SATURDAY DECEMBER 22, 2018 RABI AL-AKHIR 15, 1440 VOL.12 NO. 4491 QR 2

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Business 9 Sports 12 Brent slides to $53 as oil Mualah and Concierge prices dip 11% in a week emerge winners QATAR’S FARES BREAKS RECORDS WITH GOLDEN LIFTS Erdogan vows to clear Syria of IS & Kurdish militia Turkish president welcomes US troops withdrawal

AFP ISTANBUL

TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday vowed to drive out a US- backed Kurdish militia from Syria as Kurdish forces there warned that any attack by Ankara could seriously un- dermine the fight against the Qatar’s weightlifting star Fares Ibrahim Hassouna did the country proud on Friday as the 20-year-old swept three golds in Men’s 96kg Snatch Islamic State. and Clean & Jerk categories in the 5th Qatar International Cup 2018 at the Inter-Continental Doha on Friday. In the process, Fares also Erdogan’s promise fol- surpassed his personal best lifts in all the three categories. SEE ALSO PAGE 12 lowed the shock decision by US President Donald Trump to pull out 2,000 American ground forces from Syria on the grounds that IS had been 3 Palestinians “beaten”. India-Qatar trade surges as Washington’s decision not only has ramifications for the In the coming months we will see an operation killed by Israeli Kurds, who are being trained aimed at removing the YPG and Daesh (Islamic forces in Gaza Doha explores new avenues by US forces, but also for Tur- State) elements on the ground in Syria. key’s actions in Syria. — Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan suggested Turkey atar is now looking to- good number of leading buyers could launch an operation wards India for ready- that are coming to Indusfood, I against the Kurdish People’s pointment over the US ad- Democratic Council, the po- Qto-eat, baby products, think this event will serve as a Protection Units (YPG) mi- ministration’s failure to stop litical arm of the US-backed processed packed food, organic good platform to meet the re- litia, which Ankara says is providing military support to and Kurdish-led Syrian Dem- food, tetra-packed juices and quirements of Qatari market.” a “terrorist offshoot” of the the YPG. ocratic Forces (SDF), warned less cooking-oriented food, ac- “Indian diaspora consti- outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Erdogan said the US de- the battle against the IS could cording to a report in Financial tutes a majority of the Qatari Party (PKK) which has been cision meant Turkey would be brought to a halt if there Express. population, and this is the waging an insurgency against “wait a little longer” before was a Turkish attack. Leading buyers from Qatar right time to boost trade vol- the Turkish state since 1984. any operation involving Syr- The Turkish foreign minis- GAZA CITY Three Palestinians, have evinced interests in buy- umes, especially of India- ori- The PKK is blacklisted as a ian rebels. ter said Turkey needed to “co- including a 16-year-old, were ing more from India. India’s exports to Qatar have gin ethnic foods and Indusfood terror group by Turkey and its Later on Friday, Turkish ordinate this withdrawal with killed on Friday by Israeli fire Officials said 17 buyers expanded by over 87 percent. is the right platform for it,” he Western allies. Foreign Minister Mevlut Ca- the United States”. during protests and clashes from Qatar are visiting India added. The regular shipping “In the coming months we vusoglu said in an interview Cavusoglu later told state along the Gaza border. Teenager next month looking for food has been deepening of ties be- services between Mundra Port will see an operation aimed at with state television that the broadcaster TRT that Turkish Mohammed al Jahjuh was “hit products at the Indusfood, or- tween the two countries post- of India and Hamad Port in removing the YPG and Daesh delay was to avoid “friendly and American officials would in the neck by a bullet (fired) by ganized by Trade Promotion embargo. Qatar have also helped in in- (Islamic State) elements on fire”. hold talks on the issue in Israeli soldiers”, health ministry Council of India (TPCI) jointly Ashok Sethi, Director (In- creasing bilateral trade. the ground in Syria,” he said But, he added, “This does Washington on January 8. spokesman Ashraf al Qudra with Ministry of Commerce ternational Marketing), TPCI, India’s exports to Qatar in Istanbul. not mean we will turn back Ankara and Washington told AFP. Abdelaziz Abu Sharia, and Industry. said, “We feel India can seize have expanded by over 87 per- Erdogan welcomed from any future operations. are working together with joint 28, and Naher Yasin, 40, died India’s trade with Qatar the opportunity to increase cent and Indian companies Trump’s withdrawal decision No one should be lulled into a patrols in the northern Syrian from their wounds after being saw a remarkable jump in the its export of food and bever- have acquired a strategic depth but said he remained “cau- false sense of security. We are city of Manbij, which was cap- shot in separate incidents along months followed by the unjust age products such as sweet in the country. India is one of tious” because of “past nega- determined on this issue.” tured from IS by the SDF. the heavily fortified frontier with blockade –there is a notice- biscuits, fresh vegetables and the largest buyers of LNG from tive experiences”, referring But two leaders of the Israel. (AFP) able surge in exports, as there cashew nuts. Judging by the Qatar. to Ankara’s continued disap- political wing of the Syrian More on page 7 Ô

Trump vows ‘long’ shutdown Gatwick airport reopens after drone scare Pentagon chief Mattis quits FLIGHTS resumed on Friday US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has resigned, leading a in border wall standoff at London Gatwick despite chorus of protests at home and abroad after President Don- US President Donald Trump has vowed a “very long” govern- a confirmed drone sighting ald Trump ordered a complete troop pullout from Syria and a ment shutdown if Democrats do not fund his border wall. briefly bringing the runway to significant withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Trump is demanding $5.7bn, which was passed a standstill, the airport said. resignation came a day after President by the House of Representatives, but “The military measures we Donald Trump overruled his advice is expected to be rejected in the Sen- have in place at the airport against pulling troops out of Syria. ate. “I hope we don’t but we are totally have provided us with the Mattis will leave by the end of February prepared for a very long shutdown,” he reassurance necessary that it after two tumultuous years in the post, said during a White House event. If no is safe to reopen our airfield,” the latest high-profile exit to shake the deal is reached, parts of the US govern- Gatwick Airport said in a Trump administration. In his resignation ment will begin to close at midnight on statement. (AFP) letter, Mattis told Trump that he was Friday. With only hours to remaining leaving because “you have a right to to strike a deal, Trump said that have a Secretary of Defence the “chances are probably very whose views are better good” of a “Democrat shut- aligned with yours”. down”. PAGE 8 UN COUNCIL VOTES TO SEND OBSERVERS TO YEMEN PAGE 7 PAGE 8

Spring Festival kicks off at Souq Waqif in style

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK esting animal shows will enthrall aking and boating. A special space DOHA visitors. for children will be a big attraction Public performances by group for them where they can enjoy the THE Spring Festival kicked off at of artistes and clowns from differ- atmosphere with their families, Souq Waqif in Doha and Al Wakra ent countries will spread joy and inflatable rides as well as horse market on Friday in spectacular note. pleasure among the visitors to the and camel shows and pony rides Organised by the Organizing festival. Souq Waqif Al Wakra among others. Committee of the Private Engineer- will also witness many activities The Spring Festival at Souq ing Office, the spring festival will throughout the Spring Festival, Waqif and Souq Waqif at Al Wakra run until January 4. which is seeing increasingly high will be open to the public between A host of entertainment activi- turnout year after year. 3:30 pm and 10pm daily. ties such as circus shows for fami- Visitors to Wakif Souq Al wakra lies, volleyball games and inter- will enjoy water games such as kay- See also page 16 Ô 02 Saturday, December 22, 2018

Contact US: Qatar Tribune I EDITORIAL I Phone: 40002222 I ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING I Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha.

New greenhouse offers better yield with little impact on environment Equipped with automated temperature control and irrigation systems, the greenhouse can also be used as a kitchen garden CHIEF OF STAFF MEETS CHIEF OF STAFF OF US AIR FORCE: Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces HE Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al Ghanem met with Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David Goldfein in Doha. During the meeting, they dis- SANTHOSH CHANDRAN cussed the military relations between the two countries and the means of enhancing them. The meeting was attended by Amiri Air Force DOHA Commander HE Major-General (Pilot) Mubarak Mohamed al Khayarin and Head of International Military Cooperation Authority Brigadier- General (Pilot) Fahad Hamad al Sulaiti. (QNA) A STATE-of-the-art green- house equipped with automat- ed temperature control and ir- rigation systems was recently displayed at the Cultural Vil- QNL holds tech photography workshop lage Foundation-Katara dur- ing an agricultural exhibition drawing attention of agricul- for conservation specialists in Morocco turists. Introduced by Naaas Ag- ricultural Consulting and TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK and preservation of historical Greenhouse, the greenhouse DOHA manuscripts, and are pleased promises to produce quality to see specialists from across farm products with little im- PRESERVATION and conser- the region attending the work- pact on environment. vation specialists learnt about shop.” Besides, available in mar- the latest best practices during Qatar National Library ket in four different sizes, a training course organised in was selected as IFLA’s Region- the greenhouses are ideal for Morocco by Qatar National Li- al PAC Centre in 2015, and kitchen gardens as well. brary (QNL) and UNESCO. now supports libraries across Speaking to Qatar Tribune, A state-of-the-art greenhouse on display at the Cultural Village The three-day programme the MENA region to safeguard an official of Naaas Agricultur- Foundation-Katara recently. was held in collaboration with documentary heritage in its di- al Consulting and Greenhouse the National Archives of Mo- verse forms and formats. said, “Agricultural enthusiasts ture have severe limitations in financial support offered by rocco, and was attended by “The state-of-the-art dig- in Qatar are keen to adopt the deserts. So, we have to adopt banks and increasing number books and manuscripts con- itisation centre at QNL is latest technologies to produce innovative farming technolo- of agriculture consultancy ser- servation specialists from Tu- working with partners in Qatar quality products with less im- gies to grow food in such a vices have given an additional nisia, Algeria, Egypt and Mo- and the region to preserve the pact on environment. We are climate.” boost to farming. rocco. rich cultural heritage of Qatar getting a lot of queries about The agricultural exhibi- Manager of Our Farm The course, entitled ‘Prac- The course focused on technical photography of heritage collections and in libraries throughout this technology-supported, tion witnessed participation of Agriculture Services, Gafoor tical Methods for the Scien- and the technique of reflectance spectroscopy. the Arab region, and to raise environment-friendly multi- a large number of agriculture Muhamed said, “There is also tific Examination of Library awareness about conservation purpose greenhouse.” consultancy service compa- a trend in Qatar to produce Objects’, focused on technical with each providing unique ager at QNL, said: “In our role of rare books, manuscripts Temperature in these nies. organic vegetables without photography of heritage col- information about the object as International Federation and documents,” added Ipert. greenhouses can be controlled A large number of people using chemical fertilisers. The lections and the technique under examination. Reflec- of Library Associations and This course follows on by remote control. Apart from have come forward to cultivate trend has gained momentum of reflectance spectroscopy. tance spectroscopy is an effec- Institutions’(IFLA) Regional from a similar training ses- producing vegetables, these vegetables for their domestic after the unjust siege imposed Technical photography rep- tive technique in identifying Preservation and Conserva- sion, which was organised in greenhouses can also be used requirements following the on the country. Besides, exist- resents a collection of images pigments and reveals informa- tion Centre, we continue to in- Qatar in March 2018 at QNL, for small-scale fish farming. campaign launched by the Ag- ing farms are being expanded taken with a modified digital tion vital to preserving histori- itiate programmes in partner- and was attended by conserva- One of the visitors to the riculture Department of the and farmers are exploring camera, and uses different cal items. ship with relevant institutions. tion and preservation experts exhibition, who is passionate Ministry of Municipality and technologies to be able to pro- lighting sources and filters to StephaneIpert, preserva- We aim to equip experts with from several Arab countries about agriculture, said, “Con- Environment to achieve food duce fruits and vegetables in acquire a selection of images, tion and conservation man- the latest skills in conservation and Turkey. ventional methods of agricul- security in the State. Besides, all seasons.” Over 600 students take WCM-Q lecture highlights microbe-based treatments TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK tween gut microbiota and au- might be effective treatments short-chain fatty acids and oth- part in Doha College DOHA tism. for a number of conditions. ers. These metabolites trigger The gut microbiota is made Dr Bendriss explained that the release of hormones, some NEW ways to treat illness by up of trillions of microorgan- recent research on mice dem- of which act on the brain where Model United Nation targeting therapies at the mi- isms, including bacteria, virus- onstrated that gut microbiota they can influence things like crobes living in the human gut es, archaea, and fungi. These played a significant role in satiety, among many other were discussed at the latest in- microorganisms are vital to causing obesity. Other studies things.” stalment of Weill Cornell Med- human health, playing an im- showed that faecal implants Dr Bendriss said the me- icine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Grand portant role in modulating me- could help cure long-standing tabolites also trigger the release Rounds lecture series. tabolism, immunity and brain clostridium difficile infections. of hormones that act on the Ghizlane Bendriss, PhD, function. It is estimated that Dr Bendriss herself is currently pancreas, which affects insulin lecturer in biology at WCM- each human hosts their own leading a study titled ‘The Role secretion, suggesting a link be- Q, gave a presentation that unique population of around of Human Gut Microbiota in tween the gut microbiota and explained the latest research 100 trillion microbial cells, Ghizlane Bendriss Autism Spectrum Disorders diabetes. into treatments focused on far more than the number of and Inflammatory Bowel Dis- She said: “With more than the gut microbiota for condi- human cells each person pos- immune response. Research orders’. 100 trillion microorganisms in tions such as diabetes, obesity, sesses. has shown that dysbiosis is Explaining the link be- the human body, we can imag- chronic clostridium difficile in- Imbalances between ben- observed in most diseases and tween gut microbiota and the ine that they have a significant Themed ‘Life Without Fear’, the conference discussed 41 issues fections, ulcerative colitis and eficial and harmful microor- disorders, leading physicians brain, she said: “Bacteria in the effect on physiology, metabo- grouped into 13 categories. inflammatory bowel disease, ganisms leads to a state called and scientists to speculate that gut are involved in processing lism, immunity and disease. among others. The lecture also dysbiosis, which is often char- interventions to reestablish a food; processing of the food This is therefore a very exciting CONTINUING a well-estab- ture of the conference. discussed the possible link be- acterised by an inflammatory healthy microbiota equilibrium makes metabolites, such as area for further research.” lished tradition, Doha College Rajalakshmi Ravinuthala, Model United Nation (DCMUN) the MUN director from the hosted a successful conference guest school Al Khor Inter- that brought together over 600 national School, said that the students from 18 schools over MUN environment was very so- three days of presenting, lobby- phisticated and all the students Prakash Padukone Badminton ing and deliberating. from the various schools were Apart from polishing stu- amazing. “When I was in school, dents’ public speaking, nego- we did not have such opportuni- tiation, leadership and commu- ties. We gain more knowledge nication skills, the conference working with the students!” Schools opens branch in Qatar brought into focus many topical Doha College MUN stu- issues of today. dents organised the entire event, TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Absolute Sports Academy Themed ‘Life Without Fear’, watched over at arm’s length by DOHA has brought two Indian coach- the conference discussed 41 is- a team of teachers. They also es to Qatar for the proper im- sues grouped into 13 categories, developed a very professional- INDIAN Ambassador to Qatar plementation of the PPBS cur- such as ‘Disarmament and In- looking website that detailed HE P Kumaran recently inaugu- riculum. Sudheer Kumar is a ternational Security’, ‘Economic the benefits of getting involved, rated the first overseas branch Badminton World Federation- and Financial’, ‘Social, Humani- the resources and the training of India’s prestigious Prakash certified coach with several tarian and Cultural’, ‘Legal’, ‘En- that the students can get, and Padukone Badminton Schools years of playing and coaching vironment Commission’, ‘Inter- includes information about the (PPBS) at the Absolute Sports experience in India. He was national Atomic Energy Agency’ past and current conferences. Academy (ASA) facility in Abu previously a head coach at the and more. David Moore, director of Hamour. PPBS facility in Bengaluru. He A few examples of thorny DCMUN and history and soci- The PPBS is the brainchild will be assisted by Basheer, an- and poignant issues like ‘Protec- ology teacher at Doha College, of Indian badminton legend other experienced coach who tion against the acts of cyber- highlights how MUN contrib- and former world number one has represented India in the crimes towards multinational utes to the making of a successful Prakash Padukone, who be- Indian Ambassador to Qatar HE P Kumaran inaugurates the first overseas branch of India’s Prakash Padu- juniors and men’s categories. corporations’, ‘Reducing the student: “As well as improving a gan his first academy in Ben- kone Badminton Schools at the Absolute Sports Academy facility in Abu Hamour. With badminton being a effects of nuclear waste on natu- plethora of skills in leadership, galuru in 1994. After gaining popular sport among the differ- ral life’, ‘Combating the issue organisation, chairing and pub- fame in its home country, the Speaking at the function, bon and played the first game Nabi, Qatar Indian Association ent communities in Qatar, Ab- of age-based discrimination’, lic speaking, DCMUN gives its PPBS curriculum will now be Ambassador Kumaran de- to formally inaugurate the president E P Abdulrahman, solute Sports Academy is now ‘The question of regulating and members skills that are usable taught in Qatar as well in a scribed it as a great opportunity PPBS branch. City Exchange CEO Sharaf P looking forward to welcoming ensuring the stability of crypto- beyond Doha College: in further joint venture between Abso- for youngsters in Qatar to learn The ceremony was also Hameed and Qatar Indian As- ambitious young kids to learn currencies’ gives an idea of the education, volunteering and lute Sports Academy and In- and perfect the game. The am- graced by Indian Sports Cen- sociation General Secretary Sa- the game in the Prakash Padu- depth and comprehensive na- employment.” (TNN) dia on Track. bassador cut a ceremonial rib- tre General Secretary Habib feer Rahman. kone way. Saturday, December 22, 2018 03 QATAR NATIONAL DAY Dignitaries attend receptions hosted by Qatar’s embassies, consulates to celebrate National Day THE CELEBRATIONS REFLECT QATAR’S DISTINGUISHED RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD QNA that the celebration reflects the co- DOHA hesion of the people and the wise political leadership. QATAR’S embassies and diplomatic The ambassador mentioned the missions marked the National Day efforts exerted by the State of Qatar under the theme ‘as long as it was to settle disputes and to combat ter- proven by our deeds...Qatar will re- rorism in all its forms and manifes- main free.’ tations at the regional and interna- The heads of diplomatic, consu- tional levels. lar and representative missions of He said that the State of Qatar the State of Qatar abroad, extended had been subjected to a conspiracy, greetings to the Amir HH Sheikh with the unjust siege imposed by the Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, the blockading countries to pressure it Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad to renounce its sovereignty and na- bin Khalifa al Thani, and the Qatari tional decision. people on this auspicious occasion, The ceremony included a video wishing Qatar further progress and screening featuring the develop- prosperity. ment and prosperity witnessed by The Qatari diplomatic celebra- Qatar. tions in the capitals and cities of the In Panama, the Embassy of the world were attended by high-level State of Qatar held a reception at- official and public representations tended by a large number of govern- that reflect Qatar’s distinguished ment officials, senior state officials, relations with the countries of the members of the Arab community, world. and community figures. In Paris, Qatar’s Ambassador to In Brasilia, the Ambassador of the French Republic HE Sheikh Ali Qatar to the Federative Republic bin Jassim al Thani held a reception of Brazil HE Ahmed bin Ibrahim on the occasion of Qatar National al Abdullah held a reception at- Day. tended by Minister of Justice of The ceremony was attended by Brazil Torquato Jardim, Chairman a number of political and economic of the Senate Committee of For- figures, heads of major companies, eign Affairs and National Defence a number of parliamentarians and and former Brazil president Sena- senior officials of the Presidency of tor Fernando Collor, Senator Helio the Republic (Elysee), the presiden- Jose, member of the Senate Foreign cy of the government, the ministries Relations Committee; and Direc- of foreign affairs, interior, economy, tor of the Middle East Department finance and defence, a number of of Brazilian Foreign Ministry Ligia ambassadors and heads of diplomat- Scherer, in addition to heads and a ic missions accredited to the French number of members of the diplo- Republic and UNESCO, in addition matic corps accredited to Brazil. to senior officers of the French army, In Houston, Consul General of police and gendarmerie. Qatar HE Dr Khamis bin Rashid al A number of intellectuals, aca- Kaabi held a reception attended by demics, university professors, re- senior officials, a number of diplo- searchers, journalists, athletes, matic corps accredited to Houston, French, Arab and foreign artists, as Qatari nationals in Houston, a num- well as Qatari students and military ber of members of the Arab commu- personnel who attend military stud- nity, and community figures. ies and studies at French universi- In Tunis, the Ambassador of Qa- ties, institutes and schools, also at- tar to the Republic of Tunisia Saad tended the event. bin Nasser al Humaidi held a recep- The ceremony included screen- tion attended by the Minister of Vo- ing of a documentary film about the cational Training and Employment stages of the renaissance in Qatar from the business and civil soci- events were held by the Ministry and a number of deputies of the cultural figures. Saida Lounisi and Hatem Ferjani, and the achievements made in all ety community and the diplomatic of Culture and Sports, the National national people’s assembly and the In Mbaban, the Acting Charg secretary of state for economic di- fields, besides a number of cultural corps accredited to Greece. Human Rights Committee, Aspire council of nation and a number of d’Affaires at the Embassy of Qatar plomacy in the Ministry of Foreign and heritage events that reflected In his speech, the ambassador Zone, the Supreme Committee for ambassadors and heads of diplo- in the Kingdom of Eswatini held a Affairs of Tunisia, in addition to a the history and heritage of the State stressed that the State of Qatar has Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Ministry matic missions. reception attended by a number of number of community figures. of Qatar. based its foreign and regional poli- of the Interior, Souq Waqif Manage- In his speech, he praised Alge- officials of the Kingdom’s govern- In Buenos Aires, the Ambas- In Caracas, the Ambassador of cies on the principles of peace, sta- ment, Katara, Qatar Airways, and ria’s position on the Gulf crisis and ment and a number of ambassadors sador of Qatar to the Argentine Qatar to the Bolivarian Republic of bility and cooperation and always Ooredoo in Athens. the outstanding level of cooperation accredited to Eswatini. Republic HE Fahad bin Ibrahim al Venezuela HE Rashid bin Mohsen stands for the peaceful resolution of The three-day event featured between the State of Qatar and Al- In Valletta, the Acting Charge Hamad al Mana held a reception Fetais, held a reception attended by disputes. the Operetta ‘Story of a Country’ geria. d’affaires of Qatar in the Republic of attended by senior government of- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Naama said that the State of under the supervision of Qatar’s In Tbilisi, Qatar’s Ambassador Malta Abdullah bin Khalid al Dur- ficials, senators and deputies, heads Arreaza, deputy foreign minister Qatar has been subjected to a con- Ministry of Culture and Sports. A to Georgia HE Mubarak bin Nasser ham, held a reception attended by of Arab and foreign diplomatic mis- for Middle East Affairs, a number spiracy that has tried to threaten its tent with the features and tradi- al Khalifa held a reception attended the President of Malta Marie Louise sions accredited to Argentina, and of Venezuelan foreign ministry offi- national independence and sover- tions of the State of Qatar was also by a large number of Georgian of- Coleiro Preca; Minister of Finance community figures. cials and a number of ambassadors eignty through an unjust siege. He set up in the square of Sindagma, ficials, members of the Georgian Edward Scicluna, a number of gov- In Colombo, Qatar’s Ambassa- and heads of diplomatic missions reiterated that Qatar continues to opposite the Greek Parliament, to parliament, a number of ambas- ernment officials, political and mili- dor to the Socialist Democratic Re- accredited to Venezuela. believe in dialogue to resolve the host the public. sadors and diplomats accredited to tary leaders, heads of Arab and for- public of Sri Lanka HE Dr Rashid In Athens, the Ambassador of current Gulf crisis, which has failed The Supreme Committee for Georgia, businessmen, journalists, eign diplomatic missions accredited bin Shafea al Marri, held a recep- Qatar to Greece HE Abdulaziz Ali to impact Qatar’s economy or policy. Delivery & Legacy (SC) showcased academics and prominent Georgian to Malta and community figures. tion attended by Rauff Hakeem, al Naama held a reception attended He said that things went con- models of stadiums that will host figures. At the ceremony, the president of representative of the government by Minister of Justice, Transpar- trary to what was planned by the the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In Santo Domingo, the Acting Malta congratulated HH the Amir, of Sri Lanka, Speaker of the Parlia- ency and Human Rights of Greece countries of the blockade, as the In Algiers, the Ambassador of Charg d’affaires of the Embassy of the Qatari government and people ment Karu Jayasuriya, a number of Michailis Kalogirou, deputy minis- State of Qatar overcame the block- Qatar to the People’s Democratic Qatar in the Dominican Republic on this occasion and stressed the im- ministers and government officials, ter of economy and development, ade imposed on it and is witnessing Republic of Algeria HE Hassan bin Yagoub bin Yusuf al Mulla held a re- portance of cultural diplomacy. members of parliament, heads of deputy minister of foreign affairs a significant increase in foreign and Ibrahim al Malki held a reception ception attended by the Minister of In Havana, the Ambassador of Arab and foreign diplomatic mis- and a large number of directors of domestic investments in various attended by Minister of Finance Industry and Trade representing the Qatar to the Republic of Cuba HE sions accredited to Sri Lanka and departments of the Greek foreign sectors. of Algeria Abderrahmane Raouya, Dominican government Raphael Rashid Mirza al Mulla held a recep- community figures. ministry as well as representatives The ambassador stressed the Minister of Housing, Urbanisation Milo, Director of Relations with Af- tion attended by Minister of Public The reception saw a pres- of the Greek Air Force, military at- strength of the Greek-Qatari rela- and City Abdel Waheed Tammar, rica and the Middle East Raphael M, Health Jose AM, the deputy min- entation on the most important taches and the three escorts of the tions and the obvious efforts exerted Chairperson of the National Coun- representing the minister of foreign ister of foreign affairs, senior gov- achievements and the development northern Greek Muslim minority, by the two sides to further consoli- cil for Human Rights Fafa Ben Zer- affairs and heads of diplomatic mis- ernment officials and community progress witnessed by Qatar and a representative of the Archbishop date and develop these relations. rouki Sidi Lakhdar, representatives sions as well as a number of politi- figures. highlighted the State’s economic, of Athens and Greece, personalities Meanwhile, several cultural of the ministry of national defence cal, community, media, artistic and The ambassador said in a speech political and social status. 04 Saturday, December 22, 2018 India / World

