BUSINESS | 02 SPORT | 12

QFC achieves Almoez looks to remarkable keep on firing 31% growth in in Asian Cup 2018 knock-out stage

Sunday 20 January 2019 | 14 Jumada I 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7777 | 2 Riyals

Amir holds Amir heads ’s delegation phone talk with to Arab Development Summit Mali President QNA QNA Michel Aoun. They discussed the a high level delegation con- DOHA most prominent topics on the sisting Minister of Finance H E agenda of the Arab Economic and Ali Shareef Al Emadi and Min- Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Social Development Summit. ister of State for Foreign Affairs Hamad Al Thani held Hamad Al Thani heads the State The Lebanese President had H E Sultan bin Saad Al yesterday a telephone conver- of Qatar’s delegation to the Arab welcomed the participation of Muraikhi. sation with the President of Economic and Social Devel- H H the Amir in the summit. The meeting reviewed the the Republic of Mali, Ibrahim opment Summit, slated for today They also discussed bilateral rela- item on the draft agenda of the Boubacar Keita. (Sunday) in Beirut, at the invi- tions and the means to enhance summit including the Arab During the phone call, the tation of President of the them in all fields, in addition to Emergency Food Security two leaders discussed Lebanese Republic General exchanging views on regional and Program, the integration and bilateral ties and means to Michel Aoun. international issues of joint interest. trade exchange of agricultural promote them. An official delegation is Also, the meeting for Arab crops, plant and livestock The Malian President also accompanying H H the Amir. Foreign and Economy Ministers products, the Greater Arab Trade expressed thanks and appre- Earlier on Friday, H H the of the Socioeconomic Prepar- Zone and the completion of the ciation to H H the Amir for the Amir had held via telephone a atory Council kicked off in requirements of establishing the State of Qatar’s support for conversation with President of the Beirut on Friday in which the Arab Customs Union and other Mali in different development Lebanese Republic General State of Qatar participated with items. `P2 areas. `P2

Auction for fancy car UN probes siege violations of Qatari students’ rights QNA Rapporteur on the right to right to education noted that she that her duties involve asking as Burkina Faso, Niger and Cote numbers DOHA education. met with those affected by the countries that ratified the cov- d’Ivoire, which in one decade She commended the State of blockade’s violations during her enant why they have not hon- have achieved what they nets QR8.5m The United Nation's Special Qatar for focusing on the devel- visit to Doha, adding that they oured its commitments. couldn’t in 60 years, making Rapporteur on the Right to opment of education and pro- examined the violations of the She highlighted the existence clear progress in gender SIDI MOHAMED Education, Dr Koumbou Boly moting it to advanced levels all right to education, which affected of about one billion people across equality in education, helping THE PENINSULA Barry, said yesterday that she over the world. This came during hundreds of students who have the world who are deprived off families educate their children, had received invitations to a seminar hosted by Qatar Uni- been deprived of that right. their right to education, and in and people with special needs. Like auctions in the previous examine the violations of versity and organised by the All States, except one country this context, she stressed the State The United Nations High years, the seventh online hundreds of Qatari students who National Committee for Human in the world, have signed the of Qatar’s commitment to the Commissioner for Human auction for 25 fancy car had been deprived of their right Rights (NHRC) on the role of UN International Covenant on Civil, provision basic education, where Rights’ Karim Khazrawi praised number plates this year too to education because of the rapporteurs in protecting human Economic and Social Rights, all children of school age get their for his part the commitment of was a big hit among enthu- blockade imposed on the State rights. The seminar was mod- stating that this mechanism, rat- right to basic education in the the State of Qatar to enhancing siasts as the authorities of Qatar, adding that she was erated by member of NHRC Dr ified 70 years ago, promotes the country. human rights and coordinating collected over QR8.5m during having a look at these violations Mohammed Said Al Kuwari. freedoms and dignity of the She also highlighted other with the designated bodies in the three-day sell-off. from her position as Special The special rapporteur on the people of the world. She added success stories in countries such that regard. `P2 The auction was conducted by the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior through Metrash2 which began on Tuesday and continued until Kahramaa’s new initiative Thursday last week. About 300 citizens par- to reuse discarded tyres ticipated in the auction and all of them were able to see SANAULLAH ATAULLAH among environmentally- friendly and follow the bidding oper- THE PENINSULA communities and stakeholders ation. The highest bidding about the recycling of vehicle was for the plate 566666 that Qatar General Electricity and tyres, its mechanism, process, was sold for more than QR1m Water Corporation (Kahramaa) involved health hazard, environ- followed by plate number represented by the National mental concerns among others. 333313 which was sold for Program for the Conservation The event with the theme ‘Old QR6,90,000. and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) Tyres New Life’ was attended by The Ministry of Interior has launched a new initiative to the Kahramaa’s Tarsheed said on its official twitter create a culture of reusing Department Manager Abdul account that under the rules, discarded tyres to avoid their Azeez Al Hammadi and Public the bidding of these fancy burning in recycling process to Relations & Communication numbers started from cut the carbon emission. Manager Mohamed Ali Saleh Al QR100,000 and participants Kahramaa targets to reduce Mohannadi. Over 700 children were required to make a carbon emission by seven from government and private deposit of QR20,000 as percent until 2022. Under the schools attended the event. guarantee. initiative, the residents will be “The initiative aims at The person who have won encouraged to reuse the waste reusing the discarded tires as the bid asked to visit the Direc- tyres for decoration, plantation art works for decoration, Rousing welcome for Dakar Rally champion torate within two working days and sport activities to serve the planting flowers and vegetables Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, (third left) and QMMF President to pay the bidding value. In purpose of Tarhseed. and in sport activities,” Fatima Abdulrahman Al Mannai (right) during a welcome ceremony for rallying star Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah case the person fails to pay, it Kahramaa organised a full- Al Mesnad, Head of the Com- at the Hamad International Airport in Doha yesterday. Al Attiyah on Thursday won the Dakar Rally would result in losing the day event on Thursday at the munity Awareness and Devel- `Sport P12 deposit of QR20,000 and Kahramaa Awareness Park (KAP) opment at Kahramaa told The for the third time in his illustrious career. PIC: MOHAMED FARAG number as well. to create awareness Peninsula. `P4 The payment will be done through bank cheque in the name of Financial Affairs Department of the Ministry of Interior or by credit card. QDB announces development of Al Furjan Market Phase 2 A total of about QR15m were collected collectively from the fifth and sixth online QNA/THE PENINSULA , Al Shamal, Al Wakra, adding that the initiative will half of 2020. on different plots owned by the auctions. DOHA and others. be a good solution in terms of The project is considered a government, in diverse resi- A total of QR9.760m were The first batch of land plots providing the daily needs of strategic one for the State of dential areas. collected at the sixth online Qatar Development Bank (QDB) Al Furjan souq had stores in goods and services for Qatar, as it supports the trade The objective of these auction, and the plate number announced yesterday that devel- Umm Al Qarn and Al Khor families. sector in the country as part of markets is to create a sustainable 344444 was recorded the opment of the second batch of among other areas. The bank He added that the current the 2030 Qatar National Vision. economic environment for the highest price of QR1.25m. land plots Al Furjan Market said that this phase was 80 land plots are concentrated in The project will also cater to the residents, through providing The fifth online auction Phase 2 has begun. percent complete. the areas outside of cities, to expected population increase them with their everyday needs. conducted by traffic It will include a total of 163 CEO of QDB Abdulaziz bin provide for the needs of people inside Doha and in cities outside This will reduce transportation department for some 22 fancy stores spread over many areas Nasser Al Khalifa said that the there. The development of the of it. costs and ease the traffic car plates had collected more such as Ain Khalid, , Bani land plots will provide all the 16 land plots are on schedule Al Furjan Markets project pressure on city centre access than QR5.5m. Hajer, , Al Gharafa, main services in different areas, to be completed by the first consists of trading markets built and exit points. `P4 02 HOME SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

Amir holds phone talk with Mali President FROM PAGE 1 The Malian President thanked Qatar, especially for its efforts in combatting ter- rorism through supporting education as well as pro- viding a number of military armoured vehicles as contri- bution to supporting peace process within the interna- tional efforts for combating extremism and establishing peace in Mali and the Sahel region. H H the Amir and the Malian President also dis- cussed, during the phone call, LEFT: Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie with a number of regional and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Forum. RIGHT: The Minister with Qatari delegation at the international issues of common concern. Qatar pavilion. Amir heads Qatar’s delegation to Arab Qatar attends Global Forum for Food and Agriculture Development Summit FROM PAGE 1 THE PENINSULA Municipality and Environment Qatar’s participation in this and gardens. which was held with the partic- On Friday morning, a DOHA met with the Chancellor of important international exhi- On the sidelines of his partic- ipation of ministers of agriculture closed meeting of the Minis- . bition is a result of the strategic ipation in the World Food and from 70 countries to discuss the terial Committee on Follow- Qatar has participated at the The 11th Global Forum, with relations between the State of Agriculture Forum, Minister of importance of digitizing agri- up and Preparation for the Global Forum for Food and Agri- representatives from the political, Qatar and the Federal Republic Municipality and Environment culture in the future. Summit had also been held in culture (GFFA) 2019 and the business, scientific and civil of Germany which culminated in met with Deputy Prime Minister The Minister met with the Beirut while the meeting of activities of the ‘World Green society community, focused on the visit of the delegation of the and Minister of Agriculture of the Minister of Food and Agriculture permanent representatives Week’ represented by a dele- the theme “Smart solutions for Qatari Businessmen Association Netherlands, Minister of Agri- of the Federal Republic of and senior officials in the Arab gation led by Minister of Munic- future agriculture” and central in November 2017. culture of the Republic of Germany, the Minister of Agri- League started on Thursday ipality and Environment H E issues related to the future of the The “Green Week” exhibition, Lithuania, where they discussed culture of the Republic of Bosnia in preparation for the Arab Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki global agro-food industry. hosted by the German capital ways of cooperation between the and the Minister of Agriculture of Economic and Social Devel- Al Subaie. Minister of Municipality and Berlin since 1926, is one of the State of Qatar and the Nether- the Republic of Romania. opment summit. Qatar’s Per- The event held from January Environment H E Abdullah bin largest international exhibitions lands and Lithuania in agricul- During the meetings, they manent representative to the 17 to 19 in Berlin was attended by Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie specialized in agriculture and tural and food sectors. discussed ways to strengthen Arab League Ambassador the Chancellor of Germany, visited the Qatari pavilion partic- food. It includes all agricultural The Minister of Municipality cooperation between the State of Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Sahlawi, Angela Merkel. On the sidelines ipating in the 2019 Green Week fields such as vegetables, fruits, and Environment also partici- Qatar and the six countries in the headed Qatar’s Delegation to of the forum, Minister of International exhibition in Berlin. cereals, meat, fish, dairy products pated in the ministerial meeting fields of agriculture and food. the meeting. The meeting discussed the draft agenda for the Summit which comprises 27 topics, including the Arab emergency The Association of Senates, Shura and Equivalent UN probes siege violations food security program; the integration and trade of agri- Councils in Africa and meet ends of Qatari students’ rights cultural, plant and livestock FROM PAGE 1 products; the Greater Arab QNA its conference, with the Speaker communique, welcoming the Human Rights Commissioner Trade Zone; completing of the RABAT of the Shura Council, H E Ahmed State of Qatar’s hosting of the He added Qatar responded to and other human rights organ- requirements for the estab- bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al 140th Assembly of the Inter- the recommendations made isations in Europe and America. lishment of the Arab Customs The Association of Senates, Mahmoud, participating as the Parliamentary Union and its regarding expatriate workers, NHRC earlier said that, a Union and the Arab Charter Shura and Equivalent Councils head of the State of Qatar’s dele- accompanying meetings from noting that very positive results are total of approximately 13,314 for the development of the in Africa and the Arab World gation to the conference. April 6 to April 10 of 2019. The coming out of that with the can- people were directly affected SMEs sector. concluded yesterday in Rabat The conference issued a participants expressed their sat- cellation of the kafala system and by the siege imposed by three isfaction regarding the imple- the exit permits. A total of 919 stu- GCC states and violations mentation of the association’s dents at different levels of edu- included family separations, programme, adopted in cation were forced to discontinue violations to the right to travel, Morocco back in September their studies because of measures education, work, freedom of 20-21 of 2017. They also taken by the siege countries. opinion and residency and expressed satisfaction with the Violations to the rights to ownership. The Compensation association’s success of education have been docu- Claims Committee in Qatar has extending cooperation ties with mented and complained to the received more than 10,000 regional and international par- concerned UN organisations cases related to compensation, liamentary bodies. including the Unesco, UN human rights and others.

Contest of 10th group of Haddad Al Tahadi Championship concludes

THE PENINSULA DOHA

The contest of 10th group of Haddad Al Tahadi Champi- onship without any contestant’s qualification concluded yesterday. The contest held under 10th Marmi International Festival of Falconry and Hunting. The event which is being held at Sabkhat Marmi, Sealine will conclude on February 2. The Organizing Committee held a special draw for the fans on Al Habari birds and valuable prizes for visitors to the festival. On the other hand, the champi- A participant at the contest. onship of Haddad Al Tahadi will resume today with the partici- pation of the eleventh group of interest of anyone. However, Abdul Latif Al-Misnad and all the the “Faroukh Al-Shawahin” cat- competitors in this version and committee that have made a egory in the evening. the previous version qualified clear effort in organizing and The Organizing Committee in much worse weather condi- following up the festival activ- said that due to unstable tions, and the winds are not as ities, stressing that without the weather on Sunday morning, it strong to postpone the sincere efforts of the was decided to postpone Al Tala tournament.” organizers. championship competitions for For his part, a contestant Al Rashidi pointed out that groups from 1 to 8, and that a Fawaz Mohammed Falah Al the Organizing Committee has later date will be set and the Rashidi from said: “We provided all facilities to partic- contestants will be informed came to our second home Qatar ipants from outside the State of about the time. to participate in this great fes- Qatar, noting that the Com- Ali Al Humaidi, Head of the tival which aspires to every fal- mittee has provided a venue for Haddad Al Tahadi Committee coner, and become the talk of registration in Kuwait to register said that the participating the street in the Gulf states.” Kuwaiti citizens and Gulf falcons performed well in Al-Rashidi thanked the participants. hunting for Al-Zajel bird. organizers of the festival, Ali Bin For his part, a contestant Regarding weather con- Khatam Al-Mahshadi, Chairman Ahmed Hilali praised the level dition, Al Hamaidi said: of the organizing committee and of competition in the champi- “Unstable weather is not in the his deputy Mohammed bin onship threatened challenge. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 HOME 03 46 future doctors from QU start clinical rotation at HMC The clinical rotation at HMC, which will continue throughout the students’ fourth, fifth, and sixth years of study, will provide them with real-world practical experience in surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and mental health, and other core specialties.

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Forty-six fourth-year medical students from QUCMED pose for a picture along with the officials. This week, 46 fourth year medical students from Qatar University’s College of Medicine (QUCMED) patient care. Their clinical rota- patients. He said it will also allow requirements of the clinical cur- our hope that many of these stu- “This is an exciting time for will begin a fourteen-week clinical tions at HMC, which will continue the future physicians to begin the riculum for the students. dents will become residents and us and for these students. For rotation, also known as a throughout their fourth, fifth, and process of making decisions “Over the next fourteen future medical leaders here at QUCMED, today represents clerkship, at Hamad Medical sixth years of study, will provide about which post-graduate weeks, these medical students will HMC,” said Dr Al Khal. another important milestone in Corporation’s (HMC) Al Khor and them with real-world practical training specialty they might shadow HMC consultants and As part of their training, the our journey toward witnessing Al Wakra Hospitals. The group, experience in surgery, internal wish to pursue once they com- medical residents and will have students will complete clinical the graduation of our first batch which includes 19 Qatari nationals, medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry plete their foundation program. the opportunity to not only par- rotations at HMC, Sidra Medicine, of Qatar University medical are the inaugural general medicine and mental health, and other core “Not only will clinical rota- ticipate in the care for patients but and Primary Health Care Corpo- doctors in 2021. For these stu- class from Qatar University’s specialties. tions enable medical students to also to help solve complex medical ration (PHCC). dents, it represents the next phase medical college. Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Deputy safely apply the knowledge they problems through valuable hands- Professor Egon Toft, Dean of in their medical training and the The medical students have Chief Medical Officer and have accumulated in the on experience. These rotations will the College of Medicine and Vice fruition of many years of hard spent the past three and a half Director of Medical Education at classroom to real-life medical sit- also expose students to a diverse President for Medical and Health work. It is an essential step in years in the classroom and lab, HMC, and Associate Dean for uations, under the watchful range of medical specialties, Sciences at Qatar University, said their journey toward learning to learning the fundamentals of basic Clinical Affairs at Qatar Uni- guidance of experienced clinical helping them to identify which there are currently 310 students care for patients and developing medical sciences and acquiring the versity said the clinical rotation supervisors but HMC will also areas they might wish to focus enrolled in the College of Medi- their clinical competencies and clinical skills that underpin the art will allow for important hands- provide the right learning envi- upon in the future. This is a vital cine’s six-year MD program, professional identity as physi- of medicine and the practice of on experience interacting with ronment to meet the first step in their career and it is including 160 Qatar nationals. cians ,” said Professor Toft. Over 90% graduates of ABP enter university

FAZEENA SALEEM The ABP is a rigorous they are challenged, yet able to help boost test scores, while THE PENINSULA two-semester general succeed and improve. ABP also college counseling services help studies program which partners with the universities at students understand the complex More than 90 percent graduates QF to offer cross-registration, an college application process and of the Academic Bridge Program focuses on English, exceptional opportunity for stu- how to write compelling college (ABP), a centre of Qatar Foun- mathematics, science dents to prove that they are admissions essays. dation, are admitted to univer- and computer skills. ready for university studies. “We train our students to sities within and outside the Studies in these four Since the program was improve their skills and also country each year. established in 2001, over 2,500 equip them with knowledge The unique ABP acts as an areas help ensure a students have graduated from required to participate effectively intermediary level between high successful transition the program. in higher education oriented school and university. “Most of from high school to “This year the 3000th environments and enable the our graduates like 60 percent get university. student will be graduating from transition seamlessly from high enrolled at one of the QF’s ABP. Usually we have 200 stu- school to university,” said Dr partners universities within the dents annually and most of them Lewallen. Education City. Over 30 percent are high school graduates. In October, 2017, the Qatar go to universities in the UK and Among them 80 percent Qatari Armed Forces Academic Bridge US,” Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director The ABP is a rigorous two- and 20 percent non Qatari. And Program opened at the Megdam Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director of Academic Bridge Program. of the ABP, told The Peninsula. semester general studies 70 percent are female students,” camp north of Doha. It was a PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENISNULA “Therefore we work closely program which focuses on said Lewallen. result of plans by the QF, the with the universities within the English, mathematics, science Not only is the ABP academic Ministry of Defence and the universities in Qatar and abroad. graduation will return to serve Education City. We have agree- and computer skills. Studies in program focused on building the Armed Forces to create an Aca- In May 2018, a total of 286 their country as officers in the ments with many universities in these four areas help ensure a skills needed to succeed in uni- demic Bridge Program that cadets graduated from the Qatar . the UK for long as our students successful transition from high versity, it also offers a range of would provide the same quality Armed Forces Academic Bridge ABP is fully accredited by the meet requirements they get school to university. Students are supportive services that pave the of education offered in Education Program. These cadets will com- Commission on English Lan- admitted at those universities,” placed in classes according to way for college success. Mini City to cadets wishing to obtain plete their military training, enter guage Program Accreditation he added. their skill level to ensure that courses in IELTS and ACT/SAT admission to English language university and upon their (CEA) in the US until 2026. QSTP awards young ‘techpreneurs’ at finale of the AIA

