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Iraqis rally against candidates Baghdad

raqi protesters marched Iacross Baghdad and south- Racing to ern cities on Sunday, holding a general strike to boost the anti-government movement as a deadline looms for par- liament to designate a new prime minister. Thousands headed to- wards the capital’s Tahrir success Square and the southern cit- ies of Diwaniyah, Muthana, Wasit, Basra, Maysan and His Majesty congratulates Bahrain 1 Racing Nasiriyah demanding for a Team for championship victory His Majesty being handed over a miniature model of a racing car by Bahrain 1 Racing Team government overhaul. members in the presence of HH Shaikh Abdullah. Protesters are holding the government accountable for fruitful efforts of HH Shaikh Ab- being inept, corrupt and be- The King pointed out dullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa and holden to neighbouring Iran. • his keenness to provide every the growing popularity I thank Bahrain 1 support to Bahrain 1 Racing. of motorsport in Racing Team for The King pointed out the Man killed in Bahrain and the world, upholding the growing popularity of motor- accident stressing the Kingdom’s Kingdom’s name in the sport in Bahrain and the world, good reputation in international sporting stressing the Kingdom’s good TDT | Manama event. reputation in hosting F1 races. hosting F1 races. HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Ham- man died yesterday after HIS MAJESTY ad Al Khalifa expressed deepest Abeing hit by a car while HH Shaikh Abdullah The team won the 2019 NHRA thanks and gratitude to HM the crossing Shaikh Isa Bin Sal- expressed• deepest World Championship for Pro King for his valuable directives, man Street near Tubli. Mod cars in the pre-final race commending the great royal sup- The accident led to a traf- thanks and gratitude which was held at Charlotte Mo- port, which brought about the fic congestion in the area to HM the King for his tor Speedway, in Concord, North honourable accomplishments. yesterday. valuable directives. Carolina, the US. He also lauded the unlimited The Interior Ministry has HM the King congratulated the support to the team and motor- launched a probe into the Manama team members and thanked them sport, in Bahrain, in general, by accident. for their international achieve- His Royal Highness Prince Sal- ment in motorsport, which is man bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the is Majesty King Hamad added to the Kingdom’s track Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme bin Isa Al Khalifa yes- record brought about in various Commander and First Deputy Hterday received at Saf- sports at the regional, continen- Premier, which contributed to riya Palace his Personal Repre- tal and international level. bagging titles and world cham- sentative His Highness Shaikh The King lauded the distin- pionships. DON’T MISS IT Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa guished technical level shown by HH Shaikh Abdullah pledged who introduced to him Bahrain the racers and the technical crew, to continue making efforts and 1 Racing team: driver and title which helped them clinch the ti- working tirelessly to bring about winner Steve Jackson, driver tle and uphold Bahrain’s name in more honourable results in the Tamkeen’s Khalid Balooshi and Director the international sporting event. forthcoming speed racing cham- Khalil Toorani. His Majesty interacting with ahrain 1 Racing Team member. HM the King commended the pionships. key role in 02 supporting the NEW HORIZONS private sector hailed Shura dismisses Bahrain firm invests in Spanish football club proposed law to TDT | Manama restrict ‘foreign ment and club workers. 03 He was accompanied on his ownership of ahrain company Infini- visit by Mohammed Al Nu - land’ ty Capital has invested suf, who will be the future Bin Spanish football club vice-president of the club and Major oil projects Cordoba CF. who is also currently the Bah- His Majesty the King’s Repre- rain Olympic Committee sec- boosting national sentative for Charity Works and retary-general. 04 economy: Youth Affairs, National Security Codoba CF plays in Segunda Minister Advisor and Supreme Council Division B-Group 4, which is for Youth and Sports Chairman in the third level of the Spanish His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin football league system. 210 fils (includes VAT) Hamad Al Khalifa announced Mr Al Zain, fourth from right, with Mr AlNusuf, third from right, and other officials during their visit to the Cordoba CF facilities. The team was founded in that Bahraini Abdulla Al Zain 1954. They play their home has assumed the Cordoba CF Embassy of the Kingdom of The news was also confirmed cial website, Mr Al Zain visited matches at the 25,800-capacity presidency, following Infinity Bahrain in the UK, which post- last night by HH Shaikh Nasser’s Cordoba CF’s facilities a few Estadio Nuevo Arcangel, locat- Capital’s investment in the club. ed of the development on their Media Office. days ago and also met with the ed in the Southern Spanish city This was according to the official Twitter account. According to the club’s offi- players, coaching staff, manage- of Cordoba. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 02

The Southern Governorate hosted a ceremony in honour of sponsors and contributors to the events, which were held all along this year. Southern Governor His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa patronised the ceremony, which was attended by officials representing the public and private sectors, senior officers and media figures. He paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. He stressed the Governorate’s keenness on consolidating partnership, in line with the directives of the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to strengthen co-operation with the private and non- Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received in his office at Gudaibiyah Palace governmental sectors. He thanked all officials, yesterday the US Ambassador to Bahrain Justin Siberell. He praised distinguished relations between both private and non-governmental parties, which countries and their perpetual growth in various fields. The Deputy Premier lauded the efforts of the USA contributed to supporting the events which were in boosting regional security and stability and supporting the counter-terrorism efforts all over the world. held in the Southern Governorate during this year. Both sides reviewed the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest.

Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, received here yesterday, in the presence of Public Security Chief, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan, the outgoing Italian Ambassador to Bahrain, Domenico Bellato. The Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, received here yesterday, in the presence of Public minister valued highly the ambassador’s efforts and role in bolstering relations between the two friendly countries, Security Chief, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan, the British Ambassador to Bahrain, Roderick Drummond. The two especially in the security field, wishing him further success. Ambassador Bellato expressed thanks and appreciation to sides reviewed relations between the two countries, and discussed topics of mutual interest. the Interior Minister, wishing Bahrain and its people further progress and prosperity.

The Annual Athletic Meet Prize Distribution Ceremony of Al Noor International School, CBSE Section was held on 5th December, 2019. It was a day filled with fervour and exhilaration, amidst thrills and cheers. The school band welcomed all the dignitaries to the function with their excellent performance and were enthusiastically cheered by all the spectators. The programme commenced with the verse from the Holy Quran recited by Abdul Haleem of Grade 7. The guests were welcomed by the Cultural Secretary Ms Mayookha R Pillai. It was followed by a group song “Symphony Under the patronage of the Interior Ministry Undersecretary, Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Public of Peace” by the students of grade 6-8 which filled the hearts and souls of everyone present with happiness. Medals Security Officers Club marked the national celebrations with a festival. The event was part of the directives of Interior were given to the winners by the School Chairman Mr Ali Hassan, Director Dr Muhammad Mashood, Principal Mr. Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The festival included a show for old police vehicles and held Amin Mohammed Hulaiwah, as well as other school officials and Head Teachers of the various sections. Individual with the participation of NGOs representatives as part of the community partnership. Championship as well as House championship trophies were also awarded at the function.

The Annual Day of Bahrain Indian School - BHAVANS was conducted for the senior wing on 19th December 2019 at Bahrain Cultural Hall. The evening witnessed the energetic and dazzling performances. The Chief Guest of the Day, Ms Renu Yadav, Second Secretary (Political, Info, Culture and Education) was felicitated with a bouquet and also honoured with a memento. The guest was welcomed by Directors Himanshu Verma and Ritu Verma and Principal Saji Jacob.

Tamkeen’s key role in supporting the private sector hailed TDT | Manama “The Bahraini economy went role in changing the market,” cess in which all stakeholders of through difficult times in which added Mr Al Hujairi. the economic system contribute. ahraini businessman many enterprises, especially Mr Al Hujairi highlighted that In this regard, Mr Al Hujairi Ahmed Al Hujairi said small ones, were able to sustain Tamkeen Consultation Forum stressed that the Consultation Bthat the Consultation with Tamkeen’s support. Other- Tamkeen Consultation comes at a time when the Bah- Forum provides Tamkeen with Forum organised by Tamkeen wise, they will be failed and will Forum comes at a time raini private sector is witnessing an opportunity to showcase its Labour Fund taking place tomor- not be able for re-establishment,” when the Bahraini more supportive initiatives, such prominent achievements in 2019 row December 23 is paralleled said Mr Al Hujairi. private sector is as the launch of liquidity fund and discuss it with Tamkeen’s with the need of private sector Mr Al Hujairi stressed the witnessing more support, activating the role of support beneficiaries. for the enhancement of Tam- importance of Impact assess- the “Bahrain Exports Centre”, It also provides a platform to keen’s programmes and services ment of Tamkeen’s various pro- supportive allocating a portion of govern- review and discuss beneficiaries’ in order to boost the national grammes and services. He said: initiatives such as the ment purchases from small and recommendations on the devel- economy. “Tamkeen represents the most launch of a liquidity medium-sized enterprises, im- opment of Tamkeen’s services Mr Al Hujairi, Advisor of prominent fund entity in the fund to support plementing the bankruptcy law, and align it with Tamkeen’s fu- Bahrain Technology Compa- Kingdom of Bahrain, so it is very private sector. and other initiatives that com- ture plans. nies Society, stressed that Bah- important to invest every dinar MR AL HUJAIRI plement with the role of Tam- He also stressed the impor- rain is going through economy that Tamkeen pays to develop keen in supporting the private tance of this forum, which comes challenges due to low oil prices. business and achieve the goals sector entities. in the last year of the current This maximises Tamkeen’s role for which Tamkeen was creat- services aims to keep pace with ICT sector, where we see modern He also noted that industry im- strategic plan 2018-2020, which in supporting the private sec- ed.” the rapid changes in the work technical applications such as ar- pact in developing the economic focuses on the “sustainability” tor and stimulating the national “Tamkeen’s permanent work environment, which are closely tificial intelligence, block chain, environment in the Kingdom of axis that Bahraini enterprises economy. to develop its programmes and related to the development of the cloud computing playing a key Bahrain is a participatory pro- need in the market. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 03 Kingdom attends Arab tourism meeting Manama Zayed Al Zayani, the Chief Ex- these meeting which comes as grated strategy aimed at elevating delegation of the Kingdom ecutive Officer of BTEA, Nader Al part of our role as active mem- the Kingdom of Bahrain’s tourism of Bahrain participated in Moayyed, and the Acting Director bers of the Executive Office for a industry by attracting investors Athe 25th session of the Ex- of Marketing and Tourism Pro- period of two years (2018-2019). and creating a suitable environ- ecutive Office of the Arab Minis- motion Directorate at BTEA, Dr Through our participation, we ment where tourism projects can terial Council for Tourism, which Ali Follad. have been able to discuss the op- thrive,” said the CEO of BTEA, Mr was hosted in Al Ahsa and named The council, which consists of portunities and challenges of the Nader Al Moayyed. ‘Capital of Arab Tourism’ for 2019. eight Arab countries, elected Bah- tourism sector in the Arab region “The sound implementation of The session was held in the rain as a member of its Executive and identify areas of cooperation BTEA’s strategy has resulted in a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Sun- Office for a period of two years Mr Al Zayani at the 25th session of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministerial between countries in the region significant improvement in the day, on the sidelines of the 22nd (2018-2019). Council for Tourism. and share experiences in the field tourism sector performance over session of the Arab Ministerial The agenda of the 25th session of tourism.” the course of last three years, re- Council for Tourism. of the Executive Office of the Arab tourism information and statistics Tourism in Egypt. “Our participation in the meet- cording an unprecedented figure 12 The delegation was headed by Ministerial Council for Tourism hub in support of the Arab tour- Commenting on the occasion, ing comes as part of our efforts to million visitors in 2018, an increase the Minister of Industry, Com- included the report and decisions ism strategy, along with the up- Minister of Industry, Commerce activate the tourism information of 5.9 per cent compared to the pre- merce and Tourism, and Chair- of the meeting previously held, dated draft and document of the and Tourism, and Chairman of and statistics hub in order to sup- vious year, reaffirming the contin- man of the Bahrain Tourism and including the action plan submit- Arab Strategy for Tourism which BTEA, Zayed Al Zayani, said: “We port the Arab tourism strategy. ued growth of the tourism industry Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) ted by the BTEA to activate the was submitted by the Ministry of are proud to be taking part in The BTEA has developed an inte- in the Kingdom,” he added.

Woman granted divorce in domestic Shura dismisses proposed law to abuse case TDT | Manama

he High Sharia Court has Tput an end to the suffer- restrict ‘foreign ownership of land’ ing of a woman in her twenties by granting her divorce from husband, who was allegedly RERA earlier expressed reservation about the parliamentary proposal beating and insulting her. The woman is said to have The Chairman of the Commit- received inhuman treatment The authority in tee on Finance and Economic from her husband to the point • Affairs at the Shura Council, that she was expelled from the a note to the Shura Khalid Almaskati confirmed the house after subjecting to phys- Council stated that such drop in revenue, stating that it ical and verbal assault. a law would adversely is not possible to make any con- From that day, according to affect the real estate cession to anyone regarding real her lawyer, she was living in her estate registration fees. father’s house. sector and the economy. This comes after calls were Ironically, the husband made to exempt the registration lodged a counter case against A parliamentary fee on real estate registration for her, demanding her to return proposal• for Bahrainis. to the house. exempting Bahrainis Mr Almaskati said the drop “My client suffered a lot dur- in revenue means that the gov- ing her marriage. She was once from paying registration ernment cannot afford further admitted to a hospital after he fees was recently sent reduction in revenue from real attacked her and she filed a to the Shura Council. estate registration. complaint against him at the A parliamentary proposal for police. TDT | Manama exempting Bahrainis from pay- “However, she dropped it af- ing registration fees was sent to ter he apologised,” the woman’s the Shura Council. lawyer told the court earlier. o restriction on for - However, the proposal was “He also tried to stain her eign ownership of land The council observed that such a law would adversely affect the real estate market. rejected. Procedures for real reputation by telling others she Nwill be implemented in estate registrations have sped was dating a man and consum- the Kingdom after the Shura restrict foreign ownership of RERA along with a number up recently. ing alcohol,” she added. Council shot down a proposed real estate to tourist areas. of governmental agencies are It was recently announced On the other hand, the de- parliamentary law in this re - The authority, in a note to the studying the current real estate that of ownership related to real fence witnesses refuted such gard. Shura Council stated that such There has been a market in Bahrain and hoping to estate transactions now only claims stating that the pair were The proposal aimed at re - a law would adversely affect decline in real estate find a solution to the problem. takes a day. having normal issues that are stricting foreign ownership of the real estate sector and the trading and existing According to RERA, the real Chairman of the Board of common in any marital life. real estate in residential areas. economy. economic conditions estate market needs a stimulus Real Estate Regulation Author- Nevertheless, the court ruled Shura Council members stat- It stated that the sector has al- for immediate growth. ity (RERA) and President of the in favour of the woman, stating ed that such a law would bring ready suffered a loss in revenue constitute one of the In 2019, there has been a drop Survey and Land Registration that it didn’t feel reassured by negative consequences to Bah- due to the economic conditions primary reasons. in real estate property registra- Bureau (SLRB), Shaikh Salman the defence witnesses’ state- rain’s real estate market. in recent years. RERA tion revenue from 38 million bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, said that ment. The court pointed out RERA has expressed its reser- “There has been a decline in Bahraini dinars to 22 million more mechanisms are being that the woman wouldn’t have vations about a parliamentary real estate trading and existing one of the primary reasons,” a Bahraini dinars, which is a 42 implemented to further reduce left her house without a valid proposed law, which aims to economic conditions constitute RERA official said. per cent plummet. waiting time. reason.