News Gunmen raid 2 Nigeria All 22 accused in Sohrabuddin ‘killing’ case acquitted in brief ‘fake encounters’ of Sohrabud- villages, kill at least 25 The case also involving killing of Tulsiram and Kausar Witnesses and proofs the prosecution put forward were din and his associate Prajapati, National Herald Bi comes to a close as CBI Special Court rules there besides the rape-and-murder of AFP not satisfactory to suggest or asked to vacate by cattle thieves who have been are not enough ‘witnesses and proofs’ Sohrabuddin’s wife, Kausar Bi. KANO, NIGERIA terrorising us for years,” Usman establish the alleged conspir- “The CBI prosecution tried premises soon Wadatau, a community leader in IANS not satisfactory to suggest or acy and murder in the 2005 its best to prove the case. Even NEW DELHI: In a setback AT least 25 people were killed Gidan Halilu, told AFP. MUMBAI establish the alleged conspiracy encounter killing, said CBI after three chargesheets, the to the Congress, the when armed men raided two “We lost 16 people in Gidan and murder in the 2005 en- evidences were not substantial Delhi High Court on Friday villages in a northern Nigerian Halilu and nine in Gidan Kaka,” TWELVE years after the sen- counter killing,” said Special CBI Judge SJ Sharma enough to prove the allegations dismissed a plea of As- state wracked by cattle rustling he said. Four of those killed in sational killing of Sohrabuddin Judge S.J. Sharma, who also beyond doubt. Despite three in- sociated Journals Ltd (AJL) and kidnapping for ransom, Gidan Halilu were volunteers Shaikh, his associate Tulsiram observed that “the documentary The evidence before me could vestigations, the evidence is lack- challenging the Centre’s witnesses and the police said on from nearby Nassarawa Godel Prajapati and rape-cum-murder and circumstantial evidence was not establish the roles of any ing,” the Special Judge noted. October 30 direction asking Friday. who had mobilised to help fight of Kausar Bi, a Special CBI Court not substantial”. accused persons and no mate- The 22 accused, includ- the National Herald news- Gunmen on motorcycles on off the attackers, Gidan Kaka here on Friday acquitted all 22 The Special Judge also ex- rial evidence to prove any of the ing 21 lower police personnel, paper’s publisher to vacate Wednesday invaded the villages resident Bube Mada said. accused in the politically sensi- pressed regrets over the court’s charges against the accused,” comprising 14 of Gujarat, six of the Herald House within two of Gidan Halilu and Gidan Kaka Farming and herding com- tive case, saying “witnesses and inability to convict anyone in the said Special Judge Sharma. Rajasthan, and one of Andhra weeks. Justice Sunil Gaur in Birnin Magaji district of Zam- munities in Zamfara have been proofs provided were not satis- case. “I feel extremely sorry for The much-awaited verdict, Pradesh, have been absolved of said that if the House is not fara state, they said. terrorised for years by cattle factory”. the Sohrabuddin Shaikh’s fam- running into more than 500 charges such as murder, con- handed over to the Land “We lost 25 people in the thieves who raid villages, steal “Witnesses and proofs the ily and Tulsiram Prajapati, es- pages in the case, came more spiracy, and destruction of evi- and Development Officer attacks, which were carried out cows and abduct residents. prosecution put forward were pecially his mother Narmadabai. than 12 years after the alleged dence. within two week, the govern- ment can initiate proceed- ing under the provisions of Public Premises Act. (IANS) Modi obsessed with making Fake call centre duping US Computer snooping will history every day: Yashwant citizens busted IANS NEW Delhi Indian police ar- NEW DELHI rested on Friday 126 people working for a allegedly fake MODI is obsessed with creat- call centre making up to create ‘Orwellian state’, ing history every day and if he $50,000 a day by duping can become the first Indian US citizens, officials said. Prime Minister to visit Tim- INDIA became the global buktu he would do so whether call centre capital in the it is necessary and impactful or early 2000s as foreign not, says former Union Minis- firms, drawn by an edu- warn opposition parties ter Yashwant Sinha. cated and cheaper English- There is one thing he has speaking workforce, farmed done which no Prime Minis- Yashwant Sinha. out jobs answering cus- A govt order authorises 10 agencies to intercept info generated in any computer ter has done before -- he has tomer phone enquiries. The taken most of the existing gov- “All those who are not afraid to suspects were arrested in ernment programmes and re- pursue the truth” says Modi is Noida outside Delhi. (AFP) named them, so that the credit the kind of man who wants to and glory accumulate to him, do everything himself. Suspension of observes the former BJP leader In the chapter “Hail Cae- Kerala DGP in his book “India Unmade: sar! Modi’s Style of Function- Jacob extended How Modi Government Broke ing”, the 81-year-old bureau- The Economy”, a devastating crat turned politician who was THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: essay on Modi and his govern- Minister of Finance and Ex- Kerala’s Director General of ment in the last four and a half ternal Affairs in the Vajpayee Police Jacob Thomas, who years. government says Modi has was suspended for criticis- Sinha, who has been criti- centralised all decision-making ing the Pinarayi Vijayan cal of the BJP-led government, powers in the government of government in the wake has dedicated the book, pub- India in himself, assisted by a of cyclone Ockhi disaster, lished by Juggernaut Books, to few chosen officers in his PMO. was asked to continue in suspension for another six months, in a fresh order issued here on Friday HIS one year long suspen- HC quashes order allowing sion ended on Thursday, fol- lowing which Chief Minister BJP’s ‘Rath Yatra’ rallies Pinarayi Vijayan’s govern- ment extended it by another IANS at the division bench against six months. (IANS) KOLKATA Thursday’s single bench order and sought urgent hearing. Noted Tamil THE BJP’s plans to take out While setting aside the sin- writer Prabhanjan Rath yatra rallies christened gle bench’s order, the division ‘Save democracy rallies’ in West bench directed it to study afresh passes away Bengal again hit a roadblock, the 36 intelligence inputs from PUDUCHERRY: Tamil writer with a Calcutta High Court divi- 31 police stations and five police and Sahitya Akademi Award sion bench on Friday quashing commissionerates submitted by winner Prabhanjan died here the order of a single bench that the state government before it. on Friday. He was 83. gave conditional go-ahead to the The ruling came after state BORN as S.Vaidyalingam, programme. advocate general Kishore Dutta Prabhanjan was suffering The division bench com- argued that the single bench had from cancer. He began his prising Chief Justice Debasish not considered the intelligence career as a Tamil teacher Kargupta and Justice Shampa inputs and returned to the gov- in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. Sarkar sent the case back to the ernment without opening the His historical novel ‘Vaanam single bench with a directive sealed cover in which the inputs Vasapadum’ was awarded the that the latter consider the intel- were given. Dutta said the intel- prestigious Sahitya Akademi (File photo) The upper house of Indian parliament. ligence inputs provided by the ligence inputs had apprehended Award in 1995. DMK presi- state agencies. communal disturbances if the dent M.K. Stalin in his con- IANS RS adjourned after ruckus on interception order of people including Supreme The Mamata Banerjee gov- BJP’s proposed programme was dolence message said in the NEW DELHI Court and High Court judges ernment had moved an appeal given the green light. death of Prabhanjan, Tamil NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was on Friday adjourned for the and politicians’ phones were literary world has suffered a THE opposition on Friday day amid ruckus over the government order to give central being tapped. “The MHA or- great loss. (IANS) came down heavily on the investigative agencies and the Delhi Police sweeping powers to der is unacceptable in any de- Narendra Modi government intercept computers. mocracy and we collectively Cops take into for putting all computers un- As soon as the House reassembled at 2.30 p.m after an oppose it. The opposition will Cong likely to field veterans custody Kerala der surveillance and demand- earlier adjournment, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad unitedly raise this issue in Par- ed the withdrawal of the order raised the issue of interception order issued by the Union Home liament. But as this govern- for Kerala Lok Sabha polls Orthodox priest saying it was a brazen assault Ministry on Thursday. His party colleague Anand Sharma also ment is unwilling to do, that Kothamangalam: As ten- on the citizens fundamental joined in raising the issue. Intervening amidst protests and is why it is not allowing Par- IANS one constituency - Thiruvanan- sion prevailed, the stand-off right to privacy and an at- slogan shouting by opposition members on the issue, Finance liament to function,” added THIRUVANANTHAPURAM thapuram. Among the 12 seats, between the warring Orthodox tempt to create an Orwellian Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Congress of playing with the Sharma. the Congress won in eight, and Jacobite factions over state. security of the country and making “a mountain where even a West Bengal Chief Minis- FORMER Chief Minister Oom- while the other seats went to its control of the Kothamangalam The government sought to mole hill does not exist.” (IANS) ter and Trinamool Congress men Chandy, former party allies, the Indian Union Muslim Mar Thoma Cheriya Palli defend the move saying it was supremo Mamata Banerjee presidents VM Sudheeran and League (2) and the Revolution- Church, entered its second only repeating the order under said a “blanket surveillance is MMHassan and the present ary Socialist Party (RSP) and day. The police forcefully on Rules that were “existing since Bureau (IB), the Enforcement velopment, through this order bad in law.” chief Mulapally Ramachandran the Kerala Congress (Mani) Friday took into custody Or- 2009”. Directorate (ED), the Central the Modi government is turn- “If it is for National Secu- are likely to contest the upcom- (one each) thodox priest Father Thomas The order issued by the Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ing India into a surveillance rity, then only for that purpose ing Lok Sabha polls. At present, two seats are ly- Paul Ramban, who armed with Ministry of Home Affairs and Directorate of Revenue state. Central Government already Among the other names ing vacant. The Kottayam seat a High Court order, waited (MHA) on Thursday author- Intelligence (DRI) among oth- “It is the ultimate assault has the machinery. But, why that have started doing the fell vacant after Jose K. Mani outside the church since ised 10 central security and ers. on the fundamental right to all commoners will be af- rounds are sitting party leg- of the Kerala Congress (Mani) Thursday to gain entry into investigative agencies and the Expressing alarm over the privacy and is in direct con- fected? Isn’t this dangerous,” islators Adoor Prakash and recently quit after being elected the church. The Ramban told Delhi Police to intercept, mon- order, the Congress accused flict with the Supreme Court’s asked Banerjee on twitter Hibi Eden. Kerala has 20 Lok to the Rajya Sabha, and the the media that the police, itor and decrypt any informa- the Modi government of turn- order, which held right to pri- seeking public opinion over Sabha seats and in the 2014 Wayanad seat, represented by while taking him into custody, tion generated, transmitted, ing India into a “surveillance vacy as a fundamental right,” the issue. The Communist Lok Sabha polls, the Congress- Congress leader M.I.Shanavas informed him that the Ernaku- received or stored in any com- state” and said the opposition said Congress leader and for- Party on India (Marxist) (CPI- led UDF won 12, the CPI-M who passed away last month.g lam district collector issued puter. will collectively raise the issue mer Union Minister Anand M) said the order was uncon- led Left Democratic Front won been a Congress seat, which the the order for his arrest. (IANS) The agencies so author- in Parliament. Sharma. stitutional and demanded it be eight and the BJP only man- party lost to a Left supported ised include the Intelligence “This is a very serious de- He also claimed that a host immediately rescinded. aged to finish second in just independent Joice George.

