BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Kenin stuns Muguruza for fi rst Commercial Bank posts Grand Slam highest ever profi t in 2019 crown published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11446 February 2, 2020 Jumada II 8, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Horse-racing festival winner crowned ARAB WORLD | Diplomacy China travel Abbas says cutting all ties with Israel, US Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced yesterday a cut of all ties curbs mount with Israel and the United States, including security co-operation, after Washington unveiled a controversial Middle East plan seen as favouring Israel. His comments as virus toll came as the Arab League rejected US President Donald Trump’s plan, which had enraged Palestinians. “We are informing you that there will be no relations with you (Israel) reaches 259 and the United States, including on security cooperation,” Abbas said at an extraordinary meeting of the pan- AFP cluding Italy, Singapore, and China’s Arab bloc in Cairo. Page 12 Beijing northern neighbour Mongolia. The United States, Japan, Britain, ARAB WORLD | Politics Germany and other nations had al- Mohamed Allawi is hina faced deepening isolation ready advised their citizens not to new Iraqi premier over its coronavirus epidem- travel to China. Cic yesterday as the death toll Britain yesterday said it was tempo- Iraq’s president named former soared to 259, with the United States rarily withdrawing some diplomatic communications minister Mohamed and Australia leading a growing list of staff and their families from across the Allawi as the country’s new prime nations to impose extraordinary Chi- country, a day after the US State De- minister yesterday after an 11th-hour nese travel bans. partment ordered embassy employees Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) consensus among political blocs, With Britain, Russia and Sweden to send home family members under chairman Issa al-Mohannadi (second from right) and QREC CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (right) applaud as The Blue but the streets seemed divided on among the countries confi rming their the age of 21. Eye owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari (left) celebrates the horse’s victory in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al his nomination. Baghdad and the fi rst infections, the virus has now Beijing insists it can contain the vi- Thani Trophy for four-year-old and older thoroughbreds during the prize-distribution ceremony at Al Rayyan Park mainly Shia south have been gripped spread to more than two dozen na- rus and called Washington’s advice yesterday. Sports Pages 1, 2 by four months of anti-government tions, sending governments scurrying against travel to China “unkind”. rallies demanding snap elections, a to limit their exposure. “Certainly it is not a gesture of politically independent prime minister China toughened its own quaran- goodwill,” foreign ministry spokes- and accountability for corruption and tine measures at the centre of the out- woman Hua Chunying said. protest-related violence. Page 12 break in Hubei province, a day after the The US emergency declaration also United States temporarily barred entry requires Americans returning from AMERICA | Impeachment trial to foreigners who had been in China Hubei province to be placed in man- Qatar Airways to suspend Trump up in polls ahead within the past two weeks. datory 14-day quarantine, and health “Foreign nationals, other than im- screening for American citizens com- of impending acquittal mediate family of US citizens and ing from other parts of China. US President Donald Trump permanent residents... will be denied The virus emerged in early Decem- China fl ights from tomorrow yesterday claimed his polling entry into the United States,” Health ber and has been traced to a market in numbers were up after the Senate Secretary Alex Azar said. Hubei’s capital Wuhan that sold wild paved the way for his acquittal next Australia said it was barring entry animals. atar Airways has decided to week on impeachment charges to non-citizens arriving from China, It spread globally on the wings of a suspend fl ights to mainland China taking all steps to contain virus: envoy of abuse of power. The Senate on while Australian citizens who had Lunar New Year holiday rush that sees QChina from February 3 until Friday rebuff ed Democratic calls for travelled there would be required to go hundreds of millions of Chinese people further notice due to signifi cant op- China has taken extraordinary the epidemic, which has provided new witnesses at Trump’s trial, with into “self-isolation” for two weeks. travel domestically and overseas. erational challenges caused by entry and unprecedented measures to a solid guarantee for the health a vote on whether to acquit him due Vietnam suspended all fl ights from The economic fallout continued as restrictions imposed by several coun- contain the spread of the novel and safety of the Qatari people,” on Wednesday — the day after he mainland China eff ective Saturday. Apple announced that all its China tries. coronavirus and limit its spread the envoy said while addressing gives his annual “State of the Union” Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan also stores would be closed until February 9. “An ongoing review of operations outside the country through the a press conference in Doha speech. Trump is all-but-assured initially appeared on the list of banned China’s central bank said it would will be conducted weekly with the in- use of sophisticated equipment yesterday. of being acquitted by the Senate, routes but were later removed. off er fi nancial support to businesses tention to reinstate the fl ights as soon and scientific expertise, Chinese The ambassador said since where Republicans hold 53 seats to Similar expansive restrictions have hit by the public health emergency. as the restrictions are lifted. ambassador to Qatar Zhou Jian the outbreak, Chinese citizens 47 for the Democrats. Page 13 been announced by countries in- Page 15 “As many Qatar Airways crew has said. and companies in Qatar have members have recently travelled to “After the pneumonia broke out, paid close attention to the BRITAIN | Politics mainland China, these restrictions the Chinese embassy informed the situation back home, and are Britain embarks on prevent the airline from scheduling Qatari government of the latest concerned about the health crew on certain routes, limiting our situation and the measures taken and life of people in China. They its future outside EU ability to maintain scheduled opera- by the Chinese government, and offered their own support to Britain began an uncertain future tions elsewhere. As a result, the air- maintained close communication the motherland. Many Chinese outside the European Union line has no alternative but to unfortu- and shared information with the companies here and Chinese yesterday after the country greeted nately suspend its fl ights to mainland Qatari counterparts. The Qatari citizens have voluntarily donated the historic end to almost half a China from 3 February,” Qatar Air- government has also taken timely medical supplies to China, such as century of EU membership with a ways said yesterday. and eff ective measures to prevent masks.” Page 4 mixture of joy and sadness. There Qatar Airways Group Chief Ex- were celebrations and tears on Friday ecutive HE Akbar al-Baker said: “We night as the EU’s often reluctant have been placed in a challenging op- nifi cant numbers of crew who would mental restrictions are lifted.” member became the first to leave erational situation where the airline have travelled to China, would be Qatar Airways currently operates the organisation. Little has changed cannot continue with its global oper- limited to operate on certain fl ights, a modern fl eet of more than 250 air- yet as the UK is now in an 11-month French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn stands on the tarmac as French nationals ations as a result of these restrictions reducing our operational eff ective- craft via its hub, Hamad International transition period negotiated as part of repatriated from Wuhan, China, amid the new coronavirus outbreak, get off the on anyone who has visited China. ness. We will immediately resume our Airport (HIA), to more than 160 des- the divorce. Page 16 plane at Istres Air Base, near Marseille, France. “If we continue operations, the sig- operations to China once the govern- tinations worldwide.Page 15 Marmi Festival winners feted Fabulous end to Shop Qatar 2020

he fourth edition of Shop Qatar January 31 in front of a packed audi- The third draw winners are as fol- concluded on Friday following ence at Msheireb Downtown. lows: BMW 730Li — voucher number Tthree weeks of “exciting fam- Musical performances by global ar- 138967; Mini Cooper Hatchback — ily entertainment and fashion-forward tistes are also a popular hallmark of Shop voucher 238890; QR100,000 — vouch- events” along with up to 70% dis- Qatar. This year, Pakistani band Junoon er 90741; QR50,000 — vouchers 127454 counts off ered at 12 retail partners that enthralled audiences at Qatar National and 92182; QR20,000 — vouchers included malls, The Pearl-Qatar and Convention Centre (QNCC) on January 226077, 246065, 111089 and 203473; Galleries Lafayette Doha, the organis- 30, while on January 31, solo musicians and QR10,000 — vouchers 168350, ers said. entertained shoppers at Hyatt Plaza. 155667, 106303, 147448 and 148354. Following the festival’s annual tra- The third and fi nal raffl e draw took Throughout the festival, families dition of celebrating diff erent cultures, place on January 31 at Mall of Qatar, visiting and residing in Qatar enjoyed the fi nal week featured colourful fes- awarding two cars and QR330,000 in a host of activities, including mall acti- tivities that included calligraphy and cash to 14 lucky entrants. vations, children’s shows and concerts art activities, a traditional cultural Shoppers spending at least QR200 as well as arts and crafts for the lit- dragon parade and a live performance at participating retailers or restaurants tle ones. The Disney in Concert show, His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Personal Representative of His Highness the Amir, yesterday by Chinese drummers. were eligible to participate in the three staged at QNCC and featuring orches- attended the award ceremony of the Al Mazayen competition for falcons on conclusion of the 11th Qatar International American celebrity makeup artist weekly draws that had combined value tral scores performed live by Qatar Falcon and Hunting Festival 2020 – Marmi. The ceremony was attended by a number of sheikhs and ministers, heads Mario Dedivanovic made his debut in of more than QR2mn. After the draw, Philharmonic Orchestra, was one of the of diplomatic missions accredited to the state, the board of directors of Al Gannas association and a large number of Qatar to participate in Shop Qatar. He celebrity singer Cheb Khalid enter- most popular events, with several of the falconers from Qatar and from the Gulf Co-operation Council countries and guests of the festival. Pictured are some conducted a fi ve-hour masterclass on tained the audience at Mall of Qatar. fi ve performances selling out. Page 24 of the winners of the competition. The festival ran from January 1 until February 1. Page 24 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR Qatar reiterates its fi rm stance on Palestinian issue

QNA “which necessitates collective Cairo action for us to formulate Arab positions capable of carrying out their responsibilities towards atar has reiterated its the Arab fateful issues, especial- HMC and HUH have achieved a highly eff ective partnership in clinical services. fi rm stance on the Pales- ly the Palestinian question”. Qtinian issue at the emer- He said that the desire to gency ministerial meeting held achieve peace represents a feel- at the headquarters of the Arab ing and aspiration among all League here yesterday. people of the world, and there HMC, Heidelberg University Hospital Addressing the meeting, HE is no doubt that the absence of a the Minister of State for Foreign just and comprehensive solution Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Mu- to the Palestinian issue and the raikhi, spelt out Qatar’s position Arab-Israeli confl ict constitutes present achievements from collaboration which is in line with that of the HE the Minister of State for a grave threat to international Arab League. Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad peace and security. The Arab position is com- al-Muraikhi HE al-Muraikhi added that he fi rst anniversary of results in new achievements providing clinical care, the services and enabling more ef- mitted to establishing the peace the foundations of the solution the establishment of the and accomplishments for HMC National Centre for Rare Dis- fi cient pooling of resources. In process for a comprehensive, said that Qatar will spare no ef- are clear and had been expressed TNational Centre for Rare and our patients,” said Dr al- eases in Qatar also supports addition, the department off ers just and lasting settlement based fort to support the eff orts of the by the Arab peace initiative, Diseases in Qatar provided the Kaabi. state-of-the-art research and training in medical genetics and on international laws that main- Palestinians to restore their le- which provides a general frame- focus of the third Doha–Hei- “The wide-ranging benefi ts provides education to local genetic counselling and spe- tains all the legitimate rights gitimate and complete rights. work that provides the best way delberg Research Conference of our partnership include the clinicians in the management cialised research opportunities of the Palestinian people. This He called on the Palestin- for all parties to negotiate on its on Rare Diseases, hosted by provision of specialist clinical of rare diseases. for Qatar and the region. takes into consideration the Pal- ian people to adhere to the op- basis. Hamad Medical Corporation services as well as training for Dr Reem al-Sulaiman, in- The long-standing collabo- estinians’ right to self-deter- tion of unity, prioritise their The minister noted that the (HMC) and Heidelberg Univer- HMC physicians, and educa- terim deputy chair, Medical ration between HMC and HUH mination, the establishment of supreme interest and achieve success of any existing or future sity Hospital (HUH). tion and research through site Genetics Department, HMC in the fi eld of newborn screen- their independent state on the national reconciliation, in a way initiative to resolve this confl ict HMC and HUH have achieved visits and annual symposia that and assistant chair of the Rare ing also provided an optimal borders that existed on June 4, that achieves cohesion and unity that has lasted for more than a highly eff ective partnership support the exchange of expe- Disease Multidisciplinary Team framework to construct a pio- 1967, with its capital in East Je- of the Palestinian people as the seven decades will be dependent in clinical services, training, riences and knowledge,” added and Research Committee ex- neering research project ‘Ge- rusalem, the return of refugees best way in their struggle to ob- on the involvement of the two education, and research. Dr Dr al-Kaabi. plained: “We aim to improve nomic Newborn Screening’, a in accordance with international tain their legitimate rights. main parties of the confl ict in Saad al-Kaabi, chairman of One notable achievement of the lives of people living with novel and innovative screen- resolutions and the terms of The minister said that yester- serious and direct negotiations the International Medical Af- the HMC-HUH collaboration rare diseases in Qatar and the ing to detect genetic disorders reference of the peace process, day’s meeting was held during a based on international resolu- fairs Offi ce at HMC, chair of was the establishment of the region; and through joint ex- earlier, enhancing prevention foremost of which is the princi- crisis situation in the history of tions and a specifi c timetable to the Doha–Heidelberg Research National Centre for Rare Dis- ploration with the Heidelberg opportunities through early di- ple of the two-state solution. the Palestinian issue – which is end the Israeli occupation of all Conference and chair of the eases in Qatar, announced in team, we can contribute to and agnosis and treatment. In his address HE al-Muraikhi the central issue of the Arabs – Palestinian and Arab lands. Rare Disease Multidisciplinary February 2019. The centre, the promote the latest develop- The conference’s keynote Team and Research Committee first of its kind in the Middle ments in rare disease research.” presentation was delivered by said the two-day annual con- East, is the main point of con- Another achievement ac- professor Dr Annette Grüters- Qatar participates in UN memorial session on Sultan Qaboos ference is a strategic deliverable tact for many patients with complished in the past year was Kieslich, medical director and of the long-standing collabora- rare diseases. Through expert the establishment of the new chair, Executive Board of the The permanent delegation of Qatar to the United General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres tion between the two organisa- multidisciplinary teamwork HMC Medical Genetics De- Medical Faculty of Heidelberg Nations participated in the memorial session held and President of the 74th session of the General tions. between HMC and HUH, the partment. The establishment University Hospital, who out- yesterday for the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Assembly Tijjani Mohamed-Bande. “We have had a strong part- centre aims to support the di- of this new department has lined the collaboration and Taimur of Oman, by the United Nations General The US and regional groupings to the United Nations nership with Heidelberg Uni- agnosis and management of centralised all genetics subspe- future research opportunities Assembly. delivered speeches of remembrance, where the Sudan versity Hospital for many years. patients with rare and com- cialties across HMC, providing between Qatar and the German The memorial event was attended by the Secretary- spoke on behalf of the Arab Group. – QNA Page 12 Each year that we work together plex diseases. In addition to more eff ective clinical genetics Centre for Rare Diseases.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR

Envoy thanks Qatar for expressing confi dence in Chinese eff orts to tackle coronavirus

By Ayman Adly To eff ectively deal with The two hospitals will be- Staff Reporter the situation, 6,000 medi- gin operations by February 3 cal staff in 29 provinces and and 6, respectively. “In addi- cities fl ew on an emergency tion, the Chinese government hina has taken ex- fl ight to Wuhan overnight. has decided to send char- traordinary and un- He said, “We have demon- tered fl ights to take stranded Cprecedented meas- strated to the world China’s citizens overseas back home, ures to contain the spread speed and effi ciency. The especially those from Hubei, of the novel coronavirus and Huoshenshan Hospital, an Wuhan. These fully refl ect limit its spread outside the emergency specialised hos- the Chinese government’s country through the use of pital, will be completed with- responsibility in solving sophisticated equipment Zhou Jian at the press in just six days. The hospital problems for the people,” he and scientifi c expertise, conference yesterday. covers an area of 25,000sq m added. Chinese ambassador to Qa- PICTURE: Jayan Orma and can accommodate 1,000 Regarding the international tar Zhou Jian has said. beds. Hundreds of equipment co-operation in this regard he “After the pneumonia and life of people in China. were sent to the construction said: “We invited World Health broke out, the Chinese em- They off ered their own sup- site. Some 1,500 workers and Organisation (WHO) experts bassy informed the Qatari port to the motherland. Many 280 sets of machinery are to go to Wuhan for a field visit, government of the latest Chinese companies here and racing against time and dis- and invited the WHO director- situation and the measures Chinese citizens have volun- ease. If you hand over the general to visit China. President taken by the Chinese govern- tarily donated medical sup- work one minute in advance, Xi Jinping and State Councillor ment, and maintained close plies to China, such as masks.” you can stop the spread of Wang Yi met with him sepa- communication and shared Ambassador Zhou said the epidemic one minute in rately and briefed him on our information with the Qatari that until January 31, China’s advance, time is life! Also, effective measures for epidemic counterparts. The Qatari gov- National Health Commission within eight days, another prevention and control.” ernment has also taken timely had registered a total of 11,791 similar hospital, the Lensh- On the potential impact and eff ective measures to pre- confi rmed cases from 31 enshan Temporary Hospital, of international trade of the vent the epidemic, which has provinces, 1,795 serious cas- will fi nish construction with current situation, he stressed provided a solid guarantee for es, 259 deaths and 243 cases an additional 1,600 beds for that there could only be a the health and safety of the of cured patients. There were patients of the novel corona- temporary impact that could Qatari people,” the envoy said 17,988 suspected cases in all. virus pneumonia.” be addressed easily. while addressing a press con- ference in Doha yesterday. He stressed that China and Qatar are “good friends and brothers”, saying that “fac- ing the novel coronavirus, our Qatari friends stepped forward and expressed their confi dence in China to defeat the epidemic, and off ered all necessary assistance”. “The actions of our Qatari brothers made us feel touched, and further strengthened our confi dence and strength to win this battle. We highly ap- preciate the support from Qa- tar, and believe this will surely write another glorious story in the history of China-Qatar re- lations,” he noted. The ambassador continued, “Since the outbreak, Chinese citizens and companies in Qa- tar have paid close attention to the situation back home, and are concerned about the health

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR Qatar Post leads on tree-planting mission atar Post has supported the mission of Al Shabhana QAssociation, a non-profi t organisation fi ghting deforesta- tion in Qatar, by planting trees in the open areas of the Qatar Post headquarters. The event, titled ‘Qatar Post for Sustainable Development – Aff or- estation Campus Qatar’, witnessed a number of Prosopis trees being planted. The Prosopis, which is one of the most common small trees in Qa- tar, is an ideal plant for the desert environment. Qatar Post offi cials and vol- unteers were joined by environ- mentalists from various organisa- tions, namely Meshal al-Shamari The tree-planting event at the Qatar Post headquarters. and Shireen Obediat, director and events and marketing offi cer, re- spectively, at Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC); Hamoda Youssef, head of technical aff airs at QGBC; Ruba Hinnawi, technical special- ist at QGBC; Ahmed al-Mansouri, vice-president of Al Shabhana As- sociation; and Dr Haya al-Farhoud al-Maadidi, executive secretary of Al Shabhana Association among others. They were welcomed by Abdul- lah Shlash al-Hajri, chief human resources and services offi cer of Qatar Post. The event “marked Qatar Post’s foray into environmental steward- Qatar Post off icials and volunteers were joined by environmentalists from various organisations at the tree plantation event. ship as part of its corporate so- cial responsibility programme”, a tive, but only together can we truly statement noted. make progress.” The programme sets out to im- Qatar Post is “on a journey to prove the quality of lives in the fulfi l the sustainability goals of community where the national Qatar National Vision 2030”, the postal service operates. statement added. Al-Hajri said, “Through our Last year, it won the ‘Best Postal partnership with Al Shabhana As- Service Company’ award at Expo sociation, we recognised that an 2019 in Amsterdam for steps taken aff orestation project will add value in energy conservation and reduc- to our sites and contribute to the tion in its carbon footprint. These sustainability of the environment eff orts have paved the way towards in Qatar. The event was intended to environment-related certifi cations make a statement and show that we such as the ISO 14001 for Envi- can make a diff erence by collaborat- ronmental Management Systems, ing with partners such as QGBC and Quality Management Certifi cate Qatar Foundation.” 9001 and Occupational Health and “On our own, we might be eff ec- Safety System 18001. AJCS is ranked fi rst in Gulf region for third year in row

l Jazeera Centre for think tanks and fourth in guished data base of global administrators, journalists, participated over the Studies (AJCS) has the Mena region among a think tanks. policy makers, think tank course of three stages in the Abeen ranked the top total of 507 think tanks. This year, for example, scholars and executives, and evaluation of 8,248 think think tank in the Gulf re- In addition, it is the only 3,974 university faculty and donors tanks around the world. gion for the third year in Arab institution under the a row by the Think Tanks category of ‘Best Qual- and Civil Societies Pro- ity Assurance and Integ- gram (TTCSP) at the Uni- rity Policies and Proce- versity of Pennsylvania, dures’ and ranked 55th in US, in its 2019 Global Go To the world. Think Tank Index and the The 2019 index will be fourth in the Middle East co-launched in 130 cities and North Africa (Mena) around the world, including region, a step up from Doha, in research symposia last year. on the role of think tanks It is still the only Arab in states and societies with think tank among the glo- the participation of near- bal think tanks applying ly 1,000 researchers and the best quality assurance experts. and integrity policies and The TTCSP at the Uni- procedures, according to a versity of Pennsylvania statement. ranks think tanks under According to the 2019 30 criteria using strict index, which was released methodology, rendering on January 29, AJCS was its annual Global Go To ranked fi rst in the Gulf re- Think Tank Index a unique gion among a total of 62 resource and a distin-

Ethiopian PM meets Qatari ambassador thiopia’s Prime Min- During the meeting, the ister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ethiopian prime minister EAli has met Qatar’s and the Qatari ambassa- ambassador Hamad bin dor reviewed bilateral rela- Mohamed al-Dossari in tions and issues of mutual Addis Ababa. interest. (QNA)

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR Qatar Charity’s 2019 international partnerships valued at over 60 million riyals

• 11 cooperation agreements with international organizations and UN agencies to implement relief projects in Yemen, Iraq, Malawi, and Bangladesh.

