Dialogue the Only Way to Solve Region's Crises: Amir

BUSINESS | Page 1 Salem Khalaf al-Mannai appointed group CEO of Qatar Insurance Group published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11426 January 13, 2020 Jumada I 18, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Dialogue the only way to Amir off ers condolences solve region’s crises: Amir to Sultan Haitham on the death of Sultan Qaboos zAmir holds talks with senior Iranian leaders including Khamenei and Rouhani zQatar, Iran agree to enhance trade and tourism exchange

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran yesterday. is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Earlier in the day, His Highness the Amir arrived Hamad al-Thani off ered condolences in Muscat, accompanied by an offi cial delegation. QNA ciating Iran’s position after the between the two countries. ther escalation and peacefully Hto Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of He was welcomed at the Private Sultani Airport by Tehran blockade of Qatar and thanked The Iranian president empha- settling differences in a way Oman on the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Minister of State Sayyid Fatik bin Fahar al-Said, Iran for providing all the facilities sised the importance of the secu- that contributes to achieving Taimur, at Al Alam Palace in Muscat yesterday Governor of Muscat Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al-Bu- to Qatar and the Qatari people by rity of the region, especially the security, peace and stability in morning. saidi, Qatar’s ambassador to Oman Sheikh Jassim ialogue is the only way to immediately opening its airspace security of waterways in the Gulf, the region and the world. His Highness the Amir also off ered condolences bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and the Qatar embassy solve the region’s crises and seaports. the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea Members of the delegation ac- to members of the royal family, ranking offi cials and staff . Dand to de-escalate the His Highness the Amir said he of Oman, stressing that the two companying the Amir and Irani- other dignitaries, praying to the Almighty Allah to Later in the day, they also saw off His High- tension, His Highness the Amir had extended an invitation to the countries will cooperate to en- an ministers and senior offi cials have mercy on Sultan Qaboos’ soul and to grant ness the Amir and his accompanying delega- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Iranian president to visit Qatar, sure security in these paths. attended the session . him Paradise, and to inspire his family and the royal tion at the Private Sultani Airport. — QNA Thani yesterday said. which Rouhani has promised to He thanked the Amir and the His Highness the Amir Sheikh family with patience and solace. Page 20 In a joint press statement after do sometime soon. delegation accompanying him Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani holding talks with Iranian Presi- The Iranian president started for the visit, and said it is ex- met yesterday Supreme Leader dent Hassan Rouhani, the Amir his statement by expressing his tremely important for Iran. He of Islamic Republic of Iran Ali said his visit comes at a sensitive happiness at the Amir’s accept- hoped the relations between Khamenei in Tehran. time the region is going through, ance of the invitation to visit the two countries will expand to During the meeting, they re- indicating that it has been agreed Iran, praising the two countries’ achieve the interests of the two viewed the existing friendship with the brothers and with the ties of neighbourliness and his- nations. between the two countries in Iranian President that dialogue is torical friendship. His Highness the Amir various aspects and ways to de- the only solution to the region’s Rouhani said important deci- thanked the president for the re- velop them. crises, and to reducing escala- sions came out of the talks with ception accorded to him during Also, they discussed several tion. the Amir regarding the expansion his visit to Tehran. regional and international issues, The Amir said his meeting of bilateral relations and those His Highness the Amir Sheikh especially the latest develop- with the president and at the existing in the economic and Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and ments in the region and means level of two offi cial delegations, commercial fi elds, as well as the President Rouhani held an offi - for calming and maintaining re- was positive and fruitful, as it has scientifi c and cultural fi elds. cial session of talks at the Repub- gional and global security and dealt with the outstanding rela- Regarding the joint commit- lican Palace. stability. tions between the two countries tee between the two countries, They discussed bilateral rela- Members of the delegation ac- and means to develop them. the president stressed that it tions and ways to enhance and companying the Amir and sen- The two sides agreed to boost will be held during the upcoming develop them to broader levels, ior Iranian offi cials attended the trade and tourism exchange, the months, and will be held regular- especially in the fi elds of econo- meeting. Amir said pointing out that Qa- ly and annually. He voiced hope my, trade, investment and tour- The Amir was accorded an of- tar’s relation with Iran was his- that there would be a “second ism. fi cial reception at the Republi- toric and has seen great devel- committee for trade and invest- Talks during the session also can Palace in Tehran. Rouhani opment. “There has always been ment co-operation in all sectors, tackled several regional and in- led well-wishers to welcome the open channels and discussions including the technical fi eld and ternational issues, especially Amir. with Iran even in the presence of other aff airs”, in addition to in- the latest developments in the The Amir also attended a some diff erences,” His Highness tensifying political visits and ex- region and means for calming luncheon banquet hosted by the Amir said lauding and appre- change of economic delegations the tension and avoiding fur- President Rouhani at the Repub- lican Palace. Iranian ministers and senior offi cials attended the banquet. Earlier upon his arrival at Me- hrabad International Airport on an offi cial visit to Iran, the Amir was welcomed by Iran’s Minister of Energy Reza Ardakanian, Qa- tar’s ambassador to Iran Moham- ed bin Hamad al-Hajri and Iran’s ambassador to Qatar Mohammad Ali Sobhani, in addition to a lineup of senior Iranian offi cials and members of the Qatari embassy in Tehran. They also saw him off upon his departure at Mehrabad International Airport. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani holding talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in The Amir was accompanied by Tehran yesterday. an offi cial delegation. Page 20 Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 13, 2020 QATAR

SJC president meets Kuwaiti Minister meets Kuwaiti official Qatar-Lesotho transport ties reviewed delegation

HE the President of Supreme Judiciary Council Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohanadi met a delegation of Kuwaiti Court of Cassation lead by Counsellor Ishaq Hussein al-Kandari, in Doha yesterday. The meeting tackled judicial relations between the two sides and means to bolster co- operation in the legal and judicial fields in addition to exchanging expertise in matters related to courts of cassation jurisdiction. Qatari envoy to

Poland presents HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met the Chairman HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti held talks with the credentials and CEO of Kuwait’s Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority Salim Minister of Transport of Lesotho Keketso Sello, in Doha yesterday. They discussed aspects of coal-Ozainah. They discussed means of further enhancing co-operation in the fields of ICT and a operation in the fields of transportation and civil aviation services and means of further enhancing President of Poland Andrzej number of matters of common interest between the two countries. The meeting was attended by them. They also reviewed a number of matters of common interest between the two countries. Duda received the credentials of the President of Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) Mohamed Ali al-Mannai. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman Abdulla bin Nasser Turki al-Subaey attended the meeting. Qatar’s ambassador Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Fakhroo in Warsaw yesterday. The ambassador conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to President Duda, wishing him the best of health and happiness and the government and people of Poland further progress and prosperity. Second Ihsaan School for Arab The Polish president reciprocated the Amir’s greetings and wished the ambassador success in his new duties and assured him of all the support to upgrade the bilateral relations. communities in Qatar opens

Shura Council QNA takes part in Arab Doha

Parliament session he “Second Ihsaan School” for Arab The Shura Council is participating Tcommunities in Qa- in the fourth session of the tar opened in Doha yester- second legislative term of Arab day. Parliament, to be held in Cairo The school has been es- from today to January 15. tablished in partnership be- The Arab parliament committees’ tween the Education Above meetings will be held today and All Foundation (EAA) and tomorrow, while the main session the Ministry of Education is slated for Wednesday. and Higher Education to The Shura Council will be provide appropriate op- represented in the meetings by portunities for children and members of the Arab Parliament youth of both sexes, from Yousef bin Rashid al-Khater; Saqr the Arab communities re- bin Fahad al-Muraikhi; Dr Aisha HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali siding in Qatar, who have bint Yousef al-Mannai and Khaled al-Hammadi, with other off icials at the opening of the Second Ihsaan School in Doha been deprived of education bin Abdullah al-Buainain. yesterday. for various reasons. The Second Ihsaan School, an extension of the “First Ihsaan School” for non-Arabic speakers, is a Children attending a class at the school. non-profi t school that de- pends on the full support of Qatar Charity (QC) and Afi f Charity. HE the Minister of Edu- cation and Higher Educa- tion, Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, expressed his pleasure at the opening of the school, which he said refl ects Qa- tari institutions’ keenness to fulfi l their social respon- sibilities to provide free education opportunities, and noted that “Ihsaan II” is the second under the initiative. The fi rst was opened last year for Asian communities. The second Ihsaan school building The minister said that EAA plays a great role in an international humani- viously been enrolled in a for needy children whose communicating its edu- tarian and development school. countries are going through cational mission all over organisation, whether by Al-Mannai appreciated diffi cult circumstances. The the world, and especially building educational facili- the role of the Ministry of schools were established in for those residing in Qatar ties and training centres, or Education and all those who co-operation between the whose countries suff er from providing sponsors for stu- support their eff orts and Ministry of Education and diff erent condition. Its aim dents and teachers. contributions in making Higher Education, Edu- is to ensure that no child in He explained that Qatar’s these programmes a reality, cation Above All Founda- Qatar is outside the educa- total spending on education confi rming their commit- tion, Qatar Charity and Afi f tion system. and culture from 2014-2018 ment to work on the right to Foundation. He pointed out that the reached about QR766mn, education for all children in He said that the school ministry has provided the which benefi ted nearly Qatar. currently has 482 students. building for the school 2.5mn people in 50 coun- Management Co-ordina- He explained that the and many services such as tries around the world. tor at Afi f Charity Founda- school adopts the Qatari maintenance, security and The CEO of QC added tion Bilal Rashed al-Ukidi curriculum and is com- academic supervision, not- that in seeking to contrib- said the Afi f Foundation is pletely free of charge, ing that the school’s board ute to the achievement of one of the parties involved pointing out that it receives of trustees is concerned the Qatar National Vision in establishing and operat- all Arabic speaking nation- with appointing the teach- 2030, “We have done every- ing this institution, which alities according to specifi c ing staff , school adminis- thing we can to support the is in conformity with its ap- controls, while non-Arabic tration and other opera- Ihsaan Schools initiative in proach based on supporting speakers have the fi rst Ih- tional matters. co-operation and partner- and fi nancing education, saan school. For his part, CEO of Qatar ship with the Ministry of health and economic em- The Second Ihsaan Charity Yousef bin Ahmed Education and Higher Edu- powerment projects that School, established on al-Kuwari said that qual- cation and the Education the Foundation considers to 6,000sq m, can accommo- ity education is one of the Above All Foundation”. be essential areas for build- date 12 classes and employs most important pillars of EAA programmes di- ing a person and ensuring about 48 teachers and ad- development of societies rector Mariam al-Mannai his life and prosperity. ministrators. and nations, and the fourth said the foundation has He expressed his hap- Al-Agha praised the goal of the 2030 sustainable launched a programme de- piness at the inauguration idea of establishing Ih- development goals agreed signed for children to en- of this school, which off ers saan schools and its role upon by the countries of the sure that they have equal free education to the needy in providing distinguished world. access to quality education. residents of Qatar. education for children who He pointed out that edu- The initiative was upgraded For his part, Ihsaan have been out of school for cation is one of the most on January 1, 2017 as a pro- School supervisor, Dr Yahya various reasons, most nota- important fi elds in which gramme that seeks to reach al-Agha said that Ihsan bly the wars in their coun- Qatar Charity operates as children who have not pre- Schools were established tries.

Qatar, Bulgaria sign education sector pact

QNA and technology, in a bid by HE the Minister of Educa- to develop the performance Doha to consolidate and expand tion and Higher Education of the public education friendship ties and enhance Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed system in both countries, co-operation in the fi elds Ali al-Hammadi, and the and the important issues of atar and Bulgaria of public education, higher Minister of Education and common interest in educa- yesterday signed an education, scientifi c re- Science of Bulgaria, Krasimir tional and research fi elds Qagreement for co- search and technology be- Valchev, during a meeting in and ways to support and operation in the fi eld of ed- tween the two countries. Doha yesterday. enhance them were also re- ucation, scientifi c research The agreement was signed The two ministers agreed viewed. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 3 QATAR New central market opens

at Al Sailiya An aerial view of the new Al Sailiya central market which opened yesterday. PICTURES: Ram Chand

By Shafeeq Alingal Staff Reporter

he new central market at Al Sailiya - with advanced Tfacilities of international standards for producers, traders and buyers - became functional yesterday, announced Aswaq for food facilities management. Spread across 78,000sq m, the new central market is located around 25 minutes away from the heart of Doha. “The market serves the needs of all by putting the latest facilities in place,” Mohamed Ghanim al-Kubisi, Aswaq general manager, told Gulf Times during a tour of the new market. The market is divided into several connected and air-con- ditioned sections to serve the Inside view of Al Sailiya central market. Mohamed Ghanim al-Kubisi, general manager, Aswaq. fruit and vegetable trade. Al-Kubaisi explained that the modern facilities, will help both market has an exclusive area with importers and traders, store 52 shops for traditional goods. The their goods,” al-Kubaisi said. market also includes 102 shops in Aswaq has put together a well- the retail section while 50 shops established operations module function in the wholesale market. for the auction hall to ensure a An auction hall of over smooth and effi cient operation. 8,000sq m is a special feature The trucks bringing goods of the new market. Imported are registered in the designated products will be auctioned in parking and the data is cross- the hall from where traders can checked at the market entry buy them and sell in the market. point. Subsequently, the prod- In order to ensure proper ucts are placed in the auction preservation of vegetables and hall. Upon completion of the fruits, the market has nine auction, the products are loaded cooled storage areas occupying either out of the market, to the 2,600sq m. wholesale market or to the cold “The coolers, equipped with storages. Auction hall of Al Sailiya central market. A view of the wholesale section of the new central market at Al Sailiya.