Time for a Muslim renaissance: Ex-AMU VC India, China identify 10 areas of people-to-people cooperation IANS Approaches for Empowering Uttar Pradesh came forward to PATNA Young Muslims -- Building Re- offer 2 acre each for setting up IANS said that Modi and Xi set the had with Wang in the last four silience, strengthening nation’ in such schools in the state. “Gov- NEW DELHI tone at the Wuhan informal years, she said that it focussed IT is time for renaissance for the Patna. He said children belong- ernment funds and other forms summit for deepening cultural solely on bilateral cultural ex- country’s Muslim community ing to the community must be of assistance may come, but IN keeping with the Wuhan exchanges and people-to-peo- changes and people-to-people to develop itself and the nation, given best school education and Muslims have to set up world- spirit in the wake of the infor- ple cooperation. cooperation. said Lt Gen (retd) Zameer Uddin for this the community should class schools for children. Other mal summit between Prime Xi hosted the Wuhan sum- “Today, we identified 10 ar- Shah, who was also Vice Chan- build schools with modern out- communities have done so,” he Minister Narendra Modi and mit to improve bilateral ties eas of people-to-people cooper- cellor of Aligarh Muslim Unu- look with Islamic ethos on the said. Chinese President Xi Jinping in after the armies of the two ation: cultural exchanges, films versity, on Wednesday at a dis- lines of Christian missionaries- Shah said the condition of April this year, India and China countries were in a face-to-face and television co-production, cussion on empowering young run institutions. the Muslim community today on Friday identified 10 areas situation for 73 days at Doklam media, sports, youth affairs, Muslims. “We have set up a modern is similar to what it was in 1857. for boosting people-to-people in the India-Bhutan-China in- tourism, exchanges between He said modern secular school in Muzaffarnagar in Ut- “The community is marginal- cooperation. ternational trijunction last year. states and cities, traditional school education for the com- tar Pradesh. It is named Sir Syed ised, impoverished, victimised Addressing the inaugural “Both our leaders believe medicine, yoga and academ- munity is a must for its devel- National School. AMU students and at the bottom of develop- session of the third edition of that improving people-to-peo- ics,” Sushma Swaraj said. opment. “I have been repeat- have donated Rs 51 lakh to build ment indicators,” he said. “But the India-China High-Level ple ties will help in boosting “Both countries had very edly requesting all to join us for this school,” he said. “We hope to fault for this pathetic situation of Media Forum here after co- Sushma Swaraj. bilateral relations,” Sushma fruitful discussions and I am the renaissance in the Muslim set up another similar school in the community lies with us. We chairing the first-ever meeting Swaraj said. Stating that Fri- very satisfied,” she said, add- community,” said Shah in his Saharanpr”. have neglected the importance of the India-China High-Level State Councillor and Foreign day’s two-hour-long meeting ing that she was inspired by the key note address at a day-long He said he was surprised of education, particularly mod- Mechanism on People-to-Peo- Minister Wang Yi, External Af- was unique and different from positive approach from the Chi- workshop on ‘Strategies and when 40 Muslim families in ern education.” ple Exchanges with Chinese fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj all the earlier meetings she nese side. Pakistan / Philippines / Asia Saturday, December 22, 2018 05 Imran Khan Imran seeks UN intervention inaugurates university at to stop violence in Kashmir PM House TRIBUNE.COM.PK The Pakistan PM says that a commission of inquiry should be dispatched urgently to probe the grave situation ISLAMABAD PRIME Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Islam- TRIBUNE.COM.PK issue. The move comes amid abad National University at ISLAMABAD escalation of Indian brutali- the PM House in the federal ties and a flagrant violation of capital on Friday. AMID an ongoing push by Pa- human rights by the Indian The educational institute kistan to persuade the inter- forces in the Kashmir. On will be housed in the prem- national community to play December 15, Indian troops ises of the PM House and its role in putting an end to killed as many as 11 Kashmiri other institutes and depart- the Indian repression of inno- youths during a cordon and ments of the university will be cent Kashmiris, Prime Minis- search operation and firing of added over time in the exten- ter Imran Khan on Thursday live ammunition at protesters sive grounds of the property, telephoned United Nations in Pulwama. Education Minister Shafqat Secretary General Antonio The Organisation of Is- Mehmood said during the in- Guterres and expressed con- lamic Cooperation (OIC) also auguration ceremony. cern on the recent escalation strongly condemned the ongo- Prime Minister Imran in violence in Indian-admin- ing killing of unarmed inno- Khan, addressing the cer- istered Kashmir. cent civilians by indian forces emony, said the purpose of PM Imran urged the sec- establishing a university in retary general to weigh in the PM House is to signal the and stop India from perpe- ‘Repression’ need for education and hu- trating state repression, vio- PM Imran urged the man development if Pakistan lence and brute force against is to develop and progress as a Kashmiris, including women secretary general to weigh nation. He added that the PTI and children. in and stop India from per- government prioritises edu- “The PM expressed deep petrating state repression, cation and the gap between shock and grave concern on violence and brute force the government and the pub- the escalation in the continu- against Kashmiris, includ- lic should be lessened. ing violence in Indian-admin- ing women and children. The premier also em- istered Kashmir, especially “He expressed deep shock phasised the need for higher the recent killing of 15 inno- and grave concern on the education institutions of ex- cent Kashmiris and injuries escalation in the continu- cellence and said funds re- to more than 300 protesters,” ing violence in Indian- covered by the state through read an official statement. the accountability process The premier, the commu- administered Kashmir, would be channelled into de- nique added, termed the situ- especially the recent killing veloping the education. ation in Indian-administered of 15 innocent Kashmiris Kashmir as “unacceptable”. and injuries to more than He added that the imposition 300 protesters,” read an of presidential rule in Iindian- official statement. Pakistan-China administered Kashmir had the danger of further aggravating (File photo) Imposition of presidential rule in Kashmir has danger of further aggravating the already serious situation, says PM Imran Khan. joint military the already serious situation. in Indian-administered Kash- He stressed that the Jam- Commissioner in Kashmir, net condemned the ongoing day imposed president’s rule with Foreign Minister Shah mir. OIC General Secretariat drill ends mu and Kashmir dispute is the premier said that a Com- genocide of Kashmiris by In- in Kashmir after the expiry of Mehmood Qureshi urging “called upon the international KARACHI: Pakistan-China not a bilateral issue between mission of Inquiry should be dian occupation forces as well the six-month governor’s rule, the world organisations and community to play its role in joint air exercise ‘Shaheen- Pakistan and India, but an dispatched urgently to investi- as imposition of president’s paving the way for the central defenders of human rights to order to reach a just and last- VII’ concluded with an august internationally recognised gate this grave situation. rule in the occupied region. government headed by Prime play their due role to stop the ing solution to the conflict in culmination ceremony at an dispute and an outstanding The prime minister reiter- Information Minister Fawad Minister Narendra Modi to atrocities against the innocent Kashmir, in accordance with operational air base of Paki- agenda item in the UN Secu- ated the proposal to appoint Chaudhry said the prime min- take all policy decisions relat- Kashmiris. the relevant international res- stan Air Force (PAF) in Karachi rity Council. a Special UN Representative ister would talk to the UN sec- ed to the territory. The minister demanded olutions adopted by the OIC on Friday. The main objective of In line with the recom- for resolution of the Jammu retary general about the wors- Pakistan condemned the that the UN secretary general and the UN Security Council, the exercise was to maximise mendations of the June 2018 and Kashmir dispute. Earlier ening situation in occupied move as another step towards immediately appoint a special and fulfil the aspirations of the combat readiness of the report of UN Human Rights in the day, the federal cabi- Kashmir. India on Wednes- perpetration of atrocities, representative on the Kashmir the Kashmiri people”. two air forces by providing a realistic training environment in different air combat scenarios, a spokesperson of the PAF Duterte inclined said in a statement. EU sanctions 7 Myanmar officials for Rohingya rights violations Deputy Chief of the Air to abolish Road Staff (Operations), Air Marshal DPA tion to the Rohingya crisis. Rakhine State, causing more Muhammad Haseeb Paracha Board: Palace BRUSSELS Those added Friday “are than 700,000 people to flee. was the chief guest at the oc- listed for serious human rights Earlier this month, EU foreign casion. Defence Attaché from MANILATIMES THE European Union extend- violations committed against ministers called on Naypyidaw the Chinese embassy, Major MANILA ed its sanctions Friday against the Rohingya population, ethnic to address accountability issues General Chen Wenrong was Myanmar military and border minority villagers or civilians,” and grant UN and humanitar- also present on the occasion. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Du- guard officials for committing the EU said in a statement. ian agencies access to the states The high ranking officials of terte is inclined to sign a bill “serious human rights viola- Their names were pub- of Rakhine, Kachin and Shan, at both the countries were given a abolishing the Road Board tions” against the country’s Ro- lished in the EU’s Official Jour- the centre of the crackdown. comprehensive briefing on the even without the coun- hingya population. nal. Brussels initially supported In August, a UN fact-find- exercise. Air Marshal Paracha terpart measure from the Friday’s listing of seven Myanmar’s transition from mil- ing mission accused Myan- highlighted significance of House of Representatives, additional names brings to 14 itary rule to democracy but has mar’s military of perpetrating the joint venture and appreci- which Speaker Gloria Maca- the overall number of Myan- (File photo) An ethnic Rakhine man holds homemade weapons as he grown critical of the country af- mass killing, rape, torture and ated the personnel of both air pagal-Arroyo has yet to sign, mar officials hit with EU travel walks in front of houses that were burnt during fighting between Buddhist ter its military launched a crack- arson against Rohingya with forces for the smooth conduct Malacanang said on Friday. bans and asset freezes in rela- Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities in Sittwe, on June 10, 2012. down on Rohingya Muslims in “genocidal intent.” of exercise. (TRIBUNE.COM.PK) Palace spokesman Sal- vador Panelo told a press briefing that contrary to the claim of Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Trump announces pullout of half US troops from Afghanistan Jr., Duterte has remained against the release of the road users’ tax. AFP end the 17-year conflict with the cision. “Frankly speaking we NATO stresses Afghan commitment Taliban to power, and dissolve Panelo said that Execu- KABUL Taliban, which already controls weren’t expecting that imme- the country into civil war. tive Secretary Salvador Me- vast amounts of territory and diate US response,” the official despite US withdrawal decision “We are terrified that his- dialdea told him that the US President Donald Trump is causing “unsustainable” Af- said from an unknown location tory will be repeated,” Fa- missing signature of Arroyo has decided to pull about 7,000 ghan troop casualties. in northwest Pakistan. BRUSSELS: The NATO alliance stressed its continued commit- zli Ahmad, a car washer in on the House bill was “min- troops from Afghanistan, a US “If you’re the Taliban, “We are more than happy, ment to its support mission in Afghanistan on Friday as Wash- the southern city of Kanda- isterial.” He said that if the official said Friday, but the Af- Christmas has come early,” a they realised the truth. We are ington prepared to withdraw thousands of US troops. har, said. Shaima Dabeer, a President signed the bill, ghan presidency brushed off senior foreign official in the Af- expecting more good news.” It NATO’s spokeswoman Oana Lungescu would not comment 50-year-old housewife in the there would be House mem- concerns the drawdown would ghan capital said on the condi- is not clear if US peace envoy on US President Donald Trump’s plan to bring home a chunk of northern city of Mazar-i-Sha- bers who would contest it in affect security. tion of anonymity. Zalmay Khalilzad or the Afghan the 14,000 US troops deployed in Afghanistan. But she said rif, said she feared for the fu- the Courts. Speaking on condition “Would you be thinking of government had been warned NATO foreign ministers met as recently as this month to express ture of her children. “If the President really of anonymity, the US official a ceasefire if your main oppo- of Trump’s plans in advance. “steadfast commitment to ensuring long-term security and stabil- “Afghanistan will go back to wants to end this, he will said that “roughly half” of the nent has just withdrawn half A spokesman for Afghan ity in Afghanistan.” “Our engagement is important to ensure that the Taliban era,” she said. sign it. And then, they will 14,000 US forces in Afghani- their troops?” Taliban spokes- President Ashraf Ghani, Ha- Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international Trump’s decision appar- go to the Court, those from stan would leave “within the man Zabiullah Mujahid would roon Chakhansuri, downplayed terrorists who could threaten us at home,” she said. (AFP) ently came Tuesday as Khal- the House, they may ques- next several months.” The not comment about the troop the news, saying: It “will not ilzad met with the Taliban in tion it,” Panelo said. move stunned and dismayed withdrawal when contacted have a security impact because Abu Dhabi, part of efforts to According to the legisla- diplomats and officials in Kabul by press. But a senior Taliban in the last four and half years control.” But Afghans across a US troop withdrawal could bring the militants to the nego- tive process, before a Presi- who are intensifying a push to commander welcomed the de- the Afghans have been in full the country expressed fears that derail peace efforts, return the tiating table with Kabul. dent can sign a bill into a law, both chambers of Con- gress should have given final approval to a bill and that an “enrolled bill” should Philippines 10th most affected by terror in 2017: Report be printed and certified as correct by the Secretary of Senate and the Secretary PHILSTAR talities, an 18-percent increase the Marawi siege as the single ism for a third consecutive year. General of the House of MANILA, PHILIPPINES from the year before. event with most number of ter- “The Global Terrorism Index Representatives. “While no terror attack in rorism deaths with 27 civilians 2018 shows the total number of The Senate President THE Philippines placed 10th in the Philippines killed more than killed in the attack. Maute fight- deaths decreased by 27 per cent and Speaker will sign the a ranking of countries most af- ten people in 2017, the impact of ers successfully invaded the city in 2017, with the largest falls oc- enrolled bill, which will then fected by terrorism in the 2018 terrorism was spread across the in May 2017 leaving a total of curring in Iraq and Syria,” the be transmitted to the Presi- Global Terrorism Index, ac- nation,” the report read. “Over over 1,000 dead including mili- report said in its summary. dent. For now, only the Sen- cording to a recently published 170 cities in the Philippines tary, rebel and civilian deaths Deaths in Iraq fell by 5,000 ate version of the bill is with by the Institute for Economics experienced at least one terror- before the Philippine govern- in Iraq and by 1,000 in Syria the Palace. and Peace. related death.” The report only ment regained control of the compared to the previous year. Panelo also said that he The Philippines slid down counted civilians in the number city in October the same year. Palace Spokesperson Sal- agreed with Senate Presi- two places from last year, ac- of people killed by terrorism. The Armed Forces of the vador Panelo reacted to the re- dent Vicente Sotto 3rd that cording to GTI, with a score of The New People’s Army— Philippines noted a higher port in a statement Thursday the House lost jurisdiction 7.181 out of 10, among countries the armed unit of the Commu- count of civilian casualties in and said the administration of over its version of the bill that feel a “high” impact from nist Party of the Philippines— the Marawi City attack, howev- President Rodrigo Duterte was when they submitted it to terror attacks. was responsible for most of the er, pegging it at 47 deaths. not taking terrorism lightly. the Senate. The report based the rank- (File photo) The New People’s Army— the armed unit of the Commu- casualities, or 35-percent of the Aside from number of “Terrorism knows no time, “So they cannot be re- ing on total number of terrorist nist Party of the Philippines—was responsible for most of the casuali- total deaths, followed by the deaths, the GTI noted 297 in- geography or circumstances. scinding what they have incidents in a given year, total ties, or 35-percent of the total deaths. Abu Sayyaf group responsible juries and 486 “incidents” from No matter how prepared a submitted to us and we have number of fatalities, injuries for 18-percent of the deaths and terror attacks in 2017. country or its government is, already adopted the posi- and property damage from at- only Southeast Asian country to The highest number of deaths the Maute group, responsible Globally, however, the in- damage will inevitably be in- tion,” the spokesman said. tacks in any given year. be ranked in the 10 worst-per- from terrorism was recorded for 8 percent of deaths ascribed dex recorded a drop in the curred if terrorism befalls in a The Philippines was the forming countries on the index. in 2017 with a total of 326 fa- to terrorism. The report noted number of deaths from terror- locality within its jurisdiction.” 06 Saturday, December 22, 2018

ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 PRINTED AT ALI BIN ALI PRINTING PRESS Opinion HAMAD BIN SUHAIM AL THANI CHAIRMAN ADEL ALI BIN ALI MANAGING DIRECTOR DR HASSAN MOHAMMED AL ANSARI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

That Foolish Decision To Leave Syria Congo Shows Flaws In The US president’s rash decision to pull American troops Trump’s Africa Strategy out of the war-ravaged nation is a huge mistake and could only endanger a battle against the Islamic State

NE of America’s partners in the Mid- destabilising games. This is no time to up Finding a way to gradually channel the country’s resources productively will be dle East fight against terror and chaos and leave. On December 11, US envoy to the a far better way to advance America’s interests in Congo or Africa as a whole Odoes a lot of dirty, dangerous work for region Brett McGurk said: “I think it’s fair little acclaim: the Syrian Kurds. Their mili- to say Americans will remain on the ground tias battled Islamic State on the ground as after the physical defeat of (Islamic State), DAVID A ANDELMAN | REUTERS the US pounded away mainly from the air. until we have the pieces in place to ensure The Syrian Kurds are still on the ground, that that defeat is enduring.” HERE are good reasons that Joseph but they’ve also been left high and dry by Trump decided otherwise, going with Conrad called Congo ‘The Heart of President Donald Trump. his gut it seems, in defiance of members of Darkness’ in his vast and utterly dis- Trump on Wednesday, with little ap- his own administration and party. Repub- turbing novel of Africa. And most of parent thought to the consequences, an- lican Senator Lindsey Graham said evacu- This reasons have been much on dis- nounced he will recall all ating Syria would be a huge play in the run-up to the country’s long- 2,000 American troops These days Islamic State mistake and morale boost delayed national elections, set for De- from Syria, making his to Islamic State. Trump of- cember 23 and now postponed again for own declaration of “mis- has about 1 percent of its fered no compelling argu- another week. sion accomplished” over former territory, but the ment or replacement strat- Violence in the streets, demonstra- Islamic State, or ISIS, in group’s poisonous ideology egy to protect American tions, police shootings of opposition Syria. “We have defeated remains intact, as does a interests going forward. demonstrators and chaos throughout the ISIS in Syria, my only rea- vacuum of power in war- He told Turkish President nation have marred the campaign. Ten son for being during the Recep Tayyip Erdogan he days ahead of the scheduled ballot, the Trump Presidency,” he torn Syria. Cancers of all didn’t want to spend any national electoral commission announced tweeted. Good satisfying types can recur: Bashar al more money and time in that 8,000 of the country’s 10,368 voting tweet, but dead wrong and Assad is still the barbarous Syria. machines were burned in a warehouse fire bad policy. leader of Syria, while Russia This was great news to of mysterious origin in the capital of Kin- Islamic State, a rag- and Iran are still playing Erdogan, because he views shasa. On Thursday, the commission pres- tag army of extremists, Kurds as enemies and ter- ident summoned candidates to a meeting stunned Iraq and the Unit- destabilising games rorists bent on carving out in parliament and said the shortage of bal- ed States five years ago by an independent state on lot papers after the fire made it necessary Europe – stretches across the continent, Moreover, Kabila has agreed to hew expanding quickly and waging sharp, sud- Turkish soil. With US forces out of the area, to hold off on voting until December 30. spanning two time zones. Its lavish natu- at least to the letter of the constitution, den attacks in the deserts of Iraq and Syria. Turkey would be free to attack the Kurds in There is much at stake in this election, ral resources are the prime reason for ma- with its ban on more than two consecu- For a while the group gobbled territory, en- Syria. Erdogan’s isn’t the only happy face. but its outcome seems in little doubt. The jor power competition. Indeed, the value tive terms. But, perhaps taking a leaf from slaved populated areas and even knocked Also pleased with Trump’s decision: Assad, Democratic Republic of Congo, a Belgian of Congo is all but incalculable, and ap- Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who selected his Iraq’s army on its heels. who gets some breathing room; Iran, which colony until 1960, has been ruled by the parently barely appreciated by the United proxy Dmitri Medvedev for a single term, The tide eventually turned, thanks in uses Syria as a conduit to deliver arms to Kabila family for almost 20 years – first States. Not so for China. then returned to power, Kabila has tapped part to the Syrian Kurds, who were key to Hezbollah, an Israeli foe in Lebanon; and by Laurent, who came to power in a coup, Estimates of Congo’s mineral wealth the former interior minister, Emmanuel pushing Islamic State out of its putative Russia, which built up a military presence and then by his son Joseph. The younger run to $24 trillion. It sits on nearly half Ramazani Shadary, under sanction by the capital, Raqaa, Syria. in Syria to project power in the Middle Kabila, elected twice since 2006, is not of the world’s reserves of cobalt and vast European Union for alleged human rights These days Islamic State has about East. The less US activity on the ground in running again. His power and influence, quantities of high-grade copper ore. A abuses, to fill his shoes. That means Ka- 1 percent of its former territory, but the Syria, the greater the instability. however, look likely to remain intact. consortium of 35 Chinese companies bila can rule from the shadows of his vast group’s poisonous ideology remains intact, President Trump has a bad habit of sep- For decades, Washington has paid lit- have joined to begin mining both miner- estate and private safari park. as does a vacuum of power in war-torn Syr- arating pronouncements from facts. A rash tle real attention to this nation so critical als in multi-billion deals. Yet the country At least three major opposition candi- ia. Cancers of all types can recur: Bashar al decision to bring home American forces to Africa’s future. The new US ambas- remains one of the poorest in the world. dates are on the ballot – Martin Fayulu, Assad is still the barbarous leader of Syr- looks good on his Twitter feed, but it’s dan- sador, Michael Hammer, who arrived in So, it was hardly surprising that the leader of a coalition of Kabila opponents, ia, while Russia and Iran are still playing gerous in reality. October, is not an Africa expert and his government welcomed China’s agree- Vital Kamerhe, and Felix Tshisekedi, a ca- resumé does not mention any service on ment, in return for access to its mineral reer politician. An October cell phone poll (Tribune News Service) the continent. resources, to build $3 billion worth of of 1,179 people in all 26 provinces by a This should hardly be surprising. On roads, hospitals and universities. This consortium including Stearns’ Congo Re- December 13, US National Security Ad- money is the root of a problem that’s un- search Group shows Shadary trailing the viser John Bolton unveiled the Trump ad- likely to be resolved at Sunday’s polls. last two. Still, Stearns says he and other ministration’s new Africa strategy, with- Today’s Congolese politics are a direct observers still expect Shadary to win the out a single word about Congo. It was all outgrowth of the Cold War, when the bru- single-round, first-past-the-post race. about the United States, focusing largely tal, corrupt, Mobutu Sese Seko government In the end, the biggest question and So Sorry: Facebook Comes Clean on the bitter competition with China and was supported by the United States as a the greatest challenge for America and Russia for hegemony and how to take bulwark against Marxist insurgents led by the West is how to bring Congo into the EAR fellow citizens of Face- constipation medication. them on and win. Laurent Kabila, father of the incumbent. Western sphere of values. Yet, the real book: We deeply regret using key- The deeper problem of the Trump-Bol- Mobutu was overthrown in 1997; Laurent poison to the entire system will remain D We’re so sorry we shared logging software to capture ton doctrine, however, is its fundamental was assassinated by a teenage bodyguard the vast sums of money sloshing through your private messages with Netf- messages you considered send- premise that what’s good for America is four years later and Joseph came to power the economy. Finding a way to gradually lix and Amazon and others. ing but decided not to, then sold good for Africa – in short, what Washing- at 29. That was 17 years ago. The nation channel resources productively, rather We know at this point you’re them to the intended almost- ton wants, not what Africa needs. “Every has barely known a real moment of peace than stumbling blindly into the midst of probably tired of what seems like recipient. decision we make, every policy we pursue, or government honesty since. a superpower battle for supremacy, will the umpteenth example of an end- We wish we had never let and every dollar of aid we spend will fur- Kabila has done little to stop that. be a far better way to advance America’s less cycle: a revelation of a breach Russian cyber-operatives pose ther US priorities,” Bolton began. “All US With close backing from the military, as interests in Congo or Africa as a whole. of trust on our part, followed by as your own sons and daughters aid on the continent will advance US in- Jason Stearns of the non-profit research Otherwise, Washington will certainly be a spasm of self-flagellation, fol- and say they hate you. terests,” he said. “In Africa, we are already project Congo Research Group describes perceived as no better than China, Russia lowed by news about another We shouldn’t have used seeing the disturbing effects of China’s it, there’s little incentive for Kabila to – or, for that matter, Kabila. breach of trust. face recognition technology on the photos quest to obtain more political, economic, end these wars. Under the military’s pay So consider this letter an attempt to rip of you, your family and your friends, then and military power.” Congo, together with structure, wartime bonuses are the only (David A Andelman, a former off the Band-Aid once and for all. found your doppelgangers, then sent fake its vast problems but even vaster resourc- viable way to earn a living – often a lav- foreign correspondent for the When we tracked your movements, we phishing emails to you from these doppel- es, is already a focus of the new East-West ish one – in the army. With Kabila and his New York Times and CBS News, is shouldn’t have measured the exact amount gangers threatening to frame you for crimes war – one that the United States is losing. entourage getting rich, it would be hard to visiting scholar at the Center on of time you spent in the bathroom, then you did not commit. By its position in the geographic centre, persuade him to relinquish power. Still, to National Security at Fordham Law signed you up for marketing lists for anti- Please give us one more chance. Congo is a key beachhead for any assault appease outsiders and many of his people, School and author of ‘A Shattered on Africa. Bordered by nine other nations, he agreed – after two years of delays – to Peace: Versailles 1919 and (Tribune News Service) its territory – nearly the size of Western hold an election. the Price We Pay Today’.)

