. Abrought by Democratic Trump is eyeing a series handling of Ukraine – has said ments were because of perceived Mick Mulvaney, who was a cen- tisan National Prayer Breakfast, Trump has also called on lawmakers that accused Don- Uof staff changes days af- that he is still bitter about the disloyalty. tral fi gure in the impeachment attended by Pelosi. “When they Congress to “expunge” his im- ald Trump of violating anti- ter securing an acquittal in his ordeal as he turns his attention The Washington Post, which inquiry over Trump’s eff orts to impeach you for nothing, then peachment for abuse of power. corruption provisions in the US impeachment trial, including to the November 3 presidential also reported Vindman’s pos- pressure ally Ukraine to inves- you’re supposed to like them, it’s “Should they expunge im- Constitution with his business ousting a national security of- election. sible move, said that Trump has tigate Democrats and withhold not easy, folks.” peachment in the House? They dealings, capping a week of po- fi cial who testifi ed against him Army Lieutenant-Colonel also discussed removing other military aid for Kyiv. At a White House celebra- should because it was a hoax,” he litical victories for the Republi- and replacing his acting chief of Alexander Vindman, the White national security offi cials who White House deputy press tory event with his legal team told reporters. can president. staff , a source familiar with the House National Security Coun- co-operated with House Demo- secretary Judd Deere, asked and congressional supporters, The Republican minority A unanimous three-judge situation and media reports said cil (NSC’s) top Ukraine expert crats’ investigations, though no about the reports, confi rmed his Trump on Thursday also called leader in the House of Repre- panel of the US Court of Appeals yesterday. who testifi ed in lawmakers’ im- fi nal decisions have been made, statement to CNN: “We have no out former Federal Bureau of In- sentatives, Kevin McCarthy, for the District of Columbia Cir- Trump emerged victorious peachment inquiry, will be reas- citing unnamed people familiar personnel announcements at vestigation (FBI) director James has said that if his party wins cuit ruled that the more than 210 this week with a near party-line signed to the Defence Depart- with his comments. this time.” Comey, House Democrats’ lead back control of the chamber in House of Representatives and vote in the Senate, controlled ment, a source familiar with the Another senior white House In two speeches on Thurs- impeachment manager Adam the November general election Senate Democrats lacked the by his fellow Republicans who situation told Reuters. aide who testifi ed over impeach- day, Trump took aim at House Schiff , and his 2016 Democratic it will seek to overturn, or ex- required legal standing to bring rejected abuse of power and Bloomberg News fi rst re- ment, Jennifer Williams, left Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her rival Hillary Clinton, though he punge, the impeachment. the case, reversing a lower court judge’s decision that had allowed the case to proceed. Two days after being acquit- ted by the Senate in his im- peachment trial, Trump hailed Comics and the ruling as a “total win”, telling reporters that “it was another phony case”. cubism at Elizabeth Wydra, a lawyer for the lawmakers, said they were disappointed in the decision and New York were weighing their next steps. Trump still faces two similar lawsuits pending in other courts Fashion that also accuse him of violating the Constitution’s rarely tested “emoluments” clauses that bar Week presidents from taking gifts or payments from foreign and state governments. AFP The lawsuits all have focused New York on his ownership of the Trump International Hotel in Washing- ton, just blocks from the White merican creator Christian House. Siriano kicked off New The hotel, opened by Trump AYork Fashion Week with shortly before he was elected a gleeful mix of comics, cubism in 2016, has become a favoured and glamour, in the build-up to lodging and event space for some the Oscars, where he could well foreign and state offi cials visit- Canadian model Coco Rocha triumph. ing Washington. presents a creation for Christian The young designer, based in The ruling came during a week Siriano on Thursday evening, New York since he was 22, has of positives for Trump as he during New York Fashion Week become one of the city’s biggest seeks re-election on November at Spring Studios, New York City. fashion attractions over the last 3. few years with the exit of several He previewed election themes Right: A model presents a big names. in his State of the Union address creation for Christian Siriano on His outfi ts are sought out and on Tuesday, benefi ted from the Thursday evening during New worn by stars on the red carpet. chaotic aftermath of Monday’s York Fashion Week. This season he drew inspira- Democratic presidential nomi- tion from characters and emo- nation contest in Iowa, and was Left: A woman holds her dog at tions from the DC Comics su- given a lift by yesterday’s strong the 17th annual New York Pet perhero fi lm Birds of Prey. jobs report. Fashion Show in New York City. “The whole idea was every- Reuters/Ipsos polling shows body has a little inner Harley that Trump’s approval rating has Below: A dog dressed in a cape Quinn in them,” Siriano, refer- been largely unchanged by im- waits backstage for the 17th ring to the movie’s main charac- peachment, with 42% of Ameri- annual New York Pet Fashion ter, told AFP before the show. cans approving of his perform- Show. Quinn, the Joker’s former ance as president. companion, is an extreme anti- Unlike past presidents, Trump hero who sways between good – a wealthy real estate devel- and evil. oper-turned politician, has re- The 34-year-old Siriano tained ownership of his business sought to make her “more ro- interests while serving in the mantic, beautiful, elegant” and White House. didn’t skimp on the sequins, The emoluments lawsuits velvet and shimmering fabric to have accused him of making make his creations shine. himself vulnerable to bribery by It is par for the course for this foreign governments. master of the spectacle who In the case dismissed yester- added his touch of glamour with day, the appeals court decided long robes, padded shoulders that it was bound by Supreme and opulent materials, velvet in Court rulings that have limited particular. the ability of individual mem- The designer also took fl a- bers of Congress to litigate ques- menco by the arm, using its frills tions that aff ect the legislative and traditional Cordobes hats branch as a whole. as well as – more daringly – cu- The Democratic lawmakers bism. “can, and likely will, continue The last outfi ts of the collec- to use their weighty voices to tion were all formed of angles. make their case to the Ameri- While designers increasingly can people, their colleagues in ponder the relevance of the cat- the Congress and the President walk, Siriano is clear: it is part himself”, the three-judge panel and parcel of what he does. wrote. “But we will not – indeed “Fashion is so hard right we cannot – participate in this now. It’s rough. But this is my debate.” dream fantasy world. So I feel if we didn’t have this some of my clothes wouldn’t make sense an- ymore and that’s so sad,” he said. “That’s why I get up everyday to do this job because I like the Canadian police arrest six protesters at Coastal GasLink site dream world of it.” “I take a lot of risks and I think people are intrigued by that Reuters export facility is under con- struction, the RCMP said. the Union of BC Indian Chiefs had threatened to arrest journal- (420-mile) route passes through hopefully. You never know who’s Winnipeg struction. One person was also charged said that police began “aggres- ists. Wet’suwet’en lands. going to sit front row, you never The Royal Canadian Mounted with resisting arrest. sively raiding” traditional indig- “We remind BC RCMP that Coastal GasLink president really what the shapes are going Police (RCMP) imposed an “ex- “Our presence may appear enous territories overnight. Canada is not a police state,” David Pfeiff er said he was dis- to be. anadian police arrested clusion zone” on Thursday near imposing,” British Columbia “Forcing indigenous peoples the association said on Twitter. appointed the hereditary chiefs “So I hope that gets people six people on Thursday in Houston, British Columbia, that RCMP said in a statement. “In off their own territory is in com- “Police do not have the right to had refused to meet with the coming back.” Ca remote area of northern bars access to an area where reality, a minimal amount of plete and disgusting violation of control what is published.” company, and that a liaison’s Hollywood’s darling, Siriano British Columbia where indig- project opponents had built a force was required to support the United Nations Declaration All of the elected indigenous eff orts failed to resolve the situ- is living a high-stakes, high- enous protesters have blocked barricade of felled trees and in- the arrests or removal of indi- on the Right of Indigenous Peo- band councils along Coastal ation. stress moment, with Thursday’s construction of the Coastal cendiary material. viduals.” ples,” Phillip said. GasLink’s route support the “This is not the outcome we show and the Oscars this week- GasLink pipeline. The zone will create an area The British Columbia Su- Police said some journalists project. wanted. We have made excep- end. The C$6.6bn ($4.97bn) pipe- for Coastal GasLink contractors preme Court granted an in- were removed from the zone for But Wet’suwet’en hereditary tional eff orts to resolve this “It’s the worse. Half my team line, to be operated by TC En- to safely work, the RCMP said. junction in December against safety reasons but were not ar- chiefs oppose it and say they, blockade through engagement is at my studio right now” pre- ergy Corp, will move gas from Early in the morning, the au- blockades preventing access for rested. not the community’s elected of- and dialogue,” Pfeiff er said. paring the outfi ts that will grace northeast British Columbia to thorities ordered people at the workers, after protests a year ago The Canadian Association of fi cials, hold authority over tradi- Construction has continued tomorrow’s red carpet. the Pacifi c coast, where the Roy- protest site to leave, but six re- resulted in arrests. Journalists said it had verifi ed tional lands. along other parts of the pipeline “It’s so hard. It’s the hardest al Dutch Shell-led LNG Canada fused and were arrested for ob- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of reports, however, that the RCMP Some 28% of the 670km route. we’ve ever had.” Gulf Times 6 Saturday, February 8, 2020 ASIA

Bring back Chinese tourists in Bali extend Nepalis from China: PM

IANS holiday on coronavirus fears Kathmandu

Reuters/AFP has already started to hurt In- epal Prime Minister K P Denpasar/Jakarta donesia’s tourism industry by Sharma Oli has directed halting Chinese tourist arrivals, Nauthorities to bring back said the chairman of the China Nepalis stranded in China amid teven Gu, a Chinese tour- committee at the Indonesian the fast-spreading coronavirus ist on the Indonesian is- Association of Tours and Travel, outbreak, a media report said. Sland of Bali, was supposed Hery Sudiarto. At least 180 Nepali nationals, to fl y back last month from his “The impact on tourism is mostly students, have fi led ap- holiday to his home town in terrible especially after fl ights plications at the country’s em- Jiangsu province to celebrate have been cancelled and visas bassy in China seeking immedi- the Lunar New Year. on arrival has been discontin- ate evacuation from China where But when he learned about ued, it will stop Chinese tourists the virus has killed 636 people, the coronavirus outbreak in from coming to Bali in the short The Himalayan Times said in the China, Gu, who has been in Bali term,” said Sudiarto. report on Thursday. since mid-January, decided to Indonesia, which has not According to Oli’s press ad- extend his stay with his wife, recorded any cases of coro- viser Surya Thapa, the prime child and his parents. navirus, has barred visitors minister also asked the authori- “The epidemic in China is who have been in China for 14 ties to exercise caution and make very serious now, therefore I days and all fl ights to and from adequate preparations within the hope to keep my family safe by there have been halted since stipulated time to deal with the staying in Bali,” Gu said. Wednesday. risk of coronavirus infection as He is not alone. Thousands Meanwhile, charter fl ights per the government’s work plan. of Chinese tourists on the re- off ered to thousands of Chinese Oli made the decision after sort island have opted to remain tourists stranded in Bali after holding a meeting with Deputy amid fears over the coronavirus, Indonesia halted fl ights over Prime Minister and Defence which has killed more than 600. coronavirus fears have been Minister Ishwar Pokharel, Home A Bali-based law and human delayed because travel permits Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, rights ministry offi cial, Sutris- have yet to be approved, Jakarta Foreign Minister Pradeep Gya- no, said authorities would help said yesterday. wali, Minister of Health and Pop- Chinese tourists with visas if A diplomatic notice said Bei- ulation Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, they did not want to return yet. jing was arranging fl ights yes- Li Rong, 46-year-old Chinese citizen from Shenzen, talks to an immigration off icer to extend her Indonesian visa at the Immigration Off ice in Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhat- “We will extend their stay for terday back to Wuhan. Denpasar, Bali yesterday. tarai, Chief Secretary Lok Dar- one month. Every visa on arrival Many of the marooned tour- shan Regmi and other high rank- can be extended once and for 30 ists are from the stricken city “The Chinese embassy (in tourists who wanted to return. Sunday and have been quaran- protests by locals angry that ing offi cials on Thursday. days. But if their country is not and surrounding Hubei prov- Jakarta) has not yet submit- It was not clear how many tined for two weeks at a mili- the quarantine site was near a He asked the ministers and safe to return we will help to ince, the consulate had said. ted technical details of the air- holidaymakers would take up tary hangar on Natuna island, residential neighbourhood. the offi cials to also make ad- facilitate this for humanitarian But Indonesia’s foreign af- planes to relevant authorities the off er or who would pay for which lies between Borneo and In response, Indonesia’s Co- equate provisions for the return- purposes,” said Sutrisno, who fairs ministry said yesterday which are required to apply for their tickets. Peninsular Malaysia. ordinating Minister for Politi- ees’ quarantine at four places in uses one name. it had not received the neces- a permit,” ministry spokesman Indonesia has repatriated Indonesia’s health ministry cal, Legal and Security Aff airs Kathmandu valley. Chinese tourists are among sary paperwork to greenlight Teuku Faizasyah said. about 240 of its own citizens has released images on social Mahfud MD said Jakarta was Nepal has so far confi rmed one the biggest groups of visi- charter trips after the South- Earlier, Bali airport authori- from the epicentre of the out- media showing the evacuees mulling a plan to build a quar- coronavirus case. tors to Indonesia, especially in east Asian nation shut down all ties had said at least one empty break – mostly university doing morning exercises, play- antine site elsewhere on the In South Asia besides Nepal, destinations such as Bali. commercial fl ights to and from commercial plane was set to ar- students studying in China. ing games and singing karaoke. 17,000 island archipelago in India has confi rmed three, while The coronavirus outbreak mainland China. rive from Shanghai to pick up The evacuees landed on But the move has set off case it was needed in future. Sri Lanka reported one case. Thai minister says expel foreigners for not wearing face masks

AFP masks at a busy Bangkok sky- Bangkok train entrance when he com- plained that “farang” tourists didn’t take them and acted as if hailand’s health minister they “don’t care”. lashed out at “Western” Farang is a commonly used Ttourists yesterday for not Thai word to describe West- wearing face masks and sug- erners and is sometimes used gested they be expelled from dismissively. the country for putting others “These kinds of people, we at risk during the coronavirus should kick them out of Thai- outbreak. land,” he told reporters, waving The outburst came as the a handful of masks in the air. kingdom faced steep losses over Anutin did not respond to a drop in visitors from China, additional requests for com- where the virus has killed more ment but posted an apology on than 600 people and prompted his Facebook page for “losing Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (left) welcomes Bangladeshi sweeping travel restrictions. it” after “some foreigners from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of their meeting at Palazzo Chigi, Tourism accounts for 18% Europe” were uncooperative in in Rome. of the country’s gross domes- the mask campaign. tic product and Chinese holi- More than 10mn Chinese daymakers make up a quarter tourists visited Thailand last of total arrivals. year but the industry projects Thailand has detected 25 about 2mn fewer arrivals in Thailand’s Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (right) handing out protective face masks to members coronavirus cases and nine of 2020 because of the coronavi- of the public at a BTS Skytrain station in Bangkok yesterday. Hasina seeks those patients have recovered, rus, making US, European and while streets, public transport other markets more vital. Since then it has spread to have respiratory symptoms or “not needed for general pub- and shopping centres have Debates over the effi cacy of more than two dozen countries are caring for patients. lic who do not have respiratory fi lled with people wearing face masks have bounced around and infected tens of thousands, But the World Health Or- symptoms”. masks. the internet since the contagion mostly within mainland China. ganisation’s (WHO) own Thai- The WHO has advised people Health Minister Anutin fi rst emerged in the Chinese city Health experts generally land offi ce tweeted a graphic to wash their hands regularly EU support on February 4 stating masks are and avoid touching their face. Charnvirakul was distributing of Wuhan last month. agree masks are useful if you for Rohingya Maldives probes knife Vietnam slams repatriation Slovakia expulsion IANS Karim said that Conte ap- attack on 3 foreigners of diplomat in Dhaka preciated Bangladesh’s man- agement of the Rohingya crisis, adding that he encouraged Hasi- IANS “The Maldives police “We announce to you that abduction row angladesh Prime Minister na to continue with the policy of Male service has arrested we claim responsibility for the Sheikh Hasina has sought hospitality. three suspects under recent stabbings of the tourists Reuters tween Germany and Vietnam Bcontinued support of the In its January ruling, the ICJ a court warrant in (in the Maldives)”, says one of Prague and prompted Germany to ac- European Union (EU) to ensure directed Myanmar to prevent hree suspects have been relation to the stabbing them. cuse Vietnam of breaching in- safe, dignifi ed, and sustainable the alleged genocide against the arrested for stabbing of three foreign The attack occurred a day ternational law. Slovakia sought return of the displaced Rohingya Muslim minority community. Tthree foreigners in an at- nationals” after Maldivian President Mo- ietnam has denounced to distance itself from the case refugees back to Myanmar, a me- The court said Myanmar must tack in the Maldives allegedly hamed Solih announced the Slovakia’s expulsion of after reports a Slovakian state dia report said yesterday. “take all measures within its claimed by the Islamic State nationals,” the police said in a completion of the construction Vone of its diplomats in plane was used in the kidnap. “The Bangladesh prime min- power to prevent the commis- (IS) terror group, offi cials have statement. of a centre to deradicalise and a row over the abduction of a Slovakia’s foreign ministry ister thanked the EU members, sion of all acts” described by the said. The suspects, who have not rehabilitate Maldivian nation- disgraced Vietnamese busi- said in a statement posted on including Italy, for their support convention. Police said “the heinous at- been identifi ed, were arrested als who had joined the global nessman via Slovakia in 2017, its website late on Wednes- to the cause of the Rohingya,” Nearly 738,000 Rohingya tack” was carried out by “sus- after the IS claimed the re- terror group. saying it was not in line with day that it had “fl agged strong The Daily Star newspaper quot- refugees are living in camps in pected extremists” on Tuesday sponsibility for the attack in a The initiative is part of So- the “traditional friendship” diplomatic consequences if ed a joint statement issued on Bangladesh since Aug. 25, 2017, evening on the Hulhumale is- video posted on social media lih’s plans to repatriate the between the two countries. the very serious suspicions of Thursday after talks between following a wave of persecution land near the North Male Atoll, accounts linked to supporters families of former IS fi ghters Businessman Trinh Xuan abuse of Slovakia’s hospitality Hasina and her Italian counter- and violence in Myanmar that reports Efe news. of the Islamist group. in Syria. Thanh had been seeking asy- were confi rmed offi cially”. part Giuseppe Conte in Rome, as the UN has described as a text- The victims, two Chi- “We are also establishing A 2015 US report on the lum in Germany at the time of It declined to comment saying. book example of ethnic cleans- nese and an Australian, have the validity of a video circulat- number of foreign terrorists his disappearance on a Berlin further on the case. Briefi ng reporters after the ing and possible genocide. been hospitalised and their ing on social media claiming to made a special mention of the street. He was spirited back to “We will consider measures meeting, Hasina’s press secre- Myanmar does not use the condition is stable. be related to this attack,” the Maldives, which has among Vietnam, via Slovakia, where appropriate to our bilateral re- tary Ihsanul Karim said both sides Rohingya term and also doesn’t “The Maldives police service police said. the world’s highest number he was tried and jailed for life lations, international law and welcomed the January 23 decision recognise them as its citizens, has arrested three suspects un- The video shows three men of foreign fi ghters per capita: in 2018 for violating state reg- practice,” the Vietnamese For- of International Court of Justice arguing that they are illegal der a court warrant in relation with their faces completely 200 out of a total population of ulations and embezzlement. eign Ministry said in a statement (ICJ) on the Rohingya crisis. immigrants from Bangladesh. to the stabbing of three foreign covered. 345,000 inhabitants. The case soured relations be- e-mailed to Reuters. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Virus cases on cruise liner off Japan jump to 61, thousands confi ned to cabins

