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Sunday 17 November 2019 | 20 Rabia I 1441 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8078 | 2 Riyals

Amir to meet PM inspects workflow at Wakra Central Market President of THE PENINSULA manage all three central markets. DOHA Mohamed Al Sadah, Hassad Armenia CEO, said: “By funding the devel- Prime Minister and Interior opment of the new central markets Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah and managing it through ‘Aswaq’ on Tuesday bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani we aim to support the national QNA yesterday visited the new product and fulfil the needs of the DOHA Central Market at Al Wakra to producer, trader and consumer to inspect the workflow. The new achieve self-sufficiency”. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin central market is scheduled to Al Wakra market is built fol- Hamad Al Thani will meet on open before end of this year. lowing the latest international Tuesday with the President of Under the supervision of the systems, to serve the needs of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, who Ministry of Municipality and producer, trader and consumer. is arriving in Doha today for an Environment, Hassad, funded the The market spans on a land area official visit. development of the new central of approximately 230,000 square H H the Amir and the markets including Al Wakra meters and is located in the mid- Armenian President will discuss Market, to become the central point of central roads networks; the two countries' bilateral rela- livestock market that includes 30 minutes away from the heart tions and means to strengthen the new automated slaughter- of Doha and 10 minutes away them in addition to a host of issues house (the most advanced in the from the border of the central of common concern. Middle East region). Aswaq (a outlet for importing livestock and Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, with subsidiary of Hassad) will fodder (Hamad Port). `P2 other officials during a visit to Al Wakra Central Market. National Address Law to come into force soon: MoI official THE PENINSULA/DOHA have been completed. Lieutenant Colonel Dr. national address for citizens and Onaizah Service Centre, he added. or his legal representative has to This is part of the strategic Abdullah Zayed Al Sahli, Head of residents through Metrash2 app or Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah register his data in a simple form, The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) development of e-government, the National Address Section at the any of the MoI’s service centres. An Al Sahli pointed out that the reg- including the address of residence, has announced that the National the completion of the legislative Public Security, said that the MoI office will be allocated to receive istration procedures are easy and fixed telephone number, mobile Address Law (Law No. 24 of 2017) structure for government elec- was working to complete the infra- citizens and residents to facilitate simple either through Metrash2 or number, email, employer address would be introduced soon as the tronic transactions, and the tran- structure to implement the National the process of registering their through the MoI service centres. for government and private sector procedural and operational steps sition from descriptive address Address Law to begin the process national address. The National Every natural or legal person, employees, and permanent required to implement the law to digital address system. of registering the data of the Address Section will be based in whether a citizen or an expatriate address abroad, if any. `P4 02 HOME SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 33 AM PM stresses role of youth in nation building SHOROOK 05. 52 AM

ZUHR 11. 19 AM MAGHRIB 04. 47 PM PM visits Mesaimeer Interchange Upgrade Project & Citizens’ ASR 02.24 PM ISHA 06. 17 PM Subdivisions Development projects at south of Doha WEATHER TODAY

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, with the officials of Ashghal during a field visit to the Mesaimeer Interchange Upgrade project and Citizens’ Subdivisions Development projects at south of Doha. BELOW: H E the Prime Minister is briefed about the projects. H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister stressed that the citizens’ subdivisions are the top priority of the o o government under the directives of Amir H H Sheikh 24 C 30 C Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as H H the Amir has clarified Minimum Maximum in the recent speech before the Shura Council. Scattered clouds and chance of rain at places maybe thundery with blowing dust THE PENINSULA at times. DOHA expressing his happiness

about the participation of

HIGH TIDE 07:40 – 18:21 LOW TIDE 01:06 – 15:23 The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Qatari engineers in the Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, paid a field implementation of all visit to the Mesaimeer Interchange Upgrade project projects under Ashghal, and Citizens’ Subdivisions Development projects at and stressing the role of south of Doha. H E the Prime Minister reviewed and Qatari youth in building was briefed on the progress of the works in both the their country. projects. Dr. Eng. Saad bin On this occasion, H E the Prime Minister and Ahmed Al Muhannadi, Interior Minister stressed that the citizens’ subdivi- President of the Public sions are the top priority of the government under Works Authority the directives of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad (Ashghal) clarified that Al Thani, as H H the Amir has clarified in the recent Ashghal strives to com- speech before the Shura Council. plete the works of H E the Prime Minister urged for speedy com- Mesaimeer Interchange pletion of infrastructure projects, especially projects development project as related to the development of citizens’ subdivisions, per directions from H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister. each direction to accommodate about 20,000 vehicles The President of Ashghal pointed out that per hour in both directions. more than 65% of the project are completed The interchange also contains two major bridges. including development of Mesaimeer Inter- One of them connects Rawdat Al Khail Street and change and parts of roads connected to the Industrial Area Road in both directions, and the other interchange such as Rawdat Al Khail Street, one connecting E-Ring Road with the southern part Industrial Area Road, E Ring Road and Doha of Doha Expressway in one direction, ensuring a Expressway, comprising a total of 6.1km smooth flow of traffic in all directions. The inter- roadworks. change also includes pedestrian and bicycle lanes The President of Ashghal further recalled along 23km with three pedestrian bridges. that the first tunnel at Mesaimeer interchange The Mesaimeer Interchange integrates with Sabah was opened to traffic in October 2019, six Al Ahmad Corridor linking Al-Wattiyyat Interchange, months prior to the schedule, and other parts which is a strategic link between the southern part will be opened soon, and the project is scheduled of Doha Expressway and its main carriageway. This to be completed by next year, 2020. link provides a free flow traffic between the north The President of Ashghal pointed out that and south of the country through Doha city. The Ashghal is committed to its integrated plan to project is one of the vital interchanges in the country serve the citizens’ subdivisions as a top priority. as it consists of two levels comprising three bridges Works are ongoing on several vital areas such and four underpasses for easy access of vehicles to as Al Wukair South, Al Ebb, Leabaib, Al the neighborhoods of Al Thumama, Mesaimeer, Abu Kharaitiyat, West Muaither and some other Hamour, Nuaija, Al Wakra and Al Wukair. areas to provide services to more than 16,500 Ashghal continues its works in ten residential residential subdivisions. Ashghal is also working areas to develop roads and infrastructure for citizens’ tendering similar projects to serve 12 areas in residential subdivisions covering Al Shamal City, Al the state covering 16900 subdivisions. Wukair South, Al Ebb, Leabaib, Al Froosh, Al On his part, Eng. Bader Darwish, Manager Kharaitiyat, West Muaither, Al Nasiriyah North, of Highway Projects Department at Ashghal said Rawdat Eqdaim and Izghawa and other vital areas that the Mesaimeer Interchange of the E Ring of the state to serve more than 16,500 residential sub- Road project directly connects with Al- divisions. The project includes provision of roads, Thumama Stadium and facilitates ease of access drainage network, rainwater drainage network, street to the Al Janoub Stadium. He clarified that works lighting, intelligent transportation system, street are progressing to complete the interchange planning and other works that improve quality of life before kickoff of the much-awaited World Cup of the citizens. matches in a couple of years. Ashghal is also on the verge of launching similar On his part, Eng. Saud Al Tamimi, Manager projects to serve 12 regions in the state covering of Road Projects Department at Ashghal, said Mebaireek, East Al Wajbah, Duhail, Umm Lekhba, that Ashghal is taking over the development of Rawdat Al Jahhaniya, Semaisma and Jeryan Najima new and existing citizens’ residential subdivi- and others to serve more than 16,900 subdivisions sions as a top priority, and thus works are in these areas and the projects are in the stage of ten- ongoing for tender of projects to serve 12 areas dering and awarding. The project at Al Wukair South, in the state covering 16900 subdivisions one-of-the-new citizens’ subdivisions, is supposed including Al Wajbah East, Duhail, Umm Lekhba, to serve more than 4,500 residential plots and Ashghal Rawdat Al Jahhaniya, Semaisma and Jeryan has already provided road and drainage services to Najima among others. more than 2,000 of them. The project aims to provide The new three-level interchange is the first infrastructure for Al Wukair area through the con- of its kind in Qatar and it includes nine tunnels struction of major drainage networks along 166km, to provide free flow traffic. The 6.1 km long a rainwater drainage network and 310 km long interchange consists of three to four lanes in groundwater drainage network. PM inspects workflow at Wakrah Central Market FROM PAGE 1 with international specifications The market includes 102 and sizes. The market also shops to support the market’s The market is divided into includes the new central auto- main activity such as fodder, several sections to serve the live- mated slaughterhouse, which is grain, veterinary and trips stock trade: barns, automated spans on 14,000 square meters, supplies. slaughterhouse, shops, hyper- with a production capacity that Additionally, the retails markets, service shops and can reach up to 9,000 head/day section includes 76 shops that administrative offices. The barns for livestock using modern tech- sells vegetables and fruits, dried section comprises of more than niques to maintain product fruit, honey, and Dates as well as 600 livestock barns divided quality and the operations effi- the traditional market. Six service between display and storage ciency. One additional line is shops are allocated for cafeteria, were all are shaded, and in line available for cows and camels. supermarket and restaurants. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 HOME 03 Qatar affirms continued support for legitimate demands of Palestinians, Arabs in occupied territories QNA Al Jarba said that the great East Jerusalem, and notes the NEW YORK attention given to the rights of forced environment imposed the Palestinian people and on the inhabitants of the Qatar has affirmed that it will other Arab inhabitants in the occupied territory, which continue to support the legit- occupied territories by the includes house demolitions, imate demands of the Pales- international community and forced evictions as well as tinian and brethren Arab in the the rejection of Israeli practices settler violence, he added. occupied territories to enjoy all affecting their rights is a prin- In this regard, Al-Jarba said their inalienable rights. Inter- cipled position that reflects the that Qatar reaffirms that Israeli national legal, stressing that the international community’s settlements in the Occupied decision of the Israeli author- commitment to guaranteeing Territories are illegal and an ities to impose their laws, juris- and promoting the human obstacle to peace and economic diction and administration on rights of all peoples and and social development as well The Minister of Education and Higher Education, H E Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, met the occupied Syrian Arab Golan rejecting all violations of the as an obstacle to the two-state with his counterparts, officials and students on the sidelines of the Conference of Unesco, in Paris. is null and void and has no International law, including solution, noting that the UN international legal effect. international human rights law Secretary-General’s report on Qatar expressed its and international humanitarian Israeli practices documented Education Minister holds meetings in Paris rejection of illegal practices in law. He said that the report of the excessive use of force by the Golan, which violated inter- the Special Committee docu- Israeli security forces, particu- QNA/PARIS countries, and ways to boost especially as Qatar is in dire need national law and Security mented a wide range of viola- larly in the Gaza Strip, as well them, especially in the field of of all its sons in all scientific dis- Council resolutions, in par- tions of the rights guaranteed as other violations including The Minister of Education and education. H E the Minister also ciplines. H E the Minister also ticular resolution 497 and under international law of the detention and ill-treatment, Higher Education, H E Dr. met with Dr. Stefania Giannini, urged the students to be the best General Assembly resolutions, Palestinian people and other including detention and ill- Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Assistant Director-General of ambassadors of their country, the latest of which was reso- Arab people in the occupied treatment of children and vio- Hammadi, has met in Paris sepa- Unesco. They discussed the and to stick to their constants lution 73/100. territories, and reflected a lations of fair trial guarantees, rately with the Minister of implementation of the joint and their Qatari identity, while This came in the statement regrettable and disturbing and restrictions on freedom of Education of Iraq, Dr. Suha Al Ali action plan between Qatar and engaging in French society and of Qatar before the Fourth reality of human rights and the movement affecting other Bey; Minister of National Unesco, as well as the arrange- participating in cultural events Committee (Special Political humanitarian situation in the rights such as the right to Education, Vocational Training, ments made for the World Edu- and various university activities Matters) of the United Nations occupied territories as a result health, the right to work and the Higher Education and Scientific cation Conference to be held in in order to develop their per- General Assembly on the item of such violations. right to education. Research of Morocco, Said Doha in 2021, sonal skills and accept different “Report of the Special Com- He noted that such practices “Restrictions on freedom of Amzazi; and Minister of H E the Minister also met opinions and views and make mittee to Investigate Israeli were documented in other expression, assembly and asso- Education and Vocational with Qatari students who are the best use of the study period Practices Affecting the Human reports before the Committee, ciation, including assaults on Training of Tanzania, Rizki studying in France, in the to come back home to partic- Rights of the Palestinian People and many other reports issued workers who document human Pembe Juma. presence of a number of officials ipate in the State’s and Other Arabs of the by various United Nations rights violations, also continue.” Discussions during the of the Ministry. He reviewed the development. Occupied Territories”, bodies and international and Israel must comply with the meetings held on the sidelines academic and social conditions He also stressed that the delivered by Abdulrahman human rights organizations. demands of the General of the 40th session of the General of the students, and the role Ministry of Education is working Ahmad Al-Jarba, member of the The report of the Secretary- Assembly in its various resolu- Conference of the United Nations assigned to them in achieving the hard to increase the number of delegation of the State of Qatar General on Israeli settlements tions under this item and desist Educational, Scientific and Cul- needs of the State of quality edu- scholarship students, praising in participating in the 74th session illustrates the increasing Israeli from all measures that con- tural Organization (Unesco) dealt cation, and urged them to dili- this context the distinguished of the United Nations General settlement activities in the travene international law, he with cooperation relations gence and the need for excel- relations between Qatar and Assembly. Abdulrahman Ahmed occupied West Bank, including added. between Qatar and the three lence in their academic paths, France in various fields. Ashghal completes Al Karaana Lagoon project ahead of schedule SANAULLAH ATAULLAH added to the authority’s efforts in the THE PENINSULA field of environmental protection. He added: “We accelerated the pace The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) of works despite the challenges in the announced, yesterday, the completion project implementation, especially those of works of the reclamation and reha- related to managing and treating con- bilitation project in Al Karaana Lagoon, taminated residue while continuing to six months ahead of schedule. receive liquid industrial waste at the The project is aimed at removing same location, as well as avoiding pollutants and minimising health risks groundwater contamination and min- to the environment surrounding Al imising disturbance to residential areas Karaana lagoons, which had been used near the lagoon.” for more than ten years in dumbing Al Karaana Lagoon, located 60km industrial effluents. southwest of Doha, was once home to The project also aims to protect and 10 separate lagoons not lined with an enhance the Qatari environment by insulating layer. rehabilitating the area and transforming It had been used since 2006 to it from an unfavourable habitat into a receive about 6,000 cubic metres of wildlife habitat with diverse species of industrial wastewater every day, birds and fish. It also provides a green resulting in accumulation of sediments Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of Ashghal; Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada, Assistant Under-secretary rest stop with clean water for migratory and solids at the bottom of the lagoons, for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment; Safar Mubarak Al Shafi Assistant Under-secretary birds flocking over the country. , and the formation of a contaminated The announcement came during a for General Services at MME; Frank Gillet, French Ambassador to Qatar, and other officials during an event announcing the layer (sludge) of up to 3.5m in some field visit to the project site by Dr. Eng. completion of the project of Al Karaana Lagoon rehabilitation works. areas. One-of-the-most important com- Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, Pres- ponents of the project are the three arti- ident of Ashghal; Eng. Ahmed enhancing the wildlife environment & rehabilitation of land in Lake Karaana, Eng. Khalid Al Kayareen, Drainage ficial lagoons which were designed to Mohammed Al Sada, Assistant Under- transforming the area into a park for Al noting that Qatar is not only committed Networks Projects Department Manager store about 2.4 million cubic metres of secretary for Environmental Affairs at Karaana residents in the future.” to the internal environment through this at Ashghal said that the completion of treated sewage effluent coming from Al the Ministry of Municipality and Envi- Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, project but also globally. this project is a new accomplishment Karaana treatment plant. ronment (MME), a number of Ministries’ said: “Al Karaana Lagoon area has been Undersecretaries and Assistant Under- transformed from a harmful envi- secretaries, and Frank Gillet, French ronment into a healthy natural envi- Ambassador to Qatar. ronment and home to wildlife. We are Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada proud of this important achievement said that the project is an important step being a new evidence of the continuous in the efforts of all concerned entities to efforts made by the various entities in achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 in the country, chiefly the Ministry of the field of environmental sustainability, Municipality and Environment, to as well as protecting Qatar’s environ- provide sustainable solutions to protect mental heritage and contributing to its the environment and reduce the causes prosperity. of pollution.” The Assistant Undersecretary for Frank Gillet, expressed his happiness General Services at MME, Safar Mubarak for the great cooperation between Al Shafi, said: “Al Karaana Lagoon Rec- France and Qatar in the field of envi- lamation is an outstanding environ- ronmental preservation, and the com- mental project with major role in pletion of the project of reclamation and A view of Al Karaana Lagoon. RIGHT: Officials during a field visit to the project site near Al Karaana Lagoon.

