BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Al Khaliji Liverpool moves land in to new Doha, HQ in seeking fi rst ever Lusail City Club WC

published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11398 December 16, 2019 Rabia II 19, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir meets Libyan official Qatar uses resources to advance education, technology, healthcare

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter Deals with UN agencies

atar has been able to direct Qatar continued its successful its resources towards high- collaboration with UN agencies Qquality education, better and strategic local and healthcare and innovative research international partners by signing and technology, among others, HE the several new agreements through Deputy Prime Minister and Minister the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid and Qatar Fund for Development bin Mohamed al-Attiyah has said. (QFFD) on the sidelines of Doha “Today, we are living in an era of HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah at Doha Forum yesterday. Right: Hulusi Forum yesterday. digital revolution as against the In- Akar. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed Present at the signing were HE dustrial Revolution centuries ago. the Deputy Prime Minister and Challenges have changed and tech- velopment, and we have many future have always said that dialogue and ne- Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh nology has changed. The global and challenges that must be identifi ed and gotiations are the best way to resolve Mohamed bin Abdulrahman regional security situation and the prepared for, in addition to agreeing on the diff erences while maintaining that al-Thani and president of the nature of wars and confl icts have a set of rules to deal with it and with the our sovereignty is non-questionable.” 74th Session of the UN General changed. It is an era where people di- new world order. Otherwise, we will As for the relationship with Iran, he Assembly Tijjani Mohamed- rect the state rather than the state di- face many obstacles,” he explained. said Qatar believes that the only way Bande, besides the officials of the rects its people. Qatar has well taken He also pointed out that in the mod- to draw a legal framework to achieve organisations concerned. care of the changes and has been pre- ern times, nothing can be hidden. “We stability in the region is to conduct The agreements were signed in paring accordingly for several years,” do not hide anything from the people. direct dialogue and negotiations with support of winterisation eff orts HE Dr al-Attiyah noted while taking Technology has made it impossible and neighbours and all parties concerned in Jordan and Lebanon, the part in a plenary session on the sec- we must open up to others to face in- with the region’s security and issues. Country-Based Pooled Funds, ond day of Doha Forum 2019. ternal crises and to have a clear dialogue He also noted that the Syrian issue UNRWA programmes in Syria and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday at He was joined by Turkish Minister with neighbours. If we are not open to is a complicated one, noting that the economic resilience for refugees, the Amiri Diwan with the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, Fayez of Defence Hulusi Akar in a discus- our neighbours, it will be a challenge and people of Syria deserve a better life. IDPs and vulnerable host Mustafa al-Sarraj, who is visiting Qatar to take part in the Doha Forum 2019. sion that was moderated by ambas- a danger to future generations,” he said. He noted that Qatar has done every- countries in Syria and surrounding The meeting discussed bilateral ties in addition to the developments in Libya as sador Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman, Regarding the Gulf crisis, HE Dr al- thing possible to conduct mediation countries, among others, well as the developments in the region. Al-Sarraj briefed the Amir on the latest Munich Security Conference. Attiyah said Qatar always stands for with all parties by using its relations according to information available developments in Libya. The Amir aff irmed Qatar’s firm position in support for “We have a lot of concerns because discussion and negotiation. “Qatar has with all of them. To Page 15 on the QFFD Twitter page. Libya and its unity, and for the internationally-recognised Libyan Government we live in an era of technological de- made its position clear from Day 1. We Pages 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 of National Accord. Page 11 Sheikha Moza meets In brief El Salvador’s First Lady Doha Forum 2019 concludes,

QATAR | Offi cial Amir in phone talk with celebrates UN’s 75th anniversary Algerian president-elect His Highness the Amir Sheikh QNA Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held Doha yesterday evening a telephone conversation with Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during which he he 19th edition of the Doha Fo- congratulated him on his victory rum 2019 concluded yesterday in the presidential elections in Tevening. Algeria, wishing him success HE the Prime Minister and Min- and the people of Algeria further ister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin progress and prosperity. Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attended the conclusion of the forum, which was held at Sheraton Doha under the QATAR | Gesture theme ‘Reimagining Governance in a Amir pardons a Multipolar World’. number of prisoners The closing ceremony was attend- HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin ed by a number of ministers, senior Khalifa al-Thani with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the concluding His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All, offi cials from Arab and foreign coun- session of the Doha Forum 2019 at the Sheraton Doha Hotel. bin Hamad al-Thani issued an Amiri met yesterday with the First Lady of El Salvador, Gabriela Rodriguez Bukele. tries, and heads of diplomatic mis- gesture pardoning a number of During the meeting, they discussed potential collaboration with Education sions accredited to Qatar. was held in the presence of opin- challenges facing the world and put prisoners on the occasion of the Above All to tackle the issue of out-of-school children in El Salvador. The two-day forum, which is ion leaders and policymakers from forward applicable innovative solu- National Day. PICTURE: Aisha al-Musallam Page 8 a global platform for dialogue, around the globe, to discuss the tions. To Page 15 Hosting Qatar 2022 is a ‘transformational opportunity’

Three more stadiums Qatar 90% ready for World Cup “Everything is coming together ac- On workers’ welfare, al-Thawadi cording to plan. Next year, three sta- was questioned on the SC’s engage- to be unveiled in 2020 Qatar 90% ready for the 2022 FIFA Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al- diums will come into the pipeline,” he ment with Liverpool FC supporters’ World Cup, making significant strides Baker said at Doha Forum yesterday. said. group Spirit of Shankly, which raised he secretary-general of the Su- that will raise its profile globally, Qatar Referring to the preparations for the “The Club World Cup and Gulf Cup questions about the treatment of preme Committee for Delivery National Tourism Council (QNTC) event, he said “we are always ahead are a chance to listen to the fans. We workers in Qatar. T& Legacy (SC) has described Qa- Secretary-General and Qatar Airways of what we have to deliver”. Page 14 want to ensure our plans meet their Al-Thawadi said: “We engaged with tar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup as a expectations for 2022.” Liverpool and Spirit of Shankly, and ‘transformational opportunity’. Al-Thawadi touched on football’s opened ourselves up to questioning in During an interview with CNN’s opinions – not simply from an ideologi- developing every day. We’re imple- power to unite when he was asked order to dispel any misconceptions and Becky Anderson at Doha Forum yes- cal point of view, but for the average fan. menting change and we’re improving about the participation of Saudi Ara- answer their questions. We’ve been terday, Hassan al-Thawadi said hosting “People and fans can build relation- people’s lives.” bia, the UAE and Bahrain in the 24th open and transparent on the genuine international football’s biggest tourna- ships. They will support their teams He said preparations for the tourna- Arabian Gulf Cup, which recently took progress that has been made and that ment had the power to change percep- but they can also create a bond through ment were on track and will include place in Qatar. refl ects our values as a nation. tions and break down stereotypes of their shared love of football.” the unveiling of three more stadiums “I think the tournament itself holds a “I think both the club and support- Qatar, the Middle East and Arab world. Al-Thawadi said: “The World Cup in 2020. He also described the Arabian special place in our hearts. It showcases ers’ associations recognised we are “It’s a transformational opportunity was always an opportunity for positive Gulf Cup and ongoing FIFA Club World the commitment of Qatar to separating genuine. We look forward to hosting for the region to benefi t from this great change. All we can do (as a country) is Cup as ideal opportunities to test read- sport and politics – and the concept of them in Qatar – when Liverpool fans event,” said al-Thawadi. “You have Hassan al-Thawadi at Doha Forum strive to continuously improve. We’ve iness while giving fans a taste of what building platforms that, despite diff er- arrive they will fi nd a celebration of this powerful tool that can break down yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil evolved over the last 10 years and we’re to expect in 2022. ences, bring people together.” multiculturalism.” To Page 8

Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 3 QATAR

Qatar-Paraguay legal ties reviewed

HE the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri yesterday met the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay Eugenio Jimenez Rolon. The meeting discussed a number of issues of common concern in addition to means of co-operation in the legal and judicial fields.

Qatar, Nicaragua sign agreement in education, scientifi c research

QNA co-operation in science, Doha research, and technical edu- cation fi elds, in addition to exchanging visits between atar and Nicara- the two countries, as well as gua signed yester- to participate in academic Q day an agreement events and workshops. for co-operation in the The agreement was fields of high education signed during a meet- and scientific research, ing held yesterday at the to enhance relations and Ministry of Education and co-operation in these Higher Education. During fields,and to strengthen the meeting, the two sides and broaden the ties of reviewed important topics friendship. in the high education and The agreement was science research fi elds, as signed by HE the Undersec- HE Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi and Denis Ronaldo well as means to support retary of the Qatar’s Minis- Moncada Colindres exchange documents after signing the and enhance them, includ- try of Education and Higher agreement. ing experience exchange Education Dr Ibrahim bin and the best established Saleh al-Nuaimi and the gua Denis Ronaldo Moncada Under the agreement, practices in both countries Foreign Minister of Nicara- Colindres. both sides encourage the in this regard.

Gulf Times 6 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR

Amir issues instruments of ratification

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin for co-operation in the health field between the Hamad al-Thani has issued the following Ministry of Public Heath in Qatar and the Ministry instruments of ratification: of Health in Italy, signed in Rome on 20/11/2018. First edition of Generation 1. Approving a memorandum of understanding 5. Approving a memorandum of understanding for economic, trade and technical co-operation for co-operation in the fields of youth and between Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce sports between the Ministry of Culture and and Industry and the Japanese Ministry of Sports in Qatar and the Department of Youth Economy, Trade and Industry, signed in Tokyo and Sports in the Italian Cabinet, signed in Amazing Festival kicks off on 29/1/2019. Rome on 20/11/2018. 2.Approving a memorandum of understanding 6. Approving a memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the field of transportation for co-operation in the fields of tourism and QNA strategic partners Qatar between the Ministry of Transport and business events between the governments of Doha Foundation, FIFA Foun- Communications of Qatar and the Japan’s Qatar and the government of Rwanda, signed dation and street football Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and in Kigali on 21/4/2019. world for their support.” Tourism, signed in Tokyo on 29/1/2019. 7. Approving a draft memorandum of he inaugural Genera- Speaking about what 3. Approving a memorandum of understanding understanding for co-operation in the field of tion Amazing Festi- youth participants can ex- on food security and co-operation in the culture between the governments of Qatar and Tval kicked off yester- pect to gain from the festi- field of agriculture between the Ministry of Rwanda, signed in Kigali on 21/4/2019. day at Qatar Foundation’s val, Generation Amazing’s Municipality and Environment in Qatar and 8. Approving a draft memorandum of Oxygen Park. The event Programme Director, Nasser the Italy’s Ministry of Agricultural Food and understanding for co-operation in the field of aims to inspire a generation al-Khori, said: “Football for Forestry Policies, signed in Rome on 20/11/2018. sports between the governments of Qatar and of young leaders to make a good workshops will teach 4. Approving a memorandum of understanding Rwanda, signed in Kigali on 21/4/2019. diff erence in their commu- participants to build and nities. design social development Amir issues decrees Amir appoints envoy Attendees from Qatar, programs around football the Middle East, Asia, Eu- infrastructure, event organi- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani His Highness the Amir Sheikh rope, and the Americas are sation, and community out- yesterday issued the following decrees: Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued being encouraged to har- reach initiatives. A. Decree No 51 of 2019 ratifying a memorandum of yesterday Amiri Decision No. 62 ness the power of football to The festival’s educational understanding (MoU) for co-operation between the of 2019 appointing Ahmed Ali create social change. courses will take partici- Qatar Free Zones Authority and China Council for the Abdulrahman al-Jamil al-Tamimi as This year’s festival will pants through the funda- Promotion of International Trade signed in Beijing on ambassador to Thailand. celebrate social inclusion mental principles of active 01/31/2019. B. Decree No 52 of 2019 ratifying basic The decision is eff ective starting and promote gender equal- citizenship through football agreement between the government of Qatar, and the from its date of issuance and ity as part of Generation and project management.” United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) signed in Doha is to be published in the off icial Amazing’s mandate of us- A football for good tour- on 12/16/2018. gazette. - QNA ing football to support the nament will be the cul- Participants in the Generation Amazing Festival. United Nations Sustainable mination of the festival’s Development Goals and the educational and entertain- Qatar National Vision 2030. ment experience and off ers Running alongside the participants the chance to FIFA Club World Cup Qatar apply all the technical and 2019, the festival is the fi rst personal skills they have of a series leading up to the acquired throughout the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. festival. More than 170 youth Youth will also be able participants from 12 coun- to take part in a train- tries, including Qatar, ing session delivered by Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Dutch football legend Johan Pakistan, India, the Phil- Neeskens, while the PSG ippines, Nepal, Italy, Bel- Academy in Doha will lead gium, the UK, and Brazil, a series of sessions for at- will be participating. tendees. Key highlights include football for development “We are proud and workshops, a ‘football3’ excited to be launching tournament, activities led the very fi rst edition by youth ambassadors, a of the Generation FIFA Legends day, cultural Amazing Festival and performances and celebrity welcoming youth from footballer events. Qatar and across the Qatar Foundation has world to come together been announced as the to celebrate the power strategic partner for the of football” festival. The FIFA Foundation is Towards the end of their also partnering with Gen- journey, participants will eration Amazing for the get a chance to attend the event, which is organised FIFA Club World Cup Qatar in collaboration with the 2019 and watch Liverpool’s street football world. semi-fi nal game against Qatar Airways are the of- Monterrey, while a FIFA fi cial airline partners, while Legends day will feature beIN SPORTS are the offi - talks, training sessions and cial media partner. a match between star play- The festival is supported ers and the young leaders. by Qatar Football Associa- From live performances tion, Qatar Museums, Ash- to face painting, additional ghal, QLM Life and Medical special events and activities Insurance Company, and will feature unique cultural, the University Campus of networking and celebratory Football Business. activities, including the Generation Amazing closing awards ceremony partner clubs AS Roma, and a visit to the iconic Qa- KAS Eupen, Leeds United, tar National Museum. and Sheffi eld FC have all Generation Amazing, sent youth delegations, as the Supreme Commit- have Brazilian champions tee for Delivery & Legacy’s Flamengo, who are taking human and social legacy part in the FIFA Club World programme, was initiated Cup, and the English Foot- during Qatar’s successful ball Association. bid for the FIFA World Cup Generation Amazing’s 2022 in 2010. Marketing and Commu- It uses the power of sport nications Director, Moza to positively impact lives al-Mohannadi, said: “We and create sustainable so- are proud and excited to cial development in com- be launching the very fi rst munities. edition of the Generation More than 500,000 ben- Amazing Festival and wel- efi ciaries have been reached coming youth from Qatar to date through Generation and across the world to Amazing in the Middle East come together to celebrate and Asia, with the aim of the power of football. reaching 1mn young people “Special thanks to our by 2022.

Qatar participates in Arab meeting to evaluate media action plan

QNA erations and organisations Cairo practising media tasks, will discuss a proposal to establish an Arab media he State of Qatar par- observatory to monitor ticipated in the sec- and follow up the situa- Tond meeting of the tion and developments in expert group on evaluat- member states and work ing and updating the Arab to employ the axes and ob- media action plan abroad, jectives of the plan to serve which started today at the them. headquarters of the General The expert group con- Secretariat of the League of cerned with the evaluation Arab States. and updating of the Arab HE the ambassador Has- media action plan abroad san bin Ahmed al-Mutawa, comprises a number of Deputy Permanent Rep- media advisers in member resentative of the State of countries, in addition to Qatar to the League of Arab strategic experts in plan- States, represented the ning who have the ability to State of Qatar in the meet- evaluate the activities of the ing. plan and provide meaning- The meeting, in which a ful suggestions for its de- number of media experts velopment and updating in in member states and rep- line with current develop- resentatives of Arab fed- ments.

Gulf Times 8 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR

Prime minister attends Doha Forum 2019 Sheikha Moza meets Rwandan president

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), met yesterday with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was in Qatar to participate in Doha Forum 2019. During the meeting, they discussed ongoing HE the Prime minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attending the concluding session of the projects with Silatech and Education Above All in Rwanda, as well as ways to collaborate with Qatar Doha Forum 2019, at the Sheraton Doha Hotel, yesterday. Foundation in higher education. PICTURE: Aisha al-Musallam

Ministry honours winners of Global Award for Dialogue Among Civilizations

QNA research entitled “The Impact topics that were addressed in its qualitative initiatives at vari- Doha of Muslim Migration on the Cul- second and purposeful edition ous diplomatic, humanitarian, ture and Arts of the Far East” to deepening civilizational dia- civilisational and cultural levels, he Ministry of Foreign Af- and the second winner Dr Bachir logue in line with the eff orts of which made it an example to be fairs yesterday honoured Khalafi from Algeria came for his Qatar in this regard. followed in these fi elds. Tthe two winners of the research “Muslim immigrants He pointed to the eff orts of the Dr Mohamed Ahmed Abdel- Qatar Global Award for Dialogue in the West between identity College of Shariah in the fi eld of salam, the fi rst place winner, Among Civilizations which is in requirements and the require- civilisational dialogue, saying said in a statement to QNA that its second edition. ments of citizenship”. in this regard, that the College this award is the most important The award is supervised by On the occasion, President of of Shariah and Islamic Studies for him, being from Qatar and the Qatari Committee for the Qatar University Dr Hassan bin at Qatar University has made because it is the fi rst after ob- Alliance of Civilization in the Rashid al-Derham, in a state- great eff orts, as an institution to taining a doctorate. Ministry, and ISESCO Chair in ment to Qatar News Agency enhance originality and docu- He said the award refl ects the Alliance of Civilisations at the (QNA), indicated that this an- ment intellectual and practical role of Qatar and its active pres- College of Shariah and Islamic nual award, which is sponsored HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi and other off icials with the award trends and activate civilisation ence in all political, cultural, Studies at Qatar University. by HE the Deputy Prime Minis- winners. dialogue, to protect and enhance civilisational and educational The honour came on the side- ter and Minister of Foreign Af- the Islamic identity and activate fi elds. lines of Doha Forum 2019, where fairs and Chairman of the Qatar international level, a depth in so far in the award, and the re- For his part, the Dean of the its eff ect in reality locally and In a similar statement, the HE the Minister of State for Committee for the Alliance of the method and scientifi c con- search and academic mobility College of Shariah at Qatar globally. award’s second winner, Dr Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad Civilizations Sheikh Mohamed tent, and an important infl uence it has brought about in the fi eld University Dr Ibrahim Abdulla The two winners praised the Bachir Khalafi , thanked the or- al-Muraikhi, honoured each of bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, in a in the fi eld of civilised dialogue. of dialogue among civilisations, al-Ansari pointed out the scien- eff orts of Qatar in the fi eld of ganisers of this award refl ects the winner Dr Mohamed Ahmed short time, has achieved the dis- He said that the university is and the study of rapprochement tifi c level reached by the awards activating dialogue between the high standards followed in Abdelsalam from Egypt, for his tinction of participating at the proud of the success achieved between nations and peoples. researches for this year, and the civilisations and launching the evaluation. Zarif calls for united eff orts to resolve global issues peacefully

By Ayman Adly such as sophisticated Staff Reporter arms in abundance, or buying some for- eign policies. He then ecurity, like cli- wondered whether mate change, security and regional Shas no borders stability could be and hence indivis- bought. ible, Iranian Foreign He further pointed Minister Javad Zarif out Iran, much like said while address- Qatar, believes in ing a plenary session the need for a new, at Doha Forum 2019 fundamental ap- yesterday. proach based on the He noted that the actual knowledge current situation in of the particulars of the world requires all the region in order countries to work to- to resolve pending gether to resolve issues issues and achieve peacefully, based on regional security and the factual knowledge co-operation under of the situation and the United Nations respect for the sover- (UN). eignty and independ- He said Iran has ence of individual been proposing this states. to the UN since 1985. Further, globali- Mohamed Javad Zarif at Doha Forum. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Then, he talked sation cannot be about the recent pro- the answer to world tion among different that some coun- the idea of exploit- posal of the Iranian problems when one parties and create tries have exploited ing diff erences and President Hassan Rou- nation wants to an “early-warning such disparities and disparities in achiev- hani to launch the Hor- thrive and prosper system” to evade po- used them as a fer- ing certain regional muz Peace Endeavour over the ruins and tential conflicts. tile ground to expand agendas, because (HOPE) to maintain distress of others “The disparities their military pres- such attempts conse- mutual understanding such as wars in the in power and natural ence in the region and quently lead to more between Iran and the region and political and human resources increase their arms insecurity. GCC countries, which crises that under- as well as the similar sales to the opposing Meanwhile, he re- above all recognises mine the stabil- issues faced by coun- parties. This has also jected the notion of the responsibility of ity and well-being of tries in our region have led to more disasters, some wealthy coun- each nation to ensure the region. He said led to disastrous con- he noted. tries that believe the peace, stability and there is a need to en- sequences,” he said. He further stressed abundance of wealth propensity as neigh- hance communica- Then, he explained the need to abandon could buy everything bours.

Three more stadiums to be unveiled in 2020

From Page 1 to 2022. They also for development pro- ment, which will take with Vladimir Vo- discussed the SC’s grammes. place in Argentina ronkov, the United On Saturday, al- Generation Amazing Al-Thawadi also and Colombia. Nations Under-Sec- Thawadi discussed legacy programme, met with Otto Son- With Miguel An- retary for Counter- a range of subjects which has collabo- nenholzner, Vice- gel Moratinos, the Terrorism, al-Thawadi related to Qatar 2022 rated with Rwanda’s President of Ecuador, United Nations High discussed initiatives during a number of Ministry of Sport to to discuss links be- Representative for aimed at preventing meetings held on the launch a pilot project tween Qatar and Ec- the Alliance of Civi- extremism. sidelines of Doha Fo- focused on youth in uador, and the poten- lisations, al-Thawadi He also met Lord rum. Kigali. Generation tial for enhanced ties discussed potential Peter Mandelson, He met Rwandan Amazing will work around the time of partnerships between who formerly held a President Paul Kag- with diff erent part- next summer’s Copa the UN and SC, plus number of Cabinet ame to discuss po- ners in Rwanda to America. Qatar and the power of Qatar positions in the UK tential links between refurbish facilities, Ecuador have been 2022 to unite people government before Qatar and Rwanda train local coaches drawn in the same across the world. becoming President during the lead-up and deliver football group for the tourna- During a meeting of Policy Network. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 9 QATAR Qatar Charity’s exhibition portrays refugee crisis at Doha Forum

atar Charity (QC), in cooperation of many official figures of the country Through this exhibition, Qatar international legal texts on the rights QFFD, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with the Qatar Fund For and those participating in the forum, Charity aims to shed light on the of refugees and internally displaced and Internal Displacement Monitoring QDevelopment (QFFD), has most notably H E Sheikha Al Mayassa international texts on refugees, who have persons (IDPs) reflects the beauty Centre (IDMC) to advocate for refugee organized an exhibition on the refugee bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, been forced to flee their homes, using the of Arabic calligraphy and its unique issue, and revive legal texts upholding crisis to portray the suffering, challenges, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Arabic calligraphy in innovative way. characteristics. Arabic calligraphy is their protection and dignity,” added Al- and hopes of millions of refugees Film Institute, and Reach Out to Asia The exhibition, designed by Mr. used for the first time to portray the Ghamdi. worldwide through Arabic calligraphy. (ROTA), H E Lolwah Al Khater, Assistant Sabah AlArbili, an accomplished suffering, challenges and hopes of Sabah AlArbili, a calligrapher, The exhibition entitled “The Refugee Foreign Minister, and spokesperson for calligrapher recognized as a prominent millions around the world to bring about says, “Arabic calligraphy is known Journey in Arabic Calligraphy” came the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H E figure in Arabic calligraphy, featured 21 empathy and change, and draw attention for its unique ability to magnify the within the activities of the two-day Doha Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director art pieces ranging from classic Arabic from a different perspective to the significance of the written word. It is the Forum, which was organized by the General of QFFD, in addition to the calligraphy to more experimental and biggest humanitarian crisis of history, quintessential art form of our Islamic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UN Development Programme (UNDP) expressionist styles. the refugee crisis. civilization,” adding “Throughout The exhibition gained the admiration Administrator, Mr. Achim Steiner. The exhibition based on three Mr. Mohamed Al-Ghamdi, Assistant a secular history it has been used to CEO for the Governance and Institutional give prominence to various texts and Development Sector at Qatar Charity publications.” expressed his pride in launching this “Today, we are using the attributes version of the exhibition combining the and the splendor of this art to resuscitate beauty of the Arabic calligraphy and the and revive the texts that have been advocacy of Qatar Charity for refugee drafted decades ago and that guaranteed and IDP issues, which is one of the my safe journey from a stateless person biggest issues of the world. to an accomplished artist,” AlArbili He also noted that there are more noted. than 70 million displaced people and It is noteworthy that Qatar Charity refugees around the world, forty percent will participate in the exhibition for of them are in the Arab and Islamic the second time at the Global Refugee regions. Forum, which will be held in Geneva “Through this exhibition, Qatar from 16 to 18 December. Charity works with its partners, including Gulf Times 10 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR Panel at Doha Forum addresses climate change resilience issue HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi with Pouyanné and Descalzi at a panel discussion at the Doha Forum 2019. he Doha Forum, which Revolution in Africa; and Joe that are being developed to concluded yesterday, Cerrell, managing director protect places and people, es- Tfeatured a panel of ex- for Global Policy and Advo- pecially those most vulnerable, perts that discussed the issue cacy, The Bill & Melinda Gates from the social and economic ‘The Adaptation Challenge: Foundation. impacts. New Approaches to Climate Summing up al-Attiyah’s They also explored ques- Change Resilience’. take on the topic at hand, Mar- tions, such as how can the Moderated by Terry Martin, tin said the issue is not about public and private sectors bet- Natural gas future senior anchor at DW News, the technology and expertise but ter collaborate and implement panel was composed of Fahad the issue of the economic mod- innovative solutions to address bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, am- el of the willingness of govern- current climate challenges? bassador extraordinary and ments and societies to work What innovations in tech- plenipotentiary of the state together to address climate ad- nology and agricultural devel- of Qatar to the Russian Fed- aptation challenge. opment show promise for both eration; Professor Li Xiaoyun , Al-Attiyah said, “I am a be- private sector investment and fuel as fears grow honorary dean, China Institute liever of going down to the public sector application? And for South-South Co-operation cultural DNA and trying to what approaches to the adapt- in Agriculture, China Agricul- address this problem at the ability challenge are being em- tural University; cultural level.” braced by diff erent nations and Dr Agnes Kalibata, presi- The panel also discussed the multilateral institutions, with over CO2: minister dent, Alliance for a Green technologies and approaches what attendant results? Many countries are moving ral gas is key in this transition focus on what we control, which the oil and gas industry to take away from coal and building because of its qualities as the is cost. We want to be safe, more responsibility towards car- infrastructure for the use of cleanest of fossil fuels.” effi cient and reliable,” he said. bon capture and storage, as well gas The panel saw the partici- The minister highlighted Qa- as in its overall attitude towards pation of Patrick Pouyanné, tar’s strategy to serve the re- the environment. atural gas is the desti- chairman and CEO, Total, and quirements of gas importers, Noting a series of Qatari envi- nation fuel, which will Claudio Descalzi, CEO, Eni. and its plans on how to do that ronmental initiatives, the minis- Nhold a prominent posi- Al-Kaabi said, “Many coun- including the recent announce- ter drew attention to the largest tion in the current and future tries are moving away from coal ment to raise the country’s LNG CO2 recovery and sequestration energy mix, said HE the Minis- and building infrastructure for production capacity to 126mn facility currently in operation in ter of State for Energy Aff airs, the use of gas. When we con- tonnes per year (tpy) by 2027. the Mena region in Qatar saying, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, also sider the eff orts to combat cli- “We see exploration as the “We have recently announced the President and CEO of Qatar mate change and the ongoing springboard of our international 2.5mn tonnes of CO2 sequestra- Petroleum. concerns over CO2 and other gas expansion. We are working with tion to reach 5mn tonnes by 2024, Stressing the importance of emissions, it is clear that gas is good partners and are willing to and hopefully to 7mn by 2027.” natural gas, during a panel dis- the future.” take the risks associated with The Doha Forum, established in cussion entitled ‘The future of Al-Kaabi discussed vari- this business. Our eff orts have 2000, is a global platform for dia- LNG in meeting the world’s en- ous issues related to the global paid off in a number of our in- logue on critical challenges facing ergy demand’ part of the Doha gas industry and stressed Qa- vestments, and more is coming our world and bringing together Forum 2019, the minister said, tar’s unique place as a well- very soon. We are no longer a leaders in policy to build innova- “The current energy transition established and reliable energy national oil company but rather tive and action driven networks. is mostly driven by the need for provider. an international one.” Qatar Petroleum is an insti- cleaner and more economic and “We do not see ourselves in Addressing environmental tutional partner of the Doha Dr Agnes Kalibata stresses a point during a discussion, while other panel members look on. sustainable alternatives. Natu- competition with anybody. We concern, al-Kaabi called upon Forum. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil ‘Qatar is leading knowledge partner for global fi rms’

