www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8134 SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 17 JUMADA I - 1441 2 RIYALS

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Amir, Putin hold phone talks, Amir mourns H M Qaboos discuss regional Qatar announces ‘ to continue path developments three days of QNA — mourning This is a sad day for all the Gulf people, as for the laid by Sultan Qaboos’ brothers in Oman. With great sorrow, we received in Amir H H Tamim bin Qatar the news of the departure of Sultan Qaboos to the QNA — set by the late H M Sultan Hamad Al Thani held a tele- QNA — DOHA mercy of Allah The Almighty, leaving behind a rising Qaboos in bolstering cooper- phone conversation yesterday country and a great legacy that everyone cherishes. It is H M Sultan Haitham bin ation with brothers in the GCC with H E President Vladimir Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin a great loss for the Arab and Islamic nations. We offer Al Said was and the Arab world without Putin of the friendly Russian Hamad Al Thani mourned condolences to the brotherly Omani people and we pray announced as the new Sultan interfering in the affairs of Federation. yesterday the death of H M to Allah for His Majesty the Supreme Paradise. of Oman, in succession to the others. Peace and coexistence During the phone call, they Sultan bin late H M Sultan Qaboos bin will remain as cornerstones of discussed a number of regional Taimur of the Sultanate of and international issues of Oman, who passed away on common concern, especially Friday evening. the latest developments in the H H the Amir stressed, in a region, including , and statement by the Amiri Diwan, ways to calm down and reduce that H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said tension in order to establish bin Taimur was a great leader security and regional and characterised by wisdom, mod- international peace. eration, and long-term vision. The close relations between H H the Amir added that the the two friendly countries and late Sultan dedicated his life to means to boost them were also serve his country and his reviewed during the phone Ummah, calling for dialogue conversation. and for rejecting violence and extremism. The statement said that the Iran says its military news of H M Sultan Qaboos bin ‘unintentionally’ shot Said bin Taimur’s passing was received with hearts filled with down Ukraine plane faith in Allah and his Provi- dence, and with great sorrow QNA — TEHRAN and deep sadness. The H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur H M Sultan bin Taimur Al Said statement added that the loss Iran said its military “uninten- was of a great leader who was of mourning in the state. bless him with the mercy, to Said. Delivering a televised Oman’s relation with the world, tionally” shot down the wise, moderate, and long-term Later, Amir H H Sheikh dwell him in His spacious par- speech during his inaugu- he noted. Ukrainian commercial jet near oriented, who dedicated his life ; adise, and to give patience and ration ceremony yesterday, Earlier, Oman’s Diwan of Tehran that crashed and killed to serve his country and his Deputy Amir H H Sheikh solace to his relatives, Omani H M Sultan Haitham bin Royal Court announced the everyone on board, in a Ummah, calling for dialogue Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani people, and the Arab and Tariq said Oman will death of H M Sultan Qaboos statement cited by Iranian and for rejecting violence and and Prime Minister and Interior Islamic nations. We belong to continue the legacy left on Friday evening. The state television yesterday. extremism. The statement also Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Allah and to Him we will behind by the late leader H Diwan declared a three-day Tehran cited “human said that Oman saw a compre- bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani return,” said H E the Prime Min- M Sultan Qaboos, heading period of national mourning error” as the cause and said hensive renaissance in all fields sent cables of condolences to H ister and Interior Minister in a further towards progress and for the public and private Iran’s armed forces regretted during the Sultan’s rule. M Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al tweet yesterday. development. sectors. that it had led to the deaths of H H the Amir prayed to the Said of the Sultanate of Oman The Speaker of the Shura H M Sultan Haitham bin The Defence Council in those on board the plane. Almighty Allah to recompense on the death of H M Sultan Council, H E Ahmed bin Tariq affirmed that the late Oman called upon the Royal All 176 people on board the His Majesty Sultan Qaboos fully Qaboos, praying to the Almighty Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, H M Sultan Qaboos, had laid Family Council to convene in Ukrainian International Air- for his good deeds, to have Allah to have mercy on his soul also sent a cable of condolences strong foundations for the order to determine who shall lines (UIA) Boeing 737 airliner mercy on his soul and to rest it and to rest it in peace in par- to Chairman of Oman Council development of Oman since assume power. Oman News died when it crashed in a field in peace in paradise along with adise, and to inspire the royal of State, H E Yahya bin Mah- ruling in 1970. He reaffirmed Agency reported that the shortly after take-off on martyrs and the faithful, and family and the Omani people foudh Al Mantheri, and to that Omanis would continue Defence Council said that it Wednesday morning. prayed that Allah helps the royal with patience and solace. Chairman of Oman Shura on the legacy left behind by received a reply from the Iranian President Hassan family, the Omani people, and H E the Prime Minister and Council, H E Khalid bin Hilal bin the late H M Sultan Qaboos, Royal Family, in which they Rouhani confirmed that an the Arab and Islamic nations Interior Minister also expressed Nasser Al Maawali, on the death adding that the Armed said that out of gratitude and initial investigation concluded with patience and solace on His his condolences on social media. of H M Sultan Qaboos, praying Forces, security apparatus, appreciation to H M Sultan that “regrettably missiles fired Majesty’s loss. “Our condolences to our to the Almighty Allah to have and other state entities will Qaboos, they appointed the due to human error caused the “Indeed, to God we belong brothers in the Sultanate of mercy on his soul and to rest it continue to maintain and person the late Sultan chose horrific crash”. He tweeted and to God we shall return,” the Oman on the demise of Sultan in peace in paradise, and to preserve the Sultanate’s in his will, announcing H M yesterday that “Investigations statement said. Qaboos bin Said, may Allah inspire the royal family and the achievements. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin continue to identify and pros- H H the Amir also ordered forgive him. We pray to Allah, Omani people with patience The foreign policy of Oman Taimur Al Said as the Sultan ecute this great tragedy and the announcement of three days the Exalted, the Majestic, to and solace. will remain true to the vision of Oman. unforgivable mistake.” Qatar– 2020 Year of Culture begins Al Nuaimi: Justice Ministry RAYNALD C RIVERA partner countries while high- making efforts to speed THE PENINSULA lighting the strong relationship between Qatar and France. Two distinct cultures shared “Since the programme was up adjudication process one stage in a grand musical established in 2012, it was clear celebration serving as an to us, that the French Republic SANAULLAH ATAULLAH bodies through the introduction ideal way to mark the – with its distinctive cultural THE PENINSULA of modern technology in law beginning of the Qatar-France position on the world’s map and enforcement and the pro- 2020 Year of Culture set to be the heritage of its civilization – Minister of Justice and Acting motion of speedy adjudication an exciting 12 months filled would be an ideal partner Minister of State for Cabinet in civil, administrative, and with festivals, art exhibitions nation. As we officially launch Affairs H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al criminal cases to ensure a com- and performances. this edition, we are confident Jafali Al Nuaimi has said that plete justice. Featuring French and Qatari that it will be both successful the Ministry is working to H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al compositions, the concert was and distinctive,” he said. increase number of judges and Jafali Al Nuaimi said that presented by Qatar Museums Gellet shared the same view members of the Public Prose- Qatar, under the wise lead- on Friday at the Opera House saying, “2020 is an exceptional cution, expanding the estab- ership, is sparing no effort to of Katara Cultural Village- a opportunity to celebrate the lishment of specialised courts, provide the necessary envi- distinguished cultural hub. strength, depth and dynamism and opening new benches of ronment to achieve complete Under the baton of of the relationship of friendship the courts to further speed up justice by updating the legis- renowned French conductor and partnership that unite our adjudication process. lation in force, and enact new Marc Piollet, the Qatar Philhar- two countries through culture Speaking at First Lawyers laws to facilitate litigation monic Orchestra (QPO) per- and art which are the common Forum organised by the procedures and enforcement formed with young award- language amongst communities Qatari Bar Association yes- of judgments to achieve winning French pianist Lise de and societies of the world. “For terday at Sheraton Hotel, H E justice in all its dimensions in la Salle to the delight of a H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Minister of State, speaks Qataris, it will be an opportunity the Minister stressed con- all areas. capacity audience which before the concert celebrating the opening of Qatar-France 2020 to better understand our tinued efforts by the Ministry H E the Minister said that included H E Dr. Hamad bin Year of Culture at Katara Opera House on Friday. dynamism of creativity and our of Justice in the light of its the State is keen to support the Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Minister cultural institutions, and, for the business strategy to convert institutions concerned with of State, H E Franck Gellet, Symphony symbolises H H most popular piano concertos French, to explore Qatar’s all its services into electronic achieving justice, foremost of Ambassador of France to Qatar, Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin – and Hector Berlioz’ Sym- culture, history and services, which will positively which is the national judiciary, Ahmad Al Namla, CEO of Qatar Khalifa Al Thani’s vision for the phony Fantastique, Op. 14 – an ambitions.” reflect on achieving speedy by maintaining its inde- Museums and other VIPs. State of Qatar from its birth to iconic programme symphony With regard to the events justice. pendence as a guarantee of The concert opened with its present place in the world. which tells the story of an art- and activities for the Year, H E the Minister com- justice for all. QPO’s performance of Doha With Lise de la Salle on the ist’s love for a beautiful woman. Gellet said focus will be on mended the efforts of the The Minister praised theme Secrets Symphony by Qatari piano, QPO played Camille In his speech before the visual art, cinema, music, and Supreme Judiciary Council, the of the Forum, ‘Achieving Com- composer Haamed Hussein Saint-Saëns’ Concerto for Piano concert, the State Minister culinary art as well as scientific, Public Prosecution, and the plete Justice’, which constitutes Naama who was present at the and Orchestra No. 2 in G Minor, underlined the big impact the academic and university coop- efforts of the Ministry of important indications of its event. The Doha Secrets Op. 22 – known as one of his Year of Culture initiative among eration. `P2 Interior, and other existing challenges. `P2 02 HOME SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER TODAY FAJR05.01 am SUNRISE 06.21 am o o Strong wind and high sea / Thundery rain at north areas at first. ZUHR 11.42 am ASR 02.43 pm 14 C 20 C Minimum Maximum HIGH TIDE 05:51 – 16:38 LOW TIDE 13:29 – 00:00 MAGHRIB 05.05 pm ISHA 06.35 pm W ALRUWAIS: 12o↗19o W ALKHOR: 13o↗19o W DUKHAN: 14o↗19o W DOHA: 14o↗20o W MESAIEED 12o↗20o W ABUSAMRA 12o↗19o Qatar–France 2020 Year of Culture opens with French classics

FROM PAGE 1 that the initiative will help to Garage Gallery, Yto Barrada at Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, strengthen the already well- Mathaf: Arab Museum of Head of Year of Culture at QM, established ties which Qatar Modern Art, and artists from expressed excitement over the and France share, and create Qatar and the region at the launch of the ninth edition of platforms where ideas, thoughts Palais de Tokyo; screenings of the programme. and appreciation can be works from the Doha Film “Qatar-France 2020 will exchanged in a spirit of Institute at the Cannes Interna- include a series of exhibitions, openness and collaboration.” tional Film Festival; and pres- festivals and events which will Among the rich lineup of entation of Qatar Culture Week be held in both nations over the events are exhibitions of works at the Institut du Monde Arabe next twelve months. We hope of Pablo Picasso at Fire Station in Paris.

The Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, during a visit at the Ministry’s pavilion at the 30th Doha International Book Fair, yesterday. Justice Minister visits pavilion at Book Fair

QNA — DOHA participating in the exhibition. Justice was keen to participate H E the Minister praised the in this Fair to bring its legal The Minister of Justice and efforts of the Fair organisers, services closer to the public, Acting Minister of State for and the role of the Ministry of inform citizens of the latest Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin Culture and Sports in organising legal services and legislation Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, visited this event, which reflects the that interest them in various yesterday the Ministry’s civilized face of the State, areas of their activities and pavilion at the 30th Doha Inter- stressing that Qatar today takes daily transactions, and provide national Book Fair. its rightful place among civi- presentations and explanations H E the Minister viewed lized countries thanks to the that enhance communication the legal publications provided care and attention that the wise with various groups of the Qatari composer Haamed Hussein Naama with renowned French conductor, Marc Piollet, acknowledges by the Ministry of Justice’s leadership gives to knowledge public, especially legal groups the audience’s ovation after the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s brilliant performance of his composition, pavilion. His Excellency also and culture. His Excellency or dealers with the Ministry and Doha Secrets Symphony, on Friday at Katara Opera House. toured a number of pavilions noted that the Ministry of its affiliated sectors.