Qatar, US discuss military ties

HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella Commander of US Air Forces Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base. During the meeting, they discussed military relations between Qatar and the US and ways to develop them. A number of senior commanders of the Qatar Armed Forces attended the meeting. WCM-Q workshop boost for biostatistical research series of workshops run by Weill Cornell AMedicine - Qatar (WCM-Q) showed healthcare professionals from several institutions how to use computer software to analyse data by applying advanced biostatistical techniques to enhance the quality of their research projects. The three-workshop series, off ered at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, demonstrated how to organise, analyse and inter- pret medical data collected Participants at the WCM-Q biostatistics for healthcare professionals workshop listen to a for research projects with session by Dr Ziyad Mahfoud. maximum effi ciency, helping them to gain the most trend analysis, forecasting sis methods can derive ex- Education and Continuing useful insights possible and predictive analytics. tremely rich and meaningful Professional Development at from their investigations. The participants also used insights from their research WCM-Q, said, “This work- Participants who completed the analytical software to projects. The workshops are shop series was carefully all three workshops and passed work through a number of an extremely important step designed to equip research- a test at the end of each one re- case studies to gain hands- to increase research output ers across several diff er- ceived the Certifi cate of Anal- on experience. from healthcare profession- ent health and educational ysis in Medical Data. Dr Ziyad Mahfoud, as- als in Qatar.” professions with some re- Co-ordinated by WCM- sociate professor, Health- WCM-Q facilitators at ally useful tools to help them Q’s Division of Continuing care Policy and Research at the workshops supported get the most from the data Profession Development, WCM-Q, was one of the the learners to help them they collect, giving them the workshops were aimed course leaders of the work- understand the concepts the chance to draw the most at physicians, nurses, den- shops and the main expert discussed and to use the useful conclusions from tists, pharmacists, allied speaker at the events. He software. The facilitation their work. This has the po- health professionals, stu- said, “In the era of big data team comprised Deema al- tential to translate into bet- dents, researchers and edu- and shortage of biostatisti- Sheikhly, Soha Dargham, ter healthcare outcomes for cators. Participants were cal support, researchers who Padmakumari Sarada, Syed patients in the long-term, as shown how to use software are able to effi ciently use Latifi and Mark Healy. well as adding to the body of platforms that off er ad- statistical software to apply Dr Thurayya Arayssi, sen- knowledge available to the vanced hypothesis testing, advanced statistical analy- ior associate dean, Medical scientifi c community.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 13, 2020 QATAR

Aster launches new healthcare scheme targeting 25,000 low-income workers

By Joseph Varghese Aster DMH Qatar medical di- Khor and Al Rayyan in the pro- provides all the basic treatment. Staff Reporter rector and chief medical staff gramme,” explained Dr Sameer Cases related to ophthalmol- Dr Nazar Moopan, Customer Moopan. ogy and orthopaedics will be re- Relationship Management sen- “This scheme will immensely ferred to the Aster facility at C- ster DMH Qatar, a divi- ior manager Nikhil Joseph, and help patients who are fi nancially Ring Road. sion of Aster DM Health- Clinic Operations manager Ni- challenged and those who are on “The main aim behind our ef- Acare, has launched a new tin Premkumar were present at a waitlist to get an advanced early fort is to provide good healthcare healthcare scheme for 25,000 the event attended by repre- diagnosis and treatments,” he to those who really need it. We low-income workers of various sentatives from the embassies of added. urge the people of the low-in- nationalities, at a discounted an- Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and According to Joseph, people come brackets to make good use nual rate of QR200 per person. India. can join the scheme individually of this health package being of- “The scheme aims to provide The scheme provides unlim- or companies and welfare asso- fered at Aster Medical Centre at quality healthcare for low-in- ited doctor consultation, major ciations can make arrangements Industrial Area. Early diagnosis come workers who earn less than diagnostic investigations includ- to get the employees registered. is very critical in the treatment of QR2,500 monthly,”Aster DMH ing laboratory tests, X-ray, ECG, “Anyone who is eligible for the any disease. By off ering the right Qatar CEO Dr Sameer Moopan ultrasound scan; basic treatment scheme can come to Aster Medi- diagnosis and free medication, told a press conference yesterday. and medicine for the members. cal Centre in Industrial Area and we hope to make quality health- “Such annual treatment would It covers 50 tests and for medi- register for the scheme by pro- care accessible to all,” added Dr cost us QR300 per person without cine, QR10 will be charged. viding their valid Qatar ID card. Nazar Moopan. any profi t and we would further “Initially, the scheme will be We do not ask for any other Enrolment can be done subsidise it by another QR100 by made available at Aster Medical documents such as salary cer- through WhatsApp (7479- using QR2.5mn from our CSR fund, Centre in Industrial Area. tifi cate or other records,” he ex- 9300); e-mail: [email protected]; Aster DMH Qatar off icials announcing the new healthcare scheme for low income workers yesterday. as we plan to cover about 25,000 Later, we will include the As- plained. call, 4444-0499 or by fi lling in PICTURE: Jayan Orma workers in the scheme,” he said. ter facilities at Al Ghanim, Al Aster Industrial Area Clinic a form on tinyurl.com/aster200.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Honda Accord models recalled

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co- The ministry confirmed the recall campaign operation with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, comes within the framework of its ongoing announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz C-Class eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that Doha book fair ideal way for QNL model of 2016 due to possible cracked lock nuts vehicle dealers follow up on defects and repairs. in the electric steering gear. The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate Separately, the ministry, in co-operation with with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance Doha Marketing Services Company (Domasco), and repair works and will communicate with announced the recall of Honda Accord models of customers to ensure that the necessary repairs to reach out to public: top offi cial 2018-2019 due to possible transmission oil leak. are carried out.

By Shafeeq Alingal ty. It off ers what suits their taste and Staff Reporter orientation,” al-Kuwari said. Sharing her experience at the book fair, the QNL offi cial said that he Doha International Book visitors were made more aware of Fair (DIBF) 2020 is turning out the facilities being provided by the Tto be an ideal venue for Qatar library for the public. National Library (QNL) to reach out “I met a visitor who was keen to to people from various walks of life make use of our materials and showed and bring its learning resources clos- how can she access our online resourc- er to the community, a senior offi cial es and read books,” said al-Kuwari. told Gulf Times yesterday. QNL has set up a registration sta- “The book fair is helping us reach tion at its dedicated space at the more people. Here, they are pro- DIBF where members of the public vided with an opportunity to know can receive free membership. what they can experience when they Al-Kuwari said visitors tend to visit us and this draws them towards make use of the opportunity. the library where they are welcomed The interactive space has a by a treasure of knowledge,” QNL’s number of heritage materials and Research and Learning Services di- manuscripts on display, including rector Abeer al-Kuwari said on the the Golden Mushaf that was pro- sidelines of the event. duced in the 11th century, and Book Abeer al-Kuwari QNL owns a rich collection of mate- of Antidote by Muhammad ibn Abi rials that could be utilised by everyone. al-Fatih Abd al-Wahid. library is keen to attend national Centre until January 18. The exhibi- “With this collection, the li- “The material on display will fur- events and recalled that it has been a tion is opens daily from 9am until brary beckons children, students, ther draw aspirants towards the li- part of the DIBF since its inception. 9pm, except on Friday (from 3pm researchers, academia and people brary,” she expected. DIBF 2020 is taking place at the until 10pm) and Thursday (from from other sections of Qatar’s socie- Al-Kuwari pointed out that the Doha Exhibition and Convention 9am until 10pm). QNL holds robotics workshop

hildren and their parents enjoyed an to pursue computer programming as a career afternoon of hi-tech fun and educa- in the future, and attending these workshops Ction at Qatar National Library when at the library is a good way to get a head start in they participated in the “Hands-On Robotics preparing to succeed in that phase of my life.” Workshop.” Organised in collaboration with Balsam Nawari, who accompanied her son London Academy STEM Education Centre to the workshop, said: “Holding educational on January 9, participants combined their workshops makes the library highly attractive knowledge in technology and mathematics for everyone in Qatar not only to visit, but to and used the ‘drag-and-drop’ learning ap- learn something new. I bring my children to the proach to build robots during the event. library often so they can beneﬁ t from the books, Hamad Darwish, who was participating in digital resources and events, and also to meet such a workshop for the ﬁ rst time, said: “I plan with their friends in a positive environment.”

A moment from the robotics workshop. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 5 QATAR

HEC Paris alumni highlight benefits of course Teachers play vital role in school reforms, says educator

HEC Paris in Qatar held a ‘Meet the Alumni’ event where alumni members shared their experiences with potential participants and chool leaders and teach- cuss and debate the impact of prepared them to embark on a learning journey through the Specialised Master in Strategic Business Unit Management (SBUM) ers must be allowed to take improvement plans within their degree programme. The event took place at the HEC Paris Doha campus, in Tornado Tower. The alumni members included Cristina Smore risks and “fail well” specifi c school, and “challenge Porumb (class of 2016), Yassir Hussain (class of 2018), Hammad al-Hassan (class of 2019) and Emad Naser (class of 2020). The if education systems are to see the current practice and beliefs”. alumni also guided attendees through the wide-ranging benefits of SBUM which gives participants a unique opportunity to learn genuine improvement, a Qatar Outlining four steps for en- best global practices that will help them enhance their leadership skills and transform their careers. The next intake for the SBUM Foundation educator has said. hancing teacher learning, al- 2021 Class starts on January 23. Dr Asmaa al-Fadala, director Fadala - whose role at WISE, a of Research and Content Devel- Qatar Foundation member, in- opment at the World Innovation cludes working with schools to Summit for Education (WISE), build their capacity as learners told policymakers, research- and designers for learning - said: ers, and education experts from “School leaders need to provide more than 80 countries that the time, resources, and support 14-year-old showcases book at Doha fair many plans designed to raise the necessary for teacher learning quality of learning in schools are to be most eff ective, and create not working - because schools a culture that is open to more mong the eight new whose love for literature is evident. themselves are removed from the risk-taking, where teachers and authors to have joined I’m also grateful that HBKU Press process. Dr Asmaa al-Fadala learners can try new ideas and Athe Hamad Bin Khalifa so nobly nurtures these young tal- Speaking at the 33rd Interna- test new models.” University (HBKU) Press fam- ents,” Muneera said. tional Congress for School Ef- administrators – play essential “Any improvement agenda ily over the past year is Dalal HBKU Press hosted Dalal fectiveness and Improvement in roles in every level of reform,” cannot be meaningfully imple- Ghanim al-Romaihi, whose at its booth at the book fair, Marrakesh, al-Fadala said this she said. mented without creating an ena- work is showcased at the on- where she read extracts and means that strategies intended “To have sustained improve- bling culture, where schools need going Doha International Book signed copies of Where Is My to drive up school standards “do ment, we need to revisit the de- to start small, learn fast, and fail Fair (DIBF). Teacher? Published in English, not make sense to the educa- sign of professional learning. We well. Some of the best, most ef- The 14-year-old Qatar Acad- the book and can be purchased tors in the frontline”, and that need to invest in teacher learn- fective learning comes from ef- emy student’s fi rst foray into Where Is My Teacher? by Dalal Ghanim al-Romaihi is a delightfully from the HBKU Press Bookstore teachers need to be involved in ing. We need to shift the discus- forts and plans that were unsuc- the world of literature - Where inventive tale that takes readers on a literary adventure. in the College of Islamic Stud- developing them and given the sion of what educational change cessful.” Is My Teacher? - is a delightful- ies building in Education City, freedom to decide how they im- we want to introduce to how Dr al-Fadala told the confer- ly inventive tale that is inspired page. Her mission is vividly Look Like the Moon, Monsters FNAC bookstores across Qatar, plement them – with enhancing to design professional learning ence that “the capacity to con- by her own love of reading. brought to life by Nikos Yanop- Are Afraid of Mama, and her lat- and is available on Amazon Kin- teacher expertise being vital to in complex organisations like tinuously learn, to continuously The premise is simple: Dalal’s ulos, a Greek illustrator with an est title, Child of My Heart. The dle as an eBook. improving education systems. schools.” improve” is key to future-proof- teacher is missing and the pos- already-impressive background mother is rightly proud of her DIBF is taking place at the “What policymakers often In front of an audience including education. sibilities of where she could in literary animation. daughter’s fi rst book, as well as Doha Exhibition and Convention miss is the key element of working Moroccan Prime Minister “If the future’s going to keep be are endless. What follows Dalal’s mother Muneera Saad her creativity, drive to succeed Centre until January 18. The ex- ing with schools and educators,” Saadeddine Othmani and HE Dr changing on us, I don’t think is a wildly imaginative journey al-Romaihi is a best-selling and determination to realise her hibition is open from 9am until al-Fadala told the conference’s Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al- it’s a matter of saying ‘These are that takes readers on a literary HBKU Press children’s author. dreams. 9pm, except on Friday when it keynote session. Hammadi, Minister of Education the three things that our teach- adventure where they are im- Her previous works include “As an author, I’m inspired that is 3pm until 10pm and Thursday “Educators – whether they and Higher Education, al-Fadala ers and leaders need to know and mersed in a new world on every Manal’s World, Angry Majid, I there are many children like Dalal from 9am until 10pm. be school leaders, teachers, or said teachers must be able to dis- let’s train them for it’,” she said. Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 13, 2020 QATAR W Doha brings Vodafone rolls out Huawei 5G mobile Google Assistant’s Wi-Fi Pro device

odafone Qatar continues to deliver new 5G servic- Ves with the launch of the Huawei 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Pro interpreter mode that can convert 5G signals to speedy Wi-Fi signals, allowing customers to enjoy the power of 5G on their existing phones and other devices even if they are not 5G-enabled. Priced at QR1,799, the Hua- to help guests wei 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Pro is available now in select Voda- Doha Hotel & Resi- at the concierge and welcome “We’re also a key player in fone Qatar retail stores and on- dences has announced desks to off er an “enhanced and supporting the country’s great line shop. Wa new partnership with seamless hotel experience and eff orts to position itself as a Suitable for personal, offi ce, Google to launch the fi rst Google to ensure that guests are able to sports hub by off ering the best business, travel, and outdoor Assistant interpreter mode hotel communicate their needs in their hospitality and catering services use, the Mobile Wi-Fi is com- pilot in Qatar. preferred language so that noth- to some of the world’s biggest pact and easy to carry, and can W Doha Hotel has imple- ing is lost in translation”. sporting events. We are proud of eff ectively resolve persistent mented a series of “hospitality Technology is meant to break this exciting collaboration with problems prevalent with tradi- industry fi rsts in the past years, barriers and enhance the mean- the Google Assistant to use in- tional mobile phone hotspots, and this partnership is part of W ingful human connections that terpreter mode to help cater to such as short battery life, rapid Doha’s mission to innovate the are fundamental to the hospital- Qatar’s guests and visitors no power consumption, overheat- hotel experience and to wow its ity industry, and W Doha “con- matter where they come from, or ing, unstable signals, and lim- guests from their fi rst interaction tinues to make strides to ensure what language they speak.” ited connections. with the hotel and the staff ”, the that its guests are at the fore- Guests and visitors can now Equipped with the Ba- perfast charging, but also has leading role in the deployment hotel said in a press statement. front”. enjoy the new service for them- long 5000 chipset, the Hua- power bank feature with 22.5W and commercial availability of “W Doha is the fi rst hotel in Wassim Daaje, general man- selves at the concierge and wel- wei 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Pro can wired and 15W wireless reverse 5G. The company’s extensive Qatar to off er guests the Google ager of W Doha, said: “Qatar come desks. “Innovation has achieve a peak download rate of charging for other mobile de- 5G network covers key locations Assistant’s real-time translation has become an extremely popu- been central to the W brand since 1.65Gbps. The Huawei 5G Mo- vices. Other features include across the country, launched feature interpreter mode, which Wassim Daaje lar destination and continues its inception and this partner- bile Wi-Fi Pro packs a whop- 4K HD live streaming mode, up the country’s fi rst 5G plans and is set to eliminate to attract thousands of visitors ship further solidifi es W Doha’s ping 8000mAh battery for a to 40Mbps cross-device data 5G roaming services, starting language or communication The hotel industry is a prime from around the globe with its commitment towards introduc- staggering standby time of up transfer rate, and a code-scan- with the UK. barriers. Interpreter mode helps market for live translation ca- international sporting and cul- ing meaningful innovations to to 40 days and can be used con- ning Wi-Fi connection mode, To learn more about the guests translate conversations pabilities as people from around tural events. This partnership is connect and interact with guests tinuously for 10 hours under the along with a sleek appearance Huawei 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Pro, in 29 languages so that they can the world come together and may in line with our mission to con- and visitors to enable them to en- 5G network. and design. visit www.vodafone.qa/Hua- better connect with hotel staff to experience language and com- tinue supporting Qatar National joy whatever and whenever they It not only supports 40W su- Vodafone Qatar is playing a wei5gpro. get the most out of their W Doha munication barriers. At W Doha, Vision 2030 by off ering the best want during their stay at the W experience,” the statement notes. interpreter mode is being piloted services in the tourism sector. Doha hotel,” the statement adds. Closure of Al Ghariyya Road GU-Q to host information The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced closure of Al Ghariyya Road session on IEDM course in both directions and traff ic shift onto a parallel road for a month from today. The eorgetown University that position them for success closure, in co-ordination has announced that it is in their organisation.” Alumni with the General Directorate Ghosting an information of the International Executive of Traff ic, is to enable session about its one-year Inter- Master’s in Emergency & Dis- maintenance works on the national Executive Master’s in aster Management represent a road. Ashghal will install road Emergency & Disaster Manage- wide range of fi elds, from fi rst signs advising motorists and ment (IEDM) degree programme response, health, and human requested road users to abide at 7pm on January 15 on the Edu- and social services to military, by the speed limit and follow cation City campus of Georget- planning, public policy and the road signs to ensure own University in Qatar (GU-Q). government, and have included safety. The programme provides Dr Tim Frazier at the last IEDM leading fi gures from Oore- working professionals with info session. doo, Qatar’s Ministry of Public the critical skills and industry Health, Ministry of Defence and knowledge needed to prepare for ulty director & professor of the the Ministry of Interior, among and respond to a wide variety of practice Dr Tim Frazier, a lead- other prestigious organisations, emergency and disaster situa- ing expert on emergency prepar- the statement adds. tions across borders. edness and disaster response. The January 15 informa- “Through a unique blend “Organisations require the tion session at the Georgetown of virtual learning and critical capacity to prepare for and im- building’s Executive Programme hands-on experience during plement an emergency and dis- Suite will provide insights about fi ve international residencies, aster response that addresses a the programme’s on-site resi- students will learn from lead- number of challenges,” says Dr dencies around the world, cur- ing experts in the fi eld and will Frazier. “Graduates of the pro- riculum, requirements, fees, ca- be equipped to plan for and re- gramme gain a comprehensive reer outlook and more. It is open spond to natural, technologi- understanding of the evolving to the public and reservations cal and man-made disasters,” a fi eld of emergency management are not required. One can fi nd press statement notes. and communication, critical out more on the SCS website at The programme is led by fac- thinking and technical skills scs.georgetown.edu/doha.