One Way To Make The Planet More Sustainable–Eat Bugs The founder of a sustainable foods company believes the solution to a coming food and sustainability crisis might be eating edible insects

DUSTIN MCKISSEN Unless you’re willing to give eating campaign inexplicably conducted by tiny TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE crickets a try. Seriously. people you love more than anything else in “Crickets are the world’s most sustain- the world. So, you have to take the small ANT the bad news? Despite dra- able protein,” said Sarah Schlafly, founder wins--like secretly feeding them bugs.) matic increases in agricultural of St Louis-based Mighty Cricket. “Cricket On a serious note, the earth is not productivity, the world faces sig- also has the highest quality protein out getting any more land or water--but it is nificant food shortages now and there, even higher than beef. It also has getting a whole lot more people. Helping Win the near future. Specifically, more iron than spinach, and as many American consumers become more com- the United Nations Food and Agriculture Omega-3 fatty acids as salmon per 100 fortable with insect protein has become Organization estimates that about 795 grammes.” Schlafly and Mighty Cricket’s mission. million people suffer from a chronic lack Schlafly also notes that crickets are “We simply won’t be able to continue of nutritious food. And in order to prevent also a far more sustainable source of pro- getting our protein exclusively from tra- the widespread chaos that would come tein than beef. ditional sources,” said Schlafly. “Alter- from mass hunger, agricultural productiv- “One pound of beef protein requires native proteins like crickets will be an ity must increase by 60 percent by 2050 to 1700 gallons of water. One pound of chick- important part of solving long-term food meet the world’s food demands. en protein requires 700 gallons of water. and resource challenges. Plus, cricket Unfortunately, that isn’t the only bad One pound of soy protein requires 5 gal- just tastes good.” news. Much of the developed world’s pro- lons of water. One pound of cricket protein Good food that helps the environment tein sources are produced in an unsus- requires 1 gallon of water. We simply don’t and doubles as a fast and easy way to prank tainable way. Recent research shows that have the resources to continue to sup- horror remake. didn’t notice a significant difference until your kids? The mighty crickets sound like a while meat and dairy production is the port relying almost exclusively on meat. Crickets can’t possibly taste very good, after they were done eating and we told mighty good bet. (That’s right. I’m closing source of just 18 percent of the calories By 2050 we will not be able to sustain the right? Actually, they do. them we had just fed them pancakes made out this article with a cricket pun, which and 37 percent of the protein the world world’s current protein diet. Crickets and Since food reviews aren’t normally a of crickets. research shows is roughly 2,000 percent consumes, those same agricultural prod- other edible insects are an important part subject of my articles, I had to taste the (Though the food was good, the big re- better than a beef pun.) ucts account for 83 percent of the world’s of addressing those challenges.” product before writing about it. veal was the best part of dinner. As a par- farmland--and loss of wild habitat to Yeah, but...they’re crickets. Bugs. My wife and I tried a pancake mix sold ent of a nineteen-year-old, thirteen-year- Mighty Cricket is a sustainable foods farmland is the single biggest reason for The things that make my otherwise by Mighty Cricket, and while the consist- old, and ten-year-old, I can tell you that CPG company promoting nutrition and wildlife extinction. tough-as-nails daughter leap onto a chair ency is a bit different than typical pan- raising children can feel at times like being sustainability through cricket protein in- It’s all very depressing. and scream like she’s trying out for an ‘80s cakes, the taste was excellent. Our kids on the wrong end of an ISIS-style terror fused cereals, waffles, and protein powder.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Gulf / Middle East Saturday, December 22, 2018 07

News Erdogan vows to clear in brief Coalition air strikes kill 13 militants, 14 of their relatives in eastern Syria BEIRUT: Air strikes by the US-led coalition killed 13 militant Syria of Kurd militia, IS fighters and 14 of their relatives Friday in eastern Syria, a war monitor said. The strikes came two days after US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull troops out of Syria raised fears the Turkish president hints at launch of operation against Kurdish militia YPG Islamic State group would use the vacuum to regroup. “At least 27 people were killed this morning in Al-Shaafa,” Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. He said eight children were among the 14 civilian victims and added several people were seriously wounded in the strikes. The raids targeted IS positions in Al-Shaafa, one of the two main villages in the last pocket of territory still controlled by IS in the Euphrates River valley. (AFP)

Dozens of bodies ‘found in Islamic State mass grave’ in Iraq’s kirkuk province HAWIJA: Iraqi authorities said they uncovered a new mass grave containing the remains of dozens of people in an area of northern Kirkuk province once held by the Islamic State group. Security forces have discovered dozens of mass graves since they drove out IS in 2017 after three years of occupation of swathes of northern and western Iraq. The United Nations said in November that more than 200 mass graves containing up to 12,000 victims had been found in Iraq that could hold vital evidence of war crimes by the jihad- ists. The latest macabre discovery was made on Thursday in the Hawija district of Kirkuk province, Adel Ismail, a lieutenant-colonel in the Iraqi federal police force, said. He said the grave contained the remains of “innocent Iraqi civilians” who “were abducted and then killed” by the militants. “This is a mass grave used by Daesh,” said a resident. (AFP)

Fresh protests in IS ruining things for Sudan after deadly other militants, bread clashes Shabaab complains KHARTOUM: Protests over the MOGADISHU: Somalia’s al- rising cost of bread broke out Shabaab vowed to wipe out in Khartoum and its twin city fellow jihadist group Islamic Omdurman on Friday, witness- State on Friday, accusing it of es said, as Sudanese troops creating problems for “the rest Syrians brandish Turkish and opposition flags during a demonstration in support of neighbouring Turkey in the town of Bizaa, north of Aleppo, on Friday. (AFP) deployed after two days of of the fighters.” deadly clashes between riot Labelling IS militants a AFP ‘Syrian Kurds may pull out of anti-IS battle if attacked by Turkey’ The latest flurry of diplo- police and demonstrators left “cancer,” the Somali group ISTANBUL macy began when Erdogan eight protesters dead. announced in a statement PARIS: Syrian Kurdish forces leading the battle against Islamic State remnants in Syria could withdraw said on December 12 that Tur- A government decision and on its radio station that TURKISH President Recep from the frontlines and redeploy to the Turkish border if the region they control is attacked by Turkey, key would start an offensive in to raise the price of a loaf of al-Shabaab would “hunt down Tayyip Erdogan on Friday one of their leaders said Friday in Paris. the east of the Euphrates River bread this week from one Su- everyone who is associated vowed to drive out a US- Two leaders of the political wing of the Kurdish-led force, who held talks with French officials about in “the next few days”. danese pound to three (from with Islamic State.” backed Kurdish militia and the planned US military withdrawal from Syria, also said they feared the escape of some 1,000 milit- Then on December 14, he about two to six US cents) “The so-called Islamic jihadists from Syria as Kurd- nats being held in Syrian Kurdish jails should guards be drafted to fight elsewhere. spoke to Trump on the phone. sparked protests across the State members in Somalia ish forces there warned that Ilham Ahmad, one of two co-chairs of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political arm of the Turkish daily Hurriyet re- country on Wednesday. have created multiple confu- any attack by Ankara could Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), warned that a Turkish attack could bring the battle ported on Friday that Trump In Omdurman, a witness sions and problems against seriously undermine the fight against the IS in Syria to a halt. (AFP) decided to pull out during -- who declined to be named the rest of the Mujahideens against the Islamic State. that call and ordered his na- -- said demonstrations erupt- (Islamist militants),” the three- Erdogan’s promise follows surgency against the Turkish negative experiences”, refer- if there was a Turkish attack. tional security adviser John ed as worshippers emerged page statement said. a shock decision by US Presi- state since 1984. The PKK is ring to Ankara’s continued Trump’s move has also Bolton to “start the work” to from a mosque frequented “Our sword is ready to dent Donald Trump to pull out blacklisted as a terror group by disappointment over the US sparked turmoil in his own prepare withdrawal. by followers of the Al-Ansar fight this cancer and deadly 2,000 American ground forces Turkey and its Western allies. administration’s failure to administration. US Defence Erdogan on Friday said sect, which is linked to the disease,” al-Shabaab’s spokes- from Syria on the ground that “In the coming months stop providing military sup- Secretary Jim Mattis resigned the US decision meant Turkey Umma Party, Sudan’s main man Ali Mohamud Rage, also the IS had been “beaten”. we will see an operation port to the YPG. on Thursday, reflecting his would “wait a little longer” be- opposition group. known as Ali Dhere, told radio Erdogan suggested Tur- aimed at removing the YPG But two leaders of the disagreement with the White fore any operation involving Protesters chanted station Andalus. key could launch an opera- and Daesh (Islamic State) political wing of the Syrian House’s new strategy in Syria. Syrian rebels. “the people want the fall of “Unlike us,... IS mem- tion against the Kurdish Peo- elements on the ground in Democratic Council, the po- American support to the Earlier on Friday, Turkish the regime” and “freedom, bers are not fighting for ple’s Protection Units (YPG) Syria,” he said in Istanbul. litical arm of the US-backed YPG militia, which spear- Foreign Minister Mevlut Ca- freedom,” said the witness. sake of Allah, but they are militia, which Ankara says is Erdogan welcomed and Kurdish-led Syrian headed Washington’s battles vusoglu said Turkey needed “Riot police fired tear gas at here to divide Muslims to a “terrorist offshoot” of the Trump’s withdrawal deci- Democratic Forces (SDF), in Syria to eliminate militants, to “coordinate this withdrawal the demonstrators,” the wit- deter them from fighting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ sion but said he remained warned the battle against the has long been a source of ten- with the United States”, add- ness added. (AFP) infidels,” he said.(DPA) Party (PKK) waging an in- “cautious” because of “past IS could be brought to a halt sion between the NATO allies. ing that talks already began. UN Security Council votes to deploy observers in Yemen’s Hodeidah

what was under discussion. observer mission could con- UNSC votes unanimously to send a civilian The UN-brokered peace ne- Draft endorses sist of 30 to 40 people, tasked gotiations in Stockholm last talks outcome with ensuring the withdrawal observer mission to war-wracked Yemen week saw Yemen’s warring of the warring parties from to monitor a fragile truce in the port city parties agree to a ceasefire The Britain-drafted Hodeida and the safe passage and the withdrawal of fight- resolution was adopted by of humanitarian aid. AFP The UN Security Council ers in Hodeida, a key gateway all 15 council members The observers will head UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES, voted Friday on a resolution for aid and food imports. after a week of tough up monitoring teams made that would authorize the The city is a vital life- negotiations. The text also up of government and rebel The UN Security Council on deployment of observers to line for millions at risk of representatives, under the Friday voted unanimously to war-torn Yemen to oversee a starvation, and the ceasefire endorsed the results of auspices of a Redeployment send a civilian observer mis- fragile truce in the strategic between Saudi-backed gov- recent peace talks in Coordination Committee sion to war-wracked Yemen Red Sea port of Hodeida. ernment forces and Huthi Sweden aimed at ending headed by Cammaert. to monitor a fragile truce in The vote on the draft, Shiite rebels is seen as the the four-year-long conflict A week ago, following the the strategic Red Sea port of which was submitted by Brit- best chance yet of ending four talks in Sweden, UN envoy Hodeida and supervise the ain, has been rescheduled years of devastating conflict. Martin Griffiths asked the departure of combatants. multiple times, but was now The latest version of the thorizes UN Secretary Gen- Security Council for the quick The Britain-drafted res- expected to unfold at about UN draft–which was amend- eral Antonio Guterres to deployment of observers. olution was adopted by all midday. ed several times this week “submit proposals as soon But the negotiations were 15 council members after a Negotiations on the reso- at the request of the United Huthi supporters gather in Sana’a, Yemen, on Wednesday. (EPA-EFE) as possible before December particularly tough, with Rus- week of tough negotiations. lution, which would also en- States, Russia and Kuwait– 31, 2018 on how the United sia at one point threatening The text also endorsed the dorse the results of recent “insists on the full respect Cammaert–who served mul- Amman on Friday, before Nations will fully support the to use its veto if a mention of results of recent peace talks peace talks in Sweden, were by all parties of the ceasefire tiple times as a UN peace- heading to the rebel-held Stockholm Agreement as re- Iran supporting Huthi rebel in Sweden aimed at ending ongoing, diplomats said, agreed” for Hodeida. keeper–was expected to ar- capital Sanaa and Hodeida. quested by the parties.” attacks–inserted by the Unit- the four-year-long conflict. without offering details on According to the UN, rive in the Jordanian capital The draft resolution also au- Diplomats said the UN ed States–was not removed. A tale of two camps for displaced Yemenis & same tragedy

AFP air strikes. They are among cuts up okra with the edge of facilities to take care of the KHOKHA, YEMEN the more than two million a metal cup to mix with mal- children”. About 300 kilome- people displaced by a con- low, a popular salad green that tres (185 miles) south of Hajja, FOR many families in Yemen, flict between the government, grows wild in Yemen. Yemenis in a camp in Khokha, the war has not only stripped backed by a Saudi-led military Life in the Al-Khudeish Hodeida province, have fled a them of their livelihoods, coalition, and the Iran-aligned camp is not easy. Yehya Ka- different threat. homes and belongings but Huthi rebels. loum’s family sits on the floor But they face the same something far more valuable: “Our situation has gone of a tent, in silence. day-to-day struggles as those their dignity. from bad to worse, and we They have lost several fam- in Al-Khudeish. “It was humiliating, and have not received any assis- ily members, who were among “We left because of the now that we are here in this tance,” he said. dozens killed in an air strike in fierce... shelling by the rebels refugee camp, it is even more Food is scarce in Al- March 2015 at the Al-Mazrak both at night and during the humiliating,” said Ali Moham- Khudeish, where children camp for the displaced, also in day,” Mohammed Ghaleb said. med Mustbani in a makeshift –some barefoot–roam and Hajja province. He said Huthi snipers tent, his eyes sunken and pos- struggle to occupy themselves. Kaloum’s family moved re- were dispersed throughout ture stooped. A little girl combs her younger peatedly to escape air strikes, his hometown of Hays, some Mustbani fled with his sister’s hair, while another before eventually reaching this 30 kilometres from Khokha, wife and six children from young girl cares for a baby. camp. “We fled on foot with which is itself around 100 kil- their hometown in north- What little food the camp only the clothes on our backs,” ometres south of the Red Sea western Hajja province to residents can get their hands he said. “We are suffering. We port city of Hodeida. the Al-Khudeish camp in the on is cooked or baked in a pit. (File photo) Yemeni children play at a camp for displaced people in the Khokha district of the western have no water, we have no The shelling forced many same governorate after heavy On the floor, a young girl province of Hodeidah, recently. food, and we don’t have health to flee Hays. 08 Saturday, December 22, 2018 Europe / Americas Exit of trusted Mattis sparks concern among US allies Hunt for gunman after one

REUTERS Mattis has been seen in Eu- US allies Japan, South Korea as the one leader who had some killed in Vienna shooting BRUSSELS rope as firmly committed to the and Australia and has some of influence on Trump, with a good North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- the world’s most volatile flash- personal and working relation- AFP stopped and questioned over KEY allies of Washington ex- tion (NATO) military alliance, points, with high tension on the ship. VIENNA possible involvement but the pressed concern on Friday about unlike his ex-boss. Korean peninsula and China’s French Defence Minister suspect it still on the run, the the resignation of US Defence Trump has warned Europe- militarization of the South China Florence Parly said Trump’s de- ONE person has died and an- police said. A police helicopter Secretary Jim Mattis and the an allies the United States could Sea causing friction. cision to pull troops out of Syria other has been seriously in- hovered over the city centre policies of President Donald withdraw its support unless they The resignation also sur- in the belief that Islamic State jured after a shooting in the near where the two casualties Trump that prompted it, prais- boost defence spending. prised Kabul, where the retired (ISIS) had been defeated was centre of the Austrian capital were found. ing Mattis as a committed part- “We are grateful for the iron- Marine had been seen as a guar- “extremely grave”. Vienna, police said Friday, rul- The surrounding streets ner. clad commitment of the United antor of US engagement. Afghan “We do not share the analy- ing out a terrorist motive. were closed to traffic and pe- Mattis said on Thursday he States to NATO. US leadership officials reacted with unease to ses that the territorial caliphate Police said a man fired sev- destrians and local media would quit after falling out with keeps our transatlantic alliance plans to withdraw more than has been annihilated,” Parly said eral shots in the city’s first dis- reported that police in bullet- Trump over the latter’s foreign strong,” Lungescu said. Jim Mattis. 5,000 of the 14,000 US troops in on RTL radio. “It’s an extremely trict at 1:30 pm (1230 GMT). proof vests and helmets had policies, including the surprise Former Belgian Prime Min- the country. grave decision and we think ... “A terrorist motive is out of been deployed. One witness decision to pull troops out of ister Guy Verhofstadt, head of is bad news & makes it look like After being tipped off by the job must be finished.” the question,” it said in a series told the Kurier newspaper that Syria and plans for a drawdown the liberals in the European (Russian President Vladimir) White House sources and dip- German Defence Minister of tweets, adding that early in- the victims had been shot at in in Afghanistan. Parliament, said the resignation Putin’s plan is being delivered lomats, French President Em- Ursula Von der Leyen called for dications pointed to a “target- a passageway. “Secretary Mattis has made only made it more urgent for on,” Verhofstadt said on Twitter. manuel Macron called Trump clarity on future policies. ed crime”. “There were two people a key contribution to keep- the European Union to push on Mattis’ resignation also on Tuesday to warn him against “Because the United States “Following the shooting in lying on the ground, and a ing NATO strong and ready to with its plans to bolster its own sparked concern among Wash- the Syria decision, a French of- has such a prominent role and the city centre, there are inten- third guy was saying: ‘Brother, deal with the significant secu- defence capabilities. ington’s Asia-Pacific allies, who ficial said. responsibility in the global secu- sive search operations going brother!’ in a Slavic language,” rity challenges we face,” NATO “Mattis checked President credit the retired general with “He told him: Be careful, rity architecture, it is important on throughout the city,” it said. the witness said. Other wit- spokeswoman Oana Lungescu Trump’s worst instincts & was building trust and tempering we think that would be a bit too for everyone to quickly get clarity “There is no danger to by- nesses said the suspect es- said. “He is widely respected as a a strong supporter of NATO & isolationist impulses. early’,” the official said. about succession and the future standers at this time!,” it add- caped in a car, according to the soldier and a diplomat.” multilateralism. His departure The region includes strong Macron has often been cast course,” she said in a statement. ed. Several people have been ORF broadcaster.

