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QNB posts QR14.4bn net profi t in 2019; suggests Al-Attiyah slashes Sainz’s 60% cash dividend Dakar lead to 24 seconds published in since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11428 January 15, 2020 Jumada I 20, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir meets Bosnian envoy Deputy Amir off ers condolences to Sultan of

His the Deputy Amir Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani in Muscat to off er their condolences to Sultan bin Taimur of Sultanate of Oman on the death of Sultan bin Taimur yesterday.

QNA ily, senior offi cials and dignitaries, Fatik bin Fahar al-Said, ambassador Later in the day, Sultan Haitham Muscat praying to the Almighty Allah to have of Qatar to Oman Sheikh Jassim bin met with HE the Speaker of the Shura mercy on the soul of Sultan Qaboos Abdulrahman al-Thani and the Qatari Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid and to rest it in paradise, and to grant embassy staff . al-Mahmoud and the delegation ac- is Highness the Deputy Amir patience and solace to his family. The Deputy Amir was accompanied companying him at the Al Alam Palace. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- HE the Prime Minister and Minister by HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser and HE the Speaker off ered his condo- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing HThani off ered condolences to of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser a number of ministers. lences to the Sultan on the death of ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Bisera Turkovic at the Amiri Diwan Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur bin Khalifa al-Thani also off ered con- Upon departure, His Highness the Sultan Qaboos. yesterday. The Amir granted the ambassador Al Wajbah Decoration in recognition of Oman on the death of Sultan Qaboos dolences to Sultan Haitham and to the Deputy Amir and the accompanying Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of her role in contributing to enhancing bilateral relations, wishing her success in her bin Said bin Taimur at Al Alam Palace members of the royal family. delegation were seen off at the Private of the Middle East’s longest-serving future missions, and bilateral relations further progress and prosperity. For her part, in Muscat yesterday. Upon his arrival at the Private Sulta- Sultani Airport by ambassador Sheikh rulers who maintained the country’s the ambassador expressed thanks and appreciation to the Amir and Qatar’s off icials The Deputy Amir also off ered con- ni Airport in Muscat His Highness the Jassim bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and neutrality in a turbulent region, died for the co-operation she received that contributed to the success of her work in the dolences to members of the royal fam- Deputy Amir was welcomed by Sayyid members of the Qatari embassy. on January 10. Page 20 country. Pages 4, 6

Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 QATAR

Amir issues several laws

His Highness the Amir Sheikh some provisions of Law No 15 FM meets Bosnian ambassador Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued of 2014 on the regulation of NHRC launches the following laws yesterday: charitable activities. 1. Law No 1 of 2020 on the unified 5. Law No 5 of 2020 amending economic register. some provisions of Law No 15 of 2. Law No 2 of 2020 amending 2011 on competing the human guide on human some provisions of the Penal traff icking. Code issued by Law No 11 of 6. Law No 6 of 2020 amending 2004. some provisions of the Code of 3. Law No 3 of 2020 amending Criminal Procedures issued by rights for schools some provisions of Law No 9 Law No 23 of 2004. of 1987 on combating drugs The laws are eff ective starting and dangerous psychotropic from the day following the date QNA the importance of human substances and regulating their of their publication in the off icial rights. trade and use. gazette. He added that building 4. Law No 4 of 2020 amending new generations that are ca- he National Human pable of leading their coun- Instruments of ratification Rights Commit- try in the future requires Ttee (NHRC) and the suitable preparation, not- His Highness the Amir Sheikh co-operation in creating business Ministry of Education and ing that bringing up these Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani events between the National Higher Education launched promising generations en- yesterday issued the following Tourism Council of Qatar and yesterday a guide on human tails raising awareness about instruments of ratification the Chinese Council for the rights on the sidelines of the importance of human yesterday: Promotion of International Trade the 30th Doha International rights in every society. 1.An instrument of ratification of the People’s Republic of China Book Fair. Al-Marri said that peo- approving a draft agreement on signed in Beijing on 31/01/2019. The committee was rep- ple need to grow in an envi- promoting co-operation in the 3. An instrument of ratification resented in the launch by its ronment that respect their field of infrastructure between approving an agreement Assistant Secretary-General rights and freedoms in order the governments of Qatar between the governments of Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali. for them to realise their po- and China signed in Beijing on Qatar and Russian Federation HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman The Ministry of Educa- tential. 31/01/2019. on mutual exemption of entry al-Thani met the outgoing ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Bisera Turkovic, in Doha tion and Higher Education Assistant Undersecretary 2. An instrument of ratification visa requirements for citizens of yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs thanked the ambassador for her was represented by head of for Educational Aff airs at the approving a memorandum of Qatar and the Russian Federation eff orts in supporting and strengthening bilateral relations, and wished her success in her new duties. the ministry’s visions centre Ministry of Education and understanding on promoting signed in Moscow on 27/12/2019. Mona Sabah al-Kuwari. Higher Education Fawzia The content of the sec- Abdulaziz al-Khater said, in ondary school educational the foreword of the guides, guide included an introduc- has stressed that every per- tion to human rights educa- son has the right to live and tion, and general references learn, stressing that Qatar in this regard, while its axes has endeavoured with all dealt with human rights in scientifi c, social and mate- terms of origin and devel- rial potentials available to opment, freedom of opinion make education widespread and expression, the right to throughout the world by privacy, justice, and “wom- spreading its culture, noting en’s rights and its role in de- that the country has out- velopment” and the right to lined the programmes and building a family, at work, a drawn up the plans that have decent life, benefi ting from been implemented widely in the scientifi c revolution, and the world, and have ensured enjoying production, as well that education is available in as the right to human soli- every home within its com- darity, and “civil society is mitment to human rights. a fi eld for exercising human She also pointed out that rights.” the Ministry of Education and HE the Chairman of the Higher Education seeks an in- NHRC Dr Ali bin Smaikh tegrated and comprehensive al-Marri stressed the im- education for the benefi t of portance of the initiative, people, stressing the impor- adding that the committee tance of raising awareness of participated in the prepara- human rights and providing tion of the guide in line with the necessary protection for its powers mentioned in Law individuals and developing No 17 of 2010. their capabilities. He highlighted the be- In his speech Sultan al- lief of the committee on the Jamali said this step is the value the guide will provide fi rst of its kind in the Gulf re- in promoting and raising gion and makes Qatar one of awareness on human rights the leading countries in this principles. fi eld at the level of the Mid- The chairman of the dle East, pointing out that NHRC stressed on the com- launch of education guides mitment of the wise leader- confi rms the real will of the ship to supporting the hu- wise leadership and those in man rights of everyone in charge of the country’s edu- Qatar whether citizens, resi- cation process to develop the dents, or visitors. Qatari human being and to He noted that the consti- respect, promote and pro- tution has clearly mentioned tect human rights.

QC and QDA off icials at the handover ceremony. Qatar Charity hands over glucose meters to QDA

atar Charity (QC) thanking QC for the support. has handed over 45 “These devices will ac- Qglucose meters to the tually contribute to mak- Qatar Diabetes Association ing a diff erence in the lives (QDA), a member of Qatar of people with diabetes and Foundation for Education, those at risk of it,” al-Hamaq Science and Community added, noting that work- Development (QF), to sup- ers with diabetes are among port people with diabetes those most in need of glu- who are unable to purchase cose meters, as they cannot such medical devices. aff ord these medical devices The glucose meters pro- along with their accessories vided by QC came as part on a monthly basis. of its responsibility towards He also hoped for con- society, with the aim of ena- tinuous co-operation to bling people with diabetes to contribute to improving the maintain blood sugar level lives of the largest possible to live a normal and produc- number of people with dia- tive life in a healthy society, betes or at risk of it. it stressed. Farid Siddiqui, head of In a press statement on projects in the Local De- the sidelines of receiving velopment Department of medical devices, QDA ex- QC, said: “We are pleased to ecutive director Dr Abdullah contribute to supporting the al-Hamaq expressed happi- Qatar Diabetes Association ness at this generous con- to provide the best health tribution from Qatar Charity services to people.” to help needy people with He also emphasised the diabetes. importance of Qatar Char- “Qatar Charity is always ity’s participation in such extremely skillful at imple- noble humanitarian initia- menting charitable and hu- tives, which falls within its manitarian initiatives inter- responsibility towards soci- nationally,” said al-Hamaq, ety.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 QATAR

Al-Mahmoud meets Bosnian envoy Amir gets message from Turkmen leader Off icial

FM receives message from Dutch counterpart

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani received a written message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Stef Blok, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways of supporting and developing them. The message was handed to HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met the outgoing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a written message Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Bisera Turkovic in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, from the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, pertaining to bilateral al-Hammadi during his they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the parliamentary field. relations and means of supporting and developing them. The message was received by HE the meeting yesterday with charge The Speaker of the Shura Council wished the ambassador success in her future assignments and Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi during his meeting yesterday with d’Affaires of the embassy the relations between the two countries further progress and advancement. Turkmenistan’s ambassador to Qatar Oraz Mohamed Chariyev. of the Netherlands in Qatar Frederique de Man. - QNA Ashghal sets fees for services zServices divided into three categories – connecting to networks, usage of the networks and providing permits he Public Works Author- For non-Qatari houses and all ing permits for sewage water use is for agricultural and fod- for moving abnormal loads that permit for any excavation work, Ashghal will provide various ity’s (Ashghal) fees for its organisations, the fee is 20% of tankers is QR50 while the fee der purposes and 25 Dirhams would aff ect road safety due to road diversions or closures, ex- services and permits through Tservices to establishments the monthly water bill by the to discharge the foul water via per cubic metre for beautifica- their greater size and weight that tension or maintenance of utility the customer zone portal on its and individuals, as per the Min- Qatar General Electricity and tankers into the treatment plants tion and industrial purposes. exceed the road’s capacity. This lines and occupancy of the right website. isterial Resolution (No 211) of Water Corporation (Kahramaa). is QR1 per cubic metre. Contractors and developers requires special arrangements of way. Details regarding each service 2019, will come into eff ect from Ashghal provides the service Treated water is used for requesting a dewater permit or to ensure safe transport of such The permit fee for occupancy and the required documents will today. to connect the fi rst house for various purposes including ir- renewal of the permit shall pay loads. QR5,000 should be paid within the right of way is calcu- be available on the website. The services are divided into Qataris to sewage water net- rigation of green areas, fodder QR300. A fee of 10 Dirhams per when submitting an application lated using two formulas based In order to simplify the pay- three categories: connecting to work free of charge. For the sec- agriculture and beautification cubic metre shall be paid for to issue a permit for moving ab- on permit type. ment process, Ashghal will is- networks, usage of the networks ond house or more, the service of roads in addition to use in pumping groundwater into Sur- normal loads. The law also demands not sue bills to customers via e-mail. and providing permits for serv- charge is QR12,000. cooling systems and factories face and Ground Water Services The application for inspection damaging the public assets in- Customers may pay directly to ices related to the operation and The service fee to connect the and road projects. According (SGW) network. to estimate the cost of damages cluding road networks and pave- Ashghal by credit card at the maintenance of both drainage fi rst house for non-Qataris to the to the Ministerial Resolution, If a customer requests to con- caused to Ashghal’s assets such ments and to carry out works customer service centres, locat- and road networks, according to foul water network is QR6,000. establishments that use treated nect the building or installation as streetlight poles, directional according to specifi c standards ed in Ashghal buildings at West a statement. While the service for the second water may submit a request to to the SGW Network, he shall signs and barriers due to acci- that ensure quality, security and Bay and Salwa Road. In addi- The foul water network serv- house (or more) connection, the connect to the treated water pay for the actual connection dents requires paying QR100 for safety for all while ensuring clear tion, customers may pay the bill ices include the drainage of service fee will be QR12,000. network and shall pay for the cost. A fee of 10 dirhams per each inspection request. responsibility of those who work by a deposit or bank transfer into water from houses and organi- For all types of organisations, actual connection cost while cubic metre shall be paid for In accordance with the Law within the work zone. Ashghal’s bank account. sations to the sewage water net- the service fee to connect to the the fee for using the treated pumping waste cooling water No (14) of 2015 on “Organisation The law also demands no Foul water service fee is in- work. This service is provided foul water network is QR12,000. water is paid at the rate of 1 into SGW network. of Works within the Road Cor- overlapping works on the same cluded in Kahramaa’s water free of charge to Qatari houses. The fee for issuing and renew- Dirham per cubic metre if the Road permits include requests ridor”, Ashghal shall grant the road. bill.

Qatari-Kyrgyz relations reviewed

The Qatari-Asian Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Shura Council met yesterday with a visiting delegation from the Kyrgyz Parliament. They reviewed bilateral relations and ways of developing the in the parliamentary field between the Shura Council and the Kyrgyz Parliament. The meeting was attended by Shura Council’s members: HE Ali bin Abdullatif al-Misnad al-Mohannadi and HE Nasser bin Sultan al-Hemaidi. From the Kyrgyz side, it was attended by members of the Kyrgyz parliamentary delegation and the ambassador of the Kyrgyzstan Chyngyz Eshimbekov.

QNA launches Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships book

QNA two years, and which Doha Doha hosted for the fi rst time in an Arab capital and in the Mid- dle East region. new book about Doha In his introductory speech 2019 World Athlet- about the book, QNA di- Aics Championships rector-general said: “Qa- published by Qatar News tar News Agency was keen Agency (QNA) was launched in its press coverage of the yesterday, as part of the ac- tournament to keep abreast tivities of the 30th edition of the introductions and of Doha International Book events of this story since Fair, which is currently held the announcement of our at the Doha Exhibition and beloved country’s victory to Convention Centre. host this tournament in No- vember 2014 until the clos- “QNA sports, technical ing ceremony on October 7, and administrative 2019, through written and journalistic team photo news coverage that has endeavoured to was transmitted to the world perform the task of via QNA”. coverage entrusted to “QNA sports, technical it successfully and in and administrative journal- a determination and istic team has endeavoured to comprehensive way perform the task of coverage around the clock” entrusted to it successfully and in a determination and The book launch was at- comprehensive way around tended by QNA Director- the clock, and to prepare General Yousuf Ibrahim news, reports and interviews al-Malki and Secretary of at the local and international Qatar Dar Al Kutub and Di- levels”, al-Malki added. rector of Doha Internation- The book presents the al Book Fair Jassim Ahmed preparations made by the al-Buainain. Supreme Organising Com- The book documents in mittee for the champion- words and photos the story ships headed by HE the of Qatar hosting this tour- President of Qatar Olympic nament, which is held in one Committee Sheikh Joaan bin of the world capitals every Hamad al-Thani. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 7 QATAR

Justice minister holds talks with 90% reduction in Rwandan counterpart QF schools’ need for overseas learning atar Foundation’s (QF) Edu- provider of International Baccalaureate HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa cation Development Insti- (IB) workshops in the country. It started Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi met the Minister of Justice of Rwanda Johnston Busingye Qtute (EDI) has emerged as helping non-QF schools transition into and the accompanying delegation, in Doha yesterday. The meeting reviewed the the country’s key facilitator of, and IB schools through workshops and out- co-operation between Qatar and Rwanda, ways of developing it and strengthening authority on, the International Bac- reach programmes. Currently, EDI of- bilateral co-operation between the ministries of justice in the two countries in calaureate curriculum, reducing QF fers three sets of IB regional events a various legal fields. The meeting was attended by the ambassador of Rwanda to schools’ use of education-focused year, with attendees and presenters from Qatar Francois Nkulikiyimfura. expertise from abroad by at least around the world. 90% in fi ve years. EDI also initiated the develop- Before EDI started its profes- ment of the Qatar Heritage Cur- sional learning initiatives, 70% of riculum. It provides students from QF schools’ professional annual kindergarten to Grade 9 with age- learning budget was spent on send- appropriate content on Qatar’s cul- Qatar, Rwanda sign agreement to ing teachers abroad for workshops ture and heritage to ensure the pres- and conferences, it was announced QF’s EDI has emerged as the country’s key facilitator of, and authority, on ervation of the country’s cultural enhance legal co-operation yesterday. The remaining 30% was the International Baccalaureate curriculum. identity and traditions. for bringing in experts to deliver In 2019, EDI activated its partner- in-school training. Despite such in- schools in 2017, entitling teachers to iSTEMed (Innovation in STEM Ed- ship with the Ministry of Education vestment, this model was covering minimum 10 hours of professional ucation) focusing on innovation in and Higher Education by designing less than 20% of schools’ faculty. learning yearly. In 2018-19 academic STEM (science, technology, engi- and off ering multiple professional In the meantime, QF’s Pre-Uni- year, 92% of QF teachers received at neering and math) education across learning programmes including the versity Education saw rapid growth least this level of professional learn- all schools in Qatar and abroad as training of around 300 teachers at the resulting in 18% increase in teach- ing opportunities via EDI. well as an Education Forum for Her- early childhood and elementary levels. ing faculty in four years. “When EDI was established in itage and Identity. EDI also off ers teachers from both “Within two years, we helped QF 2014, our mandate was not only to EDI also initiated a Heads of within and outside QF workshops and schools reduce their spending on limit spending on travel costs, but School Summit, another fi rst for conferences, to one-year programmes, travel-based professional learning to design and off er context-specifi c the country. Its fi rst edition brought all the way to newly-launched masters’ to less than 25%,” says Mehdi Ben- training in key curriculum areas,” together 60 heads of private and in- degrees. chaabane, director of EDI. “In 2018, says Joanna Moe, assistant director, ternational schools in Qatar, off er- “We collaborated with UCL to EDI led 75% of local training, and Teaching and Learning.“To be more ing a common platform for school launch a Masters in Leadership in schools were only spending 25% of impactful, EDI opened its doors to leaders to share their expertise and Education programme,” says Ben- their budget on non-EDI profes- teachers across the country.” challenges. According to Moe, the chaabane. “This year, we welcomed sional learning.” One way EDI does this is through gathering also inadvertently served our fi rst cohort.” In 2016, a professional develop- its annual Teaching and Learning another purpose. To encourage homegrown talent HE the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri yesterday signed an agreement ment management system was de- Forum. Last year alone, 1,800 del- “Up until two years ago, most and expertise, EDI has initiated two on co-operation in the legal field with the Minister of Justice of Rwanda, Johnston veloped in-house, providing the egates, together with international staff from schools in Qatar could new programmes, titled Petal (Pro- Busingye, who is on a visit to Qatar. The agreement aims to enhance co-operation data to initiate changes and support educators and speakers attended travel across the region to attend gramme for Eff ective Teaching and between the two sides in the field of eff ective enforcement of the law, application a more equitable distribution of the event. workshops and conferences,” she Learning) and Palme (Programme of criminal procedures in their respective jurisdictions, protection of human professional learning opportunities. During the second semester of explains. for Aspiring Leaders and Managers rights, and mutual benefit in the area of the organisation and management of A new policy was introduced in QF each academic year, EDI organises EDI has also become the primary in Education). justice. The agreement also stipulates co-operation between the two sides in the field of training responsible off icials in the public prosecution.