Reuters Hong Kong was diagnosed with 2020 Olympics, which begin on and passengers were fi nding out fi cials would be able to help her erdam to dock there. Separately, Separating out the cruise line Tokyo the virus. The 61 cases came from July 24. Games organisers have about the new infections from parents get off it. “They are all Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshi- cases helps authorities demon- a sample of 273 people who had set up a task force to co-ordinate the Internet before they were an- breathing circulated contami- hide Suga said a fourth chartered strate they’ve been able to keep been tested because they were with health authorities on how to nounced on the ship, a 43-year- nated air so they could be get- fl ight had brought 119 more Japa- domestic transmissions low, nother 41 people quaran- either showing symptoms or had respond to the epidemic. old Hong Kong resident, on the ting everyone infected,” Rhodes- nese nationals and 79 Chinese said Ikuo Tsunoda, professor of tined on a cruise liner off been in close contact with those Video footage showed blue and ship with his family, told Reuters. Courter said. Experts say the virus and Taiwanese family members microbiology at Kindai Univer- AJapan tested positive for who did, according to the health white tarpaulin put up on the Dia- Staff distributed thermometers can be transmitted via droplets from Wuhan. sity. “Whenever I see the table of coronavirus yesterday, bring- ministry. mond Princess to screen passen- and passengers were told mental from an infected person exhal- Three planes last week brought the number of patients infected ing the total confi rmed cases to Health Minister Katsunobu gers from view as those diagnosed health experts were available, over ing, coughing or sneezing, and a total of 565 evacuees back to Ja- around the world, the top line is 61, with thousands of passengers Kato told a news conference 21 with the virus were moved out the telephone around the clock. can also spread via contaminated pan. A handful of them were con- always of course China, and now confi ned to cabins as the testing is of the newly found 41 cases were to hospitals in Tokyo and neigh- “We have instructions to moni- surfaces. fi rmed to have the virus. The new in the past few days, the second carried out. Japanese. Further tests would be bouring towns, the health minis- tor our temperatures and report Transport Minister Kazuyoshi ship cases take the total number of country is Japan,” Tsunoda said. The cruise ship, Diamond Prin- conducted if additional passen- try said. if we’re above 37.5,” said the man, Akaba told reporters Japan had coronavirus infections in Japan to “It looks really bad.” cess, and the roughly 3,700 people gers on board the ship developed The increase in the number of who declined to be identifi ed. asked another cruise ship, the more than 80, according to Reu- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on board have been under a two- symptoms, he said. infections has added to the gloom Normal temperature is generally Westerdam, not to make a port ters calculations. said Chinese nationals who have week quarantine since arriving The outbreak, which has killed for passengers stuck on the ship, accepted as 37C. call in the country. Health Minister Kato said Japan qualifi ed for the Tokyo marathon back at the port of Yokohama, more than 635 people in mainland who were only allowed onto open Ashley Rhodes-Courter, an Guam Governor Leon Guerrero was not including the cruise ship on March 1 but cannot travel to south of Tokyo, on Monday, af- China but only two elsewhere, has decks briefl y for fresh air. Internet American whose parents are on today rejected a US State Depart- cases in its national count, which Japan to take part will be assured ter a man who disembarked in stoked concern about the Tokyo bandwidth had been increased the ship, said she hoped US of- ment request to allow the West- stands at 21. of a spot next year. Outpouring of grief over doctor’s death, virus crisis deepens

AFP Beijing

Chinese doctor who was punished after raising the People wear masks as they attend a vigil in Hong Kong for late Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who died of Aalarm about China’s new coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan. coronavirus died from the patho- gen, sparking an outpouring of grief and anger over a worsening crisis that has now killed more than 630 people. How China handled virus doctor’s death At least 31,000 people have now been infected by a virus that Chinese media’s reporting of the the news of Li’s death is per- death. “These so-called unoff icial ophthalmologist Li Wenliang death of coronavirus whistle- ceived as politically motivated,” notifications have become a brought to light in late December blowing doctor Li Wenliang Fu said. common censorship tool in before becoming its latest victim. ignited online anger after he was Weibo users complained that Chinese media in recent years,” The virus is believed have first pronounced dead, then alive their posts and comments on said a reporter for the reputed emerged from a market selling and, finally, dead again. Li, 34, the doctor’s death were being business magazine Caixin, who exotic animals in Wuhan before died early Friday, Wuhan Central scrubbed on Weibo and messag- declined to be named. AFP could jumping to humans and spread- Hospital said in a post on China’s ing app WeChat, sparking anger not independently verify the ing across China and abroad as Twitter-like Weibo platform, after at what was seen as an attempt notice. millions travelled for the Lunar contracting the virus while treat- by censors to mute public In this notice, media workers are New Year holiday. ing a patient. Here is how the opinion. ordered to “not use push notifica- Researchers at the South Chi- story unfolded. tions, not comment on the case, na Agricultural University have A photo of the late ophthalmologist Li Wenliang is seen with flower bouquets at the Houhu Branch of Wuhan ‘Cover-up’ not blow it out of proportion” identifi ed the endangered pan- Central Hospital in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province yesterday. Deleted posts The confusion caused by off icial and off icials are told to “strictly golin as a “potential intermediate Nationalist tabloid Global Times media reporting on the doctor’s contain toxic information.” Five host” for the disease, as the ge- nouncement that triggered deep han, the quarantined city of 11mn they were holding political meet- and state broadcaster CCTV first death reignited anger that other journalists at various state nome sequences of viruses found sadness on social media over a people where the virus emerged ings at the time and wanted to reported on Weibo that Li had authorities did not act quickly media outlets, who declined to on the scaly mammal are 99% doctor hailed as a hero. in December. project an aura of stability. died late Thursday - but their enough to inform the public and be named, told AFP that in re- identical to those on coronavi- “He is a hero who warned oth- Medical staff are overstretched The fi rst fatality was reported posts were deleted after the contain an epidemic that began cent days they have been asked rus patients. The virus has since ers with his life,” a fellow Wuhan and lack suffi cient protec- on January 11. The death toll has news became the top topic on unfolding in December. “Volume to focus on “sunshine stories” spread across China, prompting doctor wrote on Weibo. There tive gear, the deputy governor since soared to 636, with 73 more the popular platform. Chinese of posts about ‘Wuhan’ and ‘Epi- showing the success of virus the government to lock down cit- was also a rare collective bout of of Hubei province admitted on reported on Friday and an addi- media outlets then said Li was demic’ remain stable but ‘Cover- relief eff orts. ies of tens of millions of people, anger at the authorities and bold Thursday. tional 3,000 new infections. To under “emergency treatment”, up’ (+454%) and ‘Censor’ (+75%) and panic has spiralled around demands, including the hashtag Li sent out a message about the control the spread, authorities before finally announcing his are skyrocketing,” Fu wrote on a Mistrust the globe as more than 240 cas- “we demand freedom of speech”, new coronavirus to colleagues have placed some 56mn people death at about 3am on Friday Facebook post yesterday. China has scrambled to share es have emerged in two dozen which was censored. “Those on December 30 in Wuhan but in Wuhan and surrounding cities (1900 GMT). “The police reprimanded data with the international com- countries. Chinese President Xi fat offi cials who live on public was later among a group of peo- under virtual lockdown. The hashtag “Dr. Li Wenliang whistleblower according to munity about the virus, after Jinping and US President Donald money, may you die from a snow- ple summoned by police for “ru- Authorities in Wuhan are dead” was the most searched regulations, news anchor just being accused of attempting to Trump, whose countries have storm,” wrote another Weibo mour-mongering”. He later con- “combing” communities to fi nd topic on Weibo late Thursday, reported according to the hush-up the Sars outbreak that tussled over trade and human user in a comment that was later tracted the disease while treating people suspected or confi rmed to with over a billion views and manuscript, and social media op- killed nearly 800 people globally rights, spoke on the phone about scrubbed. a patient. have the virus and place them in over 1.1mn comments. erators just deleted posts... based in 2002-2003. But Thursday’s the health emergency. In a sign that the criticism Censors appeared to struggle quarantine, state media said. Ma- But by Friday morning it had on directives from above,” said a messy reporting on Li’s death Xi urged “the US side to re- has shaken the Communist gov- with how to deal with his death. jor airlines have suspended fl ights dropped out of the top 20 trend- post that has been taken down, has again raised concerns about spond reasonably to the novel ernment, its anti-graft agency State-run newspaper ‘Global to and from the country, while ing topics. “The ranking seems according to Weiboscope, a off icial promises of transparency. coronavirus outbreak”, accord- announced that it was sending Times’ and state broadcaster several countries have advised to be manipulated,” King-wa Fu, University of Hong Kong project “This very confusing reporting ing to the offi cial Xinhua news a team to Wuhan to “conduct a CCTV fi rst reported on Weibo their citizens to leave China. who studies Chinese censorship tracking censored Weibo com- and people rushing to WeChat, agency. Trump expressed his comprehensive investigation into that Li had died late Thursday, But cases keep emerging. Two patterns at the University of ments. “It’s only when everyone to Weibo - being glued to their “confi dence” in China’s ability issues involving Dr Li Wenliang only to delete their posts after the cruise ships carrying thousands Hong Kong, told AFP. The han- dares to say ‘I refuse to lie’ can social media screens not know- to tackle the epidemic, the White reported by the masses”. The for- death rapidly surged to be among of holidaymakers in Hong Kong dling of the news “looks similar there be spring.” ing what to believe, what source House said. eign ministry and the National the top topics on the popular and Japan have been placed un- to that after Liu Xiaobo’s death,” to trust... epitomises this whole Beijing has been angered by Health Commission expressed platform. T der quarantine as authorities test he said, referring to censorship ‘Toxic information’ coronavirus outbreak, with bans on arrivals from China in- condolences for his death. he World Health Organisation people for infections. following the 2017 death of the Weibo users also posted people longing for trustworthy stituted by the United States and Li’s death has also highlighted reacted to the fi rst reports of his Another cruise ship carrying a jailed Nobel peace laureate criti- screenshots of apparently leaked sources,” said Manya Koetse, other countries. Li, 34, died early the enormous risks that front- death to express sadness. Ana- passenger suspected of infection cal of the Chinese Communist “reporting instructions” Thursday who tracks social trends in China Friday, Wuhan Central Hospital line doctors have taken to treat lysts have said local authorities with coronavirus will not be al- Party. night that appears to instruct as editor of What’s on Weibo. said in a post on China’s Twit- patients in overwhelmed and un- played down the extent of the lowed to dock in southern Japan, “Some irregularities in handling local journalists to play down Li’s “There is so much distrust”. ter-like Weibo platform, an an- der-equipped hospitals in Wu- outbreak in early January because the government said yesterday.

HK unveils quarantine plans, with jail for dodgers Rains ‘breaking the back’

AFP just six hours before the new will be stopping a lot of people I urge the public not to believe in Hong Kong policy was due to come on. Hong with the new measures,” Security rumours.” The new coronavirus of Australia bushfi re crisis Kong residents arriving from Minister John Lee said. The new that emerged in Wuhan at the end mainland China will be allowed regulations have been enacted of last year has killed more than ong Kong yesterday said to self-quarantine at home. Chi- under a sweeping emergency law 630 people and spread around AFP earlier in the week in some ar- became the public face of the it will deploy an army nese and international visitors that allows city leaders to bypass the world. The latest fi gures from Sydney eas and are forecast to extend crisis through stoic daily TV Hof volunteers to bolster will be able to self-quarantine at the legislature during a disease China show there are more than into next week, are expected briefi ngs and consoling chil- plans to forcibly quarantine all hotels or any other accommoda- outbreak. 30,000 people infected there. to drench a number of the re- dren who, like him, lost their arrivals from mainland China, tion they have arranged. Exemptions would be made Outside mainland China, there eavy rain was raising maining fi res and help contain fi refi ghting fathers in bushfi res warning that anyone caught “If they cannot arrange ac- for a variety of key jobs, including have been more than 320 in- hopes yesterday for an others. - expressed joy at listening to breaching the new rules faces up commodation, they will be taken fl ight and shipping crews as well fections reported in two dozen Hend to Australia’s un- “It’s breaking the back of the rain fall overnight and driv- to six months prison. In a major to the temporary facilities pre- as cross border truck drivers to countries. precedented bushfi re crisis, as this bushfi re season, there’s ing with windscreen wipers on. escalation of its battle against the pared by the government,” health ensure goods and food keep com- Hong Kong has 25 confi rmed downpours douse blazes that no doubt about it,” said Shane “Obviously we don’t want to new coronavirus, the interna- secretary Sophia Chan said. ing into the city. Hong Kong has cases with one patient who died have burned out of control for Fitzsimmons, the head of rural see lots of widespread damage tional fi nance hub has said any- Anyone who has been to main- been hit by a wave of panic-buy- earlier this week. Many of the months. fi refi ghters in NSW, the state and destruction from fl ooding, one arriving from the mainland land China in the past 14 days ing in recent days with supermar- newer infections have no his- The devastating fi res, fuelled worst hit by the crisis. but it is certainly a welcome from Saturday will have to un- and then fl ies into Hong Kong ket shelves frequently emptied of tory of travel to mainland China, by prolonged drought and By yesterday afternoon there change to the relentless cam- dergo 14 days compulsory quar- from another destination will crucial goods such as toilet paper, prompting fears that the city now record-high temperatures, were no bushfi res burning in paign of hot, dry weather” he antine. also be quarantined. Offi cials - hand sanitiser, rice and pasta. has a local self-sustaining out- have raged since September, NSW at the most dangerous told public broadcaster ABC. Offi cials hope the new meas- backed by volunteers from the The government has blamed break. There have been growing burning more than 10mn hec- emergency or “watch and act” As the bushfi re crisis abates, ures will virtually halt all cross- civil service and some students - false online rumours of short- calls for the border with China to tares (25mn acres) and killing levels - a situation virtually un- authorities are now bracing for border traffi c while allowing the will conduct spot checks or make ages, saying supplies are stable. be sealed entirely. Hong Kong’s 33 people. An estimated billion seen in almost half a year. Be- possible fl ooding. city to remain stocked with food daily phone calls to ensure peo- “The problem of supply shortage pro-Beijing leadership, which animals have perished in the leaguered volunteer fi refi ghters The Bureau of Meteorol- and goods from the mainland ple were staying at home. Those doesn’t exist,” said Chief Secre- currently has record low approval fi res that destroyed more than who have fought the blazes day- ogy issued a string of fl ood where the virus has killed more caught breaking their quarantine tary Matthew Cheung. “Citizens ratings after months of pro-de- 2,500 homes. in-day-out declared them- warnings and said some parts than 600 people. Cabinet minis- face up to six months in jail and a do not need to worry or make mocracy protests, had been re- The rains in New South selves “over the moon” at the of NSW will see their highest ters unveiled the quarantine plans HK$25,000 (US $3,200) fi ne. “We excessive purchases out of panic. luctant to make such a move. Wales (NSW), which began rain. Even Fitzsimmons - who rainfall totals in four years. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, February 8, 2020 BRITAIN/IRELAND

ANNOUNCEMENT CLAIM PEOPLE CONTROVERSY CRIME Princess Beatrice ‘Poverty increases’ despite British mum accused of Baroness Scotland hit Teen who threw boy from to marry in May low unemployment killing son dies in hospital by new £4mn threat gallery ‘told of plan to kill’

Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter Princess Poverty has risen among workers despite the A British woman suspected of murdering her Commonwealth chief Baroness Scotland A teenager who threw a six-year-old French Beatrice is to marry Italian businessman country’s lowest unemployment in 45 years, an two-year-old son has died in hospital after was hit by a further blow after it emerged boy off the 10th floor of London’s Tate Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in London later this organisation for social change said while urging she was arrested and detained in Finland. The that Australia may halt its funding in Modern art gallery had said he planned to year, Buckingham Palace announced yesterday. the new government to take action. “Although 35-year-old was held in January after a child protest at her conduct. Canberra’s threat push someone off a high building, the BBC The marriage, at St James’s Palace on May 29, employment has increased, in-work poverty died in a two-bed apartment in the Suurpelto to axe its £4mn-a-year grant came as and Daily Mail reported yesterday. The two is likely to be a more low-key event than the has also gone up because often people’s pay, area of Espoo, Finland’s second biggest city. she faced a ‘trial by diplomat’ at her news groups obtained a recording of Jonty 2018 wedding of her younger sister Eugenie. hours, or both are not enough,” said the Joseph The mother, named as Ayesha Ali by the Sunday Marlborough House headquarters near Bravery, who has autism, reportedly telling She paraded through the streets of Windsor Rowntree Foundation. JRF’s ‘state of the nation’ Mirror, was being held in Vantaa prison near Buckingham Palace amid mounting care workers a year ago that “in the next after marrying British wine merchant Jack report on poverty in the UK revealed also that Helsinki. She was taken to hospital on Tuesday pressure to resign. Baroness Scotland was few months I’ve got it in my head I’ve got Brooksbank. Beatrice, 31, and Eugenie, 29, are poverty had risen for children and pensioners last week. In a previous statement, police said interrogated by 50 high commissioners to kill somebody”. “It could be anything daughters of the queen’s second son Prince over the last five years. In total, 14mn people the mother had confessed to the killing and at a crisis meeting of the Commonwealth just as long as it’s a high thing and we can Andrew. A statement said Beatrice’s wedding, in in the UK were living in poverty, it said. Recent a trial date had been set for April 17. Ali, from Secretariat over a report which lambasted go up and visit it and then push somebody the Chapel Royal at St James’s, “will be followed off icial data meanwhile showed that Britain’s Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staff ordshire, taught her over a £250,000 commission to a firm off it and I know for a fact they’ll die from by a private reception, given by The Queen, in unemployment rate stands at 3.8%, the lowest English at a training company in Helsinki, run by her Labour friend Lord Patel of falling from a hundred feet,” he was quoted the gardens of Buckingham Palace”. level since 1975. according to her LinkedIn profile. Bradford. as saying. Continuity IRA Ireland goes to the polls admits planning ‘Brexit Day’ lorry bomb plot

Group planned to smuggle to explode during the ferry explosive device across crossing. Irish Sea on ferry bound for They said CIRA was follow- Scotland ing standard armed republican tactics of transporting bombs Guardian News and Media over to England to attack com- London mercial or strategic targets. “The plan was no different, although far smaller in scale, he Continuity IRA has than the way the Provisional admitted it tried to IRA smuggled the huge bomb Tsmuggle a bomb onto a that devastated Canary Wharf lorry destined for an Irish Sea in 1996. There is no way repub- ferry. licans were planning to explode In a statement issued to the a bomb on a ferry.” Irish News in Belfast the re- The Canary Wharf bomb, publican terror group said it which signalled the end of the had planned for the bomb to go Provisional IRA’s 1994 cease- off on the day the UK left the fire, was built by operatives EU. from its East Tyrone Brigade The explosive device was dis- and then transported in a lorry A woman votes at a polling station in Inisheer yesterday ahead of Ireland’s national election. Polls open at 0700GMT today but 12 islands off Ireland’s west coast began covered after police searches on by activists from PIRA’s South voting yesterday as a precaution against bad weather which can aff ect the transport of ballot boxes by boat. the Silverwood industrial estate Armagh Brigade. in Lurgan, Co Armagh on Tues- Dolores Kelly, the SDLP day. The bomb, which a sen- Northern Ireland Policing ior police officer described as Board member and representa- “viable”, was made safe by the tive in the Stormont assembly army bomb disposal squad. for the area where the bomb The bomb had been attached was found, condemned the at- to a refrigerated trailer belong- tempted attack. ing to a haulage firm based at She said: “We cannot become the site. complacent about the threat It is understood the Conti- that dissident republicans pose Woman loses appeal nuity IRA (CIRA) planned to and their desire to kill people in smuggle the bomb across the our communities in the pursuit Irish Sea on a ship destined of an outdated ideology that for Scotland. It would then be has been rejected by the people transported to an unknown lo- of Ireland.” cation in England on the day Arlene Foster, the North- the UK left the EU. ern Ireland first minister, said: to win back citizenship CIRA said the bomb had been “The potential damage which attached to the lorry “with could have been caused and loss Guardian News and Media The ruling by Justice Elisabeth However, it went on, parliament, nationality legislation). She held The judgment accepts that magnets underneath a refriger- of life either here in Northern London Laing, Doron Blum and Roger had intended that the home sec- that citizenship as of right. That conditions in the al-Roj camp in ated trailer”. Ireland, on board a ferry or in Golland accepted that Begum retary “should be free to make a citizenship was not in the gift of Syria “would breach (Shamima’s) The dissident group said the Great Britain do not bear think- “cannot have an eff ective appeal deprivation order immediately the (Bangladesh) government rights under Article 3 (of the con- bomb was on a timer and was ing about.” hamima Begum, the woman on her current circumstances but after giving notice of intention to and could not be denied by the vention, which bans torture, in- similar to others used by its op- The Ulster Unionist assem- who left Britain as a school- it does not follow that her appeal deprive the person concerned of (Bangladesh) government in any human or degrading treatment) if eratives in recent months. bly member Doug Beattie de- Sgirl to join Islamic State in succeeds”. her citizenship, whether or not circumstances.” Article 3 applied to her case”. CIRA warned that the chance scribed the bomb plot as a “na- Syria, has lost the initial stage of Siac said the decision to strip the person concerned wishes to … Justice Laing said Shamima had Shamima’s lawyers alleged of the device “dropping off” the tional security threat”. her appeal against the Home Of- Begum of her citizenship did not appeal against the notice”. no protection under the European she had been left stateless and trailer were slim. “Without a doubt it was an fi ce’s move to revoke her citizen- make her stateless. However, it Shamima, the tribunal con- convention on human rights – unable to mount a “fair and ef- “It was timed for Britain’s attempt to isolate Northern ship and prevent her from return- said, she could nonetheless con- cluded, had not been made state- including the right to life or pre- fective” legal challenge and was exit from the EU and to bring Ireland from the rest of Great ing to London. tinue with her substantive appeal. less because she was entitled to, vention of torture – because she at risk of “death, inhuman or attention to the sea border,” the Britain by creating a threat to A judgment by the Special Im- The Siac judgment said: “We or in eff ect held, Bangladeshi is in Syria. The home secretary, degrading treatment”. If forced CIRA statement added. on-board ferry traffic,” he said. migration Appeals Commission accept that, in her current cir- citizenship. The ruling said that she explained, is “only obliged to to go to Bangladesh, her parents’ On Wednesday sources close Catherine Nelson, a Sinn Fein (Siac) found against Begum, now cumstances, (Shamima) cannot when she was stripped of her consider risks which are foresee- country of origin, she could be to republican dissidents in Bel- councillor in north Armagh, 20, on three grounds, including play any meaningful part in her UK citizenship, Shamima “was able and which are a direct conse- hanged, the court was told at a fast challenged suggestions by also described the attack as that she had not been improperly appeal and to that extent, the ap- a citizen of Bangladesh by de- quence of the decision to deprive a partially secret hearing last No- police that the bomb was meant “reckless”. deprived of her citizenship. peal will not be fair and eff ective.” scent, by virtue of (Bangladeshi person of his nationality”. vember.

Face-off Crimes unreported ‘due to Pierce named new lack of confi dence in police’ ambassador to US Reuters Ambassador to the United Na- Guardian News and Media rising demands. The inspectorate 43 forces in England and Wales, London tions in New York and Perma- London is criticised by many in policing a HMICFRS report, Divergence nent Representative at the UN for being slow to speak out about Under Pressure, noted the decline Security Council. government cuts. in the number of crimes reported ritain has named career Relations between Britain and he police watchdog has Parr said public faith in po- which led to a criminal charge: diplomat Karen Pierce as the US, which both sides of- warned that public con- licing was in jeopardy: “I think “The likelihood of the police Bits new ambassador to the ten describe as a “special rela- Tfi dence is being dam- these levels of volume crime bringing someone to justice fol- US, the fi rst woman to hold the tionship”, have fl uctuated since aged with offi cers “rumbled” for resolution are corrosive for the lowing a criminal investigation is US post, with the task of shoring Trump took offi ce in 2017. struggling to investigate crimes long-term relationship between decreasing. In England and Wales, up relations with London’s clos- He criticised Johnson’s pred- – such as burglary – and by stop the public and police. a suspect was charged in 7.8% of est ally after Brexit. ecessor Theresa May’s handling and search, which is 10 times “There are some worrying recorded crimes last year, down Pierce, 60, a former ambas- of Brexit. more likely to target black people trends – victims of domestic from 9.1% the year before.” sador to Afghanistan, replaces However, both allies have than white. abuse, sexual assault, where vic- The police inspectorate also Kim Darroch who resigned last said ties are strong and US Sec- Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of tims are no longer supporting the warned that stop and search July after US President Donald retary of State Mike Pompeo Constabulary and Fire & Rescue prosecution – is a more complex could damage the already low Trump labelled him “stupid” and said last week Britain would be Services (HMICFRS) said the and worrying issue. confi dence black Britons have “wacky” following the release of “at the front of the line” for a public is increasingly not both- “But I think particularly in the in policing. Stop and search is confi dential memos in which he post-Brexit trade deal with the ering to report certain crime volume crime area the public has rising as a response to concerns had branded the US president’s US. types, generally less serious of- rumbled that the police capac- about violent crime. Police be- administration inept. Pierce began her career at the fences such as car crime. ity to deal with this is extremely lieve it is essential but the vast “It is a time of huge opportu- Foreign Offi ce in 1981 and was Matt Parr, HM Inspector of limited. There are some strik- majority of stops do not lead to nity for the friendship between Britain’s ambassador to Afghani- Constabulary, warned victims ingly low fi gures about car crime an off ence being detected and the the UK and US and I am delight- stan between 2015 and 2016. faced varying chances of their resolution meaning most of the inspectorate warned of massive ed that Karen Pierce will take She has also served as perma- reported crimes being investi- public simply give up reporting it disproportionality for black peo- forward this exciting new chap- nent representative to the UK gated, depending on where they because the chances of anything ple: “The negative eff ect of poor ter in our relationship,” Foreign Mission to the World Trade Or- lived. The low level but more fre- positive happening are so slim.” police and community relations Secretary Dominic Raab said in a ganisation among other interna- quently occurring off ences are Parr said questions needed to should not be underestimated.” statement. tional organisations. known as “volume crimes”. be asked: “whether we, as a so- The inspectorate found that “We’re proud to be sending to “I am honoured to have been While policing generally is ciety, are prepared to tolerate a the worst forces for investigating Washington such an outstanding asked to represent the UK in the in good shape, the inspectorate situation where so much volume crimes were Cleveland, North- Two deer lock horns in the early morning light at Richmond diplomat, and I warmly congrat- US I think it is the UK’s single said, forces face pressures from a crime isn’t properly investigated”. amptonshire, Warwickshire and Park in London yesterday. ulate her on her appointment.” most important relationship,” decline in resources coupled with Following an inspection of all West Mercia. Pierce is currently Britain’s she said in a statement. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 9 EUROPE