• Al-Rumaihi: Qatar Charity is not only a funding partner but also a strategic implementing partner of numerous UN agencies.

he cooperation and to internally displaced Iraqi humanitarian action has made partnership agreements families. it a capable, strategic, and signed during 2019 implementing partner of many T Qatar Charity has also signed between Qatar Charity, UN agencies, not only a funding two cooperation agreements international humanitarian partner of their projects, as it with the International organizations, and the United implemented several projects Syria, and Bangladesh, benefited UNHCR to improve the efficiency Migration (IOM). It was also Organization for Migration Nations agencies amounted to funded by FAO, WFP, UNICEF, from these projects implemented and effectiveness of humanitarian selected as an associate member (IOM) to fund comprehensive more than 60 million Qatari UNHCR, other international under this cooperation. action with a view to achieving of the Department of Global relief projects in Malawi in organizations,” said Ahmed their common humanitarian goals. riyals. The projects funded The partnership between Communications (DGC) in response to the Cyclone Idai, Saad Al-Rumaihi, director of by Qatar being were valued at UNHCR and Qatar Charity has This cooperation included 2019, in addition to becoming as well as, to improve access to the International Relief and 44,296,816 riyals, while the witnessed the signing of the several projects for the displaced a member of Start Network in health care services for Rohingya Partnerships Department at projects implemented by Qatar largest number of agreements, and refugees in Iraq and Yemen, in 2017. Charity, with the funding from refugees in Bangladesh. Qatar Charity. as Qatar Charity has signed 32 addition to Rohingya refugees in It is worth mentioning that international organizations Qatar Charity has also Al-Rumaihi considered cooperation and partnership Bangladesh. Qatar Charity is one of the were estimated at more than 16 signed an agreement with the that the year 2020 is a time pacts with UNHCR to finance civil society organizations that million riyals. Memberships World Food Program (WFP) for continuing international humanitarian projects for the contribute most internationally This comes within to implement a child and partnerships of Qatar Charity, benefit of the displaced and It is worth mentioning that to supporting humanitarian and the framework of Qatar women nutrition project in praising the cooperation refugees. Qatar Charity has been in development issues to achieve

Charity’s keenness to build two provinces of Yemen, which between Qatar Charity and the The QC4HCR, a collaborative consultative status with the the Sustainable Development partnerships with international was jointly funded by the Qatar Fund Qatar for Development in initiative, is one of the most United Nations Economic and Goals, coordinating joint organizations and UN agencies Fund for Development (QFFD) funding several projects that significant agreements, which Social Council (ECOSOC) since efforts in areas of humanitarian to support humanitarian and Qatar Charity. It has also Qatar Charity has implemented was signed in 2018 to co-ordinate 1997, while it has been enjoying interventions, and sharing action and development issues signed two memorandums of in Somalia, Sudan, Albania, and partnership and co-operation observer membership of the experiences to maximize worldwide, especially in areas understanding (MoU) with Syria. between Qatar Charity and International Organization For impact. hit by disaster and crisis. the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the United Strategic Cooperation Cooperation Nations Relief and Works It is worth noting that Qatar Agreements Agency for Palestine Refugees in Charity’s cooperation with UN Qatar Charity has signed 11 the Near East (UNRWA). and international organizations cooperation agreements with UN Agencies started as of 1997, and it international organizations and enhanced this collaboration United Nations agencies to fund The value of funding by signing 77 cooperation several international projects, international organizations by agreements in many fields over including six cooperation Qatar Charity amounted to more the past 22 years, with a total agreements with the United than 16 million riyals in 2019 value exceeding 76 million US Nations High Commissioner for to implement relief projects dollars. Refugees (UNHCR). in Turkey, Niger, Pakistan and Somalia. These international These agreements included The agreements came to organizations include the strategic cooperation and support the rehabilitation of United Nations Office for the collaboration in various fields of long-term accommodation Coordination of Humanitarian humanitarian and development centers for internally displaced Affairs (OCHA), the Office work, such as relief, resettlement people (IDP) in Iraq, contribute of the United Nations High of the displaced, livelihoods, to providing basic assistance Commissioner for Refugees water, sanitation, logistic to Rohingya refugees in (UNHCR), the World Health cooperation, food, agriculture, Bangladesh, help internally Organization (WHO), the food security, health, social displaced returnee families United Nations Children’s Fund welfare, exchange of experts, in Yemen, provide drinking (UNICEF), and the START and resource mobilization. water, improve the standards NETWORK. of living of Rohingya refugees Many countries including in Bangladesh, and extend “Qatar Charity’s prolonged Palestine, Somalia, Pakistan, multi-purpose cash assistance experience in the field of Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Niger, Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 9 QATAR Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana partners with KidZania Child-size auto service centre to be set up inside education and entertainment park

aleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, the dreams through a fun and interactive bring children a stimulating environ- exclusive agent of Nissan in Qa- environment. ment in which they can imagine their Star, and KidZania Doha, the mul- “Our role is to give future leaders futures. A lot of care and attention ti-award-winning kids’ educational the best foundation to learn and grow, have gone into the design of the auto entertainment concept, have signed a providing them with knowledge, and service centre to ensure it is realistic, partnership agreement to create a re- encouraging them to develop real-life immersive and of course, fun. Due to alistic, child-size auto service centre skills that will steer them, and our the popularity of the brand in the re- inside the city of KidZania Doha. country, towards a successful future.” gion, many children are aware of Nis- The signing ceremony was held The collaboration between Saleh Al san - now they can enjoy a closer con- recently at KidZania, Aspire Park. It Hamad Al Mana Co (Nissan) and Kid- nection to the company that’s held a brought together Nassim Mourani, Zania Doha aims to “educate children special place in the region’s hearts.” general manager - Automotive Group, about being an auto specialist and KidZania is a unique education at Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co; Khalid experience a real-life career activity and entertainment park, with its own Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi and Nassim Mourani at the agreement-signing ceremony. Ali al-Mawlawi, board member of Qa- through a fun, hands-on experience”, economy and currency, designed to tar Entertainment (Tasali); and other a press statement notes. provide a holistic experience to sup- senior offi cials from both companies. Al-Mawlawi said: “At KidZania, we port physical and mental development Commenting on the partnership, seek to encourage and stimulate the among children and help improve Hisham Saleh al-Mana, chairman and early development of children through their self-esteem and confi dence, the managing director of Saleh Al Hamad playful learning and the use of im- statement adds. Al Mana Co, said: “We are delighted to agination and creativity towards their The self-suffi cient park includes be contributing to the development of future paths. We completely align our more than 60 real-life simulation ac- Qatar’s youth by providing education eff orts with Qatar National Vision tivities across diverse business envi- and entertainment that stimulate am- 2030 to help boost human, education- ronments and allows children to learn bition and inspiration. Together with al, social and economic development a variety of values, including self-re- KidZania Doha, we are enabling young in the State of Qatar.” liance, teamwork, honesty, integrity minds to explore their automotive Mourani added: “We are happy to and giving back to society.

The partnership agreement has been signed to create a realistic, child-size auto service centre inside the city of KidZania Doha. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR QatarDebate launches Asian Arabic debate championship round 30 teams rep- fi es how far QatarDebate’s ef- come entrapped by other lan- Hayat Abdullah Marafi , execu- ing levels, while the fi rst round resenting 20 Arab and forts to invest in youth, who guages, and by the colloquial tive director of QatarDebate, saw participants being randomly AAsian countries are par- make up one of the most impor- dialects in various countries.” and young participants includ- placed into teams. The motion ticipating in the fi rst edition tant pillars of our societies, have Dr Zulkifl i bin Hasan, asso- ing Maryam al-Hani, a student in the fi rst round discussed the of the Asian Arabic Debating reached,” he said. ciate professor and deputy di- at the American University of topic of organ donation, with Championship in Kuala Lumpur, “This championship is the rector, Student Development Beirut, who said: “This is the the second round’s motion being organised by QatarDebate. fruit of QatarDebate’s goal of & Community Engagement at second time that I have par- “Adapting to climate change is The Qatar Foundation mem- taking the art of debate to the IIUM, said, “I am grateful to ticipated in a championship better than combating it”. ber, in collaboration with the rest of the world. We continue QatarDebate for choosing the with QatarDebate, and the rea- Three rounds took place on International Islamic Univer- with our mission to organise International Islamic Univer- son is that I believe that young the second day, with debates fo- sity Malaysia (IIUM), offi cially international championships sity Malaysia as the hosting people have to place dialogue cusing on companies employing launched the championship outside Qatar, by launching partner for this championship, and debate at the centre of our ex-prisoners, whether organisa- during an opening ceremony. the fi rst Asian Arabic Debating and I wish all the students a agendas.” tions addressing female-focused Abdulrahman I al-Subaie, Championship.” pleasant intellectual journey On the fi rst day of the tour- topics and issues should employ head of the outreach programme Al-Subaie emphasised, through it.” nament, teams participated in males, and the motion, “Labour at QatarDebate, said the focus of “Through this championship, The ceremony was also at- competitive debate sessions, strikes in education and health the tournament is on “reviving we seek to promote the power tended by Zuraida Kamaruddin, some of which see students ar- jobs are a crime”. The Asian the art of debate” of dialogue and to revitalise the Malaysia’s Minister of Hous- ranged in teams made up of Arabic Debating Championship Around 30 teams representing 20 countries are participating in the “This important event signi- Arabic language, which has be- ing and Local Government, Dr contestants with similar debat- continues until tomorrow. debating championship in Kuala Lumpur. Education City hosts Universities Debate League

atarDebate Centre (QD), house would ban lifestyle clauses a member of Qatar Foun- in marriage contracts”; “This Qdation (QF), recently or- house believes that Iraq would ganised the 3rd Qatar Universities have been better off had it been Debate League in English as well partitioned into 3 separate states as a public debate, at the Student at the beginning of the post- Centre, Education City, with a to- Saddam era” and “This house tal of 20 participating teams rep- believes that parents from mi- Twenty participating teams representing six institutions took part in the debate. resenting six institutions. nority communities should raise The participants debated their children to be selfi sh.” own University in Qatar, North- Georgetown University in Qa- QatarDebate also organised (NCPW)” on the sidelines of the topic, “This house believes re- around three motions during The debating teams repre- western University Qatar, Qatar tar ranked top in the league fol- a public debate in collaboration 3rd Qatar Universities Debate gional agreements for nuclear the tournament. The topics of sented College of North Atlantic University, and Weill Cornell lowed by Qatar University and with the “National Committee League between the top four non-proliferation are more ef- the tournament were: “ This Qatar, Doha Institute, Georget- Medicine – Qatar. Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar. for the Prohibition of Weapons’ teams of the tournament on the fective than global agreements.” EAA’s ‘No Child Left Out’ campaign sees ‘overwhelming participation from schools’ Nearly 17,000 students from 17 public and private schools take part ducation Above All (EAA) Foundation carried out EAA continues to tackle deep-rooted socioeconomic barriers on its mission towards equal access to Eits latest ‘No Child Left quality education across underserved communities around the world. Out’ 2019 campaign, which saw “overwhelming school youth engagement in bringing “most popular fundraising cam- Across its programmes, EAA participation”. positive change. These students paign and captures the imagi- continues to tackle deep-rooted The campaign inspired thou- obviously found our call close to nation of donors very strongly”, socioeconomic barriers on its sands of students and teach- their hearts and chipped in with the statement points out. Dur- mission towards equal access to ers across Qatar to donate cash whatever they could. They are ing Ramadan 2019, the campaign quality education across under- so that their peers from poor advantaged populations”, said The campaign ran from Sep- International Fundraising and our heroes. received “overwhelming sup- served communities around the backgrounds could attend in a statement. tember to December 2019 with Partnerships specialist at Educa- “We are thankful to all our port” from donors as it realised world. school, just like them, and at- Nearly 17,000 students from 17 the aim of supporting EAA’s tion Above All Foundation, said: partners and value their contin- QR15mn in one month. More information about EAA’s tain a prosperous future, EAA, public and private schools took project, ‘Together’, for out-of- “We are thankful to all partici- ued support of our mission so This money goes towards programmes and how to donate which is “committed to provid- part in the initiative, the state- school children in Qatar. pating schools, whose students that no child is left behind.” helping out-of-school children can be found at donate.educa- ing education to the most dis- ment noted. Moza Saeed al-Mansouri, demonstrated to us the power of ‘No Child Left Out’ is EAA’s in several countries, EAA adds. tionaboveall.org DHFC lines up host of events for National Sport Day

oha Festival City (DHFC) suring that they get the best out CrossFit Oryx, from 9am-5pm. of DHFC, said: “Doha Festival has announced a host of of their exercise time and enjoy Moreover, Doha Festival City City is taking sports activations Dactivities in celebration their experience on the track”. retailers are also off ering many to a whole new level this year. of Qatar National Sport Day this A Sports for All Zone will be promotions and discounts, while In collaboration with our retail- month. set up on the ‘Bird Island’ lo- some are hosting special ac- ers and entertainment partners, Shoppers and visitors will cated in the Angry Birds World tivities during the month, the there will be something daily for enjoy a “fun-packed month of (outdoor), featuring quick health statement adds. every family member, making sports and fi tness activities with check-ups daily throughout the Technogym will organise a Festival City truly the one and family and friends, with some- month of February from 4pm- range of sports activities for only place to be for entertain- thing for all ages and skills, both 10pm, except on National Sport visitors and shoppers, such as a ment and sport during February. indoor and outdoors”, it has said Day when the check-ups will sport equipment display at the “Sports is an important com- in a statement. take place from 8am-10pm. Centre Court on February 1, with ponent of Qatar National Vision Festival City’s outdoor track More fun awaits everyone in a trainer explaining the use and 2030, and that’s why we have al- will witness running and cycling the theme parks atrium at the benefi ts of each gym equipment ways been supportive of sports marathons for adults and chil- Kids Sports Activity area, also and the best way to use it. On initiatives across the country. I dren on both Fridays and Sat- everyday, at the same times. Mondays, from 9am-10am, and look forward to welcoming eve- urdays throughout the month Game lovers can enjoy, for Wednesdays, from 2pm-5pm, ryone at Festival City this month from 8am until 12noon and on free, an “exhilarating experi- the store will be hosting a vari- to enjoy these memorable times National Sport Day, February ence” in the Xbox and Computer ety of yoga classes or sessions on with us.” 11. Visitors can also enjoy a brisk stations or sign up for a life-like across DHFC on National Sport while Snow Dunes will have an the day from 1pm-5pm. healthy food habits, detox, ways With over 420 retail outlets walk or run at any time they like car race on the F1 racer simulator Day, February 11. An Obstacle Open Day for all Festival City For the CrossFit commu- to enhance exercise and make the and 100 food and dining op- with the outdoor track being in Viturocity on weekdays, dur- Course in the Angry Birds World visitors from 11am-4pm. nity and fans in Qatar, DHFC best out of it. tions, Doha Festival City “is the accessible 24/7. ing the month of February, from (outdoor), City Studio, from Also, Virtuocity will open will host the Doha Festival City Oysho will be welcoming cus- number one choice for everyone The outdoor track is “profes- 12noon until 5pm, the statement 8am-1pm, will help all shoppers up its Virtual Reality rooms CrossFit Championship 2020, tomers for “super comfy” yoga to enjoy the events and off er- sionally built to suit runners and notes. experiment and enhance their for an “unparalleled game ex- sponsored by Adidas, on Feb- and meditation classes. ings of the sports month”, the cyclists with variant skills, en- More activities will take place mental and physical stamina, perience” in celebration of ruary 28 in collaboration with Robert Hall, general manager statement adds. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 11 QATAR/ARAB WORLD Ashghal’s citizen projects off er boost for development By Shafeeq Alingal of 1,180km. The fi gures were plots. Ashghal also completed existing areas and 8,571 in new as part of the project last month. Staff Reporter presented by Noor Ashkanani, four projects in the vicinity of citizens’ plot areas. The proposed project will serve from the Roads Projects Depart- Doha while seven projects were In May 2018, four new con- more than 8,400 plots across ment at Ashghal, during a recent implemented to serve more than tracts, totalling QR1.5bn, were 10 areas in the north, south and he Infrastructure Devel- function in which new 10 con- 4,000 plots in Muaither West (Al signed to develop infrastruc- west of the country. All the con- opment Projects of Citi- tracts were signed. Manaseer). ture on plots under the citizens’ tracts were given to Qatari com- Tzens’ Sub-Divisions by the The data show that the au- These are in addition to fi ve residential projects in Al Wukair panies. Public Works Authority (Ash- thority implemented infrastruc- projects in the west of Doha South in Al Wakra Municipality. Upon completion, the projects ghal) is providing a further boost ture projects to serve more than city and four projects to develop In October 2018, Ashghal signed will provide advanced infra- to the comprehensive develop- 22,000 land plots distributed in sewage networks serving around fi ve contracts worth QR2.7bn structure including 223km of ment of diff erent places in Qatar. 18 areas between 2014 and 2017. 3,000 plots, as well as 17 projects with Qatari companies for de- roads, 325km of pedestrian and According to data available Of the developed plots, 20,637 to develop roads and integrated veloping infrastructure facilities bicycle paths, more than 20,000 with Ashghal, the projects being are in existing areas while 1,829 infrastructure serving 10,000 for 5,192 plots of land in diff erent parking lots, about 192km of implemented by the authority are in new citizens’ land plot ar- plots and two land-grading areas under the citizens’ resi- sewage networks, 305km of will provide more than 1,543km eas. projects serving almost 2,000 dential scheme. stormwater and groundwater of roads and 410km of pedestri- During this phase, Ashghal plots. Then, in May 2019, seven new drainage networks and 142km of an and cycle paths. These are in completed 23 projects to develop Ashghal’s plan is to imple- construction contracts with a to- TSE networks. addition to infrastructure devel- infrastructure in various ar- ment infrastructure develop- tal value of QR3.2bn were signed Ashghal president Dr Saad bin opment works such as sewage, eas serving 15,108 citizens’ land ment projects to serve 32,855 by Ashghal as part of the initiative Ahmad al-Muhannadi had noted surface and groundwater and plots while seven projects were land plots between 2018 and to serve a total of 3,090 land plots. that Ashghal gives top priority to treated sewage effl uent (TSE) completed in Doha North, serv- 2022. The projects cover over 14 With a total value of around infrastructure projects based on networks with a total length ing more than 7,000 citizens’ areas and include 24,284 plots in QR4bn, 10 contracts were signed directives from the government.

Fromage Restaurant relaunched at Tawar Mall UN draft resolution romage Restaurant, owned calls for withdrawal by Alrabia Investment and FManagement, has been relaunched with new delicacies of Libya mercenaries and preparations. Located at Tawar Mall, the restaurant is conceptulised lo- AFP On Thursday, UN envoy cally, right from its design to the United Nations Ghassan Salame accused cuisines, and serves interna- “unscrupulous” foreign ac- tional dishes. tors — without specifying “This restaurant features an he United Kingdom who — of continuing to med- international cuisine with speci- sent its fellow Secu- dle in Libya’s conflict, in vio- ality dishes that include Raclette Trity Council members lation of the Berlin commit- cheese from the Swiss Alps. This an amended draft resolution ments. is one of our specialities and on Libya on Friday, calling for cheese is a striking fl avour of our the withdrawal of mercenaries The draft expresses the dishes,” said Hani Taleb, general from the country, according to council’s “concern over manager of the group. the text, seen by AFP. the growing involvement “We have everything that The draft expresses the of mercenaries in Libya,” people would love to eat with council’s “concern over the despite commitments nice salads, excellent appetisers growing involvement of mer- made on January 19 and pasta and pizza, among oth- cenaries in Libya,” despite at an international er things. In addition, we serve commitments made on Janu- summit in Berlin, an excellent breakfast with an ary 19 at an international including “ceasing Arabic set as well as Continental summit in Berlin, including all support for and items,” added Taleb. “ceasing all support for and withdrawing all armed Taleb said Fromage at present withdrawing all armed mer- mercenary personnel” has only one outlet while the cenary personnel.” group has several other restau- The text also urged all Russia is accused of facili- rants. “We are planning to open member states “not to inter- tating the arrival of several Fromage Restaurant in other vene in the conflict or take thousand Russian mercenar- malls, too, as and when we fi nd measures that exacerbate the ies in Libya. For the past 10 a suitable space and location,” he conflict.” According to diplo- months, the Security Coun- added. mats, Russia strongly opposes cil has been unable to adopt Edgar Doerig, ambassador of any mention of mercenaries in any resolution on the con- Switzerland, and several other the text. No date has yet been flict in Libya. The amended dignitaries were present at the set for a vote on the resolution. British text “condemns the relaunch event recently. Libya has been mired in chaos recent increase in levels of Dignitaries at the relaunch of the restaurant. PICTURE: Thajudheen since a 2011 Nato-backed up- violence and demands the rising that killed longtime dic- parties commit to a lasting tator Muammar Gaddafi , with ceasefire.” It also asks UN two rival administrations vy- Secretary-General Antonio ing for power. Guterres to “submit his views The conflict deepened last on the necessary conditions year when military strong- for, and proposals on effec- man Khalifa Haftar, who tive ceasefire monitoring.” As army nears their hometown, Unlike the fi rst draft, which controls much of the south and east of Libya, launched only mentioned the impor- an assault in April to seize tance of the role of neighbour- Tripoli, the base of the UN- ing countries and unidenti- recognised Government of fi ed regional organisations in Syrians grab last belongings contributing to a solution, the National Accord (GNA). The first version of the amended version specifi cally AFP 388,000 civilians since Decem- British draft, dated January mentions “the African Union, Saraqeb ber, the United Nations says. 24, contained no mention of League of Arab States and Eu- Nine years into a war that has armed foreign fighters. ropean Union.” killed 380,000 people, the coun- yrian father of four Wael try’s last major rebel stronghold clambers up a pile of rub- is shrinking by the day. Sble, bidding farewell to “This neighbourhood where I what remains of his devastated grew up is gone,” Wael says. hometown Saraqeb, after all his “It’s left us nothing, nothing. Qatar Youth Forum to neighbours fl ed advancing gov- It’s destroyed the whole coun- ernment troops. try,” he says of President Bashar “I’m here to see my neigh- al-Assad’s rule. begin on Tuesday bourhood one last time,” says “It’s the civilians who are pay- the 38-year-old who fl ed with ing the price, and nobody cares.” his family 10 days ago. Spurred on by Russian mili- QNA and second editions, including “I shouldn’t have,” he adds, tary support since 2015, the Da- Doha the announcement of the me- on a fi nal trip to pick up the last mascus government has taken dia centre for youth, the estab- of their belongings. “It’s heart- back one region after another lishment of a youth advisory breaking.” and now controls around 70% of he third Qatar Youth committee for HE the Minister In the municipal market, fruit the country. Forum will begin on of Culture and Sports, the es- and vegetable stalls are bare, For months, it has been chip- TTuesday, under the pa- tablishment of a programme shops shuttered. The rain-beat- ping away at Idlib, which is tronage of HE the Minister of to rehabilitate leaders of youth en streets are near empty. The dominated by Syria’s former Al Culture and Sports Salah bin centres, developing youth ac- silence is broken only by a metal Qaeda affi liate, but where allied Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali. tivities and initiatives that door clanging in the wind, and rebel groups are also present. The two-day event will take promote national values, sup- the humming of a truck on an- Saraqeb — which sits at the place at Ali Bin Hamad Al At- porting working women and other last-minute dash to re- junction of two major highways tiyah Arena. empowering it in the fi eld of trieve abandoned belongings. coveted by the regime — looks The Ministry of Culture and entrepreneurship. Inside a gutted building, two like the next target. Sports held yesterday a press This year’s forum will see ceiling fans hang motionless. A Just a few months ago, the conference to discuss the de- the introduction of a number straggly curtain dangles from town counted some 110,000 res- Wael, the father of four, sits amidst the ruins of a building in the town of Saraqeb, in Syria’s northwestern tails of the event. of new ideas and initiatives. a pole. After weeks of deadly idents, the Syrian Observatory Idlib province. Director of youth aff airs at the One of them will see a bombardment by the govern- for Human Rights says. ministry Hussein Rashid al-Ku- number of private and gov- ment and its ally Russia, many But yesterday, the frontline young man carries a bundle, and breaks down into loud sobs. 2011. “This confl ict has ripped baisi said that the forum seeks ernmental institutions and of Saraqeb’s homes have been stood just fi ve kilometres outside a little girl with plaits clutches a Elsewhere in town, a dozen brothers apart, taken children to enhance communication and companies in the country are levelled. town, according to the Britain- doll.Dressed in a long blue rain- rebel fi ghters are resting before from their mothers and wives mutual dialogue between Qatari expected to present a list con- To the north of the town, some based monitor. coat, rescue worker Abdu Bakri they return to the front. Inside a from their husbands,” says the youth and those working in the taining the most prominent three million people — half of In the abandoned market, helps him brush a huge red heart gloomy cement bunker, they sit fi ghter, staring into the distance. youth sector, as it seeks to pro- challenges in various fi elds, for them already displaced by the street artist Aziz al-Ahmar has on the wall. around a pot of warm tea. “It’s a dirty war.” vide an outlet for direct interac- which an innovative and un- changing fortunes of the war — come one last time to leave his “God willing, we will return to “The guys and me stayed be- But Abu Trad vows to do his tion and expression, and to ex- conventional solution has not are huddling in what is left of the mark. On a wall, he daubs the this town,” he says. hind to defend our land,” ex- utmost to defend his hometown. plore issues important to them. been found, which will launch militant-dominated bastion of black silhouettes of a family As he leaves town with plains fi ghter Abu Trad, who says “We’ll fi ght till the last bullet — He then discussed some of a three-day competition for Idlib. The violence in the north- fl eeing their home. a small chest of children’s he spent six months in jail after with stones even, anything we the most important outputs the participating youth to fi nd west has displaced more than The mother lugs a suitcase, a clothes to take to his wife, he anti-Assad protests erupted in fi nd,” he says. reached by the forum in its fi rst solutions to those problems. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, February 2, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