Qatar International Court SJC chief meets Rwandan minister hosts Kuwaiti delegation he Qatar International Court Judge, Rashid al-Badr. has welcomed a Kuwaiti judicial During the meeting, aspects of Tdelegation from the Court of co-operation in the judicial and le- Cassation including Counsellors Ishaq gal fi elds were discussed, as well as Hussein al-Kandari, Mishaal Ahmad the work undertaken by the Qatar al-Jerawi, and Mohamed Ahmed al- International Court and the nature Sayed al-Rifai, as well as the Gulf Co- of the cases brought forth. operation Council Legal Aff airs repre- The delegation was shown sentative, Nayef al-Otaibi. around the courtroom and arbitra- The delegation was received by tion rooms, while the registry team Qatar International Court chief ex- gave an overview on current cases, ecutive Faisal al-Sahouti and Qatar and explained the benefi ts of the Qatar International Court off icials with the Kuwaiti judicial delegation. International Court Enforcement eCourt. HE the President of the Supreme Judiciary Council and President of the Court of Cassation Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi met the Minister of Justice of Rwanda, Johnston Busingye, in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they Nissan Pick-up discussed legal and judicial relations between Qatar and Rwanda and ways of models recalled supporting and developing them. for faulty airbag New partners make ’s inflator The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Nojoom ‘better than ever before’ Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, announced the recall of Nissan oredoo highlighted yes- PR and Corporate Communications Pick-up models of 2009-2012 due terday new partners for its at Ooredoo, said: “We recognise our to a possible defect in the front ONojoom reward programme, customers are incredibly loyal to us, passenger airbag inflator. which means customers get greater the same network of partners for our products and our services, and The ministry confirmed the recall choice and fl exibility from the pro- a selection of rewards, including we’re committed to recognising this campaign comes within the gramme than ever before. dining, retail and entertainment loyalty and rewarding our custom- framework of its ongoing eff orts Nojoom, which celebrated its vouchers. A range of denominations ers wherever and whenever we can. to protect consumers and ensure 10th anniversary in 2019, was de- are available. “We’re constantly exploring the that vehicle dealers follow up on signed to reward Ooredoo custom- Recent additions to the Nojoom market to look for new, suitable part- defects and repairs. ers for their loyalty to the company, network include Qatar Insurance ners for our network, so our custom- The ministry has said that it will and enable them to access a wide Company, Bawadi Perfumes, and ers have the most opportunities to co-ordinate with the dealer to variety of rewards with an extensive Trans Orient Services mean yet earn points and the best selection of follow up on the maintenance network of partners. more potential for customers to rewards from which to choose.” and repair works and will The programme allows custom- earn points and enjoy rewards. She added: “We know some also communicate with customers to ers to earn points for all their spends Signifi cantly, the new tie-up want to use their points to benefi t ensure that the necessary repairs on Ooredoo products and services, with Ooredoo’s longstanding char- others in the community, and the are carried out. as well as earning points when they ity partner, Qatar Cancer Soci- addition of Qatar Cancer Society The ministry urges all customers spend with a network of quality ety, means customers can also now means they can now do this via No- to report any violations to its partners from a range of over 250 choose to use their points to sup- joom. We’re grateful to our custom- Consumer Protection and Anti- leisure and lifestyle brands, restau- port good causes if they so choose. ers for their loyalty as always, and Commercial Fraud Department, rants, supermarkets, hotels, retail As with many rewards pro- we’re sure they’ll continue to fi nd which processes complaints, outlets, electronics, insurance, and grammes, Nojoom membership the Nojoom programme as reward- inquiries and suggestions banks, as well as service providers, is tiered starting with Red, then ing as it’s intended to be.” through the following channels: including travel agencies, car rental Silver, and Gold; customers earn Customers who are not yet No- Call Centre: 16001, e-mail: agencies, medical providers, and points according to their tier and joom members can sign up online at [email protected], Twitter: more. the higher the tier the greater the ooredoo.qa, via the Ooredoo App or @ MOCIQATAR, Instagram: Points earned can then be re- earning potential. at any Ooredoo shop around town. MOCIQATAR, mobile app for deemed for Ooredoo post-paid and Speaking of the programme, Ma- Full details of the programme can be Android and IOS: MOCIQATAR. pre-paid product rewards or with nar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director, found at ooredoo.qa/nojoom.

Workshop on compulsory subjects he Department of at Spectra Global School in mentation and usage of dif- Private Schools Of- by Private Schools ferent teaching strategies in Tfi ce at the Ministry offi cer Entesar al-Mohana- all schools. of Education and Higher di and Adnan Abuhlayel. Abuhlayel spoke about how Education (MoEHE) held Shamma Ibrahim al- to be a good teacher and the a training workshop for 21 Mohannadi and Elham al- need to plan lessons and use of private schools to introduce Qayed from the MoEHE diff erent teaching strategies. the concept of teaching were also present, accord- The workshop was re- Off icials at the event. strategies for three com- ing to a statement. ceived in a very positive pulsory subjects - , Al-Mohanadi began the way, with representatives of Spectra Global School was HE and the other schools for Islamic and Qatar History. workshop highlighting the the school providing posi- honoured to host the work- their attendance, according The workshop was held importance of the imple- tive feedback. shop and thanked the MoE- to the statement. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 QATAR has helped reduce traffi c congestion, says minister

By Ayman Adly World Cup traffi c plan Staff Reporter The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy presented a he introduction of modern worksheet on the transporta- modes of public transport tion sector’s plan for the 2022 Tsuch as the Doha Metro FIFA World Cup, QNA reports. and Metrolink feeder bus service It highlighted a number of Doha Metro extends has contributed to reducing traf- systems that would be used service timings fi c congestion by 20% to 25%, to manage traff ic during the especially during the rush hour, event, the use of transportation The Doha Metro service HE the Minister of Transport means such as buses, 3,000 hours for Thursdays and and Communications Jassim Seif of which would be provided Fridays will be extended Ahmed al-Sulaiti has said. to transport the public from from tomorrow, Qatar Rail He made the observation while the housing sites to the eight has announced. In a post speaking on the sidelines of the stadiums where the matches on the Doha Metro & Lusail fi rst workshop on traffi c conges- are to be held. Tram Twitter page yesterday, tion management, held in Doha There will also be co- Qatar Rail said the Metro will yesterday under the patronage ordination with other means of run from 6am until 11.59pm of HE the Prime Minister and transport and use of the Doha on Thursdays and from 2pm Minister of Interior and National Metro, which will cover 30% of until 11.59pm on Fridays, from Traffi c Safety Committee (NTSC) the transportation needs, while tomorrow. On all other days, chairman, Sheikh Abullah bin buses will cover 40% and taxis the service will continue to Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. cover 30%. operate from 6am until 11pm. The workshop was organised Dignitaries at the workshop yesterday. by the NTSC in co-operation with the Public Works Authority parking lots near Metro stations tive public transport, especially which is currently in the design develop the Ras Abu Aboud In- with traffi c congestion through Cup Qatar are among the key tasks. (Ashghal) with the participation where commuters can park their among the new generation. phase and has two implementa- tersection, which is the starting the launch of the National Traf- Brigadier Mohamed al-Malki, of organisations and experts in- vehicles and use the rail service. Some of this already features tion stages: the fi rst one is set to point of the crossing, the fi rst fi c Safety Strategy 2013-2022 in general secretary of the NTSC, volved in the fi eld. Also, modern transportation in the education curriculum, start by the end of April while the exit point of the crossing in the addition to launching the second highlighted the importance of It sought to look into the cur- solutions will be introduced on thanks to co-operation with the second, which involves comple- Sheraton Doha area, and the fi - development plan, which aims to collaborative eff orts by all the rent and potential traffi c situa- highways that are not linked by Ministry of Education and High- mentary works, is likely to start nal point at Katara — the Cultural reduce traffi c accidents and build involved entities in resolving tion in the country by taking into the Metro network, he added. er Education. in August. Village. All these will be devel- a safe and secure transportation the issue of traffi c congestion consideration the anticipated He noted that the econom- Yousef al-Emadi, director of The Sharq Crossing is one of oped and expanded to provide system. through innovative solutions. turnout of a large number of peo- ic cost of implementing such Projects Aff airs at Ashghal, spoke the most strategic projects for better roads solutions. He added that the General Di- Dr Ibrahim al-Nuaimi, Under- ple during major events such as sophisticated transportation about the various projects of the reducing traffi c and it will link He said this vital project is rectorate of Traffi c has played an secretary at the Ministry of Edu- the 2022 FIFA World Cup. projects will be less than the authority in the area and how the country’s main roads. The expected to be accomplished in eff ective role in implementing cation and Higher Education, HE al-Sulaiti said the public quantum of potential losses that these have helped improve traffi c project consists of a series of the third quarter of 2023 and will the tasks assigned to it. member of the NTSC and head of transport plan included launching may incur due to traffi c conges- circulation in the country with a bridges and a 12km bridge above cost an estimated QR6-7bn. Improving the effi ciency of in- the follow-up team for the imple- more modern transportation meth- tion and delays. sophisticated road network and water connecting Ras Abu Aboud Major General Mohamed Saad vestigation, the patrolling system mentation of the National Traffi c ods that would help further reduce The minister stressed that the advanced infrastructure. and . al-Kharji, director-general of and improving the fl ow of traffi c, Safety Strategy, spoke about the traffi c congestion in the future. Ministry of Transport and Com- He said among the strategic He explained that the Sharq Traffi c and second deputy chair- developing the use of technology eff orts of the ministry in raising For instance, he said the com- munications is working to spread projects undertaken by the au- Crossing has three related man of the NTSC, said the State and radars and providing the re- awareness about the importance ing days will see the opening of the culture of using collec- thority is the Sharq Crossing, projects. These are a project to has paid great attention to deal quirements of the 2022 FIFA World of using public transportation.

BeIN chief hailed for Ashghal partly opens Al Wakra Road infl uencing opinion Underpass Signallised Intersection ousef al- Obaidly, Ychief ex- ecutive offi cer of beIN Media Group, has ap- peared in Sport- sPro’s annual list of ten infl u- Qatar Airways’ cabin crew with Oryx Kids Club mascots, Orry, Orah and friends, ential fi gures and children at the event. whose work will be setting the Yousef al-Obaidly agenda for sport in the coming year. SortsPro’s annual list also included Qatar Airways’ cabin crew the biggest brands in the world such Engineer Saleh al-Shaeibah as The Walt Disney Company, BBC, Juventus, IOC and Nike, according to surprises kids at book fair he Public Works Authority a statement issued yesterday by beIN (Ashghal) yesterday announced Media Group. atar Airways’ cabin crew joined national Book Fair this year in its work Tthe partial opening of Al Wakra Al-Obaidly said: “I am honoured to Oryx Kids Club mascots, Orry, to promote a love of books. Our Oryx Road Underpass Signallised Intersec- be recognised amongst such globally QOrah and friends, to surprise Kids Club toys and exercise books are tion with Ras Bu Fontas Street. esteemed executives across world children attending the opening day of designed to engage children in reading The development works were car- sport. I am particularly proud that the 30th Doha International Book Fair and learning, as well as having fun, and ried out as part of Al Wakra Main beIN – as a Qatari group – is repre- (DIBF) at Doha Exhibition and Conven- we hope that the children enjoy the gift Road Upgrade Project. Al Wakra Tunnel and other parts of The road also serves residents of sented in this list, at a time when our tion Centre (DECC) recently. bags we distributed at the event. I en- The opening was announced in the project along the 3.5km stretch several neighbourhoods, residen- country is leading on the world stage.” Oryx Kids Club gifts were distributed courage all visitors and residents of Qa- co-ordination with the General Di- from Ras Bufantas station to Barwa tial and commercial complexes in Al This is what SportsPro had to say among the children at the event. tar to visit DIBF during the few days to rectorate of Traffi c. Village. Wakra and Al Wukair areas. on beIN Media Group and Yousef DIBF, which takes place until January be inspired by the books on display and The new junction is located after Al Wakra Main Road is an impor- It is also one of the vital projects al-Obaidly: “If anyone was still un- 18, is the largest international book fair the authors attending.” the Airport Interchange at the en- tant link between the cities of Doha in the southern areas, ensuring free sure about the growing threat piracy in the region, held under the patron- DIBF director Jassem al-Buainain trance of Al Wakra, above Al Wakra and Al Wakra. fl ow traffi c between Al Wakra and poses to the sports industry, beIN age of His Highness the Amir Sheikh said: “We thank Qatar Airways for its Road Underpass. It also provides a direct link with Doha, and between Al Wakra - Me- Media Group chief executive Yousef Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and super- participation in and support for the It enhances traffi c movement into vital parts of the road network in- saieed in the south. al-Obaidly was sure to eliminate any vision of the Qatar Cultural and Herit- book fair, which is really support for Al Wakra. cluding G Ring Road, Ras Bu Abboud This road will also ensure traf- lingering confusion at the backend of age Events Centre. reading and culture. Around 335 pub- The opening will reduce travel Street, Airport Street and Sabah Al fi c fl ow for commuters heading to 2019. As a silver sponsor of the event, Qatar lishing houses are participating in the time by 80% especially after cancel- Ahmad Corridor facilitating easy ac- places including Al Wakra Market, “It was then, in no uncertain terms, Airways has also sponsored the fl ights event, and among them are Arab and ling old traffi c diversions and pro- cess to the southern areas and Me- Al Wakra Family Beach and Al Wak- that he bluntly warned a room of ex- of fi ve world-famous authors, including foreign publishers and others for chil- viding alternative routes to Ras Bu saieed Road. rah Celebration Complex. ecutives in London that the “glori- Man Booker International winner Jokha dren books. There are 797 pavilions Fontas Street and Saud Bin Abdul ous media rights bubble is about to Alharthi from Oman, American graphic in addition to the participation of a Rahman Street. Temporary diversion announced burst”, that the very revenue stream novelist Willow Wilson, Algerian nov- number of embassies.” The new intersection also links upon which many sports rely is set to elist Ahlam Mosteghanemi, Adham Organised in line with Qatar National traffi c coming from several main The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Duhail street as shown on the map. be drained because of the industry’s Sharkawi and Mohamed Zarrouk, who Vision 2030, which aims to develop the na- roads including Airport Street, G has announced a temporary change Road users coming from collective inaction over intellectual are travelling to Qatar to participate in tion’s knowledge economy, the event aims Ring Road and Ras Bu Abboud Street to the access to Al Shamal road from Intersection on Al Khafji Street towards property theft. public lectures and book signings dur- to promote reading and publishing in Qatar. with Al Wakra Road and the sur- Al Khafji street from tomorrow for Al Shamal Road are advised to use the “Al-Obaidly’s beIN has, of course, ing the 10-day event. More than 30 countries from around the rounding streets. three months. Arab League Street than Street. been the biggest target for beoutQ, Qatar Airways senior vice-president world are participating in this year’s event, The intersection facilitates pas- The change, to be implemented in Road users coming from Environment the piracy operation that has been (Marketing and Corporate Communi- with involvement from Belgium and Aus- senger access Al Wakra metro sta- co-ordination with the General Direc- Street towards Al Shamal road are helping itself to the world’s most cations) Salam al-Shawa said: “Read- tralia for the fi rst time, and a special focus tion via the nearby drop and park torate of Traff ic, is to allow recon- advised to use Al Duhail Street. watched sports content for well over ing is one of life’s greatest joys and we on with the Qatar-France Year of stop. struction of Al Duhail Interchange. Ashghal will install road signs two years. are proud to support the Doha Inter- Culture taking place in 2020. While announcing the opening, During the closure, access to Al advising motorists of the traff ic shift It is undoubtedly an intricate, po- Engineer Saleh al-Shaybah said that Shamal Road and adjacent areas will and requested road users to abide by litically fuelled and unprecedented 54% of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade be through the Arab League Street the speed limit of 80kph and follow state of aff airs, but one that has led Project has been completed. than Al Tarfa street or through Al the road signs to ensure safety. the Qatar-based broadcaster to reas- Embassy celebrates Chinese New Year The project is set to improve the sess whether the $15bn it currently traffi c fl ow between Doha, Al Wakra spends on exclusive sports rights is and the southern areas. sustainable. He explained that the old round- “beIN’s deal with Formula One in about has been converted into a the Middle East and North Africa has two-level interchange that includes already fallen victim to the beoutQ a tunnel providing free traffi c fl ow saga. between Doha and Al Wakra via Al “Having said that, beIN’s recent Wakra Road to along with the new decision to splash out on exclusive signal-controlled intersections UEFA Champions League rights in which will distribute traffi c move- France would suggest that the broad- ment in all directions leading to Al caster will continue to play a role in Wakra. some of the biggest auctions going It was in May 2018 that Ashghal forward. started converting Al Wakra Main “In any case, his campaign against Road to a 9km long highway consist- beoutQ has seen al-Obaidly turn ing of three-lane dual carriageway what was once a background conver- and a lower tunnel along the area of sation into a priority for the industry. The Chinese embassy in Doha marked yesterday the Chinese New Year with connecting Doha and Al Wakra. Whether he delivers on his threat to a community gathering and grand festivities in the presence of ambassador In last December, Ashghal started scale back beIN’s rights spend re- Zhou Jian and senior members of the community. PICTURE: Thajudheen works to convert the roundabout to a mains to be seen, but one certainty is signalised intersection after opening that it will be fascinating fi nding out”. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 9 QATAR Al Wakra Central Market MoPH launches national starts operations Tdap vaccination drive By Joseph Varghese about 80% of the students to get Staff Reporter vaccinated.We have eliminated By Shafeeq Alingal said the slaughterhouse can tetanus in Qatar and have had a Staff Reporter complete slaughtering, cutting few cases of diphtheria and per- and packing within 20 minutes. he Ministry of Pub- tussis (Whooping cough) last Customers can keep track of the lic Health (MoPH) has year, spread by people who came swaq for Food Facilities progress of their order through Tlaunched the annual na- from other countries. Otherwise Management, a subsidiary digital display boards. tional Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria Qatar is free from these diseases,” Aof Hassad Foods, yester- “Advanced facilities have been and pertussis) vaccination cam- noted al-Rumaihi. day announced that the Al Wakra put in place. We have separate paign targeting approximately Al-Rumaihi also noted that the Central Market has started op- lines for sheep and cows and 20,000 grade 10 students from infl uenza vaccination campaign erations. camels,” al-Hajiri said. public and private schools. had been quite successful so far The facility includes a livestock The slaughterhouse can handle “We have estimated that there this year with more than 140,000 central market with an automat- 240 sheep per hour and 250 cam- are about 19,560 to be vaccinated people vaccinated so far. “The ed slaughterhouse, cattle barns, els and cattle per day. In addition in this year’s campaign, the 11th vaccination drive is still continu- shops, hypermarket, traditional to porters, butchers, cutters and such event so far in Qatar,” Sheikh Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad ing. Flu vaccine provides protec- and vegetable markets, shops and Mohamed Ghanim al-Kubisi, Mohamed al-Hajiri, operations packing staff , there are 10 vet- Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Tha- al-Thani tion up to 60%. What is more administrative buildings. general manager, Aswaq. manager at Widam Foods erinarians at the slaughterhouse. ni, director of the Public Health important is that in most cases Mohamed Ghanim al-Kubisi, The veterinarians will check the Department, told Gulf Times “This training will enhance it prevents fl u infection while in general manager of Aswaq, while latest international systems that The 14,000sqm automated animals before they are slaugh- yesterday. awareness about the vaccina- other cases, it reduces complica- announcing the opening, told serve the needs of the producer, slaughterhouse has a capacity to tered and later the meat in order The campaign is in co-opera- tion and help cover maximum tions,” said al-Rumaihi. Gulf Times that the market will trader and consumer. Spread handle 9,000 livestock a day. It to ensure quality. tion with the Ministry of Educa- number of students. We want to Dr Soha al-Bayyat, head of help the country achieve self- over an area of approximately has modern techniques to main- The barns section comprises tion and Higher Education and provide more awareness about the Vaccinations Department at suffi ciency in the food sector and 230,000sqm, the market is lo- tain product quality and the ef- more than 600 livestock barns the Primary Health Care Corpo- the vaccination and its benefi ts MoPH, pointed out the goals of also held the local produce reach cated in the midpoint of central fi ciency of operations. An agree- that follow international speci- ration. and build a smooth system for the campaign and the plans put in the market. roads networks. ment was signed between Hassad fi cations. They are divided be- MoPH organised yesterday a the vaccination campaign,” ex- place to ensure its success. She also Hassad took up eff orts for the The new central market is 30 and Widam Food to run the new tween the display area and stor- training workshop which was at- plained, Dr Mohamed. highlighted the success achieved development of the market in co- minutes from the heart of Doha slaughterhouse. age that are shaded with roofs. tended by more than 260 para- According to Dr Hamad Eid al- by the campaign in the previous ordination with the Ministry of and 10 minutes from Hamad While announcing the opera- Public can buy animals from the medical staff among others. The Rumaihi, director of Health Pro- years since it was started in 2011. Municipality and Environment. Port, the central facility for im- tion, Mohamed al-Hajiri, opera- barns and transfer them to the campaign aims to vaccinate male tection and Transitional Diseases She stressed the importance The market has adopted the porting livestock and fodder. tions manager at Widam Foods, slaughterhouse. A number will be and female students from private at MoPH, the campaign targets to of the work by the nurses to raise given to customers when animals schools and communities from cover about 80% of the students. awareness among students and are handed over to the slaughter- January 12 to 16, while govern- “The vaccination campaign in persuading students and their house and the packed meat can ment school students will be vac- will give protection against these parents about the benefi t of the be received at the counters. cinated from February 16 to 25. diseases up to 10 years. We target vaccine. Al-Hajiri said the slaughter- house is equipped with advanced waste management facilities. HPV shots to be added to immunisation schedule The waste is sold at a later stage from the basement. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has an- common type of cancer in women, with nearly all The retail, wholesale and hy- nounced that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccina- cases of cervical cancer (99%) attributed to HPV permarket sections are air-con- tion will be added within a year to the immunisa- infection, the most common viral infection of the ditioned. The market includes tion schedule of Qatar, after completing relevant reproductive tract. 102 shops to support the market’s studies. HPV vaccination is currently available in private main activity such as fodder, This was announced by MoPH’s Immunisation De- health institutions and some health institutions of grain, and veterinary supplies. partment head Dr Soha al-Bayat yesterday on the the government health sector. The market also includes fod- sidelines of a workshop on vaccinations. The HPV “The vaccination against hepatitis A was recently der storage space of more than vaccination will be added after receiving approval deleted from the immunisation schedule and lim- 5,200sqm. from the supreme immunisation committee. ited to certain cases, as Qatar is not among coun- Additionally, the retail section Dr al-Bayat stressed the importance of the HPV tries where hepatitis A is prevalent,” Dr al-Bayat said. includes 76 shops and a tradi- vaccination in preventing some types of cancer, Meanwhile, Dr Hamad Eid al-Rumaihi, director of tional market that sell vegetables the most important of which is cervical cancer and Health Protection and Transitional Diseases at the and fruits, dried fruit, honey, and other types of cancers caused by the papillomavi- Public Health Department at MoPH, revealed a new The barns at Al Wakra Central Market. PICTURE: Ram Chand dates. Six service shops are allo- rus. electronic system, to monitor transitional diseases cated for eateries. HPV causes cervical cancer and is the fourth most and record vaccinations. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