By Peter Alagos portunities of knowledge, the wealth and investment plat- Business Reporter systems, and solutions. form. So we can help you to open “When you talk about how new doors for your business … knowledge is created, you have the country is ready to welcome ue to its focus on new to live globally because knowl- international investments.” technologies, connec- edge is created globally, so you Al-Mansoori also noted that Dtivity, and ensuring the have to ensure the connectivity the MoTC is focusing on comple- transformation of various indus- of each of the hubs of other ma- menting the eff orts to build a dig- tries, Qatar has become a leading jor knowledge centres around the ital economy for Qatar, even as she knowledge partner for business world, and in that aspect, I see stressed that the country “needs to transformations and for many Qatar and its approach are abso- be part of the global economy.” international companies. lutely at the forefront,” Loscher “We want Qatar to be a smart Techvision Capital manag- pointed out. solution hub for the region,” al- ing director Peter Loscher made Citing Qatar’s advanced in- Mansoori pointed out. the statement during a panel frastructure, HE al-Sayed said Speaking to reporters on the discussion titled ‘The Impact the country is also leading ef- sidelines of the event, Volkswa- of Free Zones on International forts in its social infrastructure, gen Middle East CEO and man- Trade and National Develop- as well as in its education sector. aging director Deesch Papke said ment’ held at the Doha Forum “We have 15 universities, and in a the company will establish its yesterday. small country such as ours, this research and development (R&D) Aside from Loscher, the pan- Panel of experts during a discussion held at the Doha Forum yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil shows the accumulated knowl- programme, as well as a hub at el is composed of Ketan Patel, edge and how much you can uti- the free zone … the beauty of the CEO, Greater Pacifi c Capital; munications (MoTC); HE Ahmad Capital Holdings Limited. and multi-regional paradigm, “It is not only attracting in- lise it. This is a huge potential.” free zone is that you can register Reem al-Mansoori, Assistant bin Mohamed al-Sayed, Minister Loscher emphasised that the adding that from a knowledge ward investments but also at- He added: “From a business with multiple sectors, so you can Undersecretary for Digital So- of State and chairman of Qatar trend for many economies is to perspective, it is “very impor- tracting platforms that are standpoint, Qatar is teaming up have training academies, as well ciety Development Sector at the Free Zones Authority; and Yichen move from a global business ap- tant” for global companies to themselves becoming platforms with global and national cham- as sales and marketing. We can Ministry of Transport and Com- Zhang, chairman and CEO, Citic proach towards the multi-local ensure local connectivity. for export to international op- pions … the country also has do so many things.” Qatar reaches out to Shariah market in Malaysia, Turkey

By Santhosh V Perumal said Qatar has the vital ingredi- currently a global venue for the Business Reporter ents of assets and infrastructure issuance of sukuk, while Hong (legal and regulatory frame- Kong and Luxembourg have also works) to enable it take the lead made inroads but Qatar believes ith more than $127bn in the Islamic fi nance globally. the market should be led by Islamic fi nancial as- The QFC has set an ambitious Muslim countries, al-Jaida said. Wsets under its kitty, plan to reach out to Malaysia and “If we put our heads together Qatar has taken the lead in Turkey to create some sort of and share technology and come reaching out to Malaysia and consortium for Islamic fi nancial up with regulatory requirements Turkey through which the activities, he said. and pass-porting mechanisms, country aims to be the domi- “We have a vision to cover the we believe that these three nant player in the global Shariah entire globe’s Islamic fi nancial countries can dominate the en- fi nancial landscape. transactions between three fi - tire Islamic fi nancial market in- Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, along with other panellists, at Doha Forum yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed “Qatar has more than $127bn nancial centres - Doha, Istanbul ternationally,” al-Jaida said. of Islamic fi nancial assets, most and Malaysia,” he said, adding The Islamic fi nancial system Dr Mohamed Damak, senior by the industry between 1975 and Islamic fi nance industry too. banking assets for 2017-18 which of which is concentrated in Is- for which there is a need to share is now regarded as one of the director, S&P Global Ratings, 2010. Dr Bello Lawal Danbatta, sec- was mere 0.9% compared to 27- lamic banking ($107bn) and out- platforms and technology. fastest growing segments of the said the Islamic fi nance indus- Stressing that the (Islamic fi - retary general, Islamic Finan- 28% in the capital market sector; standing sukuk (Islamic debt) of Under the proposed plan, global fi nancial system - off ering try, which is $2.2tn in size now, nance) industry is concentrated cial Services Board, said Islamic he said it appears that the former $20bn,” Qatar Financial Center Turkey would cover Islamic fi - as a safer and more ethical alter- has been witnessing slowdown by geography and business line banking assets are currently is not growing. (QFC) Authority chief executive nance needs in Europe, Qatar native to conventional banking. recently. with the Gulf countries, Iran $1.7tn, sukuk issuances were to Dr Mohamad Akram Laldin, Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida told would serve the greater Middle The industry’s growth has been “We estimate the growth to be and Malaysia accounting for the tune of $470bn last year and executive director, International Doha Forum yesterday. East and North Africa and Ma- buoyed by recent investments mid-single digit in 2019 and to be 80% of the assets, he said the takaful is at present $48bn and Shariah Research Academy for Highlighting that the coun- laysia will continue to serve the in infrastructure, sukuks, capital similar for the next year too,” he slowdown in the Gulf econo- has been steadily growing. Islamic Finance, said sukuk issu- try’s Islamic macro-fundamen- Asian markets. market products, and the adop- said, comparing it with the dou- mies (owing to weaker com- However, looked from the ance in Malaysia surpassed that tals are strong and robust, he The London Stock Exchange is tion of fi nancial technology. ble-digit expansion experienced modity prices) had its toll on the year-on-year growth of Islamic of conventional instruments. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 11 QATAR

Prime minister meets Doha Forum participants

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with Iranian Minister of Foreign Aff airs Mohamed Javad Zarif, Deputy Minister of Foreign Aff airs for Economic Diplomacy of Greece Kostas Fragogiannis, Canadian Assistant Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and Middle East Aff airs at Global Aff airs Peter MacDougall, chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Institutions (GANHRI) Carlos Alfonso Negret, Paraguay Minister of the National Intelligence Secretariat Esteban Aquino and secretary-general of International Organisation of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo, on the occasion of their participation in the Doha Forum 2019, currently in session in Doha. During the meeting, they reviewed the co-operation relations between Qatar and each of these countries and means of developing and enhancing them, in addition to a number of topics on the agenda of the forum.

7 top fi rms sign licences to join

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday on the margin of Doha Forum 2019, with several representatives of international corporates that the Qatar Qatar Free Zones Free Zones Authority has announced they would invest in Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed topics of mutual interests. By Peter Alagos The companies – Unistrong, growth and development of Qa- and registered projects and Business Reporter Gaussin, China Harbor, Inventus tar’s economy. They join a di- companies. the Mena region, while Thales its navigation and mobility solu- countries around the world, and Power, Thales Group, Volkswa- versifi ed group of more than 50 “We have been working close- Group, which will focus on dig- tions and is looking at Qatar and to the attractiveness of Qatar gen, and Wasco Coatings – companies establishing opera- ly with companies around the ital and electronic systems, will the Mena region as its targeted as an investment destination, even leading interna- signed licences in the presence tions in Qatar Free Zones, which world to demonstrate all that cater to the Middle East and export market. as well as Qatar Free Zones as a tional companies repre- of HE Ahmad bin Mohamed have invested a total of more Qatar, and Qatar Free Zones Qatar export market. According to QFZA, the com- competitive regional business Ssenting diff erent sectors al-Sayed, Minister of State and than QR1.5bn. specifi cally, has to off er; this an- Gausin’s sector is assembly panies will commence their platform. I look forward to see- signed their licences with Qatar chairman of QFZA. HE al-Sayed said, “We are nouncement marks the end of a of electric and autonomous ve- operations in the free zones in ing their diverse projects come to Free Zones Authority (QFZA) In a statement, QFZA said very proud to welcome seven very successful year for us.” hicles, while Inventus Power is 2020. The projects of the fi rst life in the free zones and compete at a ceremony held on the side- all seven fi rms will contribute leading global companies to Qa- QFZA said Volkswagen will on batteries and electric wiring group of companies represent a in various global markets.” lines of the Doha Forum, which signifi cantly to the strength of tar Free Zones, joining a diver- specialise on the automotive technology. Both fi rms’ target total investment of more than The special signing ceremony concluded yesterday. the free zones and in turn to the sifi ed list of over 50 approved technologies sector, targeting export market is the Middle East QR1.5bn in Qatar Free Zones, it was organised on the sidelines of and Qatar. further said. the Doha Forum, a global plat- Wasco Coatings Middle East HE al-Sayed added, “Each of form for many of the world’s top will focus on pipe coatings for these companies are leaders in decision makers and policy lead- the energy and gas sector with their space and come from diverse ers. QFZA also organised a panel the Mena region and Europe as markets around the world, in- at the event to discuss the role its targeted export market, while cluding China, Malaysia, Germa- of free trade zones in fostering China Harbor will specialise in ny, and France, as well as the US. international trade and develop- the transportation and industrial “Our partnership with them is ment. The panel was attended by products sector, targeting Qa- testament to the strength of our several senior executives from tar and the Mena region export bilateral economic and trade re- the investment and international QFZA off icials with representatives of diff erent companies at the signing ceremony. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil market. Unistrong is known for lations between Qatar and many trade sector. QF underlines value of education, PM meets Libya’s al-Sarraj entrepreneurship at Doha Forum

erspectives on educa- focused university can con- tion and entrepreneur- tribute to building an entrepre- Pship have been shared neurial nation, saying: “Qatar with an international audi- took the strategic choice to in- ence by representatives from vest in human capital, and this Qatar Foundation at Doha is how the nation can compete Forum 2019. internationally. The 19th edition of the “We want to provide a dif- global platform for dialogue ferent model of education. At HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday – held under the theme Re- HBKU, we do not want our fac- Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, chairman of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord of Libya, imagining Governance in ulty to simply give lectures; we and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to Qatar to participate in the Doha Forum a Multipolar World - has want to bring research into the 2019. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them, in addition to a brought together leaders in classroom. Ideas are nothing if number of issues of common concern, especially the latest developments in Libya. policy from around the world they don’t have a purpose, and to discuss critical challenges entrepreneurship should be facing international society, coupled with research.” and identify action-driven Also interviewed on the solutions to them. Viewpoint stage was Dr Danny Around 3,000 decision- Dr Ahmad Hasnah at Doha Forum. Ramadan, investment director makers, policy experts, and at Qatar Science & Technology Spotlight on future role of UN thought-leaders are attend- Park, part of Qatar Foundation ing the forum at the Sheraton Research, Development and In- oha Forum 2019 dis- Hotel in Doha, with the event novation, who spoke about how cussed yesterday the fu- featuring over 250 speak- Qatar can create a true entre- Dture vision of the role of ers. The global fl avour of the preneurial spirit and his belief the United Nations in the world event has seen organisers that the FIFA World Cup Qatar after the passage of 75 years of host a series of Viewpoint In- 2022 will give local and regional its creation with a focus on the terviews, fi lmed at the venue entrepreneurs added incentive need for innovation and the to be broadcast throughout and the opportunity to launch renewal of its approaches and the year on the forum’s web- their products onto the global involvement in diff erent world site, and featuring key fi g- stage. issues. ures whose views on a range “What Qatar does is play to The discussion panel hosted of pivotal global topics can its strengths,” he said. “If you Ibrahim A Gambari, chair- contribute to international have a young startup com- man and founder of the Savan- conversations. pany, the World Cup is a fan- nah Centre for Diplomacy and Panellists at the session. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Among the interviewees was tastic opportunity to promote Development; Ban Ki-moon, Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president your product. former UN secretary-general adviser to the secretary-general of the disputes that could oth- of Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- “In Qatar, we are targeting and deputy chairman of the on the preparation for the UN erwise escalate to a tipping point sity (HBKU), a Qatar Founda- global solutions to global prob- Elders; Dr Rosemary DiCarlo, 75th anniversary; and Achim without the existence of the UN. tion member. Speaking about lems. When we are looking to UN undersecretary-general Steiner, undersecretary-general, Besides, they pointed out that the importance of academic employ venture capital tools in for political aff airs; Prof Tijjani administrator of the UN devel- the UN should increase world research and shaping a cur- Dr Danny Ramadan at Doha Forum. Qatar, we are speaking the same Mohamed-Bonde, president opment programme. awareness about its various hu- riculum that inspires entre- language spoken in Silicon Val- of the UN general assembly; The speakers stressed the im- manitarian services in relieving preneurship, he said: “We have couraging them to think out- means you are better prepared ley. Our greatest strength is Vladimir Voronkov, undersec- portance of the UN in maintain- the suff ering of people in areas to design our curricula to bring side of their own cultures. for the challenges of life.” young people with great ideas, retary-general of the UN coun- ing the stability and security of of confl icts and disasters in ad- about objective thinking by “We need to work on provid- Dr Hasnah also spoke about and we are here to turn their ter-terrorism offi ce; Fabrizio the world and save it from the dition to its well-known political students, and that means en- ing hope. Having an education how establishing a research- concepts into successes.” Hochschild Drummond, special potential harmful consequences and diplomatic functions. Gulf Times 12 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR 44% of QIA investment projects have zero emission, says chief By Santhosh V Perumal QIA’s recent engagement with knowledge, which can be used Business Reporter global automobile manufacturer as a blueprint to transform ur- Volkswagen. ban mobility, both in Qatar and On Saturday, it has signed beyond. he Qatar Investment Au- ‘Project Qatar Mobility’ wherein “I think these sorts of ini- thority (QIA) said yester- the goal is to develop a ground- tiatives are very important that Tday as much as 44% of its breaking autonomous transport we as a sovereign wealth fund investments in the infrastruc- project and transform the future deploy funds locally and inter- ture projects have zero emission, of urban mobility to a sustaina- nationally for bringing positive indicating its commitment to ble and commercial deployment impact to the communities,” al- positively impact the commu- of AD (Autonomous Intelligent Mahmoud said. nities in which it has deployed Driving) shuttles and bus serv- Finding that investment op- funds. ices – even beyond 2022. portunities that target positive Highlighting the investment The QIA and Volkswagen will social and environmental impact opportunities for sovereign work together to develop the are growing; he said there are wealth funds in projects and ar- required physical and digital visible opportunities now since eas that target positive social and infrastructure to seamlessly in- technologies are proven and economic impact, QIA chief ex- tegrate a fl eet of self-driving ve- there are track records and de- ecutive Mansoor bin Ebrahim al- hicles into Doha’s existing public cent returns from these projects. Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud with other panellists at Doha Forum. Mahmoud told Doha Forum 2019 transport network. International Trade Center that it has been deploying funds The landmark project will executive director Arancha Deutsche Bank chief executive in the middle of the society. said almost 20% of the questions listen to the society and to our into several companies that are create a holistic ecosystem for Gonzalez said the motive should Christian Sewing said the global Referring to its general assem- are centred on what steps be- clients,” he said. investing in this fi eld and “we autonomous driving, includ- be “profi t with measurable ben- fi nancial crisis has shown the bly meetings where shareholders ing taken by the bank for carbon The other panellists were An- are trying to create strategic re- ing the creation of an appropri- efi ts beyond profi ts”, as has been world that banks had gone “too are increasingly questioning the neutral and which sector it ought dre Swiger, senior vice president lations with them.” ate legal framework, smart city enshrined in the UN sustainable far away” from the society and board and management’s strate- not to fi nance. ExxonMobil, and Tidjane Thiam, In this regard, he highlighted infrastructure and transfer of goals. that it is now time for them to be gies on sustainable fi nancing; he “I think we have to far more chief executive of Credit Suisse. Resources can be utilised to fi x most of global problems: El Salvador president

By Ayman Adly Staff Reporter

or the fi rst time in hu- man history, “our civi- Flisations have achieved three benchmarks that were impossible to imagine a couple of decades ago”: globalisation, the Internet and the abundance of production that covers al- most every fi eld, said El Salva- dor President Nayib Bukele. He made the observation Ooredoo hosted the forum’s majlis, which was this year named the Ooredoo Connections Lounge. while delivering the concluding remarks at Doha Forum 2019 yesterday, stressing that these could be utilised to fi x most of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at Doha Forum. the main global problems. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil However, the misuse and un- Ooredoo telecommunications fair distribution of these have the world and people are using everything good but we need resulted in many cases of the “more and more sophisticated the political will to create the situation worsening in diff erent smartphones that could do proper formula to utilise them parts of the world, he noted. more than just connect people for the good of everybody fairly Bukele said, “We produce to address every detail of their and adequately”. He stressed partner of Doha Forum 2019 food, medication and many daily lives”. It is becoming an that “it is our responsibility other products more than we interconnected world with the to go for this for the welfare of can really consume but still potential for “many uses or generations and the people of oredoo was the offi cial ilarly interlinked, the forum ena- The Ooredoo Connections porting events that benefi t our people in many countries, es- abuses”, he added. the world in a new era”. telecommunications bles the interchange of ideas, dis- Lounge off ered forum par- society and its development, in pecially those in confl ict zones, Further, globalisation has Further, he said, “Now that Opartner of the Doha course, policy making and action ticipants the opportunity to line with our corporate social suff er from hunger and illness- both good and bad implica- we are fully interconnected, Forum 2019. -oriented recommendations. take some time out from the responsibility strategy and our es and millions of people do not tions, the president said. produce more than we could The two-day forum, which The forum is aimed at linking discussions to connect in a more commitment to the United Na- have access to adequate foods He said while the transfer of ever consume and have more promotes diplomacy, dialogue high-level participants with the personal way with the issues tions sustainability goals, and and medication.” knowledge and communica- sophisticated technology to and diversity, was held at the power to create change; govern- addressed at the forum, through we were proud to be partnering He explained that wealth is tions has become easier, it has improve our lives, there are no Sheraton Doha until yesterday. ment leaders, policy makers, pri- experiential activations and with such a valuable platform as currently at an all-time high contributed to ruining some more excuses or time to waste”. Established in 2000, the Doha vate sector representatives and thought-provoking exhibits, the the Doha Forum. worldwide and there is enough economies and worsened the “It is time to work out solu- Forum aims to act as a platform non-government organisations. company said in a statement. “We recognise the impor- material wealth to stop climate lives of certain categories of tions with such three key in- for global dialogue on critical As part of the support agree- Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, tance of meaningful, high-level change and confl icts but the people as they lost their jobs gredients to address the issues challenges facing today’s world. ment, Ooredoo hosted the director of PR and Corporate dialogue in driving change, and situation is still getting worse and livelihoods due to the easy that had been spoiled through With modern-day borders infi - forum’s majlis, which was Communications at Ooredoo, are confi dent the 2019 event in various regions. fl ow of goods. the inadequate employment of nitely more porous than before, this year named the Ooredoo said of the partnership: “We was another successful forum Similarly, Internet connec- Bukele said, “We have three these and the lack of will to im- and challenges and solutions sim- Connections Lounge. place great emphasis on sup- with a positive outcome.” tivity is growing fast across things that enable us to do prove people’s lives,” he added. HBKU hosts president of UN General Assembly

amad Bin Khalifa Uni- how youth can become agents courses across a range of disci- attitude. If we have youth with- versity (HBKU) hosted of change, particularly when it plines, the global initiative shall out education and hope, peace is Hthe president of the 74th comes to confl ict prevention, empower refugee communities not likely to happen. Every child Session of the United Nations eradicating poverty and social to overcome the challenges they today is worried for his or her fu- General Assembly for a public exclusion. HBKU’s president, face in reaching their poten- ture. We are at a state in human lecture and discussion yesterday. Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, delivered tial. Launched in 2018, HBKUx history where there is no excuse UN at 75: The Power of Youth, the opening remarks while Dr off ers an array of programmes for anybody not to be educated. Education and Innovation in Ad- Amal al-Malki, founding dean to students all over the world, We must work to ensure educa- dressing Global Challenges pro- of the College of Humanities and with a particular focus on criti- tion wherever it is denied. Youth vided a unique opportunity to Social Sciences moderated the cal sustainability issues amongst without a proper education hear Tijjani Mohamed-Bande’s session. other topics. and hope will hinder peace and perspectives on how to inspire During the lecture, Dr Hasnah Addressing the audience, sustainability.” Tijjani Mohamed-Bande and Dr Amal al-Malki during an interaction. young people to fulfi l their po- announced the launch of an out- Mohamed-Bande, said, “It’s Mohamed-Bande’s visit to tential in the face of the mod- reach initiative enabling refugees through the energy of youth HBKU concluded with an inter- discussion with students. Ques- protests, the current shape and ambitions for his presidency, as ern world’s multiple challenges. to access high-quality online that we are able to tackle today’s view by Dr Damilola S Olawuyi, tions touched upon his vision future trajectory of the United well as the roles he expects Qa- His lecture was followed by a education through 50,000 edX’s challenges. Youth are associated associate professor at the Col- to guarantee education for all, Nations, and much more. Mo- tar and other small states to play Q&A session which considered vouchers. Through certifi ed with innovation; with a can-do lege of Law and an informal last summer’s climate change hamed-Bande also outlined his during his term of offi ce. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 13 QATAR

FM meets Ivanka Trump, top US officials FM meets members of UK House of Lords

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met on HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met Saturday with US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Senior Advisor to the US President Ivanka Trump, and yesterday with a number of members of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, on the sidelines of the Doha US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, on the sidelines of the 19th Doha Forum held in Doha. During the Forum 2019, currently in session in Doha. During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral co-operation as well as meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations, in addition to several issues of common concern. issues of common concern.

FM meets dignitaries on the sidelines of Doha Forum

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met separately on Saturday with Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic, Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu, Foreign Minister of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign and European Aff airs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajcak, Minister of Foreign Aff airs and International Co-operation of Malawi Francis Kasaila, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the US Senator Lindsey Graham, former prime minister of Ethiopia Haile Mariam Dessalines, on the sidelines of the 19th Doha Forum held in Doha. During the meetings, they discussed bilateral co-operation relations, in addition to several issues of common concern.