MoCI special licences

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry had issued 663 special QRCS responds to large infl ux of IDPs in Idlib licences during 2019. The 663 licences include 397 for discounts, 265 for festivals and one for final liquidation, the ministry disclosed this in its monthly report. The report indicated that a atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and winterisation aid for the benefi t of total of 447 licences for off ers were issued in December including said it has initiated an emergency 56,000 IDPs across Idlib,” Dr Ibrahim ex- promotional off ers, special off ers, prize draws and swipe and win. Qresponse to the recent displace- plained. The number of licences for special off ers were 364, promotional ment wave in Idlib, northern Syria, where Under the theme of #ReliefIdlib, the off ers (for companies selling goods in malls and retail shops) insecurity and armed confl ict aff ected plan comprises four main items: heat- 66, prize draws 15 and swipe and win two, it said, adding the nearly 4mn Syrians already suff ering ing oil for 13,000 IDPs over two months promotional off er also included the off ers such as buy one, get from terrible living conditions. (40 litres per family per month), at a total one free; and buy one, get the second item for half price. In Doha, QRCS’s Disaster Informa- cost of QR2,080,000; food parcels con- tion Management Centre was activated sisting of local food products for 20,000 to co-ordinate with QRCS’s representa- IDPs over one month, at a total cost of tion mission in Gaziantep, Turkey, on QR932,000; blankets for 15,000 IDPs, at the situation updates. On the ground, a total cost of QR615,000; and tarpaulins QRCS’s medical personnel provided as- for 8,000 IDPs (two tarpaulins per fam- sistance for 177 children, 19 newborns ily), at a total cost of QR374,000. and 86 women, the organisation said in a Dr Ibrahim urged people in Qatar to ex- statement. tend help to their brothers and sisters in “Since the eruption of the confl ict, we Syria. have been working in Syria,” said Dr Mo- “The cold weather and homelessness hamed Salah Ibrahim, executive director have combined together to deepen the of the Relief and International Develop- suff ering of vulnerable families in Syria. ment Division at QRCS. “Relief aid has They have nothing to protect themselves Relief assistance being provided by QRCS volunteers. been constantly provided for the aff ected against the freezing winter or to feed their communities in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon kids with. Helping them is a religious and and Jordan. humanitarian responsibility,” he said. “In light of the recent displacement of “The people of Qatar have always been around 41,000 Syrian families, we have known for generosity, benevolence and intensifi ed our eff orts to secure as much care for those in need. In this calamity, aid as possible. We are driven by our fi rm they are expected to be there again for humanitarian commitments as an active humanity. player in the International Red Cross and To support the relief of the aff ected Red Crescent Movement”. population in Syria, donations can be re- Despite the eff orts done by the numer- ceived via hotlines (16002–66644822); ous humanitarian providers operating call for home visit (66666364); QRCS there, he asserted, they remained insuf- agents at malls and shopping cen- fi cient to meet the critical needs of in- tres; online (www.qrces.org.qa); ternally displaced persons (IDPs). These transfer via Barwa Bank (IBAN: QA- include food parcels, readymade meals, 26BRWA000000000100000002005); heaters, blankets, heating oil, warm and SMS with “W” to the following num- clothes, children’s supplies and tarpau- bers: 92216 (QR100), 92402 (QR150), lins. “Through its representation mis- 92552 (QR250), 92869 (QR350) and 92092 sion in Turkey, QRCS is providing food (QR500). Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 7 QATAR/REGION

Met predicts more rain, drop in temperatures

hances of rain are again Inshore, it will be relatively expected in the coun- cold during the day with some Ctry between tomorrow clouds and slight dust at times, evening and Wednesday, the the forecast shows. Qatar Met department tweeted It will be cold by night. The yesterday. minimum temperature today is Doha and other parts of Qa- expected to be 10C in Wakrah and tar experienced rainy conditions Mesaieed, 11C in Abu Samra, 13C recently, followed by a spell of in Al Khor, Dukhan and Ruwais, strong winds and a drop in tem- and 14C in Doha. The maximum, perature. on the other hand, will be 18C in Today’s forecast indicates cold Dukhan and Ruwais, 19C in Abu Dr Ibrahim Saleh al-Nuaimi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah al-Shahwani with the participants. conditions will continue to pre- Samra, and 20C in Doha, Wakrah vail around the country and the and Mesaieed. minimum temperature is expect- Yesterday, a minimum tem- ed to drop to 10C in some places. perature of 11C was recorded in The weather offi ce has also is- Mesaieed, Mukaynis and Turay- sued a marine warning for strong na, followed by 12C in Sheehani- MoI opens security exhibition winds and high seas today. ya, Karana and Ghuwairiyah, 13C The wind speed in these areas in Al Khor, Ruwais and Abu Sam- will range from 13-23 knots, go- ra, 14C in Doha (airport area), the ing up to 29 knots at times. Qatar University area, Hamad Partly cloudy conditions are International Airport area, Wak- for people with special needs also likely in off shore areas at rah, Mesaimeer, Dukhan, Umm times today, while the sea level Bab and Jumailiyah, and 15C in may rise to 9ft. Shehaimiya. he Ministry of Interior (MoI) yes- ments and listened to brief explanations terday opened the fi rst security about the security tasks. Texhibition for people with special The attendees also witnessed a dem- needs. The event, in co-operation with onstration of police dogs by the Police the Scout and Guide Association of Qatar, Canine Section at the Department of upheld the motto ‘Messengers of Peace Criminal Evidence and Information. Indigo, Air India mull Initiative’. The presentation showcased the skills Dr Ibrahim Saleh al-Nuaimi, under- of police dogs and their role in helping se- secretary of the Ministry of Education curity men detect crimes. more fl ights to India and Higher Education, and Brigadier Al-Nuaimi thanked the ministry for Mohamed Abdullah al-Shahwani opened organising the fi rst exhibition of its kind the exhibition at the association’s head- and said visitors will benefi t a lot given ore options are in store tion of the airline’s website shows. quarters. the participation of many departments. for fl yers as two India- Then, from March 29 onwards, Jassim Mohamed al-Hardan, repre- Al-Shahwani said that MoI is always Mbased airlines are set to fl ight 6E 1775 will depart Kolka- sentative-general for Qatar Scouts and keen to support such initiatives and par- launch new fl ights connecting ta at 7am and arrive in Doha at Guides Association and senior MoI offi c- ticipate in them by providing security Doha with two Indian cities. 9.45am, while 6E 1776 is sched- ers were present. awareness and introducing the services According to information uled to depart Doha at 10.45am A total of 13 departments from MoI are that are being provided in the country. Dignitaries tour the exhibition booths. available on the IndiGo web- and reach Kolkata at 6.15pm. part of the exhibition that will continue The participating departments include site, the Twitter page of the In- The fl ights will be operated until January 16. the General Directorate of Coasts and ment, Al Fazaa, Preventive Security De- Rights, General Directorate of Passports dian embassy in Doha and Indian with the Airbus A320. After the opening, the guests visited Borders Security, Traffi c, Civil Defence, partment, Juvenile Police, Dogs Section, Qatar Police Sports Federation, and Po- media reports (The Economic Meanwhile, Air India’s website the pavilions of the participating depart- General Administration of Drug Enforce- Medical Services Department, Human lice Training Institute. Times), the budget carrier will shows the full-service airline is begin a new service between set to launch a new service be- Kolkata and Doha from March 1. tween Mumbai and Kolkata from Also, India’s fl ag carrier Air In- February 21. The service, to be dia will launch new fl ights between operated with the Boeing 787 Mumbai and Doha from February (Dreamliner), will be available PHCC releases ‘Screen for Life’ documentary 21, the airline’s website shows. thrice a week — on Friday, Sun- From March 1 to 28, IndiGo’s day and Tuesday. fl ight 6E 1775 is scheduled to de- Flight AI 969 is scheduled to n a move to mark the achievements of Hamad Emergency mulls fee plan to reduce over-crowding Aisha al-Tamimi, a breast cancer survi- part Kolkata at 9.05am and ar- depart Mumbai at 10.20am and ‘Screen for Life’ Programme, Primary vor and a supporter of the programme; rive in Doha at 12.25pm, while 6E arrive in Doha at 11.15am, while IHealth Care Corporation (PHCC) has There is a plan to charge fees from expatri- not be implemented at the emergency de- and TV anchor Aqeel Saleh al-Janahi, the 1776 will leave Doha at 1.25pm and fl ight AI 970 will leave Doha at released a 10-minute documentary which ate patients seeking the services of Hamad partments at other public hospitals includ- programme ambassador. reach Kolkata at 8.35pm, informa- 12.45pm and reach Mumbai at outlines the expanded suites, the screen- General Hospital (HGH) Trauma and ing Al Wakrah, Al Khor, the Cuban Hospital, The population-based ‘Screen for Life tion available in the bookings sec- 6.45pm, according to the website. ing process, success and potential of the Emergency Department for cases that can or any other emergency department under programme aims to promote education, programme. otherwise be treated at the Primary Health Hamad Medical Corporation. awareness and early detection of breast and The documentary, made in Arabic with Care Centres. The plan is aimed at easing The source explained that HGH Trauma bowel cancer – the most commonly diag- English subtitles, helps viewers under- the crowd at HGH, a source told local and Emergency Department is considered nosed cancers in Qatar and a leading cause stand the programme’s achievements, the Arabic daily Arrayah. among the most crowded, as it receives of death among men and women in Qatar. people involved, its screening suites and The fees will be collected from the around 1,500 cases a day but around It is conducted under Qatar’s National ‘Innovation plays key role in the screening process. patients classified between the third and 70% of these cases can be treated at a Cancer Programme and in accordance The documentary can be seen in PHCC fourth degrees. health centre without the need to go to with the country’s National Health Strat- growth of exchange houses’ health centres in Al Wakra, Leabaib The source explained that cases of emergency. egy 2018-2022. and Rawdat Al Khail and on ‘Screen for patients are classified into five degrees and The source further stressed that HMC “We want as many people as possible Life’ social media channels, including patients with first and second degree cases is committed to provide due medical care to get to know more about this poten- nnovation and digitalisa- Mana Exchange is focusing more YouTube. will be charged nothing. These cases infor all and seeks to inform them about the tially life-saving programme and what tion are playing a key role in on innovation and digitalisation It will also be used as content to sup- clude nausea, fainting, bleeding, accidents, 27 centres where they can conveniently it has achieved and can achieve if people Ithe operational development of the business. port PHCC’s participation at conferences and serious injuries. receive the necessary medical care for take up the regular screening off er,” Dr and growth of exchange houses, Asked if exchange houses in and events. The plan is intended only for HGH will simple and medium cases, Arrayah added. Shaikha, said. according to Al Mana Exchange Qatar witnessed growth in 2019, The documentary explains in details “It is important that people realise that general manager Anand P Jakati. Jakati said the market recorded a the screening process for breast and regular screening saves lives. There is The latest trends in fi nancial 10%growth in the volume of re- bowel cancer and how quick it is, it also complete privacy for males and females Mariam Abdulmalik, director general almost a 100% survival rate from breast technology (Fintech) and the de- mittance outfl ow last year, “and presents the special features of the suites visitors. and Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, manager of cancer when it is caught at an early stage, velopment of mobile Apps, mo- was better than the previous year.” especially the state of art equipment, the The documentary is also has testi- Screening Programmes. while the survival rate from bowel cancer bile wallets, and web services are “The top countries that sent welcoming and professional staff , and the monials by PHCC offi cials including Dr Testimonials were also made by chef is around 90% when caught early.” key to the growth of the business, remittances in 2019 were India, Jakati told Gulf Times yesterday. the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and “Exchange houses should Nepal. This year, our outlook re- QFRSN conducts 3-day programme cope with the advancements in mains optimistic,” noted Jakati, technology…and once these in- who added that there a spike in Qatar Foundation For Rehabilitation Of Special Needs (QFRSN) has novations are within reach to remittance outfl ow last week organised three-day rehabilitation activities programme for members more people, it becomes more following political tensions be- of the Girls rehabilitation centre and their families. Activities included convenient for them to transact tween the US and Iran. forming paper and plastic craft, in addition to decorating fabrics, as business with us,” he stressed. Similarly, Trust Exchange well as a group of diff erent art forms under the supervision of female “Also, there will be less physi- general manager KNS Das point- teachers, specialists and volunteers participating in the programme. cal expansion for the company ed out that there was stability in QFRSN board member Talib Afifa explained that the activities because technology has made the market in 2019. program aims to explore and develop the skills of the association it easy for us to reach our cus- “The trend would perhaps be members, through practical training for that takes into account their tomers and vice versa. I can ex- the same for this year, and there needs and abilities. He added that the mothers’ involvement helped pand my market and increase can be some moments in 2021 provide a family atmosphere that motivates persons with disabilities customer base, and at the same and 2022 because of the prepara- to be creative and contribute to further integrating them with their time reduce physical expansion,” tions for the hosting of the FIFA family and community environment. — QNA continued Jakati, adding that Al World Cup,” Das said.

