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South Korea’s Parasite Australian legend Cahill joins makes Oscar history as offi cial SC ambassador with best picture win published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11455 February 11, 2020 Jumada II 17, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar Sport Day a great initiative: Geoff Qatar LNG development helps global shift to less carbon-intensive energy

By Pratap John nation of natural gas and renewables off er Business Editor a reliable, fl exible and cost-eff ective path- way for a lower energy emission system. “We in Qatar are moving forward atural gas will be the only form with implementing our mega projects of hydrocarbons to increase its that will see our LNG production rise Nshare during the next 30 years from 77mn tonnes per year to 126mn while fossil fuels will continue to dom- tonnes per year by 2027. This will not inate the global energy mix during the only enhance our ability and fl exibil- period, said HE the Minister of State ity to meet additional demand but also for Energy Aff airs Saad bin Sherida al- help the shift to less carbon-intensive Kaabi. energy in many parts of the world. “Today, the share of natural gas in “In parallel, Qatar remains focused Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka speaks with England’s 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst in Doha the global energy mix stands at about HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi speaking on achieving the highest environmen- yesterday. 22%. By 2050, this is expected to rise to at the launch of ‘GECF Global Gas tal standards in its LNG industry to sig- 27%, according to the outlook, which Outlook 2050’ at the Sheraton Grand nifi cantly reduce emissions by applying ir Geoff Hurst, the only football- He added that he might even speak have a National Sports Day. It’s a great is being launched today,” al-Kaabi said Doha. the best available industry technology er to score a hat-trick in a World to Prime Minister Boris Johnson about idea for sure.” during the launch of ‘GECF Global Gas and CO2 sequestration.” SCup fi nal, has hailed Qatar’s Na- having a National Sports Day in Brit- Sir Geoff also said he will surely visit Outlook 2050’ at the Sheraton Grand “I am often asked about renewables Also, addressing to the audience, tional Sport Day as a “great initiative.” ain. Qatar in 2022 to watch the FIFA World Doha yesterday. and whether we see them as a threat to composed of the Forum Member Coun- “It’s very apt that I am here during “I don’t think in England we have a Cup. He said natural gas has a key role to gas. The answer is ‘no’. We believe that tries’ representatives, members of the Qatar’s National Sport Day when eve- National Sports Day. We have various The England great arrived in Doha play in addressing the global concerns natural gas and renewables are com- diplomatic corps, experts and academia, rybody is having fun with sports activ- holidays but I don’t think we class one yesterday and attended several func- on environmental pollution and cli- plementary. As the cleanest fossil fuel, Dr Yury Sentyurin, secretary-general of ities and not working. It’s a great idea as a National Sports Day. tions. He will take part in the National mate change. natural gas comes in handy when the the GECF, highlighted the importance and a great initiative. I think sports is “I might suggest that when I get Sport Day celebrations across Qatar “It is versatile, fl exible, economic and sun is not shining. And when the wind of natural gas and its great potential as huge here,” Sir Geoff , who was part of back because I think it’s a great idea. today before heading back to the UK clean. More and more countries are mov- is not blowing. energy source for sustainable develop- the England team that won the FIFA I might speak to Boris Johnson if he tomorrow. (Read full interview in ing away from burning coal and nuclear “Energy from natural gas can be dis- ment due to the effi ciency, availability, World Cup in 1966, told Gulf Times. listens to me (laughs) and suggest we tomorrow’s edition) and are building infrastructure for clean- patched quickly in a cost effi cient and ef- and eco-friendly nature of the resource. er alternatives including natural gas. fective manner. I fi rmly believe the combi- To Page 5, Business Page 1 3 stadiums to be unveiled this year Qatar Police champions

By Joseph Varghese are those enlisted to our projects by stage with many of the works to be Staff Reporter our contractors,” SC secretary-general completed by this year. Hassan al-Thawadi explained. “Three more stadiums will be com- He was addressing the Education City pleted this year, all the major express- ighlight- Speaker Series organised by Qatar Foun- ways are to be completed by the end ing Qa- dation (QF). The session was moder- of this year and Doha Metro - already Htar’s ef- ated by Michael Jabri-Pickett, editor-in- functional - will be fully operational forts to ensure chief, External Communications, QF. this year,” he stated. workers’ welfare, Al-Thawadi pointed out that Qatar “As part of the testing of the readi- about $30mn will is committed to worker’s welfare and ness for the tournament, we will be reimbursed by has applied universal minimum wage. be hosting the World Club Football the contractors “It is unfortunate that many work- championship 2020 on the lines of the this year to those ers had to pay exorbitant amounts as same competition last year. We will workers who had recruitment fee in their home coun- also be ready with other elements of paid recruitment tries to get opportunities to work in the tournament in the coming days,” fee in their home Hassan al-Thawadi our projects. After we came to know noted the SC secretary-general. countries, a top of such practice, we initiated a pro- “The developments taking place for offi cial of Supreme Committee for De- gramme to resolve this issue and the the tournament are in line with the vi- livery & Legacy (SC) told yesterday. contractors willingly took part in the sion of the nation and fi t in with the “By 2020, about 83% of our work- programme,” he recalled. needs of the country. The metro has a force will have their recruitment fee The SC offi cial revealed that the in- huge potential for the country and the reimbursed amounting to $30mn. 50% frastructure development for the 2022 World Cup is a catalyst for it. The Qatar Police Club volleyball team celebrate after winning the Gulf Club Championship in Kuwait yesterday. They defeated are our workers while the other 50% FIFA World Cup is at an advanced To Page 20 Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-0 in the final. Celebrating healthy lifestyle, Qatar marks Sport Day today

By Joey Aguilar spectators with a varied programme of nual event. The main stage will feature table tennis and rugby, as well as Staff Reporter activities. Sport Day brings people together: UK envoy aerobics, boot camp and other ‘exciting competitions and games for young At Aspire Zone, people of all ages activities’ for families. visitors. and level of fi tness will have the op- British ambassador Ajay Sharma be like in previous years happy to People will also have the chance to At Education City, Qatar Founda- varied programme of sport and portunity to take part in more than 20 described the National Sport Day participate.” take part in a number of challenges tion will be hosting 80 events for NSD, other physical activities aimed unique events, including ‘Run&Bike’, (NSD) in Qatar as a great initiative “It is great that you see everyone, and promotions during the celebration including general fi tness, yoga, foot- Aat promoting active and healthy obstacle-course race, and foot-volley- which brings together lots of people doesn’t matter what job they do, where several prizes are at stake such as ball, basketball, high-intensity interval lifestyles will take centre stage at vari- ball. The popular fun run will be open to exercise and promote healthy and what role they play in Qatar that a vouchers, smart watch, mobile data, training workouts, a large-scale obsta- ous locations in the country today to all members of the community: men, active lifestyles. they all take part. So I think it’s great and Nojoom points. cle course for adults and a smaller one (February 11) to mark Qatar’s ninth Na- women, families, children and persons “It is really an interesting initiative from a health and sport perspective At Katara, 54 public and private en- for children, mind-stimulating activi- tional Sport Day (NSD). with special needs. because we spend a lot of time but it is also great from a society tities will be taking part in the NSD ties, along with other special activa- The one-of-its-kind event, held Those who want to burn more calo- trying to encourage people to perspective because you got lots of 2020, which focuses on community tions by Dogpound, and UN1T, among every second Tuesday of February un- ries can join other set of activities take more exercise, live healthier diff erent people all coming together participation as part of the cultural vil- others. It will also have a designated der Amiri Decision No 80, encourages such as running, hammer throwing, lifestyles, and I think Qatar is on one day,” the envoy said. lage’s goal of raising awareness on the area for women-only activities. all members of the society to take part and plyometric challenges at the As- probably one of the only countries Sharma cited Qatar’s support for the importance of sports and an active and NSD will witness several government in the nationwide celebration. pire Dome. in the world that is really taken the British Premiere and British teams, healthy lifestyle. ministries, as well as private compa- Major NSD venues such as Aspire At MIA Park, Ooredoo has prepared commitment so seriously in this “That shows the value of football, and Katara, in partnership with 17 nies, organising hundreds of sports Zone, Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) more than 45 activities such as basket- way,” the envoy said. “It is almost we’ll see in 2020 when it will create sports federations, is offering an ar- activities for their employees and the Park, Katara – the Cultural Village and ball, handball, volleyball and martial like a national day in a sense, so I a connection between Qatar and the ray of sports activities such as box- public. Education City, are expected to attract arts, among others, for people of all think it is a great initiative and I will rest of the world,” he said. ing, wrestling, tennis, basketball, QNA reported that women activities a large number of participants and ages and abilities to celebrate the an- volleyball, football, sailing, rowing, are also set to take place at 12 venues. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 QATAR

Qatar-Azerbaijan ties reviewed Amir condoles Al-Mahmoud meets Azerbaijan official with Thai king

is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Hmad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- Thani yesterday sent cables of condolences to King Maha Va- jiralongkorn of Thailand on the victims of the attack in a shop- ping centre in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in Eastern Thailand, wishing the injured a speedy re- covery. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met the Khalid bin Khalifa bin Ab- Chairman of the State Committee on Aff airs with Diaspora of Azerbaijan, Fuad Muradov, and the dulaziz al-Thani sent a cable accompanying delegation, in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed parliamentary to Thailand’s Prime Minister HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday met the Chairman relations between Qatar and Azerbaijan and ways of supporting and developing them. A number of Prayut Chan-o-cha condoling of the State Committee on Aff airs with Diaspora of Azerbaijan Fuad Muradov, who is currently topics of common interest were also reviewed. The meeting was attended by HE the Chairman of the victims of the attack and visiting Qatar. During the meeting, bilateral relations between the two countries and topics of the Qatar-Asian friendship group Rashid bin Hamad al-Maadadi and the ambassador of Azerbaijan wishing the injured a speedy common interest were reviewed. to Qatar Rashad Ismayilov. recovery. – QNA

Minister al-Subaie stresses need to balance Shura Council approves draft law on medical treatment development with environmental challenges abroad for Qatari nationals

QNA of society who specialise in the Doha fi eld of the environment. he Shura Council held its Responding to questions by regular weekly meeting the participants, HE al-Subaie Tunder the chairmanship E the Minister of Munic- affirmed that the ministry is of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin ipality and Environment currently examining the proce- Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud. HAbdullah bin Abdulaziz dures that guarantee the provi- The Council discussed the bin Turki al-Subaie has stressed sion of various types of support Services and Public Utilities the importance of achieving a to fishermen, adding that the Committee’s report on a draft balance between the require- ministry has recently devel- law on organising medical treat- HE al-Mahmoud chairing ments of the development proc- oped a mechanism for moni- ment abroad for Qatari citizens. yesterday’s session. ess in the country and address- HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie speaking at toring the marine environment Under the draft law’s provi- ing environmental challenges the forum. by ships to detect fishing viola- sions, the State will bear the cost traordinary Conference of Arab and fi nding radical solutions to tions, among others, in co-or- of such medical treatment and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) them. importance to preservation of as protecting and preserving the and that a number of other au- dination with other authorities other related expenses. on Saturday, held under the slo- In his opening remarks at the land and marine environment. environment is a shared respon- thorities have competencies and concerned. After the discussion, the gan “Supporting the Palestinian fi rst environmental forum held He said that the measures tak- sibility of all individuals and in- tasks related to preserving the On the support for livestock, Council approved the draft law Brothers in Their Just Cause (the by the ministry yesterday HE al- en to preserve the environment stitutions. environment. the ministry’s offi cials affi rmed and decided to refer its recom- Issue of Arabs and Muslims)”. Subaie said protection of the en- include enacting legislation, He pointed out that the min- He said that one of the goals of that mobile veterinary clinics mendations to the government. He also briefed the Council on vironment is a priority for Qatar laws, initiatives, and community istry plays an organisational, holding this forum was to act as and private markets for farms are On the occasion, HE al-Mah- his meetings with heads of Arab and the Ministry of Municipality projects, and ensuring co-oper- supervisory and executive role a link with the authorities con- made available in co-operation moud briefed the council on his parliaments on the sidelines of and Environment attaches great ation of community members, in various environmental issues, cerned and the various members with Qatar Development Bank. participation in the 30th Ex- the conference. – QNA Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 3 QATAR NSD ‘celebration aims at investing in human capital’

edicating a day to sport tional Sport Day (NSD) has The Shura Council members they lead their daily lives and meant to spread the importance Day for all inhabitants to practise the country display keen interest and making it an offi cial contributed to making people stressed that the creation of a pay more attention to being of adopting an active lifestyle their favourite sporting activi- in sport on a daily basis due to Dholiday strongly refl ect change their ideas and adopt National Sport Day is a unique physically active. in general and promote under- ties with families and friends. such success. the desire of the country in pro- sport as a healthy lifestyle op- and unprecedented initiative in He added that people standing and integration among He added that the activities con- Nasser al-Malki, another moting investments in human tion over the past few years. the region and also refl ects the should grab the opportunity people. tribute towards the realisation of member, added that the coun- capital, making people the basis The state has encouraged this success of the country in many and actively participate in the He said the state considers Qatar National Vision 2030. try has made excellent prepara- and target of all development and provided the necessary in- related fi elds. various activities held across the health and well-being of the Khalid al-Kubaisi, one of the tions to provide everybody with plans. frastructure and equipment at Nasser bin Rashid al-Kaabi, the country on this occasion country’s inhabitants among its members, felt that Qatar has had a good opportunity to practise This was highlighted by a various easily accessible public one of the members, said the in an atmosphere of joy and top priorities. great achievements in sports as his or her favourite activity on number of Shura Council mem- places for all, such as walking idea of National Sport Day has festivity. Another member, Mubarak well as successes in various re- this special occasion due to its bers while speaking to local tracks along diff erent streets, proven to be highly successful Abdulaziz bin Mohamed al- bin Saif al-Mansuri, said Qatar lated fi elds at the local, regional belief that healthy inhabitants Arabic daily Arrayah. clubs and sports equipment on over the past few years in mak- Attiyah, another member, not- turns into a massive open play- and international levels. He said are key to development and They told the daily that Na- Doha Corniche. ing people improve the way ed that National Sport Day is ground during National Sport it is clear that the inhabitants of prosperity. Kahramaa Awareness Park a beacon of awareness

By Shafeeq Alingal of the universe and the fascinat- Staff Reporter ing story of water in immersive 3D experience while a descrip- tion is given about energy cycle he Kahramaa Aware- through interactive exhibits at ness Park (KAP) contin- the park. Ambassador Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri shaking hands with Tues to retain the tag of Under the aegis of National Ghada Wali. the number one centre when it Programme for Conservation comes to spreading awareness and Energy Effi ciency (Tar- about rational water and elec- sheed), the ambitious initiative tricity consumption. by Kaharamaa to bring down The park welcomed 60,000 carbon emission by spreading UNODC chief praises visitors in 2019, according to the culture of energy conserva- fi gures with the Qatar General tion, the park hosted various Electricity and Water Corpora- events. co-operation with Qatar tion (Kahramaa). These include awareness The visitors included students programmes, workshops, dis- QNA Ambassador al-Mansouri from various educational insti- cussions and training pro- Vienna emphasised the importance tutions, public, offi cials from grammes attended by people that Qatar attaches to the various departments, employees from various walks of the life. UNODC due to its distin- of various companies, members The annual activities-oriented E the Deputy Prime guished role in combating of various clubs and fi eld ex- The park welcomed 60,000 visitors in 2019. summer camp, organised by Minister and Minis- crime and drugs, and Qatar’s perts. Kahramaa, is one of the attrac- Hter of Foreign Aff airs keenness to provide all forms KAP educates visitors, espe- cycle of water, wind energy, solar At the theatre in KAP, visitors are introduction to the exhibits and tions of KAP. Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- of support necessary for cially children through games, power and kinetic energy. shown a short educational video attractions. Individuals and institutions rahman al-Thani sent a writ- the new director-general to cartoon, audios and videos. Vis- There are models of gas turbine about the exciting journey from The Dana 3D Dome in KAP will can visit KAP by registering on ten message to Ghada Wali, help her in carrying out her itors are educated about the life and water recycling on display. concept to construction and the help visitors explore the history the website.http://kap.qa/en. director general, UN Offi ce on duties. Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Ghada Wali commended the Vienna. co-operation between Qatar The message was deliv- and the UNODC, especially ered by Qatar’s ambassador the continuous support from to Austria and its Permanent Qatar for the programmes and Representative to the United projects of the UN offi ce in the QRCS, QSC Nations and international fi eld of crime prevention and organisations in Vienna Sul- criminal justice, and its sup- tan bin Salmeen al-Mansou- port for the goals and princi- ri, during his meeting with ples upon which the UN was sign pact for Ghada Wali. founded. Imdad project First phase atar Red Crescent So- agreement and described Imdad ciety (QRCS) and Qatar programme as one of the most QScientifi c Club (QSC) important social programmes yesterday signed a co-operation of QRCS, as it aims to train and of Tamheen agreement to implement Im- empower young people, one of dad programme sponsored by the most important segments of the Sports and Social Activities the Qatari society. Support Fund of Qatar Central He stressed that the QRCS Bank. always seeks to guide young programme The agreement was signed by people through psychologi- QRCS and QSC off icials at the agreement signing ceremony. QRCS secretary-general Ali bin cal support programmes and Hassan al-Hammadi and Qatar behavioural and professional bition, adding that this is what live a decent life and overcome programme began in 2012 through Scientifi c Club Executive Direc- guidance to help them adapt the programme aims for in terms diffi culties. holding several joint training tor Hareb Mohamed al-Jabri. and encourage them to start a of encouraging young people to The co-operation between the workshops, in diff erent disciplines concludes Al-Hammadi welcomed the life full of hope, work and am- practising useful professions to two sides to implement the Imdad for young people and students. he Ministry of Edu- the programme’s planning and cation and Higher assuring of quality, training TEducation celebrated and supervising. yesterday the conclusion of She added that the Ministry the fi rst phase of Tamheen of Education and Higher Edu- programme, which aims at cation aims to enhance and Qatar Charity educates society on qualifying non-pedagogical develop an eff ective workforce Qatari graduates to work in the with a high-level of qualifi ca- teaching profession. tion and training in the edu- A total of 23 female trainees cating fi eld. attended the training. She believed that the trainees winter essentials of refugees Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al- will carry out a leading role at Nuaimi, undersecretary at the schools, urging them to be armed Ministry of Education and with scientifi c expertise which atar Charity (QC) held graphs and interactive games for Higher Education, congratu- will enable them to succeed in the various activities at As- children, in addition to drawing lated all those responsible for second phase of fi eld training. Qpire Park, aiming to edu- activities related to refugees and the programme on the achieve- Meanwhile, Mada Center cate the society on the challeng- their winter needs, the state- ment they have made in attract- chief executive offi ce Maha al- ing conditions faced by refugees ment noted. ing the fi rst group of female Mansouri reviewed the objec- and their winter needs. The children, along with their trainees, and their success in the tives of Tamheen programme This came as part of the con- families, wrote letters in solidar- fi rst phase of the programme to which aims to spread aware- tinuation of activities accompa- ity with the refugee children. move to the fi eld training. ness on the necessity of educa- nying the ‘Warmth and Peace’ They were also acquainted with Dr al-Nuaimi underlined tion and digital knowledge, as campaign launched by Qatar the bags of workers, orphans and that the Ministry of Education well as keeping pace with the Charity for the current winter. refugees. and Higher Education, repre- industrial revolution’s require- The three-day event aimed at Besides, the event included sented by the Training and Ed- ments which includes each of easing the suff ering of refugees a fi re-extinguishing workshop ucational Development Center the student and the teacher, in and workers by meeting their delivered by the General Direc- (TEDC), is working hard to addition to the educational en- winter needs, raising aware- torate of Civil Defence, in ad- provide support for the trainees vironment, and the strategies ness about the most signifi cant dition to educating people on through providing the suitable and methods of teaching. winter safety issues, marketing public and personal safety. The competencies to give them the She stressed the importance winter and relief products for children got acquainted with theoretical and practical train- of focusing on the student the benefi t of refugees, and sup- fi refi ghting and rescue vehicles, ing, as well as practising the as the primary focus for the porting the campaign, QC said equipment and services, and educational process at schools. educational process, and de- in a statement. also learnt how to extinguish For her side, Hessa al-Ali, veloping the student’s skills to The event included many ac- fi res inside camps and homes. director, Training and Educa- keep up with the technological tivities that allowed children to “Our participation with Qa- tional Development Center, qualifi cations and skills that take a picture with a model of a tar Charity in this event came praised the accomplishments the students of the 21st cen- happy child wearing a coat with as part the national and societal achieved in the fi rst phase of tury are distinguished with. the logo of QC, which helped ex- responsibility to make people the programme, and the min- The Tamheen programme is press the delight of the child at aware of safety requirements and istry’s support in this regard, a pioneering initiative launched having the feeling of warmth. fi re prevention,” said Lieutenant as well as the co-operation of by the Ministry of Education The event also had a tent re- Khalifa Issa Abdul Rahim, add- the partners - Mada Assistive and Higher Education, aiming sembling a real refugee tent, in ing that the workshop received Technology Center and Teach at qualifying Qatar University which the lives of refugees were an overwhelming response from for Qatar Organisation- in ad- graduates and attracting them to Children during an activity event. explained through video, photo- children and their families. dition to those responsible for the teaching profession. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 QATAR

The CB Olympics Challenge was attended by a significant number of staff members and their families. Commercial Bank marks Sport Day with CB Olympics Challenge ommercial Bank organ- realise the importance of sports ised, for the second con- in the social and economic de- Csecutive year, an exciting velopment of Qatar. Through event for its employees under our many annually-organised the name CB Olympics Chal- and sponsored activities, we lenge, on the occasion of Na- continue to play an active role tional Sport Day. in the community by encourag- The event took place at CB ing staff as well as customers to House of Fitness, the bank’s on- adopt healthy, active lifestyles.” site fully-equipped mixed gym, The challenge was attended yesterday. by a signifi cant number of staff The gym includes a ladies- members and their families, only area and off ers employ- fi lling the space with energy, ees high-quality facilities led cheers and stamina, the state- by professional staff who run ment added. The event took place at CB House of Fitness, the bank’s on-site fully- fi tness classes such as Yoga, Hussein Ali al-Abdulla, Com- equipped mixed gym. Zumba, Aerobics and Reformer mercial Bank’s EGM and chief Pilates. marketing offi cer, commented: The CB Olympics Chal- “As we all know, Qatar National lenge required employees to Vision 2030 has sports activities form eight teams and compete at the heart of its goals. Given against each other in rounds of that, not only do we organ- athletic and dynamic activities ise such events and challenges and challenges. on this special day, but we also The challenge aimed to en- sponsor international tourna- courage staff to become physi- ments such as the Qatar Mas- cally active and lead a healthy ters and partake in several local lifestyle as part of Qatar’s Na- activities. tional Sport Day, the bank said “At the bank’s level, the CB in a statement. Sheikh Jassim Olympics Challenge and other Saud al-Thani, senior AGM similar events bring our col- — chief human capital offi cer leagues together and enhances of Commercial Bank, said: “A team spirit, thus reconfi rming The CB Olympics Challenge required employees to form eight teams healthy lifestyle unlocks great our one-team-one-bank cul- and compete against each other in rounds of athletic and dynamic The challenge aimed to encourage staff to become physically active and lead a healthy lifestyle as part of energy. At Commercial Bank, we ture.” activities and challenges. Qatar’s National Sport Day.