Armenia president lauds Qatar NHRC chairman By Shafeeq Alingal Staff Reporter

rmenian President Armen Sarkissian has hailed Qa- Atar, noting that the coun- try “is a wonderful example of highlights Qatar’s being small and being successful, strong and powerful.” He said small countries also have their voice in a multipo- lar world, adding that there are several such nations that set an example with clear vision and eff orts to uphold understanding and by making use Armenian President Armen Sarkissian at Doha Forum. of their resources. Sarkissian was addressing a plenary session at countries have their voice. And country. “The new world is com- Doha Forum 2019 yesterday. The Armenia has emerged to be an plex and multipolar. And we have president said the world is chang- example by attaining develop- to understand the technology ing and has become multipolar. ment in various sectors. “The and realities,” he said, appealing “The world is facing complexi- country is providing standard to small countries to look around human rights ties of becoming multipolar and education equivalent to that of and understand things. unpredictable things are happen- advanced countries and securing “Today, the world is more By Joseph Varghese Organisation; Dr Ahmed al-Me- up a migrant workers’ fund and and every person,” he highlight- ing. And the world is confused,” development,” he noted. multipolar and complex than we Staff Reporter raikhi, UN Secretary-General’s opened an offi ce of the Interna- ed. Al-Meraikhi pointed out that he said. He said thousands of Arme- were expecting. We are entering a Humanitarian Envoy, United Na- tional Labour Organisation in there are international covenants Sarkissian affi rmed that “small nians are working outside the new page in history. We ask more tions; and Dr Danilo Turk, emer- the country. Steps have also been on human rights that must be things have got talent and power country and expatriates from questions today than there are he National Human Rights itus professor of international taken to pay minimum wages to implemented in the true spirit. and the power of small is getting the country are good survivors answers and there’s more uncer- Committee (NHRC) chair- law at University in Ljubljana, all without any discrimination,” “We need to balance between the its place in the world”. “Small and citizens outside their home tainty than certainty.” Tman has highlighted the Slovenia. The session was mod- he continued. needs of the people and human initiatives taken by Qatar to pro- erated by Bill law, editor, ‘Arab He also said the Gulf crisis rights. tect the rights of migrant labour- Digest’. has violated human rights. “We “This must be adhered more ers in the country during a panel “The Government of Qatar monitor all the violations and during a crisis and the needs of Somali PM calls for investor confidence discussion at Doha Forum 2019. has initiated a number of meas- there are many. Don’t put the the situation,” he added. “Human rights bodies are nei- ures over the years to protect the people in crisis and the govern- Khan said human rights are vi- QNA confi dence and the government’s ther part of the government nor rights of migrant workers in the ments should solve political is- olated in many cases around the Doha inability to generate wealth. of civil societies. We are in the country. The Government has sues separately,” he noted. world but women’s human rights He emphasised that the cur- middle of both of them,” said HE adopted the policy to pay sala- Turk stated that the human are more violated than other seg- rent focus is on the comprehen- Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri. ries through bank transfer; other rights situation is more rel- ments of the society. omali Prime Minister Has- sive reform plan, with a focus HE Dr al-Marri was speaking systems such as the exit permit evant than ever in recent times. “There is always discrimina- san Ali Khaire said his on the economic reform agenda at a panel discussion on ‘Pre- for most employees has been re- “Everyone is entitled to human tion against women and their Scountry is keen to open based on enabling fi nancial in- serving Human Rights in Times moved and employees have been rights and it is related in a con- rights are the least cared for. doors for investors and provide stitutions, reforming the central of Crises’, which also featured allowed to change jobs,” he ex- text rather than in isolation. Hu- They need to be protected, given a safe investment environment, bank, empowering the business Irene Khan, director-general, plained. man rights are universal and they priorities and treated on a par in addition to strengthening the community, creating jobs and International Development Law “The government has also set must be part of the lives of each with others,” she argued. country’s business sector. developing infrastructure, to at- Khaire said, at a Doha Forum tract international investment session, that Somalia has reo- institutions. pened channels of communica- Khaire pointed out that the ef- tion with international fi nan- forts made by his country three cial institutions and opened the years ago to create an environ- doors for investors. ment that enables the private He pointed out that the gov- sector to unleash its capabilities, ernment intends to develop a through the adoption of impor- strategic plan to take advantage tant legislation such as the laws of the lessons recorded by the of public fi nancial management, Somali business sector during communication, investment and the period of the disintegration revenue and the anti-corruption of institutions in the country. law in order to attract investors He pointed out that the So- to Somalia. He also pointed to the mali business sector was able to Hassan Ali Khaire speaking at promising investment resources withstand during the past years the forum. and sectors in Somalia, especially despite the disintegration of all PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed in the sectors of agriculture, live- offi cial institutions, and was the stock, mineral, oil and marine only sector that has been oper- stressed the importance of this fi shing, and others. ating throughout that period to sector playing a role in formu- The Somali PM, in his speech, form the backbone of the state, lating political solutions. Add- praised the topics raised by Doha for 30 years, the business com- ing that there are two strategic Forum. The dialogues taking munity alone has been able to elements that contributed to place at that forum underscored access all areas of Somalia, he the survival of the private sec- the global interdependence of added. tor, namely wealth and trust, and this era and the nature of the The Somali PM noted that this that the breakdown of Somali common challenges facing the HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri with the other panellists. PICTURE: Shameer Rasheed experiment imposed itself and institutions was due to a lack of world, he added. Gulf Times 14 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR

Commerce minister meets ITC executive director Transport minister meets Greek deputy FM

HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met yesterday with Deputy Minister HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari met with Executive Director of the International of Foreign Aff airs for Economic Diplomacy of Greece Konstantinos Fragogiannis, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum Trade Centre (ITC) Arancha Gonzalez, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2019 activities. Chief Executive Off icer of 2019. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed co-operation opportunities in the fields of transport, ports, and Qatar Development Bank Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa attended the meeting, which reviewed several issues of communications and ways to enhance them. Also, they discussed the possibility of benefiting from the investment common concern, as well as developments in the Qatari economy at all levels. opportunities available in these areas in those sectors. Qatar already 90% ready for FIFA 2022: al-Baker

By Joey Aguilar Prestigious tournament will Staff Reporter showcase the country’s innovation, capability, culture and heritage atar is 90% ready for the 2022 FIFA World QCup, making signifi cant what we have to deliver”. He was World’ at Sheraton Doha, delved strides that will raise its profi le joined by Jordan’s Minister of into several topics, including Speakers tackle ‘Protecting the Benefits of Tourism in a Multilateral World’ at a Doha Forum session yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil globally, Qatar National Tour- Tourism and Antiquities Majd trends and technology; trade ism Council (QNTC) Secretary- Mohamed Shweikeh, United and investment; human capital world , and most importantly, “the fi rst step of the rehearsal” “So, we are really prepared, ple together, citing the success General and Qatar Airways Nations World Tourism Organi- and inequality; security; cyber- Qatar’s capability to host an for the 2022 tournament – a pre- and what is very important is and achievement of the recently Group Chief Executive HE Akbar sation secretary-general Zurab governance and defence; inter- international event like FIFA view of what Qatar can deliver. that every Qatari is extremely held Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha. al-Baker has said. Pololikashvili, Tunisia’s Minis- national organisations; civil so- (World Cup),” HE al-Baker said. “You have seen how we have excited ... and not only Qataris “During the Gulf Cup, you real- Addressing a Doha Forum ses- ter of Tourism And Handicrafts ciety and non-state actors; and “Even major countries some- been managing a very complex but also the people that have ised how we were all together, sion yesterday titled ‘Protect- Rene Trabelsi and Petra National culture and identity. times have diffi culty, we have situation where more than a been living in Qatar, who have regardless without borders, we ing the Benefi ts of Tourism in a Trust President of the Board and “What is very important is already seen, FIFA took place in game is taking place here, we taken part in developing my were appreciating the Gulf Cup, Multilateral World’, he said this Unesco Goodwill ambassador that this (hosting of the 2022 several very large economies and have just finished the Gulf country, are really looking for- we were sharing the teams, peo- is for the fi rst time that the FIFA Princess Dana Firas. FIFA World Cup) will really very large countries, till the last tournament (24th Arabian Gulf ward to this huge occasion that ple from all the countries took World Cup is going to take place The discussion was moderat- showcase my country, its inno- day they were still preparing for Cup), which was again a suc- will be taking place in our coun- part, all the countries were in- in this region and in a Muslim- ed by CNN anchor Zain Asher. vation, its capability, its culture, the occasion,” he noted. cess,” HE al-Baker said, citing try soon,” he said. vited, and we respected every majority country. The two-day conference, held its heritage, everything that we As the host of the 2019 FIFA the multiple matches held at HE al-Baker underscored single team that went here as Referring to the preparations, under the theme ‘Reimagin- are so proud in this country, we Club World Cup, he said this different stadiums in the coun- the important role sports plays people, as people from the Gulf, he said, “we are always ahead of ing Governance in a Multipolar will be able to showcase into the major sporting event serves as try. in bringing nations and peo- as Arabs together,” he said. QNTC to promote Qatar’s Cultural heritage, tourism tourism beyond 2022 key drivers for creating

By Joey Aguilar very important job and a very jobs, economic prosperity Staff Reporter important industry for the fu- ture of my country that I need to deliver now. I cannot wait after By Joey Aguilar atar National Tourism 2022,” he stressed. Staff Reporter Council (QNTC) will “It is my aim as the QNTC Qcontinue its march of secretary-general and also fully promoting the country’s tour- supported by my ruler, His High- ultural heritage pro- ism beyond 2022, QNTC Secre- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin vides a huge opportunity tary-General and Qatar Airways Hamad al-Thani, that we want Cfor economic prosper- Group Chief Executive HE Akbar to be a country that will invite all ity for countries as it is closely al-Baker has said. countries of the world to come linked to tourism, Petra National “My country is very rich in here without a visa,” HE al-Baker Trust President of the Board and heritage, extremely rich in cul- said. Unesco Goodwill ambassador ture, has natural beauty that a “So, we demolish the borders Princess Dana Firas has said. lot of countries don’t have but it that are dividing people and we “Statistics have shown that was not (previously) developed,” prove to the world that Qatar has 37% of international tourists he said at a Doha Forum session open arms to receive and grow have a cultural motivation. That yesterday titled ‘Protecting the our industry,” he added. translates to 4.2% of global GDP Benefi ts of Tourism in a Multi- Meanwhile, United Nations and 125mn jobs and that is just lateral World’. World Tourism Organisation the cultural sector,” she said. “It is now my job being ap- Secretary-General Zurab Polo- Princess Dana was among the pointed as secretary-general of likashvili thanked Qatar Air- speakers of a Doha Forum ses- Princess Dana Firas at Doha Forum 2019. PICTURE: Noushad the National Tourism Council to ways, particularly HE al-Baker, sion yesterday titled “Protecting Thekkayil put Qatar very strongly on the for support the organisation the Benefi ts of Tourism in a Mul- (tourism) map of the world,” said from the start of his mandate. tilateral World”, held at Sheraton dustry and the cultural heritage sons for creativity, for innova- HE al-Baker, noting that Qatar He said they created an online Doha. “You have cultural indus- industry as strong and separate tion, for adaptability that can was the fi rst country in the re- academy for tourism – a project tries, which are currently esti- but very closely related. “Tour- help us equip a new generation of gion to allow a visa-free entry that provides opportunities for mated at I think it is $1.7tn indus- ism, for those of us who fi ght for young people to deal with global for over 80 nationalities. Today, people to study and learn, and to try globally, cultural production, cultural heritage, is a means to challenges,” she stressed. he said, people of more than 90 have a deeper understanding and jobs, real estate becomes more which to promote cultural her- Princess Dana also lauded the countries can visit Qatar without knowledge on tourism. valuable in areas where cultural itage,” she said, adding that the Doha Forum saying that the an- a visa. At the discussion, Pololikash- heritage is well managed and well latter gives a sense of rootedness nual conference is all about gov- “What we are going to do is to vili underscored tourism’s sig- protected,” she said. and belonging. ernance, multilateralism, and put people together and this very nifi cant role and impact in every “So, there are all of these di- “When you are talking about collaboration. “It is about how do painful day in 2017, when cer- country’s economy saying this rect economic values that are re- sustainability, sustainable devel- we deal with incredible challeng- tain doors were closed, we tried sector generates more jobs and lated to cultural heritage. Beyond opment goals, when you are talk- es that the world is facing and to open up new doors, we tried various opportunities in busi- that we got to expand the way ing about resilience and adapta- moving forward, political, social, to embrace the people of the ness and in other fi elds. we think about cultural heritage bility, we have thousands of years economic, what is the landscape world,” HE al-Baker said. “We want to go further, we are and traditionally it’s always been of lessons throughout history, going to look like in a few years “We will continue our march going to announce Rural Tourism one part, integral part, but it is of people dealing with climate and how do we deal with it,” she to promote tourism but what is Year, we want to support new one part of the tourism industry change, with scarcity, taking said. very important, that I am very destinations, places to open new and I am always saying that it is specifi c actions that enable them “And I am always saying that impatient with the mandate and opportunities and to create more the other way around,” Princess to respond to diff erent changes,” a big part of the answer lies in the confi dence shown to me by jobs, and to expand our knowl- Dana said. Princess Dana said. understanding our cultural her- my ruler to appoint me in this edge,” he said. HE Akbar al-Baker. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil She described the tourism in- “So there are incredible les- itage.” Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 15 QATAR

Defence minister meets Somalia PM Defence minister meets president and CEO of Woodrow Wilson Center

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met yesterday HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met yesterday with Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2019. During the meeting, they with Director, President, and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center Jane Harman, on the sidelines of the Doha reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. Forum 2019 activities. During the meeting, they reviewed areas of co-operation between the two sides.

Rapporteur of Shura Council’s Qatar Charity’s committee meets Chinese official exhibition at Doha Forum portrays refugee crisis atar Charity (QC), in co- HE the Rapporteur of Shura Council’s Internal and External Aff airs Committee Abdullah bin Fahad operation with the Qatar bin Ghurab al-Marri met yesterday with Deputy Director for West Asia and North Africa Department QFund For Development in External Relations Department of the Communist Party of China Youwei Wei and his accompany- (QFFD), has held an exhibition ing delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed the parliamentary relations between the two on the refugee crisis to portray countries and ways to support and develop them in various fields, in addition to a number of topics the suff ering, challenges and of mutual interest. hopes of millions of refugees worldwide through Arabic cal- ligraphy. The exhibition, titled ‘The Refugee Journey in Arabic Speakers highlight plight of Palestinians Calligraphy’, was part of the ac- tivities of the two-day Doha Fo- rum organised by the Ministry By Shafeeq Alingal of Foreign Aff airs. Staff Reporter The exhibition gained the ad- miration of many offi cial fi gures of the country and those par- alestinians still live under ticipating in the forum, most apartheid brought in by notably HE Sheikha Al Mayassa PIsraeli occupation, speak- bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Tha- ers at Doha Forum said yester- ni, Chairperson of Qatar Muse- day. The observations were made ums, Doha Film Institute, and HE Lolwah Rashid AlKhater with other dignitaries. during a plenary session on ‘The Reach Out To Asia; HE Lolwah Future of Palestine’ at the fo- Rashid AlKhater, Assistant to calligraphy, featured 21 art piec- Institutional Development Sec- texts upholding their protection rum. “Palestinians remain under the Minister of Foreign Aff airs es ranging from classic Arabic tor at Qatar Charity, expressed and dignity,” added al-Ghamdi. apartheid and face hardships due and Spokesperson at the Min- calligraphy to more experimen- pride at launching this version AlArbili said, “Arabic callig- to the occupation,” said Dr Saeb istry of Foreign Aff airs; and tal and expressionist styles. The of the exhibition - combining raphy is known for its unique Erekat, secretary-general, Pal- Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, exhibition, based on three inter- the beauty of the Arabic cal- ability to magnify the signifi - estine Liberation Organisation Director-General of QFFD, in national legal texts on the rights ligraphy and the advocacy of cance of the written word. It is (PLO) Executive Committee. addition to UN Development of refugees and internally dis- QC for refugee and IDP issues, the quintessential art form of The session was moderated by Dr Hanan Ashrawi Programme (UNDP) Adminis- placed persons (IDPs), refl ects which is one of the biggest is- our Islamic civilisation. Al Jazeera presenter Mehdi Hasan trator Achim Steiner, QC said in the beauty of Arabic calligraphy sues of the world. “Today, we are using the at- and also attended by Dr Hanan a statement. and its unique characteristics. He also noted that there are tributes and the splendour of Ashrawi, member of the PLO Through this exhibition, Qa- Arabic calligraphy is used for more than 70mn displaced this art to resuscitate and revive Executive Committee. Erekat tar Charity “aims to shed light the fi rst time to portray the suf- people and refugees around the the texts that have been drafted rejected the allegation that Ar- on the international texts on fering, challenges and hopes world, and 40% of them are in decades ago and that guaranteed abs are against democracy, say- refugees, who have been forced of millions around the world the Arab and Islamic regions. my safe journey from a stateless ing those who advocate such al- to fl ee their homes, using Ara- to bring about empathy and “Through this exhibition, Qatar person to an accomplished art- legations are racists, and called bic calligraphy in an innovative change, and draw attention Charity works with its partners, ist.” for international intervention to way”. from a diff erent perspective to including QFFD, UNHCR, the Qatar Charity will participate solve the mounting crisis. The exhibition, designed the biggest humanitarian crisis UN Refugee Agency and In- in the exhibition at the Global Dr Ashrawi noted that “eve- by Sabah AlArbili, an accom- of history, the refugee crisis. ternal Displacement Monitor- Refugee Forum for the second rything has been violated” when plished calligrapher recognised Mohamed al-Ghamdi, assist- ing Centre, to advocate for the time. It will be held in Geneva it comes to the eff orts made to as a prominent fi gure in Arabic ant CEO for the Governance and refugee issue and revive legal from today until December 18. bring the crisis and the occupa- tion to an end. “Thousands of Palestinians have been killed due Doha Forum 2019 concludes, celebrates UN’s 75th anniversary to Israel’s lack of accountability and lack of protection for Pales- tinians,” she said, urging for the Dr Saeb Erekat From Page 1 dialogue, respect for the sov- secretary-general, and a number rywhere in the world, especially intervention of all international ereignty of states, non-inter- of UN offi cials and organisations the troubled ones, and the places communities and agencies. United Nations resolutions in that all the options should be The forum was attended by ference in their internal aff airs, of public benefi t. of wars and disputes take risks to She pointed out that Pales- support of Israel are passed while looked into in order to end the nearly 3,000 decision-makers, rejection of force and methods Speakers noted that the bring about change and play fun- tine is facing discrimination but those for Palestine fail to get crisis and ensure justice to Pal- policy experts and thought lead- of repression, and agreement United Nations, despite its cri- damental roles in stopping wars, the cries fall on deaf ears. “Only passed,” she stressed. She added estinians. ers and included more than 250 on work teams to fi nd solutions ses and criticism, is a symbol reducing confl icts, reconnecting speakers. It also hosted a series and establish co-operation and of pluralism and is the basis on and interconnecting people. of interviews and meetings on draw a road map for the future which the world rests on many President Nayib Bukele of El various points of view, which are with the establishment of areas issues that threaten humanity. Salvador, then gave a speech in broadcast throughout the year free of weapons of destruction, It intervened to resolve confl icts which he said the “civilisation through the forum’s website. confi dence-building between and established many impor- in which we live has fulfi lled Qatar uses resources to advance The closing session witnessed countries, water management, tant principles for humanity, and three basic criteria that allow a speech by Iran’s Minister of nuclear safety and freedom of promoted people’s awareness humanity to reform all funda- Foreign Aff airs Javad Zarif, in maritime navigation. of climate change and environ- mental problems. These are glo- education, healthcare, technology which he stressed the impor- He affi rmed at the conclusion mental issues, ending slavery, balisation, interconnectedness tance of the Doha Forum in pro- of his speech that the world has empowering women and people through the Internet and pro- viding a unique opportunity to the opportunity to change course with disabilities, and protecting duction. From Page 1 sile defence system and we need ity towards Nato and there are no refl ect on ways to “get us out of once and for all to improve peo- children. He added that the riches in to buy this system from Russia attempts to get out of it.” the impasse in the region”. ple’s lives and enhance future They stressed the importance the world are suffi cient to stop On his part, Akar talked about after we had to,” he said. On the situation in Syria, he He spoke of what he called the generations, calling for seizing of involving youth and women climate change and all the con- the role of alliances in Turkey, es- “We are making a great eff ort said there is no failure or success “perceptual turmoil” that de- this opportunity. in achieving development goals fl icts around the world and pro- pecially after the decisions that to explain our current situation for the international community ludes a person to benefi t at the After his speech, Doha Forum and promoting pluralism and vide a decent life for all, noting shook Nato members and the re- and fi nd a solution to it, we are a to remove Bashar al-Assad and expense of his neighbour and celebrated the 75th anniver- social inclusion through co-op- that “the world is now globalised lationship between Turkey and its key partner of Nato and paid $5bn put an end to the confl ict there, that his security is based on cha- sary of the establishment of the eration with civil society organi- and connected, more productive partners. He stressed that Turkey in the framework of our commit- but there is a process in which os among others, and he indi- United Nations (UN) by hold- sations and the private sector to than its consumption capac- is still inside Nato, attending to ment to this partnership and have “we can accomplish what we cated the disparity of powers and ing a session addressed by the put an end to what drives people ity, so we are obligated to create all requests, participating in all acted in the interest of our coun- can, stressing the importance their disastrous consequences. President of the UN General As- to migrate and be displaced. a world that civilisations dream operations and supporting Nato. try, so we have purchased the of uniting eff orts and taking the The Iranian Foreign Minis- sembly Tijjani Mohamed-Bande They emphasised that the about and generations enjoy in “Since the 1990s, we have been S-400 system because we need it, necessary measures towards this ter stressed the importance of and Ban Ki-moon, former UN United Nations is present eve- the future, but if we want that”. doing our best to develop a mis- and are aware of our responsibil- crisis”. Gulf Times 16 Monday, December 16, 2019 QATAR

Qatar’s accession to Asian Parliamentary Assembly ‘stems from keenness to support joint action’

QNA liamentary organisations. In his mentary co-operation and as make more joint eff orts to solve Antalya speech at the second meeting per the agenda,” pointing out them. of the Executive Council and the importance of the plenary to Al-Mahmoud said, the par- 12th Plenary of the Asian Par- highlight the security instances liamentarians’ mission is to E the Speaker of Shura liamentary Assembly in Antalya, witnessed by some regions in the contribute to creating an inclu- Council Ahmed bin Ab- Turkey, the Speaker said that Asian continent, including ter- sive humanitarian Parliamen- Hdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- the fi rst meeting of the APA Ex- rorism, extremism, corruption, tary discourse focusing on Asian moud stressed that the acces- ecutive Council in Rize recom- transnational organised crime, countries’ commonalities, which sion of the State of Qatar to the mended that the Shura Council climate change, the proliferation are people’s concerns to live in Asian Parliamentary Assembly of the State of Qatar be granted of weapons of mass destruction, dignity, security and suffi ciency, (APA) stems from the keenness full membership in the APA, and other challenges. their concerns to reconcile with of the State of Qatar, under the expressing his aspiration for He said that to meet these nature, and their concerns in se- leadership of His Highness the the meeting to adopt this rec- grave challenges, it was neces- curing a decent future for them HE the Speaker of Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud at the 12th Plenary of the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad ommendation to get involved sary to have an Asian parliamen- and their children. Asian Parliamentary Assembly in Antalya, Turkey. al-Thani to support joint ac- in the APA’s activities as active tary platform to consult on these He pointed out that the actions tion within regional and inter- members and as an important threats and reach satisfactory that will be addressed and studied tar believes that eff ective multi- occupation in all its aspects should diffi cult and chaotic, with corrup- national organisations, in which parliamentary organisation that solutions. during the work of the Executive lateralism is the key to many of the continue, to liberate its land and to tion and poverty spreading, which the State of Qatar has become a represents the voices of the peo- The Speaker added, “We must Council and the Plenary in these global problems facing the world establish an independent Palestin- requires supporting the great ef- member. ple of the Asian continent, and acknowledge that there are such meetings would enrich the par- today. ian state with East Jerusalem as its forts made by the Assembly to This is in line with the goals of which works hard to achieve its big problems in the Asian con- liamentary work and help to bring He stressed that eff orts to pre- capital. develop co-operation between the Qatar National Vision 2030, high and ambitious goals. tinent, but they are not insur- the views and perceptions closer to vent and settle confl icts by peace- Al-Mahmoud further added, Asian countries and its endeavour as well as the Shura Council’s The Speaker of the Shura mountable and solutions can be many issues of common concern ful means should occupy a high “We have never needed co-oper- to strengthen the bonds of par- keenness to translate this trend Council added, “We are pleased found,” pointing out that the ex- between member states and parlia- rank among the priorities of par- ation and solidarity more than to- liamentary friendship to support within the framework of par- to discuss in this meeting to- istence of these problems should ments. liamentarians and that the APA’s day.” He said that after more than peace opportunities and to en- liamentary co-operation with gether ways to enhance joint not be a cause of despair, but it The Speaker added that the support for the struggle of the Pal- a decade of the establishment of hance security and stability in the regional and international par- Asian action through parlia- should represent an impetus to Shura Council of the State of Qa- estinian people against the Israeli the APA, challenges have become region and the world.” Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer ‘now available at NBK