QR200.21bn shows a decrease of 1.4 second quarter of 2019, showed an Qatar’s trade surplus at QR40.7bn in Q2 percent compared to estimated increase of 0.3 percent compared to QR203.14bn in Q2 of 2018. However, the previous quarter, and a 0.5 percent SACHIN KUMAR The quarterly report contains United Kingdom were among the coun- compared to Q1 of 2019 revised decrease when compared to the cor- THE PENINSULA important statistics related to country’s tries where imports came from during estimate of QR202.12bn a decrease of responding quarter of 2018. economic growth, trade balance, the second quarter of this year. 0.9 percent is recorded. The Producer Price Index (PPI) for Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade inflation and other important financial According to the report, the quar- The report also provided details Q2 2019 showed a decrease of 3.5 balance, which represents the difference parameters. terly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) about inflation through the Consumer percent, when compared with the pre- between total exports and total imports, Total exports, which included at current prices in Q2 of 2019 was Price Index (CPI). The index is a vious quarter (Q1 of 2019), and 7 has showed a surplus of QR40.7bn in exports of domestic origin and re- estimated at QR163.45bn, which shows measure that examines the change in percent when compared with the cor- the second quarter (Q2) of 2019. exports, amounted to QR66.9bn in the a decline of 3.9 percent compared to the weighted average of prices of a responding quarter of 2018. PPI is an This trade surplus was QR47.7bn in second quarter while imports of mer- estimated QR170.14bn in Q2 of 2018. basket of consumer goods and services index designed to measure either the the same quarter of previous year, chandise amounted to QR26.3bn in the When compared to previous quarter such as food, clothing, rental, trans- average change in the price of goods according to ‘Window on Economic Sta- second quarter of 2019. Japan, South (Q1 of 2019) revised estimate of QR portation, etc. The CPI is produced on as they leave the place of production tistics of Qatar’ report released yes- Korea, China, Singapore were among 168.14bn, a decrease of 2.8 percent is a monthly basis. The quarterly index or as they enter the production terday by The Planning and Statistics the largest export markets of Qatar recorded. The quarterly GDP at con- is obtained as a simple average of the process. As from 2013, the PPI is pro- Authority (PSA). while the US, China, Germany, India, stant prices in Q2 of 2019 was monthly CPI. The quarterly CPI for the duced on a monthly basis. 04 HOME SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 Qatar’s first Patient Experience Forum opens FAZEENA SALEEM Organised by Hamad Medical Corporation in THE PENINSULA partnership with internationally-renowned Qatar’s first Patient Experience US-based health care consultants Planetree Inc., Forum, which is considered one the two-day forum highlights the importance of of the largest health care confer- involving patients, their families and caregivers, ences in the region, opened yesterday in the presence of H E in every decision that impacts the care they Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, receive. the Minister of Public Health. The two-day event, dedi- needs.” H E the Minister added, of health care delivery. In cated to enhance patient expe- “The Patient Experience Forum addition to the value of the edu- rience, has brought together is one of many initiatives we are cational program delivered by more than 1,500 health care pro- engaging in as a health system renowned speakers from around fessionals at Sheraton Grand in our journey towards a more the world, a truly significant new H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, with Dr Abdulla Al Ansari, Acting Chief Hotel, Doha. patient-centred approach to care individual credentialing pro- Medical Officer at HMC, and other officials during a tour of the Knowledge Zone held on the sidelines Organised by Hamad Medical and a real, transformative part- gramme is being unveiled, the of Qatar’s first Patient Experience Forum at Sheraton Grand Hotel, Doha, yesterday. Corporation (HMC) in part- nership with patients,” she Fellow in Person-Centered Care nership with internationally added. (FPCC),” said Dr Susan Frampton, renowned US-based health care The Forum hosts 13 interna- President of Planetree competency in patient-centred from our patients and give them patient’s medical needs helps us consultants Planetree Inc., the tional and more than 30 regional International. care concepts and principles. what they really want. So it has identify their expectations based forum highlights the importance and local health care and patient While, Dr Abdulla Al Ansari, Five pilot patient centred care become individualized care, we on the patient’s values and pref- of involving patients, their fam- speakers. During the Forum a Acting Chief Medical Officer at projects have been experimented try to give compassionate care erences. This combined effort ilies and caregivers, in every patient panel will feature current HMC and Nasser Al Naimi, at different facilities of HMC. to patients ,” he added. benefits both the patient and ulti- decision that impacts the care and former patients will share Deputy Chief of Quality at HMC, These pilot projects also included Pilot patient-centred care mately the health care system,” they receive. their experiences, as well as ses- Center for Patient Experience some patients and their families projects have been experimented said Al Naimi. A knowledge zone Commenting on the impor- sions on physician communi- and Staff Experience (CPESE) and too. We heard their experience at HMC’s Ambulatory Care being held on the sidelines of the tance of patient-centred care, H cation, the importance of Director, Hamad Healthcare and suggestions, that made us Centre, home care services, Qatar’s first Patient Experience E Dr Al Kuwari said, “Great care building relationships with the Quality Institute (HHQI) look differently at the health Enaya-long term care centre, Forum and it features 16 organi- is more than having highly qual- community, and the role of tech- addressing a press conference care. We plan to expand this private nursing and Communi- zations including the Ministry of ified care teams, the latest tech- nology in enhancing patient- held on the sidelines of the patient centred care method cable Disease Center. Public Health, World Innovative nology, or the best services and centred care. Forum drew particular attention across all HMC facilities,” said Dr “Patient centred care is about Summit for Health and Primary new facilities — it is also about “This is the largest gathering to how HMC has enhanced Al Ansari. doing things for the patient with Health Care Corporation. There treating and interacting with of professionals dedicated to patient experience. “In health care now we don’t the patient. Collaborating with are about 50 patient experience patients in a way that respects ensuring that caring, kindness, “We have trained almost just provide care but it’s a two patients, family members, and posters from across the region are their values, preferences, and and respect remain at the heart 1000 staff to enhance individual way thing. We hear and learn caregivers while addressing the also on display. Qatar marks World Prematurity Day Qatar reiterates continued FAZEENA SALEEM Charlotte. THE PENINSULA The neonatal intensive care unit opened in April 2018 and support to UNRWA Qatar joined other countries and since then more than 94 marked World Prematurity Day newborn babies requiring QNA The contributions of the Advisory Committee of UNRWA (WPD) yesterday acknowledging surgery have been admitted and NEW YORK State of Qatar during past under resolution 73/92, noting that the journeys of preterm infants more than 140 surgical opera- eight years through Qatar the State of Qatar has sought to and their families as well as raise tions have been carried out on The State of Qatar has reiterated its Fund For Development join the Committee because of its awareness of the challenges these babies. continued support to the United and the Reconstruction of keenness to contribute effectively faced by children born preterm Many of the children Nations Relief and Works Agency Gaza Committee exceeded to providing various types of and their families. admitted were born prematurely for Palestine Refugees in the Near support to the Palestinian people According to the World and weighed less than 1kg, East (UNRWA) in order to enable it $1bn, in addition to its and the UNRWA, which is one of Health Organization (WHO), meaning they represent the to fulfil its “indispensable” mandate, contributions to the civil the largest, oldest and most every year an estimated 15 youngest and most vulnerable stressing the importance of the society institutions. important United Nations million infants worldwide are patients in modern medicine. support of the international agencies. born preterm (over 3 weeks Susanne delivered her baby community and donors to the UN Al Muraikhi said UNRWA con- early). WPD is commemorated Sussane with her baby prematurely at Sidra Medicine. agency. job opportunities that contribute tinues to play a vital role in allevi- internationally on November She shared her experience and This came in the statement of to the recovery of the economy ating the plight of the Palestinian 17. baby..) this has an impact on the has some practical recommen- the State of Qatar before the UN and the achievement of pros- refugees and providing them with “Preterm baby have well baby’s development,” Dr Char- dations on bonding with the pre- General Assembly Fourth Com- perity, adding that these factors protection and support in the face developed senses and they have lotte. “Stay close to their baby, mature baby. “Skin to skin mittee on Agenda Item: UNRWA, contribute to establishing stability of the challenges they face, noting an immature brain. The neonatal the parents are not visitors but contact is important and played delivered by Shamma Saqr Al and to creating create an envi- that those challenges will continue intensive care unit (NICU) team partners. Do skin to skin, hold a major role in helping our Muraikhi, member of the dele- ronment conducive to peace. as long as their plight persists until is giving full medical support and the baby, speak/sing to the baby. daughter get through the gation of the State of Qatar taking In framework of Qatar’s a just, lasting and comprehensive avoid painful or stressful expe- Access to the baby is 24/7,” she beginning stages of her life; this part in the 74th session of the UN keenness to demonstrate its settlement of the Palestinian cause, riences for the baby (noise, light, said. is something both my husband General Assembly. responsibility and to share the including the right of return of ref- pain..),” said Dr Charlotte A premature birth is a birth and I applied every day.” Al Muraikhi highlighted that financial burden, and in com- ugees in accordance with interna- Tscherning Wel-Wel, Senior that takes place more than three “It was beautiful to see our the contributions of the State of pliance with the General Assem- tional law and relevant UN resolu- Attending Physician NICU at weeks before the baby’s esti- daughter respond to the cuddles Qatar during the past eight years bly’s call in resolutions 73/92, tions, in particular General Sidra Medicine. mated due date. In other words, from myself and her father. Also, through Qatar Fund For Devel- 73/93 and 73/94, the State of Assembly resolution 194 of 1948, is This year’s WPD is marked a premature birth is one that building up a store of breast milk opment and the Reconstruction Qatar has increased its contri- reached. under the theme ‘Born Too Soon: occurs before the start of the without your newborn by your of Gaza Committee exceeded one bution to the Agency’s core She said that the Agency’s Providing the right care, at the 37th week of pregnancy. Pre- side was challenging. However billion dollars, in addition to its resources with a multi-year activities provide minimum basic right time, in the right place.’ mature babies, especially those in retrospect, I am glad I was contributions to the civil society pledge of $8m annually, in services in the areas of basic It connects with the benefits born very early, often have com- able to feed her from my supply institutions. addition to the contribution it had health care, basic and secondary of family partnership in care for plicated medical problems. for the first months of her life. She noted that the Qatari announced last year to provide a education, food, shelter, relief and children, families, parents, “There is the obstetrics and After almost three months in the support has had a tangible impact, $50m support to the Agency’s social services to more than five health care professionals, poli- gynaecology division for NICU, our baby daughter was highlighted by various UN reports, activities and programs, which million registered Palestinian ref- cymakers and others. mothers at Sidra Medicine. In thriving and I am grateful for the in addressing urgent and long- was a key factor in ensuring that ugees in the Occupied Palestinian “The parents have the fan- case of sick or preterm baby, the support I received from the term needs in areas include elec- schools are opened without Territory, Jordan, Lebanon and tastic capacity to provide pos- baby is transferred to NICU 3C medical team at Sidra Medicine, trical power supply, infrastructure delay, Al Muraikhi said. Syria, to enjoy basic human rights, itive experiences to their baby or 4C, part of the neonatology my husband, and our families,” enhancement, housing repair and She also highlighted the State human development and an ade- (skin to skin, talking to their department,” said Dr she said. construction, as well as financing of Qatar’s accession to the quate standard of living. National Address Law to come into force soon: MoI Official FROM PAGE 1 There will also be a fine, not He pointed out that the guardian of minor children exceeding QR10,000, for anyone has to register their data and be responsible for who violates any of the provisions the legal responsibility for the validity of these data. of articles (3) and (4) of the Act. He stressed that if any person, whether a citizen or a resident, fails to register his/her data within six months from the date of the commencement vided for in article 5 of the Act. of the official registration process, he/she will be Lt. Col. Al-Sahli stressed that the aim of the punishable under article 6 of the National Address national address is to ensure access to the persons Act. concerned in issues related to personal interests There will also be a fine, not exceeding and the public interest of the State and to serve all QR10,000, for anyone who violates any of the pro- citizens and residents in their dealings with various visions of articles (3) and (4) of this Act, or know- governmental and non-governmental bodies ingly informs the competent authority of incorrect without the need for traditional paper data about its national address. correspondence. Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Abdullah Zayed Al Sahli, In the event of a change in the national address He pointed out that this law is a qualitative leap Head of the National Address Section data of any person, such data should be modified in the conduct of judicial procedures, where each through Metrash2 or any of the services centres of person in the State of Qatar, a citizen or natural or the Ministry of Interior. her national address or update it during the legal resident would have a national address. Article 4 of the Act stipulates that the competent scheduled dates, his/her declaration or notification He urged all Qatari and non-Qatari individuals, authority shall be notified of any amendment or of the national address to the competent authority institutions and companies to register their national change to the data of one’s national address and shall be deemed to be valid and productive for all address data as soon as the Ministry of Interior shall be updated in the manner and on the dates its legal effects. announced the opening of registration of the issued by the Minister. The judicial declarations and official notifica- national address as a mandatory procedure by law If the assigned person does not notify the com- tions made at the national address will be valid where failure to register would result in specific petent authority of the change in the data of his/ and productive for all their legal effects, as pro- consequences and penalties under the law. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 HOME 05

Ooredoo introduces IoT Asset Management Solution THE PENINSULA and a competitive business DOHA edge.” One of the biggest business Ooredoo, the region’s leading benefits for Ooredoo Asset Man- enabler of digital business inno- Yousuf Abdulla Al agement is for organisations to vation, has introduced the new Kubaisi, Ooredoo create historical benchmarking Ooredoo Asset Management Qatar Chief Operations across assets in projects, sites, solution that leverages the Officer, said: “Ooredoo and equipment types. Internet of Things (IoT) to Organisations can also vis- optimise business operations Asset Management ually understand asset location and enable new services. is a worry-free and and maps, along with asset Across industry verticals, end-to-end solution inventory, utilisation rates, work such as facilities management, that integrates efficiency and environmental construction, manufacturing, oil conditions, and strict asset and gas, and transport and hardware devices, the security. logistics, organisations often face Internet of Things, Asset Management, part of challenges in monitoring and mobile connectivity, Ooredoo’s expanding Internet of optimising their assets and and cloud-based Things portfolio, runs on the related work efficiency across innovative Ooredoo IoT multiple and distributed sites or applications. platform. President of Turkmenistan receives projects. These assets can Organisations can rest include machines, equipment, assured that their data is and devices, ranging from con- Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, securely hosted in-country in credentials of Qatar’s Ambassador struction machines to power Ooredoo Qatar Chief Operations Ooredoo’s industry-leading Tier generators. Officer, said: “Ooredoo Asset 3-certified Qatar Data Centre. The President of the Republic of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has received credentials In response to feedback from Management is a worry-free and Business customers can lev- of Mubarak bin Abdulrahman Al Nasr, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of customers, Ooredoo’s Asset end-to-end solution that inte- erage the Ooredoo Advantage, Qatar to the Republic of Turkmenistan. The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Amir H H Sheikh Management is a cloud-based grates hardware devices, the making Ooredoo “Best for Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the President of Turkmenistan, wishing him good health and happiness, solution that allows organisa- Internet of Things, mobile con- Business”, thanks to its breadth and the government and people of the Republic of Turkmenistan further progress and prosperity. For his tions to gain full and real-time nectivity, and cloud-based appli- and depth of talent, best fixed part, the President of the Republic of Turkmenistan entrusted the Ambassador to convey his greetings visibility on their assets. Qatar’s cations. Qatar’s organisations and mobile networks, broadest to H H the Amir, and his wishes for the Qatari people further progress and prosperity. He wished the organisations can optimise their can gain full visibility on their portfolio of ICT services and Ambassador success in his new duties and to consolidate and strengthen the friendly relations between costs, productivity, efficiency, assets and optimise performance solutions, and trusted partner for the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkmenistan. and predictive maintenance. — all for better asset investment 60 years. Amiri Guard honours Infantry Competition winners