UN General Assembly pays tribute to Abbas says Palestinians cutting Sultan Qaboos

he UN General As- sembly held a special Tsession in New York all ties with Israel and US yesterday chaired by its President Tijjani Muham- The Arab League rejected American proposal in reality on Tuesday fl anked by Netan- mad-Bande to pay tribute to Trump’s plan, saying in appeared to be a dictation, or an yahu and in the presence of late Sultan of Oman Qaboos a statement it failed to meet off er that cannot be rejected or Arab ambassadors from some bin Said bin Taimur. “the minimum rights even discussed,” he added. Gulf states. Other Arab states Speaking on the occasion, and aspirations of The Arab League rejected gave carefully worded initial re- UN Secretary-General An- Palestinian people” Trump’s plan, saying in a state- sponses to the plan. tonio Guterres praised the ment it failed to meet “the min- Abbas told the Arab League late Sultan as a leader who AFP imum rights and aspirations of the US plan was in “violation prioritised co-operation Cairo Palestinian people”.Arab leaders of the (autonomy) accords” and multilateralism, earning also vowed “not to...co-operate launched in Oslo in 1993 by Is- the respect of his people and with the US administration rael and the Palestinians. those far beyond. alestinian leader Mah- to implement this plan”. They The accords included the Guterres said that the moud Abbas announced insisted on a two-state solu- creation of the Palestinian Au- late Sultan, with leadership Pyesterday a cut of all tion that includes a Palestinian thority, currently led by Abbas, and commitment, worked ties with Israel and the United state based on borders before and outlined delineations of the to shape Oman as an active, States, including security co- the 1967 Six-Day War — when West Bank. They were seen as responsible member of the operation, after Washington Israel occupied the West Bank key to Israeli-Palestinian peace international family, and unveiled a controversial Mid- and Gaza Strip — and with east process, which hit an impasse in under his watch, Oman has dle East plan seen as favouring Jerusalem as its capital. the years following the signing. consistently played a criti- Israel. There was no immediate re- The Trump plan also gives Is- cal role in ensuring commu- Abbas has made similar dec- action from the Israeli govern- rael the green light to annex the nication among disputing larations before and it was not ment, but Israeli Prime Minis- strategic Jordan Valley — con- parties. — QNA immediately clear what it would ter Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief stituting some 30% of the West mean in practice. rival in next month’s general Bank — and all Israeli settle- His comments came as the election, Benny Gantz, criti- ments, which number more than SCIENCE Arab League rejected US Presi- cised the Palestinian response, 200. Abbas said that while Israel Iran to launch dent Donald Trump’s plan, saying Abbas “doesn’t miss an would immediately start annex- which had enraged Palestinians. opportunity for refusal”. ation, under the plan the Pales- observation “We are informing you that “The time has come to begin tinians would have to wait four satellite there will be no relations with working for the future genera- years, until they show “good you (Israel) and the United tions and toward peace, instead will”, to get a limited state. Iran is preparing to launch a new States, including on security Palestinian demonstrators and journalists rush for cover from tear gas canister fired by security forces of remaining stuck in the past He said he would go to the scientific observation satellite in co-operation,” Abbas said at an during clashes following a rally protesting a US peace plan proposal, at the northern entrance of the and preventing a future of hope United Nations Security Coun- the “coming days”, the head of the extraordinary meeting of the West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. in this region,” Gantz added. cil soon to call for an interna- country’s national space agency pan-Arab bloc in Cairo. The US plan suggests that tional conference to re-launch said yesterday. Manufacture of He said the move followed ritories and Palestinians will a dispute over the fl ashpoint was tantamount to creating “a Israel would retain control of negotiations with Israel, under the Zafar (Victory in Farsi) satellite the “disavowal of signed agree- press ahead with resistance us- Al-Aqsa mosque compound in one state with two categories of the contested city of Jerusalem the auspices of the diplomatic “began three years ago with the ments and international legiti- ing peaceful means, he added. Jerusalem. people, meaning an apartheid as its “undivided capital”, but Quartet comprised of the US, participation of 80 Iranian scien- macy” by the US and Israel. Abbas made a similar decla- The Cairo meeting brought system, as it makes Palestinians Palestinians would be allowed the EU, the UN and Russia, Ab- tists,” said Morteza Berari, without Israel will have to “bear re- ration in July 2017, announcing together senior Arab offi cials. second class citizens”. to declare a capital adjacent to bas said. “But we will not accept giving a date for the launch. sponsibility as an occupying the suspension of security co- Arab League chief Ahmed “It is our right to accept or Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. the US alone. We have tried it The 113-kilogram satellite will be power” for the Palestinian ter- ordination with Israel during Aboul Gheit said the US plan reject (the plan)...though the Trump announced the plan already,” he added. launched by a Simorgh rocket 530 kilometres above the Earth, where it will make 15 orbits daily, said Berari. The satellite was designed to remain operational for “more than 18 months”, he added. Militant car bombs Its “primary mission” will be Iraq protesters reject PM choice collecting imagery, said Berari, who said Iran needed such data attack Syrian pro-govt to study earthquakes, prevent Reuters me or someone else,” he said in For the demonstrators, Al- party, meanwhile, rejected Al- natural disasters and develop its Baghdad a video message posted to his lawi, the former communica- lawi’s premiership, saying in a agriculture. Twitter feed and broadcast by tions minister under ex-pre- statement that any candidate forces in Aleppo “It will be a new step for our coun- state television. mier Nuri al-Maliki — who being decided at this stage was try,” said Berari, noting that Iran raqi President Barham Sa- “If the political blocs try to presided over the fall of multi- unlikely to have unanimous had previously managed to place lih appointed Mohamed impose their candidates (for ple Iraqi cities to Islamic State support. With a rejection from Reuters the western edge of Aleppo. A a satellite into orbit 250km above ITawfi q Allawi as prime ministers) on me, then I will in 2014 and is accused of sec- at least one party and by pro- Azaz, Syria/Beirut third car bomb was set off by the Earth. minister yesterday, state tel- resign.” tarian policies — is part of the testers, Allawi faces an uphill remote control, a source with evision reported, after squab- Abdul-Mahdi quit in No- ruling elite and therefore un- struggle in forming a fully in- the group said. bling parties failed to name a vember during mass anti-gov- acceptable.Hours before Al- dependent cabinet. yrian insurgents carried A news outlet linked to the INVESTIGATION candidate in the two months ernment unrest in which hun- lawi’s appointment, support- The two most power- out two suicide car bomb group, Ebaa, published a vid- Nine illegal miners since Adel Abdul-Mahdi was dreds of thousands of Iraqis ers of populist cleric Moqtada ful blocs in parliament, led Sattacks in an assault on eo which it said showed elite ousted by mass protests. took to the streets to demand al-Sadr attacked protesters in by populist Sadr and a group pro-government forces in Alep- Tahrir al-Sham fighters pledg- killed by rival Allawi, who will run Iraq the removal of Iraq’s political Tahrir square. paramilitary-linked parties, po yesterday and opened a new ing “allegiance to death and workers in SA until early elections can be elite. Sadr called on Friday for respectively, will insist on se- front northeast of the city, an militancy” before the attack held, must form a new govern- Nearly 500 protesters have a mass protest in Baghdad curing key ministerial posts attempted fi ghtback after terri- on Jamiyat al-Zahraa, watched Nine illegal miners from Lesotho ment within a month and will been killed since October in a and for sit-ins near the forti- for their own candidates, likely torial gains for President Bashar by the group’s leader, Abu Mo- were stoned to death by sus- likely get stuck between pow- deadly crackdown by security fi ed Green Zone to protest the causing many more months of al-Assad. hammad al-Jolani. pected rival workers in a western erful parties vying for cabinet forces. delayed formation of a gov- political deadlock. Backed by Russian air power, The northwestern corner of district of Johannesburg, South posts, prolonging the political Soon after the president’s ernment, without specifying Iraq is facing its biggest cri- Syrian government forces had Syria including Idlib province African police said yesterday, deadlock. announcement, protest- when the gatherings should sis since the military defeat of made a significant advance and adjoining areas of Aleppo denouncing the “barbaric act”. Allawi said he would resign ers gathered in Baghdad and take place. Islamic State in 2017. into the rebel-held northwest is the last major rebel foothold Off icers launched a manhunt and if political blocs attempted to southern cities expressed op- Sadr later supported Al- A popular uprising in Bagh- this week, seizing the town of in Syria, where Assad has taken said they had questioned dozens impose candidates for cabinet position to Allawi’s appoint- lawi’s appointment, saying he dad and the south challenges Maarat al-Numan, part of an back most of the ground once of people in connection with the jobs, and called on protesters ment in videos posted on so- had been “chosen by the peo- the country’s ruling elite. The offensive to secure the main held by his enemies with Rus- incident in Matholeville. to continue demonstrating cial media. ple” and that this was a “good country has been thrown into highway between Damascus sian and Iranian support. The bodies of nine victims “were until their demands are met. “Allawi is rejected,” they step” for Iraq. further disarray since the kill- and Aleppo. Syrian state news agency found lying in the streets of Mat- “I’m an employee (at your chanted in one video that was Sadr, a political opportun- ing of Iranian military mas- The suicide attacks were car- SANA said army troops had holeville” and a tenth person was service) carrying your trust, fi lmed at Baghdad’s Tahrir ist, has both backed protests termind Qassem Soleimani in ried out by militant group Hay- destroyed four car bombs be- seriously hurt in the violence on so do not go back until you get Square, the centre of the up- and sided with the political a US drone strike in Baghdad at Tahrir al-Sham and targeted fore they reached their targets Friday, the police said in a state- what you want, whether from rising in the Iraqi capital. groups they reject. The Dawa on Jan 3. the Jamiyat Al Zahraa area on in that area. ment. The main suspects are also illegal miners from Lesotho, a tiny kingdom surrounded by South Africa, police said. Eritrea blasts US UNREST In Senegal, online videos break Seven dead in new DR Congo visa ban, Nigeria raid: NGO creates committee silence over domestic abuse Seven people died in a fresh attack by the Mai-Mai militia on three Reuters than that, more work needs to police posts in the Democratic Reuters lous nation in Africa, is the Dakar be done to raise awareness about Republic of Congo’s troubled east, Lagos biggest country on the list the rights of women and chil- where more than 60 people have whose citizens will be sus- dren.” been killed in violence this week. pended from US visas that or Senegalese activist Fa- Her mission to break the si- Seven bodies were found and ritrea denounced a US can lead to permanent resi- tou Warkha, online videos lence on society’s ills runs coun- seven others were injured in the ban on immigrant vi- dency. Fplay a vital role in her cam- ter to deep-rooted cultural mo- raids late Friday in Mamove in the Esas for its citizens as Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and paign to expose and end violence res such as ‘Soutoura,’ which volatile Beni region, The Centre for “unacceptable” yesterday, Myanmar were also slapped against women in a country means to be discrete in the local Studies to promote Peace, Democ- while Nigeria’s government with a similar ban. where discretion and forbear- Wolof language, ‘Massla’ — to racy and Human Rights (CEPADHO) said it had created a com- Nigeria’s information ance are traditionally prized. tolerate and compromise, and said yesterday. It was not clear if the mittee to address the issues minister told Reuters they The 30-year-old grew up in ‘Mougne’ — to endure. dead were civilians or policemen. that prompted US President had no warning of their in- Pikine, one of Dakar’s poorer In one of the channel’s series, Donald Trump to add the clusion on the list before it suburbs, where cases of domes- titled ‘16 voices, 16 victims,’ a STRIFE country to the ban. appeared in the media. tic violence, rape and abuse were woman tells how as a child she Nigeria and Eritrea were Eritrean Foreign Minis- as commonplace as the district’s watched her father beat her Car bombs kill two among six countries, four of ter Osman Saleh Mohamed power outages and seasonal fl ash mother until she didn’t get up. them in Africa, added to an said the government saw the fl oods. Another report details the mur- in Somali capital expanded version of the US ban as a political move that After she failed to raise aware- der of a young woman at univer- Twin explosions rocked the Somali visa ban announced on Fri- would hurt the country’s ness through grassroots activ- sity. capital Mogadishu yesterday, with day in a presidential procla- relations with the United ism, Warkha launched an online Funding is a challenge. The two people killed in one of the mation. US offi cials said the States. television channel in 2018, hop- station sells its production serv- blasts, a government spokesman countries failed to meet US “We fi nd this move unac- ing the anonymity off ered by the Fatou Warkha, 30, an activist who founded the community web TV ices to cover the cost of making said. A vehicle belonging to a re- security and information- ceptable,” he told Reuters by Internet and its reach might en- Warkhatv.com, meets with women in a medical centre as they prepare an its own videos and receives some gional security off icial was targeted sharing standards, which telephone. “We will, howev- courage women to open up after awareness campaign against malaria in Pikine, on the outskirts of Dakar. NGO support. Slow Internet in the north of the city, killing two necessitated the new re- er, not expel the US ambas- generations of silence. speeds and the power outages guards and injuring a local off icial, strictions. sador,” he added. “When I started making video abuse have been widely shared which was signed into law on are also an issue. government spokesman Ismail “Nigeria remains com- The US government also reports, that was when it seemed on social media and picked up by Jan 10. The channel http://www. These diffi culties have not Mokhtar Omar said. In the south mitted to maintaining pro- said it will stop issuing “di- like things started changing,” local television stations. warkhatv.com now plans to pro- dented Warkha’s belief in the of the city, a car bomb targeted ductive relations with the versity visas” to nationals of Warkha told Reuters in her home According to World Bank data, duce reports explaining the new importance of technology for soldiers of the African Union mis- United States and other in- Sudan and Tanzania. in Pikine. as of 2017 around half of the law and how abusers can be held activism. sion, Amisom. Soldiers exchanged ternational allies especially The visas, which Trump The project has sparked population of Senegal was using accountable, Warkha said. “I often tell people that you subsequently gunfire with unknown on matters of global secu- has criticised, are avail- much-needed debate and helped the Internet. Women need to “know how can do great things with a just assailants, but no deaths were rity,” a Nigerian presidential able by lottery for applicants bring about real change. Its vid- Some of the videos played a to preserve the evidence so they a mobile phone,” she said in her reported. No one has claimed statement said. from countries with low eos of women or actors recount- role in a successful campaign can prove that a abuse has hap- living-room, where the power responsibility for the attack. Nigeria, the most popu- rates of immigration. ing true stories of trauma and for the criminalisation of rape, pened,” Warkha said. “Other had been out for several hours. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 13 AMERICA Coronavirus emergency in US Reuters Biden fl ays Trump for cutting health programmes The original plan was to release Washington the passengers after 72 hours of Democratic presidential proposed to the budgets of “the evaluation and tests, absent any contender Joe Biden on Friday very agencies that we need to indication of illness, and permit he Trump administration, criticised President Donald Trump fight this outbreak,” including the them to take public transporta- while insisting the risk to for reducing US oversight of National Institutes of Health, the tion home. Local health authori- TAmericans from coronavi- global health issues before the Centers for Disease Control and ties would then continue moni- rus is low, nevertheless declared coronavirus outbreak in China, Prevention (CDC) and the United toring the evacuees through the a public health emergency on Fri- which has spread rapidly to States Agency for International remainder of the incubation pe- day and announced the extraordi- several countries including the Development (USAID). riod. nary step of barring entry to the United States. Matt Wolking, a spokesman for CDC offi cials said then that United States of foreign nationals “We have, right now, a crisis the Trump campaign, responded such a plan posed little or no risk who have recently visited China. with the coronavirus,” said Biden, that Biden had made “foolish of spreading the virus because In addition, US citizens who who is in Iowa campaigning before comments” as vice president in individuals incubating the infec- have travelled within the past two the Midwestern farm state holds 2009 about avoiding airplanes tion before symptoms appear are weeks to China’s Hubei Province Democrats’ first nominating con- during a swine flu crisis and generally not contagious. — epicentre of the coronavirus test on Monday.”This is no time for “caused a public panic.” But Dr Nancy Messonnier, epidemic — will be subject to a Donald Trump’s record of hysteria “In contrast, President Trump is director of the CDC’s National mandatory quarantine of 14 days, and xenophobia — hysterical xeno- listening to medical and scientific Center for Immunization and the incubation period of the vi- phobia — and fearmongering to experts and taking every respon- Respiratory Diseases, told re- rus, offi cials said. lead the way instead of science.” sible precaution to protect the porters on Friday that experts’ Americans who visited other Biden said Trump had rolled back American people,” he said. understanding of the virus was parts of mainland China will un- progress on global health oversight The Trump administration de- still evolving. dergo special health screening that occurred when he was vice clared a public health emergency She cited emerging evidence upon their return, followed by president from 2009 to 2017. on Friday and blocked foreign the virus can be spread by some- up to 14 days of “monitored self- In particular, he cited “dra- nationals who have traveled to one who is infected but not yet quarantine,” under the tempo- conian cuts” the White House China from entering the country. showing signs of being ill, such rary restrictions. A passenger wears a surgical mask in the subway station at Times Square in New York. as fever, cough and other respira- The emergency measures were tory symptoms. unveiled by US Health and Hu- The US entry ban on foreign acted after the World Health Or- The suspension-of-entry Italy all reporting their fi rst cases It marked the CDC’s fi rst quar- The CDC also pointed to a lim- man Services Secretary Alex Azar travellers to China and the quar- ganization declared a global health proclamation, signed by Presi- on Thursday or Friday. antine order in 50 years. itation of its screening test for the at a White House briefi ng, short- antine for Americans returning emergency on Thursday over the dent Donald Trump, says the ban None of the US cases has been The State Department said Fri- virus — a negative result is mere- ly before the Centers for Disease from Hubei go into eff ect today at spread of the respiratory disease. stays in eff ect until the president fatal, and all but one of the pa- day it was working with Chinese ly a “point-in-time” snapshot Control and Prevention (CDC) 5pm EST, Azar said. “I want to emphasise that this lifts it, and that the HHS sec- tients in the United States was agencies to arrange additional that cannot conclusively rule out and local health authorities an- At the same time all commer- is a serious health situation in retary will recommend every 15 believed to have contracted the fl ights of Americans out of Wuhan. the risk of a person developing nounced a seventh US coronavi- cial fl ights from China would be China, but I want to emphasise days whether to do so. disease while they were travelling Washington also plans to evac- the disease during the 14-day in- rus case had been confi rmed in restricted to international US that the risk to the American The flu-like coronavirus, in the Wuhan area of China. uate non-essential government cubation period. Northern California. airports in one of seven cities — public is currently low,” Redfi eld which is believed to have origi- The fi rst quarantines of US employees and family members The blanket quarantine at The latest US patient was iden- New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los said. “Our goal is to do all we can nated in a seafood and animal citizens potentially exposed from the US Embassy in Bei- March air base was instituted af- tifi ed only as a man in Santa Clara Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle do to keep it that way.” market in Wuhan, the pro- to coronavirus in China began jing and consulates in Chengdu, ter one passenger sought to leave County, south of San Francisco, and Honolulu. The US State Department had vincial capital of Hubei, and hours before the White House Guangzhou, Shanghai and the base without permission on who became ill after travelling An average of more than warned Americans on Thursday was first identified earlier this announcement. Shenyang due to the outbreak, a Wednesday night, and was im- to China and has “self-isolated” 14,000 people travelled by air not to travel to China because of month, has resulted in 259 Nearly 200 Americans evacu- State Department offi cial said on mediately slapped with an indi- at home, Sara Cody, director of to the United States from China the epidemic. The ban on US en- deaths in China. ated earlier this week from Wu- Thursday. vidual quarantine order by local public health for the county, told each day last year, either by di- try of foreign nationals who have More than 11,700 people have han and voluntarily confi ned to a The two-week quarantine of health offi cials. reporters. rect or indirect fl ights, according travelled to China during the past been infected in China, and more California military air base for 72 the 195 Americans at March Air As of Thursday, none of the She said the CDC was seeking to the White House. 14 days would exempt immediate than 130 cases reported in at least hours of health screenings were Reserve Base, near Los Angeles, group at the base had exhibited to determine whether the man CDC Director Robert Redfi eld family of US citizens and perma- 25 other countries and regions, placed under a mandatory 14- runs from the time the evacuees signs of the disease, local health was infectious while fl ying home. told reporters the US government nent US residents, Azar said. with Russia, Britain, Sweden and day quarantine on Friday. left China on Tuesday. offi cials said.

Women run checkpoints near Trump resort Two women were arrested in shaw told reporters. Florida for running two security A car chase ensued through checkpoints near Mar-a-Lago on the town of Palm Beach with Trump trumpets poll numbers ahead Friday in a police car chase that was speeds in excess of 100kph and unrelated to US President Donald Roemhild driving her black SUV Trump’s resort, off icials said. on the wrong side of the road at Trump was in Washington at times, he said. the time, but was scheduled to “This is not a terrorist thing,” of impending acquittal in US Senate leave for his Palm Beach resort Bradshaw told a press conference, later on Friday. adding that Roemhild did not ap- The vehicle’s driver, identified pear to have a police record and AFP as Hannah Roemhild, 30, initially had a Connecticut driving licence. Washington attracted police’s attention for “This is someone who was dancing on top of a car, Palm obviously impaired somehow and Beach County Sheriff Ric Brad- driving very recklessly.” resident Donald Trump yesterday claimed his polling numbers were Pup after the Senate paved the way for his acquittal next week on impeach- ment charges of abuse of power. The Senate on Friday rebuff ed Demo- cratic calls for new witnesses at Trump’s Activists invoke beluga trial, with a vote on whether to acquit him due on Wednesday — the day after he gives his annual “State of the Union” whales in eff ort to halt speech. Trump is all-but-assured of being ac- quitted by the Senate, where Republicans Alaska oil exploration hold 53 seats to 47 for the Democrats. A two-thirds majority, or 67 senators, By Yereth Rosen, Reuters Environmentalists say the re- is needed to remove a president from of- Anchorage, Alaska vised rules clear the way for new fi ce. mining, oil and gas drilling, and “Trump poll numbers are the highest development in areas where pro- since election, despite constant phony wo environmental groups tected species live. Witch Hunts!” the president tweeted on Friday issued notice Cook Inlet, which supplies from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Tthat they intend to sue the energy for south-central Alaska, “Tens of thousands of people attending National Oceanic and Atmos- stretches 180 miles (290km) rallies...Fun because USA is WINNING pheric Administration (NOAA) to from Anchorage to the Gulf of AGAIN!” he added. void a permit allowing oil explo- Alaska. Trump currently has a 44.6% approval ration in waters used by endan- The NMFS granted the explo- rating in collated polls, almost exactly the gered Cook Inlet beluga whales. ration permit to privately held same as when he came to offi ce in January Last week, NOAA’s National Hilcorp last year. 2017, according to the RealClearPolitics Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Cook Inlet beluga whales swim website. released a new population es- in the waters off Anchorage and Democratic Party contenders com- timate showing the whales are other communities in Alaska’s peting to take on Trump in November’s fewer in number and declining most populous region. They eat presidential elections campaigned on faster than previously believed. salmon and other fi sh and, when Saturday in Iowa ahead of the state’s all- According to the new esti- they gather for feeding sessions important caucuses tomorrow. mate, only 279 beluga whales near the shore, are popular draws The outcome could provide a major remain in Cook Inlet, the NMFS for sightseeing tourists. sign whether Joe Biden has maintained had said on Tuesday. Their continued existence is his front-runner status over Bernie Sand- The population, which was made precarious by their proxim- ers, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg. about 1,300 in 1979, and has de- ity to Alaska’s urban core and to On Friday, just two Republican sena- clined at an annual rate of 2.3% the industrial activities in Cook tors — Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan over the past decade, more than Inlet, the glacial-fed channel that Collins of Maine — joined Democrats in four times as fast as previously drains into the Gulf of Alaska. voting to introduce further witnesses believed, NMFS said. Ongoing threats include heavy into the impeachment trial. “The new numbers are pretty ship traffi c, industrial noise, pol- Democrats thus failed to muster the daunting,” said Julie Teel Sim- lution and climate change, dis- four Republican votes needed to allow monds, an attorney with the ease and natural disasters, ac- testimony from Trump’s former nation- Center for Biological Diversity, cording to NOAA. al security advisor John Bolton, acting President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida on one of the plaintiff s suing to halt The Cook Inlet region is Alas- White House chief of staff Mick Mulva- Friday night. exploration planned by Hilcorp ka’s oldest oil-producing basin, ney and others. Energy Company in Cook Inlet. with drilling that goes back to Senate Democratic leader Chuck in an upcoming book to have been per- this impeachment trial,” he said. ered a possible swing vote, also said there “They have a duty to recon- the 1950s. Schumer called it a “grand tragedy.” sonally told by Trump that military aid McConnell said the Senate, the upper was no need for more evidence. sider and to analyse if there’s new Hilcorp in 2017 became the “America will remember this day — a to Ukraine was tied to Kiev investigating chamber, would resume tomorrow as a “It was inappropriate for the president information that’s signifi cant fi rst oil company in two decades day when the United States Senate did former vice president Biden. court of impeachment to hear fi nal argu- to ask a foreign leader to investigate his and indicates that the activities to acquire leases in federal waters not live up to its responsibilities, turned The charge is the crux of the case that ments, before voting on Wednesday on political opponent and to withhold Unit- that they authorised would cause of Cook. away from truth and instead went along led to Trump becoming just the third the two articles of impeachment passed ed States aid to encourage that investiga- harm,” she said referring to the The company plans to start with a sham trial,” Schumer said. president in US history to be impeached last month by Democrats in the House. tion,” Alexander said. NMFS. exploration drilling on those Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker by the House of Representatives. Democrats had hoped to sway enough “But the Constitution does not give the Hilcorp and NOAA repre- leases as early as February and of the lower chamber House of Repre- Republican Senate Majority Leader Republicans to support the call for fur- Senate the power to remove the president sentatives were not immediately start seismic surveys as early as sentatives, which impeached Trump on Mitch McConnell, a Trump ally, said ther witnesses but eff orts collapsed when from offi ce and ban him from this year’s available on Friday to comment April, according to a NMFS doc- December 18, accused Republicans of House prosecutors, known as “manag- Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said she ballot simply for actions that are inap- on the environmentalists’ latest ument published last year in the being “accomplices to the president’s ers,” had already presented enough evi- would vote “no” to new testimony. propriate,” he said. legal action. Federal Register. cover-up.” dence to make their case and there was no “Given the partisan nature of this im- Four contenders for the Democratic The Trump administration last The Trump administration “He is impeached forever,” Pelosi said. need for further witnesses. peachment from the very beginning and nomination — Sanders, Warren, Amy August announced it would change plans another lease sale next year “There can be no acquittal without a “A majority of the US Senate has deter- throughout, I have come to the conclu- Klobuchar and Michael Bennet — were the way the Endangered Species in federal waters of Cook Inlet. trial. And there is no trial without wit- mined that the numerous witnesses and sion that there will be no fair trial in the stuck in Washington in the run-up to the Act is applied, making it harder Simmons called the plan nesses, documents and evidence.” 28,000-plus pages of documents already Senate,” Murkowski said. Iowa caucuses as they sit in the Senate to protect wildlife from multiple “alarming” and said environ- Democrats had been eager to hear from in evidence are suffi cient to judge the Republican Senator Lamar Alexander and were unable to leave due to the im- threats posed by climate change. mentalists will fi ght it. Bolton following reports that he claims House managers’ accusations and end of Tennessee, who had also been consid- peachment trial. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, February 2, 2020 AMERICAS