The off icials at the signing ceremony. European powers urge Iran to fully return to nuclear deal despite diff erences with Trump Culture ministry, QFFD agree on AFP commitments since July 2019. These actions It pointed out that all the remaining par- Paris must be reversed.” ties to the agreement — China, France, Ger- support for Syrian refugee children All three European parties to the pact have many, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran, maintained their commitment to saving the with the EU as coordinator — were still com- rance, Germany and Britain yesterday deal, despite a call by Trump this week to mitted to preserving it. QNA The agreement was signed among Syrian refugee children in called on Iran to return to “full re- join him in walking away. “We must address — through diplomacy Doha at the Doha International Book Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, ac- Fspect” of its commitments under Te- The joint statement confi rmed their posi- and in a meaningful way — shared concerns Fair in its 30th edition, by Ibra- cording to which various books hran’s 2015 nuclear accord with world pow- tion after Iran’s admission on Saturday that about Iran’s destabilising regional activities, him Abdulrahim al-Bouhashem, are purchased from the Doha ers. it had accidentally shot down the Ukraine including those linked to its missile pro- he Ministry of Culture and Director of the Forum for Qatar Book Fair and then sent to Syrian The three European signatories to the deal International Airlines plane, killing all 176 gramme. We reiterate our readiness to con- Sports, represented by Publishers and Distributors, and refugee children. have sought to salvage the accord intended people aboard. tinue our engagement for de-escalation and Tthe Qatar Publishers and Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, Di- Doha International Book Fair, to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions after it The three signatory countries and their stability in the region. Distributors Forum, has signed rector General of the Qatar Fund which runs January 9-19, in- began unravelling when President Donald EU partners shared “fundamental common “We note Iran’s announcement with regard a memorandum of understand- for Development. cludes many cultural activities Trump pulled out the United States in 2018. security interests”, said the statement. to the shooting down of UIA Flight PS752 and ing with Qatar Fund for Develop- The MoU aims to enhance cul- and events, with the participa- “It is essential that Iran return to full com- One of those interests “is upholding the commit to working with Iran on next steps.” ment (QFFD) to support the cultural and educational support tion of 335 Arab and foreign pub- pliance with its commitments under the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and ensur- The joint statement came as protests tural activities of Syrian refugee for humanitarian and develop- lishing houses, and the French agreement,” a joint European statement said. ing that Iran never develops a nuclear weap- broke out in Iran after the Iranian authorities and displaced children in Turkey, ment work, in order to support Republic is the guest of honour “We have expressed our deep concern at on. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action admitted to downing the Ukrainian civilian Jordan, and Lebanon. the dissemination of education of the Fair this year. the actions taken by Iran in violation of its (JCPOA) plays a key role in this respect.” passenger plane. Gulf Times 8 Monday, January 13, 2020 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA Fragile truce agreed in Libya after nine months of fi ghting AFP underlaying the conflict”. The over the southern Tripoli sub- Tripoli Arab League likewise urged urb where pro-GNA forces Libya’s factions to “commit to have been resisting Haftar’s stop the fighting, work on al- offensive. The GNA, however, oth sides in Libya’s con- leviating all forms of escala- stressed that “any ceasefire infl ict agreed to a ceasefi re tions and engage in good faith itiative cannot succeed without Bfrom yesterday to end nine aimed at reaching permanent the withdrawal of the aggressor months of fi ghting, following arrangements for a ceasefire”. from where they came”, from weeks of international diploma- Neighbouring Algeria, at the the country’s east and south. cy and calls for a truce by power- centre of a flurry of diplomatic Turkey’s defence ministry brokers Russia and Turkey. activity on Libya, called for a said: “The belligerents have The oil-rich North African “swift return to the process been trying to respect these country has been wracked by of national dialogue to reach a truces since they came into bloody turmoil since a 2011 political solution”. Putin held force... and the situation has Nato-backed uprising killed talks on the telephone yester- been calm apart from one or long-time dictator Muammar day with Italian Prime Minis- two isolated incidents.” Gaddafi, with multiple foreign ter Giuseppe Conte and French Libya analyst Wolfram Lach- powers now involved. President Emmanuel Macron, er said that the calm on the The UN-recognised Govern- who both voiced support for a ground reflected a success for ment of National Accord (GNA) planned international confer- both Turkey and Russia. in Tripoli had been under at- ence on Libya to be held in Ber- “The widespread observ- tack since last April from forces lin, the Kremlin said. ance of the ceasefi re until now loyal to eastern-based strong- Since the start of the offen- is a stunning demonstration of man Khalifa Haftar, which on sive against Tripoli, more than newfound Russian and Turkish January 6 captured the strate- 280 civilians and about 2,000 infl uence in Libya,” he said. gic coastal city of Sirte. fighters have been killed and The truce comes after a dip- Late on Saturday, Haftar’s 146,000 Libyans displaced, lomatic off ensive, led by Ankara forces announced a ceasefire according to the UN. Sarraj and Moscow, which have estab- starting at midnight (yesterday stressed the GNA’s “legitimate lished themselves as key players in 00:00 local time) in line with a right...to respond to any at- Libya. Ankara despatched troops joint call by Turkish President tack or aggression” that may — in a training capacity, it said — Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his come from the other side, while to the GNA in January. Erdogan Russian counterpart Vladimir Fighters loyal to the internationally-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) patrol an area south of the Libyan capital Tripoli, Haftar’s forces warned of a “se- and Putin called for a truce at a Putin. yesterday. vere” response to any violation meeting last Wednesday in Is- GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj, by the “opposing camp”. tanbul, and Turkey later asked who met Erdogan in Istan- The UN mission in Libya respect the ceasefire” and sup- European embassies in seize this fragile opportunity Artillery fire could be heard Russia to convince Haftar, who bul yesterday, confirmed the welcomed the announcements port efforts to launch an inter- Tripoli, in a joint statement, to address the key political, shortly after midnight in the had initially vowed to fi ght on, to ceasefire had taken effect. and called on all parties “to Libyan dialogue. urged Libya’s rival parties “to economic, and security issues capital, before quiet settled respect it.

Rockets Russian-led air strikes suspended in Idlib after ceasefi re injure Reuters are fending off terror attacks by Amman Al Qaeda militants whom they four Iraq say hit populated, government- held areas. ussia and its allies halt- However, they accuse the soldiers ed air strikes in Syria’s rebels of wrecking a “de-es- RIdlib region yesterday calation zone” brokered two- as a ceasefi re agreed with Tur- years ago between Turkey and DPA key came into force, residents, Russia. Baghdad rebels and respondents said, al- The Syrian army said yes- though few were optimistic the terday that insurgent rockets truce would hold. had killed two people during volley of rockets hit an Hundreds of thousands of shelling of residential areas in Iraqi airbase north of the people have fl ed Idlib province Aleppo city. Acapital Baghdad yester- in recent weeks as Russian jets Rebels and witnesses said day, injuring four Iraqi air force and Syrian artillery pounded that at least a dozen towns were personnel, the army said. towns and villages in a renewed hit by artillery bombing from Eight rockets struck the Balad government assault aimed at army posts. air base, which is hosting US clearing the opposition from its “Aerial bombing stopped but personnel, the military media last bastion in the northwest of many towns and villages con- centre added in a brief state- the country. tinued to be targeted by artillery ment, according to Iraq’s offi cial Turkey’s defence ministry rounds,” Mohamad Rashid, an news agency INA. said it was closely following activist said. A local security offi cial had ceasefi re agreements in Idlib Rebels said pro-government earlier said three Iraqi soldiers yesterday, adding that the situ- forces were massing on the were injured after nine mortar ation was calm “except for one front lines and army helicopters shells had landed in the base, or two separate incidents”. Tur- had dropped leafl ets calling on some 80 kilometres north of key, which for years has backed A wounded girl is rushed into the emergency at the University hospital in a government-held neighbourhood yesterday, following reported civilians to surrender and evac- Baghdad. Syrian rebels fi ghting to oust rebel fire on government-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo. uate rebel-held areas. Some shells hit the runway of President Bashar al-Assad, “There is no return to the the facility while another shell said on Friday it had agreed the The latest off ensive had are trapped, the vast majority ian situation had become more bouts of fi ghting to the safety of decision to cleanse all areas of struck the gate, Colonel Mo- ceasefi re with Russia to stem brought the Russian-led mili- women and children, according acute with at least 300,000 ci- camps near the Turkish border. the terrorist killers so join your hamed Khalil, a police offi cer in the fl ow of tens of thousands of tary campaign closer to heav- to the United Nations. vilians now on the run in Idlib, Moscow says its forces, along army in achieving victory,” said the northern Iraqi province of civilians uprooted by the vio- ily crowded parts of Idlib prov- Senior UN offi cials said this adding to the more than half a with the Syrian army and mi- a pamphlet dropped on rebel- Salah al-Din, added. lence. ince, where nearly 3mn people month that the humanitar- million people who fl ed earlier litias fi ghting alongside them, held areas. Drought ignites human-wildlife confl ict in Zimbabwe

AFP spokesman Tinashe Farawo. quently fighting off desperate- not deter them in the long Hwange He said elephants caused ly hungry game. term,” said George Mapuvire, most fatalities, while hippos, More than 200 elephants director of Bio-Hub Trust, a buffalos, lions, hyenas and starved to death over three charity that trains people to re- imbabwean villager Du- crocodile also contributed to months last year. Despite sus- spond to animal attacks. misani Khumalo appeared the toll. pecting that Khumalo was Bio-Hub Trust advocates for Zto be in pain as he walked Hwange National Park, hunting illegally when he was a “soft approach” that encour- gingerly towards a chair under which is half the size of Bel- attacked, Phindile Ncube, ages peaceful co-existence be- the shade of a tree near his one- gium, is Zimbabwe’s largest CEO of Hwange Rural District tween humans and wildlife. room brick shack. game park and is situated next Council admitted that wild Mapuvire suggested burning The 45-year-old was at- to the famed Victoria Falls. animals are killing people and home-made hot chilli cakes to tacked by a buffalo days earlier, The park is not fenced off. that the drought has worsened repel wildlife. and he was lucky to be on his Animals breach the buffer things. “You mix chilli powder with feet. and “cross over to look for wa- “Wild animals cross into hu- cow or elephant dung and Wild animals in Zimbabwe ter and food as there is little man-inhabited areas in search shape it into bricks, once the were responsible for the deaths or none left in the forest area,” of water as...sources of drink- bricks dry, you can burn them of at least 36 people in 2019, up Farawo said ing water dry up in the forest,” when elephants are approach- from 20 in the previous year. Khumalo vividly remembers said Ncube. ing. They can’t stand the “I thank God that I survived the attack. He described an incident smell!” the attack,” said Khumalo with He was walking in a forest that took place a few weeks Villagers have created an el- a laugh, making light of the fact near his Ndlovu-Kachechete earlier, during which elephants ephant alarm system by tying that the buffalo almost ripped village to register for food aid, killed two cows at a domestic strings of empty tin cans to off his genitals. when he heard dogs barking. water well. trees and poles. Authorities recorded 311 ani- Suddenly a buffalo emerged Armed scouts have been put When the cans click, they mal attacks on people last year, from the bush and charged, on standby to respond to dis- know an elephant is approach- up from 195 in 2018. hitting him in the chest and tress calls from villagers. ing and they light chilli cakes to The attacks have been tossing him to the ground. But it was while responding keep it away. blamed on a devastating It went for his groin and used to one such call that the scouts Another way of keeping ele- drought in Zimbabwe which its horn to rip off part of the inadvertently shot dead a phants at bay is the chilli gun, a has seen hungry animals skin around his penis. 61-year-old woman in Mbizha plastic contraption loaded with breaking out of game reserves, Khumalo grabbed the buffa- village, close to Khumalo’s. File photo taken on November 12, 2019 shows a hippo stuck in the mud at a drying watering hole in the ping-pong balls injected with raiding human settlements in lo’s leg, kicked it in the eye and “As they tried to chase them Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe. chilli oil. search of food and water. it scampered off. off one (elephant) charged at “When it hits an elephant, “The cases include attacks Villagers in Zimbabwe’s them and a scout shot at it. He was sitting by a fire outside her their part to scare off animals. “Animals, such as elephants it disintegrates, splashing the on humans, their livestock wildlife-rich but parched missed, and the stray bullet hit hut almost a mile away.” One way is to beat drums. get used to the noise and know animal with the chilli oil,” and crops,” said national parks northwestern region are fre- and killed Irene Musaka, who Locals are encouraged to play But the impact is limited. it...won’t hurt them, so it does Mapuvire explained. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 9 AFRICA

DR Congo Ethiopian PM Abiy expects army says rebels killed 30 parliamentary poll in May soldiers Reuters Ethiopian parties to conduct Cape Town the election on time in a very peaceful and democratic man- AFP ner,” he said. Opposition poli- Kinshasa thiopia will hold a par- ticians have warned against liamentary election in any delay in the election, and EMay or June despite critics have said that postpon- ebels killed 30 soldiers concerns about security and ing the vote could cause an and wounded another logistics, Prime Minister Abiy adverse social reaction, fuel R70, some seriously, dur- Ahmed said yesterday. regional conflicts and damage ing fi erce fi ghting last week in The election will be the first Abiy’s democratic credentials. eastern DR Congo, army offi cials under Nobel Peace Laureate Ethiopia has regularly held said. Abiy, who took office in April elections since 1995 but, with They suff ered the losses dur- 2018 and launched political the exception of the 2005 ing the latest off ensive Thursday and economic reforms. election, no election has been against the Allied Democratic His reform agenda has also competitive. Forces (ADF), in North Kivu stoked violence and high- Abiy also said Ethiopia province, Major Mak Hazukai lighted ethnic divisions in the hoped Ramaphosa, who next told journalists. country of about 105mn peo- month assumes a one-year The army captured the ADF’s ple, and the election board chairmanship of the African headquarters during the battle said last June that the security Union continental body, would at Madina, and killed 40 rebel situation could delay the 2020 help broker a deal with anoth- fi ghters, including fi ve of their election. er African nation over dead- leaders, Hazukai added. “On the schedule, I am not locked talks to develop a new On Friday, the cabinet posted sure whether it is May or June, $4bn dam on the Nile River. a tweet on the prime minis- because the schedule will be Ethiopia, Sudan and an- ter’s account congratulating the declared by the election board other African nation are due to army on their capture of what but I think we will conduct an convene today in Washington they described as the one of the election this year because it is a with the aim of resolving their last bastions of the ADF. constitutional mandate,” Abiy, disagreements by Jan 15 over North Kivu sits on the border who is visiting South Africa, the massive hydroelectric dam with Uganda. said in response to a question that Ethiopia is building. The ADF, rebels originally at a media briefing with Presi- The dam dispute has from Uganda, has been waging a dent Cyril Ramaphosa. sparked a diplomatic crisis be- campaign of violence in the east “There might be lots of tween that African nation and of the Democratic Republic of challenges, not only logistics Ethiopia. Congo for years. but also peace and security...It “I believe a solution is pos- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed shake hands after concluding a press conference at Hazukai described them as is better for Ethiopians and for sible,” said Ramaphosa. the Union Buildings in Pretoria, yesterday. “fundamentalists”. The army announced its campaign against the ADF on October 30. The rebels are accused of having killed more than a thousand people in the Beni region, in the Militants kill fi ve in northern part of North Kivu, Guinea govt warns it won’t since 2014. ADF fi ghters killed at least northeast Nigeria 150 civilians over November and December in reprisal according to offi cial sources and local AFP men were buried in Maiduguri tolerate violent protests groups. Kano on Saturday, another militia That rising toll has sparked member Ibrahim Liman said. anger over the authorities’ re- Nganzai district, where AFP hundreds of thousands of peo- lic order and to deny other facing a busy political year. sponse. ilitants linked with the Gajiram is located, has been re- Conakry ple. Guineans the free exercise of Legislative elections are There have been demonstra- Islamic State group peatedly attacked by militants Scores have been arrested. their fundamental rights,” the due in February and a presi- tions in the city of Beni, where Mkilled five members in recent months, with troops For today, the National statement said. dential election is scheduled local people accuse the UN of a militia in an offensive in and residents targeted. he Guinean govern- Front for the Defence of the Conde, 81, published a draft sometime this year, as well as peacekeeping force Monusco of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno In the past two months, the ment warned it will Constitution (FNDC), an alli- constitution last month, argu- a possible referendum on the failing to protect them. state, militia sources said. number of ambushes against Trespond vigorously to ance of opposition groups, has ing that the colonial-era laws constitution. At the end of November, local Fighters from Islamic State troops and civilian abductions any violence at an opposition called for a “huge” and “open- need to be changed. However, opposition politi- people looted a Monusco base West Africa Province (ISWAP) — at fake highway checkpoints by rally today, the latest protest ended” protest, heightening But adversaries are con- cal parties are boycotting the there. travelling in pickup trucks fi tted ISWAP — which split from the over fears that President Alpha fears of fresh violence. vinced he plans to use the re- legislative elections and have Since then, the UN force and with machine guns — attacked Boko Haram militant group in Conde is changing the consti- While the FNDC also speci- form to stay in offi ce beyond vowed to prevent them. the army have announced joint Gajiram town, 80 kilometres 2016 — has increased. tution to extend his mandate. fi ed a peaceful demonstration, the two presidential terms Conde, who was jailed un- patrols in the region. from the state capital Maiduguri, The spike in attacks followed The West African coun- the government issued a state- currently stipulated in the der Guinea’s previous authori- The ADF began as a rebellion on Friday. They targeted hunters the creation of “super camps” try has been wracked by mass ment yesterday accusing the former French colony’s con- tarian regimes, became the hostile to Ugandan President and vigilantes who were guard- by the Nigerian military in the demonstrations since mid- opposition leaders of seeking stitution. fi rst democratically elected Yoweri Museveni. ing the town against attacks, northeast to stave off repeated October over constitutional “to plunge Guinea into disor- The president has neither president in 2010. It fell back into eastern DRC in resident Mele Butari said. militant raids. Authorities in reform. der”. confi rmed nor denied that Despite initial hopes of a 1995 and appears to have halted “We lost five men in the at- the state recruited hundreds of At least 20 civilians and one “State powers will be exer- claim. new political dawn, critics say raids inside Uganda. tack,” militia leader Babakura hunters and vigilantes to fi ll the gendarme have been killed in cised in all their rigour against Guinea, a mineral-rich but Conde’s rule has become in- Its recruits today are people of Kolo said on Saturday. The five void left by troops’ withdrawal. the protests, which have drawn those who seek to upset pub- poor country of some 13mn, is creasingly authoritarian. various nationalities.