THE PENINSULA and launched new tech ventures DOHA in a real marketplace, with genuine customer feedback. The second edition of the Arab The program, which began on Innovation Academy (AIA), January 2, brought together world- concluded with a grand pitching renowned technology collabo- and graduation ceremony at rators; more than 160 participants QSTP on Tuesday. selected from a pool of over 900 AIA is a collaboration applicants 25 speakers and 37 between Qatar Science & Tech- mentors and investors, repre- nology Park (QSTP) — part of senting 30 different nationalities. Research, The second edition of AIA also wit- Development and Innovation (QF nessed even greater participation RDI) and the European Inno- in the program from Arab women. Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, Executive Director, QSTP, and Alar Kolk, President, EIA, with the winning teams of the second edition of the vation Academy (EIA). Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, Arab Innovation Academy in Doha. AIA is the first and largest Executive Director, QSTP, said, entrepreneurship program in the “Arab Innovation Academy is one Alar Kolk, President, EIA, said, the vision and leadership of Qatar donors — and spanned several ‘EyeTalk’ and ‘WheelsOnClick’ region, aimed at equipping entre- of QSTP’s flagship initiatives, by “All of us at the Arab Innovation Foundation and QSTP. Our col- industries, including health, edu- tied in third place. ‘EyeTalk’ pre- preneurs in Qatar, the MENA which we follow through on our Academy are proud to have run laboration promises to empower cation, construction, real estate, sented a concept of a software- region, and the global community commitment to support tech- the second edition of the program, young people to further the and tourism. hardware system that can help with the skill-set to build their based entrepreneurship ventures in cooperation with QSTP and development of essential skills AIA 2019 first place winner people with disabilities commu- start-up in just 10 days. The accel- in Qatar - through incubation, Qatar Foundation. Here, students needed to transform the long- was team ‘Salamat-e’, who nicate using just their eyes, by erated mode of experiential funding, training, mentorship, and develop the skills and confidence term prospects of the region.” developed a mobile app that blinking. ‘WheelsOnClick’ created learning introduced participants connections to regional and needed to develop start-ups from The start-up ideas produced serves as a ‘health passport.’ The a platform that connects owners to cutting-edge methods and tools global tech innovation eco- scratch, and learn to create by the participating teams second place award went to team of underutilised cars with people in entrepreneurship, from team systems. We believe that this unique value in the world of addressed many global problems ‘Fly Stories’, who created a in need of cars for a short period. formation and idea creation to program contributes enormously entrepreneurship and — from retaining children’s platform that provides children The platform follows the popular pitching to venture capitalists and to expanding the economic innovation. interest in reading and re-uti- with an interactive reading expe- Airbnb concept, which users can angel investors. During the com- diversity of Qatar, and in devel- “This unique, world-changing lizing industrial wastes, to sim- rience, and authors with an outlet use to look for, or list cars, for petition, participants developed oping its human capital.” program is only possible through plifying the search for blood to publish their stories. Teams rent. 04 HOME SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 Focus on women empowerment at Qatari Women’s Pen Forum

THE PENINSULA The Forum was set on the professional level, espe- DOHA up in October last cially in the light of the rapid and wide ranging technological Challenges facing Arab women year under the Katara advancement. in work sector will be the central Cultural Village Dr Al Sulaiti will attend the theme of the first annual to bring together opening session, along with conference of the Qatari Qatari women Aisha Al Mannai, chairperson of Women’s Pen Forum (Multaqa the Forum, and Dr Faiza Al Qalam Al Mar’athil Qatariyya) scholars, writers and Khurafi as guest of honor. to be held on March 8 this year intellectuals and The first session will have Dr to coincide with the Interna- pool their talents, Yousuf Mohammed Obaidan, Dr tional Women’s Day. knowledge and Hassa Al Sulaiti, Dr Hassan The Forum was set up in Abdul Raheem Al Sayed and October last year under the experience. Sheikha Hassa Khalifa Al Thani Katara Cultural Village to bring as speakers. together Qatari women scholars, Dr Ibrahim Al Nuaimi will writers and intellectuals and chair the session. pool their talents, knowledge increased participation in social The second session will have and experience. and economic life. a panel of speakers including Dr Academics and researchers Dr Al Sulaiti stressed that Johaina Sultan Al Eisa, Dr Adila Schoolchildren taking part in different activities at Tarsheed Recycling Car tyres event held at from Qatar and across the Arab Qatar is among the leading Mohammed Al Tayeb, Dr Kahramaa Awareness Park yesterday. PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA world will attend the first annual nations in women empow- Khulsum Ali Al Ghanim and Dr conference of the Forum. erment helping them to play an Sharifa Khalfan. Dr Hayat The conference aims to ideal role in society and Kharmazi will chair the session. highlight the role of women in civilisation. The third session will hear Kahramaa’s new initiative public life and identify the chal- The conference will be from Dr Hayat Al Omari, Dr lenges they face in the job sector. divided into three sessions. The Nouria Al Iwadi and Mansour It will also explore new horizons first session will focus on the Ahmed Al Saadi. Samia Hassan for empowerment of Arab impact of internal and foreign Ahmed will preside over the to reuse discarded tyres women. politics in the Arab world on the session. FROM PAGE 1 Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al nature of women’s work, There will be an exhibition by 7 percent until 2022. In order tyres may be shredded and Sulaiti, General Manager of women’s role in society, and the on the sidelines of the con- She said that large number of to achieve the objectives of the burned for specific purpose or Katara Cultural Village, said that role of laws and ideologies in the ference featuring the achieve- tyres are being used in Qatar in National Program for Conser- pulverised to bits to be used to fill Katara through the conference work sector with relation to ments and contributions of pio- transport sector which is being vation and Energy Efficiency (Tar- in a playground or football field. strives to provide an opportunity women. neering Qatari women in recycled by burning causing sheed), the participants were The importance of recycling for experts and researches to The second session will try various fields, especially women carbon emission. However, she explained about the health and tyres cannot be overemphasized discuss issues related with Arab to identify the characteristics who entered the job sector at an said, Tarsheed aims at reducing environmental hazards of burning as this is not only keeping the women and exchange views and differentiating the Arab society early age and served as teachers, carbon. “We worked to create tyres and encouraged on recy- environment clean but also pro- ideas for strengthening the role from other societies and the nurses, doctors and even as awareness among community,” cling aspects in the arena of art, moting good health by preventing of Qatari and Arab women in social and economic factors ministers. said Al Mesnad. She added that agriculture and sport activities. the possible spread of diseases. various fields. influencing women’s work and The Forum had earlier the new initiative will help meet The recycling awareness Kahramaa Awareness Park Dr Al Sulaiti added that the employment in the region. announced plans to set up a data the target as the old tyres could event aimed at promoting a (KAP) is one of the destinations conference will discuss different The third session will bank to document the achieve- be reused easily at homes as dec- culture of sustainability to reduce for all kind of such groups who topics concerning Qatari and explore new horizons for ments of Qatari women to pre- oration piece, and planting flower carbon emissions and engaging have environment- related con- Arab women and come out with women empowerment in terms serve them for the future plants and vegetables. the private sector in national ini- cerns as it offers the latest educa- proposals to enable their of public and social work and generations. “A household can reuse four tiatives, which in turn reflect tional and awareness method- to eight waste tyres in said efforts to achieve Qatar’s vision. ology by combining education purpose to avoid recycling More than 500 frames were pre- and entertainment, which moti- process of burning. The initiative sented by Q-Tyre as the official vates the visitors to research, QDB announces targeted all segments of the sponsor of the initiative, as well learn and to do practical implica- society giving them at least three as of Aspire Zone Sports Activities. tions. The presentations are development of Al ideas to reuse the old tyres,” said Interested participants were designed using modern inter- Al Mesnad. explained about the entyre active techniques such as Furjan Market Phase 2 She said that the initiative was process of tyres’ recycling and its hologram technology and first event of Tarsheed this year ways and means to help Qatar enhanced reality. KAP visit also and Tarsheed Carnival will be achieve its environmental mission includes a tour of its various facil- FROM PAGE 1 held on February 7, 2019. as envisaged in Qatar National ities in addition to various work- According to QDB, Al Furjan Markets is con- The event comes as an initi- Vision (QNV) 2030. shops, awareness lectures, and sidered to be one of the leading strategic ative by Kahramaa to raise The tyres that motorists drive theatrical plays. Registration can projects that are targeting the consolidation of awareness about climate change on the road can be recycled in be made to visit the park through the private sector, participating in pushing eco- and to reduce carbon emission various forms. Apart from its, its website. nomic growth forward in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 to create a diverse per- manent economic environment. The motivation behind this project is the forecast of increase in population within the Aspire winter training camps city of Doha and its surroundings. The retail mix has been devised to cater to the most important needs. The project is a unique initiative launched attract European clubs in collaboration with a number of government QNA sectors, in cooperation with QDB, which is han- training camps by allowing domestic training camps. DOHA dling all construction and administrative work members of the public to watch Of particular importance to for the project. The initiative is considered one their favourite stars training from football clubs are Aspire ’s strategic projects, and is intended to Aspire training camps attract just a few meters away, and the training pitches. Aspire Zone support the commercial sector in the country, athletes from around the world, chance to collect autographs Foundations commitment to as part of the development helping to demonstrate sports from world-class footballers. maintaining the highest interna- of a sustainable economy ability to bridge cultures. This During the winter months, tional standards make its offer in line with the Qatar year, Aspire Zone Foundation the temperature is moderate and truly world-class. Teams return National Vision 2030 to (AZF) has high hopes for further rarely exceeds 25 degrees to AZFs because the quality and create a diverse permanent success in using sport to bring Celsius. For European teams convenience of the venues are economic environment. people together. eager to stay sharp during their at least equal to and often better Aspire Zone offers a memo- winter football breaks, this pro- than even the biggest teams rable experience during its vides an ideal alternative to home training facilities. From pitch quality to training equipment, hospitality services to medical centres, AZFs facilities rival those of the greatest sports teams around the world. This year, Aspire Zone Foundation provided a unique experience for members of the public with an open training session that attracted thousands of football fans from Qatar and abroad to see footballing stars. Fans had the oppor- tunity to see their heroes play from just a few metres away. French Club and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint- Germain (PSG) has success- fully concluded its winter training camp at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), which took place from 13 17 January. PSG travelled to AZF during the winter break to benefit from the ideal weather conditions in Qatar as they prepare for a number of crucial interna- tional matches in the coming weeks. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 HOME 05 QC’s village to provide shelter for 400 displaced Syrian families

THE PENINSULA The construction of this village comes due DOHA to many reasons including an increase in the number of those recently displaced to these Qatar Charity (QC) has areas, high rental prices of homes due to completed approximately 75 percent of the model village demographic density and housing shortage, project for displaced Syrians in inability of people to pay rents because of the north of Syria on the scarcity of employment and low income, and Turkish border. The project will overcrowded camps with the damaged tents. provide shelter for 400 families and is expected to be fully completed within three months, Syria to provide shelter and displaced by providing them said a release. offer services to Syrians at with housing that preserves The implementation of this home. their dignity, giving education project comes as part of a series Through the construction of opportunities to over 800 of model villages that Qatar the village, Qatar Charity aims children, and offering Charity seeks to build inside at easing the hardship of the healthcare services to nearly The workers at a construction site of a model village project for displaced Syrians in the north of Syria 2,000 people. being developed by Qatar Charity. The village consists of 400 residential units spread over an area of 50m2 per unit. The total in the number of those recently families and provide a safe The charity has also imple- cost of the village amounts to displaced to these areas, high haven for them. mented other shelter projects, more than QR6m. rental prices of homes due to These villages have all the which include the provision of The village also includes a demographic density and necessary services for their res- 100 temporary shelters and 15 mosque, a medical center, a housing shortage, inability of idents, as a contribution from accommodation centers for school, shops, an administrative people to pay rents because of Qatar Charity to alleviate their Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and building for the village, an scarcity of employment and low suffering. the replacement of tents by car- artesian well, and pavements income, and overcrowded Qatar Charity has so far avans in the Za’tari camp in for all the roads inside the camps with the damaged tents. managed to establish 11 model Jordan. village. These villages fall in the villages, which include about These projects benefited The construction of this area of shelter within the relief 5492 prefabricated or concrete tens of thousands of Syrian dis- A model village project for displaced Syrians in the north of Syria village comes due to many projects in order to preserve the residential units to benefit placed people and refugees at being developed by Qatar Charity. reasons including an increase dignity and privacy of the around 5,492 families. a total cost of QR 84.5m.

Afif Charity provides financial support to Mental Health Friends Association

THE PENINSULA The consultancy program national institutions and The consultancy program answers provided to them DOHA allows all members of entities to support Weyak psy- allows all members of the com- through various means of the community to ask chological, educational and munity to ask questions about guidance. Afif Charity has provided a questions about mental family programs. mental health, behavioral, edu- More than 249,220 people financial support for the health, behavioural, He added that since its cational and family health have benefited from the consultancy program presented educational & family establishment, the association issues, so that specialists and services provided by Mental by Mental Health Friends Asso- has been able to provide thou- psychologists can deal with Health Friends Association ciation (Weyak) through mobile health issues so sands of psychological, edu- them in full confidentiality in (WEYAK) from 2014 till now. and its different accounts on that specialists and cational, behavioural and terms of not mentioning their The services include psy- social media platforms. psychologists can family consultancy by tele- personnel information or their chological counseling, lectures, Mohammed Albinali, deal with them in full phone and the website of the nationalities. training workshops and Executive Director, Weyak confidentiality. association and the appli- Since it was launch, Weyak training programs. The number thanked the Afif Charitable cation of various means to has been able to gain the con- of training workshops for spe- for its humanitarian contri- receive these consultations fidence of people due to its cialists, individuals and insti- butions in supporting com- programs and activities. and help them to solve their complete confidentiality and tutions has reached more than munity and humanitarian Albinali called on various problems. the scientific and professional 8,000. 06 HOME SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 Azerbaijan marks 29th anniversary of January 20 tragedy

THE PENINSULA invasion and united in their effort to DOHA continue their struggle to repair justice. From those people, Azerba- This month, the people of Azerbaijan ijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev, commemorated the 29th anni- who lived in retirement in Moscow versary of the tragedy of January 20. at that time. He strongly condemned On this day in 1990, under the the Soviet leadership for this invasion orders from the former at a press-conference held in leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet Moscow on January 21, 1990 and tanks and a large contingent of Soviet soon after that he proclaimed his Army units entered into Baku city resignment from the Communist and some other regions of Azerbaijan Party. Tragedy of January 20 is one and opened fire on civilians, said a of the most tragic events in the coun- statement issued by the embassy of try’s recent history and became a Azerbaijan in Qatar. With this turning point for Azerbaijan, invasion and violence the USSR lead- strengthening the will of the people Abdulla Al Rwaili, Executive Director and Managing Director ership was trying to maintain the to build their own independent of GBI, and Dean Michael Trick of CMU-Q. Communist regime in Azerbaijan and country and led to it’s independence The Alley of Martyrs in Baku. strangle the national liberation and freedom a year and a half later. movement. In 1991, Azerbaijan became inde- At the end of 1980s Armenians The failure of the USSR gov- January 20, 1990; 137 civil citizens pendent state. CMU-Q, GBI to promote increased their claims on Nagorno- ernment to prevent increasing were killed in Baku, more than 700 Azerbaijani people remember Karabakh, a mountainous region Armenian claims on Azerbaijan’s ter- people wounded, 800 people were and will never forget memory of all scientific research and inside Azerbaijan, and forced ritory and separatist activities in illegally arrested. fallen heroes on January 20, 1990 Azerbaijanis to flee from Yerevan Nagorno-Karabakh, caused concern The soldiers destructed and and every year in this day, thousands exchange expertise and other regions of Armenia. of Azerbaijanis and reinforced the burnt a great number of houses and of Azerbaijani citizens visit the graves Azerbaijanis were savagely killed and people’s national liberation spirit. apartments, automobiles, including of those victims buried in Alley of THE PENINSULA biology, computer science, driven from their homes. Therefore In 1988 mass demonstrations of ambulance cars. Women, children Martyrs, a cemetery on the highest DOHA and information systems. the people protested this injustice Azerbaijani people started and even- and elders, as well as ambulance and part of Baku to pay their tribute to Dean Michael Trick rep- and assumed to struggle to protect tually developed into a national lib- militia employees were among the the martyrs who sacrificed them- Gulf Bridge International resented CMU-Q said, “While their rights and to preserve the ter- eration movement. As a result of this victims of this massacre. selves in the way freedom and inde- (GBI), one of the region’s there are many ways that ritorial integrity. aggression by Soviet army on Azerbaijani people refused this pendence of Azerbaijan. leading cloud, connectivity cooperation between GBI and and content enablers, and CMU-Q will be beneficial, to Carnegie Mellon University in me the most significant Qatar (CMU-Q) signed a outcome will be the expe- Memorandum of Under- rience our students will gain standing (MoU) aimed at in the workplace. This is a A leading Media promoting scientific research fast-moving economic land- and the exchange of profes- scape, and as our students Company in Qatar sional expertise. spend more time in diverse Abdulla Al Rwaili, Exec- workplaces, the more they utive Director and Managing learn to adapt and make val- is looking for: Director of GBI, signed the uable contributions.” agreement on behalf of the The agreement outlines company. “From a corporate how GBI and CMU-Q will standpoint, GBI looks towards bolster cooperation in scien- News Editor educational institutions such tific research. The organisa- as CMU-Q to aid in our tions will promote joint [ 6HVCCVJ 1J J$C1. $`:II:` :JR directive to strengthen human research activities and stra- capital in Qatar. Going tegic studies in the fields of ]%JH %:QJ8 forward, this partnership will computer science, business [ 1J1I%I 7V:` V6]V`1VJHV 1J %GG1J$ enable students to experience administration and infor- JV1]:]V` Q` I:$:<1JV8 a dynamic business setting, mation systems in an effort to while we can utilise the build national capacity and [ $G1C1 7 Q 1`1 V HQI]VCC1J$ .V:RC1JV5 expertise of CMU-Q faculty to contribute to Qatar’s long- H:]QJ8 add value to the knowledge term development and [ &`V]:`V Q 1Q`@ 1J V61GCV .Q%`8 and skills of our employees. growth. “Today’s agreement marks the Additionally, GBI will offer [ 6]V` @JQ1CVR$V Q` *J+V1$J8 beginning of a long and pro- internships for CMU-Q stu- [ $G1C1 7 Q 1Q`@ _%1H@C7 :JR :HH%`: VC7 %JRV` ductive relationship with a dents, who will be invited to ]`V%`V8 key academic stakeholder engage in the company’s cor- whose proven dedication in porate social responsibility [ $G1C1 7 Q $`:] :  Q`7 :JR `V1`1 V 1` research and development (CSR) activities in Qatar. `V_%1`VR8 complements our company’s Collaborative agreements [ - :JRLQ` VJ: V6]V`1VJHV 1Q%CR GV :J vision for the future.” that transverse Qatar’s cor- CMU-Q delivers select porate and academic sector are :R0:J :$V8 programs that contribute to major drivers of the national the long-term development capacity-building agenda. In of Qatar. Approximately 400 line with the national human %:C1VR H:JR1R: V :`V 1J01 VR Q VJR .V1`  Q7 students from 38 countries development framework, GBI [email protected] study at CMU-Q in the areas acts as a transnational agent for of biological sciences, business corporate and government administration, computational connectivity. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 HOME 07 Bedaya to participate in ‘Chocolate, Tea and Coffee’ festival 2019 THE PENINSULA Bedaya’s participation and chocolate, supporting the Bedaya Centre and his continuous DOHA in the festival is to relentless efforts of Bedaya to support for local startups. This introduce the finest support entrepreneurs by show- partnership has facilitated entre- Bedaya Center for Entrepre- coffee, tea and casing and promoting their preneurs to showcase their neurship and Career Development products and allowing them to products and participate with their (Bedaya Center), a joint initiative chocolate brands and easily reach consumers, thereby projects in all events organized by by Qatar Development Bank and the latest products contributing to the growth and the them”. Silatech, is taking part at the ‘Choc- related to this industry development of their business. “The CTC (Chocolate, Tea and olate, Tea and Coffee’ festival to the local market. For this year’s edition, Bedaya Coffee) festival provides an oppor- taking place at the Sheraton Park will be providing start-up prices tunity for entrepreneurs interested from January 31 until February 9. to startup businesses as well as the in this field to showcase and Bedaya’s participation in the for those interested in this sector. opportunity for other projects to promote their goods or participate festival is to introduce the finest This is the second time Bedaya showcase their products at Dukan with their own projects to dem- coffee, tea and chocolate brands is taking part in this festival, Bedaya which will be also present onstrate their production and and the latest products related to marking the culmination of part- at the festival. Bedaya will offer 12 marketing capabilities. this industry to the local market. nership between the Center and slots, either stands or free space The festival will provide them A host of prestigious and spe- Four & One, the festival’s for startups business in an area with promising opportunities, A view of the ‘Chocolate, Tea and Coffee’ festival last year. cialized companies in this field and organizer. dedicated for Bedaya and will also especially after the great success a group of international trainers Through this partnership, offer the opportunity for 20 other achieved by the festival last year, specialised and experienced are emerging businesses will have the startups to showcase their Al-Sowaidi, General Manager of General Manager of Four & One, by providing a family atmosphere also participating in this ten-day opportunity to showcase their products at Dukan Bedaya. Bedaya Center, said: “We would the organizers of the festival, for with a combination of family fun event to raise awareness and skills food products related to coffee, tea On this occasion, Reem like to thank Fernando De Guama, the valuable partnership with and business.” she added. Nespresso launches two limited edition coffees DPS-MIS students explore beauty of Al Bidda Park THE PENINSULA they would! Their clothing would DOHA differ, but the age-old art of con- THE PENINSULA soul. On reaching the allotted versation and laughter would DOHA spots, the children enthusiastically This January, travel back in time remain. Something I hope I’ve explored the alluring beauty and with Nespresso and embark on a managed to convey in these pic- DPS-Modern Indian School bounties of nature. journey to the historical roots and tures.” There are two delicious organised picnics for classes VI to The nature walk helped them the lively ambience of the very first coffees to try: Café Istanbul – VIII recently. It is the most awaited to observe different types of plants coffee houses. Nespresso is Arabian Mocha coffee from Yemen day in any school calendar as it all around and motivated them launching two new Limited Edition mixes with East Indies and Indian refreshes the tired nerves. This to take care of their environment coffees, Café Istanbul and Caffè treasures to create this cup, remi- year, the destination was Al Bidda It was a magnificent opportunity Venezia that are inspired by the niscent of the mystery of the ori- Park, one of the largest parks in for all the children to strengthen world’s very first coffee houses and ental bazaar. Evocative of historical Doha, known for its lush green the feeling of oneness and the aim to bring the vibrant and blends, it has an exotic character fields, enchanting fountains and value of sharing and caring. The bustling atmosphere directly to complex and elegance places. contemporary, stylish Nespresso carrying intense roasted and black well-developed play areas, said photograph session was the most your homes. Follow the footsteps of the past drinkers with evocative illustra- pepper spicy notes. a statement. joyful moment for all. Altogether, Istanbul has always been the and enter the birthplace of the tions of the first coffee houses and Caffè Venezia – A taste of The students were extremely it was a well spent time and the entry point from Asia to Europe. A coffee houses in Istanbul with Café merged today’s drinkers in yester- history as coffee from the ancient excited as they boarded the buses children went back home with a melting pot of colliding cultures, Istanbul. With its intense, black and day’s world. Ethiopian city of Harrar mixes with and utilised every moment to broad smile, rejuvenated spirits flavours, tastes and ideas. With no oriental notes, Café Istanbul will Young Rascal explained: “I was Indian Arabica to create a cup rich energise their mind, body and and fond memories. printing press, Istanbul’s coffee inspire any black coffee lover really inspired by the idea of taking with the exotic perfume of the East. house was seen as the mouthpiece taking them directly into the heart a typical coffee lover from today, Wild and floral notes combine with of the city, where wild, and rich of the wild and bustling atmos- complete with headphones, and a roasted character in this potent theories were challenged, with phere of that time. Caffè Venezia, placing them into a scene from the and complex coffee. coffee as the natural elixir. Venice with its elegant and delicate profile, past. Being a lover of history this Cafe Istanbul and Caffè has always been the creative is the perfect muse and inspiration appealed to me immensely. The Venezia will be available for a gateway to Europe. Home for the in a cup. Journey to Venice and coffee houses of Venice and limited period from Nespresso arts, music and experimentation, enjoy a short get away to the home Istanbul were the hubs of society boutiques worldwide, as well as which often made the coffee for arts and music. and a real melting pot. Placing our through orders from the Nespresso houses, the tastemakers. This To fully immerse yourself in a modern day coffee drinkers with Customer Care Centres and online fusion of cultures and expressions lively blend of history, the artist the citizens of that time, made me at www.buynespresso.com from DPSPS-M-Mododeern Inndidianan Schchooool ststuddene tst at AAl Bididdada Para k.k made the coffee houses wild, Young Rascal juxtaposed think - would they fit in? Of course January 2019. 08 MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