Central American Democrats swarm Iowa countries limit entry from China to for 11th-hour campaigning combat coronavirus Reuters Guatemala City By Elodie Cuzin, AFP election is a long slog, and those Des Moines with minimal support have been peeling off . entral American governments have imposed travel re- Former congressman John De- strictions to try to keep out the coronavirus, including emocratic Party candi- laney dropped out Friday. Cbarring travellers who have recently visited China, of- dates vying to take on Eleven contenders remain in fi cials said on Friday. The coronavirus outbreak began in Wu- DDonald Trump in Novem- the race, and several have pitched han, the capital of China’s central Hubei province, and has ber elections yesterday kicked off up seeking to woo undecided Iowa spread to more than 9,800 people globally. a fi nal frenetic weekend of cam- voters, snatch victory here, and Guatemala and El Salvador have announced blanket restric- paigning before Iowa state’s all- claim momentum going into the tions on people who have recently been in China. Costa Rican important nomination caucuses. next contests, starting with New offi cials said they will monitor transit points such as airports, Four US senators running for Hampshire on February 11. but for now will allow Chinese travellers to enter the country. president paused their impeach- Far-left Senator Bernie Sand- Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said his coun- ment trial duties to dash to Iowa ers, who has a narrow lead in try’s ban applies to those who have been to China in the last 15 before tomorrow’s vote launches Iowa over Biden and Buttigieg, days. “The purpose is to shield Guatemala from coronavirus,” the Democratic nomination con- progressive Senator Elizabeth he told reporters after visiting a public hospital. test in earnest. Warren, who is in fourth place President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador had announced a sim- After the Senate paved the way in polling, and fi fth-place Sena- ilar ban on Thursday night, describing it as a “prudent” but for Trump’s expected acquittal tor Amy Klobuchar jetted in from unspecifi ed amount of time. of charges of abuse of power and Washington to mount 11th-hour Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, meanwhile, obstruction of justice, the im- pushes for support. told reporters that his government would soon make an an- peachment trial was put on hold, Trump’s Senate impeachment nouncement aimed at “eff ective management of this situation.” allowing all candidates to enjoy trial has eff ectively tethered them The Panama Canal Authority said that ships arriving in ca- a breathless bout of last-minute to Washington, but the proceed- nal waters, whether to port or transit, must report suspected campaigning. ings adjourned Friday after the cases 30 days prior to arrival if they have called at ports located Polls show a tight contest in chamber’s Republican major- in countries with confi rmed cases. the heartland state, where former ity rejected Democratic eff orts to There are more than 130 confi rmed cases in 24 countries and vice president Joe Biden this week subpoena witnesses. regions outside mainland China, but no deaths have been re- has been taking his “Soul of the Closing arguments in the Sen- Democratic 2020 presidential candidate and US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) poses with supporters at ported beyond its borders. The death toll in China is 213. Nation” bus tour to all corners in ate will be made tomorrow, with a a campaign event yesterday in Urbandale, Iowa. The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the hopes it will help him cross the fi nal vote on acquittal Wednesday. outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. fi nish line in the top spot. For two weeks, the senators in Warren arrived late on Friday in dates, has declared Trump a dan- have unifi ed around one goal. Guatemala’s Giammattei, a retired doctor who took offi ce Former Indiana mayor Pete the race have been campaigning Des Moines, while Klobuchar was ger to America due to his erratic “There’s a lot of people that this month, said the travel restriction applies to people enter- Buttigieg, who is running in the with one hand tied behind their yesterday lined up for four events. foreign policy. want to make sure that we defeat ing via the country’s ports, airports and land crossings. same moderate lane as Biden, has back, sending surrogates includ- Nearly half of Democratic Iowa “The next president of the Donald Trump,” Price said. Giammattei said crews on ships arriving in Guatemalan been also covering the ground ing relatives and high-profi le law- voters said they remained un- United States is going to inherit a Retired teacher Pat Carr, 69, ports that have been in China during the previous 15 days relentlessly, arguing it is time to makers to campaign in their stead. decided before tomorrow’s cau- country that’s divided and a world thinks Buttigieg — a millennial, would not be allowed to enter, and that any crew member who turn the page to more forward- Among them is Sanders, 78 and cuses — local meetings where in disarray,” Biden told attendees a military veteran and the fi rst did enter would immediately be quarantined. looking, galvanising leadership. the oldest candidate in the race, participants align behind their in his half-hour stump speech. openly gay major party candidate Biden, 77, “is making the case who enjoys strong support from candidates in one of the country’s “There’s going to be no time for for US president — is best-suited that this is no time to take a risk young voters. quirkier voting systems. on-the-job training.” to do that. on someone new,” Buttigieg, who His team organised a cam- Among them is Stephanie Hull, Biden’s blue-collar roots and his In an era of hyper-partisanship, at 38 is less than half Biden’s age, paign concert featuring indie rock a 21-year-old student who came uncanny ability to connect per- he said, “I think Pete’s a person told a crowd at the Masonic Tem- band Bon Iver on Friday near Des to see Biden in the small town of sonally with voters are assets in a who might be able to unite a little Colombia ex-rebels ple in the town of Clinton, Iowa Moines. Burlington. state used to face-to-face encoun- better than some of the others.” on Friday. Sanders phoned in from Wash- “It’s a possibility” that Biden, ters with candidates, although his Carol Clark, 72, a retired teach- “I would argue, this is not the ington, rallying supporters to “do Barack Obama’s White House Iowa speeches have lacked the er organising a canvassing station leave danger zone time to take the risk of falling back everything you can” to boost cau- wingman, earns her vote, she told passion that animates some rivals. in her home in Iowa City yester- on the familiar or relying on an old cus turnout. AFP. “I have a few other favour- Despite agonising over which day, said she backed Warren. playbook that helped get us to this The senator is set to host a ites right now, so it’s going to be political approach to take — revo- “In the last campaign I was a following murders point,” Buttigieg said. similar show featuring Vampire down to the wire.” lution or realism — in the 2020 Hillary (Clinton) supporter. It’s The contest to see who chal- Weekend on Saturday in Cedar Biden, whose global experience election, Iowa’s Democratic Party about time we had a woman, lenges Trump in November’s Rapids. is unmatched among the candi- chairman Troy Price said voters don’t you think?” she said. AFP Medellin

ore than 100 Colombian former left-wing guerrillas and their family members have left an area designated Fourth death as anti-government protests grow in Chile Mfor them following the murder of 12 fellow ex-rebels elsewhere in the country, the Farc said on Friday. A historic peace deal signed with then-president Juan Manuel Santos in Decem- AFP days after being shot in the head ber 2016 saw thousands of Farc rebels lay down their arms, and Santiago during a protest near a police station many signed up for a reinsertion programme in Ituango, a town in southern Santiago. in Colombia’s northwestern Antioquia department. On Wednesday, a young man died But in addition to a rash of violence throughout the country man has died of carbon mon- after being hit by a hijacked bus and against the former guerrillas, resulting most recently in the 12 oxide poisoning after a super- a football fan was killed on Tuesday killed, many others have received threats. “It’s been decided Amarket was torched in Chile’s after he was hit by a police van. that 62 (ex-fi ghters) and 45 family members, including chil- capital on Friday, and another suc- Another supermarket in the capi- dren, will leave the territory to continue their reinsertion...in cumbed to injuries sustained in clash- tal was looted overnight while police peace,” said Farc’s Medellin representative Jesus Arenas. es with police, bringing the death toll arrested 16 people. The Antioquia department is rife with armed criminal in a new wave of unrest to four. Burning barricades could be seen groups including drug-traffi ckers, paramilitaries and dissident Protests that fl ared up in Octo- in several roads in Santiago on Friday rebels who refused to give up their fi ght after the peace accord. ber — initially over a rise in metro morning. In the last few months, another 60 ex-fi ghters have left the fares — had appeared to have calmed More than 30 people have died Ituango reinsertion territory for the departmental capital, Medel- down during the summer holidays in in protests that began initially as a lin, where they live in “very precarious conditions,” said Arenas. Chile. reaction to a modest hike in metro The latest exodus leaves only around 20 former rebels living But there has been a spike in vio- fares in the capital. in Ituango. Arenas said the group was looking for “new land in lent protests this week. They quickly mushroomed into other” areas to settle in. If they can’t fi nd somewhere to settle A mob looted and then set fi re to wider discontent at inequality and in the next two months, Arenas said the group would have to be the supermarket in southern San- the rejection of billionaire President taken to a refugee camp. tiago early on Friday. Sebastian Pinera and his govern- The 2016 peace accord, which resulted in 13,000 rebels laying When fi refi ghters arrived they ment. down arms, ended a half-century of armed confl ict and turned the found a dead man aged 30 to 40 and Pinera has launched a raft of Farc from Marxist guerrillas into a far-left political party. Last year two other people suff ering from measures to try to quell the unrest, was a particularly deadly one for ex-Farc rebels with 77 murdered, signs of asphyxiation. including a rise in the minimum according to the United Nations. A total of 173 ex-rebels have been He died from “asphyxiation by wage and state pensions, and health killed by armed groups since the peace deal was signed. inhaling carbon monoxide,” police reforms. Colombia’s High Commissioner for Peace, Emilio Archila, chief Carolina Nunez told local me- He will also hold a referendum in said the government had always acknowledged the Ituango dia. April on changing the dictatorship- territory has “security problems” and wasn’t a suitable home A demonstrator is chased by police during clashes in Santiago on Friday. Another man died on Friday, two era constitution. for the ex-rebels.

Showbiz apes fi nd peace through art at Florida retirement home

By Leila Macor, AFP Apes (CGA) in Florida, in the Another resident is Popi, a circuses, research laboratories On tables arranged among the Wauchula, Florida southeastern US. It is the only 48-year-old orangutan who was or were sold as exotic pets when trees, the organisers had dis- accredited orangutan sanctuary eight when she played the girl- they were still babies. played paintings created by the in the western hemisphere and friend of Clint Eastwood’s sim- Some wound up living in chimps and orangutans, abstract ne of them worked along- one of only nine chimp sanctuar- ian sidekick in the movie Every cramped cages or garages be- and vibrant with colour. side Clint Eastwood, oth- ies in North America. Which Way but Loose and then cause they became more diffi cult On a paper to one side, the vis- Oers acted in the remake of One of the more recent arrivals again in the sequel Any Which to control when they grew up. itors write down their bids for the sci-fi classic Planet of the Apes, is 33-year-old orangutan Sandra, Way You Can. The CGA is located on 40 hec- artwork. while yet another was the darling who joined the CGA community She wounded up acting in Las tares of wooded land near Wau- “I’m very proud to know that favorite of Michael Jackson. last November, after a court in Vegas until hidden camera foot- chula, surrounded by central this is a wonderful place for They are the 53 chimpanzees and Argentina declared her a “non- age showed she was being mis- Florida’s orange groves. them,” said Terrie Thomas, 60, orangutans who live in a unique human person” with the right to treated by her trainer. The entrance to the sanctuary her voice trembling slightly. sanctuary in central Florida. All liberty from a Buenos Aires zoo Then there are the 23-year- does not call attention to itself, with “It makes me really emotional of these great apes were raised by where she had been kept. old twin chimpanzees Jacob well-trodden dirt tracks snaking to talk about it because I really, humans and lack the basic survival After that historic legal fi nd- and Jonah, who appeared in the between the trees and connected truly love these animals. I think skills to ever live in the wild. They ing, she was sent here to get over 2001 Tim Burton movie Planet by raised corridors along which the they’re amazing.” do not know how to gather food, her depression. of the Apes, as well as Bubbles, apes can move about. The description of one paint- and the mothers would be incapa- Now she is the spoiled girl of once the adored baby chimp of In the clearings are the enclo- ing by Jacob explains that the ble of caring for their off spring. Florida’s most exclusive retire- Michael Jackson and now a hulk- sures, like giant bird cages, full chimp “especially enjoys paint- For that reason, they had no ment community. “She plays a lot. ing 37-year-old, the alpha male of plants, toys and things for the Some of the ‘ape art’ sold in a gift shop at a fundraising event in ing, and he usually likes to taste other place to go when Holly- She’s doing really well,” said Patti in his group. apes to climb on. December. each bright colour before he puts wood or scientifi c research labs Ragan, who founded the center. Furthermore, there is Tan- It is one of the few places in it on his canvas.” had no more use for them, or “She is meeting several orangu- go, an orangutan who for years Florida to have been opened in se- then only by invitation, and just As a result, very few people Supporting each animal costs when they grew too big and pow- tans right now. The one that I think served as the face of the orange crecy, rather than with the usual a couple of times each year to even know the place exists, said around $23,000 per year, and to- erful for their celebrity owners to she’s most interested in is a male beverage Tang. “We have a lot of fanfare of theme parks and tourist get to know the apes. Even then, Jeff Thomas, 76, who together gether with other running costs, continue caring for them. named Jethro,” she said. “Pretty former entertainment great apes attractions. It is neither a zoo nor they are banned from posting with his wife Terrie were among the sanctuary needs $1.8mn eve- The lucky ones make the fi nal soon we’re going to open the door here,” Ragan told AFP. a park, does not accept visitors pictures on social media. “Their a group of donors visiting the ry year. journey to this oasis, offi cially so they can be in the same space. Not all of them are former and does not promote itself. (the apes’) well-being is priority,” centre during a recent auction of It is fi nanced solely by volun- known as the Center for Great So we hope that goes well.” Hollywood stars. Others were in Only donors can visit, and said Ragan. “ape art”. tary donations. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

HK medical workers Chinese foreign ministry agree strike over border blasts US travel curbs closures AFP DPA New US measures Hong Kong Beijing include a ban on the entry of foreign nationals - other than housands of Hong Kong hina’s Foreign Ministry the immediate family medical workers voted has blasted the US gov- of US citizens and Tyesterday to strike as they Cernment for restricting permanent residents - urge the government to close its the entry of Chinese nationals who have travelled in border with the mainland to con- due to the coronavirus outbreak, China within the last tain the coronavirus epidemic which this week was declared 14 days that has killed 259 people. a global health emergency by The fi nancial hub has 13 con- the World Health Organisation fi rmed cases of the disease as (WHO). alone, bringing the number of of yesterday, with 112 patients “While the WHO has only just infections there to 7,153. isolated. specifi cally advised against any Wuhan, with a population of More than three thousand travel restrictions, the US has 11 million, has been placed on public hospital staff includ- decided to act in the opposite lockdown, as have many other ing doctors and nurses voted to way. This has set a bad exam- Chinese cities. strike if the government fails to ple. It is certainly not a gesture The number of people infect- meet their demands of goodwill,” ministry spokes- ed and China’s national death “If we do not curb the source woman Hua Chunying said. toll are expected to climb further (of the virus), the resources of New US measures include a once other regions report their epidemic prevention and man- ban on the entry of foreign na- latest statistics. power will never be enough,” said tionals - other than the imme- More than 100 other people in Winnie Yu, chairwoman of the diate family of US citizens and about two dozen countries have Hospital Authority Employees permanent residents - who have become ill with the virus. Alliance (HAEA). travelled in China within the last Sri Lanka became the latest “We don’t want to go on strike, 14 days. country on Saturday to report but the government has been ig- The US also took the “unprec- a case when a Chinese woman noring the demands of the front- edented” step of placing 195 US travelling there was found to line medical workers. We have no citizens who recently returned have coronavirus. choice,” Yu added. from the Chinese city of Wuhan The European Union and sev- The HAEA will meet with rep- in quarantine for 14 days. eral countries have already fl own resentatives from their employer Schools, factories and offi ces their citizens out of China, in- - the city’s hospital authority – across China are due to remain cluding the United States, Japan, today to negotiate. closed even as the week-long South Korea, Jordan, Britain and The newly formed alliance Lunar New Year holiday comes most recently Sri Lanka, India said 9,000 of its members back to an end. and Turkey. the strike, making up 10% of the Apple Inc yesterday became A German air force jet left workforce of the city’s work- the latest company to announce Wuhan early yesterday to evacu- Foreign travellers wearing masks check their flight’s departure information at Beijing International Airport in Beijing yesterday as the country force. the closure of its stores in main- ate 130 people - 90 German is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus. If no deal is reached, around land China to prevent the spread citizens and around 40 citizens 30% of the 9,000 - those who of the virus, with the meas- of other countries. It arrived in to discuss the turn of events Three Philippine airlines - with Washington issuing a warn- days on board - including guests, work in non-essential positions ure set to remain on place until Frankfurt in the afternoon. thoroughly. Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu ing on par with its advisories for visitors or crew members of any - would fi rst go on strike next February 9. The fl ight was delayed after The passengers are to spend Pacifi c Air and AirAsia Philip- Afghanistan and Iran. nationality. Monday. The rest, who provide The number of people in- Moscow refused to allow the two weeks in quarantine follow- pines - announced on Saturday The Italian government on Fri- The coronavirus broke out at emergency services, would af- fected with the new coronavi- plane a short layover in the Rus- ing medical testing upon their they have cancelled fl ights to and day declared a six-month state a seafood market in Wuhan that terwards join a four-day strike. rus in China has risen to more sian capital as planned. arrival, the Frankfurt health from China. of emergency in response to the reportedly sold exotic animals Hong Kong’s hospital author- than 11,000, while a total of 259 The plane stopped in Hel- authority said. Russia announced earlier fi rst confi rmed cases of the new for consumption - similar to the ity yesterday said it would come people have died, according to sinki instead, German Defence Hundreds of fl ights to and this week it was closing its land coronavirus in the country. outbreak of Sars. up with a contingency plan. the most recent fi gures from Minister Annegret Kramp- from China have been can- border with China, similar to The decision resulted in 5mn Sars, a disease that infected The city administration has Chinese health offi cials. Karrenbauer said. celled around the world, includ- steps taken by China’s other euros ($5.5mn) being earmarked 8,000 people and killed 800 resisted public pressure to com- Offi cials in Hubei province in The offi cial explanation given ing those run by Air Canada, neighbours. for civil protection purposes. globally, was linked to the con- pletely close its border although central China, the epicentre of in Moscow was a lack of capacity Lufthansa, British Airways Moscow reported its fi rst case Italian cruise company Costa sumption of civet cats, another it has slashed several lesser-used the coronavirus crisis, said an at the city’s airport. Turkish Airlines, United, Ameri- of the virus on Friday. announced on Friday that it exotic meat. crossings, with the city’s chief additional 1,347 new cases had Kramp-Karrenbauer said the can Airlines, KLM, Air France, Both the US and Japan told would not allow anyone who The coronavirus belongs to the executive saying on Friday a full been reported in that province German Foreign Offi ce plans Qantas and Delta. citizens not to travel to China, had been in China in the last 14 same family of viruses. closure is not feasible. Firefi ghters Commonwealth takes back Maldives hold blazes after 40 months AFP tion’s commitment to both Colombo engage with the international community and to deliver back from on our domestic pledges to ommonwealth nations citizens in good faith.” yesterday welcomed The Commonwealth said Cback the Maldives 40 reforms underway in Maldives months after it angrily quit the were in line with the group’s Canberra organisation over criticism of values and they encouraged its human rights record under Solih to pursue the measures. Reuters fi ghting day for us, in terms of strongman president Abdulla “Together we will sup- Melbourne/Sydney protecting our cultural assets Yameen. port Maldives to realise its and critical infrastructure,” The move is a new step in ambitions,” Scotland said. ACT Emergency Services Agen- ending the international isola- Yameen withdrew the irefi ghters kept wild blazes cy Commissioner Georgeina Firefighters protect a property from bushfires burning near the town of Bumbalong south of Canberra yesterday. tion that the Indian Ocean holi- Maldives, an archipelago of fuelled by strong winds Whelan said. day destination suff ered under 340,000 Sunni Muslims, Fand soaring temperatures “Our intent tonight is to A major highway was closed of tinder-dry bushland have Some fi res were generat- Yameen’s rule from 2013-2018. from the Commonwealth from reaching suburban areas undertake backburning op- and authorities issued warnings been razed. ing their own weather pat- The group of mainly former over its pressure to protect of Australia’s capital, Canberra, erations to consolidate those for some residents that it was too A second major uncontrolled terns, including thunder- British colonies said an appli- human rights during a fi erce using airdrops of fi re retardant containment lines.” late to evacuate, before conditions fi re was burning slightly further storms, in Australia’s southeast, cation to return made by the crackdown on dissent. to create a 2.5km (1.55-mile) long There were fears earlier in the started to ease late in the day. south in the Snowy Monaro re- authorities said. Maldives had been approved Yameen accused the Com- defensive line late yesterday. day that the blaze could reach The territory declared a state gion of New South Wales state Around 20 fi res were burn- after “due diligence” including monwealth leadership of in- Three drops of the pink re- Canberra’s southern suburbs, of emergency on Friday in antici- yesterday, the same alpine area ing in Victoria state, with one at a country assessment. terfering in the nation’s aff airs. tardant created the line along the threatening homes and lives as pation of the hot and windy con- where an air tanker crashed on emergency level. Away from the The country has sought to repair But on top of Common- bottom of a mountain south of they did in 2003 when fi res de- ditions that are expected to last January 22 after dropping fi re re- fi regrounds, intense rainfall was its image after Yameen suff ered wealth criticism, the United Canberra, authorities said, with stroyed almost 500 houses and through the weekend. tardant, killing three American forecast, with authorities warn- a shock defeat in a 2018 election States repeatedly warned about further drops planned for today. claimed four lives. Australia’s devastating and fi refi ghters. ing of potential “dangerous and to Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. events in the strategically-lo- Fire crews had so far been able Skies along the Monaro High- prolonged bushfi re season has Temperatures exceeded 40 de- life-threatening fl ash fl ooding.” The Maldives government cated archipelago sitting on key to save all structures in the Aus- way in the ACT turned orange- killed 33 people and an estimated grees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in “When it comes to the said Solih telephoned Com- international shipping lanes. tralian Capital Territory (ACT), red on Saturday as an uncon- 1bn native animals since Sep- parts of NSW and the ACT yes- weather, it’s really the tale of monwealth secretary-general Since Solih’s election, polit- home to Canberra, authorities trolled blaze ballooned to more tember. About 2,500 homes have terday, prompting widespread two states,” Victoria Emergency Patricia Scotland to state that ical prisoners have been freed said. than 50,000 hectares (123,500 been destroyed and more than warnings for people to be alert to Management Commissioner renewed membership was and opposition fi gures in exile “This has been a good fi re- acres) in size. 11.7mn hectares (2.8mn acres) the potential fi re danger. Andrew Crisp said. “symbolic of this administra- have returned home. Malaysia probes bribery allegations in plane orders Reuters AirAsia Group and its long-haul have no visibility on Airbus’ avoid criminal prosecution that Chief Commissioner Latheefa The SFO’s allegations concern Fernandes bought Cater- Kuala Lumpur arm, AirAsia X. internal processes, we cannot could have led to it being barred Koya said in a statement. a 2012 sponsorship agreement ham together with his partner AirAsia said it had never made comment on or be associated from public contracts in the US “In the case of the Airbus- between the now-defunct Cat- Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsia’s any purchase decisions that with any alleged failures or laps- and the European Union. AirAsia disclosures, I confi rm erham Formula 1 racing team, chairman, in 2011. Fernandes alaysia’s anti-graft were premised on an Airbus es on the part of Airbus to com- The disclosures came after that the MACC is in touch with founded by AirAsia boss Tony and Kamarudin could not imme- agency is investigating sponsorship, and that it would ply with its own policies or ap- an investigation spanning sales the UK authorities and is already Fernandes, and Airbus’s then- diately be reached for comment. Mallegations by Britain’s fully co-operate with Malaysia’s plicable legal requirements.” to more than a dozen overseas investigating the matter.” parent, EADS. The SFO said that Execu- Serious Fraud Offi ce that Air- Anti-Corruption Commission. Airbus declined to comment. markets. The investigation comes as The SFO said on Friday that be- tives 1 and 2 were “key decision bus paid a bribe of $50mn to win In a statement, it said it had not On Friday, Airbus agreed a “Under the Malaysian An- the Malaysian government eval- tween October 2013 and January makers in AirAsia and AirAsia plane orders from Asia’s largest been involved with the SFO’s inves- record $4bn settlement with ti-Corruption Commission uates fi ve strategic investment 2015, EADS paid $50mn to spon- X, and were rewarded in respect budget airline group, Malaysia- tigation of Airbus or given any op- France, Britain and the United (MACC) Act we are empowered, proposals, among them one from sor Caterham, which was jointly of the order of 180 aircraft from based AirAsia, it said yesterday. portunity to provide clarifi cation. States after prosecutors said it and have jurisdiction, to investi- AirAsia, to partner with the ail- owned by two people described as Airbus”. The SFO said on Friday that “AirAsia vigorously rejects had bribed public offi cials and gate any act of corruption com- ing national carrier, Malaysia AirAsia Executive 1 and Executive “The payments to the sports Airbus had failed to prevent and denies any and all allega- hidden the payments as part of a mitted by any Malaysian citizen Airlines. 2. It said Airbus employees off ered team were intended to secure or individuals associated with it tions of wrongdoing,” it said. pattern of worldwide corruption. or permanent resident in any AirAsia runs an all-Airbus an additional $55mn, though no reward improper favour by them bribing executives linked to “As AirAsia and its executives The deal allowed Airbus to place outside Malaysia,” MACC fl eet of 274 planes. payment was made. in respect of that business.” Gulf Times 16 Sunday, February 2, 2020 BRITAIN/IRELAND Claims that Prince Andrew failed to respond to FBI ‘likely political’