QNA Mohammed Al Attiyah, Assistant Com- DOHA mander of Operations and Intelligence, thanked the Commander of the Amiri The Amiri Guard has celebrated the Guard and Deputy Commander of the closing of the 8th Infantry Competition Amiri Guard for the unlimited support 2019 and the graduation of the Amiri of the various competitions that con- Guard’s founding courses for officers (9) tribute to the developing and enhancing and qualifying course (11), at Barzan the training level of the staff of the Amiri camp in the presence of Deputy Guard, noting that the infantry compe- Commander of the Amiri Guard Major tition comes in conjunction with the start General Hamad Mesfer Al Shahwani, of preparations for participation in the Inspector General, Assistant Commander national march to celebrate the National of the Amiri Guard, and a number of Day of the country. departments and groups commanders. On the fact that the Operations and At the beginning of the ceremony, Intelligence Department won the first the general report of the competition place as the best faction, he explained was reviewed, where the results came that the main reason for this is due to Amiri Guard officers and graduates during the closing ceremony of the 8th Infantry Competition 2019. as follows: The Operations and Intelli- several factors, the most important of gence Department got the first place as which were good training, early prepar- the best faction, and the first position as edness, and harmony and fruitful coop- contributes to creating a spirit of com- Guard in the application of infantry Deputy Commander of the Amiri Guard the best faction leaders, Lt. Mattar Saleh eration among the various members of petition among the various departments movements, which is one of the most honoured the winners in the various Matar Al Dossari. the faction. and groups, and reflects the efficiency important pillars of military control. branches of the competition and the On this occasion, Colonel Meshaal He stressed that the competition and readiness of the staff of the Amiri At the end of the ceremony, the graduates of the two courses. Monarch International School opens in Al Wukair Nigerian artist explores Indian Ambassador, P Kumaran, said the DPS migration, free speech Monarch International RAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA School is 16th Indian international school Typically minimalist and abstract, in Qatar, which will the works of Nigerian contem- help meet the growing porary artist Alimi Adewale loudly demand by the Indian echo migration and freedom of speech — two pressing issues of community in the global concern. country. He said some The art community in Qatar more schools are in the enjoyed a first glimpse into the oeuvre of Alimi comprising pipeline paintings and sculptures when he launched his solo exhibition SANAULLAH ATAULLAH “Intersection” at Anima Gallery THE PENINSULA recently. “I use my work to Under-secretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ibrahim Saleh Al Nuaimy; One of the paintings of Alimi explore topical urban issues, doc- Ambassador of India to Qatar, P Kumaran; and school officials inaugurating the school. Adewale on show at “Intersection” Monarch International School, a umenting everyday city people exhibition which opened recently purpose built state-of-the-art who are often neglected and dis- at Anima Gallery. PIC: RAYNALD C digital school, has joined the past few years. in Qatar incorporating the latest, such a way that it delivers stu- placed in the drive toward RIVERA/THE PENINSULA family of DPS schools in Qatar. “We continue facing pressure green building concepts, dents as life-long learners. excessive urbanization, rapid Located in the most serene in meeting increasing demand of optimum cooling, spacious nat- Vice-President of the school, modern development and the the aim of conveying the signifi- locations of Wukair, near Wakrah seats. There are some new urally lit classrooms, libraries, Yasir Nainar, highlighted the growing global economy,” said cance of freedom of speech to and close to the state of the art Al schools in pipeline which will labs and toilet facilities. state of the art digital infra- the artist. everyone everywhere. Janoub Stadium, Monarch Inter- help to manage the challenges of He added that the school also structure that was placed in the For his “Intersection” col- “The sculptures in this exhi- national School was inaugurated the community in providing has multiple sports facilities like school. The school is the first in lection, Alimi utilised dhurrie rug bition highlight the issue of free in a grand celebration held at the quality education,” said the a full size football pitch, volley Qatar to have fiber connectivity and dyed and stitched heavy speech. These anonymous school’s premises on Wednesday. ambassador. ball courts, indoor basketball and up to the classrooms. The speed cotton as canvases for his almost faceless sculptures in DPS Family of schools is also He said that the school will badminton courts. The school has of the Internet can be enjoyed in paintings, and bronze and stone bronze and stone are created to now venturing on opening the provide education with dif- adequate parking facilities for all all classrooms and hence makes in the sculptures. start a discourse around freedom very first Indian higher education ference. “I believe that education the school buses and staff cars to the teaching and learning In exploring the effective use of speech, which is a principle institute in Qatar for which is not meant only to develop park within the school campus. process enjoyable with supple- of materials in his art, the artist that supports the freedom of an licensing and approvals work is intellectual skills but also has Chougule also added that the mented information from the has created deeply layered works individual or a community,” he under progress. another aspects such as physical management of the school has Internet. rich in texture and colour every stressed. Alimi Adewale has held The celebration was attended training, social skills engaging in also made a marathon effort to All students have also been art enthusiast can appreciate and solo exhibitions and taken part by Undersecretary of the Ministry social act,” he added. recruit and bring to Qatar the best provided with ipads that are discern. While the paintings in group shows in the US and in of Education and Higher Edu- The School President, Hasan of Indian teachers from different used for some digital activities depict the issue of migration, the several countries in Europe and cation Ibrahim Saleh Al Nuaimy Chougule said that the school’s parts of India. “A fully integrated in class, class assessments and sculptures focus on free speech Africa. He attended residencies and the Ambassador of India to building was completed in a digital curriculum that includes digital e-book reading. Hence - two very relevant issues con- and workshops in Sweden, the Qatar, P Kumaran. The function record 15 months and the school pre-class digital reading, in-class the child carries minimum of fronting the world today. UK, Italy and his home country. was presided over by the school’s opened doors to the students of digital assessments and post-class books to and fro from school. Alimi’s vivid depiction of Alimi’s works have been Chief Patron, Mohamed bin Qatar on September 1, 2019. “The digital assignments, will make With the CBSE affiliation mass exodus and arrival of acquired by major private col- Hamam Al Abdulla. student strength since has been Monarch International School, process already started, the migrants towards a singular lectors in Nigeria and other coun- Addressing the ceremony, the growing and reached around 550 the most innovative and forward school will be ready to take in direction achieved through his tries in Africa as well as are part ambassador said that DPS children and their families find looking school in Qatar,” he students up to class 9 in the new unique brushstrokes coupled with of various collections in the US, Monarch International School is the new curriculum of the school added. academic year in April 2020. The the texture of the dhurrie rug and India and a number of countries 16th international school in Qatar very interesting and intellectually He said that the CBSE cur- school has all the features of the heavy cotton generates a in Europe and the Middle East. which will help meet the demand engaging,” said Chougule. riculum has been adopted with becoming one of the icons of volley of emotions within the “Intersection” exhibition is of seats by Indian community He said that the school’s teaching and learning strategies Indian education in Qatar and in beholder the same way the on view at Anima Gallery at The which grew substantially during infrastructure is one of the best that employ the digital media in the Gulf region. faceless head sculptures achieve Pearl Qatar until January 11. 06 HOME SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 Qatari Ambassador to North Korea presents credentials QC showcases water projects THE PENINSULA During the AidEx exhibition, Qatar Charity showed DOHA its contribution to overcome the global water and Qatar Charity (QC) took part in sanitation crisis through interactive screens. QC the AidEx 2019, which was held also held a panel discussion on gender-inclusive recently in the Belgian capital sanitation and hygiene services Brussels with the participation of over 2,500 dignitaries repre- senting 130 humanitarian organ- Qatar Charity showed its contri- gender equality. isations including UN agencies, bution to overcome the global “Qatar Charity is always keen the European Union, and inter- water and sanitation crisis to design its programs according national governmental and non- through interactive screens and to the needs of the entire com- governmental organisations by exhibiting ‘Hand Pump’, munity, including women, concerned with humanitarian which requires significant children, the elderly, and people aid and international devel- physical exertion. with special needs,” said opment. Qatar Charity held a panel Mohamed Al Ghamdi, Assistant Qatar Charity’s delegation discussion on WASH and CEO for Governance & Institu- headed by its CEO Yousuf bin Women: Gender-Inclusive tional Development Sector during Ahmed Al Kuwari included Water, Sanitation and Hygiene the panel discussion. Mohamed Al Ghamdi, Assistant Services, with the participation Al-Ghamdi, pointed out that CEO for Governance & Institu- of the United Nations Children’s Qatar Charity has managed to tional Development Sector; Fund (Unicef) and Water Supply implement more than 50,000 Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida, and Sanitation Collaborative water projects during the past two Assistant CEO for International Council (WSSCC). decades, ensuring the local com- President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Operations and Partnerships Mohamed Al Ghamdi, munities are trained on sanitation (DPRK) Choe Ryong-hae has received the credentials of Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Dehaimi as Ambassador Sector; and Ahmed Al Rumaihi, assistant CEO for Governance and hygiene, and establishing Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar (Non-resident) to the Democratic People’s Republic Director of Relief and and Institutional Development local committees to ensure the of Korea (DPRK). During the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Partnerships. Sector, Qatar Charity, Sandie continuity and sustainability of Hamad Al Thani to the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un, “AidEx is now an important Blanchet, director of the Unicef the projects. wishing him, the Korean government and people further progress and prosperity. For his part, Choe Ryong- partner of Qatar Charity and we Office for Relations with EU Qatar Charity provided safe hae entrusted the Ambassador conveyed greetings of the DPRK Supreme Leader to H H the Amir, wishing will continue to support the Institutions, and Rockaya Aidara, water and sanitation facilities to the State of Qatar’s leadership and people further development and progress. work that you do in bringing the policy advisor at WSSCC, spoke 6,000,000 people from 2012 to international aid and devel- during the panel discussion. 2017 in 44 countries and built over opment community together The panel discussion 40,000 wells to bring safe water around real pressing challenges,” explored how a gender-inclusive closer to those who need it, Al GU-Q provides IEDM degree said Yousuf bin Ahmed Al approach can be achieved in Ghamdi noted, adding that in Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity water, sanitation and hygiene Pakistan, Qatar Charity has built while speaking at the AidEx (WASH). The speakers show- wells inside 12 schools, which con- preview at upcoming info session 2019. cased relevant past experiences tributed to increasing attendance At the AidEx exhibition, and projects linking WASH and rates to 89%. THE PENINSULA public policy, and government,” DOHA said Dr Tim Frazier (pictured), faculty director of the program. Georgetown University will hold “The industry knowledge and an information session about its strong critical thinking and one-year International Executive problem-solving abilities students Master’s in Emergency and gain through the program support Disaster Management (IEDM) their service in important lead- degree program to help working ership roles of organizations oper- professionals prepare for and ating across borders.” respond to a wide variety of Graduates of the program natural, technological, and include leading figures from man-made disasters. The public Ooredoo, the Public Health information session will be held Department of Qatar’s Ministry of tomorrow (November 18) at the Public Health, and the Ministry of City Centre Rotana in Doha. without warning, but IEDM stu- Interior, among other prestigious Offered by Georgetown’s dents will learn how responses to organizations. School of Continuing Studies (SCS) emergencies can be planned and The November 18 information in Washington, DC, the IEDM prepared ahead of time to develop session will provide insights about executive master’s degree offers organization resilience. the program’s on-site residencies a blend of virtual learning and five “The graduates of our around the world, curriculum, on-site international residencies program are professionals requirements, fees, career outlook, that provide critical hands-on working across many sectors, and more. It is open to the public experience and engagement including first response, health, and reservations are not required. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi (third left), Ambassador of Qatar to Belgium, with members opportunities with leading experts human and social services, mil- Find out more at the SCS website of the delegation of Qatar Charity. in the field. Emergencies occur itary, humanitarian aid, planning, at scs.georgetown.edu/doha. Auto Class Cars introduces new Drive to remove LuLu Exchange wins abandoned 6-Automatic MAXUS T60 in Qatar vehicles in Brand of the Year at

THE PENINSULA Al Shamal World Branding Awards DOHA THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Auto Class cars, the authorised DOHA DOHA general distributor of Maxus in Qatar and a subsidiary company Al Shamal Municipality, repre- With over 180 branches globally, of Nasser Bin Khaled Holding, sented by the General Control LuLu Exchange is one of the has introduced the new Maxus Section of the Municipal most trusted names in the non- T60 with automatic transition Supervision Department and banking financial sector, in Qatar. the Department of Services offering global money transfer, The Maxus T60 is available Affairs, in cooperation with foreign exchange and salary now at Auto Class Cars the North Security administration. showroom in two options 4X2 Department, carried out a At the 2019 World Branding and 4x4 drive, to meet the needs two-day campaign to remove Awards held at The State Apart- of the customers. The Maxus T60 the abandoned vehicles and ments, Kensington Palace, The new 6-automotic transmission Maxus T60 is powered by NLE is a pickup truck produced by equipment within its admin- London, LuLu Exchange was 2.0 Turbo engine featuring 165kw of power and maximum 360 Chinese automaker Maxus since istrative borders. honoured with the Brand of the NM of torque. November 2016. The campaign resulted in Year Award in the Finance The T60 takes design inspi- recording of 56 abandoned category. Brand of the Year Award ration from the strength, power, system. For more comfort in the manual. In addition, the T60 is cars, cruisers and equipment. Speaking at the award cer- and grace of that of a ‘bull’ in first and second row of seats, the excellent in dynamic per- The owners removed 44 erring emony, LuLu Exchange Man- western mythology. It proved its Auto AC and Second row A/C formance, equipped with vehicles when they came to aging Director, Adeeb Ahamed For LuLu Exchange, the capabilities on winding roads, vent gives maximum comfort to advanced 2.8T VM turbo diesel know about violating stickers remarked, “It is a huge privilege Finance category award cele- washboard roads as well as all passengers. engines, featuring 110 KW of placed on abandoned vehicles for LuLu Exchange to be offi- brates’s their pioneering efforts mountain climbing, during In terms of safety, the new T power and a maximum 360 NM and equipment cially recognised at the in branding for innovative which it displayed excellent per- 60 added air bags to the sides so of torque. Its drag capacity of 1. Meanwhile, Al Dafna Park renowned World Branding financial services offered around formance in comparison to other all passengers are always well tons can help vehicles out of hosted the initiative of the Awards. We will continue the world. The company’s pickups in its category. protected. Moreover, a string of danger. Alliance of Civilizations, investing in our core values of excellent reputation also played In the interior, the new safety configurations including Safety is a vital part of T60, organised by Al Shaimaa Sec- trust, talent and relationships to a pivotal role in securing this Maxus T 60 is distinguished with Driver Fatigue Monitor System, that’s why it adopts both active ondary School and the Unesco maintain our market position honour with public online voting its higher quality Fabric seats ensures T60 drivers have com- and passive safety systems to Committee in cooperation and impeccable reputation accounting for 30% of the that makes the cabin more prehensive protection in avoid any potential problems. On with the Public Parks among customers, employees, judges’ scoring. appealing. Besides, it is equipped extreme road conditions. one hand, the vehicle uses ther- Department and the Parks and shareholders alike. “ Ahamed added, “Our repu- with state-of-the-art technology The new 6-automotic trans- moforming technology to Department of Doha Bestowed by the prestigious tation is built on successfully features including 7-inch Display mission Maxus T60 is powered improve the strength of its steel Municipality, World Branding Forum at its bringing together consistency screen with multifunction such by NLE 2.0 Turbo engine fea- plates. The event aims at raising most current lavish annual gala, and innovation — so we look as Radio, MP5, Mirror Link, Blue- turing 165kw of power and The new 6-Automoatic awareness of the importance the Brand of the Year is a forward to continuing this tooth, and USB. maximum 360 NM of torque. The transmission Maxus T60 and the of respect and coexistence. coveted industry award that rec- winning streak in future edi- The features are comple- Maxus T60 is also available with full range of the Pick-up are During the event, some ognises exceptional tions of awards of this mented by multi-function other transmission and engine available now at Auto Class leaflets and flower seedlings achievement in branding across magnitude.” Steering, tough start engine options. Showroom on Salwa road. Cus- were distributed to the several categories. Judges select Established in 2008, LuLu button, review camera, cruise The manual transmission T6 tomers can visit the showroom children. winners through a combination Financial Group has its global control, automatic anti-glare is powered by a 2.4 litre Inline 4 from Saturday to Thursday 8am Competitions and drawing of in-house analysis, and online headquarters in a country in the rearview mirror, reminder naturally aspirated petrol with to 9pm and on Friday from 5pm programs were organised for and market research-based Gulf and operates more than 180 system for driver and monitoring 136 horsepower and 5-speed to 9pm. them. evaluation. branches across 10 countries. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 HOME 07 QRCS, QFFD open residential town for needy families in Syria

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has recently opened phase 1 of a residential The project was built on a town in northern Syria, with funding 20,000m2 land plot in the from Qatar Fund for Development vicinity of Al Bab City, with (QFFD). The project was built on a 20,000m2 150 forest trees, water land plot in the vicinity of Al Bab City, supply, sewage, and other with 150 forest trees, water supply, infrastructural systems. It sewage, and other infrastructural comprises 29 two-story systems. It comprises 29 two-storey buildings, each containing four flats, buildings, each containing with a total of 116 46m2, 2-BHK housing four flats, with a total of flats. 116 46m2, 2-BHK housing The project is estimated to help up flats. to 690 direct beneficiaries, in addition to 3,150 indirect beneficiaries from the families of Syrian workers and The opening ceremony was attended suppliers. by Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Exec- The QRCS officials during the inauguration of QRCS Residential Town. Following the opening ceremony, utive Director of Relief and International the houses were handed over to the ben- Development Division at QRCS; Mazen eficiary families. Each flat has all the Saloum, Head of QRCS’s representation belief of the necessity of meeting the Turkish partners, particularly AFAD, in Bekir Şen thanked QRCS and QFFD power supply cables and a 1m3 water office in Turkey; Bekir Şen, Director of needs of people and preserving their facilitating the work of the represen- for their initiative to construct this tank. The purpose of the project is to the Disaster and Emergency Man- dignity, with adequate housing. The tation office in Syria. “We value the stra- project, which is the first of its kind in shelter the most affected Syrian fam- agement Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) winter is approaching, and we all know tegic relations and ongoing cooperation the Al-Bab City. “My country is always ilies in camps, such as orphans, widows, in Gaziantep, and delegates of munici- how snowstorms and flash floods with the Turkish Red Crescent. QRCS willing to extend help for those in need and persons with disability. pality and NGO leaders from Syria. severely impacted on the tents of inter- will continue to provide all development everywhere. I hope this project would Thousands of IDPs live in informal Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim said: nally displaced persons (IDPs) in the past and relief support for the victims of the be a first step towards other housing camps due to the destruction of their “Funded by QFFD and implemented by few years.” Syrian conflict, in the face of growing projects that secure a decent living for home towns and villages. QRCS, this housing project embodies our He also commended the role of humanitarian needs,” said Dr. Ibrahim. IDPs, instead of the fragile tents.” NMoQ to open Baraha Souq on November 22 AmanTECH launches