Snapshots from the festival. Automobiles’ asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automobiles, the authorised general distributor of Dhow festival at Katara NMercedes-Benz in Qatar, is present- ing the new Mercedes-Benz multipurpose Vito in Qatar. “Off ering tangible external strengths, extended until tomorrow great intrinsic values, maximum benefi t and low costs, the new Mercedes-Benz Vito is the versatile and real professional among mid- he ninth Katara Tra- size vans. From skilled crafts and trades to ditional Dhow Festi- retail, service providers, shuttle services and Tval, which began at the taxis – the new Vito is truly one vehicle for beachfront esplanade of Katara all. The new Vito Tourer sees Mercedes-Benz - the Cultural Village on De- opening an entirely new chapter in passenger cember 3 and was to conclude transport,” NBK Automobiles has said in a today, has now been extended press statement. by a day until tomorrow “owing With its wide range of confi gurations, to its huge popularity and big seating from two to nine, along with numer- public response”, the organisers ous equipment choices, the new Vito Tourer have said. “is as individual as one’s passengers”. Availa- The festival is held from ble in three basic designs – Vito Tourer BASE, 9am-12noon, and from 3pm- Tourer PRO and Tourer Select – it serves all 10pm every day. segments in the fi eld of commercial passen- Culturally unique and for the ger transport. fi rst time being held for over The Vito uses the best of what Mercedes- a fortnight, the festival has Benz has to off er. The M274 is a proven and been bustling with activities tested turbocharged petrol engine known The new Mercedes-Benz Vito. of dhow boat competitions, from other models. With a delivery of 211Hp sea cruises, a maritime mar- and 350Nm (10Nm more than the previous and automatically boosts the braking power and passenger are able to set their desired ketplace, traditional sea fi shing V6 engine), it off ers “great performance with in the event of danger, helping you avoid temperature individually. Further, the air- methods, modern gadgetry and optimum effi ciency”. rear-end collisions. conditioning system of the Vito has been pristine traditional festivities In terms of power ratings and perform- The new Vito’s standard equipment also upgraded to enhance its performance when accompanied by food, dance ance characteristics, the engine in the Vito is includes Attention Assist. Based on vari- dealing with the tough weather conditions of and music, Katara has said in a tuned precisely to the requirements profi le of ous parameters, it draws conclusions as to the Middle East region. statement. since the morning with dhows Qatar 2019 and is seeing a lot of a Mercedes-Benz van. From the air ducting the driver’s condition. More than 70 diff er- The three-passenger seat benches can be “Having grown exponen- making the waters come alive football fans from all over the and mass air fl ow sensor to the exhaust sys- ent measured variables are processed for this obtained with a folding outer seat to facilitate tially over the years, the dhow with their charm and attrac- world as fi rst-time visitors. tem, the engine is designed specifi cally for purpose. If Attention Assist detects signs of access to the rear (standard on the Vito Tour- festival - where traditions are tion. The best of maritime history the Vito. Mercedes-Benz also sets a good ex- increasing inattention or drowsiness, the er Select). Thanks to the easy-entry func- revived and renewed - has been In the evening, as the sun through museums and mem- ample when it comes to protecting all of the driver is warned acoustically and by a symbol tion, this seat can be folded forwards over the witnessing a large turnout of sets over the Doha skyline, the oirs on display at the various vehicle’s occupants – with up to six airbags, on the instrument cluster to take a break. front anchor point in a single move and can people,” the statement noted. traditional fi shermen make the national pavilions have evoked including optional window bags and thorax/ Air-conditioning is as individual as the also be removed separately. Inspired by Qatar’s rich festival come alive with a cus- deep interest among visitors of pelvis side bags for the driver and co-driv- Vito itself: every customer can arrange these The Vito impresses with a powerful- maritime heritage, this year’s tomary depiction of seafarers all nationalities. er. The new Vito Tourer still enhances this systems to suit their specifi c model and de- looking radiator grille. With its assertive and festival sees the participation going home, and with lights The Katara Traditional Dhow safety level and can be regarded as the new ployment scenario. TEMPMATIC semi- unmistakable look the new Vito is clearly an of Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and music leading to on-stage Festival enjoys a distinguished benchmark in this regard with its maximum automatic climate control for the cab is eye catcher. The bonnet of the new Vito is a Kuwait, Oman, Iraq and Zan- storytelling and marine tradi- and distinct identity and high- eight airbags for the driver and passengers. optional. This controls the temperature au- dynamic arrow shape and constructed like zibar, which have set up cul- tion shows. lights authentic maritime This optional assistant system constantly tomatically but airfl ow and distribution a sculpture. It fl ows over into the side wall turally attractive ‘tents’ at the This year, the Katara Tradi- traditions inspired by Qatar’s monitors the distance between your van and are set manually. Thermotronic auto- which, with its two elongated and slightly venue. tional Dhow Festival coincides ancestral past, the statement the vehicle in front, outputs an audible and matic climate control is even more conven- extravagant contours, indicates a level of dy- The fair hits a busy note right with the FIFA Club World Cup added. visible warning before a potential collision ient. With this two-zone system, the driver namism. QCRI, UN join forces to harness new technologies for peace

atar Computing Research said, “QCRI is proud of the part- crises and development chal- ners is an opportunity for us to Institute (QCRI), part of nerships and collaborations that lenges. We are pleased to sup- tap into the unique expertise in QHamad Bin Khalifa Uni- we have built over the past 10 port this workshop and to learn social computing and interdis- versity (HBKU), and the United years. We are especially excited more about the UN’s opera- ciplinary research in the Arab Nations (UN) Department of Po- about our collaboration with the tional needs in data analysis for world. This cooperation is part litical and Peacebuilding Aff airs UN on using technology and in- peacemaking. We are currently of an ecosystem of public, pri- (UN DPPA), recently convened novation to improve people’s exploring new ways of support- vate, and academic partners to UN political analysts and de- lives. Crucially, these activities ing the UN’s confl ict prevention learn from each other about the velopment advisers in Doha for will support our scientists’ ongo- work through our technologies use of new technologies and a workshop on how to use new ing eff ort to create meaningful and and expertise,” noted Dr Ingmar other advances.” technologies for confl ict preven- socially relevant innovations. Weber, research director for so- “The United Nations is enter- Participants in the workshop. tion and peacemaking. “Over the past couple of years, cial computing at QCRI. ing the 75th year of its existence Commenting on the UN DPPA we have worked closely with a Martin Waehlisch of UN DPPA which is an occasion for us to QCRI is part of this eff ort,” un- The joint engagement of prac- ital applications and used cases workshop, Dr Ahmed Elmagar- range of UN organisations on said, “The collaboration with re-imagine and improve on how derlined Daanish Masood of the titioners and scholars will result of new technologies and innova- mid, executive director, QCRI, data analysis for humanitarian QCRI and other regional part- we do our work. The training at United Nations. in further research projects, dig- tion for peace. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 17 QATAR NMoQ and Total collaborate for new energy playground nder the patronage of its Chairperson HE Sheikha UAl Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar Mu- seums (QM) has announced that Total, one of the top integrated oil and gas companies in Qatar, is the offi cial sponsor of the energy playground at the National Mu- seum of Qatar (NMoQ). The collaboration between QM and Total was celebrated in a high-profi le signing ceremony at NMoQ on Saturday night. The sponsorship of the energy playground, one of the three playgrounds spread across the museum gardens, will provide a unique experience for families to explore and discover the story of energy, in particular the story of oil, in relation to Qatar. The playground will be de- signed for families to engage in intergenerational kinetic play Pouyanne speaking at the event. activities; from the extraction of crude oil, through to its process- that allowed Qatar to transform tive destination will safely teach our ambition and values. Total, ing and even its byproducts that its economy to what it is today. children about a vital aspect of a committed energy partner of in turn, benefi t today’s societies. “Without the energy sec- Qatar’s rich history and enable Qatar for more than 80 years, The playground can be en- tor, Qatar’s National Vision them to physically engage in our is proud to play a role in ensur- tered from various pathways wouldn’t have been realis- story of development. ing that families understand our – enabling a “choose your own able. We are grateful for Total’s “We thank Total for their sup- energy’s past and the path it is adventure” industrialised expe- HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Pouyanné among other dignitaries at the sponsorship, as a legacy for port in bringing this initiative to headed.” rience and will ultimately expose high-profile signing ceremony at NMoQ. the Year of Qatar-France, this life and we look forward to wel- Wolff sheim added, “Next year visitors to the future of renew- playground will be available in coming families and children will be the Qatar-France Year of able and non-renewable energy. presence of other distinguished spondences, the rapid moderni- community with learning re- 2020 for all or our communities both living in and visiting Qatar.” Culture, and this partnership The signing ceremony wel- guests. sation the country witnessed sources that can connect with to learn about energy through Pouyanne noted, “We highly marks the celebration of the comed HE Sheikha Al Mayassa; The narrative of energy in- due to the oil industry, as well as, various groups such as schools, play.” cherish our newfound partner- special relationship between To- Ahmad al-Namla, acting CEO dustries, like oil, is an ongoing the impact it has had on socio- families, as well as today’s On the successful collabora- ship with Qatar Museums, and tal and Qatar. We also celebrate of Qatar Museums; Patrick theme explored across later gal- cultural development. youth in general. The energy tion, al-Namla said: “The energy with Her Excellency Sheikha Al the rich history of oil and gas in Pouyanne, Total’s chairman and leries at NMoQ, which highlight HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said, playground is more than a play- playground will be a magnifi cent Mayassa, and this refl ects Total’s Qatar, through the Energy play- CEO; and Laurent Wolff sheim, topics such as the discovery of “Here at Qatar Museums, we ground — it’s a place for learn- space for everyone to enjoy. vision for youth inclusion and ground’s interactive and engag- Total Qatar country chair, in the oil, oil negotiations and corre- are constantly engaging our ing, a place for play — a sector This beautifully new interac- education, which is aligned with ing facilities.”

Applications open for new ‘Pure fun and adrenaline’ with Lexus season of Stars of Science bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), the sole Adistributor of Lexus in tars of Science – Qa- sive alumni community that and research grants to refi ne Qatar, held an event where jour- tar Foundation (QF)’s has been 11 years in the mak- their inventions and build star- nalists were given the oppor- Sedutainment show – is ing, contributing to a culture tups around the world. tunity to test-drive some of the now accepting applications for of Arab scientifi c excellence. This year, Ahmad Nabeel latest models of Lexus. Season 12, giving aspiring in- More than 130 innovators rep- and Fouad Maksoud – both Journalists gathered at the novators the opportunity to resenting 18 Arab countries contestants in Season 9 – Lexus showroom, where they present their ground-breaking have gained invaluable insights alongside Hassan Albalawi were welcomed by R K Murugan, ideas to a jury of renowned fi eld and learned crucial lessons from Season 7, were recognised AAB acting CEO, and Firas Muf- experts. during their time on Stars of as members of the Massachu- ti, senior marketing manager. Online applications are open Science. setts Institute of Technology The AAB team clarifi ed many to Arabs all around the world Over the past decade, the Innovators Under 35 list in the of the new features and advanced until December 31, QF has said. SOS alumni community has Mena region. More details on technology of the new Lexus ve- Interested participants could raised over $14mn in crowd- how to apply can be found at hicles that were to be driven by become part of the impres- funding, awards, investment www.starsofscience.com the journalists. Accompanied by the AAB team, the driving experience started from the Lexus show- AAB off icials with the participants. room and headed towards the Sealine resort where a ‘fun day’ was held. While driving the cars, each journalist was accompanied by one Lexus staff member to explain the most important technologies that have been introduced and how they can be used to make the experience of driving a Lexus a reward- ing one, “full of sensation and performance”, AAB has said in a statement. At the end of the event, which lasted more than seven hours, the media guests compared and contrasted most of the vehicles and were able to highlight some of their experiences driving the The participants drove from the Lexus showroom to Sealine. models. Some of the positive comments revolved around the as well as the level of stabil- calm interior while driving, the wide range of Lexus vehicles, safety and security elements ity, the superior control, the statement added. such as the LS, LX, ES, LC, RX, Finalists of Season 11. introduced in Lexus vehicles, powerful performance and the The driving event included a GSF and CT.

Katara to host operetta, Qatar special forces show to mark QND

QNA tari Joint Special Forces will be Doha displaying the ‘Show of 41 Para- troopers,’ ‘Paramotor Show,’ and ‘Show of 10 Paratroopers’ fol- This is Qatar,” a special op- lowed by parachute fi reworks at eretta and one of the high- the Katara Esplanade starting “lights of this year’s Qatar from 3pm until 10pm. National Day (QND) celebrations This is the only day that the at the Cultural Village – Katara, Qatari Joint Special Forces will will be held at Katara’s Amphi- be holding these shows at Ka- theatre on December 17 and on tara leading to the National Day December 19. festivities.On the sidelines there There will be two shows start- will also be the display of drones. ing at 7pm and 9pm on both Meanwhile, the Supreme these days. The concert is di- Committee for Delivery and rected by Nasser Abdul-Reda Legacy’s folklore shows at Katara and features Fahd al-Kubaisi, to mark the ongoing FIFA Club A large number of activities and events of national culture and heritage are currently being held at the Katara – the Cultural Village. Kuwaiti artist Ibrahim Dashti, World Cup Qatar 2019 will also and Asil Hamim of Iraq along be held on December 16, 18 and communities from Pakistan, Tunisia, Mexico, Sudan, and and heritage are being held at istries, and government and the quintessential fervour as with the participation of various 19 from 3pm-10pm. Korea, Japan, Palestine, Bang- Ghana. the Katara – the Cultural Vil- private entities. the celebrations are enjoyed by international exhibition teams. The show will have the par- ladesh, Uganda, Nepal, Kenya, A large number of activities lage since December 11 in co- Qatar’s national dance Ard- all leading to the National Day Also on December 17, the Qa- ticipation of 15 international Tanzania, Morocco, Jamaica, and events of national culture operation with various min- ha, at the waterfront, provides on December 18. Gulf Times 18 Monday, December 16, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Turkey’s Hariri may be named PM but Erdogan meets faces struggle to form govt Libyan

Reuters/DPA leader Beirut

AFP aad al-Hariri is expected Istanbul to be named Lebanon’s Sprime minister today, but political rifts look set to hinder ecep Tayyip Erdogan held agreement on a new govern- talks with Libyan Prime ment badly needed to rescue the RMinister Fayez al-Sarraj country from a dire economic in Istanbul yesterday, just days crisis. after the Turkish leader said he Hariri, a leading politician, is was ready to send troops into widely seen by politicians as the Libya if requested by Tripoli. only candidate for the post. The closed-door meeting, He quit the job in late October which was not on Erdogan’s offi - under pressure from protests cial agenda, took place in Istan- against the political elite that bul’s Ottoman-era Dolmabahce has overseen decades of corrup- Palace, the Turkish presidency tion and bad governance. said without giving details. But he is at odds with Hez- During the previous meet- bollah movement and its al- ing between the two men, in Is- lies, including President Michel tanbul on November 27, the two Aoun, over the make-up of the countries agreed a deal on secu- next government. rity and military co-operation, Lebanon needs a new govern- as well as maritime jurisdiction. ment to pull it out of the worst Libya has been mired in chaos economic crisis since its 1975- since a Nato-backed uprising 1990 civil war. that toppled and killed dictator Foreign donors will only help Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. after there is a cabinet that can The November military deal enact reforms. was introduced in the Turkish Hariri wants to lead a cabinet parliament on Saturday. of specialist ministers which The maritime part of the deal he says would be able to tackle expands Turkey’s continental the crisis and attract foreign shelf in the Eastern Mediterra- aid, while his opponents want a nean. combination of politicians and This is particularly important experts. given the recent discovery of Aoun’s formal consultations A Lebanese demonstrator uses a flare during an anti-government protest in the downtown area of the capital Beirut, yesterday. vast gas reserves that has trig- with lawmakers to designate gered an exploration scramble the premier, postponed from the candidate with greatest Attempts to reach compro- The security forces had fired rallies began in the country ered in front of an entrance between adjacent states and in- last week, are scheduled to take support among parliament’s 128 mise deals on other candidates tear gas and rubber bullets about two months ago. leading to the legislature, ternational oil companies. place today despite the dispute. lawmakers. for the job of prime minister overnight at demonstrators in On Saturday, clashes erupt- calling for the formation of a The Turkey-Libya agreement “It should be clear to anyone Though it was not immedi- have failed. clashes that wounded dozens. ed between protesters and government of independent was strongly condemned by sev- who might nominate Hariri to- ately clear how many lawmak- Hundreds of people pro- Earlier, Lebanese protesters riot police after demonstra- technocrats, Lebanon’s official eral countries, including Greece morrow that he will only form ers would back Hariri, political testing against the ruling elite gathered outside the parlia- tors tried to enter the highly news agency LNA reported. and Cyprus. a government of specialists,” a sources said he would most returned to central Beirut yes- ment in central Beirut, a day secured Najmeh Square where Some demonstrators hurled Erdogan declared on Tuesday source close to Hariri told Reu- likely be picked, barring any terday, despite a fierce crack- after they clashed with police the parliament is located, fireworks and water bottles at that Turkey is prepared to send ters. last-minute surprise in Leba- down by security forces near in one of the worst bouts of vi- leaving dozens injured. security forces stationed in the troops into Libya if requested. Aoun is required to choose non’s volatile politics. parliament the previous night. olence since anti-government Yesterday, protesters gath- area, the agency added. When asked about sending troops during a television inter- view late Sunday, he said that “Turkey alone will decide what initiative to take”. “I have already said that we Backer of anti-government were ready to provide all sorts of help to Libya,” Erdogan added. In another sign of the Turkey- Libya rapprochement, Ankara protests killed in Baghdad announced on Saturday that Libyans younger than 16 or older than 55 would be allowed to enter AFP Baghdad’s district of Sadr City. ed, most of them protesters, Turkey without visas. Baghdad He is the fourth protester to be since the youth-led rallies Strongman Haftar on Thurs- killed by unidentifi ed assailants erupted on October 1. day announced a “decisive bat- over the past two weeks. Since then demonstrators in tle” to wrest Tripoli from the supporter of Iraqi anti- Father of fi ve Ali al-Lami was the capital and southern cities GNA government. government demonstra- shot and killed by several bul- have disappeared almost daily, GNA Interior Minister Fathi Ators was gunned down lets to the head earlier this week in most cases taken from near Bashagha responded by saying in Baghdad, a police source said and prominent civil society ac- their homes as they returned his government was ready “to yesterday, the fourth backer tivist Fahem al-Tai was killed from protests. push back any mad attempt by of the protest movement to be in a drive-by shooting in Iraq’s Protesters accuse armed fac- the Haftar putsch leader”. killed in two weeks. shrine city of Karbala. tions of playing a role in the Mohamed al-Doujaili, 24, was In one particularly grue- killings and abductions. shot in the back near the Tahrir some case, the bruised body London-based rights group Square protest hub on Saturday of 19-year-old Zahra Ali was Amnesty International on Fri- night, the police source said. found on December 2 outside day urged Baghdad to clamp Another man who was with her family home in Baghdad, down on what it called a “cam- Morocco him was wounded in the same hours after she had gone miss- paign of terror targeting pro- attack, and al-Doujaili died of ing.Iraq’s capital and its south testers”. Demonstrations once his wounds at a Baghdad hospi- have been gripped by more again took place yesterday in seeks new tal yesterday morning, relatives than two months of rallies Baghdad and across the south said. against corruption, poor public of Iraq, where schools and pub- Doujaili, who helped distrib- services and a lack of jobs. lic administrations remained chapter in ute food to protesters encamped Around 460 people have closed, AFP correspondents Iraqi protesters write their wishes on notes in Tahrir square in the capital Baghdad, yesterday, amid in Tahrir Square, was buried in been killed and 25,000 wound- said. ongoing anti-government demonstrations. ties with Algeria

Smog forces schools to shut in parts of Iran AFP Rabat

AFP numbers was imposed to re- tinted glass, they don’t realise Tehran strict traffi c in the capital, IRNA there’s air pollution. Once they ing Mohamed VI has reported. Trucks were banned sit in cars like mine, they’ll called for an easing of bi- outright in Tehran province. know the air is polluted and Klateral tensions with Alge- ir pollution forced Taghizadeh added that all ac- something must be done,” said ria, long stoked by the disputed schools to close yester- tivities at Tehran province’s Mohamed, a taxi driver. Western Sahara region, offi cial Aday in parts of Iran in- numerous sand quarries would He said the solution is the Moroccan media said yesterday. cluding Tehran, as the capital also be halted.Schools were also “electrification of public The king issued the call in a lay under a thick cloud of smog closed in the northern province of transport” such as buses and message to congratulate Ab- considered hazardous to health. Alborz and in the central cities of taxis and expanding Tehran’s delmajid Tebboune for winning The pollution level in the cap- Qom and Arak, IRNA reported. usually crammed metro. Algeria’s presidential election, ital was “unhealthy for sensitive “We are forced to live with For the Tehrani Reza, the which took place on Thursday, groups” and offi cials warned the and tolerate this situation,” said main suspect is the municipal- MAP news agency said. young, elderly and people with a Tehrani dentist, giving her ity because of “the construc- “The King also reiterated his respiratory illnesses to stay in- name as Iran. “I think no one tion permits given without previous call to open a new page doors, with sporting activities does their job properly in this considering that there must be in relations between the two suspended. country, be it the authorities or green spaces, too.” neighbouring countries, based The decision to shut schools the people,” she added, fum- To them, “money comes on mutual trust and constructive in the capital was announced bling with a white mask, worn before citizens’ health,” Reza dialogue,” it said. late Saturday by deputy gover- commonly on the capital’s pol- said. The problem worsens in The North African neigh- nor Mohamed Taghizadeh, af- luted days. Tehran during winter, when bours have been at loggerheads ter a meeting of an emergency A grey cloud hung over Te- cold air and a lack of wind traps for decades over Western Sa- committee on air pollution. hran yesterday, obstructing the hazardous smog over the city hara, a former Spanish colony “All of (Tehran) province’s view of the mountains over- for days on end, a phenomenon disputed between Morocco and schools except for Firuzkuh and looking the city to the north. known as thermal inversion. the Polisario Front, an Algeria- Damavand counties are closed Average airborne concentra- Most of the city’s pollution is backed independence move- for Sunday,” he said, quoted by tion of the fi nest and most haz- caused by heavy vehicles, mo- ment. state news agency IRNA. ardous particles (PM2.5) was at torbikes, refineries and power Morocco fought a war with the Schools in the capital will 145 microgrammes per cubic An Iranian woman, wearing a breathing mask walks down a street as a blanket of smog covers the city as plants, according to a World Polisario Front from 1975-1991, close today, the third day of the metre for the 24 hours until yes- heavy pollution hit Tehran, yesterday. Bank report released last year. when a ceasefi re deal was agreed. Iranian working week, he added terday noon, according to gov- “We can’t do anything but Algeria and Morocco have had later in a state TV interview. ernment website air.tehran.ir. recommended maximum of 25 to blamed the authorities for tion, leading to continuous pol- wait for wind to blow or rain frequent diplomatic rows and An “odd-even” traffi c scheme That is close to six times the microgrammes per m3. rampant construction and lack lution in the capital. “As long as to fall,” said student Bardia their land border has been closed based on vehicles’ registration World Health Organisation’s Tehran citizens AFP talked of public transport diversifi ca- offi cials sit in cars with grey- Danaie. since 1994. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 19 AFRICA

24 killed G5 Sahel leaders pay tribute in DR Congo gold mine to 71 soldiers slain in Niger collapse AFP Mali in 2012. In the last four Niamey months, the insurgency has claimed the lives of more than AFP 230 soldiers in Niger, Mali and Bunia eaders of the G5 Sahel na- Burkina Faso. tions held summit talks in Last month, 13 French troops LNiamey yesterday, after were killed in a helicopter colli- wenty-four people were the death last week of 71 Niger sion while hunting militants in killed when a landslide soldiers in a militant attack, northern Mali. Tengulfed a gold mine in DR calling for closer co-operation Thousands of civilians have Congo’s eastern Ituri province and international support in also died and more than a mil- after days of torrential rain bat- the battle against the militant lion have been forced to fl ee tered the region, an offi cial said threat. their homes since the militant yesterday. Burkina Faso President Roch revolt began. “Our teams on the ground.. Marc Christian Kabore, whose Analysts note an escalation have pulled out 24 bodies and country holds the rotating pres- in the militants’ operational saved two people,” provincial idency of the regional G5 group, tactics, which seem to have be- minister of mining Dieudonne called for a minute’s silence for come bolder and more complex Apasa said. the victims of Tuesday’s attack in recent months. As rescuer workers were still at a military camp in Inates, From hit-and-run raids by searching, the toll could rise, he near the Mali border. a small group of Kalashnikov- said. “These endless attacks car- armed guerrillas, the militants “The incident happened yes- ried out by terrorist groups in are now carrying out operations terday between 5:30pm (1530 our region remind us not only of that involve hundreds of fi ght- GMT) and 6:00pm. They were the gravity of the situation, but ers, armed with mortars and us- taken by surprise by a landslide, also the urgency for us to work ing vehicles for suicide attacks. which engulfed them,” Apasa more closely together,” said Ranged against them are the added. Kabore. “The terrorist threat impoverished armies of Chad, “The almost daily rains that against the Sahel countries is Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania have been falling recently on getting worse,” said Niger’s and Niger, plus a 4,500-man the region are the main cause of President Mahamadou Issou- French force in the Sahel and this landslide.” fou, the host of the summit. the 13,000-man UN force in The gold panners were work- The attacks were aimed not Mali, MINUSMA. ing at Ndiyo mine around 40 just at military targets but in- Tuesday’s attack prompted kilometres from Watsa, the creasingly “civilian popula- French President Emmanuel main town in the Watsa terri- tions, notably traditional local Macron to postpone a meeting tory of Upper-Uele province. leaders”. Earlier, four of the fi ve The leaders of various Sahel nations pray in front of the graves of the fallen soldiers in Niamey, yesterday. scheduled for next week in the Further to the south, civil au- Sahel leaders paid homage at southwestern French town of thorities said landslides caused the graves of 71 Niger military sault, in which hundreds of mili- in 2015, and dealt a blow to eff orts The G5 leaders announced on dougou. Niger has been ob- Pau, where he and fi ve presi- by the incessant rain had killed personnel killed. tants attacked a camp near the to roll back militancy in the Sahel. Saturday they would hold the serving three days of national dents from the Sahel were due 31 people between December Kabore and Issoufou attended border with Mali with shells and At yesterday’s ceremony, a extraordinary summit in Niger mourning from Friday to yes- to discuss security in the region. 7 and 14 at Bukavu in eastern along with Mali’s Ibrahim Bou- mortars. large panel painted in the red, to show solidarity and to “con- terday. The talks will now take place South Kivu province. bakar Keita, Chad’s Idriss Deby The attack in Inates in the white and green of the Niger sult” after the large-scale at- Militant violence has spread early next year. The Sahel region A similar disaster in a make- Itno for the short ceremony at an western Tillaberi region was fl ag bore the inscription; “rest tack. across the vast Sahel region, es- of Africa lies to the south of the shift mine at Maniema further air base in Niamey. the deadliest on Niger’s military in peace, worthy and valiant The meeting had originally pecially in Burkina Faso and Ni- Sahara Desert and stretches to the west killed 31 people in The Islamic State group since militant violence began to sons of the nation. The Father- been due to take place in the ger, having started when armed across the breadth of the Afri- October, and landslides caused claimed responsibility for the as- spill over from neighbouring Mali land will be eternally grateful”. Burkinabe capital Ouaga- militants revolted in northern can continent. by heavy rains were blamed for at least 41 deaths in the capital Kinshasa on November 26. Ac- cidents in DR Congo’s make- Botswana bans shift mines are a common oc- hunters after killing currence, and are often deadly. of research elephant Zimbabwe VP’s Report accuses Malawi Because many such mines are in remote areas however, the Botswana’s government has accidents are under-reported. revoked the licences of two wife arrested over The miners sell what they find professional hunters who shot police of extrajudicial deaths to local traders, who sell it on to dead a research elephant and large foreign companies. then destroyed its collar to try to fraud allegations hide the evidence. AFP the offi ce of the ombudsman mission after they discovered In a statement late on Saturday, Blantyre so that they do a thorough in- that there were people around” the environment and tourism AFP change Control Act and fraud, vestigation to fi nd out what at the planned venue for the hit, ministry said that professional Harare they said. happened to the 28 people that she said. According to Chijozi, hunters Michael Lee Potter and The charges fi led by anti- alawian police have died under very suspicious cir- three of the four were killed on 22 hacked Kevin Sharp had surrendered corruption investigators ac- carried out extra- cumstances.” a second attempt. their licences after shooting imbabwe’s anti-graft cuse her of having transferred Mjudicial killings in a Police spokesman James Ka- “The study found that 28 of the elephant at the end of last commission has ar- a million US dollars from her systematic campaign against dadzera said he needed time to the alleged victims were con- to death month. Their nationalities could Zrested the wife of one foreign currency account in hardcore criminals dubbed consult his superiors. fi rmed to have been shot by the not be immediately established. of President Emmerson Zimbabwe to South Africa “operation elimination”, ac- According to the report, police and died in very suspi- Potter was banned for an Mnangagwa’s deputies on under the pretext of paying cording to a report released by there have been reports in re- cious circumstances, three of in Beni indefinite period and Sharp for fraud and money-laun- for goods bought there. a civil rights group. cent years of extrajudicial kill- whom were alleged to have died three years. Neither hunter was dering charges involving Some of the money was The report was released Fri- ings by the Malawi police of in a road accident but they also available for comment. US$1mn, a document seen used to buy a house in the up- day in Blantyre, the commer- former prisoners and those had gunshot wounds. One al- region “In addition, the two hunters will yesterday by AFP revealed. market Waterkloof Golf Es- cial capital of the poor south- suspected, charged, tried or leged victim was found alive,” replace the destroyed collar,” Anti-corruption offi cers tate in Pretoria, South Africa, east African country, by the convicted of serious violent she said. the ministry said.”The Ministry detained 38-year-old Marry says the charge sheet. Centre for Human Rights Edu- crimes including armed rob- The study was undertaken in AFP will work with the hunting Mubaiwa, the wife of vice- Mubaiwa is also accused cation, Advice and Assistance bery in a systematic plan to November and December 2018. Beni industry to ensure that the president Constantine Gu- of having bought two Range (CHREAA). eliminate hardcore criminals. Chijozi said the report’s fi nd- necessary ethical standards are vheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, Rover cars, registering them The group’s deputy director Chijozi said that CHREAA ings were based on interviews upheld.” The shooting recalled on Saturday, according to a in her name in South Africa. Chikondi Chijozi said yester- conducted the study to inves- with relatives and friends of the ebels hacked to death at the killing of ‘Cecil the lion’ by police report. Offi cers from the Zimba- day the report had been handed tigate allegations of 43 alleged alleged victims and with some least 22 civilians, 13 of an American hunter in neigh- And according to details bwe Anti-Corruption Com- over to the country’s ombuds- extrajudicial killings by the police offi cers. Rthem women, in an over- bouring Zimbabwe in 2015, also revealed in the charge sheet, mission say the alleged of- man Martha Chizuma for ur- Malawi Police Service. In October, the police service night raid in the DR Congo’s an animal that had a research Chiwenga himself appears to fences happened between gent action, but she said she The names of the 43 were came under fi re after some of- troubled Beni region bordering collar and was supposed to be be challenging the legal basis October 2018 and May this had not yet received a copy. provided by an ex-prisoner fi cers were accused of sexually Uganda, local offi cials said yes- protected. of their marriage. year. And a fraud charge has “The fi ndings of the research who alleged that police had abusing women while quelling terday. His death provoked outrage on Former model Mubaiwa raised questions about the le- are quite alarming to us,” Chi- targeted him and three others protests in the capital Lilongwe Members of the Allied Demo- social media. was arrested on suspicion of gitimacy of Mubaiwa’s mar- jozi said. “We thought it would for elimination. They survived and in Msundwe, a trading out- cratic Forces (ADF), a militia having contravened the Ex- riage to Chiwenga. be important to submit it to “when the police aborted the post west of Lilongwe. with its origins in Uganda, killed the civilians using machetes, Beni region administrator Donat Kibwana said. “Teams have been mobilised to recover the bodies and bring them back for dignifi ed funerals,” Boko Haram kills 19 Nigeria herders in clashes he said. The victims were farm- ers and included 13 women, said Noella Katsongerwaki, Beni’s AFP “once and for all”, Mada said, and troops since 2018 while civil society president. Kano but were overwhelmed. “The Boko Haram faction is notori- Dozens of armed groups have herdsmen were subdued by ous for indiscriminate attacks troubled the DR Congo’s restive the better armed Boko Haram on civilians. east for decades despite a UN oko Haram militants gunmen,” he said. However, ISWAP has been peacekeeping presence, but re- gunned down 19 cat- Militants then returned to blamed for a recent increase in cent attacks have been blamed Btle herders yesterday Fuhe village and burnt homes attacks on civilians. on the ADF. in northeast Nigeria, civilian and food supplies while herds In August 2014 Boko Haram More than 100 people have militia sources and residents fl ed, according to Ngala resi- seized Ngala and Gamboru, died in assaults blamed on the said. dent Abubakar Yusuf, who saw a trading hub, but Nigerian group since November 5. The lat- Ethnic Fulani herders, be- the dead bodies at the police troops retook both towns in est incident came a day after six sieged by a spate of armed at- station. September 2015 with the help civilians were killed in an attack tacks targeting their cattle, Boko Haram has increas- of the Chadian military. in the eastern city of Beni. pursued Boko Haram, sparking ingly targeted farmers, herders Despite the recapture of the DR Congo forces launched op- a fi erce gunfi ght outside Fuhe and loggers, accusing them of area, militant fi ghters contin- erations against the militia in the village, near Ngala close to the spying and passing informa- ue to launch sporadic attacks, eastern region at the end of Oc- border with Cameroon. tion to the military and the lo- ambushing troops and vehi- tober. The ADF has retaliated by “The insurgents killed 19 of cal militia fi ghting them. cles, as well as attacking and carrying out massacres, in an ap- the herdsmen in the fi ght,” an- They have also been raiding abducting farmers. parent bid to discourage civilians ti-militant militia leader Umar herding communities, seizing In November last year Boko from helping the military. Kachalla said. cattle — a valuable commodity Haram abducted around 50 Mounting anger over militia Bodies of the slain herders in the region — to fund their loggers at Bulakesa village violence has sparked demon- were brought to the police by operations. outside Gamboru. The dec- strations in the eastern city of militiamen, Kachalla said. The Boko Haram and rival Is- ade-long confl ict has killed Beni, where local people ac- herders had earlier repelled an lamic State West Africa Prov- 35,000 people and displaced cuse the UN peacekeeping force attack by Boko Haram fi ght- ince (ISWAP) are known to around 2mn from their homes. Monusco of failing to protect ers who invaded the village to operate in areas around Ngala The violence has spread to them. steal livestock, killing one of and the neighbouring town of neighbouring Niger, Chad and Monusco has said it will carry the militants, Mada said. The Gamboru. Cameroon, prompting the for- out joint operations with the herders then decided to pursue ISWAP has focused on tar- mation of a regional military Men carry the bodies during a burial prayer held in Ngala, yesterday, of the 19 cattle herders that were Congolese army to crackdown the militants and fi ght them geting military installations coalition to fi ght the militants. gunned down by Boko Haram militants outside the Fuhe village, near Ngala. on the ADF. Gulf Times 20 Monday, December 16, 2019 AMERICAS