News in brief Trump, Democrats fight over wall Canadian ex-diplomat held in China denied access to lawyers: ICG MONTREAL: The Canadian former diplomat detained in China fund as govt shutdown looms amid a diplomatic spat with Beijing has not yet been allowed to meet with his lawyers, the think tank that currently employs him said Friday. Michael Kovrig “has not been allowed access to his lawyers. The arrest is unjustified,” said Hugh Pope, a spokes- A midnight deadline approaches for lawmakers and the president to find a way to keep the govt running man for the International Crisis Group (ICG), a think tank that analyzes conflicts and geopolitical flashpoints. “We call for him to be released immediately, and at a mini- mum for him to be allowed regular consular access, contact with his family and to see his legal counsel,” Pope said. Kovrig was arrested on December 10, the same day that Chinese authori- ties detained another Canadian national, Michael Spavor. The arrests came after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, on a US war- rant that accused her of violating sanctions on Iran. (AFP)

US charges two Chinese men over alleged state-sponsored hacking

WASHINGTON: The United States has charged two Chinese men it says hacked the computer systems of companies and government agencies in a dozen countries, in what Washington says was a wide-reaching state-backed campaign of cyber- espionage. NASA and the US Navy were among those allegedly target- ed in a programme the US Justice Department said also hit a major bank, telecom companies and healthcare providers in 12 countries. The charges drew a furious response from Beijing, which accused Washington of “fabricating facts”. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said China had repeatedly broken President Xi Jinping’s 2015 pledge to halt cyberattacks on US companies and commercial infrastructure. “It is unacceptable that we continue to uncover cybercrime committed by China against other nations,” he said. (AFP)

Sierra Leone abuse 2018 was hottest claimants lose year for a century UK court case in France LONDON: Sierra Leoneans PARIS: 2018 was the hottest seeking damages from a min- year in France since modern ing company they accused of records began in 1900, the complicity in a police crackdown French meteorological service voiced disappointment on said Friday. US President Donald Trump receives applause after signing the ‘First Step Act’ and the ‘Juvenile Justice Reform Act’ at the White House in Washington on Friday. (AFP) Friday after losing a landmark “This year was the hottest legal case in a British court. France has known since mod- AFP Thursday and rejected a meas- include border security,” he “Our clients are obviously ern meteorological measures WASHINGTON Trump, Republican senators meet ure that unanimously passed said at a White House event. very disappointed by the judg- came into use in 1900,” to thrash out wall-funding dilemma the Senate and was under con- “Walls work, whether we ment,” law firm Leigh Day said Meteo-France said. THE prospect of an embar- sideration in the House. like it or not,” he added. “They in a statement. “The legal team The average temperature rassing Christmastime shut- WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump met with Republican He appeared to harden work better than anything.” is now reviewing the judge’s of 14 degrees centigrade down of the US government senators on Friday after threatening a “very long” government his demand for $5 billion in Democrats have refused findings and will be advising the (57.2 Fahrenheit) was 1.4 loomed Friday as President shutdown just hours ahead of a midnight deadline, demanding funding for the wall on the to budge, saying they will not clients in early January as to degrees above the average Donald Trump and congres- $5 billion for border wall funding and seeking to shift blame for US-Mexico border, a pet pro- support a spending measure the prospects of appealing the recorded between 1981 and sional Democrats remained a holiday showdown to Democrats. ject he has fought for since he that funds Trump’s wall. judge’s findings,” it said. 2010, it said in a statement. far apart on a stopgap funding There appeared to be little chance the Senate would go began campaigning for presi- “That’s a non-starter,” The case, brought by 142 That put it ahead of two bill held up by discord over along with a bill passed by the House of Representatives on dent in 2015. said top House Democrat claimants seeking damages other remarkably hot recent money for a border wall. Thursday that would give Trump $5 billion toward building the Republican leaders had Nancy Pelosi. “I think they from Tonkolili Iron Ore Ltd, years, 2014 and 2011, which An air of chaos hung over wall on the Mexican border - one of the major themes of his planned to pass a so-called know that.” alleged company complicity were 1.2 and 1.1 degrees Washington as a midnight presidency. Republican Senator Richard Shelby said he doubted continuing resolution (CR) Republicans nevertheless in crimes in the West African above the average. deadline approached for law- the issue would be resolved on Friday while John Cornyn, the that would fully fund the gov- soldiered on, crafting a new country including the killing of The year began with an makers and the president to No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said there may be room for ernment until February 8 to measure that would appease a protester, rape, assault and unseasonably warm January, find a way to do a very basic compromise but that Trump was unlikely to go for any bill that allow time for debate about is- the president’s demands. It false imprisonment. but temperatures really began task: keep the government up does not include wall funding. (REUTERS) sues including border security. includes $5.7 billion in border British courts agreed to to soar in April which saw the and running. But with ultra-conserv- wall funding, and $7.8 billion hear the lawsuit because the hottest summer since 2003, If they do not, key agen- ative lawmakers and media in disaster relief. iron ore producer was previ- when 15,000 people died dur- cies will close and many work- decision to disregard advisers president, resigned in protest personalities effectively de- The bill passed the House, ously a subsidiary of African ing a prolonged heatwave. ers will be furloughed right and allies and pull out of Syria over the Syria decision and manding that the president but with no Democratic sup- Minerals Ltd (AML), which “From April to December before Christmas without a and sharply reduce the US Trump’s approach to interna- stick to his campaign prom- port. But the bill will be dead was headquartered in London France had nine consecutive paycheck. troop presence in Afghanistan. tional alliances that are at the ises, Trump doubled down. on arrival in the 100-member before it went into administra- warm months,” Meteo-France The sense of turmoil was Defense Secretary Jim heart of US foreign policy. “I’ve made my position Senate, where bills need 60 tion in 2015. (AFP) added. (AFP) compounded by a falling stock Mattis, seen as a moderat- On government funding, very clear. Any measure that votes to advance and Republi- market and Trump’s abrupt ing force for an impulsive Trump reversed course on funds the government has to cans control 51 seats. Germans turn to ‘Medibus’ as doctors desert villages More ‘yellow vest’ protests planned AFP to the mobile practice now ject a “very big success, we’re as France winds down for Christmas CORNBERG, GERMANY and then but still sees his doc- very satisfied.” tor when he isn’t completely Mobile clinic - Creeping ‘medical deserts’ FOR years after the last doctor booked up. Every week, the bus, -Across Hesse, more than 170 AFP and its gardens, a top tour- president. Elsewhere, some left the small German village set up by the Hesse state medi- The ‘Medibus’ is a com- doctors’ posts are unfilled, ac- PARIS ist venue, on Saturday. They “gilets jaunes” sought to keep of Weissenborn, 79-year-old cal association, stops off in six plete doctor’s office in a cording to data from the medi- have also urged shopkeepers pressure on the government to former mayor Arno Maeurer villages in western Germany. red and yellow bus that cal association. FRENCH “yellow vests” are in Paris, many of whom re- further boost spending power had to rely on his car to reach As in many areas of western sets up shop in the com- Even the offer of a bonus of gearing up for a sixth Satur- mained shuttered over the past and give citizens more of a the nearest clinic, as a chron- Europe, they are afflicted both munity of around 1,000 up to 66,000 euros ($75,000) day of nation-wide demon- two weekends to guard against say in lawmaking by staging ic shortage of practitioners by an ageing population and a people for a few hours on over five years to those setting strations, but numbers on the looting and violence, to exer- sporadic protests. In Pfastatt, gripped his rural region. scarcity of practitioners to take Tuesdays and Thursdays up in specific areas has failed to streets are falling fast as the cise caution. eastern France, 14 demon- But this year a clinic started care of them. lure enough new blood, while police clear protest camps in On Friday, just hours after strators trying to block access coming to him. On board the Medibus, doc- doctors delaying retirement are the run-up to the Christmas the lower house of parliament to a factory supplying parts to The “Medibus” is a com- tor Matthias Roth saw around offered up to 2,000 euros per holidays. adopted a raft of measures PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s plete doctor’s office in a red and 35 patients a day in the summer nose and care for patients,” quarter. The protesters appeared to help the working poor and second-biggest carmaker, were yellow bus that sets up shop in months, or roughly the same Roth tells AFP, from his chair The shortage is so acute that split Friday on whether to pensioners, Prime Minister arrested by police. the community of around 1,000 number as a traditional GP’s behind the tiny desk squeezed the Medibus received a special stage another large rally in Edouard Philippe visited the In the southwestern city of people for a few hours on Tues- practice, the association says. into the consulting room in the exemption from a general ban Paris, or in the nearby town of Haute-Vienne region of central Toulouse, some 30 protesters days and Thursdays. Around 70 percent of the vehicle’s rear. on itinerant doctors. Versailles, once home to king France to discuss grievances held a rally lampooning Presi- “The day will come when I patients were more than 55 Outside on the town square Fearing the initiative might Louis XVI who lost his head to of disgruntled rural-dwellers dent Emmanuel Macron on won’t be able to drive any more, years old, and 30 percent older of Cornberg -- population speed up the growth of so-called the revolutionary guillotine. with local mayors. his 41st birthday. “We haven’t so I’ll be totally dependent on than 76. 1,600 -- project supervisor “medical deserts”, some local Fearing possible unrest, Philippe was greeted by brought him any presents be- the Medibus,” Maeurer says. “It’s a full practice, we have Carsten Lotz from the medical officials have resisted the bus, authorities said they were clos- demonstrators shouting “Ma- cause he hasn’t given us any,” For the time being, he turns everything on board to diag- association declares the pro- Lotz says. ing the Palace of Versailles cron resign”, a reference to the said one protester. China mulls new measures in 2019 to rev www.facebook.com/QatarTribune up economy www.youtube.com/QatarTribuneChannel PAGE 10 www.twitter.com/Qatar_Tribune

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018

DOW22,675.84 QE 10,412.51 SENSEX 35,742.07 GOLD 1,260.50 US GDP grew 3.4 pct in Q3, held -183.76 PTS -83.89 PTS -689.60 PTS -0.58% down by falling exports PAGE 10 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 14.72 BRENT 54.20 -0.28% WTI 46.11 +0.50% SILVER -1.04% Malaysia seeks $7.5 bn Brent slides to $53 as oil from Goldman Sachs prices dip 11% in a week over 1MDB row: Report AFP KUALA LUMPUR

US light crude oil was down 30 cents at $45.28, on course for a decline of 11 percent for the week MALAYSIA’S finance minister wants Goldman Sachs to pay REUTERS $7.5 billion in reparations over LONDON its dealings with scandal-hit state fund 1MDB, a report said OIL prices fell to their lowest on Friday, adding to the Wall since the third quarter of 2017 Street giant’s woes. on Friday, heading for losses of Billions of dollars were 11 percent in a week, as global purportedly stolen from the oversupply kept buyers away fund and used to buy every- from the market ahead of the thing from yachts to artwork, long festive break. in an audacious fraud that al- Brent crude fell $1.56 to a legedly involved former Ma- low of $52.79 a barrel, its weak- laysian leader Najib Razak est since September 2017, be- and contributed to his govern- fore rallying to trade around ment’s shock defeat in May $53.35, down 11.5 percent on elections. the week, by 1435 GMT. Goldman is facing growing Huge fraud US light crude oil was down scrutiny over its links to 1MDB Billions of dollars were 30 cents at $45.28, on course as the bank helped arranged purportedly stolen from the for a decline of 11.0 percent for three bond issues worth $6.5 fund and used to buy the week. billion for the investment ve- everything from yachts to Crude has lost ground along hicle. with major equity markets as Malaysia this week filed artwork, in an audacious fraud investors fret about the strength criminal charges against the that allegedly involved former of the global economy heading bank and two of its former em- Malaysian leader Najib Razak into next year. The prospect of a ployees, alleging they took part and contributed to his possible government shutdown in a scheme to steal huge sums government’s shock defeat in in the United States, the world’s while raising cash for the fund. May elections biggest oil consumer, added to Finance minister Lim investors’ worries. Guan Eng told the Financial Falls were exaggerated by The United States now pumps 11.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, putting it ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia. Times that Goldman should in Kuala Lumpur and 1MDB thin trade and risk aversion return the $6.5 billion raised employees lied to the bank. ahead of Christmas and the Driving the sell-off has ed by Middle East Gulf states at London brokerage PVM Oil. OPEC Secretary General Mo- in the bond issues plus $1 bil- In a response to Lim’s com- New Year holidays, traders been sustained oversupply as which mostly rely on energy “According to OPEC’s own hammad Barkindo said in a let- lion, to cover fees they earned ments, Goldman noted that a said. the United States has emerged exports, have agreed to reduce forecasts, global oil stocks will ter reviewed by Reuters. plus interest payments on the huge portion of money raised “To say things are a bit neg- as the world’s biggest crude production to try to push up build by 500,000 bpd in the To reach the proposed cut bonds. in the bond issues was “stolen ative (is) a significant under- producer thanks to the success prices. first half of 2019. This will com- of 1.2 million bpd, the effective “We are not only looking at for the benefit of members of statement,” said Stephen Innes, of its shale industry. But those output cuts - a re- pound a glut in OECD com- reduction for member coun- just the (bond) fees and issu- the Malaysian government and head of trading for Asia-Pacific The United States now duction with Russia and other mercial oil stocks.” Global mar- tries was 3.02 percent, Barkin- ance (volumes). We are look- their associates”, the Financial at OANDA. pumps 11.6 million barrels per non-OPEC producers of 1.2 kets: shares extend sell-off on do said. ing for a much larger sum,” Times reported. Since reaching multi-year day (bpd) of crude, putting million bpd - do not kick in un- growth, US shutdown worries That is higher than the Lim said. The ex-Goldman bank- highs at the beginning of Octo- it ahead of Saudi Arabia and til next month, and meanwhile In an effort to show its commit- initially discussed cuts of 2.5 Goldman has previously ers named in the Malaysian ber, both crude oil benchmarks Russia. global inventories are filling up ment to reducing supply, OPEC percent as OPEC seeks to ac- said it will fight the charges charges are Tim Leissner, have lost more than a third of The big oil producers in the fast. will release a table detailing commodate Iran, Libya and brought against it by Malay- who worked as Southeast Asia their value in their steepest col- Organisation of the Petroleum “The bear fest continues,” output cut quotas for its mem- Venezuela, which are exempt sian authorities and that mem- chairman, and former manag- lapse for three years. Exporting Countries, dominat- said Stephen Brennock, analyst bers and allies such as Russia, from any requirement to cut. bers of the former government ing director Ng Chong Hwa.

Quick read Ford to recall 874k Ghosn re-arrested over new case Boeing bags huge jet pickup trucks in N America for fire risks AFP tions of financial wrongdoing. gations, reportedly because TOKYO “The accused was respon- they were too similar to the deals worth $9.3 bn WASHINGTON Ford Motor said sible for managing Nissan’s first set. on Friday it is recalling 874,000 JAPANESE prosecutors re- overall operations and for But this fresh arrest gives AFP around $17.6 billion at list pickup trucks in North America arrested former Nissan boss dutifully fulfilling his role prosecutors 48 hours to ques- PARIS prices. with engine block heaters for Carlos Ghosn over fresh al- as CEO not to cause damage tion him on the new matter. Green Airways owner Ba- fire risks. The second largest legations Friday, apparently to Nissan and its subsidiar- Under Japanese law, they can US planemaker Boeing on Fri- bawande Afolabi said the Ni- US automaker said the recall dashing his hopes of being ies... but he took action that then apply for a fresh exten- day said it had agreed deals gerian end of the deal was a covers some 2015-2019 Ford home for Christmas in the betrayed his role and caused sion of 10 days, plus a further worth an overall $9.3 billion to strong sign of growing African F-150 trucks, along with the latest twist to a rollercoaster financial damage to Nissan,” 10 days, to investigate the sell 50 jets to Nigeria’s Green entrepreneurial dynamism 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super saga. prosecutors alleged. new claims. Air and 30 to Saudi carrier fly- and resilience. Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 The case of the once-re- They alleged he trans- His right-hand man, Greg adeal. Boeing saw that deal as a Super Duty, and F-550 Super vered 64-year-old tycoon has ferred personal losses worth Kelly, who faces the same ini- The company lauded the step towards construction of Duty pick-up trucks. Ford said gripped Japan and the busi- some 1.85 billion yen ($16.6 tial charge, was not rearrested Nigeria accord, which includes a “solid” Pan-African network, water and contaminants may ness world since he was arrest- million) sustained in the 2008 on Friday and his lawyer has a further 50 options, as the adding the Africa aviation sec- get into the block heater cable’s ed as he stepped off his private financial crisis to Nissan. requested bail, according to a largest signed to date in Africa. tor has “exceptional” poten- splice connector, causing jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport He stands accused of wir- Nissan Motors former chairman court statement. NHK report- As with the Saudi deal, the tial. corrosion and damage and on November 19. ing some $14.7 million from and CEO Carlos Ghosn (AFP) ed he would not be released Nigerians are purchasing sin- Since launching the 737 potentially a fire. Ford told US He had appeared set for Nissan funds to another com- before December 25. gle-aisle 737 MAX planes. MAX Boeing said it has re- regulators it is aware of reports release Friday after a court pany for his own benefit. come by tens of millions of - ‘Fractious alliance’ -Since “While flyadeal has been ceived more than 4,800 orders of three fires in Canada linked surprisingly rejected the pros- According to public broad- dollars over several years and his stunning arrest last month, operating new Airbus A320s, from more than 100 custom- to the issue, but unaware of any ecutors’ demand to extend his caster NHK, Ghosn denies faces a second batch of allega- the once jet-setting executive the airline says it has selected ers worldwide. reports of accidents or injuries. detention for further question- this latest set of allegations. tions that this continued for has languished in a tiny cell the 737 MAX for the future,” European rival Airbus said The recall covers 410,000 ing. The Franco-Brazilian- three further years. in a detention centre in north- Boeing said in a statement. earlier this month it had 380 vehicles in the United States But instead of being freed Lebanese businessman has On Thursday a court re- ern Tokyo, where he has com- If all the purchase options net orders for planes from and about 464,000 in Canada. on bail, Ghosn was arrested already been formally charged fused to extend his detention plained about the cold and the are exercised, the two deals January to November with 673 The recall will begin early next Friday over separate allega- with under-reporting his in- over the second set of alle- rice-based menu. unveiled Friday will be worth deliveries over that period. month. (REUTERS) Gatwick Airport ‘mystery drone’ hits 100,000 Xmas travellers

ability that will be scrutinised said they were keeping an The airport said around 700 planes by security forces and airport open mind about who was re- operators across the world. sponsible. were due to take off on Friday The army and police snip- “In terms of the motiva- ers were called in to hunt down tion, there’s a whole spectrum REUTERS there would still be delays and Drone chaos the drones, thought to be in- of possibilities, from the really GATWICK cancellations. The army and police snipers dustrial style craft, which flew high-end criminal behaviour Britain deployed uniden- were called in to hunt down near the airport every time it that we’ve seen, all the way GATWICK Airport reopened tified military technology to tried to reopen on Thursday. down to potentially, just indi- on Friday after a mystery sabo- guard the airport against what the drones, thought to be The last time a drone was spot- viduals trying to be malicious, teur wrought 36 hours of travel Transport Secretary Chris industrial style craft, which ted at the airport was at 2200 trying to disrupt the airport,” chaos for more than 100,000 Grayling said were thought to flew near the airport every GMT on Thursday. he said. Christmas travellers by using be several drones. time it tried to reopen on The perpetrator has not yet After a boom in drone sales, drones to play cat-and-mouse “I think passengers are Thursday been detained but the police unmanned aerial vehicles have with police snipers and the safe,” Grayling said. “This kind said they had a number of pos- become a growing menace at army. of incident is unprecedented sible suspects. No group has airports across the world. After the biggest disruption anywhere in the world.” busiest airports was a terrorist claimed responsibility pub- In Britain, the number at Gatwick, Britain’s second The motivation of the attack. licly and police said there was of near misses between pri- busiest airport, since a volcanic drone operator, or operators, Gatwick’s drone nightmare no evidence another state was vate drones and aircraft more A passenger rolls away a sleeping aid as she sits with their ash cloud in 2010, Gatwick said was unclear. Police said there is thought to be the most dis- involved. than tripled between 2015 and luggage in the South Terminal building at London Gatwick Airport around 700 planes were due to was nothing to suggest the ruptive yet at a major airport Sussex Police Assistant 2017, with 92 incidents record- on Friday. (AFP) take off on Friday, although crippling of one of Europe’s and indicates a new vulner- Chief Constable Steve Barry ed last year. 10 Saturday, December 22, 2018 Economy & Business India’s govt likely to renew demand for extra dividend from RBI