THE PENINSULA DOHA campaign to guide

The National Museum of Qatar parents on online safety (NMoQ) will take the community back to the roots of traditional THE PENINSULA The campaign falls in Arabian courtyards by DOHA line with a continuous welcoming visitors to Baraha programme of digital Souq this month. Vodafone Qatar’s award- safety activities Opening on November 22, winning digital safety Baraha Souq is set to be a vibrant programme, AmanTECH, has that Vodafone Qatar artisan market that takes place launched a campaign to has delivered since every other weekend. empower parents with the AmanTECH’s launch The market has been care- tools to manage the risks in 2014 which to date fully curated to showcase and faced by children on the support local makers and food Internet and ensure their has engaged more producers and provide a wel- digital wellbeing. than 50,000 children, coming stage for cultural The campaign falls in line parents and teachers. engagement. with a continuous programme Baraha Souq enables the of digital safety activities that Baraha area of NMoQ to follow Vodafone Qatar has delivered Earlier this month, a series its time-honoured custom of since AmanTECH’s launch in of interactive activities was being a place where traders and 2014 which to date has engaged presented at the Digital Youth travellers meet to sell goods. more than 50,000 children, Festival (Tumuha Tec), held on Baraha Souq is set to be a vibrant artisan market that takes place every other weekend. People can browse and buy parents and teachers. the side-lines of the Qatar locally designed and made art, Its new launched Aug- Information Technology Con- jewellery, fashion and acces- such as the Baraha Souq, we are enable QM to achieve its vision: makers, support their devel- mented Reality (AR) game app ference & Exhibition 2019 sories, wellness products, helping put local communities, to cultivate artists and creative opment, and experience a closer helps children learn online (QITCOM). homeware, speciality coffee, and young and old, in touch with networks, and promote and connection to the country’s safety through four interactive Recently, Vodafone Qatar food — including local date their past, reminding them of the sustain the highest standards for people and place.” fun activities. revealed the results of its products. skills, wisdom, and struggles of community engagement, crea- The Museum Souq opens The activities promote research following 20 online Visitors can also discover their ancestors. We hope that tivity, and enjoyment in Qatar from November 22 running user-friendly do’s and don’ts safety workshops at primary more about Qatar’s traditions today’s entrepreneurs can find and beyond. through to May 2020. Initially and pointers on creating a schools. and customs, with a range of inspiration in the traditional Philip Lawrie, General the market will be open every strong password, preventing Issues brought to the fore activities that offer fun, Arabic courtyards of Manager of IN-Q Enterprises, second Friday and Saturday, cyberbullying, identifying fake included excessive time spent immersive experiences. yesterday.” commented: “Baraha Souq pro- increasing in frequency in the messages and protecting per- by children online (up to eight Ahmad Al Namla, Acting CEO Baraha Souq is operated by vides local artisans and food pro- coming months. sonal information on the hours) and the communication of Qatar Museums, said: “The IN-Q Enterprises in partnership ducers with the opportunity to Opening times are Fridays Internet, and how to safely between parents and children preservation of cultural heritage with Torba Markets, founders of bring their products to a wider from 2 pm – 7 pm, and Saturdays share photos and information about screen time. The findings forms a key pillar in Qatar the successful Torba Farmers’ audience. from 9 am – 7 pm. Local brands on social media. highlighted the need for a wider Museums’ mission of creating a Market. IN-Q Enterprises is the Visitors can buy unique and artisans can make enquires After passing all four levels, and more open conversation strong cultural sector within the commercial arm of Qatar products that are handcrafted in about stalls via email: bara- the player becomes an about screen use and some of country. By launching Initiatives Museums (QM) and works to Qatar. They can meet the [email protected] AmanTECH Hero and is the risks involved. awarded with an AmanTECH AmanTECH, which stands e-certificate. for a “safe tech world”, aims to MME trains The AmanTECH AR game promote digital literacy beIN & SundanceTV bring Chace app is suitable for children 7 amongst parents and improve inspectors of years to 13 years old, and can be the online safety of children downloaded on tablets or smart- aged five to 17 by raising Crawford to Ajyal Film Festival cleanliness phones from the Apple store and awareness, providing education Google Play store. and technical support. Online THE PENINSULA from over 48 different department As part of the Company’s resources available to parents DOHA countries. efforts to engage the community, include a digital parenting beIN Media Group’s fruitful THE PENINSULA/DOHA Vodafone has taken its guide, and several free-to- beIN and SundanceTV’s partnership with SundanceTV AmanTECH AR game to a download Vodafone successful partnership brings began in May of this year – as The Training Department at the number of malls and public AmanTECH ‘How to…’ guides prominent American actor and the entertainment channel Ministry of Municipality and events, and several AmanTECH with ideas on how to help producer Chace Crawford to became part of beIN’s premium Environment in coordination school workshops have been children navigate the online the seventh edition of the Ajyal 97 channel offering for its with the General Cleanliness held this year. world safely. Film Festival, where beIN and MENA subscribers. Department organised a SundanceTV are international Launched as an extension one-week training course for media sponsors. to the Sundance Film Festival, inspectors and observers holding Presented by the Doha the largest independent film judicial power. Film Institute (DFI), this year’s festival in the world with over The training course aimed at Ajyal Film Festival will screen 50,000 attendees each year, providing enough skills to the 96 inspiring films from 39 SundanceTV airs exclusive inspectors and observers of countries – showcasing the feature films, documentaries, General Cleanliness Department power of storytelling to shape Chace Crawford short films and series, pro- so they could perform their duty perspectives and transform viding a platform for the best excellently. The course was held minds. of emerging and established at the headquarters of the The six-day event, which ‘The Boys’ and ‘Gossip Girl’, independent artists. General Cleanliness Department. will be held from November Chace Crawford will be present beIN entertains and Meanwhile, the students of 18 to 23 at Katara Cultural at the red carpet on the opening operates in 43 countries glo- Hafsa Preparatory School for Village, will feature public night ceremony of the Ajyal bally, including 24 countries Girls and Al Taawun Primary screenings, Ajyal jury Film Festival along with other across the MENA region. With School for Girls planted trees as screenings, interactive discus- famous guests from around the broadcast on satellite in 4K and part of the project ‘Famr Your sions, red carpet events and world. Full HD, the beIN experience is County’ organized by the Min- activities for people of all ages The American actor and also available on mobile, tablet, istry of Municipality and Bebe AmanTECH, which stands for a “safe tech world”, aims to promote and generations. producer will also take part in computer and other home represented by the Department digital literacy among parents and improve the online safety of Best known for his work on a meet and greet with over 400 devices through ‘beIN of Public Parks and Al-Faisal world famous television series jurors aged between 8 to 21 CONNECT’. Without Borders Foundation. children aged five to 17. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 I fear for Gaza’s children ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

MAJED ABUSALAMA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AL JAZEERA DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] n the last few days, as Israel intensified its military operation ACTING MANAGING EDITOR on Gaza, all I could think of was MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED Imy one-year-old niece Ela’a, who [email protected] is living with other members of my family in a refugee camp there. Although she is just a toddler, she DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR has already learned to hurry and hide MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI behind a chair or under a table [email protected] whenever she hears an explosion caused by an Israeli air raid. She, like other children in Gaza, Palestinian pupils holding commemorative pictures of their late classmate Moaz starts her childhood at a time and in a Abu Malhous at his school in Deir Al Balah town in central Gaza Strip, yesterday. place where Israel regularly commits war crimes with brazen impunity. civilians. because of what I happened to me, but EDITORIAL At the end of this last military “This morning, Israel conducted an I did not have the time to focus on how assault on Gaza, the Israeli gov- operation inside Gaza targeting a I felt. With the start of Operation Pro- ernment declared triumphantly that it senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic tective Edge, my people, my family Plight of children in Palestine had carried out “surgical strikes” in Jihad. In response, rockets were fired came under attack once again. I had to Gaza and had killed “terrorists”. Once from Gaza on southern and central report, tell stories and campaign while eport of the Fourth Committee to investigate Israeli again, its leadership declared that the Israel,” a statement from the EU spending every second of every day practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian Zionist state did so because it has the foreign service said. “The firing of worrying about my family. I embarked Rpeople and other Arabs of the occupied territories pre- “right to defend itself” and the world rockets on civilian populations is on a speaking tour across Europe, sented at the 74th session of the UN Assembly on Wednesday nodded. But let us take a closer look at totally unacceptable and must imme- telling people of the plight of Gazans to revealed serious violations of human rights and details plight Israel’s actions. diately stop.” the best of my ability. Soon I started an of children in detention and occupation’s profound effects The so-called “target killing” of I wish I could say I found these MPhil (Master of Philosophy) in peace on daily life of the Palestinians. Islamic Jihad Commander Bahaa Abu reactions shocking. But we, the people studies and conflict transformation in The report of the Fourth Committee UN Special Committee, al-Ata and his wife, Asmaa, was followed of Gaza, are used to the world’s silence Norway. I am now settled in Berlin. sheds light on Israel’s excessive use of force during peaceful by the bombardment of several other in the face of Israel’s brutal assaults on I may now be safe in Europe, but demonstrations, where 138 Palestinians have been killed and areas around the Gaza Strip. In other us. For the past 20 years, even the thousands of children including my a further 15,901 injured, largely in the context of peaceful dem- words, the “assassination” of Abu al-Ata most sympathetic statements coming niece Ela’a, are trying to survive the onstrations held between September 2018 and August 2019. and Asmaa, as we call it in Palestine, was from Europe only expressed worry same abominable conditions I once With regard to the plight of children, the report noted just the beginning. As of Friday morning, about so-called “escalations” and did back home in Gaza. I fear that Ela’a that 29 children were killed and 4,387 others injured in Gaza Israel’s “surgical strikes” have killed a completely ignored the ongoing col- is going to have a miserable childhood during the same period. Children continue to suffer ill- total of 34 Palestinians, almost half of lective punishment, repression and like the one I had, if not worse. If treatment during arrest and detention, and that 210 children them civilians, including eight children silencing of the Palestinians. And the things do not change, and change fast, are in detention as of July 2019, the report noted. and three women. “post-colonial” governments across she is going to spend most of her Regarding the sharp increase in planning and expansion Surely there is nothing “surgical” the world proved that they learned childhood hiding from Israeli bombs of settlement construction, the report said the year 2018 saw about nothing from their own history by behind chairs and under tables. And the highest number of approvals for new settlement housing bombings remaining silent about the injustices even during the times of “peace” she units since 2012. This along the continuing siege imposed by that kill not Palestinians are facing at the hands of will have to endure horrendous condi- Israel on the Gaza Strip more than a decade ago and dete- only accused the Israeli settler colony. tions in a place characterised as “unin- riorating economic and humanitarian situation and the ability militants - I grew up in Gaza’s Jabalia Refugee habitable” by the United Nations. of the population to enjoy their without a Camp. I was a stateless refugee child, The water in Gaza by now is human rights. The blockade not judge, jury living with my parents, my four uncles, undrinkable. Contaminated and Israel’s violations are not only prevents goods and trial - but their wives and children, and grand- scarce, owing to Israel’s brutal siege limited to detentions and extraju- from entering also their parents in a total of five rooms. and bombing of infrastructure, it is dicial killing of Palestinians, but the strip, but also wives, I lived through the first intifada. I causing death and disease. Qatar expressed also include demolition of houses, children and lived through the constant fear of sol- Gazans also get just six to eight its rejection of revocation of work and travel prevents people various diers raiding our home and arresting hours of electricity most days, some- illegal practices permits which is a collective from leaving this bystanders. A my father and uncles because of their times not getting any for a full 24 hours. in the Golan, punishment. open-air prison. surgeon does political activities. I lived through a The food insecurity is also high in the The State of Qatar which has Hospitals are not kill en shooting near my kindergarten. I lived Gaza Strip. Farmers are not allowed to which violated firm position on the Israeli occu- masse, a war through my primary school being shot grow food on lands in or adjacent to the international pation practices has reaffirmed lacking medicine criminal at. I lived through my prep school so-called “buffer zone” along the fence law and UNSC’s during the above session that it and equipment does. being bombarded with illegal white that the Israelis have established for resolutions, will continue to support the legit- and yet patients And yet, phosphorus munitions. Then I experi- “security” reasons. Approximately 30 imate demands of the Palestinian the so-called enced the brutality of Israel’s response percent of Gaza’s agricultural land and stressing and brethren Arab in the occupied have to wait for “international to the second intifada. As I grew into a cannot be worked without severe per- that Israeli territories to enjoy all their inal- permits from the community” teenager and then an adult, I lived sonal risk, causing the loss of livelihood has no right to ienable rights. Qatar expressed Israeli authorities to refused once through countless other assaults, inva- according to PCHR. Fishermen are also its rejection of illegal practices in leave for treatment again to sions and massacres. Then I became a unable to throw their nets freely, as the impose its laws, the Golan, which violated inter- condemn journalist, humanitarian aid worker Israeli sea blockade does not allow jurisdiction and national law and UNSC’s resolu- elsewhere; many what effec- and human rights defender. them to fully use Gaza’s territorial administration tions, and stressing that Israeli has have died waiting. tively was a I did so because I wanted to help waters. My family’s house in Gaza is on the occupied no right to impose its laws, juris- series of my people and document Israel’s hor- 1.5km away from the sea and we regu- diction and administration on the extrajudicial killings and the reckless rific war crimes for the world to see. In larly hear Israeli gunships shooting at Syrian territory. occupied Syrian territory. use of deadly bombs in densely popu- January 2014, as I was organising pro- Palestinian fishermen. In a statement delivered by lated civilian areas. tests close to the buffer zone in the Debris dominates the landscape in Abdulrahman Ahmad Al Jarba, member of the Qatari dele- Avi Berkowitz, Deputy Assistant to east of Gaza with other youth groups, I Gaza. The siege the Israeli siege pre- gation participating in the 74th session of the UNGA, said US President Donald Trump and the was shot in the leg with a live bullet. At vents construction materials from the report of the Special Committee documented a wide range latest leading member of his so-called the time of the attack we were only entering the strip, so after every Israeli of violations of the rights guaranteed under international “Middle East Peace Team” tweeted: peacefully planting lemon and olive assault, damaged and destroyed law of the Palestinian people and other Arabs in the occupied “The US fully supports our partner & trees. I always pushed for peaceful buildings do not get rebuild. territories, and reflected a regrettable and disturbing reality ally Israel in their fight against ter- popular resistance in Gaza. Unfortu- The blockade not only prevents of human rights and the humanitarian situation in the ter- rorism and the terrorist group, Pales- nately, Israel rarely allows the situ- goods from entering the strip, but also ritories as a result of such violations. tinian Islamic Jihad.” ation to remain “peaceful” on the strip, prevents people from leaving this Al Jarba reaffirmed the position of Qatar rejecting the The European Union, meanwhile, as we have been witnessing on a open-air prison. Hospitals are lacking Israeli settlements in the occupied territories describing them focused its outrageon the rockets that weekly basis since the start of the medicine and equipment and yet as illegal and an obstacle to peace and the two-state solution were fired from the Gaza Strip on Great March of Return in March 2018. patients have to wait for permits from as well as an obstacle to economic and social development Israel in response to Abu al-Ata’s I was lucky to survive and get an the Israeli authorities to leave for These practices are taking place for over 70 years because assassination and effectively remained opportunity to leave Gaza in the fol- treatment elsewhere; many have died of the inaction of the international community and silent on the killing of Palestinian lowing months. I was traumatised waiting. appeasement of Israel which has made the offender as a State above the law as long as it has never been held respon- sible for its crimes. Venice is drowning. It’s a warning of what’s to come. THE WASHINGTON POST flooded this week as the highest tide- installations, faces a similar dual threat waters in more than 50 years inundated of sinking land and rising seas, resulting QUOTE OF THE DAY enice has always been linked its historic core. A viral video caught a in major flooding problems in naval dry- closely with the water that sur- man swimming through St. Mark’s docks and other critical infrastructure. Things are becoming rounds it. The city is thought to Square, site of the Doge’s Palace, the In Venice’s case, there is no choice at have been founded by refugees city’s iconic campanile and the 11th- all. Less a modern city than an open-air more complicated V seeking protection from Germanic century St. Mark’s Basilica. In its hun- museum, Venice cannot be surrendered and a quick solution invaders by sheltering in the northwestern dreds of years, the basilica has flooded to the sea, despite expert projections that is needed to get Adriatic Sea’s islands and marshes. By the only six times. Two of those times came the city will be entirely submerged by 12th century, the doge would annually in the past two years. 2100. The current plan to save the city Lebanon out of this drop a ring into the Adriatic to symboli- Venice’s problems stem from more calls for the installation of a system of crisis. cally wed the sea. The Venetian merchant than just the audacity of those who built floodgates that would close when high republic ruled the Mediterranean shipping a major settlement on a shallow lagoon. water threatened, similar to a proposal to Nabih Berri trade for centuries, and the wealth it gen- The ground below the city is shifting as wall off New York Harbor in response to Lebanese Parliament erated funded the construction of a glit- the aquifer below the lagoon depletes. sea-level rise. But as the water continues tering metropolis on piles driven into the Meanwhile, man-made climate change is to advance, Venice’s lagoon may have to Speaker city’s lagoon. boosting sea levels steadily and pro- be more or less permanently closed off But Venice is sinking, and the seas are moting extreme weather. Virginia’s from the Adriatic, which would radically rising - and never before has the water Hampton Roads, home of some of the alter its ecosystem and pose problems for seemed so close. Some 85% of the city United States’ most important military how to dispose of municipal waste. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 09 19 dead in northern Protests erupt in Iran over Syria car bombing fuel price rise AFP Turkish Defence BEIRUT Ministry said the AP Kurdish People’s TEHRAN A car bomb killed 19 people, 13 of them civilians, in the Turkish- Protection Units Protesters angered by Iran controlled town of Al-Bab in (YPG) was behind the raising government-set petrol northern Syria yesterday, a war bombing. prices by 50% blocked traffic in monitor said. major cities and occasionally The bomb, which struck a clashed with police yesterday bus and taxi station in the town, invasion further east last month. after a night of demonstrations also wounded 33 people, some Kurdish fighters “continue punctuated by gunfire, in of them seriously, the Britain- to target innocent civilians using violence that reportedly killed based Syrian Observatory for the same methods as Daesh,” the at least one person. Human Rights reported. defence ministry said on its The protests put renewed Turkey and Ankara-backed official Twitter account using pressure on Iran’s government Syrian rebels control several another acronym for IS. as it struggles to overcome the pockets of territory on the Syrian There was no immediate US sanctions strangling the side of the border as a result of reaction from the YPG, seen by country after President Donald successive incursions in 2016-17, Ankara as a “terrorist offshoot” Trump unilaterally withdrew 2018 and 2019. of the Kurdistan Workers Party America from Tehran’s nuclear There was no immediate which has fought an insurgency deal with world powers. claim of responsibility for the inside Turkey for the past 35 Though largely peaceful, bombing but the Observatory years. demonstrations devolved into said there had been persistent The latest Turkish invasion, violence in several instances, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets people during mass opening ceremony of social security incidents in the town which was aimed at creating a with online videos purporting security centres in Istanbul, yesterday. since its capture by Turkish buffer zone along the whole to show police officers firing troops from the Islamic State length of the border, sparked an tear gas at protesters and mobs group in February 2017. outcry in the West because of Disrespectful to define YPG/PYD as Kurds: Erdogan setting fires. The town, some 30km (20 the key role the YPG played in The demonstrations took miles) northeast of Syria’s the US-led campaign against IS. ANATOLIA ceremony for Social Security the Syrian offshoots of the PKK, place in over a dozen cities in second city Aleppo, was one of It paused after Turkey struck ISTANBUL Institutions district branches in a designated terror organisation the hours following Rouhani’s the westernmost strongholds of a truce deal with Russia, the Istanbul. “They [the YPG/PYD] by Turkey, the US and the decision at midnight on Friday IS which was finally eradicated main supporter of the Syrian Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip are terrorists,” Erdogan added, European Union. to cut petrol subsidies to fund by US-backed Kurdish forces in government, to jointly patrol the Erdogan yesterday reiterated his referring to the Syrian offshoots In its more than 30-year handouts for Iran’s poor. Petrol eastern Syria in March. border area and oversee the urge for distinguishing PKK of the PKK terror group. terror campaign against Turkey, in the country still remains Turkey blamed the car withdrawal of Kurdish fighters terrorists from Kurdish people. The president urged not to the PKK has been responsible for among the cheapest in the bombing on the Kurdish Peo- from a new Turkish-controlled “It is disrespect to define the confuse “terrorists with my the deaths of 40,000 people, world, with the new prices ple’s Protection Units (YPG) pocket between the towns of Tal YPG and the PYG as the Kurds,” Kurdish brothers.” The YPG and including women, children and jumping up to a minimum of against whom it launched a new Abyad and Ras al-Ain. Erdogan told the opening its political wing, the PYD, are infants. 15,000 rials per litre of petrol — 50% up from the day before. That’s 13 cents a litre, or about 50 cents a gallon. A gallon of Protesters spill back onto bridge in Baghdad regular petrol in the US costs $2.60 by comparison. AFP Baghdad to the city’s west, barrier on Al-Sinek,” one pro- Activists and medics have But in a nation where many BAGHDAD including the Green Zone where tester said. described a climate of fear get by as informal taxi drivers, the prime minister’s office, par- Dozens climbed up into a setting in around Tahrir, saying cheap gasoline is considered a Anti-government demonstrators liament and foreign embassies large parking complex near the that anonymous threats, kidnap- birthright. Iran is home to the spread to a second bridge in the are based. bridge, unfurling a sign in pings and even killings are an world’s fourth-largest crude oil Iraqi capital yesterday after Security forces retook three support of demonstrators in attempt to snuff out the reserves. While expected for security forces retreated from a of those bridges and nearby dis- nearby Tahrir. movement. months, the decision still caught key area where they had clashed tricts more than two weeks ago, Others set up checkpoints Late on Friday, activist many by surprise and sparked with protesters. pinning the protesters back in around Tahrir, the morning after Adnan Rustum was shot dead immediate demonstrations Sit-ins have become the Tahrir and on Al-Jumhuriyah a bomb blast that shook the near his home in Baghdad, his overnight. Violence broke out go-to tactic for the regime bridge with volleys of tear gas, protesters. relatives said. on Friday night in Sirjan, a city change movement that erupted live ammunition and even On Friday night, at least one And yesterday a person died some 800km southeast of in early October, with a general machine-gun fire. person was killed and more than of wounds sustained the pre- Tehran. The state-run IRNA strike annnounced by activists But Iraqi units pulled back a dozen wounded in Tahrir when vious day in protests in the news agency said “protesters Turkish author for today (Sunday). from some of those areas yes- explosives beneath a parked car southern city of Nasiriyah. tried to set fire to the oil depot, Protesters have occupied terday morning and crowds of detonated, Iraq’s state security More than 330 people have but they were stopped by publishes new Baghdad’s Tahrir (Liberation) protesters chased them down, forces said. Small clusters of men been killed since the protests police.” Square since October 24, spilling resuming their sit-in at the were deployed around the erupted in October and over The semi-official ISNA book on Gulf over onto four bridges crossing mouth of Al-Sinek bridge. square to search all those 15,000 have been wounded, but news agency later quoted an the river Tigris. “The security forces entering it throughout the day officials are not releasing official as saying the violence THE PENINSULA The bridges link east withdrew to another concrete yesterday. updated or precise figures. had killed one person. DOHA