Sisters separated during Europeans cannot stay WWII are reunited ‘spectators in arms race’ By Maria Panina, AFP AFP is threatening to quit the New France has already reduced the France has broken with some Moscow Paris START arms reduction treaty number of its warheads to under EU nations by recently reach- when it expires next year. 300, Macron said, giving it “the ing out to restore dialogue with Add to that China’s bid for legitimacy to demand concrete President Vladimir Putin, who wo Russian sisters have rench President Em- global sway, there is a strong moves from other nuclear pow- controls the world’s largest nu- been reunited 78 years manuel Macron has called need for Europe to ensure it ers toward global disarmament clear arsenal. Tafter they were separated Ffor European nations to does not fi nd itself in the mid- that is gradual, credible and can “There can be no defence and by the turmoil of World War II, play a more direct role in halting dle of a Cold War-style stand- be verifi ed”. security project for European thanks to a television show and a a new nuclear arms race, saying off , “which could jeopardise the But he stopped short of of- citizens without a political vi- police search. that they “cannot remain spec- peace obtained after so many fering to share France’s nuclear sion that seeks to progressively In footage of their meeting late tators” against a threat to the tragedies on our continent”, Ma- deterrence capabilities, a pillar restore trust with Russia,” Ma- last month provided by the inte- continent’s collective security. cron said. of its security strategy since im- cron said. “We cannot accept rior ministry, Yulia and Rozalina “In the absence of a legal He warned of “the possibility plemented by Charles de Gaulle the current situation, where the Kharitonova, now 92 and 94, framework, they could rapidly of a pure and unrestrained mili- in the 1960s. chasm deepens and talks dimin- hugged and kissed as their family face a new race for conventional tary and nuclear competition, Germany in particular re- ish even as the security issues members watched in tears. weapons, even nuclear weapons, the likes of which we haven’t mains strongly opposed to that need to be addressed with “I was searching for her, I was on their own soil,” he told mili- seen since the end of the 1960s”. atomic weapons, although Moscow are multiplying.” always searching for her,” said tary offi cers in a speech laying “The vital interests of France a leader in Chancellor An- Macron did not specify Rozalina, holding her sister’s out France’s post-Brexit nuclear now have a European dimen- gela Merkel’s party, Johann whether Britain, Europe’s other hand. strategy. sion,” Macron said. Wadephul, said this week that Macron delivering his speech at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. nuclear power, should be part of As teenagers, the sisters lived France is now the only nucle- European nations should also Paris should consider putting its the deeper EU cooperation now with their parents in Stalingrad, ar-armed power in the Euro- insist on being signatories of any arsenal under the auspices of the of decision-making is fully make defence a budget priority that is has quit the bloc. the city now known as Volgograd pean Union at a time when long- new deal to limit the develop- EU or the North Atlantic Treaty compatible with an unshakeable and make the necessary sacri- However, he noted that “since that saw one of the bloodiest standing accords on limiting the ment of new intermediate-range Organisation (Nato). solidarity with our European fi ces, even as the risks are grow- 1995, France and the United battles of World War II. growth of nuclear arsenals ap- weapons, he added. Macron invited European partners,” Macron said. ing?” Macron asked. Kingdom have stated clearly They were separated in 1942 as pear increasingly at risk. “Let us be clear: if negotia- partners to engage in a “strategic He also warned of the need His speech came as a diplo- there is no situation in which civilians were being evacuated to The US and Russia have aban- tions and a more comprehensive dialogue” on the deterrent role for “a greater capacity for au- matic freeze between the EU and a threat to one’s vital interests escape Nazi encirclement. doned the Intermediate Range treaty are possible ... Europeans of France’s nuclear capacity as tonomous action by Europeans”, Russia since Moscow’s annexa- would not also be a threat to the The younger sister Yulia, who Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, each must be stakeholders and signa- the country embarks on a costly who must step up their military tion of Crimea from Ukraine has others’”. was born in 1928, was evacuated blaming the other for breach- tories, because it’s our territory” modernisation of its arsenal. spending. rekindled fears of fresh confl ict “Brexit doesn’t change this at with her mother to the city of ing its limits, and Washington that is most at risk. “Our independence in terms “Why are they not ready to along Europe’s eastern fl ank. all.” Penza some 500km (310 miles) to the north. Meanwhile, the elder sis- ter Rozalina, born in 1926, was evacuated with her factory workmates to the industrial city Around 1,000 at of Chelyabinsk some 1,400km (870 miles) to the northeast in the Urals. “After being separated in Brussels youth their youth, these women never lost hope of seeing each other again over 78 long years,” police spokeswoman Irina Volk said in climate march a statement. The two women met again in Chelyabinsk, Volk said, after DPA The march started around Yulia’s daughter asked police for Brussels 2pm (1300 GMT) and reached help to track down her mother’s its end point -around 3.30pm. sister. The police had expected Rozalina had already tried to round 1,000 people took turnout to reach around 3,000 fi nd her sister, without success, part in the fi rst youth people. through a television show that Aclimate march of the Many of the participants looks for missing family mem- year in Brussels yesterday, ac- were parents and grandpar- bers. cording to police estimates, the ents, some of whom were there Russian police found out that Belga news agency reported. to represent children who had Rozalina had appeared on the Last year, young people stayed at school, the RTBF show and made the connection, around the globe began stag- broadcaster reported. contacting both women and or- ing regular marches under the Meanwhile, EU foreign pol- ganising a reunion. banner of the “Fridays for Fu- icy chief Josep Borrell came Russia is set to hold large- ture” movement, inspired by under fi re for a Spanish televi- scale celebrations on May 9 this Swedish teenage activist Greta sion interview earlier this week year to mark 75 years since Allied Thunberg. in which he cast doubt on the victory over the Nazis. The march through the Bel- motivations of youth climate The Union of Soviet Socialist gian capital focused on the campaigners. Republics (USSR) suff ered par- state of the oceans. “The idea that young peo- ticularly heavy losses of some “By putting the accent on ple are seriously committed to 27mn people, according to offi - the preservation of marine life, stopping climate change – we cial fi gures. A Greenpeace ice sculpture of penguins is seen during a climate change protest in central Brussels by students. we want to remind people that could call it the ‘Greta syn- the oceans are suff ering the full drome’ – allow me to doubt it,” force of climate change conse- he said, asking whether dem- quences,” Adelaide Charlier of onstrators were prepared to re- Belgium’s Youth for Climate duce their quality of life to pay group said ahead of the march, for climate change. Merkel’s party in turmoil after far-right vote debacle according to Belga. Borrell appeared to back- The march, organised to- track yesterday, when he gether with Extinction Re- posted on Twitter that “youth AFP bellion (XR) activists, was movements to fi ght climate Frankfurt am Main supported by environmental change have my full support groups, including the WWF and inspire politicians & soci- and BirdLife Europe. eties”. erman Chancellor Angela Greenpeace activists led the “Climate change is one of Merkel’s conservatives march with penguin ice sculp- [the] biggest geopolitical chal- Gare in crisis mode after tures, while protesters chanted lenges, we can’t aff ord costs of regional MPs sided with the far- slogans such as “We are hotter inaction,” he added. right in a key vote, causing na- than the climate”, The 72-year-old veteran tionwide outrage and testing her and “Another world is pos- Spanish politician is known for leadership. Merkel: her party and the sible”, Belga wrote. making undiplomatic remarks. Merkel condemned Wednes- coalition partners will meet day’s “unforgivable” vote in the today for crisis talks. small state of Thuringia, where her Christian Democratic Union about the apparent betrayal in (CDU) party voted in the same Thuringia. camp as the anti-immigrant AfD The two sides will hold crisis Spain’s Vox party fi les (Alternative for Germany) to talks today in the latest stress test block the re-election of a leftist for the fragile alliance. state premier. “There are a lot of questions suit against Twitter Thanks to the CDU and AfD, that need to be answered to re- Thomas Kemmerich of the lib- store trust,” said SPD co-leader eral Free Democrats (FDP), one Saskia Esken. Reuters ideological freedom and the of Germany’s smaller parties, The Thuringia fi asco was also Madrid principle of political pluralism ousted incumbent premier Bodo a humiliating blow for Annegret and equality,” the party said in Ramelow from the far-left Die Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is seen a statement. Linke party by one vote. as Merkel’s chosen heir but has pain’s ultra-conserva- It said it had asked the judge It marked the fi rst time a state struggled to assert herself since Kemmerich walks past an exhibition in Erfurt about the Holocaust against the Sinti and Roma. tive Vox party has fi led a to lift the tweet ban while the premier was voted into offi ce replacing her mentor as CDU Scriminal complaint in a court decides on whether it with help from the far-right, leader in 2018. leader bows out in 2021 “are capitalised on widespread anger in October, the CDU would now Spanish court against Twitter, will hear the case. crossing a red line in Germany The CDU’s Thuringia arm, led hanging by a thread”, it added. over Merkel’s 2015 decision to al- slump to just 12%. alleging the social media com- The court challenge is the where mainstream parties have by the ambitious Mike Mohring, Die Welt said Merkel and low in a fl ood of asylum-seekers Former state premier Ram- pany violated its basic rights by latest in a spate of legal con- always ruled out working with ignored her pleas not to vote Kramp-Karrenbauer shared the at the height of Europe’s refugee elow’s far-left party would come blocking it from tweeting, Vox frontations between tech com- the AfD. alongside the AfD on Wednesday. blame for not recognising just crisis. out ahead with an even better said yesterday. panies and far-right groups Faced with an uproar, Kem- Worse still, Kramp-Karren- how far Mohring would go to It now has representatives in showing of 37%, followed by the Twitter disabled the tweet globally, as social media plat- merich off ered his resignation bauer – often known by her ini- have a seat in government. every regional parliament in Ger- AfD at a slightly improved 24%. function on Vox’s offi cial ac- forms seek to crack down on just 25 hours later and called for tials AKK – was unable to get the Nor had they provided the lo- many, as well as in the national Der Spiegel weekly said Thur- count in Spain more than two hate speech and the groups ar- snap elections. rebel branch to back new elec- cal branch with a plan B after Bundestag. ingia was likely just a taste of weeks ago, after – in an ap- gues their views are being dis- However, the wider after- tions despite hours of emergency Thuringia’s inconclusive legisla- The AfD is especially strong in what lies ahead for German re- parent reference to a gen- criminated against. shocks are only just being felt in talks late on Thursday, as they tive polls pushed the CDU into states in the former communist gional politics. der equality programme for In a statement sent after the Berlin. fear an even worse showing than third place behind the AfD and east, putting ever more cracks Mainstream parties in several schoolchildren – the account Vox account was restricted, a “Merkel’s fatal error,” head- in the original October polls. Die Linke – both parties the cen- in the political fi rewall meant to states can expect to face stark sent out a post accusing the spokeswoman for Twitter said lined the conservative newspa- “AKK appears helpless” as her tre-right CDU won’t co-operate keep them out of power. choices in their quest for an in- governing Socialists of using the post had violated the com- per Die Welt, accusing the vet- authority is increasingly under- with. A Forsa survey released yes- creasingly elusive parliamentary public money to encourage pany’s norms. eran chancellor of failing to fi nd a mined, the Bild newspaper wrote “The chancellor has always terday predicted that the CDU majority, Spiegel predicted. paedophilia. Vox had been notifi ed of the strategy to deal with the growing in a scathing assessment. sidestepped the issue of the AfD, would be punished most if Thur- Will they close ranks to keep “The attitude of Twitter is off ensive tweet and told that might of the AfD. Kramp-Karrenbauer’s pros- and in Thuringia she’s paying the ingians were asked to return to out far-right, it asked, “or is co- violating basic rights such as certain functions on its ac- Merkel’s centre-left coalition pects of replacing Merkel as price,” said Welt. the ballot box. operation with the AfD inevita- freedom of expression, the count would be limited until partners, the SPD, are fuming chancellor once the longtime Founded in 2013, the AfD has After scoring 21% of the vote ble?” right to political participation, the tweet was deleted. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, February 8, 2020 INDIA

DETENTION CONTROVERSY LEGAL CRIME INVESTIGATION Abdullah, Mufti booked Congress, BJP lawmakers Plea for new death warrants Two remanded to custody IAS off icer’s residence, under Public Safety Act come to blows in parliament against convicts dismissed for raping tourist in Kochi off ice raided in graft probe

The government has extended the detention of Denying that he tried to snatch a paper from Union A Delhi court yesterday dismissed a petition Two men, who were arrested for raping a The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yes- four political leaders in Kashmir and a prominent Health Minister Harsh Vardhan’s hand in the Lok filed by Tihar jail authorities seeking issuance tourist in Kochi, have been remanded to terday raided the off ice and residence of an IAS lawyer who have been held since August, off icials Sabha yesterday, Congress MP Manickam Tagore of fresh death warrants against the four death judicial custody, the police said. The Thai off icer in New Delhi in connection with the graft and a lawyer said yesterday. The extension was claimed that he was instead “manhandled” by BJP row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and national’s son was studying in Malappuram, case in which it arrested off icer on special duty issued under the Public Safety Act (PSA) which lawmakers when he tried to tell the minister not murder case, observing that it was “bereft of from where the duo hail. “The incident oc- (OSD) to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. A allows detention without trial for up to two years, to politicise an issue. Tagore courted controversy merit”. The applications are bereft of merit and curred on Wednesday when one of the youth source said multiple CBI teams were carrying out the off icials in Srinagar said. The four leaders earlier in the day when he allegedly tried to snatch are dismissed. The state is permitted to file who had befriended the woman through searches at the residence and off ices of Gopal include two former chief ministers of Jammu and the paper from which Harsh Vardhan was reading applications as and when required. The matter social media invited her to Kochi. They had Krishna Madhav, a Goods and Service Tax (GST) Kashmir — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — to condemn Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his is disposed of for being premature,” the judge booked a room at a hotel where the incident off icer in the trade taxes department of the Delhi and two regional party leaders, Ali Mohmed Sagar jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This led to said. The victim’s counsel had requested the took place. The police arrived at the scene government, and senior IAS off icer Udit Prakash and Sartaj Madni, the off icials said. The four were a scuff le between Congress and Bharatiya Janata court to issue fresh death warrants against the after the hotel authorities informed them, and in connection with the case. The source added originally held under a law that allows a maxi- Party lawmakers during Question Hour, leading to convicts, claiming that none of their petitions took the men into custody,” the police said. that searches were also being held at the Wazira- mum detention of six months and their terms adjournment of the House for the day. The House is pending before the court of law or any other “The two are now in judicial custody and the bad area residence of middleman Dheeraj Gupta, were about to expire. was adjourned twice earlier in the day as well. constitutional authority. probe is going on,” he added. who was arrested by the agency on February 5. Discontent in Karnataka BJP over cabinet expansion

IANS being given ministerial posts. Bengaluru “As the remaining 100-odd ruling party legislators cannot be made ministers, due to the con- iscontent is brewing in stitutional limit of having only Karnataka’s ruling BJP as 15% of the Assembly strength (225 Dmany of its loyal and senior members), many of them will be legislators have been ignored again considered for heads of boards and in the cabinet expansion, a party corporations, of which there are source claimed yesterday. 91 in the state,” the source pointed “Many senior legislators who out. have been loyal to the party (BJP) Of the 17 defectors, including over the years are miff ed that they 14 from the Congress and three were overlooked again for cabinet from Janata Dal – Secular (JD-S), posts while defectors were re- 13 contested in the December 5 by- warded at their expense,” the elections in 15 assembly segments. source said on condition of ano- Of them 11 won and two lost their nymity, as he was not authorised seats. to brief the media. By-elections in two more as- Admitting that Chief Minister B sembly seats (Muski in Raichur S Yediyurappa was under pressure district and R R Nagar in south- to fulfi l the promise he made to de- west Bengaluru) are pending the Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (second right), Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi (second left) and Assam Finance Minister fectors of inducting them into his outcome of the litigation in the Himanta Biswa Sarma wave to the public during a public rally on the occasion of the celebration of the tripartite Bodo Peace Accord at Khargaon-Tengapara area in Kokrajhar, Assam, six-month-old fl edgling govern- Karnataka High Court over their yesterday. ment, the source said many loyal results in the May 2018 Assembly legislators who won in the May polls. 2018 Assembly elections in the As the remaining seven defec- state were upset as their prospects tors are also waiting to be rewarded of becoming ministers have been with cabinet posts for having re- dashed again after being left out of signed from their Assembly seats, the fi rst cabinet expansion on Au- which resulted in the fall of the gust 20, 2019. 14-month-old JD-S-Congress Previous govts ignored “With only six vacancies re- coalition government and the re- maining in the 34-member min- turn of the BJP to power again in istry to be fi lled in the next cabi- July, the prospects of more party net expansion before the state MLAs becoming ministers are assembly budget session begins on bleak with only six cabinet berths March 2, those in the race or hop- now vacant. northeast problems: PM ing for a ministerial post are lob- “Yediyurappa is in a tight situ- bying harder, as it is now or never ation as he has promised to make IANS challenges have fanned violence, faith in the Constitution and de- aspirations and emotional con- He said while businessmen for many of them, with the tenure all 17 defectors ministers for their Kokrajhar (Assam) instability, mistrust in vari- mocracy,” Modi said during the text of various states of the re- weren’t willing to invest in the of the lower house being only till sacrifi ces in making him the chief ous regions of India. This was celebratory rally at Jangkritai gion. region before 2014, the situation May 2023,” the source said. minister for the fourth time in over continuing in the country for Fwta. “We established channels of has changed now. Though three more legislators a decade in the state,” the source lamming previous govern- decades,” Modi said addressing The prime minister said as a communication with them by “There was a fi ght for a home- had been slated to join the cabinet admitted. ments at the Centre for a huge crowd at the third Bodo result over the past few decades, thinking of them as one of our land for a long time in the north- along with the 10 newly-elected Though JD-S defector A H Skeeping issues and prob- peace accord celebrations here, thousands of people and secu- own and also made them feel east. Today, they have accepted MLAs, fears of a revolt from dis- Vishwanath and Congress defec- lems unresolved for decades in about 216km from Guwahati. rity personnel were killed, lakhs that way. This has helped reduce India as their homeland and gruntled lawmakers forced the tor M T B Nagaraj lost their seats various areas, including north- Modi said before his BJP-led lost their homes and millions extremism in the north-east.” strengthened the idea of one In- chief minister to drop them from in the by-elections, they are hop- eastern states for the sake of NDA government came to power could never see development He said whereas in earlier dia, best India. People from oth- the fi nal list sent to Governor Va- ing to get into the ministry by be- votes, Prime Minister Narendra in 2014, the northeast was re- during their lifetime. years, there were about 1,000 er regions of India were afraid of jubhai Vala on Wednesday night coming members of the legislative Modi yesterday said such an ap- garded as a region which could “The previous governments killings in the northeast due to coming to the north-east at one for oath taking. council, where some vacancies are proach led to alienation of a sec- not be “touched upon” and there were also aware of these reali- extremism, the situation is “al- time, but now they think of the The party’s state unit president, due in May. tion of people from the region was no serious eff ort to change ties, they used to admit these re- most peaceful” now. region as their next tourist des- Naleen Kumar Kateel, has been Congress defector Mahesh Ku- who had started losing faith in the culture of obstructions, alities. But they never tried hard He said while the Armed tination”. tasked with pacifying the miff ed mathalli, who won the Athani seat the Indian constitution and de- movements, blockades and vio- to bring about a change in the Forces Special Powers Act (AF- He said the change came about MLAs and assuring them that they on a BJP ticket in the by-election, mocracy. lence. situation,” he said. SPA) was in force in most of the as his government now consid- will be considered for the posts is also miff ed as he was left out of “There are so many chal- “This approach had alienated The prime minister said his NE states earlier, now the law ers the NE states as growth-en- of head (chairman) of state-run the latest cabinet expansion on lenges before the nation which some of our brothers and sis- government adopted a new ap- was not there in most regions of gines for development, whereas boards or corporations with a cab- Thursday in which 10 defectors were ignored due to political ters from the northeast so much proach to the sensitive issues of Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya in the past they were regarded as inet rank in the event of them not were rewarded. and social considerations. These that they had started losing their the north-east by gauging the and Arunachal Pradesh. recipients. Minister blames Centre Official visit Vijayan lashes out as Kerala coff ers run dry at Modi’s remarks IANS ple were warned of such infi ltra- Thiruvananthapuram tors, proper caution was also ex- IANS to strangle the state government “The total outlay for the local ercised. The discriminatory CAA, Thiruvananthapuram fi nancially,” Issac said. self-government institutions, which is a plan forged in the kiln “The central government is which had been Rs76.79bn dur- erala Chief Minister Pi- of RSS for achieving communal not ready to give the due GST ing 2015-16, has been enhanced narayi Vijayan yesterday goals, must be resisted with the ith Kerala coff ers in compensation for the month of to Rs120.74bn in 2020-21. During Kvoiced his strong objections bulwark of secularism. In this, a depleted state, Fi- December 2019. The arrears will the period of the previous gov- to the statement made by Prime Kerala is a model for the whole Wnance Minister Tho- cross Rs30bn in February. In ad- ernment, an amount of Rs5.03bn Minister Narendra Modi earlier country. Our secular state has the mas Issac, while presenting his dition to this, there is indication had been spent from the Chief in the Upper House of Parliament strength to fend off any sort of in- 11th budget in the Assembly, that Rs68.66bn received as tax Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. about the chief minister and the fi ltrators in this movement as well. blamed the Centre for the situa- share for the last quarter of the But during the four years of the CPI-M, terming these as being “The unity that we see in these tion, stating it was appropriating previous fi nancial year will come LDF government, the amount untrue and protest worthy. struggles is a hallmark of the the powers of the states in all ar- down to Rs45.25bn during the has surpassed Rs12.16bn. Making a sharp attack on secularism of Kerala. This spirit eas with its unilateral decision to current fi nancial year. “During the tenure of the pre- Modi, Vijayan wrote in a Face- has inspired the protests in Ker- amend the Citizenship Act. “Thus, there will be a total vious government, the total cap- book post that Kerala is not will- ala against CAA, which seeks to “The federal nature of the In- shortfall of Rs83.30bn in central ital expenditure provided in the ing to concede ground to those confer citizenship on the basis dian Constitution is getting di- assistance, including loans, for budget was Rs296.89bn. Where- who want to instigate communal of religion. This state is not an luted every day. The incursion the months of January, February as the total expenditure provided polarisation in the state. arable land for any kind of com- of the central government into and March 2020. This has put un- in the budget for the last four During the debate in the Rajya munalism,” he added. the State Lists, nullifying the precedented fi nancial constraints years of the LDF government was Sabha earlier this week on the Vijayan added that the pro- Seventh Schedule has become so on the state exchequer. There are Rs404.97bn,” Issac said. motion to thanks to the presi- tests against the unconstitu- rampant. Executive power is also also huge amounts pending to be “During the period of the dent, Modi had said that while tional and discriminatory CAA being misused. The GST Coun- released from the centrally spon- previous government, 490,000 Vijayan, on the one hand, was have seen the coming together of cil, the Fiscal Responsibility Act sored schemes,” Issac added. drinking water connections were warning about extremist ele- people from all walks of life. and the 15th Central Finance With local body polls to be held provided by Kerala Water Au- Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa poses for ments infi ltrating the anti-Citi- “My remarks on extremist or- Commission, all seem to have later this year, and the Assembly thority. The LDF government photographs with Minister of State for Human Resource zenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) ganisations like SDPI were made deprived the state governments polls due in the fi rst half of 2021, Is- have provided 750,000 connec- Development, Communications, Electronics and protests, the latter’s party — the in good faith. Kerala is guided of their entire fi scal freedom. It is sac used his budget speech to make tions so far and 250,000 more Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre, upon his arrival at CPI-M — was, on the other hand, by the belief that secularism is apparent that the economic pol- a comparison with the previous houses will be given water con- Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi yesterday. supporting extremists in Delhi. the only means for defeating the icy of the central government is Oommen Chandy government. nection in 2020-21.” Vijayan yesterday wrote: “Peo- communal agenda of RSS.” Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 11