HBKU dean appointed vice-president of IPPA Cold, windy conditions expected today: Met

old and windy conditions are expected to prevail Caround the country today, according to a special forecast issued by the Qatar Met depart- ment for National Sport Day. The minimum temperature will range from 8-13C and the maximum from 14-17C today, the forecast shows. Also, the weather offi ce has is- sued a warning for strong winds in both inshore and off shore ar- eas today along with high seas in the latter. Northwesterly winds may blow at speeds of up to 28 knots in some places at times. Off shore, the wind (northwest- erly) speed may go up to 36 knots today, with the sea level rising to 12ft occasionally. In general, cold conditions are expected along with scattered Dusty conditions in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam The dean of the College of Public Policy (CPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Dr Leslie clouds and blowing dust at times. A Pal, recently attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Public There is also a chance of light rain tions yesterday, followed by light Doha and some other places. pected in the country besides Policy Association (IPPA) hosted by KU Leuven University, Belgium. During the meeting, Dr in some places in the early hours rain towards the evening. North- The Met department had ear- high waves and a signifi cant drop Pal was elected as vice-president of the IPPA, an organisation widely regarded as the main of the day, and it will be cold at erly fresh to strong winds were lier said northwesterly fresh to in temperature, the report noted. international association of public policy scholars and researchers. As an institutional member night. observed in some areas, the Met strong winds were expected to Cold weather conditions would of the IPPA, the CPP will participate in an International Workshop in Quito, Ecuador, this July, The detailed forecast also says department tweeted, urging peo- continue aff ecting the country prevail around the country, es- and the main international conference in Barcelona, Spain, next year. CPP is HBKU’s newest dusty and partly cloudy condi- ple to watch out for blowing dust until the weekend due to the ex- pecially at night and early in the college, off ering a much-demanded Master of Public Policy programme. The college’s mandate tions are also likely in off shore and low visibility in open areas. tension of a high-pressure sys- morning. is to expand HBKU’s research capacity while engaging in meaningful national and international areas and there could be light, Later, it reported cloudy tem in the region - reaching their “Kindly take extra care, avoid discourse. CPP appoints and retains faculty of the highest calibre, and its students are selected scattered rain at fi rst. weather and scattered rain from peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. all marine activities and put on on the basis of academic excellence. Parts of the country, including the northeastern parts of the As a result, blowing dust and suitable winter clothes,” the Met Doha, experienced dusty condi- country, along with light rain in low visibility at times are ex- department advised. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 5 QATAR/ARAB WORLD

Halal Qatar Festival celebrates Qatari heritage

The ninth edition of Halal Qatar Festival concluded yesterday at Katara – the Cultural Village with a large turnout of visitors and participants who were keen to be a part of the celebration of this key aspect of Qatari heritage. The event also saw various competitions in diff erent categories aimed at promoting better breeds of sheep and goats and help livestock owners exchange knowledge on the best practices, besides providing them with a platform to sell their produce at competitive prices. A large number of children visited the festival to take part in the various activities on off er. Strategic MoPH Pharmacy students visit Qatar Pharma s part of its aim to integrate science and practice, Qatar University’s (QU) ACollege of Pharmacy (CPH) organ- initiatives promote ised a visit for its pharmacy students to Qa- tar Pharma, the fi rst pharmaceutical manu- facturer in Qatar. The visit, a part of ongoing eff orts to strengthen ties between industry and academia, was within the scope of the community health Pharmaceutics course, which is a science- led subject for the application of scientifi c knowledge to design medicines that im- QNA of the Health in the Workplace cookbook containing more than prove the quality of people’s lives. Doha programme and involving new 70 recipes for popular and other Such visits allow students to learn how entities in the programme, and foods on the healthy way will be the industry applies science to create a wide continuing to implement the distributed along with the Qatar range of essential medicines, according to a he Ministry of Public national programme for health- 2021 report on the physical activ- statement. It also strengthens their capabil- Health (MoPH) imple- promoting schools. ity of children and young adults. ity to meet the challenges and demands of Tmented many important The plan also contributed to The MoPH and its partners practising in the community, hospital and strategic initiatives with many the imposition of a selective tax are working to implement the industrial settings. CPH students at Qatar Pharma. of its partners to contribute to on soft drinks and energy drinks, National Health Strategy 2018- Dr Ahmed al-Sulaiti, chairman of Qatar promoting the health of the Qa- training and strengthening the 2022, which set several goals to Pharma, welcomed the student delegation CPH dean Dr Mohamed Diab pointed out the Pharmaceutics II curriculum in an indus- tari community, supporting the capabilities of healthcare provid- be reached by 2022, in the frame- supervised by Prof Katerina Gorachinova, that one of the main goals of the college is trial setting. They observed the implementa- population’s healthy lifestyles, ers on the nutrition guidelines for work of promoting physical ac- Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at to integrate knowledge with practical expe- tion of sterile compounding and manufactur- and encouraging them to do reg- the State of Qatar to standardise tivity and healthy lifestyles. CPH, and encouraged them to pursue ca- riences to enhance students’ development ing standards that support the best care of ular physical exercise, according nutritional messages for all mem- The goals of the National reers in this highly productive and innova- and career path. patients. We hope for many more educational to the levels recommended by the bers of the Qatari community, Health Strategy include increas- tive sector of the economy. “The role of pharmacists in Qatar, the trips to Qatar Pharma in the future.” World Health Organisation. and continuing to implement the ing years of life by one year for Qatar Pharma is the leading sterile dosage Middle East and the world has grown from Second-year Pharmacy student Laila Qatar National Nutrition and school canteen guide to ensure the population aged 65 years and forms manufacturer in Qatar committed to simply dispensing medications to becom- Shafei said: “Qatar Pharma has shown us the Physical Activity Action Plan the availability of healthy food over, in addition to reducing the providing local and international markets ing valued providers of health care services. journey of each drug from being a chemical comes among the most promi- and drinks for school students. tobacco consumption rate by 5%, with safe and eff ective small and large vol- Exploring Qatar’s pharmaceutical industry substance to a proper medicine on the shelf nent initiatives implemented by The implementation of the and achieving 100% of health ume parenteral solutions, eye drops, and through Qatar Pharma is a means to allow in the market, and what happens behind the the Ministry of Health in this guidelines for foods and beverag- promotion and disease preven- haemodialysis solutions. the integration of knowledge and practice scenes for all these medications to be valid regard, as the plan achieved sev- es in health facilities and work- tion initiatives included in the They also manufacture topical dosage thus engaging students and making their for patients’ use.” eral successes during the year places is also being followed up to National Development Plan of forms like creams, lotions, and solutions and experiences more comprehensible and Another student, Halima Saadia added: 2019 through the implementa- ensure the availability of healthy Implementation. their future mission involves science-based knowledge related. This lies under the main “During the visit to Qatar Pharma, we real- tion of its goals and recommen- options, and the implementation For the health care sector, and development of aff ordable, highly eff ective, objective of the MoU between Qatar Uni- ised how critical the role of a pharmacist is dations. of the World Health Program on 55% of government and semi- safe and high-quality solid dosage forms. versity and Qatar Pharma in developing and in drug production.We also got more infor- Among the most notable are new growth plans for schoolchil- government organisations ben- Dr Halim Jaff er, general manager at Qatar carrying out collaborative activities.” mation and insight on marketing and vari- the ‘Fat, Sugar and Salt reduc- dren from 5-19 years old to mon- efi t from occupational health Pharma and his team showed the students Commenting on the fruitful visit, Prof ous job opportunities.” tion Initiative in Qatar” to cut itor obesity rates, overweight and and wellness programs.The State the cleanroom facilities and explained the Gorachinova said: “In our contemporary so- Pharmacy student Nebras Galal said: such content in food and bever- underweight. of Qatar, through adopting a terminal sterilisation and aseptic processing ciety, the role of the pharmacist is evolving “The Qatar Pharma visit allowed us to ob- ages by engaging the public and Within the framework of the ‘health in all policies’ approach, in sterile products manufacturing. very fast. Only innovative teaching methods, serve the application of pharmaceutics con- private sectors and preparing a recommendations and projects will be able to adopt at least one The students were then shown the qual- which integrate theory with practice, are pro- cepts from our lectures in real-time systems road map for the next three years, of the National Plan for Nutrition community as a health city by the ity control laboratory, to view the fi nished ductive. Through the visit, students had the and gave us additional insights into IV med- continuing the implementation and Physical Activity in 2020, a World Health Organisation. product quality control tests. opportunity to view the application of parts of ication safety.”

MoI awarded ISO 28000 for Industrial Security UN vote on draft text condemning

QNA Trump’s Mideast plan scrapped Doha

DPA he Ministry of Interior (MoI), repre- New York sented by the General Directorate of TIndustrial Security, has received the international accreditation certifi cate ISO planned vote in the United 28000 for quality in supply chain for indus- Nations Security Coun- trial security. Acil on a draft resolution Director General of Industrial Security Lt to condemn US President Don- Col Khalifa Mohamed al-Attiyah affi rmed ald Trump’s Middle East plan that this certifi cate is an international ac- has been called off following US creditation for the level of security services pressure, several diplomats told carried out by the directorate in securing DPA yesterday. oil and gas production sources in the coun- The 15-member council was try, adding that obtaining the ISO 28000 set to vote on the draft text today certifi cate is an important milestone in the after an address by Palestinian A boy looks at a rainbow in the sky above Rafah on a rainy day at way of developing the directorate in order to President Mahmoud Abbas. sunset in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. improve the level of securing oil plants, in a But the draft resolution now manner that achieves and enhances security appears to be on hold following a Moncef Baati was offi cially Middle East proposal and called for success in the tasks assigned to it. pressure campaign by the United dismissed due to “the lack of a council meeting with Abbas. After receiving the certifi cate from First States, which diplomats said in- coordination” between him and Trump unveiled his contro- Secretary of the British embassy in Doha volved calls from Jared Kushner, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs versial plan last month, which he and Director of Trade & Investment, De- Trump’s son-in-law and and one as well as representatives of Arab said would end the bitter Israeli- partment for International Trade Jinoos of the system internal audit, and fi nally the sources of oil and gas production at an in- of the architects of his Middle East and Islamic countries at the UN, Palestinian confl ict. Shariati, Lt Col al-Attiyah highlighted the phase of external audit. ternational level. plan, to Security Council members. TAP news agency reported. The plan would give Israel stages of the process of obtaining ISO certif- Jinoos Shariati said that the obtaining an She also added that Qatar is one of the few Sources also suggested that the Tunisia and Indonesia, which control over Jewish settlements icate starting from the study and evaluation ISO 28000 certifi cation is a major achieve- countries that have obtained this certifi cate, sacking of Tunisia’s permanent are both currently Security Coun- on the West Bank and the strate- phase, through preparing for the application ment that places Qatari industrial security which refl ects the serious work that the Qa- representative to the UN last Fri- cil members, had circulated the gic Jordan Valley, while also call- process phase, followed by documentation at an internationally advanced level, and tar’s Ministry of Interior is doing to secure day was linked to US pressure on draft UN resolution on behalf of the ing for the creation of a Palestin- of the quality system phase, then the stage makes it reliable in terms of securing the this vital facility. the country’s government. Palestinians to condemn Trump’s ian state.

Qatar thrust to LNG development helps global shift to less carbon-intensive energy From Page 1 instance, it comes as a positive gas in ensuring global energy as environmental policy devel- demand. It takes into consid- nology Advancement Scenario’. lines, LNG, shipping, regasifi ca- development, that the current security and more sustainable opment. Chapter III highlights eration gas market constraints, in It was specifi cally stressed, tion, contracts and demand). In addition to these envi- edition of the organisation’s and resilient energy systems, energy and gas demand trends, terms of supply infrastructure, in- that the results are quantifi ed The model endogenously cal- ronmentally sound features of landmark forecast was produced the event continued with a panel followed by supply assumptions ternational supply contracts and through the use of the ‘Global culates gas demand curves and natural gas industry ecosystem, at the highest environmental discussion, where the GECF an- in Chapter IV, which include glo- gas supply policies (e.g. the satis- Gas Model’, which is a unique gas production profi les coun- the secretary-general informed standards – using recycled paper alysts elaborated on the publica- bal gas resources, upstream and faction of domestic gas demand as energy model developed in- try by country based on corre- that the forum strives to prove and vegetable inks – for the fi rst tion’s six main chapters. unconventional production. a priority for some countries). house at the GECF Secretariat, sponding assumptions and in- itself as an environmental learn- time in the GECF history. Chapters I and II introduce key Chapter V is dedicated to glo- The fi nal chapter features two and which includes diff erent puts. All of the sub-models have ing and knowledge sharing hub, To address the Global Gas global gas demand assumptions, bal gas trade and investment alternative scenarios devised by sub- models with each one fo- been calibrated and based on in particular by implementing Outlook key fi ndings and advo- including economic, energy price outcomes resulting from the the GECF Secretariat: ‘Carbon cused on one segment of the gas 2018 as the last available year of the state-of-art practices. For cate vital importance of natural and policy assumptions, as well equilibrium between supply and Mitigation Scenario’ and ‘Tech- value chain (production, pipe- historical data. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Iraq faction Five Turkish soldiers killed hangs effi gies ahead of in northwest Syria attack Soleimani z Ankara sent thousands gents had also launched a mili- of troops, wants Syrian tary operation near the town govt pullback of Saraqeb, south of Taftanaz, memorial z Fighting has displaced with Turkish artillery support. 700,000 people since As the confl ict escalated in December Idlib, Turkish and Russian offi - AFP cials met in Ankara for talks. Baghdad Reuters The two countries back op- Ankara/Amman posing sides in Syria, where Moscow’s military intervention hardline Iraqi faction in 2015 helped swing the war hanged effi gies of US yrian government forces decisively in Assad’s favour. APresident Donald Trump killed fi ve Turkish soldiers Celik said there were no con- in Baghdad yesterday, ahead of Sin northwestern Syria crete results from yesterday’s a memorial for their commander yesterday, Turkey’s defence meeting, the second in three killed in a US strike. ministry said, after Turkey de- days, and the talks would con- Today, the Iraqi capital will ployed thousands of troops tinue.Russia and the Syrian commemorate 40 days since there to stem a Syrian govern- government say they are fi ght- Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy ment off ensive. ing terrorists in Idlib, which is head of Iraq’s powerful Hashed The attack, on a newly es- largely controlled by militant al-Shaabi military network, was tablished Turkish military base fi ghters. killed alongside top Iranian gen- in Taftanaz in Idlib province, “This is a war of attrition eral Qasem Soleimani in a US happened a week after eight between Moscow and Ankara drone strike in Baghdad. Turkish military personnel were in which they are testing lim- An offi cial memorial service killed by Syrian army bombard- its,” said Galip Dalay, a visiting will be held in the morning in ment. scholar at Oxford University. Baghdad’s high-security Green The two incidents were While there was a risk that Zone, followed by a public com- among the most serious con- the crisis could escalate further, memoration. frontations between Turkish Dalay said it could be managed In preparation, Kataeb Hez- and Syrian troops in the nearly with agreement between Anka- bollah — a hardline Hashed fac- nine-year-long confl ict in Syr- ra and Moscow on a buff er zone tion that Muhandis founded ia, and Turkey has said it will on the Syrian side of the border — erected mock gallows at the drive back Syrian forces if they with Turkey, where displaced entrances to the massive eastern do not pull back by the end of people could shelter. district of Sadr City. this month. But the challenge of meeting Hanged in nooses were cut- “Their attacks against our the needs of the wave of up- outs of Trump with his tongue posts have made an opera- rooted people is growing daily. protruding and soldiers in US tion necessary,” Omer Celik, “Since December 1, some uniforms. spokesman for President Tayy- 689,000 women, children Enormous portraits of Mu- ip Erdogan’s AK Party, told re- and men have been displaced handis and Soleimani were also porters in Ankara. from their homes in northwest erected elsewhere in the city. The rapid advance by Syrian Syria,” said David Swanson, a “Our people hung the gallows government forces in Idlib, the UN humanitarian spokesman. in preparation for the 40-day last major enclave of insurgents “That’s more than 100,000 memorial service,” said an offi - opposed to President Bashar A Syrian rebel fighter remotely-fires a rocket from a truck-mounted launcher at a position in the countryside of Idlib towards regime force people in just over a week.” cial from Kataeb Hezbollah, who al-Assad, has driven nearly positions in the southern countryside of Aleppo province, yesterday. Swanson said the latest up- declined to give his name. 700,000 people from their heaval compounded an already Washington carried out a homes towards the closed-off halt the Syrian government ad- carriers and radar equipment to az, which also wounded fi ve response was given. The targets dire humanitarian situation in drone strike outside Baghdad Turkish border. vances. bolster its existing military po- soldiers who were fl own by hel- were destroyed and the blood of Idlib, where 400,000 people International Airport in the early Turkey, which already hosts It has poured 5,000 troops sitions. icopter back to Turkey. our martyrs was not left on the were displaced between April hours of January 3, hitting the 3.6mn Syrian refugees, says it and convoys of military vehi- The defence ministry said “Targets identifi ed in the re- ground,” the ministry said. and August last year by earlier two-car convoy in which Solei- cannot absorb any more and cles across the border, carry- Turkish forces retaliated yes- gion were immediately targeted A Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fi ghting, many of them multiple mani and Muhandis were travel- is ready for military action to ing tanks, armoured personnel terday for the attack in Taftan- intensively...and the necessary commander said the insur- times. ling. Trump authorised the strike against Soleimani but had not CORRUPTION specifically targeted Muhandis, East Guinea US officials said. The Iraqi commander was leader’s son Girl’s drowning sparks water riot in SA township picking up his longtime friend fined in French and mentor Soleimani, Iran’s embezzlement trial pointman on Iraqi affairs, who Reuters The little girl drowned in ing intermittent protests over “It rains here all the time but burning things if we have to,” had just landed. Qwaqwa the stream, which is thick with water shortages into a full- they say there’s drought. Then John added. Offi cials fear riots The strike took place just The playboy son of Equatorial Guin- sewage, mud and algae, prob- blown, week-long riot. how did that little girl drown like the one seen at Qwaqwa days after supporters of Ka- ea’s leader was handed a 30mn-eu- ably pulled down by a strong Protesters torched shops, because that stream was full?” could be a sign of worsening taeb Hezbollah besieged the US ro fine by a Paris court yesterday on ight-year-old Musa and underwater current. overturned government ve- said Malgas “Skinny” John, 39, climate-linked instability to embassy in the Green Zone in a top of a suspended jail term and the her older sister Molebo- “We rushed down there. hicles and hurled bricks and who used rocks and burning come, as dams and water pipes rare breach of security for the confiscation of his assets for embez- Eheng trudged down the She was still under the water... bottles at riot police who re- tyres during the January riot deteriorate further and the ur- enclave. zling public funds. Teodorin Obiang, ravine with buckets and drum Two boys from the neighbour- sponded with rubber bullets. to barricade the road leading ban population continues to The US embassy in Baghdad the son of Equatorial Guinea’s bottles to fetch water from hood went in and one carried South Africans have pro- into Qwaqwa in a face-off with mushroom. issued an alert to its citizens leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema, a fi lthy stream because they her out,” Mbele said. “The tested for years over unreliable police. South Africa’s water minis- yesterday not to approach the was found guilty in 2017 of having were thirsty and tired of wait- house is empty without her. supplies of water and power, “We have to strike and burn ter Lindiwe Sisulu has prom- facility due to the risk of more plundered his country’s state cof- ing for trucks meant to deliver She was such a sweet, quiet but chronic mismanagement things, only then do we get wa- ised 3bn rand ($203mn) to end demonstrations or rallies. fers to fund a jet-set lifestyle in Eu- emergency water that never child”. Musa’s death last month has been compounded by the ter,” said the unemployed fa- the shortages in Qwaqwa. Following the US killing of rope. At the time, he was handed showed up. further enfl amed the mood eff ects of last year’s drought, ther of two, as he queued with Its municipality owes half a Soleimani, Iran launched vol- a three-year jail term as well as the But Musa never returned, among residents of Mandela the worst in a century, which neighbours to fi ll his container billion rand for water, out of a leys of ballistic missiles on a 30mn-euro ($32.9mn) fine — both her mother Phindile Mbele re- Park township on the edge of has been linked to climate from a water truck. national unpaid bill of nearly western Iraqi base where US suspended. Obiang, who is also called, choking back tears. Qwaqwa in South Africa, turn- change. “We’ll do it again, we’ll keep 9bn rand. forces are stationed. vice president, challenged that penalty only to have the Paris appeals court return a heavier sentence on Monday by removing the suspended provision from the fine. It confirmed his conviction Militants kill 30 and on a range of laundering charges War dominates Africa summit — relating to embezzling of public funds, misuse of corporate assets abduct dozens in and breach of trust — and upheld the lower court’s order for his as leaders vow Libya support ill-gotten assets to be confis- northeast Nigeria cated. The president’s son, fond of fast cars and Michael Jackson AFP Libya, and the UN-recognised memorabilia, was not in court Addis Ababa government in Tripoli. AFP the Islamic State West Africa for the ruling, just as he had not Talks between Libya’s war- Auno Province (ISWAP) have been attended his initial trial. Prosecu- ring factions ended on Satur- active, mounting roadblocks tors estimate he laundered 150mn frican Union lead- day with no deal on a ceasefi re. to target security forces and euros in misappropriate funds in ers vowed yesterday The UN has proposed a sec- ilitants killed at least 30 civilians. France. The 50-year-old owns a Ato push peace eff orts ond round of negotiations for people and abducted There was no immediate claim six-storey, 107mn-euro mansion in in Libya, a sign of the bloc’s February 18. Mwomen and children in of responsibility for the attack. an upscale part of Paris, complete desire to play a bigger role in Chergui said the AU could a raid in northeast Nigeria’s res- Witnesses said militants set with a hammam, a disco and gold- resolving the continent’s con- support peace if a cessation tive Borno state, a regional gov- alight 30 vehicles in the raid, in- plated taps. fl icts. of hostilities agreement is fi - ernment spokesman said yester- cluding trucks that had stopped nally signed, declaring the AU day. overnight on their way to Maid- wanted to be part of an observ- CONFLICT The attack Sunday evening uguri. “Many of the drivers and Palestinian PM er mission to ensure any deal is targeted the village of Auno on a their assistants who were sleep- Cleric sentenced meets Qatar’s envoy African Union (AU)’s Peace and Security Council chief Smail respected. “This is an African key highway linking to regional ing in the vehicles were burnt to 28 months Chergui gives a press conference on the current ongoing works problem, and we have a certain capital Maiduguri. alive,” said Babakura Kolo, a Palestinian Prime Minister of the commission in diff erent African countries to sustain peace sense that maybe others do not The militants stormed in on member of a state-backed anti- An Israeli court yesterday sen- Mohamed Shtayyeh has met during the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit, in have,” Chergui said. trucks mounted with heavy militant militia. tenced a firebrand cleric to 28 with Qatar’s ambassador to Addis Ababa, yesterday. Despite AU optimism, ana- weapons, killing, burning and The militants combed through months in prison for incitement in Ethiopia Hamad bin Mohamed lysts are sceptical. looting before kidnapping wom- the village, looting and burning connection with deadly unrest at al-Dosari, on the sidelines of tion to an end... the two organ- the sidelines of the AU sum- TOUGH LINE en and children, state govern- shops and property before with- a Jerusalem holy site in 2017. the 33rd Ordinary African isations should work hand in mit ended in deadlock. The ON SOUTH SUDAN ment spokesman Ahmad Abdur- drawing, he said. Raed Salah had been convicted Union Summit in Addis Ababa, hand for that goal,” he added. AU leadership has complained Meanwhile, on South Su- rahman Bundi said. Kolo said the militants took by Haifa magistrates’ court of QNA reported. The meeting Libya has been torn by about being overlooked in dan, leaders tried to bring They targeted travellers who away three buses carrying wom- “incitement” in remarks made reviewed bilateral co-operation fi ghting between rival factions Libya-related peacemaking longtime rivals to reach a deal. had stopped for the night and en and children to Maiduguri after fighters killed two policemen and issues of mutual concern. since a 2011 Nato-backed up- eff orts, which have been led President Salva Kiir and torched vehicles. which had parked in the village on the Haram al-Sharif mosque rising killed dictator Muam- primarily by the UN and heav- rebel leader Riek Machar face a AFP journalists saw the for the night. compound. The deadly July 14, mar Gaddafi . ily involved European nations. deadline of February 22 to form smouldering wreckage of trucks, “We still don’t know how 2017 attack, at the Israeli-annexed As the 55-member group South African President UN Secretary-General An- a unity government — a mile- buses and cars lining the road at many women and children they east Jerusalem site, was carried wrapped up a two-day sum- Cyril Ramaphosa, who took tonio Guterres on Saturday stone that was delayed twice the scene of the attack. took away but the number is out by fighters from his home- mit, Smail Chergui, the AU’s over as AU chair on Sunday, said he understood the AU’s last year. The militants “killed not less huge,” he said. town of Umm al-Fahm. Salah was Peace and Security Council has said Libya is one of two “frustration” at having “been Ramaphosa met separately than 30 people who are mostly Auno lies on the 120km high- also found guilty of “supporting an chief, off ered assistance to re- confl icts he wants to focus on put aside” when it comes to with Kiir and Machar on Satur- motorists and destroyed 18 ve- way linking Maiduguri to Dama- illegal organisation” in Facebook vive Libya’s faltering UN-led during his tenure. Libya. day, and the rivals sat down in hicles,” Bundi said in a statement turu, a major regional city in posts from 2015 and 2016. peace process. The other is South Sudan, The North African state re- the same room Sunday along- after visiting the scene. neighbouring Yobe state. Salah, an Arab Israeli, can appeal “It’s (the) UN itself which where a civil war that began mains in chaos, mostly split side Ugandan President Yoweri The assault, some 25km The highway has been in- the sentence within 45 days, the needs us now,” Chergui said. in 2013 has left hundreds of between strongman Khalifa Museveni and Sudanese Prime west of Maiduguri, occurred creasingly targeted by ISWAP court said. “It’s time to bring this situa- thousands dead — but talks on Haftar, who controls eastern Minister Abdallah Hamdok. in an area where fighters from militants in recent months. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 7 AMERICA

CRIME POLITICS DEFENCE SHOWBIZ China hackers charged ‘Pro-hunting’ wildlife Pentagon cuts cost, sells Judging heats up at over 2017 data breach board quietly shut down old stuff , saves $6.5bn Westminster Dog Show

The United States has charged four Chinese The Trump administration has quietly abandoned Pentagon belt-tightening eff orts identified and Judging at New York’s Westminster Kennel Club military hackers in the 2017 breach of the Equifax a wildlife advisory board that animal rights groups redirected $6.5bn worth of bloated payments, Dog Show began in earnest yesterday, the second credit reporting agency that aff ected nearly 150 said was illegally stacked with politically connected ineff iciencies and overlaps last year. Pentagon’s day of competition in the annual showcase for million American citizens, Attorney General William donors and hunting enthusiasts, and designed to Chief Management Off icer Lisa Hershman has said pedigree canines, which culminates tonight Barr said yesterday. “This was a deliberate and promote trophy hunting. The US Department of that the savings, equivalent to 83 F-35A fighter jets, with the awarding of “Best in Show”. On Sunday, sweeping intrusion into the private information Justice said the International Wildlife Conservation were achieved through methods including the sale “Best-of-Breed” competition began in the hound of the American people,” Barr said in announcing Council “ceased to exist” on December 21, 2019, of obsolete equipment, better software licensing and herding groups, when judges select dogs that the indictments of four members of the Chinese when its two-year charter expired. The Justice fee management and smarter purchasing of items best exemplify the standards of his or her breed. Liberation Army in connection with one of the Department said the board’s demise mooted and such as lumber. Since defence spending is capped Yesterday was the start of the “Best-of-Group” largest data breaches in US history. The Chinese justified the dismissal of an August 2018 lawsuit by at $741bn this year, Pentagon has been looking for competition, in which the “Best of Breeds” were Embassy did not respond to a request for comment. the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center ways to do more with the money it has. “We’re not in the fray to be named the sole winner of their The announcement is the latest in an aggressive for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the just cutting costs, we are transforming the way we respective groups. The winners then compete A dog competes in the Masters Agility campaign by American authorities to root out United States and Humane Society International are working. We are changing the infrastructure to for the top prize — the single “Best in Show” Championship during the Westminster Kennel Chinese espionage operations in the United States. against its composition and mission. support it,” Hershman said. trophy, at Madison Square Garden tonight. Club Dog Show in New York on Sunday.