Turkish journalist and author Feyza Gümüşlüoğlu, who Sporadic violence mars specialises on the Gulf, published her new book titled polls in Nigerian states ‘Notes from the Gulf’, a first comprehensive book on the AFP Ogbia area following the Gulf region in Turkish. YENAGOA, NIGERIA abduction of an election official Feyza Gumusluoglu, who and the burning of voting lived in Qatar for six years and Sporadic violence marred polls materials. worked as a journalist, has in two key Nigerian states Voting opened late in most compiled her Gulf experience yesterday despite a heavy polling stations in the state, with into a book. security presence after a bloody long queues forming in Yenagoa, Gümüşlüoğlu worked as the run-up to the elections. the state capital, and Gulf representative and the Southern oil-rich Bayelsa elsewhere. Doha correspondent for the and central Kogi are among In Otuoke, the hometown of Anadolu news agency, Turkey’s seven states where guberna- former president Goodluck official news agency. She also torial elections are held at dif- Jonathan, party thugs fought worked as a senior reporter for ferent times from the general over the late arrival and distri- The Peninsula. election due to court rulings. bution of voting materials. She described her latest Bayelsa has been ruled by Many people were injured book as a study aimed at under- the main opposition People’s in the fracas. standing the past and present Democratic Party since Nigeria The polls officially closed at of the Gulf region which has not returned to civilian rule in 1999. 2:00pm (1300 GMT), but elec- been studied very well in Counting of the ballots toral officials said those who had Turkey. began yesterday evening. already queued up would be Published by Mana Pub- Election officials said results allowed to vote even after the lishing House in Turkey, the Palestinian schoolchild martyred in Israeli strike had been trickling in but voting deadline. Some 900,000 voters book discusses the economic would continue in areas where are eligible to vote for the can- Palestinian pupils sit in class where commemorative pictures of their late classmate Moaz Abu and political history of the Gulf there had been stray violence. didates of 45 political parties in Malhous are displayed, at his school in Deir Al Balah town in central Gaza Strip, yesterday, two days states from pearl fishing to the In Bayelsa, the election was 1,804 polling stations across oil economy. after he was martyred in an Israeli strike. cancelled in some stations in the Bayelsa. Sudan court to announce verdict in Bashir graft trial on December 14 AFP August on charges of illegally held to deliver the verdict,” judge activists and victims of the war rights groups say was a scorched Bashir’s supporters carrying his KHARTOUM acquiring and using foreign Sadeq Abdelrahman said. in Darfur to transfer Bashir to earth policy against ethnic portraits held a protest outside funds — offences that could land Authorities seized ¤6.9m, The Hague-based International groups suspected of supporting the court yesterday, vowing to The verdict in the corruption trial him behind bars for more than $351,770 and 5.7 million Criminal Court. the rebels. oppose any move by Sudan’s of Sudan’s ousted president a decade. Sudanese pounds ($128,000) Bashir is wanted by the ICC The ICC has accused Bashir new authorities to hand him over Omar al-Bashir is to be delivered Several hearings have been from Bashir’s home, Abdel- for his alleged role in the Darfur of genocide, war crimes and to the ICC. on December 14, a judge held, including one yesterday, in rahman said at the start of the war that broke out in 2003 as crimes against humanity in the Bashir was ousted following announced yesterday, as his the presence of the deposed trial in August. Several defence ethnic African rebels took up vast western region of Darfur. He nationwide protests against his supporters staged a protest leader who followed the pro- witnesses testified in court, some arms against Bashir’s then Arab- denies the charges. iron-fisted rule of three decades. outside the court. ceedings from inside a metal backing up Bashir’s account. dominated government, accusing About 300,000 people were The army generals who ini- Bashir, who was overthrown cage. Against the backdrop of trial it of marginalising the region killed and 2.5 million displaced tially seized power after the pres- by the army in April, has been on “It has been decided that on in Khartoum, calls have grown economically and politically. in the conflict, according to the ident’s fall refused to hand trial in a Khartoum court since December 14 a session will be from global rights groups, Khartoum applied what United Nations. Dozens of 75-year-old Bashir over to the ICC. 10 HOME SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 ASIA 11

Amnesty got Sena-NCP-Congress defers meet with Governor Rs360m in IANS Governor B S Koshyari took stock of the MUMBAI Koshyari has directed the dormant official machinery on violation of damage to crops caused by unseasonal rains state administration to immedi- priority. Though the meeting was in October-November and announced a flood ately disburse the aid to the postponed, the Raj Bhavan has guidelines: CBI Even as a joint delegation of Shiv relief package for the distressed farmers in affected peasantry. already initiated relief measures Sena, Nationalist Congress Party Earlier, NCP national spokes- for the farming community. IANS (NCP) and Congress postponed Maharashtra, a Raj Bhavan official said. person Nawab Malik said that the Currently, leaders of Sena, NEW DELHI their meeting with Governor BS delegation was planning to NCP and Congress are on tour in Koshyari yesterday, citing logis- apprise the Governor how after different parts of the state to A day after the Central Bureau tical reasons, the latter preparing their election expend- Accordingly, a relief of the state was brought under Pres- assess the damage caused by the of Investigation carried out announced a flood relief package iture reports and affidavits which Rs8,000 per hectare up to two ident’s Rule, the administration ‘wet-drought’ hitting Vidarbha searches at four locations of for the distressed farmers in have to be submitted to the hectares for kharif crops and an has virtually been paralysed. and other regions. human rights group Amnesty Maharashtra. Election Commission. Hence, aid of Rs18,000 per hectare up He also said that applications After his tour in Vidarbha, India’s offices in Bengaluru and Shiv Sena legislative party today’s meeting has been post- to two hectares for horticulture/ made by patients suffering from NCP President Sharad Pawar Delhi, the agency alleged the leader Eknath Shinde said that poned,” Shinde said in a statement. perennial crops will be given. various ailments have not moved said that farmers of foodgrains, NGO received foreign contri- leaders of all the parties as well as Governor Koshyari yesterday The Governor also ahead and they continued to orange, cotton, soyabean and butions to the tune of Rs360m legislators who are in different took stock of the damage to announced exemption of land suffer. jowar have suffered huge losses. from Amnesty International parts of Maharashtra could not crops caused by unseasonal rains revenue in the affected areas and At the joint meeting of the Pawar also said that he United Kingdom through the reach Mumbai for various reasons. in October-November and waived examination fees of Sena-NCP-Congress on would raise the issue in the Amnesty International India “They are busy touring the announced a flood relief package school/college going children of Thursday, the three parties had winter session of Parliament and Private Limited (AIIPL). flood-affected regions, arranging for the farmers in the state, a Raj those farmers who have suffered decided to call on the Governor demand maximum compen- A senior CBI source related the ‘panchnama’ procedures and Bhavan official said. damages. and urge him to kickstart the sation for the affected peasants. to the development said, “Indians For Amnesty Interna- tional Trust (IAIT), Amnesty International India Foundation Delhi suffocates under Trust (AIIFT), Amnesty Interna- tional South Asia Foundation (AISAF) received foreign contri- toxic smog but millions butions amounting to Rs360m from Amnesty International UK go without masks through Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd.” The source said AFP be worn and air purifiers used Amnesty India used commercial NEW DELHI at home and in offices. methods in order to illegally cir- There are a variety of masks cumvent the provisions of A thick grey smog choked New to choose from. A basic cloth Foreign Contribution Regulation Delhi for the fifth day yesterday, version can cost as little as Rs50 Act (FCRA) that they were adding to a mounting pollution but the protection they offer is obliged to observe. health crisis, but retired naval debatable. The source said the Ministry commander Anil Charan is one More reputable types start of Home Affairs in its order had of the vast majority of the city’s from Rs2,500 while some Khan said that in order to evade FCRA, 20 million inhabitants who do Market stores charge more than Amnesty (UK) remitted Rs 100m not wear a mask. Rs5,500 for top of the range to Amnesty’s India entities clas- Media is packed with imported models. sified as FDI, without its approval. warnings about the risk of pre- The mask-look worried a lot He also said that another mature death, lung cancer and of the Khan Market shoppers Rs260m was remitted to particular danger to children and diners however. Some said Amnesty (India) primarily from from PM2.5 — tiny particles that the danger had been UK-based entities without get into the bloodstream and overblown. MHA’s approval. vital organs — carried in the “I know I am risking my He said, Amnesty (India) smog. health but I am not very com- Trains to run again in Kashmir received funds for three purposes But the smartly-dressed fortable wearing them (masks),” — service contract, advance Security personnel stand guard at a railway station, as a train is being run for a trial between the Charan was among shoppers in said Ritancia Cardoz, who works income and FDI through auto- capital city and Banihal in south of the Kashmir Valley, in Srinagar yesterday. The train service in Delhi’s upmarket Khan Market for a private company. “I don’t matic route, which are mainly district browsing the luxury find it appealing,” she said. Kashmir was suspended on August 5. used by commercial entities. clothes and jewellery stores Lopa Diwan, on a visit to the without a mask, seemingly capital from the provinces, said oblivious to the risk. the Delhi air was “not as bad as Many are too poor to afford it is being made out to be.” “So India drops plan to let forest officials use force protection but others simply do many people advised me not to not like the way a pollution go to Delhi because of the pol- REUTERS to arrest and shoot at encroachers the government was committed “acknowledgment that there mask looks. lution but I don’t think it’s that BANGKOK and earmark more land for refor- to giving more rights to indig- were serious objections to the Charan, wearing aviator bad. I don’t see people dying,” estation, but land rights groups enous people and forest dwellers. draft”, said Kanchi Kohli, a sunglasses, said it did not fit his she said. India has dropped plans to give said this would make forest “Therefore we are com- researcher at think-tank Centre “rough and tough” image. Pollution — blamed on forest officials the right to use dwellers vulnerable to eviction. pletely withdrawing the so- for Policy Research in New “I have been brought up in industrial and car emissions force against indigenous people The amendments were pro- called draft, so there should not Delhi. this kind of atmosphere, the mixed with stubble fires on and open up more land for posed in March, triggering pro- be a doubt in anybody’s mind “However, this comes just smog and all, so I am kind of thousands of farms surrounding commercial plantations after tests in several parts of the that this government is taking before crucial state elections. used to it. And being a naval the city — has been building up nationwide protests. country in the months following. away the rights of tribals,” he There is no guarantee that officer I think if I wear a mask I each winter for the past decade. Proposed amendments to a Another protest is planned for told reporters late on Friday in several of these proposals will will think I am a sissy,” he said. The past five years have been century-old Indian Forest Act today. Environment and Forests New Delhi. not re-emerge in another form Doctors say face masks must particularly bad. aimed to give officials the power Minister Prakash Javadekar said The withdrawal was at a later time,” she said. Entire railway Congress to hold rally network to be electrified: Goyal in Delhi on November 30