INVESTIGATION Iran govt arrests suspects over ‘unforgivable’ plane disaster Berlin summit to build Iran said yesterday it had arrested people accused of a role in shoot- ing down a Ukrainian airliner and had also detained 30 people in- volved in protests that have swept the nation for four days since the military belatedly admitted its on shaky Libyan ceasefi re error. Wednesday’s shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines AFP reserves — following years of flight 752, which killed all 176 Moscow turbulence since the 2011 kill- people aboard, has created a new ing of Gaddafi. Sarraj’s gov- crisis for the Islamic Republic’s ernment has been under at- rulers. President Hassan Rouhani iplomatic eff orts to end tack since April from forces promised a thorough investigation the confl ict in loyal to Haftar, who is based in into the “unforgivable error” in an Dratcheted up yester- the east of the oil-rich North address yesterday. It was the latest day as claimed that the African country with his own in a series of apologies by the warring factions had agreed to loyalist politicians.Since the leadership that has done little to maintain a fragile ceasefi re and start of the offensive against quell public anger. Britain, France Germany announced an inter- Tripoli, more than 280 civil- and Germany also increased national summit on the crisis ians and 2,000 fighters have diplomatic pressure on Iran, this Sunday. been killed and 146,000 Liby- launching a dispute mechanism Libyan strongman Khalifa ans displaced, according to the to challenge Tehran for breaching Haftar left talks in Moscow yes- . limits on its nuclear programme terday without signing a per- The clashes have also under an agreement which Wash- manent truce aimed at ending spurred a growing exodus of ington abandoned in 2018. nine months of fi ghting, though migrants from Libya, though Russia claimed he agreed to nearly 1,000 intercepted at sea maintain the current ceasefi re. have been forced to return this POLITICS Berlin then announced it had year, according to the UN. Lebanese resume invited both sides of the Libyan Putin and Erdogan made a confl ict to talks with 11 coun- joint call for a ceasefire, which protests seeking tries and several international started early Sunday and was end to vacuum organisations on Sunday. welcomed by the UN. Putin Haftar and his allies were in later Monday discussed the Lebanese protesters resumed Moscow on Monday for discus- talks with German Chancellor blocking major highways yester- sions with the United Nations- Angela Merkel. day in what they said would be recognised government headed Turkey and Russia’s diplo- a “week of wrath” demanding an by Fayez al-Sarraj that is based matic initiative came despite end to a months-long political in Tripoli. The meetings raised the countries being seen as vacuum. hopes of an end to the latest Central security support forces carry weapons during the security deployment in the Tajura neighbourhood, east of Tripoli, yesterday. supporting opposing sides. Although protests had declined in fi ghting to wrack Libya since a Ankara dispatched troops — size in recent weeks, demonstra- 2011 Nato-backed uprising killed Russia’s Foreign Minister brothers in Libya”. Erdogan said nately he left Moscow, he fled attend, though Berlin said in a training capacity, it said — tions have been ongoing since dictator Muammar Gaddafi . Sergei Lavrov also promised to the issue would be discussed in Moscow,” Erdogan said, while both had been invited. to support the GNA in January October, increasingly targeting But Haftar’s abrupt departure “pursue eff orts” to mediate. Berlin on Sunday by European, praising “positive” talks. According to a source close in a move criticised by Euro- banks and state institutions from Moscow marked a setback. But Turkish President Recep North African and Middle East- Anxious to calm flaring to the discussions, a key aim pean powers and US President blamed for driving the country Playing down the blow, Rus- Tayyip Erdogan reacted angrily, ern countries as well as the the tempers, Berlin called a UN- of the summit will be to help . towards collapse. sia’s defence ministry said warning that “we will not hesi- UN, the EU, the African Union sponsored summit of 11 coun- Libya “sort out its problems The GNA has signed agree- The unprecedented cross-sectar- Haftar had asked for two days to tate to teach the putschist Haftar and the Arab League. tries — including the USA, without foreign influence”. ments with Ankara assigning ian movement has been fuelled consider the deal, stressing that a deserved lesson...if he con- “The putschist Haftar did Russia, China and Turkey. Western powers are keen Turkey rights over a vast area by a crippling economic crisis, the a shaky ceasefi re established at tinues his attacks on Libya’s le- not sign the ceasefire. He first It remained unclear whether to stabilise Libya — home to of the gas-rich eastern Medi- worst since ’s 1975-1990 the weekend would continue. gitimate administration and our said yes, but later unfortu- Haftar and Sarraj would also Africa’s largest proven crude terranean. civil war. Debt-burdened Lebanon has been without a government since Saad Hariri resigned as prime minister on October 29, as political parties fail to agree on the makeup of a new one. ’s former spy service agents US supports Europe’s Iran ANGER clash with govt forces in Khartoum Outrage after move on dispute mechanism Buhari’s daughter Reuters However, once dismissed by tion would not be tolerated. uses presidential jet Khartoum the new transitional govern- “We will not accept any Reuters with sanctions in place. “We do deal and could lead eventually to ment, many of the security coup, we will not accept Washington support the Europeans initiating reimposing UN sanctions that Photos of Nigerian President Mu- agents returned to their bar- any illegal change. The only the dispute resolution mecha- were lifted under the pact. hamadu Buhari’s daughter using rmed ex-security racks without being disarmed change will come from the nism....What the president has After pulling out of the Iran a presidential jet for private busi- agents linked to Su- after leaving the ministries Sudanese people,” he said. he United States supports asked for is for them to leave the deal, the United States snapped ness caused widespread public Adan’s toppled ruler and streets they once control- In the evening the gunfi re Europe’s move to initiate deal and join us in our diplomacy back sanctions on Iran and has outrage yesterday. Nigerians ex- Omar al-Bashir fought gov- led. Residents said the clashes abated but the situation in the Tthe dispute mechanism to get a new deal,” Brian Hook, gradually increased its “maxi- pressed their anger on social and ernment soldiers in the broke out between the former capital remained tense, resi- in Iran’s nuclear deal, the US US special representative for mum pressure” campaign tar- conventional media over photos capital Khartoum yesterday, security staff and forces loyal dents said. Information Min- top envoy for Iran told Reuters Iran, said in an interview. geting the Islamic Republic’s of Hanan Buhari stepping out of a residents said, in the biggest to the transitional government ister Faisal Mohamed Saleh yesterday, but would like to see The three European nations revenues from oil, mining and presidential plane in the northern confrontation so far between in a northern district of Khar- said the gunmen were former Europeans join Washington in its said they still wanted the 2015 other industries, and eff ectively city of Bauchi earlier this week, to the old guard and supporters toum where gunfi re could be employees angry at the terms eff orts to diplomatically isolate nuclear deal to succeed and were scare off countries from doing photograph a cultural ceremony of the new administration. heard for hours. they had been off ered upon Tehran. not joining a “maximum pres- business with Tehran. for her private company, accusing The former employees of In a second location next their dismissal. France, Britain and Germany sure” campaign by the United Tensions boiled further after her of abusing public funds. the National Intelligence and to the airport ex-NISS staff The authorities “continue formally triggered the dispute States. UK Prime Minister Boris the United States this month “The practice of using the Security Service (NISS) also seized a security building, their eff orts to persuade the mechanism in Iran’s nuclear Johnson expressed willingness killed Iran’s most powerful aircraft in the presidential fleet shut two small oilfi elds in which was then surrounded rebellious units to surrender deal, the strongest step the Eu- over a replacing it.”If we’re going military commander in a drone by members of the first family to Darfur in protest about their by government forces and and hand over their arms”, ropeans have taken so far to en- to get rid of it, let’s replace it and strike after tit-for-tat exchanges attend to private engagements severance packages, a gov- where gunfi re could also be Saleh said, adding that there force an agreement that requires let’s replace it with the Trump between Washington and Tehran is not backed by any extant law ernment source told Reuters. heard, witnesses said. were no casualties. Iran to curb its nuclear pro- deal,” he said. that began with the killing of an or off icial policy,” human rights They had an output of Lieutenant General Mo- A Reuters witness saw the gramme. Hook said the United States American contractor on a base lawyer Femi Falana wrote in local around 5,000 barrels a day. hamed Hamdan Dagalo, head army and members of the RSF US President Donald Trump was “very pleased” with John- in . newspaper Independent. Restructuring the once of the Rapid Support Forces deploy in Khartoum’s main in 2018 abandoned the nuclear son agreeing with the US assess- Trump has been calling on Eu- feared security apparatus (RSF), Sudan’s most power- streets and shut down roads. deal reached under predecessor ment, adding that there wasn’t ropeans to do more against Iran, blamed for suppressing dis- ful paramilitary group, which Authorities closed Su- , arguing it was much left of the Iran nuclear and the administration has been RIGHTS sent under Bashir was among supports the new govern- dan’s airspace for fi ve hours too weak and that new sanctions deal. pressuring European capitals to Human remains the key demands of the upris- ment, said while he would not as a precautionary meas- would force Iran to accept more Triggering the mechanism ditch the deal. ing that forced his removal in consider yesterday’s incident ure after the start of the stringent terms. amounts to formally accusing Hook yesterday repeated from mass grave April after 30 years in power. a coup attempt, any such ac- shooting. Iran says it will not negotiate Iran of violating the terms of the that call. exhumed in Burundi Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) said yester- day that it had exhumed human remains buried during the country’s France, West Africa South Africa will embrace private civil war in a mass grave in the capi- tal Bujumbura. “It has been found that here there are human remains to unite forces in fi ght of people who were killed between power generation: Ramaphosa 1993 and 1996,” Pierre Claver Ndayi- cariye, president of the CVR said. against militants From 1993-2005, a civil war raged Reuters households that want to gener- in Burundi. The war, which claimed Johannesburg ate their own energy.” “We can- more than 300,000 lives, ended Reuters nial power, has 4,500 troops in not stop technology, we cannot in a power-sharing peace treaty Paris Mali and the wider Sahel, but stop the future from arriving,” between the two tribes. Ndayicariye security has been progressively outh Africa will embrace he added. said the bones and clothing of worsening. Macron said the sit- eff orts by businesses to South Africa’s mining indus- between 250 and 270 people were rance and fi ve West Af- uation had now been clarifi ed. Sgenerate their own elec- try body the Minerals Council discovered when owners of a plot rican states have agreed Militants linked to Al Qae- tricity, President Cyril Ram- on Monday urged the govern- of land previously used for a mar- Fto combine their military da and Islamic State have aphosa said yesterday, reacting ment to act urgently to bring ket, started building homes. forces under one command strengthened their foothold, to growing frustration at red online new power sources and structure to fi ght a growing making large swathes of terri- tape throttling private power ease licensing rules. militancy in the Sahel region, tory ungovernable and stoking generation. Roger Baxter, chief executive TRAGEDY with Paris committing an ex- ethnic violence, especially in Ramaphosa is under pres- of the Minerals Council, told tra 220 troops. Mali and Burkina Faso. sure over nationwide power Reuters last month that miners 34 killed in Ghana French President Emmanuel “Today, more than ever, the cuts that have dented economic could build between 500 mega- bus crash Macron had called the leaders of fact is that the results, despite output and sapped investor watts (MW) and 1,500MW of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger the eff ort, are below the ex- confi dence in Africa’s most in- their own generating capacity Thirty-four people died yesterday and , known as the pectations of the population,” dustrialised economy. over the next few years if regu- when two buses collided in central G5, to the southwestern French Burkina Faso President Roch Ailing state-owned util- lations were eased. Ghana, off icials said. Police and town of Pau to discuss the battle Marc Kabore said “It’s for this ity Eskom generates more than Ramaphosa’s government the fire brigade said the accident against insurgents in the Sahel, reason that we have decided to 90% of the country’s electricity has been slow to procure more occurred early yesterday in the an arid region just below the Sa- review the deployment and re- but regularly struggles to meet power since the electricity cuts town of Dompoase, about 200 kilo- hara desert. defi ne the pillars for our future demand because of breakdowns escalated last year. metres from the Ghanaian capital With growing anti-French action.” The new structure, at its coal-fi red power plants. Some labour unions and Accra. “Several people sustained sentiment in the fi ve countries named Coalition for the Sahel, Many power-hungry compa- members of Ramaphosa’s gov- injuries and have been rushed to over Paris’ handling of an insur- brings the G5 states, French nies such as mines want to build erning African National Con- the hospital. Twenty-nine died on gency by militants that has seen forces and any future troops un- their own renewable energy South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure over gress party are deeply sus- the spot while five others died at the hundreds of their soldiers killed der a single command. It aims to plants to reduce their reliance nationwide power cuts that have dented economic output and picious of allowing in more hospital,” Fire service spokesman in recent weeks, Macron had enable joint operations, greater on Eskom but have not been sapped investor confidence in Africa’s most industrialised economy. independent power producers. Abdul Hudu Wasiu said. The victims warned that he could withdraw intelligence-sharing and quick- able to secure the necessary A vocal coal lobby has also included 20 men, 11 women and French troops without a clear er response time in particular regulatory approvals. generation,” Ramaphosa told up a new era...that says we blamed renewable energy fi rms three children, one of whom was political commitment from for French forces in the border “For the fi rst time we are an economic conference in are now embracing the fact for hastening Eskom’s fi nancial only a year old. them. France, the former colo- areas. now saying let us have self- Johannesburg.”We have opened there are those companies and decline. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 11 AMERICAS

GORY FIND SUPPLY WOES STATISTICS DIPLOMACY SIGNING OUT 29 bodies discovered US sanctions fuel shortage 107 Colombia activists Guatemalan leader talks Mark Hamill quits Facebook in Mexico mass grave of cooking gas in Cuba were killed last year: UN migration with US off icials over dishonest political ads

The bodies of at least 29 people have been Cuba is suff ering from shortages of cooking gas The UN Human Rights Off ice is “deeply Guatemala’s president-elect met US off icials on Mark Hamill, the actor famous for legendary Star unearthed from a mass grave on a property due to US sanctions on the island, the state oil troubled” by the killings of at least 107 civil Monday, hours before he was due to take off ice Wars film character Luke Skywalker, has quit outside Mexico’s western city of Guadalajara, company Union Cubapetroleo has said. Sanctions society activists in Colombia last year, a yesterday, as the Trump administration pushes him Facebook for its refusal to require political ads to local authorities said Monday. The grim site that were announced in November on the state spokesperson said yesterday. The Geneva- to accept an asylum agreement he had previously be honest. “So disappointed that #MarkZuckerberg was discovered in Jalisco — a state hard-hit by energy company Corporacion Panamericana led based UN off ice is currently trying to verify sought to modify. A conservative former surgeon values profit more than truthfulness that I’ve violence linked to organised crime, and the same to suppliers cancelling sales of liquid petroleum 13 additional reported cases from 2019, and ex-prison chief, Alejandro Giammattei, 63, ran decided to delete my Facebook account,” Hamill area where authorities have found a total of 80 gas that had been planned for December and spokesperson Marta Hurtado told a press for top off ice three times before his victory in an tweeted. “I know this is a big ‘Who Cares?’ bodies since November. The local prosecutor’s January, according to the statement on Monday. conference, adding that the trend is continuing, August runoff on a tough-on-crime platform that for the world at large, but I’ll sleep better at off ice said that four of the dead had been “Current inventories do not cover consumption” with at least 10 people killed since the start of included returning the death penalty. But at the night.#PatriotismOverProfits.” Hamill’s message partially identified and corresponded with open of subsidised liquid petroleum gas, the sale of January. “The vicious and endemic cycle of top of his to-do list will be a decision on whether triggered a flood of replies, with many lauding missing persons investigations. The grave is which “can only be guaranteed for locations that violence and impunity must stop,” Hurtado said, to roll back or expand an agreement with the his decision to use his celebrity platform to make located about 260 feet away from another mass provide basic services to the population,” Union adding that such attacks are “an assault against United States forged by outgoing President a statement about honesty in politics. “Facebook, grave, where the bodies of at least 50 people Cubapetroleo said. It added that the government democracy, undermining participation and Jimmy Morales that makes Guatemala a buff er pay attention. You’ve lost the man who played were discovered in December. was looking for other suppliers. people’s access to their human rights.” zone to reduce US asylum claims. Luke Skywalker,” one fan commented. Democrats vote Justices sceptical about ‘Bridgegate’ today as Trump convictions