Al Nuaimi: QPEM discusses best ways to treat children Justice Ministry The 4th Qatar making efforts Pediatric Emergency to speed up Medicine Conference adjudication (QPEM) 2020 explores process numerous pathways The Minister of Justice and that are aimed at Acting Minister of State for helping the medical Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, fraternity across said that the Ministry has the world deliver developed the service of comprehensive care documentation, certification and proof of history of in their respective paediatrics. “The conference contracts and documents of communities. focuses on all areas of paedi- all kinds, which contributes atric care including medicine, to facilitating litigation proce- trauma and surgical. Partici- dures to ensure the rights of FAZEENA SALEEM pants at the conference have the people. The Minister said THE PENINSULA the chance to enhance their that Qatar ranked first in the More than 600 professionals from across the world attend the 4th Qatar Pediatric Emergency Medicine knowledge on a variety of key world in the classification of Conference (QPEM) 2020 at Grand Hyatt, yesterday.PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA The best methods to treat points such as the recognition the ease of real estate acutely injured or unwell and management of common, property registration proce- children are being discussed by yet potentially serious condi- aspects of paediatric emer- and transferred to Sidra from Oman, in his presentation dures issued by the World more than 600 professionals tions in patients,” Dr. gency. The conference presents Medicine. highlighted on severe sepsis, Bank for the year 2020. from across the globe over three Mohammed Alamri (pictured), best evidence for the investi- Dr. Barbara Blackie, Edu- recovery and treatment. “Con- The Minister also praised days in Doha. Director, Pediatric Emergency gation and management of cation Lead and Emergency ferences such as QPEM are the role of lawyers in The 4th Qatar Pediatric Centers, HMC, told The common and critical pediatric Physician at Sidra Medicine and important as they give the achieving the goals of noble Emergency Medicine Con- Peninsula. medical and traumatic emer- Co-Chair of QPEM scientific opportunity to learn the profession in defending rights ference (QPEM) 2020 explores The inter-professional con- gencies,” said Dr. Khalid Al committee, said, “The goal of updated practices in paediatric and consolidating the prin- numerous pathways that are ference has gathered physi- Yafei, Senior Attending Phy- the conference is to share the emergency care and allow to ciple of the rule of law, which aimed at helping the medical cians, nurses, paramedics and sician, Emergency Medicine at research and methods of caring connect with experts from is confirmed by item (14) of fraternity across the world emergency medical technicians, Sidra Medicine. He presented a acutely injured or unwell across the world,” said Dr. the basic principles on the deliver comprehensive care in allied health practitioners and lecture on neonatal emergency children. Our focus is not only Alfarsi, who is attending QPEM role of lawyers adopted by their respective communities. pharmacists and they will hear care and how babies might on hospitals like HMC and Sidra for the third consecutive year. the Con- The conference is being from 40 local and international present uncommon diseases or Medicine but also on QPEM 2020 being held at ference to prevent crime and hosted by the Department of speakers. problem. approaching staff from smaller the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Doha the treatment of criminals in Emergency Medicine at Sidra Delegates can also attend In Qatar, children between clinics in the country, in order commenced on Friday and will September 1990 in Havana. Medicine and Hamad Medical separate sessions related to the the age of 0 and 18 are seen at enhance their skill on how to conclude today. QPEM 2020 is At the end of his speech, Corporation. Key topics include latest research studies and Sidra Medicine. The paediatric manage and send such cases to an Accredited Group Learning H E the Minister expressed resuscitation care, trauma man- patient experience within an emergency centres at HMC bigger hospitals.” Activity (Category 1) as defined his hope that this forum agement and evidence for best emergency department setting. receive children with medical Speakers at QPEM 2020 by the Qatar Council for would come out with prac- practice, quality and patient “We are discussing updated emergencies between the age include from countries such as Healthcare Practitioners- tical recommendations that safety, sepsis care, toxicology, information and research on of 0-14 years, but those with the US, the UK, Oman, and Accreditation Department and achieve the desired goals, neonatal emergencies as well important diseases of children. trauma and surgical emer- . Dr. Sami Alfarsi, a con- is approved for a maximum of wishing those in charge of it as fluid management in Each year, we discuss different gencies are assessed, stabilized sultant on paediatric emergency 20 hours. success. HMC’s Ambulance Service responds to 571 calls in Sealine area during camping season THE PENINSULA — DOHA Al Yafei said the to incidents in places that ambulances can’t reach, which Since the start of the current Ambulance Service’s is especially important in cases camping season, Hamad fleet is prepared of severe injuries, and other Medical Corporation’s (HMC) incidents where individuals Ambulance Service has to respond to all require urgent medical care and responded to 571 calls from the emergency calls from transfer to the Emergency Sealine area. campers near the Department at Hamad General “As part of their regular or Al Wakra Hospital,” added duties, Ambulance teams Sealine resort and Al Yafei. respond to reported emer- surrounding areas He said that between gencies throughout the country November 1, 2019 and January 24 hours a day, seven days a during the camping 4, 2020, a total of 571 calls from week, providing world-class season. 999 were received at the medical care for people in the National Command Center unfortunate event of a serious, requesting an ambulance to the potentially life-threatening Assistant Executive Director of Sealine area. He said of these incident. HMC’s Ambulance the Ambulance Service. calls, 280 patients complained An injured person is being taken care of by HMC's Ambulance Service team at Sealine area. Service coverage in the Sealine “We have increased our of general sickness, 142 patients area allows us to quickly presence in this area during the were treated for injuries sus- with car or motorcycle from campers near the Sealine with the special terrain in the respond to all emergency calls weekends and now have 11 tained as a result of car and accidents. resort and surrounding areas Sealine and surrounding areas, from campers near the Sealine ambulances at the ready. There motorcycle accidents, and 149 Al Yafei said the Ambulance during the camping season. He providing them with great flex- resort and surrounding areas,” are also two helicopters cases involved general com- Service’s fleet is prepared to said the new 4x4 ambulances ibility and the ability reach said Abdulaziz Al Yafei, available to respond plaints of injury not associated respond to all emergency calls have been modified to cope patients quickly and safely. SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 HOME 03 Draft laws soon to expedite litigation procedures SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Al Mohannadi pointed of Directors of the Qatari THE PENINSULA Lawyers Association, empha- out that the SJC, in sised that the association seeks The Chairman of the Supreme its efforts to achieve to achieve complete justice in Judiciary Council (SJC) and the Qatar in cooperation with the President of the Court of complete justice, institutions in the State and the Cassation, H E Dr. Hassan had developed relevant authorities. Lahdan Al Mohannadi, has said electronic linking with He added that Qatar is that there are some draft laws moving forward towards which would be issued soon to many bodies and achieving complete justice expedite the litigation proce- institutions within through the development of the dures, including in particular legal profession and judicial Trade Court Law and the Medi- the framework of facilities and many areas that ation Law in Civil and developing the justice achieve complete justice, noting Commercial Disputes. that the forum discusses many Speaking to the media system to achieve the topics, including the persons on the sidelines the necessary speed in achievement of complete opening ceremony of the First justice, challenges and solutions Lawyers Forum organised by implementing judicial and challenges of the profession the Qatari Bar Association, yes- rulings. and the role of lawyers’ associ- terday, at Sheraton Hotel, H E ations in achieving complete Dr. Hassan Lahdan Al The Minister of Justice and Minister of State for the Council of Ministers Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al justice. Mohannadi said that the draft ments at national and interna- Jafali Al Nuaimi (centre), and Rashid bin Nasser Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Qatar Lawyers Association, The First Lawyers Forum laws will include innovative tional levels. with other lawyers and officials at the opening of First Lawyer Forum in Doha, yesterday. discussed yesterday the role of provisions and flexible proce- His Excellency said that SJC PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA the judiciary in achieving com- dures that meet the require- has been working very hard in plete justice, modern visions of ments of trade and investment the recent period to develop the achieve complete justice, based framework of developing the Procedures Law. He said that litigation procedures in in the country. judicial system in line with the on several axes that start from justice system to achieve the the SJC launched several initi- achieving complete justice, the Al Mohannadi said the SJC developments taking place in a realistic diagnosis of the necessary speed in imple- atives to serve the litigants, such role of the expert in achieving had taken many measures the State of Qatar in various problems and challenges faced menting judicial rulings. as launching the expenses fund, complete justice, and the role within the framework of the fields and to achieve the Qatar by justice systems. Al Mohannadi said that the as well as cooperating with the of the lawyer in achieving com- supreme directives of Amir H H National Vision 2030. He pointed out that the SJC, SJC launched the Implemen- Charity Authority to pay and plete justice. The forum also Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Al Mohannadi added that in its efforts to achieve complete tation Management within the settle the implementation of the discussed the experience of the Thani to achieve complete the SJC had set an integrated justice, had developed elec- framework of Law No. (3) of rulings issued in small financial Omani Lawyers Association and justice and develop judicial and comprehensive plan to tronic linking with many bodies 2019 amending some provisions claims. Rashid Nasser Al the experience of the Qatar Bar systems in line with develop- develop the judicial system and and institutions within the of the Civil and Commercial Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board Association. ’s Anouar, Kenya’s Sheila win top honour in Doha Marathon THE PENINSULA — DOHA Runners from more Scores of Doha residents lined the streets to witness Heavy rain failed to dampen than 80 countries some incredible performances enthusiasm for the 2020 took part, with the from the world’s top marathon Ooredoo Doha Marathon, professionals and to cheer on which Qatar’s leading tele- youngest runner aged all runners. Aside from communications company just 5 years and the watching the running, the declared a huge success with oldest an impressive event included several activ- a record-breaking 5,000 plus ities for all the family to enjoy runners making the event the 77 years old. in MIA Park, and there was an biggest since its inauguration electric atmosphere both in 2013. around the race course and in The marathon, a much- Full Marathon Open category the park. anticipated fixture on Doha’s with a time of (2:40:33) hours. A post-race celebration, sporting calendar, was held at The Full Marathon Master cat- attended by senior Ooredoo Museum of Islamic Art Park egory was won by Erik Svoboda representatives, was held at starting at 6.30am on Friday. of Czech Republic and Marie Ooredoo Tower in West Bay The cream of the world’s Helene Duvoid of France, while to present winners with their greatest elite athletes signed the Half Marathon Open prizes and thank the many up to race 42.2km through the winners were Kenya’s Kibet valuable sponsors. In line with Participants during the Ooredoo Doha Marathon. streets of Doha, with profes- Alex with a time of (1:06:35 Ooredoo’s corporate social sional runners taking their hours), and Andrea Stadler of responsibility strategy and its places alongside citizens and Ecuador with a time of (1:35:53 commitment to supporting the event despite the weather! We organising the event. “Sup- to embrace an active lifestyle residents running in both the hours), and Half Marathon communities in which it extend our congratulations to porting sporting events that and has grown into a much- full marathon and the shorter Master winners were Croatian operates, all funds generated the marathon winners, but promote a healthy, active life- anticipated event for experi- distances. A half-marathon, a Janez Maroevic and Briton from the Ooredoo Doha Mar- also to each and every partic- is a key commitment for enced marathon runners, 10k race and courses for Rachel Knight. 10k Open athon each year go directly to ipant who signed up and Ooredoo, and – especially fitness enthusiasts and novices children and families ensured winners were Said Omar from a chosen charitable organi- raced. We welcomed runners with our slogan being alike. It is now one of the most the event was open to eve- and Zineb Karam of sation. Qatar Cancer Society from all sectors of the com- ‘Empowering you to win’ – it popular events on Qatar’s ryone, and running through Morocco, and 10k Master will be the recipient of this munity, including the differ- was encouraging to see so sporting calendar, attracting puddles only added to the fun winners were Qatari Mohamed year’s cheque. ently abled, underlining our many people embracing sport the cream of the international for many of the participants. Al Mulla and Joanne Trow- Speaking about the event, commitment to making Doha, and fitness and joining in. I’d marathon crop, and is an Runners from more than bridge of the . Ooredoo CEO, Waleed Al Qatar and our many events like to offer our sincere grat- exciting opportunity for Qatar- 80 countries took part, with Muktar Husen and Nada Al Sayed, said: “We’re immensely accessible to all.” itude to the stellar line-up of based runners to compete the youngest runner aged just Banna won the 5k Adult races, proud to note this year’s mar- Waleed Al Sayed high- sponsors on board this year, against international mar- 5 years and the oldest an with Abdelaziz Abdelrahman athon was the biggest ever, lighted the importance of the and to the many volunteers, athon professionals. The mar- impressive 77 years old. Suliman and Anna Sanchez with participant numbers event as part of Ooredoo’s cor- without whose support the athon marks the start of a In the Men’s Full Marathon Ristol winning the 5k Juniors. breaking the already porate social responsibility event could not happen,” he packed schedule of sporting Open category, Morocco’s The 3k Fun Run was won by impressive record set in 2018. strategy, which aligns with the said. events throughout the year, as Anouar El Ghouz scooped top Millar Bathgate and Gabriella Judging by the crowds and the United Nations sustainability The annual Ooredoo Doha Ooredoo continues to support spot with a time of (2:17:10 Franklin, and the 1k Fun Run incredible atmosphere, we’re goals and Qatar National Marathon, first held in 2013, Qatar’s drive to promote hours), while Sheila Chesang, by Taha Yassine Bhara and confident both runners and Vision 2030, and expressed his was designed to encourage health and fitness amongst its from Kenya, won the Women’s Sophia Warren. spectators enjoyed an amazing gratitude to those involved in Qatari citizens and residents citizens and residents. ExxonMobil Foundation donates QR1.8m to support EAA project in Angola THE PENINSULA — DOHA The donation is education carry the inherent ExxonMobil’s third ability to empower indi- ExxonMobil Foundation has viduals. Each can provide contributed QR1.8m to a to the project, with a opportunities to develop per- school construction project total of $2m having sonality and build self-esteem, overseen by Education Above and provide a pathway to a All Foundation (EAA) for the been contributed prosperous life. We thank Exx- second year running. since 2018. onMobil Foundation for their The contribution support and dedicate this announcement was made gesture to all the children who during the Qatar ExxonMobil schools in the country in col- will enjoy social mobility as a Open 2020 award ceremony laboration with Rise result of this donation.” on January 11. International. Mary Joy Pigozzi, Executive Saleh Al Mana, Vice-Pres- The project is part of the Director, Educate A Child said, ident and Director of Gov- Educate A Child (EAC) pro- “ExxonMobil Foundation’s ernment and Public Affairs, gramme, which operates generous contribution will ExxonMobil Qatar, presented under the EAA umbrella to help to reduce the numbers of a ceremonial donation check provide out of school children children in selected countries to Ousman Camara and Noof faced with barriers to edu- who are currently missing out Al Jafairi, EAA Youth Advisory cation including poverty, cul- on their right to a quality Board members during the tural barriers, and conflict- primary education in some of tournament’s closing session affected environments an the world’s most marginalised yesterday. opportunity for a full course communities. On behalf of They were joined by of quality primary education. each of these children, we Nasser Bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, “Like Education Above All, extend our thanks to Exxon- President, Qatar Tennis Fed- at ExxonMobil Qatar we’re Mobil for enabling them to ExxonMobil Foundation has contributed QR1.8m to a school construction project overseen by the eration, and Alistair Routledge, strong believers in the power fulfil their right to education.” Education Above All Foundation for the second year running. President and General of education to transform ExxonMobil alongside EAC and Manager, ExxonMobil Qatar. lives. Our partnership with the its partner, Unicef are cur- The donation is ExxonMo- organization has been so suc- Mana. “In Qatar, the National committed to providing high build a better and more sus- rently working together in bil’s third to the project, with cessful, and we’re pleased to Vision 2030 remains a key quality support to science and tainable future, and we’re Nigeria to enrol more than a total of $2m having been continue to support its critical driver of our work, and as math educators through our helping to nurture this next 500,000 out-of-school contributed since 2018. To mission of providing quality such, education is a main com- local partners, ensuring young generation of leaders,” he children and in Angola with date, the foundation’s part- early education to children ponent of our outreach pro- people receive the best pos- added. partner, RISE International nership with EAA has helped around the world so they can grams, particularly science, sible STEM education. Every Fahad Al Sulaiti, Chief where 24,000 primary school- launch the initiative in Angola, improve their quality of life technology, engineering and country needs leaders who are Executive Officer, EAA said, children will be given access and is supporting the con- and fulfil their aspirations for mathematics (STEM) edu- equipped with the tools, “Sport, as we have seen here to education through the con- struction of 25 new primary a better future,” said Saleh Al cation. We’re especially knowledge, and confidence to today at the tournament, and struction of new schools. 04 HOME SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 Doha International Book Fair celebrates Turkish culture

QNA — DOHA

As part of the cultural programme in the 30th edition of Doha International Book Fair H E Ambassador Fikret Ozer pointed out that (DIBF), a symposium entitled many Turkish intellectuals are keen to learn ‘Turkish Culture between the language, noting the significance Historical Depth and Civiliza- tional Openness’ was held on of translation in transferring knowledge and Friday evening and was bringing cultures closer. attended by a large crowd of DIBF visitors. It was also attended by He appreciated some Arab of the Ottoman Empire towards Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar efforts in transferring Turkish Europe until the era of Sultan H E Fikret Ozer, Professor of culture to Arabic, the most Selim I. History at important of which is the he He also touched on the Mustafa Aqil Al Khatib, and Pro- Sheikh Hamad Award for Turkish civilisation’s attention fessor of Turkish Language and Translation and International to human aspects such as Literature at Qatar University Understanding, which has taken endowments, schools, hospitals Ibrahim Adhamoglu. upon itself to pay attention to and architecture. The Turkish Ambassador Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar, H E Fikret Ozer, during the symposium entitled ‘Turkish Culture between translation. During the symposium, Dr. talked about the importance of Historical Depth and Civilizational Openness’. For his part, Dr. Mustafa Aqil Adhamoglu discussed the rela- cultural exchange between gave a historical overview of the tions between Qatar and countries, which takes place that many Turkish intellectuals knowledge and bringing cul- of 250 books on Arab culture to Ottoman Empire and the his- Turkey in the modern era and thanks to translations and lan- are keen to learn the Arabic lan- tures closer. be translated into Turkish lan- torical circumstances that how they moved to advanced guage learning. guage, noting the significance He said that the Turkish guage, of which 150 have been accompanied its emergence. He levels in culture and arts and The ambassador pointed out of translation in transferring Ministry of Culture chose a list translated so far. also talked about the expansion in all fields. Rainfall Emergency Committee removes waterlogging THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Committee deployed 268 tank- The teams of the Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee at the ers, 25 water pumps Ministry of Municipality and and field teams Environment (MME) yesterday has removed over 44.9 million comprising 629 gallons of rainwater across the people to remove country from Thursday evening the rainwater. to Saturday morning. The rainwater was carried in 7,809 tanker loads. rainwater from highways at The Committee deployed first to ensure a smooth traffic 268 tankers, 25 water pumps flow, and then moving to and field teams comprising 629 public facilities and resi- people to remove the dential areas affected by the rainwater. rainfall. The rainfall emergency The rainfall emergency teams at the municipalities teams continued operation worked round-the-clock for during the rains without inter- removing the waterlogging ruption until waterlogging was immediately after the rainfall cleared from across the focusing on removing country. A view of the show of the 3rd Aspire Lake Festival held at Aspire Park on Friday. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA More than 20,000 enjoy Aspire Lake Festival THE PENINSULA — DOHA the Aspire Lake Festival, under wonderful melody on the lake. unforgettable show. This type of a theme ‘The Tree of Life’. The The third tableau The Dance event is an invitation to everyone Over 20,000 audience have stands surrounding Aspire Lake of the Trees, which included to get out of the usual home enjoyed the 30-minute show of were filled with thousands of performers acting as leaves atmosphere and enjoy every the 3rd edition of the Aspire excited spectators during the fes- while swaying with the breeze. moment of the weekend at Lake Festival which took them tival’s shows. While the fourth tableau wit- Aspire Zone facilities, especially on a spectacular visual and The show included four tab- nessed the growth of foliage to in the mild weather at this time musical journey presenting leaus with the participation of the end where all performers of the year. This is in addition to messages of peace, love, family 90 exhibitors and 45 kids from on the stage participated in to a dedicated area for food and and happiness. Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra present a wonderful and dis- beverages within the festival. Taking advantage of its in a dazzling half-hour show: tinctive show. A large number of car parks diverse and world-class facilities the first tableau The Children’s The finale was fascinating have been allocated to the public to hold various events, and fol- Voice (Coral) who talked about with a very elegant and dazzling and coordination with the Traffic lowing the great success of the peace, love, family and hap- show for fireworks kicked off Department to facilitate traffic last two editions, Aspire Zone piness. The second tableau was from the Torch Hotel and the and coordination with security Foundation organised on Friday an opera performance where show’s location in the lake, guards to facilitate entry to the A view of the road after the clearing of waterlogging. (January 10) the third edition of the opera singer presented a which concluded the public. Pediatric emergency medicine must be a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, says health expert

THE PENINSULA — DOHA emergency medical technicians “Since Sidra Medicine and social workers,” said Dr Al opened, children with any Though all medical emergencies Ansari, adding that the areas emergency condition can be need to be prioritised unlike Q-PEM will focus on what Sidra treated under one roof.This adult emergencies, children’s Medicine, a member of Qatar means that sick children who emergency care services are Foundation (QF), offers the require a mix of surgical and often more complex, and need wider community. medical intervention and even an approach where multiple “Given the fact that globally, psychological counselling, have specialists are involved simul- pediatric emergency medicine access to such expertise – and taneously, according to Dr. as a specialised field has been do not have to be moved to Khalid Mohammed Abdulla Al around for barely 20 years, another facility. Additionally, Ansari, Chair of Pediatric Emer- Sidra Medicine has been able to such children, their parents or gency Medicine at Sidra offer Qatar a comprehensive their caregivers have access to Medicine. facility in a relatively short allied health care workers such Dr. Khalid Mohammed Abdulla Al Ansari while attending a pediatric patient at Sidra Medicine. He said that is the under- time,” said the physician, who as dieticians, therapists and lying reason why Sidra Med- is also Professor of Clinical social services, again, all in the wider medical community is “This is a major step as the initiate their own protocol,” he icine partners with Hamad Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Med- same hospital,” said Dr Al aware that the hospital has the hospital has been designated a said. Medical Corporation’s Pediatric icine-Qatar, a QF partner Ansari. resources to handle them. Level One paediatric trauma “This is why, rather than Emergency and other stake- university. The benefits of access to Sidra Medicine, according care facility, capable of handling localising the conference, we holders, to host platforms for He said that, in Qatar, such comprehensive paediatric to Dr Al Ansari, has also raised the most complex trauma inci- opened it to an international knowledge-sharing such as the emergency cases previously emergency healthcare are the bar when it comes to pain dents in children. ” audience. And the response has Qatar-Pediatric Emergency had to be categorised and sent being felt by the entire com- management in and outside Dr Al Ansari also high- been tremendous; the last few Medicine (Q-PEM) conference, to specialised emergency munity; Sidra Medicine paediatric emergency lighted that paediatric medical conferences have each seen up the fourth edition of which is departments that dealt with a receives around 40-50 emer- settings. emergencies are universal but to 600 attendees sign up, evi- being held from January 10 to specific trauma or illnesses. gency cases by ambulance “Through a procedure it would be an impossible dence that healthcare profes- 12. “Children who suffered from each day, with another called ‘conscious sedation’ – mission if we aimed to have sionals are keen to learn more “When this conference was allergic reactions, fever, gas- 200-250 young patients where a child who is in pain is such specialists in every about the best way to treat first initiated a few years ago, troenteritis or pneumonia, for arriving by public or private given just enough medication healthcare facility in the children. one of the organisers’ main pri- instance, would be treated at a transport. to put him to sleep, allowing us world. “Where the Q-PEM con- orities was that the event should specific emergency As it is a tertiary care hos- to perform otherwise painful “However, what we can do ference – and Sidra Medicine – help the entire spectrum of spe- department, while those who pital, the majority of paediatric procedures – we can ensure is to share our expertise, our are concerned, I would refer to cialists involved in paediatric sustained fractures, wounds emergency cases are referred that the child’s visit and stay in experiences, and our results the old adage that it takes an emergency medicine — from that required suturing, and by other healthcare facilities in the emergency is as pain-free with others, providing centres entire village to raise a child; it surgeons and physicians, ther- burns were treated in another the country, both public and and emotionally stress-free as that do not offer specialised takes just as many to treat a apists and technicians, to emergency facility.” private, demonstrating that the possible,” he said. facilities with the knowledge to critically-ill one.” SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 HOME 05 Qatar, UNOOSA discuss cooperation on space science and technology

QNA — VIENNA of Qatar and the UNOOSA, in in space science and tech- the field of the peaceful uses nology and integrating space Ambassador of the State of of space science and science and technology into Qatar to the Republic of technology. the Qatar National Vision Austria and its Permanent H E the Ambassador 2030 plans. Representative to the stressed the interest of the For her part, the Director United Nations and inter- State of Qatar in keeping of the United Nations Office national organisations in pace with technical and for Outer Space Affairs Vienna, H E Sultan bin technological developments (UNOOSA) expressed the Salmeen Al Mansouri, has in the space sector, with Office’s readiness to continue met with Director of the regard to implementing the boosting cooperation in United Nations Office for goals of the United Nations implementing future Qatar Outer Space Affairs Program for the Peaceful space programs within the (UNOOSA), H E Simonetta Uses of Outer Space, estab- framework of the principle of Di Pippo. lishing the infrastructure for regional and international During the meeting, they its activities in the field of cooperation in the use of Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Austria and its Permanent Representative to discussed ways to enhance outer space, preparing outer space for peaceful the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, H E Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri, cooperation between the State national cadres specialising purposes. with Director of UNOOSA, H E Simonetta Di Pippo. Microsoft teams up with AZF to accelerate digital transformation By combining core competencies from Microsoft and the AZF, the two organizations will co-create innovative solutions that are applicable to the local and global sports industry.

THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Microsoft has announced that it The officials of Microsoft and AZF at the MoU signing event. Qatar’s envoy to Tanzania presents credentials will team up with Qatar’s Aspire Zone Foundation to accelerate building capabilities and driving Azure based capabilities.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Eastern African Cooperation in the United Republic of Tanzania, digital transformation within the sustained impact. Our work The MoU calls for an exchange H E Prof. Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko Kabudi, has received a copy of the credentials of H E nation’s sporting industry and together will lead to an even of ideas through workshops and Hussain bin Ahmed Al Hamid as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar share gained insights and more promising future for the meetings, with a focus on devel- to the United Republic of Tanzania. H E the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation knowledge with the world. development of sports science, oping new solutions for the sports wished H E the Ambassador success in his assignments and for bilateral relations further development. Microsoft and the Aspire medicine, and venues across the industry in Qatar and beyond by Zone Foundation signed a mem- country and the region.” using Aspire Zone as a reference. orandum of understanding Aspire Zone boasts some of The domain experts and technical (MoU) on the development of the world’s finest sport training personnel in Aspire Zone will Kahramaa: Unprecedented performance digitally transformative solutions facilities offering a unique sport, assist Microsoft in exploring the for the Qatari sports industry. By sports medicine, research and creation of such concepts. indicators for electricity network in 2019 combining core competencies education destination for the Aspire Zone will receive access from Microsoft and the Aspire international sports industry. to Microsoft’s Global Sports Inno- QNA — DOHA Meanwhile, the distribution levels of performance during Zone Foundation, the two organ- Aspire Zone has played a lead- vation Centre (GSIC) in Madrid, network indicators showed 2019 to the efforts and mainte- izations will co-create innovative ership role in the development Spain, which acts as a meeting Qatar General Electricity and outstanding performance, nance programmes imple- solutions that are applicable to of innovative concepts in the point for businesses that support Water Corporation (Kahramaa) where the average indicator of mented by the corporation; the local and global sports Sporting Industry across a diver- the sporting industry, including has announced that the tech- power cuts from the subscriber replacing old equipment; industry. sified portfolio of Sports. technology companies and start- nical performance of the coun- in the distribution network updating material specifica- The MoU was signed in Doha, Mohammed Al Suwaidi, ups. In addition, Microsoft will try’s electrical network recorded 0.1894 times per sub- tions for network components between Jean-Philippe Courtois, Chief Executive Officer of Aspire provide training sessions for Aspire witnessed, during the year scriber, while the target rate in and replacing overhead lines Executive Vice President and Zone Foundation said: “Aspire Zone personnel on Microsoft tech- 2019, a significant improvement 2019 according to global indi- with ground cables; imple- President, Microsoft Global Sales, Zone Foundation has been in the nologies and support with the and recorded unprecedented cators was 0.364 times per menting innovative mecha- Marketing and Operations, and forefront of using advanced tech- establishment of an “Aspire Centre levels in the electricity distri- subscriber. nisms and programmes that Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Chief nology in various domains of of Excellence in Sports Tech- bution networks in the State of The performance indicator ensure equipment monitoring Executive Officer of Aspire Zone Sports such as Sports training, nology”, designed to further drive Qatar. of the average periods of inter- and troubleshooting faults Foundation. sports science, sports medicine the innovation agenda. The indicator of the number ruption in the electrical distri- before they occur; prompt “Microsoft’s mission is to as well as Sports Events and Microsoft is working closely of minutes of electricity loss in bution network also witnessed response to faults through empower every individual and Venues Management. Under our with its customers to empower the electrical transmission a noticeable improvement in emergency offices and work organisation on the planet to partnership with Microsoft we them with its trusted and intel- network recorded 0.1785 2019, as it recorded an average teams in the main regions of the achieve more,” said Courtois. intend to accelerate our inno- ligent cloud. Earlier this month, minutes, which is an unprece- of 15.665 minutes per sub- country; and analyzing faults “Our work with the Aspire Zone vation journey in sports tech- the company revealed plans to dented record, and the best rate scriber, while the target to avoid reoccurrence, as well Foundation re-affirms our com- nology by taking advantage of establish a new cloud datacenter achieved since the start of according to global indicators as organizing workshops to mitment to the people of Qatar, Microsoft’s vast array of expertise region in Qatar, which will accel- recording this indicator, where was 45.5 minutes. educate contractors on by supporting Aspire in its goal including Artificial Intelligence, erate the country’s digital trans- the target in 2019 according to Kahramaa attributed the avoiding cable damage during of encouraging active lifestyles, Robotics Process Automation, formation journey in the sports global indicators was 3 minutes. achievement of unprecedented drilling. spurring economic growth, Machine learning and other industry and beyond. Qatar Biobank research helps more than 190 projects

THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Qatar Biobank – a member of (QF) – is aiding the nation’s contribution to enriching biomedical knowledge all around the world, helping the country in its journey towards becoming a regional hub for medical research and expertise. Due to Qatar Biobank’s efforts, sci- entists now have access to a treasure trove of information collected from Qatar’s population over the past few years to help advance their medical research. Homegrown researchers in the field of biomedical science have become central Qatar Biobank’s research access to achieving impactful medical research in the long-term. office has so far enabled 193 research projects, with the participation of hun- dreds of researchers from across 22 dif- As Qatar embarks on a period vital institutions in the country and providing ferent institutions in Qatar’s healthcare to its long-term healthcare for citizens qualified researchers with the right data sector. Qatar University leads on the - with the National Healthcare Strategy to enrich their investigations.” research front, having undertaken 61 2018-2022 coming into full effect - it Homegrown researchers in the projects, followed by Sidra Medicine – is the opportune time to reflect on Qatar field of biomedical science have also a member of QF – with 31, Weill Biobank’s extraordinarily significant become central to achieving impactful Cornell Medicine-Qatar – a QF partner work and the importance of partici- medical research in the long-term. To university – with 29, and Hamad pating in the program, which more than that end, Qatar Biobank’s experts and Medical Corporation with 22 ongoing 25,000 Qatari residents have already scientists have started to aid the devel- research projects. chosen to be part of. opment of fresh knowledge in Qatar Biobank’s research over “The success of Qatar Biobank is biobanking and medical research. In recent years has already revealed fas- dependent on the participation of the 2019, its experts published their cinating insights into the health of the local population, especially Qataris, and research output in 11 renowned, high- Qatari population. The Qatar Birth recruiting more than 25,000 partici- impact local and international Cohort Study (QBiC), the first mother- pants is a clear indication of the impor- publications. child cohort study of its kind in the tance our people place on their health Since its official launch, Qatar Middle East, which assesses the role of now and in the future,” said Dr Asmaa Biobank has effectively empowered environmental exposure and genetic Al Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar new medical research in Qatar. This factors in the development of chronic Genome Program Committee and will play an important role in early diseases, is yet another example of how Board Vice-Chairperson of Qatar identification of health problems and participation in Qatar Biobank’s Biobank. “We are proud of our achieve- in taking effective preventative research program can create more ments so far as we have effectively measures for some of the most knowledge about the population and empowered Qatar’s medical research common health problems as the region the factors that affect an individual’s ecosystem through our sustained part- deals with a rise in cases of diabetes, life at the onset. nership scheme with leading healthcare heart disease, and cancer. 06 HOME SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 Qatargas successfully completes installation of artificial coral ridge modules off Banana Island

THE PENINSULA — DOHA The artificial coral ridge installation project is testament to Qatargas’ commitment to protect In line with its commitment to protect the biodiversity in the Qatar’s rich offshore biodiversity. It is aligned Qatari marine environment, with the Environmental Development pillar of Qatargas Operating Company Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) that calls Limited (Qatargas), in collabo- ration with the Ministry of for protection of Qatar’s unique environment Municipality and Environment and nurture. (MME), has successfully completed the installation of Qatargas officials during an installation of the artificial coral ridge modules. two hundred artificial coral tection of Qatar’s unique envi- carefully to ensure the natural ridge modules off Banana ronment and nurture. Qatari marine environment, Island. The project involved per- and fabricated locally in Qatar In line with these initiatives, in appropriate recipient location that quickly evolve into a The artificial coral ridge forming a marine environmental using environmentally friendly 2007 nearly 4,500 living hard north of Qatar. Such initiatives vibrant and thriving habitat installation project is testament assessment (MEA) of various materials following the MME’s corals had been relocated from were undertaken in compliance with a rich biodiverse to Qatargas’ commitment to recipient marine locations in guidance. near-shore pipelines area to a with local and international reg- ecosystem. protect Qatar’s rich offshore cooperation with the MME. After Environmental conser- suitable coral reef area during ulatory requirements and in full Creation of such habitats biodiversity. an appropriate site assessment, vation is one of the core beliefs the construction of the LNG cooperation and coordination also serve to underline the com- It is aligned with the Envi- the location was selected to at Qatargas and the company expansion projects. with the MME. pany’s commitment to protect ronmental Development pillar accommodate such imitative. strives to preserve marine life Following this, approxi- Qatargas is a pioneer in the Qatar’s precious biodiversity of Qatar National Vision 2030 The design of the artificial form as part of its corporate mately 3,000 hard corals were LNG industry in installing such and improve its climate (QNV 2030) that calls for pro- ridge modules were studied social responsibility initiatives. transferred during 2012-14 to an artificial coral ridge modules resilience. UCQ takes part in ‘2020 International Year of the Nurse and Midwife’

THE PENINSULA — DOHA According to WHO, Established in 2007, the the world needs 18 University of Calgary in Qatar The University of Calgary in is the only Canadian university Qatar (UCQ) has announced its million more health in Qatar and the country’s participation in the World workers to achieve exclusive provider of Bachelor Health Organisation’s ‘2020 and sustain universal and Master degrees in Nursing. International Year of the Nurse Accredited in Canada and and the Midwife.’ health coverage by adapted to the local culture, the “On behalf of the University 2030. Approximately University’s curriculum pro- of Calgary in Qatar, we are hon- vides its nursing students with oured to recognise the contri- half of that shortfall the knowledge and expertise to bution of nurses in Qatar and — 9 million health become fully-integrated leaders around the world,” said UCQ workers — are in Qatar’s healthcare sector. Dean Dr Deborah White. The University of Calgary in “We are grateful to the nurses and midwives. Qatar offers two paths to a World Health Organisation for Bachelor of Nursing degree: a this important designation and four-year programme for qual- are looking forward to oppor- is at a critical stage in Qatar,” ified high school graduates and tunities in 2020 to highlight the according to Dr White. a two-year programme for history of nursing in this “Nurses are leaders in health nurses holding diplomas in country and all the important promotion and as Qatar’s nursing from recognised insti- work nurses do to advance healthcare infrastructure con- tutions. The University also The 2020 International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife marked at University of Calgary health and wellness here.” tinues to grow, more nurses are offers a Master's degree in in Qatar. According to the World needed to meet workforce needs. nursing. Health Organisation (WHO), Nursing has a noble history and This is a programme Year of the Nurse and Midwife founder of modern nursing, their commitment to health for health workers to achieve and a dynamic future. I’m excited at designed in collaboration with is a major global effort to high- Florence Nightingale. all,” said WHO Director- sustain universal health cov- the chance to further profile the Qatar’s nursing community to light an acute shortage of these “Nurses and midwives are General, Dr Tedros Adhanom erage by 2030. Approximately nursing profession in the year further develop leaders in the crucial health workers. WHO the backbone of every health Ghebreyesus in a statement half of that shortfall – 9 million ahead with some special events profession. Applications to chose 2020 to celebrate the system. In 2020, we’re calling issued by the WHO. health workers – are nurses and and campaigns with our alumni UCQ’s programmes are open to work of nurses because it is the on all countries to invest in According to the WHO, the midwives. and valued local healthcare Qatari nationals and residents bicentenary of the birth of the nurses and midwives as part of world needs 18 million more “The need for more nurses partners.” of Qatar through April 1. MES conducts teachers’ QRCS responds to large influx of IDPs in Idlib THE PENINSULA — DOHA clothes, children’s supplies, and orientation programme tarpaulins. “Through its repre- Qatar Red Crescent Society sentation mission in Turkey, THE PENINSULA — DOHA students and the need to (QRCS) has initiated an emer- QRCS is providing food and win- understand different types of gency response to the recent terisation aid for the benefit of With an objective to equip learners, who are broadly displacement wave in Idlib, 56,000 IDPs across Idlib,” Dr teachers with the proven classified into auditory, visual, northern , where insecurity Ibrahim explained. techniques involved in tactile, kinesthetic, sequential, and armed conflict have affected Under the theme of teaching and learning strat- simultaneous, verbal, inter- nearly 4 million Syrians, who are ReliefIdlib, the plan comprises egies, MES Indian School active, reflective, direct expe- already suffering from terrible four main items: heating oil for conducted an activity-based rience, indirect experience living conditions. 13,000 IDPs over two months (40 workshop for teachers at its and rhythmic learners. In Doha, QRCS’s Disaster litres per family per month), at a Conference Hall yesterday. Teachers were engaged Information Management Centre total cost of QR2,080,000; food Dr N Madhuri Parti from with various enriching activ- (DIMC) was activated to coor- parcels consisting of local food Macmillan Publication was ities, which have relevance to dinate with QRCS’s represen- products for 20,000 IDPs over the resource person of the their classroom management. tation mission in Gaziantep, one month, at a total cost of day. A question-answer session Turkey. QR932,000; blankets for 15,000 During the session, the was carried out in which QRCS’s medical personnel IDPs, at a total cost of QR615,000; paradigm shift in the learning teachers’ queries were fielded provided assistance to 177 and tarpaulins for 8,000 IDPs A representative of QRCS is handing over aid material to a displaced framework and execution of by the resource person, giving children, 19 newborns, and 86 (two tarpaulins per family), at a Syrian citizen. the 21st century learning them guidance in terms of the women. “Since the eruption of total cost of QR374,000. methodology, ways and strategies, tips and techniques the conflict, we have been Dr Ibrahim urged all the means to improve listening to be used in their classes for working in Syria. Relief aid has displacement of around 41,000 numerous humanitarian aid pro- people in Qatar to extend help to proficiency of students the optimum benefit. been constantly provided for the Syrian families, he said: “We have viders operating there, he their brothers and sisters in Syria. through collaborative The Principal, Hameeda affected communities in Syria, intensified our efforts to secure asserted, they remained insuffi- “The cold weather and home- learning strategies, the Kadar in her introductory Turkey, , and ,” as much aid as possible. We are cient to meet the critical needs of lessness have combined together various ways to understand remarks reminded the said Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, driven by our firm humanitarian the internally displaced persons to deepen the suffering of the students for effective teachers of their responsi- Executive Director of Relief and commitments as an active player (IDPs). vulnerable families in Syria. They knowledge transaction were bilities and commitment to International Development in the International Red Cross These include food parcels, have nothing to protect them- among the areas dealt with their profession and the Division at QRCS. and Red Crescent Movement.” readymade meals, heaters, selves against the freezing winter in detail by the resource school. In light of the recent Despite the efforts of blankets, heating oil, warm or to feed their kids,” he added. person. Heads of sections and The session also focused teachers and officials of the on the importance of teachers MES Indian School attended ICC organises being role models to their the orientation session. musical event on Kishore Kumar

THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) recently organised a musical event ‘Kishore Da - Ek Andaz’ at the ICC Ashoka Hall. Musical event was a tribute to Kishore Kumar led by the ICC President Manikantan A P honouring the participants during the event. Prasad Deshmukh and his team. The team performed different styles of Kishore Kumar. the gathering. for the programme conducted organisations, Indian schools ICC President Manikantan Appreciation plaque and by Museum of Islamic Art and and Indian cultural institutions A P inaugurated the programme certificate were handed over by Indian Cultural Centre for the in Qatar, to have cultural shows and addressed the audience. to all the artistes by the digni- Indian School boys on every week at the Ashoka Hall The programme was conducted taries. Appreciation plaques November 28, 2019 at MIA Park. in the ICC premises, providing by Nayna Wagh, Head of Cul- were also given to Nisha The programme was a con- a suitable platform and oppor- tural and Education Activities Agrawal; Chetan Talati and tinuation of the initiative by tunities for associate organisa- A view of the orientation organised by MES Indian School for its for ICC, with ICC General Sec- Ashish Gahlawat for their Indian Cultural Centre along tions of different states of teachers. retary Seenu Pillai welcoming support and cooperation to ICC with all ICC associate to showcase their culture. SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 GULF / MIDDLE EAST 07 World leaders pay tribute to Sultan Qaboos H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman transformed the former Arabian Peninsula backwater into a modern state and sought-after mediator while shielding the sultanate from a region in turmoil.

AGENCIES — PARIS World leaders paid homage to H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, who has died at the age of 79 as a wise and moderate Sultan H M Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman, following a swearing in ceremony as Oman’s new leader and a champion of Arab leader, yesterday. and Islamic nations. Thousands of citizens par- ticipated in the funeral of H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said at the Royal Familys cemetery in the New Sultan vows to uphold Wilayat of Bausher yesterday. The saddened citizens bid farewell to the leader of their peaceful policy of Qaboos blessed renaissance, which This file picture shows H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said attending a extended for about five decades function in Abu Dhabi. full of great achievements in all AP — DUBAI “We will follow the same line as the late spheres and which established solid pillars of security, stability alike. The sultan’s first foreign and the ability to control differ- Oman’s new ruler, H M Sultan sultan, and the principles that he asserted for and modern state foundations. trip was to Iran, whose shah — ences in the interest of the devel- Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the foreign policy of our country, of peaceful Oman’s Sultan Qaboos along with the British — helped opment and progress of our vowed yesterday to uphold his transformed the former Arabian him quell the Marxist insurgency countries and region”. predecessor H M Sultan Qaboos coexistence among nations and people, and Peninsula backwater into a he inherited from his father in “With loss of Sultan Qaboos, bin Said’s foreign policy good neighbourly behaviour of non-interference modern state and sought-after the restive Dhofar region. the Arab world loses a man of approach, which steered the mediator while shielding the sul- Muscat would serve as the dialogue, wisdom and peace,” Arab country through Gulf in the affairs of others,” H M Sultan Haitham tanate from a region in turmoil. back channel for talks between Lebanon’s President Michel waters by balancing close rela- said in his first public remarks as Sultan. The intensely private sultan the United States and Iran in the Aoun wrote on Twitter, paying tions with both the United — the longest-reigning ruler in lead-up to a landmark 2015 tribute to “a brother and a friend States and Iran. the modern Arab world — left nuclear deal. to Lebanon”. The new ruler, who was no apparent heir and the royal Muscat also maintained Qaboos “always worked Oman’s culture minister, spoke Sultan Haitham bin Tariq family was charged with close military and economic ties towards Arab unity and the after being named successor to selecting a successor. with Britain and the US. strengthening of (Arab) solidarity Sultan Qaboos, the Middle A cousin of Qaboos, Sultan Haitham is a career diplomat whose Instead however they opted Qaboos channelled revenues — in the face of the challenges East’s longest-ruling role as minister of heritage and culture helped project Omani for the sultan’s own choice, his from fledgling oil exports into that threaten our countries and whose death was announced influence. Born in 1954, Haitham bin Tariq graduated from the cousin Haitham bin Tariq, who infrastructure, taking the peoples”. yesterday. He died at the age of Oxford University Foreign Service Programme (FSP) in 1979. was named in a sealed letter that country from having just a “The Gulf, Arab and Islamic 79 after years of an undisclosed He served in several positions in the Gulf state, including Qaboos had prepared in case of handful of primary schools and nations lost a very important illness. the head of a committee that forged the country’s vision for a deadlock. Qaboos was born on some eight kilometres (six miles) figure and leader,” said Kuwait’s Sultan Haitham’s message 2040. He also served as the minister of heritage and culture November 18, 1940, into the cen- of paved roads to a modern state Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al to Omanis and the world was from 2002 until January 2020. The new ruler previously spent turies-old Al-Said in the with well over 1,000 schools and Jaber Al Sabah. clear: Oman would continue 16 years in various roles with the country’s foreign ministry. southern provincial capital of a massive highway network. “We have lost a wise leader down the path laid by Qaboos He also served as the ministry’s undersecretary for political , in an isolated country In 1991, he offered a in my brother His Majesty Sultan as a facilitator of peace. affairs and its secretary general. Haitham was the head of the on the margins of the modern modicum of democracy, creating Qaboos bin Said of Oman,” said “We will follow the same Omani Football Federation between 1983 and 1986, and also world. a Consultative Council — with a statement from King Abdullah line as the late sultan, and the served as special envoy for Sultan Qaboos. Older Omanis recall the elected members — to com- II of Jordan on Twitter. principles that he asserted for capital Muscat had no electricity plement the State Council — or running water and the gates whose members he appointed. embassy in Damascus open of the medieval city were locked Here are some of the main throughout Syria’s now 9-year at dusk. tributes by world leaders. civil war. The young Qaboos was sent Qaboos’ death was “a loss for In the capital Muscat, sol- abroad for his education to the region”, said Iran’s Foreign diers stood guard and troops Britain, attending the elite Sand- Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, stood with machine guns atop hurst Royal Military Academy tweeting in Arabic. SUVs as Omanis gathered along from where he graduated in Congratulating Oman on its a highway to see the motorcade 1962. choice of His Majesty Haitham carrying the sultan’s body for He went on to join a British bin Tariq as his successor, he burial. infantry battalion in Germany, hoped their relations would con- Thousands also gathered at returning home to bide his time tinue to grow. the Sultan Qaboos Mosque under the close watch of his Qaboos led Oman “on a path where funeral prayers were father, Sultan Said bin Taymur. of progress and advancement held yesterday. The mosque is Oman is strategically located and managed with great wisdom an architecturally stunning on the Strait of Hormuz — the and sophistication to create a complex of white marble and narrow seaway through which distinguished place for the manicured gardens that reflects much of the world’s oil supply country among Arab states” said how the Sultan modernized his passes. Qaboos maintained good Syria’s President Bashar Al country without eschewing its ties with nations, a balancing act Assad. cultural heritage or building that made his capital a must- Iraqi President Barham towering skyscrapers like other Omanis gather in front of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform the funeral prayer for the country’s stop for Western and Arab dip- Saleh paid tribute to the late sul- neighboring Gulf capitals. ruler H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said, in Muscat yesterday. lomats as well as military chiefs tan’s “moderation and wisdom Following Islamic tradition, the foreign policy of our Said family has ruled Oman Qaboos was buried before country, of peaceful coexistence since the eighteenth century, nightfall. His successor was among nations and people, and and once ruled over Zanzibar announced by afternoon Syria airstrikes leave 10 dead good neighbourly behaviour of too, off the coast of Tanzania. Saturday. non-interference in the affairs Oman sits on the south- The speed and manner in of others,” he said in his first eastern tip of the Arabian which his successor was named in rebel-held areas despite truce public remarks as sultan. Peninsula, with Iran to its east, suggest the Al Said family The 66-year-old shook to its west and Saudi wanted to project a sense of AGENCIES — BEIRUT in the village of Binnish and establishing a safe zone is key, hands with the country’s royal Arabia and the United Arab unity, continuity and stability another four in the village of Turkey's vice-president said. family and top military and Emirates to its north. as tensions run high in the Gulf Syrian government warplanes Nairab. The Observatory is "To prevent a migration security brass before witnessing Oman was the only Gulf amid escalations between Iran struck several rebel-held areas based in Britain and documents wave, a safe zone over there is ceremonial cannon fire. The Al Arab country that kept its and the United States. in the country’s northwest the war in Syria through a important,” said Fuat Oktay. yesterday, killing at least 10 network of activists on the "We consistently want a people and wounding dozens, ground. land in their own territory opposition activist said. The opposition’s Syrian Civil where Syrians living in Turkey Prime Minister visits Erbil for talks A cease-fire supposedly Defence, also known as the can return to and those who went into effect Thursday, White Helmets, said the strike were displaced in Syria can go." ANATOLIA — ERBIL northern Kurdish region. Iranian general Qasem Sole- according to ’s Defence in Idlib city killed six and Oktay spoke after Friday The talks are expected to imani in a US drone airstrike Ministry. But Turkey’s Defence wounded 30, adding that it hit prayers in Istanbul, to the public Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister tackle recent developments in outside Baghdad airport. Abdul- Ministry said the truce will go a busy intersection. It said four about how as a neighbour Adel Abdul-Mahdi arrived in Iraq and current tensions Mahdi met with president of the into effect today, without giving people were killed in Binnish. country, Turkey is working to Erbil yesterday for talks with between Iran and the US fol- Kurdish regional government an explanation for the differing Different death tolls are find a solution for the problems officials in the country’s lowing last week’s killing of top Nechirvan Barzani. dates.Russia is a main backer of common on the immediate in Syria with the work of a Con- Syrian President Bashar Assad, aftermaths of airstrikes in Syria. stitutional Commission. while Turkey is a strong sup- Government forces have "Let the parties, including porter of some of the insurgents been on the offensive in Idlib the current regime, come fighting against him. Moscow for more than three weeks, together and sit at the table. blamed the insurgents for vio- forcing more than 200,000 "They should compromise lating the truce Saturday. people to flee for safer areas on a new Constitutional Com- Idlib is dominated by Al further north. mission and the country will be Qaeda-linked militants, and is The main aim of the self-governing and protect its also home to 3 million civilians. offensive by government forces borders with this constitution," The United Nations has warned appears to be reopening the Oktay said. He said Turkey has of the growing risk of a human- highway linking the capital no eye on anyone’s borders or itarian catastrophe as people Damascus with the northern wealth but will not allow a flee the fighting toward the city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest. threat along its border. Oktay Turkish border. The highway has been closed in also stated that Turkey made a The Syrian Observatory for Idlib since 2012 when insur- deal with Libya on the exclusive Human Rights said seven people gents captured several towns economic zone where the mar- were killed by yesterday's air- along the route. itime borders overlap and the strikes in the province’s capital As the wave of Syrian two countries can act in city, which is also named Idlib. migrants to Turkey has grown accordance in all sorts of under- Airstrikes killed seven people amid turmoil in the region, ground resources. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