Fikra opens e-vote process for the Peoples’ Choice Award National Guard, TDT | Manama The e-voting process comes Tourism; EParkBH-Replace- after 12 ideas, out of an initial ment of parking meters with s part of the second edi- 40, qualified for the final stage an application: Submitted by Housing Ministry tion of the Government of the competition after pitch- Alia Al Qahtani from the Min- AInnovation Competition ing their proposals to an evalu- istry of Interior, and Nouf Al discuss co-operation (Fikra), launched by His Royal ation committee. 12 Qahtani from the Ministry of Manama Highness Prince Salman bin The 12 ideas going to the fi- ideas out of the initial Youth and Sports; E-Sick Leave tary added that the ministry Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown nals are: Government Procure- 40 qualified for the final System: Submitted by Ahmed has achieved building a num- Prince, Deputy Supreme Com- ment Platform: Submitted by Ali stage of the competition. Buhaza and Noora Muhanna ational Guard Di - ber of major housing cities, mander and First Deputy Prime Bukhammas and Abdulaziz Al- from the Ministry of Finance rector of Staff Major which developed the pace of Minister, an electronic voting Buainain from the Civil Service and National Economy; Citi- NGeneral Shaikh Ab- meeting citizens housing re- process for the public to choose Bureau, Ahmed Al Kuwari from zen’s Digital Document Wallet dulaziz bin Saud Al Khalifa quests. their favourite idea among the the National Bureau for Rev- on Blockchain: Submitted by received Housing Ministry Dr Al Haidan confirmed the competition’s 12 finalist opened enues, and Mohammed BuAli tion for productive families): Ali Al Aradi from the Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for vital and national role of the yesterday. from the Ministry of Finance Submitted by Maryam Hassan of Foreign Affairs; Government Housing Policies and Services National Guard in protecting The public can take part in and National Economy. from the Ministry of Labor and Vehicles Allocation App: Sub- Dr Khalid Abdulrahman Al the country’s achievements the voting process by accessing Others are Courts Appli - Social Development; mitted by AbdulRahman Essam Haidan. and in guaranteeing its secu- www.fdpm.gov.bh. cation: Submitted by Ahmed The National Technical from the National Audit Office; Director of staff praised the rity and stability along with Short videos of each of the 12 Alaraifi from the Office of the Skills Development Program: Energies (Taqat): Submitted by efforts of Housing Ministry the other military entities in qualified ideas are featured on First Deputy Prime Minister; Submitted by Ahmed Al Saffar Elyas AbdulGhaffar from the to execute the royal vision the country. the website in order to show- Virtual Employment Center: from the Bahrain Training In- Social Insurance Organisation; in providing a decent living They discussed issues of case each of their concepts. The Submitted by Iman Al-Sammak stitute; National Strategy for The Media Ambassador: Sub- for citizens through differ- common interest, along with Peoples’ Choice Award will be and Ibtihal Al-Shihabi from the Electric Vehicles: Submitted by mitted by Duaa Sharafi, Ed - ent housing projects all over plans of cooperation between announced along with the com- Labor Market Regulatory Au- Mona Al Alawi from the Minis- ucation and Training Quality Bahrain. the National Guard and Hous- petition’s final results. thority; AlHafeez (An applica- try of Industry, Commerce, and Authority. The assistant undersecre- ing Ministry. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 04

BTEA to host New Major oil projects boosting Year celebrations national economy: Minister Oil minister reviews major projects implemented in the Kingdom including Bapco modernisation programme

strengthen cooperation among The 103rd OAPEC member states in the fields of • oil, gas and energy. ministerial meeting It also decided that Iraq discussed ways to should continue overseeing strengthen co-operation the Arab Petroleum Training among member states Institute (APTI), which is a spe- cialised oil and gas institute. in the fields of oil, In the end of the meeting, BTEA is planning spectacular fireworks to welcome New Year. gas and energy. OAPEC ministerial council chairman sent a cable to the Shaikh Mohammed Kuwaiti Amir, HH Shaikh Sa- Manama the New Year on the side fa- held• meetings with bah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sa- cade of the Four Seasons Bah- Shaikh Mohammed chairs OAPEC 103rd ministerial meeting. bah, in which he expressed, he Bahrain Tourism and rain Bay hotel; marking the his counterparts from on behalf of the ministers, Exhibitions Authority beginning of 2020. member states on ways He also welcomed Dr Khalid plant of Bahrain National Gas sincere thanks, appreciation T(BTEA) will be hosting With unforgettable per- to strengthen economic Ali Al Fadhel, Kuwait’s Minis- Company (Banagas), the lique- and gratitude to him for the New Year’s Eve celebrations at formances and a spectacular relations and deepen ter of Oil and Minister of Elec- fied natural gas (LNG) regasifi- warm welcome and hospitality The Park, The Avenues – Bah- fireworks display lined up for tricity and Water Oil, who at- cation terminal, in addition to accorded to them, wishing sis- rain, on Tuesday, 31st Decem- the New Year celebrations, oil co-operation. tended his first OAPEC meeting. other vital projects aimed at terly Kuwait further progress ber 2019 starting from 8pm. BTEA aims to provide visi - He also valued highly the boosting the national economy, and prosperity. As part of the festivities, tors and their families with Kuwait City warm welcome and hospital- under the leadership of His On the sidelines of the BTEA will be organising a se- unique and memorable ex- ity accorded by the State of Majesty King Hamad bin Isa meeting, Oil Minister, Shaikh ries of events and activities to periences. The wide variety il Minister, Shaikh Mo- Kuwait to the participants in Al Khalifa. Mohammed bin Khalifa, held mark the occasion, including of shows is a testament to hammed bin Khalifa the meeting. He underlined the keenness meetings with his counterparts a live performance by Majaz BTEA’s pursuit of surpass - OAl Khalifa, chaired the He pointed out that OAPEC of Bahrain, represented by the from member states on ways to Band, A Dancing of Colour ing visitor’s expectations and 103rd ministerial meeting of meetings contribute to reach- National Oil and Gas Author- strengthen economic relations performance by ballet danc- drawing them into the King- the Organisation of Arab Pe - ing positive results that serve ity (NOGA), to participate in and deepen oil co-operation ers on stilts, in addition to a DJ dom of Bahrain from neigh- troleum Exporting Countries. the oil and gas sectors in the such high-profile meetings, between Bahrain and their performance from the United bouring GCC countries. While opening the meeting, member states, as well as as they provide platforms countries. Kingdom “Sonic Snares” ac- Hosting the event comes in Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa achieve the goals of the organ- to discuss ways to enhance Bahrain, represented by NO- companied by mesmerising line with the BTEA’s overall welcomed the ministers and isation since its establishment co-operation and launch joint GA’s Deputy CEO for Strategies light shows. strategy aimed at developing heads of delegations, noting in 1982. projects that would benefit and International Relations, Spectators will enjoy the and strengthening the tour- that the event is a good oppor- The minister reviewed the the oil, gas and energy sector Faihan Al Faihani, also par - breath-taking musical aerial ism sector under the slogan of tunity to exchange information main oil and gas projects im- in the Kingdom. ticipated in the 155th OAPEC performance by the dancers ‘Ours. Yours.’, which contrib- and expertise, as well as dis- plemented by Bahrain, citing The 103rd OAPEC ministerial Executive Bureau meeting, also and acrobats of Sonic, in ad- utes towards the Kingdom’s cuss the latest global develop- the Bapco Modernisation Pro- meeting discussed the topics hosted by Kuwait ahead of the dition to a projection of the economy and the 2030 Eco- ments in the oil field. gramme (BMP), the third gas on its agenda, mainly ways to 103rd ministerial meeting. countdown timer chiming in nomic Vision.

Health Day Bahrain Police ... Allegiance and Sacrifice Major Khamis Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Musaifer

Joined the Bahrain Police as a policeman on 1 April 1939 and was gradually promoted to the rank of a captain on 1 April 1980. Community Police organised a health day for employees and auditors of the security complex in co-operation with KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre. The event aimed to raise awareness of the attendees and the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Colonel Abdullah Rashid Burashed Al Anazi, Director of the Community Service Police Department, thanked the organisers. Dr Sheriff Sahadulla, Chief Executive Officer, KIMS Healthcare Group, attended. Throughout his career, he worked for various authorities and directorates, but mostly at the Traffic Licensing Directorate. Highway accident

An accident occurred on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge yesterday after a He was honoured with many medals and awards. truck hit an iron barrier. The cargo loaded on the truck fell on to the road, causing a huge traffic jam as the bridge links roads between Manama, Retired on 1 April 1981 Muharraq, Hidd Industrial Area and many new housing projects. The Ministry of Interior in co-operation with the General Directorate of Traffic has initiated an investigation into the accident. 05 MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 world

Russia ready to include ‘super Afghan’s Ghani on track for second term weapons’ in arms control treaty: Ifax authorities, welcomed the an- cites Lavrov Afghanistan’s nouncement of preliminary re- • sults and called on the Electoral Independent Election Complaints Commission to lis- Commission (IEC) said ten carefully to any grievances. Ghani had won 50.64 “The ECC has an obligation percent of the vote to adjudicate any complaints it receives transparently and thor- oughly so the election process • Candidates now may conclude in a credible man- have a few days to ner,” UNAMA head Tadamichi file any complaints Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Yamamoto said. Abdullah will challenge the election ECC chairwoman Zuhra Bayan The election saw by results Shinwari said candidates and • their supporters should wait for far the lowest turnout final results to be announced. Reuters | Moscow of any Afghan poll “We are committed to review- ing all the complaints according ussia’s Foreign Minis- Thirty-one to the law,” she said. Rter Sergei Lavrov said percent• of votes were The election was meant to be yesterday that Russia was the cleanest yet in Afghanistan’s prepared to include the cast by women young democracy, with a Ger- heavy Sarmat missile and man firm supplying biometric the Avangard hypersonic AFP | Kabul machines to stop people from missile in a new START stra- voting more than once. tegic arms reduction treaty, fghanistan’s President But problems immediately should it be extended, In- Ashraf Ghani appeared Ashraf Ghani looks set for a second term as Afghan president after winning Independent Election Commission emerged, with allegations of terfax reported. to have secured a second 50.64 percent in the September polls chairwoman Hawa Alam Nuristani vote stuffing, illegal voting and Russia is also ready to A announced the preliminary results of term Sunday, narrowly scoring other fraud coming almost as demonstrate the Sarmat the September 28 poll an outright win in preliminary diately comment, but the presi- soon as the polls had closed. missile to the United States, polling results, but his main rival dent was due to give an address Nearly one million of the Interfax cited Lavrov as say- immediately vowed to challenge at 5:00 pm (1230 GMT). independent watchdog, said the initial 2.7 million votes were ing on a talk show on Rus- the tally. US ambassador to Afghanistan IEC needs to share all informa- purged owing to irregularities, sian state television. After months of political lim- John Bass said it was vital the tion about how it reached its meaning the election saw by far Lavrov also said that U.S. bo and bitter allegations of fraud full electoral process plays out. numbers and break down data the lowest turnout of any Afghan President Donald Trump and corruption in the September “It’s important for all Afghans by polling centre. poll. had sent a short letter about 28 poll, Afghanistan’s Independ- to remember: these results are IEC chairwoman Hawa Alam Ultimately, only 1.8 million the Intermediate Nuclear ent Election Commission (IEC) preliminary. Many steps remain Nuristani said her agency acted votes were counted, a tiny num- Forces (INF) treaty to Rus- said Ghani had won 50.64 per- before final election results are with “honesty, loyalty, responsi- ber considering Afghanistan’s sian President Vladimir cent of the vote. certified, to ensure the Afghan bility and faithfulness”. estimated population of 37 mil- Putin, the Interfax news If it holds, the result is enough people have confidence in the “We respected every single lion and a total of 9.6 million agency reported. for Ghani to avoid a run-off. He results,” Bass wrote on Twitter. vote because we wanted democ- registered voters. “US President Donald easily beat his top challenger, It’s important Preliminary results were orig- racy to endure,” she said. Many people stayed away Trump sent a short letter in Chief Executive Abdullah Ab- inally due October 19 but were amid Taliban vows to attack which he said that they are for all Afghans Complaints procedure dullah, who scored 39.52 per- to remember: repeatedly delayed amid tech- polling stations, compounded ready to continue looking cent. these results are nical issues and allegations of The protracted limbo between by voter apathy and despair that for ways to overcome the Candidates now have a few fraud from various candidates, the vote and the preliminary any politician can ever improve problems in our relations,” days to file any complaints be- preliminary. Many particularly Abdullah. result heaped additional un- the lot of the average Afghan. Interfax cited the minister fore final results are announced, steps remain before Observers and candidates certainty on Afghans who are Thirty-one percent of votes as saying on a TV talk show. probably within weeks. final election have blasted the IEC over its already anxiously awaiting the were cast by women, the IEC The letter was in response As soon as results were an- results are certified, handling of the count and its outcome of talks between the US said. to Putin’s offer to introduce nounced, Abdullah’s office said to ensure the repeated disregard of the elec- and the Taliban. Abdullah has repeatedly a moratorium on the devel- in a statement he would contest Afghan people have toral calendar. The UN Assistance Mission cried foul over 300,000 votes opment of missiles banned them. confidence in the The Transparent Electoral in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which the IEC counted even though by the Intermediate Nuclear “We would like to make it Foundation of Afghanistan, an provided support to electoral his team claims many of Forces (INF) treaty, Interfax clear once again to our people, results these ballots were fake or had cited Lavrov as saying. supporters, election commis- JOHN BASS According to the tally released been cast outside of polling The US formally left the sion and our international allies US AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN by the IEC, the total turnout was hours. INF treaty with Russia in that our team will not accept the His apparent loss to Ghani August after determining result of this fraudulent vote un- 1,824,401 with Ghani winning makes Abdullah a three-time that Moscow was violating less our legitimate demands are the US intervene to broker an 923,868 votes and Abdullah loser and his future in govern- the treaty and had already addressed,” the statement read. awkward power-sharing deal KNOW WHAT finished second with 39.5% and ment is uncertain as he has ruled deployed one banned type Abdullah lost to Ghani in 2014 between the two rivals. 720,099 votes. out another power-sharing deal of missile, an accusation the in a divisive election that saw Ghani’s office did not imme- with the president. Kremlin denies. After mission failure, Boeing spacecraft lands in New Mexico Washington NASA were forced to guide the ure. for the landing. oeing’s new Starliner un- Starliner back to Earth without “The NASA team and the Boe- “The entry, descent and land- Bmanned spacecraft returned fulfilling its planned mission. ing team have been working ing is not for the faint of heart,” to Earth on Sunday, landing in Jim Chilton, senior vice pres- hand in glove to accomplish as Chilton said earlier. the New Mexico desert in the ident of Boeing’s space and many of the test objectives as we NASA will have to decide United States six days early after launch division, told reporters can,” he said before the landing. whether to carry out another a clock problem prevented a ren- that “we started the clock at the Starliner was able to estab- test flight or to trust that the ve- dezvous with the International wrong time.” lish a communications link with hicle is safe to carry astronauts. Space Station. Starliner’s failure was the lat- the ISS, and to test in space its Starliner’s first crewed flight Images broadcast by NASA est serious setback for Boeing, docking mechanism as well as its had been scheduled for early showed the spacecraft touching which is still reeling from two solar panels, batteries, thrusters 2020 -- a much-anticipated de- down safely in the dark after a fatal crashes of its 737 Max air- and heat regulation system. velopment ever since NASA sent descent slowed by three large liner. The crashes, in October Chilton said the vehicle’s sta- up its last space shuttle in 2011. parachutes. 2018 in Indonesia and in March tus was “really excellent.” Another vehicle, the Crew The Starliner capsule was 2019 in Ethiopia, claimed a total The Starliner re-entered the Dragon, has been developed by launched Friday from Cape This illustration, provided by Boeing in 2015, depicts the Starliner capsule in 346 lives. atmosphere at 25 times the SpaceX corporation for NASA. It Canaveral in Florida, but short- Earth orbit Boeing plans to suspend pro- speed of sound, with its ther- is expected to also be ready for ly after separating from its Atlas duction of the plane in January. mal shield resisting the intense launch next year. V launch rocket, its thrusters The space station orbits at an dress rehearsal before a crewed heat created by friction with the NASA has committed to pay $8 failed to activate as planned, altitude of about 400 kilometers flight. Successful re-entry atmosphere. billion to Boeing and SpaceX, preventing it from reaching an (250 miles) above sea level. After calculating that the craft NASA administrator Jim Bri- In a test in November only two which in return are to deliver orbit high enough to meet up The flight -- carrying only a had burned too much propellant denstine insisted that the space of the three parachutes opened, six trips carrying four astronauts with the ISS. dummy -- was meant to be a final for several minutes, Boeing and mission was not a complete fail- although they proved sufficient each from now to 2024. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 06

