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WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11219 June 19, 2019 Shawwal 16, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Mursi hailed as ‘a martyr killed deliberately over six years of abuse’ O Calls mount for transparent, independent international inquiry into death of Egypt’s first democratically elected head of state

Reuters Doha

he death of Mohamed Mursi, modern Egypt’s fi rst democrati- Tcally elected head of state, while on trial in a Cairo court, has brought an outpouring of condolences around the Middle East and calls for an investiga- tion into his conditions. The 67-year-old Islamist, a leading fi gure in the Muslim Brotherhood, was HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar deposed by the army and jailed in 2013 al-Baker, HIA’s chief operating off icer Badr al-Meer and others pose with the Skytrax awards. after barely a year in power. As his body was buried yesterday, many condemned harsh prison condi- tions as a likely cause of his heart attack and blamed current president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The UN human rights offi ce called Qatar Airways wins for an “independent inquiry” into Mursi’s death while in state custody. People flash Rabia signs as they hold a picture of former Egyptian president “Any sudden death in custody must Mohamed Mursi during a symbolic funeral prayer at the courtyard of Fatih Mosque be followed by a prompt, impartial, in Istanbul. thorough and transparent investigation ‘Best Airline’ award carried out by an independent body to Life appeared normal in the capital, his arrest and the conditions he was clarify the cause of death,” said Rupert where authorities have cracked down placed under that ended in his death Colville, spokesman for the United Na- on Islamists and other activists since are crimes that deserve trial and pun- tions High Commissioner for Human Mursi’s overthrow. Thousands of Mus- ishment.” Rights. lim Brotherhood members in Turkey Conservative British MP Crispin for a record fi fth time Mursi was buried in a small family took to the streets of Ankara and Istan- Blunt, who led a review last year of the ceremony, a day after suff ering a fatal bul, some of them blaming Egyptian detention of Mursi said there should atar Airways has won four HE the Minister of Transport and ning these four prestigious awards. heart attack in court at a Cairo prison, authorities for the death. be an independent international probe prestigious awards at the Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed Being the fi rst airline to be named his sons said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip into his death. Q‘2019 Skytrax World Airline al-Sulaiti, who attended the Skytrax ‘Airline of the Year’ for the fi fth time The Islamist ex-president’s death Erdogan attended an Istanbul prayer “Dr Mursi’s death in custody is rep- Awards’, including the coveted ‘Best Awards ceremony, said: “This is a is a landmark achievement and, com- after six years in jail under the military- service for Mursi at the historic Fatih resentative of Egypt’s inability to treat Airline of the Year’ for a record fi fth great day for the State of Qatar, and bined with three other major Skytrax backed establishment stoked anger mosque and called the Islamist leader prisoners in accordance with both time. I am delighted to have been here to- awards, is testament to the tireless among his supporters in Egypt and a “martyr”. Egyptian and international law,” he Qatar’s national carrier the only day to witness Qatar Airways being eff orts of the entire Qatar Airways abroad. Here are some of the reactions: His said. airline in the competition’s history to recognised as the ‘Best Airline of the team. It is a proud moment for the His Muslim Brotherhood, now Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin He said Cairo “has a duty to explain win it fi ve times – in 2011, 2012, 2015, Year’ for the fi fth time”. airline as our constant innovation and banned in Egypt, described it as “full- Hamad al-Thani – “We received with his unfortunate death and there must 2017 and 2019. Qatar Airways Group Chief Execu- service standards set the benchmark fl edged murder” and called for mass deep sorrow the news of the sudden be proper accountability for his treat- Qatar Airways has also been named tive HE Akbar al-Baker, who was ac- in our industry.” gatherings. Egyptian offi cials denied death of former President Dr Mohamed ment in custody”. ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ companied by chief operating offi cer “The fact that the Skytrax awards accusations that Mursi’s health had Mursi. I extend to his family and to the Arab Network for Human Rights In- for a third successive year, while its of Hamad International Airport Badr are voted for by travellers makes them been neglected. brotherly Egyptian people the deepest formation – “He was not the fi rst vic- ‘World’s Best Business Class’ acco- al-Meer, said: “The Skytrax awards especially meaningful for all of us in Witnesses in Mursi’s home province condolences.” tim of human rights violations, but he lade is the fourth year in succession are widely recognised as the most the industry. Aviation is a competitive of Sharqiya said hundreds of residents Rights lawyer Khalid Ali – “Medical must be the last.” that it has won that award. prestigious in the airline industry, business, and to have received such in the village where he was born had negligence and policies of slow death Ayman Nour, Opposition liberal poli- In retaining its ‘World’s Best Busi- so to have won so many prizes at the recognition will spur us all at Qatar performed prayers for Mursi amid tight through solitary confi nement in prison tician, called Mursi “a martyr who was ness Class Seat’ award for its pat- 2019 ceremony is a truly memorable Airways to even greater heights and we security yesterday, and afterwards are all tools to kill. killed deliberately, slowly, over six years, ented Qsuite product, the airline beat experience for Qatar Airways. look forward to delivering our world- chanted “Down with military rule!”. A “Agree or disagree as you wish with during which he faced all kinds of abuse strong competition from all over the “We are thrilled to be globally rec- class product to millions of passengers number of residents were detained, a Dr Mohamed Mursi, but what he was and hardship ... Sisi and his regime are world. ognised by our customers by win- in the coming years.” To Page 24 security source said. subjected to as a human being since fully responsible for the result.” To Page 9

QR750mn allocated for beautifi cation projects The Ministry of Municipality and QF launches new funding initiative for private sector Environment (MME), represented by the Public Parks Department, has announced new beautification QNA 50% of the problem-solving costs for develop their cyber-security prod- projects, including the allocation of Doha a period of up to six months. The funds uct, STROKK. The software adds an about QR750mn for beautification were awarded after a rigorous assess- organic security layer on any system, and landscaping projects. The ment process where applicants are re- in any language, and renders sto- ministry noted that the projects would atar Foundation Research, De- quired to specify how the money will len passwords useless to hackers by be implemented in two packages in velopment, and Innovation (QF be spent, and the major milestones to learning the way an individual types the coming years. Page 24 QRDI) has marked the launch be met. to clearly recognise the user. STROKK of its new funding initiative, ‘Innova- Benefi ciaries must use at least 25% of is currently being purchased by cus- tion Coupon’, by signing an agreement the awarded amount to cover the con- tomers in highly cyber security sen- UK leadership race with its fi rst benefi ciary, ADGS, a local tracting costs of a local research insti- sitive industries, such as finance, narrows to fi ve private sector SME that sells a suite of tute such as QF research institutes and banking, defence, the armed forces, The UK leadership race narrowed to products that utilise artifi cial intelli- QF partner universities or other local and intelligence services in several five yesterday as Brexit figurehead gence (AI), behavioural biometrics, and expert company or individual, thereby countries. Boris Johnson prepared to defend emergent behaviour. taking advantage of the local inno- Vice President for Research, De- his runaway favourite status in his Innovation Coupon is aimed at Qa- vation ecosystem in developing new velopment, and Innovation at QF Dr first television debate. Johnson tar-based SMEs or startups in all sec- products and services. Richard O’Kennedy said: “The de- expanded his lead over his tors and industries that are engaged in After the completion of the fund- velopment of the Innovation Coupon remaining rivals in a second secret the development of new technology- ing cycle, benefi ciaries are expected to highlights our commitment to foster ballot held by 313 lawmakers from rich products and services. The fund report on the progress of the innova- local product innovation and sup- the ruling Conservative party in is designed to benefi t companies that tion for a certain number of years to al- port the development of SMEs in Qa- the lower House of Commons. The have the needed capacity and techni- low QF RDI to assess the impact of the tar. The initiative will support startup former foreign minister and London cal knowledge to develop their product funding provided. businesses to overcome many of the mayor picked up 126 votes while or service but require more support to Hassan al-Ansari, Christophe Billiottet, Dr Richard O’Kennedy and Dr Salvino Innovation Coupon will support growth challenges they face and the former Brexit minister Dominic Raab resolve a specifi c technical or business Salvaggio, Senior Director, Implementation and RDI Off ice Management, QF RDI, at its first recipient, ADGS, by sup- fund can help them improve vital as- got knocked out. Page 14 problem. The fund may award up to the funding agreement signing ceremony. plementing their capacity to further pects of their business. To Page 6 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 QATAR

The seminar in progress. MoI holds introductory seminar in Colombo

he Visa Support Services (VSS) The offi cials highlighted various eff ective system,” he explained. Department under the General services being extended by the QVC to The VSS director noted that the TDirectorate of Passports, Minis- the expatriate community in Sri Lanka QVCs abroad enable the applicant try of Interior (MoI), yesterday organ- along with its role in protecting ex- to perform his/her tasks accurately ised a seminar in Colombo, Sri Lanka, patriate workers and facilitating work through an integrated recruitment with the aim of introducing the proce- procedures. They explained the proc- system. dures at Qatar Visa Centre (QVC). ess of obtaining employment visas and On his part, al-Meer said QVC’s The seminar, which was attended by completing the required steps through electronic system helps both recruit- representatives of civil society, various the centre. ers and workers easily complete the companies and trade union organisa- Major al-Mohannadi said the QVC recruitment proceedings. tions, was held in co-operation with in Colombo was opened as part of the The fi rst overseas QVC was opened the International Labour Organisation continuing eff orts to help expatriates in October 2018 in Colombo, followed (ILO) offi ce in Sri Lanka. easily complete proceedings and en- by several others in diff erent countries. The event was attended by Ma- sure the simplifi cation of recruitment The latest opening took place in Kath- jor Abdullah Khalifa al-Mohannadi, procedures. “The QVC will protect mandu, Nepal, recently, taking the director of VSS, and Mohamed Ali the rights of expatriates, ensure their number of QVCs to 13 so far. al-Meer, director of the Labour In- safety and facilitate all procedures for The QVCs have been set up and spection Department, Ministry of Ad- their entry into Qatar in a transparent operated in co-operation from the ministrative Development, Labour and manner. It will accelerate the proceed- MADLSA, Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Social Aff airs (MADLSA). ings under a simplifi ed, smooth and and Ministry of Public Health. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 3 QATAR

Qatar fi rst First Ihsan School opens in ME to launch aviation in Umm Ghuwailina cyber E the Minister of Endow- portunities for them to receive ments and Islamic Aff airs education. HDr Ghaith bin Mubarak HE al-Hammadi said the security al-Kuwari and HE the Minister school operates on the special of Education and Higher Educa- curriculum - Cambridge English tion Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed - for students who are non-Ara- guidelines Ali al-Hammadi yesterday inau- bic speakers, adding that a sec- gurated the fi rst Ihsan School in ond school will soon be launched Umm Ghuwailina. A number of with an Arab curriculum. atar’s Civil Aviation Au- offi cials from Education Above He said the school building has thority (CAA) has re- All Foundation (EAA) were been renovated and rehabilitated in Qleased version 1 of the present at the inauguration. the old style, pointing out that the aviation cyber security guide- The Ihsan School was estab- ministry has provided other build- lines in collaboration with the lished in partnership between ings for community schools in Qatar. Cybersecurity Aff airs Sector of the Education Above All Foun- Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Mo- the Ministry of Transport and dation (EAA), the Ministry of hamed bin Ghanem al-Thani, Communications (MoTC). Endowments and Islamic Aff airs director, the General Depart- The guidelines include stand- and the Ministry of Education ment of Endowments, said the ards and principles relating to and Higher Education to address school is one of the pioneering securing critical aviation sys- the problem of fi nancial barriers educational initiatives of the en- HE Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari and HE Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi cut the ribbon to inaugurate the first Ihsan School in Umm tems, in addition to best prac- and the age and educational gap dowment bank for scientifi c and Ghuwailina as other off icials look on. tices in electronic security in the faced by children of non-Arab cultural development as well as fi eld. communities in Qatar, as the a vivid embodiment of the com- launched a programme designed This has made Qatar “the fi rst school provides free education. munity partnership with various for children to ensure that they country in the Middle East” to The school aims to ensure a sectors, noting that the school have equal access to quality have released such guidelines good learning environment by will provide basic education. education. The programme was that focus on the deployment providing children with man- He said the cost of the school updated on January 1, 2017 as a of the standards that aim to face datory facilities. It includes exceeded QR4mn, excluding programme that seeks to reach and mitigate electronic threats 36 classrooms, accommodat- maintenance, where the Ministry children who have not previous- and attacks in the civil aviation ing 400 students, prepared to of Education and Higher Educa- ly been enrolled in a school and industry. work two session a morning and tion will cover most of these ex- contributes to mitigating factors The guidelines are hoped to evening session to accommodate penses. “The school includes 354 that hinder access to educational contribute to raising the aware- 800 students. students who were unable to af- opportunities. ness of all stakeholders and HE the Minister of Education ford to complete their education.” Mohamed Khan Zadeh, man- those who work in the indus- and Higher Education expressed He said the school is of good aging director of the school, try in Qatar by guiding them to happiness at participating in the quality in terms of teaching and is thanked all stakeholders for their cybersecurity best practices. inauguration. In a statement af- approved by more than one enti- interest in supporting education The issuance of these ter the inauguration, he said that ty, giving student access to qual- for children living in limited cir- guidelines complies with the the school serves the commu- ity education. The school class- cumstances and possibilities. recommendations of the In- nity members from non-Arabic rooms hold the best equipment. He added that the number ternational Civil Aviation Or- students who fi nd it diffi cult fi - He said the teaching will be of registered students reached ganisation (ICAO) that urge all nancially and socially to enrol in in English and Arabic, and will 350 and the registration process member states to apply such schools. teach Shariah and the history is still ongoing and will reopen standards and measures and He said the school operates in of Qatar, pointing out that the mid-August before the next se- continue cooperation and mu- co-ordination and co-operation school is considering the deci- mester. “The curriculum model tual support at the local and between the Ministry of Educa- sions adopted by the Ministry of the school is based on a com- universal levels. tion and Higher Education, the of Education and Higher Educa- prehensive educational pro- In a statement, CAA hailed the Ministry of Endowments and tion. gramme, which focuses on the eff orts and support made by the Islamic Aff airs and EAA to serve EAA programmes director development of basic learning MoTC’s cybersecurity sector in children and provide good op- Mariam al-Mannai said EAA skills of students.” (QNA) The ministers visit a classroom at the school. releasing these guidelines.

Experts from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs, Qatar National Human Rights Committee, and Ehsan Centre participated in a discussion. Ehsan Centre marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

hsan Centre for Em- powerment and Eld- Eerly Care held yester- day a panel discussion on social security and provid- ing protection for the eld- erly against discrimination. The panel was held to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is observed on June 15. Experts from the Ministry of Administrative Develop- ment, Labour and Social Af- fairs, Qatar National Human Rights Committee, and Eh- san Centre participated in the discussion. The event aimed to raise awareness on the rights of the elderly and their basic needs, and introduce the A memento is being presented. role played by the centre in the Qatari society, in addi- the elderly through various and future generations on socialise, in addition to the tion to discussing the most means such as the consti- how to deal with them and need to include the skills of important issues pertaining tution and laws that protect enhance the humanitarian dealing with them in school to the elderly. and maintain their dignity, and societal aspects of car- curricula to educate the Mubarak bin Abdulaziz particularly in terms of so- ing for this important group current generation. al-Khalifa, CEO, Ehsan cial security, housing and in society. Zainab Mohamed of Qa- Centre, said that the centre employment. Jaballah also said it has tar Lawyers Association was committed to raising For her part, NHRC legal been proved that educat- called on the need to is- awareness on the need to expert Rania Jaballah said ing the individual and urg- sue a new Qatari law that care for the elderly and cel- that new statistics show ing them to change negative protects all Qatari retirees ebrate international events that the elderly in Qatar behaviour is more impor- from ministries, agencies related to them, especially represent about 2.2% of the tant than applying legisla- and companies operating in World Elder Abuse population and are expected tions and laws. “The Qatari the state, including private Awareness Day. to increase to 27.6% in 2039 constitution guarantees companies and business For her part, Noura Ali due to the quality of health- and protects the rights of owners. She also called for Hassan of the Ministry of care and social security. the elderly.” a review of the pensions to Administrative Develop- She highlighted the need He highlighted the need provide them with adequate ment said that Qatar has to intensify campaigns and to have social clubs for the living services that ensure a guaranteed the rights of eff orts to sensitise current elderly to play sports and decent life for them. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 QATAR NHRC chief underlines new vision for Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

QNA that it aspires to achieve in the egy is to defi ne a new vision for The GANHRI secretary-gen- New York future, and then determining communication, with the aim eral and vice president also un- which strategy should be devel- of introducing the Global Alli- derlined that the new tripartite oped to achieve that goals in the ance and its tasks and vision in strategy, if adopted, would sup- E the Chairman of Na- coming period. strengthening the independence port and strengthen national tional Human Rights In his speech during the meet- of national human rights insti- human rights institutions and HCommittee (NHRC), Dr ing, Dr al-Marri said that the fi rst tutions and supporting them raise its international classifi ca- Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, who is meeting of its kind of the new to achieve their tasks in various tion in accordance with the Paris also secretary-general and vice leadership of the Global Alliance countries of the world,” Dr al- Principles. president of the Global Alliance is betting on achieving a new Marri said. He pointed out that the Global of National Human Rights Insti- start and on being more eff ective The next strategy would es- Alliance currently includes 72 tutions (GANHRI), said yester- and persuasive through the im- tablish a new vision that would national institutions that have day that the new strategic plan plementation of a new strategy elevate the Global Alliance of the classifi cation (A) in compli- (2020-2022) which the Alliance over the next three years aimed National Human Rights Institu- ance with the Paris Principles, is working on, aspires to launch at enhancing the role and posi- tions to an eff ective and infl u- expressing hope to increase the a new vision that will establish a tion of the Global Alliance, and ential international forum in the number of these institutions global alliance that will have the then the role of the national hu- eyes of governments, peoples, that obtain the same classifi ca- power of infl uence and persua- man rights institutions affi liated states, institutions, parliaments, tion through the next Strategic sion among governments, peo- to the Alliance. civil society organisations and Plan (2020-2022), and sup- ples and competent parties in NHRC chairman HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri speaking at a discussion in New York. He noted the importance of stakeholders and various human port national institutions with various international platforms, the strong presence of the vari- rights bodies, he added. lower ratings to improve their in order to strengthen the unity human rights institutions in consultative meeting of GAN- also the ombudsman of Colom- ous representatives of national In the same context, he stressed performance and classifi cation. and eff ectiveness of national countries where they do not ex- HRI which was held in New bia, and heads and co-ordinators human rights institutions at the the need for national human He urged national human human rights institutions affi li- ist, calling at the same time on York aimed at developing the of the regional networks of na- New York consultative meeting rights institutions within the rights institutions to participate ated to the Global Alliance, and governments and countries of new strategic plan (2020-2022), tional human rights institutions in order to assess past experi- framework of the Global Alliance and involve in the Global Alli- encouraging them to raise their the world to strengthen the in- which will be submitted for across the world, focused on as- ences, identify successes and to agree on a unifi ed vision that ance, regardless of their levels ratings according to the Paris dependence and functions of na- adoption at the next General As- sessing the performance of the failures, propose solutions and boosts its strength, presence and of classifi cation, pointing out Principles. tional human rights institutions sembly in spring 2020 in Geneva. Global Alliance over the past share experiences and problems its persuasive power and to have that GANHRI will support the Dr al-Marri said that the new and to remove various obstacles Discussions during the meet- period, identifying the restric- facing national institutions and a single voice in its meetings with national institutions and their strategic plan of the Alliance to the implementation of their ing, which were attended by tions and challenges facing it or the Global Alliance as a whole. the European Union, the United eff orts to raise their classifi ca- will encourage and support the tasks and visions. GANHRI chairperson Dr Carlos impeding the achievement of its “Everyone agrees that one of Nations and governments and in tion in accordance with the Paris establishment of new national This came during the two-day Alfonso Negret Mosquera, who is goals in the past, and the goals the priorities of the next strat- various international platforms. Principles.

Qatari poet honoured Farewell to Burkina Faso envoy at Marrakesh fest Qatar Poetry Center – Diwan Al Arab, aff iliated to the Ministry of Culture and Sports, took part in Marrakesh International Poetry Festival, which concluded recently in the Moroccan city. The Ministry of Culture and Sports said in a statement that Qatari poet Abdul Hamid al- Yousef, represented Qatar Poetry Center, at the festival which was also attended by poets and writers from Morocco, Spain, Mexico, China, Sweden, the Netherlands and Russia. The three-day festival attracted crowds interested in the poetry and literary field. The event included poetry evenings held in several significant cultural places in Marrakesh. The closing ceremony was attended by Moroccan literary dignitaries. During the ceremony, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met Abdul Hamid al-Yousef was yesterday the ambassador of Burkina Faso to Qatar, Adama Compaore, on the honoured after presenting a short occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The Minister of State for Foreign film prepared by the organisers Aff airs thanked the ambassador for his eff orts in supporting and strengthening of the festival about the poet, his bilateral relations and wished him success in his new duties. works, his participations and his poetry evenings. (QNA) Qatar attends Arab-China Political Dialogue session

QNA Abu Dhabi

atar participated in the fi fth session of the Arab-China Po- Qlitical Dialogue in Abu Dhabi. The Qatari delegation to the dia- logue is headed by Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League ambassador Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz al-Sahlawi. The meetings in Abu Dhabi will discuss the Arab-Chinese co-oper- ation in all fi elds and co-ordination between them in various issues and issues of interest to both sides, in- cluding the Palestinian issue, the Middle East peace process, Syria, fi ght against terrorism, the situation in Libya and Yemen and the security situation in the Gulf. Qatar also took part in the 16th ses- The Qatar delegation at the session. sion of the Arab-China Co-operation Forum, which was held in Abu Dhabi deepening and expanding scopes of various achievements made in the yesterday. co-operation between the two sides framework of the forum since the 8th Ambassador al-Sahlawi chaired the and developing them to broader session of the ministerial meeting. Qatar delegation. horizons. They also co-ordinated on issues and The meetings discussed means of The participants also reviewed the fi les of mutual concern.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 QATAR

QF funding initiative MME is committed to safe for private sector trade of chemical products From Page 1 QNA “We are proud to be sup- Doha porting entrepreneurship in Qatar this way, and we are confident that the Innova- he Ministry of Municipality and tion Coupon will act as a Environment (MME), represented vehicle to push forward the Tin the Department of Radiation growth of many more prom- and Chemicals Protection, yesterday ising local startups who are held the fi rst consultative meeting with producing innovative solu- chemicals companies operating in the tions for Qatar, the region, state. and beyond.” Assistant Undersecretary for En- Commenting on the vironmental Aff airs Engineer Ahmed design of the fund, Dr Mohamed al-Sada said the meeting O’Kennedy said: “The me- confi rms the ministry’s commitment to chanics of the programme international conventions that ensure allow QF to ensure the funds proper circulation of chemicals, as well are supporting committed as confi rming the importance of con- SMEs that will deliver im- stant co-operation and strengthening of pact in the local economy. the partnership between state institu- The size of the innovation tions and the private sector in order to ecosystem in Qatar is such protect the environment and promote that we can allocate great- the Qatari economy. er resources for a higher He said, in a speech given on behalf of number of SMEs. This ena- the Director of the Department of Radia- bles us to transfer expert tion and Chemicals Protection Engineer knowledge from our side to Abdulrahman Youssef Abdul-Jabar, that the SMEs to help them in- the goal of the event is to identify the Off icials and delegates at the conference. novate in the local economy. services provided by the department in We even provide support to dealing with hazardous substances in Al-Sada also highlighted the impor- He reviewed the recent achievements He stressed that Qatar is in a safe posi- and installed at all levels of the country. startups by helping them the environment and the adopted opera- tant role the private sector is doing to of the department, including the con- tion in terms of the risks that might arise He explained that the meeting was build a strong application tional systems. solidify the national economy, given this version of many paper-based transac- from the use of these substances be- preceded by a successful consultative for the fund”. Another goal was identifying the dif- is one of the pillars of Qatar National Vi- tions to electronic transactions and the cause of the obligation to implement the meeting held recently with compa- In turn, ADGS President fi culties faced by companies in order to sion 2030. completion of more than 20,000 trans- requirements and standards of the rel- nies operating in the fi eld of hazardous Hassan al-Ansari and Gen- develop the best possible solutions. In a statement to reporters on the actions of licences and inspections, as evant international conventions, the en- waste, and another with the companies eral Manager Christophe Al-Sada added that the ministry is in- sidelines of the consultation meeting, well as international conventions in the try, storage, transfer, circulation and use working in the fi eld of e-waste, and pro- Billiottet said: “We want to terested in providing the best services in Abdul-Jabar said that the aim of the fi eld of chemicals and other related serv- of those substances and the assertion duced important recommendations in thank QF RDI for its support the fi eld of chemical products in order to meeting was to introduce the services ices. that there were no abuses in this context, this fi elds. to us, and to other Qatari increase industrial output and economic provided by the department in relation He stressed State of Qatar’s com- as well as the awareness of all, including Abdul-Jabar said that the aim of all startups and enterprises. growth. to hazardous chemicals in terms of cir- mitment to the multilateral Rotterdam companies operating in this area, of the these consultative meetings is to intro- We are very proud to be the He noted that the ministry is working culation, storage, transport, packaging, Convention designed to promote joint need to apply these requirements in ac- duce companies to the legislation re- recipients of the very first on converting all paper transactions in as well as the diffi culties faced by com- responsibility and concerted eff orts cordance with international standards. lated to the procedures required, and to coupon and it will allow us various departments into electronic ones, panies operating in this fi eld, and their among countries in the international Abdul-Jabar said that the department strengthen co-operation between the to resolve a process that will in order to save time, eff ort and money, proposals for the development of these trade of certain hazardous chemicals, in has made great strides in all these areas, public and private sectors in this fi eld, ensure we continue deliver- preserve the environment, and ensure that services, especially that these compa- particular pesticides, industrial chemi- both in terms of chemical and radioac- explaining that the department deals ing our innovative product transactions are completed quickly. nies play important role and have obli- cals and hazardous pesticide formula- tive materials and hazardous waste. with hundreds of companies, and last to local, regional, and inter- He expressed the hope that the meet- gations and international standards re- tions, to protect human health and the He underlined that a radiological year 22,000 shipments related to chemi- national markets.” ing would play a key role in that regard. quired to implement them. environment. monitoring system is being developed cals were released.

Mercedes-Benz GL Class recalled over safety issues Temporary closure of park The Public Parks he Ministry of Commerce and Industry Department at the (MoCI), in co-operation with Nasser Ministry of Municipality TBin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mer- and Environment cedes-Benz in Qatar, has announced a recall of (MME) has announced Mercedes-Benz GL Class model of 2018 due to a temporary closure of the possibility of the front torsion bar linkage Madinat Khalifa South on the left and right not conforming to manu- Park 1. The closure has facturer specifi cations. been announced in order In a statement yesterday, the MoCI said the to allow development recall campaign comes within the framework and maintenance works of its continuous eff orts to protect consumers that will be carried out and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle in co-ordination with the defects and repairs. parks department of Doha The ministry will co-ordinate with the Municipality, the MME has dealer to follow up on the maintenance and said in a statement. The repair works and communicate with custom- park will be closed for a ers to ensure that the necessary repairs are period not exceeding one carried out. month until the completion The MEC has urged all customers to report of the maintenance and violations to its Consumer Protection and development works, Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, which according to the MME. The processes complaints, inquiries and sugges- proposed works include tions through the call centre: 16001; e-mail: renovation of the floor and [email protected]; Twitter: @MOCIQATAR; exercise equipment. Instagram: MOCIQATAR; and the ministry’s mobile app for Android and iOS: MOCIQA- TAR. Thara’a raffl e draw winners named

arwa Bank has announced Nouf al-Sada, Khalid al-Thani, ners per draw for the cash prize of the names of the most recent Aize al-Qahtani, Noora Alma- QR25,000 each, two winners per Bdraw winners for Thara’a, raghi, Khadija Yousuf, Mahmoud draw for the cash prize of QR50,000 its Shariah-compliant savings ac- Mahmoud, Nihal Junedi, Nedia each. count, at the bank’s headquarters. Mezhoud, Peettakkandiyil Farook, Yearly, there is one winner of the The draw, which was conducted Fatima Alyafei, Ali Alyafei, Walid grand prize of QR1mn, rewarding under the supervision of a repre- Subbah, Nawaf Jahrami, Ahmad 365 winners in total with cash prizes sentative of the Qualitative Licence ElHajj, Ahmad al-Abdulla, Maryam up to 3,29mn. and Market Control Department at al-Saadi, Kiran Patnayakuni, Gol Thara’a off ers account holders the Ministry of Commerce and In- Baloochi, Muna Abdulla, Rashid access to Barwa Bank’s innovative dustry, showed that Daleen Alkhatib al-Nuaimi, Khayreddine Belayachi, banking channels with benefi ts, and Abdul Rahim Mohamed each Muna Almalki, Ali al-Marri and Ab- including unlimited withdrawals won a cash prize of QR10,000. dulla Alabdulla. and deposits, as well as free fund A cash prize worth QR5,000 was On a monthly basis, there are 42 transfers across their accounts and awarded to the following bank clients: Abubaker Mohamed Kutty, Ahmed winners per draw for the cash prize through all Barwa Bank channels. Osama Elattar, Samir Elmokadem, Mohamed, Racquel Ramos, Mercy of QR5,000 each, as well as two Customers may learn about the Shaikha al-Mass, Rami Alzain, Ah- Marquez, Noor Alkeilani, Kamarun- winners per draw for the cash prize many benefi ts of Thara’a savings ac- mad Ghanem, Abdulrahman Alyafei, nisa Faizal, Khalid al-Ghanim, Lami- of QR10,000. count by visiting www.barwabank. Rawdha al-Abdulla, Azlan Osman, aa Allak, Ahmad Khan, Saad al-Kaabi, Quarterly, there are two win- com or by calling 800-8555.