EDITORIAL Anti-war activists attending a rally against US President in front of the US embassy in Seoul, yesterday.

Bringing cultures closer ISIS done or a danger? Trump delivered IT HAS been almost a decade since Qatar began to celebrate its cultural ties with different countries of the mixed message in Iran speech world through cultural exchange programmes to introduce its and other nation’s culture to Qataris and burden in the Middle East again? without giving it a political international audience in Qatar. Is he offering Iran and the victory by presenting it as a force The annual culture exchange programmes and militias a partnership?” against extremism.” activities runs throughout the year. These are designed A Middle East intelligence In his address, Trump also to promote mutual understanding and organising variety official said Trump’s statement declared that the Islamic State has of exhibitions, festivals, competitions and events at might be perceived by some in been “100 percent” defeated, even the Cultural Village Katara and Qatar Museums. These Iran as a weakness, projecting as he appealed to Iran to work require participations of people representing certain SOUAD MEKHENNET apprehension about the US-led with the United States in the battle cultures to explore their cultural characters, features, THE WASHINGTON POST coalition’s ability to prevent the against the group. similarities, to make audience understand the similar- Islamic State from gathering The Islamic State has been ities and differences. more power. largely pushed out of Iraq and With the conclusion of Qatar-India 2019 Year of In his speech this week after the “The problem with his Syria but maintains a presence in Culture last year and the organising Qatar Russia 2018 Iranian missile strikes against US message is that he is telling the both countries. The group has Year of Culture a year before that, the Cultural Village targets in Iraq, President Donald Iranians he is worried about the carried out attacks in , Katara is now hosting the Qatar–France 2020 Year of Trump offered his version of the caliphate as well,” the official Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and Culture, to enable people from the two cultures to adage that the enemy of my said. “This is how the radical ele- beyond. Its recent activities explore their similarities and celebrate their differences enemy is my friend. ments in Iran will interpret it.” include a deadly raid on a military and introduce their cultures to audience from different The Islamic State “is a natural Iran and the militias it con- base in Niger, a suicide bombing parts of the world. enemy of Iran,” the president trols have played a key role in on a military base in Burkina Faso On Friday at Katara, the cultures of Qatar and said Wednesday at the White the fight against the Islamic State. and the killing of French and France shared a single venue in a grand musical cel- House. “The destruction of ISIS is Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi Malian soldiers in Mali. ebration serving as an ideal way to mark the beginning Protest good for Iran. And we should killed alongside Soleimani, was “In the last two weeks alone, of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture which is set movements work together on this and other the deputy leader of the Iranian- ISIS has carried out horrible to be an exciting 12 months filled with festivals, art throughout shared priorities.” backed Popular Mobilization atrocities in West Africa, exhibitions and performances. Trump’s remarks appeared to Forces, one of the most powerful including the grisly executions of The opening concert was introduced by Minister the region help tamp down tensions that had forces fighting ISIS in Iraq. Christians in Nigeria,” said Rita of State H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, and could shake skyrocketed after the US strike Iranian Foreign Minister Katz. Ambassador of France to Qatar H E Franck Gellet, in that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Sole- Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed Extremists inspired by the addition to a number of ambassadors, diplomats and up half imani, the head of Iran’s elite in a tweet the importance of Islamic State also remain capable media representatives. a dozen Quds Force, last week in Baghdad. Soleimani in the fighting against of attacking the American Al Kawari noted that French Republic with its dis- But security officials and analysts the Islamic State and other homeland, as well as US allies tinctive cultural position on the world’s map and the regimes. say Trump may have sent a mixed extremist groups, saying that and interests in Europe. heritage of its civilization would be an ideal partner message: In the same speech, the killing the “most effective force Reached via a communica- nation expressing his confidence that this year edition president spoke about Iran’s fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, tions app, an Islamic State of the cultural year will be successful and distinctive. “destructive and destabilizing Al Qaeda et al - is extremely dan- member who goes by the nom de As Qatar celebrates its cultural ties, Al Kawari behavior in the Middle East and gerous & a foolish escalation.” guerre Abu Musab said that emphasised the relations between the Arab and the beyond,” calling the country “the Hassan Hassan, an analyst at Trump’s remarks that the group Islamic civilisation and French culture which is rooted leading sponsor of terrorism.” the Center for Global Policy, said has been defeated were “wishful in the depth of history. He presented the famous poem “We don’t understand what Trump’s remarks about cooper- thinking” and that the activities written by the renowned French writer and poet Victor President Trump really wants,” ating against ISIS showed that of Shiite militias and their Hugo as example in which Hugo wrote praise for the said a European official, who like the United States has limited behavior toward Sunnis in Iraq Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him. others interviewed for this report options against Iran and that he were what allowed to caliphate For his part the French Ambassador H E Franck spoke on the condition of ano- ultimately wants a deal despite to rise in the first place. Gellet said; “2020 is an exceptional opportunity to cel- nymity due to persistent sensitiv- his “maximum pressure” “Trump did us a big favor ebrate the strength, depth and dynamism of the rela- ities over the United States’ han- campaign. with mentioning a cooperation tionship of friendship and partnership that unite our dling of the Iran crisis. “Is he “It just smacked of weakness, with Iran against us in his two countries through culture and art which are the going to confront Iran’s meddling especially in response to what speech,” he said. “So many common language amongst communities and soci- in the Middle East and push back Iran publicized as retaliation for Sunnis are worried about the eties of the world.” on the al-Quds Force’s power? the killing of Soleimani,” Hassan Shia and the militias that they Does he want to prevent that the said. “There was a way to let Iran might now see us as the only US would have to carry a larger have its symbolic revenge group that can protect them.”

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR Scientists paint Australia fires as red alert on climate change EMAIL: [email protected] LAURIE GOERING Abram, a professor who billion animals, and pushed conservative coalition gov- REUTERS works with the Australian exhausted firefighters to their ernment with close ties to the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Research Council’s Centre of limits. powerful coal industry and a FAX: +974 4455 7758 With the sky outside a Excellence for Climate And while summer bush- record of dismissing action on menacing red, Nerilie Abram’s Extremes. fires are nothing new in Aus- climate change as too costly. MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 family is staying inside, with “Scientifically, it’s not sur- tralia, scientists say these are Prime Minister Scott Mor- the windows shut and prising. We totally expected different. rison has been verbally DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 curtains drawn at their home that as the climate warmed, Their scale and ferocity abused while visiting fire-hit in Canberra, Australia’s fires in Australia would get raise questions about how areas after returning from an LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 smoke-choked capital. worse. But the scale of this nature will recover - and the ill-timed Hawaii holiday, with On their return from disaster is something I fires are now affecting a much angry residents saying his BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 recent holiday travels, “the couldn’t have imagined, and higher percentage of Aus- government has done too kids didn’t want us to open it’s the same for a lot of tralia’s population, they say. little to respond and prevent SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 the curtains because outside it people in Australia.” In the well-populated damage. looked scary,” said the Large swathes of the southeast, nearly a third of “People are deeply ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 climate scientist at the Aus- country are battling wildfires people are estimated to have affected,” said Joe Fontaine, a email: [email protected] tralian National University. that have killed 27 people and been directly affected by this lecturer in environmental Family friends who torched more than 10 million season’s fire and smoke. science at Murdoch University PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 struggle with asthma have left hectares (25 million acres) in In a nation of just 25 in Perth, noting “a deep sense email: [email protected] town, she said, and most resi- the wake of the southern- million, “most people know of loss and anxiety in society”. dents who do venture outside hemisphere nation’s hottest someone who’s been But it was “a little too ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 wear disposable masks - and driest year on record. affected”, said Sarah Perkins- early” to tell if the bushfire FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] though the city, which had the The ferocious, fast- Kirkpatrick, a climate sci- crisis was shifting views on world’s worst air quality for moving blazes have con- entist at the University of New climate change, he added. CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 several days in the past week, sumed about 2,000 homes, South Wales in Sydney. Australia’s brutal fire email: [email protected] is running out of those. blanketed major cities from That may have political season stems from a con- “We’re been really caught Sydney to Melbourne in thick implications in a country that fluence of threats, scientists SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 off-guard by these fires,” said smoke, killed an estimated less than a year ago elected a say. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar Libyan peace talks will be held in Berlin. We /ThePeninsulaQatar hope that the joint efforts by Russia and Turkey /Peninsula_Qatar will lead to success, and we will soon send out invitations for a conference in Berlin. /ThePeninsulaNewspaper Angela Merkel, German Chancellor +974 6698 6188 SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 OPINION 09 A development-oriented approach: Turkey-Africa partnership very visible through a MOUSTAPHA ABDELKERIM IDRIS environment. Nevertheless, Africa-Turkey Partnership” received significant support to number of other organiza- ANATOLIA Turkey recognized almost all were adopted. These two doc- get out of this situation. Tur- tions such as the Turkish Red the new sovereign states of uments form the basis of key’s intervention in Somalia Crescent, the Diyanet and Focusing on the African pre- the continent, which were all Turkey-Africa cooperation. has changed the course of Maarif foundations, as well colonial history is among the UN members, and wanted to Since then, this summit has The arrival to power events and is proof that Tur- as some other NGOs. These prerequisites to better under- revive diplomatic relations, in been organized every four key’s goal in Africa is to build organizations work in the stand Turkish-African rela- particular with the opening of years alternately in Africa and the Justice and a common future with the fields of sanitizing water, tions. Indeed, Turkey, during its first post-independence Turkey. As a result of these Development (AK) African peoples. The impact of opening wells and providing its Ottoman past, began to mission in sub-Saharan summits, Turkish-African this relationship is visible on health and education have deep relations with Africa, Nigeria, in 1956. relations have seen unprece- Party, in Turkey has the international scene, where services even in remote Africa at a time when the Several decades later, in dented development. Turkey breathed a new life Turkey has in recent years regions of the Sahel. world saw this continent as a 1998, Turkey became more joined the African Devel- become the standard bearer In the educational field, land to conquer and colonize. interested in sub-Saharan opment Bank in 2013 and thus into the Turkish- of the oppressed peoples. Maarif Foundation, which Even though the Ottoman Africa with its project dubbed became the 78th member African relationship, In addition to these eco- manages the Turkish schools presence was mostly limited ‘opening towards Africa’, state of the African Devel- making Turkey a nomic and diplomatic rela- in Africa, contributes to the to North Africa and some established by the Ministry of opment Bank. According to tions, developments are training of thousands of parts of the Horn of Africa, the Foreign Affairs and whose Turkish Ministry of Foreign key partner for observed on the security level African youth. More impor- Ottomans were able to primary objective was to Affairs, Turkey has been Africa again. as well. Ankara inaugurated tantly, since 2005 Turkey develop relations with many develop diplomatic and com- making an annual financial its first military base coupled has offered training oppor- African states on diplomatic, mercial relations with the contribution of 1 million US with a training center in the tunities to thousands of economic and military levels. continent. The project dollars to the African union Somalian capital Mogadishu young Africans through According to the Turkish Min- included high-level mutual since 2009. in Africa generated 16,593 in September 2017 to train scholarships granted by YTB, istry of Foreign Affairs, good visits and the opening of new Economic exchanges have jobs in 2014”. and support Somali security the Turkish agency respon- relations were established diplomatic missions in the risen to over 170 billion At the diplomatic level, the forces in their fight against sible for scholarship with the Kingdom of Tim- continent. dollars since 2009. Turkish number of Turkish missions terrorism. According to programs. buktu, which was located But it took a long time exports to the continent have in the continent has increased Aljazeera, the base has a In 2018; more than around Mali, and with the until Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reached 121 billion dollars from 12 to more than 40. This capacity to train at least 1500 11,000 young Africans were Kanem Empire, which once AK Party came to power in while its imports are at the desire to forge a solid diplo- soldiers at a time. trained in Turkish univer- occupied the territories of 2002 so that a turning point in level of 58 billion dollars. matic relationship is recip- As a key partner, Turkey is sities. This outstretched hand today’s Niger, Chad, north the Turkish-African rela- Today Turkish investments rocal; several African coun- providing support to interna- policy has earned Turkey a Nigeria and North Cameroon. tionship could be witnessed. are clearly visible in Africa. In tries have opened diplomatic tional peacekeeping missions special image among Thus, military advisers were The new government in a matter of a few years, representations in Ankara. ongoing in Africa. According Africans. sent all over Africa to help Ankara attached special Turkey has managed to This new energy in Turkish- to a report by the Turkish As of today, the rela- train armies, envoys were importance to Africa in its establish itself as a competitor African relations has been Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tionship between Turkey exchanged to strengthen dip- foreign policy and declared to the Western powers boosted through high-level Turkey is providing support to and Africa has reached its lomatic and commercial rela- 2005 the Year of Africa. already present in Africa due visits, especially those by seven of the nine peace- peak. This relationship based tions. These relations came to This renewed interest to colonization. Turkish com- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who keeping missions present in on the principle of forging a an end with the intervention enabled Turkey to obtain the panies win major infra- has visited the continent Africa and training military win-win partnership will of the West in Africa and the status of observer state within structure contracts, such as almost 40 times since 2005, personnel from African coun- allow African countries and resulting dislocation of the the African Union in 2005. the contract to build the Ethi- first as prime minister, and tries. The most recent military Turkey to build a better Ottoman Empire. Three years later, in 2008, the opian Awash Weldiya then as president. During his cooperation agreement has future for their respective Many decades later, the first Turkey-Africa Summit Railway, estimated at more visit to Gabon in 2013, been signed with the interna- people and help each other arrival to power the Justice was organized with the par- than 1 billion US dollars, in Erdogan declared: “Africa tionally recognized Tripoli on the international scene. and Development (AK) Party, ticipation of 50 African states. addition to airport infrastruc- belongs to Africans; we are government. Africa must be able to in Turkey has breathed a new This summit aimed at tures across the continent. not here for your gold but for Development Support has choose its partners life into the Turkish-African exploring various devel- Turkey’s investments have a win-win partnership.” become Turkey’s main pri- according to its priorities and relationship, making Turkey a opment opportunities and helped to reduce unem- Furthermore, the Turkish ority in Africa in recent years. to be inspired by the devel- key partner for Africa again. building a solid economic ployment by generating jobs president in 2011 became the Turkey, through the Turkish opment models of emerging After the foundation of the relationship. At the end of this throughout the continent. first foreign leader to visit Cooperation and Coordi- economic powers. Turkish Republic, successive summit, the “Istanbul Decla- According to a report by the Somalia, which was then nation Agency (TIKA), has The Sahel region, which Turkish governments ori- ration on the Africa-Turkey Turkish Ministry of Foreign faced with a severe food crisis become one of Africa’s biggest is destabilized by armed ented their plans to their geo- Partnership” and the “Coop- Affairs published in October coupled with attacks from development partners. With groups that profit from the graphic eration Framework for the 2015, “Turkey’s investments armed groups. Somalia has 20 offices in Africa, TIKA con- situation in Libya, must turn ducts development projects in to its new partners in order almost all of the entire to wage a decisive fight continent. against its armed groups. TIKA’s priority in Africa Turkey could be an has been defined by Turkey as important partner in the capacity building for health, fight against terrorism at the education, agriculture, envi- continental level. ronment and infrastructure. Outlining the impor- TIKA has so far carried out tance of cooperation with numerous projects such as Africa in counterterrorism, building hospitals and President Recep Tayyip schools, most notably in Erdogan said in an article for Somalia and Darfur, in the Aljazeera news website: addition to various agricul- “The people of Turkey and tural projects. Africa are also united in their In addition to TIKA’s inter- experience with terrorism. ventions, Ankara’s desire to As a country facing crucial contribute to the development challenges including ter- of Africa was manifested in rorism, regional instability the women’s empowerment and the refuge crisis, we can project launched under the relate to the predicament in auspices of the first lady of which our partners such as Turkey Emine Erdogan in Uganda and Kenya find 2016. This project of the themselves. African craft market aims to Moving forward, we enhance African craft pledge to work with our products. African allies and friends The revenue generated more closely on counterter- from the sale of the exhibited rorism, among other issues”. products will be invested in Africa’s relationship with Africa to support the empow- Turkey proves once again A file picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud inspecting a military guard erment of women. that south-south cooper- during an official welcoming ceremony at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. The presence of Turkey is ation is still possible. Austria’s Conservatives and Greens stage a bold experiment election last September, will party attaches a high impor- this ambitious agenda without immigrant, Alma Zadic, a focused on a relatively narrow govern with the fourth-place tance to security, the Greens raising taxes; he says it can all Greens appointee, as justice set of issues. The conserva- Greens. are pacifist. And yet the two be done by shifting the minister. tives, a traditional umbrella It was the least bad of managed to work out a 326- existing tax burden toward As Kurz explained to Bild, party, essentially are letting several nearly unpalatable page common program and less climate-friendly activ- the two parties have agreed the experts do their thing on options for Kurz, whose pre- will divide up portfolios in ities, such as the use of diesel- “not to negotiate minimalist the environment and climate vious coalition with the far- such a way that, at least in guzzling SUVs. A special com- compromises, but to choose a - just as the voters appear to LEONID BERSHIDSKY right Freedom Party failed theory, each party can still mission will work on new way of cooperation - in have requested by giving the BLOOMBERG miserably. He wanted neither face its voters at the next changing the tax system in my opinion a very modern Greens their best-ever another such alliance nor a election. that way, and the infra- and promising way in terms election result and propelling traditional deal with the The Greens got the social structure ministry will put a of democratic politics. We them into a government coa- This week, Sebastian Kurz center-left Social Democratic security, health and culture priority on railroads and clean have quite deliberately lition for the first time. took up the job of Austrian Party - this sort of toothless portfolios - but more impor- public transportation when it defined which party should This should be a tempting chancellor for the second time “grand coalition” has had tantly, a new superministry of picks projects to fund. take the lead in which areas.” model for other European in his remarkable career - and Germans groaning in disgust infrastructure and envi- In exchange for letting the The arrangement is designed countries where climate issues started an experiment that for the last two years. Kurz ronment. This new entity will Greens pursue their climate to avoid the kind of paralysis top the political agenda, could create a template for had to go with the Greens, be responsible for setting agenda, the People’s Party got of eternal negotiation that has including the Nordics and the traditional parties across even though, as he told the Austria on a path toward control of the economy, struck the German gov- Netherlands. But it’s especially Europe amid the continent’s German daily Bild in his first climate neutrality by 2040, 10 foreign policy and, impor- ernment. It also relieves the intriguing for Germany, where political fragmentation. interview after forming the years before the European tantly, immigration policy. parties of political responsi- the Greens are the second- Germany, in particular, coalition last week, “the Union as a whole would like Kurz doesn’t try to hide that bility for actions that their most popular party after should take note. Greens are a party that stands to reach that goal. The Greens he wants to kick out all immi- voters find distasteful: It is Chancellor Angela Merkel’s The parties in the second very far apart from us got to write the climate and grants whose asylum applica- understood from the start that conservative Christian Demo- Kurz government have no content-wise.” Indeed, the environment part of the tions are rejected and that he People’s Party ministers will crats. The rifts between the common agenda, so they’ve Greens are pro-immigration common program, and it won’t take part in any EU be tough on immigration and two political forces are quite agreed to divide up minis- while the conservatives want includes giving Austrians the efforts to resettle, for the Green ministers will do similar to those seen in Austria. terial portfolios so that they sharp limits on the number of ability to travel anywhere in example, the denizens of the everything in their power to So if the Austrians manage to don’t interfere with each newcomers. The People’s the country using public overflowing refugee camps on get Austrians to switch from divide up the work of gov- other’s attempts to keep Party is focused on cutting transportation for just 3 euros the Greek islands. In the only cars to public transportation. ernment without getting in election promises. Kurz’s con- taxes while the Greens ($3.35) a day. concession to the Greens’ pro- The division of labor is rel- each other’s way, a similar servative People’s Party, demand increases in climate- Greens leader Werner immigration stance, the atively easy with the Greens arrangement could work for which won the national protection spending. Kurz’s Kogler has agreed to pursue cabinet includes a Bosnian because they’re a party their bigger neighbor, too. 10 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 Iran ‘accidentally’ shot down Ukrainian plane “Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people,” President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter. “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences."