Balancing Rocks park Gambia’s exiled former Chinese Foreign Aff airs Minister Wang Yi (centre, president seeks return white shirt crossed hands) visits the Epworth in leaked recording Balancing Rocks national park in Harare, yesterday. AFP It must be implemented, full Chinese Foreign Banjul stop,” he added without elabo- Aff airs Minister rating. Wang Yi is visiting In a statement published at several African ormer Gambian dicta- the time of his exile, the Afri- countries. tor Yahya Jammeh, forced can Union, the Economic Com- Finto exile in 2017, has been munity of West African States heard in a leaked recording de- (Ecowas) and the United Nations manding that his right to return committed to working with the be respected by the authorities. Gambian government to ensure Jammeh has hardly been heard Jammeh’s security and rights, from since fl eeing to Equatorial in particular his right to return. Guinea. The former leader ruled the tiny West African state for 22 years In a statement published before he fl ed in January 2017 af- at the time of his exile, ter losing a presidential election the African Union, the in 2016 to Adama Barrow, a rela- Economic Community tive unknown. of West African States Since January 2019, some 190 (Ecowas) and the United witnesses have appeared before a Nations committed to Truth, Reconciliation and Repa- working with the Gambian rations Commission (TRRC) set government to ensure up to investigate abuses under Jammeh’s security and his rule. The fi rst year of hear- rights, in particular his ings ended in early December, Court rejects appeal against presidential vote result right to return capping months of testimony about torture, murder, rape and His comments were made witch hunts. AFP the votes, but ruling PAIGC “publish the defi nitive results”, Embalo, 47, takes over from General,” a reference to his rank public in a recording of a con- Despite the grisly testimony, Bissau party candidate Domingos Si- the ruling said. It did not say Jose Mario Vaz, who came to as a reserve brigadier general. versation between him and an the former president, still retains moes Pereira had challenged the when the fi nal results would be power in 2014 with hopes of He quit the army in the 1990s. offi cial of his party broadcast on some support in the country of result as full of irregularities. published. stabilising the country. Like Pereira, he is also a social media. In it, the president around 2mn. uinea-Bissau’s Supreme Neighbouring countries have The National Electoral Coun- But his tenure was hampered former prime minister, serv- lent his support to a demonstra- There have been numerous Court has rejected an watched closely for a smooth cil had said Pereira won 46.45 % by a paralysing faceoff with ing under Vaz between 2016 tion planned by his backers on calls for Jammeh to be returned Gappeal by the losing transition in Guinea-Bissau, of the second round votes. parliament under the country’s and 2018, before represent- January 16. to The Gambia for prosecution, candidate in last month’s sec- which has seen more than a The small West African semi-presidential political sys- ing Madem, a party formed by “I don’t want any violence and while others are seeking his ac- ond round presidential vote, dozen coups, coup plots or at- state wedged between Senegal, tem. The PAIGC — the African PAIGC rebels. I don’t want anybody to touch tive return to politics. and ordered the fi nal results tempted military rebellions Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean Party for the Independence of He fought to overcome his anything or to destroy anything,” Thousands of supporters of published, according to a court since independence from Por- has long struggled with poverty Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) fi rst-round vote defi cit by por- he told the offi cial. Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic ruling seen yesterday. tugal in 1974. and corruption and it has be- — is rooted in a Marxist-Lenin- traying himself as a unifi er and “The fact of the matter is to Reorientation and Construc- Opposition leader Umaro The Supreme Court rejected came a transit route for South ist movement that fought to end by gaining the backing of elimi- meet the authorities and make it tion (APRC) party thronged the Sissoco Embalo won the De- Pereira’s challenge and author- American cocaine heading to Portuguese rule. nated candidates, including very clear to them that the agree- capital Banjul on November 2019 cember ballot with 53.55 % of ised electoral authorities to Europe. Embalo is nicknamed “The Vaz. ment must be implemented. demanding his return from exile. Gulf Times 10 Monday, January 13, 2020 AMERICAS

NEGOTIATIONS EMPLOYMENT POLITICS ASSISTANCE ADIEU Guaido says talks with Brazil mulls oil exploration Arrest judges on anti-graft Peru govt aid for children Uber announces end of Maduro are ‘unlikely’ on indigenous land: media body: Guatemala panel of murdered women services in Colombia

Venezuela’s opposition leader and self-declared Brazil’s government will propose legalising oil A Guatemalan congressional commission has Peru is to start giving government financial aid Uber is ending its services in Colombia next acting president Juan Guaido said on Saturday it is and gas exploration as well as hydroelectric dam recommended the arrest of judges and prosecutors, to children whose mothers were murdered. Latin month after losing a case brought by taxi drivers unlikely he will resume negotiations with President construction on indigenous land, a report said over who it claims committed abuses while working America and the Caribbean have the world’s highest for alleged unfair business practices. The US Nicolas Maduro. “It’s not that we don’t want a the weekend, citing a draft of a bill to be sent to with a UN-backed anti-corruption body that the rates of femicide, according to the United Nations. ride-sharing giant has around 2mn active users negotiation. It’s that we see it as just so highly Congress. Opening up protected native territory outgoing president bitterly opposed. President- Peru has recorded about 1,200 femicides since in the country and roughly 88,000 drivers. It unlikely. We have been duped over and over,” was a key campaign pledge for President Jair elect Alejandro Giammattei has not commented on 2011 when it was made a specific crime carrying a had appealed the verdict, which was announced Guaido said in a speech to supporters in Caracas. Bolsonaro. The draft bill also allows indigenous the explosive recommendations. The commission longer sentence than murder Now the government three weeks ago. But now Uber has thrown in Aides to Maduro and Guaido held negotiations people to “conduct economic activities” on their recommendations rest with Attorney-General Maria is to pay the guardians of children whose mothers the towel. “In accordance with the surprising last year under mediation by Norway but both land, including agriculture, raising livestock and Consuelo Porras, who has not said whether she were victims of femicide — typically aunts, uncles or verdict...from last December 20, from midnight sides accused each other of breaking terms, and tourism, O Globo said. While aff ected communities will act on them. Dubbed a ‘Truth Commission’, the grandparents — about $100 a month to look after on February 1, 2020, Uber will cease to work in the talks stopped in August. on Friday, Guaido’s would be consulted on development projects, panel is made up of three conservative members them until they are 18. “The economic assistance Colombia,” said a company statement. On its aides said a Norwegian government commission they would not have the power to veto them. A of the 158-member legislature, all allies of outgoing seeks to satisfy basic and indispensable needs, Twitter account, Uber also published a cartoon of would arrive here within hours. But they also government spokesman told AFP the proposal “is President Jimmy Morales, who commands majority their food, health,” said Patricia Carolina Garces, a white vehicle leaving Colombia with a message stressed that the negotiation process was over. still being studied and has not been finalised.” support in the Congress. vice-minister at the women’s ministry. saying: “Goodbye...hopefully see you soon.”

Pelosi: Enough Canadians testimony to demand convict Trump answers on

AFP fake ‘alert’ Washington

By David Ljunggren, Reuters op US Democrat Nancy Pelosi said Ottawa yesterday that she believes the Timpeachment hearings against Donald Trump produced “enough testi- he Canadian province of mony to remove him from offi ce” when Ontario yesterday sent out the case moves to the Senate. Ta false alert that there had Speaker Pelosi will meet with the been an incident at a massive nu- House Democratic caucus tomorrow to clear power station near Toronto, prepare for the formal vote required to Canada’s largest city, prompting send the two articles of impeachment angry local mayors to demand an passed by the House on to the Senate, as inquiry. early as this week. At around 7.30am ET cell The Senate trial is expected to be phone users across Ontario re- held quickly, with Republicans holding ceived an alert about the sup- enough votes to easily dismiss the charg- posed incident at the age- es of abuse of power and obstruction of ing Pickering plant, one of the Congress. world’s largest. Pelosi has withheld the articles since Less than an hour later the the House impeached Trump on Decem- Ontario Power Generation (OPG) ber 18 over allegations that he improp- authority said the message had erly pressured Ukraine to investigate his been a mistake. potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden, “Important update: the alert and obstructed the subsequent congres- regarding Pickering Nuclear was sional probe. sent in error. There is no danger Pelosi had hoped to pressure Senate to the public or environment,” Republican leader Mitch McConnell to it said in a tweet without giving agree to allow witnesses and new evi- details. dence in the trial. The initial message said there He has not budged, however. had been no abnormal leak of Still, she said yesterday that the delay activity from the plant, which is had accomplished important things. located on the shores of Lake On- “We wanted the public to see the need tario some 50km east of down- for witnesses,” she told ABC. town Toronto. “Now the ball is in their court to either “Like many of you, I was very do that or pay a price for not doing it.” A Bossier Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff ’s Off ice handout image of the aftermath of a powerful storm that hit the county on Saturday. troubled to have received that During the interim, she added, new emergency alert this morning. e-mails supporting the charges against While I am relieved that there Trump had emerged, and former na- was no actual emergency, I am tional security adviser John Bolton had upset that an error such as this announced his willingness to testify if occurred,” Pickering Mayor Dave subpoenaed. Ryan said on Twitter. “I have If the Senate fails to subpoena Bolton spoken to the province, and am — and Trump said on Friday in an inter- demanding that a full investiga- view on Fox that he might invoke execu- tion take place.” tive privilege to block Bolton’s testimony 10 dead as winter Toronto Mayor John Tory — Pelosi said it was “not excluded” that complained that many of the the House might then move to subpoena city’s 3mn residents had been him. unnecessarily alarmed and also But McConnell made clear recently he pushed for a probe, citing what had suffi cient Republican votes to ignore he said were “far too many unan- the Democrats’ demands on witnesses swered questions”. and evidence. OPG was not immediately Trump, for his part, has said he ex- storms lash US available for comment. pects rapid exoneration and wants to The plant came online in 1971 move past the trial as quickly as possible. Reuters “The real danger comes from the A fi refi ghter and a police offi cer in and Illinois were largely repaired by and has a power-generating ca- “Why should I have the stigma of Im- Atlanta wind and ice accumulation,” said Lubbock, Texas, were killed on Satur- Saturday afternoon. pacity of 3,100 megawatts when peachment attached to my name when I NWS forecaster Bob Oravec in College day after a car slid on ice-slicked US The bulk of the nation’s fl ight delays fully active. It is scheduled to be did nothing wrong,” the president tweet- Park Maryland. Interstate Highway 27 as they were in- and cancellations were at Chicago’s shut down in 2024. ed yesterday. “Very unfair to tens of mil- t least 10 people died, more More than 2cm of ice was predicted vestigating a traffi c accident, Lubbock O’Hare International Airport, with “OPG has reminded everyone lions of voters!” than 1,000 fl ights were can- to cake highways and roads across the Fire offi cials said. more than 1,000 fl ights cancelled and that they’re running an unneed- He also renewed a call for Democrat Acelled and hundreds of thou- South and Northeast from Saturday Three more storm-related deaths hundreds more delayed, according to ed and aging nuclear station next Adam Schiff , who led the House im- sands were without power in fi ve night to Sunday morning, he said. occurred in Pickens County in west- fl ightaware.com. to Toronto,” said Shawn-Patrick peachment probe, to be called as a wit- states on Saturday as a massive winter “The ice and wind will make driving ern Alabama, CNN reported over the Tornadoes damaged or destroyed Stensil, a programme director at ness — this time also demanding that storm system dumped snow, freezing treacherous, and trees can snap and weekend, but details were not imme- some buildings in Arkansas and Mis- Greenpeace Canada. Pelosi herself be made to testify. rain and hail from Texas to Michigan. knock out power and do other dam- diately available. souri, forecasters said. Some social media users The timing of the trial is critical, with Hurricane-force wind gusts, golf- age,” he said. A 10th person died in southeastern NWS said more than 18mn people in posted images from the hit car- political temperatures rapidly rising in ball-sized hail and 5-13cm of snow fell Two people were killed when the Oklahoma on Saturday morning after Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Okla- toon series the Simpsons, which this presidential election year. on Friday night and Saturday morning storm destroyed a trailer home in the 58-year-old man was swept away homa remained at risk of tornadoes features a nuclear power plant The fi rst vote of the Democratic nomi- as storms pushed from Texas through northwestern Louisiana late Friday, while his pickup truck was stalled and fl ooding rains. plagued by safety violations. nation process, in Iowa, is just weeks the Southeast and Great Lakes into according to the Bossier Parish Sher- in deep water on a fl ooded road, the Oravec said that hurricane-force Cam Guthrie, the mayor of away, on February 3. Maine, the National Weather Service iff ’s Offi ce. Houston Chronicle reported. wind gusts of about 120kph hit the Guelph, a city west of Toronto, Five of the candidates — Bernie Sand- (NWS) said. Local media reported that a third More than 257,000 homes and busi- southeast. said “sending out a ‘hey there ers, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, More snow with accumulations be- person died after a tree fell on a home nesses were without power across As the system pushes eastward, rain was an issue at a nuclear plant Cory Booker and Michael Bennet — are tween 15-30cm was expected through in that state. A fourth person was Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ten- should end overnight in many south- but we’re not going to tell you US senators, and are required to sit as ju- yesterday in parts of Illinois, Michi- killed on Friday in the storms when a nessee and Arkansas according the ern states, but the Northeast and New about it specifi cally and it’s not rors during the impeachment trial, cur- gan, northern New York and New car slide off the road and into a creek tracking site PowerOutage.us. England can expect severe weather to a big deal’ emergency text, is ter- tailing their campaigning eff orts. England. in Dallas, NBC news reported. Heavy outages in Texas, Michigan last for another day, he said. rible”. ‘Space unites us’: First Iranian-American astronaut reaches for stars