Israel ‘unprepared’ Turkey walked for prisoner swap deal: Hamas upward path ANATOLIA GAZA CITY over last 16 years The Israeli government is not prepared for reaching a deal on prisoner exchange, Pales- ANATOLIA tinian resistance group ANKARA Hamas said yesterday. “The Israeli occupation is Turkish President said not prepared for a new yesterday that Turkey has prisoner swap,” Hamas witnessed an upward trend spokesman Fawzi Barhoum over the last 16 years. told Anadolu Agency. In a rally looking ahead to Earlier, the London-based March 31 local elections, Recep Al Arabi Al Jadeed newspaper, Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) citing Hamas sources, said rolled out the full slate of Israel was holding “indirect” mayoral hopefuls for the Black contacts to reach a prisoner Sea city of Samsun. swap deal with Hamas. The president touted ruling Artworks on display The sources described the Justice and Development (AK) In a rally looking Israeli contacts as “an attempt Iraqis look at artworks displayed at a gallery in the capital Baghdad during the annual exhibition Party mayoral candidate to support the government of ahead to March 31 of the Iraqi Plastic Artists Society, yesterday. Mustafa Demir — a former local elections, Recep Prime Minister Benjamin public works and housing min- Netanyahu” before the April ister — as well as the 17 district Tayyip Erdogan rolled general election. mayor nominees. out the full slate of Israel says two soldiers “Turkey has walked an mayoral hopefuls for and two civilians are held by upward path over the last 16 Hamas in the Gaza Strip since years and will continue that the Black Sea city of 52 Al Shabaab extremists dead in US airstrike 2014 when Israel launched a rise,” said Erdogan, also the AK Samsun. deadly offensive against the Party leader, referring to AK AP at least 41 soldiers. It described parts of rural southern and Palestinian territory. Party rule since 2002. JOHANNESBURG the location as the Bar Sanjuni central Somalia and continues In April, the Ezzeddin al- “But there are traps lying overthrow it by Fetullah Ter- area near the port city of to carry out high-profile suicide Qassam Brigades, the military again ahead of us. Take a look rorist Organisation (FETO) The US military yesterday said Kismayo. bombings and other attacks in arm of Hamas, confirmed that at the events we’ve faced in the members who infiltrated the it had carried out its deadliest There was no immediate the capital, Mogadishu, and it was holding four Israeli sol- last five or six years. Which of police and court system. airstrike in Somalia in months, comment from Somalia’s elsewhere. diers, but the Palestinian them could be the work of On July 15, 2016, a FETO killing 52 Al Shabaab extremists government. The Islamic extremist group group demands the release of minds thinking of this country coup attempt in Turkey left 251 after a “large group” mounted In neighbouring Ethiopia, claimed responsibility for the dozens of Palestinian pris- and the nation’s interests? Look people martyred and nearly an attack on Somali forces. state television cited the defence deadly attack on a luxury hotel oners whom Israel re- at the Gezi protests of 2013 or 2,200 injured. Turkey accuses The US Africa Command ministry as saying more than 60 complex in the capital of neigh- arrested after their release as FETO’s coup attempt in 2016,” FETO - led by US-based Gulen said the airstrike occurred near Al Shabaab fighters had been bouring Kenya on Tuesday, the part of an Egyptian-brokered added Erdogan. - of a long-running campaign Jilib in Middle Juba region. There killed and that four vehicles latest high-toll assault inside exchange deal to free cap- In summer of 2013, rela- to overthrow the state through were no reports of Americans loaded with explosives had been that county in retaliation for tured soldier Gilad Shalit in tively small demonstrations in the infiltration of Turkish insti- killed or wounded. “destroyed.” Kenya sending troops to Somalia 2011. Istanbul’s Gezi Park grew into tutions, particularly the mil- The US statement did not Ethiopia contributes troops to fight Al Shabaab. Barhoum reiterated that a nationwide wave of protests itary, police, and judiciary. say whether any Somali forces to a multinational African Union The has dra- “there was no new regarding against the government that left Erdogan later attended a were killed or wounded by the peacekeeping mission in matically stepped up airstrikes the issue of captured Israeli eight protesters and a police closed-door dinner with local Al Qaeda-linked extremists. Al Somalia and has troops there against Al Shabaab in Somalia soldiers”. officer dead. party members at Samsun’s Shabaab via its Shahada news independently under Ethiopian since President Donald Trump There was no comment The government later said TUYAP Expo and Congress agency asserted that its attack army command. took office, carrying out at least from the Israeli government the protests were an attempt to Center. on two Somali army bases killed Al Shabaab controls large 47 such strikes last year. on the report.

Man charged with US Senator: MBS must be ‘dealt with’ over Khashoggi murder murder in death of AFP complicit in the grisly killing of Ankara. Western countries Turkey says Khashoggi was caused strains with ANKARA Washington Post contributor including the US, and killed by a team of 15 Saudis who Washington. Israeli student Khashoggi in October. Canada have placed sanctions strangled him during a visit to Graham acknowledged that A key US senator yesterday said “I have concluded that the on nearly 20 Saudi nationals as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul he had been “enthusiastic” in his AP the Saudi crown prince was relationship between Saudi the case has tarnished Riyadh’s on October 2 to obtain support of Prince Mohammed MELBOURNE responsible for Jamal Arabia and the United States international reputation. paperwork ahead of his but accepted he had been Khashoggi’s murder and must be cannot move forward until MBS “We will start sanctioning upcoming marriage. “wrong”. “What has transpired A 20-year-old man appeared “dealt with”, as he threatened has been dealt with,” Graham those involved in the killing of The remains of the insider in the last couple of years is in an Australian court new sanctions. said, using the initials for the Mr Khashoggi. We’ll make a turned critic of the kingdom have unnerving to say the least,” he yesterday charged with Republican Lindsey Graham, crown prince. Graham also definitive statement that MBS yet to be found, three months said.Graham said the sanctions murder and abuse in the an influential ally of President threatened new sanctions knew about it and is responsible after this murder. were intended to send the death of an Israeli student in Donald Trump, has previously against those suspected of for it and come up with a series Riyadh has denied any message that the murder was the city of Melbourne in a said that Crown Prince involvement in the murder of sanctions,” the South Carolina claims of the crown prince’s “not what you do if you’re an ally savage attack that shocked Mohammed bin Salman was during a press conference in lawmaker said. involvement but the case has of the United States”. Australia. Codey Herrmann, an aspiring rapper who performs as M.C. Codez, did not apply for bail when he appeared in Syrian opposition sees window the Melbourne Magistrates Court accused of slaying Aiia for political solution in Syria Maasarwe on Wednesday. The 21-year-old victim REUTERS terrorism, the belief of the had been studying at La Trobe RIYADH majority of the Syrian people University in Melbourne for that the only solution to the the past five months as an Syria now has a good oppor- Syrian crisis is the political exchange student from tunity to reach a political solution,” Hariri added. Shanghai University in . solution to its devastating eight- In December, Russia, Iran She was on her way home year war as ceasefires have and Turkey — supporters of the from a Melbourne comedy brought calm to many areas of main sides in Syria’s complex hub and was speaking to her the country, Syria’s chief oppo- civil war — failed to agree on younger sister in Israel on sition negotiator said yesterday. the makeup of a UN-sponsored FaceTime with her cellphone “I think now that we have Syrian Constitutional Com- when she was attacked an opportunity, because nearly mittee but called for it to shortly after stepping off from in Syria we have a ceasefire convene early next year to kick a tram in the suburb of now, in the northeast of Syria off a viable peace process. Bundoora. and the north of Syria, and the Syrian President Bashar Al Herrmann hung his head efforts of fighting terrorism has Assad, whose forces have as he sat in the dock and achieved good results,” Nasr reclaimed most of Syria with stood only to hear the charges Hariri said in an interview. Russian and Iranian support against him read. He will Hariri met with the newly apart from the northern appear in the same court Camel wrestling festival appointed United Nations province of Idlib, has clung to tomorrow. A murder con- A camel owner pulls his camel to the contest of Selcuk Camel wrestling festival in the town of Selcuk, Special Envoy to Syria Geir Ped- power throughout the conflict viction carries a potential near the western Turkish coastal city of Izmir, yesterday. ersen on Friday. “Now it is time and is widely seen as being maximum penalty of life to invest all of these develop- loath to yield power after it imprisonment and abuse ments: the ceasefire, fighting ends. carries a potential of 25 years. Iraqi air strikes hit IS in eastern Syria, says war monitor AFP The raids come a day after a There were no immediate with coalition support. Observ- on the border with Syria fired flashpoint northern town of BEIRUT US-led air strike on the comments from the Iraqi army atory chief Rami Abdel Rahman artillery. Manbij on Wednesday. Euphrates Valley village of or from the US-led coalition. said that yesterday’s air strikes Abdel Rahman said the “The strikes are continuing, At least 20 Islamic State group Baghouz killed six civilians, Baghouz is part of an enclave “carried out by Iraqi aircraft US-led coalition had stepped up and have intensified since the militants were killed yesterday including four children, and 10 of less than 15 square km that is killed at least 20 IS fighters in its air strikes against IS since the Manbij attack,” he said in Iraqi air raids on their IS fighters, according to the all that is left of IS territory in Baghouz”. militants killed 19 people, four yesterday. embattled enclave in eastern Britain-based Syrian Observ- eastern Syria after a gruelling He said at the same time the of them Americans, in a suicide “Residential buildings in Syria, a war monitor reported. atory for Human Rights. Kurdish-led offensive launched Iraqi army units stationed nearby bombing on a restaurant in the Barghouz were hit,” he said. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 AFRICA 09 Up to 117 migrants feared missing off Libya

REUTERS “The three survivors water who appeared to be dead,” TRIPOLI told us they were Agostini said. The Italian navy said 120 when they left it had alerted Libyan authorities Some 117 migrants who left Libya who coordinated rescue opera- in a rubber dinghy two days ago Garabulli, in Libya, on tions, ordering a merchant ship to are unaccounted for, the Interna- Thursday night. After go to the site of the sinking, though tional Organisation for Migration 10 to 11 hours at sea... rescue efforts had ceased after the (IOM) said yesterday, after three (the boat) started search for the dinghy had proved apeople were rescued from the fruitless. vessel after it sank in the Mediter- sinking and people According to the IOM, 2,297 ranean. started drowning,” migrants died or went missing in “The three survivors told us IOM spokesman Flavio the Mediterranean last year, out of they were 120 when they left Di Giacomo said a total of 116,959 people who Garabulli, in Libya, on Thursday reached Europe by sea. night. After 10 to 11 hours at sea... yesterday. Arrivals in the first 16 days of (the boat) started sinking and 2019 totalled 4,449, almost all by people started drowning,” IOM and had thrown two safety rafts sea, compared with 2,964 in the spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo said into the water before leaving due same period of 2018. yesterday. to a lack of fuel, Rear Admiral “As long as European ports will He said the people came Fabio Agostini told TV channel remain open... sea-traffickers will mainly from west Africa, adding: RaiNews24. A helicopter dis- continue to do business and kill “Ten women including a pregnant patched from a naval ship had then people,” Italian Interior Minister girl were aboard and two children, rescued the three people, who Matteo Salvini said in a Facebook one of whom was only two months were suffering from severe hypo- post. Since ’s populist gov- old.” thermia and were taken to hos- ernment came to power in June, An Italian military plane on sea pital on the island of Lampedusa. Salvini, leader of the anti-migrant Protesters hold a sign reading “We are people, not merchandise” during a demonstration in support patrol on Friday had first sighted “During this operation at least League, has closed Italian ports to of Spanish migrant rescue charity Proactiva Open Arms in Barcelona yesterday. the dinghy sinking in rough waters three bodies were seen in the humanitarian vessels. 6 Nigerian soldiers dead Burkina Faso’s PM, government resign in Boko Haram raid AFP battling a rising wave of militant said. “The president of Faso Faso lies in the heart of the vast OUAGADOUGOU attacks and hostage-taking. accepted the resignation” and Sahel region, which is struggling AFP incident. Security sources ini- Canadian Edith Blais, 34, and expressed “all his gratitude to with a bloody Islamist KANO tially said that troops had Burkina Faso’s government and her Italian partner Luca Tac- Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba insurgency. fought off the militants in a Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba chetto, 30, have been missing and all its ministers for their The region turned into a Six Nigerian soldiers were killed three-hour battle during which stood down on Friday, according since mid-December, and late commitment to the service of the hotbed of violent extremism and and 14 injured when Boko the militants failed to overrun to a statement released by the on Wednesday a Canadian geol- nation,” the statement added. lawlessness after chaos engulfed Haram militants raided a village the post. It was not known country’s president. ogist kidnapped by suspected President Kabore chose Libya in 2011. An Islamist insur- near the army chief’s family which Boko Haram faction was No explanation was given for militants was found dead at a experienced economist Thieba gency began in northern Mali, home, security and hospital behind the attack, although the the resignations, though sources remote gold mine in the as prime minister in January while Boko Haram rose in sources said yesterday. IS-affiliated Islamic State West said President Roch Marc northeast. 2016. However, in recent months northern Nigeria. Militant raids The militants attacked an Africa Province (ISWAP) is Christian Kabore wants to “Prime Minister Paul Kaba several political opponents have began in northern Burkina Faso army position overnight on known to operate in the area. breathe new life into the lead- Thieba submitted this afternoon been calling for his resignation in 2015 before spreading to the Thursday in Kamuya, a village Kamuya was hit twice by ership of the landlocked west his resignation as well as that of and that of ministers in charge east, near the border with Togo in the northeastern state of Boko Haram in December 2015, African country, which is his government,” the statement of security and defence. Burkina and Benin. Borno near the home of army not long after Buratai, a lieu- chief of staff Tukur Yusuf tenant general, was appointed Buratai’s mother, the sources chief of army staff. said. “We lost six soldiers in the The latest attack came days New Madagascar fight and 14 others sustained after Boko Haram overran a Sudan protesters plan march on parliament various degrees of injuries,” an military base in the town of President vows army officer said. Rann, near the border with AFP The Sudanese Professionals association, which represents “The terrorists also suffered Cameroon, forcing thousands KHARTOUM Association, an umbrella group the unions of doctors, teachers anti-graft fight heavy losses,” the officer added of civilians to flee. of trade unions, in a statement and engineers. without giving figures. Fourteen people, including A group that is spearheading called for a march on parliament Officials say at least 26 AFP A medic at the hospital in three soldiers, were said to have anti-government protests across Sunday to submit to lawmakers people, including two security ANTANANARIVO nearby Damaturu confirmed been killed in that attack, and Sudan yesterday said it plans to a memorandum calling for personnel, have died during a that the bodies of six soldiers aid workers said buildings used launch more nationwide rallies Bashir to step aside. month of protests, while rights Madagascan President Andry were taken to the morgue on by humanitarian organisations over the next few days, including “We are calling for a march group Amnesty International Rajoelina used his inaugu- Friday. had been burned to the ground. a march on parliament. to parliament in Omdurman on last week put the death toll at ration speech yesterday to Four military vehicles were The UN’s humanitarian Protests have rocked Sudan Sunday,” it said referring to more than 40. pledge to fight corruption in also seized by the militants coordinator in Nigeria, Edward since December 19, when the Khartoum’s twin city where par- The group spearheading the a country where politics and while two others were Kallon, said on Friday that the government raised the price of liament is located. protests said there will also be business are widely seen as destroyed, said the military attacks — and others like it — bread, and since then have esca- “The protesters will submit rallies in Khartoum on Sunday, beset by graft. source who asked not to be were having a “devastating lated into rallies against Pres- to parliament a memorandum to be followed by night-time Rajoelina regained power identified because he was not impact” on civilians and the ident Omar Al Bashir’s three- calling on President Bashir to demonstrations on Tuesday in in the Indian Ocean by authorised to speak about the relief effort. decade rule. step down,” added the the capital and in Omdurman. winning a second-round vote in December against Marc Ravalomanana after an election process in which both sides alleged they were Party of declared Congo vote Zimbabwe police victims of ballot fraud. Rajoelina first ruled from 2009 until 2014 after he was installed by the army when winner rejects AU intervention erect road blocks then president Ravalomanana was ousted following violent protests. AGENCIES to hunt protesters “Nobody will be above the KINSHASA law, we will restore the values AFP Saturday’s state-owned Herald of the rule of law,” Rajoelina The party behind the declared HARARE newspaper. said after being sworn in by winner of Congo’s presidential She said the aim was to nine constitutional court election yesterday rejected the Zimbabwe police manned catch suspected looters and judges at a sports stadium in African Union’s surprise request checkpoints on many main recover property stolen during the capital Antananarivo. to delay announcing the final roads yesterday, searching protests that erupted after Madagascar is ranked 155 results amid “serious doubts” vehicles for protesters allegedly Mnangagwa last weekend of 180 countries on the Trans- about the vote. involved in recent anti- announced a 150-percent parency International index. The unprecedented request government demonstrations. increase in petrol prices. Rajoelina also pledged to by the continental body is “the The crackdown by security The Herald said 700 people boost growth in one of the work of some mining lobbies forces has been fiercely criti- had been arrested after the world’s poorest countries, seeking to destabilise the Dem- cised by the UN human rights violent protests, which it saying: “we will build indus- ocratic Republic of Congo in office, with allegations of blamed on the opposition MDC tries in each provincial capital order to perpetuate the looting shootings, beatings and abduc- party and trade unions. to create jobs.” The ceremony of this country,” the secretary- tions of opposition figures, Police were in action at was attended by President general of Felix Tshisekedi’s activists and ordinary residents. checkpoints in the capital Hage Geingob of Namibia and Supporters of Felix Tshisekedi, DR Congo’s opposition politician Union for Democracy and Social Police road blocks were a noto- Harare and the second city President Edgar Lungu of declared winner of the December’s presidential poll, sing and Progress party, Jean-Marc rious feature of daily life under Bulawayo. Zambia, as well as former Kabund, said in a statement. dance ahead of the Constitutional Court final decision on the former president Robert In Bulawayo, police officers French president Nicolas He called on the Congolese presidential results, in Kinshasa, yesterday. Mugabe. armed with assault rifles Sarkozy. Rajoelina took 55.7 people to mobilize and defend But they largely disap- manned roadblocks on every percent and Ravalomanana the mineral-rich country’s December 30 vote to choose a spilling across borders from the peared after he was ousted by major route, conducting “stop won 44.3 percent. sovereignty. successor to long-serving Pres- vast Central African nation rich the military in November 2017 and search” operations. Ravalomanana petitioned DR Congo’s top court said it ident Joseph Kabila, with in the minerals key to smart- and his former deputy In both cities, customers the Constitutional Court over will give its verdict on final pres- runner-up Martin Fayulu phones around the world. Emmerson Mnangagwa took seeking to stock up on basic alleged voting irregularities idential election results which claiming he was cheated of The court could uphold the power. goods tentatively returned to but later accepted defeat. The have been challenged at home victory -- an assertion repeated election results, order a recount “We want to tell members shops that opened for the first two rivals were banned from and abroad, spurning an appeal elsewhere. or order a new election. Ahead of the public that... we have time since the protests started running in the 2013 election from the African Union to The AU has said it will send of the ruling, hundreds of Tsh- already set up security check- on Monday. Long queues as part of an agreement to suspend the announcement. a high-level delegation to Congo isekedi’s supporters were in the points where police officers and formed to buy bread and petrol, end recurring crises that have The Constitutional Court is tomorrow to help resolve the streets Kinshasa, waving tree other security institutions will which are both in short supply rocked Madagascar since it urgently hearing an appeal over electoral crisis. Congo’s many branches and banners reading be checking,” police spokes- due to Zimbabwe’s long- gained independence from the outcome of the disputed neighbours are wary of unrest “Congo for the Congolese.” woman Charity Charamba told burning economic crisis. France in 1960. 10 VIEWS SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