Ooredoo Passport ‘key to worry-free roaming’

oredoo has reminded cus- will be automatically activated, so know it ticks all the boxes. It’s great tomers about the benefi ts large roaming bills will not accrue, value for money, very easy to use Oof its Ooredoo Passport for the statement notes. with minimal eff ort required, and customers travelling abroad this If a customer forgets to activate rector of PR and Corporate Com- provides peace of mind while you summer. The Ooredoo Passport an Ooredoo Passport prior to travel munications at Ooredoo, said: “We travel. We wish all our customers a enables customers travelling abroad and then spends QR100 roaming in a know that many of our customers great summer travelling abroad.” “to enjoy worry-free roaming”, the Passport country, an Ooredoo Pass- travel abroad during the hot sum- Customers can sign up for an company has said in a statement. port with 1GB and 100 minutes will mer months, but they still want Ooredoo Passport online via the Once an Ooredoo Passport is acti- be automatically activated. to stay connected easily and cost- Ooredoo app or in any of our Oore- vated, it instantly provides 1GB data And again, if all allowances are eff ectively without worrying about doo shops in Qatar. and 100 minutes, available in 104 used up, a new Passport will be au- running up huge roaming bills. They can also get an Ooredoo countries. In case allowances are all tomatically activated. “We’re incredibly proud of our Passport card before boarding at used up, a new Ooredoo Passport Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, di- Ooredoo Passport product as we Hamad International Airport. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 7 QATAR

Ahlibank credit card holders get chance to win holiday package

hlibank has launched an exclu- sive summer campaign for all AAhlibank credit card holders, of- fering them a chance to win one of four all-paid holiday packages to London, including round-trip fl ights for two persons, two-way airport transfers, four nights’ accommodation in a four- star hotel and full-day city tour. All point-of-sale and online pur- chases using Ahlibank credit cards will qualify for the draw until August 16. A minimum total spend of QR5,000 is re- quired to be eligible for each draw. “The more they spend, the more are their chances of winning,” the bank has said in a statement. All point-of-sale and online purchases using Ahlibank credit cards will qualify for Prospective students can have their questions answered on the college’s newest LLM degrees at the session. For every QR500 paid with an Ahl- the draw until August 16. ibank credit card or supplementary credit card, card holders will earn three ibank credit cards and making sure our programme providing the fl exibility to chances when paying abroad, two credit cards are the cards of choice. redeem earned points through selected chances when paying for online trans- We develop our campaigns taking partners”, in addition to the Easy Pay- actions (local and international) and into consideration the needs of our ment Plan that allows customers to buy HBKU College of Law to one chance when paying in Qatar. customers and we strive to be the lead- anything — from electronics to jewel- The fi rst draw is to be held on July ing bank in providing innovative and lery, home furniture, travel and en- 21 for two winners and the second distinctive products and value-added tertainment — and repay in “easy and draw on August 21 for two winners, the services that distinguish our custom- convenient” monthly instalments. statement notes. Ahlibank deputy CEO ers.” This campaign is “one of the To learn more about the bank’s showcase new degrees (Business Support Services) Mohamed many benefi ts” available to custom- credit cards, one can visit any Ahl- al-Namla said, “At Ahlibank, we are al- ers holding an Ahlibank credit card, ibank branch, call the 24/7 contact ways seeking to give our customers the the statement adds. These include the centre on 4420 5222 or visit www. he College of Law said in a statement. Dr Su- off ered in English by re- selective and demanded best experience when using their Ahl- Pearl Rewards programme, a “unique ahlibank.com.qa (CL) at Hamad Bin san L Karamanian, dean of nowned academics and programmes that assist and TKhalifa University CL, said, “Each of the two practitioners recognised align with Qatar’s national (HBKU) has announced degrees is designed to ad- in their fi elds of expertise, developmental goals, as that it will host an informa- dress Qatar’s current legal who will be available to an- well as the aspirations of tion session to showcase its and business trends, and swer specifi c questions re- key sectors and industries. new LLM (Master of Laws) thus equip Qatari and in- garding the curriculum. HBKU’s College of Law Indian embassy to hold yoga workshops degrees to current and pro- ternational graduates with Attendees will also have off ers multidisciplinary spective students on June the tools to work in top lev- the chance to meet our ad- graduate programmes that 26. el positions in government, missions team to discuss equip students with the he Indian embassy in Doha has said in a statement that it is also or- celebration of the fi fth International The session will be held law fi rms, multinational programmes and applica- skills to navigate complex announced that it will celebrate ganising yoga camps and workshops Day of Yoga, numerous workshops and in Conference Room 1 at organisations and the judi- tion requirements. civil, common and Shariah Tthe fi fth International Day of at Asian Town (June 21 ), Al Khor (June demonstrations in collaboration with Minaratein from 6pm. ciary. CL introduced the LLM law systems. Yoga on June 22. 21), Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani well-known Doha-based yoga studios The pioneering degrees “We invite prospective in International Law and The college’s Juris Doctor The celebration is part of the glo- Museum (June 21), Dukhan Recreation have been conducted by the embassy – an LLM in International students with an interest Foreign Aff airs and an LLM programme is the fi rst grad- bal commemoration of International Centre (June 28) and in various schools in the last two months. These include Law and Foreign Aff airs and in pursuing their graduate in International Economics uate law degree of its kind Day of Yoga and will be held at the of Qatar from June 16-20. workshops for students at various an LLM in International studies in law to attend the and Business Law degrees off ered in the region and National Museum of Qatar from 5am- The events on June 22 will not only schools based in Doha. Economic and Business session to obtain detailed in May at a university-wide is now off ered in parallel 6am as well as at the Qatar Sports Club include yoga demonstrations by ex- In addition, yoga sessions for the In- Law – are at the intersec- information about the de- event, which garnered the with the college’s LLM de- Multipurpose Indoor Hall from 7pm- perts but also provide an opportunity dian community based in Al Khor have tion of the legal, business grees and the admissions interest of more than 400 grees, the statement adds. 8.30pm on the above-mentioned date. for all to participate in a yoga session also been organised on a regular basis. and entrepreneurship sec- requirements, and have potential applicants in Qa- For more details about the Inspired by the response of enthu- – which will be based on the Com- On December 11, 2014, the United Na- tors, and designed to cross their questions thoroughly tar. information session and to siastic yoga practitioners from various mon Yoga Protocol and will comprise tions General Assembly declared June the lines of single-disci- answered.” The college was estab- register to attend, one can parts of Qatar in the past four editions various postures and breathing tech- 21 as International Day of Yoga. The pline studies, HBKU has The programmes are lished to provide highly visit the HBKU website. of International Day of Yoga in 2015, niques, followed by meditation, the fi rst International Day of Yoga was cel- 2016, 2017 and 2018, the embassy has statement explains. As a prelude to the ebrated worldwide on June 21, 2015. Vodafone Qatar ‘covers the globe’ with its Passport Pack

he Vodafone Passport Pack now covers more of the globe across 119 countries, with 15 new countries added Tthis month, it has been announced. The new countries added to the Passport Pack include Ni- geria, Zambia, Singapore, the Philippines, Tunisia, Tanzania, Canada, Vietnam, Mexico and Mozambique, Vodafone Qatar has said in a statement. “Vodafone Passport Pack is the only roaming pack in Qatar enabled on all operators across these 119 countries and has the widest 4G coverage,” the statement notes. Vodafone Passport Pack allows customers to enjoy 1GB of data and 100 minutes of roaming calls for QR100 per week. The Vodafone Bill Manager product automatically activates Vodafone Passport Pack for all postpaid customers as soon as they are roaming in one of the enabled countries, so that they can roam free. Prepaid customers can activate Vodafone Passport Pack through the My Vodafone App or by dialling *110*110#. Voda- fone Qatar COO Diego Camberos said, “With Vodafone Pass- port Pack, customers can now discover more of the world with an unmatched worry-free experience. In time for the summer holidays season, we hope we’ve made it even easier for cus- tomers to enjoy priceless moments with their loved ones.” For a full list of countries and for further information, one can visit www.vodafone.qa Malabar Gold announces Sparkling Summer off ers

alabar Gold & Diamonds has unveiled the details of a Mcampaign organised to cele- brate the onset of summer. The Spar- kling Summer campaign will run at all Malabar Gold & Diamonds outlets in Qatar until July 14, the leading jewel- ler has said in a statement. To celebrate this season, Malabar Gold & Diamonds “showcases the lat- est collection of gold, diamond and precious gems jewellery at its outlets”, the statement notes. This summer, Malabar Gold & Dia- monds is giving customers an exclu- sive chance to win gold bars with the purchase of gold and diamond jew- ellery. With every purchase of gold and diamond jewellery worth QR500, customers get a chance to enter raffl e glitter to the season”, the company has unlimited; Divine-Indian heritage draws to win 100gm of gold each in 10 also unveiled the latest collection of jewellery; Precia-gem jewellery; and raffl e draws. In addition, customers jewellery in gold, diamonds and pre- Starlet-kids’ jewellery. also get a Scratch & Win coupon with cious gems to “suit the tastes of its “This holiday season, Malabar Gold every diamond jewellery purchase multicultural and multinational cus- & Diamonds provides customers with for a guaranteed cash-back and get a tomers”. the most attractive off ers, defi nitely chance to win up to 100% cash-back. Malabar Gold & Diamonds has in- not worth a miss. Their mesmeris- Further, customers can avail of the corporated these designs as part of ing collection and exclusive off ers can zero deduction off er on 22K (GCC) various brands: Ethnix-handcrafted be availed of at all outlets of Malabar gold jewellery exchange as well, ac- designer jewellery; Era-uncut dia- Gold & Diamonds in Qatar,” the state- cording to the jeweller. To “add more mond jewellery; Mine-diamonds ment adds. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar Charity inaugurates Landlords urged to allow access to properties to deploy fi bre network mosque in Mogadishu he Communications ers will be enabled to provide Regulatory Author- innovative and competitive Tity (CRA), in accordance services, which will benefi t atar Charity (QC), with the support with current regulations, has consumers and contribute to of people in Qatar, has inaugurated a urged landlords to give consent the development of the infor- Qmosque in the Somali capital Mogad- to service providers for access mation and communications ishu. to their properties for deploy- technology sector and in the The inauguration took place in the pres- ment of their fi bre optic net- development of the country’s ence of the Qatari and Turkish ambassadors works. infrastructure,” said Mohamed to the country, Hassan bin Hamza Hashim This comes in line with Ali al-Mannai, president of and Mehmet Yilmaz, respectively, in addi- CRA’s aim and eff orts to en- CRA. tion to a number of local offi cials and resi- courage customer choice and During fi bre deployment, dents of the region. to improve quality of service service providers work with Those attending the inauguration cer- in the fi xed-line market in Qa- professional contractors to emony praised the role of Qatar Charity in tar, the authority has said in a carry out the work inside the implementing such model projects that peo- statement. landlords’ properties. “The ple need in their lives, expressing their hap- The landlords’ consent form probability of damages during piness at the opening of the mosque in the is included in the Reference the work is very limited. In any coastal area inhabited by a large number of Infrastructure Access Off er. Mohamed Ali al-Mannai case in the unfortunate event of Muslims but with a few mosques, QC said in The landlords’ consent enable damages provoked by the con- a statement. service providers to reach the will further support CRA’s ef- tractors, service providers are The 320sqm mosque, located inside a customers with their fi xed fi bre forts to encourage sustainable liable for the damages and re- women and children’s hospital known as networks and to enhance their competition in the fi xed-line sponsible for compensating the Yardimeli Hospital, was built at an estimated mobile services. telecommunications market aff ected landlord,” the state- cost of more than QR350,000. The mosque, “The landlords’ consent in Qatar. The service provid- ment added. which accommodates more than 500 people, A view of the mosque. also has a prayer space for women in addition to toilets and places for ablutions. Construction of the mosque took 18 months. Now, it is available for medical staff , pa- Temporary shift of lanes on tients, visitors and residents of the areas neighbouring the hospitals. It is the largest mosque built by Qatar Charity in Somalia so Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor far, the statement noted, adding that some 28 mosque projects have been implemented in The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has an- the country earlier. nounced a temporary shift of lanes on the Sabah Also previously, QC donated an ambulance Al Ahmad Corridor in both directions between to the hospital in early-2018 to contribute to the Al Waab intersection and Lekhwiya rounda- saving lives and meeting the need for the re- bout from tomorrow for one and a half months. quirement. The closure will be carried out to facilitate con- Qatar Charity has stressed that it seeks to struction works on the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, improve education in Somalia as it has al- Ashghal has said in a statement. ready completed the implementation of sev- Road users can use a parallel alternative road eral multi-service projects, including school to the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, which has two projects. lanes in each direction instead of three, the state- Recently, QC opened the Dar es Salaam Dignitaries at the inauguration of the mosque. ment noted. Primary School in the city of Garowe to ben- Access to Al Thanya Street will be shifted to a efi t 400 students. The project aims to sup- pable of participating in the development of specialised agricultural school was opened in new roundabout to the south. Road users head- port education in Somalia, contributing to the country. Afgooye, a town in the southwestern Lower ing north to the Al Soudan area will use the new increasing the literacy rate, improving edu- In 2017, QC also opened multi-service Shebelle region of Somalia, which is the fi rst- service road. Ashghal will install road signs advis- ed all road users to abide by the speed limit and cation facilities and creating generations ca- centres in the country. In the same year, a of-its-kind in the region. ing motorists of the traffic shift and has request- follow road signs to ensure their safety.

Israel Trump’s Pentagon nominee Syria clashes kill 55 reopens quits, Iran targets CIA network fi ghters: monitor Gaza fi shing AFP and rebel fi ghters were killed Beirut in clashes, the Britain-based AFP violence incident during his nuclear deal that Trump uni- Tehran not to abandon the nu- monitor said. “Regime forces zone Washington previous marriage. laterally abandoned in May last clear agreement “so easily.” The foiled the attack” before the Trump named army secre- year.Tensions between Tehran United States has blamed Iran lashes between pro- fi ghting came to an end, Ob- tary Mark Esper as his new pick. and Washington have grown for last week’s attacks on two government forces and servatory head Rami Abdul DPA resident Donald Trump The upheaval leaves the Pen- ever since, with the US bolster- tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Cmilitant-led groups Rahman said. Tel Aviv/Gaza City lost his nominee for Pen- tagon without a permanent ing its military presence in the an accusation Tehran denies as that control Syria’s northwest State news agency SANA Ptagon chief yesterday, boss since the shock resignation region, reimposing sanctions “baseless.” killed at least 55 combatants also said the off ensive had been adding to the volatility in a of the respected James Mattis in and blacklisting Iran’s elite The Pentagon released new yesterday, a war monitor said. thwarted. Hama’s northern srael reopened the Gaza tense standoff with Iran, which December last year. Revolutionary Guards as a ter- images on Monday that it said The fi ghting fl ared on the countryside lies on the edge of Strip’s fi shing zone yester- claimed to have dismantled a Despite Trump’s comments rorist organisation. showed Iran was behind the at- edge of Hama province when a militant-controlled region in- Iday, Gaza’s fi shermen’s as- CIA network. to Time, Secretary of State Mike “Following clues in the tack on one of the ships. militant group Hayat Tahrir cluding most of Idlib province. sociation said, in another sign Foreign powers are watch- Pompeo warned Iran that the American intelligence services, The US claim centres on what al-Sham launched a dawn at- The front line had been rela- of progress in a truce agreement ing the situation in the Mideast United States is serious about we recently found the new re- it describes as an unexploded tack on regime positions, the tively calm since clashes on between Hamas and Israel. with growing concern as Te- curbing what it calls Iranian ag- cruits Americans had hired and limpet mine on the Kokuka Syrian Observatory for Human Saturday killed more than 35 Israel had entirely closed hran and Washington exchange gression. dismantled a new network,” Courageous tanker ship that it Rights said. combatants, including mili- Gaza’s maritime space last week warnings about an escalation in Another 1,000 troops were Iran’s state news agency IRNA says was removed by Iranians At least 14 pro-government tants and regime forces, Abdul due to the continuous launching their confl ict. deployed on Monday, in addi- said, quoting an intelligence on a patrol boat. forces died and 41 militants Rahman said. of incendiary balloons and kites Trump — in his latest com- tion to powerful air and naval ministry offi cial. The US released a grainy from Gaza towards Israel, which ments that appear to contradict forces sent earlier. It said some members of the black and white video last week caused fi res in the country’s more hardline advisors — told That deployment should alleged CIA network had been it said showed the Iranians re- south. Gaza’s fi shermen’s asso- Time magazine late Monday he “convince the government of arrested and handed over to moving the mine, but has not ciation confi rmed that the zone considers explosions on two oil Iran that we are serious and to the judiciary, while others still provided an explanation for had been opened to a maximum tankers, blamed by Washington deter them from further ag- required “additional investiga- why they allegedly did so while of some 22km. on Iran, to have been only “very gression in the region,” Pompeo tions.” the US military was in the area. There was no immediate con- minor.” said yesterday. The agency’s source did not French President Emmanuel fi rmation from the Israeli side. But his policy was thrown Trump also told Time he specify how many agents were Macron appeared not fully con- In May, Egypt, Qatar and the into further uncertainty by the would “certainly” order a war arrested or if they were operat- vinced, saying that only with United Nations brokered a truce abrupt withdrawal of his pick if necessary to stop Iran getting ing only in Iran. “all the doubts lifted can the at- between Israel and Hamas which for defence secretary. nuclear weapons — something In Moscow, President tributions (of blame) be made.” put an end to the worst outbreak Trump announced on Twit- the country says it does not Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Tehran has vehemently de- of violence involving the two ter that Patrick Shanahan was want to do. Dmitry Peskov yesterday urged nied any involvement and hints sides since 2014. quitting to spend time with his In Tehran, offi cials said they all sides “to show restraint” that Washington itself could be Hamas said Monday that family. had dismantled a US spy net- while Chinese Foreign Minister responsible. “Gaza is witnessing the imple- The former Boeing executive work. Tehran’s announcement Wang Yi warned them “not to Iran’s atomic energy organi- mentation of a new phase of has seen his candidacy bogged came a day after it said its ura- open a Pandora’s box.” sation said Monday the country the understandings to break the down for months in Congress nium stockpile would from He urged Washington to would soon pass the amount of People gather at the site of a reported rocket attack by regime siege with a larger package of and the last straw appeared to June 27 begin to surpass a limit “change its practise of extreme low-enriched uranium allowed forces and their allies on the village of Kafr Nabl, south of the measures.” be revelations of a domestic agreed in a 2015 international pressure” but also called on under the nuclear deal. militant-held Syrian province of Idlib, yesterday.

Two more Yemeni rebel Overruling experts, Pompeo keeps drones intercepted Saudis off US child soldiers list

AFP drone attacks on Abha airport, which Reuters security and economic inter- cials who, according to three of Riyadh they have repeatedly targeted over the Washington ests in relations with oil-rich the sources, argued that it was past week. The rebels claimed anoth- Saudi Arabia, a major US ally not clear whether the Sudanese er drone strike on Abha airport early and arms customer. forces were under the control of audi forces have intercepted two Monday, but it was not immediately ecretary of State Mike Pompeo’s move followed un- Sudanese offi cers or directed by explosives-laden Yemeni rebel confi rmed by the coalition. Pompeo has blocked the usually intense internal debate. the Saudi-led coalition. Sdrones, one of which targeted a Last Wednesday, the coalition said Sinclusion of Saudi Arabia It comes amid heightened A New York Times report in southern city that has repeatedly come a rebel missile attack on Abha airport on a US list of countries that tensions between the United December cited Sudanese fi ght- under attack over the past week, a Ri- left 26 civilians wounded, drawing recruit child soldiers, dismiss- States and Iran. ers saying their Saudi and United yadh-led military coalition said early promises of “stern action” from the ing his experts’ fi ndings that a State Department experts rec- Arab Emirates commanders di- yesterday. military alliance. Saudi-led coalition has been ommended adding Saudi Arabia rected them at a safe distance One of the drones targeted a civilian Human Rights Watch denounced using under-age fi ghters in to the soon-to-be released list from the fi ghting against the area in Abha city and the second was Wednesday’s strike as an apparent Yemen’s civil war, according to based in part on news reports coalition’s foes, Houthi militias. shot down over Yemeni air space after “war crime”, urging the Houthis to im- four people familiar with the and human rights groups’ as- “The allegations of recruiting it was launched towards the kingdom, mediately stop all attacks on civilian matter. sessments that the desert king- child soldiers are completely in- the coalition fi ghting the Iran-linked infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The decision, which drew dom has hired child fi ghters from correct and are not based on any Houthi rebels said in a statement re- The rebels, who have faced persist- immediate criticism from hu- Sudan to fi ght for the US-backed evidence or factual fi ndings,” leased by the offi cial Saudi Press Agen- ent coalition bombing since March man rights activists and a top coalition in Yemen, the four said Colonel Turki al-Malki, a cy.The coalition reported no casualties 2015 that has exacted a heavy civilian Democratic lawmaker, could sources said. spokesman for the Saudi-led from the attacks late Monday. death toll, have stepped up missile and prompt new accusations that The experts’ recommenda- coalition. He instead accused the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV report- drone attacks across the border in re- US President Donald Trump’s tion faced resistance from some Saudis’ foes of using child fi ght- ed earlier that the rebels had launched cent weeks. administration is prioritising other State Department offi - ers in Yemen. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses mourners during a symbolic funeral ceremony for the former Egyptian A man holds a picture of the former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi during a symbolic funeral prayer at the president, at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, yesterday. courtyard of Fatih Mosque in Istanbul. Former president Mursi buried in Cairo

Reuters As millions took to the Cairo streets in protest, Abdel Fattah Mursi ‘a martyr killed deliberately, slowly’ al-Sisi, then military chief and now president, seized power, From Page 1 culated Egyptian president, Dr odern Egypt’s fi rst threw Mursi and most of the Mohamed Mursi ... May Allah democratically elected Brotherhood leadership in jail, Amr Darrag, Senior member accept him as a martyr.” Mleader, Mohamed Mur- and began a crackdown on dis- of of Brotherhood’s political Murad Adaylah, head of Jor- si, was buried in a small family sent in which hundreds were party - “Mohamed Mursi was dan’s Islamic Action Front part ceremony yesterday, a day after killed. deliberately killed with pre- - “This martyr ... was killed ... suff ering a fatal heart attack in The Brotherhood says it is a meditated intent ... Sisi is the by the Egyptian regime forces, court at a Cairo prison, his sons non-violent movement. murderer and there must be a the forces of the coup who said. Mursi’s death is likely to in- transparent and independent prevented him from getting The ex-president’s death after crease international pressure on international investigation.” his medicine and carried out a six years in jail under the mili- the Egyptian government over Moderate Islamist Al-Wasat crime against Mursi. tary-backed establishment that its human rights record, espe- party - “This great shock is per- “What is happening now is ousted him in 2013 stoked anger cially conditions in prisons. haps a reminder of the risk that stirring up the nation and the among his supporters in Egypt At least 60,000 people, in- is posed by negligent medical Egyptian people. Mohamed and abroad. cluding much of the Brother- attention, humanitarian care Mursi is the martyr of freedom, His Muslim Brotherhood, hood’s leadership, have been and denial of visitation faced the martyr of legitimacy, the now banned in Egypt, described jailed on political grounds, ac- by a large number of political martyr of democracy, the mar- it as “full-fl edged murder” and cording to a Human Rights prisoners, a risk that threatens tyr of the free elections.” called for mass gatherings. Watch estimate. all of their lives.” Amnesty International - Egypt Egyptian offi cials denied ac- Members of the Jordanian Islamic Action Front Party (IAF) receive condolences for the death of Egypt’s A British parliamentary panel Iran’s Foreign Ministry - “The has “an appalling track record cusations that Mursi’s health former president Mohamed Mursi at the IAF headquarters in the capital Amman, yesterday. said last year that Mursi had Islamic Republic of Iran, while of detaining prisoners in pro- had been neglected. received inadequate medical respecting the views of the longed solitary confinement He was laid to rest in Cairo residents were detained, a se- Istanbul, some of them blam- son present at the hearing. treatment for diabetes and liver great and brave nation of and in dire conditions as well next to other leaders of the curity source said. Life appeared ing Egyptian authorities for the “I am innocent of these charg- illness and was being kept in sol- Egypt, offers its sympathies as subjecting prisoners to tor- Brotherhood, his son Abdullah normal in the capital, where death. Mursi died aged 67 while es in front of God and in front of itary confi nement, which could over the death of Dr Mo- ture and other ill-treatment”. Mohamed Mursi told Reuters. authorities have cracked down on trial on espionage charges. the court and it is now as if I am put his life in danger. hamed Mursi to the Egyptian Tawakkol Karman, Joint re- “We...read prayers for him at the on Islamists and other activists He had been in jail since be- walking in the dark blindfolded,” Amnesty International called people, his family and his cipient of Nobel Peace Prize - “I prison hospital,” another son, since Mursi’s overthrow. ing toppled after barely a year in he said. for an investigation, and the UN loved ones.” mourn, for myself and all the Ahmed Mursi, wrote on Face- Egyptian media, which are power, following mass protests Mursi had come to power in human rights offi ce for an inde- Yusuf Qaradawi, Senior Doha- free people of the world, the book. tightly controlled, gave the news against his rule. 2012 at the height of the Arab pendent review of all aspects of based cleric - “May God have death of a great striver on the Witnesses in Mursi’s home little attention. In an address to the court last- Spring pro-democracy move- Mursi’s treatment in custody. mercy on the patient and cal- path of freedom.” province of Sharqiya said hun- Only one newspaper, the ing about 15 minutes shortly be- ment after the overthrow of Mursi’s son Abdullah said dreds of residents in the village privately owned Al-Masry Al- fore his collapse, he protested his President Hosni Mubarak — al- the family had been able to visit where he was born had per- Youm, mentioned him on its innocence of the latest charges, beit as the Brotherhood’s sec- only three times since 2013, and eign media, said Mursi had sub- It said the court approved formed prayers for Mursi amid front page. objected to his detention, and ond-choice candidate, with lit- that his father had suff ered from mitted his last offi cial request the request, and that an offi cial tight security yesterday, and af- But hundreds of Muslim said he was unable to defend tle relevant experience. “gross medical negligence”. regarding his health in November report from the same year had terwards chanted “Down with Brotherhood members in Turkey himself because of rules around His year in offi ce was turbu- Egypt’s State Information 2017, asking to be treated at his found Mursi was suff ering from military rule!”. A number of took to the streets of Ankara and state secrets, according to a per- lent. Service, which liaises with for- own expense. diabetes but otherwise healthy. Protest against Bahrain conference Algeria’s army chief says ‘certain parties’ seeking constitutional vacuum

Reuters Algiers

lgeria’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General AAhmed Gaed Salah yes- terday accused some parties of favouring a constitutional vacuum in order to prolong the country’s political crisis. Veteran leader Abdelaziz Palestinian female supporters of the Islamic Jihad burn posters of US President Donald Trump Boutefl ika stepped down as and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against the Bahrain economic president on April 2 following workshop in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, yesterday. Israel will attend an upcoming two months of mass protests conference on the economic aspects of Washington’s peace plan aimed at resolving the that demanded democratic re- Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Israel Katz has said. The June 25 and 26 gathering forms and the prosecution of will see the unveiling of the economic aspects of the US initiative spearheaded by President people viewed by the demon- Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. strators as corrupt. But the demonstrations have continued, seeking the removal of the whole ruling elite that has governed the North African na- tion since independence from France in 1962. UN rights investigator to issue “Certain parties want to en- ter a dark tunnel called ‘con- stitutional vacuum’,” a defence Students march during an anti-government protest in Algiers, yesterday. report on Khashoggi murder today ministry statement quoted Gaed Salah as saying at a mili- been set. The army is now the the allegations against him. VW lika’s youngest brother Said and tary base in the southwestern main player in Algeria’s poli- has also not commented on the two former intelligence chiefs Reuters dence pointed to a brutal crime countries believe Crown Prince province of Bechar. tics, and Gaed Salah has called allegations against its Algerian are also in custody accused of Geneva “planned and perpetrated” by Mohamed bin Salman, Saudi “This means the destruction for dialogue to prepare for elec- partner. “harming the army’s authority Saudi offi cials. Arabia’s de facto ruler, ordered of the foundations of the Alge- tions and pave the way for a new A former head of state bank and plotting against state au- Khashoggi’s remains have not an operation to kill Khashoggi, rian national state.” president to start the reforms Credit Populaire d’Algerie thority”. he United Nations extraju- been found but Callamard has a critic and Washington Post Protesters are also now de- demanded by protesters. (CPA)and four offi cials from Other prominent business- dicial executions investiga- said that she and her team of columnist. Saudi offi cials deny manding the resignation of Gaed Salah has vowed to help the industry ministry were also men have been jailed in Algiers Ttor, Agnes Callamard, will forensic and legal experts had these suspicions. Khashoggi’s interim president Abdelkader bring to justice people suspect- placed in custody in the same pending the completion of cor- issue her report on the murder of access to a part of “chilling and killing by a team of Saudi op- Bensalah, a former head of the ed of involvement in corruption case. ruption inquiries. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi gruesome audio materials” of eratives on Oct 2 provoked wide- upper house of parliament, cases. The supreme court last “When the National Peo- today, a statement said. his death obtained by the Turk- spread revulsion and marred the whom they see as a close ally of A court in Algiers on Mon- week ordered the detention of ple’s Army was working with Callamard, who has led ish intelligence agency. image of the Crown Prince. Boutefl ika. day ordered the detention of former prime ministers Ahmed responsibility, self-denial and an international inquiry into Her report is expected to in- Callamard has denounced The authorities have post- Mourad Eulmi, head of family- Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal disinterestedness, some peo- Khashoggi’s murder in the clude recommendations on the lack of transparency at the poned a presidential election owned fi rm Sovac, a partner as well as ex-trade minister ple...cunningly planned to ap- Saudi consulate in Istanbul last criminal accountability of both kingdom’s secretive hearings previously planned for July 4 of Germany’s Volkswagen AG, Amara Benyounes for “dissipa- propriate public funds,” the October, said after a visit to states and individuals. for 11 suspects accused in the citing a lack of candidates. over suspected corruption. tion of public funds and award- statement quoted Gaed Salah as Turkey this year that the evi- The CIA and some Western murder. No new date for the vote has Eulmi has not commented on ing illegal privileges”. Boutef- saying. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 AFRICA