Sudan opens Darfur crimes probe against Kim mulls bolstering military Bashir regime figures The commission is• North Korea’s top military decision- making body

Seoul

orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a meet - Ning of top military of- ficials to discuss boosting the country’s military capability, state news agency reported on Sunday amid heightened con- cern the North may be about to return to confrontation with Sudan’s deposed president Omar al-Bashir sits in a defendant’s cage during Washington. his corruption trial in Khartoum on December 14 Kim presided over an en- larged meeting of the ruling The North promised an ominous ‘Christmas gift’ earlier this month if Washington does not make concessions by the end Khartoum Criminal Court for his role in Workers’ Party’s Central Mil- of December the Darfur conflict. itary Commission, KCNA news udan has opened an inves- Warrants for the ex-dicta- agency said, to discuss steps “to ing body. Kim rules the country in dialogue while the North de- set for Washington to change its Stigation into crimes com- tor’s arrest were issued by the bolster up the overall armed as its supreme military com - manded crushing international position looms. mitted in the Darfur region ICC in 2009 and 2010 on charg- forces of the country ... militar- mander and is the chairman of sanctions be lifted first. Some experts say the reclu- by members of the regime of es of genocide, war crimes and ily and politically.” the commission. On Saturday, the state media sive state may be preparing for ousted former president Omar crimes against humanity but “Also discussed were impor- North Korea has set a year- said the United States would an intercontinental ballistic al-Bashir, the state prosecutor Bashir has not been extradit- tant issues for decisive improve- end deadline for the United “pay dearly” for taking issue missile test that could put it said Sunday. ed to The Hague, the seat of ment of the overall national de- States to change what it says with the North’s human rights back on a path of confrontation The conflict between the ICC. fence and core matters for the is a policy of hostility amid a record and said Washington’s with the United States. pro-government forces and Sudan’s new transitional sustained and accelerated de- stalemate in efforts to make pro- “malicious words” would only The U.S. envoy for North Ko- ethnic minority rebels left government, brought to pow- velopment of military capability gress on their pledge to end the aggravate tensions on the Ko- rea, Stephen Biegun, has visit- around 300,000 people dead er after the protest movement for self-defence,” KCNA said. North’s nuclear programme and rean Peninsula. ed South Korea and China in and 2.5 million displaced, ac- toppled Bashir, has vowed to It did not give details on when establish lasting peace. North Korea has also repeat- the past week, issuing a public cording to the United Nations. establish peace in conflict-hit the meeting was held nor what Kim and U.S. President Don- edly called for the United States and direct call to North Korea “We have launched an inves- regions, including Darfur. was decided. ald Trump have met three times to drop its “hostile policy” and to return to the negotiating tigation into the crimes com- On December 14, Bashir was The commission is North Ko- since June 2018, but there has warned about its “Christmas table, but there has been no mitted in Darfur from 2003,” sentenced by a court in Khar- rea’s top military decision-mak- been no substantive progress gift” as the end-year deadline it response. prosecutor Tagelsir al-Heber toum to two years’ detention in said on his arrival in Khartoum a correctional centre for cor- after a trip to the United Arab ruption in the first of several Emirates. cases against him. He added that these were Bashir is also being investi- Thousands mourn Bangladeshi charity pioneer “cases against former regime gated for his role in the 1989 officials” tied to Bashir, who coup that brought him to pow- is sought by the International er. Nobel laureate Muhammad• Yunus, top politicians, diplomats, Defective soda machine killed businessmen and the general public all paid two McDonald’s workers in Peru tribute to Abed Lima Dhaka defective soda vending Amachine was responsi- housands gathered in Bang- ble for the deaths of two Mc- Tladesh yesterday for the Donald’s cleaners in Peru, the funeral of Fazle Hasan Abed, general manager for the Lima founder of one of the world’s franchise told a local news sta- Arcos Dorados, the owner of largest NGOs and credited with tion on Saturday night. the McDonald’s franchise in lifting nearly 150 million people Carlos Campos, 19, and Alex- Peru, told television channel N. out of poverty. andra Porrasa, 18, died late on “This has hit us all very hard The 83-year-old passed away December 15 as they cleaned and we are working hard to on Friday in a Dhaka hospital the fast food restaurant in Li- review all our processes, all while undergoing treatment for ma’s Pueblo Libre district. our protocols, to ensure such a a brain tumour. BRAC, the NGO founded by Fazle Hasan Abed, is credited with helping nearly 150 million people out of poverty. Inset, Police had said Monday the thing does not happen again,” His body was brought to a Fazle Hasan Abed two were electrocuted. he told the local station. stadium in Dhaka where at least Since the deaths, the The company confirmed the 10,000 people attended the fu- I thought I am done,” Abdur The approach proved so suc- ty according to the World Food chain has closed its 29 stores soda machine would not be neral. Rahman, a small business en- cessful that BRAC, which has Prize, which honoured Abed as throughout the country, while used in future. Nobel laureate Muhammad trepreneur, told AFP as he came more than 100,000 local em- its Laureate in 2015. the police and the prosecution The deaths prompted Peru- Yunus, top politicians, diplo- to say a final goodbye. ployees worldwide -- expanded Abed also received a knight- investigate. vian President Martín Vizcarra mats and businessmen paid trib- BRAC’s micro-finance ap - elsewhere in Asia and even to hood from Britain in 2010 for “Twenty-four hours before to announce a bill to strength- ute to Abed, who founded BRAC proach has been hailed as one Africa and has been lauded by his work. (the accident) it was already en job security, as demonstra- in 1972. factor behind the drop in the world figures such as former US The accountant-turned-aid known that the machine had tors rallied peacefully Satur- “Sir Abed’s NGO helped me proportion of Bangladeshis liv- president Bill Clinton. worker will be laid to rest in a problems (...),” Jose Carlos An- day against labor abuses for to start my business. It was ing in extreme poverty from 80 The NGO has helped nearly Dhaka graveyard, BRAC spokes- drade, the general director of the second time in a week. him who pulled me up when percent to around 40 percent. 150 million people out of pover- man Asif Saleh told reporters. 175 children abused by Mexican branch of Catholic Church

tive Mexican branch of the Ro- the group, Eduardo Robles-Gil -- removed from tasks connected Ceroabusos also notes that a 18 of the 33 man Catholic Church, according spans from the group’s founding to the public or minors. process of “reparation and rec- • to an internal report published in 1941 until December 16, 2019. Fourteen of the 33 had them- onciliation” with 45 victims is individuals who Saturday. “The vast majority of the selves been victims of the Le- taking place, while acknowledg- committed abuses The founder of the Legion- victims were adolescent boys gionaries, which the report ing that it has yet to extend it to are still part of the aries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, between 11 and 16 years old,” said highlights the existence of the others. organization abused as many as 60 children, the statement said, published “chains of abuse” where “a vic- Maciel, who died in 2008, with a total of 33 priests or dea- on ceroabusos.org, which is tim of a Legionnaire, over time, was ordered to retire to a life of cons acknowledged to have com- supported by the Legionaries becomes in turn an aggressor”. prayer and penitence by Pope Mexico City mitted sexual assaults against of Christ. “There are probably more cas- Benedict XVI in 2006 after fac- minors since 1941, the document The report notes that 18 of the es of abuse than those in the ing years of allegations that he t least 175 children were says. The findings of the report -- 33 individuals who committed The founder of the Legionaries of Christ report and the statistics will had sexually abused boys and Asexually assaulted by priests written by a commission created abuses are still part of the organ- Marcial Macial abused as many as 60 have to be updated regularly,” young men. He never faced his belonging to an ultra-conserva- in June by the director general of ization, but says they have been children, the report states it added. accusers. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 07 At least 18 dead in clash at Honduras jail

Barbara -- had been murdered. er brother, saying it was based It was not clear what The Ministry of Security had on “the testimony of confessed • suspended Armas shortly before assassins.” sparked the melee that amid an investigation into his presence during the Octo- Violent country Prison officials had ber 26 killing by prisoners of A video circulating on social originally• reported Magdaleno Meza, a drug kingpin media shows the 52-year-old only three deaths whose confession and notebooks Armas talking with Meza when linked him to a brother of the prison guards opened a locked president, Juan Antonio “Tony” gate, allowing a dozen inmates to Tegucigalpa Hernandez. enter and stab and fatally shoot Meza’s account books were the drug trafficker. t least 18 inmates died entered as evidence in the New In addition, a lawyer who had and 16 were injured in York trial of Hernandez, who represented Meza and other Aovernight clashes be- was subsequently convicted on members of the Valle Valle drug tween prisoners in Honduras four counts of drug trafficking. cartel, Jose Luis Pinto, was killed after fighting erupted at a jail in He faces sentencing -- possibly in an attack December 9 in a the northern port town of Tela, for life -- in Janu- town northwest of Tegucigalpa. prison officials said Saturday. ary. That killing remains under in- The National Penitentiary Pres- vestigation. Institute said 17 prisoners had ident Honduras has been plagued by died at the facility and another drug trafficking, gangs, poverty died in hospital, with local me- and corruption. dia describing the unrest as gang It suffers from one of the high- violence. est homicide rates in the world It was not clear what sparked outside areas of armed conflict, the melee at the prison in Tela, The killings at the Tela prison came even as Honduras’s president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, having registered 41.2 homicides about 120 miles (200 kilometres) has moved to toughen security in the nation’s prisons, like this maximum security unit at the per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018. from Tegucigalpa, the capital Tamara prison, north of Tegucigalpa To fight this scourge, Presi- of the small Central American ings, had ordered the army and according to a prison spokesper- That dent Hernandez created a mil- country. the police on Tuesday to take full son, Digna Aguilar. came itary police force financed by a Prison officials had originally control of the country’s 27 pris- Hernandez announced the just a new tax, and built special pris- reported only three deaths, but ons, which are badly overcrowd- crackdown after the killings on day after ons for gang members. the toll quickly rose. A statement ed with some 21,000 inmates. December 14 of five members of Pedro Idel- The sky-high crime rate has Saturday identified 14 of the feared gang Mara Salvatrucha fonso Armas, Her- been a key factor behind a wave dead and 15 wounded by name. Earlier killings (MS-13) by a fellow detainee at the warden of El nan- of migration toward the United Honduran President Juan But as of Friday, the military the high-security prison in La Pozo -- the country’s dez con- States, notably by minors who Orlando Hernandez, grappling had yet to take complete con- Tolva, 25 miles east of Teguci- main high-security pris- demned the say they fear being forced into with a recent wave of prison kill- trol of the Tela detention center, galpa. on, in the western city of Santa conviction of his young- gangs.