ESTABLISHED IN 1996 Invading Ramallah,

CHAIRMAN bursting the bubble SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR YARA HAWARI MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] ver the last two weeks, the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Israeli army has been MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI invading the Palestinian city [email protected] of Ramallah and conducting Oa series of military incursions which has almost entirely escaped interna- tional attention. On Saturday, we saw this escalate when they took up position in front of the Ramallah municipality and various EDITORIAL high-end establishments. In a scene reminiscent of the Second Intifada, clashes ensued when the shabab (the Joining hands for development youth) responded to the invasion with rocks, taking cover behind the dozens n preparation for hosting the Arab Economic and Social Devel- of expensive cars lined up in this fancy opment Summit kicking off today in Beirut and with the arrival part of the city. The soldiers recipro- Iof delegations, the government has closed down many streets, cated with tear gas, stun grenades and Palestinians staging a protest against the controversial social security law in Ramallah. schools and businesses in the city centre. The summit which is rubber bullets. They also harassed and organized by the Arab League was preceded by Arab Foreign and pushed around journalists, medics and because it would not take them a week of the Ramallah Municipality from Economy Ministers of the Socio-economic Preparatory Council bystanders. There were arrests, ran- to confiscate all the cameras they need incoming rocks offered an aesthetic meeting held on Friday to review the item on the draft agenda for sacking of establishments and dozens from the area. More so, because Israel reminder of the security coordination today’s summit. of tear gas-related injuries. This dem- has the occupied West Bank under as well as the fact that the PA is not Amir H H Sheikh is heading the onstration of collective punishment intensive drone surveillance. even able to offer the most basic pro- delegation of the State of Qatari to the summit at the invitation of also left a rather bewildered popu- What’s more likely is that Israel is tection to Palestinians. Most of all, H E President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun. Thus lation, with many pondering what the flexing its muscles in order to put however, it demonstrated par excel- Qatar has affirmed its continued keenness on activating Arab joint Israeli military was actually doing in pressure on the Palestinian Authority lence the fallacy of Palestinian works and its strong desire in practice to strength the ties between Ramallah this time. (PA) to yield further politically by authority or statehood. The Oslo the Arab countries supporting efforts for creating political and eco- The reminding them that they can literally framework is complicit in this fallacy, nomic blocks. The State of Qatar has participated in the Prepar- official justi- come into their backyard and do while supposedly an apparatus that atory Council meeting held on Friday, with a high level delegation fication pro- whatever they like. It is also part of a would lead to the creation of a Pales- consisting Minister of finance H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi and Min- vided by the systematic effort to keep Palestinians tinian state, it instead divided the ister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. The army Israeli army in a state of uncertainty and siege, West Bank into areas which would The Arab League Secretary-General stressed that 29 items were is that they something which the Israeli regime prevent Palestinian contiguity and approved and referred to the 4th Arab Economic and Social Devel- justification is also were confis- has perfected in Gaza. would allow full de facto Israeli mil- opment Summit. The items covering economic and social fields flimsy because it cating private However, albeit unintentionally, itary control. Today, what exists in were approved during the preparatory meetings. The Secretary- would not take security these efforts also remind the Pales- reality is one regime from the river to General added that there were no them a week to cameras that tinian residents in Ramallah that the sea which maintains an sharp differences or difficulties in would every time the Israeli army sets foot oppressive system of control based on passing these decisions. Similar confiscate all the provide in areas under the PA control, they do racial segregation. statement made by Lebanese Min- cameras they need footage of the so under the security coordination Complicity also lies in the hands of ister for Foreign Affairs and Emi- from the area. More apparent Pal- mechanism. On paper, this coordi- the international diplomatic com- grants Minister Gebran Bassil who so, because Israel estinian nation between Israel and the PA munity that has unsurprisingly, since Since the eruption acknowledged that “There is con- assailants. allows for the sharing of intel on the beginning of these latest invasions of the Arab Spring sensus on solving the economic and has the occupied Meanwhile, security issues in order to thwart into Ramallah, not released any state- in 2011 and its social problems witnessed in various West Bank under others have apparent “terrorism”. In reality, it ments condemning the Israeli army. consequences, the Arab countries”. These problems, intensive drone speculated allows Israel full sovereignty over the However, the invasion of Ramallah presence of Arab according to the minister Bassil surveillance. that this West Bank. should not be exceptionalised. Indeed, leaders at the include poverty, malnutrition, unem- could be an The Israelis can simply inform the dozens of Palestinian villages and ployment and migration...”which are attempt by PA when any of its forces come into towns suffer from Israeli incursions joint summit has common problems”. The minister was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the West Bank and tell them to make every week. Ramallah, the hub of the become rare due quoted by Lebanon National News to gain electoral points and show the sure they stay behind closed doors. It Palestinian bourgeoisie and political to the increasing Agency as saying “We are working Israeli public that he means business has also allowed for more sinister sce- class, was reminded of something that differences, civil to expand our economic framework when it comes to the Palestinians. This narios where the PA provides intelli- is a common occurrence for many wars; diplomatic towards witnessing a larger market justification does not hold up, as the gence on the whereabouts of indi- Palestinians. This was a good, albeit crises and power and more comprehensive and effi- Israeli media has not been reporting viduals to Israel, such as was the case brutal, reminder that the fancy coffee cient joint solutions”. on the invasions. And, as usual, the with the activist Basel al Araj who was shops and buildings and the expensive conflicts. If that is the case and there is con- majority of Jewish Israelis have no assassinated in 2017. cars are all part of a delusional bubble sensus on solving Arab’s economic idea what’s going on in Ramallah. The The scene, on Saturday night, of a - a bubble that is sure to burst sooner and social problems and the preparatory meeting passed the deci- army justification is also flimsy group of soldiers taking cover in front rather than later. sions, then why most of the member countries are not represented by head of states and only three or four out of 22 Arab heads of state are set to participate in the summit. Of course there is division on Syria, Libya and internal Lebanese affairs, but above all the summit is overshadowed by the internal situations in each major British Parliament must transcend party Arab state. Countries like Egypt and , UAE and Syria are now in a vicious cycle because of their miserable internal sit- uation and can no longer manage their own affairs not to mention lines to devise alternative Brexit plan Arab affairs. A 100 percent attendance of all leaders is not a measure of the success for any Arab summits. It is only moral aspect not more, as JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI Her tactics of postponing a vote on issue of border controls between many summits have been attended by all leaders in which signif- the deal - originally slated for last Northern Ireland, which is part of icant decisions were taken but none of the decisions could not see he future of Britain’s exit from December - and getting legislators who Britain, and Ireland should be the light of the day. Since the eruption of the Arab Spring in 2011 the can be said oppose the deal to change their mind resolved. and its consequences, the presence of Arab leaders at the joint Tto have become murkier than by winning public opinion to her side Hard Brexiters have not changed summit has become rare due to the increasing differences, civil ever. To avoid a “no-deal withdrawal,” failed to prove effective. May’s remarks their assertion that Britain’s sover- wars; diplomatic crises and power conflicts. the British Parliament must find a way that voting down the deal would lead eignty cannot be completely restored Presence of non-qualified leaders at the top of the hierarchy out through suprapartisanship. either to a no-deal withdrawal or to the under the draft agreement. The largest of power in some important Arab states, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, The draft deal for Brexit that was cancellation of Brexit just ended up opposition Labour Party, without pre- Syria and UAE, which used to play a central role in regional issues, agreed on by Britain and the EU, and inviting a backlash from legislators senting any concrete measures for the unfortunately have shifted today from managing and settling dif- stipulated such points as the condi- who took her remarks as a threat. withdrawal, is aiming for a snap ferences to igniting inter-Arab conflicts. tions for the withdrawal, was voted In a statement following the vote, general election by removing May from down in the House of Commons. May said she would hold talks with her post, and a change of government. British lawmakers voted 432-202 senior officials of the ruling and oppo- Both the ruling and opposition against the draft deal, a margin of 230 sition parties and present an alter- parties should set their party interests QUOTE OF THE DAY votes, the biggest defeat for a British native proposal by Jan. 21. With the aside and move forward to reach a government in modern history. decline in her unifying power exposed breakthrough in the situation. As long The restoration of In addition to objections by oppo- to this extent, will May be able to as lawmakers who support a no-deal peace and stability in sition parties, there were rebels among exercise her leadership to work out a withdrawal are a minority in Par- Afghanistan is a shared ruling Conservative lawmakers, with proposal that could win majority liament, there is surely room for a as many as nearly 40 percent of support in Parliament? We cannot compromise. responsibility of all member legislators voting down the help harboring doubts about the like- Such an attempt is likely to revolve parties and deal. With the Conservative Party split lihood of this. around efforts to win lawmakers who will make efforts to into three groups - pro-Brexit hard- Under the draft agreement support EU membership over to May’s support the peace and liners, pro-Brexit moderates and sup- reached between the May adminis- side with a more moderate with- porters of EU membership - the hard- tration and the EU, a transition period drawal plan, which would retain unity reconciliation process liners and supporters of EU mem- has been set to run until the end of with the EU, or to hold another in Afghanistan. bership voted down the deal. 2020, even after Britain leaves the EU national referendum on withdrawal British Prime Minister Theresa May on March 29, during which the present from the EU. The important thing is to Shah Mehmood Qureshi has to assume a heavy responsibility trade relations would be maintained avert a no-deal Brexit, which would Pakistan’s Foreign Minister for having failed to implement any between the two. send both Britain and the EU into effective measures to cope with the The agreement states that during turmoil and have an adverse impact disunion in the ruling party. the transition period, the pending on global economy. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 OPINION 11 Syrian offensive against enclave more likely after Al Qaeda-linked fighters take control

l Qaeda-linked fighters in the one to achieve that. And with Turkey’s border sealed shut and western diplomats say the area’s Syria have in recent days The result is something highly unu- to the north, those people could have cease-fire is hanging in the balance. forced their rivals’ surrender sual: an extremist-controlled statelet nowhere to run. “We do not feel safe,” said The Syrian Observatory for in the country’s final rebel- guaranteed, at least for the time being, one man in the town of Atareb, speak- Human Rights, a Britain-based mon- heldA pocket, cementing control while by international powers. ing on condition of anonymity so as not itoring group, said Monday that it increasing the likelihood of a ruinous While Idlib is a rare haven for Al- to provoke the wrath of the militants. continued to monitor cease-fire vio- showdown with Syrian government Qaeda-linked extremists, they remain “They are like the secret police, they lations by the Syrian army, as well as LOUISA LOVELUCK forces. primarily focused on the local fight will take anyone who criticizes them. clashes involving opposition gunmen. THE WASHINGTON POST Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a coa- instead of planning and launching Then the longer they rule us, the more Turkish officials said this week- lition of extremist fighters in the northern attacks beyond northern Syria. we must fear a final attack.” end that they had held met in the province of Idlib, said last week that “The gravest threat from Idlib seems HTS announced last Friday that shops southern province of Hatay to dis- its most powerful rivals had agreed to not to be the area’s continued existence across the region would be required to cuss the situation. “All efforts are being cede control of their strongholds and - rather, it’s Idlib’s end,” said Sam Heller, stay closed during the weekly midday made to maintain cease-fire, stabil- hand the administration over to a local a senior analyst with the Brussels-based prayers. On closed WhatsApp groups, ity under Sochi agreement,” Hulusi authority backed by the Islamist mil- Crisis Group. “The fear is that if the Syr- the militants also circulated recruit- Akar, Turkey’s Defense Minister, said itants. The announcement followed a ian military and its allies march into ment advertisements, listing contact on Saturday, referring to the Black weeklong drive by the extremists to oust Idlib, then a lot of dangerous people numbers and locations in which mil- Sea resort town where the cease-fire what was left of their opponents, seiz- currently inside Idlib will scatter in all itary training would begin on Jan. 25. deal was struck. “Our close cooper- “All efforts are ing a string of towns through force and directions.” The self-proclaimed Salvation Gov- ation with Russia continues in this being made to surrender negotiations. Although HTS is an outgrowth of ernment, an HTS-dominated body, will manner.” maintain cease-fire, The takeover could precipitate an Syria’s al-Qaeda affiliate, known pre- now control most of Idlib, as well as Turkey had focused on trying to stability under Sochi offensive by the Syrian government viously as the Nusra Front, the nature parts of the neighboring Aleppo and peel away more moderate elements of aimed at recapturing the province, in of its ties to al-Qaeda remain murky. Hama regions. Those areas include por- the group, leaving the most extreme agreement,” Hulusi turn prompting a humanitarian catastro- Residents interviewed across the tions of two strategic highways that fighters isolated. But HTS was already Akar, Turkey’s Defence phe as hundreds of thousands of people newly-captured areas this week voiced Syrian government forces have in their ascendant. Minister, said on flee toward the Turkish border. deep unease. Some feared torture and sights. The group’s control of transport “Even before it took this sort of Saturday, referring Until now, the area has been spared arrest by HTS. Others feared more for routes could have disastrous implica- outright control over the northwest, a potentially devastating government the future that would await them once tions for those relying on international HTS was operating from a position to the Black Sea offensive thanks to a cease-fire deal government forces took over. aid to survive. of clear strength,” said Heller of Cri- resort town where in the fall between Russia and Turkey, After almost eight years of war and “Residents of rebel-held Idlib are sis Group. “The group controlled the the ceasefire deal which both have forces inside Syria. half a million deaths, the Syrian gov- incredibly worried aid will be cut off most strategic, populous and lucra- was struck. “Our close Their agreement stipulated that “rad- ernment has regained all but one of the now that HTS controls all major roads tive parts of the Idlib de-escalation ical terrorist groups” be removed from armed opposition’s strongholds. That and border crossings,” said Elizabeth zone, and it was understood to be cooperation with a buffer zone between Syrian govern- has left the once-quiet Idlib and its sur- Tsurkov, a Washington-based Research the strongest, mostly militarily capa- Russia continues in this ment and opposition forces with the rounding areas bursting at the seams Fellow at the Forum for Regional Think- ble force.” manner.” implicit understanding that Turkey - with some 3 million civilians and fight- ing. “Even before HTS’ takeover, U.S. In interviews with civilians, the the rebels’ primary backer - would be ers who still reject government control. counter terrorism controls on aid pro- same Arabic phrase arose time and vision were making the provision of again. They were, they said, “trapped assistance incredibly complex,” she between two fires.” said. Under international restrictions, “It’s extremists on one side and the it is illegal for aid to reach HTS because regime on the other,” the aid worker it is a prescribed terrorist group. said. “What did we do to deserve this? I The World Health Organization don’t recognize my country anymore.” warned last year of rising acute levels of malnutrition in Idlib province, saying that as many as 1.6 million people were reliant on food assistance. One local aid worker interviewed this week, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fears for his safety, said that a reduction in aid could mean the difference between “life and death” for some families. D-RING ROAD Hundreds of rebel fighters began POST BOX: 3488 evacuating their former strongholds DOHA - QATAR Monday, having laid down their heavy [email protected] weaponry as a condition of their surren- der. Most were believed to be heading for the Turkish-controlled enclave of EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE Afrin, a formerly Kurdish-dominated TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 area which has increasingly become FAX: +974 4455 7758 home to Syrian Arabs displaced as gov- ernment offensives have retaken their MANAGING EDITOR hometowns across the country. TEL: 4462 7505 With HTS fully in control, analysts DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4455 7769