By Julia Benarrous and be able to be inspired by every- But her parents were con- But Moghbeli said she had per- record-breaking 18,000 applicants. Issam Ahmed, AFP one, but it is a little easier to be cerned to learn she then planned sonally not faced problems dur- As an astronaut, Moghbeli Houston inspired by someone who looks to become a military pilot — a ing her time in service. will need to draw upon her ex- like you or has something in well-trodden path to the astro- “I haven’t in any way felt that periences and the close calls she common with you, so I do hope naut corps. changed anything about how I’m faced both as a test pilot and later asmin ‘Jaws’ Moghbeli earned there is that infl uence,” she said. Moghbeli signed up in 2005 — treated,” she told AFP. as a combat pilot, to think fast her fi erce nickname during She and her brother were born just four years after the Septem- She spoke fondly of close and mitigate the unique risks Jher time as a decorated heli- in Germany to Iranian parents, ber 11 attacks, and her parents friendships forged during her that come with space fl ight. copter gunship pilot who fl ew architecture students who had were worried about what their military missions and astronaut So what is it about space that more than 150 missions in Af- fl ed their native country after the daughter might face as a person training — feelings that are clear- makes it all worthwhile? ghanistan. 1979 Islamic Revolution. of Middle Eastern heritage. ly reciprocated. “One of the reasons I love The Marine Corps major, MIT But Moghbeli grew up in Bald- “But once I joined, they gave At her Nasa graduation cer- working in human space explora- graduate and college basketball win, New York, which she con- me absolute support,” she said, emony, classmate Jonny Kim tion is, it’s something we gener- player can now add another ac- siders her hometown — and her crediting the backing of her fam- described Moghbeli as “de- ally all agree on and unite on,” she complishment to her burgeoning story after that reads like an im- ily, and later her partner Sam, pendable,” “resilient” and said, citing two decades of close resume: the fi rst Iranian-Ameri- migrant’s fairy tale. whom she married three months “fierce,” in short, “the perfect US-Russian co-operation on the can astronaut. At 15, she attended an ad- ago, for her success. crewmate I’d go into the void of International Space Station, de- Speaking to AFP after graduating vanced space camp, cementing Following a brief US-Irani- space with.” Kim is himself a spite the two countries’ other- in Nasa’s latest cohort, the 36-year- her ambition to one day reach for an rapprochement during the decorated Navy Seal and emer- wise fraught ties. old immigrant said she hoped her the stars. She graduated from the Obama years, tensions between gency physician. “I think it is an area where we example might help inspire others Massachusetts Institute of Tech- the two countries have soared He and Moghbeli were two of the see diplomacy where we don’t Nasa astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli celebrates during a graduation from similar backgrounds. nology, where she studied aero- again under the current admin- fi ve people of colour in the gradu- see it in other areas,” she said. “I ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday. “I would love for everyone to nautical engineering. istration. ating class of 11, selected from a think it has an impact.” Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 11 ASIA

Nepal drafting new law for foreign NGOs Anti-govt run draws IANS “The objective of the pro- Kathmandu posed policy is to reassert that Nepal government is concerned about the strategic epal’s Social Welfare mobilisation of international Council is drafting a non-governmental organisa- Npolicy “to discourage” tions, particularly in the bor- foreign non-governmental or- dering regions, in the name of thousands of Thais ganisations (NGO) from run- building madrasas and mon- ning programmes that can asteries,” Bhattarai told The Reuters hamper the Himalayan nation’s Kathmandu Post. Bangkok relations with India and China, According to the council, it was reported yesterday. madrasas in the regions bor- “Nepal is a land-locked dering India were receiving housands of Thais joined country and has two large funds from countries like Qa- a run in the capital yes- countries with large popula- tar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Tterday in what appeared tions in the north and south,” Rajendra Kumar Poudel, to be the biggest show of dis- The Kathmandu Post said in member Secretary at the sent against the government of a report citing a draft of the council, admitted that India Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o- policy as saying. has raised concerns about the cha, although he also drew a big “Based on Nepal’s foreign large presence of madrasas in show of support at a rival event. policy of keeping balanced re- the bordering region. Police estimated more than lations, the projects that are “So we have stepped up the 12,745 runners and supporters opposed by either country will scrutiny of the source of funds gathered before sunrise at a park not be implemented.” and nature of programmes to in Bangkok, wearing athletic Council offi cials said the be run in the madrasas while outfi ts and colourful shoes, to policy, however, was still in providing approval for foreign participate in the “Run Against the draft stage and some of its funding,” said Poudel, adding: Dictatorship” event. provisions were expected to be “We are in favour of address- Some of them shouted slo- addressed by a new law on the ing India’s concerns.” gans such as “Prayut, get out!” registration of NGOs. The council is drafting yet or “Long live democracy!” while Durga Prasad Bhattarai, another policy aiming to dis- running the 2.6km (1.6-mile) an information offi cer at the courage programmes that course amid a sprinkling of se- council, said the proposed promote religious activities, curity forces. Many also gave a policy was aimed at addressing according to offi cials. The new three-fi nger salute of resistance the concerns of the two neigh- policy will make any activ- to authority. bouring countries regarding ity that aff ects the country’s “I want things to be better,” the activities of NGOs, partic- religious and ethnic harmony said Bangkok resident Warap- ularly in the bordering regions. punishable, they said. orn Waralak, 45, after complet- ing her run. “I want Prayut to get out.” Mahinda to visit India next month Thailand’s government is headed by Prayut, 65, after an People warm up before a “run against dictatorship” in Bangkok yesterday. Sri Lankan Prime Minister off ice was to India where he had election in March 2019 that the Mahinda Rajapaksa is slated to talks with Prime Minister Modi. opposition described as having Buddhist calendar year of the gressive Future Forward Party, Cheer the Uncle” event, held haters” for their liberal views. visit India next month, during Last week, Foreign Minister been manipulated to favour the revolution that ended absolute who has emerged as the most in another park, about 14km (9 They took turns hitting giant which he will hold talks with his Dinesh Gunawardena was in leader’s pro-army party. monarchy in 1932. outspoken opponent of Thai- miles) away, to show support for fruit piñatas with a wooden counterpart Narendra Modi, it India for talks with External “This is the biggest gather- To loud cheers, a bib numbered land’s new civilian government. Prayut, where thousands also stick, to symbolise frustration was reported yesterday. Aff airs Minister S Jaishankar. ing since the coup,” said Anu- 0044, in reference to the former Thanathorn was charged on turned out. at the Future Forward Party, This will be his first trip to Earlier, Prime Minister Mahinda sorn Unno, dean of the sociol- ruling junta’s Article 44 that gave Friday with breaching a law on The clashing views of the two with an orange, for example, India after assuming off ice in has said that the government ogy and anthropology faculty Prayut absolute executive power, public assembly over the De- camps aroused memories of pro- signifying the party’s offi cial November 2019 and the third will take quick steps to at Bangkok’s Thammasat Uni- was ripped in two on stage. cember rally, and Future Forward tests that periodically roiled the colour. high-level visit to New Delhi by a safeguard the island country’s versity, adding that the harm- The event was held in line with faces dissolution this month by Thai capital before culminating Both crowds encompassed a member of the new Sri Lankan economy if tensions in the less nature of the activity had people’s rights and no laws were the constitutional court. in coups in 2006 and 2014. wide age range, but Prayut’s sup- government, the Colombo Middle East further escalate. spurred greater participation broken, a government spokes- Yesterday’s event was called Supporters of Prayut, who porters were older on the whole. Gazette said in the report. Mahinda, also the country’s than usual. woman said. “Wing Lai Loong” in Thai, which as army chief, had led the 2014 “We support the prime min- Sources in the Prime Minister’s Off ice finance minister, told the media An excited crowd watched The run followed a rally last translates as “Run to Oust the Un- coup, put nationalism on dis- ister because he shows loyalty to confirmed the visit but said that the that the Sri Lankan government as organisers auctioned bibs month staged by Thanath- cle”, in an apparent reference to play by brandishing the Thai the monarchy, our king,” said So- dates were yet to be finalised. expected the US and Iran not to bearing numbers signifi cant in orn Juangroongruangkit, the Prayuth’s nickname of “Uncle Tu”. fl ag, while branding Thanath- rasak Katkonganapan, a 62-year- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s opt for war but to settle issues Thai politics, such as 2475, the 41-year-old leader of the pro- It prompted a rival “Walk to orn and his supporters “nation old retiree at the walk. first overseas visit after taking through negotiations. (IANS)

Lanka panel to Homeward bound probe political Record number of persecution Sri Lankan President Gotabaya elephant deaths in Rajapaksa has appointed a commission to probe alleged political victimisation that took Lanka last year place from 2015-2019 during the former administration of his IANS In September, offi cials said predecessor Maithripala Sirisena Colombo they suspected seven ele- and former prime minister Ranil phants found dead in a reserve Wickremesinghe, media reports were poisoned by local resi- said. record number of el- dents for destroying crops. The Presidential Commission ephants, 361, have died An earlier BBC report had said of Inquiry has been tasked to Ain Sri Lanka during that the expansion of villages look into political victimisation 2019, the highest fi gure since and farms in Sri Lanka has con- which occurred between the island nation became in- tributed to dwindling supplies of January 8, 2015 and November dependent in 1948, environ- food and water for the animals. 16, 2019 when Sirisena and mental groups say. Offi cials have promised to work Wickremesinghe were in power, There are an estimated to resolve the confl ict by putting the Colombo Gazette said in a 7,500 wild elephants in Sri fences between elephant habi- report. Lanka. Killing them is illegal, tats and rural communities. It will look into the alleged but the animals often come But Chamikara said the gov- political revenge on government into confl ict with rural com- ernment needed to do more to off icials, employees of state munities, reports the BBC. improve the quality of pro- corporations, members of the Elephants are revered in Sri tected areas, such as tackling armed forces and the police, Lanka but some farmers view the issue of invasive plants according to the Daily Mirror them as pests. Sajeewa Chami- which grow over grasslands newspaper kara, an environmentalist from that feed the elephants. The commission will be headed the Movement for Land and “Our development plan is by retired Supreme Court judge Agricultural Reform, told the not eco-friendly. We need Upali Abeyratne. BBC that some 85% of elephant a sustainable development deaths last year may have been plan,” he said. caused by human activity. Trains were also responsible Lanka to use He said communities had for killing some wild elephants People leave after taking part in the Akheri Munajat, or final prayers, during the annual Muslim gathering ‘Biswa Ijtema’ in Tongi, some used electric fences, poison during their migration. Others drone technology 30km north of Dhaka, yesterday. and explosives concealed as die of natural causes, he told to combat dengue food to kill the animals. the BBC. Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Science and Technology was exploring the possibility of controlling dengue by using drone technology, a media report said yesterday. Vietnamese women strive to clear war-era mines State Minister of Technology and Innovation Thilanga Sumathipala has called attention to using By Tran Thi Minh Ha, AFP have since died in related acci- and she is not alone. southern regime, but after the drone technology to eliminate Quang Tri dents. Victims are often farmers Deminer Tran Thi Hanh said war lost the other one when he dengue, the Colombo Page who accidentally trigger explo- her husband was injured by a detonated a bomb while search- reported. sions, people salvaging scrap landmine blast while going to ing for scrap metal in a former Discussions were held on how the nching across a fi eld lit- metal, or children who mistake work, and she does not want the US weapons warehouse. latest technology can be used for tered with Vietnam war-era bomblets for toys. same thing to happen to others. That explosion is seared in his the development of Sri Lanka. Ibombs, Ngoc leads an all- Part of the demilitarised zone “This is what motivates me to memory. The use of drone technology women demining team clear- that once divided the North and do this job,” she said. “I have nightmares of my for the prevention of dengue ing unexploded ordnance that South, Quang Tri is among the Once a site has been cleared fl esh being scattered in a blast - menace, which has had a has killed tens of thousands of worst-aff ected provinces. the land can be used for agri- and then waking to fi nd myself serious impact on the health and people - including her uncle. Ngoc remembers the burnt culture. still in one piece but just with- development of Sri Lanka has “He died in an explosion. I fl esh of her uncle’s body when “Demine, replant, rebuild - out legs,” he says, pushing his been discussed at length. was haunted by memories of he was killed by a bomb that we are in the business of peace, wheelchair past towering col- A recent study by Sri Lankan him,” Le Thi Bich Ngoc says as detonated while he scavenged the economy of peace,” says umns of pepper vines. researchers has successfully she oversees the controlled det- for scrap metal. Heidi Kuhn, founder of NGO Up to three million pieces of identified the usage of drone onation of a cluster bomb found For the past 20 years, Ngoc Roots of Peace, which has unexploded ordnance and clus- Members of an all-female demining team exploring for unexploded technology for aerial inspection in a sealed-off site in central has worked as a deminer with helped 3,000 people to farm ter munitions are still buried in ordnance at a landmine site in the Trieu Phong district in Quang Tri to identify mosquito breeding Quang Tri province. Mines Advisory Group (MAG), pepper on former mine fi elds. Vietnam’s soil. province. sites and transmit the information More than 6.1mn hectares of funded by the United States, Vietnam is the world’s lead- Just last month, Ty says he to the Public Health Inspectors. land in Vietnam remain blanketed Britain and Japan. ing producer of black pepper. found a grenade in his backyard. But that has not deterred are usually garment workers or The information can then be by unexploded munitions - mainly Today the 42-year-old criss- Double amputee and former sol- Clearing the entire coun- Ngoc from pressing on with farmers. used to release Bti bacteria to the dropped by US bombers - decades crosses her home province to dier Phan Van Ty says growing the try could take up to 100 years the dangerous work, which is “This job is not about money, identified sites via a drone. after the war ended in 1975. excavate up to a dozen pieces crop has given him a new lease on life. and cost billions of dollars, typically undertaken by men it is about making a better place Last year, at least 120 people died At least 40,000 Vietnamese of unexploded ordnance daily - He lost a leg fi ghting for the according to offi cials. in Quang Tri, where women and ensuring a safer land.” of dengue in the island nation. Gulf Times 12 Monday, January 13, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Residents ‘not worried’ in China’s pneumonia-stricken Wuhan

AFP caution nonetheless. Residents clear evidence of human-to-hu- urged people to stay vigilant, track down AFP reporters for clude that it was a Sars strain. possible. “Most of the building Wuhan, China of the central city seem just as man transmission has yet been few on the streets of central Wu- fi lming a confrontation between Outside the medical centre is empty,” Shu said, adding that unconcerned about the disease, detected, according to the lo- han were sporting masks this the guards and an elderly man in Wuhan where the infected she believed more pneumonia believed to be from the same cal health commission. Huanan weekend. who wanted to enter the market. are being treated, patients dis- patients would soon be trans- uhan, the Chinese city family as Sars — an infectious Seafood Wholesale Market in Most of the guards stationed The same guard said merchants charged after being seen for oth- ferred there. known as the home of coronavirus that killed hundreds the city centre — where multiple around the seafood market were had been allowed to enter the fa- er illnesses waited for buses and Another woman surnamed Wa new virus that has of people in mainland China and pneumonia patients worked — not wearing protective gear, al- cility to check on their stalls, ac- taxis, some without face masks. Yan, waiting for a bus near the sickened dozens, killed one man Hong Kong in 2002-2003. So far is still cordoned off after being though one group of security companied by security staff . Visitors were free to en- hospital with her husband and and sparked international con- 41 people with pneumonia-like shut down on January 1. staff who had entered the mar- Chinese scientists said last ter and exit the hospital com- three-year-old daughter, said cern, is not an obvious holiday symptoms have been diagnosed But multiple restaurants ket area wore masks and hats week they believe the pathogen pound, although a guard physi- she was concerned about the vi- destination. But Tian, a tourist with the new virus in Wuhan, sharing the same building were and were instructed at a morn- is a previously unknown type cally blocked AFP from fi lming rus but felt there was little point from another metropolis around with authorities disclosing on open and serving customers ing briefi ng to stay covered at all of coronavirus — a broad fam- a group of patients moving be- in worrying. three hours’ drive away, decided Saturday the death of a 61-year- early yesterday morning. Ini- times. ily ranging from the common tween buildings, saying it was a “If the illness looks for us, to make the trip despite trepida- old man two days earlier. tial reports about the virus had Multiple people without cold to more serious illnesses “sensitive” scene. there’s nothing we can do,” she tion from his family over reports The outbreak began just raised fears that Sars was back, safety equipment were seen ex- like Sars. Hong Kong’s Depart- Two women surnamed Yan said. of a mysterious pneumonia out- weeks before China’s busiest prompting authorities to punish iting and entering the market, ment of Health said on Saturday and Shu who had been dis- Her husband Cao said most of break. annual travel period, and na- eight people for posting false in- however, while some guards ap- that genetic sequencing of the charged said yesterday that their neighbours in the Wuchang “I said I should be fi ne, so I tional plane and rail authorities formation online. peared more concerned about virus found in one of the Wuhan hospital authorities had pushed district across the river from came,” he told AFP after check- are closely watching develop- While the outbreak sparked a the spread of unfl attering im- patients indicated it was 80% overnight for as many patients Huanan market were “not wor- ing out of his hotel yesterday, ments as millions prepare to vis- run on face masks at pharmacies ages than contagion. similar to Sars found in bats. But unrelated to the pneumonia ried”, as they rarely crossed over wearing a face mask as a pre- it family at Lunar New Year. No in Hong Kong, where scientists One of them threatened to they said it was too soon to con- outbreak to be sent home as to the other side of the city. PM proposes inquiry into bushfi res response