The finance ministry and transferring dividend to the is “extremely conservative.” The central bank announced the transfer of Rs500 bn in the RBI did not respond to government as it believes the If the government is success- Rs 131.40 bn requests for comment. RBI central bank currently uses an ful in convincing the RBI of a dividend to the federal govt for this fiscal year in August officials have in the past said “arbitrary” method. less conservative framework, The amount govt that reserves are an important The government wants to then trillions of rupees could REUTERS since 2016-17, when the used lion rupees less to the govern- believes has been measure of the central bank’s set a clear formula for trans- be freed up for government NEW DELHI an internal formula called ment in our view,” the official pending for transfer ability to withstand any major fer of the funds as the calcu- use, according to the second staggered surplus dividend said. “We have been asking since 2016-17 market volatility and, there- lation of fiscal deficit and ex- source, who also did not want INDIA’S government will likely distribution method without that amount to be given to us,” fore, should not be reduced. penditures can be upset if the to be named. renew its demand for 131.40 consulting the government to the official added. Heated discussions over amount of transfer is lower- Such funds will be crucial billion Indian rupees ($1.9 bil- transfer the dividend for that The central bank an- the sources who had seen it. the revamping of the economic than-expected. to the Narendra Modi-led gov- lion) in additional dividend year, said one of the sources, nounced the transfer of 500 Both sources said the fi- capital framework was one of New Delhi not only wants ernment, who will look to lure from the central bank helmed who did not want to be named billion rupees in dividend to nance ministry was likely to the reasons behind the sudden to have a clear dividend-shar- voters by giving tax rebates, by newly-appointed governor as they are not authorised to the federal government for this combine the amount sought resignation of RBI Governor ing policy with the central increasing allocation towards Shaktikanta Das, two sources speak to the media. fiscal year in August. The gov- for this year and the pend- Urijit Patel earlier this month. bank but is also looking to rural schemes and spending in the government told Reuters. “Even though RBI in 2016- ernment submitted a note to ing sum from 2016-17 when it The government has been revamp the entire economic on subsidies ahead of a gen- The government believes 17 used their own formula it the RBI later that month point- makes a formal request next sparring with the RBI on de- capital framework as it be- eral election that must be held the amount has been pending had still transferred 131.40 bil- ing to the shortfall, said one of month. ciding a fixed formula for lieves the current framework by May. Japan’s Nikkei China mulls new measures extends loss to 15-month low in 2019 to rev up economy

AFP rities said in a note. TOKYO “The market extended The plans include losses on the back of weak TOKYO’S benchmark Chinese shares as well as trade negotiations Nikkei index hit a fresh uncertainty over the global with United States 15-month low on Friday economic outlook. with its fourth consecutive “The afternoon session AFP day of losses, amid fears of a saw the fall of the index turn BEIJING slowing global economy and slower. But the momentum a higher yen also weighing was too weak for a rebound CHINA’S top policymaker- on sentiment. and the market lost a sense son on Friday signalled more The Nikkei 225 index of direction toward the clos- support for the economy next closed down 1.11 percent or ing bell,” Okasan said. year with tax cuts and other 226.39 points to finish at A higher yen also deflat- policy measures as a bruising 20,166.19, the lowest since ed sentiment, with the dol- battle on debt and a trade war September last year. Over lar standing at 111.38 yen in with the US have weighed on the week, the index fell 5.65 Asian trade, up from 111.13 growth. percent. yen in New York. The meeting headed by Many Tokyo investors President Xi Jinping also are taking a wait-and-see at- pledged further opening of the titude ahead of a long-week- economy, better protection end, year-end and New Year of intellectual property rights holidays, analysts said. and to push forward trade ne- Nissan fell 2.04 percent gotiations with Washington. Worst fall this year at 882.9 yen after its for- The outcome of the annual mer chairman Carlos Ghosn Central Economic Work Con- The Nikkei 225 index faced a fresh criminal alle- ference, during which leaders closed down 1.11 percent gation that could keep him review past policy and plan or 226.39 points to finish in jail well into 2019 after for the upcoming year, was at 20,166.19, the lowest his November 19 surprise published by the state news since September last year. arrest and indictment ear- agency Xinhua. Over the week, the index lier this month. Economic data has shown fell 5.65 percent But its rivals were also China’s economy slowing this lower, with Toyota dropping autumn, with Chinese con- 3.21 percent at 6,416 yen sumer spending growing at its The broader Topix in- and Honda shedding 1.43 slowest pace in 15 years during dex gave up 1.91 percent or percent to 2,921.5 yen. November and factories eas- 28.97 points at 1,488.19 for Hi-tech giants were also ing up on production. a drop of 6.53 percent over lower, with Sony dropping Xi and US President Don- the week. 2.38 percent to 5,294 yen ald Trump agreed to a 90-day The global market and Panasonic down 2.87 tariff truce this month, as the plunged as investors re- percent at 974.2 yen. two sides try to find a more mained wary about US rate SoftBank Corp traded permanent solution to the hikes despite worries over up 1.54 percent at 1,316 yen trade dispute. the US and global outlook. on its third day after its dis- Trade frictions with the US In New York, the Dow appointing debut on the To- have been “handled steadily”, ended down 2.0 percent at kyo stock exchange that saw the statement said. 22,859.60. shares finish 14.5 percent “We must implement the Worries about a US gov- lower than the IPO price. consensus reached in Argen- ernment shutdown also hit Japan’s inflation in No- tina between the Chinese and (File photo) A Chinese national flag is seen at a port in Beihai in the Guangxi region on China’s southwest coast. (REUTERS) sentiment. vember stood at 0.9 percent, US heads of state and push “The morning trade be- slightly weaker than the one forward economic and trade Besides Xi, the entire Po- would “keep the economy run- gan under pressure after the percent recorded the pre- negotiations,” the readout litburo standing committee, Positive signs ning in a reasonable range,” market saw sharp falls of the vious month, official data said. and top leaders from every next year. three major US indices over- showed 30 minutes before Comprehensive opening province and region attended, Xi and US President China’s leaders are bat- night,” Okasan Online Secu- the opening bell. up is listed as one of the seven Xinhua said. Donald Trump agreed to a tling to stabilise the econo- major tasks for next year -- but China would “continue to 90-day tariff truce this my, transforming it from one critics say Beijing has long implement a proactive fiscal month, as the two sides try fuelled by exports and state promised much while deliver- policy and a prudent mon- investment to one that relies ing little. etary policy,” the statement to find a more permanent on domestic consumption. Beijing will work to relax said. solution to the trade dis- Leaders will work to “en- market access, protect the le- The meeting pushed for pute. Trade frictions with hance spending power, let the gitimate rights and interests of more fiscal measures and “a the US have been ‘handled people eat with ease, dress foreign businessmen in China, larger tax cut”. Beijing has al- steadily, the statement said satisfactorily, and use things especially IP rights, and allow ready put in place one round comfortably,” Xinhua said. them to operate independent- of tax cuts for the middle and Policymakers indicated ly in more areas, Xinhua said. lower class this year. would increase the scale of lo- economy expanded at its they would continue to push China’s top officials ham- Still the trade row with the cal government bond issuance slowest pace for nine years in deleveraging and handle local mer out their broad plans for US has sapped market confi- and solve financing problems July-September and analysts government debt risks. A pedestrian walks past a display showing closing information of the next 12 months during dence, dragging down Chinese for small and medium enter- expect full year growth to slow “We must do a good job in Tokyo benchmark Nikkei Stock Average in Tokyo on Thursday. (EPA) the three-day closed-door equities and the yuan. prises. further next year. preventing and resolving ma- meeting. Policymakers said they The world’s number two The meeting said China jor risks,” the statement said.

Google gets EU e-money licence in Lithuania amid Brexit uncertainty US GDP grew 3.4 pct in Q3, held down by falling exports AFP “In the light of the up- AFP Gross domestic product borne out by the slowdown in VILNIUS coming UK-EU split, we are WASHINGTON expanded by 3.4 percent home construction and sales. receiving more inquiries than Other data show fourth LITHUANIA’S central bank ever before from startups and US growth in the July-Septem- in the third quarter rather quarter growth is shaping up said on Friday it has granted global enterprises all search- ber quarter was slightly slower than the 3.5 percent previ- to be even more sluggish. Pur- Google a pan-European e- ing for one thing -- the next than previously reported, ously reported, due in chases of durable goods -- big money licence as the Baltic major fintech hub,” Mantas dragged down by the large drop large measure to the 4.9 ticket items like appliances, eurozone state seeks to at- Katinas, who heads Invest in exports amid President Don- percent drop in exports vehicles and machinery -- rose tract firms concerned that Lithuania agency, told AFP. ald Trump’s multi-front trade in November compared to Oc- Brexit may bar them from Google has e-money wars, according to government tober, but much less than ex- the EU market. licence in Britain, but its data released on Friday. the third and final reading on pected. Google Payment Lithua- spokesman declined to elab- With hundreds of billions third quarter GDP. Orders were up 0.8 percent nia “will be able to issue elec- orate if Brexit was a factor to of goods hit by retaliatory tar- Trump’s aggressive trade last month, less than half the tronic money and provide set up a separate subsidiary. iffs, US exports fell by the larg- policies, and especially the increase economists had fore- payment services to ensure “We are constantly work- est amount since early 2009 at tariff retaliation from China, cast, according to a separate smooth operation of its mar- ing to develop payments the height of the global finan- has impeded exports, with Commerce Department re- ketplaces across Europe”, it products and support our cial crisis. soybean sales nearly grinding (File photo) A flag flutters in the wind outside the New York Stock port. That follows a big drop in said in a statement. customers,” Google spokes- Gross domestic product to a halt. The strong US dollar Exchange at Lower Manhattan, New York City, recently. October, and will drag on GDP Lithuania, a nation of 2.8 man Adam Malczak said. expanded by 3.4 percent in also has made American goods in the final quarter of 2018. million people, says Brexit “We have applied for a the third quarter rather than more expensive. serve’s signal that it expects The smaller rise in con- Excluding transportation has given a boost to its efforts Payment Licence in Lithu- the 3.5 percent previously re- The dispute with China, to continue to raise the bench- sumer spending, largely the goods, durable goods orders to become a northern Euro- ania as part of these efforts, ported, due in large measure even with a cease fire declared mark interest rate, albeit at a result of lower fuel costs, also fell 0.3 percent compared to pean hub for fintech firms. in addition to ongoing dis- to the 4.9 percent drop in ex- until March 1 for negotiations, slower pace. contributed to the downward October, and when defense Britain-based companies cussions as to projects all ports, five-tenths more than has created fears of slowing US “Moderation in growth is revision to GDP growth, the is removed, the drop was 0.1 fear they may lose “passport- around Europe,” he added. the Commerce Department and global growth, and caused likely to be led by manufac- Commerce Department said. percent. ing” rights to provide pay- Lithuania’s fintech clus- originally estimated. stock markets to retreat, with turing ... as manufacturing is Meanwhile, residential Orders are still 8.4 percent ment or e-money services ter now includes more than Goods exports dropped 8.1 Wall Street wiping out all of more exposed to weakening investment fell 3.6 percent, higher than they were through to customers in the EU after 100 licenced companies, ac- percent, the biggest decline the 2018 gains. foreign demand,” said Jim only partly offset by 1.1 per- November 2017, but have Brexit in March 2019. cording to the central bank. since the first three months of The sentiment is not O’Sullivan of High Frequency cent gain in non-residential, been on a declining trend for 2015, according to the report, helped by the Federal Re- Economics. or business, investment, data three months. www.guide.com.qa  Saturday December 22, 2018

REAL ESTATE SITUATION WANTED

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W: www.greenintl.net / www.greenintlupdaexamtraining.com Al Muntazah, Ibn Seena Street, Papa John’s Building Mezz. Floor, Office No. 3, Doha, Qatar Guardiola dismisses Klopp’s claim that Manchester City have no weaknesses SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018 Qatar’s Fares QATAR INTERNATIONAL DERBY sweeps golds in style

The team of Al Rayyan Stakes Trophy winner Concierge with HE Franck Gellet, Ambassador of France to Qatar, who gave away the prizes, and QREC General Manager Nasser Sherida al Kaabi at the QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Friday. Mualah and Concierge emerge winners in Oaks Day thrillers

RAAJIV TRIPATHI DOHA

MUALAH and Concierge grabbed spotlight and shared the feature races on Qatar Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim Hassouna celebrates his three golds in the Men’s 96kg Snatch, Clean & Jerk Oaks Day following pulsating category of Qatar International Weightlifting Cup 2018 at Inter-Continental Doha on Friday. finishes at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK national tournament in Iran, Racecourse in New Al Rayyan DOHA while the fourth is the China on Friday. international championship, Jockey Harry Bentley, QATAR’S weightlifting star the fifth is the world men’s trainer Jassim Mohammed Fares Ibrahim Hassouna did championship in Thailand, Ghazali and owner Khalifa bin himself and Qatar proud on and the last is the Kazakhstan Sheail al Kuwari had to wait Friday as the 20-year-old international championship. even after the final race – the came up with a sensational Ajan said that the weight- Qatar Oaks (Group 3) – before show in the Men’s 96kg Snatch lifter, who wins a medal in their luckless day came to an and Clean & Jerk category in three international champi- end. the 5th Qatar International onships could qualify direct- Having close calls earlier, Weightlifting Cup 2018 at the ly for the upcoming 2020 Bentley got Mualah while Inter-Continental Doha. Olympics in Tokyo. Tomas Lukasek had Al Jeryan Fares, who had won a sil- He thanked Mohammad Stud’s Mzoon involved in Jockey Jason Watson guides Concierge to victory in the Al Rayyan Stakes 1,400m race for Thoroughbreds ver at the 2018 Asian Games Yousef al Mana, President a razor-sharp battle for the (Class 1) of Qatar International Derby at the QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Friday. in Jakarta, stood out with his of Qatar Weightlifting Fed- finish line in the $100,000 prowess and concentration eration, president of the Arab race. Both matched gallop for setting personal new marks in and Asian weightlifting fed- gallop and left the rest of field all the three sections: snatch, erations and vice president of significantly behind. clean & jerk, and the total. He Fares Ibrahim Hassouna exults the international federation, At the end of the race, bettered his snatch lift from after his record 225kg lift in for his great efforts to pro- there was still heart-stopping 171 to 172kgs; clean and jerk clean and jerk of Men’s 96kg mote the level of the sport suspense about the winner from 220kgs to 225kgs; and Snatch, Clean & Jerk category. and develop it at all levels, hanging in the air. The photo- total lift from his previous whether globally, regionally finish result eventually calmed best of 388kgs to a whopping International Weightlifting or at Arab level. the nerves and handed Mualah 397kgs. Federation (IWF) Tamas Ajan QWF Executive Director victory by a nose which denied China’s Tian Fuxuan with has praised the great devel- Zayed Al Khayarin expressed Ramzani a grand treble. lifts of 170 (snatch), 212 (clean opment of the Qatar Interna- his happiness over the distinc- Bentley won the race for The Qatar Oaks (F) 2,000m race winning team of Mualah, including jockey Harry Bentley, with their & jerk) and total 382 was tional Weightlifting Cup year tive organisation on the first second time in a row. Last trophies at the QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Friday. second, while Tsikhantshou on year, adding that the 5th day of the Qatar International year, he rode Al Muraqabah Yauheni of Belarus with lifts of edition of the championship Cup, pointing to the keenness past the winning post. You always have to respect run of the season for Jowharat win the race by three quarters 170 (snatch), 211 (celan & jerk) this year saw a significant in- of the federation to take the Ghazali said he had already the local horses with the and overall it was her second of a length for her first victory and total 381 finished third. crease in the number of par- event to the highest level of congratulated Mzoon’s trainer home advantage.” He also triumph in fiver races. in three runs this season. Fares had a jittery start ticipating weightlifters. efficiency and international Hadi al Ramzani but it was an tweeted to congratulate the Adhab, with Mathieu Insijam, another trainee of to his campaign as he failed Talking to the press on standards. incredible win that fell in his owners: An excellent ride Pelletan astride, defeated Ghazali from Injaaz Stud, was with his attempts at 168kgs Thursday, Ajan said that the Talking to Qatar News lap. For the three-year-old bay from Jason Watson. Massive Majdoleen (Guillambert) by third more than a length adrift and 171kgs in snatch, but Qatar Cup contributes to the Agency, he said the Organis- filly, it was the first run of the congratulations to owners a length to grab the Local of Jouriya, while Mizoun returned to top with his third development of weightlifting ing Committee has provided season and a second win in Ware, Kilburns and Bartram. Purebred Arabian Plate finished in fourth spot. attempt of 172kgs. sport in light of the possibili- all the necessary resources for eight runs. Thank you to the team back 1,600m. Rihab managed the Gtnah, ridden by Ronan In clean and jerk, he was ties and elements of success the success of this world event, Northern Beam (Stephan home who prepared him so third spot. Thomas, provided the first however superbly confident available for the participants in which 117 top weightlifters Ladjadj), Al Hasnaa (Marco perfectly.” Hamiah and Majdoleen winner of the day to Ramzani. and made no mistakes going from different parts of the from 33 countries compete to Casamento) and Amenn able The Bartram, Kilburn were leading the race. The three-year-old Al Shaqab on achieve his personal bests. world, pointing to the tremen- qualify for the Olympics. (Theo Bachelot) were third, & Ware-owned Concierge Jouriyah was also brought to Racing’s gray filly clinched As many as 130 dous development witnessed He explained that the fourth and fifth respectively was ridden to a short head the front by Bentley. However, the Purebred Arabian Plate weightlifters from 35 countries by Qatar in all walks of life, federation has been keen after a close a battle. victory by Jason Watson. It the Khalifa bin Sheail al 1,600m race. She stormed (61 women and 56 men) are particularly in the organisa- to ensure that venues of The Al Rayyan Stakes also was his second win in a row Kuwari’s Majdoleen, trained to a four-length victory over taking part in the event. The tion and hosting of sporting practice, accommodation had a breath-taking finale for the George Scott trainee. by Mubarak Khayareen, Wadha (Lukasek) and Boushra competition has attracted events. and competitions are in one when Concierge and Luchador, Arabic Channel (Lukasek), looked like taking the race. (JP Guillambert) came home nearly all the big names of the The IWF President said place at the Inter-continental owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Courageux (Carlo Fiocchi) and Adhab shifted into higher in third. For Gtnah, it was sport as the three-day event is that Qatar championship Hotel to facilitate things for and trained by Ghazali, darted Don Armado (David Probert) gears and overtook her before her first triumph in six races. serving as qualifying for the became the second leg in all participants, adding the down the home front. In a were third, fourth and fifth posting the victory. Also this was her second race 2020 Tokyo Olympics. qualifying for the Olympics as tournament will certainly power-packed display, both respectively in a tight finish. For Ramzani, his Al Jeryan in Doha, having got the fourth the international champion- see strong and exciting shook off their challengers Trainers Alban de Mieulle Stud-owned three-year- place in the first one. IWF President Praises ship in Turkmenistan is the competitions from the top and got entangled in a battle and Hadi al Ramzani landed old chestnut filly Latamah Bronze Maquette returned Qatar International Cup first leg. weightlifters from around for the title. a superb double each. For the triumphed in the Qatar to the winner’s enclosure after Meanwhile, President of the The third leg is Fajr inter- the world. Trainer Scott commented Frenchman, Jowharat claimed Oaks over 1,600m. She was more than a year when the on the TV: “It didn’t necessarily the Qatar Oaks over 2,000m third behind Mizoun (Ray six-year-old bay mare from go according to plan. A bit for her first win of the season, Fuentes) and Jouriya (Marco Al Thumama Racing pocketed slow out of the gates, but while Adhab had a victorious Casamento) till the dash for the Sawda Natheel Stakes for Jason is a quality rider and debut in Doha. the finish line started. Initially fillies and mares over 1,200m. he didn’t panic and luckily he The Umm Qarn’s four- Khalifa bin Sheail al Kuwari- The Mohammed Afroz- had a horse to make up the year-old bay filly Jowharat owned Jouriya resisted. schooled Bronze Maquette ground. We are delighted. He proved too strong for Al But with about 100 metres brushed aside the challenge is a quality horse.” Dawoodea (Faleh Bughanaim) to go, Tomas Lukasek guided of Wayside Flower (Bentley) About Luchador, he and Narouz (Theo Bachelot), Latamah to a sustained push and Darkanna (Jean Baptiste said, “The second horse put clinching victory by four and a and broke clear of the Jassim Hamel) to emerge winner in the up a massive, massive run. half lengths. This was the third Mohammed Ghazali ward to Sawda Natheel Stakes 1,200m. RESULTS