LOCAL NEWS SECTION evolutionaries in the streets where absolute power rests with the haven. That increased trade would boost TEL: 4455 7743 give way to black-and-white country’s supreme leader, a Shiite the sheikhdom, which would see other images of blindfolded cleric who oversees elected officials skyscrapers join its lone high-rise that BUSINESS NEWS SECTION American hostages. Two and the nation’s military and paramili- would become the Dubai World Trade TEL: 4462 7535 Renemies sign a peace deal after years tary forces. Islam suddenly found itself Center, also built in 1979. of hostilities. And one of the world’s firmly wedded to a newly formed, mod- President Jimmy Carter, whose SPORT NEWS SECTION JON GAMBRELL two superpowers invades its southern ern government. administration would be continually TEL: 4455 7745 AP neighbour, launching a bloody, Though Shiites represent a minor- challenged by Iran throughout the year, decade-long conflict. ity of all Muslims worldwide, the found success elsewhere in the Mid- ONLINE SECTION These moments and others in 1979, takeover offered inspiration to all dle East, bringing two longtime foes TEL: 4462 7501 Islamic militants. It marked a warn- together. Egypt under President Anwar [email protected] ing for nations across the Middle East Sadat became the first Arab country to that the threat of leftist militants had make peace with Israel. PUBLIC RELATIONS given way to religious extremists who The deal saw the two nations end a TEL: 4455 7613 said they fought in the name of God state of war that existed between them [email protected] Climactic events in 1979 against the corrupt. since 1948. Israel withdrew from the A band of ultraconservative Saudi Sinai Peninsula, which was demilita- ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Sunni militants in November would seize rized. The countries would exchange shaped modern Mideast TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 the Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to the ambassadors and establish air routes. FAX: 4455 7870 cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray Although the peace deal led to Sadat’s [email protected] toward five times a day, demanding the assassination in 1981, the truce opened Al Saud royal family abdicate. A two- the door for Jordan to strike its own pact CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT week siege that followed ended with with Israel in 1994. Today, Gulf Arab TEL: 4455 7857 which dominated television sets and an official death toll of 229 killed. The nations appear closer to acknowledging [email protected] newspaper front pages 40 years ago, kingdom’s rulers soon further embraced Israel themselves. Meanwhile, Egyp- have shaped the modern Middle East. Wahhabism, an ultraconservative Islamic tian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi SUBSCRIPTION & Iran’s Islamic Revolution changed a doctrine. now openly acknowledges that Israel DISTRIBUTION stalwart US ally into a regional adver- In losing Iran’s shah, the United States backs Egypt’s campaign against Islamic TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 sary. Israel’s accord with Egypt brought lost its closest ally in the Middle East, extremists in Sinai. FAX: 44557819 a peace that endures today. The Soviet one who purchased billions of dollars of Iran again would dominate the news [email protected] Iran’s Islamic Union’s invasion of Afghanistan began American weaponry and allowed spy- with the Nov. 4, 1979, takeover of the US Revolution changed a an insurgency in the country that con- ing from his nation on the Soviet Union. Embassy in Tehran, sparked by Carter tinues even today. America tilted toward Saudi Arabia as allowing the shah to receive medical stalwart US ally into Like the lines drawn in the sand by the kingdom grew stricter. treatment in the US For 444 days, Iran All thoughts and views a regional adversary. the British and French after World War Other Mideast nations, nearly all held 52 Americans as captives. A few expressed in these columns I carving up the Ottoman Empire, the majority Sunni, the main branch of staffers fled and hid in the home of the Israel’s accord with are those of the writers, Egypt brought a events of 1979 also unexpectedly rip- Islam, looked worriedly toward Shi- Canadian ambassador to Iran before pled out to affect today’s world. ite Iran. In neighboring Iraq, Saddam escaping the country with the help of not of the newspaper. peace that endures Perhaps the one moment that still Hussein orchestrated a televised purge the CIA, a story recounted in the 2012 today. The Soviet dominates is Iran’s Islamic Revolution. of his Baath Party in July, giving birth film “Argo.” All correspondence Union’s invasion of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, at the to his dictatorship. American nightly newscasts counted time stricken with terminal cancer, Saddam would invade Iran in 1980, the hostages’ days of captivity. Confu- regarding Views and Afghanistan began left Iran in January 1979. His depar- starting a bloody eight-year war that sion surrounded the crisis. American Opinion pages should be an insurgency in the ture and the revolution the following killed 1 million people. Dubai’s new officials initially thought Iran could be send to editor-in-chief country that continues month brought to an end to 2,500 years Jebel Ali port, the world’s largest man- behind the attack on the Grand Mosque office or mailed to the even today. of monarchial rule across Persia. made harbor that opened in 1979 in the in Mecca, which occurred just after the In its place came the Islamic Republic, , became a safe takeover. [email protected] 12 ASIA SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 23 political parties gather for ‘oust Modi’ campaign

IANS Mamata Banerjee, Some of the leaders, KOLKATA who organised the however, did try to give a roadmap for taking on the BJP Twenty-three political parties, well-attended “United jointly by emphasising on one- including the Congress and India” rally at the on-one fight against the BJP by major regional parties like SP, historic Brigade putting up the strongest can- BSP and DMK, came together Parade Ground called didate in every seat. yesterday at a mega rally under “In every seat, there should the auspices of Trinamool for a ‘collective be only one candidate and the Congress chief Mamata Banerjee leadership even as strongest candidate against the to throw the gauntlet at Prime Samajwadi Party Chief BJP. They (the BJP) are the only Minister Narendra Modi for Akhilesh Yadav said: beneficiaries of any division of defeating him in the coming votes, be it in Haryana, or Uttar general elections but kept the “Whoever people Pradesh, or Bengal or Bihar. So daunting issue of their prime decide, will become our main aim should be to avoid ministerial candidate to be prime minister”. any division of votes. decided after the elections. “Wherever we could prevent Leaders of India’s main opposition parties join their hands together during “United India” rally ahead Banerjee, who organised the any division of votes, say in of the general election, in Kolkata, West Bengal, yesterday. well-attended “United India” Gorakhpur or Phulpur (where rally at the historic Brigade was the last speaker, said eve- the BSP and the SP came together known stand that the strongest nation. Whoever is powerful in Shourie, who are now bitterly Parade Ground called for a ‘col- ryone is a leader in the proposed to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha anti-BJP force in a state should a certain place should be allowed opposed to Modi, also stressed lective leadership even as Sama- alliance, and a “collective by-polls last year) the BJP lost,” be allowed to decide on the and strongly supported to fight on engaging the saffron outfit in jwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav decision” will be taken after the said Congress spokesperson alliance. there,” she said. one-on-one fights. “In such an said: “Whoever people decide, polls once the BJP was defeated. Abhishek Manu Singhvi. “Everyone has to come Former Union Ministers eventuality, the BJP will be fin- will become prime minister”. “This gathbandhan (alliance) Banerjee repeated her together for the sake of the Yashwant Sinha and Arun ished,” said Sinha. Later, the leaders met over has been formed to save the tea and interacted with the people of the nation and give media when they said demanded them justice. You (BJP) have only Anti-BJP parties to take EVM issue to EC scrapping of the process of Elec- President (Amit Shah) and PM. tronic Voting Machines (EVMs) Here everybody is a leader, eve- IANS Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and that the EVMs should have a of all the 23 parties. and a return to ballot papers. The rybody is a worker, everybody KOLKATA Abhishek Manu Singhvi to prepare physical verification system. Revealing Congress’ strategy parties decided to form a four- is an organiser. a draft on the EVM issues, which “We also aim to go back to for the upcoming polls, Singhvi member Committee consisting “There is no need to worry Demanding withdrawal of elec- would be brought to the notice of ballot system. Since there are just said: “In order to ensure victory of Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Satish about who will be the Prime Min- tronic voting machines (EVM) in the Election Commission,” Ban- two months left we have at least against the BJP, our objective Chandra Mishra (BSP), Abhishek ister. We will take a collective the coming general elections, 23 erjee said, adding that they have demanded that 100 percent EVMs would be to select one strong can- Singhvi (Congress) and Arivind decision on that after the anti-BJP parties yesterday also decided to write a letter to the should have the system of paper didate for every seat.” Hailing the Kejriwal (AAP). election. Now there is no decided to form a four-member Commission. trails,” Congress spokesman unity of opposition, Singhvi said: Former prime minister and question of holding discussion committee to prepare a draft on Banerjee was speaking after Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. “This (the Brigade rally) is the Janata Dal (Secular) president H on that. Now, we must focus on EVM issues to place before the a tea party she hosted for the “This is our collective demand beginning and it will gain D Deve Gowda conceded that it removing the BJP from power,” Election Commission (EC), said leaders of 23 opposition parties for which we will strive from the momentum gradually. All the was a “herculean task to forget she said. West Bengal Chief Minister who had come for a mega rally coming week. There is no way opposition leaders from different differences and come together” One city or state is not Mamata Banerjee. convened by her here. this demand can be denied as we parties coming together is itself a and said “the main task now is important but the country is very “We have agreed to form a Post the anti-BJP rally at the just want to cross-check and if historical event. We will celebrate how we should move forward”. important. That’s why collective four-member committee com- iconic Brigade Parade Ground, they are fair they should have no the victory of 2019 election in this Chief Minister Banerjee, who leadership is vital,” she said. prising Satish Mishra, Akhilesh they also collectively demanded problem,” Singhvi said on behalf ground,” he added.

ED attaches PM unveils first cinema museum, calls films ‘silent power’ assets worth

Rs164m in IANS it, films change their thinking that Indian films represent the being portrayed along with solu- social messages like the need for MUMBAI process, as movies and society are country around the world, show tions, obstacles are being toilets can catch the popular Zakir Naik case “reflections” of each other. a ‘mirror’ to the people outside, removed, millions problems imagination and many film- The medium of films is a “silent “Films are identified with help improve our image globally, have billion solutions. We are not makers are already making a IANS power” that can quietly influence social changes... They have the with our films, music, songs, overawed by problems, but work conscious effort in this direction, MUMBAI the peoples thought process and knack to catch the future devel- stars creating a long-lasting to resolve them... That’s the plus science and development, contribute to bringing out major opments. Films help integrate our impact in many countries. determination of New India,” integrating films and theatre and The Enforcement Directorate social changes and boost devel- people who speak hundreds of “Films also create hopes and Modi said. other aspects of modern times. (ED) has attached properties opment in the country, Prime different languages and thou- aspirations among the people all He said that besides films, The PM assured the govern- worth over Rs164m in its Minister Narendra Modi said here sands of dialects, the vastly over the country... Now, young- even Indian television serials like ment’s full support to strengthen ongoing investigation against yesterday. diverse cultures, boost tourism in sters hailing from smaller towns “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu the film industry, set up a uni- Islamic preacher and televan- “How’s the josh,” the PM a big way and help generate or Tier II-III cities are emerging Thi” and “Ramayan” among versity for films and enter- gelist Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, asked the audience “Uri” style as employment opportunities, thus in a big way and creating waves many others are becoming very tainment, tweaking laws to the agency said on Saturday. he inaugurated India’s first contributing immensely to the in the film industry. Our strength popular abroad where people tackle the challenges encoun- In a statement, the ED said National Museum of Indian nation-building process,” Modi is now coming out of such small have a desire for a glimpse of the tered by filmmakers including the attached properties were Cinema (NMIC) here. He said said. places. This is a sign of changing common Indian’s life. piracy, and the future of digital based in Maharashtra’s without the viewers even realising Moreover, he pointed out times and society, problems are Besides, he said films with and social media vis-a-vis films. Mumbai and Pune cities and that the action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laun- dering Act (PMLA). The ED had already made Centre dismisses two two provisional attachments worth Rs340m in connection with the case which the agency PNB Executive Directors took over on the basis of National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s IANS governed only by the contract October 26, 2017 chargesheet CHENNAI of appointment. filed before a Special Judge. “It is also good that the The total value of all Zakir The Central government has central government has fol- Naik-related properties removed two Punjab National lowed the due process of giving attached by the ED stands at Bank (PNB) Executive Directors the two PNB Executive Directors Rs55m, including the latest — Sanjiv Sharan and K.Veera opportunity to put forth their attachment. Brahmaji Rao — for the lapses views before dismissing them,” The ED said that funds to in the Rs13,500 crore fraud Venkatachalam added. the tune of Rs51m were allegedly perpetrated by As per the Central govern- received in the NRE Bank absconding diamantaire Nirav ment’s notification, on July 3, accounts of Naik in India Modi. 2018, Sharan and Rao were from his Dubai accounts. The PNB has intimated the issued a show cause notice as to “The origin of these deposits action to the stock exchanges why they could not be removed was from unknown sources. on Friday. from office for having failed to Naik used the funds to the tune “We welcome the Central exercise proper control over the Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (left) unveils the inauguration plate as Denmark’s of Rs 176.5m for purchase of government’s action to dismiss functioning of PNB, thus ena- Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen looks on during the opening of Danish Cultural Institute in New properties from builders like the two Executive Directors. bling the fraud through the Salim Kodia, partner in MK Delhi, yesterday. The scam of such proportions misuse of SWIFT at the bank’s Enterprises; Munaf Vadgama, could not have happened Brady House branch in Mumbai. partner in Aafiyah Realtors; without the knowledge of the After considering Sharan Sameer Khan, partner in Pacific Danish Cultural Institute opens in Delhi top management,” C H and Rao’s replies and the com- Orient Genesis Associates; Musa Venkatachalam, General Sec- ments of the bank’s Board, the Lakdawala, partner of Lak- IANS Denmark) have a long-lasting “to take our relationship higher”. retary, All India Bank Centre removed them from dawala and Yash Associates; NEW DELHI friendship,” he added. Headquartered in Denmark, Employees’ Association office as it found it was expe- Fatima Heights (Mumbai); Stating that people of both DKI has been engaged in fos- (AIBEA), said. dient in the interests of PNB. Aafiyah Heights (Mumbai); In a bid to boost people-to- countries should respect each tering mutual understanding “Perhaps for the first time, According to the notifi- ENGRACIA (Pune) and a project people ties and cultural other’s culture, Rasmussen between people and cultures the Centra has removed the cation, the dismissal of Rao is at Bhandup, Mumbai,” the ED exchanges, Danish Prime Min- expressed the hope that the new since 1940. It also has branches Executive Directors of a nation- subject to the outcome of a plea statement said. ister Lars Lokke Rasmussen yes- centre “will bring India and in Belgium, , China, Latvia, alised bank under the Nation- in the Delhi High Court. To hide the origin of funds terday inaugurated a Danish Denmark closer”. Poland and Russia. alised Banks (Management and “We are happy to see some and real ownership of properties, Cultural Institute (DKI) here. He also referred to his Thomas Sehested, Director Miscellaneous Provision) action being taken. Whether it the ED said the initial payment “This year, we will celebrate meeting with Prime Minister of the India branch of DKI said Scheme, 1970. All these days it is only the two Executive made from the account of Naik 70 years of diplomatic ties,” Ras- Narendra Modi on the sidelines that the new branch in India will was said the top management Directors and other officials are was refunded and diverted to the mussen said at the inauguration of the Vibrant Gujarat Global work to create new partner- of government owned banks — also involved in the scam has accounts of his wife, son and ceremony. “We live in times of Summit in Gandhinagar on ships, new collaborations Chairman, Managing Director, to be probed in full,” niece and rerouted again. uncertainty but we (India and Friday and said that both agreed between the two countries. Executive Directors — are Venkatachalam said. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 ASIA 13 US envoy extends stay in Pakistan to meet Taliban officials

ANATOLIA Zalmay Khalilzad is over the Taliban as their fam- KARACHI awaiting the outcome ilies have long been residing in Pakistan. They also depend on The US special representative for of Pakistan’s efforts to Pakistan for medical treatment. Afghanistan has extended his convince the militant Last December, Pakistan stay in Pakistan as he is still militia to meet with confirmed it had arranged rare expecting a meeting with Afghan him in an attempt to direct talks between Wash- Taliban representatives to break ington and the Taliban, paving the deadlock that has hit the break a stalemate the way for a negotiated set- Afghan peace process, officials that has hit the tlement of the conflict that has said yesterday. fragile peace process entered its 18th year. Zalmay Khalilzad, who has following Washington’s In 2015 Pakistan facilitated been in Islamabad for the last the landmark first round of three days, is awaiting the desire to include Kabul direct talks between the Afghan outcome of Pakistan’s efforts to in the process. government and the Taliban in convince the militant militia to Islamabad, but the process meet with him in an attempt to broke down after Taliban break a stalemate that has hit the say how much longer he would announced the death of their fragile peace process following stay or whether he would meet longtime leader Mullah Omer, Washington’s desire to include with the Taliban. triggering a bitter power Kabul in the process. The Taliban, however, are struggle within the militia. “He has extended his stay in still reluctant to meet US officials Chances for resumption of Islamabad as we are still hopeful in Pakistan to avoid being pres- the stalled process dimmed that we will soon be able to sured into accepting the Afghan Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (right) speaks with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad (third left) further following the death of arrange a meeting between him government in the peace process during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office, in Islamabad yesterday. Omer’s successor, Mullah and the Taliban representatives,” aimed at ending the 17-year war, Mansur, in a US drone strike in a senior Foreign Ministry official background interviews with 2016 on Pakistan, near the told Anadolu Agency, asking not intelligence and government subjects.” Qamar Javed Bajwa during his Taliban leader and former health Afghan border. to be named due to restrictions officials suggested. Khalilzad, who has visited current trip to discuss the minister in the Taliban gov- Since then, several attempts on speaking with the media. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Islamabad five times in the last progress made in the sluggish ernment, is currently in Pakistan to resume the stalled peace Richard Snelsire, a US Mujahid has already rejected few months, met with Prime process, but is still awaiting an and engaged in talks with Paki- process have been made by a Embassy spokesman, confirmed Washington’s demand, accusing it Minister Imran Khan, Foreign outcome of Islamabad’s efforts stani officials, according to four-nation group made up of to Anadolu Agency that Khalilzad of departing from the agenda and Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to convince the Taliban to meet. Mujahid. Islamabad is believed Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US, is still in Islamabad, but could not “unilaterally adding new and powerful Army Chief Gen Mullah Abbas, a senior to have a degree of influence and China. Former Afghan Hasina seeks people’s support at victory rally

AP warlord enters DHAKA Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who won a third straight term with an over- presidential race whelming majority in last month’s election, sought the people’s support at a victory rally REUTERS deal with Hekmatyar. yesterday amid international KABUL In 2016, President Ghani’s calls for an investigation into government granted immunity alleged irregularities during the A former warlord accused of to Hekmatyar but the former polls. historic war crimes entered warlord has been critical of his The opposition is demanding Afghanistan’s presidential race administration and the parlia- a new election, saying the yesterday in a new challenge to mentary election process in December 30 polls were rigged, President Ashraf Ghani who 2018. Hekmatyar pledged to an allegation the Election Com- allowed him to return from restore peace and security and mission and Hasina have exile two decades he was forced said the current government rejected. out by the Taliban. had failed to end the war with Yesterday, Hasina told tens Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Taliban. of thousands of her supporters whose fighters killed thousands “Our country’s situation in a park in Dhaka, the capital, in Kabul during the bloody civil requires a powerful central that she would “work for all” war of the 1990s, has remained government lead by an elected amid criticism that she could The supporters of Bangladesh Awami League attend a grand rally in Dhaka yesterday, to celebrate a divisive figure since his return president supported by the become increasingly its landslide victory in 11th parliamentary election held on December 30. from exile in 2016. majority of people,” he said. authoritarian. His decision to contest the The July election faces A Hasina-led alliance won presidential polls in July is seen serious security challenges with 288 seats in the 300-seat Par- Hasina’s opponents. complaints of irregularities by would not utter a single word by analysts as the ex-warlord’s the Taliban threatening large liament in the election. The Hasina’s archrival, former the opposition. Ahead of the Saturday about the opposition attempt legitimise his Hizb-i- parts of the country. The polls opposition-led alliance won only Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has election, a new digital security demand for a new election or Islami party. The faction has will be a crucial test for election seven seats, with all of its law- been in jail since February last law was enacted that raised con- global calls for an investigation been blamed for atrocities com- officials who were criticised for makers refraining from taking year for corruption and was cerns it would curb speech and into the allegations of mitted during Afghanistan’s failing to conduct free and fair their oaths to protest the results. deemed ineligible to run for media freedoms. irregularities. brutal civil war, which led many parliamentary elections last More than a dozen people office because of a case that her Hasina, who had asked her “I want cooperation from the Afghans to welcome the emer- October. The 2014 presidential were killed in election-related supporters say was politically supporters to avoid any imme- people... let’s get united and gence of the Taliban in 1996 in election won by Ghani was also violence on the day of the polls, motivated. diate celebration after the build Bangladesh,” she told her the hope the hardline Islamist tainted by accusations of wide- and the election campaign was The Election Commission election, thanked all political cheering supporters, many of group would restore law and spread cheating. dogged by allegations of arrests and other departments were also parties for contesting and whom waved small red-and- order. In 2003, the US State Afghanistan’s presidential and the jailing of thousands of accused of overlooking termed the polls “fair.” But she green national flags. Department listed him as a ter- race is now in full swing, with rorist, accusing him of taking several former officials, politi- part in and supporting attacks cians lining up to challenge by Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Ghani who is expected to reg- 4 insurgents But Washington later welcomed ister his candidacy for a second Sharif has symptoms of pain, numbness Ghani’s decision to sign a peace term today. INTERNEWS thallium scan [in case TROP-I at 1.30pm in the jail and made shot dead in LAHORE test is negative]. recommendations. “After evaluating these test “Patient Muhammad Nawaz eastern Punjab Former Prime Minister Nawaz reports and availability of pre- Sharif, 69, was examined by the Sharif has vague symptoms of vious cardiac medical record, special medical board. He AP pain in both arms, particularly further management plan will [Sharif] is a known case of dia- MULTAN at night, and numbness of toes, be proceeded,” the board says betes mellitus and hypertension says a three-member special in its report. for the last 10 years. He is also Counter-terrorism officers medical board which examined The medical board com- known case of ischemic heart killed four insurgents, him at Kot Lakhpat jail. prised Prof Dr Shahid Hameed disease since 2001. including two women, in a Following the examination (chairman), Associate Professor “The patient has vague shootout on a highway in of Sharif and considering whole Dr Sajjad Ahmed and Assistant symptoms of pain in both arms eastern Punjab province clinical situation and unavaila- Professor Dr Hamid Khalil of the particularly at night and yesterday, officials said. bility of previous medical Punjab Institute of Cardiology, numbness of toes. He can walk Senior officer Rai Tahir record, the board has recom- Lahore. 45 minutes without any signif- said insurgents travelling in Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (centre), alongside mended more investigations According to its report, the icant symptoms. He denied of a car opened fire when police his two vice-presidential candidates, Fazil Hadi Wazeen and Qazi [tests], including TROP-I, board examined the patient any symptoms of dizziness, pre- stopped them near the city of Hafizulrahman Naqi, speaks to the media in Kabul yesterday. echocardiography and stress [Nawaz Sharif] on Wednesday syncope or syncope. Sahiwal. He said the police officers were acting on intel- ligence gleaned from a pre- vious operation. Tahir said three suspects escaped on a UN expert concerned over escalating conflict in Myanmar motorcycle and are being pursued by police, adding that ANATOLIA Yanghee Lee, the UN special also led to the displacement of Border Guard Police posts. “It is that heavy weapons and artillery, insurgents often use women GENEVA rapporteur on the situation of at least 5,000 people, without unacceptable for the helicopters were used in civilian and children as human human rights in Myanmar, said giving figures on civilian and the Arakan Army to conduct areas, which led to the injuries shields during travel. People A UN expert expressed her that since November 2018 casualties. hostilities in a manner that and death of civilians. took to the streets in Lahore concerns over the escalating civilians were killed and “Both sides must take pre- impact civilians,” she added. “What is happening in and in Sahiwal, accusing conflict in northern and central wounded in clashes between the cautions and ensure the pro- Lee said that the Myanmar Rakhine reminds me of the police of killing innocent cit- Rakhine and Chin States of Myanmar army — also known tection of civilians,” she said army deployed “a large number tactics used by the Tatmadaw izens in what they said was a Myanmar, calling for the as Tatmadaw — and Arakan condemning the attack of Arakan of troops to the region” following against ethnic populations for staged shootout to showcase protection of civilians. Army. Lee said that the conflicts Army on January 4 on four the attack. The UN expert said decades,” she said. police performance. 14 ASIA SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