IANS IANS party will hold a “Bharat CHANDIGARH NEW DELHI Bachao” rally on November 30 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan as the Union Minister Piyush Goyal Accusing the Narendra people of the country were yesterday said the government is Modi-led government of suffering. fully committed to environmental leading the country towards According to party leaders, causes and aims to electrify the starvation, the Congress the rally will be addressed by railways in gradual phases. yesterday said that it will hold the party’s interim chief Sonia “The entire railway network a mega rally in the national Gandhi, former party president in India would be electrified in capital on November 30 against Rahul Gandhi and General Sec- phased manner making it envi- the anti-people policies of the retary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. ronment-friendly,” the minister government. Slamming the government said. Speaking to reporters after over the issues of economic Addressing the inaugural a meeting of the general secre- slowdown, agrarian distress, session of the two-day Global taries, in-charges, secretaries, unemployment, Venugopal said, Law Conference on Environ- frontal organisation chiefs and “We also discussed the leakage mental Law: Challenges and the state unit chiefs, party of NSSO report and food items Solutions’ at Chandigarh Uni- General Secretary KC Venugopal and everything, it is very versity here, he said India said: “We have decided to hold shocking.” would lead the world in poverty a mega rally against the anti- “There is a perception in the alleviation, counter-terrorism ‘Gandhi Sankalp Yatra’ people policies of the gov- country that this government is and climate justice. ernment to highlight the people leading to a starvation like sit- He said there is a dire need Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers take part in a ‘Gandhi Sankalp Yatra’ march, as part of oriented issues against the uation due to its bad policies,” to keep a balance between the Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations on October 2, in Amritsar, yesterday. central government.” He said the the Congress leader said. environment and the devel- opment process based on the needs of society, adding that it is in the Indian tradition and Parliament session to take up Citizenship Bill, 34 others heritage to respect nature. He said that even Kautilya’s IANS migrant, and the Personal Data Twenty-seven Bills are listed for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and citizenship was that the applicant treatise Arthshastra has NEW DELHI Protection Bill. introduction, consideration, and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship must have resided in India in the mention of environment pro- The session, which will end passing. of India. last 12 months, as well as for 11 tection, while Emperor The nearly month-long winter on December 13, will see a total The Central government is The bill is a key BJP plank of the previous 14 years. Ashoka’s fifth rock edict too session of Parliament beginning of 20 sittings. likely to push for passage of the which is aimed at granting The BJP-led NDA gov- stresses on the same issue. November 18 will see over 35 Currently, there are 43 bills Citizenship (Amendment) Bill nationality to non-Muslim immi- ernment had introduced the bill “The government of India legislations taken up, including pending in Parliament. Of these, that seeks to amend The Citi- grants from neighbouring in its previous tenure but could is fully committed to envi- the controversial Citizenship 12 Bills are listed for consider- zenship Act, 1955 to make Hindu, countries. not push it through due to ronment protection from day (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which ation and passing and seven are Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Under The Citizenship Act, vehement protests by opposition one,” the minister added. amends the definition of illegal listed for withdrawal. Christian illegal migrants from 1955, one of the requirements for parties. 12 ASIA SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 Court allows Sharif to fly abroad for treatment ANATOLIA The court also ordered broadcaster Geo TV that the gov- KARACHI the government to ernment would decide to appeal remove his name the high court’s rule in the A Pakistani court yesterday from a no-fly list Supreme Court after consulta- allowed former Prime Minister tions with the cabinet. Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad immediately. The The former premier, suf- for medical cure, a court record deadline, however, fering from acute immune and local media reported. could be extended on thrombocytopenic purpura A two-member bench of the the recommendation (ITP), a bleeding disorder in Lahore High Court (LHC) headed which the immune system by Justice Baqar Najafi accepted of doctors, Ashtar destroys platelets, is likely to the plea of Sharif’s family after Asaf Ali, a counsel for fly to London next 24 to 48 day-long proceedings, granting the Sharif family, told hours, Geo News reported a four-week permission to the citing family sources. three-time premier to fly abroad. reporters outside the Sharif served as the premier The court also ordered the court. from 1990-1992, 1997-1999 and government to remove his name 2013-2017, unable to complete from a no-fly list immediately. even a single five-year term. The deadline, however, could be Rs7bn (some $50m), a demand His two previous governments extended on the recommen- the longtime political rival of were dismissed over corruption Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s presidential candidate of the ruling United National Party (UNP)-led dation of doctors, Ashtar Asaf Ali, Prime Minister Imran Khan cat- charges and through bloodless New Democratic Front alliance, arrives to cast his vote during the presidential election in Weerawila, a counsel for the Sharif family, egorically rejected terming it military coups in 1992 and Sri Lanka, yesterday. told reporters outside the court. illegal. 1999. On Tuesday, the government The LHC upheld Sharif’s plea In July 2017, he was dis- allowed Sharif to go to London and declared the government’s qualified by the Supreme Court Sri Lanka polls ‘peaceful’ for four weeks to have medical demand for a surety bond illegal. over the Panama Papers treatment only if he or his family Attorney-General Anwar scandal, which also led to the deposited a surety bond of over Mansoor Khan told the local filing of three corruption cases. Not long after, the top court despite violations: Monitor also barred him from holding the leadership of his party ANATOLIA national coordinator of CMEV However, he said several Pakistan Muslim League- COLOMBO said: “We can say this is one of the people were hospitalized in the Nawaz (PML-N). most peaceful elections we have town of Deraniyagala, some The former premier, who As yesterday’s polls have closed experienced. Although there were 87km from Colombo, in an has twice undergone open for the presidential vote in Sri violations, there were very few attack targeting the voters. heart surgeries, has been con- Lanka, monitors called it one of incidents of violence reported,” According to the latest victed in two of three cor- the “most peaceful” elections in he told Anadolu Agency. update of the CMEV, Sri Lanka ruption cases, and exonerated the country amid isolated inci- In one major incident of vio- Podujana Peramuna party of in the third. dents of violence. lence, an unidentified group opposition candidate Gotabaya In the first case, Sharif, with Nearly 16 million people pelted stones and opened gunfire Rajapaksa reportedly committed his daughter Maryam and son- were eligible to cast votes in on several busses carrying the majority of election viola- in-law, was sentenced last July almost 12,850 polling centers. minority Muslim voters in the tions, with 130 incidents, while to 10 years in jail in a corruption The Election Commission said morning as they were making ruling party candidate Sajith case by an accountability court that the average voter turnout their way to cast their ballots. Premadasa’s New Democratic in Islamabad, but the Islamabad was around 80%. The incident happened in the Front had committed 45 High Court (IHC) suspended the The Colombo-based Centre village of Tantirimale, nearly election-related violations. conviction in September 2018. for Monitoring Election Violence 240km from Colombo. Police Meanwhile, Rohana Hetti- In the second case, known (CMEV) reported a total of 196 spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera arachchi, the executive director as Al Azizia, in December 2018, election-related violations said there were no casualties of Peoples Action for Free and Sharif got seven years in jail for during polling hours between from the incident. Fair Election, said that majority owning assets beyond known 7am-5pm (0130-1130GMT). “This is the first time a pres- of the election violations were income sources. The IHC sus- Among them were 67 cases of idential election was held in relation to attempting to pended the jail term and illegal campaigning, 58 reports without any serious violence,” influence voters. The final Shahbaz Sharif, opposition leader and brother of former Pakistani granted bail to Sharif for eight of intimidation and influencing Mahinda Deshapriya, the result of the presidential Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, arrives at the High Court to attend a weeks on medical grounds late of voters and only three assaults. chairman of the Election Com- election is expected to be hearing in Lahore, yesterday. last month. Manjula Gajanayake, the mission, told reporters here. announced today. Remittances from non-resident Pakistanis are on the rise Two federal prosecutors shot INTERNEWS Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehrik- overseas Pakistanis? offer robust evidence for a Therefore, the data-driven KARACHI e-Insaf (PTI) routinely highlights A proxy measure of PTI’s noticeable uptake in remittance conclusion, although preliminary dead near Kabul its better-than-the-rest rapport better brand awareness abroad volumes now that the party has because PTI has been in power Remittances from non-resident with non-resident Pakistanis and could be the scale of remittances. completed a year in power. for only a year, does not support AP/KABUL Pakistanis have been growing a large rally in suburban Wash- The underlying hypothesis being The volume of remittances a noticeable increase in remit- steadily since 2005 and whereas ington earlier this year that that the party’s greater popularity has increased under PTI’s rule, tances. Remittances in the third Gunmen shot dead two federal regimes with varying outlooks attracted thousands, offers proof and brand recognition among but the increase follows growth quarter of 2019 actually declined prosecutors yesterday as they and strategies have been in for such claims. expatriates should result in a trajectories observed earlier to $5.47bn from $5.74bn in the were driving to Bagram Air- power in the country, their However, what does that ulti- higher increase in the growth rate under the 2008-2013 and 2013- preceding quarter. And a com- field north of the capital, distinct political and economic mately mean? Another question of remittances. 2018 tenures of the governments parison of the third quarter Kabul, said Jamshid Rasouli, outlooks do not appear to have to ponder is whether there exist This is also a hypothesis that of Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Peo- remittances in 2019 with the third spokesman for the national any noticeable impact on this tangible benefits to Pakistan of the party itself has promoted time ple’s Party and Nawaz Sharif’s quarter remittances in 2018 also Attorney-General’s office. reality. Prime Minister Imran the party’s popularity with and again. Recent data does not Pakistan Muslim League-N. shows a decline in 2019. Two other prosecutors were wounded, he said, adding that the prosecutors were 3 paramilitary Netherlands’ Queen Maxima heading to the prison at Bagram Imran replaces Sharif Airfield, which has held top- troops dead level Taliban detainees, to visit Pakistan this month including Anas Haqqani. aide with own friend in Quetta blast He’s the younger brother of INTERNEWS “fintech” offers great possibil- the Taliban’s deputy chief Sira- AP/QUETTA ISLAMABAD ities for simple banking, for juddin Haqqani, who leads the to head Red Crescent example via a mobile phone. fearsome Haqqani militant A Pakistani provincial Queen Maxima of The Nether- About 21 percent of adults in network. Anas Haqqani and two INTERNEWS completed his tenure nor was government minister says a lands will visit Pakistan from Pakistan now have a bank other Taliban prisoners were LAHORE there any cogent reason to roadside bomb has killed three November 25 to 27 as special account, in 2014 this was 13 supposed to be freed on remove him from the position. paramilitary troops and advocate of the UN Secretary- percent (Global Findex). Despite Tuesday in exchange for an Prime Minister Imran Khan Dr. Elahi was appointed by wounded five in the country’s General for Inclusive Financing this increase, 99 million Paki- American and an Australian has removed a close aide of the PML-N government as the southwest overnight. for Development (UNSGSA). stani still do not have access to national after their release was former prime minister Nawaz PRCS chairman in 2014 and Zia Lango, Home Minister In a series of meetings, she financial services such as a bank announced by Afghan President Sharif from the chairmanship granted extension for another for Baluchistan province, says will discuss the progress of or savings account, insurance, Ashraf Ghani in an address to of the Pakistan Red Crescent term in 2017. His term was to a remote-controlled bomb was access to financial services to loans, pensions or digital the nation. But the Taliban say Society (PRCS) with his own complete in March 2020. placed in a motorcycle parked improve the economic position payment methods. the three prisoners didn’t show friend, who is also a Dawn newspaper yesterday in the town of Kuchlak, a of the country’s inhabitants, a This limits their chances of up at an exchange site agreed renowned singer. quoted Elahi as telling it that suburb of the provincial capital statement received from development. This particularly upon with the US. Former Pakistan Muslim he would challenge his Quetta. He said early yesterday Pakistan Embassy in the Hague, concerns people in poverty sit- Ghani’s spokesman Sediq League-N (PML-N) legislator Dr. removal as well as new chair- that the blast targeted a para- Netherlands said. uations, women, small busi- Sediqqi said late yesterday Saeed Elahi was removed short man’s appointment on the military Frontier Corps vehicle. Queen Maxima visits nesses and people in remote that the three were still in gov- of completing his tenure without grounds of conflict of interest No one immediately Pakistan at the invitation of the agricultural areas. ernment custody. He didn’t assigning any reason. and nepotism. He said the pres- claimed responsibility for Fri- government. It is a follow-up to During her stay in Pakistan, say what went wrong with the On the advice of the premier, ident’s order was illegal because day’s attack. the UN visit in February 2016. Queen Mxima will also talk with, exchange which was to pave President Dr. Arif Alvi, in his he could not be removed in the Baluchistan has long been Queen Maxima focuses, among others, international the way for the release of the capacity as head of the PRCS, middle of tenure without the scene of a low-level insur- among other things, on the development partners, repre- two professors of the removed Dr, Elahi and assigning any reason. gency by armed groups importance of financial sentatives from the fintech American University of appointed ruling Pakistan “The president can only demanding more autonomy services for women. Only sector, Governor State Bank of Afghanistan - American Kevin Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Abrarul make a new appointment when and a greater share in the seven percent of them have a Pakistan Reza Baqir, Abdul King and Australian Timothy Haq as chairman of the Society the chairman’s tenure is com- region’s gas and mineral bank account and gender- Hafeez Shaikh, finance adviser Weeks - who were kidnapped for three years. pleted, or he resigns or is resources. Islamist militants based data collection is needed to the Prime Minister and Usman in kabul in 2016. A source in the PTI said removed while assigning a valid also operate in the region. On to understand their specific Mubin, Chairman of the National Sediqqi said the Afghan Elahi had been removed for reason,” Elahi said. According October 30, a suicide bomber access and use needs. Database and Registration government “was in the process openly criticising the Imran to a ruling party official, Elahi rammed his motorcycle into a Another way to connect Authority (NADRA). of reviewing the exchange of Khan government. Elahi has been removed from his police vehicle, killing one more people is to digitise gov- She will also expected to call prisoners and will make a claims his removal is illegal position for openly criticising the policeman in the town of ernment payments such as on President Dr Arif Alvi and decision based on the country’s because he had neither government policies. Loralai in Balochistan. social benefits. In addition, Prime Minister Imran Khan. national interest”. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 ASIA 13 China’s PLA soldiers help clean up HK streets after protests REUTERS A city spokesman In August, Beijing moved HONG KONG said the Hong Kong thousands of troops across the government did not border into Hong Kong in what China’s People’s Liberation state news agency Xinhua Army (PLA) soldiers in shorts request assistance described as a routine rotation. and t-shirts appeared in Hong from the PLA but Foreign envoys and security Kong streets yesterday, helping the military initiated analysts estimate up to 12,000 residents clean up debris after the operation as a troops are now based across anti-government protests Hong Kong — more than double blocked roads, witnesses said. “voluntary community the usual garrison number. Hong Kong has been rocked activity”. Hundreds of residents by more than five months of moved in to help clear barri- demonstrations and clashes caded roads near several between protesters and police remained behind to man barri- universities. have become increasingly cades. Hong Kong’s Cross- Clashes yesterday saw at violent. China has said any Harbour Tunnel was still least one petrol bomb thrown attempt at independence for blocked by protesters occupying before anti-government pro- Hong Kong will be crushed, but Polytechnic University. testers at the campuses troops have remained inside By late afternoon, the PLA retreated. No soldiers appeared their base. soldiers had left the streets to have been involved in the Personnel from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army barracks in Hong Kong emerged on to the city Chinese state media outside Baptist University confrontations. streets yesterday, to help the clean-up after a week of violence and disruption caused by protesters. repeatedly broadcast comments beside their barracks in “We just want our lives to made on Thursday by President Kowloon Tong. continue,” said one resident Xi Jinping, in which he Chinese troops have who was helping clear streets HK: Govt supporters rally after week of chaos denounced the unrest and said appeared on streets only once near HKU. “stopping violence and con- since the 1997 handover to help “There are many elderly AFP by its fluidity and unpredicta- workers took to the streets this trolling chaos while restoring clear up after a typhoon in 2018. who need to go the hospital and HONG KONG bility has coagulated in fixed week in Central, Hong Kong’s order is currently Hong Kong’s It was not clear how many were children who need to go to locations — although as dusk fell financial heart, showing their most urgent task”. involved yesterday. school. I am very sad to see Government supporters took to on Friday, numbers had thinned support of the pro-democracy The clean-up yesterday fol- The PLA garrison in Hong what is happening in my the streets of downtown Hong out. In the morning yesterday, a movement by raising an open lowed some of the worst vio- Kong said that when some res- community.” Kong yesterday after a chaotic group of around 500 people, hand with five fingers splayed. lence seen this year, after a idents began cleaning, some A 70-year-old street cleaner working week saw hardcore mostly middle-aged and senior The Hong Kong government, police operation against pro- troops “helped clear the road in died on Thursday after being hit pro-democracy activists cause citizens, rallied outside the Hong however, warned its employees testers at the Chinese University front of the garrison gate”. on the head a brick police said widespread disruption in the city Kong government’s head- they will be suspended if they of Hong Kong on Tuesday. A city spokesman said the had been thrown by rioters. On and stretch police resources. quarters to show support for the are caught taking part in The authorities have since Hong Kong government did not Monday, police blamed a rioter A “Blossom Everywhere” police, who have been heavily protests. largely stayed away from at request assistance from the PLA for dousing a man in petrol and campaign of roadblocks and criticised over their handling of “I must emphasise that the least five university campuses but the military initiated the setting him on fire. The victim vandalism across the semi- the crisis. government has zero tolerance that had been barricaded by operation as a “voluntary com- is in critical condition. autonomous financial hub shut Waving Chinese national for civil servants violating the thousands of students and munity activity”. On the same day, police shot down large chunks of the train flags and posters, they chanted law,” Joshua Law, Secretary for activists who stockpiled petrol Demosistō, a pro- a protester in the abdomen. He network and forced schools and slogans including “support police the Civil Service, said in a press bombs, catapults, bows and democracy organisation, said was in a stable condition. shopping malls to close. to enforce law solemnly”. conference on Friday. arrows and other weapons. the clean-up operation could set Train services suspended Students and protesters The demonstrators took “Civil servants must not par- Many protesters appeared a “grave precedent” if the city’s earlier in the week were grad- occupied several major univer- photos with the stationed riot ticipate in any illegal activities, to have left the campuses by the government invites the military ually resuming, metro operator sities around the city — the first police and gave them thumbs- including illegal protest evening yesterday though some to deal with internal problems. MTR Corp said. time a movement characterised up signs. Thousands of office gatherings.” Report: Trump asks Bushfires Japan to hike payment rage across for US troops to $8bn Australia REUTERS/MELBOURNE REUTERS A Japanese foreign TOKYO ministry spokesman Dozens of wild fires burned across broad swaths of US President Donald Trump has said the report was Australia’s East and West asked Japan to quadruple annual incorrect and no yesterday and firefighters payments for US forces stationed US-Japan negotiations scrambled to shore up defences there to around $8bn, Foreign on a new agreement ahead of hotter weather and Policy reported, part of Wash- stronger winds expected to ington’s efforts to press its allies have taken place. bring more danger in the to increase their defence coming days. spending. made clear that allies and Temperatures of above 40 The current agreement that partners should contribute more degrees Celsius (104°F) were covers the 54,000 US troops sta- to their shared defence.” forecast for parts of Western tioned in Japan expires in March Negotiations to renew the Australia today (Sunday) before North Korean leader Kim Jong Un posing with pilots and military officials while inspecting the combat 2021. The demand was made to agreement will start in the first spreading east next week and flight contest-2019 at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Japanese officials during a trip half of next year, the spokesman worsening conditions in New to the region in July by John said, adding that the US com- South Wales (NSW) and Bolton, at that time Trump’s mitment to Japan’s defence was Queensland, two states already national security adviser, and “unwavering”. Kim attends military air show stricken by devastating bush Matt Pottinger, who was then the Japan hosts the US Navy’s fires. Asia director for the National Seventh Fleet, including the only AP could derail its nuclear negoti- “He stressed that however Australia’s bush fire are a Security Council, the US global permanently forward deployed SEOUL ations with Washington. loudly the enemies may brag common and deadly threat but affairs magazine said, citing uni- carrier strike group, as well as Currently on a visit to South about their technological advan- the early outbreak this year in dentified former US officials. the Third Marine Expeditionary North Korea yesterday said Korea, US Defence Secretary tages, they can never overwhelm the southern spring has already A Japanese foreign ministry Force. In addition to defending leader Kim Jong Un attended a Mark Esper told reporters on the politico-ideological and claimed several lives and spokesman said the report was Japan, those units use the archi- flight demonstration of military Friday that the allies could pos- combat and moral advantages destroyed more than 300 incorrect and no US-Japan pelago as a base for operations aircraft at an airfield on the sibly modify the joint aerial exer- of our service personnel,” the homes over the past week. negotiations on a new in the wider Asia-Pacific region country’s eastern coast where cises to create space for agency said. Severe fire danger condi- agreement have taken place. where US military power acts as he instructed combat pilots to diplomacy. KCNA said Kim The report didn’t provide tions are expected to continue According to Kyodo news a counterbalance to China’s acquire “great idea and tactics” expressed satisfaction over the much details on the aircraft in NSW today where about 60 agency, Japanese officials told growing influence. against enemies “armed to the performance of his combat pilots deployed for the air show at bush and grass fires are still Bolton the increase is “unreal- Trump has also insisted Seoul teeth.” who displayed the “invincible Wonsan Kalma Airport. It said burning, according to NSW istic”, saying Japan already pays shoulder more of the cost of the The report from Pyongyang’s might” of his flying corps. Kim’s official plane, the Rural Fire Service. a greater share of stationing US military presence in South official Korean Central News Kim said his pilots should be “Chammae-1,” named after the Firefighters strengthened costs than other allies. Korea, where it serves as deter- Agency followed a slew of state- prepared to “fight the enemies goshawk, the North’s national containment lines by back A US State Department rence against North Korea, and ments expressing anger at armed to the teeth with great bird, flew over the airfield burning around the Gospers spokesman said in an emailed has floated the idea of pulling US planned US-South Korea mil- idea and tactics under any cir- escorted by other military Mountain fire, which is blazing statement: “The President has troops from the peninsula. itary drills that the North says cumstances,” the agency said. planes. across more than 112,000 acres (175 square miles) near Sydney’s northwest outskirts, but the fire is yet to be contained. Back Australian lawmaker says barred from entering China burns are fires deliberately lit to clear dry undergrowth. AFP Hastie, along with fellow August, Hastie wrote that Aus- the tour was no longer going have also spoken out on issues More homes are expected SYDNEY government politician James tralia, like France during the war, ahead. including Beijing’s treatment of to be lost. Paterson, had planned to travel has “failed to see how mobile our “We are particularly disap- Uighurs and tensions in Hong “Even if we bring in an extra Australia’s parliamentary intel- to China for a study tour next authoritarian neighbour has pointed that the apparent reason Kong. 1,000 firefighters, we still don’t ligence committee head, who has month but both have been become”. we are not welcome in China is Prime Minister Scott Mor- have enough trucks and fire- previously criticised Beijing, said banned from entering the He said the next decade of this time is our frankness about rison has previously said the fighters for every single home he had been blocked from country. relations with China would test the Chinese Communist Party,” views of Hastie did not represent in New South Wales,” NSW entering China due to his “We regret the decision of Australia’s democratic values. the pair said in a joint statement. the views of the government. Rural Fire Service Inspector “frankness about the Chinese the government of the People’s The Chinese Embassy in Aus- “Despite this, we will always Though Canberra has long Ben Shepherd told Sky News. Communist Party”. Republic of China... that at this tralia at the time slammed speak out in defence of Aus- worked to avoid angering Most national parks on the Andrew Hastie warned time Mr Hastie and Senator Hastie’s comments as “Cold War tralia’s values, sovereignty and Beijing, the relationship has mid-to-north coast of the state, several months ago that Aus- Paterson are not welcome on a mentality and ideological bias”. national interest. become strained by recent including in the northern Blue tralia’s sovereignty and freedoms China Matters study tour to Hastie and Paterson on “We look forward to a time clashes over human rights and Mountains will remain closed could be threatened by Beijing Beijing,” tour organiser China Friday said they had “looked when the Chinese government Australia’s decision to ban until further notice as fire — much as France lost its ter- Matters said late Friday. forward” to learning from realises it has nothing to fear Chinese tech giant Huawei from danger remains very high to ritory to Germany at the In an opinion piece in the Chinese people about history and from honest discussion and the its 5G network due to security severe, NSW Office of Envi- beginning of World War II. Sydney Morning Herald in culture and were “disappointed” free exchange of ideas.” The pair fears. ronment and Heritage said. 14 EUROPE SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019