ATTACK GOING APE CRACKDOWN CAUSE UNKNOWN NEW DIRECTION Boko Haram militants raid Nigeria governor laughs off Somaliland police shut two Ethiopia stays off line after MPs propose nationalising Nigerian military base ‘news’ of cash-eating gorilla private TV channels: media week-old Internet outage loss-making Kenya Airways

Suspected Boko Haram militants have overrun An investigation into the disappearance of 6.8mn Authorities in the breakaway territory of Most of Ethiopia was without Internet access A Kenyan parliamentary committee yesterday a military base and looted a nearby town in naira ($22,000) from a zoo in northern Nigeria Somaliland yesterday closed two private television yesterday on the eighth consecutive day of recommended nationalising Kenya Airways as part northeast Nigeria, security sources and residents found it had been taken by armed robbers — not channels after accusing them of inciting violence, an unexplained break. An AFP investigation of an eff ort to turn around the loss-making airline. said yesterday, the latest such attack in the eaten by a gorilla as widely reported in local a station manager and a press rights group said. found that with the exception of the capital The transport, public works and housing committee restive region. Late on Monday, assailants on nine newspapers. Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor Police shuttered Horyaal 24TV and Eryal TV Addis Ababa, most of the country’s cities had also proposed setting up of an aviation holding armoured trucks stormed into the military base of northern Kano state, had ordered the state’s channels in the capital Hargeisa, Mohamed Osman no Internet. Cherer Aklilu, executive director of company with four subsidiaries, one of which outside the town of Gajiram, 80km north of the anti-corruption commission to look into the Mire, the director of Horyaal, told AFP. “The police the state monopoly Ethio Telecom, declined to would run Kenya Airways, which is 48.9% owned Borno state capital Maiduguri. They were suspected disappearance of gate fees at the Kano Zoological came around 0700 and ordered the closure of give any details to explain the break. “We expect by the state and 7.8% by Air France-KLM. Under the to be from IS-aff iliated Boko Haram faction known Gardens. “Preliminary reports indicate that there the two stations ... they had a letter signed by to release an off icial statement on the internet proposals, another arm of the holding company as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). was armed robbery at the zoo,” Ganduje told Information Minister Mohamed Muse Diriye,” Mire blackout before the end of this week and we would operate Nairobi’s main international airport “They dislodged troops from the base after a fight,” reporters after meeting Buhari together with said. “The letter stated that the TV stations are urge our users to be patient until that time,” The cabinet backed a plan last year to hand over a security source told AFP. “We don’t know the other governors in the capital, Abuja. “The issue accused of inciting conflict in...society, defaming she told AFP. Internet access was cut on June 11, management of Nairobi’s profitable Jomo Kenyatta extent of damage and looting in the base.” It was of (a) gorilla is junk journalism. This is because the national armed forces, threatening stability” briefly restored and then severed again. It was International Airport to Kenya Airways to boost the not immediately clear if there were any casualties. there is...no gorilla in that zoo.” and creating disunity in Somaliland, he said. restored for the Addis area on Friday. airline’s balance sheet and help it buy new planes. Uganda clears three experimental Ebola treatments, watches for spread of disease

By Elias Biryabarema, Reuters cal’s ZMapp, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Kampala Inc’s REGN-EB3 and Remdesivir, made by Gilead Sciences, said WHO spokes- man Tarik Jasarevic. ealth workers have got the all- “The protocols for the fourth being clear to use three experimental submitted. Logistics underway with MSF HEbola treatments in Uganda, a support for importation of a few courses week after the deadly disease spread over about 10 each,” he added in an email. the border from Democratic Republic of The UN health agency has said there Congo, authorities said yesterday. have so far been no known cases of Ebola Two people who had travelled from spreading between people in Uganda — Congo died in Uganda last week, the all recorded patients had travelled in from World Health Organisation said. Congo. A three-year-old boy who was sent Four experimental therapeutic treat- back to Congo after testing positive for ments are already being used in Congo, it the disease died at the weekend, Congo’s added. health ministry said. Last Friday, a WHO panel decided not At least another 1,411 people have died to declare an international emergency in Congo since August in the second over Congo’s Ebola outbreak despite its worst outbreak of the disease on record. spread to Uganda, saying such a decla- “Happy to inform you all that we got ration could cause too much economic clearance from both Uganda National harm. Internally displaced Congolese rest at a camp in Bunia. Council for Science and Technology “Obviously, the crisis is far from over,” and National Drug Authority to bring Mark Green, the head of the US Agency in the Therapeutic treatment for #Eb- for International Development (USAID), ola patients in the country,” Uganda’s told a news conference in Nairobi. Health Minister, Jane Ruth Aceng, said Health workers and people who came on Twitter. in contact with infected people began re- The treatments approved for shipment ceiving a Merck experimental vaccine in UN says hundreds of to Uganda were Mapp Biopharmaceuti- Uganda on Saturday. Rwandan exile accuses thousands have fl ed govt of torturing rebel

AFP Brussels

DR Congo violence n exiled Rwandan opposition leader yesterday claimed that APresident Paul Kagame’s govern- AFP AFP, stressing the urgent need to en- “UNHCR fears this escalation Around 10,000 people were ment had used torture to coerce a terror- Geneva sure the safety of the displaced and could engulf large parts of the prov- camped out in or near the church in ism confession from a rebel chief. “stop the violence”. ince,” he added. Drodro in Djugu territory, without Last month, Callixte Nsabimana, a Local offi cials last week said at “We are gravely concerned for any assistance, he added. spokesman for the insurgent National Rwandan Movement for Democratic undreds of thousands of peo- least 50 people had been killed in a the safety of civilians after receiv- Another 20,000 people had Liberation Front (FLN), pleaded guilty at Change chairman Paul Rusesabagina ple have fl ed inter-ethnic vi- matter of days in Ituri, while other ing reports of killings, kidnappings, reached Ituri’s provincial capital Bu- trial to charges of terrorism and acting as (left) and Rwandan Dream Initiative Holence in northeastern areas sources put the death toll from the maiming and sexual violence being nia, and eff orts were underway to find a spy for Burundi and Uganda. chairman Faustin Tagiramungu address of the Democratic Republic of Congo inter-ethnic violence at over 70. unleashed against people.” suitable sites to host them around the Kagame has accused these states of a press conference in Brussels yesterday. in the past two weeks, local authori- The cause of the latest fl are-up The UN displacement estimate was city, he added. sponsoring armed movements against ties and the UN said in Geneva yes- was not immediately clear, but it based on reports from local sources “Many more people are trying to his government. In February, he closed opposition fi gures and said detained ac- terday. occurred in a region where tens of in 125 locations, since humanitarian get to the relative safety of sites near the border with Uganda and ties with Bu- tivists “at home and abroad” are routine- The UN refugee agency voiced thousands died in clashes between groups do not currently have access Bunia but are reportedly blocked rundi have long been sour. ly tortured. deep concern over a fl are-up in vio- the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups to most of the violence-hit areas. by armed youth from both ethnic The FLN is the armed wing of an op- Fellow exile and former prime minister lence in DRC’s volatile Ituri Province, between 1999 and 2003. According to the UN, most of those groups,” he said, adding that others position group founded by Paul Rusesa- Faustin Twagiramungu said his Rwandan which it said had seen “multiple at- Baloch pointed out that attacks displaced had sought shelter within were trying to cross Lake Albert over bagina, the hotelier whose heroic actions Dream Initiative would become a new tacks” involving the Hema and Lendu between the two communities had host communities, but some 30,000 to Uganda. during the 1994 genocide were depicted partner of the MRCD opposition plat- groups since early June. also displaced some 350,000 in late had arrived at existing displacement Bunia is the main city in Ituri. in the movie Hotel Rwanda. form. “We should unite as a people and as Agency spokesman Babar Baloch 2017 and early 2018, “but the situa- sites, “where conditions were already Ituri is not the only part of DRC Rusesabagina, chairman of the Rwandan political parties,” he said. told journalists in Geneva the vio- tion had calmed”. dire”. wracked by unrest. Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), Kagame has been in power since 1994, lence had forced more than 300,000 He said that “large-scale displace- The UNHCR and its partners are The country counts an estimated now lives in Belgium and yesterday de- when his forces overthrew a genocidal to fl ee their homes, voicing fears ment” had been reported in three of working with the authorities to bet- 4.5mn internally displaced people. nounced Nsabimana’s trial at a news con- regime, and has been an elected leader “this escalation could engulf large Ituri’s fi ve administrative territories, ter understand needs on the ground, Ituri and North Kivu province, just ference. “If you’d been in his place, tortured since 2003, twice winning lengthy new parts of the province”. with people fl eeing unrest in Djugu said Baloch. to the south, are also trying to roll for a month or more, what would you have mandates. Ituri governor Jean Bamanisa Saidi territory especially. But it was clear many of the dis- back a major epidemic of Ebola that done? Anything they demanded” he said Once championed in western capi- said the number of displaced could be Baloch cited reports that both placed urgently required shelter, ba- has claimed more than 1,400 lives when asked about Nsabimana’s public con- tals as a reformer, he has been criticised as high as 400,000. communities were “forming self- sic household items and food. since last August. fession. Nsabimana is yet to be sentenced. for overseeing constitutional changes to “We are overwhelmed with this defence groups and being involved in “People are now sleeping in the Both provinces sit on DR Congo’s Rusesabagina went on to insist that prolong his rule and cracking down on surge in displacement,” Saidi told revenge killings. open or in public buildings,” he said. eastern border with Uganda. Kagame’s government has killed several opposition voices. Prisons under siege as Zimbabwe’s economic woes persist

By Fanuel Jongwe, AFP from easily-treatable conditions. Such conditions are common In 2013, the body said, more At Chikurubi, prisoners grum- try’s jails, President Emmerson The government is struggling Harare “We don’t have drugs for...ail- in Zimbabwe’s 46 prisons. than 100 prisoners died of mal- ble about the staple diet of maize Mnangagwa granted amnesty to to provide relief for citizens, let ments like pneumonia and men- They were built to collectively nutrition-related illnesses. porridge without salt or sugar for at least 3,000 prisoners in March alone the prison population. ingitis. We need a functioning incarcerate 14,000 prisoners, but At Chikurubi, donors provide breakfast, followed by the same, last year. And the harshness of daily life he Chikurubi Maximum X-ray machine. As of now, our hold more than 20,000 today. life-saving anti-retroviral (ARV) served with boiled kale, cabbage But overcrowding persists as continues feeding Zimbabwe’s Security Prison in Harare machine is down and yet this is a Chikurubi’s men’s section drugs for inmates who need it. or beans, for lunch and dinner. Zimbabwe’s convicts, like the already over-full prisons as many Tis crumbling at the seams, basic tool required for diagnosis,” houses 2,508 inmates instead of “I am HIV positive. Drugs “Our diet is not suitable for general population, suff er the turn to crime to survive. assailed by overcrowding and a Blessing Dhoropa, a doctor at the the 1,360 it was designed for. for HIV are available. But other people with ailments like diabe- consequences of a moribund “Most of the patients are not critical shortage of medicines, prison hospital, said as lawmak- “Our population is much medicines, antibiotics...even tes and hypertension,” an inmate economy that has been in ruins supposed to be here,” Chikurubi’s food and other basics as the eco- ers visited Chikurubi last week. higher than we should hold,” the painkiller paracetamol, are of the female section told the of- since hyperinfl ation peaked at deputy director for health servic- nomically-crippled country bat- AFP correspondents saw pris- conceded Senior Assistant Com- not there,” 18-year-old prisoner fi cial visitors. 500bn per cent and wiped out es and a consultant psychiatrist, tles to care for its inmates. oners wearing threadbare uni- missioner Alvord Gapare, who Chiedza Chiwashira told mem- Gapare conceded the prison savings under former president Patrick Mhaka told the lawmak- Convicts and wardens alike forms in the prison’s male and oversees jails in the Harare prov- bers of parliament’s child welfare food has little nutritional value. Robert Mugabe. ers. “Some are said to have stolen bemoan packed cells where run- female sections. ince. and justice committee on a fact- “We have challenges preparing Zimbabwe is undergoing an- a loaf of bread and they end up ning water is erratic and short- Inside the cells, paint fl aked off Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human fi nding mission. the food that’s suitable for our other bout of price rises and here.” ages of food, clothes and bedding some walls and for bedding, pris- Rights (ZLHR) has condemned Another inmate complained there prisoners. We cannot follow the shortages of fuel and daily es- Lawmaker Daniel Molokela prevail. oners had thin blankets on bare such “deplorable” conditions was “no medicine for epilepsy.” dietary scale that we should fol- sentials. asked prisoners and offi cials to Basic painkillers and antibi- cement fl oors. One complained which it said “exposes inmates And according to Gapare, low. We serve mostly beans and Infl ation is at more than 75%, draw up a list of needs, which he otics are impossible to come by, the cells were infested with lice to illnesses and psychological Chikurubi’s only ambulance “is vegetables,” he said. putting basic goods beyond the said the government would ex- meaning prisoners risk dying and other vermin. trauma.” down”. In a bid to decongest the coun- reach of many. amine. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11 AMERICAS

CLEARED TECH TALK IN THE DOCK CONTROVERSY DELAYED Cop acquitted for shooting Northrop joins Raytheon Elite Navy Seal goes on Canada set to expand Nasa boss says ‘no doubt’ autistic man’s caretaker on hypersonic programme trial for Iraq war crimes oil pipeline to Pacific SpaceX blast hit programme

A Florida jury on Monday night acquitted Raytheon Co said yesterday it has teamed The trial of an elite US Navy SEAL accused The Canadian government is expected to give The explosion that destroyed a SpaceX a North Miami police off icer of two felony up with Northrop Grumman Corp to develop of shooting unarmed civilians and stabbing a green light to a controversial Pacific pipeline astronaut taxi in April “no doubt” delays Nasa’s charges of attempted manslaughter in the and produce engines for hypersonic weapons a teenage captive to death in Iraq began on expansion, setting the stage for a major political drive to return Americans to the International shooting of an unarmed caretaker for an that can travel at more than 6,400kph. The Monday at a military court in California. Special battle ahead of elections. Prime Minister Space Station from US soil later this year, the US autistic man who was holding a toy truck, Pentagon plans to spend billions of dollars on Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, 40, is charged Justin Trudeau’s government had approved space agency’s chief said yesterday. But Nasa media reports said. The off icer fired at the developing hypersonic weapons in the coming with several war crimes including premeditated the expansion linking Alberta’s oil sands to administrator Jim Bridenstine stopped short of autistic man, thinking that a shiny toy truck years as Russia and China work on similar murder, attempted murder of two civilians with the Pacific coast in 2016 on grounds it was in off ering a clear flight timeline for its multi-billion- he held was a gun. He missed the autistic man capabilities. Hypersonic weapons travel in the his sniper rifle and obstruction of justice. His Canada’s “national interest.” But the project has dollar Commercial Crew Program. “There is no but hit his therapist, Charles Kinsey, who was upper atmosphere at speeds of more than five alleged acts in Iraq in 2017 were reported by been stalled by legal challenges and protests by doubt the schedule will change,” Bridenstine laying on his back in the street with his hands times the speed of sound or about 6,200kph. men under his own command in the special indigenous groups and environmentalists, and a told reporters at the Paris Airshow. “It won’t be up, complying with police orders. Kinsey, who Several weapons makers are competing operations branch of the US Navy. Gallagher, a federal court in August ordered the government what was originally planned.” For years, the is black, was shot in the leg. Jurors convicted against the Raytheon and Northrop team to decorated veteran of combat missions in Iraq and to take a second look. Trudeau’s cabinet United States has had to rely on Russia for rides Aledda of one misdemeanour count of culpable develop the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Afghanistan, faces life imprisonment if convicted convened a morning meeting to reach a decision to the space station and the Commercial Crew negligence, the Miami Herald reported. Concept programme. by the San Diego court. on whether to proceed. Program’s goal is to change that. Oregon votes to cap emissions in challenge to the president

By Sebastien Malo, Reuters sions in 2017 accounted for well under It would target large emitters in sec- Animal rights activists hold a rally in support of a bill to ban the sale of foie gras at New York City Hall yesterday. New York 1% of the total US emissions, accord- tors ranging from industrial operations ing to estimates by the Oregon Global to transportation and electricity. Warming Commission and the US En- The money Oregon would raise with awmakers in Oregon have voted vironmental Protection Agency. its system would largely be allocated to to price climate-changing emis- But the passage of the bill could help benefi t communities most impacted Lsions from large polluters across advance similar, or even more ambi- by the eff ects of global warming, the New York City ponders the state’s economy, in the latest move tious, policies in other states, said Jeff bill said. by a local government to fi ght global Mauk, executive director of the Na- An estimated $535mn would be warming despite reluctance from the tional Caucus of Environmental Leg- raised over the course of the pro- White House. islators. gramme’s fi rst year, according to the The Oregon “cap-and-trade” sys- “State lawmakers feel a heightened state Carbon Policy Offi ce. ban on foie gras sales tem would reward those who slash urgency to act in the Trump era,” Mauk While California has the only similar their planet-warming emissions with said. broad trading system in the country, credits they can sell to others who The Oregon bill is just the latest in a the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initia- Reuters vote, and if the bill passes it will go to restaurants serve foie gras, said Feld- produce higher emissions and exceed range of eff orts by US states and cities tive, another cap-and-trade system, New York the full city council. man Taylor. government-mandated limits. to develop environmental policies that targets electric sector emissions in In January, the US Supreme Court Izzy Yanay, co-founder of Hudson “Oregon can be the log that breaks advance action on climate change. nine northeastern and mid-Atlantic upheld a ban in California on foie gras, Valley Foie Gras, by far the largest pro- the jam nationally” in adopting more President Donald Trump has vowed states from Maine to Maryland. ew York City was to hold a ending a 15-year legal battle. ducer in the US, said she is not worried such systems, said Governor Kate to pull the United States out of a 2015 Economists view market-based debate late yesterday on join- The bill in New York has the support by the proposed ban, although she ac- Brown in a statement prior to the vote global accord to fi ght climate change mechanisms as the most cost-eff ective Ning California in banning sales of 24 of 51 members of the city council. knowledged this is the fi rst time one late on Monday in the Oregon House of and has backed continuing planet- way to reduce emissions, said Mat- of foie gras on grounds it is cruel to “For a progressive city, this is logi- has made it to a city council panel. Representatives. warming extraction and use of fossil thew Zaragoza-Watkins, an assistant force-feed ducks so as to fatten and cally the next step for animal rights,” “I believe that the people that are The bill still must be passed by the fuels. professor of economics at Vanderbilt harvest their livers. said Allie Feldman Taylor, the founder sitting over there (...) have some state senate, but Brown has said she But as part of the “We Are Still In” University. Animal rights activists are on the of Voters For Animal Rights. brains,” she said of those in the city would sign it into law if it reaches her coalition, more than 3,500 mayors, Still, nearly two dozen green groups attack against foie gras in a drive that She and some 30 other people came council. desk. governors and business leaders have opposed the bill. threatens an important industry in to City Hall yesterday to show support “Before you make a decision, come Oregon would be the second US state promised they will not retreat from the In a public letter, they called for fos- metropolitan New York. for the proposed ban. and see,” Yanay said of her farm, which to put in place such an economy-wide international deal. sil fuels to be phased out, saying trad- The city council’s health commis- “It’s incredibly cruel. They shove a she said no city council member has trading system, following California in Oregon’s cap-and-trade scheme ing could promote their continued use, sion was to debate a bill presented pipe down the throat of these ducks... visited so far, even though she has is- 2013, said Brad Reed, a spokesman for would kick off in 2021 and aim to help Zaragoza-Watkins said. early this year that would ban all sales for three weeks and then slaughter sued an invitation. Renew Oregon, a green energy advoca- the state cut its emissions by at least According to the World Bank, 46 of foie gras under penalty of a $1,000 them just for a pretty gross delicacy,” “I can’t make my case here because cy group that campaigned for the bill. 45% below 1990 levels by 2035, the bill countries and 24 states, cities or other fi ne and up to a year in prison. she added. I don’t have ducks around me,” Yanay Oregon’s climate-changing emis- said. jurisdictions have put a price on carbon. The panel will meet a second time to Only around 1% of New York City said. “The ducks will make my case.”

Donald Trump promises ‘wild’ campaign launch rally in Florida Undocumented migrants to get driving licences after By Sebastian Smith, AFP Washington New York State approval

resident Donald Trump yesterday AFP of immigration status. promised a “wild” 2020 campaign New York Candidates will no long- Plaunch rally in Florida even if dismal er need to present a US So- early poll numbers show he faces a diffi cult cial Security number or a re-election. Organisers claim the Orlando ew York State on visa, as had been the case rally has sold out a 20,000-seat arena, with Monday night since 2001, and will be able many more to gather outside, watching on Npassed a law al- to simply present a valid big screens. lowing undocumented mi- passport or a foreign driv- With his customary enthusiasm for lavish grants to obtain their driv- er’s license as ID. self-promotion, Trump portrayed the scale ing license, a controversial Several provisions of of the event as only one step below a rock move by the Democratic the bill, welcomed by mi- concert. stronghold intended to grants’ rights associations, “Look what is going on in Orlando, Flor- thwart the Trump admin- also prohibit communica- ida, right now! People have never seen any- istration’s restrictive im- tion of the candidate’s data thing like it (unless you play a guitar). Going migration policy. to the immigration author- to be wild — See you later!” he tweeted late “This legislation will not ities, except at the express on Monday. only provide undocument- request of a judge. Florida will be one of the key swing states ed immigrants with a legal The bill was hotly de- in 2020 if Trump is to defeat the nominee solution to obtain a driver’s bated, and passed in both chosen from a fi eld of 23 Democratic hope- license, but its positive houses of the state senate, fuls. impacts will include sig- which have been control- And ahead of the rally, he pushed several nifi cant economic growth, led by the Democrats since of the core issues in his populist, nationalist improved road safety, and January, by a narrow ma- platform. it will keep hardworking jority. In one tweet, the president complained, as families together,” Senator Republican Senator Jim he does almost daily, about the “Fake News” Luis Sepulveda, one of its Tedisco said passage of the failing to admit to his popularity. leading proponents, said in bill “sends wrong message In another yesterday morning, he at- a statement. that citizenship and rule of tacked the European Union for what he says “In a time when im- law don’t matter.” is currency manipulation making it “un- migrants are being scape- “If we don’t adhere to a fairly easier” for the US ally when it comes goated for every ill in our legal system for becoming to trade. A man in an ‘Uncle Sam’ outfit poses for a photo at a rally for US President Donald Trump at the Amway Center in Orlando yesterday. country, this is our oppor- a citizen, NYS will become And overnight he surprised many by tunity for New York State a magnet for those here il- tweeting the imminent mass deportations his promise to fi ght for forgotten blue col- emerging as one of the surprise stars of the most active wing veering left and a vocal mi- to show our courage and legally,” he said on Twitter. of illegal immigrants — even if neither the lar workers will persuade the country to give Democratic fi eld, narrowly leads Trump, ac- nority pushing for Trump’s impeachment. strength, and stand up for President Donald Trump president nor anyone in his government him a second term in 2020. cording to a poll from Fox News released this So if Trump is going to win, he’ll need eve- the marginalised com- has made the fi ght against provided any details on how this could be But there’s no question that a lengthy weekend. ryone from his own fervent base on the right munities,” said Sepulveda, illegal immigration a prior- accomplished. probe into Trump’s murky dealings with Polls so far in advance have limited value to turn out, setting the stage for a sharply who represents the Bronx ity for his administration. “Next week ICE will begin the process of Russia and his divisive, bruising style have and in 2016 they famously failed to predict polarized election. district of New York. New York is the 13th removing the millions of illegal aliens who left him wounded. Trump’s defeat of Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Orlando speech will see him aim di- In practice, the “Green state to allow undocu- have illicitly found their way into the United A wide range of polls show Trump lag- If anything, the surveys point to another rectly at that demographic. Light Bill,” passed by the mented immigrants to ob- States. They will be removed as fast as they ging far behind Democratic frontrunner Joe bitterly fought, tight race. Expect Trump to claim the US economy is New York Senate last week tain driving licenses. come in,” Trump tweeted, referring to the Biden, who is campaigning on a promise to But in a sign of frayed nerves, Trump has richer, the military stronger, and the country and signed into law Mon- A report in February said Immigration and Customs Enforcement return the country to what he portrays as the lashed out at what he calls “fake” polling, more respected than ever in its history. And day night by Democratic if such a law was passed agency. calmer, gentler days of Barack Obama, under while multiple US media reports say that his expect ultra-loyal, core Republican sup- Governor Andrew Cuomo, in New York, more than After more than two drama-fi lled years at whom he served as vice president. campaign has fi red several of its own poll- porters in red “Make America Great Again” gives everyone the right to 400,000 illegal immi- the White House, the fast-talking real estate And it’s not only Biden who is ahead. sters. baseball caps to chant “USA!” while booing a driver’s license if they grants could get the per- salesman bets that a strong economy and Even Pete Buttigieg, the small-city mayor Democrats are fi red up, with the party’s journalists assigned to cover the event. pass the test, regardless mit. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 ASIA UN fi nds ‘systemic failures’ Lankan cop defi es leader in its Rohingya response to testify at AFP Bangladesh after fl eeing Myan- favor of prioritising economic time,” and if there are “diverse those in the UN who favoured United Nations, US mar’s northern Rakhine state co-operation with Myanmar’s interpretations coming from the ‘quiet diplomacy’ approach.” during a 2017 military campaign government. diff erent quarters,” they should Asked on Monday about the the UN has described as ethnic The UN has denied those be shared and eff orts made to report, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres has ac- Easter attack he United Nations experi- cleansing. claims. understand them. enced “systemic failures” The report says that while “it But the 36-page report au- Among the causes of the UN’s cepted the recommendations Tin its handling of the is diffi cult to assign responsibil- thored by veteran Guatemalan failures, the diplomat notes “the “and is committed to imple- situation in Myanmar leading ity for systemic failures,” there is diplomat Gert Rosenthal and initial fascination on the part menting them so as to improve up to the 2017 mass exodus of a shared responsibility “on the shared with UN member states of the international commu- the performance of the United Nations system.” investigation Rohingya, a UN report has said. part of all parties involved” in denounces a “dynamic of divi- nity with the political transi- The fi nding came after UN not “conveying more forcefully sions rather than cohesion with- tion, based in no small part on But Louis Charbonneau, Secretary-General Antonio Gu- the United Nations’ principled in the UN system”, “the absence the almost legendary status that United Nations director at Hu- AFP The parliamentary terres in February ordered the in- concerns regarding grave human of a clear and unifi ed strategy” Aung San Suu Kyi had reached,” man Rights Watch, said the UN Yangon committee hears ternal review of the world body’s rights violations.” and shortcomings of “system- referring to the country’s civilian needs to hold accountable “UN evidence from Inspector operations in Myanmar after Some of the criticism of the atic and unifi ed analysis from leader. offi cials most responsible for N B Kasthuriarachchi, its offi cials in the country were UN has focused on allegations the fi eld.” He said then-UN High Com- ignoring ethnic cleansing in Sri Lankan police of- who had been in charge accused of ignoring warning that the world body’s then- Rosenthal wrote that the UN missioner for Human Rights Myanmar.” fi cer yesterday defi ed of an area where the signs of the attacks against the resident coordinator, Renata “needs to improve, systema- Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein most “UN ‘lessons-learned’ reports APresident Maithripala bombing mastermind Rohingya, a Muslim minority. Lok-Dessallien, downplayed tise and share the gathering of consistently called out the rights about its failure to act in the face Sirisena and testifi ed before was based before he Today some 740,000 Ro- concerns about worsening data, information and analysis violations taking place but this of mass atrocities have become a parliamentary investigation went underground in the hingya are living in camps in abuses against the Rohingya in of events on the ground in real led to “some unease among almost routine,” he said. into the Easter Sunday sui- months prior to the attack cide bombings that killed 258 people. The state telecommunication Sirisena has come in for service provider, which previ- major criticism after ordering ously broadcast live proceed- An upside-down experience top brass not to allow police, ings of the hearing on cable TV, Khaleda military or intelligence per- stopped doing so after a presi- sonnel to take part in hearings dential order two weeks ago. into the attacks being held by a They can still be followed, gets bail in parliamentary committee. however, on the parliament The president, who has said website as well as private news the hearings could reveal clas- channels broadcasting pro- two cases sifi ed information, is accused ceedings on social media plat- by critics of presiding over a forms such as Facebook. IANS security and intelligence ap- Two weeks ago Sirisena Dhaka paratus which ignored warn- sacked national intelligence ings that could have prevented chief Sisira Mendis after he the attack on three churches testifi ed that the attacks could Bangladesh court yester- and luxury hotels. have been prevented. day granted a six-month Yesterday the committee Mendis said the president Abail to former prime min- heard evidence - much of it had failed to hold regular se- ister Khaleda Zia in two defama- in camera - from Inspector N curity meetings to assess the tion cases fi led against her. B Kasthuriarachchi, who had threat from Islamic radicals Justicea Muhammed Ab- been in charge of an area where who carried out the bombings. dul Hafi z and Kashefa Hussain the bombing mastermind was Defence Secretary Hema- passed the order after hearing a based before he went under- siri Fernando and police chief bail petition fi led by Khaleda’s ground in the months prior to Pujith Jayasundara also sug- lawyers, reports bdnews24. the attack. gested Sirisena did not fol- However, the Bangladesh Na- Deputy Parliamentary low proper protocol in deal- tionalist Party (BNP) chief can- Speaker Ananda Kumara- ing with a specifi c intelligence not be released from the jail as siri opened the hearing with warning from India. she is convicted in two other a warning to public servants Fernando was forced to re- graft cases. that refusing to cooperate sign, while Jayasundara has A B Siddique, president of Bang- with the committee could lead been suspended from duty. ladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro- to a 10-year jail term. New Delhi shared detailed Awami League organisation, fi led “Anyone who refuses to information about the tar- the cases against Zia on charge of appear... or withholds any gets and method of attack as hurting the religious sentiment of evidence, will be violat- early as April 4, gleaned from the Muslims and for making derog- ing the parliamentary privi- a jihadist in Indian custody, atory comments on Bangabandhu Visitors pose for a picture inside an upside-down cafeteria in Dhaka yesterday. leges act and will be liable to but the intelligence was not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports punishment,” he said. acted on. The Daily Star newspaper. He fi led one case on October 21, 2014 claiming that on Octo- ber 14 of the same year, Zia at a programme in Engineers Insti- tution in Dhaka said “the rul- ing party’s professed secularism Runaway monk ‘incited hatred’ against Suu Kyi was nothing but a sham”, adding that her remarks hurt religious sentiments of Muslims. Reuters authorities on social media. that has spread as Myanmar has fi rst of several hearings to de- A transcript of a sepa- group said on Monday that In another defamation case Yangon Complainant San Min, an ad- transitioned from full military cide whether Wirathu should rate speech Wirathu gave in Wirathu’s “positive criti- fi led on January 25, 2017, Sid- ministrator in the city of Yan- rule and as social media sites be formally declared a fugitive southern Myanmar in April, cism” of Suu Kyi did not dique claimed that Zia at a gon, told the court he had been like Facebook have become from the law, which requires a submitted to the court, merit legal action. programme said Sheikh Mu- Myanmar offi cial yes- ordered by the offi ce of Presi- popular. judge to rule there is evidence records Wirathu crudely Some human rights activ- jibur Rahman had not wanted terday told a court that dent Win Myint, a close ally of He speaks in support of the he broke the law. criticising Suu Kyi’s relation- ists have said Wirathu should independence of Bangladesh, A a nationalist Buddhist Suu Kyi, to fi le a legal complaint military and opposes Nobel lau- A video was played of a ships with foreigners. Suu face action for inciting violence rather he had wanted to be the monk, Wirathu, who has evad- against the monk. reate Suu Kyi and her eff orts to speech Wirathu gave at a rally Kyi married and had two sons against Muslims, especially prime minister of Pakistan. ed arrest on sedition charges, “Wirathu’s speeches can amend a 2008 charter that ce- in Yangon last month, when he with the late British academic the Rohingya minority, rather The former prime minister “incited hatred” against lead- cause disrespect and incite ha- ments the generals’ power. argued broadly against demo- Michael Aris. than for comments critical of a landed in jail on February 8, 2018, er Aung San Suu Kyi and her tred in the people against Aung The sedition charge is related cratic governance and warned “Tap, tap, tap go her high politician. after being convicted in a sepa- government. San Suu Kyi... (and) the gov- to his criticism of the govern- Myanmar would “drown in heels,” the monk said, accord- Buddhist authorities have rate corruption case involving Police issued an arrest ernment,” San Min said in his ment, not to his comments on a muddy puddle” if its con- ing to the transcript, refer- previously censured Wirathu, Zia Orphanage Trust, fi led dur- warrant for Wirathu last complaint. Muslims. stitution was amended to re- ring to when Suu Kyi meets but a one-year order banning ing the 2007-08 military-backed month but he has not been Wirathu is infamous as a pro- The Western Yangon Dis- duce the political role of the foreigners. him from speeches expired this caretaker government rule. detained and has taunted ponent of anti-Muslim rhetoric trict Court yesterday held the military. A Buddhist nationalist year. ‘Wild Boars’ rescue transforms Thai cave into tourist draw