Reuters Melbourne

fter weeks of criticism over the handling of the Abushfi res scorching Aus- tralia, Prime Minister Scott Mor- rison said yesterday he will pro- NSW’s National Parks and Wildlife Service staff prepare to air-drop sweet potatoes and carrots for animals in bushfire-stricken areas, in pose a national review into the Newnes, Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, Australia. response to the disaster, as the fi res claimed another fi refi ghter’s that once the fi res started, some 40 of them not yet contained, but mals, mostly sheep, have died in Australia increased to more than life. responses could have been dif- none at emergency level. More recent fi res on Kangaroo Island, A$900mn its estimate of damage The Australian bush has been ferent. “There are things I could than 2,000 homes have been de- while fi re services are working claims from the fi res, and they burning for nearly three months have handled on the ground stroyed in the state. to strengthen containment lines are expected to jump further. and the fi res have killed 28 peo- much better,” he said. “These are A number of fi res burning in ahead of expected worsening Morrison has pledged A$2bn ple, claimed 2,000 homes and sensitive environments, there the Snowy Mountains region in weather conditions today. to a newly created National consumed millions of acres of are very emotional environ- New South Wales and across into Thousands of Australians Bushfi re Recovery Agency. land and wildlife. The crisis is Residents collecting donated items in the town Mogo in New South ments; prime ministers are fl esh Victoria have merged across more took to the streets on Friday to About 100 fi refi ghters from becoming increasingly political Wales where a bushfire destroyed homes and businesses. and blood too in how they engage than 600,000 hectares (1.5mn protest against government in- the United States and Canada are as the country looks at the causes with people.” acres) of land. They do not pose action on climate change, and helping, with another 140 ex- and the government’s response. mate change. Bushfi res are coming pressure to do more to tackle Opposition leader Anthony a threat, authorities say, despite were supported by protesters in pected in coming weeks. “There is obviously a need for a mon during Australia’s summer climate change, Morrison, who Albanese said yesterday that the being in an area hard to reach. London. The New Zealand Defence national review of the response,” months, but this fi re season start- has so far been defi ant in reject- federal government should have The government said yester- Australia’s wildfi res have Force said yesterday it was Morrison said in an interview ed unusually early, often moving ing any links between his gov- acted earlier to address the dis- day more mental health support dwarfed other recent catastroph- sending more health person- with ABC television. Asked quickly and unpredictably, and ernment’s conservative climate aster. “The fact is that bushfi res services will be provided to fi re- ic blazes, with its burnt ter- nel, boosting its support for whether it should be a Royal leaving swathes of the drought- policies and the bushfi res, said don’t recognise state and terri- fi ghters, emergency personnel, rain more than twice the extent Australia, which had already Commission, a powerful judicial stricken land a scorched earth. his government will look into im- tory boundaries,” Albanese told individuals and communities. of that ravaged by 2019 fi res in included helicopters, aircraft inquiry, Morrison said, “I think Cooler weather conditions proving its performance on curb- reporters, according to a tran- The government is providing Brazil, California and Indonesia and crew. that is what would be necessary over the weekend have brought a ing emissions. script provided by his media of- A$76mn ($52mn) in areas includ- combined. The fi res have emitted 400 and I will be taking a proposal temporary respite, but a fi refi ght- “We want to reduce emissions fi ce. “And nor should the need for ing counselling and healthcare Westpac estimated total megatonnes of carbon dioxide through the cabinet to that end, er died on duty in Victoria, where and do the best job we possibly national leadership.” Here are key consultations. bushfi re losses to date at about and produced harmful pollut- but it must be done with consul- new fl ames sparked. Authori- can and get better and better and events in the crisis: Western Australia Depart- A$5bn, higher than the 2009 ants, the European Union’s Co- tations with the states and terri- ties said the risk was far from better at it,” he said. “I want to do Since October, thousands ment of Fire and Emergency bushfi res in Victoria but smaller pernicus monitoring programme tories.” over and more hot weather is that with a balanced policy which of Australians have been subject- Services said yesterday an out than the Queensland fl oods in said. Morrison said that the inquiry expected. Smoke again sheathed recognises Australia’s broader ed to repeat evacuations as huge of control and unpredictable 2010/11. It forecast a hit of 0.2- Smoke has drifted across the would examine the response to Sydney yesterday, almost a new national economic interests and and unpredictable fi res scorched fi re that is moving slowly in the 0.5% on gross domestic product. Pacifi c, aff ecting cities in South the crisis, including the deploy- normal for the country’s biggest social interest.” more than 10.3mn hectares state’s south, poses a possible Australia’s alpine resorts America, and may have reached ment of emergency services to city, moving the air quality into Morrison rejected criticism (25.5mn acres), an area roughly threat to lives and homes in the have dusted off winter snow- the Antarctic, the UN’s World battle the fi res at a state and local hazardous territory, according to that his government had not the size of South Korea. area. making machines to blast ice- Meteorological Organisation level, the role of the federal gov- the NSW Department of Primary done enough before the bushfi re Across New South Wales, 111 South Australia said that cold water onto dry ski slopes. said. ernment, and the impact of cli- Industry index. Facing increas- season started, but he admitted fi res were still burning yesterday, more than 32,000 livestock ani- The Insurance Council of

China slams US for congratulating Tsai on poll win Hong Kong protesters fete poll win for Taiwan’s Tsai China yesterday slammed off icials from the US and other countries for congratulating Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen after she was re-elected with a landslide victory in a stunning rebuke of Beijing’s Reuters ity, owed Hong Kong more con- campaign to isolate the self-ruled island. Tsai, who had pitched Taipei crete support, said Roger Wong, herself as a defender of liberal democratic values against an a newly elected pro-democracy increasingly authoritarian China, secured a record-breaking win in district councillor from the city Saturday’s presidential election. ong Kong’s democracy who attended victory celebra- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as top diplomats from protesters and politicians tions in Taipei. Britain and Japan, issued statements congratulating Tsai and the Hhave hailed a sweeping “I hope Taiwan can now speak island’s democratic elections. But Beijing, which views Taiwan as election win by Taiwan’s Presi- up more for Hong Kong, espe- part of its territory, denounced their actions as violating the one- dent Tsai Ing-wen as a fi llip for cially the young people,” said China principle. their movement that puts further Wong, 41, one of about 10 poli- “The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute pressure on China. ticians who visited Taiwan for opposition to this,” said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang. Some who left the Asian fi - the election after a big win in “We oppose any form of off icial exchange between Taiwan and nancial hub after nearly seven November’s district polls. While countries that have established diplomatic relations with China,” he months of often violent protests Taiwan has discreetly extended said in a statement. said they welcomed Tsai’s histor- tourist visas and off ered special Chinese state media also sought to downplay Tsai’s victory and cast ic win with more than 8mn votes, mid-year intakes for Hong Kong doubt on the legitimacy of her campaign by accusing the Taiwanese exceeding the tally of any previ- students at some universities, leader of “dirty tactics” and cheating. Tsai and her Democratic ous president. calls have grown to amend the Progressive Party (DPP) used “dirty tactics such as cheating, “A weight has been lifted off Anti-government protesters demonstrate during a protest at Edinburgh Place in Hong Kong, China. law with special provisions for repression and intimidation to get votes, fully exposing their selfish, my shoulders,” said a Hong Kong the territory. greedy and evil nature”, said off icial news agency Xinhua in an op- protester in Taipei, who gave said Ventus Lau, one of the or- the world, and many friends in would be granted a high degree of “This election is proof that ed Sunday. his name only as Roger and said ganisers of a 1,000- strong rally Hong Kong, will feel happy about autonomy and eventual universal Xi Jinping’s strategy of keeping Xinhua also accused Tsai of buying votes, and said “external dark he had feared being kicked out in Hong Kong against the Chi- our collective decision,” Tsai suff rage. Hong Kong and Taiwan under forces” were partly responsible for the election results. Beijing, of Taiwan if its China-friendly nese Communist Party. “That’s said, drawing plaudits in Hong But China’s tightening grip on control is a total failure,” said Le- which has vowed to one day take Taiwan — by force if necessary opposition Kuomintang party why, in 2020, we need to fi ght Kong’s online protester forums the city and Beijing’s failure to ung Man-to, a political science — loathes Tsai because she refuses to acknowledge the idea that swept to power. Authorities in autocracy together with the in- and groups on the Telegram mes- live up to its promises have fed professor at the National Cheng Taiwan is part of “one China”. Chinese-ruled Hong Kong have ternational community,” Lau said saging app. the unrest, in one of the biggest Kung University in Tainan, refer- China doubled down on its “one-China principle” after Tsai’s victory, arrested more than 7,000 peo- yesterday. The slogan “Today Taiwan, popular challenges to the rul- ring to China’s leader. “Taiwan with Geng emphasising that “regardless of what happens in Taiwan, ple, many on charges of rioting Some in the crowd waved black Tomorrow Hong Kong” has ing Communist Party since the should off er some kind of formal the basic facts won’t change: there is only one China in the world that can carry jail terms of up to Hong Kong protest fl ags with the sprung up after the landslide return. Many credit the protests channel for Hong Kong people and Taiwan is part of China”. “The Chinese government’s position 10 years. slogan, “Free Hong Kong. Revo- win, to express the hope that with having helped to sway the in exile to seek political asylum won’t change,” he added in a statement. Over the last four years, “I hope Hong Kong can be like lution Now,” as Tsai delivered a Hong Kong too will one day have Taiwan election in Tsai’s favour ... Tsai never dared do anything Beijing has ramped up economic, military and diplomatic pressure Taiwan, that in the time of our victory speech to ecstatic sup- full democracy. The former Brit- and deliver a rebuke to Beijing. substantial before, but she could on the island, hoping it would scare voters into supporting Tsai’s next generation, Hong Kong will porters on Saturday. “I believe ish colony returned to Chinese Tsai’s government, which also now try to do something new, opposition. be a democratic and free place,” many democratic countries in rule in 1997 amid promises it won a parliamentary major- even if it provokes Beijing.” Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 13 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Labour leadership contender wants to Senior British royals abolish the Lords