LATIN AMERICA

Farc ‘killings a challenge to peace, but some criticism political’

Reuters peace deal with the Revolution- a political party, has repeatedly overseeing implementation, told government is falling short. what the whole world knows. international groups. Bogota ary Armed Forces of Colombia decried what it says are medio- Reuters. “It is a labour to which Londono warned in the letter, “I think that some of them in “The resources are substan- (Farc) rebels in late 2016, ending cre government eff orts to protect we give all importance and we are which was published on Sunday, good faith think things could be tially larger than what the na- the group’s role in more than fi ve members targeted for assassi- taking on the maximum respon- that the process is approaching a going more quickly,” Archila said. tional government has,” Archila he murders of nearly 200 decades of confl ict which killed nation by dissident fi ghters and sibility that a government can “precipice.” The murder of former rebels is said. former fi ghters from the 260,000 people. drug traffi ckers. have.” “It’s a political letter,” Archila a challenge, Archila said, among The country has spent more TFarc rebels pose a diffi cul- Implementation of the accord, Former rebels who lose con- The United Nations says 173 said, adding the United Nations others like rural development than $7.4mn on hundreds of eco- ty in implementing Colombia’s which saw some 13,000 Farc fi dence in the process could join ex-combatants have been killed has praised implementation ef- and caring for confl ict victims. nomic projects for former com- peace deal, an offi cial said but members demobilise, has faced dissidents or gangs, risking the since the peace deal was signed forts. Archila would not give specifi c batants, including agriculture, insisted the government is com- some signifi cant hurdles, includ- peace deal. and many former rebels say kill- “The point of view of the Farc fi gures on government spending tourism and restaurants, accord- mitted to providing security and ing the announcement last year “The security of ex-combat- ings are a source of deep fear. party, which is an opposition on peace eff orts, because the out- ing to government fi gures. criticised complaints levelled by by several former commanders ants is a priority for the gov- Archila criticised an open let- party, can only have two funda- lay takes place across several min- Venezuela’s support for armed the Farc party leader. that they were rearming. ernment,” Emilio Archila, the ter written by Farc party leader mentals — it’s a political mani- istries, provinces and local munic- groups “complicates” imple- The Andean country inked a Leadership of the Farc, now presidential adviser charged with Rodrigo Londono alleging the festation or they don’t know ipalities and includes funding from mentation eff orts, Archila added. Argentina govt struggling to reduce debt and poverty

AFP children under six years of age. Tigre, Argentina It’s an “emergency measure,” Social Development Minister Daniel Arroyo said. ith Argentina suff o- It will cost the government cated by debt, the gov- 7bn pesos a month and “will last Wernment has turned to all this year and certainly a lot food stamps, price controls and longer.” popular markets to alleviate the According to Fernandez, sales suff ering of its 10mn poor, but of milk declined 30% during the there are no guarantees these 2015-19 government of his mar- measures will stem the ravages of ket-friendly liberal predecessor recession. Mauricio Macri. Maria Benitez is a mother-of- Beef consumption — a staple six whose husband fi nds short- for Argentines — dropped 9.5% term off -the-books work where in 2019, according to offi cial sta- he can. tistics. She struggles to put food on For Fernando de la Fuente, a Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza attend a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. the table for her family. 28-year-old part-time labourer For this housewife from the with a young son, the food card Benavides suburb of Buenos has come “just in time.” “That’s Aires, even buying the bare ne- what we need the most...milk, cessities is beyond her reach. beef, chicken. The essentials,” he “You need a lot of money” just said after picking up his card in to shop in a supermarket, she Lomas de Zamora, close to Bue- said. nos Aires. That’s why she travelled to the “The government faces a huge US warns Venezuela of nearby city of Tigre and queued challenge: improve economic ac- for hours under the baking sum- tivity without spending... it’s at a mer sun with a four-month-old crossroads,” said Matias Rajner- baby in her arms to get a govern- man, chief economist at the Eco- ment card that will allow her to latina consultancy. buy food. Rajnerman said the eff ective- When assuming the presiden- ness of the emergency measures action if Guaido harmed cy two months ago, centre-left will depend on Argentina’s abil- Peronist Alberto Fernandez said ity to renegotiate its external AFP unspecifi ed actions if Guaido Almagro. “Yes, there are risks.” Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat the coming weeks that demon- “those with the least” would be debt, which stands at over 90% Washington faces trouble. Guaido last week met Ven- in Congress. strate the seriousness of our in- his top priority. of GDP, because the government “We hope that the govern- ezuelans in Miami and then ap- A year-long US campaign to tentions in Venezuela.” Argentina has been in reces- needs “a larger margin to spend” ment makes the calculation, peared as a surprise guest on oust Maduro, including through Russia’s Foreign Minister Ser- sion since the second half of 2018 and earn “greater credibility” in he US has warned Ven- particularly after this trip, that Tuesday at President Donald sanctions to stop Venezuela’s gei Lavrov, currently on a tour of with poverty reaching 35% of the the markets in order to reduce ezuela’s government of the support for Guaido is strong Trump’s State of the Union ad- key export of oil, have failed to South America, said the US “is population in the fi rst quarter of infl ation. Tconsequences if opposi- and that the counter-reaction dress before Congress. dislodge him. threatening to use all the options 2019 and infl ation now over 50%. The government is hoping to tion leader Juan Guaido is not to any move against him would He later met with Trump at Guaido’s street protests have on the table and often resorts to Fernandez reacted by freezing renegotiate $195bn out of a total allowed to return safely from a make it a mistake for the re- the White House, which ac- fi zzled in size and Maduro still provocations”. the price of fuel and certain pub- debt of $311bn — according to the visit to Washington, where he gime,” Abrams told reporters. corded him the same treatment enjoys support from Russia, Hours after Guaido met lic services, and controlling the latest offi cial fi gures — including enjoyed pledges of robust sup- “We’re very concerned about it would any head of state. China and Cuba. Trump, Venezuelan authorities price of various products while a deeply unpopular $44bn bail- port. it and we hope that he will return Maduro’s government harsh- Abrams hinted that the US arrested six men with dual na- launching an application that out loan from the International In one sign that some saw as safely,” he said. ly criticised both Trump and would soon take action against tionality who had been execu- allows users to locate the shops Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2018. retaliation, authorities in Cara- Guaido, who is considered Guaido but in the past it has al- Russia, amid reports Washing- tives at Citgo, the US subsidiary selling cheaper goods. According to the IMF, the gov- cas threw into jail six oil execu- interim president by the US and lowed the opposition leader to ton could target state oil giant of state-run Venezuelan oil fi rm The government has also be- ernment’s measures “are head- tives with joint US and Venezue- most other Western and Latin move freely despite his eff orts to Rosneft over its increasingly PDVSA. gun distributing 1.4mn electron- ing in the direction of restoring lan nationality, two months after American nations, vowed to topple the government. close relationship with Ven- The executives — who two ic food cards worth up to 6,000 macroeconomic stability and allowing them to shift to house keep up his campaign. Guaido enjoyed applause from ezuela. months earlier had been al- pesos ($90) a month to spend protecting the poor.” While the arrest. “We are going to mobilise in across the political spectrum “Russia may soon fi nd out lowed to return to their homes on food, which should benefi t food cards and price freezes are Elliott Abrams, the US envoy the coming days in Venezue- at the State of the Union ad- that their continued support of — were taken to the detention more than 2mn people, including aimed at easing the pain for con- leading the drive to oust leftist la,” Guaido told reporters after dress, despite a highly polarising Maduro will no longer be cost- centre of Venezuela’s intel- pregnant women, families with- sumers, popular markets are de- leader Nicolas Maduro, warned meeting the head of the Organi- speech by Trump, and met on free,” Abrams said. ligence services, according to out formal employment and with signed to boost small businesses. that the US was “prepared” with sation of American States, Luis Thursday with House Speaker “You will see steps unfold in their families.

Deported Petrobras employee fl ips in Court breather for commodity traders probe journalist Greenwald AFP and resolved to dismiss “for now, Brasília the complaint against Green- Reuters state-run Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ments they consider his testimo- wald, given the controversy over Rio de Janeiro/Houston as Petrobras is formally known. ny “of extreme importance” for the scope” of the Supreme Court In return, those fi rms would cracking the case, given his fi rst- Brazilian judge said he justice’s ruling. purchase Petrobras fuel at dis- hand role in soliciting, receiving will reject cybercrime However, Leite accepted the former trader at oil fi rm counts or sell to the fi rm at a pre- and laundering bribes. Acharges “for now” against charges against six others who Petrobras has signed a plea mium. The Berkowitz deal comes as US journalist Glenn Greenwald, were accused alongside Green- Abargain agreement with Two of Berkowitz’s defence the Brazil investigation heats up, whose investigative website wald. Brazilian prosecutors investigat- lawyers spoke to Reuters. with the pace of in-court inter- published leaked messages that Walter Delgatti Neto, one of ing bribery allegations, defence Federal prosecutors in Brazil rogations quickly accelerating embarrassed top offi cials and the hackers, admitted sharing lawyers and prosecutors said, a also confi rmed the deal but de- in recent months, according to threatened to undermine a mas- thousands of encrypted messag- potential breakthrough in a case clined to comment further, not- documents reviewed by Reuters. sive corruption probe. es between Moro, a former judge, involving some of the world’s top ing that the contents of the ac- Brazilian prosecutors met with Federal judge Ricardo Leite and Car Wash investigators. commodity trading houses. cord are still confi dential. Berkowitz over two days in Hou- wrote that Greenwald, co- The chats showed Moro con- Rodrigo Garcia Berkowitz, who In court documents, Brazil- ston in early December as part founder of The Intercept news spired to keep leftist icon Luiz was a trader at Petrobras’ Hou- ian prosecutors have portrayed of the discussions leading to the website, was protected by a Su- Inacio Lula da Silva out of the ston offi ce until he was charged Berkowitz, who went by the code deal, and US prosecutors were preme Court justice’s ruling last 2018 presidential election that with accepting bribes in late name “Batman” in messages present for those meetings, said year granting him the right to President Jair Bolsonaro ulti- 2018, reached the deal in prin- with alleged co-conspirators, as Kent Schaff er, Berkowitz’s US at- keep his sources secret. mately won. ciple in December, the lawyers a central player in the kickback torney. Prosecutors said that Green- They also snared scores of high said. scheme. That version of events was wald allegedly “helped, moti- profi le members of Brazil’s busi- A judge then approved it in late He previously pleaded guilty corroborated by a Rio de Janeiro- vated and guided” a group of ness and political elite. January, they added. to conspiracy to commit money based lawyer also representing hackers as they accessed the cell Moro, who was a judge before He is the fi rst former Petrobras laundering in the US, where the Berkowitz, Jorge Luis Camera. phone chats of Justice Minister joining Bolsonaro’s cabinet, has employee known to have formal- Federal Bureau of Investigation Schaff er added he is pushing Sergio Moro and prosecutors in- denied any wrongdoing and re- ly fl ipped in the Brazilian bribery has opened a separate probe of for a broader agreement with volved in the so-called Car Wash fused to resign over the scandal. and corruption probe. the matter, Reuters reported last Brazilian prosecutors that would probe. He said criminal hackers had Prosecutors alleged in De- February. also cover Berkowitz’s family Leite said that he preferred to aimed to overturn convictions cember 2018, that global trading But Brazilian prosecutors have members, including his father, Migrant women who were deported from the US leaves the wait for a “new understanding” resulting from the probe that has fi rms funnelled tens of millions sought to interrogate Berkow- Paulo Cesar, who was charged in Integral Assistance Centre for Migrants in San Salvador, El of the case from the Supreme claimed the scalps of scores of of dollars of bribes from 2011 itz for their own separate case, 2018 with laundering the bribe Salvador. Court before moving on any high-profi le fi gures, including to at least 2014 to employees of saying in November court docu- payments. charges against the journalist, Lula, since it began in 2014. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, February 8, 2020 PAKISTAN