Cuba gets first prime minister Moscow wonders where winter has gone in over 40 years Moscow

inters in Moscow usually Wlook like something out of a picture book: the Russian capital is covered in snow, peo- ple go skiing, and temperatures KNOW WHAT are well below freezing. But this year things are dif- Manuel Marrero (C) is Cuba’s first ferent. prime minister since 1976 For the past two weeks, tem- peratures in Moscow have easily Havana topped four degrees Celsius and are expected to move as high as uba’s first prime min- 7C next week -- compared to the Cister in more than four normal average for December of decades -- long-serving around minus 6C. tourism minister Manuel Snow is nowhere to be seen, Marrero -- took office Sat- the city’s ski resorts are closed, Russian President urday as the country res- and even the first spring buds Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged global warming could be Temperatures in Moscow have topped Vladimir Putin has urrected a post last held by on the trees are beginning to catastrophic for Russia at his annual news conference four degrees Celsius this month always been reluc- Fidel Castro. show -- three or more months tant to acknowledge The appointment of Mar- too early. And “for our country, this pro- “I like this weather, it’s a nor- began a century and a half ago. the link between rero, 56, as head of govern- At his traditional year-end an- cess is very serious,” he said. mal European winter,” says one “Only the month of July was ment is part of a process of nual news conference last week, Climate change was a par- visitor, pensioner Svetlana Zolo- slightly below normal for the human activity and decentralization and gen- he again insisted that “nobody ticular risk for Russian regions tukhina. season,” said senior Rosgi - global warming. erational change from the knows” the causes of climate where buildings are built into “When the flowers blossom, it dromet representative Anatoly revolutionary old guard that change. permafrost and there “could makes you feel better.” Tsygankov, who described De- est fires, which experts linked is aimed at extending and But Putin acknowledged the be very big consequences if it But another visitor, Svetlana cember, with its temperatures directly to the effects of climate protecting Communist Par- consequences of global warm- melts,” Putin warned. Gribkova, says she finds the sit- around 10 degrees higher than change. ty rule. ing could be catastrophic for a uation “abnormal.” average, as “very warm”. Nevertheless, at one Moscow “This proposal was duly country that is one of the world’s Early blossom “I want snow because it pro- But he, too, remained cautious ski resort, where 20 pistes had to approved by the political biggest producers of carbon fuel In the botanic garden of Mos- tects plants in the winter,” says about the possible explanations be shut down because temper- bureau of the Communist and a fifth of whose land lies cow State University, rhododen- the trained botanist. for climate change, saying the atures were too warm even for Party of Cuba,” President within the Arctic circle. drons, snowdrops and crocuses According to the Russian me- current warm temperatures artificial snow, technical chief Miguel Diaz-Canel said, Putin said that the rate of are already beginning to bud. teorological office, Rosgidromet, could be attributable to cyclones Andrei Kharkhota remained presenting it to the coun- warming for Russia was 2.5 per- “I’ve never seen this be - Moscow, with its population of coming in from the Atlantic. unfazed. try’s National Assembly, cent higher than elsewhere on fore,” chief gardener, Anton 12 million, experienced its hot- This summer, the vast region “I’m not worried. Winter al- which unanimously signed the planet. Dubenyuk, said. test year this year since records of Siberia was devastated by for- ways comes,” he said. off. Fed-up French travellers face traffic chaos over festive period Paris government and union lead - vices were running. French President Emmanuel Abidjan, the commercial capital ravellers across France ers this week failed to ease the “I’m upset, this strike is un- Macron, called on the strikers of Ivory Coast, where he is on Tscrambled yesterday to be- standoff, with train operator bearable... The government to embrace a “spirit of respon- a visit. gin their Christmas getaways SNCF warning the traffic would must do something,” said Jef- sibility” and for “collective good Many stranded travellers have with trains cancelled, roads jam- be “severely disrupted” over the frey Nwutu Ebube, who was in sense to triumph”. turned to car rental agencies packed and nerves tested as a festive period. the northern port town of Le “I believe there are moments or sharing platforms since the strike over a pension overhaul SNCF said its aim to allow Havre trying to find a way back in the life of a nation when it strike began on December 5, shows no signs of letting up. Train operator SNCF warned that the 850,000 ticket holders to travel home to the southern city of is also good to call a truce to but the last-minute surge in de- Hopes of a holiday truce were traffic would be ‘severely disrupted’ this weekend was being upheld Toulouse, some 850 kilometres respect families and the lives of mand meant vehicles were hard dashed after talks between the over the festive weekend -- but only half of its usual ser- (530 miles) away. Late Saturday, families,” he said, speaking in to come by. MY IDEA OF GOOD COMPANY IS THE COMPANY OF CLEVER, WELL-IN- QUOTE FORMED PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GREAT OF THE DEAL OF CONVERSATION; THAT IS DAY WHAT I CALL GOOD COMPANY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 JANE AUSTEN

the nation — financially, politically and morally — ultimately proved worthless. What doesn’t Lebanon’s economy is in free- fall. Over 10 per cent of Lebanese companies went out of business BARIA ALAMUDDIN in 2019, a further 22pc cut staff kill Lebanon’s by over 60pc, and the collapse of re Lebanon’s leaders seek- several major corporations is just ing to further provoke their around the corner. Those lucky long-suffering citizens? enough to retain their jobs have revolution AProtesters rail at Iranian in - had their salaries slashed. terference, while foreign donors This is precisely why protesters refuse to bankroll a militant-dom- must not back down now. If they inated regime — so the authorities return meekly to their homes, this only makes it nominate a Hizbollah-favoured painful process will simply reig- candidate to be prime minister. nite in the future — over and over Lebanese warn that their nation again. Protests are about forcing is held hostage by violent and un- the state to embark on emergency stronger? accountable paramilitaries — so surgery, cutting away decades of these same paramilitaries prove accumulated cancerous tissue to these claims true by escalating save the patient’s life. If Lebanon their attacks on peaceful rallies. is simply put to bed with an as - Despite Hizbollah having People demand abolishment of pirin and a warm drink, the only the corrupt, sectarian system — so possible prognosis is a slow and murdered his father, Saad the president stubbornly aims to painful death. force through a Cabinet appar- Lebanon’s entrenched political Hariri justified participation in ently chosen to alienate ordinary class in its entirety (“kilon yanni Lebanese even more than its pre- kilon,” or “all of them means all previous Hizbollah-sponsored decessors did. of them,” as the protesters chant) governments as the price to be In what some commentators has bled Lebanon white. In one balised by entities hostile to Leb- This is merely the darkness are describing as a “counter-revo- decade it plunged from 63rd to anon’s existence. The smuggling before the dawn if citizens paid for civil peace lution” against the protest move- 143rd place on the global Corrup- to Syria of over $1.7 billion in hard succeed in taking that final ment, Sunni politician Hassan tion Perceptions Index, and is thus currency, and the exploitation of Diab has been nominated as prime among the most corrupt kleptoc- Lebanon’s financial networks to leap of faith; abolishing minister, having been wined and racies on the planet. One percent launder funds for Tehran, have the last vestiges of a hated dined by Gebran Bassil at the of the population hoards an esti- crippled the banking system. In- and predatory sectarian presidential palace. Given the ex- mated 25 percent of the nation’s ternational sanctions resulting system that for too long pected boycott by the main Sunni, wealth, forcing penniless citizens from these abuses, and the reluc- has created only misery, Druze and Christian factions, the to shoulder a debt-to-GDP ratio of tance of Gulf investors to risk their poverty and national resulting Cabinet is likely to be 150 percent, rendering debt-ser- wealth in this morass of criminali- isolation. a bizarre mixture of nonentities vicing an intolerable burden. ty, have worsened the plight of this and Hizbollah acolytes. After two Bassil and Hizbollah leader erstwhile regional banking hub. months of protests, citizens won’t Hassan Nasrallah blame protest- Lebanon’s modest population be placated or deceived by such ers for damaging the economy, during peak tourist seasons is ha- desperate, self-serving maneu- but the protests were the straw bitually dwarfed by the influx of vers. that broke the camel’s back after millions of Khaleejis, Westerners, Despite Hizbollah having mur- their criminal enterprises left the and Lebanon’s own vast diaspo- dered his father, Saad Hariri justi- coffers empty. Even before the ra. Yet how can tourism flourish proaching 100 percent to below fied participation in previous Hiz- demonstrations, GDP growth av- when Beirut’s streets are teeming 10 percent. Everything inherently bollah-sponsored governments as eraged 0-0.3 percent and in recent with theocratic militants nois- precious has been trampled un- the price to be paid for civil peace. weeks the currency has lost 30 ily jostling for war with Israel? derfoot by the thugs and terrorists Yet peace for its own sake, while percent of its value. Panicking hotel owners report a who have laboured to turn Leba- Iran-aligned factions bankrupted The economy has been canni- collapse in occupancy from ap - non into a pariah state. More Americans are starting to believe Trump puts his own interests before the country

HUSSEIN IBISH Trump from office, no matter During Bill Clinton’s what facts emerge about him. impeachment trial in n Wednesday, the US However, her hand was forced House of Representatives by Mr Trump himself when the 1999, such fact-finding Oadopted two articles of White House released a summary didn’t happen because impeachment against Donald of a July 25 telephone conver - an extensive record was Trump. So, the president has been sation with the newly elected already established and impeached and there will now president of Ukraine, Volodymyr both sides agreed it would be a trial in the Senate, correct? Zelenskiy, that appears to show have been a pointless waste Well, not so fast. In the Trump him leveraging US military aid of time. era, nothing is ever quite what to secure the announcement of Even his loyal it seems. an investigation into the son of House speaker Nancy Pelosi leading Democratic presidential support base has suggested that she might not candidate Joe Biden. formally forward the articles to That seemed such an appar - is beginning the Senate or name the House’s ently glaring abuse of power, “managers” – or prosecutors – especially as investigations are to fall out of until she is satisfied that the Sen- still ongoing into Russian med- ate will hold a serious proceeding. dling in the 2016 election, that Ms Ms Pelosi has hit on an art - love with the By simply adopting the arti- Pelosi ran out of arguments and ful way of satisfying Democrats cles, the Democratic-led House of options. Almost every witness in without falling into a Republi - ‘morally lost Representatives did not automat- the House inquiry made matters can trap. Mr Trump has been im- and confused’ ically empower the Senate to take worse by emphasising that Mr peached but the House won’t let over the process. Constitutional Trump sought a quid pro quo the Senate dismiss the entire mat- US president lawyers are even abstrusely de- with Mr Zelenskiy. ter through a perfunctory proce- bating whether Mr Trump has As I have noted several times ing didn’t happen because an ex- from acting White House chief dure with a preordained outcome. been impeached technically yet. in these pages, impeachment is tensive record was already es - of staff Mick Mulvaney, former This certainly intensifies the The move to withhold the ar- fraught with peril for Democrats tablished and both sides agreed national security adviser John appearance that Democrats are ticles is risky but also politically because Senate Republicans can it would have been a pointless Bolton, White House aide Rob manoeuvring politically rather masterful by Ms Pelosi, who has hold any kind of trial they want. waste of time. Today no such con- Blair and budget official Michael than ethically or patriotically. But time and again proven to be Mr Mr Trump passionately wants sensus exists because the White Duffey. that is undoubtedly a price worth Trump’s most formidable oppo- them to put the Bidens and other House refused to co-operate in Mr McConnell flatly refused. paying under the circumstances. nent. Democrats on trial instead of him, any way, most key witnesses re- Republicans want nothing to do If the Senate will not agree to a She never wanted to impeach but Senate majority leader Mitch fused to testify and no requested with fact-finding because what serious trial, Democrats can con- the president, preferring to focus McConnell has planned a short documents were provided. Many has already been established is tinue to investigate the president on defeating him in the election. process without any testimony key facts clearly remain undis - damning enough and they do not as he languishes under the shad- She understood that the Repub- by witnesses or new documents. covered. know what might be next. Addi- ow of impeachment. It ensures lican Senate majority has nev - During Bill Clinton’s impeach- Senate minority leader Chuck tional evidence could easily put that Mr Trump cannot have his er been prepared to remove Mr ment trial in 1999, such fact-find- Schumer requested testimony them in an impossible position. day in court –unless Democrats

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing MY IDEA OF GOOD COMPANY IS THE COMPANY OF CLEVER, WELL-IN- TODAY QUOTE FORMED PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GREAT 1815 1876 1893 1913 OF THE DEAL OF CONVERSATION; THAT IS DAY IN The novel Emma by Jane Austen First day of the Constantinople The opera Hansel and Gretel by The Federal Reserve Act is signed DAY WHAT I CALL GOOD COMPANY. HISTORY is first published. Conference which resulted in Engelbert Humperdinck is first into law by President Woodrow JANE AUSTEN agreement for political reforms performed. Wilson, creating the Federal Re- MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 in the Balkans. serve System.