More than 100 US troops diagnosed Klobuchar gains in NH; with brain injuries from Iran attack

Reuters Washington

Sanders stays favourite he US military is preparing to re- port a more than 50% jump in Reuters Although she criticized Buttigieg in Tcases of traumatic brain injury Nashua, NH Friday night’s debate, Klobuchar re- stemming from Iran’s missile attack on a frained from mentioning any of her ri- base in Iraq last month, US offi cials told vals on the campaign trail, sticking to Reuters yesterday. emocratic presidential con- her promise to unite the country, low- The offi cials, who spoke on condition tenders Bernie Sanders and er drug prices, improve infrastructure of anonymity ahead of an announce- DPete Buttigieg yesterday and increase funding for treatment of ment, said there were over 100 cases of made their closing pitches to voters drug addiction and mental health is- TBI, up from the 64 previously reported as the front-runners in New Hamp- sues. last month. shire, with an energised Senator Amy A Boston Globe poll, conducted The Pentagon declined comment, but Klobuchar gaining ground. with Suff olk University and WBZ-TV, in the past had said to expect an increase Buttigieg and Sanders, who showed Sanders with 27%, Buttigieg in numbers in the weeks after the at- emerged fi rst and second in delegates with 19% and Klobuchar with 14% tack because symptoms can take time to in the debut nominating contest in among 500 likely voters polled over manifest and troops can sometimes take Iowa last week, face eight rivals in to- the weekend in New Hampshire. The longer to report them. day’s vote in New Hampshire, includ- survey had a margin of error of plus or No US troops were killed or faced im- ing Klobuchar, who has pulled into minus four percentage points. mediate bodily injury when Iran fi red third place in two polls. A separate poll by WHDH/Emerson missiles at the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq The man they are all seeking to take College also showed Klobuchar pull- in retaliation for the US killing of Revo- on in the November election, Repub- ing into third. lutionary Guard General Qassem So- lican President Donald Trump, was to Deeply trailing in New Hampshire leimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad try and command the national spot- polls, former Vice President Joe Biden airport on January 3. The missile at- light with a campaign rally of his own kicked off a rainy cold day by visiting tacks capped a spiral of violence that had in Manchester late yesterday. with unionised school bus drivers at a started in late December. The large number of Democratic depot in Nashua. One driver asked for Both sides have refrained from further candidates and the unsettled polling a picture, saying “My grandmother is military escalation, but the mounting makes the outcome of the New Hamp- never going to believe me.” Biden then number of US casualties could increase shire contest unpredictable, said Ray had the driver call her grandmother, pressure on the Trump administration to Buckley, the chairman of the state and he spoke to her. respond, perhaps non-militarily. Democratic Party. The candidate reminisced about Army General Mark Milley, chair- “This is anyone’s race to win,” driving school buses to earn extra man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said last Buckley told reporters. “That makes Nashua City clerk Susan Lovering looks inside one of the supply totes for election precinct moderators ahead of today’s money while a law student at Syracuse month that the service members suf- these fi nal hours even more exciting.” New Hampshire presidential primary election in Nashua, New Hampshire. University in the late 1960s. fering from traumatic brain injuries had Sanders, 78, an impassioned pro- He also won a late endorsement been diagnosed with mild cases. gressive who represents neighbouring Scrutinising information ahead of 2020 election, including from Giuliani: Barr from New Hampshire state Senate He added the diagnosis could change Vermont in the US Senate, has long led president Donna Soucy, who said on as time went on. in opinion polls in New Hampshire. US Attorney General William Barr agendas in the Ukraine. There are a lot of Department has created an “intake Twitter, “Joe has the experience, the Symptoms of concussive injuries in- But Buttigieg, a 38-year-old mod- confirmed yesterday that the Justice cross-currents, and we can’t take anything process in the field” that will be used to tenacity and the empathy that we clude headaches, dizziness, sensitivity erate and military veteran who served Department has received information we receive from the Ukraine at face value.” assess the “provenance and credibility” need in the White House.” to light and nausea. two terms as mayor of South Bend, In- from President Donald Trump’s per- Last week, the Senate acquitted Re- of any information. A similar wave of late endorsements Pentagon offi cials have repeatedly said diana, has gained ground since Iowa. sonal lawyer Rudy Giuliani ahead of the publican Trump largely along party lines “That is true for all information that before Iowa’s vote didn’t save Biden there has been no eff ort to minimise or In Plymouth, Buttigieg tried to November election, but that anything on impeachment charges that he had comes to the department relating to the from a fourth-place fi nish. delay information on concussive inju- reach out to undecided voters, refer- originating from Ukraine should not be abused his power by asking Ukraine to Ukraine, including anything Mr Giuliani The Iowa results are still not en- ries. ring to “future former Republicans” taken “at face value.” investigate a political rival, former vice might provide,” he added. tirely settled. But the disclosures following Tehran’s who he said were more than welcome Barr spoke at a news conference a day president Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Although the department acknowl- Jeff Weaver, senior advisor to Sand- attack has renewed questions over the to back his campaign. after Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Biden, who had served on the board of a edged yesterday it is receiving and ers, said late on Sunday that the cam- US military’s policy regarding how it in- “It’s decision time,” Buttigieg said. Lindsey Graham said on the CBS News Ukrainian energy company. scrutinising such materials, the FBI’s No paign would make a formal request to ternally reports suspected brain injuries He took a shot at Sanders, saying programme Face the Nation that the depart- Trump had based his demands on 2 off icial still stopped short of saying the Iowa Democratic Party to recan- and whether they are treated publicly that the self-described democratic ment had created a process so that Giuliani unfounded allegations of corruption. whether it had led to a more formal vass the results of between 30 and 40 with the same urgency as loss of limb or socialist would have a hard time pull- could provide information and the depart- The Democratic-led US House of investigation into the Bidens. caucus precincts. life. ing in moderate voters. ment would see if it could be verified. Representatives said Giuliani, a former “I am not going to talk about any The Sanders campaign expects to President Donald Trump appeared to “Knowing how much depends on “We have to be very careful with prosecutor, sought information about investigations as I never would. We do draw a large crowd in Durham when play down the brain injuries last month, bringing Americans together, we can- respect to any information coming from the Bidens in Ukraine. not talk about open investigations,” FBI US Representative Alexandria Ocasio- saying he “heard that they had head- not risk alienating Americans at this the Ukraine,” Barr said. “There are a lot of Barr said yesterday that the Justice Deputy Director David Bowdich said. Cortez, a progressive star, and rock aches and a couple of other things” fol- critical moment,” he said. “And that’s band The Strokes join him for a rally. lowing the attack, prompting criticism where I part ways with my friend Sen- US Senator Elizabeth Warren began from lawmakers and a US veterans group. ator Sanders.” crowd at a sports club in Manchester. a moderate from Minnesota, noting disenchanted with Trump’s divisive her day in the mountain town of North Various health and medical groups for In a separate event, Sanders aimed A pair of polls released late on Sunday that she had visited New Hampshire policies and rhetoric. Conway with a two-mile walk in the years have been trying to raise awareness his attacks at Trump. and yesterday showed Klobuchar pull- 23 times since she entered the presi- “There are a bunch of moderate Re- snow to McDonald’s for breakfast. about the seriousness of brain injuries, “I know not everybody agrees with ing into third place behind Sanders and dential race a year ago. publicans and independents out there She made phone calls, wearing a including concussions. everything I say, but I think what Buttigieg following the party’s debate in Klobuchar told a crowd of more who feel this and know just what I’m black baseball cap emblazoned with: Since 2000, about 408,000 serv- we can agree about is that we can- the New England state on Friday. than 200 at Keene State College that talking about,” she said. “You need “make Earth cool again.” ice members have been diagnosed with not continue having a president who “We feel the surge, for me it’s been she was the candidate who could ap- a candidate with big coattails who “It’s a beautiful day for democra- traumatic brain injury, according to Pen- is a pathological liar,” Sanders told a a long time coming,” said Klobuchar, peal to independents and Republicans brings people with her.” cy!” Warren said. tagon data. Solar Orbiter sets off on 10-year-long mission to reveal Sun’s secrets

AFP Drawing on gravity assists tember 1859, knocking out much radiation emitted from solar ex- Miami from Earth and Venus, Solar Or- of the continent’s telegraph net- plosions. biter will slingshot itself into a work and bathing the skies in an All but one of the spacecraft’s bird’s eye view of the Sun’s poles. aurora viewable as far away as the telescopes will peep out through he US-European Solar Or- “I think it was picture per- Caribbean. holes in the heat shield that open biter probe launched Sun- fect, suddenly you really feel like “Society increasingly relies and close in a carefully orches- Tday night from Florida on a you’re connected to the entire on what happens in space, and trated dance, while other in- voyage to deepen our understand- solar system,” said Daniel Muller, therefore we’re more dependent struments will work behind the ing of the Sun and how it shapes ESA project scientist, shortly on what the Sun is doing,” said shadow of the shield. the space weather that impacts after the launch. “You’re here Etienne Pariat, a researcher at Just like Earth, the Sun’s poles technology back on Earth. on Earth and you’re launching the CNRS observatory in Paris. are extreme regions quite diff er- The mission, a collabora- something that will go close to “Imagine if just half of our ent from the rest of the body. tion between ESA (the European the Sun.” satellites were destroyed,” add- It is covered in coronal holes, Space Agency) and Nasa, suc- “We have one common goal ed Matthieu Berthomier, a re- cooler stretches where fast- cessfully blasted off from the and that is to get the good science searcher at the Paris-based Plas- gushing solar wind originates. Kennedy Space Center in Cape out of this mission. I think we’re ma Physics Laboratory. “It would Scientists believe this region Canaveral at 11.03pm and could going to succeed,” added Holly be a disaster for mankind.” could be key to understanding last up to nine years or even be- Gilbert, director of Nasa’s helio- The probe’s closest approach what drives its magnetic activity. yond. physics science division. will come every six months, Every 11 years, the Sun’s poles Scientists say the craft is ex- Ten state-of-the-art instru- when Solar Orbiter will be nearer fl ip: north becoming south and pected to provide unprecedented ments on board will record myri- to the Sun than Mercury, a mere vice versa. Just before this event, insights into the Sun’s atmos- ad observations to help scientists 42mn km away. solar activity increases, sending phere, its winds and its magnetic unlock clues about what drives With a custom-designed tita- powerful bursts of solar material fi elds, including how it shapes solar winds and fl ares. nium heat shield, it is designed to into space. A Nasa handout photo of the Solar Orbiter lifting off from pad 41 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V the heliosphere, the vast swath These emit billions of highly withstand temperatures as high Solar Orbiter will observe the rocket at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. of space that encompasses our charged particles that impact the as 500 Celsius. surface as it explodes and record system. Earth, producing the spectacular Its heat-resistant structure measurements as the material “You can’t really get much After launch, the team will the Sun, in November 2021. By journeying out of the eclip- Northern Lights. is coated in a thin, black layer of goes by the spacecraft. closer than Solar Orbiter is going conduct three months of testing It will work in concert with tic plane — the belt of space But they can also disrupt ra- calcium phosphate, a charcoal- The only spacecraft to previ- and still look at the Sun,” ESA’s to ensure systems are operating Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe, which roughly aligned with the Sun’s dar systems, radio networks and like powder that is similar to pig- ously fl y over the Sun’s poles was Muller said. properly before turning on the in launched in 2018 and will fl y equator, through which the plan- even, though rarely, render satel- ments used in prehistoric cave another joint ESA/Nasa venture, The mission will be controlled situ instruments. much closer to the Sun, passing ets orbit — it will acquire the lites useless. paintings. the Ulysses, launched in 1990. from the European Space Opera- The remote-sensing instru- through the star’s inner atmos- fi rst-ever images of our star’s The largest solar storm on The shield will protect the in- But it got no closer to the Sun tions Center in Darmstadt, Ger- ments will be activated on So- phere to see how energy fl ows uncharted polar regions. record hit North America in Sep- struments from extreme particle than the Earth is. many. lar Orbiter’s first approach of through its corona. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 ASIA

Bangladeshi worker tested Indonesia seeks key role positive for coronavirus in Pacifi c development in Singapore Reuters relief to smaller countries. a relationship that Western of- IANS Sydney The country wants a larger fi cials fear Beijing can exploit. Dhaka role, Widodo said, as the Pacifi c Australia, which histori- increasingly becomes the focus cally has carried considerable ndonesian President Joko of diplomacy, aid and military infl uence in the Pacifi c, has in Bangladeshi migrant Widodo told Australia’s investment by Western powers the last couple of years rapidly worker is among the 43 Iparliament yesterday that trying to counter China. expanded its diplomatic pres- Acoronavirus cases con- he wanted to work with the “Indonesia and Australia ence and aid to the region in fi rmed in Singapore, it was traditional Pacifi c power to ex- must become the anchors for response. reported yesterday. pand infl uence in the region in developing partners in the Pa- China says it is simply trying The 39-year-old Bangladeshi the face of China’s stepped-up cifi c region. Indonesia under- to help smaller Pacifi c countries was admitted in an isolation eff orts to do the same. stands the development chal- with economic development. room at the National Centre for Aligning with Australia and lenges,” Widodo said in his Several Pacifi c nations have Infectious Diseases, bdnews24 not its giant Asian neighbour speech. backed calls for investigations reported citing the Singapore is a major step for Indonesia, Widodo said Indonesia and into allegations of violence by Ministry of Health as saying. which is the second-most pop- Australia are both grappling security forces in Indonesia’s He started showing symp- ulous country in the region and with climate change and natu- easternmost region, Papua. toms on February 1, and went to has been trying to provide aid ral disasters, giving them com- Vanuatu has openly voiced sup- a general practitioner clinic two and build alliances with smaller mon ground with small Pacifi c port for the independence of the days later, and then to the Changi Pacifi c countries. nations. former Dutch colony Papua. General Hospital on February 5, Indonesia last year said it The low-lying Pacifi c islands A separatist movement has according to The Straits Times. would establish diplomatic are on the front lines of global simmered in Papua since it was He was admitted to the inten- relations with several Pacifi c climate change, threatened by incorporated into Indonesia in sive care unit at Changi Hospital island nations, pursue trade rising sea levels that have forced 1969 in a widely criticised UN- on February 7, the newspaper deals with Fiji and Papua New some residents to move to backed referendum. There has said, adding that he was con- Guinea and create a 3trn rupiah higher ground. been a spike in violence since fi rmed to have the disease on ($219.06mn) fund to provide Many Pacifi c countries have August, with demands for a new Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (left) and Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison react as they give Saturday afternoon. development aid or disaster turned to China for fi nancing, independence vote. a joint statement at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday. He is the fi rst Bangladeshi to have been diagnosed with the disease that has killed more than 900 people in China surpassing the deaths in the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or Sars. Grief swells as Thais mourn Maldives Bangladesh has brought back 312 of its nationals from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, said the bdnews24 report. The government has also 29 killed in mass shooting apologises scrapped its plans to evacuate 172 others from the locked down AFP “His four-year-old son stantly,” Partiya said. over an apparent private debt to Chinese cities due to the author- Nakhon Ratchasima keeps asking why he can’t call Alongside 21 others, they a senior offi cer and how he was ities’ failure to arrange any fl ight. his dad.” disabled location services on able to steal weapons, including But none of the Bangladeshis After seizing the weapons, the their phone fearing the social an M60 machine gun, and hun- to British in or from China have tested shooter drove to a Buddhist tem- media-obsessed gunman might dreds of rounds of ammunition. positive. rieving relatives of 29 ple, where blood splatters and be able to fi nd them. Prime Minister Prayut Chan- people murdered by a bullet holes attested Monday to Her group escaped several O-Cha was hammered on social Grogue soldier in Thai- the horrors that unfolded. hours later, fl anked by police in media for a tone-deaf response land held tearful Buddhist Narissara Chotklang, a a sprint for the mall entrance to the crisis during a visit to the woman over prayer ceremonies yesterday, as 52-year-old Pharmacist, was “which felt like forever.” city on Sunday where he posed fresh details emerged of shop- among nine people to die there. But others were not so for selfi es, high-fi ved a crowd Cambodia pers cowering in terror while Her funeral rites began late fortunate. and smiled before shutting the gunman stalked the mall. Monday a few kilometres away, Flowers and messages of down questions from the media Holding portraits of their rel- where hundreds of mourners condolences including one say- at a press conference. bikini spat garments atives and dabbing away tears, lined up to pour water over a ing “RIP Korat, we will not for- “There should be no smiles, families of the victims arrived jasmine garland placed deli- get” piled up outside the bullet- joking around and touching on Monday morning at a city cately over her outstretched riddled mall. hands like people are your fan AFP which saw her detained by po- hit hard by morgue in Nakhon Ratchasima, hand. A Buddhist monk in orange club,” popular blogger Sorakon Malé lice for two hours before they better known as Korat, in the The attacker then moved to robes led a prayer ceremony on Adulyanon, aka Noom Muang released her. morning to carry home coffi ns the town centre mall, where a a grass verge outside the mall Chan, said on Facebook. The tourist has since left coronavirus bearing their dead. terrifying siege unfolded late for Peeraphat Palasan, shot Others drew unfavourable he Maldives’ speaker the nation of 340,000 Sunni The gunman – Sergeant- Saturday. dead as the gunman sprayed comparisons with the digni- of parliament yes- Muslims, but Nasheed said Major Jakrapanth Thomma – Armed with automatic bullets into traffi c, killing the fi ed response of New Zealand’s Tterday apologised to he hoped tourism authorities spread was shot dead by a commando weapons, the gunman held out 25-year-old engineer. Prime Minister Jacinda Ard- a British tourist after foot- would invite her to return to unit Sunday morning, ending a overnight as hundreds of shop- His father, Witoon, was ern to the Christchurch mass age of her arrest by several the luxury vacation spot. rampage that left 29 dead and pers sought refuge in toilets, among a dozen mourners cry- shooting last year. policemen triggered a social Maldives Police Service Reuters scores more wounded. storerooms and under tables – ing, kneeling, hands clasped As criticism snowballed, the media storm. Commissioner Mohamed Phnom Penh The killer started his killing staying silent or making a break – some holding incense sticks gruff former army chief Prayut Tourism is a major Hameed said on Twitter after spree on Saturday afternoon for the exits when they could. – in prayer. was prodded into a rare act of earner for the Maldives, a the footage was shared online with weapons stolen from a bar- Pressed to the ground in an “My son had just fi nished contrition late Sunday. tropical island paradise in that the incident “seems to be t least four textile fac- racks’ arsenal, where he gunned offi ce inside a Japanese home work and came here to go “We are all saddened by the Indian Ocean popular badly handled”. tories in Cambodia may down Mehta Lertsiri, 22, who goods shop, Partiya Aree, 29, shopping,” Witoon said. “I what happened,” he said on his with honeymooners and “I apologise to the tour- Asuspend operations be- was guarding the depot. tried to control her breathing never thought I would lose him offi cial Facebook page. celebrities. ist & the public for this. The cause of delays to the supply “I don’t know what to do as she watched the masked sol- so soon.” “I intended to off er my Police said the bikini-clad challenge I have taken up is of raw materials from China next,” Mehta’s grief-stricken dier stop just yards away on the As Korat – and the country moral support... my expres- woman, who was walking on to professionalise the police caused by the coronavirus out- grandfather, Udom Prapotsang, shop’s own CCTV. – mourned, there were grow- sion may have been misunder- a main road, was “inappropri- service & we are working on break, the labour ministry said said outside of the morgue “He was carrying a gun, ing questions about why the stood or made many people ately” dressed and allegedly that. This matter is being yesterday. waiting to claim his body. looking left and right con- gunman went on a killing spree uncomfortable.” unruly and drunk when she investigated.” Ministry spokesman Heng was detained after refusing to A police statement on Fri- Sour said there had been delays comply with requests to cover day called on tourists to re- in deliveries of garments, yarn, up on Thursday. spect “cultural sensitivities buttons and shoe soles. The gar- The Maldives previously and local regulations”. ment industry is Cambodia’s confi ned tourists to resort is- The video of the incident largest employer, generating lets separate from the local also sparked anger among $7bn for the economy each year. population, but in recent years Maldivians. Some took to The European Union will de- has allowed foreigners to stay social media to criticise the cide tomorrow whether or not on inhabited islands. tourist’s behaviour after other to suspend Cambodia’s special Tourists can wear swimwear videos showed her grabbing trade preferences over human such as bikinis in the resorts the sunglasses of a police rights concerns. but are subject to local dress offi cer. Cambodia benefi ts from the codes elsewhere. Former foreign minister EU’s “Everything But Arms” Videos shared on social Dunya Maumoon criticised trade programme, which allows media showed three men try- both the tourist and the police. the world’s least-developed ing to detain the traveller, “She should have respect- countries to export most goods while a fourth person tried to ed the religious and cultural to the European Union free of cover her with a towel. norms of the country in terms duties. The woman was heard of modest attire in a residen- “If by the second week of shouting “you’re sexually as- tial area,” Maumoon said on March, factories still don’t know saulting me” during the inci- Twitter. when they will be able to get the dent. “Condemn the man- materials from China, they may The speaker, Mohamed handling by the Maldiv- suspend for two to three weeks,” Nasheed, told parliament he ian police. It could have been Sour told Reuters. was extending an apology to handled better and more Sour said that four facto- People put flowers and write memoirs in front of Terminal 21 shopping mall after a shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, 260km from Bangkok, yesterday. the woman over the incident, professionally.” ries, which employ around 3,000 workers in total, had ex- pressed their concerns to the government. 2 Russian children die in Sour declined to provide names of the factories or which Thai tourist boat crash Vietnam culls tens of thousands of birds brands they supplied. Global clothing and shoe Russian siblings aged 12 and said, requesting anonymity. brands, including Adidas, PUMA six-years-old died yesterday The brother and sister died Reuters The authorities have ed positive to the virus, H5N6 virus has also and Levi Strauss, have written in a speed boat accident off in the crash, while “21 other Hanoi culled the birds, mostly Thanh Hoa newspaper been detected in poul- to Cambodia’s longtime leader, the tourist island of Phuket, Russians were injured, two chicken and ducks, at farms reported yesterday. try at a farm outside Ha- Hun Sen, saying the country’s an off icial said, as two vessels critically” he added. in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa and “We are concerned that noi, prompting the cull- record on labour and human collided near a pier. Thailand’s tourist industry has ietnam has so far this Quang Ninh provinces, said the virus may spread fur- ing of more than 2,300 rights threatens to bring down The accident took place 100m been hard hit by a combination of year culled tens of the offi cial, who declined to ther, and are trying our birds there, Kinh Te Do Thi sanctions on the garments off a privately-run pier in Phuket, the sharp slump in Chinese visitors Vthousands of birds to be named because he was best to stop the outbreak,” newspaper reported. industry. after the speed boat carrying since the coronavirus outbreak contain an outbreak of high- not authorised to speak to the offi cial said. Vietnam has a poultry Cambodia’s only confi rmed Russian tourists to an nearby island and the strong Thai baht. ly pathogenic H5N6 bird fl u the media. Apart from culling the birds, herd of 460mn, and small- case of coronavirus, a Chinese crashed into an incoming vessel. Accidents at popular resorts detected at several farms Thanh Hoa province, the authorities have also dis- sized bird fl u outbreaks national in the coastal city of “The cause of accident was are common in a kingdom in its northern provinces, 170km (105 miles) south of infected the farms and put a have not been uncommon Sihanoukville, had recovered speeding by both the drivers,” with lax enforcement of safety an agriculture ministry of- Hanoi, has culled 23,000 ban on poultry transport from in the country during the and left hospital yesterday, the a Phuket government off icial rules. (AFP) fi cial and state media said birds at 10 household the infected zones, the offi cial past fi ve years, the offi cial Ministry of Health said in a yesterday. farms after they test- said. said. statement. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Taiwan scrambles jets for second day in a row, tensions spike

Reuters its air force to rush to intercept wan President Tsai Ing-wen fi rst 16s scrambled on Sunday carried moves for Taiwan-US collusion, Prayer Breakfast, at which US China should focus on control- Taipei and give verbal warnings to leave. took offi ce. Beijing believes Tsai, live missiles. using the opportunity to seek in- President Donald Trump spoke. ling the spread of the virus, rather The Chinese aircraft then with- who won re-election last month, There was no immediate com- dependence and openly carrying China denounced Lai’s trip. than threatening Taiwan, Tsai said drew to the western side of the wishes to push the island’s formal ment from China on yesterday’s out dangerous provocations”, it Washington is Taipei’s most im- yesterday. aiwan’s air force scrambled line, the ministry added, without independence. incident. This is only the second added. China’s Eastern Theatre portant backer and arms supplier, Taiwan’s China-policy mak- for a second day in a row identifying the jets. Tsai says Taiwan is an inde- time since 2016 that Taiwan has Command described Sunday’s despite the absence of offi cial dip- ing Mainland Aff airs Council said Tyesterday to intercept Chi- The H-6s were on a train- pendent country called the Re- said that Chinese jets had crossed fl y-by of military’s combat ready lomatic ties. China says Taiwan is the island’s 23mn people would nese jets that approached the is- ing mission in the Pacifi c having public of China, its offi cial name. the strait’s median line. Their mil- patrol as a “completely legitimate the most sensitive issue in its rela- not bow down to threats. “In re- land claimed by Beijing as its own, passed through the Bashi Channel On Sunday too, Chinese jets, itary aircraft tend to keep to their and necessary action aimed at the tions with the United States. cent years, Communist aircraft as tensions between the two took that separates Taiwan from the including J-11 fi ghters, fl ew into own sides. current situation in the Taiwan Relations between the Taipei and warships have frequented the on a potentially dangerous mili- Philippines, the ministry added the Bashi Channel then out into China’s Taiwan Aff airs Offi ce, Strait and safeguarding national and Beijing have further soured vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and tary dimension. and shared a picture of a Taiwan the Pacifi c before heading back to though, urged Taiwan’s ruling sovereignty”. recently over the coronavirus attempted to use arms to force Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said F-16 accompanying one of the base via the Miyako Strait, located Democratic Progressive Party The latest fl y-bys came as Tai- outbreak, with Taiwan accusing unifi cation,” it said. Chinese jets, accompanying H-6 H-6 bombers. between Japan’s islands of Miyako (DPP) “not to play with fi re”. wan’s vice-president elect, Wil- China of preventing the island “Various provocative acts have bombers, briefl y crossed an unof- China has been fl ying what it and Okinawa, to the northeast of The DPP have been “adopting a liam Lai, was returning from a from accessing full information seriously damaged the status quo fi cial mid-line in the Taiwan Strait calls “island encirclement” drills Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s of- stance that increases cross-strait visit to Washington, where he at- from the World Health Organi- of the Taiwan Strait and have in- that separates the two, prompting on-off since 2016 when Tai- fi cial Central News Agency, the F- confrontation, intensifying new tended the high-profi le National sation or attending its meetings. creased regional tensions.”