Apex court orders demolition of illegal Umar sees progress buildings in Karachi

Internews Chief Justice Ahmed deemed Karachi the situation “horrible” and asked the offi cials present if they walked the city streets in talks with MQM-P he Supreme Court of with their eyes closed. Pakistan has issued or- “You were entrusted with Internews that there had been a headway as control be with the Karachi Mu- Tders for the clearing of state-owned land … what have Islamabad well. nicipal Corporation. There was illegal structures on govern- you done with this trust?” the “Both the PTI and the MQM- no talk on additional ministerial ment property in the country’s top judge remarked. P are striving for development slot for our party,” he said. largest city and directed the Ahmed said that the resi- ederal Minister for Plan- projects for Karachi, and it is a Governor Ismail said that they authorities to allot the freed- dents of the colony on Jahangir ning Asad Umar has re- stark reality that what the mega had been holding meetings with up land to federal government Road should be moved else- Fported that the progress has city deserves is not being given to the MQM-P and that it was not employees. where, and that the govern- been achieved in talks with key it,” he said. an unusual thing. A three-judge bench, head- ment should vacate its prop- estranged ally Muttahida Qaumi About speculation that during In recent weeks, the ruling co- ed by Chief Justice of Paki- erty. Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) previous contacts, the MQM-P alition has been rocked by com- stan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, and To this, the attorney-general of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s had demanded another minis- plaints by almost all allies of the comprising Justice Faisal Arab sought time from the court to ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf terial slot in the federal cabinet, PTI, alleging that the commit- and Justice Sajjad Shah, at the fi gure out a solution in consul- (PTI). Umar clarifi ed that the allied ments and promises made with Supreme Court’s Karachi Reg- tation with all the stakehold- The PTI is making eff orts to party had made no such demand. them were not being fulfi lled. istry, was hearing a case yes- ers. persuade disgruntled the MQM- However, he emphasised that Siddiqui tendered his resigna- terday pertaining to encroach- However, in his exchange P to rejoin the federal cabinet. there should be no doubt that tion as minister for information ments in the metropolis. with the attorney-general, the The party had in January an- the party should get what it de- technology early last month. The chief justice reprimand- Chief Justice Ahmed remarked nounced to quit the cabinet over served. Prime Minister Imran Khan ed the Clifton Cantonment that neither the city govern- “unfulfi lled promises”, Umar Siddiqui said they had not had rushed senior leaders for Board land director for “clos- ment nor the provincial or fed- conceded yesterday. come for talks but for answers to meetings with coalition allies, ing his eyes when [ill-gotten] eral governments were “doing Since then many attempts have the questions they had previous- the MQM-P and the Pakistan money was being made”. anything”. been made by the PTI to convince Umar: Both the PTI and the MQM-P are striving for development ly put forward to the PTI leaders. Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam “Fortunes have been “No government is working, the MQM-P but to no avail. projects for Karachi. He contended that Karachi is (PML-Q) as well as the Grand amassed and now they say that so who should we invite?” he An MQM-P delegation, led by a mega city which generates 65% Democratic Alliance (GDA), in these buildings are illegal,” said, adding that the problem its convener Dr Khalid Maqbool the Prime Minister on Account- after the meeting, Umar said that of the country’s revenue, but was recent days and formed three Ahmed said. was that “the government of- Siddiqui, met the minister here ability Shahzad Akbar and the the meeting took place in a very only given a meagre budget. committees to interact with allies The court ordered the offi - fi cials do not want to work”. on Thursday. MQM-P’s Faisal Sabzwari were cordial atmosphere and that dis- “We want addition to it. We and ensure that there are no gaps cials to demolish illegal build- The court also directed the Besides Sindh Governor Im- also present. cussions were already under way want the release of the (funding) which may disturb the mutual ings in Gizri, PNT Colony, chief secretary to get rid of all ran Ismail, Special Assistant to Talking to the media persons between the two sides, adding package for Karachi, and (that) its working relationship. Punjab Colony, and Delhi Col- the encroachments in the city ony areas of the port city. and put in a request for the re- The attorney-general, chief settlement of the residents of secretary, Karachi commis- the katchi abadis and aff ected sioner and other offi cials were people. present during the hearing. He also directed the offi cials The chief justice, at the start to invite the recommendations Sense of neglect still grips residents of the hearing, asked the of- of experts through media. fi cials how and upon whose The court also directed the permission the illegal buildings authorities to build a park at were erected. Nehr-e-Khayyam, and banned He said that nine-storey commercial buildings near the of northwest Pakistan’s tribal belt buildings were still being con- site. structed in Karachi and or- The case was later adjourned dered that they be razed. till February 21. Internews gion, a furious Afridi responded: Peshawar “They (government) has prom- ised billions in the past, but nothing has changed.” fter nearly two years of “The government has failed to adopting a constitutional construct hospitals and schools Parliament backs Aamendment that paved in this region. Have you seen the way for the merger of the any since the merger?” he ques- Federally Administered Tribal tioned. public execution Areas of Pakistan with Khyber The infuriated tribal leader Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, urged the government to end the residents of the long-neglected seven decades of neglect before it AFP/DPA uncovered a massive paedo- tribal belt still feel the whiff of is too late. Islamabad philia ring in 2015. betrayal in the air across the re- “And if the government fails to In a scandal that rocked the gion. keep its promises and implement country, at least 280 children “The government might claim the reforms it promised, there arliament has passed a were sexually abused by a gang the tribesmen are happy, but will be a fresh wave of violence resolution calling for the who blackmailed their parents they are not. Unhappy residents that might even lead to the for- Ppublic hanging of con- by threatening to leak the vid- torched a police vehicle, and that mation of Qabailistan province,” victed child killers and rapists, eos. shows how furious the people warned one tribal leader, who drawing a quick backlash from Amnesty International are,” said Alam Zeb Afridi, nearly spoke on the condition of ano- human rights organisations. voiced its concern over yes- 20 months after the offi cial union nymity. The non-binding resolution terday’s resolution, while urg- with KP. With its capricious colonial Bibi,10, stands by her family’s bull-cart in the field in Charsadda, near Peshawar. follows a spate of high-profi le ing Pakistan to focus on bet- Afridi is one of the leaders of system of justice and lack of full child sex-abuse cases that have ter protections against child the movement against the merg- political representation, the trib- provoked outrage and riots abuse, including through fair er. al belt, for too long, had suff ered are involved in legislation,” he authority before the merger,” tribal population. across Pakistan in recent years. trials without recourse to the In May 2018, the seven tribal from a legal and administrative said. he said, indicating the lack of “This can lead to riots and civil Child killers and rapists death penalty. regions, known as the Federally vacuum. In Mohmand’s assessment, the change in the system. unrest in the region,” he cau- “should not only be given the “Public hangings are acts Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Meant to empower the mil- merger has always struggled with Mohmand, too, questioned the tioned. death penalty by hanging, but of unconscionable cruelty were merged with KP, bringing lions who lived there, the merger bureaucratic hurdles. government’s fi nancial promises In parting, he said the absence they should be hanged pub- and have no place in a rights- the regions into the mainstream has instead left the residents un- The harsh set of British co- at the time of the merger: “The of reforms might even create licly”, said Ali Mohamed Khan, respecting society,” Amnesty political and legal system of the certain and worried about their lonial laws, known as the Fron- government promised Rs110bn room for terrorist organisations Pakistan’s parliamentary af- said in a statement. country. future. tier Crimes Regulations that in 2018 and a similar amount in in the region. fairs minister, who presented Human rights organisations However, little has changed “A list of 25 points was dis- have been denounced by rights 2019. Where is the money?” “The failure to implement re- the resolution in the national have long called on Pakistan to since then for the residents. cussed. Not a single one of them groups, are still in place, accord- He warned that the absence of forms in the tribal belt will also assembly, or lower house. reinstate a moratorium on the The struggles, the demands, has seen the light of day,” claimed ing to Mohmand. reforms, coupled with the lack enable foreign powers to use the “Those who commit crimes death penalty, which was lifted and the hopes remain the same. Ijaz Mohmand, an active propo- “Assistant commissioners are of economic development, will situation to their advantage,” against children deserve no after the Army Public School When asked about the billions nent of reforms. empowered instead of the po- increase the sense of neglect and Mohmand said in a warning to mercy ... the Qur’an com- massacre in Peshawar in 2014 in federal assistance to the re- “Only 1 per cent of the people litical agents, who had all the disenfranchisement among the the government. mands us that a murderer that killed 151 people, most of should be hanged,” he added. them students. Though a majority of law- Around 400 prisoners on makers approved the resolu- death row have been hanged tion, Human Rights Minister since then. Shireen Mazari stressed that it Rights activist Taimur Complaints’ lodging mechanism gets more categories was not sponsored by the gov- Kamal said lawmakers had ernment. gone too far by demanding The resolution “on pub- public hanging. “Anger against Internews The Prime Minister’s Offi ce under the merit/rules category. impersonation will be listed un- hence will accelerate the process lic hangings was across party abusers is understandable ... Islamabad press release said that harass- Similarly, favouritism, unau- der fraud/mockery section. of complaints’ redressal. lines and not a govt-sponsored but seeking death for that is ment, having become one of the thorised privileges, etc, come Finally, cases of absenteeism, It has been further decided resolution but an individual also not a solution.” gravest challenges, is a pertinent under the power abuse section. red tape and non-serious at- that lodging of complaints in act. Many of us oppose it – our “There is no empirical he Prime Minister’s Per- sub-category of the Pakistan It said the primary objective of titude will constitute as ineffi - the category of “corruption/ MOHR (human rights min- evidence to show that pub- formance Delivery Unit Citizens’ Portal, where any issue the Prime Minister’s PDU, which ciency. malpractices” by citizens will istry) opposes this”, Mazari lic hangings are a deterrent T(PDU) has added a cat- regarding physical/sexual har- was formed on the directives of “The PM’s PDU has catego- be subject to some pre-defi ned tweeted. to crime or in protecting the egory of corruption/malpractice assment, threatening and black- Prime Minister Imran Khan to rised its compliant mechanism system alerts of do’s and don’ts, Child sexual abuses are ram- psycho-social well-being of to the Pakistan Citizens’ mailing will be put under this address public complaints, is to to facilitate public, as well as to which will be made part of the pant in Pakistan. children”, Sarah Belal, execu- Portal (PCP) complaint lodg- heading. provide a coherent and effi cient safeguard the integrity and repu- “User’s Guidelines Manual for In October 2018, authorities tive director of Justice Project ing mechanism to eradicate cor- The classifi cation of these system to redress public griev- tation of individuals, as a ma- Complaints and Suggestions hanged a child rapist in an in- Pakistan, a non-profi t group ruption and improve the per- various sub-categories has been ances and take necessary steps in jority of reported cases received Handling”, along with other famous case in Kasur, near La- campaigning against the death formance of bureaucracy. keenly devised, keeping in view this light. through the citizens’ portal changes and will be circulated to hore, that sparked nationwide penalty, told AFP. According to the Prime Minis- the nature of complaints received The activation of the “corrup- represented mala fi de and irra- all departments concerned. protests. In March 2016, Pakistan in- ter’s Offi ce, the category of “cor- on the portal. tion/malpractices” option will tional content for the purposes of In addition, penal clauses will In that case, the six-year- troduced a law criminalising ruption/malpractices” has been Matters regarding corruption not only help fi lter out frivolous achieving personal desired out- be highlighted through pop-up old victim, Zainab Fatima sexual assault against minors, further classifi ed into six sub- in government funds, bribery and complaints, but also help offi c- comes,” it added. messages for those complainants Ameen, had been attacked by child pornography and traf- categories: fi nancial corruption, kickbacks fall under the fi nancial ers entertain only genuine com- Moreover, the step will also whose complaints prove to jeop- a 24-year-old man who went fi cking. violation of merit/rules, power corruption, whereas irregulari- plaints. enable the dashboard handlers/ ardise the reputation and integ- on to confess to her rape and Previously, only acts of rape abuse, fraud/forgery, harass- ties in recruitment, procurement Likewise, any complaint regis- offi cers to systematically take up rity of other individuals, or will murder. and sodomy were punishable ment, and ineffi ciency. and allotment processes come tered against fake documents and or drop [irrelevant] matters, and be found groundless. Authorities in Kasur also by law.

Erdogan to address parliament ‘Fresh’ Sharif health reports termed unclear by Punjab government Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address a joint sitting The Punjab government’s medical board has reporters that the (fresh) medical reports Earlier, the Punjab government had asked of the Pakistani parliament on February 14. termed the “fresh” reports of ailing former of Nawaz Sharif had been received by Sharif to submit more detailed reports by This was stated by Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser during prime minister Nawaz Sharif (pictured on the home department and the Punjab January 31, failing which the competent the National Assembly session on Thursday. the right) insuff icient to give its opinion government would make a decision in this authority would decide the matter of The speaker said that he will also hold consultations with all the on whether to allow him to extend his stay regard. his application as per the available facts parliamentary leaders on the matter. abroad. He said Sharif’s physician Dr Adnan Khan’s brought on record. Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Aliya Hamza told the house The 14-member board returned the reports wishes were many and “we cannot make The Punjab government had rejected that both Pakistan and Iran have conducted negotiations over to the home and health departments, decisions according to his wishes”. Sharif’s medical reports submitted on the establishment of barter trade mechanism and promote co- terming them insuff icient to form its opinion. Basharat said that the Punjab government December 23 seeking an extension in his operation in the fields of customs, agriculture and industry. The board has sought a fresh report on was not satisfied with Sharif’s medical stay abroad, on the expiry of the four-week She said exports are witnessing growth whilst imports have been Sharif’s platelet count. reports and that it had the option to go to period allowed by the high court to visit reduced. Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat told court in this regard. London for medical treatment. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 13 PHILIPPINES 400 government 215 patients under personnel to face lifestyle check

By William B Depasupil Luna, however, did confirm Manila Times that majority of those being watch for infection investigated were from the Customs and Internal Revenue By John Eric Mendoza after a declaration form issued bout 400 government of- bureaus, whose assets were Manila Times by the Offi ce of the President- fi cials and employees are beyond their legal means of in- Events Management Cluster Anow the subject of a life- come. was distributed to Palace visi- style check by the Presidential “Just looking at their physi- he number of patients tors and even government of- Anti-Corruption Commission cal wealth, like their vehicles under investigation (PUI) fi cials. (PACC). and houses, you will be shocked Tfor the 2019 novel coro- The form requires a person to Speaking at a forum at the already. It does not include yet navirus acute respiratory dis- state his name, sex, age, contact National Press Club yesterday, their bank accounts or depos- ease (2019-nCoV ARD) in the number, e-mail address and PACC Commissioner Manuelito its. How could these people country jumped to 215 yesterday home address in the country. Luna said among those under acquire so much wealth while from 178 a day earlier. The person must also identify scrutiny are employees from the the nation is suffering? They Two PUI have died so far, the foreign countries and Phil- Philippine Charity Sweepstakes live a life of kings and queens. Health Undersecretary Eric Do- ippine cities he visited in the Offi ce, Philippine Health Insur- Where did they get their mon- mingo said yesterday. past 14 days. ance Corp., Department of Pub- ies?” he said. Luna added that He added that 184 PUI had The declaration form also lic Works and Highways, Bureau the amount involved “runs into been admitted to hospitals, 17 asks the person if he had been of Internal Revenue, Bureau of billions of pesos.” had been discharged and nine sick in the past 30 days or has Customs, Bureau of Immigra- Among the Customs offi- refused admission. experienced fever, colds, cough, tion and government-owned cials and employees who were “We are urging everyone, sore throat or breathing diffi - and -controlled corporations. investigated were those impli- especially the PUI who re- culties in the past 14 days. He added that around 100 cated in the disappearance of fused admission, to co-operate Anyone who falsifi es the personalities had been checked 641 shipping containers at the with the DoH (Department of document face imprisonment and the recommendations had Port of Manila. Health), their local government of up to 12 years and a fi ne of up been submitted by the commis- The containers, which were units and the Philippine Na- to P5,000. sion to Malacanang. Luna did believed to contain high-value tional Police,” Domingo said at a The Department of Educa- not reveal names, saying he was goods like sugar, rice or ciga- news briefi ng in Manila. tion (DepEd), meanwhile, as- leaving it to the Palace to make rettes, disappeared during the The Health department said sured its offi cials, teachers, the announcement. term of former Customs Com- the second PUI fatality died of personnel, learners, parents, “In a couple of days there missioner and now Technical pneumonia, not nCoV. guardians and other partici- would be a major announce- Skills and Development Au- The fi rst PUI death was that pants who are aff ected by the ment by Malacanang about thority Director Isidro Lapena. of a Chinese man who died of suspension of various events what we have done. These are They were declared as con- severe pneumonia and human they will be assisted in refund- all high-profile cases. This will taining ships’ spare parts and immunodefi ciency virus on ing or rebooking their fl ights. show the sincerity and serious- were processed at the Customs January 29. “We are currently gathering ness of the Duterte administra- bureau’s Informal Entry Di- “It is our duty as citizens of information regarding passen- tion in its campaign against vision instead of through the this nation to assist in protect- gers and tickets purchased, and graft and corruption,” he said. Formal Entry Division. ing the health of our fellowmen. negotiating with the airlines for We owe it to the Filipino peo- options,” DepEd said in a state- ple to do our part in preventing A traveller wearing a protective face mask walks past a travel health advisory sign upon arrival at the ment. the spread of this disease and international airport in Manila. Concerns were raised on social put everyone’s mind at ease,” media after DepEd announced Domingo said. Domingo also announced like the interior department to Allowing tourists from Chi- the postponement of regional Duterte issues order to The country’s fi rst 2019- that 203 people were on home monitor such fi rms. “They issue na, particularly Wuhan, to ar- and national events this month nCoV ARD case, a 38-year-old quarantine, while the 32 con- licenses to Pogo workers so they rive in Boracay island in Aklan because of the nCoV threat. Chinese woman, has tested tacts exhibiting symptoms were can work legitimately, thus it is irresponsible, he said. “It DepEd urged those who have notify end of US pact negative for the 2019-nCoV now categorised as PUIs. is Pagcor’s job to ensure work- exposes workers, other tourists purchased non-refundable or ARD, but is still being confi ned Four of the 116 people who ers comply with relevant health and residents to risk. non-rebookable plane tickets at San Lazaro Hospital. had encountered the 60-year- regulations. It strains our limited resourc- with the Philippine Airlines and By Catherine S Valente talk on the phone with US Presi- “We already sent samples for old carrier also showed symp- If there is any doubt with re- es, particularly our capacity to Cebu Pacifi c to “please standby Manila Times dent Donald Trump anytime,” he the second test because we need toms and are now classifi ed as gard to health protocols, they respond to public health emer- for further announcements re- added. two consecutive tests to be neg- PUIs. can always seek guidance from gency.” garding possible ticket rebooking Panelo, who also serves as ative before we could discharge The Philippines has stepped the DoH,” Villanueva added. Also yesterday, Presidential or refund by the airline.” resident Rodrigo Duterte Duterte’s top legal counsel, had the patient,” the Health under- up its border defences against “We remind Pogo operators Communications Operations Among activities postponed has issued an order to for- claimed that the process to scrap secretary said. the coronavirus, including that they must operate within Secretary Martin Andanar said are the National School’s Press Pmally notify the United the VFA has started. The third reported case of the more stringent quarantine pro- the bounds of Philippine laws the government had everyone’s Conference in Tuguegarao City, States (US) of the Philippines’ Duterte’s decision to pull Ma- disease — a 60-year-old Chi- cedures. and statutes. safety in mind when it required Cagayan and the National Festi- intention to unilaterally with- nila out of the VFA stemmed nese woman who went to Bohol Yesterday, Senator Em- Any regulation enforced as visitors and even government val of Talents in Ilagan, Isabela. draw from the two countries’ from the cancellation of the US and Cebu last January 24 — has manuel Joel Villanueva said a result of the nCoV outbreak workers to disclose their travel The student journalism and Visiting Forces Agreement visa of his ally, Senator Ronald been discharged and returned workers of Philippine off shore takes into consideration public history and health status. talent competitions were origi- (VFA), Malacanang announced “Bato” dela Rosa. to China on January 31 after her gaming operations (Pogo) com- safety and welfare. He added that the health form nally scheduled from February 17 yesterday. The US did not cite the reason test results came back negative panies, who returned from ar- If they cannot comply with was a “precautionary measure” to 21. Palace spokesman Salvador for the former police chief’s visa twice. eas where there is an nCoV out- our laws, regulations, and to stop the spread of the nCoV Also called off were the Na- Panelo said Duterte instructed cancellation, but the incident The Epidemiology Bureau break must also go under strict standards, they have no place to in the country. tional Science and Technol- Executive Secretary Salvador happened soon after American said it was already in touch with quarantine procedures. do business in the Philippines,” “With the public health ogy Fair on February 10 to 14 Medialdea to inform Foreign Af- senators passed a resolution that 441 people who had contact “All government agencies he said. emergency declaration due to and sports meets like the Central fairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin sought to impose some sanc- with the Chinese couple, who and regulators should issue Earlier, the senator called on the 2019 novel coronavirus and Visayas Regional Athletic Asso- Jr to send to the US government tions against Philippine offi cials visited Cebu and Dumaguete related guidelines bearing in everyone to co-operate and im- the additional confi rmed case of ciation in Dumaguete City, Ne- the country’s notice that it was responsible for the detention of City. mind DoH’s protocol as the bare plement the ban on travellers nCoV in the country, the health gros Oriental. terminating the VFA. Duterte’s staunch critic, Senator It is trying to contact 116 oth- minimum,” added Villanueva, from China. declaration form is an addition- All off -campus activities such “PRRD (President Rodrigo Leila de Lima. er people. chairman of the Senate Labour “The continuous arrival of al precautionary measure to en- as fi eld trips and fi lm showings Roa Duterte) is instructing ES The VFA is a pact inked be- The bureau said 379 of 441 and Employment committee. tourists from China contradicts sure the safety and security not were also suspended, Briones (Executive Secretary) to tell SFA tween Manila and Washington contacts were passengers and He said the state gaming reg- the necessary precautions we just of President Rodrigo Du- added. (Secretary of Foreign Aff airs) to in 1999 that allows US troops crew from fl ights taken by the ulator, Philippine Amusement have to take given the situation. terte, but also of everyone who Briones said the postpone- send the notice of termination to to train and advise the Philip- Chinese couple, while 62 were and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), It is irresponsible to disregard is working at or visiting Mala- ment does not cover the Pal- the US government,” Panelo said pine military in its fi ght against from hotels, hospitals and other which oversees Pogos, must not the ban for profi t,” said Vil- canang,” Andanar said. arong Pambansa, which is set to in a text message to reporters. terrorists but bans US forces in places visited by the carriers. merely rely on other agencies lanueva. Andanar’s statement came kick off in Marikina City in May. “PRRD also is scheduled to combat operations. ‘Shock and awe’ has failed in nation’s drug war