Andrew has said he is ‘angry his previous pledge that he was in August while awaiting trial on agrees to give would be voluntary is whether he could be charged and bewildered’ and denies “willing to help any appropriate sex traffi cking charges. at this stage. with a federal crime. reports that he has been law enforcement agency”. Despite Andrew’s assurances, His lawyers would arrange a “You have to assume that contacted about the Jeff rey “It’s fair for people to know any sit-down with US investiga- date, time and place, or he could investigators have conducted Epstein investigation whether Prince Andrew has fol- tors would likely require political provide answers to written ques- many, many interviews and re- Prince Andrew has said that he’s ‘more than happy to talk’ to the FBI lowed through with that pub- will to pursue eff ectively as much tions. viewed thousands of documents, on the Jeff rey Epstein investigation. By Edward Helmore lic commitment,” Berman said, as legal argument, experts say, as US investigators could inter- so they’d know the answers to Guardian News & Media adding that to date he had “pro- the prince is a high profi le inter- view him in Britain. any questions they want to ask,” terview he had “no recollection” quired Epstein to serve a brief vided zero co-operation”. national fi gure who lives over- Eric Baum, of New York law Mason said. of meeting Giuff re, and said on sentence in Palm Beach. Andrew, who has been re- seas. fi rm Eisenberg & Baum, who “The complicated part is that the night the alleged sex occurred At that time, she recalls, she laims made this week that moved from royal duties, was And that political will might be has represented victims in civil Andrew is overseas – prosecu- he was at a Pizza Express in Wok- believed political pressure was Prince Andrew failed to subsequently reported to be unlikely to be forthcoming, ar- sexual harassment cases against tors would have a lot more power ing. being brought to bear on the case. Crespond to a US Federal “angry and bewildered” over the gues former sex crimes prosecu- celebrity chef Mario Batali and to force an unwilling witness to But she remains a major facet “It was represented as a plea Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in- claim he has failed to co-operate tor Wendy Murphy. American Apparel’s Dov Char- testify here. of the investigation. deal that everyone was on board vestigation into Jeff rey Epstein’s and denied that he’d been ap- “At best they could issue a ney, says any meeting could place “But with added media pres- “I guarantee you she has more with, but it made a lot of people alleged sex traffi cking conspiracy proached. grand jury subpoena but to have the prince in legal jeopardy. sure things might change. Failing information, even if she hasn’t very anxious,” she said. were likely issued by US investi- Andrew is “more than happy to it enforced is a political question. “If he comes in under oath, to co-operate is not a good visual said it yet,” Murphy said. “No Thirteen years on, similar anx- gators as an appeal for political talk”, sources told the Guardian, “Even if they did charge him, he will be required to tell the for him at all.” matter what, Andrew has got a ieties that permeated Epstein’s support, former sex crime pros- pouring water on any suggestion how much eff ort would they put truth and provide specifi c details A key element has been allega- king-size PR problem. original deal exist now. ecutors say. that he was going back on a com- into extraditing him? That’s a which could have criminal and tions from Virginia Roberts Giuf- “That, to me, is why he’s been Because of the high profi les of Earlier this week, US attorney mitment to help. nightmare on a good day. political implications for him,” fre, who has said Epstein pres- removed from royal duties. It’s to the men whose names have sur- for the Southern District of New Between the claims and coun- “To enforce it in a foreign Baum said. sured her into having sex with protect him, not punish him.” faced in connection with Epstein, York Geoff rey Berman took the ter-claims from the British royal country you have to have permis- The questions for Andrew – Andrew three times at Epstein’s Murphy worked with Paul any attempt to bring new charges extraordinary step of announcing and US law enforcement lies a sion of the foreign country and I should he agree to testify under request, including once in Lon- Cassell, a Florida lawyer who is ultimately political. from the steps of Epstein’s Upper broad expanse of uncertainty on don’t see the Queen saying, ‘Oh oath – would likely be tailored to don in 2001. represented several of Epstein’s “There are some ways to bring East Side mansion in New York, how the investigation into al- yes, we should force my son to information they already have on Andrew has denied any knowl- alleged victims around the time pressure to bear, but they’re more that prosecutors and the FBI had leged co-conspirators will pro- submit himself to a foreign grand him, said former FBI agent Jane edge that Epstein was sexually the fi nancier’s original federal diplomatic than legal ... I don’t repeatedly contacted the Duke ceed after wealthy fi nancier Ep- jury’,” Murphy said. Mason. abusing teenage girls. investigation was resolved in a think there’s the political will to of York’s lawyers to follow up on stein killed himself in detention Any FBI interview Andrew “The fascinating part of this Andrew told the BBC in an in- 2007 Florida state deal that re- do it,” she added.

‘Recognise British United Kingdom embarks excellence, not empire on future outside the EU in honours AFP system’ London

By Michael Savage ritain began an uncer- Guardian News & Media tain future outside the BEuropean Union yester- day after the country greeted abour leadership contend- the historic end to almost half a er Lisa Nandy has backed century of EU membership with Lremoving references to the a mixture of joy and sadness. British empire in the honours There were celebrations and system, saying that it should tears on Friday night as the EU’s recognise “British excellence” often reluctant member became instead. the fi rst to leave an organisation At a hustings in Bristol yes- set up to forge unity among na- terday, Nandy said the honours tions after the horrors of World system should be a tool to bring War II. people together, rather than shut Little has changed yet as the them out. UK is now in an 11-month tran- Nandy, who is still seen as sition period negotiated as part an outsider in the race despite of the divorce. strong performances in early Britons will be able to work hustings, said: “It was [poet] in the EU and trade freely – and Benjamin Zephaniah who vice versa – until December 31, baulked at the prospect of ac- although the UK will no longer cepting an OBE – the Order of be represented in the bloc’s in- the British Empire. stitutions. Britain-themed souvenirs are “Why not a choice to provide But legally, Britain is out. searching in the EU about its World Trade Organisation displayed for sale in a store in the Order of British Excellence? Thousands of people waving future after losing a country of (WTO), said yesterday that he London yesterday, the day after Why does the honours system, Union Jack fl ags packed Lon- 66mn people with global dip- had formally notifi ed all mem- Britain became the first country which should recognise the con- don’s Parliament Square and lomatic clout and the fi nancial bers of Britain’s EU departure. to formally leave the EU. tribution of our people, shut sang the national anthem to centre of the City of London. “The UK will now represent people out, rather than bring mark that reality as Brexit be- French President Emmanuel itself in the WTO, supporting Right: A traff ic cone painted people in? came law at 11pm (2300 GMT) Macron described it as a “his- the global trading system which in the colours of the EU flag is “That is the country I want to – midnight in Brussels. toric warning sign” that should we were instrumental in found- seen on the head of a statue of build, and the Labour party I will Prime Minister Boris John- force the bloc and its remaining ing, and advancing our econom- the Duke of Wellington, outside lead. son – whose decisive December nations of more than 440mn ic interests,” he tweeted. the Gallery of Modern Art in “That never accepts the world election victory fi nally paved the people to stop and refl ect. Yet Britons appear as divided Glasgow. as it is but builds the world as it way for Britain’s long-stalled Yesterday Britain’s diplomatic as they were nearly four years should be. departure – held a private party mission in Brussels changed the ago, when 52% voted to leave “As Benjamin Zephaniah in his Downing Street offi ce, building’s nameplate to read and 48% voted to remain in the asked: ‘What happened to the with a clock projected on the “UK Mission to the European EU. verse of fi re?’ We can be far more walls outside counting down the Union”, signalling its new non- “Rise and shine ... it’s a glori- ambitious.” minutes to Brexit. member status. ous new Britain,” said the euro- The move by Nandy is the lat- In a televised address to the Meanwhile, Joao Vale de Al- sceptic Daily Express. est pledge by leadership candi- nation, he hailed a “new era meida, the newly named EU The i newspaper, in contrast, dates designed to appeal to La- of friendly co-operation”, ac- ambassador to Britain, said on headlined: “What next?” bour’s left-wing membership, knowledging that there could be Twitter that he looked forward In Scotland, where a major- which expanded hugely under “bumps in the road ahead” but to “laying the foundations for a ity voted to remain in 2016 and Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. predicting the country would solid EU/UK relationship”. Brexit has revived calls for inde- Nandy’s pledge came as lead- make it a “stunning success”. Getting to this point has been pendence, pro-EU campaigners ership contenders clashed over “This is not an end but a be- a traumatic process and, while rallied in Edinburgh yesterday. the selection of Labour MPs – an ginning,” Johnson added. the divorce terms have been First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issue that has regularly caused At a “Big Brexit Bash” in the agreed, Britain must still strike had earlier tweeted: “Scotland divisions. market town of Morley, north- an agreement on future relations will return to the heart of Europe Rebecca Long-Bailey, the ern England, Raymond Stott with the EU, its largest trading as an independent country – candidate closest to Corbyn, said he was “glad it’s all over” partner. #LeaveALightOnForScotland.” reiterated her pledge to bring in after several years of domestic Both will set out their negoti- In Northern Ireland – soon to open selections if she was elect- political gridlock and acrimony. ating positions tomorrow. be a new European Union fron- ed leader, a move that would in “We will look after ourselves. But Johnson, a polarising fi g- tier – there are fears that Brexit eff ect allow local Labour activ- We don’t need Europe,” the ure accused of glossing over the could destabilise a hard-won ists to deselect their MP. 66-year-old added. complexity of leaving the bloc, peace after decades of confl ict She said being an MP was “not However, Brexit has exposed has given himself just 11 months over British rule. a job for life”. deep divisions in British society to negotiate the new partnership “They’re going to have prob- However, she was confronted and many fear the consequences – not enough time, according to lems probably, sorting every- by Nandy, who warned against of ending 47 years of ties with his critics. thing out with the border up the focusing on the internal power their nearest neighbours. London is now free to strike Irish Sea,” said Thomas Glover, struggles within the party. Some pro-Europeans, includ- trade deals around the world, in- 77, alluding to possible trade “The MPs I want to get rid of ing many of the 3.6mn EU citi- cluding with the United States, frictions between mainland are Tories, not Labour,” Nandy zens who have made their lives whose President Donald Trump Britain and the divided island. An arrangement of daily newspapers photographed in London shows yesterday’s front page headlines. said. in Britain, marked the occasion is an enthusiastic Brexit sup- with candlelit gatherings. porter. There was a sombre atmos- One of his top envoys on Fri- Irish city of Galway kicks off 2020 as European Capital of Culture with events on language, migration phere on one of the last ferries day hailed an “exciting new era”. to leave the European mainland At a special Brexit day min- From provincial fishing village to European cultural hub: diversity, increase Europeans’ sense of belonging to a a city of 80,000 residents beloved by students that is pre-Brexit and make the 42km isters’ meeting in northeast the Irish city of Galway began its term as a European common cultural area and help culture contribute to considered to be the heartland of traditional Irish music. (26-mile) journey across the England, Johnson discussed an Capital of Culture yesterday, kicking off a year of events urban development. Celebrations kicking off the Galway 2020 “Let the Magic Channel. aim to get 80% of Britain’s com- and exhibits centred on language, landscape and Two cities are selected for the programme each year: one In” programme are due to take place until February 7 and “It’s very depressing what’s merce covered by trade agree- migration. from the old EU member states and one from the newer are centred around the Celtic calendar. happening today,” said Alessio ments within three years, a The EU’s European Capitals of Culture initiative was members. In the coming months, the programme will also feature Bortone, an Italian who has lived spokesman said. developed in 1985 and has since been awarded to more This year, the Irish city of Galway is joined by the Croatian an interpretation of an ancient literary poem, the Epic in Britain for 10 years. Julian Braithwaite, UK Per- than 50 cities across the bloc. port city of Rijeka in carrying the title. of Gilgamesh, and an installation called Borderline that Brexit has also provoked soul- manent Representative to the The programme aims to highlight Europe’s cultural Over the past few decades, Galway has blossomed into explores Brexit. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 17 EUROPE

France cracks down on EU’s poorer nations ask plastic waste to keep their aid money AFP Reuters/DPA including paymaster Germany Leaders of the aff ected Eu- was the bloc’s biggest military Michel will meet several prime Yesterday Austria’s chancel- Paris Lisbon in September, seek to reduce the ropean nations gathered for the spender. ministers over the next week. lor Sebastian Kurz threatened size of the cohesion funds and “Friends of Cohesion” summit In the declaration, the na- “I am fully aware that these to veto the next EU budget if attach conditions which would in the Portuguese city of Beja tions said that “any cuts in in- negotiations are among the most the proposal for countries to he French parliament has day after the European predetermine areas where in- yesterday . vestment capacity of cohesion diffi cult ones we have to face,” he increase their contribution to passed a law forbidding Union waved goodbye vestments should go. In a joint declaration, the regions would be unacceptable” wrote in a letter sent to leaders 1.11% of GNI is not amended. Tretailers from destroy- Ato Britain, some of Eu- According to European Par- leaders said that funding for and that, at this late stage of the on January 25. In an interview with Austrian ing unsold clothes and banning rope’s poorest nations urged the liament website, the European 2021-2027 “should maintain the long-term budget negotiations, The current EU budget broadcaster ORF, Kurz said: “If single-use plastic containers by bloc’s leaders not to implement a Commission proposed an al- level” of the previous budget. “no technical elements with amounts to 1% of the bloc’s this proposal is tabled in this 2040, part of the government’s “sharp and disproportional” cut location of €41.3bn ($45.82bn) “At a time the union becomes major negative impact should be combined Gross National In- way, there will be no approval eff orts to reduce waste. to their aid money in the next to cohesion funds for the 2021- more fragile (after Brexit), our introduced”. come (GNI). from us here, and I don’t think The bill adopted by the Sen- long-term budget. 2027 programming period, down message should be in favour of Any changes would “unnec- The European Commis- from the other EU net contribu- ate, after being cleared by the The European Union provides from €63.4bn set aside in 2014- a cohesive Europe,” Portugal’s essarily” delay an agreement, sion has proposed a seven-year tors either.” lower house National Assembly aid known as cohesion funds to 2020. Prime Minister Antonio Costa they added. budget of about €1.1tn that However, the conservative last week, bans fast-food res- member states in the south and The proposals to cut the funds told reporters after the decla- The summit took place days would be about 1.11% of the EU’s Austrian leader added that ne- taurants from serving food that east to help them invest in devel- made blood boil among the ration was signed by 15 coun- after President of the European combined GNI. gotiations are still ongoing. is not for takeaway in plastic opment and catch up with richer poorer European Union nations, tries, including once-bailed out Council Charles Michel called a Scared of having to dig too “I do hope that we will be pre- containers beyond 2023. peers to the north and west. creating an impasse as the next Greece. special meeting with EU lead- deep to fi ll the budget gap caused sented with a new proposal that All single-use plastic pack- However, various proposals by long-term budget is being pre- Britain accounted for around ers on February 20 to discuss the by Brexit, Germany proposed a we will hopefully be able to ac- aging will be prohibited 17 years the so-called “frugal” countries, pared. 15% of the EU’s economy and budget. 1% cap. cept,” he said. later. The bill also creates a “re- pairability index” for electronic goods, allowing prospective customers to see at a glance how Macron easy a device would be to fi x and Better late than never? First how to get spare parts. President Emmanuel Ma- to visit cron’s party, which is trying to boost its green credentials, has presented the law as a giant leap Eurostar crosses new border London forward in the battle against the “produce, consume and discard” economic model. By Pierre Donadieu, AFP I came several hours early, but in AFP Following are some of the London the end it was very calm,” Tam- Paris other measures included in the ara Jacobsen, a Romanian mar- legislation ried to a Dane who lives in Paris, „ Supermarkets and online t 8.50am (0850 GMT) told AFP. rance’s Emmanuel Macron retailers are banned from de- British time yesterday, “For us, I think it will not will head to London in June stroying unsold merchandise, Aa Eurostar train emerg- change much, but for the Brit- Fto present the city with his including clothes and hygiene ing from the Channel Tunnel ish I think it will hurt from an nation’s highest accolade, the products, from 2022. became the fi rst from the con- economic point of view,” she Legion d’Honneur, to cement Retailers and restaurants are tinental connection service to said while waiting for the train cross-Channel ties even after already banned from destroying leave EU territory. to leave. Britain’s exit from the EU. unsold food and must donate it It was a small, symbolic The service soon rolled north “Dear British friends, you are instead. milestone in the Brexit process from the French capital, far from leaving the European Union but The expansion of the ban to which has no immediate impact full. you are not leaving Europe,” the other merchandise follows sev- on passengers aboard the Paris “It’s the Brexit eff ect!” joked president wrote in an open let- eral reports exposing the de- to London service – but one Bruno, who was serving cus- ter published yesterday by The struction by fashion brands of which nonetheless creates some tomers food and drinks. Times of London. huge quantities of unsold cloth- trepidation of what lies down Until at least the end of the This year marks the 80th an- ing, a practice that has caused the line. year, Europeans and their Brit- niversary of Charles de Gaulle’s outrage. “I’ve spent a lot of time being ish counterparts will still be dramatic June 18, 1940, appeal „ Supermarkets must sell angry,” said Alex Adotevi, a Ger- able to travel visa-free across from London, where he had more products in loose form, man businessman in an impec- the Channel, with the EU’s so- escaped with the remnants of without packaging, from 2023. cable white shirt, seated in one called freedom of movement Passengers disembark after the arrival yesterday of the international high-speed Eurostar train from France’s army, for French citi- „ A “polluter pays” principle of the carriages. rules maintained during the Paris to London’s St Pancras International railway station. zens to resist while awaiting will be introduced in the build- “If I want to go back with my transition period. UK and US help in fi ghting Nazi ing sector to dissuade builders family it will be an administra- Brussels and London are yet to change much for us,” said Melo- people between Great Britain be worth investing in the UK,” Germany. from illegally dumping paint, tive burden, I’ll have to get a agree on arrangements beyond die, in her twenties and travel- and the continent,” said Philippe said Jean-Yves Foret, thirty- “The French know what they rubble and other waste. work permit,” he feared, not- December 31, with 11 months of ling with her family. Mouly, its director of operations. something project manager. owe the British, who allowed our „ Municipalities and recy- ing he has two children who are tough negotiations anticipated Olivier, on board with his two “Of course we are a little sad Others wondered how the Republic to live. I am coming to cling companies have until 2023 British citizens. on all aspects of the future rela- young children, had taken some but operationally we made sure Eurostar terminus at London’s London in June to award the city to reach targets for plastic bot- Just several hours earlier tionship. precautions, however. that everything remains as fl uid grand Saint Pancras station will the Legion d’Honneur, in trib- tle recycling, failing which they in Paris, passengers passed Unrelated but ill-timed, Eu- “We were told that nothing as possible. be impacted once the transition ute to the immense courage of a will be required to implement a through check-in and security rostar was plagued by problems was changing. We still made “Nothing has changed since ends. whole country and people,” Ma- German-style plastic bottle de- as if Britain had not left the Eu- yesterday, as engineering works passports for the whole family, yesterday ... the immigration “We will have to see after De- cron wrote. posit-return scheme. ropean Union at midnight on and a “points failure” prompted just in case,” he explained. systems are the same, as are the cember 31 how it will happen,” He also noted that “the UK has The government, which is Friday. long delays and the cancellation Eurostar, which operates 15 ticket rules,” he added. Cyril, a French expat living in been a central player in the Euro- running far behind on EU plastic Little has changed because of at least fi ve trains. daily connections from Paris to Some passengers aboard the the British capital, told AFP. pean project ... a more infl uential recycling targets, had wanted to the UK is now in an 11-month French tourists bound for London and 31 between conti- early service from Paris were “Will there be special lines player than the British have of- introduce the scheme by 2022 transition period negotiated as Britain seemed relaxed about nental Europe and the British even seeing the silver linings in for passport control for British ten themselves imagined”. but was forced by the Senate, part of its divorce. the changes looming. capital, insisted everything was Brexit and the possible econom- residents?” he wondered, before But Macron acknowledged which is controlled by the right- “I was worried about the long “As long as we can continue operating normally. ic perils it could hold for Britain. wandering off in a brief window that the uncertainties surround- wing opposition, to delay its im- queues for passport controls. So to travel easily, Brexit does not “Our DNA is to transport “If property prices fall, it may of sunshine. ing Brexit are far from settled, plementation by a year. not least the fallout on trade re- lations. “Ease of access to the Europe- Poland extends an market will depend on the de- Britons in Spain react with sadness and worry gree to which the European Un- hunting season ion’s rules are accepted, because amid disease fears we cannot allow any harmful AFP estate agencies advertised one- competition to develop between Authorities in the Polish province Torrevieja, Spain bedroom fl ats in the city, which us,” he said. of Lubusz have extended a period is set on a wide coastal plain The French president was for shooting wild boars in a bid between two salt lagoons, for as largely alone in acknowledg- to prevent the spread of African ritish retirees living on little as €50,000 ($55,000). ing Britain’s offi cial departure swine fever. Spain’s sunny eastern The low cost of property from the EU as of midnight Fears of the virus spreading to Bcoast expressed resigna- in the city has long attracted (2300 GMT) on Friday, ending Germany, a major hog producer, tion and worry over their futures budget-conscious northern Eu- 47 years of participating in the increased on January 21 when yesterday after Britain became ropean pensioners but several Continent’s project for an “ever- one case was located just 12km the fi rst country to quit the Eu- area realtors told AFP that they closer union among the people’s from the German border. ropean Union. had made less sales to Britons of Europe”. Dozens of boar cadavers infected “It is done and dusted, noth- since the referendum due to the In a television address on Fri- with the virus have been found in ing we can do about it,” said weaker pound and uncertainty day, he called Brexit a “historic Lubusz since mid-November. Kevin Cunliff e as he walked over Brexit. warning sign” indicating that The off icial order for hunting along the seaside promenade Bob Houliston, a retired Brit- “we need more Europe”. associations in Lubusz in Torrevieja, a city located ish diplomat and former EU Voivodeship is now valid until about 50km (30 miles) south of offi cial who has lived in the ad- ‘I like to be called February 15, Zofia Batorczak, a Alicante that is home to around joining Orihuela Costa region veterinary off icial, told the PAP 5,000 Britons like himself. since 2006, said he felt “a deep a European,’ says news agency yesterday. While Britain formally left personal sadness”. UK war veteran Brandenburg and Saxony, eastern EU institutions on Friday at “I think it was a huge histori- states in Germany, have begun midnight Brussels time (2300 cal mistake for the United King- British war veterans shared their work to build a fence along the GMT), it will continue to follow dom to go down this path. But disappointment about their border to keep out the virus, the bloc’s trade and travel rules here we are, that is how it is, we country’s departure from the a highly infectious and often until the end of the year under a have to come to terms with it, European Union in a video that deadly disease that aff ects wild transition period. those of us who are British and was projected onto the white and domestic pigs. Under Britain’s withdrawal are living here in Spain as well as cliff s of Dover on the English There is currently no vaccine agreement with the EU, Britons the people in the UK.” coastline near France. against the virus, which is not who are legal residents in Spain People walk along a commercial street full of British businesses in Benidorm, Spain. Houliston, who served as a “I feel really depressed at the dangerous to humans. before the end of this transition municipal councillor in Orihuela idea that we are leaving Europe, Batorczak said hunters in Lubusz period will continue to have the the 76-year-old retired ac- decorated with several fl ags, in- it, echoing the concerns of other between 2011 and 2015, said he because it has meant so much have already killed 1,214 wild right to live in the country and countant who moved to Tor- cluding those of Britain and the British retirees. feared tensions could arise be- to me,” Stephen Goodall, 97, said boars in response to the off icial have access to its public health revieja a decade ago from New- EU which were placed side by “We already eat out less, tween Spaniards and the large with medals pinned to his breast. order. system. castle in northeastern England side. are more careful with our food British community in Spain if “I feel very, very sad about it all,” None of the dead animals was By the end of 2019, Spain was worries this policy could be re- Rachel Tetlow, a retired sec- shopping, buy cheaper,” she London starts treating Span- a 95-year-old veteran called Sid found to have African swine fever. home to 378,139 Britons, interior versed in the future. retary from Edinburgh who was said. iards and other EU citizens dif- said in the video, published by a The goal is to kill over 2,000 ministry fi gures show – more “Governments have been eating at the restaurant with her The pound has had a roller- ferently now. pro-EU campaign group, which boars in an attempt to stop the than any other EU country. known to break promises,” he husband, said that she is already coaster ride since Britain voted “We have been part of the had been shared close to 50,000 virus spreading amid fears of Many are pensioners like said, standing just a few feet feeling the pinch from the drop, to leave the EU in June 2016, and family in Spain. From now on we times by afternoon yesterday on its impact on the agricultural Cunliff e, drawn by the country’s from the beachfront La Cantina which has shrunk her pension is currently trading some 8-10% are not part of the family in the Twitter. industry. milder climate and cheaper cost restaurant where mainly Eng- when it is converted to euros. lower against the euro and the same way,” the 82-year-old said. “I like to be called a European,” The Polish hunters are off ered of living. lish-speaking elderly customers She fears sterling could drop dollar compared to where it was “I fear there could be a dete- he added. “And the feeling of around €150 ($163) per female While Cunliff e said he is re- were eating breakfast outdoors further, especially if London before the referendum. rioration in good relations, per- comradeship that one has as one and €70 per male boar that they lieved he will keep access to in the sun. fails to reach trade deals with Along Torrevieja’s palm tree- sonal relations we have with our goes round Europe is really quite kill. Spanish healthcare after Brexit, The roof of the restaurant was other countries following Brex- lined seafront promenade real Spanish neighbours.” something.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, February 2, 2020 INDIA Nirbhaya convicts can be hanged separately, says govt

IANS ing,” the government’s top lawyer or one by one. In response, Mehta while passing Friday’s order. The 23-year-old victim was Court in March 2014 and upheld bhaya’s parents said: “We will New Delhi said while arguing before Justice said they would be executed one “All these accused are ironi- brutally gang-raped and tortured by the Supreme Court in May move an application in order to Suresh Kumar Kait. by one. cally urging the court to un- on December 16, 2012, and she 2017 which also dismissed their inform the court regarding the “They should be executed “The execution should be one derstand the value of a human died later in a Singapore hospital. review petition in July 2018. latest developments stating that olicitor General Tushar immediately. Mukesh has no by one. The rule only says if ap- life forgetting that the victim Six suspects were arrested and The High Court will hold spe- no pleas or applications of any Mehta yesterday in- reason to wait for his execution. plication of one is pending then also had a life. The lordships are charged with sexual assault and cial hearing today and it issued of the convict is lying pending in S formed the Delhi High Pawan has chosen to not file the execution of all has to be aware of what happened. This murder. One was a juvenile and notices to the Tihar Jail authori- any legal forum and hence they Court that four death row con- curative or mercy plea. They are postponed… but what does ‘ap- is one case that has shaken the appeared before a juvenile justice ties and the four convicts. should be hanged.” victs in the Nirbhaya gang- not only abusing the process of plication’ mean? It means an ap- conscience of the society,” he court, while another committed The parents of the victim said However, according to the rape and murder case “can be law, they are creating circum- plication pending before a court. added. suicide in Tihar Jail. they will move a Delhi court Delhi Prison Rules, after the hanged separately”. stances that will water down A mercy plea is not an applica- A Delhi court on Friday stayed The other four were sentenced seeking issuance of fresh death president rejects the mercy plea “Once a person is aware that the guidelines. tion,” Mehta said. for an indefi nite period the death to death by the trial court in Sep- warrants. of a convict, a period of 14 days his fate is death penalty, any de- The court asked whether all of He also said the trial court ig- warrants issued against Akshay, tember 2013, and the verdict was Speaking to IANS, advocate is given to settle their earthly af- lay in execution is dehumanis- them would be executed together nored the rule 834 of Prison Rules Pawan, Mukesh and Vinay. confi rmed by the Delhi High Jitendra Jha, counsel for Nir- fairs.