the nation — financially, politically their own Shiite grassroots con- Like it or not and morally — ultimately proved stituents. Hizbollah’s Lebanese worthless. supporters are either in demoral- What doesn’t Lebanon’s economy is in free- ised denial, or have already begun fall. Over 10 per cent of Lebanese to re-evaluate their allegiances. TOP Assessors may be companies went out of business What of Hizbollah’s manufac- BARIA ALAMUDDIN in 2019, a further 22pc cut staff tured outrage over a spurious kill Lebanon’s by over 60pc, and the collapse of critical social media post? They TWEETS4 excused… re Lebanon’s leaders seek- several major corporations is just went on the rampage in Tripoli, ing to further provoke their around the corner. Those lucky attacked the home of a Sunni cler- long-suffering citizens? enough to retain their jobs have ic, and firebombed a Christmas 01 revolution AProtesters rail at Iranian in - had their salaries slashed. tree; do they believe such cartoon- terference, while foreign donors This is precisely why protesters ish gangsterism will endear them refuse to bankroll a militant-dom- must not back down now. If they to citizens? Of course not. inated regime — so the authorities return meekly to their homes, this This is Tehran’s “axis of resist- only makes it nominate a Hizbollah-favoured painful process will simply reig- ance” in its death throes, willing candidate to be prime minister. nite in the future — over and over to countenance dragging Lebanon P UNNIKRISHNAN Lebanese warn that their nation again. Protests are about forcing back toward sectarian strife in a is held hostage by violent and un- the state to embark on emergency final, desperate throw of the dice nthony Scaramuc- was waiting at the reception. A policeman came and verified my stronger? accountable paramilitaries — so surgery, cutting away decades of to cling on to power. Aci thinks that Pres. ID card. I could feel the blanket of fear embracing my body, from these same paramilitaries prove accumulated cancerous tissue to Lebanese genuinely fear a re- Trump would resign if I toe to head. A few policemen were walking around with some these claims true by escalating save the patient’s life. If Lebanon turn to civil war, or Hizbollah the Senate votes to hear handcuffed suspects. It seemed they were taking them to the courts their attacks on peaceful rallies. is simply put to bed with an as - returning to its favoured tactic witnesses from his cab- for their next hearing. Despite Hizbollah having People demand abolishment of pirin and a warm drink, the only of political assassinations, par- inet. “He’s gonna leave I was visiting a prison in the Kingdom for the very first time. the corrupt, sectarian system — so possible prognosis is a slow and ticularly following reports that before that testimony is And the purpose was to meet one of my friends, punished in a dud murdered his father, Saad the president stubbornly aims to painful death. the Quds Force commander Qa- brought. There is no way cheque case. force through a Cabinet appar- Lebanon’s entrenched political ssim Soleimani threatened to as- he can handle the heat of The prison guards were amicable. The environment was quiet, neat Hariri justified participation in ently chosen to alienate ordinary class in its entirety (“kilon yanni sassinate Iraqi cleric Muqtada that testimony.” and clean. In another few minutes, the guards would call me and tell Lebanese even more than its pre- kilon,” or “all of them means all Al Sadr if he continued to back @MSNBC me the exact time and booth number to meet my friend. previous Hizbollah-sponsored decessors did. of them,” as the protesters chant) protesters. I sat against a wall and could see my friend through a glass window. governments as the price to be In what some commentators has bled Lebanon white. In one balised by entities hostile to Leb- This is merely the darkness A veteran Western diplomat However, if people remain 02 There were microphones fixed on both sides to communicate. are describing as a “counter-revo- decade it plunged from 63rd to anon’s existence. The smuggling before the dawn if citizens commented to me that one of the steadfastly united, determined To my surprise, my friend looked quite happy and normal. He had paid for civil peace lution” against the protest move- 143rd place on the global Corrup- to Syria of over $1.7 billion in hard succeed in taking that final best hopes for Lebanon emerging and focused on their objectives, a new haircut and his face shone in the absence of a moustache. ment, Sunni politician Hassan tion Perceptions Index, and is thus currency, and the exploitation of from the current stand-off was if they can ultimately defeat these How are you? The first question flew out of my mouth. In the next Diab has been nominated as prime among the most corrupt kleptoc- Lebanon’s financial networks to leap of faith; abolishing France and its allies assertively in- malevolent attempts to terror- moment, I realised that it wasn’t an appropriate question to ask some- minister, having been wined and racies on the planet. One percent launder funds for Tehran, have the last vestiges of a hated tervened. Yet he feared that such ise, brutalise and humiliate them; one who’s behind bars, filled with stress, ambiguities and despair. dined by Gebran Bassil at the of the population hoards an esti- crippled the banking system. In- and predatory sectarian multilateral diplomatic action via whether through threats, violence “I am fine,” he smiled as he replied. “Now you look like Shahrukh presidential palace. Given the ex- mated 25 percent of the nation’s ternational sanctions resulting system that for too long the EU and UN would be forth- or political maneuvering, each Khan,” I said with an aim to melt the ice. pected boycott by the main Sunni, wealth, forcing penniless citizens from these abuses, and the reluc- has created only misery, coming only if there were wide- new attempt to kill off the revo- ast night I was so He laughed. “My blood sugar levels have come down, mainly be- Druze and Christian factions, the to shoulder a debt-to-GDP ratio of tance of Gulf investors to risk their poverty and national spread bloodletting perpetrated lution has only made protesters Lproud to have signed cause I am eating on time, sleeping on time, taking medicines on time resulting Cabinet is likely to be 150 percent, rendering debt-ser- wealth in this morass of criminali- isolation. by Hizbollah against Christian more determined. the largest Defense Bill and exercising daily. a bizarre mixture of nonentities vicing an intolerable burden. ty, have worsened the plight of this and minority communities. This is merely the darkness be- ever. The very vital Space “The food served here is one of the best I have ever had in my life. and Hizbollah acolytes. After two Bassil and Hizbollah leader erstwhile regional banking hub. The endgame may be some dis- fore the dawn if citizens succeed Force was created. New Frankly speaking, this break has been a quite rejuvenating one.” months of protests, citizens won’t Hassan Nasrallah blame protest- Lebanon’s modest population tance away, but in Iraq, Syria and in taking that final leap of faith; planes, ships, missiles, As he began speaking louder, one of the guards gave me a stare. It be placated or deceived by such ers for damaging the economy, during peak tourist seasons is ha- Lebanon, Iran’s hegemonic pro- abolishing the last vestiges of a rockets and equipment seemed the guard was seeking reasons behind my laughter. desperate, self-serving maneu- but the protests were the straw bitually dwarfed by the influx of ject can end only in failure. Recent hated and predatory sectarian sys- of every kind, and all I looked at my watch. I had many things on my ‘to do’ list; mainly vers. that broke the camel’s back after millions of Khaleejis, Westerners, events have burnt away the last tem that for too long has created made right here in the selling some of his properties, collecting details of Despite Hizbollah having mur- their criminal enterprises left the and Lebanon’s own vast diaspo- vestiges of support for Tehran’s only misery, poverty and national USA. Additionally, we got his receivables and strategies to negotiate with his dered his father, Saad Hariri justi- coffers empty. Even before the ra. Yet how can tourism flourish proaching 100 percent to below proxies. In Iraq, Ayatollah Sis - isolation. Border Wall (being built) All businessmen creditors. fied participation in previous Hiz- demonstrations, GDP growth av- when Beirut’s streets are teeming 10 percent. Everything inherently tani’s call for fresh Iraqi elections funding. Nice! “I can make only a few telephone calls every week. (Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning are supposed to be bollah-sponsored governments as eraged 0-0.3 percent and in recent with theocratic militants nois- precious has been trampled un- (if free and fair) would produce a journalist and broadcaster in the Middle @realDonaldTrump I have no access to Internet, that’s the only problem the price to be paid for civil peace. weeks the currency has lost 30 ily jostling for war with Israel? derfoot by the thugs and terrorists collapse in support for paramil- East and the UK. She is editor of the risk takers. They I have over here. Rest is quite fine.” Yet peace for its own sake, while percent of its value. Panicking hotel owners report a who have laboured to turn Leba- itary elements who have spent Media Services Syndicate and has inter- We engaged in serious discussions to resolve his Iran-aligned factions bankrupted The economy has been canni- collapse in occupancy from ap - non into a pariah state. the past two months massacring viewed numerous heads of state.) 03 provide jobs to ongoing troubles. I didn’t try to console him, as he people, boost the looked relaxed and comfortable. economy, increase I was overwhelmed to see the facilities inside the prison; impressed to see the best treatment received exports, innovate by inmates. I appreciate the highly civilised way in More Americans are starting to believe Trump puts his own interests before the country industries and which prisoners are treated. A guard offered me a cup of tea, and said: “Dear, n three days’ time it will introduce novel your time is over.” HUSSEIN IBISH Trump from office, no matter During Bill Clinton’s have theirs too. a majority, is so thin that he can Ibe #Christmas and my products to While driving home, the one-thought that haunted what facts emerge about him. impeachment trial in Mr Trump often chides and scarcely afford to lose any of it. thoughts go especially to me was whether we need a separate cell for people n Wednesday, the US However, her hand was forced mocks Democrats for pursuing Plainly feeling vulnerable, Mr families, who are reunit- customers only by like my friend, who got trapped because of the risk House of Representatives by Mr Trump himself when the 1999, such fact-finding his impeachment and claims all Trump appears more sensitive ed in these festive days. taking this risk. he took for enhancing his business. Oadopted two articles of White House released a summary didn’t happen because this will be helpful to him in the than ever to any potential devia- May Holy Christmas be Post-dated cheques (PDCs) are demanded every- impeachment against Donald of a July 25 telephone conver - an extensive record was 2020 election. tion from absolute loyalty. a fraternal time for every- where; be it car loans, leasing a hotel property or a Trump. So, the president has been sation with the newly elected already established and More often, though, he fulmi- In a serious blow, the leading one, one of growth in the short-term finance from financial institutions. impeached and there will now president of Ukraine, Volodymyr both sides agreed it would nates about how terribly unfair American evangelical magazine faith and of actions of sol- We often say ‘God willing’ before signing any big deals, which means be a trial in the Senate, correct? Zelenskiy, that appears to show have been a pointless waste this impeachment is, comparing it Christianity Today wrote in a idarity toward those who if everything goes fine we will be able to meet those commitments. Well, not so fast. In the Trump him leveraging US military aid of time. to a coup and worse. His Decem- scathing editorial that the pres- are in need. But when you submit a PDC we are confirming that even if we fail era, nothing is ever quite what to secure the announcement of ber 17 letter to Ms Pelosi is one of ident should be removed from @Pontifex with the Acts of God we assure you to settle our commitment without Even his loyal it seems. an investigation into the son of the most bizarre ever penned by office, calling him “a near perfect fail! Does it sound sensible? House speaker Nancy Pelosi leading Democratic presidential a US president. example of a human being who is 04 When we sign a PDC, we are strictly being blind about the uncertain- support base has suggested that she might not candidate Joe Biden. At the House impeachment de- morally lost and confused”. ty ahead. We are pledging an existing asset for a future uncertainty. formally forward the articles to That seemed such an appar - bate, his Republican allies tried To offset the impact that could We are confirming that we will fulfil our financial commitments even is beginning the Senate or name the House’s ently glaring abuse of power, to outdo each other in following have on his most loyal constitu- if we fail in the venture. How can we promise 100 per cent guarantee “managers” – or prosecutors – especially as investigations are his lead. ency, Mr Trump will inaugurate a on such deals? to fall out of until she is satisfied that the Sen- still ongoing into Russian med- One claimed Mr Trump had new “evangelicals for Trump” or- When you approach a bank for a loan or any financial assistance, ate will hold a serious proceeding. dling in the 2016 election, that Ms Ms Pelosi has hit on an art - fewer rights than the victims of ganisation on January 3 next year. you agree to abide by hundreds of clauses and sub-clauses. You need love with the By simply adopting the arti- Pelosi ran out of arguments and ful way of satisfying Democrats the Salem witch trials of 1692. Democrats will take significant a good credit rating, bank statement and most often a guarantor. ‘morally lost cles, the Democratic-led House of options. Almost every witness in without falling into a Republi - Another compared impeachment political hits for withholding im- We are now putting Despite all these, there is an insistence on presenting PDCs, which is Representatives did not automat- the House inquiry made matters can trap. Mr Trump has been im- to the Japanese attack on Pearl peachment articles. Mr McCon- “in the biggest invest- a negotiable instrument; something that is capable of taking a person and confused’ ically empower the Senate to take worse by emphasising that Mr peached but the House won’t let Harbour in 1941. One Trump ac- nell will probably breathe a sigh ment in the NHS in living to prison within a day, if he/she fails to honour it. over the process. Constitutional Trump sought a quid pro quo the Senate dismiss the entire mat- olyte even said Pontius Pilate had of relief. But Mr Trump will not. memory, but we have to All businessmen are supposed to be risk takers. They provide jobs US president lawyers are even abstrusely de- with Mr Zelenskiy. ter through a perfunctory proce- granted more due process to Je- The facts unearthed by the keep that investment go- to people, boost the economy, increase exports, innovate industries bating whether Mr Trump has As I have noted several times ing didn’t happen because an ex- from acting White House chief dure with a preordained outcome. sus before his crucifixion. impeachment inquiry and the ing.” — PM @BorisJohn- and introduce novel products to customers only by taking this risk. been impeached technically yet. in these pages, impeachment is tensive record was already es - of staff Mick Mulvaney, former This certainly intensifies the Clearly this is not actually help- president’s reactions have taken son thanked NHS staff I feel they need a separate court and separate legal procedure. They The move to withhold the ar- fraught with peril for Democrats tablished and both sides agreed national security adviser John appearance that Democrats are ful to Mr Trump. A growing body their toll. It would be a political for their incredible work should not be sent to a detention centre, but to a ‘correction centre’ ticles is risky but also politically because Senate Republicans can it would have been a pointless Bolton, White House aide Rob manoeuvring politically rather of polling data from the likes of blunder for Democrats not to try during a special recep- and must have minimum facilities including telephone and Internet masterful by Ms Pelosi, who has hold any kind of trial they want. waste of time. Today no such con- Blair and budget official Michael than ethically or patriotically. But Politico, Quinnipiac and even Fox to build on that foundation. tion at Downing Street connection. time and again proven to be Mr Mr Trump passionately wants sensus exists because the White Duffey. that is undoubtedly a price worth News suggests that more Ameri- The president is a master of this week. This will make us a more ‘business-friendly’ nation, where innova- Trump’s most formidable oppo- them to put the Bidens and other House refused to co-operate in Mr McConnell flatly refused. paying under the circumstances. cans now support impeachment, commanding the loyalty of his @10DowningStreet tions and creativity flourish, raising the living standards of everyone. nent. Democrats on trial instead of him, any way, most key witnesses re- Republicans want nothing to do If the Senate will not agree to a and even conviction and removal, base. But the growing indication Shahrukh Khan had said recently: “I don’t write cheques anymore She never wanted to impeach but Senate majority leader Mitch fused to testify and no requested with fact-finding because what serious trial, Democrats can con- than the number who oppose it. from those polls suggests that as I have a tendency to sign off ‘With Love Shahrukh’.” the president, preferring to focus McConnell has planned a short documents were provided. Many has already been established is tinue to investigate the president Before the impeachment inquiry the patience of many Americans Disclaimer: (Views expressed I think it’s time for us to find some random excuse like the one by on defeating him in the election. process without any testimony key facts clearly remain undis - damning enough and they do not as he languishes under the shad- began, the opposite was the case. is wearing thin, as more come to by columnists are personal and Mr SRK to avoid writing a Post-Dated Cheque! She understood that the Repub- by witnesses or new documents. covered. know what might be next. Addi- ow of impeachment. It ensures This is especially dangerous for believe that Mr Trump consist- need not necessarily reflect our lican Senate majority has nev - During Bill Clinton’s impeach- Senate minority leader Chuck tional evidence could easily put that Mr Trump cannot have his Mr Trump because his governing ently puts his own interests, and editorial stances) (P Unnikrishnan is the Chairman of the Management Board as well as Managing Director of The Daily Tribune) er been prepared to remove Mr ment trial in 1999, such fact-find- Schumer requested testimony them in an impossible position. day in court –unless Democrats coalition, which has never been not America, first.

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing 10 MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 business

Need public beaches, attractive events to boost hospitality and tourism sector: BCCI meeting

In pictures, the roundtable meeting for hotels, travel agencies, and events management companies held at Bait Al Tijjar

TDT | Manama ing. ing the sector, Amin told the The meeting, which delib - putting it to its true potential Moayed expressed the readiness The roundtable meeting for participants that the sector erated about the challenges during the meeting. of the authority to consolidate ack of public beaches, hotels, travel agencies, and is facing severe competition of hotels, travel agencies, and The meeting was held in the efforts to spur the hospitality attractive events, as well events management companies between hotels resulting in events management companies, presence of the Chief Execu - and tourism sector in Bahrain. Las severe competition be- were held by the hospitality and a drop in the average room recommended streamlining the tive Officer of Bahrain Tour- Al Moayed also shared the tween hotels in Bahrain have tourism committee of the Bah- rates. procedures for obtaining a visa ism and Exhibitions Authori- strategy of the authority and been identified as some of the rain Chamber of Commerce and He also identified “the lack for tourists. ty (BTEA) Nader Al Moayed highlighted important prospec- factors affecting the growth of Industry (BCCI) headed by Jehad of public beaches and attractive Jehad Amin vowed sparing and other officials from the tive projects including the new hospitality and tourism sector Ebrahim Amin at Bait Al Tijjar. events” among the factors affect- no effort to streamline the hos- authority. Exhibition and Convention here during a recent BCCI meet- On the key challenges fac - ing the sector. pitality and tourism sector, and In his regard, BTEA’s CEO Al Center in Sakheer.