Reuters Administration gets court nod Washington in family separation case trial edges closer A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump ad- S Supreme Court justices yesterday ministration’s ongoing separations of families Reuters appeared sceptical about the criminal at the US-Mexico border based on parents’ Washington Uprosecution of two associates of former criminal history or health exclusions are being New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who are carried out with proper discretion. appealing their convictions in the “Bridgegate” The ruling, by US District Judge Dana he Democratic-led US scandal involving retribution against a local Sabraw in San Diego, California, on Monday, House of Representatives mayor who refused to endorse Christie. was a rare victory for the government in a case Twill vote today to send for- Arguments before the justices focused on that has been ongoing since 2018. mal impeachment charges against whether the actions for which Bridget Anne The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) President Donald Trump to the Kelly, a former Christie deputy chief of staff , first brought the case over President Donald Senate, lawmakers said yesterday, and Bill Baroni, a former deputy executive di- Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy of criminally likely setting the start of Trump’s rector of the Port Authority of New York and prosecuting all border crossers, which led to trial for later this week. New Jersey, were convicted fi t the defi nition of the separation of hundreds of families and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fraud under federal law. sparked national outrage. told a party meeting that she Several justices — liberals and conservatives Sabraw had ordered the administration to would also name the Democrats’ — appeared dissatisfi ed with the US Justice find and reunite separated families. team of “managers” who will lead Department’s arguments in favour of the pros- Trump off icially halted the practice with an the prosecution of Trump at the ecutions of Kelly and Baroni, although they executive order on June 20, 2018. trial, Democratic congressman asked tough question of both sides. But the ACLU claimed in court that since Henry Cuellar said. The Philadelphia-based 3rd US Circuit then, the government has continued the prac- Trump became only the third Court of Appeals in 2018 upheld the 2016 con- tice and separated more than 1,000 families in US president to be impeached victions of Kelly and Baroni for wire fraud and violation of Sabraw’s order. when the House last month ap- misusing Port Authority resources. The government has said it separates fami- proved charges that he abused Prosecutors had accused Kelly and Baroni of lies when it suspects the parent has a criminal his power by pressuring Ukraine engineering days of lane closures in Septem- record, a communicable disease, or when there to announce an investigation into ber 2013 on the George Washington Bridge, the are questions about the relationship between his Democratic rival Joe Biden and world’s busiest bridge, which connects Fort the adult and the migrant child. obstructed Congress. Lee, New Jersey, to New York City. It claimed its current practice is no diff erent But Pelosi has delayed send- The closures caused traffi c gridlock and were than prior administrations. ing the charges to the Senate in intended to punish the Democratic mayor of Sabraw found government off icials were an unsuccessful eff ort to get that Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, after he declined to “generally exercising their discretion to chamber’s Republican Majority endorse the Republican Christie’s gubernato- separate families at the border” in a manner Leader Mitch McConnell to agree rial re-election bid, prosecutors said. consistent with migrants’ “rights to family to include new witness testimony The scandal marred Christie’s reputation, integrity and the Court’s orders.” that could be damaging to the Re- damaged his campaign for the 2016 Republi- The judge added there was no evidence publican president. can presidential nomination and contributed before the court that the government has The Senate is expected to ac- to low public approval ratings in his home state. “returned to systematically separating families quit Trump, as none of its 53 Re- House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) are Christie, who had been a rising star in Re- at the border.” publicans have voiced support for followed by reporters after a House Democratic Caucus meeting at the US Capitol in Washington. publican politics before Bridgegate, denied in- ousting him, a step that would re- volvement and was not charged. quire a two-thirds majority in the the trial was “purely political.” nomination to face Trump in the ny could be a double-edged sword The justices wrestled with whether re-allo- Trump’s Justice Department is defending 100-member Senate. “It’s out of a desire to gain more November 3 election. for Democrats, as some Repub- cating lanes on a bridge was akin to other types the prosecutions of Kelly and Baroni, which A vote today would allow the power. It has nothing to do with The two articles of impeach- licans have said they want to call of government misconduct, citing examples like occurred before Trump took offi ce. Senate to start the trial tomorrow the rule of law by any stretch be- ment — or formal charges — their own witnesses. a mayor asking government employees to paint Baroni initially started serving an 18-month afternoon, although the fi rst few cause the articles they came up against Trump include an accusa- Pelosi could name up to 10 his house or plough snow from his driveway. prison sentence but was released after the Su- days will be consumed with house- with don’t actually cite any crime. tion that he obstructed Congress’ lawmakers as managers to argue Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts noted preme Court agreed last year to hear the case. keeping duties such as swearing in It’s just to try and smear this eff orts to investigate him by in- the case against Trump, includ- that although the lane-meddling created traffi c Kelly’s 13-month sentence was put on hold members and formally reading the president because they know they structing offi cials to ignore House ing House Intelligence Com- chaos, the public could still use the bridge. while she appealed. two impeachment charges. can’t beat him at the ballot box,” committee subpoenas to testify or mittee chairman Adam Schiff, “If people want to use the highway to get to Kelly told Port Authority executive David Lawmakers likely would not White House spokesman Hogan to produce documents at an ear- who spearheaded the impeach- Fort Lee, they can,” Roberts said. Wildstein in an August 2013 e-mail that it was hear opening arguments until next Gidley told Fox News. lier stage of the Ukraine investiga- ment probe, and House Judici- Liberal Justice Elena Kagan said that although “ Time for some traffi c problems in Fort Lee,” week at the earliest. The case against Trump is fo- tion. ary Committee chairman Jerrold government employees were commandeered and they helped invent a sham “traffi c study” “We’ll have I think about a cused on a July 25 telephone call in Democrats want to hear at the Nadler. as part of the scheme, their role was incidental. to justify the lane closures. 10-minute debate and we’ll vote on which he asked Ukrainian Presi- trial from current and former The 1999 impeachment trial of Changing the traffi c lanes of the bridge “is not Wildstein, the accused Bridgegate master- it and then send everything over. dent Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open White House offi cials such as then-President Bill Clinton lasted an appropriation of property,” Kagan said. mind, was sentenced to probation in July 2017 And the Senate trial, I assume, will a corruption investigation into former national security ad- fi ve weeks. Justice Samuel Alito, a New Jersey native after pleading guilty and co-operating with start next week,” Cuellar said. former Vice President Biden and viser John Bolton for insight into If the Senate conducts its trial who served as a federal prosecutor there, was prosecutors. In a US presidential impeach- his son Hunter, and into a dis- Trump’s pressure campaign on along those lines, as Republican among those tough on the prosecution, al- In the appeal, Kelly and Baroni had the back- ment trial, the senators act as a credited theory that Ukraine, not Ukraine that could be damaging McConnell has suggested, that though he also appeared dissatisfi ed at what ing, in a friend-of-the-court brief, of two jury in proceedings overseen by Russia, meddled in the 2016 US for the president’s defence. would mean lawmakers would still Kelly and Baroni’s lawyers argued. high-profi le fi gures who faced public corrup- the head of the Supreme Court, election. But the Republican majority in be considering charges against the At least part of the case hinges on whether tion prosecutions: former media mogul Conrad Chief Justice John Roberts. Democrats say Trump abused the Senate will set the trial’s rules president while the fi rst nominat- Baroni had the authority to change traffi c pat- Black and former Republican Virginia Gover- Republicans and Democrats are his power by asking a foreign gov- and McConnell has not commit- ing contests of the 2020 presi- terns on the bridge, which is a matter of dis- nor Robert McDonnell. likely to clash over the issue of ernment to interfere in an Ameri- ted to allowing any witnesses or dential election were underway in pute. The Supreme Court in 2016 threw out Mc- whether to call new witnesses. can election for his own political new documents. Iowa and New Hampshire. Christie, Kelly and Baroni all attended the Donnell’s bribery conviction in a ruling that Trump has denied any wrongdo- benefi t at the expense of US na- He instead could steer the proc- That could make life diffi cult for arguments before the justices. narrowed the types of conduct that can war- ing and has dismissed his impeach- tional security. ess toward a quick acquittal. the four senators who are running After dropping out of the race for the Repub- rant a corruption prosecution. ment as a partisan bid to undo his Joe Biden, whose son served McConnell has left open the for the Democratic nomination: lican nomination, Christie threw his support Trump last year granted a full pardon to 2016 election win as he tries to win on the board of a Ukrainian gas possibility of deciding on witness Elizabeth Warren, Michael Ben- behind Donald Trump and served as an adviser, Black, who was convicted in 2007 of fraud and re-election in November. company, is a leading Democratic testimony until later in the trial. net, Amy Klobuchar and Bernie but Trump later fi red him as the head of his obstruction of justice and spent 3-1/2 years in The White House said yesterday candidate for the presidential Allowing new witness testimo- Sanders. transition team after being elected president. prison.

California governor’s ‘homelessness tour’ seeks money, solutions to crisis on streets

By Dan Whitcomb, Reuters gramme improve services for the said in a prepared statement. people were hurting their prestige. Sacramento homeless. An estimated 130,000 peo- That same month HUD Secre- “Homelessness isn’t just a ple are homeless somewhere in tary Ben Carson rejected requests concern in our cities, it’s a sub- California on any given day, more for more federal money. alifornia’s governor be- urban issue and a rural issue, than any other state, according Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcet- gan a week-long “home- too. No Californian can say that to the US Department of Housing ti formally asked the Trump ad- Clessness tour” on Mon- homelessness is someone else’s and Urban Development (HUD). ministration for federal assistance day, seeking $750mn to address problem,” Newsom, 52, said in California, home to about on Monday in a letter that indi- growing numbers of people liv- kicking off his tour in Grass Val- 39.6mn people, is the most pop- cated the two sides had produc- ing on the streets, stopping fi rst ley, a town of about 12,000 in the ulous state in the United States. tive negotiations on the matter. in a rural community to show his Sierra Nevada mountains north- Newsom and other California Newsom, who last week called state’s problems extend beyond east of Sacramento. offi cials have traded barbs with for the emergency deployment of the big cities of San Francisco “Every corner of our state has US President Donald Trump over state-owned travel trailers and and Los Angeles. too many people living on the the issue, with Trump blaming tents, was joined by state and lo- Democratic Governor Gavin streets. And the crisis puts stress state and local leaders for failing cal lawmakers on a visit to two Newsom last week asked state on public resources, from emer- to solve the problem. homeless shelters in Grass Valley lawmakers to create the $750mn gency rooms to jails to public On a visit to San Francisco and on Monday. fund as part of his 2020-21 budget works departments. It takes an Los Angeles in September, Trump The fi rst-term governor’s tour and plans to petition the federal unprecedented level of partner- said conditions on their streets will also take him to Los Angeles government for additional money ship between local, state, and including trash, faeces, and hypo- County, the San Francisco Bay Tents and tarps are erected by homeless people along sidewalks and streets in the skid row area of to help California’s Medicaid pro- federal government,” Newsom dermic needles left by homeless area and the Central Valley. downtown Los Angeles. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 ASIA Cambodia to Jakarta residents sue open trial of governor over fl oods opposition Reuters/AFP Bangkok leader Reuters ore than 200 Jakarta Phnom Penh residents have fi led Ma lawsuit against the governor of Indonesia’s capital ambodian opposi- as they seek to hold authorities tion party leader Kem responsible over their inaction CSokha is set to go on during some of the deadliest trial on treason charges to- fl ooding in years, a lawyer for day in a closely watched case the plaintiff s said. as the European Union mulls At least 60 people were killed suspending trade benefi ts over and nearly 175,000 were dis- the Southeast Asian nation’s placed after some of the heavi- human rights record. In this file photo, Kem Sokha est rain since records began It could take up to three greeting media at his home in caused fl ash fl oods and land- months to deliver a verdict, Phnom Penh. slides in Jakarta and nearby defence lawyers said yester- towns on December 31 and day, meaning the case could Cambodia’s exports, will de- New Year’s Day. still be ongoing by the time the cide in February whether or The lawsuit, which was fi led European Union (EU) makes a not to remove Cambodia from at a Jakarta district court on fi nal decision on its trade poli- its Everything But Arms trade Monday by 243 residents against cy next month. scheme over its crackdown on Governor Anies Baswedan, said Kem Sokha was arrested in the political expression. authorities had failed to take 2017 and his opposition Cam- The only evidence present- suffi cient action and sought bodia National Rescue Party ed against Kem Sokha in pub- 42.3bn rupiah ($3.1mn) in com- was banned ahead of a 2018 lic so far is a comment he made pensation. election in which the party of at a public meeting in which The disaster caused at least longtime leader Hun Sen won he said he was getting advice $72mn in damage and monetary all the parliamentary seats. from unspecifi ed Americans losses, according to business He was freed from house ar- on election strategy ahead of a lobby the Indonesian Indig- rest in November but a ban on 2013 ballot. enous Entrepreneurs Associa- his engaging in political activ- Kem Sokha’s daugh- tion. ity was kept in place. ter Monovithya Kem called “People have been aff ected The treason charges stem the trial against her father a tremendously. They deserve from accusations that Kem “farce” as rights groups urged compensation and assurance Sokha was conspiring with the case to be dismissed. from the government that their the United States to overthrow “We hope that he will be ac- concerns are being addressed,” Activists hold up placards and shout slogans during a rally against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in front of City Hall in Jakarta yesterday. Hun Sen. He denies the charg- quitted if the court has any in- said Alvon Kurnia Palma at the es, saying they are politically terest at all in starting to dem- Indonesia Legal Aid Founda- requests for comment yesterday. asters in Jakarta and ample data Widodo has blamed the fl ooding environment and climate change motivated. onstrate its independence,” his tion, who is representing plain- With one of the world’s long- pointing to excessive rainfall, au- on delays to these projects. at the Asian Institute of Technol- Many other opposition fi g- daughter said. tiff s. est coastlines, Indonesia is ex- thorities failed to warn residents It is not just the fl oods that ogy in Bangkok. ures have fl ed into exile and “This is not the fi rst time we tremely vulnerable to climate- and were slow in responding to Jakarta residents are unhappy “It is a way for people to put have accused Hun Sen, who called the charges “bogus”, are fi ling a lawsuit against the change impacts. the recent crisis, Palma said. about: last year, a group of resi- pressure on governments to act, has ruled Cambodia for 35 saying authorities have not government for fl oods, but this Rising sea levels and the in- Part of the central govern- dents fi led a lawsuit against au- and to raise awareness around years, of establishing a one- presented a shred of credible time we have clear evidence ability of existing infrastructure ment’s solution for Jakarta’s thorities for failing to curb wors- the issues,” he said. party state. evidence to support them. linking the government’s neg- to cope with excess water dur- fl oods is to move the capital to ening air pollution. Whole neighbourhoods in the One of Kem Sokha’s at- Ministry of Justice spokes- ligence to the damage caused. ing the monsoon season have the island of Borneo by 2023. The lawsuits are a sign of the capital were submerged by fl ood- torneys, Chan Chen, said a person Chin Malin declined People are angry that nothing resulted in regular fl ooding in Plans to improve Jakarta’s growing frustration of residents waters that forced tens of thou- court offi cial had informed to comment and Phnom Penh has been done,” he said. Jakarta, which is home to more fl ood defences include building with the government’s inaction, sands into temporary shelters af- him that trial may take up to Municipal Court spokesman A spokesman for Governor than 10mn people. two dams and works on the city’s said Shobhakar Dhakal, a profes- ter torrential rains that began on three months. The EU, which Y Rin couldn’t be reached for Baswedan did not respond to Despite previous fl ooding dis- biggest river. President Joko sor in the department of energy, New Year’s Eve. accounts for nearly half of comment yesterday.

Scorpions seized in Lankan Russian FM in Lanka visit airport sting Thailand, Indonesia to share Sri Lanka’s customs has arrested and fined a Chinese man accused of trying to take 200 venomous scorpions out of the country in his checked-in luggage. intelligence to fi ght insurgents The man was suspected of trying to get the scorpions back to China to extract the venom, off icials said. Reuters It was signed during an of- nearly 7,000 people since 2004, Aceh was embroiled in an The live arachnids were Aceh fi cial visit by Thai Army Chief according to the Deep South insurgency that killed 15,000 discovered by security off icials General Apirat Kongsompong Watch monitoring group. people over three decades at Colombo international airport to the Indonesian province of In one recent attack, the in- until a 2005 truce between in plastic containers packed in hailand and Indonesia Aceh yesterday. surgents stormed a security the Free Aceh Movement and the man’s luggage that was to be yesterday signed an in- “This is about limiting the checkpoint and killed 15 people. Jakarta that gave the region checked in. Ttelligence sharing agree- freedom to operate by groups, Indonesian Army Chief of special autonomy and al- “We detained the passenger ment that the Thai army chief because we will be sharing in- Staff General Andika Perkasa lowed it to implement Sharia and launched an investigation,” said would help limit the move- formation and monitoring in- did not mention any specifi c law. customs spokesman Sunil ments of insurgents operating dividuals,” Apirat said. militant groups that Jakarta was Apirat, however, expressed Jayaratne said. “We have not placed in the Muslim-majority south- Apirat said that Indonesia, requesting Thailand to monitor no imminent hope for a peace a value on the 200 scorpions, ern region of Thailand. particularly Aceh, has been but stressed regional co-oper- deal with the southern Thai in- but traff icking in live wildlife has Buddhist-majority Thailand used in the past by Thai in- ation. surgents. become a lucrative trade.” and Muslim-majority Indo- surgent groups to train as well “In handling any security “I have said that the land The suspect was fined 100,000 nesia will share information as to hide and plan operations issue, we should handle it to- within the Kingdom of Thai- rupees ($550) and the scorpions on “movements of extremists, against Thailand. gether,” General Perkasa said. land cannot be separated, but confiscated before the man Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, right, shakes rebels or perpetrator groups Thailand is fi ghting a sepa- Threats to Indonesia include there continues to be those who was allowed to return home, hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a who have been undermining ratist insurgency in the south- Islamist militant groups like are against this all the time, so Jayaratne said. meeting in Colombo yesterday. national security”, the offi cial ern provinces of Yala, Pattani Jemaah Islamiyah and other Is- how can peace be achieved?” he Sri Lanka has about 18 species document seen by Reuters said. and Narathiwat that has killed lamic State inspired groups. said. of venomous scorpions, but only one is fatal to humans. It was not known if the confiscated arachnids were deadly. Tiger footage spurs hope for Thai big cat population LTTE remains in Fears over Nepal’s new IT law EU’s terror list A male tiger noses the gaur is not an easy task,” By Rojita Adhikari, GNS cause the NCP holds a majority and derogatory language, and tremely needed because our soci- bloodied carcass of its WWF-Thailand’s Rungnapa Kathmandu in parliament. spreading the wrong message in ety is going out of control.” latest kill in a Thai national Phoonjampa said, explaining the Sri Lanka’s defunct Liberation The Electronic Transaction society in his songs”. Earlier attempts to restrict park, extraordinary footage existence of large forest prey is Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Act (ETA), passed in 2008 to Comedian Pranesh Gau- press freedoms met with pro- conservationists are hailing as a good sign for the health and has continued to feature in the ail terms of up to fi ve years fi ght cybercrime, has already tam was jailed for nine days in tests that eventually forced the a rare spot of good news for survival of the area’s tigers. European Union’s (EU) renewed could be imposed on people been used to restrict online com- June for critiquing a fi lm on his government to row back. But the endangered big cats. WWF has been tracking the list of terrorist groups, which sets Jin Nepal who post “off en- ment. Critics say the new law YouTube channel. journalist and former newspa- The species has teetered on tiger – named “MKM8” – since out persons, groups and entities sive” comment on social media will further curtail free speech. According to Freedom Forum, per editor Dhruba Hari Adhikary the brink of extinction across 2014. subject to restrictive measures, it sites, including Facebook and Arjun Giri, an editor at the on- 38 journalists were arrested, de- said the situation remained the Mekong region due to Over the course of two weeks, was reported yesterday. Instagram in the latest move by line news portal Tandav News, tained or questioned by police “very dangerous”. deforestation and demand the tiger returned to the gaur It a statement on Monday, the European the government to crack down was detained for four days last in 2019. Taranath Dahal, the fo- “Both parliamentary bills, if for its striking pelts and body to feed. Council said it renewed the EU terrorist on dissent. April under the ETA after writ- rum’s director, said: “The situ- allowed to become law, will ad- parts in traditional medicine. The national park is a part list, which also freezes funds and The information technology ing a story alleging fraud against ation is sinister. If the proposed versely aff ect citizens’ constitu- But a pocket of forest split of Thailand’s tiger recovery financial assets of individuals, persons, (IT) bill, introduced at the end of a powerful local businessman bill becomes law, the media and tional rights relating to freedom between Thailand and plan, which includes trying groups and entities subject in the EU, December, imposes fi nes of up to that was shared on Facebook. journalist[s] will be the most of opinion and expression. The Myanmar – known as the Dawna to increase the population reports the Daily Mirror. 1.5mn rupees (about $13,000) for “I got a shocking call after a targeted. direct eff ect of [proposed] re- Tenasserim – has become a of large prey like gaur and The Tamil separatist group is anyone posting content deemed few days from the local police. “We are living in the digital strictive provisions will be on holdout for the big cat. sambar. among 21 terrorist groups and 15 to promote hate crime or ridi- Police took me into custody, cit- era and we will not be allowed to journalists, but the ultimate im- Sightings of wild tigers are The park sits within the 18mn- individuals featured on the list. cule. It would apply to all social ing that I violated the Electronic give our opinions, or speak and pact will be on people as a whole. rare, but Thailand remains hectare Dawna Tenasserim, Although, the LTTE was networking sites. Transaction Act,” Giri said. express our feelings, due to fear Their right to be informed “one of the last strongholds” which WWF says houses eliminated in Sri Lanka in Last month the ruling Nepal Other journalists and activists of a heavy fi ne and jail punish- citizens of the country is being for them in Southeast Asia, about eight diff erent cat May 2009 following a three- Communist party (NCP) also ta- raised the alarm over his deten- ment, which will promote self- curbed for no fault of theirs. WWF said yesterday. species that range from decade long civil conflict, the bled a “special service bill” that tion. “If media and journalists did censorship. That means there “Constitutionally, Nepal is a Camera traps placed in vulnerable to critically terrorist organisation is active in would allow the National Inves- not raise their voices for me I would will be no public debate. democratic country, not a com- Thailand’s Mae Wong National endangered. European countries as well as in tigation Department to collect have been in jail now,” he said. “This “If we don’t debate there is no munist country like North Ko- Park in western Kamphaeng Other rare species recorded Malaysia and , the Colombo information without a warrant government is misusing its power democracy.” rea. So, the present ruling party Phet province captured in late there include the Asiatic Gazette said in a report. or court order. and becoming a dictator.” But Kalyani Kumari Khadka, cannot – and must not – be al- December a tiger circling a golden cat and the leopard cat. Eff orts to revive the organisation The information technology More recently the rapper chairman of the development and lowed to make laws which seek dead wild gaur, known to be WWF estimates about 180- had been reported in some of bill is expected to be debated by Samir Ghising, also known as technology committee, which to dilute the norms and val- the world’s largest bovine. 220 tigers survive in Dawna these countries and in Sri Lanka, lawmakers this month. Critics VTEN, was jailed for a week un- introduced the legislation, said: ues cherished in a democratic “Even for tigers, killing a Tenasserim. (AFP) it added. (IANS) fear it will pass with ease be- der the act for “antisocial, vulgar “These clauses on the bill are ex- society.” Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Sinkhole swallows bus, kills six in China