Reuters and government offi cials. of illicit drugs had been a “mas- supply, according to Caramat. Manila Duterte’s spokesman, Salva- sive failure”. The report added More than 370 kilograms dor Panelo, did not respond to that “attention and resources of crystal meth was allegedly requests for comment on Cara- were disproportionately focused found stacked in a wardrobe in olonel Romeo Caramat mat’s statements. on street-level enforcement”. a flat rented by suspected Chi- oversaw the bloodiest day But in a statement on Jan 6 re- After being fi red, Robredo said nese drug trafficker. Cin the blood-soaked war sponding to a request from Reu- that the government was “afraid But, said Caramat, “it turned on drugs in the Philippines — 32 ters for comment on the anti- of what I might discover”. Pan- out that was just the leftovers”. people killed in 24 hours in the drug campaign, Panelo said “we elo, the president’s spokesman, On the trafficker’s phone were province north of Manila where are winning the war on drugs”. criticised Robredo’s “baseless pictures of tonnes of meth he was police chief in 2017. Duterte, however, has repeat- extrapolations” on drug sup- stored elsewhere in the Philip- Now the head of drug enforce- edly said in recent speeches and ply at the time, saying that drug pines, he said. ment for the Philippine National interviews that the anti-drugs lords had been “neutralised” and Efforts to cut demand for Police, Caramat said that ultra- campaign has fallen short, blam- that the crime rate had fallen. drugs, including treatment and violent approach to curbing il- ing endemic corruption for un- “Close to eight out of 10 Fili- counselling for the country’s licit drugs had not been eff ec- dermining enforcement and the pinos are satisfi ed with the na- estimated 1.3mn registered ad- tive. absence of a death penalty for tional administration’s cam- dicts, have also been hampered “Shock and awe defi nitely did failing to deter crime. paign against illegal drugs,” by lack of funding and poor or- not work,” he told Reuters in an Critics say that problems with Panelo said. ganisation, according to ana- interview, speaking out for the the drug war run deeper, point- Colonel Romeo Caramat, chief A survey by Social Weath- lysts and officials interviewed fi rst time on the issue. “Drug ing to a failure to target high- of the Philippine National Police Drug rehab patients gather for a head count at the Mega Drug Abuse er Stations, a Filipino polling by Reuters. supply is still rampant.” level drug traffi ckers, cut the Drug Enforcement Group, is Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, in Nueva Ecija province, group, in June found 82% of The limitations of those ef- Caramat said the volume of supply of drugs and invest in re- pictured in his off ice in Manila. north of Manila. those surveyed were satisfi ed forts were highlighted by the crime had decreased as a result habilitation. with the anti-drug campaign. small number of patients being of the drug war, but users could “Heavy suppression eff orts fame he enjoyed for the killings, is much higher. Amnesty In- After a brief pause when the According to fi gures provided treated at the Mega Drug Abuse still buy illegal drugs “any time, marked by extra-judicial killings and the rapid promotions that ternational said in a report last drug war was declared, transna- by the Philippines to the UN- Treatment and Rehabilitation anywhere” in the Philippines. and street arrests were not go- followed. June that “evidence points to tional crime groups have fl ooded ODC, crystal meth seizures have Center, in Nueva Ecija, some He said he now favoured a new ing to slow down demand,” said After news emerged of the many thousands more killed by the country with crystal meth — climbed in the past year and 100 kilometres north of Manila strategy. Jeremy Douglas, the Southeast one-day death count in Bulacan unknown armed persons with the most popular illegal drug in were on track to more than dou- during a recent visit by Reuters. Rather than quickly arresting Asia and Pacifi c representative in Aug 2017, local media reported likely links to the police”. Cara- the Philippines, known locally as ble in 2019. Residents rise early at or killing low-level pushers and for the United Nations Offi ce on Duterte saying: “Let’s kill an- mat says that those killed on his shabu, according to law enforce- However, the average retail 4.30am, receive medication couriers, he wants to put them Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in other 32 every day. Maybe we can watch violently resisted arrest. ment offi cers, government offi - price for meth, at $136 per gram, and counselling, interspersed under surveillance in the hope Bangkok. reduce what ails this country.” But he agrees with critics cials and experts. is below the $164 it cost when with prayer, meals and Zumba they lead police to “big drug “There has to be a focus on Caramat estimates “hun- that the anti-drugs strategy has Vice President Leni Robredo, a the war on drugs began in 2016, classes that last until 8.30pm. bosses”. Three and a half years prevention and public health, dreds” died in Bulacan when he mostly targeted low-level opera- political rival of Duterte who was according to the fi gures. But while it was built to after President Rodrigo Duterte coupled with intelligent polic- was police chief. The Philippines tives. “For almost three years, we appointed “drugs tsar” last year The cheaper prices, said the house 10,000 addicts, the fa- launched a war on drugs in the ing that takes on transnational government says 5,532 people are arresting the street pusher or but fi red 18 days later for “fail- UNODC’s Douglas, suggests cility has seen just 2,085 severe Philippines with a call to kill crime.” have been killed in anti-drug po- the courier. ing to introduce new measures” that far more of the drug is drug addicts complete the pro- addicts and traffi ckers, his sig- Caramat’s criticism of the lice operations nationwide since After we have arrested the among other alleged shortcom- reaching the streets than is be- gramme over three-and-a-half nature policy has failed in many tactics that marked his tenure as mid-2016. drug courier, we stopped,” he ings, said in a report handed to ing stopped. years, according to a Power- key objectives, according to po- Bulacan province’s police chief is Human rights groups sus- said in the interview, conducted the president last month that the A $50mn drug bust in No- Point presentation from the lice offi cers, health professionals remarkable given the nationwide pect the nationwide death toll in December. inability to constrict the supply vember highlighted the over- centre reviewed by Reuters. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, February 8, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Pandemic panics: we need Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor a three-pronged approach Amjad Khan

By Julie Sunderland P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Seattle [email protected] 44350478 (News), very few years, humanity succumbs to mass hysteria 44466404 (Sport), at the prospect of a global 44466636 (Home delivery) Epandemic. In this century alone, Sars, H1N1, Ebola, Mers, Zika, 44350474 and now the coronavirus have all facebook.com/gulftimes generated reactions that, in retrospect, seem disproportionate to the actual twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar impact of the disease. The 2002-03 Sars outbreak in China (also a coronavirus, likely transmitted from bat to human) infected 8,000 people and caused fewer than 800 deaths. Nonetheless, GULF TIMES it resulted in an estimated $40bn in lost economic activity, owing to closed borders, travel stoppages, business disruptions, and emergency healthcare costs. Stop slippery slope: Such reactions are understandable. The prospect of an infectious disease killing our children triggers ancient survival instincts. And modern Facial recognition medicine and health systems have created the illusion that we have complete biological control over requires more study our collective fate, even though the interconnectedness of the modern As the European Union considers a fi ve-year ban on facial world has actually accelerated the rate recognition technology, aff ording lawmakers the opportunity to at which new pathogens emerge and conduct research and craft meaningful regulation, revelations spread. And there are good reasons regarding the practices of an American facial recognition company to fear new infectious diseases: the A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok. should motivate Congress to consider its own temporary ban on the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness emergency response; and develop and technology. Innovations (CEPI) estimates that a develop more eff ective therapeutics US is attacked by another country. We highly contagious, lethal, airborne and diagnostics. New RNA vaccines, would not expect the defence secretary stockpile vaccines. Facial recognition software has been controversial for some time pathogen similar to the 1918 Spanish for example, can programme our own suddenly to announce that, in response, Here, the fi rst step is for governments now. The technology has the ability to compare photos taken by, fl u could kill nearly 33mn people cells to deliver proteins that alert the the government will quickly build new to increase funding for CEPI, which was say, a surveillance camera with a larger pool of photos – driver’s worldwide in just six months. immune system to develop antibodies stealth bombers from scratch while it created after the 2014 Ebola epidemic to license pictures, mug shots, etc. The software then connects the Nonetheless, the fearmongering and against a disease, essentially turning plans a counter-off ensive. The idea is develop and deploy vaccines. The agency’s images, thus giving the user the identity of the person captured on draconian responses to each outbreak our bodies into “vaccine factories.” ridiculous, yet it accurately refl ects our initial funding, provided by a coalition of surveillance image. are unproductive. We are a biological Looking ahead, the mandates of current response to biological threats. governments and foundations, totalled only $500mn, or about half the cost of a Law enforcement and government offi cials have celebrated the species living among other organisms research organisations like the US A better approach would be that sometimes pose a danger to us, Defense Advanced Research Projects to recognise health workers and single stealth bomber. Its budget should technology’s ability to identify criminals, while civil liberty and and that have evolutionary advantages Agency and the Biomedical Advanced scientists for their service, create the be far, far larger. privacy advocates fear facial recognition could infringe upon the rights over us of sheer numbers and rapid Research and Development Authority, infrastructure to develop and deploy In the arms race with pathogens, of every citizen whose image is captured and examined. mutational rates. Our most powerful which are already funding programmes emergency health technologies, and there can be no fi nal peace. The only To this point, facial recognition has relied upon pre-existing photo weapon against that threat is our to counter bioterrorism and other proactively fund the organisations question is whether we fi ght well databases, curated by law enforcement or the government. But intelligence. Owing to modern science biological threats, should be broadened tasked with pandemic response. As a or poorly. Fighting poorly means Clearview AI, a relatively new facial recognition company founded by and technology, and our capacity for to support much more research into fi rst step, the US government should allowing pathogens to cause massive Australian entrepreneur Hoan Ton-That, has pushed the technology collective action, we already have pandemic response. re-establish the shuttered NSC unit periodic disruptions and impose huge the tools to prevent, manage, and The second prong is strategic with a dedicated “pandemic czar,” and burdens in the form of lost economic into disturbing new territory. contain global pandemics. Rather preparedness. We in modern societies fully fund the agencies responsible for productivity. Fighting well means According to an investigative report published by the New York than thrashing around every time a put a lot of faith in our militaries, managing the threat, including the investing appropriately in science and Times, Clearview’s software is groundbreaking in its scope. A user new pathogen surprises us, we should because we value committed the public CDC, the Department of Homeland technology, funding the right people can upload a picture of a person, which is then cross-referenced with simply deploy the same resources, servants and soldiers who vigilantly Security, and the National Institutes of and infrastructure to optimise strategic Clearview’s photo database – a database that has been constructed by organisation, and ingenuity that we guard against threats to national Health. preparedness, and assuming leadership scraping more than 3bn images from social media sites like Facebook, apply to building and managing our security. But while our public health The third prong is a co-ordinated over coordinated global responses. YouTube, Venmo and more. military assets. and scientifi c research institutions are global response. Although it is It is only a matter of time before we are Specifi cally, we need a three-pronged stocked with similar levels of talent, antithetical to Trump’s idea of confronted with a truly lethal pathogen Clearview’s approach. First, we must invest in they receive far less government “America First,” a multilateral capable of taking many more lives than The dangers of “innovation” has sparked science and technology. Our current support. response to pandemics is obviously even the worst of our human wars. We are a lot of interest in the military capabilities are the result In 2018, President Donald Trump’s in America’s national interest. The intelligent enough as a species to avoid facial recognition US law enforcement of trillions of dollars of investment administration shut down the US US needs to lead on issues where that fate. But we need to use the best of community. The company in research and development. Yet National Security Council’s unit for cooperation clearly has advantages our knowledge, talent, and organisational are too numerous has partnered with more we deploy only a fraction of those coordinating responses to pandemics. over national-level policies. The US capacity to save ourselves. And we need to than 600 state and federal resources to the rapid development of It has also defunded the arm of the should support global mechanisms focus on responsible preparation now. – to allow its spread vaccines, antibiotics, and diagnostics to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that to identify and monitor emerging Project Syndicate agencies throughout the fi ght dangerous pathogens. monitors and prepares for epidemics. pathogens; co-ordinate a special country. Offi cials claim Advances in biology allow us to But even more corrosive has been the force of health workers that can z Julie Sunderland, a former director that Clearview has been used to solve crimes ranging from theft understand a new pathogen’s genetic administration’s public denigration of immediately deploy to epidemic sites; of the Gates Foundation’s Strategic to fraud to murder. The Indiana State Police say Clearview helped code and mutational capabilities. science, which erodes the public’s trust create new financing facilities (such Investment Fund, is a co-founder and solve a shooting within 20 minutes of the incident. We can now manipulate the immune in scientifi c and medical expertise. as global epidemic insurance) that Managing Director of Biomatics Capital Despite the excitement the software has created among law system to fi ght disease, and rapidly Consider a scenario in which the can quickly mobilise resources for Partners. enforcement, Clearview’s business model is rife with concerns related to civil liberties, criminal justice and privacy. Even the most rigorously tested facial recognition systems are not 100% accurate. In fact, they are inaccurate an alarming amount of the time, particularly when identifying people of colour. But Clearview’s system has not been scrutinised by independent third parties or industry experts. And because large databases increase the risk of misidentifi cation, Clearview’s system could be even more likely to Realising the potential of AI localism provide false positives, which could lead to wrongful arrests. There are also many concerns about the data Clearview has are also making major investments in by establishing an Algorithms public good) can suff er if AI localism accumulated, who may have access to it and how the software By Stefaan G. Verhulst and Mona Sloane New York responsible AI research, localised high- Management and Policy Officer, New results in uncoordinated and could be used. Any person who appears in a photo that has been potential tech ecosystems, and citizen- York City has created a model that can incompatible policies. Both local and posted on social media – in other words, most Americans – could led initiatives. be emulated worldwide. national regulators must account be identifi ed by Clearview. From there, the opportunities for abuse very new technology rides a This “AI localism” is in keeping with AI localism also lends itself to greater for this possibility by adopting a are myriad. wave from hype to dismay. the broader trend in “New Localism,” policy coordination and increased decentralised approach that relies less But even by the usual stand- as described by public-policy scholars citizen engagement. In Toronto, a on top-down management and more on Congress should see the current conversation around Clearview ards, artificial intelligence has Bruce Katz and the late Jeremy coalition of academic, civic, and other co-ordination. This, in turn, requires a and facial recognition as reason to take action. Clearview’s decision E had a turbulent run. Is AI a society- Nowak. Municipal and other local stakeholders came together to ensure technical and regulatory infrastructure to transgress the unoffi cial rules of facial recognition have made renewing hero or a jobs-destroying jurisdictions are increasingly taking accountability for Sidewalk Labs, for collecting and disseminating best it clear that real rules must be created, to protect citizens from villain? As always, the truth is not so it upon themselves to address a broad an initiative launched by Alphabet practices and lessons learned across unlawful intrusion by private companies, law enforcement and the categorical. range of environmental, economic, and (Google’s parent company) to improve jurisdictions. government. As a general-purpose technology, social challenges, and the domain of services and infrastructure through Regulators are only just beginning to US lawmakers should take a cue from the EU and impose AI will be what we make of it, with its technology is no exception. citywide sensors. In response to this recognise the necessity and potential ultimate impact determined by the For example, New York, Seattle, and civic action, the company has agreed to of AI localism. But academics, citizens, their own temporary ban on facial recognition technology. The governance frameworks we build. As other cities have embraced what Ira follow six guidelines for “responsible journalists, and others are already suspension would give researchers time to study facial recognition’s calls for new AI policies grow louder, Rubinstein of New York University calls artifi cial intelligence.” improving our collective understanding accuracy, its eff ects in other countries (facial recognition is already there is an opportunity to shape the “privacy localism,” by fi lling signifi cant As this example shows, reform of what works and what doesn’t. At The commonplace in China) and create recommendations for future legal and regulatory infrastructure in gaps in federal and state legislation, eff orts are more likely to succeed when GovLab, for example, we are deepening regulations. ways that maximise AI’s benefi ts and particularly when it comes to local groups, pooling their expertise our knowledge base and building the The dangers of facial recognition are too numerous to allow limit its potential harms. surveillance. Similarly, in the absence of and infl uence, take the lead. Similarly, information-sharing mechanisms its spread to continue unabated. The US is on a slippery slope to Until recently, AI governance has a national or global broadband strategy, in Brooklyn, New York, the tenant needed to make city-based initiatives a been discussed primarily at the national many cities have pursued “broadband association of the Atlantic Plaza success. We plan to create a database of accepting a surveillance state. We need more research, evidence level. But most national AI strategies localism,” by taking steps to bridge Towers (in collaboration with academic all instances of AI localism, from which and debate before facial recognition can become the norm. – – particularly China’s – are focused on the service gap left by private-sector researchers and nongovernmental to draw insights and a comparative list Tribune News Service gaining or maintaining a competitive operators. organisations) succeeded in blocking of campaigns, principles, regulatory advantage globally. They are essentially As a general approach to problem a plan to use facial recognition tools, and governance structures. business plans designed to attract solving, localism off ers both immediacy technology in lieu of keys. Moreover, Building up our knowledge is the fi rst To Advertise investment and boost corporate and proximity. Because it is managed this eff ort off ered important cues step toward strengthening AI localism. competitiveness, usually with an within tightly defi ned geographic for how AI should be regulated more Robust governance capacities in this [email protected] added emphasis on enhancing national regions, it aff ords policymakers a broadly, particularly in the context of domain are the best way to ensure that Display security. better understanding of the tradeoff s housing. the remarkable advances in AI are put This singular focus on competition involved. By calibrating algorithms But AI localism is not a panacea. to their best possible uses. – Project 44466621 44418811 has meant that framing rules and and AI policies for local conditions, The same tight local networks that Syndicate regulations for AI has been ignored. policymakers have a better chance of offer governance advantages can also Classified But cities are increasingly stepping creating positive feedback loops that result in a form of regulatory capture. z Stefaan G. Verhulst is Co-Founder 44466609 44418811 into the void, with New York, Toronto, will result in greater eff ectiveness and As such, AI localism must be subject of The GovLab at NYU’s Tandon School Yokohama, and others serving accountability. to strict oversight and policies to of Engineering and Editor-in-Chief of Subscription as “laboratories” for governance Feedback loops can have a massive prevent corruption and conflicts of Data and Policy. Mona Sloane, a fellow innovation. Cities are experimenting impact, particularly when it comes interest. at The GovLab, NYU’s Institute for [email protected] with a range of policies, from bans on to AI. In some cases, local AI policies AI localism also poses a risk of Public Knowledge, and NYU’s Alliance facial-recognition technology and could have far-reaching effects on fragmentation. While national for Public Interest Technology, is an certain other AI applications to the how technology is designed and approaches have their shortcomings, adjunct professor at NYU’s Tandon © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved creation of data collaboratives. They deployed elsewhere. For example, technological innovation (and the School of Engineering. Gulf Times Saturday, February 8, 2020 15 COMMENT Bicycle lanes move everyone forward