Comey admits ‘real sloppiness’ in FBI Russia warrant request Schiff : Trump AFP Washington

ormer Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) direc- Ftor James Comey acknowl- edged yesterday “real sloppi- a ‘clear danger ness” in the bureau’s handling of a warrant to surveil a Trump campaign adviser with ties to Russia. The adviser, Carter Page, was an early focus of the national se- curity probe that the FBI opened into Russian meddling in the to democracy’ 2016 presidential campaign. Comey has long defended the Reuters FBI against attacks by President Washington Donald Trump. Comey: The inspector-general found significant mistakes, and that is But the former FBI chief ad- not something to sneeze at; that’s really important. mitted in an interview with Fox op Democrats in the US News Sunday that Page had been Trump quickly turned to Twit- ported to the CIA on his contacts House of Representatives treated unfairly and that the ter to taunt the former FBI direc- with the Russians, and that sub- Tmade a last-minute pitch FBI’s application to surveil him, tor: “So now Comey’s admitting sequently an FBI lawyer allegedly to Republicans yesterday for which Comey signed, contained he was wrong. altered an e-mail to say Page was why they should put partisan- “signifi cant mistakes”. “Wow, but he’s only doing so not a CIA source. ship aside and vote to impeach “There was real sloppiness, 17 because he got caught red hand- Asked about Horowitz’s con- President Donald Trump. things that either should’ve been ed. clusions, Comey portrayed the Trump is expected to become in the applications or at least dis- “So what are the consequences dossier as “one of a bunch of the third US president to be im- cussed and characterised diff er- for his unlawful conduct. Could diff erent facts” presented to the peached when the full Demo- ently. It was not acceptable,” said it be years in jail? Where are the court, but admitted: “It was the cratic-led House votes on the Comey, who was fi red by Trump apologies to me and others, Jim?” one that convinced the lawyers charges, likely this week, setting in 2017. Horowitz zeroed in on inac- that they had enough now, with up a trial in the Republican- The FBI’s inspector-general, curacies and omissions in the that added to the pile, to go for- controlled Senate. Michael Horowitz, detailed the FBI’s submission to the special ward.” House Intelligence Com- errors in a sharply critical report FISA court that handles surveil- Comey also acknowledged mittee Chairman Adam Schiff , last week. lance requests, under the Foreign that, in renewing the FISA war- speaking on ABC’s This Week, It found no political bias, how- Intelligence Surveillance Act rant three more times, the FBI warned that Trump poses “a ever, in the FBI’s handling of the (FISA). should have informed the court clear and present danger” to de- investigation. Among his criticisms was the that there were signifi cant ques- mocracy. “The inspector-general did FBI’s reliance on an unverifi ed tions about the reliability of one In congressional hearings not fi nd misconduct by FBI per- dossier by a former British in- of Steele’s sources. that have gripped Washington, sonnel, did not fi nd political bias, telligence agent, Christopher “But that doesn’t drive a con- Democrats accused the presi- did not fi nd illegal conduct,” Steele, that drew attention to clusion that Steele’s reporting is dent of endangering the US This file picture taken on Tuesday shows Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi with Schiff (right) and Comey said. “The inspector- Russian eff orts to infi ltrate the bunk,” Comey added, suggesting Constitution, jeopardising na- Nadler. general found signifi cant mis- Trump campaign. the source may have been scared tional security and undermining takes, and that is not something Horowitz found that the court off by the publicity surrounding the integrity of the 2020 elec- integrity ... goes on. It’s a clear candidate to face Trump in the though others have taken a more to sneeze at; that’s really impor- had not been informed that the the probe. tion by asking Ukrainian Presi- and present danger, I think, to November 3 election. cautious approach, saying they tant.” dossier was paid for by Demo- As for Page, Comey said he dent Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a our democracy and not some- Trump has alleged that Biden want to see the evidence fi rst. “But the American people – crats, and yet it played a central “was treated unfairly, most sig- July phone call to investigate his thing that we can turn away was involved in corruption in During an interview with especially your viewers – need role in establishing probable nifi cantly by his name being Democratic political rival Joe from simply because the Repub- Ukraine and should be investi- CNN International at the Doha to realise, they were given false cause for obtaining the warrant. made public. He’s a United States Biden. licans in the House refuse to do gated there, but has off ered no Forum in Qatar on Saturday, Re- information about the FBI” by According to the inspector- citizen, and it never should have Schiff and House Judiciary their duty.” evidence. publican Senator Lindsey Gra- Trump and other critics of the general, the FBI also failed to in- been made public, and that’s an Committee Chairman Jerrold Republicans have defended Biden has denied wrongdo- ham dismissed the idea that he bureau, he said. form the court that Page had re- outrage.” Nadler, speaking on the same Trump and accused Democrats ing. should be a “fair juror”, and said show, said lawmakers have a of a politically-motivated eff ort Both Democrats used their air he does not see the need for a constitutional duty to hold aimed at overturning his sur- time yesterday to urge the Sen- formal trial in the Senate. At least 50 bodies unearthed from Trump to account for his ac- prise 2016 presidential election ate to call witnesses and seek However, Republican Senator tions. victory. documentary evidence that they Pat Toomey said on NBC’s Meet mass grave outside Guadalajara Their comments come as the House Democrats on Friday said the White House has with- the Press: “I think we ought to US to House is poised later this week voted to approve articles of im- held. hear what the House impeach- The bodies of at least 50 people have been unearthed from a mass to vote along party lines on peachment charging Trump Senate Majority Leader Mitch ment managers have to say, give grave at a farm outside Mexico’s western city of Guadalajara, local whether to approve two articles with abusing the power of his McConnell has raised the pros- the president’s attorneys an op- announce authorities said. of impeachment. offi ce over the Ukraine scandal pect of conducting a short trial portunity to make their defence, The grim site was discovered just over three weeks ago in Jalisco – The Senate has shown little and obstructing Democrats’ at- without calling any witnesses. and then make a decision about a state hard-hit by violence linked to organised crime. appetite for removing Trump tempts to investigate him for it. Nadler said yesterday such whether and to what extent we troop The local prosecutor’s off ice said on Saturday that 13 of the dead – from offi ce. “Impeachment is a hoax. It’s a move would do a disservice go forward from there.” 12 men and a woman – have been identified and the remains given “The misconduct hasn’t a sham,” Trump told reporters at to the Senate, whose members Separately this weekend, the to their families. stopped,” Schiff said, not- the White House after the com- will all eff ectively serve as jurors Washington Post reported that pullout The process of identifying more of the victims and how they died ing that Trump has still urged mittee’s vote. “There was noth- who will need to weigh the evi- Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, an will continue, it added. Ukraine, as well as China, to in- ing done wrong. dence to decide whether Trump anti-impeachment Democrat, A mass grave with 34 bodies was discovered in a suburb of vestigate the Biden family, and “To use the power of im- should be convicted and re- will soon join the Republican AFP Guadalajara on September 3, while another was found nearby in that Trump’s personal attorney peachment for this nonsense is moved from offi ce. Party. Washington May with the remains of 30 people. Rudy Giuliani is still travelling an embarrassment to this coun- Some of Trump’s staunch Re- Trump tweeted in response Nearly 2,500 murders were reported between January and to Ukraine to conduct a “sham” try.” publican defenders in the Sen- to the news: “Wow, that would November in Jalisco – where the powerful Jalisco Nueva investigation. Biden, a former US vice-pres- ate have already said they be- be big. Always heard Jeff is very he Trump administration Generacion cartel is based – state authorities have said. “The threat to our election ident, is a leading Democratic lieve Trump did nothing wrong, smart!” will announce as early as Tthis week plans to with- draw around 4,000 troops from Afghanistan, US media reported. Talks between the United States and the Taliban resumed 3 dead in a week ago as the parties sought Miss Jamaica crowned Miss World a path to reduce violence or even reach a ceasefi re. California They were paused by Wash- AFP/Reuters ington on Thursday, however, London after an attack by the militant shooting group near a key US air base north of Kabul that left two ci- sychology student Toni- vilians dead and dozens injured. Ann Singh of Jamaica DPA Approximately 13,000 US Pwas crowned Miss World Los Angeles troops are currently in Afghani- 2019 on Saturday at a ceremony stan, though the number fl uctu- in London, with Miss France ates according to rotations. and Miss India runners-up in t started as a routine call NBC on Saturday cited three the beauty pageant. for medical attention at an current and former US offi cials “To that little girl in St Tho- IOntario home on Saturday as saying the Trump adminis- mas, Jamaica and all the girls morning. tration intends to announce a around the world – please be- But with a series of terrifying drawdown of 4,000 troops from lieve in yourself,” Singh, 23, twists – a husband with gunshot Afghanistan. tweeted. wounds, a wife fi ring on arriv- Two of those sources said “Please know that you are ing police, a fi ve-hour hostage some of the troops would be worthy and capable of achiev- standoff – the call for help re- redeploying early, while others ing your dreams. This crown is vealed a domestic tragedy. would not be replaced when they not mine but yours. You have a Just after dawn, SWAT offi cers end their missions. PURPOSE,” she wrote. forced their way into the home The number is in line with fi g- Singh was crowned by last on East F Street and discovered ures long fl oated by the White year’s winner, Mexican Vanessa the bodies of the woman who House. Ponce de Leon. had shot at police, a teenage girl President Donald Trump said Singh is the fourth Jamican to and an elementary school-age last month that he planned to win the title. boy, police said. reduce the overall troop pres- France’s Ophely Mezino and Police did not identify the ence to 8,600, with further re- India’s Suman Rao were the deceased, but said the woman ductions possible. runners-up. was an off -duty San Bernardino CNN cited one unnamed offi - Singh said she wanted to use County probation offi cer. cial in the Trump administration her title to work for “sustain- Her husband, who escaped the as saying the announcement on able change” for women and home when police arrived, is be- a drawdown could happen this their children. ing treated for injuries. week, but that the “timing re- Asked about the value of “We don’t have anybody to mains in fl ux”. beauty contests in today’s confi rm identities yet,” said On- A US Forces-Afghanistan world of MeToo# and the drive tario police Sergeant Bill Russell. spokesman said no orders had for equality and respect for “The husband is in the hospital been received to reduce troop women, the graduate of Florida and everybody else is deceased. numbers. State University said beauty for Newly-crowned Miss World 2019 Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh smiles as she poses with her crown during the Miss World Final 2019 at So nobody has been able to shed According to a draft agree- her was the least important as- the Excel arena in east London. light on what happened.” ment from September – reached pect of her achievement. Investigators from the depart- after lengthy negotiations – “I want to make a change She did not specify what kind Describing herself as a Singh sang a version of the “The fact that Miss World is ment and the coroner’s offi ce the Taliban would be required that’s sustainable. So if we’re of change she had in mind. “changed woman” after the late singer Whitney Houston’s won by a black person is very, were in the home on Saturday to commit to certain security talking women ... it needs to be “It’s OK to celebrate things experience of taking part in the I have nothing in the competi- very signifi cant to us because it hunting for answers. measures, agree to talks with the something that will make sure like beauty and attributes like Miss World competition, Singh tion. represents a lot in terms of our Russell said detectives were Afghan government and prom- that their children and their strength and those things. But added: “There’s no way I could Jamaicans attending the culture, in terms of how far the in contact with relatives of the ise a reduction of violence in children’s children have a dif- this is so much more,” she said chalk it up to just being about event hailed Singh’s win as a world has moved on,” said au- couple and were looking into exchange for a US troop with- ferent value of life,” an over- as she hugged her proud par- beauty, because that’s the last triumph also for their Carib- dience member Christine Mc- whether there had been previous drawal. joyed Singh told reporters. ents, Jahrine and Bradshaw. on the list, honestly.” bean island nation. Dermott, who lives in London. requests for aid at the residence. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 21 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Chinese TV pulls Arsenal match after Ozil’s Uighur comments

AFP the western region in a tweet on between Tottenham and Wolver- what Uighur separatists call East After initially denying the loid ‘Global Times’ called Ozil’s diences due to a player’s political Beijing Friday. hampton Wanderers. “Qur’ans Turkestan. camps existed, China now de- comments “false” and said in a stance. Yesterday’s Premier League are being burnt... Mosques are China has faced growing in- scribes them as vocational tweet that he had “disappointed The NBA in October sparked game in London between Arsenal being shut down ... Muslim ternational condemnation for schools aimed at dampening the Chinese fans and football govern- a backlash in China after Hou- hinese state broadcaster and Manchester City was initial- schools are being banned ... Re- setting up a vast network of allure of extremism and violence. ing authorities”. The cancellation ston Rockets general manager CCTV has pulled a game ly scheduled to be broadcast live ligious scholars are being killed camps in Xinjiang aimed at ho- Arsenal on Saturday distanced prompted further criticism of Daryl Morey tweeted in support Cbetween Arsenal and by CCTV’s sports channel short- one by one ... Brothers are force- mogenising the Uighur popula- itself from Ozil’s comments, say- Ozil, including from Arsenal fans. of Hong Kong pro-democracy Manchester City from its pro- ly after midnight on Monday, ac- fully being sent to camps,” Ozil tion to refl ect China’s majority ing it has “always adhered to the “(Ozil) published inappropri- protesters. In response, CCTV gramme after the Gunners mid- cording to a schedule published wrote in Turkish on his Twitter Han culture. Rights groups and principle of not involving itself in ate comments on foreign social cancelled its broadcasts of two fi elder Mesut Ozil expressed earlier on the league’s offi cial account on Friday. experts say more than 1mn Ui- politics”. media that would greatly hurt NBA pre-season games in China, support for Uighurs in Xinjiang. Weibo account. “The Muslims are silent. Their ghurs and people of other mostly Ozil’s comments drew an- the feelings of Chinese fans,” and the Rockets have been absent Ozil, a German of Turkish ori- However, by Sunday CCTV voice is not heard,” he wrote on a Muslim ethnic minorities have ger online, with some users on another user said. Arsenal is the from CCTV and internet giant gin, condemned China’s crack- replaced the match on its sched- background of a blue fi eld with a been rounded up in the camps in Weibo calling for a ban on his latest foreign team to face the ire Tencent’s programming schedule down on Muslim minorities in ule with a pre-recorded game white crescent moon, the fl ag of the tightly controlled region. games. China’s nationalist tab- of Chinese broadcasters and au- so far this season. New Zealand eruption death toll rises to 18

AFP The death toll now stands at 18 after Wellington an Australian victim who had been repatriated to Sydney died in hospital he death toll from New New Zealand Police Search and Rescue and Disaster Victim Identification staff return to Whakatane Airport after conducting a search for Zealand’s White Island almost a week after the deadly eruption bodies in the aftermath of the eruption of White Island volcano, which is also known by its Maori name Whakaari, yesterday. Tvolcano eruption rose to 18 yesterday, including two peo- a week after the deadly eruption. a time when we’ve done eve- ple whose bodies have not been Another 26 survivors remain rything we can do, when we’ve Deadly eruption hits New Zealand volcano tourist town hard recovered, police said. in New Zealand and Australian done everything that’s sensi- A land search early yester- hospitals, of which at least 18 are ble but we’re not there yet... we Helicopter pilot Mark Law did Anne Tolley, the local member pilots to fly out to the island, where Whakatane’s tourism sector had day failed to fi nd any sign of the listed as “critical” and fi ghting don’t give up easily,” he said. not hesitate to fly out to New of parliament, said the town was they picked up 10 badly burned been growing strongly with the missing pair and divers returned for their lives after the eruption Scientists monitoring White Zealand’s White Island volcano shattered by the disaster and its people and flew them back to unique marine volcano at its to the sea in the afternoon amid on the desolate island, which is Island said there had been no immediately after it erupted to thoughts were with the victims, Whakatane’s hospital. Law and heart, but with the prospect that increasing speculation both the country’s most active volca- further signifi cant activity since carry survivors to hospital, but but hoped that tours would one his team tried to fly back to the people may be reluctant to visit could be in the water. no. The family of the latest vic- last Monday’s eruption but the after a harrowing week he knows day restart. “It is iconic and it is island to recover the bodies of the island even if it is reopened, Deputy police commissioner tim have requested his name and risk remained with the volcano his town’s adventure tourism certainly is the centrepiece of those they knew had died, but immediate prospects will be Mike Clement said there was age not be released. alert at Level Two, which indi- industry faces an uncertain the town’s tourism. We also have were “tremendously disappointed” challenging. “every chance” the bodies had Police yesterday named seven cates “moderate to heightened future. fantastic beaches and walks and to be stopped by police. After As the recovery mission on Friday been washed into the sea from victims who have been offi cially unrest with potential for erup- As the search continues for the the kiwi, but Whakaari, you will initially being sidelined from police played out, Boz Te Moana, 24, the stream where they were last identifi ed including New Zea- tion hazards”. final two missing bodies from have seen all the signs, we are the operations, by mid-week Law and Michael Mika, 28, waited seen on Monday. land tour guide Tipene James A glow was visible from the last week’s deadly eruption, Law gateway to Whakaari,” Tolley told was sharing his knowledge of the to support their community He added that searchers Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24. vent area overnight “which con- knows it will be challenging for his Reuters, using the Māori name for volcano’s terrain and environment gathered in the indigenous Māori were “satisfi ed that the area we Four were Australians — Zoe fi rms there is a high heat fl ow business, Kahu Helicopters. Some the volcano. Daily tours had taken with the military squad that marae, or meeting ground. The searched near the jetty is clear of Ella Hosking, 15, her stepfather present,” said Geoff Kilgour, a of his seven staff , including three more than 10,000 visitors every on Friday retrieved six of the two, who had travelled from their the bodies”. Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, 51-year- volcanologist with GNS Science, pilots, could lose their jobs. year to privately owned island eight bodies left behind. On the homes further up the Whakatane “The rescue teams are frus- old Anthony James Langford and which monitors seismic and vol- “We’re going to be greatly 50km off the coast. weekend, the search continued River, hoped in time tours to the trated. We understand com- Karla Michelle Mathews, 32 — canic activity in New Zealand. aff ected, we’re anticipating Tours to the island were part for the remaining bodies. “At the waters around the island would pletely how frustrating it is for along with Matthew Robert Hol- “This has been confi rmed to- probably damn near shutting the of Whakatane’s history, and end of the day people on the be allowed again but tourists loved ones who want the bodies lander, 13 and Berend Lawrence day by an aerial observation this doors. It’s going to be devastating, operators had been gearing up ground generally know and it is should not step foot on it again, back,” Clement said. Hollander, 16, who were US citi- morning that noted an active we’ve been operating that part for the peak Christmas holiday important… to weave into the plan out of respect for the dead, they Forty-seven people were on zens with Australian permanent crater is emitting volcanic gas at of our business for years,” he season before Monday’s disaster, the eff ort of the local people,” Law said. “I don’t know if the mamae the island — a popular tourist residency. a high rate and very high tem- said. Law is not alone worrying Tolley said. “It’s very diff icult told Reuters. or the hurt will ever change, but attraction — when the explosion Clement said although the perature” above 200C (392F). about his future in Whakatane, coming at probably the busiest Shock had ripped through the environment, it’s up to the happened. The death toll now land and sea searches had so far The disaster has raised questions a picturesque town of 35,000 of time of year for them. It will be Whakatane at the eruption, with town itself to move forward from stands at 18 after an Australian been unsuccessful in fi nding the about why tourists were allowed the shore of the Bay of Plenty that devastating.” the local hospital overwhelmed as here in the most positive way,” victim who had been repatriated remaining bodies, police had not on a volcano where experts had is the main access point to the On Monday, the 48-year-old Law dozens of seriously injured people said Te Moana, using the Maori to Sydney died in hospital almost given up hope. “There will come recently raised threat levels. volcanic island. had quickly organised three other were delivered from the island. word for pain.