An enormous sinkhole swallowed a bus and pedestrians in northwest Shanghai suspends all ties with Prague in spat over Taiwan China, sparking an explosion, killing six people and leaving four more missing, state media said yesterday. Footage showed people at a bus stop running from the collapsing road as the vehicle - jutting into the Reuters including Prague Mayor Zdenek on foreign governments to fall and publicly challenged the ‘one idation and said Taiwan would air - sank into the ground. Several people disappeared into the sink- Shanghai Hrib’s refusal to eject a Taiwan- into line in accepting its claims. China’ principle”, it said. “The not be bullied into submission. hole as it spread, including what appeared to be a child. The incident ese diplomat from a conference On Monday, Hrib and Taipei Shanghai city government and Tsai says Taiwan is an independ- also triggered an explosion inside the hole, video showed. Sinkholes at the demand of a Chinese of- Mayor Ko Wen-je signed a sister people strongly rebuke this and ent country called the Republic are not unknown in China, where they are often blamed on construc- he Shanghai city govern- fi cial, and his decision to fl y the city agreement in Prague along express their stern opposition.” of China, its offi cial name, and tion works and the country’s rapid pace of development. The incident ment said yesterday it was Tibetan fl ag at City Hall to high- with other cultural and tourism Owing to the disappearance of points out that the People’s Re- occurred at around 5:30pm on Monday in Xining, the capital of Qing- Tsuspending offi cial con- light human rights issues. deals. the right “political precondi- public of China has never ruled hai province, the state-run broadcaster CCTV said. A search and res- tact with Prague after the Czech Billions of dollars worth of The government of Shanghai, tions”, Shanghai will immediate- Taiwan. cue operation involving more than 1,000 people and 30 vehicles was capital Prague signed a sister city Chinese investments in the mainland China’s most cosmo- ly suspend all offi cial interactions Taipei Mayor Ko is no sup- underway, according to the off icial Xinhua news agency. An investiga- agreement with Taiwan’s capital, country have also not materi- politan city and its fi nancial hub, with Prague, it added. porter of Taiwan’s formal inde- tion into the cause has been opened. Video footage published by Taipei, in the latest round of Chi- alised. Taiwan is China’s most said in a statement that Prague’s China is already angry with pendence. He visited Shanghai state broadcaster CGTN showed a person being pulled from the hole nese-Czech diplomatic tensions. sensitive diplomatic issue, as the government had made many Taiwan after President Tsai last year and has said that the by rescue workers. The collapse left an 80-square-metre (860-square- Czech President Milos Zeman island is claimed by Beijing as missteps on Chinese core issues Ing-wen won re-election by a two sides of the Taiwan Strait are foot) pit in the street outside a hospital. The 16 injured were taken has pushed ties with China. Chinese territory to be taken by such as Taiwan. landslide last weekend in a cam- part of “one family”. Ko is widely to hospital and are in a stable condition, Xinhua added, citing a local But the capital’s government force if needed. They have “wantonly inter- paign in which she routinely de- expected to stand for the presi- emergency management off icial. An earlier report indicated that 10 has taken a much harder line, China has stepped up pressure fered in China’s internal politics nounced China’s eff orts at intim- dency in the 2024 elections. people were missing but Xinhua said four were unaccounted for. Rain forecast off ers hope in Australian bushfi re fi ght

AFP Sydney

orecasts of heavy rain of- fered hope yesterday in the Lieutenant Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a Fmonths-long battle to con- bushfire to place a memorial on Kangaroo Island, Australia, during OP Bushfire Assist. tain Australia’s unprecedented bushfi res, but smoke lifted pollu- tion levels in the nation’s second biggest city to among the worst in the world. Cool weather over re- cent days has already given some respite for exhausted fi refi ghters spread out across vast swathes of the country, with some of the biggest blazes now brought under control. Optimism was further boosted yesterday with heavy rain fore- cast for some of the hotspots in the most populated eastern states of New South Wales and Victoria. “It’s some pretty good news,” New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane An injured Koala is looked at by a vet after it was treated for burns at a makeshift field hospital at the Fitzsimmons said. “We’ve been Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park on Kangaroo Island yesterday. talking about it for months now, that January might see the fi rst Pollution in Melbourne, which confusion and concern for some the coming days set to clear the fall of decent rain, and that looks is normally ranked as among the players. air. The bushfi res have killed at like what’s coming along over the world’s most liveable cities, was Mandy Minella, the world least 27 people, destroyed more next few days.” rated “hazardous”, with health number 140 from Luxembourg, than 2,000 homes and burnt However, dozens of fi res re- authorities warning people to voiced her opposition on Twit- 10mn hectares (100,000 sq km) of mained out of control and, with stay indoors. Practice sessions for ter. “Shocked to see that quali- land -- an area larger than South many weeks of hot weather still world number one Rafael Nadal fying matches have started @ Korea or Portugal. Australia en- expected throughout Australia’s and some of the other big names Australian Open, What about the dures bushfi res every summer. NSW National Parks and Wildlife services dropping carrots and sweet potato over the bushfire-aff ected summer, there was no suggestion in tennis were suspended yester- health of all the people that have However, climate change and a areas along the South Coast for wallabies. the crisis would end soon. Toxic day. to work out there, especially the prolonged drought have contrib- smoke from the blazes also blew Qualifying rounds for the Aus- ballkids?” she tweeted. Still, the uted to the current crisis, with in 2019, with its highest average around the world to help com- to Australia. The country’s envi- overnight into the Victorian capi- tralian Open were also delayed hazy conditions were not expect- the blazes starting much earlier maximum temperature of 41.9C munities and devastated ani- ronment minister Sussan Ley has tal of Melbourne, which is due to for a couple of hours, and the or- ed to last all week in Melbourne, than normal and lasting for far recorded in mid-December. mal populations. Environmental warned that in some areas, koalas stage the Australian Open tennis ganisers’ decision to resume play with a change in wind direction longer. Australia experienced its The fi res have prompted an groups estimate 1bn animals have may have to be reclassifi ed as en- tournament next week. late yesterday morning caused and the forecast wet weather over driest and hottest year on record outpouring of donations from been killed, many of them unique dangered.

US imposes sanctions on two North Korean entities over labour export

The United States yesterday cilitated, or been responsible for, setd entities and generally prohibit mantle its nuclear weapons and S Korea president takes heart from imposed sanctions on two North the exportation of workers from Americans from doing business ballistic missile programs before Korean entities it accused of North Korea to generate revenue with them. They come at a time sanctions are eased. On Monday, facilitating the export of workers for the North Korean government of heightened tensions between US Secretary of State Mike Pom- Trump’s birthday wishes to Kim from North Korea in violation of or ruling party. It said the latter Washington and Pyongyang. peo said he was hopeful North United Nations sanctions. The US ran a China-based lodging facility Pyongyang has expressed frus- Korea would make the right Treasury Department announced to facilitate labour export. “The tration at what it calls Washing- decision despite slow progress. Reuters the sanctions on the Korea Nam- exportation of North Korean ton’s lack of flexibility in talks “The sanctions that we have put Seoul gang Trading Corp and China- workers raises illicit revenue for and warned that there were no in place on North Korea along based North Korean lodging the government of North Korea longer grounds for it to be bound with the rest of the world ... have facility Beijing Sukbakso, despite in violation of UN sanctions,” by a self-declared moratorium on certainly caused Chairman Kim outh Korea’s President US eff orts to revive stalled talks Treasury Secretary Steven intercontinental ballistic missile to think seriously about the right Moon Jae-in hailed US aimed at persuading North Korea Mnuchin said in a statement. and nuclear weapons testing. US path forward for his people,” he SPresident Donald Trump to give up its nuclear weapons. The sanctions imposed on Monday off icials say North Korea must said, referring to North Korean for sending birthday wishes to It said the former entity had fa- freeze any US assets of the blackli- take more concrete steps to dis- leader Kim Jong-un. North Korean leader Kim Jong- un, describing it as “a great idea” to improve chances of re- starting denuclearisation talks. “Some were concerned about Mealtime a new round of provocations just in time for Chairman Kim’s birthday,” Moon told reporters at an annual news conference yesterday. “Instead, President Trump sent him birthday wish- South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during his New Year es to stress his willingness to press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul yesterday. talk. It was a great idea.” Saturday’s acknowledgement South Korea “presumptuous” and continue with their eff orts.” from the North Korean authori- for trying to meddle in US- Later, when asked whether ties that they had received the North Korea relations. Trump’s decision to order the birthday greetings would be one The statement also ridiculed killing of Iran’s Qassem Solei- of the most concrete confi rma- Seoul for appearing not to know mani could complicate eff orts tions of their leader’s birth date, that the North Koreans have to get Kim to give up his nuclear though they did not mention their own channel of communi- weapons, Moon once again cit- the exact date. Kim’s birthday is cation with Washington. ed the birthday greetings as a believed to be Jan 8, though his Despite the prickly response, good sign that underscores the secretive regime has never con- Moon repeatedly cited the US president’s commitment to fi rmed the date. The US gov- birthday messages as evidence negotiations. ernment lists Kim’s birth year that not all is lost. “North Ko- Last year North Korea said as 1984, making him 36 years rea made clear that the door to that it was losing patience and old this year. dialogue is not closed by say- warned it could take some un- On Friday, a South Korean ing they will come back to talks specifi ed action if the United offi cial said Trump had asked only when their demands are States did not soften its negoti- the South Koreans to pass on accepted,” Moon said of that ating stance by the new year. birthday greetings to North North Korean response. The deadline passed, howev- Korea. Over the weekend, how- “The US-N Korea talks are er, with no immediate provoca- ever, North Korea released a not active right now, but I tion from North Korea, though statement saying it had already would say both leaders — Presi- Kim did say the world would directly received a “personal dent Trump and Chairman Kim soon witness a new strategic Siberian tigers prepare to eat in their enclosure at the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. letter” from Trump and called — continue to trust one another weapon. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 BRITAIN/EUROPE

Varadkar seeks polls UK hid failure to alert EU next month

DPA Dublin over 75,000 convictions reland is set to hold a snap election on February 8 after By Martin Beckford and notifi cations out dating back to on millions of convicted crimi- IPresident Michael D Higgins Daniel Boff ey 2012 due to the reputational im- nals and their jail records. dissolved parliament yesterday Guardian News & Media pact this could have.” It generates daily activity at the request of Prime Minister A minute of a meeting held the fi les of the latest updates, and Leo Varadkar. following month said: “There is any relating to foreign off end- Varadkar, leader of the cen- he UK has failed to pass on still uncertainty whether histor- ers are meant to be forwarded to tre-right Fine Gael party, said the details of 75,000 con- ical DAFs [daily activity fi le], re- the European Criminal Records now was the best time to go to Tvictions of foreign crimi- ceived from the Home Offi ce, are Information Exchange System the polls, as neighbouring Brit- nals to their home EU countries going to be sent out to counties (ECRIS) by a body known as the ain has approved its withdrawal and concealed the scandal for (sic) as there is a reputational ACPO (Association of Chief Po- agreement with the European fear of damaging Britain’s repu- risk to the UK.” Sophie in ‘t Veld: The purpose lice Offi cers) Criminal Records Union. tation in Europe’s capitals, the Asked if the Home Offi ce of information exchange is Offi ce (ACRO), responsible for That gave a “window of op- Guardian can reveal. had resolved the problem in the enhancing security. international police data shar- portunity” to get a new govern- The police national computer seven months since the second ing. ment in place with a “strong error went undetected for fi ve meeting, a spokesman said: “After the revelations of deliber- The ACRO’s annual report mandate” for negotiations later years, meaning that one in three “Work is already underway with ate abuse of the Schengen Infor- showed there were 35,881 “noti- this year on a trade agreement alerts on off enders – potentially the police to resolve this issue as mation System, and earlier scan- fi cations out” sent about foreign between the EU – including Ire- including murderers and rapists quickly as possible.” dals like the hack of [the Belgian nationals convicted in the UK land – and Britain, he said. – were not sent to EU member The revelation comes ahead Authorities in the EU member states were not informed of the telecoms provider] Proximus by during 2018-19, of which 31,022 Varadkar’s term of offi ce since states. of crucial negotiations with the crimes committed, the sentences given to their nationals by the UK the GCHQ, it is clear that the were handed to EU states. 2017 has been dominated by Authorities in EU countries EU over the future security rela- courts or the risk the convicted criminals posed to the public. principle of ‘mutual trust’ will Back in 2015-16, the notifi ca- Brexit. were not informed of the crimes tionship with the UK, with Brit- not work. tions out fi gure was far higher at He has insisted that Britain’s committed, the sentences given ain’s reputation as a trustworthy In an earlier blow to Britain’s thorities and judicial coopera- “This revelation of the failure 46,210. departure from the bloc must to their nationals by UK courts, partner already under serious reputation, Belgian prosecutors tion in criminal matters. to alert authorities on criminals Last year, the ACRO realised not aff ect the open border be- or the risk the convicted crimi- question. concluded in 2018 that British The UK will no longer be a and the cover up afterwards that a large number of the alerts tween the Republic and North- nals posed to the public. This month, the European spies working for the Govern- member of Europol, and its po- casts serious doubts on the UK that should have been given ern Ireland, which is part of the Because the details were not parliament’s justice and home ment Communications Head- lice and security services will as a reliable partner. The pur- to foreign countries had been United Kingdom. passed on, dangerous off end- aff airs committee was given evi- quarters (GCHQ) are likely to lose access to key EU databases pose of information exchange is missed, many of which covered Last month, British Prime ers could have travelled back to dence of “deliberate violations have hacked into Belgium’s big- at the end of the transition pe- enhancing security. convictions of criminals who Minister Boris Johnson got par- their home countries without and abuse” by the UK of the gest telecommunications opera- riod in December 2020. “If one side fails to deliver, had dual nationality. liamentary approval for a with- the normal notifi cation to local Schengen Information System tor for at least a two-year period Sophie in ‘t Veld, a Dutch MEP security gains are zero and co- The ACRO’s strategic man- drawal agreement providing for authorities of their presence. (SIS), an EU database used by on the instruction of UK minis- on the European parliament’s operation pointless. The UK agement board was briefed last an open border, after the issue Such is the scale of the scan- police and border guards across ters. committee on civil liberties, jus- government has to consider very May about the “ongoing issue brought down his predecessor dal that the Home Offi ce initially the border-free Schengen zone. During the negotiation with tice and home aff airs, told the carefully how it intends to re- dating back to 2015 regarding . chose to conceal the embarrass- The British authorities had the EU over the post-Brexit re- Guardian there was a wealth of store trust, bearing in mind ne- notifi cations out for foreign na- A fi nal obstacle to holding ing failure from EU partners. made “unlawful” full or partial lationship, the government will evidence that the UK could not gotiations have to be concluded tionals and that the current DAF polls was cleared on Saturday Minutes of an ACRO (ACPO copies of the database that were seek to convince Brussels that be trusted. by autumn of this year.” reports are missing about 30% when Northern Ireland’s de- Criminal Records Offi ce) meet- said by an EU report to pose there should be continued data “This is yet another scandal Offi cials believe the failure to of foreign nationals”. volved assembly met for the fi rst ing last May state: “There is a “serious and immediate risks to exchange with British authori- that casts a very dark shadow alert EU partners is down to the The board was warned that time after three years of politi- nervousness from Home Offi ce the integrity and security of SIS ties, operational cooperation over security and law enforce- police national computer, a da- an estimated 75,000 checks had cal deadlock, following months around sending the historical data”. between law enforcement au- ment co-operation,” she said. tabase containing information not been done over the years. of negotiations brokered by the Irish and British governments. Varadkar has won plaudits EU asks top court at home for keeping EU leaders united in support of Ireland’s to suspend Polish open border Brexit demand, judicial authority Hundreds apply to work on remote Irish island seen by many in Dublin as key to maintaining a 1998 peace deal in The European Commission Northern Ireland. decided to ask the EU’s top court Caretaker jobs on Great with running three cottages But he has faced criticism on to suspend the functioning of the Blasket, Ireland’s most that accommodate up to 21 domestic issues, notably health- disciplinary chamber of Poland’s westerly point, draw people and serving tea, coff ee care and housing shortages. Supreme Court, in a major responses from Alaska to and snacks to visitors. Vardakar’s Fine Gael and blow to the eurosceptic Polish South Africa Water is boiled in whistling non-party allies have relied on government, which immediately kettles on gas hobs. the support of the centrist op- questioned the move. By Rory Carroll A small wind turbine gen- position party Fianna Fail under The European Union’s executive Guardian News & Media erates enough electricity to a confi dence-and-supply deal arm said its move came after a charge a phone. since March 2016. preliminary ruling of the EU top “So you are not completely But his housing minister bare- court on November 19, which f a demanding job on a tiny cut off ,” said Hayes. ly survived a no-confi dence vote asked Poland’s Supreme Court island with no electricity, She did not disclose the wag- in recent weeks, with just three to rule if its new Disciplinary IWi-Fi or hot showers but es. votes to spare, and supporters Chamber, appointed by the ruling lots of wind sounds tempting, Great Blasket is part of the feared a possible defeat for the PiS party, was independent. join the queue. Blasket islands, the others be- health minister. The Polish Supreme Court ruled An advert for two caretakers ing Beginish, Varadkar defended his domes- on December 5 that it was not. to manage accommodation and Inishabro, Inishvickillane, tic record, saying the country’s “Despite the judgments, the a cafe on Great Blasket island, Inishtooskert, and Tearaght, off economy – recovering after be- Disciplinary Chamber continues a speck off Ireland’s Atlantic the coast of Kerry. ing hard hit by the global crisis to operate, creating a risk of coast, has drawn queries from Close-knit communities of and a local bank collapse in 2008 irreparable damage for Polish Alaska to South Africa. Irish speakers eked a living for – “has never been stronger”. judges and increasing the chilling The jobs, which run from centuries through farming, “Many people are frustrated eff ect on the Polish judiciary,” April 1 to October 1 this year, in- fi shing and weaving. about the pace of progress in said the Commission, the clude free accommodation and Emigration shrivelled the health and housing,” he admit- guardian of EU law, which trumps food, and spectacular views off population and in 1953 the ted, promising a future focus on all national laws of EU countries. Ireland’s most westerly point. government evacuated the last “home ownership and universal “Today, the European “It’s intense and tough but full-time residents. healthcare”. Commission decided to ask the it’s a very unique position,” Al- Last year’s caretakers were But Fianna Fail leader Michael Court of Justice to impose interim ice Hayes, who placed the ad, Lesley Kehoe and Gordon Bond, Martin said key issues needed to measures on Poland, ordering told RTE yesterday. “It’s back to a couple who quit jobs and de- Visitors walk by the remains of a village on Great Blasket. Caretaker jobs on the island include free be addressed “far faster”. it to suspend the functioning of basics – fi res, candles, stoves, manding commutes in Dub- accommodation and food and spectacular views of Ireland’s most westerly point. “In our view it clearly is time the Disciplinary Chamber of the wildlife and nature.” lin for what they considered a for a change of government and Supreme Court,” the Commission The ideal candidates must once-in-a-lifetime opportu- attributed to jealousy or mean- the Great Blasket than us.” ing Irish,” she added. it’s time for a new government said in a statement. get on well – the job would suit nity. ness. “Who were accusing us of The comments impacted her, that will really focus on tangi- The Commission said its move two friends or a couple – and be Towards the end of their stint “People are very protective of commercialising it, saying that she said. “Being on the island ble and credible improvements was not linked to the new Polish fi t, personable and chatty, she they stopped posting pictures the island life,” Kehoe told the we were going to attract more was a perfect experience, and in health and in housing and on draft law which has now cleared said. “No day is ever the same.” and messages on social media, Irish Times. “People who were tourists to the island and ruin any kind of negativity was tak- impacting the cost of living,” the lower chamber of parliament The caretakers are tasked citing unkind responses they saying they knew more about it. Criticising us for not speak- ing away from it.” Martin said. in which PiS has a majority.