Japan cruise ship now has 135 coronavirus infections: govt

President Xi makes rare visit Another 65 people aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus, the health ministry said yesterday, bringing the total number of known infections to 135. to meet virus patients, medics The Diamond Princess has been in quarantine since arriving off the AFP Japanese coast early last week after Beijing the virus was detected in a former passenger who got off the ship last month in Hong Kong. hinese President Xi Jin- “Test results from 103 people have ping donned a face mask now come out and 65 of them Cand had his temperature are confirmed positive for the new checked yesterday while visiting coronavirus,” the ministry said in a medical workers and patients af- statement. Four of the 65 patients fected by the deadly coronavirus had been sent to hospital, a min- that has killed more than 900 istry off icial told reporters, adding people. that more test results were pending. The Chinese president, who The off icial declined to comment has called the virus a “demon”, on the nationality of those infected, made a rare visit to meet frontline but said that the ministry “aims to medical staff at a hospital treat- report them by the end of tomor- ing infected patients. Calling the row”. Authorities have continued situation at the virus epicentre to test people for the virus where “still very grave”, Xi urged “more “necessary”, the statement added. decisive measures” to contain the People in masks are seen at a railway station in Shanghai. The cruise ship operator said 66 spread of the epidemic, said state people had been newly diagnosed, broadcaster CCTV. measures turned cities into ghost The rest of the day he would mostly Japanese, but there were Xi has largely kept out of the towns - but there were some signs work from home. “It makes our also Australians, Filipinos, a Cana- public eye since the virus out- of normality returning yesterday. work more diffi cult because we dian, a Briton and a Ukrainian. There break spiralled across the country Roads in Beijing and Shanghai had need to access the systems in our Chinese President Xi Jinping wearing a protective facemask as a health off icial checks his body temperature was no immediate clarity on the from the epicentre in Hubei prov- signifi cantly more traffi c and the offi ce,” he told AFP. during an inspection of the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work at the Anhuali Com- discrepancy between that figure ince to infect more than 40,000 southern city of Guangzhou said Schools and universities across munity in Beijing. and the health ministry. When the people. He appointed Premier Li it would start to resume normal the country remained shut. boat arrived off Japan, authorities Keqiang to lead a working group public transport. The toll has overtaken global initially tested nearly 300 people tackling the outbreak, and it was However, for those at work, it fatalities in the 2002-03 Sars epi- for the virus of the 3,711 on board, Li who visited ground zero in Wu- was not an easy balance to strike. demic when China drew interna- gradually evacuating dozens who han last month. “Of course we’re worried,” said a tional condemnation for covering were infected to local medical facili- Yesterday Xi donned a blue 25-year-old man surnamed Li in up cases - though it has drawn ties. The number of passengers and mask and white surgical gown a Beijing beauty salon that reo- praise from the WHO this time. crew on board has since declined to meet doctors at Beijing Ditan pened. Chief of the UN health body, Te- to 3,622. In recent days testing has hospital, observe the treatment of “When customers come in, we dros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said expanded to those with new symp- patients and speak via video link fi rst take their temperature, then there had been some “concern- toms or who had close contact to doctors in Wuhan, state media use disinfectant and ask them to ing instances” of cases overseas with other infected passengers or said. He then visited a residential wash their hands.” in people with no travel history to crew, and several more cases were community in central Beijing to The Shanghai government China. reported over the weekend. Those “investigate and guide” eff orts to suggested staggered work sched- “We may only be seeing the who remain on the ship have been contain the epidemic, said CCTV. ules, avoiding group meals and tip of the iceberg,” he tweeted, as asked to stay inside their cabins Video footage showed Xi having keeping at least one metre away a team of WHO experts departed and allowed only briefly onto open his temperature taken with an in- from colleagues. Many were en- for China. In Hong Kong, thou- decks. They have been asked to frared thermometer, then speak- couraged to work from home and sands of people stranded aboard wear masks and keep a distance ing with community workers and some employers simply delayed the World Dream cruise ship for from each other when outside, and waving at smiling residents lean- opening for another week. State fi ve days were allowed to disem- given thermometers to regularly ing out of their apartment win- media reported that passenger bark Sunday after its 1,800 crew monitor their temperatures. dows. numbers on the Beijing subway tested negative for the coronavi- The ship is expected to stay in The outbreak has prompted were down by about half on Mon- rus. People wearing protective face masks commute on a train in Shanghai yesterday. quarantine until February 19 - 14 unprecedented action by the day compared to a normal work In China, the eastern city of days after the isolation period Chinese government, includ- day. Wuxi said anyone trying to enter just checked and it would take 18 road or plane Saturday -- 84% the tourism industry remains in began. ing locking down entire cities in Large shopping malls in the from provinces with high num- hours for me to go to work by bi- down on the same day last year. the doldrums, with several coun- The quarantine has made life on Hubei province as well as cutting capital were deserted and many bers of cases would be “persuaded cycle,” wrote one frustrated com- About 800 vehicles from “hard- tries banning arrivals from the board the ship diff icult, particularly transport links nationwide, clos- banks closed. One bank employee to go back”, while Suzhou, near muter on China’s Twitter-like so- hit areas” have been denied en- mainland and major airlines sus- for those in windowless interior ing tourist attractions and telling in Shanghai was heading to work the fi nancial hub of Shanghai, cial media site Weibo. try into Shanghai over the last pending fl ights. Online rental site cabins and a significant number of hundreds of millions of people for a half-day, with other workers suspended all passenger trans- Travel authorities said there month, according to state news Airbnb has suspended all book- passengers who require medication to stay indoors. The sweeping due to take over in the afternoon. port to surrounding counties. “I had been 11mn journeys by train, agency Xinhua. Beyond China, ings in Beijing until February 29. for various chronic conditions. Virus outbreak transforms daily Heavy rains bring relief and new life on Hong Kong’s fearful streets dangers to bushfi re-hit Australia Reuters storms and subjected to water up water supplies for the city of Melbourne restrictions on the back of a 5mn. The NSW Rural Fire Serv- AFP her WhatsApp groups are scrap- permarket shelves in many dis- bombed. Thousands of med- three-year drought. ice’s Sydney headquarters has Hong Kong ing together cash to go private, tricts have been stripped of hand ics, including frontline doctors James Jackson, a sheep and been reconfi gured to respond while others have travelled over- sanitisers, toilet paper, rice and and nurses, went on strike last four-day downpour cattle farmer in the drought- to fl oods and storm damage seas or are considering it. pasta, spurred by false rumours week calling for the border to be across Australia’s east hit Guyra district some 500km because of the rapid shift in the unkering down in Belbin is leaning towards stay- of shortages that the government sealed. Hong Kong’s unelected Acoast has brought relief north of Sydney, told Reuters weather threat. cramped apartments ing the course despite knowing has condemned. pro-Beijing leaders eventually after months of devastating the region was starting to turn Parts of northern and in- Hand raiding supermarket her partner may not be able to be An acute paucity of surgical closed most land border cross- bushfi res and years of drought, green again. “This one event land NSW, along with south- shelves for food and masks, Hong there. “I’ve accepted that,” she masks is real however, with long ings and began quarantining an- but also widespread storm won’t replenish the whole soil ern Queensland, have been in Kongers are fretting about the said. “But my main concern now queues whenever a consignment yone coming from the mainland damage and forecasts of more moisture profi le. We’ll need drought since 2016, severely future as fear of the new corona- is whether the baby will be safe in comes in. At one pharmacy last from Saturday. wild weather to come. a couple of these, but this is reducing river and dam levels virus sweeps one of the world’s the hospital.” week a crowd of 10,000 people But even before the current The weekend drenching rep- certainly a good start for those while also creating the tinder- most densely populated cities. Many of Hong Kong’s inhab- turned up, some camping out health crisis, anti-government resented the biggest sustained people who got it,” said Jack- dry conditions that have fuelled Many in the Asian fi nancial itants are having similar discus- overnight. sentiment was at an all-time high run of rainfall in Sydney and son, who is also the president of this season’s deadly bushfi res. hub of 7mn — where the 2002-03 sions about life in a city that has Kris Choi, a new mother, said after seven months of seething surrounding areas for 30 years, industry body NSW Farmers. “I The weekend rain extin- Sars outbreak killed 299 people fi rsthand experience of a deadly trying to fi nd masks is all her and often violent pro-democracy dousing some bushfi res and have two-year-old sheep who guished some of the worst — are weighing up their options outbreak. neighbours talk about these days. protests. replenishing depleted dams are seeing green grass for the bushfi res in NSW, including the against an unseen danger. In 2002-03 Severe Acute One 70-year-old neighbour was The perceived slow response across New South Wales, the fi rst time.” Gospers Mountain ‘megafi re’ “I feel like I’m in a washing Respiratory Syndrome, or Sars, looking for ways to make her - and failure to stockpile enough country’s most populous state. Bushfi re warning signs were in the Blue Mountains and the machine with other pregnant swept through hospitals and dwindling stock last longer. “I masks despite the city’s previ- Some rural areas received almost swamped by fl oods in Currawon blaze on the south women trying to fi gure out what homes. The epidemic left pro- wanted to stop her from washing ous experience with Sars - has more rain in recent days than several areas as the weekend coast. Each burned for months, to do,” says Natalie Belbin, 35, found psychological scars and the surgical masks, but I don’t only added to public anger. And they had in the entirety of the rainfall cut power to tens of together razing more than 1mn who is expecting her fi rst child saddled locals with a deep dis- have more to share with her as I the outbreak is also changing past year - a startling and swift thousands of homes, caused hectares (2.5mn acres) of bush- and frantically considering her trust of authorities in Beijing have elderly parents and a child daily life in more mundane ways. turnaround from the bushfi res travel chaos in Sydney and land and destroying hundreds choices. Her baby is due in ear- who initially covered up the out- to look after,” Choi told AFP. With schools closed, children are that have killed 33 people and closed scores of schools for of homes. ly April, a period some experts break. Attitudes have hardened com- cooped up in a city of notoriously ravaged large parts of the east the start of the week. Almost In contrast, fl ood evacua- warn could be the peak of the With 36 cases of the novel pared to the city-wide solidarity small apartments. Teachers are coast. 400mm of rain fell in the Syd- tion warnings have now been outbreak. coronavirus confi rmed so far in that permeated Hong Kong dur- trying to roll out online classes, “It’s amazing what the smell ney area and surrounding areas. ordered for parts of the Con- Hong Kong’s already under- Hong Kong, one of whom died, ing the Sars outbreak. Police have playgrounds are empty. of the rain can do to people’s The Warragamba Dam, which jola region, authorities said, pressure public hospitals have everyone fears a repeat. At the clashed with protesters opposed University students already spirits,” Ben Shields, the mayor supplies about four-fi fths of where deadly fi res razed dozens asked partners and family not to most extreme end, fear and dis- to arrivals from mainland China had months of classes disrupted of the inland city of Dubbo, told Sydney’s water, jumped from of homes on New Year’s Eve. attend births to reduce pressure trust of authorities have sparked or quarantine facilities in their by the protests. Final-year stu- Reuters on the phone. about 40% to above 60% full Thunderstorms are forecast for on wards. extraordinary, and at times un- neighbourhoods. One planned dents now fret about whether Like many other rural towns, in just over a week, the state’s NSW and neighbouring Victo- Some expectant mothers in necessary, scenes of panic. Su- quarantine block was even fi re- they’ll even graduate. Dubbo has been beset by dust- water authority said, shoring ria state in coming days. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 BRITAIN/IRELAND Govt ‘looking into’ PM’s Scotland-N Ireland bridge plan

Guardian News and Media record on delivering bridges. ously we will take advice from during the Conservative leader- concern at new customs checks Johnson has long been an en- ning consents, wasting £53.5mn London “Government offi cials are car- wherever it is needed.” He gave ship campaign, despite engineers between Northern Ireland and thusiast for major infrastructure of funds, £43mn of it taxpayers’ rying out work in relation to the no details on when the work expressing scepticism at the idea the rest of the UK under John- projects, but his visions only some- money. idea of a bridge linking the GB would be completed. of building such a link over wa- son’s Brexit plan. times become reality, and those An even more ambitious idea inisters are active- mainland to Northern Ireland,” Johnson, who as London mayor ters more than 300 metres deep Asked about the bridge by the which do have had a tendency to for a new London airport in the ly looking into Boris Johnson’s spokesman said, add- spearheaded the doomed garden in places, parts of which were DUP MP Ian Paisley in the Com- not fully deliver on his promises. Thames estuary came to noth- MJohnson’s idea of a ing this was being done by a range bridge project which cost more used by the ministry of defence mons in December, Johnson called As London mayor, Johnson ing. As mayor, Johnson did de- road bridge linking Scotland of offi cials reporting to No 10. than £50mn without work even to dump more than 1mn tonnes of it “a very interesting idea”, adding: pushed repeatedly for the garden liver a £60mn cable car across and Northern Ireland, Downing “There is a proper piece of beginning, fi rst raised the idea of obsolete munitions. “I advise him to watch this space bridge across the Thames, de- the Thames in east London, but Street has said, rejecting scepti- work being carried out into the the 20-mile-plus bridge to Larne The plan has been seen as a and, indeed, to watch the space be- spite repeated warnings about its a supposed key transport link cism from engineers and criticism idea,” the spokesman said. “It is in Northern Ireland in 2018. concession to Northern Irish tween the islands, because what he economic unfeasibility and the later turned out to have just four of the prime minister’s mixed reporting into No 10, but obvi- He called again for the link unionists, especially given their has said has not fallen on deaf ears.” complication of securing plan- regular users.

Checks on EU-bound Sinn Fein fi nds goods is inevitable, its voice in says Gove

Guardian News and Media London Ireland after ichael Gove has told businesses that they Mneed to prepare for “signifi cant change” with “in- evitable” border checks for “al- most everybody” who exports to election gains the EU from next year. In the fi rst offi cial confi rma- AFP the 159 seats in the Dail — Ire- tion that the government is going Dublin land’s lower house of parliament to impose trade barriers post- — were fi lled. Brexit, he warned there would be Sinn Fein, whose fl agship pol- checks on food and goods of ani- inn Fein yesterday stood on icy is uniting the republic with mal origin, plus customs declara- the threshold of a potential Northern Ireland, had 37, with tions and mandatory safety and Srole in Ireland’s govern- Fianna Fail on 26 and Fine Gael security certifi cates required for ment after winning the popu- on 24. Turnout was 62.9%. all British exports. lar vote in a weekend election, But because it ran just 42 can- “You have to accept we will a result shattering the political didates, even a strong perform- need some friction. We will min- landscape. ance in the popular vote may not imise it but it is an inevitability of The result from Saturday’s result in it becoming the biggest our departure,” he told delegates ballot broke the stranglehold of party in the next parliament. at a Cabinet Offi ce event held in two-party politics in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have central London yesterday, enti- opening up a possible role for a both ruled out any deal with tled Preparing Our Border for the nationalist party once shunned Sinn Fein because of its past as- Future Relationship. because of its links to IRA para- sociations under Adams, who “I don’t underestimate the militaries. has long denied allegations he fact that this is a signifi cant Former leader Gerry Adams had a leadership role in the IRA. change, but we have time now to and other party representa- Irish Prime Minister Leo “The Troubles” saw the IRA make that change.” tives were even banned from the Varadkar reacts at a count wage a campaign against un- Gove, who as chancellor of airwaves in the UK as violence centre during Ireland’s national ionist counterparts and British the Duchy of Lancaster is de raged over British rule in North- election, in Citywest, near security forces over UK-rule in facto deputy prime minister, also ern Ireland over three decades to Dublin, Ireland. Northern Ireland that saw more warned delegates it could take fi ve 1998. than 3,000 killed on all sides. years to get a smart border involv- But with two decades of peace out and voted for Sinn Fein have McDonald’s policies on tack- ing online processes up and run- and a new leader under Mary voted for Sinn Fein to be in gov- ling wealth inequality and hous- ning and said businesses had to be Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein’s left- ernment,” she added. ing shortages appear to have ready for the change next January, wing policies on tackling crises Prime Minister and Fine Gael appealed to younger voters in whatever the outcome of the next in housing and health found fa- leader Leo Varadkar acknowl- the EU member state’s 3.3mn- phase of Brexit negotiations. vour with voters. edged the shift to “a three-party strong electorate. “In questions and answers his McDonald said the two main system” and said talks between Some 32% of voters aged 18- offi cials talked of an ‘operational parties — Fine Gael and Fianna the parties could be protracted 24 and 25-34 backed the party, border’ from the beginning of Fail — were “in a state of denial” and diffi cult. according to an exit poll on Sat- 2021 which they said was laying and had not listened to the voice After ballots in all 39 constit- urday. the foundation for best borders of the people. uencies were tallied on Sunday, Dublin coff ee shop manager in 2025,” said one delegate, who On a walkabout in Dublin, she Sinn Fein received 24.5% of fi rst Darren Hart said it was time for reported that Gove had warned said she had begun talks with preferences in Ireland’s single another party to try after dec- the UK must be ready for the smaller left-wing parties to try transferable vote system. ades of two-party dominance. completion of Brexit on January to “test” whether it was possible That outstripped the opposi- “Whether they have a troubled 1 next year when the transition to form a government without tion Fianna Fail party on 22.2% past as a party or not, you know period ends. the two main centre-right par- and Fine Gael on 20.9%. they deserve a shot same as eve- Echoing Boris Johnson’s com- ties. “The Irish political system has rybody else, so why not?” he said. ments in a speech last week, “I may well be the next taio- to react to it and probably ac- Fiach Kelly, deputy political Gove spoke of pursuing a Canada seach (prime minister,” she said cept that Sinn Fein will be part editor of The Irish Times, called or Australian-type deal, which before chatting to supporters of the next government,” Eoin McDonald “the star of the cam- EU trade commissioner Phil and market traders. O’Malley, associate professor at paign” and said her attacks on Hogan has said was “code for no “Sinn Fein won the election, Dublin City University, said. Fianna Fail’s support for Fine deal” as the bloc does not have a Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald throws oranges in the air as she stops at a fruit trader’s we won the popular vote... I’m At 1600GMT yesterday, state Gael’s minority government deal with Australia. stall during a walkabout in the centre of Dublin, Ireland, yesterday. very clear that people who came broadcaster RTE reported 123 of were “brutally eff ective”. Fish fi ght clouds Leadsom faces axe after ‘dig at premier’

Sturgeon’s EU visit Daily Mail ever the motive, it came across London as lobbying in public to keep her job, which has not endeared her AFP Boris Johnson’s government. On the one hand, Sturgeon to anyone.” Brussels Sturgeon said Scotland wants Britain to align with EU ndrea Leadsom is facing Another insider said: “Lec- would try to exert political in- rules to ensure continued mar- the axe in this week’s re- turing the prime minister about fl uence on the process, and that ket access — and on the other Ashuffl e after “lecturing” sexism is not the way to keep cottish leader Nicola she favours close alignment be- her government has also called Boris Johnson on the dangers of your job.” Sturgeon visited EU of- tween UK and EU rules to allow for reform of EU fi sheries policy. a male-dominated Cabinet. Aides to Johnson have urged Sfi cials in Brussels yester- trade to continue seamlessly. In Brussels, she said this was The business secretary, him to sack a string of senior day, her usual warm welcome But the very fi rst item on the a dilemma for Johnson to sort whose position was already un- women this week, including partly overshadowed by the trade agenda could show up out. der threat, sparked irritation in Environment Secretary Theresa upcoming dispute on fi shing contradictions in the Scottish Sturgeon was also quizzed Downing Street by insisting in Villiers, Trade Secretary Liz quotas — and a Brexit Night stance. about a stunt that her Scottish a newspaper article that gender Truss, Work and Pensions Sec- political stunt. While most Scottish voters National party carried out on equality should be “the absolute retary Therese Coff ey, Hous- Scotland left the European backed the “Remain” campaign Brexit night, when the words norm”. ing Minister Esther McVey and Union on January 31 with the in the 2016 Brexit referendum, Scotland and Europe and a red Leadsom wrote about the Leadsom. rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland’s fi shermen are just love heart were projected onto dangers of a “male-dominated With Culture Secretary Bar- and the fi rst minister was vis- as keen as their English neigh- the wall of EU headquarters. environment” and said diver- oness Morgan already stepping iting to underline it wants to bours to escape Brussels’ rules. At the time, Sturgeon sity should be the “watchword... down, Johnson faces a challenge come back one day to rejoin as Johnson has vowed to “take tweeted a photo of the projec- not for its own sake, but because to maintain the number of senior an independent state. back control” of UK waters and tion, noting that a single offi ce of the excellence that a diverse women at his top table. No 10 is There is sympathy for Scot- to negotiate access for EU ves- window was still illuminated. range of views bring to decision- acutely sensitive to allegations of land in Brussels — MEPs sang sels as an “independent coastal “The EU Commission build- making.” sexism. Auld Lang Syne at the last par- state” — presumably mean- ing in Brussels tonight (and if Although the Daily Telegraph Allies of Johnson acknowl- liamentary session attended by ing bigger catches for Scottish you look carefully you’ll see article was ostensibly about the edge that the number of female British colleagues, and some boats. that they do appear to have left need for more women in com- cabinet ministers could fall this here have promised to “leave a But France, Denmark, the a light on for us!)” she wrote. pany boardrooms, it was seen in week. But they say it is hard to light on” for its return. Netherlands and some other Some took this as a suggestion No10 as a thinly-veiled warn- replace women at the top level But in practical and legal EU members have urged Barni- that the commission supports ing to the prime minister not to because of the failure of Theresa terms, future cross-Channel er not to proceed with trade Scotland’s fi ght against Brexit, embark on a clear-out of senior May to promote more females relations will be negotiated by talks unless London continues but an EU spokeswoman told Scotland’s First Minister, and leader of the Scottish National Party women. to mid-ranking jobs and the the EU’s Michel Barnier and to give their fl eets access and reporters yesterday the projec- (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, delivers a speech on Scotland’s European One source said: “Leadsom’s departure of senior fi gures over pro-Brexit UK Prime Minister “upholds” the current system. tion was unauthorised. future after Brexit, in Brussels yesterday. article was ill-advised. What- Brexit. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 11

BRITAIN Judge rejects bid to stop Home Offi ce deportation fl ight

Guardian News and Media The lawyers argued that the and place them at risk. fi ce’s plan to deport so many men Harmondsworth immigration More than 150 cross-party mation indicates that most have London Home Secretary, Priti Patel, The grounds for the refusal who would leave partners and removal centres near Heathrow, MPs have called on Boris Johnson been convicted of drugs-related had acted unlawfully by forc- have not yet been made public. children behind. “It seems there detainees have been denied the to halt the fl ight, citing a range of off ences – often only once – and ing the men on to the plane, had Duncan Lewis was making fur- is an inherent disregard for the right to have fi ve working days to concerns. several have been groomed into high court judge has re- breached human rights legisla- ther emergency legal applica- integrity of the family unit and contact and instruct lawyers af- Toufi que Hossain, director of county lines operations.” fused an emergency ap- tion and denied them adequate tions to try to halt the fl ight. the welfare of children,” he said. ter they received notice from the public law at Duncan Lewis so- The Home Offi ce has not re- Aplication to halt a charter access to legal advice. Some individuals due to fl y A second judicial review was Home Offi ce that they would be licitors, said many of the people sponded to recommendations fl ight scheduled to leave the UK Their application to the high have won the right to stay in the lodged on behalf of the char- removed on today’s fl ight. on the fl ight had lived in the UK from the former prisons om- today with about 50 Jamaican- court to halt the fl ight added that UK for the time being, after a ity Detention Action. It follows Rishi Sunak, the chief secretary for most of their lives and that budsman Stephen Shaw or to a born people onboard. the Home Offi ce’s announce- separate application to the up- the launch of the charity’s legal to the Treasury, said those being there needed to be a proper over- leak from the Windrush Lessons Justice Mostyn refused an ap- ments in the media and in par- per tribunal of the immigration action against the Home Offi ce forcibly removed had committed view and consideration given to Learned review, which suggested plication from Duncan Lewis so- liament about the charter fl ight chamber. They include Akeem last week, arguing that because “very serious off ences”. But 13 de- how the Home Offi ce approached that foreign national off enders licitors on behalf of 13 Jamaican- would make the men being de- Finlay, whose solicitor Naga the phone network for O2 has tainees due to board today’s fl ight such individuals. who had lived in the UK for most born men due to be put on the ported a “public spectacle” if Kandiah welcomed the decision, been down in the area imme- described a range of less serious Bella Sankey, director of De- of their lives should not face au- fl ight leaving the UK at 6.30am. they were returned to Jamaica, but condemned the Home Of- diately next to Colnbrook and off ences they had committed. tention Action, said: “Our infor- tomatic deportation. Dunn family Flooded street criticise Raab after Sacoolas CIA revelation