Hong Kong mall protests fl are with leader Lam in Beijing At least 4 killed

Reuters time. “He is the fi rst person to die in magnitude-6.9 Hong Kong because of this revolution,” said Tina, 18. “I came tonight because I want to always remember that quake in southern mall groups of protesters we can’t give up and we have to gathered in shopping malls keep fi ghting for freedom.” Sacross Hong Kong yes- Several hundred people, many Philippines terday amid brief scuffl es with social workers, gathered earlier riot police as attention turned to to reiterate demands that include an upcoming meeting between full democracy and an independ- DPA er provinces in the southern Hong Kong’s leader and China’s ent inquiry into allegations of Manila region of Mindanao, where president. police brutality. Some called for residents were still recover- Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam more mass strikes, while others ing from the damage caused is scheduled to meet Chinese sat at tables to write Christmas magnitude-6.9 earth- by three major earthquakes leader Xi Jinping in Beijing to- cards to those who have been quake struck the and hundreds of aftershocks day and some observers say the jailed. Separately, a pro-gov- Asouthern Philippines in October. Photos posted on visit could yield fresh directives ernment rally drew over a thou- yesterday, killing at least four social media showed people including a possible cabinet re- sand people, with participants people and sending panicked pinned under debris from the shuffl e. denouncing the use of violence residents out into the streets collapsed supermarket in Pa- Lam, however, appeared to during protests. as structures collapsed. dada. Videos showed people play that down before she left, Hong Kong has been embroiled A three-storey supermar- rushing out of a shopping mall saying the fi rst task was to curb in its worst political crisis in dec- ket collapsed in Padada town in Davao City. violence and restore order. Yes- ades since June with anti-gov- in Davao Del Sur province, An electric post exploded, terday in the peak shopping sea- ernment protests posing a popu- 1,000km south of Manila, kill- causing some to scream and son ahead of Christmas, groups list challenge to China’s Xi and ing at least three people, ac- cry in panic. “The earthquake of masked protesters, clad in complicating ties between China cording to Superintendent was stronger than last month’s black, marched through several and the United States at a time of Samuel Tadeo, the Bureau of tremors,” Fernandez told Ma- malls chanting slogans including heightened tensions including Police deploy pepper spray during a protest at the New Town Plaza shopping mall in Shatin in Hong Kong. Fire Protection operations chief. nila radio station DZMM as “Fight for freedom” and “Return over trade. Demonstrators have Six were rescued from the another aftershock occurred justice to us”. railed against what they see as collapsed building, while an “It felt like a huge roller was Riot police used pepper spray Chinese meddling in freedoms undetermined number of passing under our streets. on crowds in one Kowloon mall, promised to Hong Kong when the people were believed to be It was so powerful, people local media reported. In Shatin, former British colony returned to trapped under the rubble, he couldn’t run.” Reuters witnessed police fi ring Chinese rule in 1997, gradually said. In nearby Matanao town, The October quakes left 28 a tear gas canister outside the ramping up the use of violence a 6-year-old girl was killed people dead and more than New Town Plaza mall, and sev- over many months of unrest. when she was hit by a falling 600 injured, while thousands eral people were taken away af- They also say they are re- concrete wall in their house, of houses, buildings and other ter entrances and walkways were sponding to excessive use of force said Vincent Fernandez, the infrastructure were damaged blocked, glass panels smashed, by police. Last Sunday, a protest municipality’s mayor. At least or destroyed, the national dis- and graffi ti sprayed. Police said in march drew around 800,000 14 people were also reported aster relief agency said. Presi- a statement that some shops had people, according to organisers, injured in the town of Magsay- dent Rodrigo Duterte, who was been damaged and that a smoke suggesting the movement still say, a local offi cial said. at his house in Davao City, was bomb had been set off . Many has signifi cant public support. The quake’s epicentre was not hurt in the earthquake, his shops closed early. The government is planning located 9km north-west of the spokesman said. In the evening, several hun- more public dialogue through town of Matanao and 987km “All concerned agencies dred protesters held a vigil for social media channels, as well as south of Manila, the Philip- of the government have been a protester who fell to his death a second town hall session with pine Institute of Volcanology mobilised to respond to the outside a luxury mall exactly six top offi cials to try to bridge dif- and Seismology said. It oc- present conditions and pro- months ago after holding up a ferences. Despite the febrile pub- curred at 2:11pm and was felt vide immediate assistance to banner. Some laid white fl owers, lic mood, China maintains it is at the strongest intensity in those in need,” he added. “The as others softly hummed ‘Sing committed to the “one country, Matanao and the nearby town Offi ce of the President mean- Hallelujah’ to commemorate Le- two systems” formula granting of Magsaysay, the institute while requests everyone to re- ung Ling-kit, known as “raincoat Hong Kong autonomy and says it An undercover police off icer detains an anti-government protester during a demonstration inside a mall said. main calm but stay vigilant in man” for what he wore at the fully supports Lam. in Hong Kong. The tremor was felt in oth- anticipation of aftershocks.” Gulf Times 22 Monday, December 16, 2019 BRITAIN

Scotland ‘cannot PM eyeing be imprisoned in the UK’: Sturgeon

SNP leader claims PM’s of a Scottish parliament, she refusal of second Scottish told Marr: “Recent history tells vote before referendum shows us that this dictatorial attitude contempt for democracy of a Conservative government saying they will determine By Libby Brooks the future of Scotland, not the Guardian News & Media people of Scotland, doesn’t hold”. Sunak: said the government aimed to re-submit the Withdrawal “If I’m sounding reasonably Agreement Bill to parliament for ratification before Christmas to allow icola Sturgeon has in- relaxed about this, it’s because Christmas ministers to start work on other priorities. sisted that Scotland I know that the momentum Ncannot be “imprisoned and mandate is on the side of Reuters and then we will make sure that traditional supporters. in the UK against its will” and those of us who want Scotland London it passes before January 31,” Gove “Let me make it clear that it’s warned that Boris Johnson’s to be able to choose our own told Sky News. on me. Let’s take it on the chin,” continued refusal to grant her future.” Asked about a new trade ac- Labour’s fi nance chief John Mc- the powers to hold a second Asked what she intended rime Minister Boris John- cord with the EU, Gove said: “It Donnell told the BBC’s Andrew referendum can only increase to do if Johnson continued to son will “get Brexit done” will be concluded next year. Marr Show. “I own this disaster.” support for Scottish inde- refuse to grant the section 30 Pby January 31 and then “We will be in a position to He said there would be a new pendence. order necessary for Holyrood agree a new trade deal with the leave the European Union before leader in place by early next year, Speaking on BBC’s Andrew to stage a legal referendum, European Union by the end of the 31st of January next year and and already some said they were Marr Show, the SNP leader and Sturgeon said she would set 2020, cabinet offi ce minister then we will have concluded our considering running. Scotland’s fi rst minster said: out this week “the detailed Michael Gove said yesterday, conversations with the EU about Lisa Nandy, a lawmaker for the “It really is such a subversion democratic case for the trans- vowing to deliver on the govern- the new framework of free trade northern town of Wigan, said she of democracy that you’re talk- fer of power”, and repeated her ment’s top priority. and friendly co-operation that could enter the race, while justice ing to the leader of the party pledge not to hold an illegal Johnson and his team were tri- we will have with them by the policy chief Richard Burgon said that overwhelmingly won the Catalan-style vote. umphant last week when he won end of next year.” he would back Rebecca Long- election [in Scotland], and I’m However, she added: “I said a commanding majority of 80 at The EU’s chief negotiator, Bailey, Labour’s business policy under pressure to say what I’m to [Johnson] on the phone on an early election that he said he Michel Barnier, has cast doubt chief, if she decided to run for the doing because the mandate Friday night, if he thinks say- was forced to call to break the over whether the trade talks will leadership. that I won is not going to be ing no is the end of the matter Brexit deadlock. be so swiftly concluded, saying Corbyn, who apologised to honoured by the party that got he’s going to fi nd himself com- Winning over many tradition- last month that the negotiations Gove: I can absolutely confirm that we will have an opportunity to Labour supporters in two news- roundly defeated in Scotland. pletely and utterly wrong.” ally Labour voters in northern would be “diffi cult and demand- vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in relatively short order and papers yesterday (see report, “It is just such perversion “You cannot hold Scotland and central England, Johnson has ing” and warning Britain the bloc then we will make sure that it passes before January 31. below), has said that he will step and subversion of democracy in the union against its will. proclaimed he will lead a “peo- “will not tolerate unfair competi- down as soon as a new leader has that it will not hold.” You cannot just lock us in a ple’s government”. tive advantage”. before Christmas in order to al- ministers in February to focus on been elected by the party mem- She told Marr that Scottish cupboard and turn the key and First, the Conservative leader Johnson, who celebrated his low ministers to start working on delivering his election promises, bership. voters had “rejected the Tories, hope everything goes away. must make good on his often- victory by visiting Sedgefi eld, a other priorities, such as “level- especially those made to vot- “I will make no bones about said no to Brexit and made clear “If the United Kingdom is to repeated promise to “get Brexit former Labour bastion that was ling up” the country. ers in northern and central Eng- it. The result was a body blow we want our future in our own continue, then it can only be by done” and then turn to realising the parliamentary seat of former After more than three years land, once called the “red wall” for everyone who so desperately hands”, adding: “I don’t pre- consent. another priority – to increase prime minister Tony Blair but of debate over Brexit, Johnson because of their loyalty towards needs real change in our coun- sume everyone who voted SNP “If Boris Johnson is confi - funding into Britain’s much loved voted Conservative this time, faces a struggle to unite a country Labour. try ... I’m sorry that we came up of Thursday is yet prepared to dent in the case for the union but struggling public health will set out his programme on where disagreements over how, For the opposition Labour short and I take my responsibility back independence, but it’s not then he should be confi dent service, a pledge he plans to en- Thursday in a Queen’s Speech. when or whether Britain should Party, Thursday’s election was for it,” he wrote. for me to decide that question, enough to make that case and shrine in law. Rishi Sunak, a deputy fi nance leave the EU have torn towns, vil- its worst poll result since 1935 But Corbyn added: “I remain “it’s not for Boris Johnson to allow the people to decide. “I can absolutely confi rm that minister, has said that the gov- lages and even families apart. and underlined how its equivo- proud of the campaign we fought decide, it’s for the people of “Scotland cannot be impris- we will have an opportunity to ernment is aiming to re-submit According to the Sunday cal Brexit policy and its socialist ... and I’m proud that our mes- Scotland”. oned in the UK against its will.” vote on the Withdrawal Agree- the Withdrawal Agreement Bill Times, Johnson plans to make leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had prov- sage was one of hope, rather than In Scotland, the SNP in- Since the election, there ment Bill in relatively short order to parliament for ratifi cation major changes to his top team of en an electoral disaster for many fear.” creased its share of the vote to have been numerous media 45%, winning a greater pro- reports of Johnson’s plans to portion of the votes there than “lovebomb” Scotland in the the Tories did across the UK, coming months, as he switch- and also increased its number es his focus from Brexit to the of MPs at Westminster to 47. strengthening of the union. In contrast, the Tories – Writing in the Scottish Mail Corbyn ‘sorry’ for election wipeout whose campaign in Scotland on Sunday, the former Scot- was focused on opposition to a tish Conservative leader Ruth second independence referen- Davidson challenged Johnson AFP ter social issues important to La- more popular than those pushed dum – lost more than half their to ensure that the rhetoric of London bour voters. by Johnson. Scottish MPs, from 13 to six. his one nation-vision should “But despite our best eff orts, “I am proud that on austerity, Accusing the Tories of “rag- become a reality. this election was ultimately on corporate power, on inequal- ing against the reality” of the She urged Johnson to keep ritain’s main opposition about Brexit,” Corbyn admitted ity and on the climate emergency markedly diff erent election re- his promises on Brexit to Scot- leader Jeremy Corbyn in his letter. we have won the arguments and sult in Scotland, Sturgeon said: land’s fi shing industry and on Bapologised yesterday for “The Tory campaign, ampli- rewritten the terms of political “The risk for the Conservatives support for farmers, consider waging a disastrous campaign fi ed by most of the media, man- debate,” he wrote in a separate here is that the more they try Scotland’s specifi c immigra- that handed Prime Minister Boris aged to persuade many that only column in The Observer news- to block the will of the Scottish tion needs, and make extra Johnson a mandate to take the UK Boris Johnson could ‘get Brexit paper. people, the more utter con- infrastructure and research out of the EU next month. done’,” he said in reference to Several prominent Labour tempt they show for Scottish investment north of the bor- But the veteran socialist de- Johnson’s campaign slogan. “We members who are viewed as po- democracy, the more they are der, telling him that he had a fended his radical platform and will learn the lessons of this de- tential leaders sharply disagreed. going to increase support for “responsibility to reach out to blamed the media for helping feat.” “It’s time to try something dif- independence”. Scotland, despite SNP attacks to cause his century-old party’s The soul-searching and re- ferent, rather than re-enacting Referring to Conservative and grievance, to ensure no worst fi nish since before World criminations have been accom- old battles,” lawmaker Jess Phil- opposition in the late-80s and part of the UK feels left behind War II. panied by questions in other lips wrote in The Observer. “Eve- early-90s to the establishment during his premiership”. “I will make no bones about Western countries about how far rywhere I campaign, I heard the it. The election result on Thurs- Corbyn: I will make no bones about it. The election result on left traditionally liberal voters are same thing. It was less about day was a body blow for everyone Thursday was a body blow for everyone who so desperately needs prepared to go. Brexit and more about belief. who so desperately needs real real change in our country. “Look what happens when “In these places of genera- change in our country,” Cor- the Labour party moves so, so tions of Labour voting, they did byn wrote in the Sunday Mirror A sombre but combative Cor- between the two by taking a neu- far to the left,” US Democratic not believe a Labour government newspaper. “I wanted to unite the byn said on Friday that he will tral position on Brexit – a deci- presidential hopeful Joe Biden would or could deliver for them.” country that I love, but I’m sorry step aside once Labour com- sion that Labour fi nance spokes- warned on Friday. “It comes up Labour parliamentarian Lisa that we came up short and I take pletes a period of “refl ection” man John McDonnell said proved with ideas that are not able to be Nandy agreed that the party had my responsibility for it.” about its mistakes. to be fatal. contained within a rational basis “lost touch with the day-to-day Thursday’s snap general elec- The party is expected to have a “What we tried to do is bring quickly.” ... experience of many of the tion turned into a re-run of the new leader in place before Eng- both sides together and we Yet Corbyn signalled yesterday people we want to represent”. 2016 EU membership referen- land votes yet again in local polls failed,” McDonnell told the BBC. that he wanted to leave behind a Several other candidates are dum in which Johnson champi- in May. “I own this disaster.” legacy that keeps Labour’s focus seen as disciples of Corbyn and oned the Brexit cause. Yet the 70-year-old has no Labour’s campaign was also on social spending and the re- McDonnell who would likely keep The Conservative party leader clear successor after a year of in- dogged by allegations of anti- nationalisation of private indus- Labour on its current course. now commands an 80-vote ma- fi ghting between a protectionist Semitism that forced a handful tries. These include business poli- jority in the 650-seat House of old guard backed by the unions of senior party lawmakers to step The Labour leader came under cies spokeswoman Rebecca Commons – a margin last en- and more metropolitan members down. bitter criticism from more mod- Long-Bailey – a 40-year-old joyed by the late Tory icon Mar- with pro-European views. Corbyn tried to shift the cam- erate supporters yesterday for former lawyer that McDonnell garet Thatcher in the 1980s. Corbyn tried to fi nd a balance paign’s focus to bread-and-but- claiming that his policies were said could be “a brilliant leader”. Sturgeon appearing via TV link on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. Johnson threatens BBC with two-pronged attack

No 10 boycotts Today ent scrutiny, comes amid criti- rector-general, Tony Hall, wrote: parliament to pass fresh legisla- Downing Street has also at- programme and considers cism of the BBC’s election cover- “In a frenetic campaign where tion. tacked Channel 4’s election cov- decriminalising non-payment age from both left and right. we’ve produced hundreds of Abolition would be hard, but a erage after it replaced Johnson of licence fee No 10 pointed to Andrew Neil’s hours of output, of course we’ve bigger risk for the BBC is the ne- with an ice sculpture when he on-air monologue in which he made the odd mistake and we’ve gotiations with the government refused to take part in a leaders’ By Matthew Taylor lambasted Johnson for his re- held up our hands to them. over the cost of the licence fee debate on the climate crisis. and Jim Waterson fusal to be interviewed, and the “Editors are making tough between 2022 and 2027. During the election the Tories Guardian News & Media BBC’s “extensive coverage” of a calls every minute of the day. But Even more worrying for the confi rmed that the party would four-year-old boy with suspect- I don’t accept the view of those public broadcaster are comments review Channel 4’s public serv- ed pneumonia forced to sleep on critics who jump on a handful of by the justice secretary, Rob- ice broadcasting obligations if owning Street is threaten- a hospital fl oor – as evidence of examples to suggest we’re some- ert Buckland, that the Tories are Johnson was returned to Down- ing the future of the BBC anti-Tory, pro-remain bias at the how biased one way or the other.” seriously looking at “decrimi- ing Street. Dby insisting it is seriously corporation. During the election campaign nalisation of failing to pay the TV This picture taken on Thursday shows the BBC projection of the Under the proposal it will considering decriminalising Meanwhile, Labour backers Johnson threatened to take the licence”, which could be set out election exit polls results on its Broadcast House building in London. “look at whether its remit should non-payment of the licence fee, have also raised concerns about BBC’s licence fee away, as he in the next Queen’s speech and be better focused so it is serving while boycotting Radio 4’s Today the BBC’s coverage, from the called into question its status as a which would completely under- “The government has already less to spend on programmes and the public in the best way pos- programme over the broadcast- editing out of laughter aimed publicly funded broadcaster. mine the BBC’s funding model. commissioned a QC (lawyer) services our audiences love.” sible”. er’s supposed anti-Tory bias. at Johnson in a news bulletin to The premier suggested the li- A No 10 source confi rmed that to take an in-depth look at this Johnson’s senior adviser Do- However, there will be voices No 10 pulled ministers from leading reporters uncritically cence fee, which is guaranteed to the licence fee was “in the fi r- matter and he found that ‘the minic Cummings is known to be a within the Tory party who are Saturday’s edition of the Today repeating Conservative sources, continue until at least 2027, was ing line”, following reports in the current system of criminal deter- strong critic of the BBC, its fund- uneasy about an all-out war programme, with sources saying and the prime minister escaping a general tax that could no longer Mail on Sunday that its future rence and prosecution should be ing model and its output. with the media, particularly the it intends to “withdraw engage- scrutiny after dodging the one- be justifi ed when other media or- settlement was under discussion. maintained’ and that it is fair and He is particularly dismissive of BBC – both because it remains ment” from the show in future. on-one interview with Neil. ganisations had found other ways A BBC spokesperson said de- value for money to licence fee the Today programme, which he one of the most trusted institu- The row, which is seen as an The BBC has fi rmly rejected of funding themselves. criminalisation would lead to payers,” they said. argues operates in a Metropolitan tions in the country and because ominous sign of Boris Johnson’s such criticism. Any changes to the BBC’s £200mn less to spend on pro- “Decriminalisation could also bubble out of touch with the rest of its daily infl uence on the news willingness to bypass independ- In an e-mail on Friday, the di- funding model would require grammes. mean we have at least £200m of the country. agenda. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 23 EUROPE

Thunberg in Twitter spat with Major states snub calls German railways for more climate action AFP Reuters led resistance to bolder action, The process set out in the Berlin Madrid delegates said. Paris deal hinges on countries “These talks refl ect how dis- ratcheting up emissions cuts connected country leaders are next year. wedish teenage climate ac- handful of major states from the urgency of the science The fi nal draft acknowledged tivist Greta Thunberg was resisted pressure yester- and the demands of their citi- the “signifi cant gap” between Sforced to defend herself in Aday to ramp up eff orts zens in the streets,” said Helen existing pledges and the tem- a Twitter spat with German rail- to combat global warming as a Mountford, vice-president perature goals adopted in 2015. way service Deutsche Bahn (DB) UN climate summit ground to for climate and economics at Nevertheless, it was still seen yesterday. a close, angering smaller coun- the World Resources Institute as a weak response to the sense Thunberg, 16, provoked a testy tries and a growing protest think-tank. “They need to wake of urgency felt by communi- reaction from Germany’s oft- movement that is pushing for up in 2020.” ties around the world affl icted maligned rail operator when she emergency action. The lack of a strong outcome by fl oods, droughts, wildfi res tweeted from a DB train on her The COP25 talks in Madrid to reinforce the Paris accord and cyclones that scientists say journey home from the COP25 were viewed as a test of govern- raises the stakes for the next big have become more intense as the climate summit in Madrid. ments’ collective will to heed the climate summit, in Glasgow in Earth rapidly warms. “Traveling on overcrowded advice of science to cut green- November next year. Guterres, who opened the trains through Germany. And house gas emissions more rap- As hosts, British Prime Min- talks on December 2, said he was I’m fi nally on my way home!” idly, in order to prevent rising ister Boris Johnson’s govern- “disappointed”. wrote Thunberg above a picture global temperatures from hit- ment faces the task of persuad- “The international commu- of herself sitting on the fl oor of ting irreversible tipping points. ing countries to submit more nity lost an important opportu- a carriage surrounded by suit- But the conference, in its con- ambitious plans to cut carbon nity to show increased ambition cases. cluding draft, endorsed only a emissions. on mitigation, adaptation and DB responded testily, pointing declaration on the “urgent need” The Madrid summit had been fi nance to tackle the climate cri- out that Thunberg had travelled to close the gap between existing due to end at the two-week mark sis,” he said in a statement. “We in fi rst class during her journey emissions pledges and the tem- on Friday but ran on for two ex- must not give up and I will not through Germany. perature goals of the landmark tra days – a long delay even by give up.” “Dear Greta, thanks for sup- 2015 Paris climate agreement the standards of often-tortur- Delegates drew some consola- Schmidt: of mixed emotions after final decisions were made. porting us railway workers in our – an outcome UN Secretary- ous climate summits. tion from an agreement reached fi ght against climate change. We General Antonio Guterres called After fi nal decisions were in Brussels last week by the representative at the talks. “As many others have ex- which began withdrawing from are happy that you travelled with disappointing. made, Chile’s environment European Union’s 28 member The negotiations became pressed, we are disappointed the Paris process last month, of us on the ICE 174 on Saturday,” Many developing countries minister Carolina Schmidt – states, bar Poland, to reach net mired in disputes over the rules that we once again failed to fi nd blocking progress. tweeted DB’s offi cial account in and campaigners had wanted who served as president of the zero carbon emissions by 2050, that should govern interna- agreement,” said Felipe De Leon, “There are millions of people German. to see much more explicit lan- talks – said she was “of mixed under a “Green Deal” to wean tional carbon trading, favoured a climate offi cial speaking on be- all around the world who are al- “It would have been nicer guage spelling out the impor- emotions”. the continent off fossil fuels. by wealthier countries to reduce half of Costa Rica. ready suff ering from the impacts if you had also mentioned the tance of countries submitting The country had earlier trig- “It seems that EU now needs the cost of cutting emissions. Smaller nations had also of climate change,” Ian Fry, Tu- friendly and competent man- bolder pledges on emissions as gered outrage after drafting a to be the leader and we want to Among the main holdouts hoped to win guarantees of fi - valu’s representative, told del- ner in which you were treated by the Paris process enters a crucial version of the text that cam- be and we are going to be and were Brazil and Australia, del- nancial aid to cope with climate egates. staff at your seat in fi rst class,” implementation phase next year. paigners complained was so that is what we are doing,” said egates said, and the summit de- change. “Denying this fact could be they added. Brazil, China, Australia, Saudi weak it betrayed the spirit of the Krista Mikkonen, Finland’s en- ferred big decisions on carbon The Pacifi c island of Tu- interpreted by some to be a The company then followed Arabia and the United States had Paris Agreement. vironment minister and the EU’s markets. valu accused the United States, crime against humanity.” up the tweets with a press re- lease, in which they added that Greta’s travel companions “were sitting in fi rst class from Frank- furt onwards”. Thunberg hit back on Twit- Tensions mount over French transport strike More than ter, claiming that she had found a seat at a stop after Frankfurt, which she said was “no prob- AFP feeling sympathetic towards 50,000 lem”. Paris their cause, up from 46% be- “Our train from Basel was fore the strike began on De- taken out of traffi c. So we sat on cember 5. evacuated the fl oor of two diff erent trains. ensions between the Only 30% of those polled op- After Goettingen I got a seat,” French government and posed the strike outright. wrote the 16-year-old. “This is Tunions opposed to pen- Backed by the favourable over WWII no problem of course and I never sion reforms mounted on the polls, the train drivers have said it was.” 11th day of a crippling trans- vowed not to budge unless the “Overcrowded trains is a great port strike yesterday, with the government withdraws the re- UK bomb sign because it means the de- prime minister warning the forms. mand for train travel is high!” French would not tolerate being “If the government wants the she added. stranded at Christmas. confl ict to end before the holi- By Lorenzo Tondo Thunberg’s journey through The pensions overhaul, un- days, they have all of next week Guardian News & Media Germany was the last leg of a veiled this week by Prime Min- to take the wise decision and continent-spanning trip which ister Edouard Philippe, would scrap the points-based pension began when she travelled to New fold France’s 42 separate pen- plan,” Laurent Blum, the gen- ore than 50,000 people York on a low-emissions yacht sion schemes – including the eral secretary of the hardline had to evacuate their last August. early retirement schemes cov- CGT-Cheminots drivers’ union Mhomes in Brindisi in The 16-year-old activist ering train drivers, dockers and told AFP on Saturday. the south of Italy yesterday, as started a worldwide movement several other professions – into France’s moderate CFDT un- experts removed a World War II last year when she began to one system that requires people ion backed the action after the British bomb. strike from school every Friday to work for longer. government’s announcement The British bomb, uncovered to protest government inaction Philippe particularly angered that those who retire before the by construction workers on No- on climate change. the unions by proposing a re- “pivot age” of 64 would not re- vember 2 during refurbishment Refusing to fl y, she has twice duced payout for people who ceive a full pension. works at a cinema, is believed to crossed the Atlantic by boat in retire at the legal age of 62 in- “It’s very simple: for the have been dropped on the port recent months in order to speak stead of a new, so-called “pivot CFDT to change its mind on city in 1941. at a UN climate summit in New age” of 64. TGV trains are pictured behind Christmas decorations at Gare du Nord train station during a strike this bill, the government must The Italian newspaper Cor- York and the hastily-rearranged Train traffi c was again se- over pension reforms. agree to withdraw the pivot age, riere della Sera described the COP25 summit in Madrid. verely disrupted yesterday. that’s all there is to it,” CFDT operation as “the biggest peace- Her online run-in with Deut- In Paris, meanwhile, public right government to back down ily at Christmas, would not take “Things are not completely leader Laurent Berger told Le time evacuation in the country” sche Bahn comes just days after transport remained at a near- on pension reform after three kindly to being kept apart. blocked but it’s bothersome,” Journal du Dimanche. as more than 54,000 inhabit- a high-profi le Twitter clash with standstill, with only two of the weeks of metro and rail strikes “Christmas is an important he said. But Berger, who supports the ants were forced to leave their United States President Donald city’s 16 metro lines operating just before Christmas. time,” he said. The government has insisted idea of moving to a single pen- homes for several hours yester- Trump. and most national rail services The prospect of a protracted “I don’t think the French the pension reforms are nec- sion system, reiterated that he day morning, within a radius of After Thunberg was named cancelled. stand-off has businesses fear- would accept being deprived essary to make the current in- was open to dialogue. 1,617m from where the bomb Time magazine’s person of the The unions have announced ing big losses during the crucial of that time,” he said, warning debted system, which is more “We have to break this dead- was found. year, Trump tweeted that she a third day of mass protests for year-end festivities, and trav- the unions to “assume their re- favourable to public sector lock,” he said. As part of the operation, the had “anger management prob- tomorrow, which is expected to ellers worried that their holiday sponsibilities”. workers, fairer and more sus- Philippe has struck a fi rm city’s airport, train station, two lems” and told her to “chill”. bring tens of thousands of peo- plans will fall through. He sought to downplay the tainable. note, repeating that his “door hospitals and a prison were shut Thunberg responded by ple onto the streets. Philippe told Le Parisien dai- scale of 11 days of strikes, which A poll in Le Journal du is open” to the unions, with down. changing her Twitter bio to in- The strike organisers are ly in an interview for its Sunday have hit schools, key ports and Dimanche weekly however whom he plans more talks this More than 200 prison inmates clude the words “currently chill- hoping for a repeat of 1995, edition that the French, many oil refi neries and starved retail- showed 54% of the French ei- week, while insisting that the were moved to the prison in Lec- ing”. when they forced a centre- of whom travel to be with fam- ers and restaurants of footfall. ther supporting the strikers or government will stay its course. ce, 38km away. About 1pm, authorities con- fi rmed experts successfully de- fused the explosive, which is 1m long and contains 40kg of dyna- mite. French New Wave icon Anna Karina dies of cancer at 79 Authorities said that they will take the bomb to a remote loca- tion for a controlled explosion AFP Godard while walking along the refl ected in a later interview. today. Paris Champs-Elysees. The marriage did not survive On December 1, more than Godard off ered her a nude the loss of a child she was car- 10,000 residents of Turin were scene in Breathless, his fi rst and rying. evacuated for the defusal of an anish-French actress most famous fi lm, but she re- “We loved each other a lot,” another British bomb from the Anna Karina, muse of fused. Karina told AFP in an interview Second World War, dropped on DNew Wave director Jean- He came calling again a few in Paris in March 2018. the city more than 70 years ago. Luc Godard, has died of cancer months later, off ering her the “But it was complicated to live And on October 19, authori- at the age of 79, her agent told lead role in The Little Soldier, a with him,” she added. “He was ties ordered some 4,000 people AFP yesterday. fi lm about Algeria’s war of inde- someone who could say to you, ‘I who lived near Piazza Verdi, in Karina, who epitomised 60s In this file photo taken last year pendence from France that was am going to get some cigarettes’ Bolzano, in the north of Italy, chic with her elfi n features and shows Karina during a photo banned for three years. and come back three weeks lat- to leave their homes for several big kohl-rimmed blue eyes, session in Paris. They were already a couple er.” hours after another WWII ex- starred in seven fi lms made by when, at barely 21, she won best In 1973, she slipped behind plosive had been discovered in her ex-husband Godard, includ- when she hitchhiked to Paris actress at the Berlin fi lm festival the camera herself to make Vivre the city centre. ing Pierrot Le Fou. from her native Denmark to try for his A Woman is a Woman in Ensemble, a romance between a Unexploded ordnances are She also had some success as to become an actress. 1961. history teacher and a free spir- still a problem throughout Italy, a singer, recording the hit Sous Born Hanne Karin Bayer, it And while Karina did work ited young woman that ends in especially near the border with Le Soleil Exactement with Serge In this file photo taken in 1973, Karina poses at the beach during the was designer Coco Chanel, who with other directors, including drugs and domestic violence. Austria, where most of them are Gainsbourg for his musical Anna Cannes Film Festival. advised her to change her name Agnes Varda, she was never cast After two other failed mar- believed to be. in 1967. to the more cinematic-sounding by other leading male New Wave riages, to French actor-directors According to statistics from “Anna died yesterday in a passed away in the company of been orphaned. It has lost one Anna Karina. directors like Claude Chabrol or Pierre Fabre and Daniel Duval, the Italian defence ministry, Paris hospital of the eff ects of her fourth husband, American of its legends,” Culture Minister The young Dane developed Francois Truff aut. Karina tied the knot with Ber- thousands of WWII bombs are cancer,” her agent Laurent Bal- director Dennis Berry. Franck Riester tweeted. a successful modelling ca- “I was Jean-Luc’s wife. It ry, of Stargate and Highlander defused in the country every andras told AFP, adding that she “Today, French cinema has Karina was still a teenager reer before being spotted by probably scared them a bit,” she fame, in 1982. year. Gulf Times 24 Monday, December 16, 2019 INDIA