Benedict wants name removed Sussexes criticised after royal crisis summit from new book

Former pope Benedict XVI has AFP arrogant entitlement.” Queen Elizabeth, 93, sum- time in Canada and Britain. asked that his name be removed London The Daily Mirror said the moned her eldest son and heir “These are complex mat- from a new book in which he monarch “displayed a selfl ess- Charles, and his two sons ters for my family to resolve, comes down firmly against ness sadly lacking from the way William and Harry to and there is some more work to married priests, his secretary told rince Harry and his wife Harry and Meghan have disre- her Sandringham estate in east- be done, but I have asked for fi - Italian newswire Ansa. Meghan faced fresh criti- spectfully treated her”. ern England for crisis talks on nal decisions to be reached in The book, excerpts of which Pcism yesterday in the wake The Daily Telegraph called the Monday. the coming days,” the sovereign were published on Sunday by an emergency royal meeting to decision “The Queen’s reluctant Meghan was in Canada after said. French newspaper Le Figaro, set discuss their shock announce- farewell”. briefl y returning to Britain last Harry, 35, is sixth in line to off a firestorm with some Vatican ment to step back from frontline The fi nal decisions on the week. the throne behind 71-year-old experts wondering whether royal duties. couple’s future will be thrashed In a rare personal statement Charles, William, 37, and his ultra-conservatives within the British newspapers raked over out in the coming days. afterwards, the monarch said brother’s three young children. Vatican were taking advantage Monday’s meeting at which The Duke and Duchess of Sus- the discussions were “very con- Meghan, 38, a mixed-race of the 92-year old pope emeritus, Queen Elizabeth II agreed to al- sex, as they are formally known, structive” but admitted the Sus- American who had forged her Prince Harry, Meghan, and their son Archie. who has mostly remained out of low the young couple to split unilaterally announced last sexes’ decision was not what she own television acting career, was the limelight since his retirement their time between Canada week they were stepping back would have wanted. seen as a breath of fresh air for has raged since Wednesday over It dates back to 1337 and has in 2013. and the UK until a solution was as senior royals and wanted fi - “My family and I are entirely the royal family when she mar- whether tabloid coverage had offi cially reported assets worth Benedict’s private secretary, found. nancial independence from the supportive of Harry and Meg- ried Harry at Windsor Castle in been racist towards the duchess. £1.1bn ($1.4bn, €1.3bn). Georg Gaenswein, told Ansa that “It means only one thing – monarchy. han’s desire to create a new life,” May 2018. A YouGov poll suggested that The British police meets their on behalf of the former pope, Harry and Meghan have won!” The pair, who have a baby son, she said. “Although we would But in October last year the while 46% of respondents sup- security costs. he asked the book’s co-author, royal commentator Philip Archie, have hinted in recent have preferred them to remain couple admitted to struggling ported the couple’s decision, Besides Britain, Queen Eliza- Cardinal Robert Sarah, “to Dampier wrote in the Daily Ex- months at their unhappiness full-time working members of with the spotlight following 57% thought they had treated beth is the head of state of Cana- contact the publishers of the press. “They metaphorically about life in the public eye and the royal family, we respect and their wedding and Archie’s birth the queen unfairly in their way da and 14 other countries. book begging them to remove held a gun to her head and she Prime Minister Boris Johnson understand their wish to live a in May 2019. of going about it. The Canadian government the name of Benedict XVI as co- has given in.” said he understood their con- more independent life as a fam- The couple have lashed out How the Sussexes will be has yet to decide whether it will author of the book itself and also The Sun tabloid’s editorial cerns. ily while remaining a valued part at negative press coverage since funded is one of the key issues to assume the security costs when to remove his signature from the said: “Our Queen’s surrender to “I am a massive fan ... of the of my family.” their marriage, with Harry resolve. Harry and Meghan are in Cana- introduction and conclusions”. the petulant, selfi sh demands of queen and the royal family as a The queen said the Sussexes claiming British tabloids had Five per cent of the cou- da, Prime Minister Justin Tru- In the book, Benedict is quoted Harry and Meghan may prove fantastic asset for our country,” made clear they did not want to mounted a “ruthless” and “ma- ple’s income comes from pub- deau said on Monday. as writing “I cannot keep silent!” the biggest mistake of her reign. he told BBC television. “I’m ab- be reliant on public funds, while licious” attempt to vilify his lic funds. The rest comes from Canadian taxpayers have tra- about the issue of loosening the “This couple have simply solutely confi dent that they are a transition period had been wife. Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall he- ditionally contributed towards rules over clerical celibacy. raised the bar for self-obsessed, going to sort this out.” agreed in which they will spend Online and television debate reditary private estate. the security costs of royal visits. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 15 INDIA

INVESTIGATION PUNISHMENT TRAGEDY MYSTERY RECORD NIA carries out raids over Man fined Rs26,000 for Boy kills self while Suspicious letter delivered 1,995kg ‘khichdi’ sets a terror-funding case letting son drive bike shooting Tik Tok video to Pragya Thakur in Bhopal world record in HP

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Transport authorities in Odisha yesterday In a bizarre incident, a teenager accidentally A suspicious letter was delivered to Bhopal A 1,995kg ‘khichdi’ dish made from rice and lentils, yesterday searched five places in Manipur and imposed a penalty of Rs26,000 on a man for shot himself and died while shooting a Tik MP Pragya Singh Thakur at her residence in prepared by the Himachal Pradesh Department Nagaland in connection with a terror funding allowing his minor son to ride his motorbike Tok video in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. The Bhopal, police said yesterday. The letter allegedly of Tourism in association with Shimla-based case involving the National Socialist Council near Baranga, on the outskirt of the capital city 18-year-old son of an army man shot himself contained a chemical substance and some pictures. Durga Devi Behari Lal Charitable Trust, entered of Nagaland (IM) (NSCN-IM), off icials said. The Bhubaneswar. He was caught driving the two- in Mudia Bhikampur village of Hafizganj. The A team of police off icials visited her house in the Guinness World Records yesterday. It was anti-terror agency conducted the raids in Imphal wheeler without a helmet. During verification of incident took place on Monday evening when Bhopal on Monday after she filed a complaint. served to devotees on the occasion of Makar in Manipur and Dimapur in Nagaland at five vehicle documents, police found that the boy was Keshav Kumar, a student of class 12, returned The letter is written in Urdu. According to reports, Sankranti, at Tattapani, 55km from the state properties of close associates and relatives a minor. A ticket for Rs26,000 was generated in from school and asked his mother to give him Thakur received an envelope at her Riviera Towne capital Shmila. Braving the winter chill, thousands of accused Alemla Jamir, wife of Pungting the name of the minor’s father Mangaraj Parida. her licensed pistol. The boy was trying to pose residence by post. When she opened the envelop of people across Himachal Pradesh took a dip in Shirmrang alias James Jamir, a member of “The minor was prosecuted as per the rules by the like a soldier with a gun on his shoulder when she found a packet along with the letter. “The letter the hot springs of Satluj river in Tattapani in Mandi the steering committee of NSCN (IM). The traff ic magistrate and the fine was slapped. The the pistol went off and the bullet hit him on the contained pictures of Prime Minister , district. The earlier record under this category searches have led to a recovery of Rs8.2mn in fine was imposed under Amended Motor Vehicles right side. The boy was rushed to a hospital in Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security weighed 918.8kg. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, cash, documents of diff erent properties worth Act 2019. The court will decide on the matter as Bareilly where doctors declared him dead. The Adviser Ajit Doval with cross signs on them,” Thakur who was also present on the occasion, lauded Rs30mn, incriminating diaries, photographs, per the law,” Cuttack Regional Transport Off icer boy’s mother said she was unaware that the told the police. She said when she touched the the Department of Tourism’s eff orts in cooking digital devices including 15 smart phones, one (RTO) Dipti Ranjan Patra said. In a similar incident, pistol was loaded. She said she had refused to packet she felt irritation in her hand. She has alleged ‘khichdi’ on such a massive scale. He said with the hard disk, one pen drive, one memory card and a bike owner was fined of Rs26,000 for allowing a give him the firearm but when he insisted, she a threat to her life. A Forensic Science Laboratory construction of the Koldam project, the area has four laptops. minor boy to ride his motorcycle. relented. (FSL) team is examining the letter. emerged as a major water sports destination. Nirbhaya case: court rejects appeal against death penalty

Agencies Six suspects were arrested and New Delhi charged with sexual assault and murder. One was a minor and appeared he Supreme Court yes- before a juvenile justice court, terday dismissed the last while another committed sui- Tlegal challenge by two of cide in Tihar Jail. the four convicts who have been The four convicts were sen- sentenced to death in the 2012 tenced to death by a trial court in Delhi gang-rape case. September 2013, and the verdict A fi ve-judge bench rejected was confi rmed by the Delhi High petitions fi led by the convicts Vi- Court in March 2014 and upheld nay Sharma and Mukesh Sharma in May 2017 by the Supreme against their death sentence. Court, which also dismissed The attack on the 23-year old their review petitions. Demonstrators attend a protest rally against a new citizenship law in Kochi yesterday. physiotherapy student, who the Vinay Sharma in the curative media named Nirbhaya, on the petition said his entire family moving bus shocked India and suff ered due to the criminal pro- led to tough new laws against ceedings. sexual violence, including the “The petitioner is not the only death penalty for rape in some person being punished; his en- cases. tire family has suff ered greatly as The victim died from her inju- a result of the criminal proceed- ries two weeks later in hospital in ings. The family faced societal Kerala challenges new . wrath and humiliation for no fault of theirs. “The petitioner’s parents “The petitioner’s parents are are old and extremely poor. old and extremely poor. The case The case has been a huge has been a huge drain on their drain on their resources resources and now they are left and now they are left almost empty handed,” petition citizenship law in SC almost empty handed” said. “The petitioner’s father earns Agencies ing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). have already started enacting and economy at large,” he said, prize in Economics in 1998, has The court said that there were a meagre living. The family has New Delhi There have been demon- the law as of January 10. according to a statement re- emerged as one of the strongest no grounds to review its decision no savings and lives in the R strations for weeks against the State minister and spokes- leased by Microsoft India. civil society voices against the upholding the death sentence for K Puram Harijan Basti. If the CAA, which omits Muslims man Shrikant Sharma told re- Nobel laureate Amartya Sen law. the four men, all from working petitioner is executed, his en- erala yesterday became from a list of religious groups porters on Monday that the too has criticised the decision. Last week, he called for class neighbourhood in the In- tire family will be destroyed,” it the fi rst state in the from three neighbouring coun- government had begun iden- On Monday he stressed the scrapping the CAA, saying it dian capital. stated. Kcountry to legally chal- tries who are entitled to fast- tifying illegal migrants who need for opposition unity for was not in tune with the Indian “We have gone through the cur- The plea further said the state lenge a new citizenship law that track citizenship. might be eligible for citizenship carrying forward the protests, constitution. ative petitions and relevant docu- had no evidence in the form of has sparked nationwide pro- Critics have said the law de- under the law. but said even if there was no “Under this Act, whether ments. In our opinion, no case is psychiatric structured clinical tests. fi es India’s secular constitu- Around 32,000 people had unity, the protesters still have citizenship will be given or not made out within the parameters judgment, based on the appel- The Citizenship Amendment tion and constitutes an attempt been identifi ed in 21 of the to move on and do whatever is will be decided after ascertain- indicated in the decision of this lant’s life in the prison (around Act (CAA) 2019 is a violation at marginalising the minority state’s 80 districts and more necessary. ing the religion of a person. This court,” the court said its order. 7 years) and life prior to it, in the of several articles of the con- Muslim population. would be added as the process “Opposition unity is impor- defi nitely is not in tune with The men were convicted in background of his mental im- stitution, including the right to The BJP government says the was ongoing, he added. tant for any kind of protest. the constitution. Such an Act 2013 and lost all appeals in a pairment, his adjustment to and equality, Kerala’s Communist law would not aff ect the rights Several non-BJP state gov- Protest becomes easier then,” should not have been passed in higher court. Last week, a Delhi interaction with other inmates Party of India (Marxist) govern- of any citizen of India - Hindu ernments said they will block Sen said on the sidelines of an the fi rst place,” Sen said. court said they would be hanged and offi cials. ment said in its petition before or Muslim, and has accused op- eff orts to enforce the citizen- event in Kolkata yesterday. Meanwhile, a police com- on January 22. Sexual violence against women the Supreme Court. ponents of spreading misinfor- ship law. “Unity is important if the the plaint was lodged against BJP The family of the victim wel- is a huge problem in India where a The law also goes against the mation. Microsoft CEO India-born protest is for a proper cause. But West Bengal unit president comed the court ruling. rape occurs every 20 minutes. secular nature of the consti- At least 60 petitions fi led by Satya Nadella also joined the if unity is not there, it doesn’t Dilip Ghosh for his threat to “I am feeling good. We want to Many of the cases have drawn tution, according to the peti- political parties and civil socie- chorus against the law, following mean that we should stop pro- “beat up” and “shoot’ “ anti- see them hanged. Only then will revulsion and anger across the tion available on legal website ty groups challenging the valid- criticism by a number of Indian testing. CAA protesters, whom he called justice be served to our daughter country. LiveLaw. ity of the new law are pending writers and civil society groups. “As I said, unity makes pro- “infi ltrators”. who died in pain,” said her father. A P Singh, a lawyer for the Kerala’s assembly was also the before the top court and are due “My hope is for an India tests easier, but if unity is not The complaint was fi led by The convicts can approach the four defendants, said that he fi rst state assembly in India to to be heard on January 22. where an immigrant can aspire there, we still have to move on Trinamool Congress worker president of India with a mercy would read the written order of pass a resolution against the law, In India’s most populous to found a prosperous start-up and do whatever is necessary,” Krishnendu Banerjee, who al- petition to commute the death the court and decide the next which is strongly backed by the state of Uttar Pradesh, which or lead a multinational corpo- he added. leged that Ghosh was inciting sentence. course of action. federal government and the rul- is ruled by the BJP, authorities ration benefi ting Indian society Sen, who won the Nobel communal passion. AAP announces all 70 Delhi Trump considering candidates, adds new faces India visit in Feb Agencies ment on the proposed visit. IANS The AAP’s manifesto, likely to cleanliness, which is otherwise New Delhi Trump’s visit will most likely New Delhi be released by the weekend will the municipal corporation’s job. be fi nalised after his impeach- focus on water, pollution and “The BJP has been heading the ment trial begins in the Senate traffi c management. municipal corporations for the S President Donald next week. elhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi The party, which claims to last 15 years. But people are un- Trump is considering vis- Modi and Trump share a Party yesterday released have fulfi lled all the promises happy with the waste manage- Uiting India next month, strong relationship, a glimpse Dits full list of candidates made in the 70-point mani- ment and are demanding that we for what would be his fi rst visit of which was displayed last year for the February 8 elections to festo of 2015, has set up a three- take some steps.” to the world’s largest democracy in Houston where the two lead- the 70-member assembly. member committee, comprising Similarly, the party has also since he took offi ce three years ers endorsed each other before a Chief Minister Arvind Kejri- Atishi as the chairperson and received several requests for ago, sources with knowledge of massive Indian diaspora. wal will contest again from New Ajoy Kumar and Jasmine Shah as better traffi c management. “Al- the matter said yesterday. Though, a majority of Indi- Delhi and his deputy Manish members. though the two are not under Prime Minister Narendra ans in the US have historically Sisodia from Patparganj. According to a party leader, the city government, we are ex- Modi, seeking to build close ties and traditionally been Democrat While 46 of the sitting legis- the manifesto will focus on the ploring what can be done about with Washington, had previous- voters, the ‘Howdy Modi’ event lators will re-contest the elec- issues related to the common them,” the AAP leader said. ly invited Trump to attend the in Texas, may have struck a new tions, 15 have been replaced. As man. In the 2015 polls, the AAP won Republic Day parade later this political dynamic. nine seats were vacant, the AAP “To tell you in one line, the 67 70 seats, the Bharatiya Janata month, but the US offi cials said it Republicans in the US hope has also named new candidates. manifesto will list the works we Party three. The AAP has dis- would clash with the president’s to swing Indian votes in their The list also comprises eight are planning to do in the next fi ve qualifi ed fi ve of its MLAs since State of the Union address. favour in the next presidential women. years,” the party leader said. August 2019. “There has been an open invi- elections. Among the new faces in the The manifesto drafting com- While Anil Kumar Bajpai, tation for him to visit, both sides India and the United States list are former Congress leaders mittee has compiled the sug- Devinder Sehrawat and Kapil are working out the dates,” one have built close political and secu- Shoaib Iqbal (Matia Mahal) and gestions gathered at town hall Mishra were disqualifi ed for of the sources said. rity ties, but in recent years trade Prahlad Singh Sawhney (Chand- meetings, organised by Arvind their association with the BJP, Another source said Trump frictions have come to the fore. ni Chowk) and the party’s Lok Kejriwal, door-to-door cam- Sandeep Kumar was disquali- could come in the second half of Trump has frequently named Sabha candidates Dilip Pandey paigns and public interactions. fi ed for having connections with February and that he may visit a India as one of the countries (Timarpur), Atishi (Kalkaji) and Among the top suggestions, Bahujan Samaj Party and Alka Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia second city besides Delhi. with the highest tariff s in the Raghav Chadha (Rajinder Na- the leader said, was a demand Lamba was disqualifi ed after she addresses a press conference to announce the names of The external aff airs ministry world and withdrawn a key trade gar). for improvement in the city’s joined the Congress. candidates yesterday. did not have an immediate com- concession for that reason. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 PM stresses on independence of institutions needed for progress

Internews parency in governance without promising future as well as con- Nadeem Babar, KP Finance Min- informed at the meeting that the Islamabad accountability.” fi dence in the prime minister, he ister Timor Saleem Khan, the ministry of fi nance would pro- Khan and Awan exchanged added. federal fi nance and planning sec- vide the required funds for the views on the current situation of “People will receive the bene- retaries, the KP chief secretary, timely completion of develop- rime Minister Imran Khan the country. fi ts of the government’s econom- Higher Education Commission ment projects in the merged ar- has stressed the need to The prime minister was briefed ic policies in 2020,” Awan quoted (HEC) chairman Tariq Banuri, eas. Pcontinue with institutional on diff erent laws and constitu- the prime minister as saying. and other senior offi cers were in The prime minister was also reforms, saying that the inde- tional matters. Separately, the prime minis- attendance. apprised that the ministry of en- pendence of institutions is vital According to a statement is- ter chaired a meeting to review “We have to work with the ergy is working to strengthen the for the country’s progress. sued by the former minister, “the progress on energy, higher edu- people to thwart conspiracies weak power transmission infra- Last year, the government had prime minister has said that the cation, health and development of external elements,” said the structure in those areas. Prime Minister Khan: was quoted as saying that ‘people will receive disclosed that only eight gov- country has earned respect at the projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prime minister. “It is essential Khan directed the power min- the benefits of the government’s economic policies in 2020’. ernment departments would be international level through the (KP), especially the merged areas that the people of the merged ar- istry to resolve the issues of pay- wound up as part of the reorgani- government’s eff ective policies”. of erstwhile Federally Adminis- eas be taken on board regarding ment of dues of Malakand-III cial issues and needs of KP uni- rupted delivery of quality health sation plan already approved by During the meeting, Awan tered Tribal Areas (Fata). development projects and eff orts hydropower project and Pehur versities as well as the strategies facilities at major hospitals of the the cabinet. praised the government’s meas- Khan urged the people of the being made to solve their prob- hydropower project. adopted by the commission in province. The number of these entities ures in providing relief to the newly-merged areas to pay no lems.” The directives also include re- resolving and meeting them. On the provincial govern- would be reduced from 441 to 342 masses, saying: “The Ehsaas heed to the naysayers, saying that The meeting reviewed the solving the issue of income tax It was decided that a detailed ment’s suggestion, Prime Minis- as some would be merged with programme, shelter homes and development projects in their development plans and the concession for Machai hydro- meeting would be held within ter Khan directed the ministries others and some would go to the kitchens, are an important step areas are the top priority of the progress made so far on them in power project and Pakhtunkhwa the next few days to fi nalise the of Finance and planning to com- provinces, it added. towards an established state.” government. the merged areas. Energy Development Organisa- strategy adopted by the HEC. plete 16 most-important projects In a meeting with former law The fast-improving economic Minister for Energy Omar According to a statement is- tion projects. The prime minister directed under the Public Sector Develop- minister Babar Awan, the prime situation of the country and in- Ayub, KP Chief Minister Mah- sued by the Prime Minister’s Of- HEC chairman Banuri briefed the planning secretary to fulfi l ment Programme (PDSP), on a minister said: “There is no trans- crease in remittances portray a mood Khan, Special Assistant fi ce, Prime Minister Khan was the prime minister on the fi nan- the requirements for uninter- priority basis.