Serbia President British police hospitalised with heart problems probe election AFP BELGRADE

Serbian President Aleksandar fraud claims Vucic has been hospitalised with “cardiovascular AFP London’s Metropolitan problems”, according to the LONDON Police Service said statement released by his office it had received “two yesterday. British police said yesterday that allegations of electoral “The President Aleksandar specialist officers are assessing Vucic was accepted in the mil- allegations of electoral fraud fraud and malpractice itary hospital in Belgrade on ahead of next month’s vote, in relation to the 2019 November 15 late afternoon,” following accusations the ruling general election”. it said in a short statement. Conservatives tried to bribe The Serbian leader’s media Brexit Party candidates to stand adviser, Suzana Vasiljevic, said down. Party earlier this year, has that “he is ok now and his con- London’s Metropolitan Police accused Prime Minister Boris dition “is stable,” declining to Service (MPS) said it had received Johnson’s Tories of “corruption Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) canvasses with Conservative party candidate for the provide further details. “two allegations of electoral of the worst level” by offering his constituency, Ben Bradley (second right) on the general election campaign trail in Mansfield, yesterday. It was the first time it has fraud and malpractice in relation candidates jobs and peerages to been officially disclosed that to the 2019 general election”, withdraw from the December 12 ment’s post-election Brexit nego- House of Lords peer from the in the last election in 2017, amid Vucic, 49, has heart problems. without providing further details. election. tiating team if she withdrew. main opposition Labour Party, fears of splitting the eurosceptic Local media have earlier “Both allegations are cur- Farage has alleged figures in The prime minister has denied wrote to Met Police Commis- vote and allowing pro-European reported that Vucic had high rently being assessed,” it said in Downing Street, including John- any peerages have been offered, sioner Cressida Dick and public parties to get a working majority. blood pressure. a statement, noting its special son’s chief adviser Edward Lister, while cabinet colleague Michael prosecutors urging them to But Farage has refused to Vucic, an ultra-nationalist enquiry team is responsible for called as many as eight candi- Gove said yesterday that he was examine the allegations. stand down in other key battle- turned pro-European, was investigating such cases. dates to discuss the incentives to “not aware” of any such offers. The Brexit Party are standing ground seats, despite calls to do elected president in 2017, but The Met added it will not be quit the race. “I can’t imagine for a second in 275 of Britain’s 650 parlia- so from pro-Brexit public figures. has been a powerful figure in providing further comment on Ann Widdecombe, a Brexit that this is true,” he said of Wid- mentary constituencies in next He argues his party has a the country’s politics since 2012 individual cases. Party candidate in a seat in decombe’s accusation. month’s poll. better chance of winning con- when his Serbian Progressive Arch eurosceptic Nigel southwest England, said she was The police investigation It unilaterally withdrew from stituencies traditionally held by Party won elections. Farage, who founded the Brexit offered a role in the govern- comes after Charles Falconer, a 317 seats the Conservatives won Labour than the Conservatives. He was the prime minister from 2014 to 2017. According to the Serbian constitution, the post of pres- Widow of dissident plans legal action on UK’s Russia report ident is largely ceremonial, but Vucic is a key decision maker REUTERS a radioactive isotope in 2006, public interest in the information parliament has shut to allow for the 2016 US presidential election, for most issues in the country. LONDON sent Johnson a letter on being disclosed to the public, so campaigning. which was won by Republican Opposition, international Wednesday saying she planned they are fully informed of the Britain has accused Russia of Donald Trump. and local non-governmental The widow of a Russian dissident to take legal action, lawyer Elena extent of Russian interference in meddling and trying to interfere According to a British public organisations have regularly murdered in London plans to Tsirlina said. British politics before they go to in elections in the West, which inquiry in 2016, two Russians accused Vucic of authoritarian challenge a decision by Prime “A response is now expected the polls on 12 December 2019.” Moscow denies. carried out Litvinenko’s style of rule, including curbing Minister Boris Johnson’s by 4pm on November 19, 2019,” The report by parliament’s The ISC was examining alle- murder, one of them a former media freedoms and under- government not to publish a Tsirlina said in a statement, Intelligence and Security Com- gations of Russian activity aimed KGB bodyguard who became a mining institutions. report on alleged Russian adding Litvinenko would only mittee (ISC) has been cleared by at the United Kingdom, including Russian lawmaker, in an oper- Since late 2018 and into meddling in Britain, a lawyer proceed if she secures funding Britain’s security services but it in the 2016 referendum on EU ation probably ordered by early 2019, thousands of Ser- representing the widow said. via the CrowdJustice fund- has not yet been approved for membership, when Johnson was Russian President Vladimir bians have taken to the streets Marina Litvinenko, whose raising site by that date. publication by Johnson’s office, a leading Leave campaigner. Putin. to protest the presidency of husband Alexander, a former Litvinenko’s page on the site meaning it will not be released US intelligence agencies have Moscow has denied the Vucic. The protesters charge that KGB agent, was murdered with said there was “a profound before the election since accused Russia of interfering in allegations. Vucic and the SNS are corrupt. Germany arrests ‘Yellow vests’ mark year IS suspect after deportation of protests with violence BLOOMBERG ference. “This situation is per- ANATOLIA/BERLIN PARIS fectly under control.” The rest of the capital German authorities have Police and rioters clashed in the remained calm, he said, warning detained a Daesh/IS suspect French capital yesterday as demonstrations planned for who returned to the country on authorities sought to contain today would also be halted Friday on suspicion of terrorism protests marking the first anni- should violence erupt. offenses, the Federal Prosecu- versary of the start of the The French government is tor’s office has announced. “yellow vests” movement. deploying tens of thousands of Nasim A, 21, one of two At least 61 people were police nationwide this weekend female foreign fighters deported detained in Paris, with riot police as protesters try to revive the by Turkey on Friday, was deploying tear gas and water movement that began a year ago accused of being terrorist group canons as violence erupted at over gas prices and morphed membership, violating gun laws, the Place d’Italie in the southern into a broader social protest that and committing war crimes. part of the city, where demon- lasted for months and was The German woman is strators had gathered for a marked by episodes of violent believed to have travelled to march that authorities later rioting. In a bid to counter a A man clears away damage caused by days of severe flooding in Venice, yesterday. Syria in 2014, and later moved banned. repeat of the scenes of to Iraq with her husband, who A tense standoff unfolded destruction, police yesterday was also a member of the ter- Venice braces for more flooding, strong winds with windows of an HSBC began blocking access to the cel- rorist group Daesh. branch getting smashed, cars ebrated Champs-Elysees avenue Heida R, the second Daesh/ AFP yesterday, but the city forecast “We’ve destroyed Venice, overturned and fires set, tele- in the early hours of the IS suspect deported by Turkey VENICE a high water of 160 centimetres we’re talking about one billion vision and social media videos morning. on Friday, was released after for today, lower than Tuesday’s (euros) in damage and that’s just showed. Some rioters wearing At the height of the German police took her finger- Venice was on alert for more high of 187 centimetres but still from the other day, not today,” black clothes, goggles and face movement last year, the dem- prints and DNA samples. floods and fierce winds after an dangerous. Brugnaro said. coverings threw projectiles at onstrations attracted hundreds Since the beginning of the exceptionally high tide swamped Civil protection authorities The crisis has prompted the police through thick smoke. of thousands across the country. Syrian civil war in 2011, more the city of canals, where author- downgraded a weather “red government to release $22m in Paris police chief Didier Lal- They were largely peaceful than 1,050 foreign fighters trav- ities have declared a state of alert” for the Venice region to funds to tackle the devastation. lement said that the perpetrators at the beginning, but violence elled from Germany to conflict emergency. orange. Prime Minister Giuseppe of the violence — whom he erupted including on December areas in Syria and Iraq, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro Churches, shops and homes Conte declared a state of emer- called “ultra yellows” or “black 1, 2018, when the Arc de Tri- according to German security ordered the iconic St Mark’s in the city, a Unesco World Her- gency for the city on Thursday. blocks” — would be contained omphe was ransacked. On agencies. Turkey started last Square closed on Friday as the itage site, have been inundated On Friday, Mayor Brugnaro within the area and systemati- several occasions as anti-gov- week to deport foreign fighters latest sea surge struck with by unusually intense “acqua announced the opening of a fund cally detained. ernment sentiment gathered it captured in anti-terror oper- strong storms and winds bat- alta”, or high water, which on where people in Italy and around “Individuals came not to steam there was also wide- ations at home and abroad to tering the region. Tuesday hit its highest level in the world could contribute to the defend a cause, but to destroy,” spread looting and vandalism on their countries of origin. The square was open again half a century. historic city’s repair. he said in a televised press con- the Champs-Elysees. Hungary tightens control over courts and schools, raising rights concerns