CAMPAIGN PROBE RECOVERY FRAUD KARMA Ex-cop begins march for TN transfers Fathima Former Karnataka CM Bride drugs family, runs Abusive groom sent back Bharat Ratna to Chand Latheef suicide case to CBI discharged from hospital away with valuables without marriage

Tarak Kumar Parkar, 61, a retired Madhya The Tamil Nadu government has transferred Karnataka former chief minister Siddaramaiah Inspired by Sonam Kapoor’s Dolly Ki Doli, a A groom was kicked out of his own wedding Pradesh policeman, set off on a journey on the case of 19-year old Fathima Latheef, a has been discharged from the hospital after heart newly wed woman fled from her in-laws’ house and the marriage party sent back after the foot to Delhi to demand Bharat Ratna for student of Indian Institute of Technology treatment yesterday. “I am healthy and totally fine with cash and jewellery after giving sedative- groom abused some women from the bride’s hockey icon Dhyan Chand, in Khargone Madras, to Central Bureau of Investigation now. I can carry out day to day activities like before. laced dinner to the entire family. The incident side. The incident took place in the Sisauli yesterday. Parkar was given a warm send off by (CBI), police said. The case transfer comes There is nothing to worry,” tweeted Siddaramaiah. happened in the Chota Para area in the Badaun village in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaff arnagar Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Pande. after her father Abdul Latheef had met Home Siddaramaiah thanked all the doctors and hospital district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday night. When district. Trouble began when women from Parkar, who will cover a distance of 1,150km, Minister Amit Shah in Delhi recently. According staff for taking care of him. The Congress leader the family woke up the following morning, they the bride’s side took away the groom’s shoes hopes to mobilise public opinion in favour of to the police, the transfer order was issued on also thanked the seers of various mutts for wishing found the bride missing along with the cash and demanded money in return. The custom his sporting idol. He believes Dhyan Chand, Saturday, a day after the Madras High Court him good health and posted some pictures with and valuables. Superintendent of Police (City) angered the groom Vivek Kumar, 22, who began who remains the greatest player to have played turned down a plea seeking CBI probe into them on the micro blogging site. Siddaramaiah, 71, Jitendra Srivastava said that according to the abusing the women. The family of the bride the game and won for the country three gold the suicide. Last month, Fathima, a bright first underwent angioplasty at the Narayana specialty family Pravin and Ria got married on December tried to pacify the groom, but he got angrier, medals, should not be denied Bharat Ratna now year MA Humanities and Development Studies hospital on the night of December 11. On December 9 and the woman belonged to Azamgarh. The used expletives and even slapped one person. that it had also been awarded to another sports student, took her life by hanging from the 9, Siddaramaiah resigned as the opposition leader SP said that the bride fled with Rs70,000 cash When the bride came to know about this, she icon Sachin Tendulkar. Parkar said the country ceiling fan of her hostel room, allegedly on the after the Congress suff ered a debacle in the bye- and ornaments worth Rs3 lakh. The police are called off the wedding. The wedding party was lags behind in global arena because players do account of religious bias against her. The court elections, winning only two of the 15 Assembly now looking for Tinku, a middleman who had sent back, but the groom, his father and two not get the respect they deserve. had said that state could opt for a probe. seats it contested. got the marriage arranged. relatives were held captive by the bride’s family.

Muslim litigants Six dead in NE protests may fi le curative against citizenship law petition AFP about an infl ux of Hindus from IANS Guwahati neighbouring Bangladesh who Lucknow stand to gain citizenship. “Assam will continue to pro- ngry protesters in north- test. India is a democracy and he Muslim litigants in the east (NE) India vowed the government has to listen to Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Ayesterday to keep dem- us,” said Karan Mili, a colleague TMasjid title case are now onstrating against a contentious of one of the victims, 25-year- mulling a proposal to fi le a cura- citizenship law as the death toll old Iswor Nayak, who died tive petition following the rejec- from bloody clashes opposing yesterday. tion of their review petition on the bill rose to six. “We don’t want violence but the judgement by the Supreme Tension remained high at the protests will continue... Assa- Court. epicentre of the unrest in As- mese will not stop until govern- The curative petition is the sam state’s biggest city, Guwa- ment revokes the law,” another last judicial resort available for hati, with troops patrolling the demonstrator, Pratima Sharma, redressal of grievances in court streets amid tight security. said. which is normally decided by In Assam, four people died Offi cials said oil and gas pro- judges in-chamber. It is only in after being shot by police, while duction in the state were hit by rare cases that such petitions are another was killed when a shop the curfew, although the re- given an open-court hearing. he was sleeping in was set on fi re strictions were eased during the An independent litigant in and a sixth after he was beaten day with some shops opening. the case, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind up during a protest, offi cials In West Bengal state, where (JuH), will soon be convening said. protests stretched into a third a meeting to take a call on this. Some 5,000 people took part day, Chief Minister Mamata The All India Babri Masjid Ac- in a fresh demonstration in Banerjee - who has spoken out tion Committee (AIBMAC) is the city yesterday, with hun- against the national govern- also discussing the possibility of dreds of police watching as they ment’s push for the law - sus- a curative petition. sang, chanted and carried ban- pended Internet services in AIBMAC convener and ners with the words “long live several districts. A man walks on a street as a bus is on fire following demonstration against the government’s Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in New Delhi yesterday. counsel in the Ram Janmab- Assam”. Demonstrators set fi re to hoomi-Babri Masjid title case The legislation, passed by the tyres, staged sit-ins on high- Prime Minister Narendra ship Act but people of north- northeast will remain intact,” political party are challenging Zafaryab Jilani said: “I am try- national parliament yesterday, ways and railway tracks, and Modi blamed the opposition east have rejected violence... Shah added in Jharkhand, the law in the Supreme Court, ing to fi nd out a ground for fi l- allows New Delhi to grant citi- torched trains and buses, with Congress party for the violence. They (Congress supporters) are News18 television network arguing that it is against the ing a curative plea in Supreme zenship to millions of illegal im- riot police brought in to dis- “To give respect to those who resorting to arson because they reported him as saying. constitution and India’s secular Court. We will also be consult- migrants who entered India from perse protesters and train serv- fl ed to India and were forced to did not get their way.” For Islamic groups, the op- traditions. ing senior counsel Rajeev Dha- three neighbouring countries on ices suspended in some parts of live as refugees, both houses of Home Minister Amit Shah position, rights activists and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party wan and if there is even a slight or before December 31, 2014 - the east. parliament passed the Citizen- called again for calm, saying others in India, the new law is (BJP) ally in Assam, Asom Gana possibility, All India Muslim but not if they are Muslim. In India’s capital New Delhi, ship Amendment Bill,” he said local cultures in northeastern seen as part of Modi’s Hindu- Parishad, which had supported Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Besides stoking concern video shared on social media yesterday at a rally in eastern states were not under threat. nationalist agenda to marginal- the bill in parliament, told local will be approached.” among Muslims, the proposed showed a bus on fi re and po- Jharkhand state. “Culture, language, social ise India’s 200mn Muslims. He media it now intended to chal- He said it was unfortunate that changes have also led to demon- lice appearing to fi re tear gas at “Congress and its allies are identity and political rights of denies the allegation. lenge the law in the Supreme the court did not even consider strations by residents unhappy protesters. stoking fi re over the Citizen- our brothers and sisters from Rights groups and a Muslim Court. hearing their petitions. Delhi women welcome DTC joyrides IANS by working in the fl ats. I tried buses. When a woman boards a ways. If I talk about myself, I minutes is just a waste of time. New Delhi working there earlier as well but bus, she can buy a ticket, if she will be saving close to Rs2,500 Also, during the late evening, I the walking used to exhaust me. wishes to. Otherwise, the con- per month under the scheme. don’t feel safe standing at the Now, I use the bus for travelling ductor gives a pink ticket to her However, last-mile connectiv- bus stop for long as it is mostly or 39-year-old house help and go to the fl ats for work. I am free of cost. ity is still a major concern,” said deserted,” said the Mayur Vihar Sunita, work opportunities now paid more, and I also don’t The working population of 26-year-old Sandhya Sahu who Phase-1 resident. Dignitaries at the inauguration of the get-together. Fwere limited to her area as have to invest in travelling,” she Delhi entails only 11% of women needs to take an auto to reach Although, she added that she she could not aff ord travelling said fl aunting her pink ticket. and 33% of them travel via public her offi ce, which is 3km from the feels safe in the buses. even in the public transport, She said her husband died transportation. Thirty per cent nearest bus stop. While the opposition had but the Delhi government’s an- two years back and now she has of women travel in DTC buses. She said earlier she used to called the step an election stunt, nouncement of free travel for the responsibility of running the The percentage of women take the metro to reach her of- the women in the national capi- Joyalukkas Foundation women in public buses came as a house, having two sons and her travellers was calculated by fi ce in Karol Bagh and after the tal seem to be happy with the relief because now she can trav- parents-in-law. counting the issued pink tick- scheme, she switched to the bus scheme. el to the nearby areas without Sunita was among the numerous ets, also known as the single- as it was free. When asked from 48-year- ‘sets example’ for others spending money. women who used to avoid going far journey passes. College-going Madhu Singh old Snehlata if she feels it was “I stay in East Delhi and was away from their homes as the travel While most of the wom- demanded that the frequency of an election stunt, she said she till now working as a house help expense was unaff ordable. en IANS spoke to hailed the buses should be improved. enjoys the free rides and if any- by helping fl ood victims in the nearby residences. While On October 29, the Delhi gov- scheme, some also suggested “Being a student, I need to fo- thing is benefi ting people, it my friends who can aff ord trav- ernment had made the travel free improvements. cus on my studies and standing doesn’t matter if it is an election oyalukkas Foundation has dra, city police commissioner, elling used to get more money for women in all DTC and cluster “This is helping us in several in the bus stop for close to 40-50 ‘stunt’. set an example for others distributed mementos to the Jwith the initiatives taken benefi ciaries at the function. to support fl ood victims in Fr Walter Thelappilly, CMI, Kerala, V S Sunil Kumar, Min- Devamatha Provincial, also ister for Agriculture, has said. spoke on the occasion. He was inaugurating a get- Speaking on the occasion, Winter chill to intensify together of benefi ciaries of a Joy Alukkas, CMD of Joy- housing project, Joy Homes, alukkas Group, said the next launched by the foundation get-together of benefi ciaries in northern plains for the fl ood-aff ected peo- will be organised in Alap- ple at DBCLC Auditorium in puzha. He said the local peo- Thrissur, Kerala. ple played a great role in the IANS tinue to give light rain and snow Sunil Kumar said the main construction of houses and New Delhi with one or two moderate spells challenge faced by the state 130 benefi ciaries of the Joy over Western Himalayas. was the loss of houses for Homes project are already The pollution level in the na- many. In such a situation, living in the houses allotted he winter chills intensify tional capital will however, re- Joyalukkas Foundation came to them. with the minimum tem- main in the unhealthy category forward to support the state The construction of houses Tperature likely to fall by and isolated pockets might even government. in southern districts will be two to three degrees over the witness pollution in very poor Joyalukkas Foundation is completed soon. northern plains. level, according to Skymet building a total of 250 houses Also present at the inau- According to Skymet weather, Weather forecast. for the fl ood victims. The guration of the get-together isolated rains might occur over In east and northeast India, a function was attended by were Fr Robby Kannamchira the northern districts of Pun- north-south trough is extending 60 benefi ciary families from (director, Chavara Cultural jab, Haryana and West Uttar from Bihar to North Karnataka. Thrissur, Ernakulam, Malap- Centre), Jolly Joy Aluk- Pradesh. Scattered rain and thunder- puram and Palakkad districts kas (director, Joyalukkas Moderate to dense fog was showers may continue over parts Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh covered by a recent snowfall. K Rajan, chief whip, deliv- Group), B D Devassy (MLA), also likely over Delhi, parts of of Bihar and Jharkhand. ered the keynote speech at T S Pattabhiraman (MD, Punjab, Haryana, North Rajas- In the current winter season, 143% and Uttarakhand by 239%. dakh, Himachal Pradesh as well Rain and snow have dropped the function presided over by Kalyan Silks), Fr George than and West Uttar Pradesh. rain and snow began in the hills The fi rst half of December is as Uttarakhand. the maximums below 5C, Ajitha Vijayan, mayor, Thris- Kannamplaikkal (director, The Western Disturbance has of north India in the month almost over but snowfall is not Dharamsala recorded 66mm wherein Manali saw maximum sur Corporation. S Shanavas, Divyahridhayashramam) moved away and northerly winds of November itself, and that abating. In the last 24 hours, of rains, Qazi Gund 62mm, Man- at 4.2C which is 11 degrees be- district collector, released the and Sony C L (president, are blowing over the north- too in excess. By the end of the heavy rain and snow which has ali 49mm, Srinagar 25mm, Una low normal, with Shimla re- brochure of Joy Alukkas Foun- Thrissur Management ern plains. But the remnants of month, Kashmir was a surplus been widespread in nature has 23mm, Dehradun 20mm, Shimla cording 5.9C which is 9 degrees dation, while Yathish Chan- Association). Western Disturbance will con- by 379%, Himachal Pradesh by lashed Jammu and Kashmir, La- 13mm and Mandi 12mm. below normal. Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 25 PAKISTAN

New envoys posted to Detailed verdict on army 18 nations

Internews Islamabad chief’s term likely today

Internews it is not announced today. insisted that an amendment in defects and shortcomings. and it needs to be corrected.” laws about extension in service he government has ap- Islamabad The detailed judgment is like- Article 243 of the Constitution “It almost eliminates Article The minister said that the of the army chief. pointed new envoys in 18 ly to conclude the controversy is needed. 243. The Supreme Court cannot federal cabinet is awaiting the Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Tcountries, including Rus- regarding the determination The act of parliament could tell the parliament that ‘you can release of the detailed verdict of Saeed Khosa, Justice Mian Maz- sia, Germany and Iran. he eagerly-awaited de- of the term of the army chief’s be adopted through a simple legislate on this but cannot leg- the apex court, after which the har Alam Khan Miankhel, and According to a notifi cation, tailed verdict of the service, either through consti- majority of the members in the islate on that’ or ‘you can or can- government would decide how Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Shafqat Ali Khan will be the new Tthree-member bench of tutional amendment or by an house, while a constitutional not extend the duration’.” to proceed forward. constituted the Supreme Court ambassador in Moscow. the Supreme Court (SC) on the act of parliament, amidst debate amendment would require a He added: “In the 1956 and Last week Foreign Minister bench that heard the petition. He will replace Qazi Khalil- petition regarding the exten- among constitutional experts, two-thirds support of the house 1962 constitutions, the duration Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Attorney-General Anwar ullah, who has retired. sion of the Chief of Army Staff political commentators and leg- members. of the army chief’s tenure was the same, that government is Mansoor Khan has said that a Khan is currently Pakistan’s (COAS) service period will be islators about the subject. Over the weekend, Federal ascertained. awaiting the Supreme Court’s simple act of parliament for fi x- envoy to Poland. announced today. The leaders of the country’s Minister for Science and Tech- “But after many debates and detailed judgment before mov- ation of the tenure of the Army Foreign Offi ce (FO) director- The apex court issued brief major political parties, includ- nology Fawad Chaudhry said arguments, it was taken out of ing forward. Chief is suffi cient. general (Europe) Malik Moham- orders last month wherein it ing the Pakistan Muslim League that the Supreme Court does not the 1973 Constitution, and there He had expressed the hope The brief judgment was pro- ed Farooq has been posted to asked for legislation within six – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Paki- have the authority to dictate to was a reason for that because the that the opposition parties nounced by Chief Justice Khosa, Warsaw (Poland) as ambassador. months for determination of stan Peoples Party (PPP) are also the parliament on what matters Parliament wanted the prime would extend helping hand with who is attaining superannuation Director-general (South Asia the length of the service of the sitting with their fi ngers crossed to legislate on and how. minister to be empowered.” regard to the legislation on ex- on December 20 and is expected and South Asian Association for army chief, and allowed General for the detailed judgment from The federal minister, while Chaudhry said: “If you assign tension in the tenure of the army to hand the detailed judgment Regional Co-operation) Dr Mo- Qamar Javed Bajwa to remain in the apex court. speaking to the Voice of America a specifi c amount of term to the chief. four days before his retirement. hamed Faisal, who also served the offi ce for that duration. Some federal ministers are of (VOA) Urdu, had questioned the army chief, then how would you The government is not ex- He had been part of the as FO spokesperson, has been Well-placed sources have said the view that the requisite leg- judiciary’s authority to direct remove him before the expira- pecting confrontation with any benches which had heard and designated as the ambassador to that the court’s detailed judg- islation could be undertaken the parliament on legislative tion of his term, if need be. institution, Qureshi said, adding disposed many important cas- Germany in place of Jauhar Sal- ment will not be delayed any through act of parliament while matters, saying: “The Supreme “Therefore, the Supreme that the government is consult- es of the recent history of the eem, who will move to Italy as further beyond tomorrow in case some political stalwarts have Court’s orders have a lot of legal Court’s verdict has a lot of fl aws ing with law experts to enact country. Pakistan’s envoy to Rome. Rahim Hayat Qureshi, who was ambassador to Seoul (South Korea), has been appointed as Sharing warmth the envoy to Tehran (Iran). Mumtaz Zahra Baloch would Six women among replace him in South Korea. Additional Secretary (Mid- dle East) Nadeem Khan has been 141 superior court designated as ambassador to Greece, Mariam Madiha Aftab as ambassador to Bulgaria, Ad- judges: offi cial data ditional Secretary (Africa) Dr Ali Ahmed Arain as ambassador to Senegal, Syed Ali Asad Gilani as Internews basi, and several others have ambassador to Uzbekistan, Irfan Islamabad been or are being dealt with by Ahmed as ambassador to Turk- the IHC. menistan, Dr Khalid Ejaz as am- The Lahore High Court bassador to Argentina, Dr Zafar ith the swearing- (LHC), which has a total of 45 Iqbal as ambassador to Romania, in of Lubna Saleem justices, has only two female and director-general (Counter- WPervaiz as a judge judges: Ayesha A Malik and Terrorism) Ahmad Farooq as of the Islamabad High Court Miss Aalia Neelum. ambassador to Denmark. (IHC), the number of female Similarly, the Sindh High Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dr justices in all the seven supe- Court (SHC), which has a Saeed Khan Mohmand has been rior courts has gone up to six. strength of 38 justices, has two given a six-month extension in The offi cial data shows that woman judges: Justice Kausar service. there are 141 judges serving in Sultana Hussain and Justice Retired vice-admiral Ather the superior judiciary. Rashida Asad. Mukhtar has been posted as en- The women’s share is highly The Peshawar High Court voy to the Maldives, and retired negligible while the female (PHC) comprising 18 justices Major-General Umar Farooq population of Pakistan is as al- has just one female judge – Burki as ambassador to Jordan. most equal to that of the males. Justice Musarrat Hilali. Zahid Hussain has been ap- The percentage of females There are no female judges pointed as consul-general in in this category of judges may in the Supreme Court, which Frankfurt (Germany), Samina be an indication of the ratio of has 17 judges, the Baluchistan Mahtab as consul-general in women practising as lawyers. High Court (BHC, with 10 Chengdu (China), and Tariq The legal profession, like judges), or the Federal Shariah Wazir as consul-general in Man- many other fi elds, is dominat- Court (four judges). chester (United Kingdom). ed by men. The Shariah appellate bench Sardar Azhar Tariq Khan has While there are women who of the Supreme Court has two been posted as envoy to Kyr- People gather around a fire during a cold day in Lahore. graduate from law studies, ad hoc judges – Justice Dr Mo- gyzstan. many do not take up the pro- hamed Al-Ghazali and Justice fession. Dr Khalid Masud. Justice Pervaiz increases the The subordinate judiciary in IHC’s number of judges to sev- all the provinces also has a very en, with two others – Fiaz An- small number of female judges. jum Jadran and Ghulam Azam This tier is open equally to Qambrani – also have simul- male and female lawyers to taneously been administered compete in the examination to Banned single-use be appointed as civil judges or oath as judges. After the retirement of additional sessions judges. Anwar Kasi as the IHC chief However, the induction of justice, only four justices re- lawyers and senior district mained to cope with a huge and sessions judges in the high plastic bags back in courts is through selection workload. Most high-profi le cases of by the chief justices fi rst, and paramount political nature in- then by the judicial commis- volving top politicians, includ- sion and fi nally the parliamen- ing deposed prime minister tary committee. Islamabad markets Such appointees are not re- Nawaz Sharif, former presi- dent Asif Ali Zardari, former quired to go through any writ- Internews streets in residential sectors”. shopkeepers, but that cannot be premier Shahid Khakan Ab- ten examination or interview. Islamabad He added that the Pakistan accomplished without continu- Environment Protection Agency ous awareness initiatives,” the This picture taken earlier this year shows a shopkeeper arranging (Pak-EPA) has not been able to offi cial said, suggesting daily text plastic bags for sale at a market. Another video depicting lawyers’ xactly four months after rein in their use by cart vendors messages on the damage plastic they were banned, single in the streets. bags do to the environment. Pak-EPA director-general Far- “I do not have a single inspec- hooliganism surfaces on social media Euse plastic bags are back in “They continue to package Residents have complained zana Altaf Shah said that these tor to check violations. The Pak- Islamabad. items in plastic bags. It is partic- that they cannot help it if shop- bags have also been banned un- EPA needs at least a dozen in- Days after the shocking lawyers’ attack on the Punjab Institute of Corner shops and grocery ularly diffi cult to bring push cart keepers have returned to using der the law prohibiting single use spectors for the entire city. Most Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore, a new video has surfaced on Twitter, in stores that were previously vendors under the ambit of the plastic bags. bags. of the fi eld work and raids are which a lawyer can be seen slapping a motorcyclist. wrapping items in paper or pack- new law prohibiting the use of “I often carry my items in my Environmentalists said that being conducted by senior offi c- In the video a lawyer can be seen stopping a motorcyclist passing ing them in paper bags have now plastic bags, as they do not have hands. But sometimes you can- oxo-biodegradable bags can af- ers, who miss out on offi ce work between the protesting lawyers and snatching his motorcycle keys. back to using plastic carrier bags, associations that the government not carry all the groceries in fect soil fertility and water when when they are in the fi eld,” she After an exchange of words, the lawyer slapped the man, and fruit and vegetable vendors can negotiate with,” he said. just your hands. They have also they disintegrate, which they do said. prompting others present to intervene. are using plastic bags at weekly Another senior ministry offi - stopped selling items in paper upon interacting with elements Shah said that shopkeepers are After Wednesday’s attack on the PIC, videos have been coming out markets. cial said that consumers are not bags, which was a good option,” such as sunlight, water and oxy- taking the government for grant- on social media showing the violent acts committed by the lawyers. A senior offi cial from the min- co-operating with the ban either. F-8 resident Imran Rafi q said. gen. ed by thinking the eff orts being A group of more than 200 lawyers, following an earlier quarrel with istry of climate change said that “This is a huge task that the To make matters worse, there They argue that the tiny parti- made would fade away. the PIC doctors, stormed the hospital, vandalised property and people are continuing to dispose few teams of inspectors from seems to be no end in sight to the cles of plastic can also be inhaled “There will be zero tolerance damaged dozens of vehicles parked in the hospital premises. of garbage using plastic bags, the Pak-EPA cannot enforce on use of oxo-biodegradable plas- and are equally threatening to towards violators of the law. The They had also set ablaze a police van during their assault. “which is evident from the heaps their own. They need the help tic bags, which according to the marine life that can also consume Pak-EPA will continue its raids Three people had lost their lives amidst the mayhem as doctors of garbage dump sites in the out- of Islamabad’s residents, who ministry of climate change are far them. and will fi ne store owners using abandoned their patients to escape the mob. skirts on Islamabad, on the road- must play their part by refus- more hazardous to the environ- Shah said she too short-staff ed plastic bags and even seal shops The police have registered a first information report against 250 sides and around bins outside ing to accept plastic bags from ment and to human health. to implement the ban. according to the law,” she said. unidentified lawyers on the complaint of an off icial of the PIC.