AFP pick up posters of the football- “A miracle has happened junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha Mae Sai ers and take home a souvenir here with these children,” Sin- – a reminder of the governmen- T-shirt - some printed with the gaporean tourist Cheong, giv- tal fi ngerprints in aiding their face of Saman Gunan the Thai ing one name, said but adding cause. ourists snap selfi es by diver who died in the bid to save Tham Luang “must still have a At the heart of the mural is a bronze statue of the the group. spiritual side” despite the mass the beaming face of Saman Tdiver who died trying to There has been extraordinary popularity. Gunan, the Thai Navy SEAL save the ‘Wild Boars’ football global interest in the picturesque Mae Sai district, where the diver who ran out of oxygen team from a fl ooded cave, while rural backwater of Mae Sai since cave is located, was considered attempting to establish an air momentos from their rescue 12 youngsters - aged between 11 off the beaten track for foreign supply line to the children and fl y off the shelves - scooped and 16 - and their coach entered visitors. their coach - the only fatal- up by the 1.3mn people who the Tham Luang cave on June 23, But between October 2018 ity across the near three-week have descended on a once se- 2018. and April this year alone “1.3mn rescue mission. rene mountainside in northern They quickly became trapped people visited,” site manager Laying white fl owers at the Thailand. by rising water levels and the Kawee Prasomphol said. foot of his bronze statue, Thai “It’s amazing what happened daring, unprecedented mission The government now has big nurse Sumalee, who travelled here. I followed everything from to extract them through twist- plans for the area around the four hours to the site, de- Australia,” tourist John McGow- ing fl ooded passageways capti- storied cave, Kawee added, al- scribed him as “the hero of an told AFP after taking pho- vated the world for 18 locating a total of 50mn baht the whole country” in a so- tos at the visitor centre around nail-biting days. ($1.6mn) including a shopping bering reminder of the risks 100m from the Tham Luang cave When they emerged - after complex, restaurants, hotels and involved in the rescue amid entrance. being heavily sedated and ma- several campsites outside the the blizzard of marketing op- “I wanted to see it with my noeuvred out by expert divers national park. portunities now attached to Volunteers planting trees near the Tham Luang cave complex, in which 12 boys from the “Wild Boars” own eyes,” the 60-year-old said, - they did so into the centre of a Vans disgorge streams of the cave story. football team and their coach were trapped last year, in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province. adding he was a little disap- global media frenzy. tourists who explore a visitor Nearby lottery ticket ven- pointed the cave is still off limits The cave, which previously hub where the centrepiece is a dors are capitalising on the shrine. The number of stalls who moved his stall to the site arrive once the cave reopens. to visitors. received around 5,000 visitors a mural entitled “The Heroes”. perceived good fortune linked has mushroomed from a few weeks after the rescue, sells He said: “People want to gam- For a few dollars tourists can year, has since been inundated by It depicts the young foot- to the boys’ survival and the dozen to around 250. 4,000 tickets a month ($2.5) but ble after wishing for luck from get framed photos at the site, visitors both Thai and foreign. ballers, stars of the rescue, and folkloric appeal of a nearby Kraingkrai Kamsuwan, 60, reckons more will visitors will the shrine.” Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Japan tsunami advisory lifted following strong earthquake

AFP The agency cancelled the tsu- management offi ce of Niigata evaluate the damage immedi- offi cial told an emergency news There were multiple small after- On March 11, 2011, a devas- Tokyo nami advisory around two and a prefecture, the epicentre of the ately. conference that residents in the shocks after the main quake. tating 9.0-magnitude quake half hours after the quake. The quake, told AFP: “We do not have Witnesses cited by national region should stay vigilant as “a Some local roads were also struck under the Pacifi c Ocean, earthquake registered six on the a precise picture of the impact as broadcaster NHK said they ex- sizeable earthquake may occur closed after the earthquake, and the resulting tsunami caused strong 6.4-magnitude Japanese scale, which goes up to we are still collecting informa- perienced strong shaking that again.” which struck at around 10:22pm. widespread damage and claimed earthquake rocked Ja- a maximum of seven and was felt tion. But so far there have been knocked some books off shelves The offi cial also warned that Japan sits on the Pacifi c “Ring of thousands of lives. Apan yesterday, sparking a in the capital, which is more than no reports of injuries or casual- and moved some furniture. The bad weather was forecast in the Fire”, where many of the world’s Niigata itself has a history of tsunami advisory that was later 300km away. The US Geologi- ties.” broadcaster showed images of region, which could potentially earthquakes and volcanic erup- large earthquakes. In 2004, a lifted with no reports of major cal Survey put the magnitude of Separately, a fi re department some cups and glasses smashed trigger landslides. “All nuclear tions are recorded. A powerful 6.8-magnitude quake hit, killing damage or injuries. The nation’s the quake at 6.4. Prime Minis- offi cial in the region said two eld- on the fl oor of a restaurant. power plants have reported no quake rocked northern Japan in 68, including elderly people who meteorological agency warned ter Shinzo Abe told reporters his erly women were taken to hospi- Offi cials immediately stopped abnormalities,” government September and triggered massive died in the days and weeks after that a wave of 1m (three feet) government would be “on the tal following falls but “they were bullet train services in the region spokesman Yoshihide Suga told landslides that killed 44. Last the fi rst tremor from stress and could hit the coast of the Sea of maximum alert” to prepare for conscious.” as a precautionary measure, ac- reporters. “Strong jolts may June, a deadly tremor rocked the fatigue. Japan, north of Tokyo, but only possible rescue operations in the The earthquake struck at a late cording to NHK, which also said continue,” warned Suga, adding Osaka region, killing fi ve people The area was also hit by a small ripples of 10cm were re- region. hour in mainly sparsely popu- thousands of households were that authorities were checking and injuring more than 350 oth- magnitude-6.8 quake in 2007, corded. An offi cial in the disaster lated areas so it was not easy to left without power. An agency for signs of damage or injuries. ers. leaving 15 people dead.

Rescue workers search for survivors after earthquakes hit Changning county in Yibin, Sichuan province, China. Rescue workers at a quake-damaged building in Yibin. 12 dead in China quake, 134 hurt

AFP Rescue personnel were also sent Rescuers pulled six bodies and Beijing seven survivors from buildings, with 5,000 tents, 10,000 folding cots it said. Xinhua said more than 50 and other emergency supplies. Yibin people were being treated in two he toll from a strong hospitals. More than 500 fi re- 6.0-magnitude earthquake area was hit by a series of at least four fi ghters have been dispatched to Tin southwest China rose to aftershocks, the largest of which had the scene. 12 dead and 134 injured yesterday Rescue personnel were also as rescuers pulled bodies and sur- a magnitude of 5.1 sent with 5,000 tents, 10,000 vivors from wrecked buildings. folding cots and other emergency More than 4,000 people were on the street. Cracks appeared in could complicate the rescue ef- supplies, Xinhua reported. The relocated as a large number of several roads and a major highway forts, according to Xinhua. An area was hit by a series of at least structures were damaged or col- connecting Yibin and Xuyong early warning alarm system was four aftershocks, the largest of lapsed after the quake struck late county was closed, according to triggered in the provincial capital which had a magnitude of 5.1. Monday near Yibin in Sichuan the offi cial Xinhua news agency. Chengdu about one minute before The US Geological Survey put province, according to the city Mud and rock slipped from the the earthquake struck, Xinhua the magnitude of the main quake government. side of a hill, blocking a road and said. at 5.8. Earthquakes regularly State broadcaster CCTV wrapping around a truck, accord- The alert rang 10 seconds be- strike Sichuan, where a powerful showed footage of rescuers bring- ing to CCTV footage. More than fore it hit Yibin. A three-second 7.9-magnitude quake left 87,000 ing a survivor out of the rubble 10,000 rooms within an undis- headstart before an tremor hits people dead or missing in 2008. of a building on a stretcher over- closed number of buildings were can prevent 14% of casualties, In February, three earthquakes night. Other images showed a moderately damaged while 12 Xinhua said. hit Rongxian county in the prov- woman being helped out of an- collapsed, according to Yibin au- Nine people died in Changning ince, killing two people and in- other collapsed structure. Images thorities. The homes of more than county and three others in Qixian juring 12 others — casualties that from Changning county showed 4,000 families were damaged in county, the Yibin city government residents blamed on fracking. Lo- an electricity pole knocked down Gong county. said in its Twitter-like Weibo ac- cal authorities later halted shale on the roof of a building, a hole in The possibility of thunder and count, up from an initial death toll gas mining after thousands of a brick home and broken windows showers over the next two days of six overnight. residents protested. A pregnant woman stands outside a tent at a temporary camp set up for earthquake survivors in Yibin.

New Zealand man jailed for HK leader Carrie Lam vows to stay on Activists protest sharing mosque shooting video AFP lice to be investigated for us- ously opaque and politicised rage in Hong Kong against both Australian state’s Hong Kong ing tear gas and rubber bullets justice system, and threaten the city’s leaders and Beijing. A New Zealand man was jailed against protesters. They have Beijing’s critics. Hong Kong enjoys freedoms for 21 months yesterday for also asked for all charges to be The city’s formidable busi- unseen in mainland China un- euthanasia laws distributing gruesome lives- ong Kong leader Carrie dropped against anyone de- ness community was also der the terms of its 1997 hando- tream video of the Christchurch Lam apologised yes- tained during the protests. But spooked about the law damag- ver from Britain to China. mosque attacks that killed 51 Hterday for the political Lam gave no indication she was ing Hong Kong’s reputation as a But many residents fear that DPA called assisted suicide because Muslim worshippers, local media unrest that has shaken Hong prepared to step down, saying safe business hub. they are being slowly eroded Canberra they feel they are a burden reported. Philip Arps, 44, was Kong, but the pro-Beijing chief instead she wanted to “contin- The crisis has left Lam on by what they feel is Beijing’s and they’re being pressured in arrested in Christchurch four executive refused to bow to de- ue to work very hard... to meet shaky ground, and the latest tightening grip on the semi- terms of things like inheritance, days after alleged gunman mands for her resignation. the aspirations of the Hong press conference will do lit- autonomous city. atholic bishops and pro- impatience, things like elder Brenton Tarrant’s March 15 The semi-autonomous ter- Kong people”. tle to ease the pressure on her, As recent evidence, they life activists yesterday abuse,” one of the protestors rampage at two mosques in the ritory has been plunged into its Lam tacitly suggested, how- said political analyst Dixon offer the failure of the huge Cspoke out against vol- told Melbourne’s 3AW radio. South Island city resulted in the biggest crisis in decades, with ever, that the extradition bill Sing. “It’s really difficult for pro-democracy “Umbrella untary euthanasia laws that are “We’ve got to continue to off er worst massacre in modern New millions of people taking to the was unlikely to be revived given her to govern,” said Sing. “Es- Movement” in 2014, the im- set to take eff ect in Australia’s hope rather than the grim pros- Zealand history. streets to demand the with- the public sentiment. “I will pecially if she wants to bring in prisonment of protest leaders second most populous state. pect of death.” Arps pleaded guilty to two drawal of proposed legislation not proceed again with this any more controversial policies and disqualification of popular The assisted-dying laws, But many others welcomed charges of distributing objec- that would have allowed extra- legislative exercise if these that might need public sup- lawmakers, and the disappear- which were passed by the state the laws. Elizabeth Short, a tionable material for sharing ditions to mainland China. fears and anxieties could not port.” ance of booksellers critical of of Victoria’s legislature in 2017, Melbourne woman whose ter- footage that was livestreamed Lam suspended the bill on be adequately addressed,” she Lam has been criticised by Beijing. The Chinese govern- come into eff ect yesterday. minally ill husband had lobbied to social media during the at- Saturday after two massive ral- said. “If the bill... (does) not opponents — and even mem- ment had supported the extra- They will allow terminally ill for assisted dying to be legalised tack. Christchurch District Court lies that saw isolated bouts of make the legislative council by bers of her pro-Beijing camp in dition proposal, and accused patients to end their lives with a before he died in palliative care heard Arps distributed the raw violence between the police July next year, it will expire... the legislature — for the han- protest organisers of colluding lethal combination of medica- in 2014, said she was “over the footage to about 30 people and and some protesters. and the government will accept dling of the protests. with Western governments. tion. Victoria’s Catholic bish- moon” about the laws. “It’s a had another version that was But that failed to quell public that reality.” Joshua Wong, a leading Hong It had denounced expressions ops issued a warning against great step forward,” she told modified to include crosshairs anger, and an even bigger rally Protest organisers were un- Kong activist who became the of support for the Hong Kong the laws, describing them as 3AW. and a “kill count”, the New Zea- Sunday drew over 2mn people, moved by Lam’s latest public face of the 2014 protests, pre- protesters as interference in the a “new and deeply troubling Authorities have been work- land Herald reported. “This was organisers said – more than a statement, and slammed her dicted more demonstrations. city — and China’s — internal chapter of health care.” ing for the past 18 months to in eff ect a hate crime against quarter of the population. “I for failing to address their de- “If 1mn people come out to affairs. “We cannot co-operate with detail how the scheme will the Muslim community,” judge personally have to shoulder mands. “Her attitude is arro- the street and it just results in But Beijing said after the the facilitation of suicide even operate, with 68 safeguards Stephen O’Driscoll said. He said much of the responsibility. This gant,” said Jimmy Sham of the suspension, and 2mn people bill’s suspension last week that when it seems motivated by in place to ensure only eligible it was “particularly cruel” to has led to controversies, dis- Civil Human Rights Front, an come out and (there is) just an it respected and understood the empathy or kindness,” said a patients can die with medical share the video in the days after putes and anxieties in society,” umbrella organisation of vari- apology, that is not sincere at Hong Kong government’s deci- letter signed by bishops from help. the attacks, when relatives were Lam told a press conference. ous groups participating in the all,” he said. “How many peo- sion. Melbourne, Ballarat, Sale and Adults with an incurable and still waiting to hear news of their “For this I offer my most protests. Sham said organis- ple will come out to the streets Protest leaders and Lam’s Sandhurst. An activist with advanced terminal illness and loved ones. O’Driscoll found sincere apology to all people of ers will now convene to decide again?” While the extradition opponents in the Hong Kong Pro-Life Victoria said the laws less than six months to live — that Arps had set out to “glorify” Hong Kong.” on their next steps. Critics of issue had been the spark for the legislature remain wary, how- will “devalue palliative care” or 12 months for those with the deaths of Muslims and any Activists have demanded the extradition legislation fear mass rallies, the protest move- ever. “The people are still mad and “legitimise suicide” for neurodegenerative conditions punishment other than im- the bill be withdrawn fully, for it will entangle the people of ment has since morphed into as hell,” said Ray Chan, an op- vulnerable people. “The sad — will be able to access medical prisonment was inappropriate, Lam to step down, and for po- Hong Kong in China’s notori- the latest expression of public position lawmaker. part is people embrace so- assistance for euthanasia. Radio New Zealand reported. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 BRITAIN

LAW AND ORDER VERDICT AVIATION CRIME PROPOSAL Teenager who called Farage attacker told Gatwick drone disruption Teens are ‘paid Plan to give jailed women Harry ‘race traitor’ jailed to pay compensation cost airport just £1.4mn £1,000’ to stab rivals phones to stop reoff ending

A teenage neo-Nazi who called Prince Harry A man who threw a milkshake over Nigel The drone attack that disrupted Gatwick Gang leaders are paying teenagers up to Female prisoners could be given mobile a race traitor months after his marriage to US Farage, the leader of Brexit Party, has been for three days in December cost the airport £1,000 a time to stab rival youngsters, it has phones to maintain family ties and help stop actress Meghan Markle and suggested he should ordered to pay him compensation to cover £1.4mn. While early estimates of the costs been claimed. Criminal ‘elders’ are said to them reoff ending. All women inmates would be shot was jailed for more than four years his suit-cleaning bill after pleading guilty to ran into tens of millions, the brunt has been be recruiting youngsters as hitmen to avoid get a handset to keep in touch with their loved yesterday, the BBC reported. Michel Szewczuk, common assault and criminal damage. Paul borne by airlines – although Gatwick has since ‘getting their hands dirty’ and possible arrest. ones day or night under the contentious plans 19, posted far-right online propaganda which Crowther, 32, threw the milkshake over Farage, spent an extra £4mn on anti-drone technology. The issue of ‘bounty’ payments emerged in a being considered by Justice Secretary David included an image of Harry, the Duke of Sussex, one of the leading figures in the campaign The airport was closed for 36 hours and then BBC documentary podcast. One teenager on Gauke. Phones would not connect to the with a gun to his head with the caption “See for Britain to leave the European Union, at shut down again briefly on December 21 after Merseyside told the Beyond Today podcast: Internet and prisoners could only call a small Ya Later Race Traitor”. It was posted months an event in Newcastle before the European multiple reported sightings of a drone or “Young kids are getting money put on their group of approved numbers. Convicts would after his wedding to Meghan. Szewczuk and his elections last month. Crowther, who lost his job drones in the vicinity. Police and military were heads.” It was claimed that £1,000 had been have to pay for the calls with service providers co-defendant Oskar Dunn-Koczorowski, 18, both after the incident, was ordered to pay Farage called in to help at Britain’s second-largest paid to youths who attacked a victim who being encouraged to off er special deals to Polish nationals, pleaded guilty to encouraging £350 in compensation to cover the cost of airport, but the perpetrator was never found. needed hospital treatment. One boy said them. The proposals follow a report by Tory terrorism and Szewczuk also admitted five damage to a lapel microphone and his suit More than 1,000 flights were disrupted in the young people would take the money off ered peer Lord Farmer which emphasised the use counts of possessing material likely to be useful cleaning. He was also ordered to do 150 hours runup to Christmas, with 140,000 passengers by gang leaders and carry out attacks to earn of technology to boost rehabilitation among to someone planning a terrorist act. of unpaid work. aff ected. respect. women criminals.

Royal Ascot begins Serpentine Galleries chief quits over links to spyware fi rm

Guardian News and Media Novalpina Capital announced London it would strengthen internal checks to prevent NSO’s tech- nology being used to violate hu- he head of the Serpentine man rights. Galleries has resigned af- The Guardian’s discovery of Tter the Guardian revealed Yana Peel’s co-ownership of No- she is the co-owner of an Israeli valpina raised concerns at Index cyberweapons company whose on Censorship, the free-speech software has allegedly been used campaign group. Peel served as a by governments to spy on dissi- judge last year for Index’s inter- dents. national freedom of expression Yesterday, Yana Peel an- awards. nounced she was stepping down “We were unaware of the al- as the chief executive of the legations that a company she prestigious London art gallery so co-owns produced spyware used the work of the Serpentine would to target the kind of individu- not be undermined by what she als whose freedoms she has long called “misguided personal at- championed,” an Index spokes- tacks on me and my family”. woman said in a statement. In a statement, Peel said: “I “This is extremely disappointing Queen Elizabeth, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands attend day one of have decided I am better able to if true.” the Royal Ascot races in Ascot yesterday. continue my work in support- NSO has come under sus- ing the arts, the advancement tained criticism from groups of human rights and freedom of such as Amnesty International expression by moving away from following allegations about the my current role.” subjects of hacking attacks ap- Last week, the Guardian re- parently using NSO technology. vealed that Peel co-owns No- Omar Abdulaziz, a Saudi dis- valpina Capital, a private eq- sident based in Canada, alleged uity fi rm that in turn controls a in a lawsuit fi led in Israel that majority stake in NSO Group, a Saudi spies used NSO software $1bn (£790mn) Israeli technol- to hack his phone and access his Johnson tops ballot, Raab ogy fi rm, according to corporate conversations with Khashoggi, records in the US and Luxem- who was later murdered by gov- bourg. ernment operatives. Novalpina was co-founded by A group of Mexican activists Peel’s husband, Stephen. No- and journalists is also suing NSO valpina took a majority of NSO in Israel. They allege Mexican out of Tory leadership race shares, and NSO’s Israeli found- authorities targeted their phones ers hold a minority stake. with Pegasus after paying NSO Guardian News and Media is now all but unstoppable. day’s TV debate on Channel 4. been urging colleagues to lend recent days; the former leader of Human rights groups, activists $32mn to license the software. London Raab, a former Brexit secre- The Foreign Secretary, Jer- their votes to Hunt because he the House of Commons Andrea and surveillance experts have ac- Peel has previously described tary, won just 30 votes, below emy Hunt, came in second, was their preferred opponent. Leadsom became the latest sen- cused NSO of licensing its pow- the Serpentine as a “safe space the 33 vote threshold to stay in. with 46 votes, and still looks Johnson has the former de- ior fi gure to endorse him yester- erful Pegasus software to coun- for unsafe ideas” and served as a ominic Raab has been The Home Secretary, Sajid the most likely challenger to fence secretary Gavin William- day. tries, including Saudi Arabia, judge for freedom of expression eliminated from the Javid, survived with 33 votes Johnson as the contest reaches son and the former Tory party The Health Secretary, Matt that used it to target individuals, awards. D contest to be Britain’s but found himself outflanked its final stages. The Environ- chair Grant Schapps working Hancock, who withdrew from hack into their phones and mon- The Serpentine is this month next prime minister after the by Cabinet newcomer Stewart, ment Secretary, Michael Gove, Westminster on his behalf. the contest on Friday after re- itor their communications. taking part in a UN human rights second round of voting by who was backed by 37 MPs. received 41 votes. He has won over hard Brexit- ceiving 20 votes, has also thrown Lawsuits against NSO allege initiative fronted by Ai Weiwei, Conservative MPs, but the The five remaining men will Hunt has repeatedly high- ers by promising to take Brit- his weight behind Johnson. the technology was used to target the dissident Chinese artist. outsider Rory Stewart will go now take part in a live leader- lighted his background as an en- ain out of the EU by October 31 MPs will vote again today, and dissidents and their associates, in- In her resignation statement, forward. ship debate on the BBC. Stew- trepreneur, claiming it will stand “with or without a deal”, but has if necessary tomorrow, until the cluding a friend of the Washington Peel said: “In light of a concerted As expected, Boris John- art, the international devel- him in good stead to negotiate a also played up his one-nation fi eld is narrowed down to just Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, lobbying campaign against my son topped the poll, the 126 opment secretary who began better Brexit deal. credentials to appeal to his par- two names, which will then be who was murdered in the Saudi husband’s recent investment, I votes he garnered cementing the contest as an outsider, His team had staunchly re- ty’s liberal wing. off ered to Conservative mem- consulate in Istanbul last year. have taken the decision to step his lead over rivals and un- picked up more support after jected rumours circulating in The former foreign secretary bers in a postal ballot. The result Shortly after the Guardian’s down as CEO of the Serpentine derlining the sense that his what was widely regarded as Westminster earlier yesterday has gained increasing support as will be announced in the week report was published last Friday, Galleries.” progress to Downing Street a strong performance in Sun- that Johnson’s outriders had the contest has gathered pace in beginning July 22.

Honoured Woman knocked down Jeremy Kyle refuses to by cyclist wins payout appear before inquiry Guardian News and Media ages, saying: “Cyclists must be London prepared at all times for people to behave in unexpected ways.” The Guardian News and Media show, including the managing icism after the former contestants court heard that Brushett was London director of ITV Studios, Julian Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalas- woman who was knocked one of a “throng” of people try- Bellamy, and the director of en- sitis took their own lives. unconscious by a cyclist ing to cross the road at the start tertainment, Tom McLennan, The channel announced Awill be awarded compen- of rush-hour. She was looking at eremy Kyle has refused to will give evidence to the commit- changes to its duty of care policy sation, despite a judge fi nding her mobile phone when crossing give evidence to a govern- tee on June 25. ahead of the new series – includ- she had stepped into the road the road, and only noticed Ha- Jment inquiry into reality TV. MPs will also grill the chan- ing a minimum of eight therapy while looking at her phone. zeldean approaching at the last The presenter had been due to nel’s director of aftercare, Gra- sessions for participants when Robert Hazeldean, a garden moment, despite the traffi c lights speak to MPs next week, follow- ham Stanier, who is responsible they return home. designer, who was also knocked showing green. ing the cancellation of his day- for ensuring the welfare of the Since the show was taken off out by the collision, will pay The court was told she panicked time talkshow by ITV last month show’s participants. air, Kyle has not appeared pub- thousands in damages and court and tried to step back, but the cy- over the death of a recent guest, Dymond, 63, is believed to licly – only issuing a brief state- fees to Gemma Brushett, who clist, who had been travelling at Steve Dymond. have killed himself about a week ment to say he and his team were works for a fi nance fi rm in the 10-15mph, swerved in the same The chair of the digital, cul- after appearing on the pro- “utterly devastated by recent City of London and runs yoga direction and hit her. ture, media and sport commit- gramme in which he failed a lie events”. retreats. Judge Mauger said: “When I tee, Damian Collins, said: “The detector test while attempting to Though Kyle could now be Hazeldean was returning from stand back and ask: ‘How did the Jeremy Kyle show is an important convince his fi ancee he had not found in contempt of parliament, work in July 2015 when he crashed accident happen?’ it seems to me programme as part of our inquiry been unfaithful. The construc- other recent high-profi le snub- into Brushett as she crossed a busy that Hazeldean owed a duty to into reality TV. We believe that tion worker was found dead by bings refl ect the limited powers junction near London Bridge. She other road users to drive with rea- Jeremy Kyle himself is an impor- his landlady after splitting from politicians have to force witness- launched a legal claim for com- sonable care and skill,” she said. tant witness. We sent an invita- Jane Callaghan. es to give evidence. pensation after sustaining a minor “Even where a motorist or cy- tion through his representatives, The inquiry was launched to Dominic Cummings, the di- head injury. clist had the right of way, pedes- and we have now heard that he investigate whether TV compa- rector of the Vote Leave cam- Judge Shanti Mauger, at Cen- trians who are established on the has declined to appear. nies give guests enough support paign during the 2016 EU refer- tral London county court, said road have right of way. Hazeldean “We will be pursuing this after they appear on reality televi- endum, was found in contempt the cyclist was “a calm and rea- did fall below the level to be ex- matter with his representatives sion programmes. of parliament for refusing to ap- sonable road user” and that pected of a reasonably competent to fully understand the reasons It will also look into shows such pear at a committee hearing on Comedian Michael Palin displays the award of Knight Brushett was looking at her cyclist in that he did proceed when why he has declined and we will as ITV’s hugely successful Love fake news. Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George phone when she walked into the the road was not completely clear.” make a further statement in due Island – which is set for its high- His punishment was a for- following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, road in front of him. The case will return to court at a course.” est ratings ever during its current mal “admonishment” from the London, Britain. However, she ruled that Ha- later date for costs and damages Senior staff involved in the series. The show came under crit- House of Commons. zeldean was liable to pay dam- fi gures to be fi xed. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 15

BRITAIN Watchdog to review exams system after A-level leak fears

Guardian News and Media row, and while the exam will go last week, and due to the actions Ofqual, the exam regulator diligence of exams offi cers, teach- to protect the integrity of the cel’s A-level maths papers, with London ahead as planned Pearson, Edex- of this centre, we have taken a for England, said it was “closely ers, students, exam boards and exam system.” 29 candidates having their results cel’s parent company, announced decision to replace the forthcom- monitoring” Pearson’s investiga- their suppliers and social media The breach is the latest exam- annulled. The criminal investiga- it will replace the paper with a ing further maths A-level paper tion and how it planned to deal companies – the vast majority ple of poor security involving lost tion into the 2017 case continues, egulators are to review new version as a precaution. scheduled for tomorrow,” the with the consequences when of whom take seriously their re- or stolen papers that have plagued with details forwarded to pros- the integrity of the school The latest potential leak was company said. awarding grades in August. sponsibilities. When that trust is examination boards in recent ecutors by the police last April. Rexamination system in uncovered during an investiga- Pearson said its investigation “Students, parents and teach- breached our priority, and that of years, with leaked papers rapidly Sharon Hague, Pearson’s senior England after a “completely un- tion at the same school suspected revealed that a sealed packet con- ers have been understandably exam boards, is to protect the in- copied and distributed online. vice-president for schools, said acceptable” security breach led of being the source of an A-level taining the further maths paper upset by the rare, irresponsi- terests of hardworking students. In 2017, Pearson was forced to the “unusual yet necessary step” the Edexcel board to withdraw maths paper that was being of- had been “opened by an individ- ble actions of one centre which “We will continue to work with make changes to statistics and of replacing this week’s paper and replace an A-level further fered for sale via social media last ual” at the same school, although breached the security of Pearson’s the exam boards to make sure the further pure maths A-level papers was to maintain confi dence in the maths paper over fears it had been week. it said it had no evidence that maths exam taken on Friday. This remaining exams of the summer after reports that some students exam system and ensure fairness. leaked. “As part of Pearson’s ongoing any questions had been leaked. is completely unacceptable,” Of- are safely taken. Once results are had seen questions in advance. “Our message to students is About 7,000 pupils are due to investigation of a centre into the Schools are required to securely qual said in a statement. issued, we will review the sum- And in 2017 and 2018 police in- not to worry about this and focus sit the third part of Edexcel’s fur- breach of the A-level maths paper store papers until immediately “The integrity of the exam mer, including this incident, and vestigations were launched into on your revision as you normally ther maths A-level exam tomor- three on statistics and mechanics before each exam is taken. system relies on the trust and consider what more can be done suspected leaks involving Edex- would,” Hague said.