16TH RACE MEETING (OAKS DAY, TURF) Won by 4, 1.5. Time 1:47.95 Prize-Money: $75,000 (1st 42,750 2nd 16,500 3rd Prize-Money: $100,000 (1st 57,000 2nd 22,000 3rd LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE 1,400M Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Hadi al Ramzani 8,250 4th 4,500) 11,000 4th 6,000 5th 4,000) Prize-Money: $15,000 (1st 8,550 2nd 3,300 3rd 1,650) 1. Latamah (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Jouriya (Marco 1. Concierge (Jason Watson), 2. Luchador (JP 1. Bab Al Rayyan (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Sharhan Azzam LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN PLATE (3-Year-Old Fillies) Casamento), 3. Insijam (Harry Bentley), 4. Mizoun (Ray Guillambert), 3. Arabic Channel (Tomas Lukasek), 4. (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Evian (Faleh Bughanaim) 1,600M Fuentes) Courageux (Carlo Fiocchi), 5. Don Armado (David Probert) Won by 4.5, 4.75. Time 1:26.01 Prize-Money: $20,000 (1st 11,400 2nd 4,400 3rd 2,200) Won by 0.75, 1.25, 7.5. Time 1:40.22 Won by short head, 4.5, 2.75, 0.25. Time 1:23.28 Owner: Abdulatif al Emadi. Trainer Ibrahim al Malki 1.Adhab (Mathieu Pelletan), 2.Majdoleen (JP Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi al Ramzani Owner: Bartram, Kilburn & Ware. Trainer: George Scott (UK) Guillambert), 3.Rihab (Ronan Thomas) PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP 1,200m Won by 1, 2. Time 1:48.52 QATAR OAKS (F) 2,000M QATAR OAKS (F) (Gr 3) 2,000m Prize-Money: QR50,000 (1st 28,500 2nd 11,000 3rd 5,500) Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle Conditions: PUREBRED ARABIANS 4 Year Old Fillies only Conditions: THOROUGHBREDS (Class 1) 3 Year Olds 1. Bint Al Akaber (Ryan Curatolo), 2. Al Hawjaa (Jean to carry 58kg Fillies Only to carry 58kg Local Bred Allowance will NOT Baptiste Hamel), 3. Fanann (Theo Bachelot) SAWDA NATHEEL STAKES (FILLIES & MARES) 1,200M Prize-Money: $55,000 (1st 31,350 2nd 12,100 3rd be applicable SH 3 Year Old Fillies Less 4.5kg Won by 3.25, head. Time 1:17.96 Prize-Money: $45,000 (1st 25,650 2nd 9,900 3rd 4,950) 6,050 4th 3,300 5th 2,200) Prize Money: $100,000 (1st 57,000 2nd 22,000 3rd Owner: Subaiya Awad Ibrahim. Trainer: Mohamed Elahmed 1. Bronze Maquette (Theo Bachelot), 2. Wayside Flower 1. Jowharat (Ronan Thomas), 2. Al Dawoodea (Faleh 11,000 4th 6,000 5th 4,000) 7 gray mare ....fourth win in 28 starts.... second win in (Harry Bentley), 3. Darkanna (Jean Baptiste Hamel) Bughanaim), 3. Nairouz (Theo Bachelot) Race Time: 02:04.22 three runs this season Won by 1.5, 1.75. Time 1:10.29 Won by 4.5, 3.5. Time 2:13.92 1. Mualah (Harry Bentley), 2. Mzoon (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Owner: Al Thumama Racing. Trainer Mohammed Afroz Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle Northern Beam (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Al Hasnaa (Marco PUREBRED ARABIAN PLATE (3-Year-Old Fillies) 1,600m Casamento), 5. Amenable (Theo Bachelot) Prize-Money: $20,000 (1st 11,400 2nd 4,400 3rd 2,200) QATAR OAKS (F) 1,600M AL RAYYAN STAKES 1,400m Won by nose, 4.5, 0.25, 0.5. Time 2:04.22 The Men’s 96kg Snatch, Clean & Jerk category podium finishers Fares Ibrahim, Tian Fuxuan of China, and 1. Gtnah (Ronan Thomas), 2. Wadha PY (Tomas Lukasek), Conditions: LOCAL THOROUGHBREDS 3 Year Olds Fillies Conditions: THOROUGHBREDS (Class 1) 2 Year Olds Only Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Tsikhantshou Yauheni of Belarus with the Asian and Qatar Weightlifting Federation President Mohamed 3. Boushra (JP Guillambert) only to carry 58kg Colts & Geldings to carry 58kg, Fillies 56kg Mohammed Ghazali. Yousef al Mana, and International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) officials. Sports Saturday, December 22, 2018 13 Clinical Al Duhail thump Al Arabi 4-0 in QSL Cup Al Arabi coach Hallgrimson suffers defeat in Qatar debut; Eto’o leads QSC to win

Manchester United interim coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (front) with his TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK assistants during a training session at Carrington on Friday. DOHA

AL Duhail destroyed Al Arabi Solskjaer says he would 4-0 in the QSL Cup Round 4, Group A match on Friday. Duhail bounced back from a ‘love’ to be full-time stinging league loss to rivals Al Sadd fielding eight under-23 stars to Al Arabi’s five in the Manchester United boss starting lineup. In the other matches in the AFP scoring the winning goal in the group, Qatar SC defeated Al MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM 1999 Champions League final, Kharaitiyat 4-0 and Al Ghara- faces a daunting challenge as fa beat Umm Salal 3-1. OLE Gunnar Solskjaer told his he replaces Mourinho. Al Duhail, Qatar SC and Al first official press conference as United have made their Gharafa booked quarterfinal Manchester United’s caretaker worst start in the Premier berths with eight points each. manager on Friday that he League era and languish 19 Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat would relish the opportunity to points behind leaders Liver- will fight it out for the other be the permanent boss. pool, and 11 off the Champions last-eight spot from Group A. The 45-year-old Norwe- League places. Al Arabi are out of conten- gian, a legendary former player “My job is to help the play- tion as they have yet to open at Old Trafford, has been ap- ers, make them grasp the op- their account, having lost all pointed interim boss until portunity now because they all four of their matches and new the end of the season, replac- want to be part of Man United,” coach heimir Hallgrimson got ing Jose Mourinho, who was said Solskjaer. a stinging welcome to Qatar sacked on Tuesday. “I’m going to be here to football. Al Duhail players react after a goal against Al Arabi during their QSL Cup Group A match at the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Stadium (Al Solskjaer, on loan from help them, help the team, that Al Duhail registered their Duhail) on Friday. Norway’s Molde, conceded is down to man management. second victory when they eas- that he has not looked beyond I had the best manager as a ily put it across Al Arabi by a are also unbeaten so far in the the end of the current cam- player and coach to learn how 4-0 margin. tournament. paign with the club where he he dealt with players and it’s Saleh al Hilabi, Salmin spent nearly 15 years as a play- about communication. I’ll sit Zayed, Rabeh Bousaffi and Al Gharafa 3 Umm Salal 1 er and coach. down and speak to the ones not Paolo Edmilson scored the Defending champions Al But he said he would be playing, tell them what I expect goals for the Red Knights. Gharafa defeated Umm Salal interested in taking the job of them. Al Duhail, under the 3-1 for their second victory permanently should the op- “When you’re at Man Unit- watchful eyes of their former and to remain unbeaten in the portunity arise. ed there are a set of demands player and Algerian inter- group. “When you get a job like and one is to be a team player national Madjid Bougherra Fahad al Shammari, this and they ask you to sign and I don’t think anyone has standing in place of regular Vladimir Weiss and Monkez for six months, you say ‘yeah’,” been on the bench more than coach Nabil Maaloul from Tu- Mohammed scored for the he said. me. That’s always my comeback nisia, had an upper hand right Cheetahs, while Nasser al Nasr “I’m happy to help out to players, you might come on throughout the game. grabbed a consolation goal for and my job now for the next and make an impact.” Edmilson was the livewire Umm Salal in the 88th min- six months is to do as well as I Solskjaer spoke of the debt in the Al Duhail ranks as they ute. can and move the club forward he owed to Alex Ferguson, who dominated the ball with 62 per The match really came as well as I can. I understand built a team that dominated cent possession even though alive in the second half after a there are so many managers English football, winning 13 Al Arabi forced three corner slow-paced first half. who would love to be manager Premier League titles and two kicks as against the rivals’ one. Qatar Sports Club star Samuel Eto’o celebrates scoring against Al Kharaitiyat on Friday. After Al Gharafa went 2-0 of Manchester United and I am Champions Leagues. up through goals from Fahad one of them. But it is not some- Solskjaer will begin his Al Kharaitiyat 0 Qatar SC 4 goals as Qatar ran out com- Hamza. cushion. and Vladimir, Nasser gave thing we’ve talked about, they’ll United reign at Cardiff City, Former Cameroonian and fortable winners. Al Kharaitiyat showed However, amid Al Umm Salal slight hopes by do a process now for the next the only other Premier League Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o Al Kharaitiyat’s best more enthusiasm in the sec- Kharaitiyat’s moves, Qatar SC finding the target towards the six months.” club he has managed -- he had contributed a first half to Qa- chance to pull one back came ond half in their bid to make shook the rival net one more end. Solskjaer, renowned for his a difficult eight-month spell in tar SC’s victory. in the 58th minute, but Ma- a breakthrough, as Qatar SC time when Ali headed in a However, Al Ghara- threat off the bench and still re- South Wales and was unable to Fadl Omar and Ali Said Al her’s shot was blocked by slightly took their foot off the cross. fa sealed the tie through vered by United supporters for save the club from relegation. Mohannadi scored the other Qatar SC goalkeeper Rajab pedal, having had a three-goal Qatar SC, like Al Duhail, Monkez’s stoppage-time goal. Disgraced Smith admits failure, Kohli’s stomach to compete desperate to return to OZ lineup still makes India favourites

AFP March, Smith now can see light to win series: Viv Richards SYDNEY at the end of the tunnel and is desperate to return, with the IANS DISGRACED Steve Smith ad- World Cup and the Ashes next KOLKATA mitted on Friday he failed as a year in his sights. captain by turning a blind eye to “I’m just moving forward VIRAT Kohli will drag his team the ball-tampering scandal and day to day, and doing what I to a series win against Aus- said it has been hard watching need to do to prepare to hope- tralia despite the Perth setback, from the sidelines as Australia fully get another opportunity to cricket legend Vivian Richards struggled in the aftermath. play for Australia,” he said. prophesied on Friday. The former skipper is still “And if that’s World Cup Led by Kohli, India suc- serving a one-year ban from and Ashes, so be it. And no cumbed to a 146-run drubbing the international and domestic doubt the English crowd will be at the hands of hosts Australia game for his part in the incident incredibly hostile. I’m ready for in the second Test of the four- that rocked the cricket world, that, if that happens.” match series on Tuesday after in which sandpaper was used He has spent the time away registering a close 31-run victo- to try and rough up the ball in playing for his grade cricket ry in the first game at Adelaide. South Africa. club Sutherland, which he cap- The third Test begins in Mel- Asked what went on in the tained to the New South Wales bourne on Boxing Day, before changing rooms at Cape Town Premier T20 championship on Sidney hosts the final tie from before Cameron Bancroft at- Sunday. January 3 next year. tempted to cheat, he said: “For Former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith speaks during a press Smith has also had stints in Richards, who is here as me in the room, I walked past conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday. (AFP) Canada’s Global T20 competi- brand ambassador of American India’s captain Virat Kohli runs to field the ball on day four of the sec- something and had the oppor- tion and in the Caribbean Pre- University of Antigua (AUA) ond Test against Australia at Perth Stadium recently. (REUTERS) tunity to stop it and I didn’t do iled for a year. ing review said its “arrogant and mier League. But he suffered College of Medicine, which is it and that was my leadership Speaking to the media in controlling” culture was partly a setback this week when he part of Manipal Education and needs to finish his career first. failure. It was the potential for Australia for the first time since to blame for players bending was barred from the upcoming Medical Group (MEMG), said “Among modern day play- something to happen and it he broke down in tears at a the rules. Bangladesh Premier League Kohli’s leadership qualities and ers he is my favourite. I have went on and happened out in press conference following the But while it initially un- T20 tournament. “stomach to compete” should various categories. I think we India has got a wonderful the field,” he added. scandal in March, Smith said leashed a torrent of vitriol Some of the hardest times hold India in good stead in the got to wait until he is finishing opportunity to win the series. “I had the opportunity to it was the only incident of ball- against the players, Smith’s during his ban came when the two remaining games. his career (to put him in the They would have had a stop it at that point rather than tampering that he knows about. tearful apology on arrival home diminished Australian team “India has got a wonderful bracket of all time greats). We setback in Perth but they can say, ‘I don’t want to know any- “In any game you play you tugged at the heartstrings. struggled in his absence. opportunity to win the series. would be jumping the gun if we still win. They have a captain thing about it’. want the ball to try and move, Widely considered among “It’s been tough at times, They would have had a setback do that now. But certainly, he is “And that was my failure of but obviously you want to do it the finest batsmen in the world particularly when the boys in Perth but they can still win. in a wonderful position.” like Virat who wears his heart leadership. And, you know, I’ve in a legal way,” he said. today, Smith admitted there had haven’t played their best in They have a captain like Vi- Terming the legendary on his sleeve and he has the taken responsibility for that.” The scandal had far-reach- been “dark days” as he grappled a couple of games, it’s been rat who wears his heart on his Sunil Gavaskar as the “Godfa- stomach to compete and Bancroft was banned for ing consequences with a clean- with his fall from grace. hard watching and knowing sleeve and he has the stomach ther of Indian batsmanship”, drag his players to victory. nine months while Smith’s vice- out of top executives from But with his suspension that I can’t go out and help to compete and drag his players Richards said India can be very captain David Warner was ex- Cricket Australia after a scath- running out at the end of them,” he said. to victory,” Richards said. happy to have batting greats at Vivian Richards In the same breath, the different generations. 66-year old West Indies bat- “India have had its fair ting great pointed out that even share of batsmen but the folks he asserted. New rules Down Under without Steve Smith and David who can be called role models -- A destructive batsman dur- Warner, the Aussies are a for- Sunil Gavaskar who is the god- ing his time, Richards picked Australian Open set to introduce 10-point tiebreak in the final sets midable unit as they can match father of Indian batsmanship. Brian Lara as one who would up the dearth of talent with Sachin Tendulkar would have find the gaps like no one else SYDNEY: The Australian Open Friday’s announcement means its own rule, with tournament epic contests, with the longer their attitude. followed, and then Virat Kohli. on a cricket field, saying one will introduce a 10-point tiebreak that only the French Open keep director Craig Tiley saying: “We tiebreak still then allowing for “I am still backing India to India should be quite happy to doesn’t need to hit sixes all the in final sets from next month’s the traditional advantage rule asked the players - both past that one final twist or change of win the series but one should have these individuals,” he said. time to be in that bracket. edition onwards, tournament of- in deciding sets, under which a and present, commentators, momentum in the contest. This never ever forget, the Austral- Asked about Kohli’s bust “In modern day cricket, you ficials said Friday. The rule at the player must win by two games. agents and TV analysts whether longer tiebreak also can lessen ians without Steve Smith or up with Australian counterpart have to look at Virat Kohli. And tournament starting January 14 The United States has had a they wanted to play an advan- some of the serving dominance (David) Warner are still a for- Tim Paine during the second closer to my home, Brian Lara. applies at 6-6 in the fifth set in regular seven-point tiebreak in tage final set or not, and went that can prevail in the shorter midable force. What they miss Test, Richards said the flam- I don’t think anyone picks gaps men’s matches and the third set final sets for many years, and from there. tiebreak. in talent, they will bring it in boyant Indian skipper did not as well as Brian Lara. He can in women’s, doubles and mixed Wimbledon will from next year “We went with a 10-point tie- “We believe this is the best their attitude,” he said. cross the line. find the gaps anywhere on a doubles matches. play a seven-game tiebreak at break at six-games-all in the final possible outcome for both the Always effusive in praise of “I don’t think he crossed cricketing field. And that to me Earlier sets are played with a 12-12 in final sets. set to ensure the fans still get players and the fans around the Kohli, Richards said it would be the line. I think the BCCI also is seriously destructive. He may traditional seven-point tiebreak. Australia now followed with a special finale to these often world.” (DPA) “jumping the gun” to rate him said the same thing and I can not be hitting sixes. Sachin Ten- among the all time greats as he only follow in those footsteps,” dulkar had that,” he said. 14 Saturday, December 22, 2018 FEATURES