By Roberto Claudio Rodrigues Bezerra employees with bike access from 16 Fortaleza stations spread across the downtown area. The programme serves as a model for private companies to consider he intersection of Avenida when encouraging their own staff to Leste Oeste and Avenida commute by bike. Pasteur in the Brazilian city of All of these improvements, as well as TFortaleza was always tricky to events like September’s Car Free Day, are navigate by bicycle, especially heading meant to make the city safer, not just for east as three lanes of car traffi c became cyclists but for everybody on the road. two. Data show that every 60 minutes And they have worked. Between 2014 during rush hour, 360 cyclists had to and 2018, road traffi c deaths recorded by manoeuvre around and between 2,700 traffi c and health authorities fell by 40%, cars, trucks, and motorcycles without from 377 to 226. any protections. Today, you can get on a bike and ride Such conditions are not conducive west in a dedicated lane on Avenida for cycling, to say the least. Yet bicycles Leste Oeste that takes you safely hold much promise as both a mode of through the intersection with Avenida transport and a way for Fortalezenses Pasteur. On the return trip, you can to pursue a more active lifestyle and ride the eastbound lane – the medians resist the obesity epidemic sweeping have been reworked and part of the Brazil, where more than half the roadway has been permanently set population is overweight or obese. aside for bikes. The installation last With obesity rising by more than 67% year of new signalling, lane markings, in the last 13 years, the onus was on my and reserved areas for bikes in front administration to make cycling a more of the stoplights is just the latest in a popular choice. series of road safety upgrades being Our goal was to make Fortaleza – a implemented across the city. beautiful coastal city and Brazil’s Keeping pace with current fi fth largest municipality, with more transportation trends can both improve than 2.6mn residents – safer as well public health and boost economic as healthier. So, we began to adopt growth. In Fortaleza, we are embracing incentives to encourage cycling, the cycling trend because the benefi ts are particularly measures to make it a enormous. Our city is changing for the better transport option. better. More people are riding bikes, and The most obvious place to begin was more safely than ever, contributing to with bike lanes. When roads do not cleaner air and greater well-being with contain dedicated lanes, cyclists have every commute. Other cities can do it, few rights and little safety. Between People are embracing the cycling trend because the benefits are enormous. too. Those that maintain streetscapes 2010 and 2018, there were 222 crashes designed strictly for automobile traffi c involving bikes on Fortaleza’s roads. lots, forcing pedestrians into Fortalezenses live within 300m of Of course, not everyone can ride a mode of transport on the way to and will only be left behind in the decades Too many families have been torn apart streets that were jammed with cars. cycling infrastructure – the best result bike. That is why we also invested in from work. ahead. – Project Syndicate because their youngest and healthiest After six years of addressing our among Brazilian state capitals, according dedicated bus lanes. The increase from One of the biggest hurdles to members are incapacitated or killed on infrastructure, however, our eff orts to the Institute for Transportation and two miles (3.2km) of dedicated lanes commuting by bike is that too few z Roberto Claudio Rodrigues their daily commutes. gained international recognition for Development Policy, based in New York in 2013 to 72 miles in 2019 has allowed people own one. Theft and the cost of Bezerra, the Mayor of Fortaleza, Brazil, At the start of 2013, when we reclaiming more than 12sq km of City. Given that many studies have our buses to go from pedestrian speed purchasing and repairing a bike are the is a member of the Partnership for stepped into offi ce, the city had streetscape for pedestrians and almost found that introducing bike lanes has a to bike speed. The hope is that these main barriers. Bike sharing removes Healthy Cities, a network supported only 68km of bike lanes, and many quadrupling the total length of bike positive economic impact, especially on improvements will encourage more these obstacles. In Fortaleza, a new by the World Health Organisation, of our sidewalks were falling into lanes, to 263km. local businesses, we believe we made a people to switch to a healthier, faster, subsidised bike share project, called Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Vital disrepair or being used as parking Today, four out of every ten wise investment. and more environmentally sustainable Bicicletar Corporativo, provides city Strategies.

ECB’s house price headache too big to solve Three-day forecast

TODAY Eurostat, the EU statistics agency produced only quarterly and with out the ECB, arguing that shifting Maximum Temperature : 270c By Balazs Koranyi/Reuters Minimum Temperature : 170c Frankfurt could fix the data or the ECB itself a three-month lag. the goalposts when the ECB is falling could target a different inflation The United States overcomes this short of its target could be seen as SUNDAY measure. by calculating an imputed rent for dishonest. Maximum Temperature : 260c hat if vital inflation The first appears highly unlikely, owner-occupied housing. Another issue is that house prices Minimum Temperature : 180c rise more during economic booms data used to justify and the second so politically and New ECB President Christine MONDAY trillions of euros worth economically risky, that the ECB’s Lagarde is fully aware of the but can fall in downturns. Maximum Temperature : 220c Wof central bank stimu- review is likely to just kick the can problem. Should house prices be factored Minimum Temperature : 160c lus to support Europe’s economy is down the road, according to many “If you ask anyone, family, friends into headline inflation, this could flawed? economists. and beyond, 6.5% is on the low side, compound deflationary pressures Fisherman's forecast This is precisely the European At the core of the problem lies how to say the least,” she told European in a downturn, forcing the ECB to Central Bank’s fear as it starts Eurostat calculates the harmonised lawmakers on Thursday. provide even more stimulus, not WARNING Inshore : Nil a one-year forensic review of index of consumer prices (HICP), “We have to be mindful of being less. Offshore : Expected strong wind its unprecedented foray into a measure that combines prices in true to what people regard as their Indeed, the gap between headline and high sea to the unconventional monetary policy in 19 eurozone members into a single cost structure,” Lagarde said. “If inflation and the figure adjusted for North by night WEATHER recent years. reading. housing costs represents that little, house prices seems to be closing as Inshore : Moderate temperature The problem centres on house The importance of the figure we have to question and wonder the eurozone economy struggles, daytime with some prices. can’t be understated: The ECB whether that’s legitimate or not.” weakening the case for tackling this clouds and slight methodological issue now. dust at some places, They are a key measure for targets this figure and has spent Eurostat declined to comment. relatively cold by night. tens of millions of homeowners trillions of euros to cut borrowing There is no easy way for the Any move to target an inflation and changes in prices affect their costs because it is undershooting statistic agency to resolve this issue. figure other than headline inflation Offshore : Scattered clouds to financial decisions and their overall its aim of almost 2%. A 2018 report by the European would also risk making the ECB’s partly cloudy later WIND perception of inflation and economic If housing was included, inflation Commission concluded that even if target even more confusing for the Inshore : Southeasterly-Southerly health. could be 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points methodological concerns could be public, running counter to the bank’s 06-16/20 KT Yet, unlike the United States, the higher. overcome, the data can’t be produced aim of simplifying it. Offshore : Southeasterly 08-18/24 KT monthly “headline” inflation data That may not seem much but as quickly and as frequently as Given that the ECB would gain Visibility : 4-8 KM used by the euro zone central bank would have pushed it closer to inflation. relatively little by targeting a new to help determine whether and the ECB’s target in recent years, “Historically, the issue is how do measure, it is likely to keep the Offshore : 3-5/7 FT when to intervene to shore up the weakening the case for stimulus. you capture the fact that if you own pressure on Eurostat and settle in economy excludes changes in the The issue is that housing costs a home that is partly consumption for a lengthy battle that will last well Around the region price of homes occupied by their only get a 6.5% weight in the and it should be in the price beyond its strategy review. Weather Weather owners. eurozone inflation basket — and index,” Philip Lane, the ECB’s chief “The ECB cannot decide on today Max/min tomorrow Max/min As a result, the data that is largely from changes in rental economist said. such a change to the HICP alone,” Baghdad P Cloudy 19/08 P Cloudy 13/01 underestimated the actual price prices — while it has over 20% in the “But partly it is an asset which Commerzbank economist Ralph Kuwait City Sunny 24/11 Sunny 21/05 increases households faced during US should not be in the price index.” Solveen said. Manama M Sunny 26/18 Cloudy 22/17 the current housing boom, which Federal Reserve’s preferred The ECB could look for a new “A change in the survey method Muscat Sunny 27/19 Sunny 29/20 was partly fuelled by rock-bottom inflation measure. inflation measure to target but that must be approved not only by the Tehran S Showers 15/04 P Cloudy 11/01 central bank rates. The Eurostat figures excludes may be a minefield. European Commission, but also For the ECB, there are two ways changes for so-called owner- Jonas Fernandez, a Member of the formally by the European Parliament out but neither looks promising: occupied housing, data which is European Parliament already called and the European Council.”

Live issues

‘Drastic’ fall in bumblebees shocks scientists Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min By Thin Lei Win Europe’s bumblebee populations fell pesticides or habitat loss. It’s that would have to be substituted by staple Athens P Cloudy 08/01 Sunny 12/04 Rome by 17% between the two periods the climate change is another thing that’s crops like rice, corn, and potatoes, Beirut Rain 13/08 M Cloudy 10/06 study looked at — from 1901-1974 and been added to the mix that’s driving leading to an imbalanced diet, the UN Bangkok Sunny 35/24 Sunny 35/24 from 2000-2014 — while in North this extinction,” he said. Food and Agriculture Organisation Berlin M Sunny 09/04 Cloudy 12/08 hen scientist Peter So- America, the fi gure was 46%. Bumblebees are larger than warned in 2019. The researchers used Cairo P Cloudy 17/09 P Cloudy 16/10 roye fi rst saw the fi gures “We couldn’t believe that the honeybees, and while they do not a database encompassing 550,000 Cape Town M Sunny 27/18 Cloudy 22/18 showing estimated declines were this severe over such a produce honey, they are important records of 66 bumblebee species Colombo P Cloudy 29/24 M Sunny 30/23 Wbumblebee populations short time period,” said Soroye, lead pollinators. from 1901-1974 and from 2000-2014 Dhaka M Cloudy 24/17 P Cloudy 24/15 in North America had fallen by nearly author of the study and a PhD student “When they land on fl owers, they and compared their distribution Hong Kong P Cloudy 18/13 M Sunny 17/13 50% in a single generation, he thought at University of Ottawa. physically shake these fl owers and and diversity to local changes in Istanbul P Cloudy 02/-2 P Cloudy 04/-1 it must be a typo. “I reckon I must have gone through, shake the pollen off ,” said Soroye. temperature and precipitation. Jakarta S T Storms 30/24 S T Storms 30/25 He checked the numbers — the like, seven times to double check “A lot of crops like squash, berries, Much larger declines are “likely Karachi Sunny 27/13 Sunny 27/12 result of a long-term analysis of that everything was right and it was. tomatoes need bumblebees to if climate change accelerates in the London P Cloudy 11/08 Rain 14/06 bumblebee populations published And so yes, these declines are really pollinate them, and honeybees or coming years”, the study’s co-author Manila I T Storms 31/25 P Cloudy 29/24 in the journal Science on Thursday drastic. They’re really severe,” he told other pollinators just can’t do that.” Tim Newbold from the University Moscow Sunny -8/-12 Cloudy -1/-3 — seven times to be sure they were the Thomson Reuters Foundation by Bees play a crucial role in producing College London said in a statement. New Delhi Sunny 21/07 M Sunny 21/08 accurate. phone. healthy fruits or seeds for three The 10-year period from 2010-2019 is New York M Sunny 06/-1 P Cloudy 07/04 Rising temperatures are Declining bee populations have also quarters of the crops that feed people, likely to be the hottest decade on record, Paris Showers 11/06 Showers 13/08 contributing to drastic declines of been linked to heavy pesticide use and according to the United Nations. the Geneva-based World Meteorological Sao Paulo S T Storms 29/20 S T Storms 29/21 bumblebees across Europe and North habitat loss caused by changes in land Yet studies show pollinator Organisation said recently. Seoul Sunny 04/-8 M Sunny 05/-1 America at rates “consistent with a use. populations have been declining Warming southern regions such Singapore P Cloudy 32/25 T Storm 31/25 mass extinction”, threatening food But Soroye said global warming was across much of the world. as Spain and Mexico saw the biggest Sydney Rain 22/20 Rain 22/21 cultivation, the study concluded. exacerbating their plight. If the trend continues, nutritious losses, the researchers said. – Tokyo Clear 13/01 Clear 09/02 The researchers estimated that “This paper in no way absolved fruits, nuts and many vegetables Thomson Reuters Foundation Gulf Times 16 Saturday, February 8, 2020 QATAR DHFC on track for month-long action to mark Sport Day

By Joey Aguilar check-ups from 4pm-10pm Staff Reporter (and from 8am-10pm on NSD) at the mall’s Sports for All Zone, located at ‘Bird Island’— An- he Sports Month at Doha gry Birds World Outdoor Area. Festival City (DHFC) Doha Festival City also set up the Tkicked off its running and Kids Sports Activity area for the cycling marathons yesterday as young visitors to enjoy a number part of its weekend fi tness and of fun-fi lled activities and enter- recreational activities for Qatar tainment options. residents and visitors to engage Apart from the activities in with. the weekends, Doha Festival City The month-long celebration also has Xbox, computer stations marks Qatar National Sport Day and life-like car races which (NSD), held annually every sec- provide thrilling experience for ond Tuesday of February, aimed gamers in the weekdays, starting at promoting an active and from noon until 5pm. healthy lifestyle in the country. It is learnt that many families Young and adult cyclists, as and children are anticipating well as runners, had the chance several activations at the mall on to explore Doha Festival City’s The NSD activities at Doha Festival City caters to diff erent age February 11 such as the obstacle Outdoor Leisure Trail – the ven- groups. course at the Angry Birds World, ue for its weekend competition City Studio from 8am-1pm, and (every Friday and Saturday, and or walk at their convenient time. the mall’s general manager, Rob- the ‘Open Day’ at Snow Dunes on February 11) scheduled from “Doha Festival City is the one ert Hall, said. “We invite every- from 11am-4pm. 8am to noon. and only choice to enjoy sports one to come whenever they like Doha Festival City also an- The track, which features vari- this month. We have so many to enjoy with us and try unique nounced that it is hosting a ous surfaces and exercise sta- sports activities lined up for our experiences that they can only CrossFit Championship 2020 tions along the route, is also open visitors throughout February, all fi nd at Festival City,” he added. on February 28 (in collaboration round-the-clock for seven days for free, in co-operation with the While roaming the mall, shop- with CrossFit Oryx) for CrossFit Doha Festival City’s Outdoor Leisure Trail features various surfaces, as well as exercise stations, along its to those who simply want to jog theme parks and other retailers,” pers can avail of free health athletes. route.

Green drive Zoo to woo visitors at renovated Al Khor Park

Ostriches in the zoo at Al Khor Park.

The Services Aff airs Department at Umm Salal Municipality planted 543 trees of diff erent types at key locations within the municipality in 2019 as part of its distinguished eff orts last year, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) said in a statement. In addition, 72,700 saplings were planted in municipal gardens at diff erent locations, while about 993,800sq m of green areas were mowed at a number of places. The department also addressed 587 requests to prune trees and spray plants with insecticides, besides transporting over 14.7mn gallons of freshwater to irrigate plants across the municipality last year, the MME statement noted, adding that five water coolers were installed at Barzan Olympic Park. Also, throughout 2019, the department conducted various awareness and entertainment activities on the importance of plants for the environment. Pictured are some of the initiatives and works carried out by the department last year.

A giraff e at the zoo at Al Khor Park. A view of Al Khor Park.

Community cleaning initiative at Simaisma Beach

The General Awareness Team at Al Daayen Municipality conducted a cleanliness drive at Simaisma Beach with the participation of Shafallah Centre employees. Al Daayen Municipality director Rashid al-Khayarin and the Gardens Department head Fahd al-Kaabi were present. Souvenirs were distributed to the participants. The drive was initiated as part of the municipality’s keenness to ensure community partnership in cleaning initiatives and spreading awareness about the importance of maintaining cleanliness.