Brexit Party told Heathrow’s to check on ‘illegal’ third runway funding

Guardian News and Media London expansion

igel Farage’s Brexit Party has been asked to check N£2.5mn it has received in donations to ensure it has come from legitimate sources. plans revealed The Electoral Commission will oversee checks carried out Guardian News and Media for buildings to support the run- lage – despite plans for a “country by the fl edgling political party London way, including two huge new car park” to highlight spared heritage after criticising the way the parks north and south of the air- buildings. It also signals further party accepts gifts through on- port. Heathrow said it was con- misery for the village of Sipson, line payment systems such as he scale of the disruption solidating existing parking space. overfl own directly at the end of PayPal. from Heathrow airport’s Robert Barnstone, of Stop the new runway and now to host Money that cannot be traced Texpansion project has been Heathrow Expansion, said: “Not a 24,000-space multi-storey car should be returned to the donor revealed with the publication of only does it want to disrupt peo- park. or given to the Treasury. detailed plans to lower the M25 ple’s lives for up to 30 years while Another huge car park will be The request follows a report for the third runway to cross, re- building this new runway but built at Stanwell Moor, while the released by the commission last route rivers, replace utilities and now proposes jumbo-size car A3044 perimeter road serving the Wednesday that said the party’s build car parks for nearly 50,000 parks while pledging to reduce the village and connecting Staines structure “leaves it open to a cars. number of people using cars at and West Drayton on opposite high and ongoing risk of receiv- A 12-week public consultation the airport.” sides of the airport will be moved ing and accepting impermissible opened yesterday at 8am, with John Stewart, the chair of Ha- west of the M25. donations”. campaigners warning of the se- can, the campaign group that op- Stewart warned the changes New documents from the vere impact for years to come of poses a third runway, said: “What would create fresh “hidden vic- commission, which were re- more than 700 extra planes in the hits you is the scale of these tims of the runway”, with major leased on Monday, show the sky after 2026, when the runway proposals. The impact on local disruption to local journeys that party has been asked to “review is due to open. people could be severe for many “people build their lives around, all payments, including those of Heathrow said expansion years to come. Disruption from cutting people off from facilities £500 or below, it has received to should “not come at any cost” construction; the demolition of they now use”. date”. and has outlined plans for low- homes; the reality of more than The land grab will far exceed The commission has also emission zones and congestion 700 extra planes a day.” the boundaries of the new air- asked that the party amend its charges to stem local air pollution. Emma Gilthorpe, the executive port during its development, with online system for accepting pay- It plans to expand in phases up to director for expansion at Heath- construction and earthwork sites ments so that donors give their 2050 with new terminal buildings row, urged local people to partici- set up. An estimated 20mn cubic full address and contact details added after the runway as pas- pate in the consultation and make metres of earth will be moved – and that it use systems in future senger numbers reach 140mn a their views heard. more than 1mn lorry loads. Hea- that will only accept payments year, which it says will help keep She said: “Expansion must throw plans to construct new from a card where the billing airport charges and fares down not come at any cost. That is stretches of the M25 and a junc- address matches the payer’s ad- after airlines complained about why we have been working with tion while keeping existing traf- dress. the cost. partners at the airport, in local fi c fl owing – an idea greeted with Appearing before the dig- The M25, Britain’s busiest mo- communities and in government some scepticism. ital, culture, media and sport torway, will be moved up to 150 to ensure our plans show how A spokesman for Heathrow committee, the commission’s metres west and run through a we can grow sustainably and re- Hub, whose rival extended run- director of regulation, Louise tunnel under the new runway sponsibly – with environmental way scheme was shortlisted by Edwards, said: “They need to and taxiways. A temporary bridge considerations at the heart of the government’s Airports Com- go back and look at the pay- across the motorway will be built expansion.” mission inquiry, said: “The idea ments they have received, over for construction vehicles. Although residents of Har- Heathrow can get it across the or under £500, and they need to Local people will be off ered mondsworth have known since M25 right next to the M4 junction satisfy themselves that they are property compensation, noise in- 2015 that most homes would be without causing years of delays is sure those amounts of money sulation funding and a 6.5-hour destroyed by the third runway, the fanciful.” Greenpeace UK said the are permissible. And if they are ban on scheduled night fl ights. plans now show that the A4 dual plans “would almost be funny if not, they need to forfeit those A computer generated image released by Heathrow airport yesterday shows what the airport will look But campaigners said swathes carriageway will also be rerouted we weren’t facing a climate emer- amounts of money.” like in 2050 following the completion of a third runway and new terminals. of green belt land would be taken through the remainder of the vil- gency”. Tories rally in support of Hammond ‘almost quit over May plans’ pregnant Stella Creasy “It’s not that he doesn’t rec- Guardian News and Media London ognise there are pressures,” the Guardian News and Media without any additional support. ents and spending precious time source said. “He believes strong- London Now pregnant again, she said with their newborn. Come on Ipsa, ly that decisions on long-term she had been told that MPs would do the right thing.” hilip Hammond is so frus- spending should be made by the not be provided with any addi- Javid, the home secretary, trated by Theresa May’s next person. They will have pres- heresa May has urged the tional funding for support staff by tweeted Creasy to congratulate her Pplans to spend billions of sures relating to their Brexit pro- parliamentary standards Ipsa to allow her to get extra help on the pregnancy, saying: “I com- pounds on projects to shore up posal and need to be able to con- Tauthority to review its poli- with constituency work. pletely agree that we must strive to her legacy that he considered sider bids in the round.” cies towards expectant mothers Asked about Creasy’s article, ensure parliament is an inclusive resigning, according to govern- No 10 is asking Hammond to after the Labour MP Stella Creasy May’s spokesman said: “No one workplace. It shouldn’t be more ment sources. free up money from the £27bn said she felt parliament was ef- should have to choose between be- diffi cult to be a female MP than a The chancellor is unhappy “war chest” he set aside in case fectively telling her to “choose ing a mum and being an MP. While male MP.” with the prime minister’s deci- of a no-deal Brexit to fund the between being a mum and being parliament has made positive Creasy said that during her sion to set out plans to spend plans. an MP”. changes to becoming more fam- fi rst miscarriage, she had carried up to £27bn on education over A Downing Street source The Walthamstow MP, who is ily-friendly in recent years, such on constituency work, including three years, including building told PA: “It is a fact though that pregnant, also received support as introducing proxy voting and joining a protest for the extradi- new schools and paying teachers school funding in England is at from Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid, changing sitting hours, Creasy’s tion of a man who had raped and higher wages. its highest ever level – rising two of the contenders to succeed comments highlight that there is murdered a constituent. After her He is understood to believe from almost £41bn in 2017-18 to May, who both also urged action much more to do. second miscarriage she said she May should not be binding the £43.5bn by 2019-20. over the issue. “It is ultimately up to Ipsa to had to arrange the medical proce- hands of her successor with big “But while there’s more mon- Creasy said that the Independ- make decisions on pay and allow- dure around constituency advice spending commitments. ey going into our schools than ent Parliamentary Standards Au- ances for MPs, but the prime min- surgeries. The Press Association initially ever before, we know they face thority (Ipsa) has told expectant ister would urge them to look very “Heartbroken by all the years reported Hammond was on the budgeting challenges. mothers it does not recognise any closely at the issues that have been that I have struggled with fertil- brink of quitting over the row “The education secretary form of maternity leave and will raised by Creasy and determine ity, I’ve kept these events to myself between No 10 and No 11 in what has been clear he will back not automatically provide extra what more support, such as tem- and made sure my constituents would be an extraordinary move headteachers to have the re- support for constituency work af- porary staffi ng, can be provided.” have never been aff ected,” she just weeks before the prime min- sources they need to deliver a ter she gives birth. Hunt and Javid also urged action writes. “Now I’m pregnant once ister leaves offi ce. world-class education.” Writing in the Guardian, Creasy in tweets. Hunt, the foreign secre- more and terrifi ed – not just that A senior government source May’s tenure in No 10 will end said she had decided to speak out tary, said it was “impossible to ar- it will go wrong again, but because told the Guardian Hammond next month, and she has already after experiencing two miscar- gue” with Creasy’s views, adding: I know that my resolve to keep my was “frustrated” and may have sought to defi ne her legacy with riages during which she was forced “Insidious to force MPs to choose private and professional lives sep- Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond meets Chinese threatened to resign but he was pledges to tackle climate change, to continue to work as normal between serving their constitu- arate has become impossible.” Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua at Mansion House in London. unlikely to do so. mental health and modern slavery. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 EUROPE

ACCIDENT OFF TRACK FLIGHT OF FANCY MOURNED TESTING TIMES Canadian paratrooper Starving polar bear walks Eviation woos commuters Oldest person in Europe Serbia delays high school dies in Bulgaria drill into Siberian city with electric plane Alice dies at the age of 116 entry test after breach

One Canadian soldier died and three other A starving polar bear has strayed hundreds of An electric plane capable of flying up to 1,000km Giuseppina Robucci, the oldest European Serbia yesterday postponed a nationwide math troops were injured yesterday during an kilometres from its natural Arctic habitat and with nine passengers made its debut at the and second oldest person in the world, died test for high school entry because copies were airborne operation, part of US-led multinational wandered, exhausted, into the major Russian Paris Airshow yesterday, with its manufacturer yesterday at the age of 116, Italian news agency found circulating among children ahead of the military drills in southern Bulgaria, a Bulgarian industrial city of Norilsk in northern Siberia. targeting regional commuter routes such as the Ansa reported. “We are sad, but at the same scheduled test time, Education Minister Mladen spokeswoman for the Swift Response 2019 The female, visibly weak and seemingly ill, lay French capital to the southern city of Toulouse. time honoured that we had her as a citizen,” Sarcevic told the Novosti daily. “Somebody opened exercise said. In a separate statement, the US despondently on the ground for hours yesterday Eviation Aircraft said the plane — called Alice — said Alfonso D’Aloiso, mayor of the southern the reserve package of tests and sold the math Army Europe said that an airborne jump at in Norilsk’s suburbs, its feet caked in mud, was a radical rethinking of the cost, experience Italian town of Poggio Imperiale where she paper. Police will investigate,” the daily quoted the Cheshnegirovo airfield was immediately occasionally rising to sniff around for food. It is and environmental impact of regional travel. The lived. “Nonna Peppa” (Grandma Peppa), as she Sarcevic. A copy of the test, which is supposed suspended in order to attend to the paratrooper. the first polar bear seen in the city in more than impact of air travel on the environment has become became known, was born on March 20, 1903. to remain secret until it is distributed to some “All casualties were immediately transported to 40 years, according to local environmentalists. a key focus and airlines have been looking at ways The Gerontology Research Group lists her as the 70,000 elementary school graduates to take it local hospitals where one was pronounced dead,” Oleg Krashevsky, a local wildlife expert who to address emissions through cleaner technologies. second-oldest living person in the world behind at the same time across the country, appeared the statement said. A source said the casualties filmed the polar bear close-up, said it was Following test flights this year and certification in Japan’s Kane Tanaka, who is also 116 years old. on social networks, Novosti said. The education were paratroopers who were jumping yesterday unclear what had brought the animal to the city, 2021, Eviation said it planned to begin shipping She was the oldest European ahead of France’s ministry announced the delay to tomorrow, a morning, in the dark and from a low height. although it was possible it had simply got lost. the aircraft for commercial use in 2022. Lucile Randon, who is 115. few hours before the scheduled start of the test.

Call to arms! EU delays decision on North Macedonia and Albania membership

AFP chief Jean-Claude Juncker pub- Luxembourg licly warned them to expect dis- appointment. Critics say enlarging the EU he European Union yes- further risks importing prob- terday delayed a decision lems, pointing to ongoing cor- Ton whether to open ac- ruption and justice issues in Ro- cession talks with Albania and mania and Bulgaria. North Macedonia until October, But supporters argue that dealing a fresh blow to the Balkan turning down new members states’ hopes. risks driving them into the arms The European Commission, of outside powers such as China the bloc’s executive arm, said last and Russia. month that both countries had North Macedonian Prime Min- carried out reforms demanded by ister Zoran Zaev warned earlier Brussels and formal membership this month that delaying the start talks should be launched. of talks could topple his govern- But some countries, notably ment and usher in nationalist, France and the Netherlands, are anti-EU forces, while Albanian reluctant to admit new members, premier Edi Rama has said trust while Germany has yet to get in the EU would be damaged if it parliamentary approval it needs did not keep its promises. to back talks, so the decision by EU Enlargement Commis- ministers meeting in Luxem- sioner Johannes Hahn said he bourg was widely expected. was “extremely confi dent we’ll “In light of the limited time get a green light in October” but available and the importance of warned member states not to fall the matter, the Council will re- into “indecision and inaction”. vert to the issue with a view to “Our collective credibility is at reaching a clear and substantive stake and our leverage for tough Hubert Germain, one of the last four veterans of the ‘Compagnons de la Liberation’, attends a ceremony yesterday commemorating General Charles De Gaulle’s June 1940 decision as soon as possible and reforms across the region are appeal for French Resistance against Nazi Germany, at the Mont Valerien National Memorial in Suresnes on the outskirts of Paris. no later than October 2019,” the equally at stake,” he told report- European Council, which groups ers, calling the delay “unfortu- member states, said after the nate”. talks. Highlighting deep divisions Albanian and Macedonian within the EU on the issue, 13 leaders have been shuttling members — mostly former com- through Brussels in recent weeks munist states in Eastern Europe, to push their cases ahead of yes- but also Italy and Austria — last terday’s meeting, but top EU offi - week published a joint call for cials including Council President talks with Skopje and Tirana to Only 8 EU members to Donald Tusk and Commission start immediately. Berlin’s ballooning rents phase out coal by 2030 to be frozen for 5 years

By Lachlan Carmichael, AFP tugal and Finland aim to do so by 2030, the research institute’s Paola Yanguas During its review yesterday, the com- Brussels the Spanish commissioner told a press Parra told AFP. mission said the bloc is on track to meet Reuters cording to a study by the online conference in Brussels. “This is highly inconsistent with the that goal but was falling short on its tar- Berlin housing portal immowelt.de. Standing by Canete, commission vice Paris Agreement, which requires a full get for renewable energy use and energy Berlin’s Senator for Urban De- he EU said yesterday that only president Maros Sefcovic called the phase out in the EU by 2030,” Yanguas savings. velopment and Housing, Katrin eight of its 28 member countries pledges “quite a signifi cant signal com- Parra said in an e-mail. Referring to coal plants, Canete said it erlin’s city government Lompscher, said the planned Taim to phase out coal-powered ing from quite an important number of “Germany, which currently accounts is “pretty clear” that fossil fuels have no yesterday decided to freeze fi ve-year freeze would apply electricity by 2030, triggering charges it member states.” for around one third of the EU’s coal ca- place in a carbon-neutral economy the Brents for fi ve years, heed- retroactively from June 18 — a is missing the mark under the Paris cli- The commission added that Germany, pacity, is discussing exiting coal between commission hopes EU countries endorse ing residents’ complaints that measure apparently designed mate deal. the EU’s most powerful economy and 2035 and 2038,” the policy analyst said. for 2050. their once famously aff ordable to prevent landlords rushing to The European Commission, the EU’s biggest polluter, has also indicated it will “It could provide a strong signal to its EU leaders set to meet in Brussels to- city was pricing them out. raise rents before the measure executive arm, said it received the pledg- set “an end date” for coal-based electric- European neighbours by moving away morrow and on Friday are to discuss the For decades after German uni- becomes law. es as contributions to the bloc’s eff orts to ity. from coal more quickly,” she added. proposal for zero greenhouse gas emis- fi cation in 1990, the capital was The Senate will prepare a bill deliver on the landmark 2015 deal. An EU offi cial told AFP the remain- The EU offi cial said meanwhile the sions, where the bloc produces no more a magnet for artists, musicians to be sent to the city’s parliament “More and more member states are ing 20 countries, including heavily coal- commission was also waiting for the ini- than it absorbs. and students drawn by housing by October 15. It is intended to making the political commitment to dependent Poland, had not submitted tial eight countries to detail how they will The World Wildlife Fund says 16 coun- far cheaper than in other ma- come into eff ect in January. phase out coal in the next decade,” EU timelines for weaning themselves off the achieve the coal phaseout. tries, including Germany, now endorse jor European cities — partly the Even though rents have risen, climate and energy commissioner Miguel fossil fuel. Not only must they show how they will the target. legacy of its decades marooned they are still cheap compared Arias Canete said. Berlin-based Climate Analytics said fi nance the shift but what green energy EU sources said leaders would more inside Communist East Germany with London or Paris. Canete said that among the European the impact of the pledges was limited as source they will use to replace coal, ac- likely support the goal at their summit in as a mere satellite of the capital- A two-bedroom apartment Union countries introducing or confi rm- the eight countries account for less than cording to the offi cial who spoke on con- December rather than this week’s meeting. ist West’s economy. in Berlin’s trendy Prenzlauer ing such timelines, France intends to 20% of the EU’s total installed coal ca- dition of anonymity. “There are too many coal-fi red power But around 40,000 people a Berg neighbourhood costs about phase out coal by 2022 — before Italy and pacity. Under the 2015 Paris treaty, the EU plants in eastern Europe that would have year have moved to Berlin in the $1,700 a month, about half the Ireland by 2025. Under current pledges, “40% of cur- pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by to be taken off the grid,” an EU diplomat last decade, and rents have more cost of a similar fl at in London’s Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Por- rent capacity will still be online in 2030,” 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. told AFP. than doubled since 2008, ac- Primrose Hill.

Alarm sounded over far-right threat after killing of pro-migrant German offi cial

By Hui Min Neo, AFP deutsche Zeitung daily reported. Markus Nierth — who quit his was chillingly reminiscent of Experts are pointing the fi n- Berlin If a far-right extremist po- voluntary village mayor post af- investigations into the killings ger at the anti-migrant AfD for litical motive is confi rmed, the ter receiving threats from the far of nine Turkish and Greek-born contributing to an atmosphere murder would be post-war Ger- right over his pro-migrant stance immigrants by the far-right mili- of hate. Extremist expert Gideon ermans have voiced shock many’s fi rst killing of a politician — said the killing revived memo- tant group National Socialist Un- Botsch estimated that the “next at the suspected far-right by a far-right perpetrator. ries of the weeks and months derground (NSU). 12 to 18 months could be ex- Gmurder of a pro-migrant Interior Minister Horst See- both he and his wife spent in fear. Investigators who worked on tremely dangerous”. offi cial, fuelling debate yesterday hofer, who called the killing “’We’ll get you at some point’ the 2000-2007 NSU murders “The enemy has been clearly on whether the country has failed an “alarm bell” for Germany, — that’s the message of this case,” looked in the wrong direction, chosen — the AfD contributed to to take seriously a rising threat acknowledged yesterday that he told the daily Berliner Zeitung. long suspecting that migrant this, Pegida too,” he said. “All these from neo-Nazis. “right-wing extremism is a sig- Nierth warned that politicians criminal gangs were to blame. forces that have offi cially distanced Prosecutors on Monday had said nifi cant and serious danger for who call for “more understand- In the Luebcke case too, “some themselves from violence have they suspected an extremist motive our society”. ing for the right-wing” fringes investigators did not want to ad- contributed a lot to incitement.” in the assassination-style shooting For the left-leaning Taz dai- need to wake up. mit the obvious — that a politician Germany’s domestic intel- of Kassel city administration chief ly, the case “must be a turning “In Walter Luebcke, a key inhi- was liquidated here because he ligence agency had said that the Walter Luebcke, 65, on June 2. point”. “We must speak about bition threshold has been crossed. stood up for Germany’s constitu- AfD’s Der Fluegel (The Wing) A suspect identifi ed as Stephan far-right terror, and in a very Suspected far-right terrorists tion,” said Sueddeutsche Zeitung. grouping, as well as the party’s E, 45, is in custody, with prosecu- diff erent way than before,” it have now done what they have Urging action, the daily noted youth organisation JA, were sus- tors saying he has multiple links warned, stressing that words dreamt about for years in their that like-minded militants were (From left) German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, president of pected of having ties with the ex- to the far-right scene. must be backed up by action to perverse fantasies of violence.” openly applauding the killing on the German Federal Criminal Police Office Holger Muench and tremist Identitarian Movement. Although prosecutors saw no counter the threat. Investigators into Luebcke’s social media. “Hate is seeping president of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (Bundesamt CDU lawmaker Michael Brand evidence so far that the man be- “We need a rigorous procedure murder had initially said there was from the fringes into the middle fuer Verfassungsschutz), Thomas Haldenwang give a press also accused the AfD of fanning longed to a “terrorist network”, against right-wing militants no evidence of an extremist mo- of society,” it said. conference in Berlin yesterday. the fl ames. the arresting judge pointed to and their structures — and also tive, before arresting Stephan E, a More than 12,000 far-right “It is true that only the hate clues for possible “accomplices against the digital mob and the former member of the neo-Nazi extremists across the country are reaches of far-right extremism, Some 38 investigations were and incitement of the last years or confi dants” after a witness verbal lashing from (Islamopho- NPD, more than two weeks later. rated dangerous, according to of- the Sueddeutsche daily also cited under way against police offi cers could have made this possible,” reported hearing two cars on the bic movement) Pegida to (the far- Observers said the initial fail- fi cial statistics. several cases in which law en- in Hesse state over right-wing he said. “Anyone who doesn’t see night of the shooting, the Sued- right party) AfD.” ure to draw a link to the far right Painting a dark picture of the forcers themselves were tainted. extremism issues. that is blind.” Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 17 INDIA

Police launch suicide inquiry into death of Indian ‘Houdini’

AFP The body of the so-called “Ja- port police, told AFP. when he began his act an hour Kolkata’s mayor, Debashis Ku- young, he always wanted to per- show that cost him his life. He Kolkata dugar Mandrake” (Wizard Man- “The investigation is also un- earlier than he had told authori- mar, was invited by Lahiri to see form magic. Swimming with tied needed a little more practice for drake) was only recovered on der section 306 of the penal code ties, Raza added. the stunt. hands and feet in the village pond such a stunt.” Monday, still shackled, from the - abetment to suicide.” Most of the conditions set out “When he plunged into the was one of his fi rst stunts. Inspired by the late American olice said yesterday they Hooghly river, a tributary of the Lahiri had not received per- in the authorisation letter were river, I was told that he would re- “As a teenager, he would also magician Harry Houdini, Lahiri were investigating whether Ganges. mission to perform in the water, also ignored, Raza added. surface within 10 minutes. But it cycle and drive blindfolded,” added said he had pulled off a similar Pa stunt artist deliberately Kolkata police said they had he added. With chains around his arms did not happen,” Kumar told AFP. the woman, now in her 70s. escapade 21 years ago at the same drowned himself while perform- started an “abetment to suicide” “Lahiri never mentioned in his and legs, Lahiri was lowered by a “I had no idea that I would be a Magician P C Sorcar Junior venue. ing a Houdini-inspired escape investigation against Lahiri’s authorisation letter that he was winch from a boat into the river witness to such a drama.” said he believed the stunt was “I was inside a bulletproof act in a Kolkata river. company. going to jump into the river,” said in his yellow and red costume and Magic Belt India is owned by badly planned. glass box tied with chains and Chanchal Lahiri died on Sun- “A negligence case has been the offi cer. orange wig. Lahiri’s family, including his wife “I am sad to hear the news,” locks and dropped down from day in front of horrifi ed onlook- initiated against Chanchal La- “We wonder why he was in But the 40-year-old failed and children. said Sorcar, the son of one of In- Howrah bridge. Then I came out ers who watched as the chained hiri’s company, Magic Belt In- such a rush to perform the stunt. to re-emerge, to the horror of Uma Lahiri, the stuntman’s dia’s most renowned magicians. within 29 seconds,” he said. magician was lowered into the dia,” Syed Waquar Raza, depu- It’s a mystery to us.” scores of onlookers including his mother, did not comment on the “I think there were shortcom- Lahiri admitted it would be river but never reappeared. ty commissioner of Kolkota’s River traffi c police were absent family and support team. death but said: “When he was ings in the preparations for the tougher this time. BJP leader set to be elected as Lok Sabha speaker today

IANS student and is known to be close New Delhi/Jaipur to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). He has also been the Akhil m Birla, the Bharatiya Ja- Bharatiya Janata Yuva Mocha na- nata Party’s two-time MP tional vice president as well as Ofrom Rajasthan, is the rul- the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha ing alliance’s nominee for the post state president in Rajasthan. of speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Birla made a strong contribu- He is set to be elected today, tion to the BJP particularly when with at least 10 parties, includ- he was the parliamentary secre- ing outside the BJP-led coalition, tary in the Rajasthan government committing their support to his from 2004 to 2008. candidature. His wife Amita Birla said it was The name of 56-year-old Birla a happy and proud moment for the was proposed by Prime Minister family. Narendra Modi, Home Minister For the last 35 years, Birla had Amit Shah, Defence Minister Ra- been working from the booth level jnath Singh and Transport Minis- to strengthen the party, Rajasthan ter Nitin Gadkari, Parliamentary BJP spokesperson Amit Goyal said, Aff airs Minister Pralhad Joshi told adding he had leadership qualities. reporters in New Delhi. Through his nomination, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar speaks with doctors at a hospital where children suff ering from encephalitis are undergoing treatment, in Muzaff arpur yesterday. He said 10 parties have com- prime minister had given a mes- mitted their support to his candi- sage that anyone working for the dature and that even the main op- party honestly and with dedica- position Congress may not oppose tion would be given the highest him. position, BJP MLA in Rajasthan The parties include National Satish Punia said. Democratic Alliance constituents Punia said that Birla was the Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal second leader from Rajasthan after (United), Lok Janshakti Party, the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Anger mounts as Bihar All India Anna Dravida Munne- vice president of India, to be given tra Kazhagam, Apna Dal, National such a big constitutional post. People’s Party (NPP) and Mizo “This gives a strong message to National Front (MNF). party cadre - work hard and you From outside the NDA, the par- shall be rewarded,” he added. ties which have committed their In Jaipur, supporters of the Birla support are YSR Congress Party gathered outside his house to cel- brain fever toll hits 113 and the Biju Janata Dal, Joshi said. ebrate his nomination. He had also sought support Many also burst fi recrackers. AFP He warned that the toll may Devi called the deaths “cold- typically coinciding with the ly- deaths could have “easily been from Congress leader Ghulam Sources said by naming Birla Patna rise with fresh cases trickling in, blooded murder”. chee season. prevented with some foresight Nabi Azad and felt the party may Modi and Shah have again given as dozens undergo treatment in “Children are dying because Apart from 2014 when a and early care”. not oppose Birla. preference to competence over packed hospital wards. of a lack of medicines and treat- record 357 children died in the It said in 2014 an Indo-US ex- Birla will succeed 76-year-old seniority. en more children died Television images showed ment,” she tweeted. state, the annual death toll is pert team had saved 74% of sick Sumitra Mahajan, who did not True to the Modi-Shah style, yesterday from a mysteri- several children to a bed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar usually much lower. children through a simple medi- contest the Lok Sabha election not many knew about their choice Tous brain fever potentially Yesterday, dozens of people yesterday faced angry protesters Several years ago US research- cal intervention. this time. till the last moment. linked to lychees, offi cials said, gathered outside the main hos- as he made his fi rst visit to the ers said the brain disease could be “It is appalling that this year The candidature of Birla, elect- But a number of factors went in taking the death toll to 113 this pital in Muzaff arpur to accuse state-run Sri Krishna Medical linked to a toxic substance found the government failed to raise ed for a second successive term his favour, said the sources. Being month and sparking angry pro- local authorities of acting too College, where most of the chil- in lychees, the tropical fruit. awareness on this strategy.” from Kota, is a surprise as there close to the RSS his offi cial residence tests in Bihar. slowly and of not caring. dren have died. They also said more study Bihar is one of India’s poor- are BJP leaders like Maneka Gan- in Delhi was often used for hosting Sixty children, mostly under The state’s health minister Reporters were barred from was needed to uncover the cause est states and home to almost dhi and Virendra Kumar who have the organisation’s functions. the age of 10 and malnourished, came in for particular criticism entering the facility, and the of the illness, known locally as 100mn people. been elected to the lower house of Birla is also close to Shah as well are undergoing treatment after after asking reporters about the families of sick children were Chamki Bukhar, which is fatal in It has also been hit by a heat- parliament multiple times. as Modi from their early days. an outbreak of Acute Encepha- score in India’s cricket match kept away from the premises. a third of cases. wave in recent weeks with tem- However, this is not the fi rst In terms of caste factor, Birla litis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaf- against Pakistan on Sunday dur- The disease sets in rapidly and The National Human Rights peratures of 45 degrees Celsius such case. Manohar Joshi of Shiv belongs to the Vaishya commu- farpur district of the state. ing a news conference on the is characterised by plummeting Commission has asked Prime that has left 91 people dead since Sena became the speaker in his nity, a section which has been a Bihar health department of- crisis. blood sugar, high fever, convul- Minister Narendra Modi’s gov- the weekend. very fi rst term in 2002. traditional BJP supporter but was fi cial Ashok Kumar Singh told “Bihar’s Health Minister sions and paralysis. ernment and the Bihar state Most of the children aff ected Birla, a Masters in Commerce, antagonised because of the impo- AFP that ten children died yes- Mangal Pandey seems more It is caused by viruses, bacte- authorities to report any “pos- by the brain fever come from has earlier been a member of the sition of the Goods and Services terday, taking the overall death worried about cricket score than ria and toxins spread in diff erent sible fl aw” in implementation of poor families who struggle to get Rajasthan assembly thrice from Tax (GST). count in June to 113. the death of children,” tweeted ways. vaccination and awareness pro- even one healthy meal a day. 2003. Birla’s nomination as speaker is “Six children were discharged Congress party spokesman Ran- Outbreaks have occurred an- grammes. Often the kids gorge on free- Born on November 23, 1962, the party’s attempt to reach out to after being treated for AES,” deep Surjewala. nually during summer months An editorial in The Hindu growing lychees on an empty he started his political career as a the community. Singh said. Former chief minister Rabri in the same districts since 1995, newspaper yesterday said the stomach.