ANATOLIA — ANKARA and its height and stance Minister Javad Zarif. “Human seemed to be hostile, it said. error at time of crisis caused by Iran’s General Staff of the The plane in question was US adventurism led to disaster,” Armed Forces said yesterday unintentionally targeted under he said on Twitter. This photograph released yesterday by the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, shows that a Ukrainian aircraft was these conditions, it added. Brigadier General Amir Ali people standing and analysing the fragments and remains of the Ukraine International Airlines plane “accidentally” hit by an Iranian “Armed Forces’ internal Hajizadeh, the commander of Boeing 737-800 that crashed outside the Iranian capital Tehran. missile early this week that investigation has concluded that IRGC’s Aerospace Division, said killed 176 people on board. regrettably missiles fired due to the elite forces take full respon- In a written statement, the human error caused the hor- sibility for shooting down the due to the direction of the flight top military authority said as a rific crash of the Ukrainian plane. Speaking at a press con- the plane was accidentally iden- Iran to send black box to France result of a “human error”, the plane & death of 176 innocent ference in Tehran, he said the tified as a cruise missile. Iran will send the black box of the Ukrainian plane which it plane was accidentally shot people,” President Hassan Ukrainian plane was hit after “We will obey any decision “accidentally” downed to France, officials said yesterday. down by the air defence system Rouhani (pictured) said on being detected as a cruise by officials,” he added. Speaking to state-run IRNA, Hassan Rezaeifar, Director-General while it was passing over a Twitter. missile by the air defence The Fars News Agency said of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization, said: “We asked coun- “sensitive military point”. “The Islamic Republic of system. on Friday the cause of the crash tries, including Canada, France and the US to send essential Iran was on the alert to pos- Iran deeply regrets this disas- “When the US announced would be announced after a software and hardware to Iran to download information from sible US threats to attack many trous mistake. My thoughts and that they will hit 52 points in meeting of accident investi- the black box, but these countries rejected Iran’s offer.” He said points in Iran after launching a prayers go to all the mourning Iran, the attack and defence gators, including experts from Iran does not have the technology to download this crucial dozen ballistic missiles targeting families. I offer my sincerest units were in a place on 100% Iran and abroad. information. the US troops in Iraq, it noted. condolences,” Rouhani said. alert,” he said. “I will accept all The US, Britain, and Canada Iran also offered to send the black box to a reputable labo- Under these sensitive and “Our profound regrets, the responsibilities for this said on Thursday they had evi- ratory in countries like Ukraine, Sweden, England, Canada and crisis conditions, the plane apologies and condolences to incident.” He said the operators dence suggesting an Iranian the US but this offer too was rejected. As a last resort and with approached a delicate military our people, to the families of all of the air defence system were surface-to-air missile shot the agreement of all of the above countries, it was decided to centre of the Islamic Revolu- victims, and to other affected informed that a cruise missile down the Ukraine International send the black box to France. tionary Guards Corps (IRGC), nations,” said Iran’s Foreign was launched towards Iran and Airlines passenger jet. Turkey expects Russia to convince Haftar for ceasefire

ANATOLIA — ANKARA counterpart Shirley Ayorkor said, but firstly Haftar will have the same time, is speaking out Emirates and the other in announced that Turkey and Botchwey in Istanbul. to abide by the cease-fire and against Turkey. Tripoli, which enjoys the UN Russia “have agreed on the Turkey expects Russia to On Wednesday, President stop the aggression, then go to On April 4, Haftar launched and international recognition. implementation of the cease- convince Libya’s renegade Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his the political process. an offensive to capture the Meanwhile, commenting on fire within the Idlib de-esca- general Khalifa Haftar for a Russian counterpart Vladimir ”Some neighbouring coun- capital Tripoli from GNA. cease-fire in Idlib, which will lation zone, stopping the air/ cease-fire, the country’s foreign Putin urged a cease-fire in tries in the region are trying to According to the UN, over a start just after midnight today,, ground attacks, preventing loss minister said yesterday. Libya by January 12 following a disrupt this cease-fire,” the thousand people have been Cavusoglu said: “I hope the of life and new migratory flows “Turkey’s expectation from meeting in Istanbul. The UN- foreign minister said and killed since the start of the oper- ceasefire in Idlib that gets with the purpose of contributing its Russian friends is to convince recognised Government of accused France of undermining ation and more than 5,000 effective tonight will be per- to the normalization of life.” general Khalifa Haftar for a National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli effort for peace in Libya. injured. manent. I hope Russia can keep Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey ceasefire in Libya based on welcomed the call for cease-fire “It is France that has caused Since the ouster of late the Assad regime under control said Turkey not only in Africa, what was agreed upon by the while Haftar rejected the call. the chaos in Libya to continue leader Muammar Gaddafi in and convince the regime that but also in the world works for Turkish and Russian presi- When it comes to a political by giving all kinds of support, 2011, two seats of power have the only solution is the political peace and stability, adding: “I dents,” said Mevlut Cavusoglu, solution, Turkey has no problem including weapon to an illegit- emerged in Libya: one in solution,” he said. know and appreciate your speaking at a joint news con- with dialogue with anyone, imate administration,” Cavu- eastern Libya supported mainly On Friday, Turkey’s efforts in Libya and the Middle ference with his Ghanaian including Haftar, Cavusoglu soglu said and added France, at by Egypt and the United Arab National Defence Ministry East.”

Lebanon ‘regrets’ South Africa President loss of UN vows to restore power voting privilege supply to full capacity AFP — BEIRUT Crisis-hit Lebanon yesterday AFP — JOHANNESBURG fixed. said it “regrets” being among South Africa’s government seven countries stripped by the South African President Cyril has pledged 128bn rand United Nations of voting priv- Ramaphosa yesterday said the (around $8.9bn) to Eskom over ileges in the General Assembly country’s debt-laden power a three-year period that began for failing to pay their dues. utility Eskom would not be in February 2019. The UN decision could privatised and pledged to The president has also “harm Lebanon’s interests, its restore it to full capacity. announced plans to divide prestige and reputation,” the Rolling blackouts were Eskom into three subsidiaries: foreign ministry said in a implemented several times last generation, transmission and statement carried by the state- year to prevent the grid col- distribution, by March 2020. run National News Agency. lapsing and resumed last “It is too big to fail and we The ministry which weekend despite a gov- will not allow Eskom to fail,” “regrets” the move called for ernment promise not to ration said Ramaphosa, addressing a solution to be found “as power during the first two supporters sporting the ANC’s quickly as possible”, saying the weeks of January. black, green and yellow in the situation “could be ’s prime minister-designate, Habib Jemli (right), defence minister candidate, Imed Darouich Eskom chair Jabu Mabuza central city of Kimberley. corrected”. (left), and Justice Minister, Hedi Gdiri, attend a plenary session at the parliament in the capital Tunis. stepped down Friday in But pressure has been The finance ministry later protest. piling on the president, who said Lebanon’s arrears would “Eskom will be restored to was re-elected in May on a be paid tomorrow. It was not becoming a company that can promise to revive the Parliament rejects Tunisian govt immediately clear how much provide energy,” said Ram- economy. Beirut owed the United aphosa, speaking at the 108th The International Mon- ANATOLIA — TUNIS assembly, Rachid Ghannouchi, lawmakers announced support Nations. On Friday the United birthday celebration of the etary Fund warned last year the parliament speaker for the government, but oppo- Nations said seven countries ruling African National Con- that continuous bailouts to The government of Tunisian announced following the vote. sition parties said they would — Lebanon, Yemen, Vene- gress (ANC) party. state-owned entities were not Prime Minister-designate Habib The government managed not support. According to the zuela, Central African “We are not going to pri- sustainable and that growth Jemli fell yesterday after a just 72 votes with 134 deputies Constitution, if the government Republic, Gambia, Lesotho and vatise Eskom,” he added. “We could not be generated by gov- no-confidence vote in against, Parliament Speaker established by the first party Tonga — have fallen behind in are going to strengthen Eskom ernment spending alone. parliament. Rachid Ghannouchi announced fails to win a vote of confidence, their financial contributions so that it can deliver energy as This week, the World Bank The Jemli government after the session that lasted the president appoints an inde- and would not be able to in the it should.” Eskom, which sup- cut its economic growth failed to get a vote of confi- more than 10 hours. Along with pendent person to form a new 74th session of the General plies 95 percent of South forecast for South Africa from dence from the Tunisian the Ennahda Party, other government. Assembly. Africa’s electricity, has been 1.0 percent to 0.9 percent in crippled by poorly designed 2020 due to electricity supply coal-fired power stations, as concerns. well as decades of misman- “This has a negative impact Refugees shot dead in Libya were pushed out of UN facility agement and alleged cor- on our economy and on the ruption under former national lives of our people,” said Ram- AP — KHARTOUM the beginning of January. The waypoint for migrants fleeing networks of militiamen, traf- president Jacob Zuma. aphosa, who pledged to speed three spoke on condition of war and poverty in Africa and fickers and coast guard It has amassed 450bn rand up “the pace of economic Two Eritrean asylum-seekers anonymity for fear of the Middle East to Europe. members who exploit migrants. ($31bn, ¤28bn) in debt, which growth”. He added that the were shot dead in the Libyan retribution. Libya is governed by The militias torture, extort economists warn is a major country would seek alternative capital, just days after the UN The facility was promoted dueling authorities, one based and otherwise abuse migrants threat to Africa’s most indus- sources of energy from private refugee agency pressed them as an “alternative to detention” in the east and one in Tripoli in for ransoms in detention trialised economy. companies and gas shipments, to leave its facility citing over- but when the numbers of ref- the west, with each relying on centres under the nose of the Ramaphosa yesterday and pledged to reduce South crowding. ugees increased, the UN offered different militias for support. UN, often in compounds that urged Eskom management to Africa’s carbon footprint. The UNHCR confirmed the money and pressed new The east-based government has receive millions in European rapidly restore its ailing power “We will step up our deaths in a statement saying it’s arrivals to leave. The slain ref- been trying to capture the money, the AP investigation stations and promised gov- investment drive... reduce the “deeply saddened” by the ugees were among those who capital since April. showed. Many migrants also ernment assistance for the cost of doing business, and see killings a day earlier in Tripoli. accepted the money and left. An AP investigation has simply disappear from task. to the creation of jobs,” he said. Three refugees said that the They were among thou- found that in a country without detention centres, sold to traf- He said new power plants “For all these efforts to men were among dozens forced sands held in Libya’s detention a functioning government, huge fickers or to other centres. faced a “number of design succeed, we must ensure the out of the UNHCR-run Gath- centers where abuses are sums of European money have The UN has said the situ- challenges” that needed to be stability of electricity supply.” ering and Departure Facility at rampant. The country is a major been diverted to intertwined ation in Libya is highly complex. SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 ASIA 11 Protesters slam Modi visit as citizenship law protests rage

AFP — KOLKATA At least 27 people Critics say the law is a pre- have been killed cursor to a national register of Thousands of angry protesters citizens that many among India’s took to the streets to tell India’s during clashes with 200 million Muslims -- around leader he was unwelcome in police after defying 15 percent of the country’s pop- Kolkata yesteday, in the latest ulation — fear will leave them rally against a citizenship law restrictions on stateless. Many poor Indians do that critics say discriminates demonstrations in not have documents to prove against Muslims. their nationality. Widespread street demon- several states of the Modi has in turn accused his strations, and occasionally country. political opponents of “mis- deadly clashes, have gripped the leading” and “inciting” people Hindu-majority nation since the against his Hindu nationalist law was approved by parliament against fascism” as the Indian government. last month. leader’s plane touched down His party has launched a Police said nearly 30,000 before he transferred to a mil- door-to-door campaign in a bid protesters took to the streets of itary helicopter that carried him to dispel “misinformation” about Kolkata to denounce Prime Min- to the house of West Bengal state the law, which they insist is not ister ’s visit, with leader Mamata Banerjee -- a discriminatory. many linking hands to form vocal critic of Modi’s ruling At least 27 people, mostly human chains that spanned Hindu nationalist government. Muslims, have been killed during miles through the streets of the Police stopped protesters clashes with police after defying eastern megacity. from following Modi to the chief restrictions on demonstrations “What we are fighting for is minister’s house, but Banerjee in several states of the country. the future of India,” Surita Roy, told journalists after their But hundreds of thousands a woman who joined the rally, meeting that she had asked him of protesters have continued to said. to repeal the law “for the larger meet public across the country A crowd mobbed the city’s interests of the country” and then and demand a rollback of the airport and chanted “We are joined the street protests herself. law. Students from leftist groups protesting against new citizenship law, in Kolkata yesterday. ‘South Korea’s Moon seeks Bus catches fire North Korea says will resume in India; at least to punish top prosecutor’ 20 dead, 21 hurt BLOOMBERG — SEOUL dential spokeswoman Ko Min- US talks if demands fully met jung said in a text message. AP — LUCKNOW South Korean President Moon Friction between Moon’s AFP — SEOUL continued. On the gridlocked while rocky, appears to have Jae-in wants to punish the coun- office and Yoon intensified after nuclear talks, he said that reo- warmed significantly since their At least 20 people were killed try’s top prosecutor, who is the Justice Ministry reassigned North Korea said yesterday it had pening dialogue would only be pre-2018 animosity that saw when a double-decker bus heading an investigation into key prosecutors and Yoon lieu- received Donald Trump’s letter possible in the case of Washing- them exchange insults and caught fire after ramming into former and current officials tenants investigating scandals wishing a happy birthday to ton’s “absolute agreement” on threats of war. a truck on a highway in government, for disobedience, involving the president’s aides, leader Kim Jong Un, but warned the issues raised by North Korea However, Kim Kye Gwan northern India, police said. local TV outlet Channel A just three months before a par- it would only return to nuclear in previous talks. accused Washington of trying to Another 21 people were reported, citing an unidentified liamentary election. The shakeup talks if Washington fully accepts But the senior official was manipulate any warm feelings taken to a hospital, some of government official. came days after Justice Minister its demands. sceptical about the US accepting between the pair for political them in critical condition, fol- Prosecutor-General Yoon Choo Mi-ae took office, pledging The US president and Kim these demands, saying: “We gain. lowing the crash late Friday, Seok-youl should be held to carry out Moon’s reforms and have held three meetings since know well that the US is neither “We have been deceived by said senior police officer Mohit “accountable for his wrong- re-balance the “almighty” pros- June 2018 but negotiations over ready nor able to do so. We the US, being caught in the dia- Aggarwal. doing,” the official said, ecutors’ power. denuclearisation have been know... the way we should go logue with it for over one year Many of the bodies were according to Channel A. “We’re The reassignments were largely deadlocked since the and will go on our way.” At a and a half, and that was the lost burned beyond recognition currently reviewing which law included in 32 appointments breakup of a summit in Hanoi meeting of his ruling party in time for us,” his statement said, after the fire swept through the clauses can be applied to his announced by the Ministry of last February. December, Kim Jong Un declared adding that Kim Jong Un’s “good bus, he said. case.” Justice Wednesday. Three pros- Before the collapse of that an end to North Korea’s mora- personal feelings” about Trump The accident occurred Moon’s office declined to ecutors recently named to senior meeting, Trump had said that he toriums on nuclear and intercon- would not influence any future near Kannauj, a town about comment, while a phone call to posts under Yoon were on the and Kim had an excellent rela- tinental ballistic missile tests. talks. 200 kilometers (125 miles) the Justice Ministry was unan- list. tionship — and had even “fallen The self-imposed ban on “There will never be such southwest of Lucknow, the swered outside of office hours. South Korea President’s in love”. such tests had been a centrepiece negotiations as that in Vietnam, capital of Uttar Pradesh state. An email sent to Yoon’s office Biggest Headache Is Prosecutor Kim Kye Gwan, North of the nuclear diplomacy in which we proposed Police suspect the truck outside work hours also went He Picked Choo blamed Yoon Korea’s foreign ministry adviser, between Pyongyang and Wash- exchanging a core nuclear facility driver lost control over the unanswered. for forcing her hand by not sub- said on Saturday that Trump’s ington over the past two years, of the country for the lift of some vehicle, leading to the collision Yoon, a Moon appointee, is mitting a reorganization plan for congratulatory letter to Kim had which has seen little tangible UN sanctions,” it added. with the bus. The truck driver overseeing probes related to his department that she said she arrived in the isolated state progress. Yesterday’s statement “There is no need for us to be escaped, police said. indicted former Justice Minister requested. He “disobeyed my directly from the United States. on KCNA came a day after South present in such talks, in which Deadly bus accidents are Cho Kuk. The Yonhap News order to make reassignment pro- “As acknowledged by the Korea’s presidential security there is only unilateral pressure, common in India. Around Agency reported that his office posals,” Choo said at a parlia- world, it is true that the personal adviser said Trump had asked and we have no desire to barter 150,000 people die every year sent prosecutors to a presidential mentary session Thursday. relations between (Kim Jong Un) Seoul to deliver his birthday something for other thing at the on India’s roads, often because committee overseeing national An image of Choo’s text mes- and President Trump are not message for Kim Jong Un. talks like traders.” The adviser of reckless driving, badly development Thursday sages captured by a local press bad,” he said in a statement North Korea has never offi- also warned Seoul against trying maintained roads and vehicles afternoon to search for evidence camera late Thursday showed carried by the official KCNA news cially confirmed Kim’s age or to act as a mediator between the overcrowded with relating to alleged election that she was asking her ministry agency. date of birth -- but on January 8, US and the North: “The South passengers. interference. to look up punishment law However, it would be 2014, basketball star Dennis Korean authorities had better not In September 2018, a bus Yoon also sent investigators clauses because she wants to “absent-minded” to expect Rodman sang him “Happy dream a fabulous dream that we carrying pilgrims from a Hindu to Moon’s office Friday to request exercise her authority as the Pyongyang to resume dialogue Birthday” before an exhibition would return to the dialogue with temple in the hills of southern “crime-relevant materials” but supervisor. She didn’t identify because of that warm personal match in Pyongyang. Trump and thankful feelings for the birthday India plunged off a road and the Blue House rejected, presi- who she wants to punish. relationship, the statement Kim’s personal relationship, greetings.” killed at least 55 people. Australia wildfires merge into inferno; man injured India, China agree to set up military hotline IANS — NEW DELHI the proposal for the hotline has AP — BURRAGATE lightning strikes sparked new officials were “extremely With no heavy rain been accepted by both sides blazes in New South Wales and relieved” the fires were not expected, the 640,000- In an effort to keep peace and after all procedural issues were Two wildfires merged to form Victoria, Australia’s most pop- more destructive overnight. hectare blaze that formed tranquillity along the borders, resolved. a massive inferno in south- ulous states. Conditions were A man suffered burns pro- overnight when two fires India and China have agreed to During an annual press eastern Australia and a man milder Saturday and forecast to tecting a home near Tum- joined in the Snowy Mountains set up a military hotline conference, the Army Chief suffered serious burns remain relatively benign for the barumba in southern New region near Tumbarumba, between Indian Army’s said: “As far as the hotline protecting a home, in a night next week. South Wales and was airlifted close to the Victorian border, Director General of Military between India and China is of treacherous conditions “In the scheme of things, to a Sydney hospital in serious is expected to burn for weeks, Operations (DGMO) and concerned, proposals have during the nation’s unprece- we did OK last night,” said condition to undergo surgery, officials said. Western Theatre Command been in the pipeline for a long dented wildfire crisis, officials Andrew Crisp, Victoria’s emer- Fitzsimmons said. The fire crisis in Australia (WTC) of the Chinese People’s time. said yesterday. gency management Several firefighters has killed at least 26 people, Liberation Army, said Indian “The proposal has been Authorities were assessing commissioner. received minor burns and one destroyed more than 2,000 Army Chief General Manoj accepted and procedural the damage after firefighters New South Wales Rural Fire suffered shortness of breath, homes and scorched an area Mukund Naravane on aspects have been ironed out. battled flames fanned by strong Service Commissioner Shane but they were not admitted to larger than the US state of yesterday. I am glad to say that we have winds through the night and Fitzsimmons told reporters that a hospital, he said. Indiana since September. General Naravane said that now resolved the issue.” India blows up luxury high-rises over environmental violations