Karnataka CM to Man held after induct 11 more another fi ring ministers

IANS Bengaluru at anti-CAA

arnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddiyurappa will in- Kduct 11 new ministers into his ministry, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader said on Friday. protest site “Among the 11 ministers, maybe nine will be accommodated (from Agencies But later some women came The back-to-back incidents by-election winners) and another New Delhi running and said a man fi red to- come after Minister of State for three from the regular BJP cadres,” wards the protest site.” Finance Anurag Thakur, called BJP spokesman G Madhusudhana Other witnesses at Shaheen on crowds at a rally to “shoot the told IANS. suspected Hindu nation- Bagh said the fi ring created pan- traitors” earlier this week. However, he said he was not alist opened fi re at an an- ic, with some women leaving the Several members of Modi’s privy to any names that would A ti-government protest in protest site after they heard the Bharatiya Janata Party have feature in the fi nal list. India’s capital yesterday, police gunshots. They later returned to termed the protesters “anti-na- Commenting on the amount said, just days after an armed continue their sit-in.] tional” and “traitors”. of time being taken to expand teenager shot and injured a stu- “These incidents actually give Meanwhile, Law Minister the cabinet, Madhusudhana said dent at a rally in the same city. us more power to fi ght the evil Ravi Shankar Prasad said the 11 non-BJP candidates winning The gunman fi red into a large forces that are at the helm of government was ready to talk to by-elections and all of them be- crowd of female demonstrators aff airs. We are peacefully pro- the protesters. ing promised a ministerial berth at a non-stop protest Shaheen testing and if they need to resort “The government is ready to has created imbalances. Bagh against Prime Minister to violence to suppress us, no talk to protesters of Shaheen “...the entry of 11 non-BJP legis- Narendra Modi’s contentious need to guess who is on the right Bagh but then it should be in a lators getting elected on BJP tickets citizenship law that critics say path,” Fareeda, a 40-year-old structured form and the govern- with an assurance of cabinet berth discriminates against Muslims. Shaheen Bagh protester, said. ment is ready to communicate for everybody has really caused a lot No injuries were reported. A group of protesters held a with them and clear all their of commotion, a sort of tension and Footage broadcast on local march to the local police station, doubts they have against CAA,” a regionally imbalanced and a caste television stations showed a raising slogans against the at- the minister tweeted. imbalance also,” he said. man in his 20s being taken away tacker and the police. Also yesterday, the Aam To rule the state, the spokes- by police as he shouted that “We don’t feel intimidated by Aadmi Party reiterated its al- man said regional and caste bal- “only Hindus will prevail in the these acts and the protest will legation that the BJP and Home ances are a must. country.” continue till CAA is rolled back,” Minister Amit Shah were plan- As a result, the question of how Offi cers said the attacker fi red said a woman protester, who ning a “deep conspiracy” to to accommodate, how to make a at least two rounds towards preferred to stay anonymous. create “big disturbance” ahead balance has been the problem for protesters and tried to escape Shaheen Bagh has become the of the February 8 Delhi assem- the chief minister, the high com- after his weapon froze, but was epicentre of protests against the bly polls. mand and everybody, he said. caught by locals. government since mid-Decem- AAP leader Sanjay Singh said Amid this chaos and jigsaw “We have taken him into cus- ber when parliament passed the the BJP was fearing defeat in the puzzle, Madhusudhana said tody and recovered the weapon,” Citizenship Amendment Act elections, and wanted to disturb some balance has to be struck, a police offi cial said. that grants citizenship to only the atmosphere of Delhi. some have to be convinced and According to Deputy Com- non-Muslim nationals from Pa- “Yesterday (Friday), I had some simply sympathised with. missioner of Police Chinmoy kistan, Afghanistan and Bangla- warned the EC and the Delhi po- Some hopefuls will be prom- Biswal, the man has been identi- desh. lice that planning is underway ised next time as politics is a fi ed as Kapil Gujjar, a resident of Critics say this creates a re- for a big disturbance by the BJP. game of hope, he added. Dallupura village in east Delhi. ligious test for nationality in a A deep conspiracy is planned by According to the BJP leader, He was allegedly “very close secular country and along with the BJP and Amit Shah.” being the chief minister is like to the police” when he opened a mooted national registry will Singh said after Jamia, a man wearing a crown of thorns. fi re. He was standing near the marginalise its 200mn minority fi red at Shaheen Bagh. “Both (throne and crown) second barricade which is par- community - claims that Modi “Today, the Centre tabled the have more thorns than roses. But tially open. denies. budget. The entire government the thing is sitting on the thorny The Shaheen Bagh protest site A 17-year-old man opened is in Delhi. What is happening? throne, he (Yeddiyurappa) has has four layers of barricades. fi re on a protest rally against the Anyone can fi re anywhere in to smile at the people, he can’t A local resident at the protest law on Thursday, hitting a stu- Delhi? There is no law and or- weep,” he added. site said: “It is a major security dent in the hand. der.” The much-delayed cabinet lapse...anything can happen Videos showed him brandish- He said he had sought time expansion has already been post- here. Police are doing nothing ing a pistol and confronting pro- from the Election Commission poned several times. The BJP won for the security of the people testers while shouting “Yeh lo since Friday to fi le a complaint 12 of the 15 assembly seats in the here who are protesting peace- azadi” (“Here is your freedom”) about BJP’s planning to some- by-elections while the opposi- fully.” - a slogan popular with anti-gov- thing big on February 2. tion Congress could win only two Police detain Kapil Gujjar, who fired multiple shots at a site where people were protesting against a new Mohamed Akhlas said: “We ernment protesters - before fi ring “But no offi cer is free to meet while an independent won one. citizenship law in New Delhi, yesterday. fi rst thought it was a tyre burst. a single shot at the marchers. us.”

Moon mission will facilitate space tourism, says 324 Indians evacuated ex-ISRO chief

Gaganyaan, the country’s planned from Wuhan land in Delhi mission to take humans to space, will open huge commercial op- portunities in the space sector, IANS lodging, and Wi-Fi will be pro- Meanwhile two foreigners, former space agency chairman G New Delhi vided to the people. ITBP doc- who had travelled to Goa from Madhavan Nair said. tors and personnel are present China in the recent past, were He said once that capability is there to look after them. An ex- yesterday quarantined at an iso- achieved by putting three astro- n Air India plane carry- pert team of ITBP and Safdurjang lation ward of a government hos- nauts into space using the Indian ing 324 Indian nationals Hospital and doctors with suf- pital after they developed symp- Space Research Organisation’s Aevacuated from the Chi- fi cient medicines are already in toms of coronavirus, a top offi cial GSLV Mk III in December 2021, the nese city of Wuhan, the epicentre place,” he said. said. country can think in terms of en- of the deadly coronavirus out- The Air India special took off Shivanand Bandadkar, the tering the realm of space tourism. break, landed in New Delhi yes- from Wuhan in the early hours dean of Goa Medical College, told “It is a big international business terday. of yesterday landed in Delhi at reporters that samples drawn opportunity for India as there are Of them 95 were taken to In- 7.25am. Most of the passengers from the two have been sent to only a few countries with that do-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were students. the National Institute of Virol- capability, and India has a definite camp here for medical observa- The airline will operate anoth- ogy in Pune. advantage as its technology is tion. er fl ight to evacuate the remain- “The reports will be available one of the best and the costs are They have been shifted to the ing Indian nationals. in a few days,” the offi cial said. low,” he said at an event in Thiru- paramilitary force’s Chhawla “We urge all Indian citi- The two were initially admit- vananthapuram. camp in west Delhi. The ITBP zens from Hubei who intend ted to a private hospital, and later “Once human space travel is had already made arrangements to avail this fl ight for India shifted to the isolation ward of the achieved, the country can think of 600 beds at the camp for fam- and not yet contacted the em- government hospital yesterday. in terms of colonising the Moon ilies and children coming from bassy, to urgently call the hot- Bandadkar also said that an- and later Mars. Chandrayaan has China as a quarantine facility. lines (+8618610952903 and other man, a Serbian national, detected the presence of huge The ITBP had arranged facili- +8618612083629) or send mails who had been suspected of being quantities of Helium-3 on the Moon ties for hosting the Indians at the to dedicated email ID helpdesk. aff ected by coronavirus and was which is used for nuclear fission. camp, IBP spokesperson Vivek [email protected] before 0800 admitted to the isolation ward One tonne of Helium-3 is enough Pandey said. hours on February 1, 2020,” the earlier this week, was discharged Indian nationals are transported in a bus out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport following their to satisfy the energy needs of the “All basic amenities - food, government tweeted. after test reports were negative. evacuation from the Chinese city of Wuhan, in New Delhi yesterday. entire country,” said Nair. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 19 INDIA NRIs confused over new tax proposals in budget

IANS no country. They may be staying now has to stay abroad for 240 able to remain out of the Indian Gopal Bohra, partner, NA Shah Budget 2020 has now proposed that if X lives in a Gulf country, New Delhi in diff erent countries for a cer- days, as against 182 previously. tax net, Baxi said. “Also an In- Associates, said: “Currently, if to introduce a deeming provision for more than 180 days, he is tain number of days. So, if any An Indian national who wants dian citizen, who is not taxed a person who is a citizen of In- that every Indian citizen who is automatically a resident of that Indian citizen is not a resident of to claim the non-resident status elsewhere in the world for what- dia or a Person of Indian Origin, not liable to be taxed in any other country and the balance days if here is a killer provision any country in the world, he’ll be can’t stay in India for more than ever reason and also not taxed in managed his stay in India in such country, by virtue of his domicile he is living in any other country pertaining to non-resi- deemed to be a resident of India 120 days or more in a year. India because he is not present a way that he remained a non- or residence, shall be deemed as a taking the total to more than 240 Tdent Indians in the Union and his worldwide income will Daksha Baxi, a tax expert said: in India for more than 120 days, resident in perpetuity, he was resident of India. Consequently, days outside India, then only Budget for 2020-21 which states be taxed,” he said at a press con- “The number of days needed will now be taxed in the coun- not liable to pay tax on his global his global income would be tax- his Indian income will be tax- that an NRI who is not taxed in a ference. to remain a non-resident is re- try. This will hit those who have income in India. It was entirely able in India”, he added. able and he will be considered an foreign country will become tax- This provision will hit those duced to 120 days from 182 days. moved out of India to tax havens, possible for high networth indi- Experts have clarifi ed that the NRI. able in India. who have moved to tax havens This means that those who ac- but have not yet got their foreign viduals to arrange his aff airs in person who is “a resident of no However, If X lives for 20 days This has created confusion and are yet to take up citizenship. tually have their businesses in citizenship”, she added. such a fashion that he would not country” and is out of India for in the Gulf country, 30 in the US, among the NRIs, especially those Not only does taxation kick in for India and stay in India for more Tax experts say it was entirely be liable to be taxed in any other 183 days (now more than 240 50 in Europe, etc, it means he is living in the Gulf countries. those not paying taxes elsewhere, than 120 days while they are res- possible for high networth indi- country and also not in India”. days from April 1, 2021) just to not a permanent resident of any Revenue Secretary Ajay the defi nition of NRIs has been ident elsewhere will now become viduals to arrange the stay in In- Bohra said this will adversely keep the NRI status will be con- country, so in that case, he will Bhushan Pandey, however, changed in the budget with a new resident in India”. dia and abroad in such a manner impact high networth individuals sidered as a resident of India and be deemed to be a resident of In- sought to allay their fears. stipulation much tougher. To be NRIs have to live outside In- that they would not pay tax any- using the domicile mechanism to the income will be taxable. dia and his global income will be “Some people are residents of categorised as an NRI, an Indian dia for more than 245 days to be where including in India. evade tax globally. “The Union Citing an example, experts say taxed. Import tax hikes set to spook some Budget boosts farm sector, foreign fi rms

Reuters New Delhi off ers cuts in personal taxes

Agencies sidered as good providing tax ndia yesterday raised taxes New Delhi benefi t to the common man, on imports of goods such as corporate and focus on farm- Ielectronic items, toys and ers’ incomes, but the situation furniture, aiming to give impe- ndia sought to boost growth required more,” said Vinod Nair, tus to domestic manufacturing in a federal budget yester- head of research at Geojit Finan- in a move that will hit Sweden’s Iday that raised spending on cial Services in Kochi. Ikea and other foreign fi rms. farms and expressways and of- Shares slid to a more than The measures, announced by fered cuts in personal taxes, but three-month low after a spe- Finance Minister Nirmala Sith- the measures fell short of mar- cial trading session yesterday, araman in her 2020-21 budget, ket expectations and battered dented by what analysts said come amid criticism from some stocks. was a lack of suffi cient stimulus companies that India has in- Prime Minister Narendra measures. creasingly resorted to protec- Modi’s government is grappling The NSE Nifty 50 index closed tionist rules that discriminate with the country’s worst slow- 2.5% lower while the benchmark against foreign companies. down in a decade, with falling S&P BSE Sensex fell 2.4%. Listing the new taxes, the employment, consumption and “Markets had very high ex- government said they were in investment ratcheting up the pectations from the budget... line with Prime Minister Naren- pressure to revive growth. these expectations have not dra Modi’s “Make in India” pro- The government estimates been met,” said Deepak Jasani of gramme aimed at promoting do- growth this year to March 31 HDFC Securities. mestic industry. will slip to 5%, the weakest pace The government also an- Taxes on imports of items in- since the global fi nancial crisis of nounced higher duties on a cluding kitchenware, fans and 2008-09. host of imports from walnuts to small electrical appliances will It also warned an expected re- phone parts. be doubled to 20%, while the bound the following year might Taxes on imports of pre-as- levy on furniture including seats, entail a blow-out in fi scal defi cit sembled printed circuit boards lamps and mattresses will be targets. were raised to 20% from 10% raised to 25% from 20%. Finance Minister Nirmala and there were new taxes on Ikeda’s India CEO Peter Betzel Sitharaman, presenting the mobile phones ringers and dis- said the company was disap- budget for the fi nancial year be- play panels in a bid to boost local pointed with the increase. ginning April 1, said those earn- manufacturing. “We are further evaluating the ing under Rs1.5mn a year could In its annual economic report impact of the hike on our total pay lower taxes if they agreed to released on Friday the govern- business,” he said. forego existing exemptions, with ment predicted growth would Ikea, which has committed a view to raising their purchasing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present the budget in parliament in New Delhi yesterday. rebound to 6.0% to 6.5% in the more than €1.5bn ($1.7bn) in In- power. fi scal year beginning April 1. dia investments, imports roughly Taxpayers are allowed to claim dress challenges facing one of sumer demand and investment. growth, which may continue But many experts said the Some economists say global 75% of goods sold in the country. exemptions for a range of ex- the world’s most water-stressed “The government is in com- for longer than the government measures did not go far enough trade tensions and the outbreak Sitharaman defended the de- penses, from medical insurance nations. plete denial that the economy forecasts.” to address the slowdown and of coronavirus in China pose a cision, saying the rationale was to vacation spending, under a Agriculture accounts for near faces a grave macro economic For fi scal 2020/21 Sitharaman structural fl aws. new risk to economic recovery that if certain goods were being labyrinthine tax regime that 15% of India’s $2.8tn economy challenge,” said former fi nance set the fi scal defi cit at 3.5%. “In a normal scenario this by hitting cross-border com- manufactured locally at “equal Sitharaman has vowed to sim- and is a source of livelihood for minister P Chidambaram. Moody’s said the government budget would have been con- merce and supply chains. quality, if not better, (then) we plify during her tenure. more than half of the country’s But higher government debt is already signifi cantly had no reason to import.” The minister said Rs2.83tn 1.3bn population. spending has put pressure on higher than the average for Baa- Minister cuts short speech Taxes on imported toys would ($39.8bn) will be allocated to- She also abolished payment public fi nances, prompting cau- rated sovereigns, a product of be tripled to 60%, a move one wards agriculture and allied ac- of dividend distribution tax by tion from rating agencies. persistent fi scal defi cits. Finance Minister Nirmala minister opted to discontinue industry executive said could hit tivities, up 5.6% on the previous companies to spur investment. Sitharaman said the fi scal To help fi nance government Sitharaman had to cut short the speech, asking Speaker Om imports of toys made by fi rms year. “People have reposed faith defi cit for the current year would spending, Sitharaman set a tar- her budget speech as she Birla to consider the remaining such as Lego, Hasbro and Mat- The funds will be deployed to in our economic policy,” Sith- widen to 3.8% of GDP, up from get for selling stakes in state fell sick during her marathon part of her address as read. tel, and boost smuggling of un- help farmers set up solar power araman said to the thumping of 3.3% targeted for the current fi rms at Rs2.1tn for 2020/21, 160-minute record address in However, she broke a record branded toys from abroad. generation units as well as es- desks in parliament. year. more than three times the the Lok Sabha. She had two by delivering the longest “It’s a protectionist move,” tablish a national cold storage “This is a budget to boost their Gene Fang, associate manag- amount expected this year. more pages of her speech to budget speech by any finance said the executive. system to transport perisha- income and enhance their pur- ing director, sovereign risk at She said the government read when she fell unwell and minister. She had spoken for The government also said a tax bles. chasing power.” Moody’s, said: “India’s 2020/21 will sell a part of its holding in was seen wiping sweat from two hours and 17 minutes in of 5% will be imposed on medi- Sitharaman also vowed to Opposition parties slammed budget highlights the chal- state-run Life Insurance Corp, her forehead. As colleagues her maiden budget speech in cal device imports to fund health spend $50.7bn in coming years the budget, saying it had failed lenges to fiscal consolidation the country’s biggest insurance off ered her candies, the July 2019. infrastructure. on a federal water scheme to ad- to address the slowdown in con- from slower real and nominal company. Govt in denial mode, Highlights Highlights of budget speech: Growth/ deficit

z Nominal GDP growth in 2020/21 estimated at 10% z Fiscal deficit for 2019/20 seen at 3.8% of GDP, for 2020/21 says Chidambaram at 3.5%, for 2021/22 at 3.3% and for 2022/23 at 3.1%. z Revenue deficit seen 2.7% of GDP in FY21 Borrowing IANS Sitharaman didn’t acknowledge it is forecast to be 6-6.5% for the z 2020/21 gross market borrowing seen at Rs7.8tn rupees New Delhi these two challenges. As she had next year. ($109.75bn) not proposed any solutions to “This is the lowest growth rate z 2020/21 net market borrowing seen at Rs5.36tn ($75.42bn) them, the economy would not in recent years and not in expecta- Expenditure ormer fi nance minister P turn around and there would not tions with Prime Minister Naren- z Revised expenditure 2019/20 Rs26.99tn ($379.77bn) Chidambaram yesterday ac- be any relief to the millions of poor dra Modi’s dream of achieving a z Expenditure for 2020/21 estimated at Rs30.42tn Fcused the government of be- and the middle class, the former $5tn economy,” he said. ($428.03bn) ing in a denial mode amid an eco- fi nance minister said. Punjab Chief Minister Ama- z Defence budget seen at Rs3.23tn ($45.45bn) in 2020/21 nomic downturn and said people “The government doesn’t be- rinder Singh trashed budget z Rs690bn rupees ($9.7bn) for healthcare spending, didn’t deserve such a budget. lieve in reforms, including struc- as high on pomposity and low Rs2.83tn rupees ($39.82bn) for agriculture and allied “The government is in com- tural ones, as the fi nance minis- on tangible and said the econ- activities plete denial that the economy ter has rejected every reform idea omy was not a priority for the zApproves Rs3.6tn ($50.65bn) for a federal water scheme faces a grave macroeconomic contained in the Economic Sur- Bharatiya Janata Party-led gov- Divestment challenge and the growth rate vey,” Chidambaram said. ernment and it was too busy z India pegs divestment target for 2020/21 at Rs2.1tn has declined in the six succes- Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas pursuing its negative and divi- ($29.55bn) sive quarters. There is nothing Aghadi alliance of the Shiv Sena, sive agenda. z Government to sell part of its holding in Life Insurance in the budget that could make us the Nationalist Congress Par- There was nothing in the Corp Transport believe that growth will revive in ty and the Congress slammed budget that could pave the way z India to develop 100 more airports by 2024 2020-21,” Chidambaram said. the budget, terming it a ‘pipe- for economic reforms or raise z Over 6,000km of highways to be monetised in 12 lots by “The claim of 6-6.5% growth dream’ and ignoring the ground public consumption - an imper- 2024 next year is astonishing and ir- realities, and completely ignor- ative for reviving the economy, z To privatise at least one major port responsible. The government ing Mumbai and Maharashtra. Singh said. Power/Industry has given up on reviving the “The budget is far away from The budget was nothing but z Government to provide Rs273bn ($3.84bn) for promotion economy and accelerating the the economic realities and is mere rhetoric, he said. It had of industry and commerce growth rate. It’s not promoting only promising dreams to the failed to address problems, be it z Firms operating old thermal power plants advised to shut private investment or increasing youth, farmers and commoners,” farmers, youth, industry/busi- units if emission norms not met effi ciency and creating jobs,” the Chief Minister Uddhav Thack- ness, the middle class or the poor. z India to allocate Rs44bn ($619.11mn) for clean air incentives Congress leader said. eray said. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister in cities with over 1mn people Stating that the Indian econ- He said the government hopes and Finance Minister Manish z Large solar power capacity to be set up alongside rail omy is demand-constrained and to achieve a 10% growth rate, but Sisodia said the budget off ered tracks, on land owned by Indian Railways investment-starved, Chidambar- it is barely 5% in the current year nothing for education or econ- An armed policeman guards bags containing budget papers inside am said Finance Minister Nirmala and as per the Economic Survey omy. parliament premises yesterday. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, February 2, 2020 PAKISTAN

