8 International Wednesday, November 27, 2019 Trump presents ‘incredible’ hero of Baghdadi raid - the dog Conan - the world’s most famous dog

WASHINGTON: “So this is Conan - right now, proba- when he initially announced the high-profile October bly the world’s most famous dog.” In a stream of 26 operation. He went on to declassify the military superlatives, on Monday introduced to dog’s identity - a closely guarded secret - by the world the military dog involved in the raid that led retweeting its picture. And he went as far as publish- to the death of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr ing a photoshopped image of himself bestowing the Al-Baghdadi. “Conan did a fantastic job,” the US canine hero with the Medal of Honor, the country’s president told the White House press corps, assem- highest military distinction. bled for a brief, unannounced ceremony with the Belgian Malinois and its handler. ‘Ultimate fighter’ “So brilliant, so smart,” said Trump, joined for the Monday’s ceremony triggered a brief flurry of con- event by First Lady and Vice President fusion when the White House let it be known after the who lavished fulsome praise of his own on event that the canine “hero” was in fact a female - the four-legged “hero.” “The dog is incredible,” Trump only to later reverse course, confirming Conan was continued. “Conan is a tough cookie. And nobody is well and truly a good boy. Details about Conan’s life, going to mess with Conan.” According to the US achievements and family background are scant, but he account of the raid on Baghdadi last month, Conan certainly comes from good stock: US Navy SEALs cornered the jihadist leader in a dead-end tunnel in his used a Belgian Malinois in the 2011 raid in Pakistan Syrian hideout, where Baghdadi detonated a suicide that killed Al-Qaeda leader . vest, killing himself and two children. The head of US Central Command, General Kenneth Conan was injured by the electric cables exposed McKenzie, has called Conan a “critical member of our in the detonation but appeared to have made a full forces,” with an impressive record of 50 combat mis- recovery. “Conan was very badly hurt, as you know,” sions in four years of service. Calling Conan the “ulti- Trump told reporters. “They thought maybe he was mate fighter, ultimate everything,” Trump said the dog not going to recover. He recovered actually very was “primetime, age-wise” and nowhere close to retir- quickly and has since gone on very important raids.” ing. “I asked one question,” Trump said. “I said, ‘What WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump (left), Vice President Mike Pence (2nd left) and First Lady Melania “I love this dog,” declared the president, saying chance would a strong man have - really strong, tough, Trump stand with Conan - the military dog that was involved with the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al- Conan had been awarded a “medal and a plaque” for a fighter - what chance would this person have against Baghdadi at the White House. — AFP its service. The US president - who ended a tradition Conan, without the guns? going back more than a century by not having a dog What chance?’ And I guess the answer, pretty Baghdadi, who had led IS since 2014 and at the time lot of work since the raid. Certain things have hap- in the White House - has made much of Conan’s role much, was ‘none.’” The US leader also took the of his death was the world’s most wanted man. “It pened that are very important,” he added, without in the raid. Trump had highlighted the dog’s injuries opportunity to trumpet once more the raid on was a flawless attack,” Trump said. “We have done a going into details.—AFP

came through in response. News in brief Tension deepens One of the workers fired was connected to a petition condemning Google for working with the US customs US officials meet Haftar and border patrol agency, which has been involved in as Google fires the President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immi- WASHINGTON: Senior US officials met with Libyan gration. “Four of our colleagues took a stand and strongman Khalifa Haftar Monday to discuss steps ‘Thanksgiving Four’ organized for a better workplace,” read a Medium post toward ending his offensive on Tripoli, and accused by Google Walkout for Real Change, which organized a Russia of exploiting the conflict, the State Department staff protest last year over the issue of sexual miscon- said. The delegation, which included the US ambassador SAN FRANCISCO: Google has fired four employees duct. “This is explicitly condoned in Google’s Code of to Libya Richard Norland, aimed to establish “steps to on the grounds they had violated data security policies, Conduct, which ends: ‘And remember ... don’t be evil, achieve a suspension of hostilities and a political resolu- but the tech titan was accused of persecuting them for and if you see something that you think isn’t right - tion to the Libyan conflict,” the statement read. The offi- trying to unionize staff. The dismissals of the quartet - speak up.’ “When they did, Google retaliated against cials underscored full US “support for the sovereignty dubbed the “Thanksgiving Four” on social media - them.” Authors of the post contended that Google poli- and territorial integrity of Libya and expressed serious deepened staff-management tensions at a company cies on data security were tightened simply to provide CALIFORNIA: A man rides a bike past a Google sign and logo concern over Russia’s exploitation of the conflict at the at the Googleplex in Menlo Park, California. — AFP expense of the Libyan people.” —AFP once seen as a paradigm of Silicon Valley freedoms but cover for getting rid of the workers. “This is classic now embroiled in numerous controversies. union busting dressed up in tech industry jargon, and A memo to employees titled “Securing our data” we won’t stand for it,” they said. it could show a consistent approach towards other staff sought to correct what Google contended was misin- accused of the same conduct as the four. “If not, Kangaroo killer avoids jail formation about the purported wrongdoing, saying it Global disputes Google will likely have to reinstate the employees and involved “systematic searches for other employees’ The Google workplace has been disrupted by pay them back pay,” he told Bloomberg. Google’s virtu- SYDNEY: An Australian man who deliberately mowed materials and work.” Google, the money-making engine employee opposition to top-level decisions ranging al monopoly on internet searches has provoked accusa- down at least 20 kangaroos with a truck avoided jail of parent company Alphabet, confirmed a copy of the from forging contracts with the US military to tailoring tions that it abuses its global dominance to attract more yesterday after pleading guilty to animal cruelty, local note published by Bloomberg News but declined to a version of the search engine for China. A year ago, advertising money at the expense of others, such as the media reported. The dead animals, including two joeys, comment further to AFP. Google employees poured out of premises at its news media. were found littered over roads in the far south-east of The memo said the information accessed by the indi- Mountain View campus and around the world to In France, an alliance of press groups is fighting back the country in September. Bega District News reported viduals, “along with details of internal emails and inac- protest the company’s handling of sexual misconduct with a complaint under the European Union’s new that Nathan Sanger, 20, appeared in a local court yes- curate descriptions about Googlers’ work, was subse- allegations. When they were still suspended prior to the copyright law. AFP has brought a separate complaint terday where he admitted his role in the killing spree, quently shared externally.” But the Tech Workers firings, two of the quartet on Friday addressed a protest against Google. Like Facebook and , Google also which lasted an hour and sparked widespread outrage. Coalition said the employees had been fired for “orga- rally at the company’s San Francisco offices, according stands accused of turning a blind eye to political disin- The court heard Sanger had caused “a lot of suffering nizing at work” and urged others at Google to speak to US media. formation on its platforms. Last week, the search leader to a large number of defenseless animals” in an act of out. “This is meant to scare workers, don’t let it,” the Jeffrey Hirsch, a University of North Carolina law updated how it handles political ads, stepping up “gratuitous cruelty”.— AFP campaign group tweeted, appealing for other employ- professor and former National Labor Relations Board actions it says it is taking in the buildup to the US pres- ers to step in and hire the four. At least one job offer attorney, said Google could face legal problems unless idential election next year.— AFP

Nine Pakistani navy killed Georgia opposition QUETTA: At least nine members of the Pakistan navy Bad weather were killed and 29 other people injured when their bus fell into a deep roadside ditch in the south of the coun- stages fresh protest try yesterday, officials said. The bus was on its way to threatens Karachi from a naval base in Balochistan province when it developed a technical fault and crashed on a despite crackdown mountain pass on the Makran Coastal Highway, Thanksgiving travel Muhammad Jameel, assistant commissioner for Bela TBILISI: Up to 20,000 opposition supporters rallied in town near where the accident took place said. “Nine Georgia yesterday, stepping up pressure on the soldiers of the navy were killed and 29 others including COLORADO: Two powerful storms packing heavy women and children were injured in the incident,” increasingly unpopular ruling party, despite a police snows and strong winds are expected to sweep crackdown last week and the arrest of protesters. across the western half of the this Jameel said, adding— Reuters TBILISI: Protesters demanding the government’s resignation Waving Georgian and European Union flags, and week just in time to wreak havoc on the plans of and early parliamentary polls march towards the parliament chanting “Change!” and “Resign!” protesters marched millions of Americans traveling for Thursday’s in Tbilisi yesterday. —AFP on the capital Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare before gath- Thanksgiving Day holiday. Heavy snow began ering outside the parliament building. falling in Denver on Monday night, with the US recalls S Sudan envoy Opposition leaders said at the rally that mass Rejected compromise National Weather Service (NWS) warning protests will continue until their demands for electoral WASHINGTON: The United States, a key supporter of Protesters say that the current voting system unfair- motorists of “significant travel delays” from the reforms, the government’s resignation and snap legisla- ly favors the ruling party, which won nearly 77 percent accumulating snow. Snowfall is expected to South Sudan, said it was calling back its ambassador for tive elections are met. “Georgian people and the entire consultations as it shows frustration with dueling lead- of seats in the 2016 parliamentary election despite gar- increase over the course of the night to about 2 opposition spectrum is trying to force the ruling party ers’ failure to form a government. Secretary of State nering only 48.7 percent of the vote. Georgian Dream inches per hour, the NWS said. Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter that he called back the to introduce a fair electoral system in the country,” the has ruled out early polls and on Monday rejected the A storm will dump more than a foot (30 cm) of ambassador “as we re-evaluate our relationship with leader of opposition Republican Party, Levan opposition’s new compromise initiative of legislative snow as wind gusts reach 45 mph (72 kph) in an the government of South Sudan.” “We will work with Berdzenishvili said. “Mass protests will continue until amendments that would create a level playing field for area from southern Wyoming to central Colorado. the region to support efforts to achieve peace and a our demands are met,” he added. all the political forces in the tiny Black Sea nation. Last The same storm will then drop 6 to 12 inches (15.2 successful political transition in South Sudan,” he said. Braving sub-zero temperatures, hundreds of pro- Monday, riot police used water cannons to disperse to 30.5 cm) of snow as it moves east across The United States, which contributes about $1 billion a testers - who were mostly young - stayed at the protest protesters and arrested several dozen people outside Nebraska and Kansas and into Minneapolis before year in mostly humanitarian aid for the young country, overnight, many dancing to electronic music. They the parliament building. Ten demonstrators have been reaching the upper Great Lakes by today, the has been especially vocal in its exasperation over the blocked entrances to parliament, vowing to prevent jailed for terms ranging from four to 13 days for “dis- NWS said. Most school districts in the Denver lack of progress in South Sudan.—AFP lawmakers from entering the building where a plenary obeying police orders”. metro area, along with state government offices, session. In the early hours yesterday, police arrested Georgia’s public defender said at the time that the announced that they would be closed. five protesters and briefly detained prominent opposi- prosecution of the peaceful protesters “failed to meet A second strong storm is expected to dump tion MPs, Giga Bokeria of the European Georgia party, minimum judicial standards.” In a joint statement last heavy snow on parts of the Pacific Northwest Thousands displaced in Nigeria and Tengiz Gunava of Georgia’s main opposition force, week, the embassies of the United States and European starting today night, with blizzard-like conditions the United National Movement. Union criticized Georgian Dream’s failure to introduce in Oregon and Northern California, the NWS said. “The government has lost popular support and only KANO: Thousands of villagers have been displaced fol- the electoral reform and expressed solidarity with the “Everyone say a prayer to the Colorado weather relies on police force,” one of the protesters, Elene lowing days of attacks by armed “bandits” on 10 remote protesters. Ivanishvili had promised “large-scale politi- gods that my flight doesn’t get cancelled on communities in central Nigeria, emergency services said Mikadze, 21 said. “That means its end is coming.” Pro- cal reform” following a summer of protests that saw Wednesday night,” Evelyn Graham, a 26-year-old yesterday. Gunmen on motorbikes stormed into a string opposition Mtavari TV station reported that riot police 240 people injured in a police crackdown. biology student at the California State University of villages in the Shiroro district of Niger state from has been deployed in numbers in parliament’s under- Two protesters including a teenage girl lost an eye. in San Marcos, said in a Twitter message. “I wanna Friday to Monday, shooting and torching homes and ground compound and in the prime minister’s office. In power since 2012, the ruling party has seen its popu- go home for Thanksgiving.” forcing residents to flee. “We have so far documented The demonstrators have held a series of mass larity plummet amid widespread discontent over eco- Some 55 million travelers will fly or drive at 4,000 people displaced by the bandits,” Niger State protests after MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream nomic stagnation and perceived backsliding on its least 50 miles from their homes this Thanksgiving, Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) spokesman party voted down on November 14 legislation to hold commitment to democracy. Critics accuse Ivanishvili - according to the American Automobile Ibrahim Audu Hussein said. “The IDPs (internally dis- parliamentary elections next year under a new propor- who is widely believed to be the man in charge in Association. At Denver International Airport, near- placed persons) are sheltered in a camp in nearby Kuta tional voting system. Opposition parties have called the Georgia - of persecuting political opponents, suffocat- ly 500 flights scheduled to depart and arrive today district,” said Hussein, warning the number could increase rallies after forming a rare united front against ing critical media, and creating a corrupt political sys- have been canceled ahead of the storm, airport as more people were arriving at the camp.—AFP Georgian Dream led by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, tem where his private interests dominate government spokesman Alex Renteria said.—Reuters whom they accuse of orchestrating the bill’s failure. decision-making.—AFP