Guardian News and Media British public even in this highly London sensitive and unusual situation. Seiger said the family had di- rectly asked Raab whether there oreign Secretary Dominic was anything in Sacoolas’s back- Raab has failed in his “duty ground that could explain the Fof candour” by not disclos- US government determination ing to the family of Harry Dunn to protect her, and according to that Anne Sacoolas, the American Seiger, he simply said she was a woman charged with causing the former state department employ- 19-year-old’s death by dangerous ee, a form of words that masked driving, had previously been a CIA the motive for the US government agent, the spokesman for the fam- determination to keep her out of ily, Radd Seiger, said. the courts. He also disclosed that the con- Harry Dunn’s mother, Charlotte stituency MP and Business Secre- Charles, sent Radio 5 Live a mes- tary Andrea Leadsom had not been sage in which she said: “My life is told Sacoolas’s status by cabinet in pieces. Anne Sacoolas has de- colleagues and was at a loss for stroyed my life as I knew it while words when informed by the fam- she is carrying on with hers. It is ily at the weekend. deeply deeply upsetting and to- Geese take advantage of the conditions as floodwater fills the streets of Hebden Bridge, northern England, as Storm Ciara swept over the country. Sacoolas has been charged by tally wrong.” the UK Crown Prosecution Serv- Seiger said: “The news had ice with causing Dunn’s death by fl oored the family since it was a dangerous driving in August, but question they had been asking of soon after the accident she was the Foreign Offi ce directly. The fl own out of the country along parents have looked Raab directly with her husband and family. A UK in the eye and asked him across a government request to extradite table: is she more than a spouse? I her has been rejected by the US am afraid he has failed in his duty state department. of candour.” It was revealed by the Mail on Seiger said Raab merely con- Coronavirus ‘imminent Sunday at the weekend that Sa- fi rmed she had worked for the state coolas had previously been a high- department, but he added “work- ranking CIA offi cer, although at ing for the state department and the time of the accident, it was her being a CIA offi cer are in my mind husband, also a CIA offi cer, that two completely diff erent things, was listed as a diplomat conferring and totally germane to the issue. immunity on him, and his family. “For the foreign secretary not threat’ as cases rise: govt Sacoolas and her husband were to tell us what the true position is, both living at RAF Croughton and to hear it from a newspaper is Reuters tious disease experts cannot yet announced today are all closely practice in Brighton had been Liverpool, and Kents Hill Park, when the accident occurred, and just jaw-dropping because you are London know how deadly or contagious linked to one another,” Public temporarily closed after a staff in Milton Keynes, some 50 miles the Foreign Offi ce said that as a trying to build a relationship with it is. Health England medical direc- member tested positive for coro- north of London, have been des- spouse of a CIA offi cer at the base, the government. But relationships It has killed more than 900 tor Yvonne Doyle said in a state- navirus. ignated as isolation facilities. she too enjoyed immunity. are built on trust and trust is built he government yester- people, most of them in China, ment. “Two of these new cases Health Minister Matt Han- British nationals who have The revelation that she had also on truth. If the parents ask him a day said the number of and has spread to at least 27 are healthcare workers.” cock declared the virus “a seri- been fl own back from Wuhan been a CIA offi cer, albeit not serv- question he is duty bound to an- Tconfi rmed coronavirus countries and territories. “As soon as they were identi- ous and imminent threat to pub- are being quarantined for 14 days ing, helps explain the US govern- swer it openly and honestly.” cases had doubled to eight as the The two deaths outside main- fi ed, we advised them to self- lic health” to give doctors more while travellers returning home ment’s refusal to grant the UK He accused the government of government declared the virus land China were in Hong Kong isolate in order to keep patient powers to isolate people. from other Asian countries have government request for her to be trying to suppress information, a serious and imminent threat, and the Philippines. contact to a minimum. We are “We are taking a belt and been told to self-isolate if they extradited to stand trial. and so leave the anguished family giving it additional powers to The new cases in England were now working urgently to identify braces approach to all necessary showed any of the coronavirus The Foreign Offi ce has not for- for months in the dark. isolate those suspected of being all known contacts of a previ- all patients and other healthcare precautions to ensure public symptoms. mally confi rmed that Sacoolas Seiger added: “The ministry of infected. ously confi rmed British patient workers who may have come into safety,” he said. “Clinical advice The new cases in Britain are worked for the CIA, and it is likely defence is clearly not talking to the Alarm over the coronavirus in France, and were identifi ed by close contact, and at this stage has not changed about the risk to linked to a Briton who had re- British offi cials would regard it as Foreign Offi ce and the Foreign Of- that emerged in Wuhan, China, public health offi cials working to we believe this to be a relatively the public, which remains mod- turned from Singapore and improper to disclose the identity fi ce is not talking to our constitu- in December is driven by its rap- trace possible cases. small number.” erate.” stayed at a French ski resort be- of CIA agents to members of the ency MP Andrea Leadsom.” id spread and the fact that infec- “We now know the new cases The BBC reported a doctors’ Arrowe Park Hospital, near tween January 24 and 28. Charity boss sentenced Patel apologises to Cooper as man jailed for pension fund theft Guardian News and Media “But it is a concern to me that London there been, thus far, no similar condemnation or sense of regret Guardian News and Media spent for your own needs and your cious investigation to uncover one expressed by the national party. London wife’s.” of the most substantial pension riti Patel has formally In a letter to me from the nation- Linda Matthews, the chief exec- frauds prosecuted to date.” apologised in parliament al chair in response to this issue, utive of the charity, said in a state- Nicola Parish, the executive di- Pto Yvette Cooper after a the strongest it said was: ‘Intim- he former head of a charity ment read to court that the pension rector of The Pensions Regulator, Conservative activist was jailed idating behaviour has no place in has been jailed for fi ve years scheme faced “signifi cant diffi cul- which brought the prosecution, for sending messages threaten- our politics.’” Tafter he admitted defraud- ties” because of the stolen funds said: “McLarry tried every trick ing to pay “crackheads” £100 to Cooper said she was disap- ing a pension scheme for work- and had led to “immense stress and in the book to hide his actions and beat up the Labour MP. pointed that Jenkyns had chosen ers with disabilities and using the anxiety” for staff and users. squander the pension pots of those Cooper used Home Offi ce to give a very positive charac- money to buy houses in England Alex Stein, prosecuting, said he was responsible for but we were questions in the Commons to ter reference for this individual, and France. McLarry carried out the fraud by able to uncover the truth and bring seek an apology after Joshua without contacting her fi rst. Patrick McLarry took more setting up a new company to man- him to justice. Spencer was jailed last week for Patel said: “Let me say this than £250,000 from the pension age the pension fund, of which “We will now work to seize nine weeks, and to ask why Tory right now, on the floor of the scheme of Yateley Industries for he was one of only two directors assets from McLarry so that as MP Andrea Jenkyns gave Spencer house, that that is categorically the Disabled and used it to buy and in the habit of authorising much of the money as possible is a character reference at the court unacceptable and wrong. There homes for himself and his wife and decisions. He also set up a third returned to its rightful owners, case. is no place for intimidation at pay off a debt for a pub lease. company, which used the cover of who will rightly rely on it to de- The 25-year-old was arrested all in public life. In terms of the The charity was so badly aff ect- trading in antiques to transfer the liver their pensions in retirement.” in April last year and stood for national party response, she ed by the sophisticated fraud that stolen money to France in order to McLarry, from Bere Alston village the Conservatives in May’s local can take it from me, right now, it came within days of closing and buy two properties abroad before near Plymouth in Devon, was also elections. that I am hugely apologetic service users and staff have been creating a fi ctional loss to explain previously convicted of failing to He attended Cooper’s general for what she has had to put up left traumatised. the missing funds. disclose his bank statements to the election count in December as a with.” Sentencing him at Winchester Stein said outside court: “This regulator’s investigators. representative of the Conserva- On the character reference by crown court, the judge, Andrew was a complex, sophisticated fraud McLarry’s wife, Sandra, 59, was tive party despite being under Jenkyns, Patel said: “My under- Barnett, described the fraud as “an undertaken over a number of years initially charged with four counts investigation by West Yorkshire standing is that her comments appalling dishonesty and breach against vulnerable victims. McLar- of money laundering but at an police at the time. were in support very much of of trust”. He said: “You quite de- ry held himself out as a pillar of the earlier hearing the prosecution Cooper told the home sec- giving the individual some help liberately and in a very calculating community, a legitimate business- said it would not proceed with the retary that she had received an and support that that individ- way milked the fund of a consider- man and a man with an MBE. charges and off ered no evidence. apology from the local Con- ual needed in terms of access to able amount of money which was “It took a persistent and tena- She was found not guilty. Yvette Cooper: disappointed with Jenkyns servative association. She said: mental health.” Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 EUROPE

Kazakh president fires regional leader, police chief Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has fired the governor and police chief of a region where Merkel’s party in crisis deadly clashes killed 10 and wounded more than a hundred others, replacing them with senior off icials. Dozens of homes were burned down and at least 47 people were arrested during the conflict that broke out on Friday in the after ‘successor’ quits southern Jambyl region. The clashes are widely believed Reuters Germany’s doors to migrants whose ratings plummeted last of the public thought him the to have pitted Kazakhs, the Berlin fl eeing wars in the Middle East year after a number of public best candidate, followed by Las- majority ethnic group, against in 2015 – a move that still divides gaff es, including poking fun at chet on 18%. minority Dungans, a Muslim the bloc and her country. trans-gender people in a light- Spahn and Markus Soeder, people. he woman expected to Merkel did not seek re-elec- hearted carnival speech. leader of the CDU’s Bavarian The violence prompted become Germany’s next tion to the party chair in 2018, Kramp-Karrenbauer said she sister party, the Christian Social thousands to flee across the Tchancellor said yesterday allowing Kramp-Karrenbauer to would remain party chair until Union (CSU), both said they re- nearby border with Kyrgyzstan. that she would not run for the take the party helm with a view another candidate for chancellor spected Kramp-Karrenbauer’s The president dismissed top job, succumbing to a scan- to boosting her profi le prior to has been found. She will remain decision and stressed that the Jambyl regional governor Askar dal involving the far-right and running for the chancellery. defence minister. cohesion of their conservative Myrzakhmetov in a decree. blowing wide open the race to But doubts about her leader- But erstwhile rivals for the alliance was now essential. His replacement Berdibek succeed Angela Merkel. ship credentials persisted. party leadership – Friedrich Laschet, who as premier of Saparbayev has served as deputy Annegret Kramp-Karrenbau- “The separation of chancel- Merz and Jens Spahn – have North Rhine-Westfalia, a state prime minister and was earlier er is a protégé of the chancellor lorship and party chair, the open been circling with intent, while of 17mn people, has executive appointed head of a commission and leader of their conservative question around who will be- Armin Laschet, premier of Ger- experience that other candi- investigating the violence. Christian Democrats (CDU), but come the candidate for chancel- many’s largest state and a Mer- dates lack, was more forthcom- The appointment of such a senior has faced growing doubts over lor weakens the CDU at a time ... kel ally, did not rule out running. ing than in the past. figure shows how seriously her suitability to replace Mer- Kramp-Karrenbauer with Merkel prior to a party meeting in Berlin (when) Germany needs a strong Businessman Merz has quit Asked as he left a news con- the oil-rich Central Asian state kel, who has led Germany for 15 yesterday. CDU,” Kramp-Karrenbauer told asset manager Blackrock to fo- ference if he was trying to avoid is treating the rare outbreak years but plans to stand down at yesterday’s news conference. cus more on politics and Spahn, being asked about the Chancel- of violence that damages its the next federal election, due in a post-war consensus among Merkel’s conservatives and the Sigmar Gabriel, a former now health minister, has cut a lorship, he replied tersely: “I’m reputation for stability. autumn 2021. established parties on shunning Social Democrats (SPD). leader of the Social Democrats dynamic fi gure during the coro- not afraid of anything.” Tokayev also replaced the Last week, Kramp-Karren- the far-right. Her decision not to run for (SPD), said that he now expect- navirus crisis, jetting to Paris Alexander Gauland, honorary region’s police chief with a former bauer’s inability to impose disci- “I will not run for chancel- chancellor leaves a big question ed a snap election, but analysts and London to coordinate the chairman of the far-right AfD, deputy interior minister. pline on the CDU in the eastern lor,” Kramp-Karrenbauer, 57, mark over Germany’s future di- played down that risk. European and G7 response. said the CDU’s eff orts under Nearly 140 people were treated state of Thuringia dealt a fresh told a news conference in Berlin, rection just as its economy, the “This is largely a CDU internal “Now’s the right time to pro- Kramp-Karrenbauer to ostra- for injuries and more than 30 blow to her credibility – already adding that she had made her world’s fourth largest, fl irts with issue,” said Holger Schmieding vide impetus via economic and cise his party had failed and that remained in hospital yesterday. eroded by a series of gaff es. decision “with the intention of recession and as the EU strug- at Berenbank, putting the risk fi nancial policy measures,” Merz such a stance was unrealistic in The regional CDU branch de- strengthening the CDU”. gles to defi ne itself after Brexit. of the SPD quitting the coalition said yesterday in a tweet. the long-term. fi ed her by backing a local leader “In my view, this has no im- Merkel has loomed large on early at no more than 25%. Being out of political offi ce “Its party base has long since Climate activists helped into offi ce by the anti- pact on the stability of the grand the global stage since 2005, The far-right scandal in has let Merz speak his mind, recognised this and has thrown immigrant Alternative for Ger- coalition,” she said, referring to helping to steer the EU through Thuringia proved to be the last keeping him in the news. the CDU, with its policy of ex- invade BlackRock many (AfD), thereby shattering the national coalition between the eurozone crisis and opening straw for Kramp-Karrenbauer, A fl ash Forsa poll found 27% clusion, into chaos,” he added. off ice in Paris Dozens of climate activists invaded US asset manager BlackRock’s off ice in central Paris yesterday, calling for the fund to pull out of fossil fuel investments. Storm Ciara wreaks havoc across Europe Green activists from the campaign groups Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future AFP road travel in several countries. managed to enter the building Frankfurt am Main The storm also cut power to and to reach the fourth floor, 35,000 households in northern where they graff itied walls. Austria yesterday. “This company has a lot of ierce winds and heavy It forced more than 700 fl ights influence in many sectors and rains claimed at least six in four German cities – Frank- we are trying to convey what we Flives across northern Eu- furt, Munich, Dusseldorf and are asking for, we want to change rope yesterday as Storm Ci- Cologne – to be cancelled. this capitalistic system”, Emilia, ara disrupted travel, grounded In the Netherlands, around a 15-year-old Fridays for Future fl ights, fl ooded roads and left 220 fl ights were cancelled yes- group member, said. vast areas without power. terday morning at Amsterdam’s Activists wrote tags such as “I In one of the region’s most vi- Schiphol airport – Europe’s want to live” or “Murderers” olent storms for years, one man third-busiest – most destined on the walls and blocked the died and another was reported for other European cities. entrance with ropes and rolling missing in southern Sweden Around 240 fl ights never took off ice cabinets. when their boat capsized. off on Sunday. “We condemn in the strongest In the Czech Republic, one And having closed one of the possible terms the violent man died when his car went off big storm surge barriers as the intrusion and acts of vandalism the road trying to avoid a fallen tempest approached on Sunday in our off ices,” BlackRock, the tree. night, Dutch police reported world’s biggest asset manager, Several other people were also more than 600km of traffi c jams said in a statement. injured in the country as winds yesterday. blew up to 180kph, leaving Tiny Luxembourg cancelled 100,000 people without power, school classes, and in the Bel- Russia jails young even toppling over a truck. gian capital Brussels, morning In Slovenia, a 52-year-old rush-hour traffi c ground to a anti-fascists in man died yesterday when a tree halt due to street closures and ‘terrorism’ case fell on his car as he travelled in fl ooding. the northeast of the country. In the German city of Frank- A Russian court yesterday In southern Poland, a furt, the winds toppled a crane sentenced a group of young 40-year-old woman and her on to the roof of the cathedral, anarchists and anti-fascists young daughter were killed by causing extensive damage. to between six and 18 years roofi ng torn away by the storm- In France, 90,000 homes of in prison on terror and other force winds. the 130,000 that suff ered power charges, a lawyer told AFP. Police in London said that a outages a day earlier were still A military court in the central man was killed in his car on Sun- without power. Russian city of Penza handed day when a tree fell on to a mo- Britain’s newspapers and the down the verdict in the so-called torway southwest of the capital. country’s Met Offi ce described “Network” case, Sergei Morgunov, In the west of Germany, fall- Ciara as “the storm of the cen- a lawyer for one of the seven ing trees seriously injured three tury” in terms of the scale of the The cathedral in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, is damaged by a construction crane which collapsed during the passage of storm defendants, told AFP. people: two women in Sar- destruction it wrought. Ciara. All seven had denied the charges. rebruck – one of whom was And Met Offi ce meteorolo- Dmitry Pchelintsev and Ilya in a critical condition – and a gist Alex Burkill warned: “While tween the southern English port automatically for safety reasons. lines by morning yesterday. passengers fl ying British Air- Shakursky were convicted of 16-year-old boy in Paderborn. Storm Ciara is clearing away, of Dover and Calais in north- And the Oresund Bridge link- The weather also played havoc ways to London from New York. creating a “terrorist organisation”, The storm has swept across that doesn’t mean we’re enter- ern France resumed yesterday ing Denmark and Sweden was with Europe’s sporting calen- The storm gave the plane a among other charges, and the region since the weekend. ing a quieter period of weather.” morning after being halted the closed for several hours. dar, causing the cancellation of strong tail wind, helping it fi n- sentenced to 18 and 16 years in It caused extensive fl ooding in Much of the initial damage day before. The storm had also forced the top-fl ight football fi xtures in ish in the sub-sonic fl ight record prison respectively. England, cut power to 130,000 and disruption was along north- A whole Belgian off shore wind closure of large parts of the Ger- Belgium, England, France, Ger- time of four hours and 56 min- Five other men were found homes in northern France and ern Europe’s coastline. farm was shut down as powerful man rail network, but Deutsche many and the Netherlands. utes, according to fl ight-track- guilty of participating in the played havoc with air, rail and Channel ferry services be- gusts caused the turbines to stop Bahn had reopened some rail But there was an upside for ing website Flightradar24. organisation. Greece speeds up creation of migrant BBC to make Thunberg series

AFP detention centres to ease tension London

Reuters crowded camps known as re- Last year, more than 74,000 ed last July, has taken a tougher he BBC said yesterday that Athens ception centres. refugees and migrants arrived in stance towards migration than it will make a new docu- Migrants on Lesbos protested Greece, according to the United Syriza, the leftist party that led Tmentary series with the last week against poor living Nations refugees agency UN- the previous government. teenage Swedish environmental reece plans to accelerate conditions and residents of the HCR. The government has intro- activist Greta Thunberg, chart- the creation of detention island took to the streets de- Most of them arrived on duced new regulations which ing her life and exploring the sci- Gcentres on its outlying manding the reception facilities Lesbos, Chios and Samos af- it says will simplify the asylum ence behind climate change. islands in the Aegean Sea after close. ter crossing from Turkey and process and launched a ten- “The series will follow Greta’s a backlash against overcrowded “The government has de- about 40,000 are now in eff ect der for a fl oating fence in the international crusade, which camps by some migrants and cided to close today’s anarchic trapped on the islands. Aegean which it hopes will deter takes her to the front line of cli- nearby residents. facilities and create controlled, Aid groups have described migrants arriving from Turkey mate change in some of the most This picture taken on Friday shows Thunberg during a Friday for Authorities said yesterday closed facilities,” government living conditions in some of the on rafts. extraordinary places on Earth, as Future protest in Jokkmokk, northern Sweden. that they would proceed with spokesman Stelios Petsas said in island camps as appalling. The new detention centres she explores what actions could the purchase of land on the is- a statement. “We need 20,000 people to be would house new arrivals until be taken to limit climate change own journey into adulthood as Thunberg’s climate struggle lands of Lesbos, Chios and Sa- Hundreds of thousands of transferred from the islands to their asylum processes were un- and the damage it causes,” BBC she continues to be confronted began in August 2018 when she mos, and press ahead with plans people crossed into Europe from the mainland in the next weeks derway, as well as others show- Studios said. by the real world consequences skipped school for the fi rst three to create holding facilities on Turkey via Greece in 2015 and and months to come,” Philippe ing “delinquent behaviour” or The series will see the 17-year- of inaction,” it said. weeks, and then on Fridays to state-owned land on Kos and 2016 before a deal brokered by Leclerc, UNCHR’s head in not entitled to asylum, Petsas old meet scientists, politicians They will also “share some of spend the day outside Sweden’s Leros. the European Union limited the Greece, told journalists after a said. and business moguls, challeng- the quiet moments as she writes parliament with a sign labelled Thousands of migrants are fl ow. meeting with Greek Migration Entering and leaving the fa- ing them to make changes, the the impactful speeches that are “School strike for climate”. waiting on the islands for their There has been a resurgence Minister Notis Mitarachi. cilities would be strictly regu- broadcaster’s commercial con- now broadcast and analysed Her activism has since at- asylum applications to be proc- in arrivals since around Sep- Greece’s conservative New lated and they would be closed tent arm added. around the world, as she lives a tracted the attention of millions essed, most of them in over- tember 2019. Democracy government, elect- at night, he added. “The fi lms will also chart her teenage life like no other”. of young people across the globe. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 13 INDIA

PEOPLE ALLEGATION INVESTIGATION CRIME Ex-CM Kumaraswamy’s DCW seeks explanation Actor Vijay summoned by Sixth charge-sheet filed son gets engaged over college incident Income Tax department against ‘cyanide killer’

Former Karnataka chief minister H D The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) The Income Tax department has summoned Four months after the arrest of 47-year-old Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy yesterday yesterday summoned the deputy commissioner leading Tamil actor Vijay. Last week, as a Jolly Thomas, who allegedly killed six family got engaged to Revathi, the grand-niece of Congress of police (DCP) and the principal of Gargi College part of search operations at AGS Group, IT members, the Kerala police yesterday filed the leader and realtor M Krishnappa. On February 6, over alleged sexual harassment on the campus. department off icials had brought Vijay to sixth charge-sheet, completing the first stage Nikhil shared a picture with Revathi on his off icial Calling it “mass molestation and sexual assault Chennai from Neyveli where he was shooting. of the investigation. The first to die in 2002 Facebook account. Nikhil’s grandfather and former on female students on Gargi College campus”, IT off icials carried out a search operation at was Jolly’s mother-in-law Annamma, a retired prime minister H D Deve Gowda attended the event the DCW has asked the principal and the DCP to his residences in Chennai. In a statement last teacher. She was followed by Jolly’s father-in- along with several other politicians and influential personally appear before it at 2pm on February week, the IT department said Vijay’s investment law Tom Thomas in 2008. In 2011, their son and people at the Taj West End hotel in Bengaluru. In 13. “The students have alleged a similar incident in immovable properties and remuneration Jolly’s husband Roy Thomas also died followed the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Nikhil tried his luck in had taken place during last year, but no action received from AGS Group for acting in the by the death of Roy’s uncle Mathew, in 2014. The politics. He lost to Sumalatha Ambareesh, widow of was taken by the administration,” the DCW said. film Bigil was the focus of the search. The tax last one in the extended family to die was Sily former Karnataka actor Ambareesh, in the Mandya The commission asked the DCP whether the department also claimed to have detected Rs3bn in 2016. The six and last charge-sheet explains constituency. Nikhil, 30, is a Kannada film actor who police have identified and arrested the suspects. hidden income during searches at the residence how Jolly killed her mother-in-law, her first made his debut in the bilingual movie Jaguar in It also asked the college administration why it and off ice of Anbu Chezhiyan, a movie financier victim in 2002. Police says Jolly used cyanide in 2016. Nikhil is also actively participating in politics by didn’t intervene and allowed the culprits to leave who also owns a movie production house, in eliminating five victims. In Annamma’s case she Nikhil with Revathi. meeting people and visiting several places. the campus. Chennai and Madurai. used poison normally given to kill rabid dogs. India set to seal $2.6bn US naval helicopter deal

Reuters ing to address some of his con- New Delhi cerns. Trade offi cials have pointed to large-scale US arms purchas- ndia is set to give fi nal ap- es, from surveillance planes to proval to a $2.6bn deal for Apache and Chinook helicop- Imilitary helicopters from US ters, as proof of India’s willing- defence fi rm Lockheed Martin ness to tighten strategic ties. ahead of a proposed visit by US The multirole helicopters will President Donald Trump this be equipped with Hellfi re mis- month, defence and industry siles and are meant to help the sources said. Indian navy track submarines in Prime Minister Narendra the Indian Ocean, where China is Modi’s government is trying to expanding its presence. pull out all the stops for Trump’s Many of India’s warships are trip in a bid to reaffi rm strategic without any helicopters because ties between the two countries, of years of underfunding, and which have been buff eted by the navy had sought their acqui- sharp diff erences over trade, to sition as a top priority. counter China. The government outlined India’s defence purchases only a modest rise in its 2020/21 Demonstrators scuff le with police as they try to cross barricades during a protest against a new citizenship law outside the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi yesterday. from the United States have defence spending to $73.65bn reached $17bn since 2007 as it in the budget on February 1, of has pivoted away from tradi- which a part will go towards tional supplier Russia, looking to making a down payment on the modernise its military and nar- helicopter purchase, a defence row the gap with China. offi cial said. Modi’s Cabinet Committee on “We expect a positive an- Security is expected to clear the nouncement soon on the heli- purchase of 24 MH-60R Sea- copters,” the offi cial said, speak- Anti-CAA protesters, hawk helicopters for the Indian ing on condition of anonymity navy in the next two weeks, a because of service rules. defence offi cial and an indus- “There are limited resources, try source briefed on the matter but there is an allocation.” separately told Reuters. The US State Department ap- “It’s a government-to-gov- proved the sale of the choppers ernment deal, it is close,” said to India last year along with ra- police clash in Delhi the industry source. dars, torpedoes and 10 AGM-114 To cut short lengthy negotia- Hellfi re missiles. IANS the police, the organisers of the the national anthem and return 30 sparked a controversy after Shaheen Bagh had continued tions between Lockheed and the The clearance came after the New Delhi march quickly stepped in to tell to the campus. a man raising pro-CAA slogans for many days. Indian government, the heli- Trump administration rolled the protesters not to indulge in “I would request you it’s time opened fi re injuring a protesting “You cannot just block the copters that will be deployed on out a new “Buy American” plan violence. for your evening prayers, please student. road. There cannot be an in- India’s warships will be bought in 2018 that had relaxed restric- protest against the new The march began behind off er your prayers then we will Meanwhile, the Supreme defi nite protest in public areas. through the US foreign military tions on sales, saying it would citizenship law turned schedule amid heavy security have national anthem before Court yesterday told protesters Then, everybody will protest sales route, under which the two bolster the American defence in- Aviolent yesterday in deployment. The police had you proceed back to campus,” at New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh everywhere,” he said. governments will agree details of dustry and create jobs at home. New Delhi when demonstrators earlier denied permission to the Srivastava said. neighbourhood that they “can’t The court, however, declined the deal. The United States has also of- clashed with police. protesters for the march. “It is dark now, some miscre- block public roads indefi nitely” to issue any order without hear- Trump is expected in India fered India the armed version of A scuffl e ensued when police Later a senior police offi cer ants might enter in your protest and that the “protests can’t con- ing the other parties, including around February 24 on his fi rst Guardian drones that were origi- confronted the protesters who addressed the crowd and re- and create a ruckus, better you tinue like this in public places”. the police. offi cial visit to the country, al- nally authorised for sale as un- tried to march from Jamia Mil- quested them to call off the pro- call it off now,” he added. Thousands of women are tak- The court observation came though no formal announce- armed for surveillance purposes, lia Islamia University to parlia- test but they refused. But the protesters remained ing part in the protest against after Mehmood Pracha, a law- ment has yet been made. the fi rst such approval for a coun- ment. In the melee that ensued, “The protest event that you unmoved and they continued the CAA, a law granting a new yer for Bhim Army chief Chan- Both countries are separate- try outside the Nato alliance. many from both sides fainted. were supposed to attend is raising anti-CAA and anti-po- path to Indian citizenship for dershekhar Azad, said the issue ly working on a limited trade India plans to buy 30 of these Coming up against four lay- now over. There is no point in lice slogans. refugees of all religions except was about balancing rights. agreement ahead of the trip, unmanned aircraft for surveil- ers of barricades and massive standing here. Return to your The march to parliament was Muslims. Justice Joseph agreed to the after earlier imposing tit-for- lance of the Indian Ocean, at security deployment, some of university now,” Joint Commis- called by the Jamia Co-ordi- Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul observation and asked: “Can tat tariffs on each other’s im- a cost estimated to be about the protesters tried to climb sioner of Police Devesh Chandra nation Committee against the and K M Joseph issued notices you block a public road?” Jus- ports. $2.5bn, from General Atomics. over the barricades. But they Srivastava told them. Citizenship Amendment Act to the Delhi police and others tice Kaul observed that protests Trump has called India the However, the defence offi cial met with stiff resistance from He appealed to the student (CAA) and the National Register and scheduled the next hearing cannot be held in parks too, and “tariff king of the world” but the said the deal is unlikely imme- the police. protesters to off er their evening of Citizens (NRC). on the matter for February 17. there should be designated ar- Modi government has been try- diately because of lack of funds. When shoes were hurled at prayers on the road, followed by A similar march on January Kaul said the protest at eas for holding protests.