AFP — KOCHI Minutes later, the twin towers a lengthy legal fight to recoup of Alfa Serene — separated by their money. Some had invested Two luxury waterfront high- a narrow stretch of backwaters their life savings. rises in southern India were — tumbled down with an ear- Sirens went off on Saturday reduced to rubble in controlled splitting noise. The remaining warning people gathered for explosions yesterday in a rare two complexes will be razed on the demolition to remain at a example of authorities getting Sunday. safe distance while ambulances tough on builders who break A crowd of onlookers who and fire engines stood on environmental rules. flocked to nearby terraces and standby. The 19-floor H2O Holy roads watched the demolition, Ahead of the work, nearby Faith complex of 90 flats -- after officials onboard heli- residents told AFP they were overlooking Kerala state’s copters conducted aerial worried about the impact of the famous lush backwaters -- was surveys. India has seen a con- demolition on their homes. the first to go down, collapsing struction boom in recent years “When they were demol- in just a matter of few seconds. but developers have often ishing the swimming pool, A thick grey cloud of dust ridden roughshod over safety some of the houses in our and debris cascaded down after and other regulations, and with neighbourhood developed officials detonated explosives the connivance of local cracks, we are really worried,” drilled into the walls of the officials. said Divya, who has moved into Red Lotus Lake building, which had been The inhabitants of the temporary accommodation. occupied for several years until razed apartment blocks in the Over 2,000 residents living A tourist boat sails among lotus flowers in the Red Lotus Lake outside Udon Thani, Thailand, yesterday. the Supreme Court ruled last well-off Maradu district of in the neighbourhood were May that it was constructed in Kochi city had bought their 343 evacuated as a part of safety violation of coastal regulations. flats in good faith and now face measures. 12 ASIA SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 Taiwan President Tsai re-elected for a second term AFP — TAIPEI Official results authoritarian shadow cast by China under President Xi Taiwan’s President Tsai showed Tsai was Jinping. Ing-wen declared a landslide romping ahead with Beijing views Taiwan as victory in yesterday’s election part of its territory and has as voters delivered a stunning 57 percent — more vowed to retake the island one rebuke of Beijing’s campaign than eight million day, by force if necessary. to isolate the self-ruled island votes — yesterday Her campaign frequently and handed its first female invoked Hong Kong’s protests leader a second term. evening. Han trailed as a warning of what might lie Tsai, 63, announced her behind with 38 ahead should China one day victory as thousands of jubilant take control of Taiwan. supporters cheered and waved percent. During her victory speech Incumbent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen waves to her supporters after her election victory at a rally flags outside her party head- on Saturday night Tsai said she in Taipei, Taiwan, yesterday. quarters with the ongoing vote was committed to dialogue count revealing an all but the gap. The result is a huge with China’s leaders and dependent relationship.Han, major electoral setback for will Beijing adopt a more ‘soft unassailable lead. blow for Beijing, which has wanted peace. the 62-year-old mayor of the Beijing in recent weeks. sell’ approach that is more “Taiwan is showing the made no secret of wanting to But she called on Beijing to southern city of Kaohsiung, In November, Hong Kong’s carrot and less stick?” he said. world how much we cherish see Tsai turfed out and the halt its sabre rattling towards favoured much warmer ties pro-democracy camp scored Taiwanese voters have our free, democratic way of life KMT take her place. Taiwan and respect the idea with China — saying it would a landslide win over pro- watched events in Hong Kong and how much we cherish our Over the last four years it that only the island’s 23 million boost Taiwan’s fortunes — and Beijing parties in district elec- closely because the financial nation,” she told reporters. ramped up economic and dip- inhabitants can decide its accused the current adminis- tions as the city convulses with hub is run on Beijing’s “one Her main rival, Han lomatic pressure on the self- future. tration of needlessly antago- months of anti-government country, two systems” model. Kuo-yu of the China-friendly ruled island, hoping it would “I also hope that the Beijing nising Beijing. protests. China has suggested the Kuomintang (KMT) party, had encourage voters to support authorities understand that But his campaign struggled “Tsai’s landslide victory is same model could one day be conceded defeat shortly Tsai’s opposition. democratic Taiwan, and our to gain momentum or escape like a slap in the face to Beijing applied to Taiwan if the island beforehand. But the strong arm tactics democratically elected gov- the perception that he was too as Taiwanese voters say no to ever came to be controlled by Official results showed Tsai backfired and voters flocked ernment, will not concede to cosy with Taiwan’s giant its intimidation,” Hung Beijing. was romping ahead with 57 to her Democratic Progressive threats and intimidation,” she neighbour. Chin-fu, a political analyst at But an increasing number percent — more than eight Party (DPP), fuelled in part by said. “The citizens of the Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung of Taiwanese voters are million votes — yesterday China’s hardline response to Tsai is loathed by Beijing Republic of China have already University, said spooked by that proposal. evening. Han trailed behind months of huge and violent because she refuses to made their decision and as a Joshua Eisenman, a foreign “I don’t want Taiwan’s with 38 percent. pro-democracy protests in acknowledge the idea that candidate I obey the outcome affairs expert the University of democracy to turn into how The Central Election Com- Hong Kong. Taiwan is part of “one China”. of the election,” he said in his Notre Dame, said all eyes will Hong Kong is now,” said mission was still counting Tsai pitched herself as a But China is also Taiwan’s concession speech, using Tai- be watching China’s response. Dennis Wu, a doctor, as he cast votes when Tsai declared, but defender of liberal democratic largest trade partner, leaving wan’s official name. “Will the hardline position a vote for Tsai in the capital Han knew he could not close values against the increasingly the island in a precariously Tsai’s victory is the second towards Tsai... be continued or Taipei. Pakistani scientist honoured with denies China’s highest scientific award Pakistan FM to visit Iran, US in polio-related travel curbs INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD other emerging areas.Prof bid to defuse regional tensions Rahman is the most decorated INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD Renowned Pakistani scientist scientist of Pakistan having INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD number of telephonic contacts and outside to de-escalate. He Prof Dr Attaur Rahman has been many accolades under his name with his counterparts over the said those countries needed to Special Assistant to Prime awarded the ‘China Interna- including Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister situation. More recently, he stop treating the aggressor and Minister Imran Khan on tional Science and Technology Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz Shah Mehmood Qureshi is spoke to Russian and Iraqi the sufferer, the murderer and National Health Services Dr Cooperation Award 2020 - the and the highest national award scheduled to begin his regional foreign ministers. the slain, and terrorists and Zafar Mirza has refuted media highest scientific award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz. trip today with a visit to Iran The foreign minister, their victims equally, a diplo- reports while reporting of new China. Currently, he is serving as for offering Pakistan’s help for meanwhile, met the new matic source revealed. polio cases that any new travel Chinese President Xi Jinping Chairman of the Prime Minis- defusing tensions prevailing in Iranian ambassador in The foreign minister, on restrictions had been imposed conferred the prestigious ter’s Task Force on Science and the Arabian Gulf in the Islamabad, Seyyed Mohammad this occasion, recalled that the on Pakistan. honour upon Dr Rehman during Technology, Vice Chairman on aftermath of the assassination Ali Hosseini, at his chambers statement issued by the In a statement over the a ceremony organised at the the Prime Minister’s Task Force of senior Iranian commander in the Parliament House. Foreign Office on January 3 weekend, Mirza said the World Great Peoples Hall in Beijing, on Technology-Driven Gen Qassem Soleimani by the Qureshi told Amb Hosseini had called for avoiding uni- Health Organization Emer- according to an official Knowledge-Economy, and Co- United States in an airstrike in that Pakistan was determined lateral actions and use of force. gency Committee recommen- statement, Chairman Task Force on Infor- Baghdad. to play its “positive role” for Hosseini expressed similar dations were first made in May The well-known scientist mation Technology. He would later on January ending tensions in the region. sentiments in his speech at a 2014 and had since then been has been awarded in recog- He has also served the 13 visit Riyadh and then travel The Iranian ambassador condolence meeting for Gen periodically reviewed and nition of his contributions in the nation as a Federal Minister of to Washington on January 17, a said that Tehran was clear that Soleimani later in the evening. extended for all the countries field of chemistry and the Science and Technology, and senior diplomatic source said. it did not want escalation. He did not name any specific infected by polio virus. numerous strong collaborations Founding Chairman of Higher Qureshi would tour the He, however, said that the country on both occasions, but He said Pakistan imple- that he has developed with Education Commission (HEC). three capitals for meeting his countries counselling restraint it is well known that Iranians mented the same immediately China in the fields of organic The acclaimed scientist counterparts to convey Paki- need to, at least, first verbally have not been very com- as a responsible member of chemistry, genetics, pharma- obtained his PhD in organic stan’s desire to help in de- condemn the incident. fortable with the position international community and cology, agricultural sciences, chemistry from Cambridge Uni- escalating the situation. Only afterwards can they taken by Islamabad on the has been doing so since then. virology, nanotechnology and versity in 1968. Qureshi has made a ask the countries in the region incident. Mirza refuted the reports of any additional recommen- dations imposed by WHO committee for incoming inter- Work on CPEC projects to be accelerated Man infected with mystery virus national visitors traveling to INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD expressed his satisfaction at the manufacturing industries to be Pakistan. progress on various projects included in the global value chain in China dies after outbreak The pace at which projects under under CPEC. by partnering with Chinese com- the China-Pakistan Economic He emphasised that the panies. The ambassador assured REUTERS — SHANGHAI positive for the virus, it added. 2 US troops killed Corridor (CPEC) are being imple- establishment and operational- the minister that the Chinese The commission added that mented would be accelerated in isation of Special Economic government was keen to A 61-year-old man has died no new cases had been detected in Afghanistan the coming weeks and months, Zones (SEZs) in Pakistan was cur- promote such relationships from pneumonia in the central since Jan. 3. said Minister for Planning, Devel- rently the government’s top pri- between businesses and manu- Chinese city of Wuhan after an The Wuhan health authority bomb explosion opment and Special Initiatives ority as SEZs would lead to joint- facturing industries of both the outbreak of a yet to be iden- also said that the patients were Asad Umar. venture agreements in manufac- countries. The minister empha- tified virus while seven others mainly vendors and purchasers AP — KABUL Talking to Chinese Ambas- turing, which would integrate sised that the huge potential in are in critical condition, the at the seafood market, and that sador Yao Jing on matters relating enterprises from both sides. the sector could be explored by Wuhan health authorities said to date no medical staff had Two US service members were to CPEC and bilateral economic The minister stressed the modernising its various yesterday. been infected, nor had clear killed and two others injured cooperation, the minister need for Pakistani sub-sectors. In total, 41 people have evidence of human-to-human when their vehicle was hit by a been diagnosed with the transmission been found. roadside bomb in southern pathogen, which preliminary The World Health Organi- Afghanistan, the US military said lab tests cited by Chinese state zation (WHO) said on Thursday in a statement yesterday. media earlier this week pointed that a newly emerging member In keeping with defense to a new type of coronavirus, of the family of viruses that department rules, the US mil- the Wuhan Municipal Health caused the deadly Severe Acute itary did not identify the service Commission said in a statement Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) members. on its website. and Middle East Respiratory The Taliban immediately It said the pathogen was an Syndrome (MERS) outbreaks, took responsibility for the “unknown cause of viral could be the cause of the attack. Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a pneumonia”. present outbreak. Taliban spokesman, said it Two of them have been dis- Coronaviruses are a large occurred in the southern Kan- charged from hospital and the family of viruses that can cause dahar province. More than rest are in stable condition, infections ranging from the 2,400 US service members have while 739 people deemed to common cold to SARS. Some of been killed in Afghanistan. have been in close contact with the virus types cause less Last year was one of the the patients have been cleared, serious disease, while some like deadliest even as the United it said. the one that causes MERS, are States engaged in peace talks The man, the first victim of far more severe. with the Taliban insurgents, the outbreak that began in The outbreak comes ahead who immediately took respon- December, was a regular buyer of the Lunar New Year holidays sibility for the attack. at a seafood market in the city, in late January, when many of Earlier, both NATO and who had been previously diag- China’s 1.4 billion people will Afghan officials had confirmed nosed with abdominal tumours be travelling to their home a roadside bomb hit a US army and chronic liver disease, the towns or abroad. vehicle yesterday, without men- Celebrating legal age health authority said. The Chinese government tioning casualties. Treatments did not improve expects passengers to make The Taliban now control or Students clad in traditional Japanese wear enjoy at the end of a 'coming-of-age ceremony' at his symptoms after he was 440 million trips via rail and hold sway over roughly half of Kokugakuin University in Tokyo, yesterday. Every January, Japanese turning the legal age of 20 admitted to hospital and he another 79 million trips via air- Afghanistan. The militants con- celebrate 'Coming of Age Day.' died on the evening of Jan. 9 planes, officials told a news tinue to stage near-daily attacks when his heart failed. He tested briefing on Thursday. targeting Afghan and US forces. SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 EUROPE 13 N Ireland assembly reopens after 3-year deadlock AFP — BELFAST The region’s devolved a force for good and brings assembly at Stormont people together,” he said. Northern Ireland’s assembly European Commission reopened yesterday following collapsed in January President Ursula von der Leyen three-year’s of political 2017 over a scandal called the breakthrough “an deadlock after rival nationalist extremely positive development and unionist parties agreed to caused by the for the people of Northern a new power-sharing deal with runaway costs of a Ireland”. Brexit looming. Friday’s deal came with Democratic Unionist Party renewable energy thousands of the region’s leader Arlene Foster was later scheme. healthcare workers on strike. appointed as first minister, and The latest talks were effective head of government, launched in the wake of a while Republican Sinn Fein’s “There’s plenty of blame to December 12 UK general Michelle O’Neill will serve as go around but the time has election that saw both the DUP her deputy. come to move forward with res- and Sinn Fein lose votes to The region’s devolved olution.” The UK government smaller groups. assembly at Stormont collapsed in London promised a large Analysts attributed the in January 2017 over a scandal cash injection into the small but losses to voter frustration at caused by the runaway costs of strategically important province their inability to reach a com- a renewable energy scheme. if the republican Sinn Fein and promise that could let a gov- Its 90 members have since the Democratic Unionist Party ernment in Belfast take care of sat only for one-off sessions, (DUP) found an agreement. the region’s daily needs. with numerous rounds of acri- Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou A 1998 peace accord that monious negotiations failing to McDonald told reporters that ended three decades of violence reach a solution, leaving basic the party was “ready to do over British rule of Northern services unattended. business” after the deal was Ireland in which thousands died But they returned on Sat- agreed. requires the two main parties urday after Pro-Irish repub- Foster called the draft to share power. licans and pro-British unionists power-sharing agreement The lack of an executive was First Minister Arlene Foster and party colleagues are pictured as politicians in Northern Ireland struck a deal on Friday under “fair”, while Downing Street especially fraught with danger returned to the Stormont Assembly after backing a deal to restore devolution in Belfast, Northern the threat of a new regional said it was “a balanced for the region because of his- Ireland, yesterday. election if they missed the latest package,” adding that the toric changes to its trade rules deadline to reconvene on precise amount of new funding being imposed by Britain’s Monday. would be spelled out when pending withdrawal from the local authorities to maintain veto rights. The draft accord It also eliminates the veto Foster said she was “deeply agreement was reached. European Union. frictionless trade while pre- requires the executive “to mechanism and compels the humbled” to be reinstalled as “History is being made,” Northern Ireland’s border serving an open border on the provide official recognition of parties to build consensus on first minister, heading a new said Irish Foreign Minister with the Republic of Ireland island of Ireland. the status of the Irish language issues of dispute. executive that features several Simon Coveney after both sides becomes a UK-EU land frontier Negotiations to revive in Northern Ireland” and to The UK government addi- prominent women. confirmed their support for the on Brexit. Stormont have been stuck on “respect the freedom of all tionally promises to deliver a “The last three years have devolved government. UK Prime Minister Boris disagreements over the use of persons... to choose, affirm, new financial package for the focused too much on division It can help “show that pol- Johnson’s EU withdrawal the Irish language and a mech- maintain and develop their region that allows outstanding and recrimination,” she said. itics in Northern Ireland can be agreement puts pressure on anism giving minority parties national and cultural identity”. public sector salaries to be paid.