Won’t allow thieves to stay Family branches out in Trinamool, says Mamata with novel tree house

AFP in Hindi, is considered sacred by IANS plead with any defectors to re- cape the legal action by switch- Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh many in India and cutting one Kolkata turn. ing parties. down is considered inauspicious. “Do not plead anybody to “There is a new trend. Those The family also wanted to send come back to the party. Just who are corrupt are running away hen the Kesharwanis the message that people can put day after 12 Trinamool stop it. It is not required. Some from the party as soon as we start decided to branch out down roots in the middle of na- Congress councillors MLAs have not worked in the the audit. They are thinking that Wand expand their fam- ture without destroying any- Aand a legislator switched last three-four years and are now they will be saved by register- ily home, they came up with a thing. over to the Bharatiya Janata planning to shift to another party ing themselves under a diff erent novel way of dealing with an an- The four-storey building is Party, West Bengal Chief Minis- in the greed of money and petrol party. But they are wrong. If they cient giant fi g tree in their garden a local landmark because of its ter Mamata Banerjee yesterday pumps. I have all the news. Those misuse the government’s money, - they built the house around it. unique facade. claimed she does not want to who want to leave, leave quickly. they will have to pay the conse- Now the thick trunk of the Leafy branches jut out from keep “thieves” in her party, and Let us start our work. We have quences,” Banerjee said. 150-year-old tree is the central the windows, dwarfi ng the asked those who are planning to prepared new workers every- “Some of them have converted feature of their residence, grow- building and prompting curious leave to do so immediately so that where,” she said. all the government properties in ing through the middle of the looks from passersby. fresh faces can take their places. Banerjee’s remarks came their own names and their fam- building in the city of Jabalpur. “When the house was fi rst “Those who want to stay in against the backdrop of three ily. They have converted the “We are nature lovers and my built, engineering students used Trinamool Congress should legislators and a majority of government lands, parks, wa- father insisted that we keep the to come here to try and under- know that it is not a weak party. If councillors from fi ve municipali- ter bodies in their name. Do not tree,” said Yogesh Kesharwani, stand the unique design,” Kes- 15-20 councillors leave by taking ties in the state defecting to the spare them,” she said. whose parents built the house in harwani said. money, I do not care. It will not BJP, since general election results The chief minister also warned 1994 with the help of an engineer The tree has never caused any impact our party. We will take last month. her party men not to take cut- friend. practical problems to the family, new people but will not keep the Accusing some municipal money from people for imple- “The tree is some 150 years insisted Kesharwani. thieves within the party,” Baner- bodies of misusing government menting government welfare old. We knew it was easy to cut “We don’t even realise that jee said. property and extorting money schemes and said strict actions the tree but diffi cult to grow one the tree exists because it doesn’t The Trinamool Congress su- from people, Banerjee said none will be initiated against the of- Branches of a peepal tree are seen protruding from the like it,” he told AFP. come in our way. It just stands premo urged party leaders not of those leaders will be able to es- fenders. Kesharwani family’s house in Jabalpur. The fi g tree, known as peepal there silently.” Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 INDIA

CRIME POLITICS CONTROVERSY INVESTIGATION CONSPIRACY Woman, 60, beaten to BJP activist murdered, Delhi court allows clinic to NIA custody of terror Mumbai NGO accused death by son-in-law party blames Trinamool continue stem cell treatment funding accused extended of FCRA violations

A 60-year-old woman was allegedly beaten A Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing activist was The Delhi High Court has allowed a private A Delhi court yesterday allowed the National The Central Bureau of Investigation yesterday to death by her son-in-law with an iron rod killed yesterday in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar clinic to continue with the stem cell treatment Investigation Agency (NIA) to question Mohamed said it had registered a case against Mumbai- in New Delhi following a heated argument, district as post-poll violence continue to rock the being given to the patients till further Arif Ghulambashir Dharampuria for seven days in based NGO ‘Lawyers Collective’ and its president police said yesterday. Rajesh, 44, has been state. The saff ron party has accused the state’s orders. The court’s interim order came while connection with the Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation Anand Grover for alleged violation of foreign arrested. “During investigation, it came to light ruling Trinamool Congress of being behind the hearing various petitions challenging the (FIF) terror funding case. Additional Sessions currency rules. The CBI said, it registered the case that Rajesh used to beat his wife Vimla often. murder. “Ananda Pal, a 28-year-old Bharatiya government’s decision to put stem cell therapy Judge Pawan Kumar Jain extended Dharampuria’s of violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulations) On Monday night, Vimla was again beaten by Janata Yuba Morcha (BJYM) activist is brutally in the category of new drugs. The petitioners custody for another seven days. He was presented Act (FCRA), criminal conspiracy and criminal Rajesh after which she went to her mother’s murdered by Trinamool Congress goons in Cooch were getting stem cell treatment at Nutech before the court on expiry of his five-day NIA breach of trust on June 13, after receiving a Home house,” said an officer. On Tuesday around Behar district’s Natabari area. “Does (Chief Minister) Mediworld Clinic in Green Park of New Delhi. custody. Dharampuria, a resident of Valsad in Ministry report. Unknown off icials of the NGO, 11am Rajesh went to his mother-in-law’s house Mamata Banerjee have no mercy? This is the The court said all details of treatment being Gujarat, was arrested from the Delhi airport on private persons and public servants have also and confronted her. “They had a heated darkest hour in Bengal’s history,” the BJP said in provided to the petitioners be placed on June 12. Dharampuria had been hiding in Dubai been made accused in the FIR. The complaint argument. Later Rajesh hit his mother-in-law a social media post. Just a few days back, the BJP record with an aff idavit. The court has sought for long. The NIA had issued a Look Out Circular from the Home Ministry said that the NGO was with a rod,” he added. Police said Rajesh and claimed that another party worker, identified as a response from the federal government and (LOC) against him and he was detained at the registered for carrying out social activities and it Vimla were married for 25 years. “We have Saraswati Das, was killed in Bengal’s Basirhat district. the Indian Council of Medical Research. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on received Rs32.39 crore from 2006-07 to 2014-15. arrested the accused under relevant sections The incident was preceded by violent clashes court has asked the authorities to examine his arrival from Dubai. This was the fifth arrest in However, the violation of the FCRA was noticed while the weapon used in the crime has between Trinamool and BJP workers in North 24 whether the products being administered the case related to receiving of terror funds being in 2010, the complaint said. In May this year, the been recovered,” he said adding that further Parganas district’s Sandeshkhali where at least to the petitioners fall within the scope of the sent by FIF operators to their associates through NGO was issued a notice by the Supreme Court investigation is on. two BJP and one Trinamool workers were killed. expression ‘new drugs’. hawala operators to create unrest in India. for the alleged violations.

Steps being taken to supply drinking water W Bengal MP to Chennai: Palaniswami named leader IANS Chennai

he Tamil Nadu govern- ment is taking steps to Tsupply drinking water to of Congress people, Chief Minister K Palan- iswami said yesterday. With reservoirs supplying water to Chennai drying up and ground water levels plummeting in the absence of rain, water has become scarce. People are using water sup- in Lok Sabha plied through tankers for drinking and washing as the ground water IANS as chairperson of the CPP on June by his own party leaders. levels have gone down, he said. New Delhi 1, party leaders had empowered Stressing on the importance The reservoirs - Cholavaram her to name the party leader and of an active opposition in de- (full capacity 1,081 million cubic the chief whip in the Lok Sabha. mocracy, Modi on Monday told feet) and Redhills (3,300 mcft) enior Congress leader The Congress is again set to them not to bother about their - which cater to the Chennai’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lose the position of Leader of numbers and instead actively water needs are dry while the Swas yesterday named the Opposition post in the lower take part in the Lok Sabha’s pro- storage at Poondi reservoir is 24 leader of Congress in the Lok house as it is two seats short of ceedings. mcft as against a full capacity of Sabha by United Progressive Al- the requirement. Before taking oath as a mem- 3,231 mcft, according to Chennai liance chairperson and Congress The Congress won 52 out of ber on the fi rst day of the 17th Metropolitan Water Supply and Parliamentary Party chief Sonia 542 seats. As per rules, a party Lok Sabha, Modi said the role of Sewerage Board (Chennai Metro). Gandhi. needs one-tenth of the total an “opposition and an active op- The Chembarambakkam lake According to top Congress seats (54) to lay claim for the position is important in a parlia- (full capacity 3,645 mcft) has a sources, the letter nominating Leader of the Opposition’s post. mentary democracy”. water level of just 1 mcft. Chowdhury, an MP from Be- Later, Sonia Gandhi chaired a Yesterday when former prime Palaniswami said water from hrampur in West Bengal, and a meeting of leaders of constitu- minister Manmohan Singh and desalination projects is also be- former central minister, as party ent parties and other allies to Rahul Gandhi along with a host ing distributed and urged the leader in the lower house of par- discuss their fl oor plan during of senior party leaders met at citizens to co-operate with the liament was sent to the Lok Sab- the budget session. Sonia Gandhi’s residence to dis- government as ground water will ha Secretariat. The meeting was attended cuss the party’s strategy, Chaud- be supplied for the next four-fi ve Chowdhury himself con- by Congress president Rahul hary said: “If the prime minis- months till rains begin in Octo- fi rmed his nomination as the Gandhi, Chowdhury, Com- ter’s message is delivered to his ber-November. leader of Congress in Lok Sabha munist Party of India leader D ministers or juniors then it will Regarding water from the Tel- and said he would fulfi l his re- Raja, Kanimozhi and T R Baalu be benefi cial for all. ugu Ganga Scheme or Krishna sponsibilities. of the Dravida Munnetrw Ka- “What the prime minister is Water, Palaniswami said water “We will raise our issues with zhagam, Nationalist Congress preaching is most of the time could be released to Tamil Nadu priority. The number of MPs Party MP Supriya Sule, National not being implemented by their only if there is 8 tmc of water in does not matter. I will fulfi l my Conference chief Farooq Abdul- party leaders.” Kadaleru dam in Andha Pradesh. responsibility given to me by the lah, VCK leader Thirumaavalan General secretary Priyanka The water level at the dam is party,” Chowdhury told IANS. Thol, RSP leader N K Premach- Gandhi Vadra reached her moth- presently about 4 tmc. Palan- One of two Congress MPs andran, IUML leader P K Kunha- er’s residence just minutes after iswami also said that water from from West Bengal and a former likutty, and KC-M leader Tho- the key meeting ended. the Mettur Dam is being released state party chief, Chowdhury mas Chazhikadan. Source said as the Congress to fi ll the Veeranam lake to sup- said that relations with the Party sources said that the is the biggest opposition in Lok ply drinking water to Chennai. state’s ruling Trinamool Con- leaders discussed the opposi- Sabha, a big responsibility lies Meanwhile, a severe heatwave gress are competitive at state tion plans to deal with the BJP- on the party to play a key role in killed 12 more people in Bihar level and the situation changes led NDA in parliament during providing a strong opposition on in the past 24 hours, taking the when it comes to national level, the budget session on issues like the fl oor of the House. death toll over the past three adding that the strategy would ‘one nation, one election’, triple On Monday, senior Congress days to 90, offi cials said. be formulated accordingly. talaq and others. leader and Rajya Sabha MP However unoffi cially, the Asked about Prime Minister In the budget session, the Anand Sharma had given a sense heatwave has claimed more than Narendra Modi’s invitation for a Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha of the party’s line – the govern- 250 lives in three days across a meeting of presidents of all po- would have 30 and 27 sittings ment should end the ordinance dozen districts. Deaths were re- litical parties today, Chowdhury respectively between June 17 culture and respect parliamen- ported from Aurangabad, Gaya, A man runs on a street through heavy rain in Ajmer in Rajasthan yesterday. Pre-monsoon rains have said a decision will be taken by and July 26. Meanwhile, the tary process, important bills Nawada and Jamui districts, arrived in Rajasthan in the aftermath of Cyclone Vayu that had earlier hit India’s west coast, while the party. Congress yesterday responded should be sent to Parliamentary where temperatures hovered the onset of monsoon season was moving slowly up the subcontinent – in some parts a week or The Congress is yet to an- to Modi’s advice to the opposi- Committees and then discussed around 45.8 to 42 degrees Cel- more behind normal schedule, according to the meteorology agency. However, several other states nounce the name of its chief whip. tion, saying his words were most in the house too, before being sius on June 15, 16 and 17. are in the grip of a severe heatwave. After Sonia Gandhi was elected of the time not implemented passed as laws. Four jailed for life over Practice session Woman accuses CPM leader’s son of rape

Ayodhya terror attack came to know that he was al- IANS Thiruvananthapuram ready married, the woman regis- IANS curity of a makeshift temple in terday were arrested after mo- tered a police complaint. Prayagraj Ayodhya. bile surveillance revealed their “This is blackmailing and I Five terrorists subsequently involvement in the terror at- he communist Party of will deal this case legally. With attempted to attack the “Sita tack. India (Marxist) in Kerala regards to her allegation of the ourteen years after a ter- Rasoi” and also blew up a jeep Of them, Irfan, who hails Tis facing fresh trouble, af- girl child, today there are ways ror attack on Ayodhya by near the site. from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharan- ter police in Mumbai registered a through which one can scientifi - FJaish-e-Mohamed oper- All the fi ve were later gunned pur district, was arrested on case against senior leader Kodiy- cally examine the parentage and atives, a special court yesterday down by the Central Reserve July 22, 2005 while others, all eri Balakrishnan’s eldest son I am ready for it,” said Binoy. convicted four of the accused Police Force in an hour-long residents of Poonch in Jammu Binoy Kodiyeri. Binoy along with his brother and sentenced them to life im- gunfi ght. and Kashmir, were arrested on A 33-year-old woman has al- Bineesh were in the news last prisonment. Two civilians – Ramesh Pan- July 28, 2005. leged that she has been sexually year after cases of fi nancial fraud The court has also imposed dey and Shanti Devi – were also They had provided logistic exploited by Binoy Kodiyeri. The were registered against them in a fi ne of Rs40,000 each on the killed in the crossfi re. and material support to the CPM leader’s son though has de- Dubai. convicts – Asif Iqbal, Moham- Five assault rifl es, hand gre- Jaish-e-Mohamed terrorists. nied the charges calling it a case Meanwhile, the CPM’s na- ed Shakeel, Irfan, and Moham- nades, cartridges, fi ve pistols, a Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister of blackmail. tional leadership has distanced ed Naseem. rocket launcher and documents Yogi Adityanath welcomed the The Mumbai-based woman, itself from the case. Mohammad Aziz was ac- were later recovered from the verdict. who hails from Bihar, has also While party general secretary quitted for lack of substantial slain terrorists. In a statement, Adityanath claimed that she has an eight- Sitaram Yechury told reporters in evidence. Seven CRPF personnel were said that the state government year-old daughter with Binoy New Delhi that he was not aware All the convicts are lodged in also injured in the exchange of would study the judgment and Kodiyeri. of the case, politburo member the Naini central jail in Praya- fi re, three of them seriously. appeal against the acquittal According to the complaint, Brinda Karat said the party had graj in Uttar Pradesh and had Delivering the verdict, spe- of the fi fth suspect in a higher Binoy and the woman were in a nothing to do with the case. been charged with attempted cial judge Dinesh Chand said court. relationship since 2008, when “This has nothing to do with murder and criminal conspir- that those involved in the con- The chief minister added she was working at a dance bar the party and it will not inter- acy. spiracy behind the 2005 attack that offi cials had been asked to in Dubai. fere with it. This has to be dealt On July 5, 2005, a terrorist were equally guilty as those ensure that others booked in Students attend a yoga lesson at a school ahead of She said Binoy had promised by the person himself and the attempted a suicide bombing who actually carried it out. similar cases get strict punish- International Yoga Day in Ahmedabad, Gujarat yesterday. to marry her, but despite several party will not protect anyone,” attack after breaching the se- The fi ve men convicted yes- ment. pleas he cheated her. After she she said. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA

POLITICS CRIME CORPORATE AVIATION DECISION All political prisoners Man who paid Ortiz Codelco’s Chuquicamata Brazil allows foreign Mexico president proposes freed, claims Nicaragua shooter identified mine output hit by strike airlines to operate locally recall referendum

Nicaragua’s government yesterday said it Dominican authorities have identified the man Chile’s Codelco said its Chuquicamata copper Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has signed a Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had released all political prisoners though the they say paid for the attempted hit on former mine, one of the world’s largest, had maintained bill into law allowing foreign airlines to operate yesterday proposed holding a recall referendum opposition maintains that more than 80 remain Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz. In a statement, output at 50% of capacity despite an union domestic flights in Latin America’s largest on his presidency on March 21, 2021 if Congress behind bars. The two parties had set June 18 as the attorney general’s off ice named the alleged strike. More than 3,000 unionised workers at air market, a move that could usher in new cannot agree to a constitutional change permitting the deadline for the release of political prisoners mastermind behind the shooting as Alberto the world’s top copper producer’s sprawling competition or lead foreign carriers to buy up the the vote during mid-term legislative elections. in talks that later stalled. President Daniel Ortega’s Miguel Rodriguez, who is a fugitive from justice. Chuquicamata copper mine walked off the job local players. The bill had started as an executive Lopez Obrador took off ice in December vowing to government has released nearly 500 inmates Ortiz was shot in the back on June 9 while he was last week after failing to reach a labour deal order issued by former president Michel Temer give the public a chance to vote him out of off ice since February. All detainees “implicated in in a nightclub in his hometown Santo Domingo. earlier this week with Codelco. Chile’s state-run in the last days of his tenure in late 2018. Brazil’s halfway through his six-year term, but the plan violent events since April 2018,” when anti- Doctors removed his gallbladder and part of his miner said it has scrambled to put to work some Congress made the measure permanent last has met resistance in the Senate from opposition government protests started, now “enjoy colon and intestines, and he also sustained liver 1,400 miners, most of whom pertain to unions month, but included some changes that required lawmakers concerned about its implications. The freedom,” the government said. The opposition damage. Ortiz, 43, was first treated in his native which earlier struck contract deals with the a presidential signature. Bolsonaro signed the Senate is due to debate Lopez Obrador’s recall plan Civic Alliance, tweeted that it demanded “the Dominican Republic and then flown to Boston last company and had opted not joined the strike. bill into law but vetoed a section of the bill that this week, when it will be in session to consider immediate and definitive release of the more than Monday for a second operation. So far 10 people “For now we are maintaining at 50%, but we are would have banned carriers from charging ratifying the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement to 80 political prisoners who are still being held.” have been taken into custody over the attack. working towards 60%,” Codelco said. customers certain baggage fees. replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. Quito decision to allows US use of airstrip sparks anger

Guardian News and Media eration against drug traffi cking”. Quito He said the US aircraft – spe- cially equipped to trace small craft which might be carrying drugs – he Galapagos Islands are would pass through the airbase at the centre of a political once or twice a month to refuel, or Trow in Ecuador after the to make an emergency stop. government agreed to allow US “The argument that it would anti-narcotics planes to use an have an environmental impact is airstrip on the archipelago. totally false,” Valencia added. Dozens of people demon- The islands receive 252 tourist strated outside the main govern- fl ights every month and a total of ment offi ce in Quito to protest 3,097 in 2018, he explained. against a plan they described as a Drug traffi cking is a growing Deputies of the National Assembly struggle with members of the Bolivarian National Guard to allow journalists and technicians access the plenary meeting of the National threat to the world heritage site’s problem in Ecuador. The former Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. unique environment – and an head of the general directorate attack on Ecuador’s sovereignty. of civil aviation was arrested The Galapagos Islands, 563 on Sunday in connection with miles west of the South Ameri- the 2018 seizure of more than can continent, are renowned for a tonne of cocaine, along with their unique plants and wildlife. a current offi cial of the same Unesco describes the archipel- agency, three soldiers and an ago – visited by a quarter of a active-duty police offi cer. Venezuela lawmaker freed million tourists every year – as a “There is not nor will there be “living museum and a showcase a foreign military base,” Norman for evolution”. Wray, president of the Galapagos Ecuador’s defence minister, government council, said in a Oswaldo Jarrín, provoked patri- statement last week. otic and environmental outrage But the islands’ governor did last week when he said that US admit to a deal with the US to ahead of UN rights chief visit aircraft would be able to use the improve the runway at the San airbase on San Cristobal Island, Cristobal airport while allow- AFP and National Assembly leader sive force used by the security One of them is Guaido’s dep- Six trucks moved the supplies and described the islands as a ing the “refuelling of two planes Caracas Juan Guaido. services in response to legiti- uty Edgar Zambrano, who is in to a Red Cross warehouse in Ca- “natural aircraft carrier”. monitoring illegal activities in The opposition leader, mate protests. custody. racas. The former Ecuadorian presi- the extensive marine reserve”. He Guaido, declared himself in- She has also criticised US Caro was previously arrested The shipment seeks to dent Rafael Correa tweeted: said the US aircraft would moni- enezuela has freed an terim president earlier this year, sanctions against Maduro’s in January 2017 on accusations mitigate a severe shortage of “Galapagos is NOT an ‘aircraft tor drug traffi cking and illegal opposition legislator and has been recognised by government, cautioning that of plotting an armed revolt drugs and hospital supplies carrier’ for gringo use. It is an fi shing, particularly from foreign Vwho spent almost two the US and more than 50 other they were exacerbating the cri- against Maduro but was freed in Venezuela, which has suf- Ecuadorian province, world her- fi shing fl eets. months behind bars, parliament countries. sis and possibly hurting “peo- 17 months later without being fered more than four years of itage site, homeland.” Last week, lawmakers in Quito announced, ahead of a visit by Guaido’s opposition-con- ple’s basic rights and well-be- convicted. recession and hyper-inflation Correa – once a close ally but voted to summon Jarrin and the UN High Commissioner for trolled assembly has eff ectively ing.” Meanwhile, Venezuela on marked by shortages of basic now a bitter enemy of his suc- Environment Minister, Marcelo Human Rights Michelle Bache- been sidelined by a separate The oil-rich country is suf- Monday received a second necessities such as food and cessor, Lenin Moreno – accused Mata, to explain the scope of the let. body, the pro-Maduro Constit- fering from hyperinfl ation and shipment of Red Cross human- medicine. the government of capitulating co-operation with the US on the Gilber Caro, 45, had been in uent Assembly. shortages of basic goods from itarian aid, including 24 tonnes The United Nations says a to US pressure. Correa closed islands, which are considered custody since his arrest by in- Bachelet’s offi ce said she will food to medicine, a crisis that of medical supplies and gen- quarter of its 30mn population a US military base in Manta in one of the last near pristine wil- telligence agents on April 26 for meet both Maduro and Guaido has forced millions to fl ee. erators provided by Panama, is in urgent need of aid. 2008, changing the constitution dernesses on the planet. unclear reasons. “The deputy during her trip beginning to- Caro was arrested just before intended for hospitals to help Maduro authorised entry of to ban foreign military bases on Opposition MP Brenda Flor Gilber Caro never should have day. a failed April 30 uprising when address the country’s acute the fi rst Red Cross shipment Ecuadorian soil and in 2014 or- said the archipelago should be been imprisoned. He is now She will also hold talks with Guaido appeared surrounded by health crisis. in April after signing an agree- dered all US defence department considered a “living and unique out from behind bars but like all civil society leaders and “vic- about 30 military personnel. In a statement, the Ven- ment with the International staff to leave the country. laboratory which we must pro- Venezuelans still has no free- tims of human rights violations Clashes between protesters ezuelan Red Cross said it had Committee of the Red Cross But Ecuador’s Foreign Min- tect”. dom,” the National Assembly and abuses,” the UN rights of- and security forces left several received “medicines, medical (ICRC), in the middle of a power ister, Jose Valencia, told the Jarrin said his “aircraft car- said on Twitter. fi ce said. people dead and the Supreme supplies and power generators” struggle with Guaido. Guardian that Correa’s argu- rier” remark was a reference to Venezuela is caught in an Bachelet, a former president Court has charged at least 14 that will be distributed in hos- The Red Cross said it sent the ment sought to “maliciously the islands’ geographic location economic crisis and a politi- of Chile, has been critical of National Assembly deputies pitals across the country, which second shipment from its lo- distort what was completely in the Pacifi c Ocean rather than cal standoff between President Maduro’s crackdown on oppo- with involvement and branded is experiencing the worst crisis gistics centre in Panama to the legitimate international co-op- a place where aircraft could land. Nicolas Maduro’s government nents, particularly of the exces- them as traitors. in its recent history. Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Truck drivers protest Brazil fi rm Odebrecht fi les Bolsonaro picks for bankruptcy protection new BNDES chief Reuters the new head of BNDES is ex- Brasilia pected to return funds to the AFP protection was precipitated by Colombia and other countries, Treasury and open up an in- Sao Paulo the suspension of the sale of sending former presidents and vestigation of loans awarded the group’s interest in Braskem senior offi cials to jail. razilian President Jair by the development bank dur- — a joint petrochemical com- Once one of the most infl u- Bolsonaro’s government ing previous leftist govern- candal-ridden Brazil con- pany formed with Petrobras — to ential people in Brazil, company Bhas named a 38-year-old ments. struction giant Odebre- Dutch fi rm LyondellBasell, and chief Marcelo Odebrecht was banking executive as the head Frustration over Levy’s re- Scht, which has admitted the May fi ling for bankruptcy sentenced to 19 years in prison of development bank BNDES, sistance to fi re a bank execu- to spending nearly $800mn protection by Odebrecht Atvos, for his role in the scandal — al- replacing Joaquim Levy, who tive who had worked under to bribe offi cials across Latin the second-largest ethanol pro- though he is now serving a re- resigned on Sunday after Bol- Workers Party president Dil- America to win contracts, has ducer in the country. duced sentence in his luxurious sonaro publicly criticised him. ma Rousseff led Bolsonaro to fi led for bankruptcy protection, Odebrecht, which is cur- Sao Paulo mansion. The economy ministry said say last week that his days at judicial sources said. rently in the process of selling Dozens of politicians have be- Gustavo Montezano, its pri- BNDES were numbered and Company lawyers fi led a re- assets to limit its debt, has thus come embroiled in the aff air, in- vatisation secretary charged there was a “price on his head.” quest with the bankruptcy court found itself in an even more cluding former Brazil presidents with advancing the divestiture Levy, an internationally re- in Sao Paulo to negotiate debts of precarious position vis-a-vis Michel Temer and Luiz Inacio of state assets, was named to spected economist, was Bra- more than $20bn, offi cials quot- its creditors. Lula da Silva, who is serving a run BNDES, one of the world’s zil’s fi nance minister during ed by Brazilian media said. Founded in 1944, Odebrecht 12-year jail sentence for accept- largest development banks. Rousseff ’s government and The demand makes it the S.A. has long been one of Bra- ing bribes from the company. Montezano is a former ex- later was managing director biggest debt protection process zil’s economic giants, building Peru is the other country ecutive at Banco BTG Pactual and World Bank Group chief in Brazilian history, exceeding everything from the Miami Heat hardest-hit by the scandal: SA and had served in London fi nancial offi cer until he ac- that of telecom provider Oi in basketball arena to a hydroelec- Odebrecht has admitted paying as chief operating offi cer at cepted the job heading BNDES. 2016. tric dam in Angola. at least $29mn in bribes to Peru- Engelhart Commodities Trad- Brazil’s lower house speaker, The procedure allows Odebre- Often described as a con- vian offi cials since 2004. ing Partners, which is owned by Rodrigo Maia, said he regretted cht to maintain its business ac- struction company, Odebrecht Offi cials in Ecuador, Venezue- the investment bank’s partners. Levy’s departure from BNDES, tivities while giving it six months has also been a major player in la, Panama and the Dominican At BNDES he is expected to though Brazilian markets to settle with its creditors. engineering, agriculture and Republic have also been tainted. speed up the divestiture of the barely reacted to the resigna- Among the major creditors of petrochemical production. According to the US justice bank’s assets, the slow pace tion. Odebrecht are the public banks But now, Odebrecht is at the department, Odebrecht paid of which had become a bone “It was a pity for Brazil to Banco Nacional de Desarrollo, centre of Latin America’s big- $788mn in bribes across 12 Truck drivers block the CA-5 road, 10km north of Tegucigalpa, of contention between Levy lose someone of the quality Banco de Brasil and Caixa Eco- gest corruption scandal that countries, with presidents as Honduras, during a strike against the high cost of fuel and and Economy Minister Paulo of Levy, and the way he was nomica Federal. has rocked governments and well as former heads of state and spare parts. Guedes. removed was cowardly,” Maia The request for bankruptcy political parties in Brazil, Peru, ministers involved. Bolsonaro’s spokesman said told reporters in Sao Paulo. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 PAKISTAN