Fifth anniversary Prime minister’s special assistant on media aff airs sacked Prime minister’s nephew will be arrested, Punjab minister pledges of school tragedy Special assistant to prime minister on media aff airs Durrani, however, said he has not received any The prime minister’s nephew, involved in an attack by “I invite everyone to read Hassan Niazi’s Twitter ac- Iftikhar Durrani has been removed from his post, and information about his removal. lawyers on a hospital in Lahore last week, will be ar- count description, where he has written that he has Pakistanis will observe the fifth his name removed from the cabinet list. According to sources, Punjab chief minister’s former rested at any cost, Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz nothing to do with the PTI,” he said. “However, he has anniversary of Army Public Earlier, Durrani had been sent to Khyber spokesperson Shehbaz Gill is a strong candidate for Chohan has assured. been recognised from CCTV footage and on TV. He will School tragedy in Peshawar Pakhtunkhwa to monitor the provincial assembly the post of special assistant to prime minister on Speaking to media, the provincial minister said over be arrested.” across the country today. election in the newly merged tribal districts. media aff airs. the weekend that raids were being conducted in Naya The information minister said that 54 people had been On December 16, 2014, more than Pakistan at the house of the prime minister’s nephew. arrested for the Lahore lawyers’ attack. 150 people, including 134 children Sindh province bars off icials from TV show appearances “He [Hassan Niazi] will be arrested at any cost,” said Chohan said that 47 had been sent to jail on judicial and staff members, lost their lives Chohan. remand while seven had been sent to jail on physical in an act of terrorism in Army The Sindh government has barred its own off icials subject Media talk/participation in TV programmes The minister said that Niazi had stated on his Twitter remand. Public School Peshawar. and that of the provincial police force from by the Government Off icers without permission/ account that he had nothing to do with [ruling party] “The hospital’s emergency ward and aff ected areas A number of activities and participating in TV talk shows and other programmes authorisation was issued by the additional secretary Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of Prime Minister Imran have been restored to their original condition in 48 functions will be held across the without prior off icial authorisation. (Services-1) at the Services, General Administration, Khan. hours,” he said. country. In this regard, a circular dated December 10 with the and Co-ordination Department of Sindh government. Gulf Times 26 Monday, December 16, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Amir’s speech a clarion call to world leaders His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s brilliant and forceful speech at the inaugural session of the Doha Forum 2019 on Saturday serves as a timely reminder to global leaders gathered in Qatar for the event, and those further afi eld, to adopt co-ordinated measures with a shared vision to tackle the various problems facing an increasingly multipolar world. Addressing a large number of world leaders, nearly 3,000 participants and over 250 speakers from around the globe, who have gathered in the Qatari capital, the Amir’s speech, which QU achievements keeping pace with identifi ed the problems and crises facing the world, was an exhortation to chart a course to achieve world peace and the combined interests of mankind. The Amir asserted that Qatar has done its bit by contributing advancement, development process to the peaceful resolution of disputes around the world, as it undertakes an eff ort to spread education around the world, and such as the colleges of engineering, positions in these rankings, as it ranked QU signed during the academic it was now up to the major powers. QNA Doha management, economics, education, 276 according to the rankings of QS year 2018-2019 several memoranda of The Amir told the forum participants that although Qatar has and pharmacy, in addition to several Quacquarelli Symonds for the world understanding (MoUs), agreements and played an important part in resolving international and regional programmes in the College of Arts and universities for 2020. It became one of academic partnerships with industrial, confl icts, its role was not limited to mediation in resolving ince its establishment Sciences. the most improved universities in the governmental, academic, fi nancial and more than 40 years ago, In 2019, the Bachelor of Science in rankings, jumping 56 places from the civil society institutions in the State of crises, but rather providing an important platform by hosting Qatar University (QU) has Statistics programme at the College of last year 2019 when it was 332. Qatar, amounting to about 50 internal various “dialogue conferences”. Sbeen working to provide Arts and Sciences received accreditation On the research level, QU and external MoUs and agreements. In this respect, Doha Forum 2019, like its previous editions, distinguished education. During from the British Royal Statistical continuously invests and participates The most prominent agreements assumes huge signifi cance, especially given the current global this journey, it has provided various Society (RSS) and the Bachelor in studies that further science and concluded by QU during the current situation. The forum provides an ideal platform for constructive sectors of the country with Qatari of Science in Chemistry obtained society. As both a leader in emerging gas academic year included the launch of cadres, in addition to its contribution accreditation from the Canadian technologies and an environmentally- a detailed environmental study project dialogue and the exchange of ideas and opinions in light of the to promoting research, innovation, and Society of Chemistry (CSC), and the conscious institution, QU’s for the Doha Corniche, a co-operation critical regional and international developments. progress toward a knowledge-based Bachelor of Science in Environmental autonomous research units strive to agreement with Qatar Islamic Bank, a Dwelling on the theme economy in line with Qatar National Sciences programme received make an impact on a global scale. The co-operation agreement with SMEET “Reimagining Governance Vision 2030. accreditation from the Institution of University plans to utilise its fi ndings company (one of Qatari Diar companies) Amir underlined in a Multipolar World”, The university is committed to Environmental Sciences (IES), and to amass an intellectual reservoir that to fi nance the artifi cial coral reef project that the university intends to install in the Amir underlined that fulfi lling its mission with the highest the Master of Science programme will establish a strong knowledge-based that the current international standards, to ensure the in Environmental Sciences obtained economy in Qatar. multiple places in the Qatari territorial the current crises require quality of education provided. It relies accreditation from the Committee QU has a portfolio of established waters, and an agreement with Thales crises require intensifying sincere eff orts on several strategies, including focusing of Heads of Environmental Sciences research centres including Center Communications to enhance co- in developing new scenarios on what is known as the international (CHES). for Advanced Materials (CAM); operation between the two parties and intensifying for the next stage, especially ranking of universities and international The Bachelor of Arts in Media Environmental Science Centre; Gas establish a research chair in the fi eld of as the consequences of academic credits for colleges and programme received accreditation from Processing Centre; Laboratory Animal electronic security at the KINDI Center sincere eff orts programmes. the Accrediting Council on Education in Research Centre; Biomedical Research for Computing Research and provide abandoning international Both strategies obligate QU and other Journalism and Mass Communications Centre; Qatar Transportation and advanced training platform Cyber legitimacy and law have cropped up in more than one place. academic institutions around the world (ACEJMC) of the US, and the College Traffi c Safety Centre; Social and Range software. The Amir said: “The problems and challenges have remained to adopt precise standards related to of Business and Economics obtained Economic Survey Research Institute; Also, QU signed an MoU with in place as they are and the environment and climate problems the academic programmes themselves accreditation from Association to KINDI Centre for Computing Research; Sidra Medical Centre to work on are exacerbating, and the issue of chronic poverty in vast areas in terms of keeping up with new Advance Collegiate Schools of Business National Centre for Educational preparing the next generation of developments and their relevance to the (AACSB) in the US. Development; Early Childhood Centre; healthcare professionals, an MoU across the world has not been solved; likewise the issue of labour market, in addition to teaching The college has also moved through Humanities and Social Sciences Centre; with the Administrative Control and occupation and annexation of others land by force.” methods and curricula used. This is the required stages that lead to Centre for Sustainable Development; Transparency Authority, an MoU to co- The Amir reminded the audience that there is a close co- necessary so that academic institutions accreditation for its programmes, Centre for Entrepreneurship; Gulf operate in establishing the fi rst Huawei relation between poverty, wars and the aggravation of asylum reach their goals. according to the standards of the Studies Centre; Qatar Mobility Academy in Qatar, and an MoU with the and immigration issues. Armed militias have taken advantage The academic expansion at the Accreditation Board for Engineering Innovation Centre; and Centre for Law Ministry of Foreign Aff airs to enhance university highlights its ability to and Technology (ABET). ABET is a and Development. co-operation in the fi eld of activities from axes confl icts and the process of holding war criminals respond swiftly to national needs and highly recognised and internationally In light of this research related to the dialogue of civilisations. accountable has become complex. He underlined that these its ability to keep pace with academic respected accreditor of college and infrastructure, QU launched an The agreements and MoUs concluded problems cannot be solved without co-ordinated international developments on the global scene. The university programmes in applied ambitious research roadmap that by QU also included universities and eff orts and a shared vision. So is the issue of violent extremism number of its colleges currently reached science, computing, engineering, and includes national development research centres in various countries which is not restricted to a religion or a race, and which is 10 which are: the College of Arts and technology. priorities and several important around the world, to enhance co- Sciences, the College of Business and Chemical Engineering, Civil research successes of global operation in the fi elds of education and indiscriminate in targeting the innocent, and making no Economics, the College of Education, Engineering, Computer Engineering, importance. Last year, QU published scientifi c research, exchange of research distinction based on gender, racial or religious grounds. the College of Engineering, the College Electrical Engineering, Industrial & more than 1500 research in scientifi c experiences, and establishment of joint The Amir not only provided an accurate diagnosis of of Health Sciences, the College of Law, Systems Engineering, and Mechanical journals, covering various areas related activities. international crises in a world that has become more polarised the College of Medicine, the College Engineering programmes in the College to the needs of the state and its national QU’s achievements in 2019 included and tense, but also gave a one-word prescription to resolve all of Pharmacy, the College of Sharia of Engineering are accredited by ABET. priorities. developing university facilities and an and Islamic Studies and the College The College of Engineering is Furthermore, QU encourages its increase in its programs and numbers of intractable issues - DIALOGUE. of Dental Medicine. Those colleges considered to be one of the fi rst colleges students and faculty to actively engage students, which have now reached more The Amir underlined Qatar’s keenness on keeping the lines of off er dozens of programmes in the to obtain academic accreditation at in research activities, where preparing than 20,000 students, who are educated dialogue and communication platforms eff ective and open in undergraduate stage, in addition to 54 Qatar University, starting in October and developing quality research is one in more than 400 buildings, in addition order to exchange views and arrive at solutions to problems. postgraduate programmes between MA 2004. of the strategic goals of the university. to increasing the number of car parks to That the signifi cance of the Amir’s voice of reason was and PhD and postgraduate degrees in all Also, the College of Education The number of faculty members who reach a total of 8,604 parking spaces. fi elds and disciplines. obtained accreditation for a new set of have been involved in research during QU seeks to reinforce its goal of not lost on anyone was evident from the fact that his views Besides, QU worked tirelessly its educational programs to be added the past two years has reached 866 becoming a pioneer in economic and resonated with those gathered at the forum. to obtain academic credits for the to a previous group that obtained members, while the number of research social development in Qatar, through The Amir won a loud applause for putting his fi nger on it. university’s programmes from accreditation last year, from established contributors has reached 625, or 72%. co-operation and partnerships with Perhaps none other than the nonagenarian Malaysian Prime prestigious international institutions, international accreditation institutions. Research activities included authoring governmental, industrial, academic, Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed, whom the Amir honoured at as the university sought to obtain Concerning international a book, conference papers, or a business and civil society sectors in accreditation for several colleges classifi cations, QU achieved prominent contribution to a scientifi c journal. Qatar and abroad. the forum, summed up the assessment of those gathered at the event, when he said Qatar is on the right track in identifying the current developments in the world, and the forum presents a great opportunity for experts from around the world to come up with best solutions to the current challenges.

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© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Monday, December 16, 2019 27 QATAR Awqaf Minister: Qatar has Amal al-Mannai: An occasion to overcome all challenges renew loyalty QNA The minister added that that the Na- need to contribute to better future”, add- Doha tional Day is an occasion to honour the ing that whole world is following the founders of the country, and every speck achievements of the people of Qatar, and to leadership of soil in Qatar bears witnesses to a chap- its youth have to be aware of this issue, E the Minister of Endowments ter that fulfi ls the vision of the founder so they strive, distinguish and rise in the (Awqaf) and Islamic Aff airs Dr and the vision of the wise leadership. pursuit of science. QNA HGhaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari The minister emphasised that the The minister affi rmed that the minis- Doha has stressed that Qatar has overcome all founder’s generation did not establish the try is working in full harmony with the challenges, and has continued its path country easily. They sacrifi ced for Qatar, government system, and its eff orts are with a clear vision, unprecedented plans and they were armed with faith and de- focused on achieving spiritual stability in he CEO of Qatar Foun- and programmes, and advanced strate- termination, and Qatar became among the country and consolidating the mod- dation for Social Work gies supported by solid wills and ambi- the safest and most stable countries in erate middle course, and in the recent T(QFSW), Amal Abdullatif tious projects to fortify our state against the world, and a model of excellence, period, it has focused on qualifying its al-Mannai, has stressed that the all risks and crises and to complete its development, prosperity and economic staff , improving its services, and upgrad- celebration of the National Day is progress and rise under the leadership of well-being, with apparent adherence to ing its departments to perform its duties an occasion to renew loyalty and His Highness the Amir, and his rational religious and national principles. according to what the law has authorised love to the wise leadership led by government, and Qatar has been able to He noted that the land of Qatar has them. His Highness the Amir Sheikh realise in the last two years, achievements achieved an eloquent message that tells He pointed to the development strate- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and that have impressed the world and over- the story of close cohesion between the gy of 2018-2022, the ministry has opened it is an invitation to rally around come the blockade. leadership and the people, and a message lines of co-operation with many parties the leadership to participate in The minister said in a statement to Qa- to citizens and residents on the land of in the country in the educational, social, building a successful modern tar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion Qatar, that Qatar has succeeded because health and cultural fi elds according to an state. of the country’s National Day that this it combined tradition and modernity, so original perspective of comprehensive In a statement to Qatar News celebration is an occasion to renew the HE Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari it held its values, history and heritage, cultural security, and through the en- Agency (QNA) on the occasion of covenant with the values on which the and at the same time it was open to the dowment resources, it has contributed the National Day of the country, ancestors of Qatar were founded, point- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Tha- values of modernity. to many development projects inside the al-Mannai said that this day em- ing out that they have endured the diffi - ni, Qatar is achieving victory after vic- The Minister of Endowments said: country, and through the resources of the bodies the state of love and giv- Amal bint Abdullatif al-Mannai culties to achieve the unity of the home- tory, and Qatar’s children are enjoying “The youth should be aware that past Zakat Fund, it has contributed to com- ing that the people carry towards land, and the people were united under distinguished higher education, they are generations have made achievements bating some aspects of fragility in socie- the homeland and towards the – through its representatives in one banner. present in all disciplines, achieving the and did not have the possibilities that ty. The ministry, through the Department wise leadership, especially as it the eight sectoral task forces – “Today we see the fruit of their sin- development of the country, proud of the present generation are enjoying. of Islamic Aff airs, supervised the imple- carries a cherished memory for contributed to the preparation cerity and their struggle and thanks to their national identity, their history, lan- Now, thank God, and thanks to the wise mentation of many projects abroad with- every Qatari because it always of the eight sectoral strategies the wise leadership of His Highness the guage and religious values”. leadership, Qatari youth have what they in the framework of Islamic relations. reminds them of the founder that form the second national Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin development strategy 2018- Thani who laid the foundations 2022, and also contributed to for building Qatar. the monitoring and follow-up Al-Mannai said: “This na- reports during the first year of tional occasion is precious to our the strategy, and the Founda- Es’hailSat CEO: An occasion to highlight Qatar’s achievements hearts and calls on us to work tion and its centres will con- towards everything that leads to tinue to participate in the im- the advancement of our country plementation, follow-up and QNA the unjust blockade, Qatar suc- advanced communications in- pendent satellite system to meet all and to achieve Qatar’s compre- evaluation of the strategy plan. Doha ceeded in enhancing its global frastructure needed to host the the requirements of the customers. hensive national vision 2030, She explained that the Foun- presence in various internation- FIFA World Cup 2022. This also Al-Kuwari indicated that the in which the family occupies a dation supervised the develop- al forums and highlighting the contributes to achieving self- land station which was opened great place where Qatar was con- ment of plans for programmes hief Executive Offi cer of name of Qatar in various fi elds. suffi ciency through developing last year was established on a cerned with the family.” and projects in the centres under Qatar Satellite Company Chief Executive Offi cer and possessing technologies land area of 50 thousand square She pointed out that the its umbrella, which are develop- C(Es’hailSat) Ahmed bin of Es’hailSat said that Qatar related to developing satellites, metres north of Doha to control country has worked to build the ment projects covering various Ali al-Kuwari said that Qatar has achieved through Es’hailSat its qualifying Qatari cadres to carry industrial satellites. The sta- Qatari family, which is domi- areas of work of the centres and it succeeded in consolidating the strategic objectives in terms of out the roles of development, tion will provide satellite con- nated by harmony, love and seeks to achieve its strategic ob- values of loyalty to the home- achieving independence in the manufacture and operation in trol services, communication compassion, and adopted poli- jectives, serves the target groups land instilled by the founder fi eld of television broadcast- addition to providing the means, support services and control cies, initiatives and legislation of the centres and segments of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin ing and communications along materials and infrastructure to of lunar capacities, in addition aimed at protecting the family society, and addresses critical Thani and the rulers after him, with quality of service and wide achieve these goals. to a wide range of broadcast, and its members. issues in the areas of disability, as this is clearly evident on the geographical coverage. This was He added that Qatar owns multicast, encryption and other Al-Mannai added that the family guidance, combating vio- National Day which represents clearly evident in the strategic many distinctive satellite chan- services designed specifi cally country also encouraged ini- lence, empowerment and care of an opportunity to highlight the role of the fi rst Qatari satel- Ahmed bin Ali al-Kuwari nels, most importantly the beIn for partners and customers. The tiatives aimed at developing the the elderly and orphans. contributions and achievements lite (Es’hail-1) in covering local channels and Al Jazeera Network station will also provide backup family and enabling it to adapt Al-Mannai pointed out that made by the State founders who demand in terms of television satellite operator and a centre which are among the largest and studios for TV channels in addi- to the changes in their surround- all centres under the umbrella endured diffi culties and exerted broadcasting and communica- of excellence in the region, and most prominent and famous tion to being a broadcast centre ings and to give the family mem- of the Foundation participate a lot of eff ort in order to achieve tions, including communica- provide TV broadcast in the channels in the Middle East, in emergency situations. The bers the ability to respond to in the activities of Darb Al Saai the unity of their nation and en- tions for local security agencies Mena region and military com- noting that Es’hailSat supports station will be connected to the these changes without prejudice through a unified pavilion and hance the pride in Qatar. during the blockade by provid- munication services and others, them in terms of providing a safe most important media in Qatar, to their construction or loss of collective action, and the event In statements to Qatar News ing additional capacities for lo- broadband services and own- system and an independency of through the optical fi bre link as- their functions. includes many activities that Agency (QNA) on the occasion cal TV broadcasting and secure ing the full broadcast rights of broadcasting and ensuring non- signed to the station. She said that these forward- target all age groups, in imple- of Qatar National Day, al-Ku- the Qatari content. the two satellites Es’hail-1 and jamming. He said that the station comes looking eff orts have continued mentation of the country’s di- wari said that the achievements He noted that Qatar Satellite Es’hail 2 and other services in He noted that the satellite sta- within the company’s vision to di- year after year until the Qatari rections in social work and to accomplished by Qatar and its Company (Es’hailSat) was es- this area. tion of Es’hailSat works to promote versify the fi elds of work through family reached advanced lev- achieve the vision and strategy path of development and renais- tablished with an insightful vi- The CEO of Es’hailSat un- Qatar National Vision 2030 and the fi eld of raising signals, as it is els in the health, educational, of the Foundation. sance are a source of pride and a sion based on the strategy and derlined that owning a satellite is considered among the achieve- an additional fi eld made available economic and social aspects, Al-Mannai concluded by say- motivation for every citizen and vision of the State of Qatar to fl eet that increases the capacity ments of the State that enhances for customer service. and this promising future vi- ing that the National Day en- resident to preserve this renais- diversify its economic resources of television broadcasting for its economic position and provides All this will be an addition to sion, which is clearly evident, is shrines the love and loyalty of sance and support its progress in and create Qatari industries that customers, provides additional it with independence in communi- the local market and will con- a confi rmation of the determi- all Qataris and it is an important all fi elds. are built on commercial founda- channels signifi cantly using cations, internet and voice services tribute to the economy and the nation of our wise leadership to occasion to affi rm their solidar- He added that the achieve- tions, as well as to meet some of high-defi nition broadcast tech- (especially crisis management) as local product, achieving a part continue the process of building ity and harmony with their lead- ments and the development in the strategic needs of the State nology (HD) and three-dimen- well as TV broadcast, the quality of of the national strategic goals and progress to achieve pride and ership and glorify the founder the public and private sectors in the fi eld of communications, sional transmission technol- service and the wide geographical by diversifying the sources of prosperity for all the people of who devoted his eff orts to es- made by the support of the wise provide high-quality communi- ogy (3D), and covers the growing coverage. The station was equipped income and ensuring the inde- Qatar”. tablishing a modern state with leadership is a source of pride cations services, raise the level needs in the region, supports with the latest advanced technolo- pendence of television broad- Al-Mannai added that Qatar the possibilities available at that for all who live on the land of of independence in the Arab Qatar National Vision 2030 and gies to be a milestone in the compa- casting, Ahmed bin Ali al-Ku- Foundation for Social Work and time, and now Qatar is enjoying this country, noting that despite world, establish a world-class its commitment to meet the ny’s plan to provide a safe and inde- wari said. the centres under its umbrella prosperity, security and stability. Qatar’s tourism sector records remarkable growth in 2019

QNA ter of Interior Sheikh Abdullah co-operate with 68 partners, in Guest Experience in the Middle Doha bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, addition to facilitating the process East Report released by hospi- marking a new phase in the de- for relatives of current residents as tality and travel data providers velopment of the tourism sector well as past residents to visit. Olery. atar’s tourism sector has in Qatar. Hotel off ers also boosted occu- The fi rm analysed more than seen several remarkable HE Akbar al-Baker was Secre- pancy rates. 12mn guest comments from April Qachievements over the tary-General of the Council since The occupancy reached 40%, 1 of 2018 to March 31 of 2019. past few years. its establishment. 10% in June on annual basis, and The private sector contributed These milestones helped grow The role of Qatar National 4 % in July year over year. to tourism investments, as tour- the sector, whether in terms of Tourism Council (QNTC) is to The number rose to 60% dur- ism in Qatar is a high-growth the infrastructure or in terms of co-operate with the public and ing Eid, with bookings worth industry that succeeded in a new projects that will boost the private sectors in implementing QR44.5mn. short period of time in growing sector. the national tourism strategy of Another big event was the Qa- its share and role in the country’s The sector saw marked growth diversifying the products avail- tar International Food Festival economic diversifi cation sought in terms of the number of visitors able to tourists and enhance the (QIFF) that took place at Oxygen by the State. to the country and the develop- tourism promotion campaigns. Park. The sector also created tre- ment of the infrastructure itself. The issuance of Law No 20 of The 11-day event saw 157 pa- mendous investment opportu- The tourism sector is crucial 2018 on Tourism Regulation and vilions and 12 food trucks take nities in all aspects of tourism for the country due to the role it Law No 21 of 2018 on organis- Luxury cruise ship Marella Discovery docked at Doha Port. part. such as business events services, can play in achieving economic ing business events was one of That is in addition to 37 in- culture and heritage, desert sa- diversifi cation, one of the main the most important stages of nouncement of the World Tour- and to collaborate with Qatar QNTC said that the main ternational and local celebrity fari services, food, health and goals of Qatar National Vision the development of the tourism ism Organisation that Qatar has Tourism Authority’s partners reason for the increase in the chefs from 17 countries and over welfare, free activities and enter- 2030. sector. become the most open country in to attract more conferences and number of tourists was the recent 90 restaurants across Qatar are tainment, sports, recreation, tour The total number of visitors to These laws helped the sector the Middle East and the 8th most exhibitions. moves to facilitate the visa pro- serving a curated “QIFF Menu”. organisation, tourist accommo- Qatar in the fi rst seven months of to cope with the demands of the open in the world. It has also been supporting cedures for visiting Qatar, mak- The Shop Qatar festival was dation, transportation services. 2019 grew 10.7% year-over-year great developments in the tour- The co-operation between the companies to organise local exhi- ing the country one of the most another initiative that saw 14 The National Tourism Coun- to 1.19mn. ism sector in terms of structure QNTC and the World Tourism bitions and events and give them open and accessible in the Mid- malls and 54 hotels all over the cil carries out another role as a Numbers show that visitors and management as well as the Organisation has been devel- the opportunity to lead the sector dle-East and eighth worldwide. country off er big discounts. provider of services to potential from Asia represented 39% of the technical developments includ- oped to include support for sev- The council also launched several The visa-free entry policy al- Thanks to the wise leadership investors. total, with 469,100 visitors. ing diversifying export markets eral global initiatives, while the ad and promotional campaigns, lows entry to citizens of 80 coun- of Qatar, the tourism sector over- It familiarises those investors Europe followed with 31% and for visitors and diversifying tour- Council has worked to develop in co-operation with leading me- tries around the world. came the blockade imposed on with the country’s eff orts to grow a total of 375,500 visitors. ism products and experiences. and regulate the way the tour- dia platforms around the world. Qatar’s strategic location and Qatar since 2017, achieving high the sector, and potential projects GCC visitors grew 11% year- The tourism sector has recent- ism sector operates with a fo- It also provided support to lo- its national carrier’s expansive growth rates and attracting tour- they can take part in. over-year to 131,600 thousand. ly undergone rapid development cus on developing the skills and cal companies in the sector with network of 170 destinations ists from India, China, Russia, A big boost to these eff orts is His Highness the Amir Sheikh after the opening of QNTC rep- competencies of workers in the the goal of helping them develop around the world boosts Qatar’s US, and Germany. the fact that Qatar’s economy Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is- resentative offi ces in the major sector, in addition to developing their service. value as a tourist destination. The fi rst half of this year saw generally encourages invest- sued an Amiri decision on No- exporting markets of the United the form and content of tourism The growth of the Qatari tour- The council also sought to or- 1.05mn visitors. ment. vember 4 of 2018 establishing States, Britain, France, Italy, events and festivals. ism sector relies on the infra- ganise a number of promotional Qatar’s hospitality sector also This was refl ected in the Glo- the National Tourism Council Turkey, Russia, India, China and QNTC has worked to structure as well as the legisla- events, the biggest of which was continued its dominance, re- bal Competitiveness Report 2019 under the chairmanship of HE Southeast Asia. strengthen Qatar’s position as tions that regulate the hospitality the summer in Qatar. taining the top rank in the Mid- which ranked Qatar as 51st globally the Prime Minister and Minis- This coincides with the an- a global business destination sector. The 11-week event saw QNTC dle-East for a second year in the and second in the Middle East.