382 unsafe buildings More than 70 people die in old areas of in Kashmir avalanches Karachi: Reuters/AFP/DPA/Internews people still feared trapped”, said “Rescue operation is under ance on an emergency footing offi cial Islamabad Raja Farooq Haider, the prime way with the help of Pakistan to the aff ected people in AJK,” minister of Pakistani Kashmir. army,” he said, adding that due Prime Minister Imran Khan “The death toll might be much to the severe weather conditions tweeted. Internews ore than 70 people were higher than our estimates ... we the operations were hampered. A senior Indian police offi cial Karachi killed and many more still don’t have any idea how He added the injured were said fi ve soldiers were among Mwere missing after many people are missing,” he shifted in Pakistan army heli- the 10 killed near the border be- avalanches in Pakistan-admin- said. copters to nearby hospitals. tween India and Pakistan. he Sindh government has istered Kashmir over the last 24 Helicopters and heavy ma- In neighbouring India, at least The area is one of the world’s decided to establish a sep- hours, senior government offi - chinery were being used for 10 people were killed after sever- most militarily tense frontiers, Tarate authority to develop cials said yesterday. rescue operations and to deliver al avalanches hit the northern- where the neighbouring armies a master plan for the urban areas A massive avalanche swept food and medicines to victims in part of Indian-administered have confronted each other over and other regions in the south- away homes in the Neelum area areas made inaccessible due to Kashmir. disputed territory for decades. eastern province. of Pakistan-administered Kash- the landslides. Pakistani offi cials said many Kashmir has been divided be- A meeting chaired by Sindh mir, killing at least 71 people and According to Ahmad Raza villagers were still stranded by tween Indian and Pakistan since Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah leaving dozens missing, the na- Qadri, the chief of the Khyber the avalanches in the Neelum their independence in 1947. was held in Karachi, offi cial tional disaster agency said. Pakhtunkhwa disaster manage- Valley area following heavy rain In 2012, an avalanche engulfed sources said yesterday. Army helicopters, military ment authority, 49 bodies were that also triggered landslides. a Pakistani army battalion head- A draft bill titled the “Sindh vehicles and hundreds of rescu- removed from collapsed build- Many people were reported quarters near the Indian border, Urban and Regional Master Plan ers were yesterday “scrambling ings in Muzaff arabad, the capital missing and feared dead as res- killing at least 124 soldiers and 11 Authority” has been fi nalised Injured avalanche victims from Neelum Valley arrive in through a sea of mud and rocks of Pakistan-administered Kash- cue eff orts got under way, one of civilians. and forwarded to the Sindh law Muzaff arabad in an army helicopter. in a frantic search for dozens of mir. the offi cials said. In Baluchistan, at least 31 department. Rescuers had managed to ex- people had been killed in sepa- The bill would now be pre- tract more than 50 people from rate weather-related incidents. sented by the Sindh local gov- the snow and airlifted them out “Most of those who died ernment secretary in a meeting of the area for treatment. were women and children,” of the Sindh cabinet. Authorities also scrambled said Mohamed Younus, an offi - Once passed, the legislation to provide relief to local people cial with the provincial disaster would separate the master plan with another spell of heavy snow management authority, adding department from the Sindh expected on Friday. that many hundreds remained Building Control Authority At least 53 houses had been stranded. (SBCA). completely destroyed by ava- Elsewhere, in the country, Karachi Commissioner Ift- lanches in the Azad Jammu and a number of people have been ikhar Shallwani informed the Kashmir (AJK), offi cials said. killed because of the severe meeting that buildings are being “I have asked the National weather. constructed illegally in old areas Disaster Management Authority Three people were killed in of the city. (NDMA), the military and all our Punjab province, and in Sindh, The offi cial said that people federal ministers to immediately one person lost his life as a result had been constructing up to provide all humanitarian assist- of heavy rains in Sukkur. fi ve-storey buildings in the me- tropolis. Lahooti Melo 2020 postponed due to bad weather Shallwani further told the par- ticipants of the meeting that the The much-awaited Lahooti Melo, which was supposed to take place this construction of illegal buildings week, has now been postponed to February due to the harsh winter wave has not stopped despite a recent and expected rain in Jamshoro Sindh. incident of a building collapse in According to a press release, regardless of the team being fully prepared Timber Market, leaving many to kick off festivities on the 17th of January, it is extremely tough for the residents without a shelter. labourers to carry on with their tasks. Separately, the SBCA direc- “We feel that we should not risk the health and well-being of our workers, tor-general told the meeting speakers and attendees,” it said. that the building in question in “Our team has worked immensely hard to bring you the best line-up of Timber Market area had been performers and speakers based on our theme ‘Eco, Not Ego’, so we hope declared unsafe for living prior for your co-operation.” to the incident. The new dates for the event are February 14, 15 and 16, making it the first However, the occupants had time the festival will carry on for three days. refused to vacate it. Living up to its reputation for promoting global social issue within local He said that the old areas of context, the fifth edition of the festival carries the theme of climate the city still had 382 danger- change. ous buildings, and that adver- Going under the hash tag #Econotego, Lahooti Melo would feature tisements had been published experts from diverse backgrounds participating in panel discussions and in newspapers to make people Local residents remove the debris of a collapsed house following heavy snowfall that triggered an avalanche in Neelum Valley, in workshops. aware of the issue. Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Sindh chief secretary then asked the relevant offi cials to take due lawful action against the builders responsible for the construction of unsafe buildings in the city. Lawmakers reject High Court’s judgment in Musharraf case Last month a six-storey building in the metropolis’ Ran- chore Lane area collapsed after it Internews court’s verdict baffl ed her. The former president was The PPP lawmaker is of the Mushahidullah Khan expressed Chaudhry on the roads of - started leaning sideways before Islamabad “Today is an unfortunate day sentenced to death by a special view that the appeal against the reservations over the verdict. abad, and it was Musharraf who crumbling to dust. for the rule of law,” the PPP law- court in Islamabad on December verdict should have been fi led in He said that despite the LHC’s had put judges under the house The building, which was con- maker said. 17 last year, six years after the the Supreme Court, and not in judgment, he would pay tribute arrest. structed 12 years ago and housed he Pakistan Peoples Par- The three-member Lahore start of the trial. the high court. to Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, The PML-N senator recalled 25 fl ats as well as a couple of ty (PPP) and Pakistan High Court (LHC) bench de- The case was fi led by the Shah said that a case with re- the head of the special court, how Musharraf had boasted on warehouses, was reportedly ille- TMuslim League – Nawaz clared the formation of the spe- previous PML-N government gard to judicial murder of PPP which convicted Musharraf in May 12, 2007, after several peo- gal as only its fi rst fl oor had been (PML-N) have expressed sur- cial court – which heard the high against Musharraf for suspend- founder and former prime min- the case. ple were killed in Karachi, add- approved in the original 1987 ar- prise and reservations over the treason case against Musharraf ing the Constitution on Novem- ister Zulfi kar Ali Bhutto had The PML-N leader said that ing that people still remembered chitectural plan. judgment of the Lahore High and handed him a death sen- ber 3, 2007, and imposing emer- been awaiting hearing for the the whole world “saw dictator” the military ruler’s speech of the Offi cials present at the site Court on the appeal of former tence after fi nding him guilty of gency. last eight years, whereas an ap- Musharraf abrogating the Con- day when he had declared that opined that substandard mate- military ruler Genral Pervez treason – as “unconstitutional”. Shah said that the special peal against the conviction of a stitution and putting his boots “they have shown their might in rial was used in the construc- Musharraf against his convic- The LHC bench, which was court which convicted Mushar- military dictator had been de- on it, and everyone “saw” the Karachi”. tion, which led to the building’s tion by the special court in the hearing Musharraf’s petitions raf in the high treason case last cided within days. military ruler threatening and Khan said the list of Mushar- decrepit state and eventual col- high treason case. against the verdict, also ruled month had been constituted by She also said that killers of then killing Baloch Sardar Na- raf’s “crimes” was very long. lapse. In a statement, issued by PPP’s that the treason case against the Supreme Court of Pakistan, former prime minister Benazir wab Akbar Bugti. He said that it is strange that The building had also experi- central media offi ce, member of the former army chief was not and that it consisted of judges Bhutto had also not been ar- He said that the media also despite all this, there are people enced a fi re in the past, as per its the National Assembly (MNA) prepared in accordance with the from three high courts of the rested so far. showed pictures of manhandling who still believe that Musharraf residents, and repair work had Dr Nafi sa Shah said that the high law. country. Meanwhile, PML-N Senator of the then-chief justice Iftikhar should not be convicted. been done prior to that. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES Lawyer to withdraw ICC complaint against Duterte

Reuters torney Jude Sabio in 2017 is one dressed to ICC Prosecutor Fatou aside”. Former Senator Antontio While a complaint from a sin- tor said it would aim to finalise and sought to portray him as a Manila of several communications to Bensouda. Trillanes, one of Duterte’s most gle, external party could alert the a preliminary examination to “ruthless and heartless violator the court calling for Duterte’s Sabio is the lawyer for Edgar vocal opponents, said the presi- prosecutor to possible crimes, it enable it to reach a decision on of human rights”. indictment over thousands of Matobato, a man who has tes- dent’s allies must have a hand in would not in itself be the basis whether to seek authorisation Last month he said he would Philippines lawyer who alleged extrajudicial killings tifi ed in the Philippines Senate Sabio’s decision, saying it was for a case. to open an investigation into refuse to co-operate if put on fi led a complaint at the during his campaign against that he was part of a hit squad an indication they are worried The prosecutor’s office the Philippines. trial. Human rights groups say AInternational Criminal narcotics. that operated on Duterte’s or- about the ICC case. would initiate its own inves- Duterte has been dismissive Duterte’s anti-drugs crack- Court (ICC) accusing President “I fervently request that it ders. There was no immediate com- tigation to determine whether of the ICC process. The fire- down involved systematic ex- Rodrigo Duterte of murder in a be expunged or erased from the In his letter, Sabio said the ment from Duterte’s offi ce. crimes under the ICC’s statute brand leader unilaterally with- ecutions and police cover-ups. bloody anti-drugs crackdown record, and that it should not be ICC case had been used by op- Under ICC rules, a prosecu- had been committed and war- drew in March 2018 from the Police reject that and say the said yesterday he will no longer used in any way in the ongoing position politicians as a “tool tion could still proceed after a ranted charges. ICC’s founding treaty, saying nearly 7,000 people they have pursue the case. preliminary examination,” Sa- for propaganda” and should submission were withdrawn by In a December 2019 report, it skirted due process and the killed were armed drug sus- The complaint fi led by at- bio said in a 28-page letter ad- therefore be “thrashed and set an external party. the office of the ICC prosecu- presumption of his innocence pects who resisted arrest.

Navy ships Govt struggles to evacuate leave on rescue reluctant villagers near volcano

Reuters mission to Manila

Mideast early 40,000 people have been evacuated Nfrom near a Philippine By Dempsey Reyes volcano that could erupt vio- Manila Times lently at any moment, authori- ties said yesterday, but thou- sands more are refusing to leave he Philippine Navy yes- or have already drifted back. terday sent two of its A cloud of ash and fountains Tships on a mission to of lava gushed for a third day evacuate overseas Filipino work- from the crater of Taal, which ers in the Middle East amid ten- lies in the middle of a lake about sions between the United States 70km south of the centre of the and Iran. Philippines capital Manila. The two ships are the BRP Ra- Everyone living within 14km mon Alcaraz (PS-16) and BRP of the volcano has been ordered Davao del Sur (LD602), accord- to leave: potentially as many as ing to Vadm. Robert Empedrad, 300,000 people, though dis- the Philippine Navy fl ag offi cer aster agency spokesman Mark in command. Timbal said he believed the ac- Empedrad explained that tual number who had been there each ship would be composed was much lower. of 130 military personnel, while Offi cially, 38,200 have now the task group would be com- been evacuated, the agency posed of 100 personnel, includ- said. ing medical and repair teams Local offi cials complained and Navy Seals. He, however, that many others were compli- said there was no specifi c deci- cating the evacuation eff ort by sion yet at what port the ships staying put. Residents living at the foot of Taal volcano unload their horses from a wooden boat would dock, adding that he was “I had to put Talisay under Residents living along Taal lake catch fish as the volcano erupts in Tanauan town, after rescuing them from their homes and transporting them to Balete town, Batangas not aware of the decision arrived lockdown to prevent residents, Batangas province, south of Manila, yesterday. province, south of Manila, yesterday. at by higher headquarters of the who were already in the evacu- Armed Forces of the Philippines. ation centres from returning,” dum, director of the Philippine a traditional way to calm the Emperad, nevertheless, as- said Gerry Natanauan, mayor Institute of Volcanology and volcano down. “You should go sured that co-ordination and of one town that is well within Seismology (Philvocs). there and, you know, say a lit- further studies are being con- the danger zone of the 311 metre “The threat is really real,” he tle prayer and off er something. ducted on the “best port” for volcano. “They wanted to check told a media briefi ng. Let’s go by the primitive way of docking. The ships’ voyage may their homes, possessions and However, many refused to doing it just like what our fore- last 16 to 22 days. animals, but they’re not sup- heed the warnings. fathers would do,” he was quot- “Based on the guidance of posed to do that because it is In part of Balete town, which ed as saying by the Inquirer.Net (President Rodrigo Duterte), very dangerous.” sits on the edge of the danger website. their mission is to bring back Although Taal is one of the zone, Red Cross trucks were Taal has erupted more than the aff ected (Filipinos) from the world’s smallest active volca- sent to bring out 1,000 resi- 30 times in the past fi ve centu- Middle East. That is our main noes, it has a deadly history: dents, but they left with only ries, most recently in 1977. mission,” Empedrad told report- an eruption in 1911 killed more 130 because people thought A 1754 eruption lasted for ers. He reminded the departing than 1,300 people. they were far enough from the months. The Philippines lies on troops to be safe and vigilant and Several new fi ssures have volcano, local authorities said. the “Ring of Fire”, a belt of vol- to remain on alert while tensions opened, emitting plumes of No casualties have been re- canoes circling the Pacifi c Ocean are still present in some areas in steam, while dozens of tremors ported so far, and seismologists that is also prone to earthquakes. the Middle East. were felt as far as in Tagaytay said there was a chance this In Manila, government offi ces The two ships might refuel in city, a popular tourist destina- eruption could subside, but the reopened yesterday after be- Singapore or in Sri Lanka, ac- tion 32km away. signs still point to an imminent ing closed on Monday because cording to Empedrad, while If an eruption happened, no- explosion. of a fi ne layer of ash that drifted diplomatic clearances from host body would be able to return to Visiting the area yesterday, from the volcano, but schools countries are still being proc- their homes because they would President Rodrigo Duterte joked remained shut and many people essed. be devastated, said Renato Soli- that the government could try still wore face masks. A ferris wheel is covered with volcanic ash in a park in Tagaytay City.

Filipino couple weds under volcanic cloud Eruption aff ects nearly 5mn

Reuters Manila students in 4,000 schools

couple getting married By Jan Arcilla track and monitor schools that ashes, clean the roofs and gut- in the Philippines over Manila Times are aff ected by the ashfall from ters with water to prevent cor- Athe weekend witnessed a the eruption. rosion.” surprise guest at their wedding. “We are receiving informa- Meanwhile, the DepEd said it In what has made for dramatic he Department of Edu- tion of many areas aff ected by had already deployed the staff shots that have since gone vi- cation (DepEd) yester- ashfall as a result of Taal vol- of its Disaster Risk Reduction ral on social media, Chino and Tday said at least 5mn cano’s eruption, and we are Management Service (DRRMS) Kat Palomar exchanged vows in students in over 4,000 schools aware of the threat it poses to to the National Disaster Risk Cavite province on Sunday un- in four regions are aff ected by our school buildings,” DepEd Reduction and Management der a gigantic cloud of smoke and the Taal volcano eruption over Undersecretary for Adminis- Council Operations Center. ash from Taal, one of the world’s the weekend. tration Alain del Pascua said. The DepEd DRRMS will also smallest active volcanoes. According to DepEd’s lat- “Please help us identify them “continue to monitor” updates “The mood was surprisingly est situation report, 5,245,928 by posting photos of schools from the Philippine Institute of calm despite the large billows of students in 4,498 schools were aff ected by the ashfall and in- Volcanology and Seismology, smoke that were already promi- aff ected by the eruption. clude the hashtag #SchoolPa- co-ordinate with regions and nently visible in the ceremony Classes have been declared trolPH,” he added. divisions on class suspensions area,” said Randolf Evan, the suspended at all levels in some In a memorandum, Pascua and other eff ects of the erup- wedding photographer. parts of the National Capital advised schools within the per- tion, and “immediately deploy Evan related how the volcano Region (Metro Manila), Region manent danger zone and high- response interventions” such began spewing smoke an hour or 3 (Central Luzon), Regions 4-A risk barangay (villages) to ob- as hygiene kits and cleanup two before the wedding started, (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, serve precautionary measures. funds to aff ected areas. and said ash began to fall on the Rizal and Quezon or Calabar- He also advised principals, It will also begin the imme- party toward the end of the cer- zon) and Region 4-B (Mindoro teachers and other school per- diate deployment of response emony. Occidental, Mindoro Orien- sonnel to use N95 respiratory interventions (hygiene kits and More than 24,000 people have tal, Marinduque, Romblon and masks, a damp cloth or two cleanup funds) to the aff ected been forced to evacuate their Palawan or Mimaropa). surgical masks with two lay- areas. homes from the volcanic island The number of aff ected stu- ers of tissue in between; wear Also, as part DepEd’s pro- on which Taal is located south dents reached 6,639,044 as of a hat, long-sleeved shirts and tocol, respective local govern- of central Manila, and in the area Monday night. long pants; and wear eyeglasses ment units and school heads immediately around it — nor- A couple attends their wedding ceremony as Taal volcano sends out a column of ash in the background in The DepEd said 67 schools in or goggles to protect their eyes are given the discretion to mally a popular tourist spot. Alfonso, Cavite, in this image obtained from social media. six divisions under Calabarzon from ashfall. Pascua told them schedule their own resumption Social media users responded were being used as evacuation to carefully clean school build- of classes. with amazement to the shots of “Kudos to the wedding plan- couple were little affected. ding was eight years and two kids centres, with 191 classrooms ings and surroundings. The state seismology bureau the bride and groom and their ner,” read one jokey comment. “They were actually relaxed in the making, so this day they in such schools housing 2,081 “If safe to do so, remove ac- raised Alert Level 4 over Taal party in a white canvas tent lit “This is going to be tough to top.” and collected throughout the planned for was going to be special families or 16,785 individuals. cumulated (ashes) in the roofs Volcano on Sunday night after with fairy lights under billowing Despite the alarming back- whole wedding,” Evan said. no matter what, with or without It earlier urged its personnel and gutters regularly to prevent the volcano island spewed a gi- clouds streaked by lightning. drop, Evan said the bridal “We later found out their wed- the Taal volcano’s intervention!” and other stakeholders to help damage. After removing the ant column of steam and ash. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Green, sustainable investments deliver lucrative returns

The evolving paradigm shift towards green and sustainable investments across the fi nance world is getting more pronounced. The US companies most evidently embracing green technology are outperforming every broad measure of the stock market, delivering a greater return last year than all but two of the world’s 94 leading equity indexes. These 92 publicly traded fi rms have at least 10% of their revenues derived from clean energy, energy effi ciency or clean technology, according to data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Why hostility to immigration Not since 2013 has there been a year when the S&P 500 Index and Russell 3000 gained 31%. This exceptional feat, however, didn’t come close to the performance of the clean companies, with their combined total return of 40%. runs so deep in America Together they were worth $946bn last year, more than triple their market capitalisation at the end of 2010. Whether the investment period is 2, 5 or 10 years, the return By Noah Smith dying small towns and blighted higher than it actually was. They also reduce support for redistribution. But is superior by margins of 12%, 37% and 112% for clean Bloomberg News neighbourhoods. Why are so many tended to make mistakes about the advanced countries all have big welfare Americans wary of what seems on paper people coming in, overestimating states and are unlikely to abandon them companies, according to Bloomberg column. like an unadulterated good? the share of Muslim immigrants and up any time soon. Instead, it seems By contrast, revenues for the 28 companies in the S&P ublic opinion about immigra- One possible reason is that underestimating the share of Christian likely that many will try to shut the Energy Index, a mostly fossil-fuel crowd, declined 5% in tion is hard to understand. Americans, though more positive ones (except in France). And they gates to foreigners instead. 2019 and are forecast to grow 4% in each of the next two Americans express more toward diversity than those in many tended to underestimate immigrants’ Those who know the benefi ts years. Pfavourable views towards immi- other countries, also worry that their share of the highly educated workforce. of immigration will have trouble gration since Donald Trump was elected culture will be diluted by newcomers. The researchers also found that people formulating a response. Information The healthiest president: Racial prejudice toward immigrants tended to assume that immigrants campaigns telling people that US companies investment is turning But these poll numbers come with from nonwhite countries plays a role as receive more welfare benefi ts than the immigrants are a net fi scal positive seem out to be among the most several caveats. First, the surge in well. And politics may also be a factor; native-born. unlikely to work (the Alesina study, embracing green lucrative. support for immigration might simply because children of immigrants tend So many people in rich countries for example, found that respondents Assets under be a reaction to the xenophobia of to vote for the Democrats, Republicans seem to think of immigration much weren’t very interested in learning technology are the Trump administration and could may fear that immigration poses a the way it’s depicted on the famous actual facts after the survey was over). management at 644 fade after he leaves offi ce. Second, the threat to their electoral strength. poem on the Statue of Liberty — a tired, Campaigning against racism and outperforming funds focused on polls say little about the salience of the But on top of all this, anti- hungry, poor huddled mass. Even those negative stereotypes of the undeserving environmentally friendly issue to the two sides; opponents of immigration sentiment may be who normally support the welfare state poor may help, but changing deep- every broad investments tracked by immigration might be more motivated intertwined with suspicion of the might be inclined to curb benefi ts if seated attitudes is always an uphill Bloomberg now stand than advocates, and thus fi ght harder. welfare state. People may overestimate their country was faced with such a battle. measure of the Finally, it’s worth noting that even the amount of public resources spent teeming horde of needy newcomers. One approach might be to admit more at more than $220bn, now, those who support decreasing on immigrants. And they may be That inclination will be even stronger skilled immigrants. Studies show that stock market compared with around immigration outnumber those who back less willing to distribute government among those who don’t like the idea of educated immigrants contribute much $80bn at the end of 2014. increasing it. And this data is just for the benefi ts to people from other countries. the welfare state in the fi rst place, who more in tax revenue than they take out; In 2015, France became the fi rst country to require US; other countries may be going in the That’s the upshot of a recent paper by blame the poor for their poverty, who most people instinctively know that institutional investors to report how they consider opposite direction. economists Alberto Alesina, Armando simply don’t care about foreigners, or engineers or doctors are not likely to environmental factors. The European Union is likely to Why does the public seem to have an Miano and Stefanie Stantcheva. The who buy into racist stereotypes. In a claim welfare benefi ts. anti-immigration bias? The bulk of the authors conducted detailed surveys follow-up paper, Alesina and Stancheva Tilting the immigration system encourage asset managers across the bloc to integrate data shows that immigrants, at least with 24,000 native-born people in six show mathematically how all of these toward skilled workers, as Canada and sustainability requirements into investment decisions as in the US, are a healthy and positive developed Western countries — the factors combine to reduce support for other countries do, won’t just help keep part of its work on the Green Bond Standard. force. They are highly upwardly mobile. US, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden welfare. government coff ers fl ush — it might And the returns? They make outsized contributions to and . What they discovered is a Sure enough, Alesina and his help preserve broad support for both The vast majority of green bonds are investment grade and technology and industry. They don’t pervasive tangle of misperceptions. colleagues found that when they ask immigration and the welfare state, push down the wages of native-born First, native-born people in all the people questions about immigration even in the face of stubborn public they are priced similarly to conventional debt at issuance. workers and in the case of high-skilled countries surveyed tend to substantially before asking them about redistribution misperceptions. Growing investor demand and relative scarcity could also immigrants they even raise them. They overestimate the number of immigrants. (rather than afterwards), their support help boost secondary market prices. commit fewer crimes than native- Across the entire demographic and for the welfare state goes down. z Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion In the euro market, green bonds returned 0.34% in 2018, born Americans. They pay plenty political spectrum, people said that the Unsurprisingly, the eff ect is stronger columnist. He was an assistant professor while the overall investment-grade market returned 0.41%, of taxes that help support local and share of immigrants in their countries among conservatives. of fi nance at Stony Brook University, and state governments. They revitalise was about 10 to 15 percentage points So immigration seems likely to he blogs at Noahpinion. based on Bloomberg Barclay indexes. Green bonds are used solely for environmental goals, while sustainable bonds combine both environmental and social objectives. In the world of investing, asset managers are increasingly incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into investment decisions. Last September, 12 of the world’s largest investors — including Allianz SE, Swiss Re AG, and Zurich Insurance Group — committed to making their investment portfolios carbon-neutral as part of the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance convened by the UN. A recent analysis by Moody’s Investors Service suggested social considerations posed “high credit risk” to $8tn of debt that it assesses. More than 1,500 investment managers have signed up to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and the ESG sector is now the fastest-growing part of the market. The bottom line: The threat of climate change is also an investor’s opportunity.