Thousands march Starmer launches UK Berlin will host Libya peace talks, in Spain’s Basque region for return of Labour leadership bid says German Chancellor Merkel ETA prisoners

REUTERS — LONDON general elections — the only REUTERS — MOSCOW AFP — BILBAO, SPAIN Labour leader to do so —Blair Keir Starmer, the frontrunner is unpopular with many within German Chancellor Angela Tens of thousands of people in the race to lead Britain’s Labour who say he betrayed Merkel said Libyan peace talks demonstrated in the Basque main opposition Labour Party, the left and led the country into will be held in Berlin, as Turkey Country yesterday to demand has pledged to end feuding a disastrous war in Iraq. and Russia appealed to the prisoners linked to the former within its ranks and take the “Blairite” is considered an north African nation’s warring armed separatist group ETA be fight to Prime Minister Boris insult by those on that wing of factions to enter a ceasefire. transferred to jails closer to the Johnson if he wins the contest. the party. “We hope that the joint northern Spanish region. Labour leader Jeremy Centrist Labour supporters efforts by Russia and Turkey Some 65,000 people Corbyn has said he will step say Corbyn’s radical agenda, will lead to success, and we will marched through the streets of down after the party’s worst which included sweeping soon send out invitations for a Bilbao, the region’s most pop- general election performance nationalisations, failed to win conference in Berlin,” Merkel ulous city, calling for prisoners since 1935 handed Johnson’s over the electorate. They used said yesterday during a joint dispersed in jails across Spain Conservatives, or Tories, a large “Corbynista” as a negative press conference with Russian to be moved nearer to home majority in parliament. label. President Vladimir Putin in and for an amnesty, according The Corbyn era, which Starmer, a former Director Moscow. to municipal police. began in 2015 when the veteran of Public Prosecutions, was She stressed that the United Many waved red-white- socialist unexpectedly won the Labour’s Brexit policy chief Nations would lead talks if a and-green Basque flags while leadership, was marked by under Corbyn. meeting were to take place in the crowd chanted “Basque bitter infighting between the He pushed for a second ref- Berlin, and that Libya’s warring prisoners must return home” as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir party’s leftist and centrist erendum on whether Britain parties would need to play a it made its way to city hall. Putin arrive for a joint news conference in the Kremlin. wings. should leave the European major role to help find a Spanish government policy “We cannot fight the Tories Union, but has said that the solution. has been to keep most ETA pris- if we are fighting each other. result of the December general The aim was to give Libya talks with Italian Prime Minister “We are working hard as a oners in jails hundreds of kilo- Factionalism has to go,” election had “blown away” that the chance to become a sov- Giuseppe Conte in Rome on government for the immediate metres away from the region, Starmer, 57, said yesterday in argument and Labour should ereign and peaceful country, Saturday. goal of a ceasefire and to steer which had made it difficult and a speech in Manchester, now move on. Merkel said. Libyan forces loyal to the conflict towards a political expensive for relatives to visit. northern England, to formally He said the future focus Putin expressed support for eastern-based commander solution,” Conte said. After coming to power in launch his leadership should be on ending fiscal aus- the process, saying it was a Khalifa Haftar said this week Turkey backs al-Serraj’s June 2018, a month after ETA campaign. terity, investing in public “timely” idea and necessary to they had taken control of the Tripoli-based Government of disbanded, Spain’s Socialist Starmer urged party sup- services, and winning public bring the conflict in Libya to an strategic coastal city of Sirte in National Accord and has said it Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez porters to stop attacking the arguments against Johnson, end. The comments came days a rapid advance preceded by will send military advisers and pledged to start reversing the achievements of the Labour whom he described as lacking after Turkey and Russia urged air strikes. possibly troops to reinforce its policy but organisations which governments led by Tony Blair principles and a moral Libya’s warring parties to Haftar’s self-styled Libyan support, while Russian military work with ETA prisoners com- and then Gordon Brown compass. declare a ceasefire. National Army was also con- contractors have been deployed plain there has been little between 1997 and 2010, and “I’ve never known a time Fayez al-Serraj, head of sidered responsible for a deadly alongside General Haftar. progress. not to dismiss Corbyn’s record. when a radical Labour gov- Libya’s internationally recog- drone attack on a military Asked if he was aware of The demonstration aimed “We are not going to trash ernment was so needed,” said nised government, said he wel- academy in the capital Tripoli. the presence of Russian mer- to show that Basque society the last Labour government, Starmer. comed the peace initiative by Conte said on Saturday he cenaries in Libya Putin said: “If does not want “the children of but nor are we going to trash In the first stage of the party Russia and Turkey. expressed his “consternation” there are Russian citizens there, these prisoners to have to travel the last four years,” he said. leadership contest, candidates “The condition is the with- to General Haftar for the then they are not representing hundreds of kilometres for a 40 “There have been very many must seek the backing of fellow drawal of the attacking party, January 4 attack in Tripoli, after the interests of the Russian state minute visit,” Joseba Azkarraga, important moves.” Despite Labour members of which does not seem willing to meeting him in Rome earlier and they are not receiving the spokesman for Sare, a group winning three successive parliament. do so”, he said after holding this week. money from the Russian state.” which lobbies on behalf of pris- oners told reporters. A second protest is scheduled to take place in French PM offers concession to unions over pension reform Bayonne, in the French Basque Country, later on Saturday also REUTERS — PARIS reform, which aims to replace to be dropped altogether. calling for prisoners to be France’s myriad sector-specific The government has argued moved. The treatment of ETA French Prime Minister Edouard pension schemes with a single that the pension reform, which prisoners is a sensitive one for Philippe yesterday offered a points-based scheme. would be the biggest since World Sanchez’s government, which major concession to unions The protest turned violent War II, would make the system would be certain to anger contesting his government’s on its fringes with police firing fairer while also putting it on a victims associations and con- overhaul of the pension system, tear gas and charging groups more sound financial footing. servatives if it made any con- in a move aimed at ending smashing windows and lighting With one of the lowest cessions to prisoners. strikes which are now in their rubbish bins and billboards on retirement ages among industr- ETA is blamed for the deaths fifth week. fire. The government’s standoff ialised nations, France currently of over 800 people in a four- Philippe said in a letter to with the unions is the biggest spends the equivalent of 14% of decade campaign of bombings unions and employers that he challenge yet of President economic output on pensions. and shootings in pursuit of an was prepared to withdraw plans ’s will to Philippe aims to present the independent homeland in to raise the retirement age for reform the euro zone’s second- reform bill on Jan. 24 so that it northern Spain and south- full pension benefits by two biggest economy. can be discussed in parliament western France. years to 64 if certain conditions Philippe’s government had starting in mid February with Sanchez was sworn in last were met. hoped to create incentives to the aim of passing a law before week for a second term after “The compromise that I’m make people work longer, the summer break. parliament narrowly confirmed offering... seems to me the best notably by raising the age at He said in the letter he him as prime minister thanks in way to peacefully reform our which a person could draw a expected unions and employers part to the abstention of five Demonstrators take part in a protest called by the ‘Yellow Vest’ in retirement system,” Philippe full pension to 64 while main- to agree on how to ensure the lawmakers from Basque pro- Nantes, western France, yesterday. said in a copy of the letter taining the legal retirement age long-term financing of the pen- independence party Bildu on a obtained by Reuters. at 62. sions system in April. confidence vote. He made the concession France’s biggest and inclined to compromise”. While supporting the prin- If they failed to agree, the There currently just over after talks between the gov- accept a limited reform, wel- The concession comes as ciple of creating a points-based government would pass decrees 200 people in prison in Spain ernment and trade unions to comed the move, saying in a tens of thousands of demon- system, the CFDT was opposed guaranteeing the pension over their links to ETA, of which break the deadlock failed on statement that it showed “the strators marched through to raising the age for full benefits. system is in the black by 2027, only a handful are in jails in the Friday. The CFDT union, government’s will to find a eastern Paris against the Hard-left unions want the reform he said. Basque Country. 14 EUROPE SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020

Mayor to name Ukraine demands Paris street after punishment for David Bowie AFP — PARIS Iran plane downing A Paris street will soon be named after the late British rock star David Bowie, a local AFP — KIEV Ukrainian President mayor announced. Volodomyr Zelenskiy “There will soon be a Rue Ukraine yesterday demanded David Bowie in the 13th that Iran punish those guilty for calls for the “payment arrondissement of Paris,” the downing of a Ukrainian of compensation” and Jerome Coumet, mayor of the airliner and compensate victims district said. while praising Tehran for coop- the return of remains. The socialist mayor, a pro- erating with an “objective” fessed fan of Bowie who died investigation. in 2016, said a new road near Ukrainian President Volo- Tehran has invited the the major Austerlitz station in domyr Zelenskiy was due to United States, Ukraine, Canada the southeast of the French discuss the incident with his and others to join the crash capital would bear the name Iranian counterpart President investigation. off the music megastar. Hassan Rouhani, his press office Kiev said that Iran had “The naming must be said. cooperated with its experts and approved by the Paris council “We expect Iran... to bring it expects an objective probe. People mourn in front of a memorial for the flight crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines in February, something which the guilty to the courts,” the Tehran has handed Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed in Iran, at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, yesterday. Coumet said would normally Ukrainian leader wrote on Ukrainian experts enough data happen without problems. Facebook, calling also for the including “all the photos, videos been granted access to the Zelenskiy said earlier that tensions following the US assas- Bowie who created such “payment of compensation” and and other materials” to show flight’s black boxes, debris from Ukraine hoped the inquiry sination of a top Iranian general. enduring hits as “Heroes” and the return of remains. the investigation “will be the plane, the crash site and to would be pursued “without “It’s absolutely irrespon- “Space Oddity”, “had a strong Tehran admitted yesterday carried out objectively and recordings of conversations deliberate delay and without sible,” Sosnovsky said, accusing link with the city of lights”, he that it accidentally downed the promptly,” Zelenskiy’s office between the pilot and the obstruction.” Iran of failing to protect ordinary added Ukraine International Airlines said. airport control tower. He urged “total access” for citizens while “playing at war.” Bowie would have turned (UIA) plane, killing all 176 “The political part of the Oleksiy Danilov, the sec- the 45 Ukrainian experts, and “They were obliged to close 73 on Wednesday. people on board on Wednesday, work is finished,” it added. retary of Ukraine’s national in a tweet also sought an the airport. Obliged! Then shoot shortly after launching missiles It published photos of security and defence council “official apology”. as much as you like.” at bases hosting US forces in experts examining the scene which is coordinating the probe, UIA vice president Igor Sos- Iran said a missile operator Six dead as fire Iraq. and close-ups of holes in the said did not yet have evidence novsky told a news conference shot down the Boeing 737 after Rouhani said Tehran fuselage and shrapnel damage. on where the missile was pro- in Kiev on Saturday that Tehran mistaking it for a cruise missile engulfs nursing “deeply regrets this disastrous Ukraine said on Friday its duced, only that it was should have closed the airport at a time when threats were at mistake”. experts dispatched to Iran had “launched from Iranian soil.” due to the escalation of regional the highest level. home in Croatia AP — ZAGREB

A fire engulfed part of a Murder case: Vote for Malta Premier as Muscat exits nursing home in northern AFP — VALLETTA to take over as Labour leader address on Friday, Muscat said exposed corruption at the that killed Caruana Galizia, Croatia early yesterday, killing and prime minister: deputy he was “sorry” for the killing, the highest levels on the Mediter- while a fourth — powerful busi- at least six people, authorities Malta’s Labour Party was voting prime minister and health min- investigation into which he has ranean island. nessman Jorgen Fenech — was said. to elect its and the country’s ister Chris Fearne, a 56-year old been accused of hampering. She was killed in a car bomb charged as an accomplice after The blaze erupted around new leader after Prime Minister surgeon, and 42-year-old “I paid the highest price for explosion on October 16, 2017 being detained as he tried to 5am in a privately-run nursing Joseph Muscat’s downfall over lawyer Robert Abela. this case to be solved under my in an attack that made world leave the country on his yacht. home in the village of Andra- the murder of an investigative Fearne, who has the watch,” he said. headlines. Fenech’s arrest in sevac, 30km north of Zagreb, journalist. backing of most cabinet The opposition Nationalist Less than an hour before November sparked the resig- the capital. An investigation is Muscat, 45, said in members, is favourite to win, Party slammed Muscat’s her death, Caruana Galizia nation of tourism minister underway to determine the December he would quit fol- but Abela had been closing the “surreal” speech, pointing out wrote on her blog: “There are Konrad Mizzi and Schembri. cause of the fire. lowing widespread anger over gap in the polls in the final week that it was Caruana Galiza who crooks everywhere you look. The murder and probe “cast “Unfortunately, according his perceived efforts to protect of the campaign, the Times of had paid that price, according The situation is desperate.” an indelible stain on Muscat and to initial information we have friends and allies from a probe Malta said. to the Malta Independent. The journalist’s family had his administration”, Malta received, six people died,” into the 2017 slaying of blogger Neither has criticised Muscat’s fall from power called for Muscat to step down Today wrote yesterday. “Mus- Croatian Prime Minister Daphne Caruana Galizia. Muscat or referred to the followed daily protests led by immediately, but support from cat’s landslide, back-to-back, Andrej Plenkovic told Some 17,500 Labour voters Caruana Galizia murder in the supporters of the Caruana his party and his own popularity electoral triumphs in the midst reporters after arriving on the are expected to vote for the run-up to the election. Both Galizia family, who accuse him — linked to Malta’s booming of great economic success con- scene. “At this moment, we party’s first mid-term prime have insisted they represent among other things of shielding economy which shot up 6.6 trasted heavily with a prime don’t have enough information minister in history. continuity, highlighting their his chief of staff and childhood percent in 2018 — bought him minister who at the end of 2019 to be able to say anything Muscat was set to resign determination to keep the friend Keith Schembri, who has time until the election for a new was met with a barrage of eggs, else.” Sunday once the results of the economy on its stellar been implicated in the murder. party head. vegetables, and sonorous boos “We need to wait until the election were in. trajectory. Dubbed the “one woman Three men are on trial for every time he exited par- authorities finish their job,” Two candidates are vying In an emotional farewell WikiLeaks”, Caruana Galizia allegedly detonating the bomb liament,” it said. Plenkovic added.

Talks on future of Harry and Meghan Croatia President blames election defeat on ‘fake news’ AFP — ZAGREB “In Croatia we have not only post-Brexit Britain and haggling 8,000 euros - nearly 10 times going well, says press freedom, we have com- over the bloc’s long-term the current average. Croatia President Kolinda plete chaos in the media,” she budget are likely to dominate. She also invited anger and royal source Grabar-Kitarovic (pictured) said, alleging that “some Grabar-Kitarovic said that, mockery when she sang at the yesterday blamed sexism and criminal organisations are with Milanovic, she hoped birthday party of Zagreb’s REUTERS — LONDON “fake news” for her defeat in paying” certain outlets. She did media reporting in her country scandal-hit mayor and elections last week, as well as a not cite specific examples. “will calm down a bit, because promised to bring him “cakes... Discussions regarding future rival who split the right-wing Leftist former prime min- he’s a male”. in prison” if he was convicted plans for Britain’s Harry electorate she was counting on. ister Zoran Milanovic won the Analysts however say that on a slew of corruption and his wife Meghan are Speaking to journalists in January 5 election and takes up Grabar-Kitarovic’s defeat owed charges. progressing well and should her official Zagreb palace, the post during Croatia’s helm to a poor campaign riddled with The 51-year-old outgoing conclude within days not Grabar-Kitarovic blasted what at the rotating EU presidency. gaffes and embarrassing president denied knowledge of weeks, a royal source said she saw as often politically Issues such as the European promises, such as one to any corruption when she served yesterday. biased media in Croatia. Union’s relationship with increase monthly salaries to in government as a minister. The couple, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, blindsided the rest of the royal family on Britain seeks extradition of US Wednesday by unexpectedly announcing they would be diplomat’s wife over teen’s death stepping back from their roles AFP — LONDON on August 27 when his to spend more time in North motorbike collided with a car America and earn an income. The British government driving on the wrong side of the They did not consult announced that it has formally road near an airbase in North- Harry’s grandmother, Queen requested the extradition of the amptonshire, central England, Elizabeth II, or other members wife of a US diplomat who left which is used by the US mil- of the royal family before the country after being itary as a communications hub. making their surprise involved in a car accident that Sacoolas admitted in announcement on a new killed a teenager. October to being the driver, but website, sussexroyal.com. The US State Department has cited immunity while Officials spent Friday responded by saying such an refusing to return to Britain to holding behind-the-scenes extradition would be “an face justice, as Dunn’s parents meetings about new arrange- abuse” because the woman had demand. ments for Harry and Meghan diplomatic immunity. Last month, the US State and things were progressing “Following the Crown Pros- Department said it was “disap- well, according to the royal ecution Service’s charging pointed” that Britain had source, who added that the decision, the Home Office has charged Sacoolas, asserting aim was to reach agreement sent an extradition request to that in Washington’s view she within days. the United States for Anne does enjoy diplomatic Portuguese judges join Polish lawyers during the ‘March of a Thousand Robes’ a protest against a The source said officials Sacoolas on charges of causing immunity in the case. bill backed by Poland’s right-wing government, in Warsaw, yesterday. had consulted the British and death by dangerous driving,” a In a statement, the Canadian governments about Home Office spokesman said. department said that at the the issue of the couple’s future. EU judges join protest against Poland's ‘muzzle-law’ “This is now a decision for time of the accident and for all Meghan is in Canada with the US authorities.” of her stay in Britain, Sacoolas the couple’s baby son, Archie, AFP — WARSAW government undermines (PiS) wants to gag critical The case of Anna Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity. and she and Harry are judicial independence and the magistrates. 42, has been a thorn in London’s “It is the position of the US reported to be considering Hundreds of Polish judges rule of law. Polish lawmakers approved close relations with Washington, government that a request to basing themselves in that dressed in formal black robes “We have come here to proposals last month that will stirring up debates over the limits extradite an individual under country. marched in Warsaw yesterday support the Polish judges but allow sanctions against judges of diplomatic immunity in cases these circumstances would be Separately, the London to protest a draft law aimed at we are not politicians,” John who opposed the reforms, unrelated to national security. an abuse,” the department Times newspaper reported punishing justices who question MacMenamin, an Irish Supreme which Supreme Court president It has been a political said.“The use of an extradition that Meghan, a former TV the government’s controversial Court judge, told reporters. “We Malgorzata Gersdorf has headache for British Prime treaty to attempt to return the actress, had agreed to record court reforms. are here about the rule of law, denounced as a “muzzle-law”. Minister Boris Johnson, who is spouse of a former diplomat by a voiceover for Disney in Senior judges from nearly not about politics.” Thousands of Warsaw res- cultivating trade relations with force would establish an extraor- return for the company all European Union member While the government idents joined the protest, many Washington in a bid to offset dinarily troubling precedent,” it making a donation to a charity states joined the protest, insists the reform will tackle waving Polish and EU flags, as the potential damage of Brit- said, adding that US remains that works to protect arguing that the legislation corruption, the opposition says they marched from the ain’s withdrawal from the EU. “engaged with the UK to look at elephants. backed by Poland’s right-wing the ruling Law and Justice party Supreme Court to parliament. Briton Harry Dunn, 19, died options for moving forward.” SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 AMERICAS 15 White House considers dramatic travel ban expansion

AP — WASHINGTON The countries on the Trump, who had floated a very successful in protecting our sengers were detained. share sufficient information proposed expansion banning all Muslims from Country and raising the security The current ban suspends with the US or haven’t taken The White House is considering entering the country during his baseline around the world,” he immigrant and non-immigrant necessary security precautions, dramatically expanding its list include allies that 2016 campaign, criticised his said in a statement. “While there visas to applicants from the such as issuing electronic pass- much-litigated travel ban to fall short on certain Justice Department for the are no new announcements at affected countries, but it allows ports with biometric infor- additional countries amid a changes, tweeting that DOJ this time, common-sense and exceptions, including for stu- mation and sharing information renewed election-year focus on security measures. “should have stayed with the national security both dictate dents and those who have about travelers’ terror-related immigration by President original Travel Ban, not the that if a country wants to fully established “significant con- and criminal histories. Donald Trump, according to six be added to the list. The most watered down, politically participate in US immigration tacts” in the US. And it repre- The new proposal was also people familiar with the delib- recent iteration of the ban correct version they submitted programs, they should also sents a significant softening quickly drawing sharp erations. includes restrictions on Iran, to SC” comply with all security and from Trump’s initial order, criticism. A document outlining the Libya, Somalia, Syria and The countries on the pro- counter-terrorism measures — which had suspended travel “Different Muslim Ban — plans — timed to coincide with Yemen, as well as Venezuela posed expansion list include because we do not want to from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, same xenophobic Adminis- the third anniversary of Trump’s and North Korea. allies that fall short on certain import terrorism or any other and Yemen for 90 days, tration,” said Rep Pramila January 2017 executive order — A different person said the security measures. The addi- national security threat into the blocked refugee admissions for Jayapal, D-Wash. “An expanded has been circulating the White expansion could include several tional restrictions were pro- United States.” 120 days and suspended travel Muslim Ban will worsen our House. But the countries that countries that were covered in posed by Department of Several of the people said from Syria. relationships with countries would be affected if it moves the first iteration of Trump’s Homeland Security officials fol- they expected the That order was immediately around the world. It won’t do forward are blacked out, ban, but later removed amid lowing a review of security pro- announcement to be timed to blocked by the courts, anything to make our country according to two of the people, rounds of contentious litigation. tocols and “identity man- coincide with the third anni- prompting a months-long effort safer. It will harm refugees, who spoke on condition of ano- Iraq, Sudan and Chad, for agement” for about 200 coun- versary of Trump’s first, by the administration to alienate our allies and give nymity because the measure instance, had originally been tries, according to the person. explosive travel ban, which was develop clear standards and extremists propaganda for has yet to be finalised. affected by the order, which the White House House announced without warning on federal review processes to try recruitment.” It’s unclear exactly how Supreme Court upheld in a 5-4 spokesman Hogan Gidley January 27, 2017 — days after to withstand legal muster. An official with Refugees many countries would be vote after the administration declined to confirm the plan, Trump took office. That order Under the current system, International, a nonprofit that included in the expansion if it released a watered-down but praised the travel ban for sparked an uproar, with massive restrictions are targeted at advocates for the displaced proceeds, but two of the people version intended to withstand making the country safer. protests across the nation and countries the Department of worldwide, said the news was said that seven countries would legal scrutiny. “The Travel Ban has been chaos at airports where pas- Homeland Security says fail to very disappointing.