Rival groups Trump: US ‘made demonstrate in Bangkok as poll a lot of progress’ tensions grow

REUTERS with North Korea BANGKOK Rival groups held demonstrations REUTERS Trump did not in Thailand’s capital yesterday, WASHINGTON elaborate on the with hundreds of people demanding quick elections to end US President Donald Trump said country chosen to military rule and a much smaller yesterday he had “an incredible” host the summit, but group of pro-junta supporters meeting with North Korea’s Vietnam has been saying it was too soon for a vote. nuclear envoy Kim Yong Chol considered a leading The competing protests were (pictured) and the two sides had tiny compared to those that par- made “a lot of progress” on candidate. alysed Bangkok in 2014 before denuclearisation. the army seized power in the The White House name of ending instability, but announced after talks between were an indication of the tensions Trump and Kim on Friday that in the run-up to a long-delayed the US President would hold a ballot. second summit with North Probe into attack on monks in Thailand begins No date has been set for an Korean leader Kim Jong Un in election which was first promised late February, but would for 2015 and most recently post- Police investigators inspect Rattanaupap shrine in Narathiwat province yesterday, following an maintain economic sanctions on poned from February 24. Hun- attack by black-clad gunmen that killed two Buddhist monks, capping a week of deadly violence Pyongyang. “That was an dreds joined a demonstration incredible meeting,” Trump, as the prime minister vowed to “punish” those responsible. calling for elections on March 10. speaking to reporters at the “We’re calling for elections White House, said of the talks. as soon as possible,” activist “We’ve agreed to meet Sirawith Seritiwa told the crowd. sometime, probably the end of The junta has said the most February. We’ve picked a recent election delay is because country but we’ll be announcing Philippines: Support for of scheduling difficulties with it in the future. Kim Jong-Un is planning for the coronation of looking very forward to it and King Maha Vajiralongkorn in so am I,” Trump said. denuclearisation of the Korean early May — although it has said “We have made a lot of peninsula, but he has yet to take Muslim autonomy law grows it still wants the ballot held before progress as far as denucleari- what Washington sees as con- those ceremonies. sation is concerned and we are crete steps in that direction. ANATOLIA eliminate injustice against opment, prosperity, and peace.” The Election Commission of talking about a lot of different Critics of US efforts say the COTABATO CITY Muslims, he added, saying: “The Speaking at a rally for BOL Thailand has given March 10 or things. Things are going very first summit only boosted Kim’s centuries-long wounds of the ratification in Cotabato City, March 24 as possible polling well with North Korea.” international stature without Among the supporters of a new historic injustice against the Philippines President Rodrigo dates, but no date has been set Trump and the White House much to show for it, and some law to give greater autonomy to Moro people will heal.” Duterte urged approval of the and a royal decree must be issued have given no details of the believe Trump may see a second a Muslim-majority region of the A referendum starting law in the referendum. before it can be. talks, and despite his upbeat meeting as a way of distracting Philippines are local evangelical tomorrow is set to grant the The referendum is set to Some 1km from the demon- comments there has been no from his domestic troubles. Christians. Bangsamoros or Moro — a col- begin in two cities, with a second stration calling for elections, indication of any narrowing of Trump did not elaborate on “We will support the law,” lective term for Filipino Muslims round to be held on February 6 around 30 counter-protesters differences over US demands the country chosen to host the Aldrin Penamora, an evangelical living on an island in the in other areas in nearby regions. gathered with placards at the that North Korea abandon a summit, but Vietnam has been Christian, told Anatolia. southern Philippines — Once the bill is ratified, the Democracy Monument. They said nuclear weapons programme considered a leading “The law will make many autonomy after a nearly 50-year Bangsamoro Autonomous they were not opposed to a ballot, that threatens the United States candidate. contributions to the region. I process. “The BOL law’s Region in Muslim Mindanao but national unity must come and Pyongyang’s demands for Kim Yong Chol, regarded as believe that the law will bring outcome is so important for our (ARMM) will be created. first. “We can wait for elections,” a lifting of punishing a member of Kim’s inner circle, economic development and region,” said Anzarrih Mastura Freedom for Muslims in the the group’s leader, Jathurun Bun- sanctions. also had talks on Friday with security to the region where Matalam, a local Muslim leader. region was taken away by benjara, told reporters. “We don’t A first summit in June in Sin- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Christians, Muslims, [indig- “We see the law as the future Americans in 1898 when the agree with protests that create gapore produced a vague com- and the US special represent- enous] Lumads, and other local of the region and as a source of Spanish, who had occupied the chaos... We want to see Thais mitment by Kim Jong-Un to ative on North Korea, Stephen peoples live.” The Bangsamoro hope for our children. I believe It Philippines in the 16th century, come together and hold an aus- work toward the Biegun. Organic Law (BOL) will will give the Moro more devel- left the country to the US. picious and great coronation.”

Australia’s Bali to impose $10 levy on foreign tourists Singapore to buy F-35

Minister for BLOOMBERG Governor Wayan Koster. Tourism is forecast to earn SINGAPORE The provincial government Indonesia $20bn this year, more jets to replace F-16 fleet Women to is deliberating whether the tax, than double the amount in 2012, Indonesia’s resort island of Bali which won’t be imposed on according to estimates from the BLOOMBERG ($10.9bn), the Straits Times is set to impose a $10 levy on Indonesian citizens, will be col- Ministry of Tourism. More than SINGAPORE reported in March 2018. quit politics foreign tourists to preserve its lected as part of the airline ticket a third of visitors to Indonesia Lockheed Martin and the Pen- environment and culture, The or at counters at the airport, go to Bali, known for its beaches, Singapore has identified tagon completed negotiations REUTERS Jakarta Post reported, citing Koster told the newspaper. Hindu culture and nightlife. Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 last September for an order of MELBOURNE Joint Strike Fighter as the most F-35s at $89.2m each for the suitable replacement for its cheapest model including Australia’s Minister for fleet of F-16 fighter jets and engines and an award fee. The Women Kelly O’Dwyer said Singapore, Malaysia to meet on airspace, maritime issues plans to buy a small number for F-35 jets generated 25 percent yesterday she will quit politics evaluation, the Ministry of of the company’s consolidated for personal reasons at this BLOOMBERG Ministry of Foreign Affairs said bilateral issues with the gov- Defense said in a statement. net sales in 2017, Lockheed said year’s election, adding to the SINGAPORE in a statement yesterday. ernment of Singapore in a The Air Force’s F-16s that in its annual report for that list of female politicians to Foreign ministry officials are peaceful and calm manner,” it were in service since 1998 will year. leave the ruling party, some Singapore and Malaysia will meeting on January 28 to find said in the statement. “Diplo- retire soon after 2030, Defence The Singapore government citing disunity, bullying and meet soon to discuss airspace solutions on maritime matters, matic efforts are underway to Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a will discuss details with rel- intimidation. and maritime-related disputes and will discuss legal and oper- find amicable solutions to issues Facebook post the same day. A evant parties in the US before Women in Australia make as both sides seek to ease ational aspects to “de-escalate of concern to both countries.” final decision on the purchases confirming its decision to half of the population, but they tensions that recently flared. the situation on the ground,” it Singapore and Malaysia may take nine to 12 months, he acquire the F-35 fighter jets for make up less than a quarter of Transport ministers from the said. earlier agreed to postpone a said. Singapore’s defence capabil- federal politicians in the Liberal two countries will gather “in the “The government of ministerial meeting amid a Singapore has an annual ities, the ministry said in the party, the senior partner in the coming weeks,” Malaysia’s Malaysia is committed to resolve dispute on territorial waters. defense budget of S$14.76bn statement. governing coalition. O’Dwyer, who is also Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, said her reasons for not recon- testing her seat at the next national election, which is due Philippines’ richest man Henry Sy dies at 94 in May, were personal. “I no longer want to con- AFP richest person in the world last during World But it was in 1985 that Sy sistently miss out on seeing MANILA year, beating out bold name War II, Sy’s made history when he opened his my children when I wake up tycoons like Elon Musk, Rupert father returned first “Supermall” in Manila. in the morning and when I go The Philippines’ wealthiest man Murdoch and George Soros. to China but Spanning over 4.6 million to bed at night,” O’Dwyer, Henry Sy (pictured), who rose “Henry Sy... passed away Henry chose to square feet, the mall included flanked by Prime Minister from being a penniless Chinese peacefully in his sleep early Sat- stay in the dozens of stores, numerous Scott Morrison, told reporters. immigrant to leading a multi- urday morning. There are no Philippines. cinemas, restaurants, banks and Morrison said he supported billion dollar business empire, further details at the moment,” his He got a other attractions that made it a O’Dwyer’s decision. died yesterday, his conglomerate SM group said in a statement. commerce one-stop shop for millions of Fil- In November, backbench has announced. Sy put up his first shoe store degree from a ipinos. This was just the start, as MP Julia Banks said she was The 94-year-old, from the in downtown Manila in 1956, a Manila uni- more of Sy’s mammoth malls quitting the Liberal party Chinese city of Xiamen, made his business which later grew into a versity and popped up across the country, immediately to sit as an inde- fortune with a Philippine shopping diversified empire. started selling some even containing ice skating pendent over disunity, its centre conglomerate that has put He stepped down as chairman shoes in a shop rinks, a rarity in the tropical treatment of women and its up some of the largest malls in the of his holding firm in 2017, which would country. policies on energy and climate world. However his holdings also assuming the title of “chairman later grow into Sy’s holding company, SM change. She referred to last included banks, hotels and real emeritus” and leaving trusted a chain named Investments Corp. opened its first year’s toppling of former estate in the Philippines, as well allies as well as his children in was so small it had no back or “ShoeMart”. mall in China in 2001 and has been prime minister Malcolm as shopping centres in China. charge of his empire. second floor, we just slept on the By 1972, his shops had expanding there as well. By 2018, Turnbull, which angered He had a net worth of $19bn It was a long journey for a counter late at night after the store branched out into selling all SM said it had 70 malls in the Phil- voters, as “the dark days of as of Friday, according to Forbes. man who came to the Philippines was closed,” he told the Philippine manner of goods, prompting the ippines and seven in China as well August” and said the party was com. as a boy to work in his immigrant Star newspaper in 2006. name to be changed to SM as six hotels and eight office riven by personal ambition. Forbes said he was the 52nd father’s variety store. “Our store After their shop was destroyed Department Store. buildings. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 EUROPE 15

Spain arrests 7 Italy hunting 30 ‘terrorists’ abroad over Cabify, Uber attacks AGENCIES Fourteen of those being sought were believed Cesare Battisti, wanted in Italy up where he deserves,” he said ROME to be in France, but the ministry said it would for four murders in the 1970s, on Monday. AP not be releasing the list or any names. began serving a life sentence in Italy’s law enforcement and BARCELONA Italian authorities are still a Sardinian prison on Monday. secret services were already at hunting 30 “terrorists” on the run An international police squad work in France and in South Police in Barcelona said they abroad, the Interior Ministry said said a ministry statement. services after the arrest of Bat- tracked him down and arrested America, he said during a trip to have arrested seven people yesterday, days after far-left Fourteen of those being tisti, said the ministry. him in Bolivia earlier this month. the southern region of Sardinia. on suspicion of attacking cars activist Cesare Battisti was jailed sought were believed to be in Salvini said yesterday that he Salvini celebrated his “We expect an active, just that work with ride-hailing ending 37 years as a fugitive. France, but the ministry said it was ready to meet French Pres- capture in comments earlier this collaboration from governments apps like Uber and Cabify as “Thirty terrorists on the run, would not be releasing the list or ident Emmanuel Macron to agree week. “Finally, after 37 years, a so that after 20, 30, 40 years, part of a protest by taxi 27 from the left, three from the any names. steps to capture Italians wanted killer, a delinquent, an infamous they hand over delinquents who drivers. right: the names are on Interior The updated list was com- for terrorism-related offences. person, a coward who has never have had it easy for too long The attacks occurred on Minister Matteo Salvini’s desk,” piled by the police and security Former communist militant asked for forgiveness, will finish abroad, to Italian jails,” he added. Friday after taxi drivers announced an indefinite strike protesting a regional government plan to regulate the ride-hailing services that French yellow vests they argued was too lax. Catalan public television showed images of protesters protest despite trashing cars allegedly used by app-hailing services. One group reportedly smashed a Macron’s outreach car’s windows while the driver was inside. AP treated. We have injured people PARIS every Saturday,” said Juliette Rebet, a demonstrator marching Thousands of yellow vest in Paris. Child shot in protesters rallied in several At the Invalides, protesters French cities for a tenth consec- carrying a banner that read “Cit- hunting utive weekend yesterday, despite izens in danger” marched at the expedition dead a national debate launched this front of the procession and held week by President Emmanuel coffin-shaped black boards in AFP Macron aimed at assuaging their memory of those killed. MADRID anger. Paris deployed 5,000 police In Paris, protesters answered around the capital, notably A four-year-old child shot a call from a prominent and pro- around government buildings during a hunting expedition vocative protester promoting a and the Champs-Elysees, stage in the southern Spanish march starting at the Invalides of recent violence. About 80,000 region of Andalusia has died, monument in Paris, home to police are fanned out “Street medics” giving assistance to two people during a demonstration called by the yellow vests police said yesterday. Napoleon’s tomb, to remember nationwide. (gilets jaunes) movement, in Nancy, France, yesterday. “I can confirm the death the 10 people killed in protest- Protesters marched peace- of a child of four years, who related traffic accidents and hun- fully in the French capital. yellow vest protests, and will test the festive period, but more than allow citizens to propose new was hit by a bullet on a farm dreds injured since the Twelve people were arrested by whether Macron’s debate is 80,000 people protested across laws. in the town of Burgillos (near movement kicked off November the early afternoon, according diminishing the movement’s France last weekend - up from Macron launched his grand Seville),” a spokesman for 17. to figures provided by Paris momentum. 50,000 the week before. debate this week during meetings Spain’s civil guard said.” The Police has been criticised by police. The grassroots protests Macron is facing a plethora with mayors and local officials. incident happened on Sat- protesters for the use of rubber The capital and much of started two months ago over fuel of demands ranging from the re- He said he is open to discus- urday during an organised projectiles that have left dozens France have endured weeks of taxes but became a broader introduction of France’s wealth sions but has already warned he hunting expedition and the of people injured. protests that at times descended revolt against economic tax, called the ISF, on the coun- won’t give up on his promises, child had died in hospita.l.” “It’s not normal to treat into violence. Saturday marked problems. The movement try’s richest people, to the imple- including the touchy issue of While police released no people the way we are being the 10th straight weekend of showed signed of abating during mentation of popular votes that reforming pensions. details of the incident.