P “Carmakers are the leaders of Artificial the intelligent connected vehicle industry, and Tencent’s posi- intelligence is tion is clearly as an ‘assistant’ to carmakers, which helps the creeping up on automobile industry achieve transformation and upgrading. No us—literally automotive enterprise can provide all the resources and capabilities CORINNE PURTILL

required to produce an intelligent WALMART will soon deploy 360 robot connected vehicle. The future of janitors across a few hundred of its stores. Using maps plotted by human employ- the automobile industry needs ees, the AI-powered cleaners will placidly efforts from internet tech giants traverse the aisles, sweeping and buffing as they go—just as blue-aproned human and traditional carmakers” employees used to do (and still will, in Walmart stores without an Auto-C, as the — Pony Ma robots are called). chairman and CEO of Tencent Perhaps the most striking thing about these robot workers is how not-striking they are. Sci-fi movies suggest a future full of humanoid robots who unnerve us with their “uncanny valley” qualities. Now the future is coming into view, and it looks like a giant Roomba. It’s easy to imagine walking absentmindedly past an Auto-C on a shopping trip without even register- Intelligent, connected cars ing its presence. The Auto-C. AI has already Technology started to become a part of our eve- ryday landscape. In New Jersey this to drive tech transformation week, dozens of workers were hospitalized after a robot TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE white paper by the Beijing Commission of CEO of Baidu. announced in September that its driver- at an Amazon fulfillment center acci- Economy and Information Technology, The Apollo intelligent driving system less fleet had been granted test license dentally punctured a can of bear repel- HE Chinese government said it is issued on the side-lines of the conference. has attracted 129 eco-partners and over plates by the authorities in Hangzhou, lent and enveloped workers in eye- and paying great attention to the devel- A 50,000-hectare pilot zone will be 10,000 developers to create products so Zhejiang province. lung-searing fumes. Days earlier in Cali- opment of intelligent connected ve- established and over 2,000 kilometres of far. Due to the open platform, many “new Another internet giant, Tencent Hold- fornia, an auto-piloted Tesla drove an al- hicles and considers the sector a vital roads will be earmarked in Beijing for test- species” of autonomous driving have be- ings Ltd, is not far behind. Currently, legedly drunk, sleeping “driver” down a Tway to ease the burden on transpor- ing intelligent connected vehicles. come involved, such as driverless trucks, Tencent has signed strategic coopera- highway, right alongside more more alert tation, energy consumption and environ- By mid-October this year, Beijing unmanned delivery vehicles, unmanned tion agreements with FAW, BMW, GAC, travelers no doubt alarmed by the scene mental pollution, a top official said. had opened 44 road sections with a total sanitation cars and autonomous wheel- Changan and other automakers. Several in the next lane. (Highway patrol officers “By 2020, the market scale of the length of 123 km for automakers to test chairs. models powered by Tencent’s internet of figured out on the spot how to stop the country’s intelligent connected vehicles their autonomous driving technology, ac- Li said Baidu has pushed forward with vehicles system, AI in Car, are already on automated car.) sector is expected to exceed 100 billion cording to the white paper. a series of initiatives aimed at limiting un- the market. Of course, industrial accidents and yuan ($14.5 billion),” said Minister of In- Chen said the intelligent connected ve- intended consequences from artificial in- Pony Ma, chairman and CEO of Ten- drunk drivers existed well before AI. dustry and Information Technology Miao hicle industry, as a strategic development telligence, as the internet giant has taken cent, said the company is designing a voice Tools with the power to alleviate the bur- Wei at the World Intelligent Connected direction in the new era, is closely related safety and security as its first principles in interaction system to help drivers safely den of physical labor—horses, threshing Vehicles Conference held in Beijing from to a wide range of industries. the development of autono- send and receive messages, minimizing machines, self-driving cars—also come Oct 18 to 21. Therefore, its improvement mous driving. drivers’ distractions while driving. with the power to injure. And the pres- “A new era of the automobile industry requires joint efforts from all E-commerce leader “Carmakers are the leaders of the in- ence of AI-powered machines just steps is here,” he said. “The development of in- parties. Technology Alibaba Group Holding Ltd telligent connected vehicle industry, and away from us is, for now, still a rarity for telligent connected vehicles can drive the China’s major internet has been developing its own Tencent’s position is clearly as an ‘assis- most people. technological reform and upgrading of the giants are already embracing internet-connected vehicle tant’ to carmakers, which helps the auto- But the incremental nature of ro- automobile industry.” the trend and betting big on technology. The technology mobile industry achieve transformation bots’ creep into our daily lives will make With the Chinese government foster- the promising market. ggiant collaborated with SAIC and upgrading,” Ma said. it harder to recognize—or object to—the ing the development of intelligent con- Chinese search engine gi- MotMotor Co and launched the inter- “No automotive enterprise can pro- bigger changes they bring later. Walmart nected vehicles, several cities have enact- ant Baidu Inc has taken the lead net-connected model, Roewe RX5, vide all the resources and capabilities re- insists that the robot janitors will give em- ed laws and regulations for autonomous in China to realise fully automatic driving sparking a buying frenzy. quired to produce an intelligent connect- ployees more time for customer service driving trials, including Beijing, Shanghai, under the mixed road conditions of urban Alibaba said it believes the develop- ed vehicle. The future of the automobile and other tasks. Critics point out that they Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in roads, beltways and expressways, and has ment of intelligent connected vehicles industry needs efforts from internet tech could just as easily become an excuse to Guangdong province, and Changchun in achieved mass production of the Apolong, should not be limited to the product itself, giants and traditional carmakers,” he said. reduce staff and wages. And if customers Jilin province. China’s first Level 4 fully self-driving mini but expand the vision from the car to the His comments were echoed among get used to ignoring robot workers, they Chen Jining, mayor of Beijing, said bus. It plans to ship the buses to Japan road. major Chinese carmakers. may be even less cognizant of the needs of the capital city has regarded the intelli- early next year. “It’s worth thinking about whether “Traditional automobile enterprises the human ones. gent connected vehicles sector as one of Baidu has been engaged in the auto- smart cars can effectively use road re- and internet technology companies are the key development directions for ad- mobile industry since 2013. sources,” said Wang Jian, chairman of naturally and strongly complementary,” vanced industry since last year, and has “The Apollo project launched by Baidu the Alibaba Group Technical Committee. said Xu Heyi, chairman of Beijing Auto- introduced special supportive policies to in 2017 has become the world’s largest in- “The internet should be another form of motive Group Co, or BAIC Group. promote open road tests for self-driving telligent driving environment,” said Robin infrastructure for cars, just as roads are.” BAIC Group unveiled its five-year vehicles. Li, chairman and Alibaba’s plans for automatic driving plan, which aims to equip all of its prod- Beijing will commit run alongside its vehicle-road synergetic ucts with world-leading self-driving or in- itself to taking the project, which sees autonomous vehicles telligent connected technologies by 2020. lead in building the driving in an information-based environ- “BAIC should strengthen its industrial fifth-generation ment and obtaining required road envi- presence in high-performance sensors, internet of ve- ronment information from the intelligent controllers, computing platforms, auto- hicles to form transportation system. matic driving systems and high-precision a complete Wang said technological progress maps,” Xu said. technological is closely related to the optimization of The group will cooperate with world- system of in- urban resources. leading electronics company Bosch, telligent con- “Only when the least physical re- Chinese tech giant Baidu, Chinese voice nected vehicles sources are used to support the devel- technology firm iFlytek Co, and other tech that meet the opment of transportation, the era of in- firms to integrate high-quality resources requirements telligent connected vehicles will really across the globe and to build an open in- of advanced begin,” he said. telligent connected vehicle ecosystem, Xu autonomous Underpinning that goal is Aliba- said. BAIC is not the first carmaker that driving, known ba’s acceleration into real-world test- has decided to build such an open vehicle as Level 4, said the ing of autonomous driving. The company ecosystem.

Regular exercise helps reverse age-related changes in your heart HARVARD WOMEN’S HEALTH WATCH cause as you age, your heart muscle, like oth- with balance exercises and strength training ing moderate-intensity workouts three times Those changes were in addition to the im- TNS er muscles in your body, can become stiffer. three times a week. a week and later added additional workouts provements seen in heart elasticity. “Stiffness limits the heart’s ability to keep People in the exercise group were giv- and some high-intensity exercises to some ODERATE workouts on most days up with exercise,” says Dr Malissa en an individualized training plan that of those sessions. (A moderate-intensity Getting started with an exercise plan of the week may be enough for heart- Wood, associate professor of medicine gradually ramped up their activity level activity is one where you are working hard If you’ve been sedentary for many years, Mhealing benefits. at Harvard Medical School. The more over time. Participants started out do- enough to carry on a conversation, but not the findings of this study should serve as an Good news: If you’ve spent most of your rigid the heart is, the more sing. At high intensity, it’s difficult to speak incentive to get moving. To gain the most life as a competitive master athlete who limited its ability to pump in full sentences.) profound heart benefits, study authors say trains more than six days a week (in addition blood efficiently. So, exer- By the sixth month of the trial, the ex- that ideally you should start a regular exercise to competitions) your heart probably looks cise can not only improve ercise group was doing five or six hours of program before you turn 65. When you are 45 and performs like one that is much younger heart function, but also es- exercise each week, in- or 50, you still have good joints, you still have than its chronological age. sentially reverse some of the cluding two sessions good heart health, and you likely don’t have Doesn’t sound like you? Don’t worry, changes that could lead to that included interval conditions that make it dangerous for you to there’s also some good news for the rest of us. heart failure later in life. Healthy training, which alter- start an exercise program, says Dr Wood. Even if you’ve spent more time hanging out nates between moder- But even if you’ve missed that window, than working out over the past few decades, Workout benefits ate activity and higher- regular exercise will bring numerous health starting an exercise program in middle age To come to these conclu- Living intensity exercise. This benefits at any age, she says. Exercise reduc- might earn you a younger-looking heart too. sions, study authors recruit- mmight include walking es the risk of cardiovascular disease in addi- A growing body of research suggests that ed 61 participants from the ffor a set amount of time and tion to helping you to manage your weight, exercise regimens — even relatively moder- Dallas Heart Study. They then breaking into a jog for a few minutes be- blood pressure, and blood sugar. “You are ate ones that start later in life — can not only were all sedentary people, fore walking again. It is designed to increase never too old to start exercising,” says Dr boost your fitness, but also reverse age-relat- in otherwise good health, the heart rate for short periods of time and Wood. However, if you are older or have any ed changes to the heart. ages 45 to 64. Researchers has been shown to improve exercise capacity. health conditions, be sure to consult with One study, published in the January divided participants into two While a few people dropped out — 53 your doctor before you begin an exercise pro- 2018 issue of Circulation, found that a con- groups: one that performed of the original 61 participants completed gram, to make sure the workouts you choose sistent exercise program was able to improve the exercise intervention and the study — those in the exercise group are appropriate for your condition. elasticity in the heart’s left ventricle by 25% a control group that was as- who stuck with the workouts saw an 18% Even brisk walking 30 minutes four or in people who stuck with it for two years. signed to perform non-cardiovas- improvement in fitness, measured by how five days a week is good for your heart, says This increase in elasticity is important be- cular workouts, including yoga along much oxygen they took in during exercise. Dr Wood. Saturday, December 22, 2018 15 KIDS CORNER Ride 3, Supercross 2 set to satisfy biking itch

GIESON THE MERCURY NEWS

ILESTONE has carved a niche for itself making racing games of the two-wheeled variety. The team has worked for sev- Meral years on the “MotoGP” and “MXGP Pro” franchises. It’s released a Ducati title and games on the Superbike World Championships. It’s safe to say that the team knows what it’s doing when it comes to dirt and super bikes. At a recent preview, the team showed Game Preview off its latest offerings, highlighting “Ride 3” and “Super Motorcross 2.” world park With “Ride 3,” which is out right complete with a day and night now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, into volumes. ccycle. It acts as a home base for Milestone takes a new approach to the The mode has six levels players,l where they can test new genre. The team shifted from its propri- with each level made up of moves and perfect their racing technique. etary engine to Unreal 4. That allowed it nine volumes. In addition, the Compound has its to expand on nearly every aspect of the The game features official motor- own tracks, which are unlocked as players game, said Federico Spada, lead design- sports tracks as well as a livery editor. progress the game. For the creative types, er. That means elements such as the ar- As far as the progression system goes, they can design their own tracks and fill it tificial intelligence and physics collision players can expect to level up their riders with some of the newer obstacles. have been improved. through Prestige points. They can also To augment that freedom, Milestone When it comes to the approach, “Ride earn credits to add new parts or buy new revamped the game to offer a camera 3” tackles the genre in a similar manner bikes. In addition, players can expect view and presentation that’s more like to “Forza Motorsport.” The career mode weekly challenges. All of this gives “Ride what fans would see on television. The is meant to go over the history of motor- 3” a “Forza” flair, so fans of that series team improved the realism with the ad- cycles with competitions divided may want to take a look at this series. dition of sand particles that will affect “Monster Energy Supercross 2” aims how a motorbike performs on the track. to satisfy fans of a wilder competition. The last element where players can The official game of the motorsport express their creativity is in the rider av- features 17 tracks from the cham- atars. They can choose to dress them in pionship and real-life riders, but different gear, add tattoos and haircuts. the feature that Milestone is What’s intriguing is that “Supercross 2” hanging its hat on is the con- has a role-playing game feature where cept freedom. players level up a rider’s stats as they race In “Supercross 2,” through the campaign. If that weren’t Milestone built a per- enough, players can also customize their sonal area called bikes to make them more powerful. the Compound, “Supercross 2” likely won’t have a and in it, play- huge audience, but fans of the sport can ers have the satisfy the dirt-bike riding itch Feb. 8 on freedom to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. roam around. It’s an open- (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE) HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle

SOPHIA LORAINE MASILANG SHASHLEE PONCE (December 23) (December 27)

Animal Crackers

Jumbles: HASTY BEGUN INFLUX TRIVIA Yesterday’s Answer: After a nasty divorce, she started referring to her ex-husband as her — “BITTER” HALF

Do you have a poem, short story, painting or a kid’s birthday that you want to share? If YES, we would like to hear from you. And don’t forget to mention your name, your school and class and include a passport size photograph of yours, along with your contact number. Email to us at [email protected] 16 Saturday, December 22, 2018 The Last Word

SPRING FESTIVAL KICKS OFF ON A SPECTACULAR NOTE

The Spring Festival got off to a colourful start at Souq Waqif and Al Wakra Souq on Friday. The festival being organised by the Special Engineering Office will continue until January 4. It features an array of events, including circus and animal shows, public performances, water games and volleyball. The festival events will be held from 3.30pm to 10pm daily. (PHOTOGRAPHS BY JALAL PATHIYOOR)

QU’s Al-Bairaq wins award at Qatar Museums brings a piece of Reimagine Education meet Cold War era Berlin Wall to GU-Q QATAR University’s (QU) Al- student-learning outcomes Al-Bairaq’s most recent teach- Bairaq, a non-traditional educa- and qualifying them for the ing tools and innovative educa- tional project in which students job market. tional methods were explained Education City. “These pieces at Qatari secondary school work The award is a partnership to audiences. Visitors can see the of art encourage critical think- in teams with university-level between Wharton School of the The most important of these wall section in the ing, creativity, and discovery. scientists, has won the bronze University of Pennsylvania and is the STEAM curriculum, which They promote social engage- award in the 2018 Reimagine QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a offers an integrated curriculum Georgetown atrium ment and interaction, and fos- Education conference where leader in universities ranking of science, technology, engineer- ter cross-cultural understand- 1,150 educational projects com- worldwide. ing, art and mathematics. at Education City ing and perspective,” she said. peted in 17 categories. Al-Bairaq was invited by Al-Bairaq presented its Ishaq complimented QF Al-Bairaq is the first Qatari the organisers of the event to inquiry-based learning meth- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK on its contribution to the de- programme to win the award attend the conference in San od, which is a form of active DOHA velopment of Qatar, and added for three consecutive years and Francisco, California, to give learning that begins with ask- that QM was pleased to bring the only Arab programme to a detailed presentation about ing questions, problems or A PANEL of the Berlin Wall this important artefact to Qa- won in the category ‘cultivat- the programme on a global scenarios. was unveiled in the atrium of tar as part of cultural coopera- ing curiosity’, demonstrating platform to a leading audience Fatima al Maadeed, a for- Georgetown University in Qa- tion under the Qatar-Germany the distinction and visibility in education as a final step to- mer student in Al-Bairaq and a tar (GU-Q), at a ceremony at- 2017 Year of Culture. of the programme on a global wards evaluation. current student at QU, partici- tended by Machaille al Naimi, Gerd Nonneman, profes- scale and its recognition by Engineer Ruba Ali, a mem- pated in the conference poster president of community devel- sor of government at GU-Q, global learning institutions as ber of the Al-Bairaq team, gave session to present her research opment at Qatar Foundation also spoke, summarising the a successful programme with the presentation about the pro- project and share her experi- (QF), Abdulrahman al Ishaq, political geography of the wall, strong output. gramme, its objectives, meth- ences in the programme. head of public art at Qatar offering some take away mes- Reimagine Education is an odology and innovative style The programme was Museums (QM), and Ahmad sages on walls and barriers in international conference and in stimulating enthusiasm and launched in 2010 by the Center Dallal, dean of GU-Q. today’s context. competition aimed at recog- curiosity of students to learn for Advanced Materials (CAM) The installation is the re- The painful cost of walls nising and rewarding the most science and to disseminate the at QU, under the leadership of sult of an ongoing collabora- that divide families took a per- successful institutions, pro- foundations and culture of sci- Dr Noora al Thani, president of tion between QF and QM, sonal turn with words from grammes and projects in cre- entific research among students Al Bairaq Programme and head which brought a piece of the The installation is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Kai Henrik-Barth, senior as- ating educational initiatives in Qatar. of Communication and Out- Berlin Wall to Qatar under the QF and QM, which brought a piece of the Berlin Wall to Qatar. sistant dean for research sup- and innovations that promote During the presentation, reach at QU. (TNN) Qatar-Germany 2017 Year of port at GU-Q, and his spouse Culture, to be part of its robust In his opening remarks, national relationships and Katrin Scholz-Barth, who Public Art Program. Dallal noted the significance conducting research that tears shared their experiences living Once forming part of the of the wall for people around down walls on a number of on opposite sides of the divide. wall that divided East and the world, stating: “What hap- fronts, artefacts like this re- The wall, which was both a West Germany for three dec- pened in Germany divided mind us of the critical impor- physical barrier and an ideo- ades, the displayed panel German families, ruptured tance of our task as scholars logical divide, was finally torn measures just over a metre their society and affected the and educators,” he added. down in 1989. It became the in width, over 3.5 metres in entire world far beyond the Naimi spoke of how the symbolic end of the Cold War, height and 2 metres in thick- wall. We are honoured to be segment of the Berlin Wall, uniting Germany for the first ness. The concrete is rein- selected to display a piece of and its message, complements time since 1945. forced with steel bars, and the Berlin Wall here in Doha.” the 150 works that represent The Berlin Wall section is covered in spray-painted graf- “As a university dedicated QF’s unique art collection, and available for public viewing fiti that conveys messages of to training future leaders who those loaned to QF by QM, in the Georgetown atrium in Al-Bairaq is the first Qatari programme to win the award for three consecutive years. hope, freedom and change. will engage in building inter- which are all on public view at Education City.

Radio Olive and Radio Suno bring IAP’s QND events at Asian Town National Day fervour for people a big draw for Asian expatriates RADIO Olive 106.3 FM and TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK events were organised in as- Radio Suno 91.7 FM celebrated DOHA sociation with the Ministry Qatar National Day with the of Interior. School scouts nationals and the expatriate IBN Ajayan Projects (IAP), and community teams held communities in Qatar. managers of Asian Town, cel- many entertaining activi- The celebrations com- ebrated Qatar National Day at ties on Asian Town ground menced at Lusail Sports city Asian Town with a wide vari- to mark the occasion. The with a cultural parade by more ety of events attracting large programmes started with a than 7,000 students from 18 number of visitors. march past by school teams Asian Schools in Qatar. Radio The events and the ac- and community groups. jockeys from ‘Qatar’s number tivities reflected the country’s IAP Chairman and CEO 1 Hindi Radio station’ Radio heritage, culture and tradi- Mohammed bin Mahdi bin Olive and ‘Qatar’s Favourite ness events were held at Asian The listeners of both the tions. The events included Ajayan al Ahbabi commented, Malayalam Radio Station’ Ra- Town and Wakra Sports Club stations conveyed their special among others Al Arda, the “We believe that National Day dio Suno were present at the by the MoI in association with wishes on the occasion and traditional Arabic sword The events and activities reflected Qatar’s rich heritage and culture. celebrations are not only for Handball Auditorium in Lusail various expatriate communi- shared their feelings for Qatar dance on December 18 from 6 Qatari citizens but, for all who Sports complex to capture the ties. The international cricket through the stations. pm to 9 pm in front of Plaza ter the performance. “All the as winners after defeating reside in Qatar, especially the mega event organised by Min- tournament at Asian town “The overwhelming re- Mall. visitors enjoyed the tradi- Asian Stars. Asian expatriates. We want istry of interior (MoI) in associ- cricket stadium with the par- sponse from both the nationals Al Arda is a celebra- tional Qatari theme and en- “World cricket stars to make them feel it, and we ation will all the Asian schools. ticipation of players from Asian and the expatriate communi- tory dance that symbolises joyed taking photos with the from India, Pakistan, Sri have organised the activities Radio Olive and Radio Suno countries was one of the major ties has made us the number strength and unity. Visitors camels, horses and falcon”, Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh accordingly. Along with the also ensured that listeners were highlights. Live updates from one radio station in Qatar. So, are welcomed and encour- said Ahmed Refaat, market- and Afghanistan played on traditional events, we have kept entertained and informed the cricket stadium were sent it is our responsibility to keep aged to participate alongside ing manager of Ibn Ajayan Asian Town Cricket Stadium supported organising of an about all the activities at the out to the listeners by the Ra- the nation entertained, in- the dancers in Al Arda to Projects. ground. Entry was free for the international match in Asian main venue Corniche through dio Olive and Radio Suno team formed and updated through reflect solidarity within the An international cricket public”, said Salem al Fou- Town Cricket Stadium as we on air and on line live updates. members who were present at our shows,” said Ameer Ali, community. match was also organised in haid, IAP’s Public relation know cricket is the most fa- Several associated activi- the venue throughout the event managing director, Olive Suno The participants were also Asian Town Cricket stadium manager. vourite game of the Asian ex- ties, cultural shows and aware- to interact with the spectators. Radio Network. (TNN) treated with Arabic coffee af- in which Qatar Stars emerged Furthermore, community patriates.”