UAE’s Brooge to start trading on Nasdaq today Reuters | Dubai

AE-based Brooge Petrole- Uum and Gas Investment Co (BPGIC) said it will start trading on New York’s Nas - daq stock exchange on Mon- day, following its merger with US company Twelve Seas Investment Co. Oil storage company BPGIC completed the merger on Fri- day, it said in a statement on Sunday, and its valuation now exceeds $1 billion. The merger and listing were Gulf Air, in partnership with Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, recently arranged a familiarisation trip for aimed at establishing a global members of Southall Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the UK. The trip took place earlier this month and presence with access to liquid BPGIC, which was set up in 2013, is one of the largest holders of oil storage guests had the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art Gulf Air aircraft and use the airline’s Falcon Gold lounge markets that could support the in Bahrain International Airport. During their time in Bahrain, Southall management visited some of Bahrain’s most assets in Fujairah. company’s expansion plans, BP- notable touristic attractions and landmarks and enjoyed staying and visiting some of the Kingdom’s top hotels to fully understand the leisure and MICE facilities of the Kingdom. The trip served as a comprehensive overview to the guests to GIC said. In September, BPGIC awarded key shipping lane. experience what the Kingdom of Bahrain has to offer as a boutique destination to the European market. Southall Travel BPGIC, which was set up in a contract to Spain’s SENER en- The plant will produce bun- Group is one of the largest travel companies in the United Kingdom and one of the top sellers of Bahrain holidays to 2013, is one of the largest hold- gineering group to build an oil ker fuel that complies with new the UK market. It has sold more than 4,000 inbound tourist packages to the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2018 with growing ers of oil storage assets in Fu- refinery in Fujairah, located just international laws capping sul- numbers in 2019. jairah. outside the Strait of Hormuz, a fur content in shipping fuels.

K Hotel National Day celebration

The K Hotel team gathered at the hotel’s lobby to celebrate Bahrain’s 48th National Day in the presence of the hotel’s management, in-house guest and associates. Following Bahrain National anthem, a Bahrain flat cake was cut on the occasion as part of the celebrations MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 11 W.African nations rename common currency AFP | Abidjan francs into euros and facilitates stand the thinking behind the ight West African coun- inter-zone transfers. currency plan but believe it is tries Saturday agreed to CFA notes and coins are print- unrealistic and could even be Echange the name of their ed and minted at a Bank of dangerous for the region’s econ- common currency to Eco and France facility in the southern omies which are dominated by severed the CFA franc’s links to town of Chamalieres. KNOW WHAT one single country, Nigeria, former colonial ruler France. The CFA franc, created in 1945, which accounts for two-thirds Benin, Burkina Faso, Guin- was seen by many as a sign of of the region’s economic output. ea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, French interference in its for- Nigeria’s Finance Minister Niger, Senegal and Togo cur- mer African colonies even after The CFA franc was initial- Zainab Ahmed said “there’s still rently use the currency. All the the countries became independ- ly pegged to the French more work that we need to do countries are former French ent. franc and has been individually to meet the conver- colonies with the exception of The Economic Community linked to the euro for gence criteria”. Guinea-Bissau. of West African States regional about two decades. ECOWAS was set up in 1975 and The announcement was made bloc, known as ECOWAS, earli- comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Saturday during a visit by French er Saturday urged members to Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, President Emmanuel Macron to push on with efforts to establish Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Ivory Coast, the world’s top co- The CFA franc was initially pegged to the French franc and has been linked to the a common currency, optimisti- Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Ni- coa producer and France’s for- euro for about two decades cally slated to launch next year. geria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and mer main colony in West Africa. The bloc insists it is aiming to Togo -- representing a total pop- Ivory Coast President Alas- of French governance” in any a fixed rate of 655.96 CFA francs have the Eco in place in 2020, ulation of around 385 million. sane Ouattara, speaking in the aspect related to the currency. to one euro. but almost none of the 15 coun- Eight of them currently use country’s economic capital Macron hailed it as a “historic The Bank of France holds half tries in the group currently meet gional leaders in the Nigerian the CFA franc, moored to the Abidjan, announced “three ma- reform”, adding: “The Eco will of the currency’s total reserves, criteria to join. capital Abuja. single European currency and jor changes”. see the light of day in 2020.” but France does not make money The key demands for entry are gathered in an organisation These included “a change of The deal took six months in on its deposits stewardship, an- Stumbling blocks to have a deficit of less than 3 called the West African Mone- name” of the currency, he said, the making, a French source nually paying a ceiling interest ECOWAS “urges member states percent of gross domestic prod- tary Union, or WAMU. adding that the others would be said. rate of 0.75 per cent to member to continue efforts to meet the uct, inflation of 10 percent or But the seven other ECOWAS “stopping holding 50 percent The CFA franc’s value was states. convergence criteria”, commis- under and debts worth less than countries have their own cur- of the reserves in the French moored to the euro after its in- The arrangement guarantees sion chief Jean-Claude Kassi 70pc of GDP. rencies, none of them freely con- Treasury” and the “withdrawal troduction two decades ago, at unlimited convertibility of CFA Brou said after a summit of re- Economists say they under- vertible.

Trump slams impeachment Russia’s Gazprom pays $2.9 delay as ‘so unfair’ bn to settle Ukraine dispute Moscow and that the minimum guaran- ussian energy giant Gaz- teed volume will be 65 billion prom has agreed to pay cubic metres in the first year R$2.9 billion to its Ukrain- and 40 billion in the following ian counterpart Naftogaz to set- four years. tle a long-running dispute over The deal was reached at transit fees for gas transported three-way talks between Kiev, U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Turning Point USA to Europe, Russian news agen- Moscow and the European Un- Student Action Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West cies reported. ion on Thursday and Friday. Palm Beach, Florida According to the reports, Transit problems for Russian Gazprom chief Alexei Miller gas began after the fall of the So- Reuters | West Palm beach the evidence in an impartial Russian energy giant Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart Naftogaz will accepted the settlement -- orig- settle a long-running dispute over transit fees for gas transported to Europe viet Union when an independ- manner. inally ordered by an arbitration ent Ukraine won control of the resident Donald Trump on Pelosi has not yet sent the court in Stockholm in February deadline. that in return for the payment pipeline infrastructure. PSaturday criticised House impeachment package to the 2018 -- after both sides reached The current gas transit con- -- which is to be made before Several supply crises fol - of Representatives Speaker Senate in a bid to increase an agreement in principle last tract between the two ex-Sovi- the end of the year -- Naftogaz lowed, with Russia using gas as Nancy Pelosi for holding off pressure on Republicans week on the transit of Russian et countries expires at the end had agreed to drop all other le- a weapon against Ukraine and on sending the articles of im- there. Pelosi has also not yet gas to Europe. of the year and ties between gal action. cutting supplies repeatedly in peachment against him to the announced the managers, or Earlier this week, Moscow them have been strained since That information was con- 1992, 1993 and 1994. Senate. prosecutors, who will present and Kiev signed a preliminary Moscow annexed Crimea in firmed by Ukraine’s Energy The current contract between “It’s so unfair,” Trump said, evidence in the trial. deal on the transit of Russian 2014 and supported a sep - Minister Oleksiy Orzhel at a Russia and Ukraine was signed days after he was impeached “Until the House gets a gas to Europe via Ukraine, af- aratist insurgency in eastern news conference in Kiev. following the last gas crisis by the House, during a speech clearer picture of what a Sen- ter months of difficult talks but Ukraine. Orzhel said the gas transit which ended up disrupting Eu- to conservative student group ate trial will look like, the ahead of the looming New Year Gazprom CEO Miller said deal would run for five years ropean supplies in 2010. Turning Point USA, saying that Speaker will not be in the po- Pelosi adopted the strategy be- sition to appoint managers and cause she has “no case.” take the next steps in holding “They are violating the Con- this President accountable and stitution,” Trump said, calling ensuring the Senate fulfills its Gulf Hotels Group donation Pelosi “crazy Nancy.” constitutional duty,” Pelosi’s The Democratic-controlled office said in a statement on House voted on Dec. 18 to im- Saturday. peach Trump, setting the stage Pelosi’s office said senators for a trial in the Senate. Trump have a constitutional obliga- is very unlikely to be convicted tion to conduct a “fair process and removed from office by the that provides both the Sena- upper chamber of Congress tors, who will act as jurors, and because it is controlled by his the public with the opportuni- Republican Party. A two-thirds ty to understand the full extent majority vote in the Senate of President Trump’s abuse of is needed for a conviction on power.” impeachment charges. Trump is accused of abus- Republicans and Democrats ing his power by holding back are at loggerheads over how $391 million in security aid the trial will play out. Pelosi to Ukraine in an effort to get and other Democrats want to Kiev to announce a corruption call top Trump aides as wit- investigation of former Vice nesses and are seeking assur- President Joe Biden, a leading ances that the trial will be held candidate for the Democratic on terms they consider fair. nomination to face Trump in Senate Republican leader the November 2020 election. Mitch McConnell has said he The president is also charged is working in tandem with the with obstruction of Congress White House on trial prepa- for directing administration Dr Issa Mohamed Amin, Chairman of the Bahrain Historical & Archeological Society, received Gulf Hotels Group contribution in supporting the activities of the rations, drawing accusations officials and agencies not to Society. The donation was presented by Garfield Jones, CEO of the Gulf Hotels to Dr Amin as part of the Group’s belief in the importance of the services provided by from Democrats that he is ig- cooperate with the impeach- the Society. noring his duty to consider ment inquiry. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 12 Whey they say, ‘do not sell our data’ As US Congress delays on privacy, California law in focus

records, student data, banking she said. “If you look at their The new law dan financial information and budget, it’s not possible to en- more, and that legislation should force the law.” stems from a be based on the degree of sensi- Looking ahead, California tivity of the data. voters are to consider a ballot widespread “All data is not equal,” she said. initiative in 2020 which would Layton said the large online include even stronger privacy effort to rein platforms such as Facebook and protections for “sensitive” cat- Google will be ready to comply egories of data such as geoloca- in practices with CCPA but that the law could tion and social security numbers. over handling hurt small firms and organiza- Michelle Richardson, direc- tions. tor of privacy at the Center for on online “I wouldn’t expect even 50 Democracy and Technology percent compliance,” Layton said that despite the lack of ac- consumer data said, adding that California au- tion in Congress on legislation, thorities will face a complicated lawmakers have been working after years of task trying to enforce its new law behind the scenes to seek a con- nationally on firms which may sensus. breaches and have customers in the western “I think there will be signifi- state. cant work next year on a privacy abuses that Layton added that even bill,” she said. though much of the ire around The House Energy and Com- have made privacy has been directed at merce Committee said this Facebook, the huge social net- month its staff has come up with headlines Facebook has said it will be in compliance with the new California Consumer Privacy Act, but some analysts say smaller work may not face penalties in a “bipartisan discussion draft” firms will face high costs California because it has already which could form the basis of a settled with federal authorities, new law. AFP | Washington consider their own protections “The centerpiece of CCPA is Enterprise Institute scholar who paying a $5 billion penalty. “This draft seeks to protect and some in Congress pledge a requirement that companies focuses on internet regulation, Pressure is mounting on Con- consumers while also giving s US lawmakers head action when lawmakers return display a prominent link to say warned that the cost of CCPA gress to step in with a national data collectors clear rules of the home without agreeing in 2020. ‘do not sell my data,’” he said. compliance will be high, with law that could “pre-empt” the road,” a committee spokesman Aon consumer privacy leg- “There’s definitely going to be “It’s always good to give peo- estimates as high as $55 billion, various state laws with a single said. “It reflects many months islation, a new California law is a lot of confusion in the short ple choices and this is a clear and and that benefits may be elusive. standard, according to Layton. of hard work and close collabo- set to become the de facto na- term with all the different laws,” prominent choice about data She noted that a variety of US “I think California wants to be ration between Democratic and tional standard, potentially leav- said Daniel Castro of the Infor- sale which is one of the prac- laws cover privacy for medical saved from itself by Congress,” Republican Committee staff.” ing consumers and businesses mation Technology and Innova- tices that is most top of mind to confused over rules for personal tion Foundation, a think tank in consumers.” data collection and protection. Washington often aligned with This “opt out” approach dif- The statute becomes effective the tech sector. fers from GDPR which requires January 1, covering most entities “What we’re likely to see is a consent to collect and use data, doing business in California, just domino effect with other states according to Verdi. months after enforcement be- copying California, and that’s But many questions remain gan for Europe’s General Data a big concern for industry. You about how California author- Protection Regulation, which af- have firms that have already im- ities will handle enforcement, fects many US online operations. plemented GDPR and they have set to begin in mid-2020, notably The new law stems from to do all these processes again.” which companies may face tar- a widespread effort to rein in geting and how officials define practices over handling on on- ‘Do not sell’ option “selling.” line consumer data after years Still, some activists say the Verdi said a number of free of breaches and abuses that have California law will lead to im- services such as streaming mu- made headlines. provements on privacy, includ- sic or online mapping might be For much of the year, the US ing giving consumers the right based on data exchanges which Congress debated efforts to to access and delete data held by could under some circumstances draft a national privacy law that online services. be interpreted as a “sale.” would avoid multiple standards The law known as the Cali- The new law, he said “poses but failed to come up with a bill fornia Consumer Privacy Act challenges to companies that before the clock ran out for 2019. “is the broadest, most impactful offer data-driven services.” As a result, most companies privacy law in recent memory,” with an online presence are said John Verdi of the Future Cost of compliance, rushing to comply with the Cal- of Privacy Forum, a think tank enforcement Pressure has mounted on US lawmakers to pass consumer data protection legislation following a long list of breaches ifornia law even as other states focused on data protection. Roslyn Layton, an American (representative picture) Trump says trade Donald Trump invites Britain’s Boris deal with China to be Johnson to White House in new year Reuters signed ‘very shortly’ Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in the British S President Donald Trump parliament on Friday, the first Uhas invited British Prime step towards fulfilling his elec- Minister Boris Johnson to visit tion pledge to deliver Britain’s him in the White House in the departure from the European new year, British media report- Union by Jan. 31. ed yesterday. As Britain prepares to leave Trump’s invitation was made the bloc, Johnson and Trump after the British prime minis- agreed in a phone call last Mon- China’s President Xi Jinping with US President Donald Trump (file) ter’s election win this month, day to pursue an “ambitious” Reuters | West Palm Beach, The Sunday Times newspa - UK-U.S. free trade agreement. Fla. war between the world’s two per reported. Britain wants to After Johnson’s election win largest economies, which has strike a new trade deal with the on Dec. 12, Trump had said Brit- resident Donald Trump on roiled markets and hit global United States after it leaves the ain and the United States were PSaturday said the United growth. European Union at the end of now free to strike a “massive” States and China would “very Under the deal, the United January. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with U.S. President new trade deal after Brexit. shortly” sign their so-called States would agree to reduce “Some potential dates have Donald Trump during a welcoming ceremony at the NATO leaders summit in “This deal has the potential Phase One trade pact. some tariffs in exchange for a been floated in mid-January but Watford, Britain to be far bigger and more lu - “We just achieved a break- big jump in Chinese purchases nothing has yet been formally it on Jan. 31 and would prefer of talks of a post-Brexit trade crative than any deal that could through on the trade deal of American farm products. agreed. But it is clear that both to go after a cabinet reshuffle deal, according to the report. be made with the EU,” Trump and we will be signing it very Treasury Secretary Steven sides want to make it happen scheduled in February, when he Some Downing Street insid- had said in a tweet earlier this shortly,” Trump said at a Turn- Mnuchin said last week the some time in early 2020,” the is expected to appoint cabinet ers, however, have concerns month. ing Point USA event in Florida. pact would be signed in early Sunday Times quoted a source office minister Michael Gove about a visit by Johnson due to The White House and Down- The Phase One deal was an- January, saying that the deal close to the White House as as his new trade negotiator, The fears the prime minister could ing Street did not immediately nounced earlier this month had already been translated saying. Mail on Sunday reported. be dragged into Trump’s ongo- respond to requests for com- as part of a bid to end the and was just undergoing a Johnson is reluctant to make That could allow Johnson to ing impeachment proceedings, ment on the reported invitation months-long tit-for-tat trade technical “scrub.” the visit before delivering Brex- take Gove on the U.S. visit ahead the Sunday Times reported. to Johnson. 13 MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