ECP seeks reply over PPP and PML-N agree to Maryam’s party post

Internews remove Senate chairman Islamabad Internews PML-N is still a majority par- there are 29 independent date should be brought for the Bilawal and Maryam alleged movement was necessary. Islamabad ty in the Senate. Interestingly, senators. position afterwards. that the government had fi led The two sides also decided he Election Commission of the PML-N had off ered PPP to The Pakhtunkhwa Milli He also said that if Bila- references against judges as a that other opposition parties as Pakistan (ECP) has sought re-elect Raza Rabbani as Sen- Awami Party (PkMAP) has two wal and Maryam are serious pressure tactic and demanded well as the coalition partners of Ta reply from the Pakistan n a signifi cant development, ate chairman but then it opted members, while the Awami Na- to launch an anti-government that they should be withdrawn. the PTI that were unhappy with Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- Pakistan Peoples Party to join hands with PTI in the tional Party (ANP), Balochistan drive, then they should remove They agreed to stand the government’s performance N) over a petition challenging the I(PPP) and Pakistan Muslim elections. Awami Party (BAP) and PML- the chairman and that his party fi rm in the struggle for the would be taken into confi dence appointment of Maryam Nawaz League – Nawaz (PML-N) have It is learnt that the opposi- Functional have one member will stand with the opposition independence of the judiciary. to chalk out a joint strategy. as party vice-president, Express agreed to remove Senate chair- tion in the Senate is in a com- each. The ruling PTI has 14 on the issue. The two leaders also demand- Bilawal and Maryam agreed News reported. man and consider a new name fortable position to remove the members. Muttahida Qaumi He added that if the Sanjrani ed that the production orders of to devise a fi nal plan after con- A three-member bench of after consultation with the Senate chairman and bring in a Movement (MQM) has fi ve and is not removed, then people will all detained members of the na- sulting the other leaders of their the ECP, headed by Chief Elec- opposition parties. replacement of its choice. The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has two not trust Bilawal and Maryam tional and provincial assemblies parties. tion Commissioner Sardar Mu- Sources revealed that the senate chairman’s post is sig- senators. Nawaz, therefore, to restore should be issued immediately The senior leadership of the hammed Raza heard the petition understanding was reached in nifi cant to regulate the upper The ANP has demanded the the confi dence of the oppo- so that they could represent the PML-N was absent from the fi led by Pakistan Tehreek-e- a meeting between PPP chair- house. Likewise, in the absence removal of Senate chairman sition parties, the removal is people who had elected them to meeting lending credence to Insaf (PTI). man Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and of president, Senate chairman Sanjrani. Talking to media, ANP mandatory. their offi ces. reports that Maryam has in- During the hearing, Jehangir PML-N vice president Maryam is the acting president of the leader Zahid Khan urged the op- Bilawal and Maryam agreed According to a statement formally taken over party af- Jadoon represented PML-N, Nawaz. country. position parties to bring a no- in their meeting that it was issued after the meeting, the fairs from her uncle and party Zafarullah represented Maryam Incumbent Senate chairman A majority of 53 members confi dence motion against the time to take down the govern- PML-N and the PPP decided president Shehbaz Sharif to and Hassan Maan represented Muhammed Sadiq Sanjrani was is required to remove the chairman. ment as the budget it had pro- that allowing the “incom- run a movement against the PTI. elected with the support of PPP Senate chairman. Currently, The ANP leader said that posed would “cause irreparable petent” PTI regime to move government. The lawyer of the PML-N and and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PPP, PML-N, National Party initiation of movement against damage to the country”. ahead with its budget would The existence of two camps Maryam asked for a copy of the (PTI) last year as he had bagged and Jamiat Ulemai Islam – the government should start They refreshed their resolve cause “irreparable damage” and two approaches within petition from the ECP and said 57 votes against 46 by Raja Fazl (JUI-F) have 46 mem- with the removal of the Sen- to launch a movement against to the country and that was PML-N is an open secret that they would submit a response Zafarul Haq of PML-N. bers in the Senate, while ate chairman and a joint candi- the government at the earliest. why an anti-government the party vehemently denies. after going through it. Directing the authorities con- cerned to provide a copy of the petition to PML-N, ECP asked them to submit their reply in the Funeral prayers for Egyptian ex-president Mursi next hearing on June 25. Model courts Talking to the media repre- sentatives in Islamabad, Par- liamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bukhari said PML-N decide over 5,600 counsel took a U-turn before the election commission when he stated that Maryam Nawaz is not party vice-president. cases in 75 days Bukhari stressed being a con- victed person; Maryam cannot hold any party offi ce, according Internews fi ve years, but for MCTCs the to Radio Pakistan. Islamabad time for the disposal of a trial In a major party reshuffl e in is three months,” he added. May, Maryam was made one of Judge Nasir in his remarks the 16 vice-presidents of the he 110 Model Criminal praised Justice Khosa for the PML-N along with Hamza She- Trial Courts (MCTCs) concept. “This is the brain- hbaz, who is also the Opposition Tacross Pakistan have so child of Justice Khosa when he Leader in the Punjab Assembly. far decided 5,647 murder and was the senior Puisne Judge in Former prime minister Shahid narcotics trial cases in two and the Supreme Court.” Khaqan Abbasi was appointed a half months, according to a He said that Justice Khosa as the senior vice-president, report. directed him to implement while Ahsan Iqbal was made the The Consolidated Progress the MCTC project in Punjab general secretary. Report of Model Criminal within a week after assuming Trial Courts, released by Is- the charge of Chief Justice of lamabad District and Sessions Pakistan. Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami gather for funeral prayers for former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi during a symbolic funeral Judge Sohail Nasir, also the di- He said that MCTCs are ap- ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. The former Egyptian president died after collapsing in a Cairo court on Monday. rector general of Monitoring of plying latest mechanism and Model Courts, states that a to- information technology for Drop-out tal of 2,236 murder cases were swift disposal of the murder decided between April 1 and trial and narcotics related cases June 15 and a total of 3,411 nar- which have reduced the overall girls enrolled cotics cases had been disposed cost as there was no longer the of during the period. need to transport the accused Govt to make data of accounts public from June 21 The MCTCs awarded death for instance as the courts in learning sentence in 175 cases and life could record testimonies n a major development, It’s basically about withhold- scheme,” top FBR offi cials said. been shared with Pakistan Rev- imprisonment in 535 cases. through video link. the Federal Board of Rev- ing tax deduction and about Banking data of withhold- enue Authority Limited (PRAL). The 1,352 accused have The 88 murder and 134 nar- programme Ienue (FBR) of Pakistan has benami accounts possess- ing statement and deposits of Now the FBR will scrutinise the been convicted and were cotics trial cases have been received details of millions of ing more than Rs500,000 till more than Rs500,000 is re- data in a bid to broaden the fi ned Rs260mn after their decided by two MCTCs in Is- account holders on account December 31, 2017. lated to banking accounts till tax base. conviction. lamabad, in 36 model courts of Internews of withholding statement and “We will ensure secrecy of December 31, 2017. The depos- “Yes we have received details Judge Nasir said on the oc- Punjab 660 murder and 1,475 Islamabad those accounts where deposit bank accounts. We will provide its of Rs500,000 is related to of bank accounts on account of casion that Chief Justice of narcotics cases were decided, amount is more than Rs500,000 online access to individuals for Benami accounts so people can withholding statement prob- Pakistan Asif Saeed Khan 661 in murder and 1,024 in 26 in a bid to broaden the tax base. checking details possessed by access data to ascertain details ably in thousands of numbers Khosa has approved 57 new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa MCTCs, round 4,000 out of school The FBR has decided to make the FBR with certain password of information in possession of because I have not yet checked MCTCs across the country 597 murder and 541 narcot- (OOSC) teenage girls have this data public from June 21, so that the people could ascer- the FBR. total numbers of account de- which would start functioning ics cases in 27 model courts Abeen enrolled in schools where the individual can check tain that the FBR is full of infor- The banks provided data tails. Each bank separately from June 24 at the tehsil level. of Sindh and 230 murder and and alternate centres in Sindh through online system that what mation so they had last chance about millions of accounts shared its data with us,” FBR “Murder cases and trial 237 narcotics cases were de- and Balochistan under Adoles- kind of information FBR pos- to declare their income/assets in the shape of computerised chairman Shahbar Zaidi said. in the narcotics off ences are cided by 19 model courts in cents and Adult Learning and sessed about his/her accounts. till June 30 through amnesty discs. The banking data has (Internews) usually disposed of in four to Balochistan. Training Programme (AALTP). Balochistan National Com- mission for Human Rights member Fazila Aliani said that the purpose of AALTP in col- laboration with union councils of Senate panel opposes referral Four new districts carved Sindh and Balochistan is to pro- vide equal access of education to adolescent girls and ensure basic out in Gilgit-Baltistan functional literacy to adults in of tax evasion cases to NAB remote areas especially in Sindh, Internews division, Rondu in Baltistan had a large area and people Balochistan and South Punjab. Internews During a debate on the Fi- based money laundering, he Islamabad division, Deral and Tangir in in the newly created districts She remarked that this pro- Islamabad nance Bill 2019, the standing shall be liable to a penalty of Diamer division. would face problems to go gramme will provide an op- committee largely supported the confi scation of goods and upon Ghulam Mohammed, the districts headquarters for portunity to the dropout stu- government’s budgetary meas- conviction by a special judge he Gilgit-Baltistan adviser to chief minister visiting off ices. dents to acquire education and Pakistan Senate panel ures, except where it felt that he shall further be liable to im- government has set on food, said that issuance “Now people will settle will provide them with an im- has opposed the gov- the proposals were “draconian” prisonment for up to 10 years, Tup four new districts of notification regarding their issues in the nearby proved learning and teaching Aernment’s proposal to or in cases where these were one-million fi ne and forfeiture in the region. With the new creation of four districts off ices,” said the adviser. environment. hand over the cabinet’s pow- hurting the business interests of of property in accordance with districts, the number of was a success of the He added that government “The target of the incumbent ers to appoint special judges some industrialists. the Anti-Money Laundering Act districts in Gilgit-Baltistan government. He said that allocated funds in current government is to enhance the to prime minister and refer tax The standing committee op- of 2010, according to the budget reached 14. it was a longstanding fiscal budget for the new level of education for young peo- evasion cases to the National posed the proposal of disclosing proposal. The new districts include demand of the people. districts and created posts ple and improve their capacity Accountability Bureau (NAB). names of unregistered buyers of PTI’s Senator Mohsin Aziz Gupis-Yasin in Gilgit He said that Gilgit-Baltistan there. building through trainings,” she Headed by PPP’s Senator Fa- industrial goods. said the FBR may misuse mon- said. rooq H Naeek, the Senate Stand- The government has refused ey laundering powers, which ing Committee on Finance also to withdraw a proposal that has can aff ect genuine business objected to the government’s declared trade-based illegal transactions. proposal to declare trade-based transfer of funds abroad as mon- The standing committee also illegal transfer of funds overseas ey laundering, which will attract opposed the government’s pro- as money laundering, which up to 10 years of imprisonment. posal of sending cases of taxpay- Army rescues six climbers stranded by avalanche may throw a person behind bars The standing committee want- ers and taxmen to investigation for 10 years. ed this budget proposal to be agencies including the National DPA The climbers were taken to locate and evacuate Chinese The avalanche hit the Italian Declaring trade-based illegal withdrawn. Accountability Bureau (NAB) that Islamabad a military hospital in Gilgit for climbers in a diff erent part of expedition while they were de- transfer of funds as money laun- The transfer of funds abroad cause losses to the exchequer. treatment, Haideri said. Pakistan could not take place scending the Hindu Raj range in dering is one of the conditions of by understating the value of ex- “It is a draconian law that The group which to- due to bad weather. Gilgit-Baltistan. Financial Action Task Force (FATF). ports and overstating the value throws taxpayers and taxmen ix mountaineers who were talled seven - four Italians Two Chinese climbers, Li The Italian climbers are The FATF’s week-long plenary of imports is also money laun- at the mercy of the NAB,” said hit by an avalanche while and three Pakistanis - was Haoxin Chen and Ka Kit Ng, Tarcisio Bello, David Bergamin, meetings began yesterday in the dering and is on the radar of the Naek. He proposed that instead Sclimbing at an altitude struck by an avalanche in the went missing in the Liligo gla- Luca Morellato and Celestino United States, in which it will re- FATF, said Federal Board of Rev- of involving other investigation of around 5,300m in north- Ishkoman valley on Monday cier and Trango towers area Toldo. view progress on the implemen- enue (FBR) chairman Shabbar agencies, the FBR should punish ern Pakistan were rescued by morning. while trying to scale a 6,400m Hundreds of mountaineers, tation of 27-point Action Plan Zaidi. He said the FBR cannot its offi cers. helicopter yesterday. A Pakistani guide died in the peak. most of them from Europe, try by Pakistan. The FATF meetings’ withdraw this amendment, but The FBR has proposed these “Four Italian and two female accident. His body has been A third team member who to scale peaks in Pakistan eve- outcome will be announced on was ready to introduce checks amendments on the instructions climbers from Pakistan have located and was being taken to remained at base camp sent out ry summer but only a few try Friday, as Pakistan seeks help of and balances to stop its misuse of Prime Minister Imran Khan, been rescued by the army,” said base camp, Haideri said. an SOS after the others failed to during winter. three friendly countries to avoid by taxmen. who wants corrupt taxpayers Karar Haideri, secretary of the Meanwhile, Haideri said that return on Monday as they had Avalanches and bad weather being blacklisted. If a person commits trade- and taxmen behind the bars. Pakistan Alpine Club. a second military operation to planned. have proved fatal in the past. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES Duterte ‘will not summon Chinese envoy over boat sinking incident’

Manila Times when it does make a reply, then The Gem-Ver’s skipper also Manila we will proceed with whatever expressed disappointment and options are open to us,” he added. said Duterte had belittled what Nograles said the Philippines happened. resident Rodrigo Duterte is could pursue a claim that the “I am saddened because it’s not inclined to ask Chinese abandonment of the Filipino as if our being hit was nothing,” Pambassador to the Philip- fi shermen was a violation of the Junel Insigne said in a television pines Zhao Jinhua to shed light Nations Convention on the Law interview. on the sinking of a Filipino fi sh- of the Sea (Unclos) and also raise He asked the government for ing boat in disputed waters, Ma- the matter via the Bilateral Con- help to repair the vessel and hold lacanang said yesterday. sultation Mechanism. those at fault accountable. More Palace spokesman Salvador “Those are some of the mech- important, Insigne said he was Panelo belied statements made anisms that are open to us, obvi- also hoping that the Duterte ad- by Defence Secretary Delfi n ously. So, again, it depends on ministration would fi nd a way to Lorenzana a day earlier that what is discussed,” he added. keep Chinese vessels out of Phil- Cabinet offi cials had proposed Duterte’s remarks prompted ippine waters, pointing out that that Zhao be asked to off er Bei- Sen. Panfi lo Lacson to urge the he needed to keep fi shing to sup- jing’s version of the incident. government to be more forceful port his family. “We cannot summon the am- against China. The Foreign Aff airs depart- bassador, we have no jurisdic- “It is disappointing to say the ment meanwhile, said the inci- tion. We are not the government least, not much by his insult- dent could, be raised by Duterte of China to summon the offi cial ing remark but his self-limiting during this weekend’s 34th As- of China. The word is ‘invite,’” course of action, which disre- sociation of Southeast Asian Panelo told reporters. gards an eff ective ‘weapon’ in Nations (Asean) Summit in “But we feel, or the president, our arsenal. It is found in the Thailand. I think is not inclined to do that Mutual Defence Treaty,” Lacson Foreign Aff airs Assistant Sec- because he feels that, fi rst, they said in a statement. retary Junever Mahilum-West are doing something about it “No less than US Secretary of noted that issues involving the and the ambassador has already State Mike Pompeo said as much South China Sea would be on the issued a statement about seri- very recently — that the US and regional meeting’s agenda. ously and cautiously studying the Philippines have an obliga- “During the exchange of views the facts,” he said. tion under such treaty to re- on regional developments, there Summoning the Chinese en- spond accordingly if a vessel be- is an opening to raise this issue… voy would also be an undiplo- longing to either party, military incidents like what happened matic gesture, Panelo claimed. or civilian is attacked in the West emphasise the importance of “We will not because it Philippine Sea, which, according having a code of conduct so that doesn’t look good… That is not to him, is within the area of the we could avoid, we could prevent diplomatic,” he said. Pacifi c,” he added. these incidents from happening “It’s like you’re prejudging “It is not about going to war in the future,” she added. the case if you invite him… It’s Activists burn Chinese flags and display anti-China placards during a protest at a park in Manila, yesterday, after a Chinese vessel last week with China that we are hop- Mahilum-West claimed still being investigated. Did they collided with a Philippine fishing boat which sank in the disputed South China Sea and sailed away sparking outrage. ing for, but at least a balance of progress had been made on a commit an off ence, do they need power in the WPS (West Philip- draft text with the fi rst of “sev- to explain to us?” he added. the collision. The suggestion right to be heard,” he added. were abandoned by the Yue- Duterte’s dismissive state- pine Sea) should be felt, which eral readings” likely to be com- Lorenzana, in a media inter- was not adopted,” he said. Duterte, who on Monday fi nal- maobinyu 42212 off Reed Bank ment was defended by Cabinet the Philippines is obviously not pleted by the end of this year. view on the sidelines of Mon- Lorenzana was not immedi- ly spoke about the boat sinking a in the West Philippine (South Secretary Karlo Nograles, who capable of doing on our own.” Still, she said the Gem-Ver’s day’s Philippine Navy anniver- ately available for comment. week after it happened called it a China) Sea on June 9. They were said the President was “not Senate Minority Leader Fran- sinking was unlikely to be dis- sary celebrations, said Cabinet Meanwhile, Panelo reiterated “little maritime incident.” later rescued by a Vietnamese downplaying” the boat sinking. klin Drilon said, “What is in is- cussed “in full depth” as the offi cials who met in Malacanang that Malacanang would await “It is best investigated and I fi shing vessel. “I am tinkering with the idea sue, and what is clear and ad- Asean summit was not the prop- earlier that day wanted to invite the fi nal fi ndings of both Philip- will not issue a statement now The incident sparked an up- of suggesting that (there be a) mitted, is that the Chinese boat er venue to tackle the issue. Zhao to add to an offi cial inves- pine and Chinese investigators because there is no investigation roar and prompted the Philip- joint investigation between the captain abandoned the Filipino “It’s a very important issue… tigation. before agreeing on how to re- and there is no result. Then the pines to fi le a diplomatic protest. two countries,” he added. fi shermen in distress at sea.” (but) Asean discusses the South Panelo, however, also belied solve the issue. only thing that we can do is to Beijing, however, said it was The Palace offi cial pointed out “This is the issue that should China Sea in the context of the this. “A Cabinet member (Loren- “Let us look at the facts. That wait and give the other party the an “ordinary maritime traffi c that, having fi led a diplomatic be addressed and the basis of code of conduct, which is be- zana) suggested that the Chinese is the government and the presi- right to be heard,” he said. incident” and warned Manila protest, the Philippines should China’s liability under interna- ing discussed between China (ambassador) be invited, not dent’s line,” he said. Twenty-two Filipino fi sher- against politicising the matter. wait for China’s response. tional law and the Unclos,” he and Asean member states,” Ma- summoned, for a discussion on “The Chinese side has the men aboard the F/B Gem-Ver JOINT INVESTIGATION “After China makes the reply, added. hilum-West explained. Arroyo stays mum on Call to halt mining operations One dead, fi ve hurt support for speakership in Bacoor

By Glee Jalea Arroyo, however, expressed the speakership are Leyte Rep. Manila Times confi dence in the next batch of Martin Romualdez, Marindu- By Dempsey Reyes congressmen who will lead the que Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Manila Times next Congress, citing their nota- Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon utgoing House Speaker ble work performance. Alvarez, Pampanga Rep. Aure- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo “One of the blessings I’ve had lio Gonzales and Taguig-Pater- ne person died and fi ve Ohas kept her silence on as Speaker is having worked os Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. others were injured when whether she is supporting a can- with a lot of congressmen. And Lawmakers have noted that Osecurity guards and resi- didate who will succeed her after with what I see in them, I see the race had been trimmed dents at a village in Bacoor, Cavite she retires from public offi ce. that they will be doing a good down to two perceived front- clashed during clearing opera- “As President (Rodrigo) Du- job when their time comes in runners: Romualdez and Ve- tions yesterday. terte and (Davao City) Mayor leading the country. They make lasco. Minority Leader Danilo Based on the report of the Cav- Sara (Duterte-Carpio) have me optimistic about our coun- Suarez earlier said Romualdez ite Provincial Police Offi ce, ten- done, I can do no less. I don’t talk try,” she said. had already secured 153 votes sion rose at 8.30am in Sitio Mali- about it. I will not talk about it,” Duterte and his daughter from other congressmen, the pay 3, Barangay Molino 4 when Arroyo said in a taped interview Duterte-Carpio, whose en- “magic number” needed to win the clearing operations by Althorp over ANC’s Independence Series dorsements are seen as a “key the speakership. Land Holdings started. Four resi- last night. to the speakership,” had stood Among these 153 lawmakers dents were taken to the hospi- She reiterated that she pre- firm on their refusal to have were House members of PDP- tal for gunshot wounds. During fers to distance herself from the anything to do with the race, Laban, the biggest political the melee, a security guard was speakership race as she is set to leading to a divided consen- bloc in the chamber. stabbed and declared dead on ar- step down from her post on June sus among House members on PDP-Laban, headed by Du- Environmental advocates and members of indigenous tribes hold a news briefing to ask the rival at the hospital. Another se- 30, almost a month before the their preferred bets. terte himself, has 95 members government to cancel the license of OceanaGold Mine, which operates in Nueva Vizcaya. curity guard of Jericho Security opening of the 18th Congress. The top five aspirants for in the House. Services was also injured. Complaint fi led against group over investment scam

By Angelica Ballesteros and/or selling of securities by tifi cate of membership” show- cos and Christopher Lawrence forever and with little risks. Manila Times Kapa,” the commission said. ing the details about the member “Bong” Go to help them by tell- The SEC earlier said Kapa Some members of the be- and his donation. ing President Rodrigo Duterte would need P15bn as monthly leaguered religious group also “Nowhere in the deed of do- of their good intention to uplift payout assuming its alleged 5mn he Securities and Ex- yesterday tapped the legal serv- nation (showed) that Kapa is millions of poor Filipinos. members shelled out a minimum change Commission ices of former Metro Rail Transit promising a 30% interest. So, it Kapa said it had improved the P10,000 donations each, T(SEC) has fi led charges general manager Al Vitangcol to could not be considered an in- lives of fi ve million of its mem- which it described as “unrealis- against offi cials of Kapa Com- ensure that their rights are not vestment with fi xed interest. It bers nationwide. tic and mathematically unsus- munity Ministry International trampled upon. is not a scam,” he said. Earlier this month, the appel- tainable” given that the entity Inc. for violating the Securities Vitangcol was formally in- Kapa lawyers, according to late court ordered the freezing “barely made P1mn” profi t last Regulation Code (SRC). troduced to the media by Kapa Vitangcol, committed a blun- of Kapa’s bank accounts upon a year. Kapa was registered with In a statement yesterday, the convenor Danny Mangahas in a der when after the issuance of request of the SEC and the Anti- the SEC as a non-stock corpo- SEC said it fi led before the De- news conference in Quezon City. a cease-and-desist order, they Money Laundering Council that ration, which means it was not partment of Justice a criminal “They took me as lawyer of went to the Regional Trial Court secured at least P100mn worth authorised to solicit investments complaint against Kapa pastor Ahon sa Kahirapan, an organisa- instead of going to the Court of of assets, including a helicopter from the public. and founder Joel Apolinario, his tion of some members of Kapa. I Appeals (CA). and luxury vehicles that were The SEC also earlier ordered wife and the entity’s corporate want to clarify that I do not rep- “The CA is the right venue believed to be acquired through this year a cease and desist order secretary Reyna Apolinario, resent Kapa but only some of its to ask for the lifting of a cease- the investment scam. against Kapa and its affi liates as trustee Margie Danao, as well as members,” Vitangcol said. and-desist order,” he said. The SEC said the petition to well as the revocation of its cer- Marisol Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, “It is diffi cult to reconcile the On an order from the Depart- freeze Kapa’s assets was aimed tifi cate of incorporation but the Moises Mopia, Catherine Evan- law of religion and the law of Lawyer Jose Aquilino of the Securities and Exchange Commission ment of the Interior and Lo- at protecting investors and ham- entity defi ed the orders and still gelista and Rene Catubigan for men. The vision and mission of arrives at the Department of Justice to file a complaint against the cal Government for the closure per the entity from continuing to continued with its operations. promoting an investment scam. Kapa is based on Matthew chap- religious group, Kapa ministry. of Kapa offi ces, Vitangcol said operate illegally. President Duterte on June 7 “(The SEC) will name more ter 25 where the nature of giving there should be due process. This stemmed from an alleged ordered the National Bureau of respondents as it identifi es other or donating is explained as an act ceive blessings, and that you re- based on records,” he said. Meanwhile,Mangahas called unauthorised solicitation of in- Investigation and the Philippine persons who have participated to help others. That when you ceive a thousand fold,” he added. Vitangcol showed a sample on senators-elect Ronald dela vestments from the public and National Police to shut Kapa in the unlawful public off ering give, you also receive, you re- “Meanwhile, the law of men is “deed of donation” and “cer- Rosa, Maria Imelda “Imee” Mar- promising 30% higher returns down. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 19 - 06 -2019 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 Recession or not, US economy is facing headwinds in 2019

Fears of an impending US recession ebbed a bit on Friday as solid retail sales suggested consumer spending remains healthy. But other recent figures have pointed to slower job gains and low inflation, while President Donald Trump’s tariff threats weigh on businesses. True, the US economy is nearing a record-long expansion in July, but the conversation is increasingly turning to when it will all end. And the chance of a recession over the next 12 months has risen to 30% from 25%, according to a June 7-12 The rise of delivery drones has Bloomberg survey of economists. A measure of US business conditions compiled by Morgan Stanley dropped this month by the most on record to the lowest since 2008, adding to recent signs cities asking who owns airspace that the world’s largest economy is slowing. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York gauge in February By Carey L Biron/ Reuters with all applicable rules and “Here’s the biggest problem: loud it was, and if it had cameras on put the chance of a recession at 21% a year from then, the Washington regulations needed to conduct our The law is just not clear,” said board, he said. highest since 2008. operations”. Stephen Rice, an associate professor But critics say there is no need for a The Wall Street’s biggest banks have been scouring US But some of those rules are unclear, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical new law. lacksburg was already well property experts warn - in part because University in Florida, as he urged a The Uniform Law Commission is data for signals of an impending recession. prepared when the US gov- the traditional airline industry has “nationwide set of regulations that trying to change property law “as we JPMorgan sees a 35% chance of a recession this year, up ernment announced in April never had to address the issue of fl ying makes it very clear what you can and know it” to deal with concerns that from 16% in March last year. Globally, UBS has studied Bthat the Virginia town would through someone’s garden. can’t do”. already fall under existing laws on 40 countries over about 40 years and found the US to be be home to the country’s first com- Under US law, the federal Rice and another researcher at privacy and other issues, said Diana mercial drone delivery service. government claims “exclusive Embry-Riddle, Mattie Milner, found Marina Cooper of PrecisionHawk, a among those currently behaving in a way inconsistent Virginia Tech University, based in sovereignty of airspace” in the that “people in general aren’t very drone and data company. with prior peaks. Blacksburg, has for years hosted a country, but where that line starts has happy about the idea of a drone flying “We need to address the underlying For sure, these are major drone development programme, always been fuzzy, said Stuart Banner, over their home”. concerns for property owners, but that tough times for the which has carried out experimental law professor and property expert “Their biggest fear is that their doesn’t need to be done by changing The trade deliveries of ice cream, fast food and at the University of California, Los privacy will be invaded,” Milner rights to airspace,” she said. global economy amid more. Angeles. added. The question of how to balance the dispute between growing recession fears. “I moved (to Blacksburg) last “Landowners also own the airspace This summer, an independent rights of the public with the needs The trade dispute August, and when I was telling people above their land. Otherwise it group of experts plans to finalise a of the drone industry is already a the Trump between the Trump I was moving, they said, ‘I know wouldn’t be possible to build houses “model law” that states could adopt concern for cities such as San Diego, somebody there had their Chipotle or anything else above the ground,” to clarify and harmonise some of the one of 10 jurisdictions taking part in administration administration and (Mexican restaurant chain) delivered he said. issues around drones and private a federal programme to speed up the China has escalated by drone!’” said Megan Duncan, a At the same time, “there’s no clear property - but its efforts have been development of drone technology. and China has as each side blames communications professor at Virginia answer as to how high a landowner’s controversial. Without public buy-in, new drone the other for the Tech. airspace rights extend,” Banner added. Early versions by the Illinois-based programmes “won’t be operational”, escalated So, when Wing became the first “It’s basically a reasonableness non-profit Uniform Law Commission Tiffany Vinson, who is leading the breakdown in talks. drone company to be approved as an standard.” would have required permission for a drone programme in San Diego, told More importantly, the trade war is taking on a global air carrier by the federal government, According to the agency in charge drone to operate within 200ft over any the Thomson Reuters Foundation. dimension amid simmering tensions between the US and allowing the Google parent Alphabet of these issues, the Federal Aviation private property, said Steve Willborn, “What’s not clear is where property the European Union. Inc company to start drone deliveries Administration (FAA), drones the group’s interim executive director. rights end as far as national airspace in and around Blacksburg, many of the “shouldn’t be operated over people That idea created a firestorm of starts. And that’s been our big issue,” It’s now looking more certain that the rising costs locals were excited, Duncan said. or in a way that endangers property pushback from the drone industry, Vinson said. brought about by the trade war will be felt across the “I think there’s super-interesting on the ground”, spokeswoman Lynn with companies saying that in some Still, the city has experience global economy. Prices will rise for American consumers possibilities for remote areas that are Lunsford said by e-mail. parts of the country those restrictions dealing with the intersection of in some cases, hurt Chinese and American corporate underserved, particularly with people But it does not distinguish between would cut in half the amount of new technology and property who need prescriptions and can’t airspace over private property and airspace they could use. considerations, she added. profits in others, and drag down growth of nations make a 45-minute drive,” she told other types, nor does it specify Instead, the group came up with a She pointed to recent conflicts caught in the crossfire should the global expansion the Thomson Reuters Foundation by minimum altitudes that drones can two-tiered approach, said Willborn. stemming from bike-sharing and decelerate. phone. fly, she said. A drone touching private land or e-scooter programmes, with vehicles Some economists predict a world recession and a But Duncan, who has done studies Further, another FAA spokesman anything on it without permission blocking sidewalks and wheelchair on public perceptions of drones, said, as an aviation safety agency, “our would be a trespass, but otherwise a accessibility, or being left on private renewed race to the bottom on interest rates if trade also foresees a looming problem: the regulations do not address privacy.” landowner would need to show that property. tensions fail to ease at the Group-of-20 summit in potential for people to see drones But it is in the areas of privacy and the drone had interfered with the use “Now we have to add this new Osaka, Japan, at the end of this month, when Trump and flying over their yards, en route property rights that tensions between and enjoyment of the property. component, and we need to think Chinese President Xi Jinping could meet. to filling a neighbour’s order, as the public and drone technology are That could include factors such as about where these drones fit into the trespassers on their property. rising. how high the drone was flying, how picture,” Vinson said. Americans will begin feeling the effects this year of a She recalled a recent talk she gave marked slowing in world economic growth but should in Chicago in which some audience be spared a new recession, the chief economist of the members “were completely convinced International Monetary Fund said in late 2018. that if a drone flew over their house, they had the absolute right to destroy At the Federal Open Market Committee meeting today, (it).” there could be potential discussion of a rate cut in the “People really believe they own face of trade-war uncertainty, or even an actual cut - or everything above their property,” she neither, given that a large part of the US economic data said. In recent years, there have picture remains solid as of now. been several cases of outraged US To be sure, several US economic indicators are slowing landowners shooting down privately down, but economic data have yet to fall off a cliff. The owned drones - and the response from concern is whether the US can resist the downdraft, courts has been mixed. Concerns about drones - among providing a balance for the rest of the world. the public, event planners, security The greater concern, however, is if consumers and officials and others - has given rise to other countries will conclude that the US is not a bastion an industry of anti-drone technology of predictability and stability for the global economy. designed to take down the devices. Most of those tools are not legal for purchase by the general consumer in the United States, according to a To Advertise report from the Centre for the Study of the Drone at Bard College in New [email protected] York. Display But that has not diminished demand: The maker of the 44466621 44418811 DroneDefender, which blocks a drone’s signals and forces it to land, Classified said in e-mailed comments that 44466609 44418811 the company receives “many, many inquiries” from people in the United Subscription States wanting to buy one. A Wing spokeswoman said the [email protected] company currently had nothing to share about the new Virginia operations, which are yet to begin, Experts foresee a looming problem: the potential for people to see drones flying over their yards, en route to filling a © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved but noted it would “act in compliance neighbour’s order, as trespassers on their property. Gulf Times Wednesday, June 19, 2019 23 COMMENT Historical argument for impeaching Trump