Pakistani women Measures put in place for serving in Congo Pakistan’s safety: offi cial mission No Pakistani will be allowed awarded to travel back from China till 14-day quarantine: adviser UN medal Internews Islamabad Internews United Nations pecial Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health SDr Zafar Mirza has an- akistan’s female peace- nounced that no Pakistani keepers, deployed with the would be allowed to travel back PUnited Nations Organi- to the country from China till sation Stabilisation Mission in they complete a 14-day obser- the Democratic Republic of the vation period. Congo (MONUSCO), have been The adviser, while addressing Mirza: From Sunday (today) we will start carrying out tests to awarded a UN medal at a cer- a press conference in Islamabad determine the coronavirus. emony in Adikivu in South Kivu, yesterday, said that the agree- one of the provinces of the cen- ment in this regard had been this plan successfully, then we conduct their screening”. tral African country. fi nalised in a meeting held with will protect Pakistani people He said that while it is dif- The team of 15 female offi cers, the Chinese envoy in Pakistan. from this disease,” he assured. fi cult to detect the patents suf- who serve at the ranks of Major However, he informed report- Mirza has stated that fl ights fering from the coronavirus and Captain, have been sta- ers that further details of the from China will resume from without conducting laboratory tioned in the war-torn country agreement are still being worked February 3 (tomorrow), and tests, passengers suff ering from since June last year. out. Students and family members of Pakistani students living in the Chinese city of Wuhan, protest in that all passengers coming from high fever would be isolated for The offi cers are psychologists, Mirza shared that the policy is Islamabad to demand their return home. China will go through screen- proper tests. stress counsellors, vocational being implemented after China ing tests at all airports to detect Mirza said that the mortal- training offi cers, gender advis- declared that no Chinese citizen He said that the campaign will During the press conference, He also shared that Prime symptoms of coronavirus. ity rate is only 2.2% and that the ers, doctors, nurses, operations will be allowed to travel abroad explain the origins of the dis- Mirza also defended the govern- Minister Imran Khan is the He disclosed this during a majority of the patients were re- offi cers, information offi cers and till the completion of the 14-day ease and advise the people on ment’s decision to not evacuate “most worried” person regard- briefi ng to National Assembly’s covering. logistics offi cers, said a message observation period. the precautionary measures to Pakistani citizens from China. ing the disease, and is receiving Standing Committee on Health. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister received at UN Headquarters in “Those declared free of the be taken. The rebuttal comes as United “minute by minute” updates Mirza stressed that there is no Shah Mehmood Qureshi had a New York yesterday. virus after the period will be is- “The Pakistan Electronic Me- States and a few other countries from government offi cials. need for panic as the health min- telephone conversation with the A MONUSCO peacekeeping sued with a certifi cate that as- dia Regulatory Authority (PEM- have evacuated its citizens from Mirza also revealed that the istry, along with all other de- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang mission press release said that sures airport offi cials that they RA) chairman has reached out China and imposed a travel ban health ministry, in co-ordina- partments concerned, had been Yi. another 17 female offi cers from are free from the disease,” Mirza to all the TV channels. Through on the country. tion with other ministries, has “vigorously” working to handle According to a statement is- Pakistan are expected to join the said. public service messaging, we “Till now, seven or eight fi nalised a plan on how to deal this issue. sued by the Foreign Offi ce, the contingent this month. “Through this one measure, will brief the public,” Mirza said. countries have carried out evic- with passengers who will return The health expert explained foreign minister conveyed his UN peacekeepers rely heav- we have ensured Pakistan re- He said that the government tions or requested china for to the country from China in the that before boarding fl ights in condolences to them over the ily on engaging with the local mains free from the disease. is hoping that through the cam- evacuation,” Mirza said. future. China, passengers would face loss of precious lives due to the community – which feels more Because our case defi nition paign, the people will get to He added that China does not “Thirty to forty people have exit-screening, and when they outbreak of coronavirus in Chi- comfortable liaising and sharing says that travelling and staying know the basics of the virus. agree with the evacuations. planned this. If we implement reach Pakistan, “we will also na. information with military troops in China is an important factor Mirza also reiterated that Pa- “We should not forget that in that include women alongside [behind the spread of the dis- kistan has yet to detect the fi rst Wuhan, people from 120 coun- Pakistanis stranded in China’s Urumqi get extension in visa men, the mission said. ease],” he said. case of the virus. tries are living in the city, and “Throughout their deploy- Mirza stated that If Pakistan is While issuing an update on 120 countries agree that China A group of Pakistani students and community Meanwhile, some students took to social media to ment, the Pakistani female offi c- able to control the disease in Pa- the four Pakistani students who is correctly handling the meas- members stranded in the Chinese city of Urumqi appreciate the eff orts taken by the Pakistan embassy ers worked hard to win the trust kistanis who are present in Chi- had been diagnosed with the ures,” Mirza said. due to suspension of flights in the wake of the new and the Chinese government. of the community,” it said. na, then it has secured the coun- disease, the offi cial said that the He said that the World Health coronavirus outbreak in China have been granted On Friday, the group of nearly 150 Pakistani nationals According to the mission, the try from the disease, according students are being kept under Organisation (WHO) also be- an 11-day visa extension by Chinese authorities, it stuck at Urumqi airport in the northwestern Chinese offi cers have implemented many to information that doctors have observation. lieves that China’s eff orts are emerged yesterday. region of Xinjiang for the past four days had appealed projects, including vocational at this point. He added that early detection adequate. All of them have been provided hotel accommoda- to the government in Islamabad to evacuate them training, medical outreach, reg- He also shared with the re- of the disease had also helped Mirza reiterated that Pakistan tion, and food will be made available for them until back home. ular sessions of support for stu- porters that the country will the students. stands by China in its handling flights resume between Urumqi and Islamabad, ac- In video messages, the students and traders had said dents, local women and teachers soon receive the health kits Mirza announced on Wednes- of the crisis. cording to off icial sources in Beijing. they could neither leave the airport because many of exposed to trauma, and psycho- which would allow the country day that four Pakistani students “We are the most worried A senior off icial at the Pakistan embassy in China said them had reached the expiry of their visas, nor could logical workshops for Congolese to detect the virus. in China had tested positive for about our own kids. But we have that the Chinese authorities in Beijing and Urumqi are they fly home due to Pakistan’s suspension of its police personnel. “From Sunday we will start the novel coronavirus (nCoV). to take the right measures for us, fully co-operating and had assured that all of the Paki- flights to and from China in the wake of the coronavi- “This team’s extraordinary carrying out tests to determine The adviser, however, refused and not follow other countries,” stani nationals who are stranded in Urumqi are being rus outbreak. endeavours to serve the UN is the coronavirus,” he said. to reveal the names of the stu- he told reporters. provided accommodation, food, and healthcare. “We request the Pakistani government to evacuate us worthy of praise,” added the Mirza also shared that, eff ec- dents with the media. The special assistant said that The embassy off icials are also in contact with the from here this is our constitutional right,” Tariq Rauf, press release. tive immediately, the govern- “The government will take Pakistan has to take measures Pakistani nationals in Urumqi and as of now, “there is a PhD scholar from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla The Governor of South Kivu ment will launch an awareness good care of the students who without compromising the safe- absolutely no problem and diff iculty being faced by district who was studying in China, had said in his Province, Theo Ngwabidje, pre- campaign on electronic media have contracted the virus,” he ty and well-being of its people these people”, the off icial said. video message. sented the Pakistani offi cers regarding the disease. said. living in China. with the award at a ceremony. Lawmakers seek salary By choice increases of up to 400%

Pakistani bureaucracy The bill also recommends 7mn poor women to get Rs2,000 monthly recommends raise in an amendment to the Deputy employees’ salaries Chairman and Deputy Speak- Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq er (Salaries, Allowances and Awan has said that the Ehsas Kafalat Programme is a progress towards Internews Privileges) Act 1975 to increase making Pakistan a welfare state. Islamabad the salary of the Senate dep- In a tweet on Friday, she said that 7mn poor women will be given a uty chairman and NA deputy Rs2,000 monthly stipend under the programme. Speaker from Rs185,000 to Awan said that this programme is a reflection of “one woman, one bank ome members of parlia- Rs829,000, which is equivalent account”, and will prove to be an important milestone in making women ment have submitted a to basic pay of a judge of the Is- economically-independent. Sdraft bill to the Senate lamabad High Court. She said that the issuance of Ehsas Kafalat Card is an important step Secretariat to increase by up to The draft bill also seeks towards the ideal of the state as “mother”. 400% the salaries of the Senate amendment to Members of chairman and deputy chairman, Parliament (Salaries and Allow- the National Assembly (NA) ances) Act 1974 to increase the subject cited Bill in the Senate. diff erence between the salaries speaker and deputy speaker, and salaries of senators and MNAs An advance copy of the Bill is of provincial and federal secre- give a 100% raise to all mem- from Rs150,000 to Rs300,000. forwarded herewith for neces- tariats. bers of the National Assembly The bill also seeks amend- sary action at your end”. The fi nance secretary could (MNAs) and senators, besides ment to the existing statutes to The statement of objects and not attend the meeting. seeking an upward revision in entitle each MP to 20 business reasons as mentioned in the bill Additional Secretary (Fi- the travelling allowance for all class open return air tickers says that it has been felt that no nance) Sohail Rajpoot gave the MPs and their families. from the airport nearest to the substantial increase in their sal- briefi ng. These massive raises in their constituency to Islamabad. aries has been made so far. There is a proposal under salaries and additional perks The bill says that the lawmak- Resultantly, the salaries consideration of the Finance are being sought in view of the er’s spouse and children up to 18 drawn by the chairman or Division that Grade 1 to 22 em- “recent price hike and devalu- years of age can also utilise these speaker, deputy chairman or ployees should get a 120% raise. ation” which, according to the tickets for travelling within the deputy speaker, and the MNAs Another proposal under con- bill’s statement of objects and country. and senators, are not suffi cient sideration is that Grade 1-16 reasons, has aff ected the chair- According to the Senate Sec- to meet their daily expenditures. employees should get 50% of man, speaker, deputy chairman, retariat’s “IMMEDIATE” let- Meanwhile, the highest fo- their basic salary as utility al- deputy speaker, and all mem- ter written to the ministry of rum of bureaucracy in Pakistan lowance, grade 17-20 employees bers of parliament “alongside parliamentary aff airs on Janu- has recommended that the Fed- should get 120% of their basic general public”. ary 28, Senators Naseebullah eral Secretariat’s Grade 1 to 22 salary as utility allowance, and A copy of the bill, which the Bazai (independent from Balu- employees be given a 120% raise Grade 21-22 employees should Senate Secretariat has already chistan), Sajjad Hussain Turi in salaries, and an executive al- get 150%. referred to the ministries of (independent from the erst- lowance be given to the federal Federal secretaries, who are parliamentary aff airs and -fi while Federally Administered secretary and additional secre- in-charges of ministries and nance for their input, shows Tribal Areas Fata [Fata]), Sardar taries deputed to ministries and divisions, should be eligible amendments to the Chairman Mohamed Yaqoob Khan Nasir divisions from January 1, 2020. for executive allowance (worth and Speaker (Salaries, Allow- (Pakistan Muslim League – Na- These recommendations Rs400,000), equal to that of the ances and Privileges) Act 1975 waz), Dilawar Khan (independ- were made in a meeting of the chief secretary. to increase the existing sal- ent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Secretaries Committee held on There is also a proposal to ary of the Senate chairman and Dr Ashok Kumar (the National January 23. raise the salaries of cadre posts NA Speaker from Rs250,000 to Party, Baluchistan) and Sham- The committee asked the Fi- in the Federal Secretariat and Rs870,000, which is equivalent mim Afridi (independent, erst- nance Division to process cases the basic salaries of section of- Women gather in Karachi yesterday to mark World Hijab Day. World Hijab Day aims to promote to basic pay of a Supreme Court while Fata) “have given notice of in this regard. fi cers, deputy secretaries and religious tolerance by calling for both Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear the hijab. judge. their intention to introduce the The meeting discussed the joint secretaries, by 100%. Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 21 PHILIPPINES Call to avoid bias amid virus scare

By Catherine S Valente when they are at their most vulnerable, but em- Manila Times pathise with them instead,” Andanar said. “Our country is working with other countries, their government health agencies, and with in- alacanang yesterday asked Filipinos to ternational health organisations to contain the remain calm and not to discriminate out virus from spreading. Mof fear over the existence of the deadly Preventing the outbreak of the 2019-nCoV is 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that origi- not something we can do alone,” he added. nated from Wuhan, China. Andanar also asked the public not to hoard face Presidential Communications Secretary Mar- masks and create an unnecessary scarcity, that tin Andanar made the statement after the coro- may prevent others from taking precautionary navirus outbreak has stoked a wave of anti-China measures to protect themselves. sentiment around the globe, particularly in the “Let us not resort to panic, sow fear-monger- Philippines. ing or spread misinformation. “We appeal to the public to remain calm, lev- Solidarity, empathy, and co-operation are el-headed, and compassionate, as we all work what we need to successfully take actions that towards dealing with and containing the threat will overcome this health concern,” he added. of the 2019-novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) The fast-spreading 2019-nCoV has killed more spread,” Andanar said in a statement. than 200 people and infected at least 10,000 as of “As the issue of a viral outbreak affects every- Friday. one, let us not engage in discriminatory behav- The disease, which manifests as fever, cough iour, nor act with any bias towards our fellow- and difficulty breathing, has gone beyond Chi- men. nese borders, with confirmed cases in other parts Black smoke billows from a burning warehouse in Manila, yesterday. The reality is every one is susceptible to the vi- of Asia, North America and Europe. rus,” he added. On Thursday, the Philippines confirmed its The Palace official also urged the public “not first case - a Chinese woman from Wuhan who let fear turn us against one another, especially if arrived in the country on January 21. these fears are unfounded.” She is currently being treated at San Lazaro “We must not stigmatise people, especially Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Skyway section collapses Belmonte forms task force after blaze in Manila By Jan Arcilla “The materials that were Manila Times being burned were highly to monitor cases in Quezon combustible such as plastics, raw materials for the manu- an Arcillaa section of the facturing of plastic pallets and By Franz Lewin Embudo Skyway Stage 3 Elevated cartons in the area,” Samillano Manila Times JExpressway in Pandacan, said. Manila collapsed under the The fire was put under con- heat of a huge fire that struck trol at 1.52pm and declared ayor Josefi na Belmonte a nearby warehouse yesterday. out by 2.52pm. There were no formed a task force to Fire hit the San Miguel reported casualties, accord- Mmonitor and address Yamamura Packaging Corp’s ing to Samillano, but the es- cases of the 2019 novel corona- Manila Plastics Plant 3 along timated worth of damage was virus acute respiratory disease Tomas Claudio Street at P15mn. (2019-nCoVARD) in Quezon 10.38am. “There were a few workers City in accordance with a direc- “As you can see, the fire was and, accordingly, they im- tive by the Department of the quite huge. Due to the intense mediately got out of the area; Interior and Local Government. heat, the steel in the founda- so, I believe they are safe,” he Belmonte said the task force tion melted, causing the high- added. is composed of the QC Health way to collapse,” Manila Fire Samillano added that the Department (QCHD), Public District Deputy Marshal Rob- cause of the fire had not been Aff airs and Information Serv- erto Samillano Jr said. determined, but that the Ma- ices Department, Barangay and He added that Task Force nila Fire District would inves- Community Relations Depart- Bravo was raised as the fire tigate reports of welding ac- A section of Skyway Stage 3 collapses under the intense heat of a ment and the Solid Waste Man- reached fifth alarm at 11am. tivities in the area. fire that broke out from a nearby warehouse in Pandacan, Manila. agement Department, among others. “It is better to be ready than be surprised by the possible cases Philippine carriers in the city,” said Belmonte. cancel fl ights to China Three local hospitals — Que- Iraq to assist in OFW repatriation over coronavirus zon City Medical Center, Ro- Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Off ice sario Maclang Bautista General frontline responders and logistics personnel gear up in preparation Three Philippine airlines yester- Hospital and Novaliches District for dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), after the By Javier J Ismael pines and Iraq since 1976 and fi cking so as to move forward day cancelled flights to China, Hospital — were also included in first case was confirmed in the Philippines. Manila Times delivered the message from and have formal labour rela- joining many others around the the task force. President Rodrigo Duterte tions with the Philippines. world that have done the same, “These departments will work Lazaro Hospital for extensive residents to follow the Health reaffi rming the Philippines’ He appealed to the Philip- after health off icials confirmed hard to fi ght against the emer- check-up, Belmonte said. department’s advice on how to he Iraqi government interest in strengthening bi- pine government to reconsid- the Philippines’ first case of coro- gence of nCoV in our city, but “The city’s Disaster Risk Re- prevent the spread of nCoV. has assured the Philip- lateral ties and advancing the er the ongoing repatriation, navirus. A 38-year-old Chinese they are also ready to act if need- duction and Management Offi ce These include frequent and Tpines that it is ready to welfare of Filipinos in Iraq. emphasising with an analogy woman who arrived from Wuhan, ed,” she added. (DRRMO) assisted in the transfer proper handwashing, cover- assist in its repatriation ef- Secretary Mama-o said that the country could act as China, tested positive for the Meanwhile, Belmonte with its staff wearing full protec- ing of the mouth and nose forts, particularly in provid- Duterte tasked no less than a “fi re extinguisher” and help virus on Thursday. President Ro- slammed the spread of fake news tive suit,” she added. when coughing or sneezing, ing safe passage for distressed Cabinet member to ensure that Iraq in de-escalating tensions drigo Duterte on Friday banned online, claiming cases of nCoV QC DRRMO head Mike Mar- washing hands after sneezing overseas Filipino workers mechanisms were in place and in the region. the entry of Chinese arriving in the city. “We have to call these asigan said the two did not want or coughing, using alcohol or (OFWs). Filipinos would be taken care He said public announce- from Wuhan, at the centre of the circulating online reports as fake to ride the ambulance so they sanitiser, ensuring that food is The assurance was con- of in case a similar untoward ments from diff erent coun- epidemic, and provinces with news. As of now, no one in Que- used their personal car and were well-cooked, and maintaining veyed by Iraqi Foreign Aff airs incident occurs in the future. tries in the Middle East about reported cases of the disease. zon City has been tested positive escorted by health offi cials en a healthy lifestyle to boost im- Assistant Minister and Head According to Mama-o, As- repatriation eff orts signal that Carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu for the novel coronavirus,” she route to San Lazaro Hospital, munity. of Asia and Australia Depart- sistant Minister Salih assured the region was on the brink Pacific and the local unit of said. where they were advised to un- Dr Esperanza Arias, QCHD ment Abdullah Hassan Salih them that, “everything is now of trouble. The Philippine AirAsia Group Bhd said they were But Belmonte confi rmed that dergo self-quarantine for 14 days head, has oriented medical doc- to the Philippine delegation under control,” and that the government has ordered the cancelling flights starting this a Filipino couple, with a travel after they found no clear symp- tors about nCoV and activated led by Secretary and Presi- Iraqi government, particularly mandatory repatriation of Fil- month. “In light of developments history to China as part of their toms of nCoV. fever lanes in various health fa- dential Adviser on Overseas the MoFA and the Ministry of ipinos in Iraq amid escalating related to the novel coronavirus, work as seafarers, went to the The QCHD had been regularly cilities. Filipino Workers Aff airs and Interior (MoI), is ready to assist tensions in the Middle East. Cebu Pacific will be cancelling all Diliman Doctors Hospital (DDH) monitoring the couple’s con- “We have co-ordinated with Muslim Aff airs Abdullah Ma- the Philippines in its repatria- The Department of Foreign flights between the Philippines because of back pain. dition since, according to Bel- the DRRMO regarding the trans- ma-o who paid a courtesy call tion eff orts. Aff airs said the raising of Alert and mainland China from Feb “The couple has a travel his- monte. port of patients under investi- to the Ministry of Foreign Af- Salih said, as an initial step, Level 4 in Iraq was “a result of 2 to March 29, 2020,” the airline tory to China so the Quezon City “Quezon City remains free gation (PUIs) and will include fairs (MoFA) in Baghdad, Iraq. it was now co-ordinating with the government’s co-ordina- said. The country’s largest budget Health Department, DDH and from novel coronavirus,” she coronavirus in our pre-clinic In the meeting, Mama-o MoI, partner agencies and the tion meetings on the situation carrier, said it also reduced trips to the Department of Health de- said. lectures and in their information stressed the strong bilateral Philippine Embassy in Bagh- in the Middle East in the past Hong Kong and Macau. cided to bring them to the San The mayor also advised local drive on polio,” Arias said. relations between the Philip- dad to combat human traf- few days.” Cabinet to discuss impact of VFA termination