(PATI PATNI AUR WOH (PG-15)(HINDI/COMEDY/ROMANTIC م (INTO THE ASHES (PG-15)(DRAMA/CRIME/THRILLER) FROZEN 2 (PG)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY SEEF (II):11.00 AM + 3.15 + 7.30 + 11.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 10.45 AM + 1.00 + 3.15 + 5.30 + 7.45 + 10.00 OASIS JUFFAIR : 3.15 + 8.30 PM PM LUKE GRIMES, ROBERT TAYLOR (VII), JAMES BADGE DALE CITY CENTRE: 11.15 AM + 12.15 + 1.30 + 2.30 + 3.45 + 4.45 + 6.00 + 7.00 + 8.15 KARTIK AARYAN, BHUMI PEDNEKAR, ANANYA PANDAY + 9.15 + 10.30 + 11.30PM GO FISH (G)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE) SEEF (II):11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM MAMANGAM (PG-13)(MALAYALAM) SEEF (II): 1.15 + 5.00 + 8.45 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.45 AM + 4.30 + 9.15 PM OASIS JUFFAIR :10.30 AM + 1.30 + 4.30 + 7.30 + 10.30 PM ELIJAH DHAVVAN, JUSTINE EZARIK, MARK HAMILL KRISTEN BELL, IDINA MENZEL, JOSH GAD SEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM AL HAMRA:11.45 AM + (12.00 MN THURS./FRI) I SEE YOU (PG-15)(THRILLER/CRIME/DRAMA) MAMMOOTTY, UNNI MUKUNDAN, NEERAJ MADHAV, PRACHI TEHIAN CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 2.15 + 4.30 + 6.45 + 9.00 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 + 9.45 PM + 12.00 MN KETYOLANU ENTE MALAKHA (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) WADI AL SAIL:1.30 + 6.45 PM + 12.00 MN OASIS JUFFAIR : 12.30 + 5.45 + 11.00 PM HELEN HUNT, JON TENNEY, JUDAH LEWIS ASIF ALI, VEENA NANDAKUMAR BOONIE BEARS: BLAST INTO THE PAST (G) RULER (TELUGU) SEEF (II): 11.15 AM + 3.00 + 6.45 PM From Friday 20th onwards CHRIS BOIKE, JOSEPH S. LAMBERT, SIOBHAN LUMSDEN SEEF (I): 12.15 + 5.45 PM BALAKRISHNA, SONAL CHAUHAN THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS WITCH (PG) SEEF (II): 1.15 + 5.30 + 9.45 PM HERO (PG-15)(TAMIL) PAOLA CORTELLESI, STEFANO FRESI, FAUSTO MARIA SCIARAPPA From Thursday 8.30 pm onwards OASIS JUFFAIR :3.00 + 8.30 PM SEEF (I): 10.45 AM + 2.00 + 5.15 + 8.30 + 11.45 PM ممممممم ممممم(JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL (PG-15 WADI AL SAIL: 11.00 AM + 5.00 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM AL HAMRA:2.45 + 8.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 1.45 + 7.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM + (12.45 MN THURS/FRI) SIVAKARTHIKEYAN, ARJUN, ABHAY DEOL, KALYANI PRIYADARSHAN CITY CENTRE (ATMOS):10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN CITY CENTRE (3D) : 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM م (CITY CENTRE (VIP II) : 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM 21 BRIDGES (PG-15)(CRIME/ACTION/THRILLER SEEF (I) : 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN CITY CENTRE: 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II)12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) SEEF (II):11.00 AM + 4.15 + 9.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM CHADWICK BOSEMAN, SIENNA MILLER, STEPHAN JAMES DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK BLACK, KEVIN HART STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG-13) م (MARDAANI 2 (PG-15)(HINDI/CRIME/THRILLER DRAMA OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR :12.45 + 6.15 + 11.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 10.45 AM + 4.30 + 10.15 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 3.00 + 6.00 + 9..00 PM + 12.00 MN RANI MUKERJI, SHRUTI BAPNA, RAJESH SHARMA CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D) :11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM م (CITY CENTRE (3D) :12.30 + 3.30 + 6.30 + 9.30 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) KNIVES OUT (PG-15)(CRIME/COMEDY/THRILLER CITY CENTRE (VIP I) :11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II) :11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM DANIEL CRAIG, CHRIS EVANS, ANA DE ARMAS WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 3.45 + 9.00 PM DAISY RIDLEY, MARK HAMILL, ADAM DRIVER MALEFICENT 2: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG)(ADVENTURE CITY CENTRE:10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.30 + 6.00 + 8.30 + 11.00 PM DABANGG 3 (PG-15)(HINDI/ACTION/COMEDY) ANGELINA JOLIE, TERESA MAHONEY, MICHELLE PFEIFFER OASIS JUFFAIR : 10.30 AM + 1.45 + 5.00 + 8.15 + 11.30 PM مممممم (CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 6.00 + 8.15 + 9.15 + JOKER (15+)(THRILLER/CRIME/DRAMA 11.30 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) THAMBI (PG-13)(TAMIL) SEEF (I): 10.30 AM + 11.30 +1.45 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 6.00 + 8.15 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 10.45 AM + 1.15 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) From Thursday at 7.30 pm onwards SEEF (II): 10.30 PM JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ZAZIE BEETZ, ROBERT DE NIRO OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.45 + 6.00 + 11.15 PM WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 1.45 + 5.00 + 8.15 + 11.30 PM LE MANS ‘66 (PG-13)(DRAMA/SPORT/BIOGRAPHY) SEEF (I): 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PM SALMAN KHAN, SONAKSHI SINHA, WARINA HUSSAIN WADI AL SAIL: 2.15 + 8.15 PM CITY CENTRE: 2.45 + 8.30 PM AL HAMRA: 6.00 PM SEEF (II):1.15 + 6.30 + 11.45 PM BOMBSHELL (18+)(DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY) KARTHI, JYOTHIKA, SATHYARAJ OASIS JUFFAIR : 10.30 AM + 3.30 + 8.45 PM MATT DAMON, CHRISTIAN BALE, JON BERNTHAL PRATI ROJU PANDAAGE (TELUGU) CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM MIRACLE IN CELL NO . 7 (PG-15)(TURKISH/DRAMA) SEEF (II): 11.30 AM + 2.00 + 4.30 + 7.00 + 9.30 PM + 12.00 MN From Friday 20th onwards WADI AL SAIL: 2.00 + 6.45 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE:12.00 + 5.45 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 3.00 PM CHARLIZE THERON, NICOLE KIDMAN, MARGOT ROBBIE ARAS BULUT İYNEMLİ, NİSA SOFİYA AKSONGUR, İLKER AKSUM RAASHI KHANNA, SATHYARAJ, SAI DHARAM TEJ

MOVIE REVIEW Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: a perfectly imperfect last chapter Episode IX won’t be all things to all fans, but it’s a fine and fitting end to the Skywalker saga

The BBC’s Nicholas Barber Death is not the wrote that “the film is well act- • ed, it looks so good that there end in new trilogy’s is bound to be a fabulous tie-in laborious exit coffee-table book of concept art, DON’T MISS IT and it has a positive message Some familiar – about never giving up hope. But and• some surprising the main feeling it instils in the viewer is a renewed respect for – franchise favourites Flying stormtroopers, the imagination of Lucas. The return for a final fling in lightsaber duels and a Rise of Skywalker has been lov- JJ Abrams’s whoppingly resurrected evil lord … ingly crafted by a host of talented comprehensive the hugely entertaining people, and yet the best they can final episode in the do is pay tribute to everything he galaxy quest did several decades ago.” nine-film saga brims Richard Roeper, reviewing for tar Wars: The Rise of Sky- with euphoric energy the Chicago Sun-Times, gave walker (also known as Star the film three stars out of four, SWars: Episode IX – The stating, “The Rise of Skywalker Rise of Skywalker) is a 2019 Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley as Rey in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ rarely comes close to touching American epic space-opera one can be excused for checking greatness, but it’s a solid, vis- film produced, co-written, and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pic- matoes reported an approval rat- out of 100 based on 58 critics, out on the particulars of what’s ually dazzling and warmhearted directed by J. J. Abrams. It is tures. The film’s ensemble cast ing of 57% based on 343 reviews, indicating “mixed or average going on at a given moment and victory for the Force of quality the third installment of the Star includes Carrie Fisher, Mark with an average rating of 6.23/10. reviews”. why in favour of just going along filmmaking.” Wars sequel trilogy, following Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ri- The website’s critics consensus Todd McCarthy of The Hol- for the amusement park ride.” Owen Gleiberman of Variety The Force Awakens (2015) and dley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, reads: “Star Wars: The Rise of lywood Reporter praised the For The A.V. Club, A. A. Dowd praised the film as “the most The Last Jedi (2017), and the Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ack- Skywalker suffers from a frus- visual aspects, but criticized the gave the film a C+, writing that elegant, emotionally rounded, final episode of the nine-part ie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard trating lack of imagination, but storytelling, writing, “A plot like the film “is so freighted with ob- and gratifying Star Wars adven- “Skywalker saga”. E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri concludes this beloved saga with this, featuring so many charac- ligation that it almost groans un- ture since the glory days of Star It was produced by Lucas - Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly fan-focused devotion.” ters, locations and story dynam- der the weight, flashing a weak Wars and The Empire Strikes film and Abrams’s production Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, and Metacritic, another review ics, can by nature be confusing; smile as it vaguely approximates Back”, but added that “given the company Bad Robot Produc- Billy Dee Williams. aggregator, assigned the film a so relentless is the pileup of in- the appearance of a zippy good last eight films, the bar isn’t that tions, and was distributed by Review aggregator Rotten To- weighted average score of 54 cident that, at a certain point, time”. high”. 14 MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma

Gabriella Brooks

Hilary Duff marries fiance Matthew Koma Los An- Los Angeles geles ctor Liam inger-actress Hilary Duff mar- Hemsworth is ried Matthew Koma in an in- Areportedly enjoy- Stimate ceremony at their Los ing spending time with model Angeles house after a seven-month Gabriella Brooks, and that the engagement. “Hunger Games” star is “hap- “It was a love-fest - a small and py to be moving on” amid his intimate ceremony at her house divorce from singer-actress with friends and family,” a source Miley Cyrus. told Just Jared of their wedding “Liam feels comfortable ceremony on Saturday, reports with Gabriella,” a source dailymail.co.uk. told usmagazine.com The actress’’ hair stylist of the 21-year-old Aus- Jessica Paster teased a tralian model who was wedding on Instagram spotted having lunch the day they said “I with Liam and his par- do”. She posted a ents in Australia on De- bouquet of flowers cember 13. writing: “Winter sol- In photos, the actor’s stice...A day of luv.” parents, Craig and Leo- Duff began dating nie Hemsworth, were the songwriter in January 2017, a year after her divorce from Mike Comrie was finalised, two years after separating. She and Comrie have a son named Luca. Duff and Koma welcomed a daughter, Banks, in October 2018 and announced their engagement in May this year. spotted greeting Brooks with hugs and smiles. “His family approves of her and really likes her, which is very important to him,” the source Katy Actress Lysette Anthony accuses added. Perry looks The sighting comes two months Weinstein of multiple rape after Liam was spotted making out divine on Vogue London with Maddison Brown during a date night in New York on October 11. India’s cover ctress Lysette Anthony “Liam and Maddison weren’t that serious Liam Hemsworth Los Angeles has accused disgraced for- and were mainly having fun together,” the Amer film executive Harvey source said. merican singer-song- Weinstein of raping her more Liam and Cyrus had split in August after being married for almost Awriter Katy Perry stole than once. eight months. Liam filed for divorce from Cyrus just 11 days the show as the cover girl of The 56-year-old, who after she confirmed their break-up. “He’s not upset with Vogue India’s January 2020 stars in the soap “Holly- Miley, but is happy to be moving on,” the edition. oaks”, spoke out against the Harvey Weinstein source said. A proud Katty Perry shared disgraced movie mogul back in 2017, telling a motion poster of the cov- The Sunday Times newspaper she was at- er on her Twitter handle on tacked by Weinstein in London in the 1980s, Sunday along with a caption reports aceshowbiz.com. Elizabeth Hurley that read, In her firstTV interview about the incident on “2020 is December 20, she said that he raped her keeps her body already on two occasions -- first in her home so bright - here and then in a hotel during the not every Cannes Film Festival. fit by doing gal gets The TV actress also feared to com- not being believed and manual labour memorate thought she might lose her London their trip husband if she came for- Joshua Jackson and Jodie to India with a cover of @ ward. Turner-Smith VOGUEIndia Proud to be part However, Anthony now ctress Elizabeth Hurley relies on of the January sustainability wants to see her former manual labour to keep body her fit Los Angeles issue!” “so-called friend”, who Aand healthy even after 50. The motion poster saw the has been accused of sex- The “Permanent Midnight” actress says he private couple 35-year-old singer in state- ual misconduct by over 70 her fit body has nothing to do with hitting TJoshua Jackson and ment jewellery and a heavily women, found guilty of rape the gym and is instead the result of per- Jodie Turner-Smith’s studded outfit, with her mid- when he faces trial on multi- forming all kinds of chores inside and out- relationship status has dle-parted hair braided with ple sexual assault charges on side the house, reports aceshowbiz.com. now officially been colourful ribbons. January 6, 2020. “To be honest, I don’t do any exercise, confirmed as husband per se, but I’m extremely active, be - and wife. cause for me, I’ve always found when US Weekly con - CLASSIFIEDS you look around, the best bodies are firmed the news on manual labourers,” Hurley said on about the couple’s NAME CHANGE the US breakfast show “Good Morning marriage whose America”. relationship got to I, SHIVADASAN “I use a chainsaw, I use a hedge trim - see the light of the PILLAI VENUGOPAL, mer,” the 54-year-old said. day back in August this S/O SHIVADASAN PILLAI, “You burn a ton of calories, and you’’re year when the British mod- holding Indian passport No. using everything (every muscle in your el-actor posted an intimate Z4842879, issued at Manama, body), and you’ve cut the hedge, so I Instagram photo of herself Bahrain, currently residing at recommend people just being more with the Canadian actor, Flat 1, Building 1392, Road 1234, active: run up the stairs a lot, never take along with the caption: Manama 312, the elevator,” she added. “Two people who only fancy Kingdom of Bahrain. each other a little bit.” Permanent Address: The couple officially con- KANNACHAMKATTU HOUSE, firmed their relationship KURUPPAMKULANGARA with their red carpet debut P.O., CHERTHALA TALUK, SITUATION VACANT last month at the Queen DIST:ALAPPUZHA, KERALA & Slim premiere in Holly- 688539, INDIA will be Cooks for Kerala, wood. henceforth be known as (given Indian Chinese, Tandoori, The pair who got spotted names) Venugopal Shivadasan, Chapatti and Cleaners for earlier in summer reported- (surname) Pillai. Objection(s), if a Multicuisine Restaurant ly got what appeared to be a any, may contact Embassy of required. Send your CV t o : marriage license that they India, P.O Box 26106, [email protected]/ carried out of the building Al Seef, Kingdom of Bahrain 36045118. in a yellow envelope. 15 MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 sports