Bulgaria extradites Russian hacker EU Commission official to run for Slovak president AFP more than 50 percent of the vote, European Union.” International Relations and has candidates as he is running for to US: Embassy BRATISLAVA a second round will take place Earlier this week, the ruling held several diplomatic posts, one of the vacant posts on the on March 30. Smer-SD party expressed its including serving as Slovak Constitutional Court. AFP European Commission vice- “Today, I am standing in support for Sefcovic. ambassador to Israel. Bela Bugar, leader of the MOSCOW president Maros Sefcovic front of you as a candidate for “I can confirm that on behalf Incumbent President Andrej junior coalition member and announced that he will run for president of the Slovak of the internal leadership of the Kiska, who is a vocal critic of Hungarian minority party Most- Bulgaria has extradited a Slovak president as a non- Republic,” Sefcovic told Smer-SD party, maximum the governing three-party coa- Hid, is among the more than Russian indicted by a US court partisan with backing from the journalists. support is expressed in favour of lition, announced in May that dozen official presidential for mounting a complex ruling populist party. The 52-year-old EU energy Sefcovic’s candidacy,” party he would not run for a second candidates. hacking scheme to the United The EU and Nato member commissioner said that Slovakia deputy chairman Peter Kazimir term. Others include far-right law- States, the Russian embassy country of 5.4 million people will “needs a good non-partisan told reporters. His main political opponent, maker Marian Kotleba and in Washington said yesterday. hold the presidential poll on president... I will guarantee Slo- Sefcovic studied at the former prime minister Robert Supreme Court justice Stefan The Russian embassy, in March 16. If no one receives vakia’s anchoring in the Moscow State Institute of Fico, will also not be among the Harabin. a statement on its VK social network, said Alexander Zhukov had been extradited on January 18 and was being held in a jail in Brooklyn, New EU hails Azerbaijan & York. “Employees of the Con- sulate General in New York Armenia meeting to will visit him in jail soon,” the embassy said. settle territorial dispute Zhukov is one of eight people, most of them Russian, ANATOLIA It added that a lasting peace indicted in November for cre- BRUSSELS would benefit everyone and ating fake advertising “would help to enable the South schemes through remote data The EU said the meeting Caucasus region to fulfil its centres and malware- between the Azerbaijani and potential.” infected computer Armenian foreign ministers The meeting in Paris was networks. sent “a positive signal for mediated by the Organization Their activity cost busi- progress” in resolving the for Security and Co-operation nesses tens of millions of Upper Karabakh conflict. in Europe (OSCE), Minsk Group dollars, says the indictment. “[…] most recently in Paris Co-Chairs Igor Popov of Russia, Zhukov’s group is accused on 16 January 2019, —FMs of Stephane Visconti of France, of organising two schemes in both countries send a positive and Andrew Schofer of the US, 2014 and 2015. signal for progress in the according to Azerbaijan’s In the first, dubbed peaceful settlement of the Foreign Ministry. “Methbot,” it rented computer Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Andrzej Kasprzyk, the per- European Council President Donald Tusk (left); Malgorzata Tusk (second left) with former Polish leaders servers and simulated said the EU Commission sonal representative of the during a funeral service for city’s mayor Pawel Adamowicz at St Mary’s Basilica in Gdansk, Poland, yesterday. humans viewing ads on web- spokesperson Maja Kocijancic OSCE chairman in office, also pages, tricking businesses into in a statement. attended the meeting. paying more than $7m for the Azerbaijani Foreign Min- Karabakh — a disputed ter- fake views, according to US Poland bids farewell to slain mayor ister Elmar Mammadyarov and ritory between Azerbaijan and prosecutors. his Armenian counterpart Armenia — broke away from In the second scheme, two Zohrab Mnatsakanyan agreed Azerbaijan in 1991 with military of the group members AFP mayor of Gdansk for 20 years, Nobel Peace laureate Lech to continue negotiations in Feb- support from neighboring operated a fake ad network GDANSK was stabbed in the heart in front Walesa, another former pres- ruary on the Upper Karabakh Armenia, and a peace process through 1.7 million malware- of hundreds of people at a charity ident, also attended the cer- dispute during a four-hour has yet to be implemented. infected computers to falsify Thousands of Poles gathered fundraiser last weekend by an emony, being held on what Wednesday meeting in Paris. Three UN Security Council billions of ad views, costing in the Baltic port city of Gdansk ex-convict wielding a knife. Duda has declared a day of It was reported that the resolutions and two UN General businesses $29m for the views. on yesterday to bid an Around 3,500 people, national mourning. ministers exchanged views on Assembly resolutions refer to Zhukov, originally from emotional farewell to including President Andrzej Giants screens were set up the importance of building Karabakh as being part of Saint Petersburg, is known as murdered liberal mayor Pawel Duda and EU Council President in several parts of Gdansk to more understanding and Azerbaijan. Nastra in hacker circles, Adamowicz, whose public Donald Tusk, a longtime friend allow people to watch the cer- confidence. The Parliamentary according to reports. He was stabbing has raised questions of Adamowicz, attended the cer- emony and photos of the mayor “The European Union is Assembly of the Council of arrested in Bulgaria, where he about hate speech in politics emony at St Mary’s Basilica, one were displayed in numerous looking forward to the full Europe refers to the region as had lived since 2010, in in the country. of the largest brick churches in shops, cafes and restaurants in implementation of their out- being occupied by Armenian November. Adamowicz, 53, who was the world. the city. comes... ,” read the statement. forces. 16 EUROPE SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 Merkel for deeper EU defence cooperation

On Tuesday, would be a need to compromise Merkel will sign an on export rules. agreement with “We have very strict export French President rules, others have less strict rules ... But anyone who Emmanuel Macron develops an airplane with us that builds on a 1963 would also like to know whether treaty of post-war they can sell the plane with us,” reconciliation and is she said. “We will have to make com- aimed at bolstering promises, that is what we are the EU. talking about at the moment.” Last year, France stopped short of Germany’s move to halt REUTERS arms sales to Saudi Arabia after BERLIN Manfred Weber, member of the CSU party and top candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP) for the murder of Saudi journalist the European elections, with Bavarian State Prime Minister and new CSU leader Markus Soeder (right) builds on a 1963 treaty of post- Jamal Khashoggi. German Chancellor Angela war reconciliation and is aimed In her weekly podcast, and CDU party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer at the CSU party meeting in Munich, yesterday. Merkel (pictured) said yesterday at bolstering the EU. Merkel stressed the importance that the European Union must In a speech to her conserv- of the French-German part- deepen cooperation in defence ative Christian Democrats nership at the heart of the EU, Germany’s CSU party elects leader and in particular weapons (CDU) in the northern city of saying the friendship was “far systems development, warning Rostock, Merkel said: “It is good from a given after centuries of AP percent of the votes to lead the of Merkel’s welcoming approach Germans that they may need to that after several decades we military conflict between our BERLIN Christian Social Union (CSU). to refugees in 2015. make compromises on strict want to develop a common countries”. The CSU is the Bavaria-only The friction between Merkel export controls. defence policy...We must “We want to give an impulse Chancellor Angela Merkel’s sister party to Merkel’s Christian and Seehofer threatened at one In a bid to counter growing develop weapons systems to European unity,” Merkel said. Bavarian allies elected a new Democratic Union, an inde- point to bring down the chancel- eurosceptic nationalism before together,” adding Europe had Although the two countries, leader yesterday, a change that pendent-minded and sometimes- lor’s coalition government over elections to the European Par- many more systems than the traditionally the EU’s main offers Germany’s centre-right a awkward ally despite the fact that Seehofer’s insistence that some liament in May, Merkel has United States. engine, differ on issues such as chance to move past their they have a joint group in Ger- asylum-seekers should be turned stressed the importance of close Arguing that EU countries euro zone reform, the treaty persistent bickering over recent many’s national parliament. away at the country’s borders. cooperation within the bloc. should not compete among envisages deeper cooperation years. Soeder replaces 69-year-old Soeder already succeeded On Tuesday, she will sign an themselves for new projects and in foreign and defence policy The 52-year-old Markus Horst Seehofer, the CSU leader Seehofer, now Germany’s agreement with French Pres- fighter planes but develop and in tackling terrorism as well Soeder was elected unopposed for the past decade and the most interior minister, as Bavarian ident Emmanuel Macron that products together, she said there as more cultural exchanges. in Munich with more than 87 prominent domestic opponent governor last year.

Former premier urges May to drop Brexit ‘red lines’ Bulgarian govt charges six REUTERS should do the same after her “If we leave in chaos and economically damaging, because Brexit was wise, Major said. over terror link LONDON Brexit plan was rejected by a without a deal, that seems to me Britain would not be able to Major’s comments were huge majority in parliament. to be the worst of all outcomes,” control immigration from the rejected as “Remainer elite REUTERS Former British prime minister “Her deal is dead and I don’t Major said. bloc. She has also rejected views” by a Conservative law- SOFIA John Major urged Theresa May think honestly that tinkering May should therefore “go staying in a customs union with maker who said May would yesterday to drop her “red lines” with it is going to make very around” lawmakers in her party the EU. break her promises to voters if Bulgarian prosecutors have on Brexit or allow parliament to much difference if any difference who say they are ready to accept If May cannot compromise, she considered staying in the charged five Syrian citizens find a way forward to avoid a at all,” Major, who campaigned a no-deal Brexit and drop her she should allow parliament to EU’s single market or a customs and a Bulgarian woman damaging no-deal departure to stay in the EU ahead of the opposition to key issues in the find a way to overcome its splits, union or holding a second alleged to be members of a from the European Union in 2016 referendum, said. negotiations, Major — who also Major said. “I think there are referendum. crime group which had sent March. May is due to tell parliament faced a revolt inside the Con- signs parliament might be able “Brexit would become more than $28m to foreign Major said he compromised tomorrow how she intends to servative Party over Europe to reach consensus,” he said. meaningless. We wouldn’t be terrorist organisations since on key decisions on the Northern proceed on Brexit. Lawmakers — said. Failing that, Britain should leaving the European Union, we 2016. Irish peace process and the first may then propose alternatives May has ruled out staying in have a fresh referendum on its would be staying in the Bulgarian special police while prime minister to see if any could command the EU’s single market, an option membership of the EU. European Union,” Suella forces arrested 43 people on between 1990 and 1997, and May majority support. that is considered less In the meantime, delaying Braverman said. Friday in coordinated raids on a suspected terrorism financing ring. Rumyana Arnaudova, the chief prosecutor’s spokes- Spain begins drilling to woman, said yesterday one of the six accused, who were all residents of Bulgaria, had save boy trapped in well been indicted in absentia and an international arrest REUTERS rescue, said yesterday. warrant issued for him. TOTALAN “We are hopeful that we The crime group had been will reach him as soon as pos- operating in Bulgaria since Rescuers in southern Spain sible and bring him back to his 2016 and had indirectly began drilling yesterday in parents,” he added. financed a terrorist organi- hopes of rescuing a two-year- The boy, Julen, fell into the sation operating in another old boy trapped in a deep well borehole, which is just 10 inches state, Arnaudova said, for six days. wide and 100 metres deep, as without giving further details. The mission to save the his family walked through a The group had also child has triggered an out- private estate in Totalan, bought at least 100 cars in pouring of public support as Malaga. Bulgaria and transported rescuers struggle with the chal- Officials have been unable them through Turkey to Syria, lenge of bringing heavy to find signs of life but said they where they were provided to equipment up steep access are working on the basis that members of terrorist organ- roads and reaching the toddler the child is still alive. Video isations, Arnaudova said. safely. footage shot by firefighters and Deputy Chief Prosecutor “We are incredibly moti- released by Spanish broad- Ivan Geshev said on Friday vated to reach him as soon as caster Canal Sur shows a that the financing for the ter- possible. We’re not bothered by blockage around 70 metres into rorist organisations had been the hours, the tiredness or the the well which has prevented sent abroad and did not rep- lack of sleep,” Angel Vidal, the rescue services from sending resent a direct terrorist threat Police officers guard as demonstrators block the Chain Bridge during a protest against Prime lead engineer overseeing the food or water to the child. within Bulgaria. Minister Viktor Orban and a proposed new labour law, billed as the “slave law”, in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. Anti-govt rally in Hungary Wife of ex-Interpol chief seeks asylum in France REUTERS saying “wait for my call”. soon after her husband’s REUTERS of the protest at the feet of the overtime at a time when the PARIS The website of France Info’s disappearance. BUDAPEST medieval Buda Castle. economy is struggling with a radio station quoted her as Meng, a deputy minister of “They totally ignore what we massive labour shortage. Grace Meng, wife of missing saying that in recent weeks in public security in China, became Several thousand Hungarians say and what we want, which is A survey by pollster Zavecz former Interpol chief Meng Lyon she has been followed by president of Interpol in late 2016 demonstrated in Budapest irritating,” said Lajos Kovacs, Research published earlier this Hongwei, applied for asylum in strangers, received suspicious amid a broader effort by China yesterday against Prime Minister one of the protesters. week showed support for Fidesz France fearing for her life, her phone calls, and had her car to secure leadership posts in Viktor Orban and a new Orban’s ruling Fidesz party dropped by three points to 32 lawyer said. licence plates photographed by international organizations. overtime law that has drawn pushed the law allowing percent of voters in January, but The boss of Lyon-based mysterious people. Presidents of the interna- workers out to the streets in employers to ask workers to do even so, Orban’s ruling party Interpol went missing in Sep- “I need the French gov- tional police organisation are several protest rallies. up to 400 hours of overtime a remained well ahead of its main tember after travelling back to ernment to protect, to assist and seconded from their national Marching through central year through the legislature last rivals. his native China. France opened help me and my children,” she administrations. Budapest behind a banner month, using its big majority as Nationalist Jobbik scored 11 an inquiry and China said he told France Info. “I am afraid I Interpol, which groups 192 saying “We have had enough”, opposition parties sought to percent, while the Socialists had was under investigation for may be kidnapped.” countries and is usually focused protesters waved Hungary’s block the vote. 7 percent support according to bribery. Her lawyer Emmanuel Mar- on finding missing or wanted national tricolour and the Orban has said the law served the survey, which showed that No word has been heard from signy said she had recently people, is run on a day-to-day European Union flag on their the interests of workers, who will a third of those polled had no Meng since a WhatsApp message applied for asylum after being basis by its secretary-general way to the main gathering point have the legal possibility to work preferred party. to his wife on September 25 under police protection since Juergen Stock. SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 AMERICAS 17 ‘Trump to make offer in bid to end shutdown’

REUTERS the longest government WASHINGTON shutdown in US history. Trump told reporters on the President Donald Trump will Trump will continue White House yesterday that he propose a deal meant to end a has no personal feud with House 29-day partial government to demand $5.7bn of Representatives Speaker shutdown, offering a in wall funding, but Nancy Pelosi, the top US Dem- compromise with Democrats on also offer backing for ocrat. She and other Democrats immigration but sticking to his legislation to protect oppose the wall, calling it too demand for funding for a border expensive, ineffective and wall, a source familiar with his young undocumented immoral. plan said. immigrants known as “Whether it’s personal or not, In a speech to be delivered “Dreamers”, as well as it’s not personal for me,” Trump from the White House, Trump said. “She’s under total control will continue to demand $5.7bn temporary protected of the radical left. I think that’s a in wall funding, but also offer status holders: Source very bad thing for her. I think it’s backing for legislation to protect a very bad thing for the young undocumented immi- Democrats.” grants known as “Dreamers,” as take earlier in his struggle with Trump also said he was con- well as temporary protected Congress over the shutdown trig- cerned about a new wave of status (TPS) holders, the source gered by his wall-funding immigrants moving north said, confirming a report by ultimatum. through Mexico toward the US Axios. Declaration of an emergency border. Vice-President Mike Pence, would allow Trump to bypass “I’m disappointed that White House Chief of Staff Mick Congress to pay for a border Mexico is not stopping them. I Mulvaney and Jared Kushner, the wall, although such a step would mean, Mexico seems unfortu- US President Donald Trump walks out from the White House ahead of his departure to Dover, Delaware, president’s son-in-law and a likely prompt a legal challenge nately powerless to stop them,” in Washington, DC, yesterday. senior White House adviser, have over constitutional powers from he said. “If we had a wall, we been instrumental in crafting the congressional Democrats. wouldn’t have a problem.” providing about 700,000 immi- DACA, but the policy remains in The Trump administration deal, the source said. Trump is under pressure to The “Dreamers,” who are grants with work permits, but no effect under a court order. has shown a deep skepticism Trump is set to make the end the shutdown with Amer- mostly Latin American, are pro- path to citizenship. Temporary Protected Status toward the temporary pro- announcement in a 4pm EST icans increasingly blaming him tected from deportation under Former Democratic Pres- (TPS) is given to nationals from tected status program and has (2100 GMT) speech. for refusing to sign spending bills the Deferred Action for ident Barack Obama put DACA designated countries affected by moved to revoke the special The source said Trump does that would provide paychecks Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in place in 2012 through an exec- armed conflict or natural dis- status afforded to thousands of not plan to declare a national for 800,000 federal workers program. The program protects utive order. The Trump admin- . TPS holders are permitted immigrants from El Salvador, emergency along the US-Mexico who have been idled or working certain people who illegally istration announced in Sep- to work and live in the US for Haiti, Honduras and other border, a step he threatened to without pay for nearly a month, entered the country as children, tember 2017 it would rescind limited times. nations.

Bush treats Secret Service Trump appreciates Mueller’s response to BuzzFeed report detail to pizza BLOOMBERG prepared to board Marine One congressional testimony are not negotiations to build a Trump publicly before the House Over- WASHINGTON at the White House. “It was very accurate.” Tower in Moscow ended early sight Committee on Feb.ruary 7. AP appropriate that they did that, The statement touched off an in 2016, when they actually con- But that panel will be con- DALLAS President Donald Trump, a so I very much appreciate that.” evening of Twitter messages and tinued well into the 2016 presi- strained from asking him about frequent critic of Robert Mueller Mueller and his staff have retweets from Trump, capped off dential campaign. matters still under investigation Former president George W and his team, had nothing but seldom made any public by an assertion shortly before BuzzFeed reported that by Mueller. Bush treated his Secret praise after the special counsel comment about the long- 10:30pm that “Fake News is truly Trump “directed” Cohen to lie The top Democrat on the Service detail to pizza to show took the unusual step of denying running probe into Russian the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.” about the Trump Tower negoti- Senate Intelligence Committee his appreciation for their a media report about the Russia interference in the 2016 presi- The BuzzFeed report, pub- ations, citing “federal law said that Cohen also is expected service without paychecks investigation. dential campaign, except lished on Thursday night, set off enforcement officials involved to return before that panel early during the partial government Mueller’s team late Friday through court filings in pursuit criticism of Trump from con- in an investigation of the matter”’ next month for questioning shutdown. rejected a story by BuzzFeed of indictments, and subsequent gressional Democrats — who it didn’t identify. behind closed doors. A photo posted on Bush’s News published a day earlier that guilty pleas. although most took care to say Following the Mueller Trump has called Cohen a Instagram and Facebook said Trump had instructed his But Peter Carr, a Mueller that the allegations were dis- statement, BuzzFeed’s editor in liar. pages shows him delivering former lawyer and fixer Michael spokesman, said in a statement turbing if true. chief Ben Smith said on Twitter “I think that the BuzzFeed pizzas to the detail. On his Cohen to lie to Congress. that “BuzzFeed’s description of Cohen has pleaded guilty to that “we stand by our reporting piece was a disgrace to our posting, Bush said he and wife “It was a totally phony story, specific statements to the Special nine felonies and is due to turn and the sources who informed country,” Trump said. Laura “are grateful to our and I appreciate the special Counsel’s Office, and character- himself in on March 6 to begin it, and we urge the Special “It was a disgrace to jour- Secret Service personnel and counsel coming out with a ization of documents and tes- serving a three-year prison sen- Counsel to make clear what he’s nalism, and I think also that the the thousands of federal statement last night,” Trump told timony obtained by this office, tence. He admitted to lying to disputing.” coverage by the mainstream employees who are working reporters yesterday as he regarding Michael Cohen’s Congress by testifying that Cohen is scheduled to testify media was disgraceful.” hard for our country without a paycheck.” He also said “it’s time for leaders on both sides to put politics aside, come together, and end this Winter storm sweeps shutdown.” across Midwest, inches US launches spy towards New England satellite into orbit AP Chris Nace, who works at a AP CHICAGO Domino’s pizza in Sioux Falls, VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE South Dakota, said several A winter storm started inches of snow had accumu- A US spy satellite has been sweeping across the Midwest lated since early morning and launched into orbit from Cali- yesterday, leading to slick roads the conditions were slowing fornia. and runways, as it inched its down delivery drivers. A powerful Delta 4 Heavy way towards New England, The storm was expected to rocket carrying the National where it was forecast to dump bring between up to 25cm of Reconnaissance Office sat- up to 0.61 metres of snow. snow to the Midwest before ellite blasted off from The National Weather walloping the Northeast today. Vandenberg Air Force Base Service issued winter storm The National Weather Service at 11:10am yesterday. warnings from the Dakotas, in Albany, New York, said snow As is customary with clas- across the Great Lakes states could fall at a rate of 2.5 to sified payloads, United and into New England. The 7.5cm an hour, creating “dif- Launch Alliance webcast the weather service at one point ficult to impossible travel con- liftoff only through the period warned that conditions in New ditions” in areas. when the aerodynamic fairing England over the weekend In New York City, the worst covering the payload was “could approach blizzard cri- of the storm is expected from this discarded. teria.” Ice was also a possibility morning through afternoon, with The launch had been Women’s march in some areas in the storm’s snow accumulations of 7.5 to repeatedly delayed since late Demonstrators taking part in a march organised by the Women’s March Alliance, in the Manhattan path. 15cm, followed by rain that could last year for reasons including borough of New York City, yesterday. Thousands of women gathered yesterday across US for their In Nebraska, where freezing turn to ice as temperatures drop a hydrogen leak, high winds annual message opposing Donald Trump and supporting women’s rights, drizzle was falling yesterday, later today. Single-digit temper- and a problem with ground authorities closed Omaha’s atures could last until tomorrow. communication equipment. Eppley Airfield after a Strong wind gusts beginning this Southwest Airlines plane slid off afternoon could bring down an ice-slicked runway. No one snow- or ice-burdened tree was injured. Eppley suspended limbs and power lines. all flights for a few hours before Officials warn of flight dis- Suspended pairs skating champion John Coughlin dead it was reopened. But airport ruptions at airports, as well as officials warned that most possible changes in train AP his sister, Angela Laune. The officers responded to a call of a for SafeSport and USFS on flights would continue to be schedules. The Chicago WASHINGTON sister said in a Facebook post suicide at a house in the Country Thursday for unspecified delayed. Department of Aviation reported that her “wonderful, strong, Lanes Estates neighborhood in conduct. He was barred from In Iowa, the Department of more than 300 flights at O’Hare John Coughlin, a two-time US amazingly compassionate Kansas City just before 5pm on any activities sanctioned by the Transportation warned that vis- and Midway international air- pairs champion recently brother John Coughlin took his Friday and found Coughlin’s skating body or the US Olympic ibility was less than a half mile ports had been canceled as of suspended from figure skating, own life. ... I have no words.” body. Sgt Jacob Becchina Committee. in many locations due to snow Friday evening. Amtrak canceled died by suicide in Kansas City, There were no further details declined to give specifics on the USFS said it was “stunned’ and wind. And in South Dakota, some trains yesterday from Missouri. He was 33. from her. death. by the news and extended where snow was starting to pile Chicago to Washington and New US Figure Skating released The Kansas City Police Coughlin received an interim “heartfelt and deepest sympa- up, authorities warned drivers York and between New York and a statement yesterday and cited Department said in an email that suspension from the US Center thies” to the family. to give plows extra room. Boston and Pennsylvania today. 18 AMERICAS SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 Mexico fuel pipeline blast leaves 66 dead