By William Depasupil the VFA. The Justice Secretary, VFA, which was ratifi ed by the partment of Foreign Aff airs, but whether the VFA is a treaty or an Manila Times however, refused to disclose the Senate of the Philippines on May with oversight coming from the executive agreement. recommendation of the com- 27, 1999, following the closure of Offi ce of the President. The VFA is one of two exist- mittee, but said “there was a the American bases in the coun- According to Guevarra, there ing bilateral agreements be- ustice Secretary Menardo consensus to present the pros try in 1991. The study was done would be a fi nal meeting of the tween the Philippines and the Guevarra yesterday said the and cons of the VFA termination in consultation with the Presi- PCVF tomorrow and, afterwards, United States. The other is the JCabinet Cluster on Justice to the president, notwithstand- dential Committee on Visiting a memo would be submitted to the Philipines-US Mutual Defence and Security is set to brief the ing his seeming resoluteness to Forces (PCVF) and the Cabinet president next week. Treaty. President Rodrigo Duterte on the end the agreement.” Cluster on Justice and Security. He said the study, as ordered Under the VFA, American impact of terminating the Visit- The president ordered the ter- The PCVF is the lead intera- by the president, dealt only with forces are allowed to stay in the ing Forces Agreement (VFA). mination of the VFA following gency mechanism that provides the procedure for termination, country for joint military exer- Guevarra’s statement came the cancellation of Sen. Ronald policy co-ordination and ad- “not on the wisdom of the Ex- cises with Filipino forces, which following the meeting of the dela Rosa’s US visa. vice, guidance and assessment ecutive action.” include the Balikatan (shoulder- members of the Cabinet cluster He had earlier asked the De- to ensure that all Status of Forces Guevarra added that the study to-shoulder) Exercises and the committee on Friday to discuss partment of Justice to study the Agreements serves the national would provide explanation Co-operation Afl oat Readiness their recommendations about procedure for terminating the interest. It is attached to the De- on nagging questions such as and Training. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, February 2, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF What the ECB’s strategy Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar review must do [email protected] 44350478 (News), By Lucrezia Reichlin The fi rst phase of the ECB review Both hypotheses suggest that the ECB policies. The second option, as under London will be narrow, focusing on defi ning would have fared better had it clearly the fi rst two hypotheses, is to maintain 44466404 (Sport), the bank’s infl ation target, the role committed to a symmetric quantitative an accommodative monetary policy, 44466636 (Home delivery) of monetary aggregates as signals of target for infl ation or nominal GDP. possibly in coordination with fi scal ith her recent medium- to long-term infl ation, and That would have implied, for example, policy. This would be the right thing 44350474 announcement of communication. This is expected to be not increasing interest rates in 2011 to do if policymakers believed that facebook.com/gulftimes the European Central concluded in the fi rst half of 2020, to be (as the ECB did) in response to the persistent slack in the real economy WBank’s long-overdue followed by a second phase of refl ection. temporary infl ationary eff ect of higher would end up aff ecting potential twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar strategy review, new ECB President Any meaningful review of these oil prices. It also would have implied output. Christine Lagarde has generated high issues must objectively and critically starting asset purchases in 2012 instead Most analyses imply that ECB expectations. The review’s outcome analyse the decade since the fi nancial of 2015, and not stopping them in 2018. policy has in general been too cautious will be the fi rst important signal of how crisis, during which average eurozone The third hypothesis, favoured during the last decade. Moreover, Lagarde intends to lead the institution infl ation has been well below the ECB’s by some central bankers, is that even if one accepts the structural GULF TIMES – and of how the ECB is likely to objective of “below, but close to, 2%,” persistently low eurozone infl ation explanation for trend infl ation and takes address persistently low infl ation in the and also lower than in the United States refl ects structural factors such as the view that infl ation expectations eurozone. and the United Kingdom. In particular, adverse demographics, low growth have fallen independently of past The world is very diff erent than it the review should quantify the costs of expectations, and the associated policies, the “do-nothing” option is was in 2003, when the ECB’s strategy tolerating a systematically below-target increase in demand for safe assets. likely to cause expectations to spiral Farewell to the EU: was last revised, and the institution level of infl ation, relative to pursuing This explanation thus draws parallels further downward, possibly leading has itself undergone deep changes other policy options. between the eurozone and Japan, to a defl ationary trap. One then has to since the 2008 fi nancial crisis. Faced There are at least three hypotheses where aggressive monetary and fi scal consider the costs linked both to the with a global recession and then the to explain the ECB’s inability to achieve policies since 2013 have failed to lift the associated relative price adjustments epic opportunity 2011-2012 eurozone debt crisis, the ECB its infl ation objective. The “policy economy out of its two-decade-long and to the eff ect that the resulting abandoned the traditional approach of mistakes” hypothesis maintains that slough of low infl ation. upward pressure on the real interest rate passively meeting banks’ demand for the ECB should have implemented Advocates of the structural view would have on the burden of private liquidity – its initial response to the more aggressive policies – in particular, argue that it would be better for the and public debt. These costs are likely or a grave mistake? fi nancial crisis. Instead, the ECB started QE – between 2012 and 2014. If these ECB’s policymakers to adopt a lower to be greater than those associated with actively managing its balance sheet in “mistakes” stemmed from an ill- infl ation target rather than try to the fi nancial-stability risk of doing order both to ease monetary policy and defi ned ECB strategy, then its strategy engineer a monetary stimulus that “too much,” which in any case can be With the United Kingdom fi nally leaving the European stabilise the fi nancial system. will have to be adjusted; if they were ends up infl ating asset prices and addressed using prudential tools. Union after almost half a century of membership on Furthermore, the ECB has radically the result of political constraints, then jeopardising fi nancial stability. After all, The ECB’s new strategy will have to be expanded its operational tools. In 2014, its decision-making process should be their argument implies, there is little based on the kind of quantitative analysis Friday, stage has been set for 11 months of potentially it introduced negative interest rates on changed. evidence that stable low infl ation is bad needed to answer these questions. But fraught talks that will determine whether the two sides banks’ deposits with national central The second explanation highlights for welfare. it also must recognise that economists can avert a chaotic divorce. banks, and began providing the market the inadequate coordination of fi scal, But this third hypothesis can are still a long way from understanding At the EU headquarters in Brussels, the British fl ag was with “forward guidance” concerning fi nancial, and monetary policy in lead to two alternative policy the dynamics of low infl ation. Given its future policies. And, since 2015, the the eurozone. In 2009, for example, recommendations. The fi rst is a “do- this uncertainty, the ECB should aim to lowered. Little will change immediately, however, as a ECB has engaged in asset purchases monetary easing was accompanied nothing” approach, coupled with a adopt robust policies that cause the least transition period keeps the United Kingdom as a member (known as quantitative easing, or QE), by a delayed cleanup of the banking downward adjustment of the ECB’s damage under a broad range of scenarios. in all but name until end-2020. causing its balance sheet to double sector and fi scal austerity, leading to a infl ation target in line with actual – Project Syndicate compared to 2008. Finally, the ECB has second recession that the ECB was late infl ation. Such a course of action While it marks a new era for the UK, it has cast off from assumed larger prudential supervisory to identify. And in 2012-2014, a neutral is justifi ed if policymakers assume z Lucrezia Reichlin, a former director the EU obviously for an uncertain future. responsibilities vis-à-vis European fi scal stance was coupled with both that potential output growth in the of research at the European Central After 1,317 days of unprecedented political turmoil banks under the Single Supervisory insuffi cient monetary stimulus and eurozone has declined independently Bank, is Professor of Economics at the triggered by the Brexit referendum, the UK is now legally Mechanism. banking-sector deleveraging. of past fi scal and monetary stabilisation London Business School. out. During the transition phase that lasts until the year- end, Britain will be able to trade freely with the EU and will be subject to its laws, even though has no say in making them, according to Bloomberg. Britons will still use the same lines at the airport, be able to take their pets with them on holiday freely, and will still enjoy free data- roaming on their mobile phones. All that will change Some analysts on December 31, if the UK and Europe believe an fail to agree on their uncertain future future relationship. If they can’t, they will now stares at the default to conducting business on World post-Brexit UK Trade Organisation terms - meaning import and export tariff s and border checks will be imposed where now there are none. When the exit day fi nally came, after 3-1/2 years of wrangling since the 2016 referendum, it was an anticlimax of sorts: while Brexiteers waving fl ags toasted freedom in the rain, many Britons showed indiff erence or relief, a Reuters dispatch said. Leaving was once a far-fetched idea: the UK joined in 1973 as “the sick man of Europe” and less than two decades ago British leaders were arguing about whether to join the euro. But the turmoil of the eurozone crisis, fears about mass immigration and miscalculations by former Prime Minister The new ECB President Christine Lagarde has generated high expectations. David Cameron led to the 52% to 48% vote to leave in 2016. The EU’s most powerful leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, cast Brexit as a sad moment that was a turning point for Europe. The EU warned that leaving would be worse than staying. Beware the revenge impeachment Cast either as an epic opportunity or a grave mistake, Brexit has turned long-held views of Britain upside down By Cass R Sunstein The year was 1987. President Ronald politicised. Senators would feel create impeachment-happy future just as the world grapples with the rise of China and the Bloomberg News Reagan nominated Judge Robert Bork emboldened to stop nominees for just Republicans, seeking to unseat West’s deepest divisions since the 1991 fall of the Soviet to serve on the US Supreme Court. No one reason: They disagreed with them. Democratic presidents. one could doubt Bork’s experience or Second, they argued that public A less-than-ideal response to Union, whose liberated satellite states later joined the EU. ormer US Solicitor General and competence. He had had an illustrious vilifi cation of judicial nominees that worry would be to hope that the It also diminishes the EU, Reuters says. At the stroke of federal judge Kenneth Starr career. would become common, and that precedent would be set instead by midnight in Brussels, the bloc lost 15% of its economy, made a simple argument this Bork’s opponents instead focused constraints of civility and charity might the preposterous argument proff ered week on behalf of President on what really concerned them, which be obliterated. They suggested that in by Starr and the retired criminal its biggest military spender and the world’s international F Donald Trump’s impeachment defence. were his likely votes. They argued that light, some people would refuse law professor Alan Dershowitz: fi nancial capital, London. “We are living in the ‘age of impeach- that he was an extremist, “out of the to be nominated; that the president that presidential wrongdoing is not Some analysts believe an uncertain future now stares at ment’,” he said on Monday, urging the mainstream.” In a defi ning speech, would tend to select people without impeachable unless it is also a statutory Senate to acquit Trump and “return Senator Ted Kennedy put it this way: much of a written record; and that the crime or other violation of law. the post-Brexit UK. One analyst said the UK, which was to norms” that counsel against using Robert Bork’s America is a land in which confi rmation process would get ugly. That argument is a grotesque once part of the world’s most powerful economic bloc, impeachment as a political weapon. women would be forced into back- You could make a good argument that betrayal of the Constitution, because may be getting smaller as an inward-looking island. If Trump is removed from offi ce, Starr alley abortions, blacks would sit at they were right. the key phrase of the impeachment That said, the fact remains Brexit provides the UK a real was suggesting, every future president segregated lunch counters, rogue police As a case in point, consider clause (“other high Crimes and will be vulnerable, at least if the House could break down citizen’s doors on Senate Majority Leader Mitch Misdemeanors”) was clearly understood opportunity yet again to make its own decisions and rules of Representatives is controlled by the midnight raids, school children could McConnell’s disgraceful refusal to to include egregious abuses of power, as a sovereign nation. opposing political party, and if the Senate not be taught about evolution, writers allow a confi rmation hearing for Judge such as violations of civil liberties and can be persuaded to go along. A president and artists could be censored at the Merrick Garland, nominated to the misuse of the pardon power. named Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders or whim of the government, and the door Supreme Court by President Barack A much better response is to insist Elizabeth Warren might well be exposed of the Federal courts would be shut on Obama in 2016. McConnell’s refusal that policy disagreements are never To Advertise to a horrifi c impeachment battle, simply the fi ngers of millions of citizens. is the culmination of a process of a legitimate basis for impeachment, because of the Trump precedent. The attack on Bork eventually gave politicisation that did not by any means to agree that the Constitution sets a [email protected] True, it’s bizarre to see this argument rise to a verb, “to Bork,” defi ned by start with Bork’s defeat, but that was very high bar, and to focus intently and Display coming from Starr, whose 1998 report Merriam-Webster as, “to attack or certainly aggravated by it. specifi cally on the two articles now on President Bill Clinton’s liaisons with defeat (a nominee or candidate for Moreover, some opponents of before the US Senate, alleging gross 44466621 44418811 his White House aide Monica Lewinsky public offi ce) unfairly through an Supreme Court nominees – whether abuse of power and obstruction of made its own contribution to altering organised campaign of harsh public Republicans or Democrats – have been justice. Classified impeachment “norms.” Nonetheless, criticism or vilifi cation.” willing and eager to attack them in ways Whether you’re a Republican or 44466609 44418811 his argument is a reasonable. It deserves At the time, Republicans made two that are grossly unfair and sometimes a Democrat, it’s reasonable to fear a an answer. general arguments against those who vicious. United States of Impeachment. Subscription If you think that Starr is wrong, you were seeking (successfully, as it turned In this light, it isn’t crazy to might consider an earlier episode in out) to block Bork’s nomination. worry that in the current polarised z Cass R Sunstein is a Bloomberg [email protected] American history, when Republican First, they said that if judicial political environment, presidential Opinion columnist. He is the author of warnings to the same eff ect were equally nominees could be defeated because impeachment will be transformed “The Cost-Benefi t Revolution” and a co- self-serving – and mostly turned out to of their likely votes, the confi rmation into a political weapon – and that author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved be right. process would become far more Trump’s impeachment and trial will About Health, Wealth and Happiness.” Gulf Times Sunday, February 2, 2020 23 COMMENT Has Davos man changed?

By Joseph E Stiglitz environment, as well as their grasped the urgency of responding to Davos shareholders. Some 45 years ago, climate change and the scope of what with Sandy Grossman, I showed in a is needed. And some have actually standard economic framework that taken giant strides. There might still his year marked the 50th maximising shareholder value would be some “greenwashing” – banks anniversary of the World not maximise societal welfare. In that talk about energy-efficient light Economic Forum’s fl ag- speech after speech this year, business bulbs as they lend money to coal- Tship meeting of the world’s leaders and academics explained how fired power plants – but the tide has business and political elites in Davos, Milton Friedman’s successful advocacy turned. Switzerland. Much has changed since of shareholder capitalism led directly A few business leaders also my fi rst Davos in 1995. Back then, there to the crises we face today – including, recognised that our economic was euphoria over globalisation, hope in the US, opioid addiction, childhood and social maladies will not cure for ex-communist countries’ transi- diabetes, declining life expectancy themselves – that even if most tion to the market, and confi dence that amid soaring “deaths of despair” – businesses were socially motivated, a new technologies would open up new and the political divisions they have single-minded focus on profi ts entails vistas from which all would benefi t. fuelled. a race to the bottom. A soft-drink Businesses, working with government, To be sure, recognition that there company that doesn’t want to produce would lead the way. is a problem is necessary if we are to addictive sugar-rich drinks that can Today, with the world facing change course. But we also have to contribute to childhood diabetes climate, environmental, and inequality understand that the causes of societal risks losing out to a less scrupulous crises, the mood is very diff erent. maladies go beyond maximising enterprise. Facebook, willing to provide a shareholder value. At the root of the In short, unfettered capitalism platform for mis/disinformation and problem is neoliberalism’s excessive has played a central role in creating political manipulation, regardless faith in markets and scepticism of the multiple crises confronting our of the consequences for democracy, government, which underpins a policy societies today. If capitalism is to has shown the dangers of a privately agenda focused on deregulation and work – if it is to address these crises controlled monopolistic surveillance tax cuts. After a 40-year experiment, and serve society – it can’t do so economy. Corporate leaders, and we can declare it a failure. Growth in its current form. There must be not just in the fi nancial sector, have has been lower, and most of the gains a new kind of capitalism – what I displayed remarkable moral turpitude. went to the top. While this should be have elsewhere called progressive Moreover, multilateralism is obvious, there is no consensus among capitalism, entailing a better balance of under attack. Its strongest defender our business leaders. government, markets, and civil society. historically, the United States, now Even though the applause for The discussion at Davos this year has an administration committed to US President Donald Trump, who may be part of a move in the right “America First,” and to undermining delivered one of the opening addresses, direction, but if leaders truly mean Donald Trump became the first sitting US President to address the annual conclave of the rich and powerful at the Swiss ski resort global co-operation, even as the need was the most anaemic I have seen for what they say, we need to see some of Davos for 18 years, closing the summit with a mostly upbeat speech that declared the United States “open for business”. for co-operation in a host of areas a global leader, almost no one openly proof: corporations paying taxes – including peace, health, and the criticised him. Perhaps audience and liveable wages, for a start, and environment – becomes increasingly members feared a critical tweet or felt which will allow the US, already the get a fair share of tax revenues. This and collective bargaining, at the respecting – and even advocating – apparent. gratitude for a tax cut that benefi ted leader in per capita greenhouse-gas led Rob Cox, global editor of Reuters centre of the discussion, even though government regulations to protect This year’s meeting highlighted billionaires and large corporations at emissions, to pollute even more. Breakingviews, to suggest that in Europe such reforms are at the top our health, safety, workers, and the disenchantment with the increasingly the expense of nearly everyone else Moreover, despite much talk about stakeholder capitalism might be a of the new European Commission’s environment. - Project Syndicate dominant American model of (indeed, tax rates in the US will rise for stakeholder capitalism, there was strategy to unfetter CEOs even more: agenda. To their credit, a few US shareholder-fi rst, profi t-maximising some 70% of those in the middle). no discussion of reducing CEO and If they fail to meet profi t goals, they fi rms, such as PayPal, explained their z Joseph E Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate fi rms. More than 50 years ago, WEF Cognitive dissonance – or managerial pay to ameliorate growing could waffl e and say they were meeting commitment to paying liveable wages, in economics, is University Professor founder and head Klaus Schwab dishonesty – was on full display. pay disparities, or of the fi rst element broader environmental, social, and going well beyond the minimum wage at Columbia University and Chief argued for stakeholder capitalism: Attendees could highlight the of corporate social responsibility: governance objectives. mandated by law. Economist at the Roosevelt Institute. enterprises should be accountable importance of climate change and tout paying your fair share of taxes by Nor were reforms that might And yet some of the business He is the author, most recently, of for the interests of their customers, their corporations’ response to it, and curbing multinational tax avoidance, increase workers’ bargaining power, leaders at Davos this year, especially People, Power, and Profi ts: Progressive workers, communities, and the yet welcome Trump’s deregulation, and ensuring that developing countries through the strengthening of unions those from Europe, seemed to have Capitalism for an Age of Discontent.

Death of a sports dad superstar Three-day forecast TODAY doubt much-too-in-depth analysis, loved the game of basketball, in all its to her name in just four years in the Maximum Temperature : 220c By Logan Jones Minimum Temperature : 130c Los Angeles Times grinning at his advice. forms and at every level. Gigi, from all pros. A’ja Wilson entered the league in You could also tell by a few of Kobe’s reports, had inherited that same love, 2018, earned All-Star accolades twice MONDAY latest social media likes, chuckling along and together the pair used any platform and has her Vegas Aces poised for a Maximum Temperature : 210c hen Kobe Bryant died with the rest of sports Twitter as soon- they could to prove persistent advocates 2020 title run. Ionescu, holder of the Minimum Temperature : 130c NCAA record for career triple-doubles on Sunday morning in a to-be No 1 WNBA pick Sabrina Ionescu for changing the way the world viewed TUESDAY helicopter crash, along realised she had posted another triple- women in basketball. (for men as well as women) will be Maximum Temperature : 220c Wwith his 13-year-old double for the University of Oregon and The WNBA, less than two weeks drafted in April. Minimum Temperature : 130c daughter Gianna and seven others, the acknowledging Alana Beard’s retirement removed from a landmark collective The future of women’s basketball world wept. from the women’s game. bargaining agreement designed to is bright, but now it will be forced to Fisherman's forecast The sudden loss ripped through Bryant’s vocal support for NCAA elevate the earning potential of its move forward absent two of its most the connective tissue that binds the women’s hoops and the WNBA marked stars, continues to make strides in compelling allies and mourning what WARNING Inshore : Strong wind expected sports universe, a breach made worse a new focus for the LA icon – one that viewership as it fi ghts behind the scenes might have been. How much faster at some places by the knowledge that Kobe’s and Gigi’s the sport and perhaps the man himself for more media attention. However, would the women’s game have grown, Offshore : Expected strong wind stories had many chapters yet to be badly needed. For two decades, he’d there remains little crossover between how far would Gigi have risen? How and high sea WEATHER written. Though much will be made been Showtime Kobe, 81-point-night NBA fans’ breathless dedication to their exactly would the continued support of Inshore : Moderate temperature of Kobe’s legacy and loss as one of the Kobe, one-two-three-four-fi ve rings teams and their willingness to tune in to, a bona fi de basketball superstar and the daytime with slight NBA’s transcendent superstars, it is the Kobe. To some, his legacy would be say, the Washington Mystics’ Elena Delle emergence of his daughter as a player dust to blowing dust have changed the course of the women’s at places at times and haunting knowledge of what was still to forever tainted by 2003’s very public Donne battling through a serious back some clouds, cold by come for father and daughter together rape allegations and the out-of-court injury in the 2019 WNBA championship game. night that triggers a unique sense of sorrow. settlement and apology that followed. in October. The Bryants, through their Kobe Bryant’s confi dence in his Offshore : Scattered clouds at Kobe and Gigi died on their way to Yet, after 2015 and his retirement ties to active players in both leagues, daughters’ ability to create their own times WIND a basketball tournament at Bryant’s from the NBA, Kobe wrote over if not were busy building that bridge. legacies – and to further his – should be Inshore : Northwesterly 10-20/25 Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand erased the controversy. One of the most Kobe made his intentions clear. In a as honoured as the rest of his towering KT Oaks – Gigi as a player, her dad as recognisable athletes in the world had CNN interview two weeks ago, he was achievements. The images of the Offshore : Northwesterly 15-25/30 KT her coach. They died on their way to successfully reinvented himself, adding asked if there would ever come a day superhuman purple-and-gold Kobe Visibility : 4-8/3 KM pushing women’s basketball forward. to an overwhelming resume. He became when women could play with the men fl ying toward the rim will endure as long Offshore : 4-8/10 FT You could tell just by the way they Kobe the thoughtful artist, producing in the NBA. He didn’t hesitate: “Right as basketball is played. So too should watched the game, courtside at WNBA an Oscar-winning short fi lm “Dear now,” he said, there are a lot of players the more human images of the sports contests, NBA events and college Basketball”; Kobe the philanthropist, with the skills. On Jimmy Kimmel’s dad, on the sidelines in his bright orange Around the region games. In one photo published again businessman and mentor; and especially show in 2018, he proudly acknowledged WNBA hoodie, arm around his daughter, Weather Weather and again since the crash, Kobe is Kobe the sports dad, coaching Gigi’s that he didn’t need a son: Gianna could enjoying the game, passing it on – a today Max/min tomorrow Max/min wearing an electric-orange hoodie Amateur Athletic Union team. and would carry on his legacy. diff erent kind of champion. - Tribune Baghdad Sunny 16/02 M Sunny 16/04 stamped front and centre with the His evolution from NBA star to The WNBA has a lot of future news Service Kuwait City Sunny 18/07 Sunny 18/07 WNBA silhouette, laughing with women’s basketball advocate was so makers, up-and-comers: The Seattle Manama Sunny 19/14 Sunny 19/14 Gigi. In a YouTube video, she nods seamless that it might have persuaded Storm’s Breanna Stewart has a z Logan Jones is a contributor to the Muscat M Sunny 27/18 M Sunny 26/16 along with her father’s animated hand many of the WNBA’s doubters to championship title, a league most WNBA Nation podcast and a sports Tehran Sunny 07/-2 Sunny 07/00 movements, pursing her lips at his no reconsider their indiff erence. Bryant valuable player award and a fi nals MVP columnist in Utah.

Live issues Good sleep practices may boost performance in older shift workers

By Vishwadha Chander been awake longer when work begins Participants could go to bed when participants were prone to losing focus Around the world Reuters Health compared to a typical day worker. they wanted after day shifts. After night on the night shift when compared to “We know the longer an individual shifts, one group was instructed to stay the day, but the group that followed the Weather Weather is awake, the more sleep pressure out of bed until at least 1pm then stay in sleep instructions performed somewhat today Max/min tomorrow Max/min lder people working nights they build up,” said senior author Dr bed for eight hours attempting to sleep. better. Athens P Cloudy 17/08 M Sunny 18/08 may feel more alert and sleep Jeanne Duff y of Brigham and Women’s The other group was only told to delay “The impact of night shift work Beirut M Sunny 16/12 P Cloudy 17/12 longer if they stay up longer Hospital in Boston and Harvard going to bed until 1pm. on sleep deprivation, insomnia and Bangkok M Sunny 34/24 M Sunny 34/26 Oafter getting off work, then Medical School. Based on sleep diaries and activity downstream cardiovascular and Berlin Showers 08/06 Rain 09/03 stay in bed for a full eight hours, waking “We wanted to test if placement monitors, researchers found that prior mental health outcomes is so profound Cairo Sunny 20/09 Sunny 21/10 up closer to the start of their shift, a of sleep closer to the next night-shift to the study and while working day the American Association of Sleep Cape Town Sunny 26/18 P Cloudy 27/18 small trial suggests. would reduce sleepiness,” Duff y told shifts, both groups spent roughly the Medicine has created the diagnosis Colombo P Cloudy 31/23 Sunny 31/23 For older workers assigned to a Reuters Health in an e-mail. same amount of time in bed and asleep: of Shift Work Sleep Disorder,” said Dhaka Sunny 24/11 Sunny 23/11 simulated overnight shift, timing sleep To see if behaviour changes alone roughly 8 hours and just short of 7 Dr Amanda Hassinger of the Jacobs Hong Kong P Cloudy 18/16 M Cloudy 19/14 so they woke up closer to the beginning would make a diff erence in total sleep hours, respectively. School of Medicine and Biomedical Istanbul Sunny 14/09 Cloudy 14/11 of their next shift also led to better and work performance, the authors During night shifts, however, the Sciences at the University at Buff alo, Jakarta T Storm 30/24 T Storm 30/24 performance in work tasks, the study recruited two groups of nine adults group instructed to stay in bed for 8 New York, who wasn’t involved in the Karachi Sunny 26/12 Sunny 24/16 team reports in Occupational and each, ranging in age from mid-50s to hours did so and got as much sleep as study. London Showers 13/09 M Cloudy 10/05 Environmental Medicine. early 60s. All participants spent 8-hour they had before, while the group given Years after retirement, people who Manila P Cloudy 29/22 P Cloudy 29/21 Shift work has people functioning simulated work shifts in a lab at Brigham no instructions spent less and less time suff er from this syndrome retain poor Moscow Rain& Snow 02/02 S Showers 03/-3 at a time when their internal systems and Women’s clinical research centre each day in bed while working night sleep patterns linked to stroke, heart New Delhi Sunny 19/08 Sunny 19/07 promote sleep, the researchers write. but slept at home. shifts. attacks, hypertension and type-2 New York M Cloudy 08/04 M Sunny 14/05 This might aff ect older adults more All the participants “worked” for four For Duff y, an interesting result was diabetes, Hassinger noted in an e-mail. Paris Rain 15/11 Showers 12/05 because they have reduced ability to day-shifts from 7am-3pm, got a day that when participants were instructed “If we can fi nd the essential aspects Sao Paulo T Storm 24/21 T Storm 24/19 sleep during the day. off , and then worked four night-shifts to sleep only in the afternoon and of sleep health that lead to better overall Seoul M Cloudy 05/-3 Sunny 03/-7 Past research has found that night from 11pm-7am. During the shifts, remain in bed for eight hours, they were health, we can design safer staffi ng Singapore S T Storms 31/26 M Cloudy 32/24 workers tend go to sleep soon after researchers administered tests and able to average two hours more sleep models and shifts that make night Sydney S T Storms 30/23 P Cloudy 27/18 leaving work, and wake up many hours tasks to assess sleepiness, attention and each day than the comparison group. workers healthy, happy and optimise the Tokyo Clear 13/04 Clear 13/04 before their shifts start, so they’ve performance. The authors found that all the quality of their work,” she added. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, February 2, 2020 QATAR Qatari traditions continue to fl y high as Marmi Falconry Festival fetes winners

QNA Doha

is Highness Sheikh Jas- sim bin Hamad al-Thani, Hthe Personal Representa- tive of His Highness the Amir, yesterday attended the award ceremony of Al Mazayen compe- tition for falcons that brought the curtain down on the 11th Marmi Falconry Festival. The festival was held for one month from January 1 until February 1. The fi nale was attended by a number of Sheikhs and minis- Some of the prized falcons being displayed by their proud owners during the 11th Marmi Falconry Festival that concluded in Doha yesterday. ters, heads of diplomatic mis- sions accredited to the state, the petition, which had more than 60 ganising committee Abdullah comprise the bulk of the grading. 11th edition of Marmi. He added Former minister of justice Qatar is one of the most commit- board of directors of Al Gannas participants. The fi rst place went Hamad al-Mahshadi said that HE the Minister of Municipal- that the event has become one Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem ted to preserving its heritage and Association and a large number Sheikh Ahmed bin Abdulaziz bin this year saw strong performanc- ity and Environment Abdullah of the most important of its kind said that the festival is consid- promoting it through festivals. of falconers from Qatar and from Saoud al-Thani. es, giving the judges a diffi cult bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Sub- in the country, due to the role it ered one of the most successful Al-Mahshadi thanked His the Gulf Co-operation Council The organising committee also time determining the top three aie praised the eff orts of the or- plays in maintaining Qatar’s her- of its kind in the world, due to Highness Sheikh Jassim bin countries and guests of the fes- held the draw for the public for participants in each category. ganising committee on the on the itage and identity. He congratu- the variety of events it has and Hamad al-Thani for attending tival. the Lexus car, with Abdullah Ma- He said that judges award 40% sidelines on the concluding day. lated the winners of the festival’s the role it plays in educating the the closing ceremony. He also HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- soud from the audience winning of their grade based on the colour Katara General Manager Dr various competitions, expressing younger generations about the thanked HE Sheikh Joaan bin Ha- Thani, the sponsor of the festival, the wheels. of the falcon, 15% for its back, 15% Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti hope that future editions will be region’s heritage. mad al-Thani, the event’s spon- crowned the winners of the com- Head of the competition’s or- for the head. The three factors emphasised the success of the just as successful. He pointed out that the State of sor, for his unlimited support.

Shop Qatar 2020 concludes with grand fi nale

Shop Qatar’s signature fashion shows brought together more than 20 local, regional and international designers who showcased their latest couture and pret collections in a series of catwalk shows at Al Hazm, while famous makeup artists and influencers conducted a number of beauty masterclasses for ladies.

The dragon parade. Face-painting in progress. One of the many activities on off er.

Models on the catwalk during a A performance by Chinese drummers. fashion show. Young and old fans flocked to their ‘super-heroes’ during the event.