Kohli stars as India hold nerve to win ODI series BIC hosts twice the thrills AFP | Cuttack, India

kipper Virat Kohli smashed S85 to help India pull off a nervous chase of 316 to win with Drag and Drift Nights the third one-day international by four wickets against West Indies and clinch the series on TDT | Manama Sunday. India relied on a key 58-run otorsport fans can sixth-wicket stand between once again enjoy dou- Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, Mble the thrills on today unbeaten on 39 off 31 balls, to as Bahrain International Circuit achieve their target with eight (BIC) hosts the latest edition of balls to spare in Cuttack. the Ebrahim K Kanoo Drag and Paceman Keemo Paul Drift Nights at its premises in claimed three wickets, includ- Sakhir. ing that of Kohli in the 47th One of the most popular ac- over, before Jadeja and Shardul India’s captain Virat Kohli plays a tivities on offer at “The Home of shot Thakur, 17 not out, took the Motorsport in the Middle East”, team home and to a 2-1 series Pooran hit an attacking 89 to Drag and Drift Nights give par- win. pulverise the Indian bowling in ticipants the chance to take their A car in action at BIC “Having done it so many the last 10 overs that produced very own cars or motorbikes and times, you obviously have a bit 118 runs for the West Indies. push them to their limit. This wide Network, and it is where ed by safety barriers. It is the can be done on site from 5pm, more calmness and you un - In response Kohli, who made can be done either down BIC’s some of the region’s best drag largest open tarmac area in and the action will be held from derstand how the dew is play- India bowl first after winning world-class drag strip or around racers go head to head in the Bahrain. 6pm to 11pm. ing and all you need is a short the toss, batted with conviction the circuit’s Vehicle Dynamics national championship. Both the drag and the drifting Those who would like to ex- partnership,” said Kohli, who despite wickets falling from Area, or even both. The Vehicle Dynamics Area, can be enjoyed for a single fee of perience the drag or drift as a was named man of the match. the other end to make the sec- BIC’s drag strip is a member meanwhile, is a specially con- BD10.500. Participation in just passenger can get into a partic- “It was outstanding to see ond-ranked ODI side finish the of the prestigious National Hot figured facility at BIC’s car the drag racing or just the drift- ipant’s car for an additional BD4. others finishing the game. I year on a high. Rod Association (NHRA) World- park that has been surround- ing costs BD7.500. Registration Spectators can purchase tickets had a nervous look when Jason Holder got Sharma for BD2 apiece. I walked back, but when I caught behind and Alzarri Jo- Also as part of the evening’s watched ‘Jaddu’ (Jadeja) he seph sent Rahul trudging back BETTER drag racing programme, BIC is looked very confident.” to the pavilion after his second offering the immensely thrilling Rohit Sharma, who made 63, successive score of 50 plus. He Dragster Xperience. This is one and KL Rahul, on 77, laid the made 102 in India’s series-lev- KNOW of the circuit’s most unique and foundation of the team’s chase elling second ODI. ultimate-adrenaline activities, with an opening partnership But Kohli kept up the at - as it gives participants a taste of 122 after the West Indies tack during his 81-ball knock of pure speed as they are taken posted 315 for five. despite wickets falling at the The Vehicle Dynamics from zero to 100kph in just one West Indies skipper Kieron other end before chopping a Area is a specially con- second while seated in a Top Pollard and Nicholas Pooran wide delivery on the off side figured facility at BIC’s Dragster. The Dragster Experi- put together 135 runs for the onto his stumps. car park that has been ence costs BD42. fifth wicket to lift their side Thakur then hit two fours surrounded by safety Safety standards of the high- from 144 for four to a fighting and a six in his six-ball cameo barriers. It is the larg- est level are followed at all times total. to bring the packed house back during the evening’s events for Pollard remained unbeat- to life as he celebrated the win est open tarmac area in both drivers and spectators en on 74 off 51 deliveries after with Jadeja. A car on track at BIC Bahrain alike.

Mendy vows Man Ilicic nets twice as Atalanta destroy AC Milan City won’t give up title fight AFP | Milan AFP | London lovenia international Josip SIlicic scored two terrific anchester City goals as Atalanta demolished AC We have to work and defender Benja- Milan 5-0 in Serie A yesterday to improve. We entered Mmin Mendy said climb up to fifth and hand the the pitch with too the defending champions fallen Italian giants their heavi- were not prepared to sur- est defeat since 1998. little technical and render the Premier League It was an “embarrassing” tactical clarity. It’s a title to Liverpool despite performance by the seven-time terribly insufficient trailing the leaders by 11 European champions, said club performance points. manager Zvonimir Boban. STEFANO PIOLI Pep Guardiola’s side Atalanta fans taunted Milan moved to within a point of with shouts of ‘Serie B, Serie B’, second-placed Leicester confidently predicting relega- City following an impressive tion for their rivals this season. 3-1 victory over the Foxes at Atalanta captain Papu Gomez the Etihad Stadium on Sat- fired the hosts ahead on 10 min- urday. utes when he gathered the ball However, Liverpool still on the left wing and drifted into have a game in hand on both the area before blasting beyond The former AC Milan and Ita- clubs as they return home Gianluigi Donnarumma. ly international replaced Carlo following their victory over Mario Pasalic, on loan from Ancelotti, who was appointed Brazilian club Flamengo in Chelsea, added a second on Josip Ilicic (R) of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring Everton manager on Saturday the Club World Cup final the hour in Bergamo when he Atalanta have scored a league- “We have to work and im - atian. -- just over after he was sacked in Doha. flicked in a flashing drive from best 43 goals this season and prove. We entered the pitch In other early matches yester- by Napoli. The Reds have won 16 of Robin Gosens. trail Roma by four points in the with too little technical and tac- day, eighth-placed Bologna saw Inter Milan and reigning 17 league games this season Ilicic made it 3-0 with a clin- race for the final Champions tical clarity. It’s a terribly insuf- off Lecce 3-2 wile Mario Balotel- champions Juventus are locked but Mendy hopes Leicester ical finish after a Pasalic assist League spot. ficient performance,” admitted li came off the bench to score in on 42 points at the top as the can slow their title charge and the Slovenian attacker The Bergamo side are com- Milan coach Stefano Pioli. Brescia’s 1-1 draw at Parma. Italian league prepares to head when the top two meet on struck again on 72 minutes when peting in the Champions League Milan club manager Boban, a Napoli travel to Sassuolo later into a two-week winter recess. Boxing Day. he curled a majestic strike into for the first time this season and former midfield great with the searching for a first victory in Romelu Lukaku scored twice Asked if Liverpool can still the top corner from 20 yards. were drawn against Valencia in club, said it will be a miserable the league since October 19. as Inter beat Genoa 4-0 on Sat- be caught, Mendy said: “Of Luis Muriel then replaced Il- the last 16 after scraping through holiday period. They have gone eight matches urday while Juventus, who over- course. If not we would stop icic and scored with minutes of the group stage. “It was an embarrassing per- without a win in Serie A and came Sampdoria 2-1 on Wednes- playing now and give the cup his introduction, pouncing on The defeat was Milan’s worst formance. We will have to wake were beaten 2-1 by Parma last day, were to take on Lazio in to Liverpool. We need to try hesitancy from Donnarumma to loss since going down 5-0 to up and react. It will not be a weekend in Gennaro Gattuso’s the Italian Super Cup in Saudi to fight until the end and we round out a resounding victory. Roma in 1998. good Christmas,” said the Cro- first game in charge. Arabia later yesterday. will see what happens. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 16 Bahrain1 set World Record NHRA champions Bahrain1 set World Record in national drag racing’s second round at BIC

TDT | Manama

HRA champions Bahrain1 Racing set a new World NRecord to headline an ac- tion-packed second round in the 2019/2020 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, held at Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) NHRA Drag Strip in Sakhir. Competing in the Pro Mod category behind the wheel of a 2019 Chevy Camaro powered by a Pro Line Racing Engines twin-turbocharged Hemi, Bah- rain1’s Emirati driver Khalid Al Balooshi posted a world best Al Balooshi in action in his Chevy Camaro time for the quickest twin-tur- bo NHRA trim of 5.676 seconds down a quarter-mile. Al Balooshi was one of 104 participants in the cars cate - gories this round. There were Al Balooshi, kneeling second from right, with Bahrain1 team members after the podium ceremony also 39 riders competing in the motorbikes classes, making for a total of 143 hopefuls of various nationalities. The meeting was organised by BIC in cooperation with the Bah- rain Drag Racing Club (BDRC), the Bahrain Motorcycle Club (BMC) and the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF). BIC is a mem- ber of the prestigious National Hot Rod Association ( NHRA) Worldwide Network. Al Balooshi powered to his mark during testing, and he was able to maintain his fine form all through to Race Day when he eventually secured the victo- ry for the meeting. Al Balooshi won in the final head-to-head, held over an eighth-mile of the strip, against Bahraini Hani Ali after coasting to a time of 3.739s to beat Ali, who had a mark of z A car in action at the start line 3.922s. Arabia who had a mark of 4.555s. Abdulla Al Oqab, also from wait triumphed in the Pro Bikes Abdulaziz rounded out the Kuwait, won the Index 8.5 cate- class, which was the fourth mo- winning Bahraini contingent gory in 8.538s, just barely beat- torbike category. He had a time Bahrain’s Salahuddin, centre, celebrates on top of the podium in the Index 10.5 final against ing Naif Alesawi of Saudi by a of 4.047s in the final, beating BETTER countryman Ali Rabee. Abdu- mere 0.01s. Christopher Dominique of the Other drivers flying the Bah- law 6-Cylinder final in 4.557s, laziz triumphed with a 10.560s Meanwhile, Saudi riders won USA, who had a red light. rain flag to victory were Salah beating fellow-Bahraini Hamad mark while Rabee had to settle three of the four bikes classes. At the end of all the round’s KNOW Salahuddin in the Street V8 Al Merbati who had a time of for the runner-up spot with a Theeb Alqahtani took first action, the winners of the night class, Yousif Al Zayani in the 11.580s. break out. place in the Street Fight Bikes were presented their respective Outlaw 6-Cylinder category, Al Saeei was the Outlaw FWD All of the Bahraini drivers’ vic- with a 9.547s elapsed time, beat- trophies in the podium ceremo- Bahrain1’s Emirati Ahmed Al Saeei in the Outlaw victor after beating Zakariya tories came in the cars classes. ing Bahrain’s Sayed Yousif Faisal ny, attended by BIC, BDRC, BMC driver Khalid Al Ba- FWD, Hussain Mohammed in Alkuwari, also from Bahrain, in In the other cars categories, by 0.03s. Khalid Aldoseri won and BMF officials. the Super Street V8 and Ali Ab- the final. Al Saeei had a mark of Kuwaiti Mubarak Alawad won the Index 8.5 Bike category with The 2019/2020 season is looshi posted a world dulaziz in the Index 10.5. 8.821s while Alkuwari finished the Competition 4.5 class in a 9.397s final pass, beating the composed of five rounds, to be best time for the Salahuddin claimed his victo- in 11.582s. 4.511s. He beat Bahrain’s Ali Haji 10.152s run of fellow-Saudi rid- held until February of next year. quickest twin-turbo ry after clocking a mark of 7.677s Mohammed followed suit in who had a red light. er Abdulla Al Muneef. Mishari Drag racers return to the strip NHRA trim of 5.676 in the Street V8 final, where he the Super Street V8 final, which Mohammed al Kokhadri took Alturki was then the victory for Round Three from January seconds down a quar- was up against Mohammed Suli- he won with a narrow margin. the victory in the Index 9.5 cat- amongst the Super Street Bikes 14 to 17, while Round Four will ter-mile man of Kuwait. Mohammed clocked a time of egory in 9.523s. He beat Ali Al in 4.532s, beating Jehad Al Jamal be from February 4 to 7. The Al Zayani was also in impres- 4.392s, doing just enough to beat Qallaf of Kuwait, who had a in the final. championship finale will then sive form, winning the Out - Abdulla Alshamsi from Saudi break out. Mohammed Alawwad of Ku- be held from February 25 to 28. Man Utd implode against feisty Watford AFP | Watford, United Kingdom minutes later when Troy Deeney fired “We were sloppy and gave the ball home from the penalty spot after the away numerous times, especially in anchester United collapsed to a otherwise impressive Aaron Wan-Bis- the first half,” United defender Harry Mhumiliating 2-0 defeat against saka brought down Sarr with a mis - Maguire told Sky Sports. Premier League bottom side Watford judged sliding tackle. “I felt in the first half the game was on Sunday after a David de Gea howler, Nigel Pearson coaxed a battling per- there to be won. We should have scored bringing their recent revival to a shud- formance from Watford in his first in the first half. We have to be better dering halt. home game in charge and they de - against these so-called lower opposi- Not even the returning Paul Pogba, on servedly won just their second league tion sides who have a deep block.” as a second-half substitute, could save match of the season to give themselves There was no hint of the drama to his misfiring team, who again struggled hope of survival. come in a largely uneventful first half. to impose themselves against one of the But for United it was another story Anthony Martial scuffed a shot wide league’s lesser lights. of failing to make the most of their as United, backed by vocal away sup- The key moment in the match came domination of possession. port, enjoyed the bulk of early pos - in the 50th minute when De Gea some- Under Solskjaer, they have won 73 session while Watford looked a threat how allowed a tame, spinning effort per cent of the Premier League games when they came forward. from Ismaila Sarr to creep through his in which they have had less possession The home side had the ball in the net, hands and in at the near post. than their opponents, compared to just Manchester United’s David De Gea watches in horror after letting the ball slip through his hands but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Watford doubled their lead four 36pc when they have enjoyed more. allowing Ismaila Sarr to give Watford the lead De Gea.