By Heather Cox Richardson evidence was damning – yet defended emergency to override laws passed Washington, DC the principle behind the scheme. by Congress, and on Monday the Reagan’s successor, George H W Bush, Trump White House asserted in court pardoned the six leading fi gures of the that Congress had no authority to he question of impeaching US Iran-Contra aff air because, he said, determine whether the president has President Donald Trump is “whether their actions were right committed crimes. about replacing the toxic par- or wrong”, they were motivated by Yet only one congressional Ttisanship of today’s Repub- “patriotism”. The investigation into Republican – Michigan’s Justin Amash lican party with America’s traditional their actions was “a criminalisation of – has called for impeachment. rule of law. It has become a constitu- party diff erences”. Special counsel Robert Mueller, tional imperative. Yet, faced with the popularity of investigating Russian interference Since Richard Nixon, Republican Democratic president Bill Clinton, in the 2016 election, provided ample presidents have pushed the envelope who threatened to undermine evidence that the president should be of acceptable behaviour under the conservative eff orts to unwind the investigated for obstruction of justice guise of patriotism, and Democrats activist government Americans in his attempt to quell the Russia have permitted their encroaching had supported since the 1930s, investigation by fi ring Comey and lawlessness on the grounds of civility, Republicans led by the House speaker, urging aides to lie. At the same time, constantly convincing themselves Newt Gingrich, did precisely what Mueller reminded Americans that the that Republicans have reached a limit Bush Sr had ostensibly warned against. constitution charges Congress with beyond which they won’t go. Each time They sought to undercut Clinton by presidential oversight. Indeed, under they’ve been proven wrong. impeaching him for high crimes and current Department of Justice policy, Nixon resigned in 1974 because his misdemeanours after he lied under a sitting president cannot be indicted; attempts to cover up his involvement oath about an extramarital aff air. (The congressional oversight is the only way in the Watergate burglary made his public recognised that the charges to rein in a lawless president. obstruction of justice clear. Republican were politically motivated, Clinton’s The Republican-controlled Senate will leaders warned Nixon that if the House popularity only rose, and the Senate almost certainly not vote to remove Trump of Representatives impeached him, ultimately voted to acquit). But from offi ce no matter how convincing the the Senate would convict. Republican when George W Bush, a Republican, evidence of his criminality. But the process congressmen of the time believed in took offi ce, Republicans once again A protester attends a demonstration calling for the impeachment of US President Donald Trump in New York City on June 15. of impeachment by the House and a trial the rule of law. deferred to executive lawlessness. In by the Senate would undercut the idea that Gerald Ford’s subsequent pardon of order to justify the 2003 invasion of The Republican-controlled Senate Republican rhetoric would alienate murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. prosecution is equivalent to partisanship. Nixon was perhaps given in that spirit: Iraq, administration offi cials falsely will almost certainly not vote to voters and hurt their chances in 2016. By May of this year the White It would be a vivid illustration that when the law rules, it permits mercy. argued that Iraq had weapons of mass remove Trump from offi ce no matter Then Trump won. House was refusing to honour any American presidents – Republicans as well But the absence of a humiliating public destruction. To silence opposition, how convincing the evidence. Even The same Republicans who had congressional subpoenas on the as Democrats – are bound by the rule of exposure of Nixon’s participation in “Scooter” Libby, chief of staff to Dick before the 2016 election, Republican threatened to impeach Hillary Clinton grounds that “it’s very partisan – law and the US constitution. Watergate, and the lack of a permanent Cheney, unmasked a CIA offi cer. Libby offi cials told reporters that they remained silent when, immediately obviously very partisan”, as Trump told The nation did not need such a bipartisan condemnation, gave Nixon was ultimately convicted of perjury planned to impeach Democrat Hillary after his surprise victory, Trump the Washington Post. demonstration in 1974: Republican loyalists cover to argue that he wasn’t and obstruction of justice; no one else Clinton as soon as she was elected refused to abide by laws about When the House Committee on leaders of that era forced their guilty of crimes. Instead they claimed was held criminally responsible for for her misuse of an e-mail server or emoluments or nepotism, openly Ways and Means demanded Trump’s own president from offi ce. Today’s Nixon had been hounded out of offi ce the disinformation used to justify the her ties to the Clinton Foundation. profi ting from the presidency and tax returns under a law that leaves Republicans will not do the same, by outlandish liberals determined to Iraq war, which has killed hundreds of McConnell then led Republicans in fi lling the White House with personal no wiggle room, Steven Mnuchin, and their complicity threatens to turn undermine him and the country. thousands of people. refusing to join President Obama and relatives. They continued to remain the treasury secretary, nonetheless America into an autocracy. Ever since, Republican extremists During the Obama administration, Democratic leaders in a bipartisan silent when Trump fi red the FBI refused to deliver them, saying he saw Trump is certainly aware of the have employed this rhetoric partisanship once again trumped statement alerting the public that director, James Comey, who was no “legitimate legislative purpose” power that acquiescent Republicans whenever they break the law or erode the law. Republican leaders under Russian intelligence was attempting investigating Russian interference for such a request. An attempt by have afforded him and that as soon constitutional norms. the Senate majority leader, Mitch to throw the 2016 election to the in the 2016 election, then pointedly the executive branch to dictate to the as he is out of office, he can be When Ronald Reagan’s McConnell, set out to thwart Republican candidate, Donald Trump. pardoned Scooter Libby, saying he was legislative branch, the only branch of charged with crimes. He recently administration was exposed for having Democrats – fi rst by refusing to co- This forced Democrats to accept “treated unfairly”. They did not protest the American government that has told reporters he was different from illegally sold arms to Iran to raise operate in crafting legislation, then the tilted playing fi eld to avoid the in February 2019 when the Trump the unilateral power to make law, is Nixon because Nixon left. “I don’t money covertly for the Contra rebels by refusing to consider a Democratic appearance of partisanship. administration openly defi ed the law shocking, but Republicans stayed leave,” Trump said. “Big difference. fi ghting the Nicaraguan government, Supreme Court nomination as required Democrats kept largely quiet in by refusing to give Congress a required quiet. They also stayed quiet when I don’t leave.” – Guardian News and Reagan acknowledged that the under the US constitution. the face of such bullying, afraid that report on Saudi involvement in the Trump used declarations of national Media

Economic lessons from Everest Three-day forecast TODAY confront, namely an imbalance The same fi xed-supply problem higher prices is not an option. Maximum Temperature : 450c By Jim O’Neill Minimum Temperature : 390c London between supply and demand, and applies to all tourist hotspots. To prevent the emergence of possibly poor regulation. As I have noted previously, Switzerland antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bugs THURSDAY One example, of special concern to would have to produce more beautiful that could threaten the entire world, Maximum Temperature : 420c ike many others, I was shocked me, is the market for antibiotics, which mountains to have any hope of satisfying these societies need to be able to Minimum Temperature : 330c by recent images showing the is failing because the development of the burgeoning demand from Chinese manage and prevent infectious diseases FRIDAY size of the queue that formed new drugs is not keeping pace with tourists visiting the Alps. eff ectively and responsibly. Maximum Temperature : 420c Lin May to scale Mount Everest, demand. The same can be said of Petra, After leading the British Minimum Temperature : 310c But more closely related to Everest Jordan, or any other wonderful government’s independent Review on the world’s highest peak, from the Fisherman's forecast Nepalese side. is the broader challenge of managing destination. AMR in 2014-2016, I have continued to The idea that delays caused by tourist hotspots. In all of these cases, the rational call for a large “market-entry reward” WARNING economic solution is to allow the price to encourage drug makers to pursue the Inshore : Strong wind expected overcrowding may be partly to blame Around the world, more and more at most places and for some of the 11 reported deaths people have joined the middle class, to rise, or to introduce more stringent development of new antibiotics. poor visibility during on the mountain during this year’s and they (understandably) want to regulatory controls. But this measure alone will not daytime climbing season is horrifi c to consider. experience the best that the planet has When it comes to the market suffi ce. Offshore : Expected poor visibility, strong wind and high About a decade ago, my wife and I to off er. for antibiotics, many in the As the Everest problem shows, we sea trudged the path from Lukla, Nepal, When it comes to Everest, part of the pharmaceutical industry would off er also need policy initiatives to limit WEATHER towards the Everest Base Camp, so I problem is a fi xed supply. the same remedy. inappropriate usage, which will require Inshore : Very hot daytime with blowing dust to dusty have some feel for the attraction of There are only so many paths up If the price of antibiotics (especially more investment in diagnostics. at some places such adventures. the mountain (though some daring those for treating “gram-negative” With the right policies in place, But, along with the excitement, I alpinists, no doubt, prefer to blaze their bacterial infections) were considerably pharmaceutical companies could Offshore : Slight dust to dusty remember feeling disappointed at the own), but the number of tour groups higher, the inappropriately high charge higher prices for necessary WIND sheer number of people undertaking has increased. demand for such drugs would fall, and new drugs, but those drugs would be Inshore : Northwesterly 17-27/38 the trek. Given this, it stands to reason that companies would have an incentive administered only in cases deemed KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 25-35/40 The initial intrigue was gone, and the price should be allowed to rise to re-enter the risky business of appropriate by improved diagnostic KT we saw little point in continuing the until the balance between supply and researching, developing, and gaining tools. Visibility : 4-8/2 KM struggle just to wait in line. demand is restored. approval for urgently needed drugs. Come to think of it, perhaps the We reversed course at the last stop Of course, Nepalese policymakers, When compared to the Everest Nepalese authorities should introduce a Offshore : 10-12/14 FT dilemma, this argument makes sense. diagnostic technique at their check-in before Base Camp. (For any aspiring eager for tourism revenue, would balk Around the region trekkers, I would recommend the at this suggestion; and they would The problem is that life-saving drugs sites, in order to test the preparedness Weather underappreciated route up to Nepal’s probably argue that the average visitor are not the same thing as adventures of aspiring summiteers. Weather tomorrow Max/min Gokyo Lakes, which was much less should not be turned away from such a and vacations. Not only would that deter those who today Max/min Sunny 41/26 crowded, and had equally splendid massive natural attraction. While imposing a much higher cost cannot judge for themselves; it would Baghdad Sunny 41/26 Cloudy 43/29 views.) But, in that case, they must might solve the problem in wealthy also save lives. – Project Syndicate Kuwait CityCloudy 44/30 Cloudy 39/33 Beyond specifi c conditions such as introduce and enforce stricter safety societies, it would compound the Manama Cloudy 39/34 Sunny 37/31 the narrowness of the trail, Everest’s and regulatory standards for the problem of access across vast parts of z Jim O’Neill, a former chairman of Muscat M Sunny 42/32 Sunny 37/25 overcrowding problem is not so companies off ering tours up the the emerging world. Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Tehran P Cloudy 36/25 diff erent from many other economic mountain (which will also put upward In many parts of Africa, the Indian a former UK Treasury Minister, is Chair and social challenges that policymakers pressure on prices). subcontinent, and beyond, paying of Chatham House.

Live issues Fixing a messy house can help relationships Around the world Weather Weather By Judi Light Hopson, She goes on to say that tubs of toys, carry to the recycle bin in the garage. shrinking. Then, I could sweep or mop today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Emma H Hopson and Ted Hagen a garage full of junk, piles of clothes all z Train yourself to straighten in much faster. I could run the vacuum Athens S T Storms 31/22 M Sunny 31/22 New York over the place, and books piled next to short segments. with the piles of stuff off of the fl oor.” Beirut Sunny 27/23 P Cloudy 28/23 chairs are destroying her spirit. Grab dirty towels in each bathroom Carla is right. Bangkok S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 32/27 “I feel like I need a shovel to dig my and toss them into the laundry room. Worrying about moving Berlin P Cloudy 31/18 S T Storms 27/17 re you upset about the toys, way out of this avalanche!” Quickly put fresh towels on the towel everything out of a room to clean is Cairo Sunny 38/24 Sunny 40/24 books, clothes and other stuff Keep in mind that almost every bars from the linen closet. overwhelming. Cape Town P Cloudy 22/11 P Cloudy 21/12 strewn about your house? Do person and every family experiences z Declutter at every opportunity. Looking at such a mountain of work Colombo T Storm 29/27 T Storm 29/27 Aneglected sinks, bathtubs, this problem sooner or later. While your shower water is getting makes us blame our spouse or children. Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 S T Storms 33/27 and fl oors give you a depressed feeling? But, the solution is not that hard. hot, pull old razors and washcloths out We start to moan and whine because Hong Kong S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/27 Most of us feel much better when our Start looking for fi ve-minute chores of the shower stall. it seems like a gigantic problem. Istanbul M Cloudy 29/22 P Cloudy 29/22 homes are clean, sparkling, and ready you can do quickly and consistently. Throw them into the sink and deal And, it is. Jakarta M Sunny 33/24 P Cloudy 32/24 for guests to show up. All of us have a mess because we with them after your shower. “Folding towels, throwing in one load Karachi M Sunny 34/29 M Sunny 34/29 If yours isn’t, don’t despair. failed to do the fi ve-minute chores. z Ask your family members to do of laundry, wiping out the fridge with London Showers 20/11 P Cloudy 19/10 A busy lifestyle is forcing most of We let them slide. They built up. fi ve-minute chores. a damp cloth, or sweeping off the front Manila T Storm 35/27 T Storm 34/27 us to do less cleaning, stay on the Now, they are showing up everywhere. This includes these types of jobs: porch are small chores anyone can do Moscow Sunny 28/15 M Sunny 30/18 computer a lot, and fi ght for a moment Digging out is possible, and you can carrying the kitchen’s garbage bag to fast,” says a father we’ll call Fred. New Delhi M Sunny 37/27 M Sunny 39/29 to relax or enjoy family time. see results pretty quickly. the garage, going outside to grab the “My wife and I try to do some chores New York T Storm 22/19 S T Storms 25/19 “I feel like a failure when my husband These tips can help: newspaper, dusting the TV cabinet. while talking on the phone or waiting Paris Showers 25/15 Cloudy 22/12 or kids can’t fi nd clean socks or clean z Learn to spot two separate fi ve- “I used to mentally collapse looking for dinner to cook. Sao Paulo P Cloudy 25/14 M Sunny 23/15 towels,” says a friend of ours we’ll call minutes chores in each room. at our messy house,” laughs a nurse “Once you convince yourself your Seoul S Showers 26/18 P Cloudy 27/18 Mary Beth. For example, before you leave the we’ll call Carla. fi ve-minute chores are adding up,” Singapore T Storm 29/27 S T Storms 30/27 “I work a lot, so I feel like the grime is kitchen, put dishes out of the drainer “Every chore seemed an hour long. says Fred, “you’ll form the habit of Sydney Sunny 15/08 P Cloudy 14/08 building up. It’s aff ecting our happiness into the cabinet. When I stared tackling chores that good housekeeping.” – Tribune News Tokyo Clear 28/20 Cloudy 27/20 and our lifestyle. I’m drowning.” Or, grab an armful of newspapers to took fi ve minutes, the clutter started Service Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, June 19, 2019 QATAR MME allocates QR750mn for beautifi cation projects

he Ministry of Munici- in two packages in the coming Khalifa, Al Markhiya, Al Duhail of the projects in co-ordination constituted comprising per- pality and Environment years, refl ecting positively on the and Al Qutaifi ya. The works per- with the Public Works Author- sonnel from the Public Parks T(MME), represented by cultural and aesthetic image of tain to full beautifi cation, agri- ity (Ashghal) and implemented Department, according to a the Public Parks Department, has the city of Doha, the offi cial Qa- culture, landscaping, sidewalks, by local contractors. Through statement issued by the MME. announced new beautifi cation tar News Agency (QNA) reported interlocks, pedestrian walkways, the package, the renovation of This team will lead the beauti- projects, including the allocation yesterday. bicycle paths, lighting poles and the Rawdat Al Khail and Ras Abu fication and renovation projects of about QR750mn for beautifi - The fi rst tender worth about others, according to QNA. Aboud parks will be carried out and work with the supervising cation and landscaping projects. QR250mn was off ered to beau- The second package will while new parks will be built in Al committee for the beautifica- The ministry noted that the tify seven main streets in Doha: be off ered at a value of nearly Gharafa and Umm Al Seneem. tion of roads and public areas in projects would be implemented Onaiza, Al Buhaira, Jelaiah, The projects will be implemented in two packages in the coming years. QR500mn to complete the rest A specialised team has been the country.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker shows off the ‘Best Airline of the Year’ award as HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and HIA’s chief operating off icer Badr al-Meer applaud. Qatar Airways wins ‘Best Airline of the Year’ for a record fi fth time Off icials mark the commencement of the new service. From Page 1 decide the award winners. The Airways product, off ers a First awards are referred to by media Class experience in the Busi- On the awards, Skytrax chief around the world as “the Oscars ness Class cabin. Qsuite fea- executive offi cer Edward Plaist- of the aviation industry”. tures the industry’s fi rst-ever ed said: “To be named as the Skytrax pay all costs of the double bed in business class, as ‘World’s Best Airline’ is a great survey and awards event, and well as privacy panels that stow recognition of Qatar Airways’ airlines do not pay any entry away, allowing passengers in high standards, and recognises or registration fee. The awards adjoining seats to create their Qatar Airways fl ight the hard work and dedication event and award presentations own private room, a fi rst of its from every member of staff to are supplied by Skytrax at no kind in the industry. satisfy customers. To achieve charge. There are no fees or costs Qatar Airways currently op- this accolade for a fi fth time is for airline use of the award logos erates a modern fl eet of more a remarkable achievement, and and results. More than 100 cus- than 250 aircraft via its hub, we congratulate them for this tomer nationalities participated Hamad International Airport unique success.” The Skytrax in the survey with 21.65mn eligi- (HIA) to more than 160 desti- touches down in World Airline Awards are inde- ble entries counted in the results. nations worldwide. pendent and impartial, intro- Survey entries were screened The airline will add a number duced in 1999 to provide a cus- by Skytrax to identify IP and of new destinations to its ex- tomer satisfaction study that user information, with dupli- tensive route network in 2019, was truly global. cate, suspect or ineligible en- including Davao (Philippines); Travellers across the world tries deleted. More than 300 Lisbon, (Portugal); Mogadishu vote in the largest airline pas- airlines are featured. (Somalia) and Langkawi (Ma- Davao, for fi rst time senger satisfaction survey to Qsuite, a patented Qatar laysia). Business Page 1 he fi rst Qatar Airways fl ight from Doha to Davao, Tthe Philippines, touched down yesterday at Davao Inter- national Airport, where it was EMUI 9.0 upgrade benefi ting welcomed with a celebratory wa- ter cannon salute. Qatar Airways fl ight QR 936 departed Hamad International Airport (HIA) at over 80mn users, says Huawei 2.45am yesterday and landed in Davao at 5.20pm local time, the uawei has said it is enjoy the experience provided by EMUI 9.0 is designed to be airline said in a press statement. making its EMUI 9.0 the most up-to-date Huawei user more ergonomic, minimising The ambassador of the Philip- Havailable for users to interface. EMUI 9 features natural the chance of users dropping pines to Qatar, Alan Timbayan, download on the Mate10 series UI, ultra-convenient full-screen the device from performing the was joined by Qatar Airways as well as the P20 series, Mate gesture navigation, a smoother unnatural fi nger manoeuvre. senior vice-president (Asia Pa- Davao is the third destination in the Philippines on Qatar Airways’ global network. RS and Nova3. operational experience and GPU In keeping with the concept of cifi c) Marwan Koleilat on board Huawei is also providing previ- Turbo 2.0 – which “greatly im- simplicity, Huawei has changed Qatar Airways’ inaugural fl ight to ternational Airport is the main Davao service once a week with a porters in Davao will be off ered ous-generation phones with the prove the user experience”. Con- the design of the multi-task in- Davao. Qatar Airways Group chief airport serving Davao City and Boeing 787-8 aircraft, featuring direct connection to destina- upgrade, namely the Mate9 se- fi guration items have been re- terface to make it more visual executive HE Akbar al-Baker said, Davao Region in the Philippines. 22 seats in Business Class and tions in Europe, the Middle East ries, P10 series and Nova3i, which duced by 10% and the upgrade with a card-type layout to form “Qatar Airways is very proud to It is the busiest airport on the 232 seats in Economy Class. Pas- and the Americas via Doha, the are in the process of continuous also allows users of older models a unifi ed design. For customers extend its reach into the Philip- island of Mindanao and one of sengers will be able to enjoy the statement adds. upgrades, the company has said in like Mate9 and P10 to enjoy a bet- who are yet to upgrade to EMUI pines by launching our third gate- the busiest in the Philippines. airline’s entertainment system, Qatar Airways currently op- a press statement issued in Doha. ter user experience. The upgrade 9.0, instructions are available on way into this beautiful country. We look forward to welcoming Oryx One, off ering a wide varie- erates a fl eet of more than 250 These developments are in line will bring consistent UI design, their phones (Settings \> Soft- The inclusion of Davao into our all passengers on Qatar Airways’ ty of entertainment options, the aircraft via its hub, HIA, to more with Huawei’s “commitment to natural and immersive UX design, ware Update). Alternatively, they global network further demon- weekly return fl ights.” statement notes. than 160 destinations world- continuously upgrade and bring convenient one-hand operation, can also sign up for the upgrade strates our commitment to the Far With numerous beaches The Philippines is an impor- wide. In addition to its service more value to its customers”, the new gesture navigation and an through Hicare which is only East region, a highly important and resorts, Davao City, on the tant air freight market for Qatar to Davao, Qatar Airways has statement notes. overall smoother experience. available in certain countries and market for Qatar Airways. southern Philippine island of Airways, with the carrier’s cargo launched an array of new des- According to recent data col- The EMUI 9.0 is both faster regions. Huawei retail stores and “With 50 weekly passenger Mindanao, is a coastal commer- arm off ering a weekly capacity tinations recently, including lected by the smartphone major, and more user-friendly than service centres can also provide fl ights to and from the Philip- cial centre near Mount Apo, the of 350 tonnes each way on the Mombasa, Kenya; Izmir, Tur- the number of users that have previous versions of EMUI, with the necessary support. pines, we take great pride in country’s highest peak. Davao Doha-Manila-Doha route and key; and Malta, to name a few. upgraded from the EMUI 8.X to a design that refl ects natural ele- Timings of push notifi cations our role of enabling trade and City is the largest city outside of 70 tonnes on the Doha-Clark- The airline will add a number of EMUI 9.0 has exceeded 80mn ments, including natural colours for the new EMUI 9 upgrade connecting international busi- Manila and the fourth largest in Doha route. new destinations to its extensive globally and continues to grow. It and transitions. Huawei has also will vary by country. To fi nd out nesses.” Commenting on the the Philippines in terms of pop- With the introduction of route network in the second half is estimated that this fi gure will focused on improving single- which EMUI version customers new route launch, Davao In- ulation, with more than 1.4mn fl ights from Doha to Davao on of 2019, including Lisbon, Por- reach 100mn by the end of June. handed control, while redesign- are currently on, they should ternational Airport manager residents. the Doha-Clark-Davao-Doha tugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; and With EMUI 9.0, users of previ- ing and relocating apps like the check their phones (Settings \> Rex A Obcena said: “Davao In- The airline will operate its route eff ective yesterday, ex- Langkawi, Malaysia. ous-generation handsets can now world clock, photos and Gallery. System \> About Phone).

Hot and windy conditions to continue

Strong winds are expected in most parts of the country along Delivery boys, car cleaners look to beat the heat with poor visibility during the daytime, the Qatar Met department has said in its forecast for today. Off shore areas, too, are likely to experience poor visibility, windy conditions and high seas today, the By Joey Aguilar my clothes and this thick helmet, 11.30am-3pm, it was reported washed vehicles parked in the the initiative on outdoor working weather report states. Staff Reporter the heat still penetrates my skin recently. The summer outdoor open outside a hypermarket or in hours, some expatriates said em- The country has been experiencing hot and windy conditions over the and it is really very hard to bear,” working hours will continue until shaded areas. ployers should take the necessary past few days, and this trend is likely to continue today as well. The Met said a Nepali expatriate who works August 31. Employers are required “I recently got sick and had to steps to protect workers from the department had recently said northwesterly winds were expected to orking conditions for as a service crew member and de- to set a working hours timetable see a doctor. He advised me to heat even beyond the 11.30am- aff ect the country until the weekend, advising people to be cautious some categories of livery boy for an eatery chain in in accordance with the decision. drink plenty of water and avoid 3pm work stoppage period. This and avoid sea activities in view of the anticipated conditions. Wemployees, especially Doha. He, though, acknowledged The timetable should be visible being exposed to direct sun- is because conditions are often Today’s detailed forecast says it will be “very hot” during the day those with outdoor duties, have that the summer outdoor work- to all workers and visiting labour light for a long time,” he added. scorching even beyond these and dusty conditions are expected in some places. The wind speed become quite challenging as the ing hours announced recently by inspectors. “I heard labourers use ‘cooling’ timings, they point out. will be 17-27 knots, going up to 38 knots in certain areas. Visibility mercury levels soar, it is learnt. the Ministry of Administrative The eatery worker hopes his hats on site, I hope we can have it A rider suggested that employ- will drop to 2km or less in some places at times. Workers who deliver food, Development, Labour and Social employer will provide the em- as well.” ers could opt for buy small cars Dusty conditions are likely in off shore areas, too, with winds blowing groceries and other items on mo- Aff airs was a big relief for workers ployees with extra uniforms, or “But I’m still thankful that I instead of motorcycles for deliv- at speeds of 25-35 knots, reaching a high of 40 knots occasionally. torbikes and cycles, car cleaners like him. at least with extra towels, which have a job and this overall uni- erymen, noting that these vehi- The sea level, meanwhile, will rise to 14ft. operating in open parking areas The decision, which follows they can use to prevent being form, which protects me from cles can be used even during the A maximum temperature of 46C is expected today in Wakrah and and fuel station attendants, par- the implementation of Ministe- ill in the sweltering conditions. the sun’s heat. Probably I am not work stoppage period. “Both the Mesaieed, followed by 45C in Doha and 43C in Al Khor. ticularly those who work during rial Decision No 16 of 2007, says Another Nepali expatriate, who used to this kind of temperature employee and employer benefi t Yesterday, a maximum of 48C was recorded in Mesaieed, with Abu the day, complain of heat ex- work done in open areas should works as a car cleaner, said tem- because it is cold in Nepal,” he in such a case as driving a car is Hamour, Batna and Turayna next at 47C. Doha (airport area), the haustion. not be longer than fi ve hours in peratures in the past few days said, adding that high humidity safer, and can be used any time,” Qatar University area, Sheehaniyah and Karana followed with 46C. “Though I am fully covered by the morning and must stop from have been too high to bear as he is another issue. While lauding he said.