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© 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved A group of deported immigrants stand near the double steel fence that separates San Diego and Tijuana at the border in Tijuana in this December 10, 2011 file photograph. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 15, 2020 19 COMMENT Negative consequences of climate change quite strong in Russia

By Rachel Savage and becoming more apparent. unambitious and insuffi cient to help Angelina Davydova Alexey Kokorin, head of the climate meet global targets to curb warming. London and energy programme at green group WWF-Russia’s Kokorin emphasised WWF-Russia, told the Thomson the need for a sharper focus on cutting Reuters Foundation adaptation to a greenhouse gas emissions. “Adaptation ussia’s fi rst plan to adapt to warming climate was “so evidently a has clear limits and we are not far from climate change is a tardy but necessity”. these limits,” he said. much-needed acknowledge- The negative consequences of The new adaptation framework will Rment of the risks and oppor- climate change were “already quite form part of wider climate legislation, tunities presented by global warming, strong” for Russia but it had yet to including a long-term low-carbon although it lacks concrete action to ad- work out how “to take advantage of the strategy, set to be adopted later this dress the increasingly evident threats, positive ones”, he added. year, after Russia formally joined the analysts said. Temperatures in Russia have risen Paris climate accord last September. The document, published this 2.5 times faster than the global average Meanwhile, the government month on a government website, since the mid-1970s, according to the has publicly stated that it hopes to said climate change would have a document. capitalise on greater access to Arctic signifi cant and growing infl uence Recent climate-related disasters in shipping routes and natural resources on Russia’s “socio-economic Russia have included 2019 wildfi res — including oil, gas and minerals — as development, living conditions and that raged across Siberia, destroying Russia’s frozen north heats up. human health, as well as on the state of at least 3mn hectares (7.4mn acres) of The amount of land available for economic infrastructure”. forest. growing crops is also set to increase, Russia would need to adjust to an Roman Vilfand, acting head of the adaptation plan said, while increase in droughts, heavy rainfall, Russia’s Hydrometeorology Centre, livestock breeding could become more fl ooding, forest fi res and infectious noted this month that temperatures A stray polar bear is seen in the industrial city of Norilsk, Russia, in this June 17, 2019, photograph. The famished polar bear effi cient and boreal forests grow faster. diseases, and should start teaching across the country were far above wandered lost into a northern Russian city hundreds of miles from its Arctic habitat. It was taken to a zoo in the Siberian But WWF-Russia’s Kokorin warned climate change in schools, it said. normal levels, including 20C higher city of Krasnoyarsk for treatment. The climate crisis has been damaging polar bears’ sea-ice habitats and forced them to of “pitfalls” and a risk of negative Given the “increasing vulnerability” than average in Siberia, one of the scavenge more for food on land, bringing them into contact with people and inhabited areas. feedback cycles. of the population and economy world’s coldest places. They include faster warming caused to extreme weather and climate Moscow’s authorities were even Russian Federation is ready to make professor at the Higher School of a serious threat to Russia, President by melting permafrost which releases impacts, measures to adapt would be forced to bring in artifi cial snow for eff orts and systematically deal with Economics in Moscow. Vladimir Putin expressed doubt over large amounts of methane, a potent of “strategic importance”, including New Year celebrations during the the fi ght against climate change,” the Until recently Russia had no co- whether climate change is man-made greenhouse gas. “making use of” new economic Russian capital’s warmest December ministry said in a written comment. ordinated policy on climate change at his end-of-year press conference. Any boost to forest growth could opportunities, it added. since 1886. The document outlines a framework adaptation and most of its responses Russia’s greenhouse gas emissions be outweighed by forest fi res and The fossil fuel-rich nation And in early January, ice melted for national adaptation, mainly to weather disasters were “reactive”, he have declined signifi cantly since 1990, unsustainable logging, Kokorin added. could reap advantages from higher on the Yenisei River in Siberia’s through legislative amendments said by e-mail. mainly due to plummeting industrial And damage to agriculture from temperatures and melting ice, Krasnoyarsk region, fl ooding several and drafting of plans for regions and In a social media post, Russian production after the collapse of the hotter temperatures was likely to be including less use of energy for villages. economic sectors over the next three youth climate activists in the Fridays Soviet economy. larger than the benefi ts, with soils poor heating, increased access for shipping Russia’s Ministry of Economic years. for Future group welcomed the In recent years there has been a in the warming north and droughts in the Arctic and an expansion of Development told the Thomson The ministry plans to start new plan but said “as always, the minor increase in emissions, but they hitting the south, he said. agricultural production, it noted. Reuters Foundation the plan, which it developing and costing detailed Russian government is in no hurry are still about 30% lower than 1990 “Yes, (climate change) is positive But climate change experts said the produced, would lay the foundations measures only in late 2022. and is turning a blind eye to the sky- levels. for the Russian north, but it will be new framework was too general and for a national strategy to adapt to “Regions are not really required to rocketing average temperature on the The country’s emissions reduction very small compared to the south, did not require authorities to take climate change, while raising public do anything over the next few years — planet”. target for 2030, set in 2015, is to where the negative eff ects will be real steps in the near term — even awareness of the issue. it is a very unambitious document,” While acknowledging that the world limit greenhouse gases to 70-75% of more signifi cant,” he said. - Thomson as the effects of climate change are “It will also emphasise that the said Georgy Safonov, associate is heating up and climate change poses 1990 levels, which analysts consider Reuters Foundation Why Modi’s thugs attacked my university Three-day forecast

In fact, just one week before the attack This is state-sponsored terrorism – Turkey, and many other countries. By TODAY By Jayati Ghosh Maximum Temperature : 220c New Delhi on JNU, Indian Home Aff airs Minister and JNU is only one of the victims. In encouraging critical thinking, rather Amit Shah called for those behind public December, police stormed Jamia Millia than rote learning and technical- Minimum Temperature : 140c protests against the CAA to be “taught Islamia University’s campus in New skill development, universities THURSDAY n January 5, masked men and a lesson.” With that, he eff ectively Delhi to break up a peaceful protest undermine the authoritarian dream of Maximum Temperature : 220c women stormed the New announced open season on minorities against the Citizenship Amendment unconditional obedience and loyalty. Minimum Temperature : 140c The threat is compounded when such Delhi campus of Jawaharlal and anyone who defends them, and Act, beating students with batons, fi ring FRIDAY ONehru University (JNU), confi rmed that Hindu-chauvinist tear gas and bullets, and vandalising an education becomes available to those Maximum Temperature : 220c where I am a professor, and attacked the “hunters” have the implicit support of university property, including the who were previously formally excluded: Minimum Temperature : 160c students and faculty they found there the highest levels of government. He has library. More than 100 students were women, members of lower castes, and with sticks, iron rods, and scythes. The also linked these protests with ongoing wounded. marginalised ethnic groups. Education Fisherman's forecast university administration, security demonstrations at JNU, where students On the same day, police carried out a brings an awareness of economic and guards, and local police not only failed have been resisting an arbitrary fee similar, but even more violent attack on social injustice, as well as the skills and WARNING Inshore : Strong wind expected to protect the innocent victims of this hike that would force many of them to Aligarh Muslim University. One doctoral networks needed to fi ght against it. at some places rampage, which included vandalism and abandon their studies. student had to have his right hand Access to education thus often results in Offshore : Expected strong wind trespassing, in addition to the violence; During the attack on JNU, security amputated after it was hit by a tear-gas greater equality and social cohesion, and with high sea till noon WEATHER they watched and were complicit in the guards and police allowed the aggressors shell. So brutal was the assault on AMU narrows opportunities for bigots and Inshore : Moderate temperature assault. This is Prime Minister Narendra in, turned off streets lights to enable that the Allahabad High Court, not opportunists to sow division. daytime with sctd Modi’s India. their violence and vandalism, and trusting the state authorities to conduct The consequences of suppressing cloud & c of sctd rain at a fair investigation, has directed the academic inquiry and vibrant debate places at first, cold by JNU is a highly respected institution. stopped anyone, including media, night But with India’s leadership promoting from entering or leaving the campus. National Human Rights Commission to cannot be overstated. Yes, this Offshore : Scattered clouds with an aggressive form of Hindu nationalism Faculty close to the JNU administration launch an inquiry. approach may make society more c of sctd rain at fist & – including by enacting the blatantly and members of the BJP’s student The Modi government has also docile and the polity more centralised slight dust at times WIND unconstitutional Citizenship wing helped to co-ordinate the armed targeted universities in other ways. in the short term. But, in the longer Inshore : Northwesterly-North- Amendment Act (CAA), which has goons. They then stood by while the It has slashed funding for higher term, it will lead to intellectual and easterly 10-20/25 KT rendered millions of Muslim Indians goons, hollering Hindu-nationalist education from an already paltry 0.6% cultural impoverishment, impeding Offshore : Northeasterly-North- westerly 18-25/35 KT stateless – the university has come to battle cries,” carried out their violence, of GDP in 2013-14 to 0.2% in 2018-19. the innovation that is vital to human Visibility : 4-8 KM represent the enemy: the liberalism and often targeting – and, in some cases, With real spending per student having progress – and to India’s future. Offshore : 3-6 FT tolerance that is supposed to underpin severely injuring – women, including fallen by almost half, colleges and That future now hangs in the Indian democracy. the president of the students’ union and universities have struggled to uphold balance. With its every attack on higher This is not an accident, the result some faculty members. quality standards. Many have had to education, both fi scal and physical, the Around the region of some small group of zealots Only after several hours of terror did cut services, impose hiring freezes, and Modi government pushes India closer to Weather Weather misinterpreting the Modi government’s the police escort these vicious thugs rely on lower-paid temporary teachers. disaster. - Project Syndicate today Max/min tomorrow Max/min message. On the contrary, Modi’s from our ravaged campus. Conveniently, Several public institutions (including Baghdad P Cloudy 17/04 P Cloudy 17/07 Bharatiya Janata Party has been actively they fi nd that CCTV evidence is lacking, JNU) have sharply increased fees – z Jayati Ghosh is professor of City Sunny 20/06 Sunny 19/08 cultivating this narrative for a long and have refused to register complaints leaving many students unable to aff ord Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru Manama Sunny 21/15 Sunny 20/15 time, and, since coming to power in fi led by teachers and students. The their studies. University in New Delhi, Executive Muscat Rain 18/16 Sunny 20/14 2014, the BJP’s government has been police now claim that they have The BJP’s campaign against higher Secretary of International Development Tehran M Sunny 08/00 Sunny 09/01 using pliant media to vilify universities, identifi ed some students – including education is not diffi cult to explain; Economics Associates, and a member especially those like JNU whose faculty some of the most injured – as attackers indeed, it comes straight out of the of the Independent Commission for and students have criticised the ruling and have already fi led cases against authoritarian playbook used by the Reform of International Corporate dispensation. them. governments in China, , Hungary, Taxation.

Live issues

Early concussion treatment tied to faster recovery Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min By Lisa Rapaport would benefi t from early care, which care beyond an initial evaluation or treatments or rehabilitation programs, Athens Cloudy 14/08 Cloudy 12/08 Reuters Health typically involved prescribed rest and diagnosis around the time of injury, how soon athletes returned to practice Beirut P Cloudy 19/15 P Cloudy 19/13 restricted activities,” said lead author researchers note in JAMA Neurology. or competition, and how quickly Bangkok Sunny 33/24 Sunny 33/24 Anthony Kontos, research director In the current study, recovery times they resumed regular academic work. Berlin P Cloudy 12/05 Sunny 09/03 oung athletes who get con- of the Sports Medicine Concussion from when athletes started follow- All these factors could infl uence Cairo M Sunny 24/13 Sunny 20/11 cussions may recover faster Programme at the University of up concussion care were similar, concussion recovery time. Cape Town Cloudy 26/21 Cloudy 27/19 when they’re treated within Pittsburgh Medical Centre. suggesting that diff erences in recovery Athletes may be advised on when Colombo P Cloudy 29/23 M Sunny 29/24 Ythe fi rst week than when they “However, our research shows trajectories were due to the number to resume exercise or school work Dhaka Sunny 25/14 Sunny 26/15 wait longer to get care, a new study that regardless of symptoms and of days they waited to begin treatment. based on the severity of their injuries Hong Kong M Cloudy 18/17 P Cloudy 21/15 suggests. impairments, patients who seek At their fi rst follow-up checkups, and their progress in treatment, said Istanbul M Sunny 11/07 M Cloudy 10/07 Researchers examined data on speciality care earlier have better athletes who received care within a Jingzhen Yang of the Center for Injury Jakarta S Showers 30/24 T Storm 31/24 162 athletes ages 12-22 who were outcomes and recover sooner than week and those who took longer to at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Karachi M Sunny 21/10 Sunny 22/08 diagnosed with concussions. Recovery those who seek care later.” start treatment had similar symptom Columbus, Ohio. London Rain 10/07 Rain 12/08 time averaged 57 days, and ranged A concussion is a traumatic brain severity as well as similar levels of “Specifi cally, athletes may be advised Manila M Sunny 31/24 P Cloudy 32/24 from 9 to 299 days. injury caused by a jolt to the head or impairment in areas like cognitive on things they should avoid, such as Moscow Cloudy 02/02 S Showers 04/02 Compared with athletes who started body that disrupts the function of the ability, vision, sleep and balance. strict rest or excessive physical activity, New Delhi Fog 17/09 Sunny 18/11 treatment within a week, those who brain. his injury can result in physical, Later initiation of treatment as well as these could result in increased New York Sunny 11/07 Cloudy 08/-4 didn’t receive care that quickly were cognitive, emotional or sleep-related as more severe vision and motion- symptoms or delayed recovery,” Yang, Paris Cloudy 12/04 S Showers 13/09 over four times more likely to have a symptoms that may or may not involve related symptoms at diagnosis were who wasn’t involved in the study, Sao Paulo S T Storms 31/21 S T Storms 32/21 recovery that took more than 30 days, a loss of consciousness. The symptoms both associated with much longer said by e-mail. “Athletes may also be Seoul Sunny 02/-8 P Cloudy 03/-8 the study found. can last from several minutes to days, recovery times. encouraged to engage in the symptom- Singapore S T Storms 31/25 T Storm 31/25 “There was an assumption that only weeks, months or longer. One limitation of the study is that limited, light physical activity as these Sydney P Cloudy 26/19 S T Storms 27/19 patients with more severe symptoms More than half of athletes who researchers lacked data on how closely could help mitigate symptoms and Tokyo Clear 10/04 Cloudy 07/02 and impairment following concussion sustain concussions don’t receive athletes followed any prescribed hasten concussion recovery.” Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, January 15, 2020 QATAR

Amir receives credentials of three ambassadors

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received the credentials of three new ambassadors to Qatar. Ambassadors of Uganda, Brazil and Italy, Stephen Chebrot Chemoiko, Luis Alberto and Alessandro Prunas, respectively, presented their credentials to the Amir at the Amiri Diwan. The Amir welcomed the new ambassadors, wishing them success in their missions and the relations between Qatar and their respective countries further progress and prosperity. The ambassadors conveyed to the Amir the greetings of their countries’ leaders and wishes of further progress and prosperity to the Qatari people. Earlier upon arrival at the Amiri Diwan, the ambassadors were accorded off icial reception ceremonies.

Deputy Amir, PM offer condolences to Oman royal family

His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani off ered condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur of the Sultanate of Oman on the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur at Al Alam Palace in Muscat yesterday. The Deputy Amir also off ered condolences to members of the royal family, senior off icials and dignitaries. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud also off ered condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur and to members of the royal family.

HIA handles record 1mn passengers in Jan fi rst week amad International Air- „This translates into an average airport was able to proactively port (HIA) has “suc- minimise queuing times. Hcessfully served a record 138,649 passengers in a 24-hour period, Earlier this year, HIA an- high infl ux” of passengers dur- which is the most number of passengers nounced its successful opera- ing the winter holiday peak pe- tions in 2019, having served a riod, handling 1mn passengers being handled in a single day record 38.8mn passengers, in the fi rst week of January 2020 which is the most number of marking the average of 138,649 passengers it has served since passengers in a 24-hour period, the start of its operations in which is the most number of 2014, showing a year-on-year passengers handling in a single growth of 12.44% compared to day, while maintaining its high passenger numbers in 2018. standards of passenger experi- HIA’s rapid growth is being ence and operational excellence. addressed by its massive ex- Queuing times at key touch- pansion project, Phase A of the points of the airport were sig- expansion is set to comprise nifi cantly reduced with average of a central concourse linking wait times as low as 1 minute 20 concourses D and E and will in- seconds at transfer security and crease the airport’s capacity to 2 minutes 24 seconds at arrival more than 53mn passengers an- immigration. nually by 2022. Almost all passengers trans- HIA immigration counters HIA maintains its high standards of passenger experience and operational excellence. Phase B, which will be com- ferring through the airport pleted after 2022, will extend queued for less than 5 minutes as 49 screening lanes being op- have been equipped with X- move laptops from cabin bags, off ered complimentary parking HIA as part of its ‘Smart Air- concourses D and E to further at transfer security screening, erated simultaneously during ray machines and walk through further improving the passen- to its customers during the peak port’ programme has automated enhance the airport’s capacity with the average wait time being peak times. metal detectors, instead of hav- gers’ travel experience. periods so passengers could be the check-in, bag-drop and to more than 60mn passengers only 1 minute 20 seconds. This Almost 100% of transfer pas- ing them go through security About 96.5% of arriving pas- dropped off and picked up with pre-immigration security proc- annually. is an industry-leading achieve- sengers with Minimum Con- screening at the transfers’ hall. sengers at HIA at certain peak ease. Waiting times at the taxi esses, which has allowed de- The expansion project will ment which has been main- necting Time (MCT) of 45 min- This is another industry wide periods queued for less than 10 pavilion were also kept at a min- parting passengers to be proc- also feature a 10,000sq m in- tained throughout 2019 and was utes or less were connected to achievement which was accom- minutes at immigration with imum and free luggage loading essed even faster. door tropical garden, a 268sq accomplished by training highly their onward fl ights without de- plished throughout 2019. HIA the average waiting time being services were off ered to passen- With the use of innovative m water feature, 11,720sq m of professional staff according to lay. This was achieved by con- also plans to adopt advanced as low as 2 minutes 24 seconds. gers. software solutions that forecast landscaped retail and F&B space the latest international aviation ducting their security screening screening technologies which To minimise any inconven- The self-service kiosks im- passenger traffi c in real-time and 9,000sq m of world-class security standards and as many at select contact gates which won’t require passengers to re- ience to customers, the airport plemented in the terminal by and measure waiting times, the Al Mourjan lounge.