REUTERS Since taking power nearly a 200-pages bill this week. Constitutional Court, which had minister in charge of education. The bill says the changes will BUDAPEST decade ago, Prime Minister It would allow state bodies often ruled in the government’s Alternative schools — whose ensure compatibility among Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party has to appeal to the Constitutional favour in the past. teaching methods and curricula schools. The Hungarian government has tightened its grip on the media Court against decisions by lower Varga has said the gov- differ from state schools — would The Hungarian Waldorf proposed legislation that would and courts, often sparking con- courts if they think the rulings ernment aimed to provide a have to apply for a new licence Alliance said the bill would end increase its control over the flict with the European Union. infringe their constitutional “clear framework” for adminis- by April. Those failing to do so state recognition of alternative country’s courts and inde- Earlier this month, the gov- rights or restrict their authority. trative litigation, and speed up will not be allowed to open for teaching methods. pendent schools, raising ernment abandoned plans to set Amnesty International said appeals. the next school year. Billionaire George Soros has concerns from rights groups. up separate administrative the bill would strengthen the The government also sub- “From now on, it will be up already had a run-in with the One measure submitted to courts. control of the Constitutional mitted draft legislation to par- to the whims of the minister to government over education. His parliament this week would But it vowed to pass legis- Court over lower courts. liament which would force inde- decide which schools will be able Central European University had strengthen the Constitutional lation to speed up administrative The Hungarian Helsinki pendent schools to re-apply for to operate and which will not,” to open a campus in Vienna this Court, most of whose judges are court cases that involve gov- Committee said the bill would their licences from next year, said Marton Asboth, a lawyer at year after it said key teaching already elected by the ruling ernment bodies, and Justice Min- allow the government to channel making their future operation the Hungarian Civil Liberties programmes were forced out of party. ister Judit Varga submitted a politically sensitive cases to the conditional on approval by the Union. Hungary. SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 EUROPE / AMERICAS 15 Trump pardons 2 Army officers in war crimes cases

REUTERS The White House said in a statement Trump into the military justice system. acquitted him of murdering a The American Civil Liberties WASHINGTON granted full pardons to First Lieutenant Clint In 2013, prosecutors accused captured IS fighter by stabbing Union criticised the president’s Lorance and Major Mathew Golsteyn, and Lorance of illegally ordering the the wounded prisoner in the action.“With this utterly US President Donald Trump ordered that the rank Edward Gallagher held fatal shootings of two men on neck, but it convicted him of ille- shameful use of presidential pardoned two army officers motorcycles while on patrol in gally posing with the detainee’s powers, Trump has sent a clear accused of war crimes in Afghan- before he was convicted in a military trial this Afghanistan’s Kandahar corpse. That had led to his rank message of disrespect for law, istan and restored the rank of a year be restored. province. He was found guilty of being reduced. morality, the military justice Navy SEAL platoon commander two counts of murder. Golsteyn received word of system, and those in the military who was demoted for actions in was convicted in a military trial said the Department of Defense Last year, Golsteyn, an Army his pardon from Trump, who who abide by the laws of war,” Iraq, a move critics have said this year be restored. has confidence in the military Green Beret, was charged with spoke with him by telephone for Hina Shamsi, director of the would undermine military justice “For more than two hundred justice system. “The President is murdering an Afghan man several minutes, Golsteyn’s ACLU’s National Security Project, and send a message that battle- years, presidents have used their part of the military justice system during a 2010 deployment to attorney Phillip Stackhouse said said in a statement. field atrocities will be tolerated. authority to offer second chances as the Commander-in-Chief and Afghanistan. in a statement. In May, Trump talked about The White House said in a to deserving individuals, has the authority to weigh in on Gallagher, a decorated SEAL “Our family is profoundly how he was considering pardons statement Trump granted full including those in uniform who matters of this nature”. team platoon leader, was grateful for the president’s for US troops charged with war pardons to First Lieutenant Clint have served our country. These In recent weeks, Pentagon accused of committing various action. We have lived in constant crimes, a move he acknowledged Lorance and Major Mathew Gol- actions are in keeping with this officials had spoken with Trump war crimes while deployed in fear of this runaway prose- would be controversial but that steyn, and ordered that the rank long history,” the statement said. about the cases, provided facts and Iraq in 2017. cution,” Golsteyn was quoted he said was justified because Edward Gallagher held before he A Pentagon spokesperson emphasised the due process built In July, a military jury saying in the statement. they had been treated “unfairly.” Support for Trump’s Alleged gunman, 4 others charged with impeachment unchanged New Jersey football after hearings began: Poll game shooting AP REUTERS overall lack of movement in PLEASANTVILLE NEW YORK public opinion regarding impeachment, suggests the Authorities have charged five The televised impeachment hearings so far have mostly pro- men, including the alleged hearings that began this week vided people with a rationale for gunman, in connection with a in the US House of Representa- their earlier support or oppo- shooting at a New Jersey high tives do not appear to have sition to impeachment. school football game that they changed many minds about This week’s hearings began said yesterday was the result of President Donald Trump, with the public phase of the House “petty vengeance.” Three public support for his impeachment inquiry. Amer- people were wounded. impeachment about the same icans watched as lawmakers The shooting at a packed on before and after the first US questioned US diplomats Friday night playoff game diplomats testified, according to regarding allegations Trump between the Camden Panthers a Reuters/Ipsos poll. used his position to strongarm and the Pleasantville Grey- The national online poll, Ukraine into investigating his hounds, sent fans and players which ran from Thursday to political opponent, former vice- frantically running for safety. Friday morning, showed that president Joe Biden. A 10-year-old boy was Senior official at the Office of Management and Budget, Mark Sandy (right), with Attorney Barbara Van 44% of US adults said Trump Trump has denied any wounded and remained in Gelder, arrives at the US Capitol for a closed door deposition with lawmakers in Washington, DC, yesterday. “should be impeached,” while wrongdoing. critical condition yesterday, 40% said he “should not be Overall, the poll found that while a 27-year-old man was impeached.” A similar poll that 41% of the public approved of in stable condition and will be ran earlier in the week found Trump, while 54% White House budget official testifies undergoing surgery. A 45% supported impeachment disapproved. 15-year-old boy was also was and 42% opposed it. When asked about the REUTERS subpoena issued to compel his “This is a technical part of treated for a graze wound. The The Reuters/Ipsos poll also Ukraine allegations, 57% said WASHINGTON testimony, an official working on our investigation,” Raskin told victims’ names have not been found that about 68% of Amer- they agreed that Congress the impeachment inquiry said. reporters outside the interview released. icans said they were following should investigate if Trump A White House budget official Trump’s pressure on Ukraine room. “We want to know exactly “Unlike some of the the hearings. That includes 28% committed impeachable walked into a closed session of is at the heart of the Democratic- how the president translated his shootings that have occurred who said they were watching or offenses, while 30% disagreed. the US House of Representatives led inquiry into whether the political objective to shake down on school premises throughout listening to the hearings on live And 47% agreed that Trump impeachment inquiry of Pres- Republican president misused the Ukrainian government for the country, this incident had broadcasts. About 25% said they “pressured” Ukraine to inves- ident Donald Trump yesterday, US foreign policy to undermine the favours he wanted the nothing to do with the students had not paid any attention to the tigate the Bidens, while 29% where he testified about the former vice-president Joe Biden, budget process.” of Pleasantville High School or impeachment proceedings in disagreed. holdup of military aid to Ukraine. one of his potential opponents On Friday, Trump launched Camden High School,” Atlantic Congress. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was Mark Sandy, a career official in the 2020 election. a Twitter attack on a former US County Prosecutor Damon Among those paying conducted online, in English, of the Office of Management and Democratic Representative ambassador to Ukraine while Tyner said in a news release. attention, 41% said the hearings throughout the United States. Budget, is the first person from Jamie Raskin, a member of the she was testifying to an “The venue simply pre- had made them “more sup- It gathered responses from OMB to testify before the inquiry Judiciary and Oversight Com- impeachment hearing in Con- sented an opportunity for crim- portive” of impeaching Trump, 1,115 adults and has a credi- after three political appointees mittees, said Sandy was brought gress, in an extraordinary inals to pursue their own form while 25% said they had made bility interval, a measure of defied congressional subpoenas in to shed light on whether mil- moment that Democrats said of petty vengeance against one them “less supportive.” That precision, of about 3 per- to appear. itary aid was held for political amounted to witness another. As a result, an innocent finding, combined with the centage points. Sandy complied with a reasons. intimidation. child was caught and injured in their crossfire. Our community will not be held hostage by a Czech filmmaker few idiots intent on jeopard- Texas court halts execution in high-profile case izing our safety and the safety Vojtech Jasny of our children.” dies at age 93 AFP/WASHINGTON African-American, was sentenced his lawyers and supporters say The state appeals court then Tyner said Alvin Wyatt, 31, to death in 1998 after being con- that evidence proves he is halted the execution later in the of Atlantic City, has been A Texas appeals court has victed by an all-white jury of the innocent. evening. charged with three counts of AP suspended the execution of abuse and murder of Stacey Stites, The Texas Board of Pardons Millions of people, including attempted murder and two PRAGUE convicted murderer Rodney a 19-year-old white woman. and Paroles announced that it US lawmakers and Hollywood weapons counts. Reed in a case that has attracted His execution by lethal had “voted unanimously to rec- celebrities Kim Kardashian and Three other men face Vojtech Jasny, a filmmaker who widespread public attention and injection had been set for ommend the governor grant a Susan Sarandon, have signed weapons charges, and a fourth belonged to the new wave of a celebrity-backed campaign. November 20, but Reed says he 120-day reprieve” to Reed, who petitions supporting Reed. faces weapons and eluding Czechoslovak cinema in the Reed, a 51-year-old did not commit the crime, and had appealed for clemency. charges. 1960s, has died. He was 93. Slovacke divadlo, a theatre he frequently visited, said that Jasny died on Friday. A family Hurricane Dorian inflicted representative confirmed his death to the CTK news agency. $3.4bn losses on Bahamas From the 1950s, Jasny made some 50 movies in Czechoslo- AP unleashing a storm surge of up vakia and later in the West SAN JUAN to 7.6 metres. when he emigrated after the Destruction of homes and 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Hurricane Dorian inflicted losses other buildings as well as infra- Czechoslovakia. of about $3.4bn on the Bahamas, structure caused damage His most famous film, “All an amount equal to one-quarter amounting to $2.5bn, with 87% My Good Countrymen,” from of the CaAP ribbean archipel- reported in Abaco and 1968, about the brutal changes ago’s GDP, according to a report. remainder in Grand Bahama, in the country under com- The report by the Inter- according to the development munism, was banned in his American Development Bank bank. homeland. It won the best also said there were 67 con- Some 9,000 homes were director award at the Cannes firmed deaths and that 282 damaged and seven schools Film Festival in 1969. people were still missing as of destroyed, leading to the reas- He also won a Cannes late October. Those figures have signment of 1,500 displaced stu- special jury prize for his 1963 been previously reported. dents, the report said. It described film, “The Cassandra Cat.” Nearly 29,500 people lost damage to some tourism facil- In the 1980s, Jasny settled homes or jobs, or were tempo- ities as “catastrophic.” in the US, lecturing at Columbia rarily displaced by the Category Another $717m in losses was University. He later returned 5 storm that hit Grand Bahama caused by the storm’s impact on home. Jasny’s “Hell on Earth,” and Abaco islands in early Sep- the production of goods and featuring testimonies of Holo- tember, itadded. services provided, with the caust survivors, was part of Election campaign in US The development bank said private sector sustaining 84% of 2002’s “Broken Silence,” a five- reconstruction will require big that total, the report said. It esti- Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to members of the National film documentary project com- investments and will take many mated another $221m in costs Nurses United during a campaign rally, in Oakland, yesterday. The National Nurses United announced missioned by Steven Spielberg’s years. Dorian was one of the for the cleanup of an oil spill in Survivors of the Shoah Visual their endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States. most powerful Atlantic hurri- Grand Bahama and debris History Foundation. canes ever to make landfall, removal and demolition. 16 AMERICAS SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2019 Unrest continues in Bolivia, 8 more dead AP I am really concerned jeopardize any possible avenue SACABA that the situation in for dialogue,” she added. Bolivia could spin Protesters said police fired Bolivia’s political crisis turned out of control if the when demonstrators, including deadly again when security forces many coca leaf growers who opened fire on supporters of Evo authorities do not backed Bolivia’s first indigenous Morales. Officials said yesterday handle it sensitively president, tried to cross a mil- that at least eight people died and and in accordance itary checkpoint. dozens were injured in an incident with international Presidency Minister Jerjes that threatens the interim govern- Justiniano said in La Paz that five ment’s efforts to restore stability norms: Michelle people had been killed and an following the resignation of the Bachelet estimated 22 were injured. former president in an election He accused protesters of dispute. died during weeks of earlier pro- using “military weapons.” Most of the dead and injured tests against Morales before his Lara, the hospital director, on Friday in Sacaba, near the city departure, according to the said that 75 people were injured. of Cochabamba, had been shot, Ombudsman’s Office. Several Earlier in the day, Áñez said Guadalberto Lara, director of the came in clashes between the Morales would face possible legal town’s Mexico Hospital, said. He president’s backers and those charges for election fraud if he called it the worst violence he’s accusing him of fraudulently returns home from Mexico City. Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido delivers a speech seen in his 30-year career. trying to win reelection. Áñez also has said Morales outside the Bolivian embassy, in Caracas, yesterday. The national Ombudsman’s The UN human rights chief, would not be allowed to partic- Office said the death toll had former Chilean President ipate in new presidential elec- risen to eight. Michelle Bachelet issued a tions, which are supposed to be Angry demonstrators and statement yesterday calling the held within three months. Armed men storm Guaido’s party HQ relatives of the victims gathered deaths “an extremely dangerous The ousted leader, mean- at the site of the shootings, development.” while, contended this week he AFP Voluntad Popular party in the minutes after the men left. chanting: “Civil war, now!” “I am really concerned that is still president since the coun- CARACAS east of the capital Caracas. In a video broadcast by the Morales, who was granted the situation in Bolivia could spin try’s legislature has not yet The men, who did not identify party on Twitter, a man is heard asylum in Mexico after his out of control if the authorities approved his resignation. Armed men stormed the party themselves, took security yelling “everyone on the floor” November 10 resignation, said do not handle it sensitively and Morales stepped down fol- headquarters of Venezuela cameras and recording along and asking for the cellphones of on Twitter that a “massacre” had in accordance with international lowing nationwide protests over opposition leader Juan Guaido with computers, money and the people in the office. occurred and he described the norms,” she said in a statement. suspected vote-rigging in an on Friday, one day ahead of a identification from the approxi- “It’s enough that the dicta- interim government led by “The country is split and October 20 election in which he protest against President Nicolas mately 30 people present. torship continues to intimidate Jeanine Áñez as a dictatorship. people on both sides of the claimed to have won a fourth Maduro, Guaido and witnesses “They were victims of a kid- our people, so we are going to “Now they are killing our political divide are extremely term in office. An Organization said. napping, of intimidation,” the streets tomorrow with force brothers in Sacaba, angry. In a situation like this, of American States audit of the Dressed in black and car- Guaido, who is recognised as throughout Venezuela,” said Cochabamba,” he said in another repressive actions by the author- vote found widespread irregu- rying pistols and rifles, the Venezuela’s acting president by Guaido, who had called the tweet. ities will simply stoke that anger larities. Morales has denied there hooded men forced their way about fifty countries, told jour- protest to demand that Maduro At least 13 other people had even further and are likely to was fraud. into the offices of Guaido’s nalists after arriving at the site leave power. Suspected gunman in California high school shooting dies in hospital

REUTERS/LOS ANGELES yesterday of his wounds in wound to the head, when he suc- students at his school, then Thursday morning attack at the The gunman was publicly hospital, the Los Angeles County cumbed to his injuries. His turned the gun on himself, a local school in Santa Clarita died of identified by law enforcement A teenage boy who killed two Sheriff’s office said. mother was present at the time sheriff said, but authorities said their wounds. for the first time on Friday as classmates and wounded three “Nathaniel Tennosuke of his passing,” the sheriff’s office they had no clues about what “We did not find any mani- Nathaniel Tennosuke Berhow. others at a southern California Berhow, 16, a Junior at Saugus said in a written statement. sparked the bloodshed. festo, any diary that spelled it Berhow initially survived his high school on his birthday before High School, was being treated The boy was carrying out a Two of the other five stu- out,” Los Angeles County Sheriff self-inflicted gunshot wound but shooting himself in the head died for a self-inflicted gunshot deliberate plan when he shot five dents who were shot in the Alex Villanueva said at a briefing. died at a hospital yesterday.