Woman lecturer set on fi re by 172 under observation stalker dies in Maharashtra for virus in Karnataka

IANS In New Delhi, Minister for Agencies be speeded up and the case as- Bengaluru Health and Family Welfare Nagpur signed to a fast track court. We Harsh Vardhan gave a detailed will ensure that there are no de- account in parliament of the lays of any kind,” Thackeray told he Karnataka government action taken by his ministry to college lecturer in Mahar- reporters. said yesterday 172 people stop and contain the virus in- ashtra died of her injuries The Maharashtra government Tacross the state were un- fection in India. Ayesterday after being set also plans to study the ‘Disha’ der observation for coronavirus The minister said that a to- on fi re last week, allegedly by a Law of Andhra Pradesh which symptoms. tal of 1,818 flights had been stalker, offi cials said. envisages completion of inves- “We are monitoring 172 peo- screened covering at least Ankita Pissude, 25, was going tigations in a week, a trial in two ple across the state, including 197,192 passengers since Janu- to her college in Daroda village weeks and where there is suf- in Bengaluru for coronavirus ary 18. in Wardha district last Monday fi cient conclusive evidence, re- symptoms,” Prakash Kumar “Teams of specialist doctors when Vikesh alias Vicki Nagrale Ankita Pissude duce the total judgment time to of the Health and Family Wel- were sent to all the airports used petrol from his motorcycle three weeks, said an offi cial. fare Services Department told to ensure effective screening to set her on fi re, police said. The protesters demanded a Pissude, who fought 168 hours IANS. and arrangement for isolation She was admitted to a hospital ‘Hyderabad-style’ justice for Na- for her life, was a postgraduate in However, there has been no in the attached hospitals,” he with serious burn injuries. grale where four suspects in the Botany and worked as a part-time positive coronavirus case yet re- said. “We took all possible resusci- gang-rape and murder of a wom- lecturer at the Matoshree Ashatai ported from Karnataka though He said a group of ministers tative measures but the patient an were killed in a police encoun- Kumawar Mahila Mahavidyalaya. 22 people were added to the has been set up to monitor the passed away and was declared ter when they tried to fl ee from Nagrale is married with a small monitoring list yesterday. situation. dead around 7am today,” Anup custody on December 6, 2019. child and knew the victim as they Under home isolation obser- He said that the cabinet sec- Marar, director of the private Pissude suff ered extensive burns were from the same village. vation, the department is moni- retary had been taking review hospital where she was admit- on her face, head, respiratory sys- Several locals, mostly women toring 168 people across the meetings on a daily basis with ted, told reporters. tem, heart, and she remained criti- and college students, held a pro- state. all the offi cials of the concerned “Her body has been handed to cal throughout her treatment and test march in Wardha last week Currently nobody is in hos- ministries including the state police authorities for the post- was placed on ventilator. demanding the death penalty for pital for coronavirus symptoms, chief secretaries. mortem,” he added. Earlier, Chief Minister Ud- the perpetrator. Kumar said. “Screening of passengers was The 27-year-old suspect was dhav Thackeray expressed grief Maharashtra Home Minister Five Karnataka districts bor- initiated on January 18. Initial- arrested soon after the incident. and reiterated that the guilty Anil Deshmukh expressed his dering Kerala - Dakshina Kan- ly airports at Delhi, Mumbai, The victim’s relatives told the would be given the most strin- condolences to the family. nada, Kodagu, Udupi, Chama- Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, police that he had been harass- gent punishment. In another case related to stalk- Health off icials wearing protective facemasks walk in a corridor rajanagar and Mysuru - continue Hyderabad and Kochi were cov- ing her for two years. Thousands “We have appointed Ujjwal ing in New Delhi last week, a police of an isolation ward opened as a preventative measure against to be under surveillance after ered and subsequently expanded of grieving villagers joined her Nikam as the special public inspector was accused of shooting the coronavirus at the North Bengal Medical College and three positive coronavirus cases to a total of 21 airports,” the min- funeral procession. prosecutor, investigations will dead his female colleague. Hospital in Siliguri. were reported in Kerala. ister said. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 INDIA

Reform of customary laws urged to protect indigenous land

Reuters use, are protected by the Indian fellow at the North Eastern So- members to consent to commer- led to confl ict and alienation of sources, and that only they can hundreds of federal, state and Shillong constitution in four of the seven cial Research Centre, an Indian cial projects, or sell their land, indigenous land,” he said. grant permission for mining. customary laws are sparking northeastern states, where land think-tank. Fernandes said. The northeastern states are Yet Arunachal Pradesh state confl icts over land, according to is owned and managed by tribal While customary laws prevents “Customary law needs to be among the most heavily forested in 2018 passed a law that granted the Centre for Policy Research ustomary laws in the communities and clans without the sale or transfer of tribal land to reformed, as it does not ad- and resource-rich land in India, individual ownership of land for (CPR), a think-tank in Delhi. northeastern states of In- formal titles. non-tribals, there is no ban on the equately protect the rights of yet these rural areas have greater the fi rst time. Tribal people are the worst af- Cdia are failing to protect But some states have recently state acquiring such land, he added women or community members landlessness than the national Authorities said it would give fected: they make up less than indigenous lands and must be introduced laws to promote in- at the sidelines of a conference in from powerful members of their average. enable tribal communities to use 10% of India’s 1.3bn population, reformed to safeguard the prop- dividual ownership of land and Shillong in the northeastern state own community,” he said. Last year, the Supreme Court land as collateral for loans, and but account for 40% of people erty of women and poorer tribal give governments greater power, of Meghalaya recently. “Without adequate protec- ruled that indigenous people in earn higher incomes. who were uprooted from 1951 to people, land rights analysts said. thereby weakening customary Power also rests with tribal tion, the formalisation of land Meghalaya – which has consti- As land comes under increas- 1990 due to dams, mines, indus- Customs related to indigenous laws and protections, accord- elites, who are usually men and tenure – rather than the gradual tutional protections – have full ing pressure for highways, dams, trial development and wildlife tradition, including those on land ing to Walter Fernandes, a senior can pressure women and poorer evolution of the informal – has rights over the land and its re- mines and factories, a maze of parks, according to the CPR.

Tribute to Sikh warrior Omar’s sister urges court to overturn his detention

Agencies Sara Abdullah termed the The dossier justifying Mufti’s Punjab police personnel salute as they pay tribute to Sikh warrior General Sardar Sham Singh Attari, on the occasion of his 174th Martyrdom Srinagar February 5 order under PSA un- extended detention calls her a Day, at the India Gate, on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab yesterday. constitutional, and said it also “Daddy’s girl”, referring to her blatantly violates fundamental late father Mufti Mohamed he family of former rights. Sayeed, who was also a chief Kashmir chief minister The petition fi led by Kapil minister. TOmar Abdullah went to Sibal on her behalf, said, “When Mufti was “a hard headed and the Supreme Court yesterday in her brother’s release was immi- scheming person” whose action a bid to overturn his detention nent, the petitioner has shock- ranged from “speeches glorify- under a law allowing incarcera- ingly learnt about his new de- ing militants to creating fears Will take appropriate steps tion for up to two years without tention under the provisions among (the) majority popula- charge. of the Public Safety Act (under tion based on cheap politics.” According to police, the case which their father also remains Mufti, who had ruled the against Abdullah was mainly detained), which could have no state in alliance with Prime that he has used “dirty politics” application to one who has any- Minister Narendra Modi’s on SC ruling on quotas: govt while another former chief way been in custody over sev- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), minister, Mehbooba Mufti, held eral months in a state that was was also accused of working under the law was a “daddy’s under a complete lockdown.” with separatists. IANS certain communities in public lowed to speak following Gehlot’s Supreme Court’s judgment on girl”. “An overview upon the activ- The government faced new New Delhi services. statement. reservation not being mandatory. Abdullah and Mufti were ities of Omar Abdullah suggests criticism following the release Social Justice and Empower- The Congress said it will hold If the BJP does not agree with the among hundreds of politicians that his ideology is favouring of the dossier. ment Minister Thawar Chand a countrywide protest on Feb- judgment, let it say so and spell and activists detained after the radical thoughts which has also “Since when has being a he government yesterday Gehlot said that the central gov- ruary 16 to expose the “anti- out the corrective measures.” government stripped Kashmir’s turned into actions,” the dossier ‘Daddy’s girl’ and encouraging said it would take “ap- ernment was determined to en- quota” ideology of the Bharati- The Congress leader said the autonomy in August last year. said. people to vote become a crime Tpropriate steps” follow- sure the welfare of SCs and STs. ya Janata Party (BJP) and the current BJP government of Ut- It imposed a tough security It states that despite the fact against the nation?” wrote ing the Supreme Court’s ruling Calling the Supreme Court’s Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh tarakhand put forward the argu- clampdown with Internet and that Abdullah has been a main- Congress leader Priyanka Gan- on reservation in jobs and pro- Friday ruling on the issue as a (RSS). ment that was accepted by the phones cut for months. stream politician, he has been dhi, on Twitter. motions for Scheduled Castes “very important subject”, the Congress general secretary K C court. Last week authorities ordered planning and projecting his ac- Abdullah and Mufti are (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes af- minister said that the govern- Venugopal said “the BJP has been “BJP must own up to the judg- the two held under the Public tivities against India under the among scores of Kashmiris still ter considering the issue at the ment was “considering it at the systematically attacking the pro- ment and tell us if it will allow the Safety Act, condemned by rights guise of politics and while en- held under the PSA, which had highest level. highest level”. vision of reservations for SC, ST declaration of law to remain un- groups because those accused joying the support of “gullible previously been mostly used It also attacked the former The minister said the central and OBC through various state- challenged,” he added. can be held for up to two years masses” he has been successful against militant separatists op- Congress-led Uttarakhand gov- government was not made a par- ments and actions for the last In Chennai, Dravida Munnetra without appearing in court. in executing such activities. posed to Indian rule. ernment in 2012 for “snatching ty nor was it asked for an affi davit many years.” Kazhagam (DMK) president said Abdullah’s sister, Sarah Ab- “After revocation of Article Abdullah’s father, Farooq the rights of deprived sections” in the matter. He said “carrying forward this the central government should dullah Pilot, moved a Supreme 370 and 35 A in order to secure Abdullah, a member of the through a decision on the matter. He clarifi ed that the matter agenda, the BJP government now take steps to protect reservation Court petition against his de- support of common people parliament and also former In its verdict on February 7, cropped up after the then Utta- has taken the unconstitutional and social justice. tention which listed the reasons Omar removed all covers and state chief minister, is also on appeals that sought reserva- rakhand government on Novem- stand in the Supreme Court.” In a Facebook post Stalin said the former chief minister was curtains while resorting to his held along with politicians, tion for SCs/STs in promotions ber 5, 2012, decided not to allow Former fi nance minister ever since the BJP came to power, held. dirty politics,” the dossier stat- business leaders, lawyers and to assistant engineer posts in reservations in promotions in the and senior Congress leader P there has been a threat to the res- He was accused of “resorting ed. separatist activists. the Uttarakhand Public Works state, which was challenged in Chidambaram dared the BJP to ervation policy. to his dirty politics” and “in- It said that Abdullah has been Meanwhile, another group Department, the Supreme Court court. “own up” the Supreme Court He said the anti-reservation stigating and provoking gen- creating an environment of of envoys from diff erent geo- said the quotas and reservation in “There was a Congress gov- judgment. utterances of central ministers eral masses” against the Indian public disorder across Kashmir. graphical regions will visit Jam- promotions for government jobs ernment in Uttarakhand in 2012,” Chidambaram said if the ruling and right-wing groups have re- government. “The conduct of subject has mu and Kashmir later this week. is not a fundamental right. Gehlot said in the Lok Sabha. party did not agree with it “let it sulted in confusion. The police dossier also said resulted in fanning the emo- Offi cial sources said since the The court said it could not The minister’s statement say” and “spell out the corrective Hence, the central government Abdullah’s infl uence was a tions of general masses against last visit of envoys to the Union compel states to provide quo- comes after the opposition, and measure”. should take necessary steps to threat because he was “able to the Union of India by way of Territory of Jammu and Kash- tas and that states could not even some ruling party allies, at- In a series of tweets, protect the reservation for back- convince the electorate to come instigating public with Twit- mir last month, the government be forced to make such provi- tacked the government. Chidambaram said, “The gov- ward and most backward classes, out and vote in huge numbers ter posts/Facebook against the has received several requests sions without data showing an Congress lawmakers staged a ernment and the BJP cannot Scheduled Caste and Scheduled even during peak militancy and unity and integrity of the Na- from diplomats from around imbalance in representation of walkout after they were not al- distance themselves from the Tribes, Stalin said. poll boycotts.” tion,” it stated. the world for a visit. AAP deploys volunteers Hardik missing since to guard strong rooms Jan 24, claims wife IANS Kinjal claimed the police often Ahmedabad visited her house at odd hours. IANS AAP volunteers were guarding The volunteers and party Responding to her allegations, New Delhi the strong rooms across the workers are working in shifts to Gujarat Director General of Po- city all the time by working in ensure the EVMs are secured. he wife of Congress leader lice (DGP) Shivanand Jha told shifts. The 21 strong rooms are situ- Hardik Patel yesterday IANS: “Is this a topic to talk on? t any given time, at least “There were reports that ated in nine of the 11 districts of Tclaimed her husband was I don’t think he (Hardik Patel) 10 Aam Aadmi Party there can be tampering of the the city. untraceable since his release deserves a comment. He is not Avolunteers are guard- EVMs. Also, we are confident The districts with two strong from jail on January 24. He was worth it.” ing the strong rooms across the that the results are in our favour rooms are – North, South arrested on January 18. However, Kinjal’s claims national capital to avoid any and so the party has decided to West, South East, and Shah- Kinjal Patel said her husband have created a ripple and are mishandling of the voting ma- keep a close watch on the strong dara. There is one strong room had not made any contact with being talked about in the police chines ahead of counting today. rooms. We have deployed at each in New Delhi, South, East, the family though he had tweeted and political circles – from Gu- A strong room is the place least 10 AAP volunteers and North East and North West dis- about his release. jarat to Delhi. The Ahmedabad where the electronic voting ma- workers outside the strong tricts. “Has been released from de- police have been maintaining a chines are kept after the polling rooms to keep a close watch all The party volunteers, guard- tention of dictatorship. But studied silence on her allega- is done and before counting the time,” the party leader said. ing the strong room at the what’s my fault,” he tweeted on tions. takes place. A meeting was called by Chief Commonwealth Games Village January 24. Patel had earlier tweeted “that The Election Commission Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his for seven assemblies – Trilok- Blaming the “government he will not bow down,” appar- has established 21 strong rooms residence on the night of Febru- puri, Kondli, Patparganj, Laxmi machinery” for Patel’s disap- ently referring to the Bharatiya across Delhi to keep the EVMs ary 8 after the polling ended. Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Krishna pearance, Kinjal said the family Janata Party. after the polling for the 70 as- The meeting was called after Nagar and Gandhi Nagar, told was being harassed by the gov- Meanwhile, the Patidar Ana- sembly seats ended on Satur- the party received inputs that IANS that they were checking ernment. mat Andolan sources said they day. the EVMs were not being han- all the vehicles coming and go- “My husband was arrested and were unable to establish any con- The AAP, the outgoing party dled properly. ing inside the premises. sent to jail in many cases. On sev- tact with Patel. “Nobody knows in power in Delhi, has alleged “The decision of keeping a “We are scanning the cars eral occasions, as soon as he came if he has gone underground,” said that EVMs, used for polling close eye on the EVMs was tak- coming out and going in. We out of jail, he was rearrested and a leader. on Saturday, were being taken en in the meeting with Kejriwal. cannot trust anyone. The oppo- put behind the bars in some other The Congress has said the Gu- away for tampering. Our volunteers are also guard- sition can do anything to tem- A woman shows her ink-marked finger after casting her vote at a case. Don’t you think this is har- jarat police were misusing their Speaking to IANS, a senior ing the strong rooms in night,” per with the results,” said one of polling station in New Delhi on February 8. The results of the Delhi assment,” Kinjal said. powers and had charged the Pati- party leader said at least 10 the leader added. the volunteers. assembly elections will be declared today. Fearing for her husband’s life, dar leader in several cases. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 15

LATIN AMERICA

OFFICIAL PEOPLE LAW AND ORDER HEALTH POLITICS Pele depressed, reclusive Murder suspect ‘was Morales heads to Cuba Moise lays out terms for due to health issues: son working as Uber driver’ for medical treatment deal with opposition

Brazilian soccer great Pele is depressed over A far-right Spaniard extradited by Brazil for Ousted Bolivian leader Evo Morales has left Haiti President Jovenel Moise said he is his poor health and reluctant to leave the murders committed in Madrid in 1977 was Argentina, where he fled in November as a optimistic that negotiations with a coalition of house because he cannot walk unaided, his working as an Uber driver in Sao Paulo when political exile, for Cuba for a medical procedure, his political opponents will succeed in forging a son Edinho said in an interview published in he was arrested two years ago, Brazilian police his spokesman said yesterday. Morales, a power-sharing deal to end months of deadlock Brazil yesterday. Pele, widely considered to said. Carlos Garcia Julia had been on the run for South American socialist icon, left Bolivia after that have left Haiti without a functioning be one of the greatest footballers in history decades in South America, but Brazil’s Federal off icials there annulled his October election government. Moise laid out his position in the and who will be 80 in October, has had hip Police acting on an Interpol notice located victory following accusations of vote-rigging. talks that began last week in the mission of the trouble for years and now needs a frame to him living under a false name in Sao Paulo in “Ex-president Evo Morales took an unscheduled papal envoy to Haiti with political opponents walk. Many of his recent public appearances 2018. He was discovered not because he was flight to Cuba for health reasons,” his spo kesman and some civil society groups. He said he would have been in a wheelchair. “He’s pretty registered as a driver on the car hiring app with told Reuters. “He’s expected to return this accept an opposition prime minister and a fragile. He had a hip replacement and didn’t a false Venezuelan ID, but because he went to weekend and will continue with his scheduled shortened term in off ice, but only after adoption UNHCR’s deputy high commissioner, Kelly have an adequate or ideal rehabilitation,” the Federal Police to request residence in Brazil agenda.” Since arriving in Argentina, Morales of a constitutional reform strengthening the Clements (left), meets Costa Rica’s President Edinho told TV Globo. “So he has this problem and his fingerprints gave him away, authorities has campaigned fervently for his Movement presidency. He said he would serve only a single Carlos Alvarado at the presidential house, in with mobility and that has set off a kind of said. Julia, aged 67, was handed to Spanish for Socialism party ahead of an upcoming term in off ice so he would not personally benefit San Jose, Costa Rica. depression.” police and has arrived back in Madrid. presidential election in Bolivia on May 3. from the powers of a stronger presidency.

Lithium miner Heavy rains lash Brazil seeks to monitor water scarcity in Chile salt fl at

Reuters the Atacama’s ecosystem. Santiago “Developing a greener world can’t come at the cost of an en- tire territory...and culture,” said ith residents and Juan Carlos Cayo, an attorney for courts ringing the communities in Atacama, fol- Walarm about depleted lowing that decision. water supplies in Chile’s Ata- The battle for water in Chile’s cama salt fl at, the world’s top salt fl ats has intensifi ed. lithium miner Albemarle quietly Residents and environmen- fi led a proposal in December for tal groups worry that mining of a network to monitor fl ows be- lithium and copper is damaging neath the parched desert fl oor. a regional ecosystem home to an The previously unreported ancient indigenous culture and move is an indication of how im- turquoise lagoons inhabited with portant it has become for miners rare pink Chilean fl amingos. to prove their supplies of the so- For Albemarle, the world’s called “white gold” battery metal largest producer of lithium, re- are sustainable as they court au- solving the water issue is a “busi- tomakers preparing for the com- ness decision”, Lenny-Pessagno ing electric vehicle revolution. said, adding the fi rm was open Car companies have ratcheted to working with other miners on up scrutiny in the Atacama, by the matter including rival SQM. A man pushes a motorcycle through a flooded street after heavy rains in Butanta neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday. far the biggest source of supply in “Whatever happens in the South America’s so-called “lith- salar will ultimately impact our ium triangle,” where one lithium business,” she said, confi rming producer is locked in a court bat- the plan for a two-decade moni- tle over pumping of brine and toring network to get a fuller pic- a copper miner has opted for ture of the issue. pricey desalination over drawing A government study intended water from local aquifers. to provide similar information “What we’re seeing is a scru- has been repeatedly delayed tiny of how lithium is being pro- since 2018, leaving a void. Mexico region uses guns, duced, and particularly, in the A spokeswoman for Chile de- Salar de Atacama,” Ellen Lenny- velopment agency Corfo, which Pessagno, Albemarle’s Chile is managing that process, said the manager, told Reuters in an in- report was nearing completion. terview in capital city Santiago. Salt-rich brine holds in sus- “They want data.” pension the lithium that auto- children to fend off cartels She said a team from Germa- makers covet. ny’s biggest car maker Volkswa- Miners use freshwater beneath Reuters “They do this to prepare them- to fi ght cartel gunmen, they say public cry for help by a commu- picious of regional authorities gen — which expects to produce the fl ats for industrial processes. Rincon de Chautla, Mexico selves to defend the family, their their gambit to get the help of nity that’s been cornered,” said and the smattering of local po- 1.5mn electric autos by 2025 — Both water and brine are scarce siblings and defend the village,” far-away offi cials in Mexico City Falko Ernst, an International Cri- licemen in their villages, who visited the Atacama last month commodities in the world´s dri- said Sanchez Luna, a corn farm- is borne of desperation. sis Group (ICG) analyst. “They’ve they accuse of being the eyes and to scope out the social and envi- est desert. hen the 56-year-old er in a rugged region which fi ve Ten musicians from the area been trying to get assistance by ears of the Los Ardillos. ronmental impact of mining op- Last week miner BHP scrapped mother-in-law of years ago formed a self-defence were ambushed and killed last federal and state government, Parents say their children are erations there. plans to continue pumping water WDavid Sanchez Luna “community police” militia to month by suspected Los Ardil- unsuccessfully, so they’re trying forced to stop formal education A source at Volkswagen, who from the Atacama basin to feed was tortured and killed after ven- protect itself. los cartel members after stepping to escalate the language to try to once they reach about 12 years of asked not to be named, con- its massive Escondida copper turing out of her small Mexican The move by the villagers to out of the territory guarded by negotiate and get help.” age, as the middle schools are in fi rmed a recent trip had been mine, the world’s largest. community encircled by drug off er arms training to school-age their self-defence militia, known President Manuel Andres territory controlled by the cartel. made to Chile to check on local It said it would use desalinated cartels, he let his seven- and children shocked the nation and as CRAC-PF. Lopez Obrador said those who Abuner Martinez, 16, stopped conditions. water instead. 10-year-old daughters receive made global headlines last month Their bodies were burnt, of- arm children “should be ashamed attending school a year ago after The carmaker declined to Albemarle, too, shelved military-style weapons training. after local media broadcast im- fi cials said. The attack followed of themselves” and denounced his father was kidnapped outside comment. longer-term plans to expand its Unable to send their children to ages of children as young as six- a spate of murders in recent year, the use of children to grab atten- CRAC-PF territory, tortured, and That came after a Chilean operations at Atacama follow- school and too afraid to step out years-old toting guns and show- including a beheading, that rat- tion. then beheaded. judge sided with local indigenous ing questions from regulators of their enclave of 16 mountain ing off military manoeuvres. tled the 6,500 residents whose Lopez Obrador’s government “I got scared at that moment. communities and knocked back in 2018 about technologies that villages in the violence-plagued While elders in the mainly in- lush land sits amid fertile pop- has struggled to get a grip on I didn’t want to go to school,” an environmental remediation would allow the company to southwestern Guerrero state, digenous community near the py-growing farmland that feed gangs and violence, with a record said Martinez, who now wields plan from top rival SQM in De- produce more lithium without residents say they have been left city of Chilapa privately concede Guerrero’s heroin trade and sup- 34,582 murders last year. a shotgun as he guards a check- cember, warning of “fragility” in pumping more brine. with little choice. young kids would not be used ply routes to the US. “This is a Residents remain deeply sus- point.