AFP the suffering in Tlahuelilpan TLAHUELILPAN caused by the explosion of a pipeline,” the leftist leader wrote An explosion and fire in central President Andres on Twitter. “I call on the whole Mexico killed at least 66 people government to assist people after hundreds converged on the Manuel Lopez Obrador there.” site of an illegal fuel-line tap to said on Twitter: I am Federal and state firefighters gather petrol, officials said, deeply saddened and ambulances run by state oil during a government crackdown by the suffering in company Pemex rushed to help on fuel theft. victims with burns and take the “The toll that we have until Tlahuelilpan caused injured to hospitals. a few minutes ago... is 66 dead, by the explosion of a Local medical facilities while 76 are injured,” the Hidalgo pipeline. I call on the struggled to cope with the flood state governor, Omar Fayad, said of arriving victims, a witness yesterday. whole government to said. Mexican soldiers standing guard near a fire after a leaking gas pipeline triggered a blaze in Tlahuelilpan, Forensic specialists in white assist people there. By around midnight Friday Hidalgo state, yesterday. suits worked among the charred, the fire had been brought under blackened corpses at the scene, control, the security ministry had been an explosion” and the The government has shut off blamed the shortages for the which was guarded by soldiers “I went just to see what was said. flames “were consuming every- major pipelines until they can be tragedy. as the pungent smell of fuel hung happening, and then the Pemex said it was also thing around.” fully secured and deployed the “A lot of people arrived with in the air. explosion happened. I rushed to responding to another fire at a About 15 oil pipeline explo- army to guard Pemex production their jerrycans, because of the “Fuel traffickers had punc- help people,” Fernando Garcia, botched pipeline tap in the sions and fires causing more than facilities. gasoline shortages we’ve had,” tured the pipeline, leading hun- 47, said. “I had to claw through central state of Queretaro, 50 fatalities each have occurred But the strategy to fight the said Martin Trejo, 55, who was dreds of people including fam- pieces of people who had already though in that case there were around the world since 1993. problem led to severe gasoline searching for his son, one of ilies to swarm the area, collecting been burned to bits.” no victims. Most were in Nigeria, where in and diesel shortages across much those who had gone to collect the petrol in jerrycans and buckets The tragedy comes during a Mexico is regularly rocked 1998 more than 1,000 people of the country, including Mexico leaking fuel. when the blast occurred,” wit- highly publicized federal gov- by deadly explosions at illegal died in such a blast. A fire after City, forcing people to queue for He also lashed out at the nesses said. ernment war on fuel theft, a pipeline taps, a dangerous but a pipeline rupture in Brazil killed hours — sometimes days — to fill army for failing to stop the Video taken in the aftermath problem that cost Mexico an esti- lucrative business whose players more than 500 people in 1984. up their vehicles. looters. showed screaming people fleeing mated $3bn in 2017. include powerful drug cartels The tragedy comes as anti- The president, who took “These lives would have been the scene as an enormous fire lit President Andres Manuel and corrupt Pemex insiders. corruption crusader Lopez office on December 1, has vowed saved if they had done their jobs up the night sky in Tlahuelilpan, Lopez Obrador traveled to the Fayad said that, two hours Obrador presses implementation to keep up the fight and asked to remove people and not let Hidalgo state, north of Mexico scene yesterday. after the pipeline was punctured, of a controversial fuel theft pre- Mexicans to be patient. them get close. They never did City. “I am deeply saddened by “we were informed that there vention plan. At the scene, some locals anything.”

Canada dismisses Suspicious deposits made China’s warning over Huawei ban to account of Brazilian

REUTERS President’s son: Probe QUEBEC AFP BRASÍLIA Canada dismissed China’s warning of repercussions if Brazilian authorities have Ottawa banned Huawei Tech- detected a series of suspicious nologies Co Ltd from cash transfers amounting to supplying equipment to 5G around $30,000 into the bank networks, saying it would not account of President Jair compromise on security. Bolsonaro’s eldest son, China’s ambassador to according to a report. Canada issued the threat on The exclusive report aired Thursday as relations on Jornal Nacional, Brazil’s between the two nations con- most respected newscast, said tinued to deteriorate after a that 48 deposits of 2,000 reais senior Huawei executive was each were deposited into the arrested in Vancouver last bank account of Senator-elect One of the transfers was a month on a US extradition Flavio Bolsonaro (pictured) deposit of $6,400 into the Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke (left) and his attorney Daniel Herbert after his sentencing warrant. China has also between June and July 2017, account of Michelle Bolsonaro, hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. detained two Canadians. when he was a Rio de Janeiro the president’s wife. Canadian officials are state lawmaker. Flavio Bolsonaro and studying the security impli- That totals to 96,000 reais, Queiroz both deny any cations of 5G networks but Chicago cop sentenced for shooting teen or about $30,000 at the wrongdoing. their report is not expected in average exchange rate of that In a television interview the immediate future, a REUTERS Activists wanted a longer Prosecutor Joseph year. late December, Quieroz denied source said on Wednesday. CHICAGO sentence. Van Dyke could have McMahon, who had sought A Council for Financial acting as a front for the Bol- Some Canadian allies have received up to 20 years in prison between 18 and 20 years, said Activities Control (COAF) doc- sonaros and said the money already imposed restrictions White former Chicago police for second-degree murder and he was satisfied with the sen- ument quoted in the report said came from side businesses he on using Huawei equipment, officer Jason Van Dyke was up to 30 years for each of 16 tence. “There’s nothing to cele- the origin of the money was ran, “buying cars, selling cars.” citing the risk of espionage. sentenced to nearly seven counts of aggravated battery - brate here. … There is no good unclear, but the fact that they The president has tried to Canadian Public Safety years in prison for shooting one count for each shot he fired outcome. This is a tragedy on so were all of the same amount downplay the affair, saying that Minister Ralph Goodale, black teen Laquan McDonald at 17-year-old McDonald, who many different levels,” and made at a bank at Rio’s if any “mistake” was made it asked at a Cabinet retreat to death in 2014 in a landmark was carrying a knife. McMahon said. state legislative assembly, would be “paid.” He said the about the Chinese ambassa- case that highlighted racial During sentencing, Van The verdict in October where Bolsonaro worked, made payment from Quieroz’s dor’s remarks, said Ottawa tensions in America’s third- Dyke sat expressionless, marked the first time an on-duty them suspicious. account to his wife’s was partial had already made clear it biggest city. unshaven and wearing a yellow- Chicago police officer was crim- The news broke a day after repayment of an undeclared would not cut corners on After a jury convicted Van orange jail uniform. In a inally convicted for the killing Brazil’s supreme court tempo- loan he had made to his son’s national security. Dyke, 40, of second-degree statement he read before the of a black person and touched rarily suspended a probe into driver. “We understand that those murder last fall, Cook County sentence, Van Dyke, said he was off celebratory street demon- transactions in the bank The stories are hugely sorts of comments will be Circuit Court Judge Vincent scared of McDonald and called strations in Chicago. account of Flavio Bolsonaro’s embarrassing for Bolsonaro, made in the process, but we Gaughan sentenced him to 81 the shooting “the worst day of The release of a police driver, Fabricio Queiroz, which who swept to power zero tol- will make our judgment based months in prison and said he my life.” dashboard camera video, com- totaled $300,000 — an amount erance for corruption and on what is right for Canada would have to serve at least two “The last thing I wanted to pelled by a lawsuit more than a deemed suspicious because it vowed to end years of political and not be deterred from years before he was eligible for do was shoot Laquan year after the October 20, 2014, does not appear to be commen- graft that damaged his coun- making the right decision.” parole. McDonald.” shooting, ignited protests. surate with his income. try’s reputation.

Colombia urges Cuba to capture ELN commanders after bomb attack REUTERS Santander School in the capital The ELN, which was formed as a reaction to the right-wing “We appreciate the solidarity Rodriguez. The Cuban gov- BOGOTA Bogota before it detonated, shat- by priests in 1964, has not president’s stance. expressed by the government of ernment has not responded pub- tering windows of apartments claimed responsibility or issued Colombians plan to march in Cuba yesterday and today we ask licly to that request. Colombia’s ELN rebel group was nearby. Defense Minister a public statement. cities nationwide today in protest you to make effective the capture Duque called the explosion responsible for the car bomb Guillermo Botero said on Friday Made up of some 2,000 against the attack. of the terrorists who are in your a “crazy terrorist act” against attack against a police academy the car was driven by ELN explo- fighters and considered a ter- Duque, who took office in territory and deliver them to the unarmed cadets. It is the worst that killed at least 21 and injured sives expert Jose Aldemar Rojas. rorist organization by the United August, pledged during his Colombian police authorities,” car bomb attack since the Rev- dozens, President Ivan Duque “The ELN armed terrorist States and European Union, the election campaign to toughen Duque said. olutionary Armed Forces of said, making it almost impossible group is the author of this des- ELN began peace talks with the offensives against the group and The Cuban government did Colombia (FARC) detonated a peace talks with the insurgent picable attack. This was an attack government of former President drug-trafficking crime gangs that not immediately comment on his vehicle in Bogota’s upmarket El group can soon restart. prepared and organized many Juan Manuel Santos in early 2017, kill and kidnap civilians. request. Nogal social club in 2003, killing He called on Cuba to capture months in advance. For all of but they have been put on hold On Friday he reiterated that In November, Colombia 36 and injuring more than 200. 10 National Liberation Army Colombia today it is clear that the by Duque until the ELN frees its talks cannot restart unless the asked Cuba to capture ELN rebel “We will not rest until we (ELN) commanders who are cur- ELN has no genuine will for 16 hostages and stops attacks. insurgent group stops all attacks, commander Nicolas Rodriguez capture and bring to justice the rently in Havana for the stalled peace,” Duque said in a televised The car bombing — the worst and he canceled a dispensation and provide information about terrorists involved,” he said. “I peace talks. national address. in Colombia in almost 16 years that allowed 10 members of the the presence of other ELN com- tell the criminals that social In Thursday’s attack, a car At least 20 police cadets died — has heightened fears that a ELN negotiating team to remain manders in Cuban territory. repudiation awaits them, the broke through checkpoints onto in the blast, as did Rojas, author- new wave of attacks could be free in Cuba. He asked Cuba to It also asked Havana to act rejection of all Colombians and the grounds of the General ities said. launched in the Andean nation arrest them. on an Interpol Red Notice on the international community.” SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019 HOME 19 CHS students present graduation projects Students of QU’s Biomedical Science Department offered new insights and findings in the area of disease development and genetic mutation. Among the findings was the reporting of a new strain of meningitis virus associated with non-polio paralysis for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA).

THE PENINSULA higher prevalence in males. DOHA The research demonstrated that the most common viruses Students of College of Health circulating in Qatar were Echo- Sciences (CHS) at Qatar virus-3, Echovirus-11 and University (QU) presented their EV-C105. The project was graduation projects last week, supervised by Professor Asma focusing on a wide range of Al Thani and Dr. Hadi Yassin. health topics including devel- In another study focusing on opment of disease, genetic the effect of hyperglycemia on mutation and nutritional and embryonic heart development, public health practices. students Moneera Nasir and Hissa The supervised research also Al Thani, supervised by Dr. shed light on the progression and Marwan Abu Madi and Dr. Hussin understanding of chronic dis- Yalsin, found that hyperglycemia eases of high prevalence in Qatar altered the gene expression of and their relation to nutritional KLF2, grossly changed the heart and public health practices. structure and affected blood flow Some of the research projects velocity and ejection throughout were also accepted for publi- the developing heart. cation in prominent scientific Research in the field of journals such as the Journal of molecular genetics focused on Metabolic Brain Disease. glucose-6-phosphate defi- Public Health students discussing a point at Qatar University campus. RIGHT: A professor Students of QU’s Biomedical ciency in Qatar as well as novel guiding a student doing a lab test. Science Department offered mutations that are believed to new insights and findings in the correlate with the pathogenicity area of disease development of malignant hyperthermia in disorder and Parkinson’s classification of patients with The research project super- Abdelhamid Kerkadi. and genetic mutation. Qatar. The studies were done disease, a long-term degener- Pompe disease, an autosomal vised by Dr. Tahra demon- The study showed that iron, Among the findings was the respectively by Shaza Malik and ative disorder of the central recessive metabolic disorder strated that the content of calcium, sodium and mag- reporting of a new strain of Roan Zaid; and the latter by nervous system that mainly which damages muscle and heavy metals, specifically nesium levels decreased with meningitis virus associated Samia Ahmed and Mariam Radi. affects the motor system, con- nerve cells throughout the body. arsenic, cadmium and lead was an increase in BMI. Dr. Abdel- with non-polio paralysis for the Both projects were supervised ducted by students Hend Eldous Under the supervision of Dr. well within the World Health hamid also supervised the study first time in the Middle East and by Dr. Mashael Al Shafi and uti- and Zainab Mahgoub. Tahra El-Obeid, Head of the Organization (WHO) standards. conducted by Lana Abu Salah, North Africa Region (MENA). lised data from Qatar Genome The outcome of the research Human Nutrition Department, The research outcome is a clear Christina Lotfy and Dana The study entitled ‘Epide- Projects. is to be published in the Journal students of the department pre- indication that the State of Suleman entitled ‘A Com- miological Surveillance and Some of the research for Metabolic Brain Disease. The sented 31 graduation projects Qatar continues to import high parison Between BMI, Waist Molecular Epidemiology of projects presented by students researchers studied a collection of that covered a wide range of quality food commodities Circumference and Waist to Viral Meningitis in Qatar’ was may serve as a platform for the missense mutations in GBA gene topics in the different areas of despite the unlawful siege Height Ratio for Identifying presented by Sara Jemmieh and potential development of ther- that is known to predispose nutrition and food safety. In the imposed on Qatar. Cardio Metabolic Risk in Amira Kohil and showed that apeutic drugs, such as the patients with Gaucher’s disease to field of food science, Fatima The ‘Association of Total Adults’, indicating a positive of the 2261 patients suspected projects supervised by Dr. develop Parkinson’s. Another Mohamed, Khloud Moustafa Body Fat with Mineral Status correlation between waist cir- to have meningitis during the Hatem Zaid. An example of this research with implications for and Louijan Elouzi conducted Among Adults’ was the subject cumference, waist to height period between September is a study on the molecular disease cure is the study of Nia- a study on ‘Market Analysis and of the research project pre- ratio and cardiovascular 2018 and September 2019, only mechanism behind the associ- zullah and Sadia Tasneem, on the Health Implications of Heavy sented by Alaa Shehada, Eman disease biomarkers compared 7.8 percent were diagnosed ation between Gaucher disease, effectiveness of using computa- Metal Content in Rice Imported Abdelnasser and Reem Ali to other anthropometric with viral meningitis with a rare inherited metabolic tional tools in variants to Qatar’. under the supervision of Dr. indices. 20 MORNING BREAK SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS Asteroids smacking Earth FAJR 05. 01 AM SHOROOK 06. 21 AM twice as often as before ZUHR 11. 45 AM MAGHRIB 05. 11 PM ASR 02. 48 PM ISHA 06. 41 PM AP Kingdom and United States com- WASHINGTON piled a list of impact craters on WEATHER TODAY Earth and the moon that were larger Giant rocks from space are falling than 12 miles wide and came up from the sky more than they used with the dates of them. It takes a to, but don’t worry. space rock that’s half a mile wide For the past 290 million years, to create holes that big. large asteroids have been crashing The team counted 29 craters into Earth more than twice as often that were no older than 290 million as they did in the previous 700 years and nine between 291 million million years, according to a new years and 650 million years old. study in Thursday’s journal Science. But we can see relatively few Dresses from French actress Catherine Deneuve’s wardrobe and designed by But no need to cast a wary big craters on Earth because the French designer Yves Saint Laurent are displayed in the showroom of Christie’s glance up. Asteroids still only smack planet is more than 70 percent Earth on average every million or ocean and past glaciers smoothed auction house before the collection sale in Paris, France. few million years, even with the out some holes, said University of increased crash rate. Nasa’s list of Toronto planetary scientist Rebecca potential big space rock crashes Ghent, a study co-author. Catherine Deneuve to part with shows no pending major threats. Extrapolating for what can’t be The biggest known risk is a 4,200- seen brings the total to about 260 Saint Laurent gowns at auction foot wide asteroid with a 99.988 space crashes on Earth in the last percent chance that it will miss 290 million years. Adding in other REUTERS Deneuve to the Oscars, which is Earth when it whizzes very near factors, the science team deter- PARIS expected to fetch between 2,000 to here in 861 years. mined that the current space crash 3,000 euros ($3,400). Tell that to the dinosaurs. Most rate is 2.6 times more than the pre- A beaded dress worn by Catherine The ‘Belle de Jour’ actress, a fashion scientists think dinosaurs and a lot vious 700 million years. Deneuve when she first met Alfred fan often spotted among guests at of other species went extinct after Craters older than 650 million Hitchcock in 1969 are among dozens Parisian catwalk shows, is selling the a huge space rock crashed into years are mostly wiped off on Earth of glamorous gowns up for auction next designs after parting with a house in o o Central America about 65 million by glacial forces so the scientists week in Paris, where the French actress Normandy, northern France, where she 13 C 20 C years ago. used impact craters on the nearby is due to part with her Yves Saint had stored them for decades. “It’s just a game of probabil- moon as a stand-in for holes Laurent collection. “When she found herself in pos- Minimum Maximum ities,” said study lead author Sara between 650 million and 1 billion Close to 130 one-of-a-kind styles session of all these clothes, she didn’t Relatively cold daytime with some clouds Mazrouei, a University of Toronto years old. The moon is a good guide crafted by the late designer for Deneuve, have cupboards in Paris big enough to and slight dust at some places at times. planetary scientist. “These events for estimating Earth crashes, a close friend, will go on sale at Chris- hold them all,” said Francois de Ricqles, Cold by night are still rare and far between that because it is close enough to be in tie’s on January 24. president of Christie’s France.

HIGH TIDE 04:16 – 14:49 LOW TIDE 11:39 –22:19 I’m not too worried about it.” Maz- the same bombardment path and They include red carpet looks like Deneuve, 75, has not said what the Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department rouei and colleagues in the United its craters last longer. a shimmering gold number worn by funds raised would be for.

Swiss team develops ‘microswimmer’ robot to deliver drugs through the body

REUTERS of a team of scientists in Swit- research institutes. in, and then to integrate this contain magnetic particles, LONDON zerland seeking new methods “Nature has evolved a with new fabrication technol- meaning their movement can to deliver drugs to diseased multitude of micro-organisms ogies.” The tiny soft micro- be guided with a magnetic A tiny sliver of elastic material tissue — is designed to wend that change shape as their swimmer robot they have controller. The team is now swims along inside a narrow its way through blood vessels environmental conditions developed is a few millimetres working on improving the tube, coiling up and changing and other systems in the body. change. This basic principle in length and made using a microbot’s ability to swim shape in response to the The team is led by Selman inspired our microrobot folding technique similar to through fluids such as those thickness of fluid and the Sakar at the Ecole Polytech- design,” Nelson said. the Japanese art of origami, found in the human body. In contours of the tube around it nique Federale de Lausanne “The key challenge for us helping it adapt to the envi- 2018, the team constructed the as it moves towards its goal. (EPFL) and Bradley Nelson at was to develop the physics ronment around it, Sakar said. robot from a type of silicon The miniature robot — the ETH Zurich, two leading that describe the types of The robots are made from embedded with magnetic bacteria-inspired brainchild science and technology changes we were interested hydrogel nanocomposites that particles.