Mexico mob burns Joe Biden seeks to suspected child upstage Buttigieg murderer alive AFP — TUXTLA GUTIÉRREZ in fight for California An angry mob in southern AP — LOS ANGELES filled with makeshift commu- Mexico burned a man alive, nities of people with nowhere accusing him of abusing and Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg else to go. He listened intently killing a six-year-old girl, chased California votes in to stories from residents of the authorities said. dueling events, looking to sway so-called bridge home who The crowd attacked the Democrats in the state that described their journey from man in the town of Caca- delivers the largest haul of dele- the streets to the shelter, where hoatan after the missing girl’s gates in the presidential contest. they are linked with health body was found along the side Appearing at a short-term services, receive assistance of a road, said the Chiapas housing complex for the restoring their lives and, hope- state prosecutor’s office. homeless, Buttigieg promised a fully, locate permanent housing. They tied him up and beat new era of help for people living Residents can stay up to nine him, then doused him with on the streets, while Biden months. gasoline and set him on fire, sought to upstage the former Jessica Kelly, who said she burning him to death. South Bend, Indiana, mayor once had a career in pharma- Police tried to intervene with a formal endorsement ceutical sales, described how but were overpowered by the from Los Angeles Mayor Eric her life unraveled after a string mob, authorities said. Garcetti attended by fire- of back surgeries led to opioid Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate Joe Biden shaking hands with Thomas Ho, a child of a The girl’s family had fighters. The endorsement was misuse and, eventually, a heroin firefighter, as he visits the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City headquarters, in California, yesterday. reported her missing on initially announced on addition. After several years Thursday. Thursday. without a home, finding a bed has faced criticism in his of the protesters could still be time the Iowa caucuses kick off Lynchings are frequent in Garcetti called Biden a at the shelter has been “a hometown for being too slow faintly heard in the room. the presidential election. Mexico, where an estimated longtime friend, “the right blessing for me,” she told to act, but his campaign said Buttigieg said afterward, “It Vermont Sen Bernie 98 percent violent crimes are leader at the right moment.” Buttigieg. homelessness was cut by 25% is important to me that I have Sanders has a massive vol- never punished. Garcetti was an early supporter Buttigieg has said he will during his tenure. the support that I do from black unteer organising effort of President , in invest $430bn to make A small but noisy group of residents of South Bend. I know underway in California, while whose administration Biden affordable housing available for Black Lives Matter protesters that support is not 100%, and I billionaire Michael Bloomberg Four dead as storm served as vice-president for over 7 million families while shadowed his visit, chanting on respect those political has been spending tens of mil- eight years. aiming to end homelessness for a sidewalk outside the shelter differences.” lions on TV advertising across sweeps through Buttigieg’s stop highlighted families with children. that Buttigieg was a “fake” and Candidates are competing the heavily Democratic state. the homeless crisis in Los The mayor stressed that “anti-black.” for over 400 delegates in Cali- With Garcetti’s endorsement, southern US Angeles, where tent cities line homeless was a problem that A planned outdoor dis- fornia’s March 3 primary, Biden is strengthening his AP — BENTON downtown streets and freeway cuts across communities “of cussion with residents was though mail-in ballots will be position as the favourite within underpasses are frequently every size, in every climate.” He moved indoors, though the din going out a month earlier, at the the Democratic Authorities said at least four people have died as severe storms sweep across parts of the US South, bringing high ‘Bullitt’ Mustang fetches $3.74m at Florida auction Pistol permit applications rise winds and unrelenting rain. AP — KISSIMMEE 45 years. Each time it has sold, McQueen, who played the title The Bossier Parish Sher- it was $3,500,” Kiernan said. character in “Bullitt,” tracked iff’s Office in Louisiana said on The Highland Green 1968 Ford “So we’re going to start it off at down the Kiernans and asked in NY community after attack Facebook that the bodies of an Mustang GT featured in the film that price and go from there.” if he could reclaim the muscle AP — MONSEY from Monsey. elderly couple were found yes- “Bullitt” was sold yesterday at The auction house posted car in return for a similar “It’s definitely because of terday near their demolished a Florida auction house for an 11-minute video of the Mustang. His pleas went The number of residents this incident,” Piperato said, trailer by firefighters. A search $3.74m auction on YouTube. unanswered. seeking to own handguns has referring to the attack. “In some for more possible victims was The sale at Mecum Kiss- Bidding surpassed $3m in Robert and Sean Kiernan risen sharply in a New York way, shape or form, they want underway. That brings the immee marks the most the first minute. The top bid began working on the Mustang community shaken last month to defend themselves.” storm-related death toll in the expensive Mustang ever sold, went back and forth between in 2001. After Robert Kiernan’s by a machete attack that Chief William Barbera of state to three after a man was surpassing a 1967 Shelby someone present and a bidder death in 2014, Sean Kiernan fin- injured five men during a the Rockland County Sheriff’s killed when a tree fell on his GT500 Super Snake that sold on the phone for several ished the car and revealed it to Hanukkah celebration. Department says an application home in Caddo Parish. last year for $2.2m, the Orlando minutes before the mystery the world. Following the car’s The Journal News reported is the first step in a months- Arkansas, Oklahoma and Sentinel reported. buyer on the phone won, sale, Sean Kiernan said he that 73 pistol permit applica- long process. Applicants are Texas yesterday morning were Owner Sean Kiernan, with agreeing to pay $3.4m plus a 10 doesn’t think a more expensive tions have been filed with the required to be fingerprinted clear of the severe thunder- his sister Kelly Cotton riding percent buyer’s premium. Mustang will ever be sold. Rockland County Clerk’s Office and undergo a background storms that had passed shotgun, drove the car across Kiernan’s father, Robert, “As far as Mustangs go, this since the December 28 attack check and firearms training through the night before. One the auction block at Silver Spurs bought the car after seeing an is it. With dad being down in at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, a before the paperwork is sub- person died on Friday night in Arena and then addressed a ad in a 1974 issue of “Road & the record books forever, that’s hamlet in the town of Ramapo mitted to a licensing officer. Texas when a car flipped into crowd of about 25,000 before Track.” The New Jersey family what matters to me,” he said. northwest of New York City. An academy run by veterans a creek in Dallas. the bidding started. used it as a daily commuter “I’ve been at peace with the sale That compares to 51 appli- of the Israeli Defense Forces has The National Weather “This car had sold twice in until the clutch gave out in for probably eight months now. cations the office received been providing weapons Service issued a tornado its life, it’s been in my family for 1980. In the late 1970s, Steve We’re just having fun with this.” during the eight weeks prior to training in Ramapo’s syna- warning for Mississippi early the stabbing, County Clerk Paul gogues since the machete yesterday. Homes were Piperato told the newspaper. attack, The Journal News damaged or destroyed in Mis- Sixty-eight of the new reported. Its trainers have been souri, Oklahoma and Arkansas applications came from advising Jewish residents to on Friday, but no injuries were Ramapo residents, including 31 seek unrestricted pistol permits. reported. Texas governor to reject new refugees

AP — HOUSTON year, according to the UN High written consent from state and Commissioner for Refugees. The local officials in any jurisdiction Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state has large refugee popula- where they want to help resettle state will reject the resettlement tions in several of its major refugees beyond June 2020. of new refugees, becoming the cities. Trump has already slashed the first state known to do so under But the Republican governor number of refugees allowed a recent Trump administration has tried to stop refugees before, into the country for the 2020 order. declaring in 2015 that Texas fiscal year, which ends in Sep- In a letter released yes- would not welcome people from tember, to a historic low of terday, Abbott wrote that Texas Syria following the deadly Paris 18,000. About 30,000 refugees “has been left by Congress to attacks that November. At the were resettled in the US during deal with disproportionate time, the administration of the previous fiscal year. migration issues resulting from former President Barack Obama In his letter to Secretary of a broken federal immigration continued to send refugees to State , Abbott system.” He added that Texas Texas and other states led by argued that the state and its has done “more than its share.” Republican governors who were non-profit organisations should Texas has long been a leader opposed to it. instead focus on “those who are in settling refugees, taking in President Donald Trump already here, including ref- A file photo of the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 car used for Steve McQueen film “Bullitt” during the more than any other state during announced in November that ugees, migrants, and the Paris Motor Show at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris. the 2018 governmental fiscal resettlement agencies must get homeless — indeed, all Texans.” 16 AMERICAS SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2020 Puerto Rico rattled again by another earthquake AP — SAN JUAN More landslides and which crew had been inspecting damaged homes for damage caused by earlier A magnitude 5.9 quake shook quakes. Puerto Rico yesterday, causing were reported, along The ground in southwest further damage along the with severe cracks Puerto Rico has been shaking island’s southern coast, where since December 28, with more previous recent quakes have on a bridge in the than 1,100 earthquakes, of toppled homes and schools. southwest coastal which more than 100 were felt The US Geological Survey and more than 66 were of mag- said the 8:54am (1254 GMT) town of Guanica. nitude 3.5 or greater. quake hit 13km southeast of Nasa reported on Friday Guanica at a shallow depth of buildings continued to crumble. that the quakes had moved the 5km. It was followed by several “Everyone is out on the land in parts of southern Puerto aftershocks, including a mag- street,” she said. Rico as much as 5.5 inches (14 nitude 5.2 temblor less than two More landslides and centimeters), based on satellite Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (centre) speaks during a news conference, in Ottawa, yesterday. minutes later. damaged homes were reported, images before and after the Puerto Rico’s Electric Power along with severe cracks on a temblors. Authority said outages were bridge in the southwest coastal Víctor Huérfano, director of reported across much of town of Guanica. Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, Trudeau calls for full probe into plane crash southern Puerto Rico and crew The quake, which initially told the AP that he expects still were assessing possible damage had been calculated at mag- more aftershocks as a result of ANATOLIA — TRENTON thorough investigation, and the “The Islamic Republic of Iran at power plants. nitude 6.0, was the strongest the latest large one. Canadian government expects deeply regrets this disastrous There were no immediate shake since a magnitude 6.4 “It’s going to re-energize an Responding to Iran’s admission full cooperation from Iranian mistake.” reports of injuries, but Deputy quake — the most potent to hit unstable situation,” he said, that it “unintentionally” shot authorities,” Trudeau said. Rouhani also tweeted that Mayor Elizabeth Ocasio in the the island in a century — struck adding that seismologists are down a passenger plane Of the passengers, 138 were “investigations continue to southern coastal city of Ponce before dawn on Tuesday, studying which faults were acti- belonging to the Ukraine Inter- flying from Tehran to Ukraine’s identify and prosecute this said that officials closed the knocking out power across vated. “It’s a complex zone.” national Airlines, Canada’s capital Kiev, then were to great tragedy and unforgivable city’s downtown area and two Puerto Rico and leaving many Thousands of Puerto Ricans Premier Justin Trudeau said his board connecting flights to mistake.” other nearby areas because of without water. are still without power and government sought a full inves- Canada. Flight PS752 took off and weakened infrastructure. More than 4,000 people are water, and thousands are tigation into the incident. “Our focus remains closure, flew close to a “sensitive mil- “One building completely in shelters, many fearful of staying in shelters and sleeping All 176 people, including 57 accountability, transparency itary spot” and the plane was collapsed,” she said. “There is returning to their homes, and on sidewalks since Tuesday’s Canadians, on board the plane and justice for the families and brought down due to “human a lot of historic infrastructure others unable to because of earthquake. That temblor killed were killed in the incident that loved ones of the victims. This error.” in Ponce.” extensive damage. one person, injured nine others took place just after takeoff is a national tragedy, and all “Human error at a time of Bárbara Cruz, a prosecutor The director of Puerto and damaged or destroyed from Tehran on Wednesday. Canadians are mourning crisis caused by US adventurism who was in Ponce when the Rico’s Electric Power Authority, hundreds of homes and several “We will continue working together,” he added. led to disaster,” Iranian Foreign new quake hit, said concrete ordered the temporary closure schools and businesses in the with our partners around the In a Twitter post, Iranian Minister Javad Zarif wrote on debris hit the sidewalk as of the company’s largest plant, island’s southwest region. world to ensure a compete and President Hassan Rouhani said: Twitter.

Brazil’s education FBI tightens wiretap protocols after watchdog report minister mocked

AP — WASHINGTON training would be In response, the FBI said overstepped their bounds and included in the filing, said that for spelling error implemented. Friday that it was developing a unfairly treated a campaign he plans to issue a bureau-wide The FBI laid out new protocols The filing comes one month checklist to be completed during aide. email Monday informing the AFP — RIO DE JANEIRO for how it conducts electronic after the chief judge of the sur- the application process to ensure The inspector general’s workforce of the changes it is surveillance in national security veillance court — in a rare that all information about a office recommended multiple implementing. Brazil’s education minister has cases, responding to a Justice public directive — ordered the source’s reliability and possible improvements to the FBI’s sur- “Critically, the FBI must also been ridiculed on social media Department inspector general FBI to say how it would correct bias or motivation is disclosed veillance procedures and is also balance the implementation of for making a spelling mistake report that harshly criticised the shortcomings identified in the to the court. The FBI is also conducting an audit. these actions with its ongoing on Twitter. bureau’s handling of the Russia watchdog report on the revising a form used to request The surveillance court responsibility to protect the Abraham Weintraub, who investigation. bureau’s investigation into ties and renew surveillance so as to authorizes the FBI, with a American people and uphold is responsible for schools and The changes, detailed in a between Russia and Donald “elicit information that may warrant, to eavesdrop on the Constitution of the United universities in Latin America’s 30-page filing with the secretive Trump’s 2016 presidential undermine probable cause.” American soil on individuals it States, during a time of ever- biggest country, misspelled the Foreign Intelligence Surveil- campaign. The report, which also con- believes to be agents of a present threats to our national Portuguese word for lance Court, are meant to The inspector general report cluded that the FBI investigation foreign power. It’s a powerful security,” Wray said. “amazing” in a tweet published ensure that wiretap applications found that FBI applications to was opened for a legitimate tool for terrorism, espionage “The leadership of the FBI on Tuesday evening. are more closely scrutinised eavesdrop on a former Trump purpose, produced bipartisan and other national security has devoted - and will continue Instead of “impressio- before being submitted for a campaign aide, Carter Page, calls for change. Some Demo- cases, though critics have said to devote - a substantial amount nante,” Weintraub wrote judge’s approval and that they omitted key information about crats who had already been the court functions largely as a of time, thought, and effort to “imprecionante.” contain accurate information the credibility of sources it was skeptical of the FBI’s expansive rubber stamp for the gov- striking this balance, while “The fact that the edu- about the reliability and relying on. It also alleged that surveillance authorities raised ernment and without adequate paying scrupulous attention to cation minister wrote ‘impre- potential bias of sources whom an FBI lawyer doctored an fresh concerns, while Repub- transparency or public scrutiny. its duty of candor to the Court cionante’ reflects the reality of agents rely on. email used in connection with lican allies of Trump held up the FBI Director Christopher and maintaining the trust of the Brazilian education,” wrote The FBI also said additional one of the applications. report to argue that agents had Wray, in a 15-page declaration American people,” he added. one Twitter user. Another quipped: “It’s ‘imprecionante’ that he is the education minister.’ Gold bar found in Mexico Weintraub later deleted the tweet. It was not his first public was Aztec treasure: Study orthographical error. AFP — MEXICO CITY invaders from their capital, Weintraub, who oversaw Tenochtitlan. deeply unpopular education A gold bar found in a Mexico The conquistadors escaped spending freezes last year, has City park in 1981 was part of the with as much looted Aztec previously misspelled the Por- Aztec treasure looted by Hernan treasure as they could carry, tuguese words for “sus- Cortes and the Spanish conquis- including, apparently, the gold pension” and “paralyzation.” tadors 500 years ago, a new bar in question. On Friday, Weintraub study says. “The so-called ‘Noche shared on Twitter a message The 1.93kg bar was found by Triste’ is among the episodes of support from Luciano Hang, a construction worker during of the conquest that will be owner of one of the largest excavations for a new building remembered this year, and department store chains in along the Alameda, a pictur- there is only one piece of Brazil and a supporter of Pres- esque park in the heart of the material evidence from it: a ident Jair Bolsonaro’s Mexican capital. gold bar that sank 500 years government. For 39 years, its origins ago in the canals of Teno- In the Instagram message remained a mystery. chtitlan, and which recent deliberately riddled with But thanks to specialised analysis confirms came from spelling mistakes, Hang said X-rays, Mexico’s National the (Spaniards’) flight,” INAH that “only those who do Institute of Anthropology and said in a statement. An X-Ray detector scans a large gold bar found decades ago in downtown Mexico City. nothing do not make History (INAH) says it has now Cortes and his men received mistakes.” confirmed where the bar came a wary welcome from Aztec Mexico without official author- soldiers, ultimately defeating — apparently losing the gold bar Bolsonaro appointed from: the Spaniards’ hasty, emperor Moctezuma when they isation — learned that the them. along the way. Weintraub in April 2019 as the though temporary, retreat arrived in 1519, but soon Spanish governor in Cuba had While he was gone, The study found the bar’s new Minister of Education, during the so-called “Noche became unwanted guests at the sent a party of soldiers to arrest however, Alvarado began to composition matched that of replacing Ricardo Vélez Triste,” or “Sad Night.” palace as they appropriated his him. fear the Aztecs would attack other Aztec pieces from the Rodríguez. Weintraub is close That night — June 30, 1520 treasure and turned him into a He left his lieutenant Pedro him, and had their nobles and period. to Onyx Lorenzoni, the current — the Aztecs, furious over the virtual hostage. de Alvarado in charge at Teno- priests killed. “This bar is a key piece in Chief-of-Staff whom he pre- slaughter of their nobles and In June 1520, Cortes — who chtitlan and went with part of The Aztecs revolted, and the the puzzle of this historical viously served as Executive priests, drove the Spanish had launched his expedition in his army to fight the arriving Spaniards retreated event,” INAH said. Secretary.

Peru pledges government aid for children of murdered women REUTERS — BOGOTA crime carrying a longer sen- “It seeks to allow that these Children will receive free movement, tens of thousands been introduced in Argentina tence than murder, although girls and boys remain living psychological support in of women have taken to the and Uruguay. Peru is to start giving activists say the true figure is with their families and aren’t dealing with the trauma of streets in Peru and across Latin Worldwide, a third of all government financial aid to likely higher. uprooted and taken to chil- losing their mothers and wit- America since 2018 to speak women experience physical or children whose mothers were Now the government is to dren’s homes so that they con- nessing often years of domestic out against domestic and sexual violence at some point murdered, in a push to address pay the guardians of children tinue to live together,” Garces violence, and in some cases, sexual violence and demand in their lives, according to the widespread violence against whose mothers were victims said. their fathers killing their justice for victims. United Nations. women, a top official said. of femicide — typically aunts, Children who go on to mothers, Garces said. More than a dozen coun- Many femicide victims in Latin America and the Car- uncles or grandparents — higher education will continue In Peru and across Latin tries in Latin America have Peru and across Latin America ibbean have the world’s highest about $100 a month to look to receive the financial aid, America, violence against passed laws in recent years are murdered at home, often rates of femicide — the killing after them until they are 18. equivalent to a third of the women is driven by that define and punish femicide by current or former partners of a woman by a man due to “The economic assistance minimum monthly wage, until entrenched machismo as a specific crime, including or husbands with a history of her gender — according to the seeks to satisfy basic and indis- they complete their studies. culture, which tends to blame El Salvador, Mexico and domestic abuse. United Nations. pensable needs, their food, The allowance will also be victims, and gender-based Colombia. According to official Peru has recorded about health,” said Patricia Carolina granted to people with disabil- violence is often tolerated, Similar allowances to figures, 205 children lost their 1,200 femicides since 2011 Garces, vice-minister at the ities who were cared for by the Garces added. children whose mothers were mother to femicide in Peru last when it was made a specific women’s ministry. victim of femicide. Inspired by the #MeToo victims of femicide have also year alone.