Official visit Peruvian woman Rio councilwoman’s murder suspect killed sues to end her life AFP and extra-judicial executions. Rio de Janeiro She and her driver were shot multiple times by occupants of Reuters “But there was risk... because I examine her case, which was fi led another vehicle as they pursued Lima cannot let someone help me die. I last week. suspect in the 2018 assas- her car in Rio de Janeiro. cannot ask a relative to commit a “We mould the stories of our sination of an outspoken Two former police offi cers — crime.” lives with our decisions, and it AAfro-Brazilian member of Ronnie Lessa, 48, and Elcio de fter spending months in Estrada and her lawyers see the does not make sense that in the Rio de Janeiro’s city council was Queiroz, 46, — were arrested for a hospital’s intensive care fi ght to allow her to die as a fi rst last chapter of our life we are not shot to death after he fi red on po- the crime. Aunit four years ago to treat step to legalise euthanasia in Peru. allowed to make the decision (to lice sent to arrest him, Brazilian Suspicion on who ordered it fell her incurable and debilitating ill- The battle to die, Estrada said, die),” Peru’s public ombudsman authorities said. on a powerful paramilitary group ness, Ana Estrada decided that at has energised her life. Euthanasia Walter Gutierrez said at a press Adriano Magalhaes da Nobre- known as the “Offi ce of Crime,” some point she would want to die is not allowed in many countries, conference. ga, who had been on the run for which Magalhaes is believed to before it got worse. and the Catholic Church remains Estrada’s case gained promi- more than a year, was located by have led. Franco’s Socialism and Estrada, 43, is bed-ridden with a staunch opponent. nence from a blog where she police in a rural area of the city of Liberty Party issued a statement a condition that has atrophied In Latin America, Colombia wrote about her illness, which she Esplanada, 170kms north of Sal- demanding that the circumstanc- her muscles. She does not want has allowed it under certain con- typed out slowly, letter by letter as vador, the capital of the state of es around Magalhaes’s death be to commit suicide and her body is ditions. Estrada has lived since her muscles lost strength. Bahia. clarifi ed. already very weak. her teenage years with polymy- She is not getting better and “At the moment of his ar- “The militia he belonged to was But under Peruvian law it ositis, an infl ammatory disease most of the time cannot speak. rest, he fi red on offi cials and was suspected of being implicated in would be a crime to help her die. that atrophies her muscles and She does not know when she wounded in the shootout,” the the assassination (of Franco) and Both assisted suicide and the has no cure. will want to die, only that her state’s security agency said in a he was a key fi gure for shedding act of killing a terminally-ill pa- She is bed-ridden and breathes condition will keep worsening statement. “He was taken to a light on a series of crimes,” it said. tient, called “compassionate most of the time through a venti- and she would like to end her life hospital but died as a result of his According to the daily Estado murder,” are punished with prison lator, so her voice is reduced to a when she can no longer bear it. wounds.” de Sao Paulo, Magalhaes had told time. whisper. “Why death with dignity? Be- Magalhaes, a decorated former his lawyers he feared being killed Now Estrada is suing the state, Lawyers from Peru’s public cause I want to avoid the suff er- captain in an elite Rio military “to make evidence disappear.” hoping a judge will let her die, ombudsman’s offi ce have taken ing,” Estrada said. “But most of all police battalion, was suspected Magalhaes in 2005 received the what she calls “death with dig- up Estrada’s case, arguing that because this is about how I live my Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei (right) and US of organising the March 14, 2018, Tiradentes medal, the state of Rio nity.” “I contemplated doing it il- not letting her choose to die is un- life, about liberty. I do not feel free acting assistant secretary for western hemisphere aff airs, murder of Marielle Franco, a de Janeiro’s highest, at the ini- legally,” Estrada told Reuters from constitutional, violating her right right now. Michael Kozak, attend a press conference at the Culture ground-breaking feminist on the tiative of then deputy and current her bed, where she was helped by to live with dignity. “I don’t have the freedom to Palace in Guatemala City. Rio city council known for her senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son a nurse. A constitutional court will now choose over my own body.” denunciations of police brutality of President Jair Bolsonaro. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 PAKISTAN

PML-Q leader Govt plans 50,000 shops Elahi says issues to sell subsidised goods with PTI Internews class are confronting and have Minister for Planning, Devel- voirs, including Diamer-Bhasha ‘resolved’ Islamabad decided, come what may, my opment and Special Initiatives and Dasu, would be constructed govt will be announcing various Asad Umar has also said that the to generate cheap energy besides measures that will be taken to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) meeting the requirement of the Internews he government plans to reduce prices of basic food items government is taking all possible agriculture sector. Islamabad provide jobs and daily- for the common man in cabinet measures to provide relief to the Meanwhile, Special Assist- Tuse items to people on on Tuesday,” he wrote on his masses. ant to the Prime Minister on subsidised rates, with 50,000 Twitter account. Talking to local media, the Information and Broadcasting akistan Muslim League – new retail shops to be opened. The prime minister also wrote minister said the government is Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) Geo News, citing sources, re- that “at the same time all the rel- aware of the problems faced by Prime Minister Khan is honour- Pleader Chaudhry Pervaiz ported that Rs25bn have been al- evant govt agencies have begun the masses. ing all the promises and political Elahi said yesterday that they located for the programme in the doing an in-depth probe into the Umar added that there is a dire commitments made during his had discussed outstanding is- fi rst phase. fl our and sugar price hikes. The need to bring down the prices of election campaign. sues with the government team Citizens will get loans of up to nation should rest assured that wheat and other commodities. Addressing a press conference and clarifi ed certain matters. Rs500,000 to open retail shops, all those responsible will be held He said that infl ation will be here, she said that the premier’s A negotiating team of the gov- with 1,500 such shops to be accountable and penalised.” brought down this month, and struggle against the corrupt sys- ernment met with the Chaudhry opened immediately. While chairing a meeting of that those involved in artifi cially tem and corrupt elements had brothers at their residence in La- The sources said that the Util- his economic team on Sunday, raising prices will face strict ac- entered into the fi nal phase, and hore for talks on issues of mutual ity Stores Corporation (USC) Prime Minister Khan said his government will announce various the prime minister asserted that tion. that his dream of a corruption- interest. will supply 60% of items to the measures to reduce the price of basic food items for the common a government without com- To a question on the shortage free Pakistan would come true Punjab Governor Mohamed retail shops, while the shops man at a meeting today. passion has no right to stay in of wheat in diff erent parts of the soon. Sarwar and Chief Minister Us- owners will arrange for the rest power. country, Umar said that the fed- Awan said that a status quo man Buzdar were also part of the of items from the open market. after which he directed the con- into hike in fl our and sugar pric- Khan hinted at his willingness eral government had dispatched has been maintained in the government team that met with The government is counting cerned ministries to make the es. to go to any extent to provide fl our to Sindh and Khyber Pa- country for the past 72 years. the PML-Q leadership. on this plan to provide jobs to necessary arrangements. In a series of tweets, Khan relief to the masses in terms of khtunkhwa as per their require- She said the corrupt politi- Members of the government 50,000 families. Meanwhile, Khan said his acknowledged the diffi culties prices of essential commodi- ment. cians used the law for their per- team include federal ministers Prime Minister Imran Khan government will announce vari- faced by the ordinary people, ties, including fl our, rice, pulses, About development works, sonal gain in past, she said, add- Pervez Khattak, Shafqat Meh- has also directed that a Rs7bn ous measures to reduce the price and said there would be an an- ghee, and sugar. the minister said the govern- ing no one was above the law in mood, and Asad Umar. relief package to the utility of basic food items for the com- nouncement on a number of The prime minister has also ment would utilise all the funds “New Pakistan”. Speaking to reporters after stores be extended until the end mon man at a meeting today. measures to provide relief to the has recently directed the prov- allocated in the budget for de- Awan said those who had ac- the meeting, Elahi said: “We had of Ramadan. The prime minister also said masses. inces to take every possible step velopment of neglected parts of quired assets through unfair open discussions with the gov- He was informed that the that the concerned government “I understand the diffi culties to check profi teering and hoard- the country. means would be held account- ernment on outstanding issues. utility stores need up to Rs10bn, departments have begun a probe ordinary people incl salaried ing of goods. The minister said water reser- able. We do not have any doubts about the sincerity and leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.” “We have resolved certain matters. In the future too, we hope to work together with the Pakistan student government. We can resolve is- PPP voices concern over sues amicably by discussing them between ourselves,” he added. in Wuhan misses “There was a perception about the parties not being on the same universities’ money woes page. People turned small mat- ters into big ones. father’s funeral “We hope our alliance with Internews pushed millions below the pov- the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Islamabad erty line, overseen sky-rock- (PTI) can stay intact till elec- Reuters China ... we r intensely dis- eting infl ation and price hikes, tions,” Elahi said. Islamabad cussing the situation @ high- unleashed unemployment, and Khattak also spoke to the est level & will make the best akistan Peoples Party dragged the country into a so- media after the meeting, reaf- decision in view of all factors (PPP) chairman Bilawal cial, economic and political fi rming that all misunderstand- rom his dormitory in the with ref to devastating #coro- PBhutto Zardari has ex- quagmire,” he said. ings with the PML-Q had been locked-down Chinese navirus potential global pan- pressed concern over the fi - The PPP chairman called for cleared, and that the two allied Fcity of Wuhan, PhD stu- demic,” Special Assistant to nancial crunch faced by public the immediate release of funds parties were ready to move for- dent Hassan spoke to his father Prime Minister Imran Khan on sector universities due to the re- required for the smooth func- ward. in Pakistan for the last time on Health Dr Zafar Mirza wrote on duction in the budget for higher tioning of public sector univer- “We will move forward on Thursday, as the 80-year-old Twitter on Sunday. education by the government. sities and expressed solidarity every matter with consultations. begged him to come home. Hassan said he has contact- In a statement issued by the with the students, teachers and We will make mutual decisions The next day, Hassan’s fa- ed his university, which sup- party, the PPP chairman “con- staff of the universities. keeping in view the national in- ther died of a heart ailment. ported him leaving, and Paki- demned” huge cuts in the higher Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim terest,” he noted. Hassan is one of the more stan’s embassy in Beijing. education budget, compelling League – Nawaz (PML-N) in- The minister further told the than 1,000 Pakistani students He said he was later told by the public sector universities to formation secretary Marriyum media that any misgivings about in China’s Hubei province, Chinese authorities in Hubei take loans from the private sec- Aurangzeb said in a statement the government and coalition thought to be the epicentre that he could be evacuated if tor to run their aff airs. that the only way to bring the partners not working together of the coronavirus, who have Pakistan’s embassy in Beijing Bhutto Zardari noted that country out of the economic Bhutto Zardari: called for the Aurangzeb: urged the prime have been removed. been told by their government contacted them. 104 universities are experienc- mess is for Prime Minister Im- release of university funds minister to resign. “The Muttahida Qaumi that it has had to rule out their A Pakistani ministry of for- ing the worst- fi nancial crisis in ran Khan to resign. Movement (MQM), the PML-Q return home for the moment. eign aff airs spokeswoman did their history. “Now only Imran Khan’s res- this government,” she said. She said that it had been 24 and the Baluchistan National Hassan has since stepped not respond to Reuters’ request Of the required budget of Rs- ignation can pull the country Aurangzeb regretted that de- hours since she demanded the Party – Mengal (BNP-Mengal) up his eff orts to travel home as for comment. 158bn, the government “was not out of these one-after-the-oth- spite early warning by the PML- search of the mills, “but because will remain as allies for the next his desperation grows, having Hassan said he was told by ready to allocate even half of it”, er crisis and economic disaster. N, the prime minister had not Imran Khan is implicit in this three years,” he added. missed his father’s funeral, but a Pakistani offi cial yesterday he said. If Imran had an ounce of empa- ordered any search of the mills crime worth billions, he has not Before the meeting with the received confl icting informa- that they were planning to Bhutto Zardari pointed out thy for the poor and suff ering owned by Minister for National done anything”. coalition partners, PTI leaders tion from Pakistani offi cials. evacuate all students. that some of the country’s most Pakistanis, he must … accept his Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar Aurangzeb challenged the held an important session at the “They need me at this time, However, students in Wu- prominent universities, includ- inability … and step down for and former Pakistan Tehreek- prime minister to search and Chief Minister’s House attended my mother needs me,” said han told Reuters their hopes of ing the University of Peshawar, the welfare of the people,” she e-Insaf (PTI) secretary-general make public all records of sugar by the Punjab chief minister, the PhD computer architec- returning were dashed after a are not even able to pay sala- said. Jahangir Tareen, alleging that exported from the sugar mills governor, Khattak, Umar, and ture student, who asked to be video conference call between ries and pensions to their staff , Aurangzeb said that this “cir- this gave them enough time to owned by Tareen and Bakhtiar. Mahmood. identifi ed only by one name students and Pakistan’s health let alone funding research and cus of drama and lies” would move their “hoarded stocks, “In just 16 months, Pakistan Sources said that the meeting in order to protect his family’s and overseas citizens ministers higher education. defi nitely damage the country wipe their records, and cover up has become the most expensive decided that they will continue privacy. yesterday afternoon, in which “The government has demol- beyond repair. the tracks of their crimes and and most impoverished coun- to work with the coalition par- His increasing anxiety is an imminent evacuation was ished the country’s economy … “Running Pakistan is beyond corruption”. try,” she said. ties. shared by other Pakistani stu- ruled out. dents in Hubei, some of whom Some of the students said are increasingly critical of their Pakistani offi cials had sug- government’s response to the gested that Pakistan did not situation. have the necessary quarantine Many other countries, in- facilities. Islamabad, Rawalpindi fi nd their own superheroes cluding neighbouring In- A spokesman for Mirza said dia and Bangladesh, evacu- in a statement the health min- ated their citizens from Hubei ister had expressed concern Internews province as the virus death toll for the welfare of students Karachi rises, topping 900 yesterday. in the call and that Chinese The Pakistani students and rules meant no one could leave their families, including young Hubei, adding that the situa- he fi rst issue of the superhero comic book series, Paak children, are stuck indoors tion is being monitored. Legion, released in January is titled The Long Lost most of the day. “After this call we don’t have TBrothers. Four students told Reuters any hope from our government Contrary to what people would expect, the two newly-in- that depression and anxiety are that they will evacuate stu- troduced superheroes, Shahvez and Shahnawaz, are siblings growing, their feelings wors- dents,” said Sahil Hassan, an- who hate each other, but are forced to fi ght on the same team. ened by fears of catching the other PhD student in Wuhan, Paak Legion is the brainchild of Islamabad-based artist virus and uncertainty as to how who listened to the call. “We Umair Najeeb Khan and co-written by Iman Sultan. long the conditions would last. are all completely disappointed The fi rst issue introduces the brothers and gives their “My very dear students in with our government.” background story, leading up them becoming heroes. It is, however, just a fi ve-minute read, without any villain or superhero costumes. The brothers sport unusual birthmarks, to which their Ski resort in Malala’s hometown, once superpowers are attributed, raising the question of whether under Taliban control, hosts event they are humans, androids, or possibly aliens. Their birthmarks, coupled with the static visuals, imply Pakistan hosted an international competition this weekend at a ski that their super powers are electric in nature. resort in the hometown of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai that had What makes the brothers’ storyline more intriguing is once been under Taliban control. how diff erent the brothers’ personalities are. The Malam Jabba ski resort in Swat Valley, which has been dubbed Shahvez is more arrogant due to his hyper-privileged up- the Switzerland of Pakistan by locals, in the Hindu Kush mountain bringing and accomplishments, while Shahnawaz appears to range, was blown up by the Taliban when they controlled the region be more humble. from 2007 to 2009. In terms of production values, there is a lack of consisten- Thirty-six athletes from nine countries took part in the three-day cy in the artwork and speech bubbles in The Long Lost Broth- competition, organised by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). ers, making one confused about who is saying what fi rst, and This year’s higher number of participants is seen as a vote of who is who. confidence in light of the country’s struggle to restore peace and For example, the characters mysteriously lose their jackets stability. in the very next panel, along with an unexplained change of British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner led the outfi t. team that competed alongside skiers from Canada, Greece, Ukraine, The comic book is priced at Rs650, plus shipping, and is Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Timor Leste, and Turkey. Shahvez and Shahnawaz are siblings who hate each other but are forced to fight on the same team. available online. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES Govt moves to shut down top broadcaster

AFP Manila

hilippine government lawyers moved yester- Pday to strip the nation’s biggest media group of its op- erating franchise in what cam- paigners branded a fresh attack on press freedom under Presi- dent Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte has repeatedly pledged he would stop the broadcast operations of ABS- A woman walks outside the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Centre, the CBN, which drew his anger office of the country’s top broadcast network, following a move during his rise to power in by the government to scrap its franchises, in Quezon City, Metro the 2016 presidential election Manila, yesterday. campaign. The solicitor general’s peti- Duterte, who has already tan- lets. Both refute the allega- tion filed with the nation’s top gled with a top newspaper and tions. The solicitor general also court alleges ABS-CBN vio- a website. “We must not allow accused ABS-CBN of launching lated provisions of its 25-year the vindictiveness of one man, a pay-per-view channel and operating franchise. no matter how powerful, to run extending its franchise to other “We want to put an end to roughshod over the constitu- entities without congressional what we discovered to be high- tionally guaranteed freedoms approval. ly abusive practices by ABS- of the press,” said the National Duterte taunted the network CBN,” Solicitor-General Jose Union of Journalists of the in a speech in December, tell- Calida said in a statement. Philippines. ing the owners to sell it. “ABS- The move comes as the Journalist Maria Ressa faces CBN, your contract is about broadcaster was working pub- years behind bars in a case that to expire. If I were you, you’re licly and privately to convince she and press advocates say was better off selling it,” Duterte lawmakers to renew its fran- retaliation for the journalism of said. chise, which expires March 30. her website Rappler. “I will make sure that you Early in his term Duterte ac- Rappler, which has published will remember this episode of cused the network of failing to stories critical of Duterte’s ad- our times forever.” air his 2016 campaign adver- ministration, is also battling a Duterte spokesman, Salvador tisements and not returning People attend a protest in support of broadcaster ABS-CBN in Manila, yesterday. government closure effort. Panelo, said the president was the payments, and has since Both Rappler and ABS-CBN not involved in the petition. singled it our for ire in his entertainment shows reach it has done nothing wrong. tempt to deprive Filipinos of ment. Advocates said the gov- stand accused of violating a “It’s Congress that has the au- speeches. tens of millions of Filipinos on- “We did not violate the law. the services of ABS-CBN,” the ernment move was the latest constitutional ban on foreign thority to grant or to renew, not ABS-CBN, whose news and line and via TV and radio, said This case appears to be an at- broadcaster said in a state- attack on press freedom under ownership of mass media out- the president,” he said.

11 drug suspects killed, 247 held in Bulacan sweep President urged to Eleven suspected drug dealers Top Communist party were neutralised, and 111 drug reconsider US pact plan suspects, 101 most wanted persons and 35 illegal gamblers were arrest- ed during a week long relentless Manila Times omy of the Philippines and its anti-crime drive by the Bulacan po- neighbours in the Asia Pacifi c offi cials arrested in Bohol Manila lice’s Simultaneous Anti-Criminality region. Law Enforcement Operations, They urged the president to Manila Times mander, before he became the Manila Times reported. Col. Law- he Senate yesterday reconsider his plan to termi- Cebu City Regional Finance Tax Imple- rence Cajipe, Bulacan police acting adopted a resolution nate the VFA while the Senate menting Group head for Ne- director, yesterday said the drive Turging President Rod- is conducting a thorough re- gros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor. was in line with marching orders of rigo Duterte to reconsider his view of the agreement. uthorities arrested a His wife Carmelita became Gen. Archie Gamboa, chief of the plan to terminate the Visiting “Fully recognising the au- couple suspected as high NFC staff before she joined Philippine National Police (PNP), Forces Agreement (VFA) be- thority of the Chief Executive Aranking offi cials of the the special operations group in to step up the anti-criminality and tween the Philippines and the and without intending to dis- Communist Party of the Phil- charge of the three regions of anti-insurgency campaigns of the United States. respect a co-equal body, pri- ippines-New People’s Army the Visayas. PNP. The fatalities identified during Senate Resolution 312, in- or to unilaterally terminating (CPP-NPA) in a joint military Recovered from the couple the anti-illegal drug operations con- troduced by Senate President the VFA, the Senate should and police operation in Getafe, were two laptop computers, ducted by the Drug Enforcement Vicente Sotto 3rd, Senate Mi- be given the opportunity to Bohol. three handguns (two .38 cali- Unit of the City of San Juan del nority Leader Franklin Drilon conduct a review and assess- Lt Col Allan Tabudlo, com- bre and one .45 calibre hand- Monte, Norzagaray, San Ildefonso, and Sen. Panfi lo Lacson, was ment of the impact of the mander of the 47th Infantry guns) and ammunition, two San Rafael, Sta Maria and Plaridel adopted with one abstention withdrawal on the country’s (Katapatan) Battalion based hand grenades, one hard case were Jay-Ar Borromeo; Aaias Liit, — Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la security and economy, spe- in Tubigon, Bohol, said in a of various explosives, detonat- alias Jr; Jhodie Maglalang, alias Roy; Rosa. cifically with regard to intel- statement that the couple, Rey ing cords and blasting caps, 15 alias Jr Villanueva; Alfonza Javier; Duterte reiterated his call ligence information sharing, Camacho, 51, and his wife, Car- Rey Camacho, 51, and his wife, Carmelita, 48, pose for a photo at the cellular phones, several fl ash Arnoli Omoso; Jerry Janoras; Win to abrogate the VFA between military aid and financing melita, 48, were arrested by Bohol Provincial Police Off ice after their arrest in Tulang, Getafe. drives, subversive propaganda Love Fogata; and Jose Ragsag. Manila and Washington after and technical assistance ex- virtue of a warrant of arrest for documents, sacks of butane and Recovered from the suspects were the US the visa of dela Rosa tended by the US relative to murder issued by a Bohol re- or Inday, was head of the Na- served the warrant at 5.30 am other camping paraphernalia. seven caliber .38 revolvers without was cancelled. the continuing threats posed gional trial court. tional Commission Special Op- on Feb 8. Tabudlo claimed that the ar- serial numbers, three improvised But senators asserted that by domestic and foreign ter- Tabudlo said Rey, who car- erations Group (NCSOG). Camacho was the former rest of Camacho couple was a shotguns, one pen gun, various the decision to terminate the rorist groups, and ultimately ries four aliases, namely Jeboy, The joint forces cornered the secretary of the Komiteng Re- result of the merging eff orts of ammunition and fired cartridge agreement must be reviewed to the stability and security Teddy, Chad and Val, was the couple at a communist terrorist hiyon Central Visayas–Re- the security forces and the lo- cases. seriously such that it will not in the Asia Pacific region,” fi nance staff of the CPP-NPA, group (CTG) lair in Tulang vil- gional Operational Command, cals who reported the latter’s aff ect the security and econ- the resolution said. while Carmelita, alias Maureen lage of Getafe when authorities then later installed as its com- whereabouts in Bohol.

Misamis Oriental bans ‘non-essential’ overseas travel over virus outbreak

By Nikki Delos Reyes The regional offi ce of the De- and possibly others, would test sion of the virus,” Galpo said. Region 9 residences.” Amor Miravite said local resi- utmost care. Regular monitor- Manila Times partment of Health (DoH) in Ca- positive for the virus, there are A DoH advisory said symp- According to Brillantes, all dents who recently visited China ing will be conducted to ensure gayan de Oro City said a total of isolation rooms ready in three toms to watch out for are runny government hospitals in the were being monitored by her of- their health and safety,” Bayugo 11 persons were admitted to vari- hospitals in the province — nose, headache, cough, sore Zamboanga Peninsula had been fi ce. said. isamis Oriental Gover- ous hospitals in Northern Mind- Mamburao Provincial Hospital, throat and fever. placed by DoH-9 on “blue alert In Tarlac, the Health depart- A similar assurance was nor Yevgeny Vincente anao in January this year when San Jose District Hospital and Like Mindoro Occidental, the status” or on the watch for pos- ment, in co-ordination with the made by five hospitals man- MEmano has issued a the virus was fi rst reported on Sablayan District Hospital. Zamboanga Peninsula is dealing sible persons infected with the Bases Conversion and Develop- aged by the provincial govern- memorandum prohibiting pro- suspicion that they might have Tan advised people to observe with at least four PUMs suspect- virus. ment Authority and the pro- ment of Negros Occidental that vincial offi cials and employees to contracted the 2019-nCoV ARD. personal hygiene and cough/ ed of carrying the coronavirus, In Barangay Pasonanca in vincial government of Tarlac on said they were ready to admit travel outside the country, citing Of the 11 patients, eight re- sneezing etiquette, wash hands according to a local health of- Zamboanga City, residents re- Sunday said Filipinos who had PUIs for the 2019-nCoV. the outbreak of the 2019 novel mained in the hospitals, two frequently and wear face masks fi cer. portedly were thrown into panic been repatriated from China Leo Eusebio, head of Hos- coronavirus acute respiratory were considered patients under if they are not feeling well. upon learning that a Chinese, were well-accommodated and pital Operations Department, disease (2019-nCoV ARD). investigation (PUIs) and one was Mayor Romulo Festin of San “Please report immediately who owns a local fi bre optic closely monitored. identified the hospitals as the In his memorandum, Emano already discharged. Jose, Occidental Mindoro ap- if anyone who came from company in the village, lately “All 32 repatriates landed Teresita Jalandoni Provincial said the ban was part of preven- The Health department’s pealed for a stop to the spread- those places which exhibit came home from Wuhan, where safely and free of any signs and Hospital in Silay City with tive measures to ensure that no regional offi ce said Northern ing of fake news about supposed any signs and symptoms the disease that had killed hun- symptoms (of the coronavirus), eight rooms and eight beds; provincial workers travelling Mindanao is still negative of the coronavirus cases because doing related to the disease dreds in China allegedly origi- hence, they were all sent to New four beds and four rooms in the overseas would become carriers 2019-nCoV ARD and no death so, he said, causes panic among so that that we can take nated. Clark City (NCC) for close ob- Cadiz City District Hospital; of the 2019-nCoV upon their re- from the virus had been report- the public. measures and prevent Village Head Epifanio Julian servation and monitoring for 14 three rooms and three beds in turn to the country. ed. Another appeal was made by transmission of the virus” said the fi rm of the unidentifi ed days,” Health Undersecretary the Kabankalan City District He, however, added that the The province of Mindoro Oc- Baguio City health offi cer Dr Ro- Chinese employs some 50 work- Gerardo Bayugo said in a news Hospital; and two rooms and provincial government was not cidental PUI was reported to be wena Galpo, this time addressed Dr Joshua Brillantes, DoH- ers, “who were all wearing face briefi ng. four beds in the Valladolid Dis- saying its offi cials and employ- free of the disease. to members of the Filipino-Chi- Region 9 assistant regional di- masks… because their manager If an individual, during his/ trict Hospital. ees going on foreign trips would There were 11 persons under nese community in the Summer rector, said “two persons from is a Chinese who just arrived her stay in a quarantine facil- The San Carlos City Hospital contract the virus. monitoring (PUMs), said the Capital, to help city offi cials led Zamboanga del Norte and one from China,” even as Julian no- ity in the NCC, suddenly shows is also ready, Eusebio said. If the workers have to travel Mindoro Occidental provincial by Mayor Benjamin Magalong each from Zamboanga del Sur ticed the presence of many Chi- signs and symptoms, the DoH He added that the health fa- overseas for “emergency rea- Health Offi ce. in monitoring members of the and Zamboanga City had been nese owning business establish- has deployed medical teams cilities have isolation rooms, as sons,” according to the governor, The 10 PUMs had reportedly community, particularly those placed under the PUM category. ments in this coastal city, which to immediately assess and fa- well as private rooms. Nurses they must fi rst get permission travelled to Japan, Taiwan, Sin- with history of travel to China, Brillantes declined to identify boasts of 98 urban and rural vil- cilitate transfer to hospital for who will be assigned to the iso- from the provincial health of- gapore, South Korea and West- especially Wuhan city in the last the four individuals, their ages lages populated by close to 1mn close monitoring. lation rooms would no longer fi cer. ern Australia. 10 to 14 days. and their addresses “so as not inhabitants. “The DoH will be taking be assigned to attend to other Emano encouraged provincial Provincial health offi cer Maria “Please report immediately to violate their rights to private Julian quoted employees charge of the management, patients outside the rooms, residents who may have just ar- Teresa Tan said even if there if anyone who came from those life.” as saying the company was co-ordination and logistics of Eusebio said. rived from abroad to voluntarily were PUIs and PUMs in Mind- places which exhibit any signs The PUMs were earlier re- equipped with a machine that the entire quarantine process. The provincial government submit themselves to a 14-day oro Ocidental, the province re- and symptoms related to the ported “to have visited countries monitors daily their body tem- Rest assured that repatriated earlier allocated P33.5mn for quarantine to make sure that mained free of the coronavirus. disease so that that we can take now infested with the nCoV vi- perature. overseas Filipino workers will prevention and control of the they are free of the coronavirus. She said in case the 10 PUMs, measures and prevent transmis- rus and arrived last week in their City health offi cer Dr Dulce be attended to and treated with virus. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Mitt Romney’s bold stand earns him scorn as a GOP traitor

Americans witnessed a historic moment in national politics last Wednesday in the closing minutes of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. His acquittal was a foregone conclusion, not because Trump deserved it but because Senate Republicans refused to hear testimony and many had already made clear that no amount of proof of Trump’s abuses would convince them to exercise independent thought. Justice never stood a chance. Courage? No way. But then came Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney. QBRI encourages residents to stay Romney’s remarks ahead of his vote were powerful, inspirational and clearly driven by his deep concerns for the future of the United States. One can (and should) read them in full. active to improve their health He delivered his remarks fully aware that Trump and his supporters would attack him. But Romney remained As Qatar celebrates National The Cancer Research Centre focuses should check with their physician disease and Parkinson’s disease. steadfast and true to his principles. This is what courage Sport Day, scientists from on understanding the cellular and before taking on a new exercise rou- Dr Yongsoo Park, a scientist at is all about. Some folks have it. Others – including molecular basis of cancer initiation tine to plan how to best manage their the Neurological Disorders Research Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley – choose QBRI stress the need to and progression with a focus on breast blood glucose and insulin injections Center, said: “Neurological disorders exercise regularly and follow cancer, which is the most common accordingly. result from problems of the central and cowardice over country. type of the disease among females “For Type 2 diabetes, which is often peripheral nervous system but physical Romney’s bold a sensible diet to boost your globally. associated with being overweight and exercises and activities can make our Romney’s centrist stand reminds one chances of avoiding cancer, Dr Eyad Elkord, a Principal Investi- obese, exercise is a good way to control nervous system active and healthy, and diabetes and neurological gator at the Cancer Research Centre, and improve body weight, the body’s therefore reduce the risk of neurological approach serves of another inspiring said: “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle responsiveness to insulin and blood glu- disorders. Republican fi gure, disorders lowers the risk of cancer onset and dif- cose control. Particularly, in recently- “Physical exercise leads to and as a model for the late Senator ferent studies showed that signifi cant diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, exercise increases neurogenesis (creating new John McCain, who numbers of cancer deaths are due to may help along with a decreased calorie neurons), neuroplasticity (improving politicians and Doha lifestyle-related risk factors. Exercise intake to reverse the development of neural networks) and synaptic trans- repeatedly stood controls tumour growth by mobilising diabetes. mission (enhancing neurotransmitter voters of both up to Trump when immune cells within the body and re- “In overweight and obese people, release and improving brain function) others wouldn’t. ational Sport Day was fi rst leasing some factors from muscles with doing more exercise and eating in mod- so the neurological benefi ts of exercise parties to follow held in Qatar in 2012 and it anti-tumour properties. eration to lose weight will help prevent is signifi cant. For elderly people, yoga, Trump, instead of provides an excellent oppor- “Moreover, regular exercise and developing Type 2 diabetes. It is recom- walking, running and swimming are absorbing the truth behind McCain’s words, chose to Ntunity to unite the country’s healthy eating habits maintain stability mended to do about two-and-a-half highly recommended, but a healthy attack McCain’s military record and poke fun at the fact residents to take part in fun sporting within the body, known as haemosta- hours’ exercise per week.” diet, good sleep and staying socially activities. sis, and could help to prevent cancer The Neurological Disorders Re- engaged with friends and family is also that he spent 5 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Far But there is another essential aspect initiation. Aerobic and cardiovascular search Centre focuses on investigating benefi cial.” too many of McCain’s Republican colleagues cowered to National Sport Day. It is the timely exercises, coupled with a balanced and neural conditions of increasing preva- We should be doing everything we in silence or stood in defence of the draft-dodging chance to promote healthy living and nutrient-rich diet, are highly recom- lence in Qatar and the region. These can to lead a healthy lifestyle. That raise awareness of why an active and mended for healthy individuals as well ailments are wide-ranging and include means eating well, exercising, avoiding president. sensible lifestyle is important in keeping as cancer patients undergoing treat- autism spectrum disorder, intellec- harmful things, getting enough sleep Romney didn’t allow his historic antipathy to Trump diseases at bay. ment.” tual disability, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and avoiding stress. to sway his rationale. Rather, he studied the evidence Qatar Biomedical Research Insti- The Diabetes Research Centre and testimony produced during the House impeachment tute (QBRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa serves as a catalyst to promote in- University, was launched in the same novative research on both Type 1 and About Hamad Bin Khalifa University inquiry. Other senators tuned out and traded jokes during year as the fi rst National Sport Day. The Type 2 diabetes and related meta- the mind-numbingly repetitive Senate trial, but Romney similarity does not end there as QBRI bolic disorders. Its primary goal is Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow studiously listened and took notes. also actively encourages a healthy life- to gain fundamental knowledge and style. It does so to improve and trans- enhance the understanding of social, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), ity through an enriching academic He said his preference was not to convict Trump form healthcare through innovation in molecular and genetic causes of the a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, and because of the jolting implications of removing a sitting prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Education, Science and Community unique partnerships. HBKU delivers president from offi ce. Romney said he wanted to hear diseases aff ecting the Qatari population Dr Paul Thornalley, Director of the Development (QF), was founded in multidisciplinary undergraduate and and the region. Diabetes Research Centre, said: “Exer- 2010 as a research-intensive university graduate programmes through its testimony from former national security adviser John QBRI has three centres of excellence cise is good for the health of diabetics, that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities Bolton in hopes of hearing something exculpatory – the Cancer Research Centre, Diabetes whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through that could justify a not-guilty vote. But the evidence Research Centre and Neurological Dis- diabetes. It helps to improve your health while having global impact. Located in its institutes and centres. For more was indisputable that Trump had abused his offi ce by orders Research Centre – and all three and also decrease the risk of complica- Education City, HBKU is committed to information about HBKU, visit www. encourage staying active and eating well tions of diabetes. building and cultivating human capac- hbku.edu.qa withholding military aid to Ukraine in a bid to exact to reduce the risk of disease. “Patients with Type 1 diabetes political favours. Romney said the president “is guilty of an appalling abuse of the public trust. What he did was not ‘perfect.’ No, it was a fl agrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security interests, and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in offi ce is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of offi ce that I can imagine.” It’s amazing that Republicans would brand him a traitor simply for exercising the exact due diligence and objective analysis that was required in the pretrial oath sworn by all senators. Romney’s centrist approach serves as a model for politicians and voters of both parties to follow – if only they can remove their blinders long enough to actually read his words.

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© 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Dr Eyad Elkord, Dr Paul Thornalley and Dr Yongsoo Park. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 11, 2020 19 COMMENT Is global climate solidarity impossible?

By Willem H. Buiter was a dismal failure, resulting in no economies will bring massive New York new climate pledges or clear messages increases in energy consumption of intent for this year’s COP26 summit and GHG emissions. In India, China, in Glasgow. and many other countries, coal-fired espite the buzz around Why is humanity so reluctant to power plants will likely continue climate action at this year’s save itself? First, many people simply to be built for years to come. Clean World Economic Forum do not accept the predictions issued and renewable energy from solar Dmeeting in Davos, Switzer- by climate scientists. But denialism and wind will complement, but land, the world’s current environmen- is the least serious of the three main not displace, fossil fuels in these tal prospects look grim. There are three obstacles. There will always be a countries. Despite the strides made obstacles: climate-change denial; the minority for whom facts and logic in battery storage technology, the economics of reducing greenhouse-gas are unwelcome distractions. Yet even intermittency problems associated (GHGs) emissions; and the politics of US President Donald Trump must with wind and solar imply a mitigation policies, which tend to be realise by now that climate change will continuing role for fossil fuels and highly regressive. undermine the future viability and nuclear power. According to the Intergovernmental profi tability of Mar-a-Lago. Consider India, which accounts for Panel on Climate Change, global As the real-world costs of climate- 7% of annual global GHG emissions, carbon-dioxide emissions must be driven disasters mount over time, making it the world’s fourth-largest cut by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, denialism will become less of an emitter, after China (27%), the US and then eliminated entirely by 2050, issue. Indeed, a November 2019 Yale (15%), and the European Union (10%). to have even a reasonable chance of University survey fi nds that 62% of That is despite the fact that India’s per preventing global warming of 1.5°C registered voters in the United States capita energy consumption is around above pre-industrial levels. “We need already would support a president one-tenth of America’s. And even if quick wins,” warns the United Nations “declaring global warming a national that fi gure doubles by 2030, it will still Environment Program in its latest emergency if Congress does not act.” be only half of what China’s was in Emissions Gap Report, “or the 1.5°C The second major challenge is that 2015. goal of the Paris Agreement will slip GHG emissions are the quintessential Countries like India and those in out of reach.” global economic externality. Climate Sub-Saharan Africa are not going to That is an understatement. Even change doesn’t respect borders; sacrifi ce their economic development if the current Nationally Determined GHGs emitted anywhere will affect for the sake of emissions reductions. Contributions (NDCs) under the everyone eventually. That means The only way to square the circle is 2015 Paris accord are met, emissions there is a massive free-rider problem. to extend fi nancial aid to developing in 2030 will be 38% above where Under current circumstances, it will and emerging economies undergoing they need to be. Global average always be individually rational to let unavoidably energy-intensive temperatures will be on track to rise by others cut back on their emissions development, so that they can aff ord a disastrous 2.9-3.4°C by 2100, with rather than doing so yourself. The to internalise the GHG externality continuing increases thereafter. The only way to correct this problem through an appropriately steep tax on NDC targets would need to be roughly is through collective rationality or US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg at the 50th World Economic emissions. tripled just to limit warming to 2°C, enlightened self-interest. But given Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21. Unfortunately, sustained large- and would have to increase fi vefold to the current state of multilateralism, scale international aid programmes achieve the 1.5°C goal. expecting a truly global effort in to less than 2°C, however, would would increase cumulatively by 45%, Moreover, the larger distributional are deeply unpopular. And given that That is not going to happen. The pursuit of the common good is a tall require an average eff ective price of $75 and gasoline prices by 15%. Hence, burden of a global carbon tax would fall domestic fi scal solidarity is already only time in recent history when CO2 order. per tonne by 2030. even within rich countries, the disproportionately on poor countries wanting, cross-border fi scal solidarity emissions have looked as though they The third obstacle is that eff ective I agree with Harvard University distributional consequences would that are hoping to pursue rapid seems like a non-starter. Unless and might plateau was in 2014-2016, owing policies to reduce GHG emissions economist Kenneth Rogoff that a be diffi cult to handle, as France’s development in the coming decades. until that changes, an existential crisis to weak global growth. According to disproportionately hurt the poor (both uniform global carbon-emissions tax government found out after it tried to Around 570mn people in Sub-Saharan of our own making will only worsen. – the Global Carbon Project, emissions globally and within countries). The is likely to be the best solution to the introduce a modest fuel tax in 2018. Africa alone lack access to basic Project Syndicate have since increased again, by 2.7% International Monetary Fund recently climate challenge, at least from an Worse, since the 1980s, eff ective electricity; globally, the number is in 2018 and 0.6% in 2019. Making calculated that the current eff ective environmental perspective. But with redistributive fi scal mechanisms in closer to 1.2bn. z Willem H Buiter, a former chief matters worse, the December 2019 UN global price of CO2 emissions is a mere such a tax in place, average household most advanced economies have been Needless to say, long-overdue economist at Citigroup, is a visiting Climate Change Conference (COP25) $2 per tonne. To limit global warming electricity prices over the next decade emasculated. growth in developing and emerging professor at Columbia University.

As nations bicker, a greener future evolves in fi nance Three-day forecast

organisation certifies “green real teeth as banks get serious about York mayor and now US presidential TODAY AFP Maximum Temperature : 210c London bonds” issued by governments, profitable alternative investments candidate Michael Bloomberg, aims municipalities and companies and their wider public image. to rationalise what companies must Minimum Temperature : 130c whose proceeds are devoted to Environmental finance is report to investors on their climate WEDNESDAY way from the toxic atmos- sustainable development. “absolutely real and tangible”, said exposure. Maximum Temperature : 170c phere at climate summit Notable issuers last month Alexandra Basirov, global head of In the acronym-heavy field of Minimum Temperature : 120c climate finance, central banks are talks, in boardrooms, included the Metropolitan sustainable finance for financial THURSDAY A banks and trading houses, Transportation Authority in New institutions at French bank BNP also getting in on the act. Maximum Temperature : 190c a transformation in green finance is York, one of a slew of US cities Paribas. One initiative derived from the Minimum Temperature : 130c under way. unwilling to wait on President Banks such as BNP and ING have Paris accord is the Network for Its backers hope it could Donald Trump’s climate-sceptic pioneered lower-interest loans that Greening the Financial System Fisherman's forecast profitably help save the planet. administration as they vie to adapt give greener projects an edge over (NGFS), a platform for central WARNING Regardless of the politics of climate their creaking infrastructures to a more carbon-intensive ones. bankers to examine the global Inshore : Strong wind expected at most places change, there is real money to be low-carbon future. But Basirov also cautioned at financial risks of climate change. Offshore : Strong wind and high made today in the exploding market The investment community more last week’s EBRD conference: A notable holdout has been the sea for bonds and other instruments broadly is running ahead of climate “Ultimately markets don’t operate US Federal Reserve, hobbled by WEATHER Inshore : Relatively cold daytime invested in environmentally politics, which have been stymied by efficiently without adequate data.” Trump’s vocal objections to climate and scattered clouds sustainable projects. the refusal of the United States and Therein lies the rub for many action. Fed chief Jerome Powell with a chance of light But in the final analysis, uniform other major economies to chart a way engaged in the ESG business: how hinted last month that it might soon rain at first and slight to tally assets at risk from climate sign up. dust to blowing dust at regulation derived from collective forward on the 2015 Paris accord. times, cold by night. political action will be vital both for BlackRock, the world’s biggest change, and how to quantify the risk Morgan Despres, head of the Offshore : Slight dust to dusty at the markets and for the planet itself, asset management fund, shook the itself given the array of catastrophic NGFS secretariat and deputy chief times and partly cloudy observers acknowledge. industry last month by announcing outcomes in store as temperatures of the financial stability department with light scattered rain WIND Hard-nosed US investors in it would transition out of coal- rise. at the Banque de France, told Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther- fields such as solar panels are not based investments. Credit risk agencies have been AFP that network staffers were in ly 13-23/28 KT necessarily driven by anxiety about “Climate risk has become writing new models that seek to contact with Fed counterparts “on a Offshore : Northwesterly 19-29/36 KT global warming, Climate Bonds mainstream (for investors). It does calculate corporate exposure, regular basis”. Visibility : 4-8/3 KM Initiative chief executive Sean feel we have reached a tipping such as the weight of assets “Any action does need to Kidney said. point,” said Nick Anderson, board that companies already hold be global,” he added, echoing Offshore : 5-9/12 FT “Most of them are Republicans member of International Financial in potentially obsolete carbon environmentalists who say that for god’s sake,” he said at a Reporting Standards, which is investments. policymakers must in the end bury Around the region conference on climate finance crafting new climate guidance for Green investments are already their differences and catch up with Weather Weather organised by the European Bank of company accountants. turning into greenbacks for firms, financiers on climate change. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Reconstruction and Development In 2019, the green bonds market according to James Leaton, vice- For investors, the EBRD Baghdad Sunny 08/-2 P Cloudy 12/04 (EBRD) in London. worldwide expanded by more than president for climate risk at conference heard that the most Kuwait City Sunny 13/02 Sunny 13/04 “They care only about price,” he half to about $258bn, and further Moody’s Investors Service. meaningful policy action would Manama Cloudy 17/10 Cloudy 15/12 added, predicting the transition breakneck growth is expected this Sustainable projects show a be for governments to agree a Muscat M Sunny 27/20 P Cloudy 23/16 to a low-carbon future would year, according to the Climate “lower default rate” because true market price for carbon that Tehran S Showers -1/-7 Sunny 02/-2 generate $90tn investment by Bonds Initiative. investors see them as more future- properly reflects its climate impact. 2050 in areas including low-energy Departments at major banks in proof and creditworthy, he said. “Without carbon pricing, you can cooling, urban farming and greener charge of environmental, social and The Task Force on Climate- only go so far,” Eric Usher, head of transport. governance (ESG) matters, once a related Financial Disclosures, an the UN Environment Programme’s Kidney’s independent backwater in high finance, now have initiative launched by former New finance initiative, said.

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Deep learning computer system can predict weather changes Athens M Sunny 19/09 M Sunny 19/09 Beirut S Showers 14/12 Rain 16/14 Bangkok P Cloudy 35/26 Sunny 33/27 QNA five-km height, and each pair shows in the American Geophysical Hassanzadeh, an assistant professor Berlin Cloudy 06/03 Cloudy 06/02 Washington those conditions several days apart. Unions Journal of Advances in of mechanical engineering and of Cairo P Cloudy 19/09 Sunny 22/11 The training includes scenarios Modeling Earth Systems, Pedram Earth, environmental and planetary Cape Town Sunny 28/17 Sunny 28/17 that produced extreme weather, Hassanzadeh. sciences at Rice. Colombo M Sunny 32/25 S T Storms 32/26 ice University engineers extended hot and cold spells that The accuracy of day-to-day “But because we don’t fully Dhaka Sunny 27/14 Sunny 27/13 have created a deep learn- can lead to deadly heat waves and weather forecasts has improved understand the physics and Hong Kong P Cloudy 19/16 M Sunny 21/18 ing computer system that winter storms. steadily since the advent of precursor conditions of extreme- Istanbul S Showers 13/07 P Cloudy 12/05 R taught itself to accurately Once trained, the system was computer-based numerical weather causing weather patterns, it is also Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 T Storm 30/24 predict extreme weather events, able to examine maps it had not prediction (NWP) in the 1950s. possible that the equations aren’t Karachi M Sunny 28/16 Sunny 29/17 like heat waves, up to five days in previously seen and make five-day But even with improved fully accurate, and they won’t London Cloudy 07/03 P Cloudy 09/04 advance using minimal information forecasts of extreme weather with numerical models of the produce better forecasts, no matter Manila M Sunny 30/22 M Sunny 31/23 about current weather conditions. 85% accuracy. atmosphere and more powerful how much computing power we put Moscow S Showers 02/0 Cloudy 02/-1 Ironically, Rice’s self-learning With further development, computers, NWP cannot reliably in.” New Delhi Sunny 22/10 Sunny 24/13 “capsule neural network” uses the system could serve as predict extreme events like the “We decided to train our model by New York Rain 09/02 M Cloudy 07/04 an analog method of weather an early warning system for deadly heat waves in France in 2003 showing it a lot of pressure patterns Paris M Cloudy 09/04 P Cloudy 10/05 forecasting that computers made weather forecasters, and as a and in Russia in 2010. in the 5km above the Earth, and Sao Paulo Showers 21/17 S T Storms 22/18 obsolete in the 1950s. tool for learning more about the “It may be that we need telling it, for each one, ‘This one Seoul M Sunny 13/-3 Rain 09/03 During training, it examines atmospheric conditions that lead faster supercomputers to solve didn’t cause extreme weather’.” Singapore T Storm 31/26 S T Storms 32/26 hundreds of pairs of maps. to extreme weather, said Rice’s the governing equations of the “Our immediate goal is to extend Sydney I T Storms 26/21 I T Storms 26/21 Each map shows surface co-author of a study about the numerical weather prediction our forecast lead time to beyond 10 Tokyo Clear 11/03 Clear 14/02 temperatures and air pressures at system published online this week models at higher resolutions,” said days,” he said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, February 11, 2020 QATAR Industries Qatar reports net profi t of QR2.6bn

arket heavyweight In- and overcapacities, IQ said. This tinues to preserve shareholder clined 15%, and sales volumes fell levels, despite pressure from both Local demand for steel sof- balance including proportionate dustries Qatar (IQ) led to increased pressure on the value,” said HE Saad bin Sherida by 12%, on the back of weaker de- the demand and supply sides. tened as many large infrastruc- share of joint ventures reached Mhas reported net prof- prices of its product portfolio in al-Kaabi, chairman and manag- mand and rising capacity, which Production remained stable, ture projects in Qatar neared or QR12.4bn as on December 31, it of QR2.6bn on revenues of various markets, which negative- ing director. led to a decline in revenue by 25% with an increase of 2% in over- reached completion. Neverthe- 2019, a testament to its effi cient QR13.7bn in 2019 and recom- ly aff ected the fi nancial perform- Profi ts in the petrochemicals within the segment to QR4.4bn all volumes compared with the less, near-to-medium-term and eff ective cash-fl ow genera- mended cash dividend of QR0.4 ance, it added. segment remained under pres- in 2019. last year, and a new production prospects for the steel segment tion capabilities, which provide per share. “Despite a diffi cult business sure, with it plunging 47% to In the fertilisers segment, net record was reached for ammonia remain encouraging. confi dence and sustainability in The profi tability and the reve- climate, our operations were re- QR1.3bn in 2019, mainly on sof- profi t shrank 37% to QR873mn, and near-record production lev- At the group level, the fi nan- turbulent times. nues had however fallen 49% and silient and responded eff ectively tening demand for petrochemical due to an overall decline in sell- els were achieved for urea. cial position remained robust, At the end of 2019, IQ was 16% respectively year-on-year, to regional and global market products in key markets, excess ing prices of 9%, amid supply- The steel segment reported with the liquidity position at able to settle its entire debt refl ecting the challenging macr- challenges...Operational excel- capacities, new environmental demand imbalances. revenue of QR5.1bn, a reduction the end of the year reaching obligation, making the group oeconomic environment in 2019, lence, cost effi ciencies and a re- regulations in selected econo- This led to a decrease of 9% of 12%, driven mainly owing to QR10.7bn in cash and bank bal- debt-free. Total assets and total which was marked by weaker glo- lentless focus on HSE will be key mies and declining prices. in the segment revenues year- 12% lower selling prices, which ances, after accounting for a equity reached QR35.9bn and bal demand, lower global gross going forward towards maintain- Blended product prices in the on-year. In contrast, the group was slightly off set by a marginal QR3.6bn dividend paid for 2018. QR34.2bn, respectively, at the economic growth, trade confl icts ing a lean organisation that con- petrochemicals segment de- maintained sales volumes at 2018 1% increase in sales volumes. IQ Group’s net cash and bank end of 2019.

Three more stadiums to be launched this year

From Page 1

“Moreover research and innovation is an integral part of the tournament to make it the most advanced tournament,” he ex- plained. According to al-Thawadi, innovation is at the core of the tournament and he high- lighted a particular project by QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). “The HBKU project will be a ground breaking one. I cannot disclose more de- QGBC’s Meshal al-Shamari. tails, but it will be used beyond 2022 and can have a great global impact. We have applied several sustainable practices and materials in the infrastructure develop- ment for the tournament. Moreover, we have committed to make the tournament a carbon neutral event,” he pointed out. Al-Thawadi highlighted that the World Cup is an opportunity not just for Qatar but for the entire region. He also noted that SC in a few months’ time will be launching a programme for volunteers in QF’s Khalifa al-Kubaisi. preparation for the tournament. “As for the tournament tickets, we are spirit of open dialogue and the exchange developing a ticketing strategy so that a of perspectives” signifi cant portion goes for the local fans Meanwhile, Qatar Green Building and at the same time another signifi cant Council (QGBC) director, Meshal al- part goes for the international fans,” he Shamari, commented “In the last quarter concluded. of 2019 we saw mega sports, huge food Khalifa Essa al-Kubaisi, media rela- festivals, conferences, exhibitions. QGBC tions and press offi ce manager, QF said: has developed a new Green Event Certifi - “Our Education City Speaker Series hosts cation to ensure all of these events are en- experts and thought-leaders from Qatar vironment-friendly, and we have started, and beyond to give their insights and share as a fi rst stage, with attempts to imple- their experiences on a wide spectrum of ment and test this system with some of the topics. It provides the community of Qa- sport events and exhibitions, and we hope tar with an opportunity to both hear from, in the second stage that it will be applied A section of the audience at the Education City Speaker Series organised by QF yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram and engage with, these speakers in the to all events in Qatar before 2022.”

Calling all fitness enthusiasts

More options are now available for health, fitness and recreation enthusiasts in the country as the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has called upon people to visit its new parks. “If you would like a new place to enjoy National Sport Day with your family and friends, visit one of our newly inaugurated parks: Al Bayt Park, Al Janoub Park and Al Ersal Park,” the SC tweeted yesterday. PICTURES: From SC Twitter page and by Ram Chand