Rebecca Long-Bailey also says she would not block Scottish independence vote set for crisis meeting By Kate Proctor Guardian News & Media AFP Issues up for discussion in- able solution” that would take orate” with senior royals. revealed that he has been grow- London clude how much money the into account their demands for They also want to keep their ing apart from his brother, who couple will still receive from more freedom. home on the queen’s Wind- as second in line to the throne is he Labour leadership Charles’s estate, their royal titles Several Canadian media re- sor Castle estate as their British increasingly pursuing a diff erent contender Rebecca ueen Elizabeth II will and what commercial deals they ported Meghan had returned to base, while aiming to become fi - path. TLong-Bailey has said host a showdown meet- can strike, according to the Sun- Vancouver island off the coun- nancially independent. Harry has been open about his that she wants to abolish the Qing with Prince Harry day Times. try’s Pacifi c coast, where the However, the Sussexes desire mental health issues and he and House of Lords and would not today in an attempt to solve the The newspaper reported that family spent the year-end holi- to live as both members of the Meghan last year admitted to stand in the way of another crisis triggered by his bombshell William believes he and Harry are days and where baby Archie had monarchy and private individu- struggling with the spotlight fol- Scottish independence refer- Long-Bailey: remains behind announcement that he and wife now “separate entities”, breaking remained with his nanny. als making a living was described lowing their wedding at Windsor endum. Starmer, the shadow Brexit Meghan were stepping back from the bonds forged following their Senior royals were caught as a “toxic mix” by David Mc- Castle in May 2018 and Archie’s The shadow business secre- secretary, in early polling the royal frontline. mother’s tragic death (see ac- off guard by Wednesday’s an- Clure, an investigator into royal birth a year later. tary, who is a close ally of the of members over Corbyn’s Other senior royals including companying report). nouncement that the Duke and fi nances. The couple have also lashed outgoing leader, Jeremy Cor- replacement. Harry’s father Prince Charles “I’ve put my arm around my Duchess of Sussex wanted to “The history of senior royals out at negative news coverage – byn, said having “completely and brother Prince William, with brother all our lives and I can’t seek a “progressive new role” and making money – the two is a tox- some of which Harry says was unelected people” within the were dealing with complaints whom he has strained relations, do that any more; we’re separate divide their time between Britain ic mix. It hasn’t worked well in racist – in light of Meghan’s bira- structure of government was quickly enough and I think will join the monarch at her pri- entities,” the Times reported him and North America. the past,” he told the Press Asso- cial heritage. wrong and representative of that’s quite clear, I’ve been vate Sandringham estate in east- as having told a friend. The queen’s offi ce issued ciation. “How can you be half-in, The British public currently the “Westminster bubble”. quite vocal about that. ern England, according to media. Harry, Meghan and son Archie a terse statement the same half-out – half the week perform appears to be siding with the Long-Bailey has hit the “I also felt that there should Meghan will join the meeting spent Christmas in Canada, with evening, saying that there were public duties and the other half family, with a Daily Mail poll nominations threshold by win- have been a level of independ- via conference call from Canada the American former actress re- “complicated issues that will earn your own income with TV, showing that a majority believe ning the support of 22 MPs and ence to the allegations, the way as they attempt to work out the turning there this week. take time to work through”. lectures, books? It is fraught with Harry should give up his right is through to the next stage of they were investigated,” she “next steps” towards a compro- The queen on Thursday de- Harry and Meghan said they dangers.” to the throne and be stripped of the leadership election along- said. mise and nip the growing crisis in manded that staff work with the intended to continue to “fully The younger prince, who has cash support from the royals or side Keir Starmer, Jess Phillips Asked if she ever spoke up the bud. couple to fi nd urgently a “work- support” the queen and “collab- struggled with his role, last year taxpayer. and Lisa Nandy. herself and challenged Cor- She remains behind Starmer, byn on how the process was the shadow Brexit secretary, in working, she said: “I did, I early polling of members over did, I mean I spoke to Jeremy Corbyn’s replacement. about it, I spoke to the various Harry and I are She told the Sky News pro- members of the team, I spoke gramme Sophy Ridge yester- to various members of the na- day: “I do want to abolish the tional executive committee House of Lords and we’ll be about that.” now separate rolling out as my campaign References to her being the progresses how we intend to “continuity Corbyn candi- really shake up that constitu- date” in the race, were “annoy- tional package. ing”, she said, but she agreed entities: William “MPs like myself, we’re fed she was a socialist. up of the Westminster bubble, “It annoys me when people and fed up of our communi- say that and unfortunately, as ‘I’ve put my arm around my queen, the Prince of Wales, Wil- ties feeling like decisions about a woman, it annoys me even brother all our lives and I can’t liam and Harry prepare to meet their lives are made in West- more. I’m a person in my own do that any more,’ prince says face-to-face for the fi rst time minster consistently. right,” she said. since the Sussexes’ bombshell “We’ve got to shift power On running an eff ective joint By Caroline Davies statement on Wednesday. and wealth into our communi- ticket with Angela Rayner, who Guardian News & Media While senior royals have been ties.” is standing to be deputy leader talking on the phone since the On how the work of MPs of the party, she said: “We al- crisis broke, the queen has been would be scrutinised with ways joked, to be honest, that he Duke of Cambridge has in Norfolk, Charles has been at no upper chamber, she said: the pair of us, that if it ever expressed his sadness over Birkhall in Scotland, William at “There would need to be goes wrong, ‘you know it’s go- Ttensions with his brother Kensington Palace, and Harry at checks and balances in place ing to be me and you that’s go- before today’s crisis summit at Windsor. but to have a set of completely ing to have to sort it out’… and Sandringham called by the queen Today’s meeting will be an unelected people doing that I then when we had the defeat to decide the future of the Duke opportunity for them to discuss don’t think is right. and it was devastating. and Duchess of Sussex. proposals drawn up after a series “We need to have peo- “We both sat down and was The brothers are now “sepa- of consultations between palace In this file photo taken on July 10, 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan and Prince Harry, are ple who are able, experts and like, you know we were joking, rate entities” but Prince William offi cials and representatives of seen with Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during a military fly-past to mark the cen- democratically accountable to you know we actually are going hopes matters can be resolved so the UK and Canadian govern- tenary of the Royal Air Force (RAF). the community that they rep- to think about this.” the royal family can once more ments over how Meghan and resent, not people appointed Meanwhile Emily Thorn- play as “a team”, according to re- Harry can achieve their aim of which take into account the ment and understanding that any of the family, and said that they by parties.” berry, who is also hoping to be- ports. carving out new “progressive” thinking the Sussexes outlined decision will take time to be im- feel “driven out”. Long-Bailey, who has po- come leader, said she believes William told a friend: “I’ve put roles as hybrid royals. earlier in the week,” the source plemented”, the source added. The queen, Charles and Wil- sitioned herself as the most she has enough nominations my arm around my brother all It is understood Meghan, who added. William’s reported comments liam want a workable plan as left-wing of the leadership to become the fi fth leadership our lives and I can’t do that any is in Canada, is likely to take part Making changes to the work- on the growing distance between soon as possible to contain the candidates, also said she could candidate to go through to the more; we’re separate entities,” take part via conference calling. ing life and role in the monarchy the brothers refl ects those made crisis and prevent it festering. support a second referendum next phase of the election. the Sunday Times reported. A royal source said that the of the couple “required complex by Harry in an ITV documentary Harry and Meghan also hope on Scottish independence if The shadow foreign sec- William continued: “I’m sad meeting was to “talk things and thoughtful discussions”, the in November. discussions can be concluded she was ever elected prime retary, who was once one of about that. All we can do, and all through”. source said. In it, Harry told ITV’s Tom “sooner rather than later”, a minister, despite wanting to the most prominent people in I can do, is try and support them The proposals had been drawn “Next steps will be agreed at Bradby that the brothers were on source said. retain the union. Corbyn’s team and deputised and hope that the time comes up following “a series of meet- the meeting,” the source added. “diff erent paths”. “It’s in everyone’s interest She said: “I wouldn’t want to for him at prime minister’s when we’re all singing from the ings and consultations across the It remained the queen’s wish Bradby, who is considered a this can be fi gured out, and fi g- inhibit the democracy of peo- questions, has so far struggled same page. I want everyone to last few days”. that it be resolved “at pace”, in friend of the Sussexes, has since ured out quickly, but not at the ple because that’s one of the to get support for her bid. play on the same team.” “There are a range of possi- days not weeks. spoken of a “toxic” relationship expense of the outcome,” the most fundamental pillars that She has 10 nominations but The comments come as the bilities for the family to review, But there was “genuine agree- between the couple and the rest source said. we’re proud of in this country, expects to hit the threshold of but I don’t support in any way 22 nominations by this after- the breaking up of Scotland noon’s deadline. from the UK. She told the BBC’s Andrew “I’m fully committed to the Marr Show: “From the con- Sussexes seek global trademark for ‘Sussex Royal’ brand union and I don’t think that versations I’ve had this week- should be shaken in any way, end I’m fairly confi dent that so but ultimately the people of long as I don’t get any slippage, By Ben Quinn register Sussex Royal – which and activities were lodged with it was made in the name of Ui In a lengthy statement released Scotland need to make the case I’ll be fi ne. Guardian News & Media the couple have been using on UK intellectual property au- Phoenix Kerbl, possibly after the last week, the couple spoke about and they’ve got their own par- “I’ll get across the line and their Instagram account and on thorities last June by their advis- Guardian reported on Thurs- a “transition into a new working liament to determine whether then we move on to the next a website launched last week as ers Natalie Campbell and Sara day that the Sussexes had yet to model” which they believe will they want to push that and that stage. he Duke and Duchess of they announced they were “step- Latham. register their brand outside the enable them to remain members will be for me as a prime min- “I’ve been a slow starter but Sussex are seeking to reg- ping back” as senior royals – one Ownership was switched to United Kingdom. of the royal family but have fi - ister to review and to look at.” I did start from a standing start Tister the “Sussex Royal” was also made to register “Sussex the couple in December. Six categories of goods and nancial independence. She refused to rate Corbyn after the general election.” brand as a global trademark for a Royal the Foundation of the Duke However, Harry and Meghan services were listed – covering Others have speculated that out of 10 for his handling of The former barrister, who range of items and activities in- and Duchess of Sussex”. face having to potentially make areas including toiletries, sport- future enterprises could include anti-Semitism, but said the backed remaining in the EU cluding clothing, stationery and Six classes were listed in the an objection to protect their ing goods, toys and alcoholic book deals or a charity-based former leader did bear personal and a second referendum, said the running of “emotional sup- applications, covering printed would-be brand after an applica- beverages – in the application to clothing line, perhaps with an responsibility for the issue. she could withstand the ups port groups”, international fi lings matter such as magazines and tion was lodged with EU authori- the European Union intellectual emphasis on sustainability or “I wasn’t happy with the and downs of the leadership suggest. greeting cards, clothing ranging ties to trademark a range of goods property offi ce (EUIPO). environmental causes that the way our process was being run, contest as she comes from a The application covering Aus- from footwear to pyjamas, chari- including beer and jewellery un- Some experts have suggested couple have taken to heart. I’ll be honest. I don’t think we long line of “tough old birds”. tralia, Canada, the EU and US table fundraising and manage- der Sussex Royal. Harry and Meghan could make Another suggestion is that fu- was fi led in December with the ment, as well as education and It was lodged on Thursday by as much as £500,000 in their ture ventures combining com- World Intellectual Property Or- social care services including an applicant who appears to be fi rst year of being released from mercial opportunities with their Irish snap election date fixed: PM ganisation (WIPO) in the name of the organising and conducting of based in Italy and fi led it in Ger- the boundaries of senior royalty, charitable projects could in- their new foundation, according “emotional support groups”. man, with English listed as a sec- particularly by tapping into the clude Prince Harry’s Apple TV+ Under-pressure Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that he has to details online. Applications to trademark ond language. lucrative north American mar- project with Oprah, spotlighting decided the date of a snap general election but cannot announce it As well as the application to Sussex Royal for a range of goods Database searches suggest ket. mental health. until he has consulted his cabinet. “I have made a decision but there is some unfinished business to do, which I want to get done, and also there is some respect and protocol around this and I would like to speak to the cabinet and to leaders of the opposition,” he told Irish national broadcaster RTE. Many media outlets and politicians are predicting a February 7 poll. Gales of up to 128kph forecast for parts of the UK Varadkar said his cabinet will meet tomorrow and parliament will resume on Wednesday as scheduled. His centre-right Fine Gael minority government has relied on the By Ben Quinn tion in the sea off Blackpool was from midday today to midnight. rest of next week, Saunders said: between Northern Ireland and support of the opposition Fianna Fail under a confidence-and- Guardian News & Media launched on Saturday night fol- Frank Saunders, chief mete- “It looks like it’s going to stay Scotland were also cancelled supply deal. lowing a report of a man being orologist at the Met Offi ce, said: very unsettled with the potential yesterday by P&O, citing Storm A confidence motion in Varadkar’s health minister could be tabled swept away by large waves on the “It’s going to be windy across for further disruptive weather in Brendan. by opposition lawmakers as early as February 5. ales of up to 80mph seafront. the western half of the UK, with places.” The Environment Agency Political commentators believe Varadkar’s government would lose (128kph) are forecast to In what has been described as gusts reaching 60-70mph along By tomorrow, the strong- said local river and surface wa- a confidence vote, amid growing divisions in Fianna Gael in recent Gsweep across parts of the a “weather bomb”, hurricane- Irish Sea coastlines, the west of est gusts are forecast along the ter fl ooding was possible in the months. UK with the arrival of Storm force gales, 50ft-waves and snow Scotland and perhaps some Eng- southern coast of England, along southeast of England tomorrow Varadkar told RTE that “circumstances have changed” in parliament Brendan. will combine with the 1,500-mile lish Channel coasts – maybe even the channel, the southwest and and on Wednesday after several since Britain agreed a deal with Brussels to leave the European The Met Offi ce has issued Storm Brendan, named by the 80mph in a few exposed places.” southwest of Wales. spells of heavy rainfall. Union. warnings of disruption to travel Irish forecaster, Met Eireann. He said the severe conditions Strong winds and heavy rain Flood warnings were issued “We have a deal on Brexit. In many ways that was the big job for this services and potential power cuts After a dry start today, the could cause travel disruption. battered parts of Scotland on yesterday for two areas – Kes- government, our magnum opus, to secure a deal on Brexit,” he said. today and tomorrow. gales are forecast to push across Those in aff ected areas were Saturday, causing road closures wick campsite in Cumbria and a “We have the institutions up and running in Northern Ireland,” Yesterday the HM Coastguard Britain as the day progresses. advised to take extra care when and rail disruption as gritters at- stretch along the River Nene east Varadkar added. urged people living in coastal The Met Offi ce put yellow driving on exposed routes such tempted to deal with icy condi- of Peterborough – as well as 61 The territory’s devolved assembly met for the first time in three communities to take care after weather warnings of strong as bridges or high open roads. tions. alerts for possible fl ooding else- years on Saturday, following months of negotiations brokered by a search-and-rescue opera- winds in place for parts of the UK Looking further ahead to the A number of ferry crossings where. the Irish and British governments. Gulf Times 14 Monday, January 13, 2020 EUROPE French strike drags on

Abela: humbled. despite govt concession Political AFP dier Mathis told AFP. as marchers brandished union Paris However the more hardline fl ags and chanted defi antly: “We CGT, FO and Solidaires unions are still here!” and “Macron re- newcomer were standing fi rm, calling for sign!” crippling French trans- the strike and protests to con- Protests were also held in port strike dragged into tinue, including a major demon- Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, to become Aits 39th day yesterday stration on January 16. Nantes and several other cities. despite the government’s off er French rail operator the SNCF The interior ministry said to withdraw the most contested said it expected services to im- 149,000 people had turned out Malta’s PM measure of the pension reform prove today. throughout France. plans that sparked the protest. Nine of 10 high-speed TGV The CGT put the fi gure at half Prime Minister Edouard trains would run on French and a million, saying the 150,000 Reuters Philippe said on Saturday that international routes, it said – marched in Paris alone. Valletta he would drop plans to increase and commuters in and around In one of Macron’s signa- the offi cial retirement age to Paris could expect seven out of ture reforms, the government is 64 from 62 in an eff ort to end a 10 trains to operate. seeking to rationalise 42 existing olitical newcomer Rob- strike which has paralysed Paris CGT head Philippe Martinez pension schemes into a single, ert Abela is set to become and its suburbs, with bus, train played down the impact of the points-based system it says will PMalta’s new prime minis- and metro services all badly dis- CFDT and Unsa’s readiness to be fairer and more transparent. ter having been elected leader of rupted. resume negotiations, and spoke Unions fear it will force mil- the ruling Labour Party follow- “I am willing to withdraw of internal splits within these lions to work longer for a smaller ing a vote on Saturday. from the bill the short-term groups. retirement payout. Joseph Muscat is stepping measure I had proposed,” said “We will see” what these un- Particularly controversial was down as leader and prime minis- Philippe, prompting his boss ions’ workers have to say on the the proposal to impose the 64 ter amid claims that he protected French President Emmanuel issue, he said, reiterating his call “pivot age” that people would associates who had links to peo- Macron to dub the change “a for the government to withdraw have to work to in order to quali- ple allegedly involved in the 2017 constructive and responsible the pension reforms completely fy for a full pension. murder of anti-corruption jour- compromise”. which he described as “the ma- Union meetings will decide nalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The more reformist trade un- jor requirement of a majority of today on the future of the strikes The election result became ions – the FDT, Unsa and FRC unions representing a majority on France’s local and national known early yesterday with – welcomed the announcement of employees”. rail services. Abela winning 58% of the votes and said that they were now However the fi nancial hit is This picture taken on Saturday shows people running for cover during a protest called by the ‘Yellow The government, employers of some 17,500 members of the ready to work with employers on weakening the resolve of some Vest’ (gilets jaunes) anti-government movement, as part of a nationwide multi-sector strike against the and unions are also keeping their party. the sustainable fi nancing of the strikers. French government’s pensions overhaul, in Nantes, western France. eyes on the opinion polls. He was up against Chris state pension system. “It is clear that some col- “Public opinion supports the Fearne, 56, the deputy prime The Unsa union for national leagues want to go back to work,” the stoppage to turn the cam- minister in charge of transport. Demonstrators in the capital strikers,” Martinez insisted late minister and minister of health, railway workers maintained its said one disillusioned Paris paign into a true national strike. The government’s compro- on Saturday, some masked and on Saturday. who had been the initial favour- strike call yesterday while rec- Metro worker during demon- The government was adamant mise move came a day after hooded, broke shop windows The government has ruled ite to win. ognising the government’s rec- strations on Saturday. that the strikers should now go meetings with unions in a bid to along their protest route, set out cutting pensions, but insists Muscat announced his res- onciliatory move. “It’s going to get tricky fi nan- back to work. end a strike that has frustrated fi res and threw projectiles at po- that something need to be done ignation on December 1, saying The union “remains on strike” cially,” he added. “There is no longer any rea- Paris commuters, ruined De- lice in riot gear who responded to boost funding as workers are that he would step down once a but will return to the negotiating Private sector workers have son for this strike movement to cember holiday travel plans, and with tear gas. living longer after their retire- new Labour leader was elected. table, its secretary-general Di- not followed the unions’ lead on continue,” said Elisabeth Borne, hurt business. Several stores were ransacked ment. Abela, 42, a lawyer specialis- ing in industrial and labour law, was elected to parliament for the Huge nationwide fi rst time just over two years ago. Muscat appointed him a con- charity event sultant, enabling him to attend held in Poland Spain’s new coalition is headed in ‘single direction’: PM Cabinet meetings. “I am humbled” he told sup- Poland’s most popular charity porters. “I thank my friend Chris event, the annual fundraiser AFP parliament narrowly confi rmed (Fearne) and look forward to organised by Great Orchestra Madrid him – thanks in part to the ab- working together for the good of of Christmas Charity (WOSP) stention of the Catalan separa- the party and the country. There Foundation, was held yesterday, tist party the ERC. is only one winner today, the La- with concerts, auctions and other pain’s Socialist Prime In exchange, the ERC ex- bour Party.” activities planned across the Minister Pedro Sanchez tracted from the Socialists an Abela has said he will place country and abroad. Shas promised that his agreement for negotiations be- increased government focus The fundraiser is traditionally new minority coalition with tween the central and Catalan on social issues and aff ordable focused on financing medical the radical left Podemos party governments on the future of housing. equipment for children. is heading in the same direc- the wealthy northeastern re- He also promised to give free This year, some 120,000 tion, despite past diff erences gion. medicines to all pensioners volunteers collected donations between the two parties. Sanchez said his government within fi ve years. for financing the purchase of “It’s a plural government, a would be one of dialogue and During the campaign, how- medical equipment for paediatric coalition government whose co-existence rather than dis- ever, he avoided interviews with surgery. fi rm intention is unity,” he told cord. the independent press. Everyone who put money in reporters after formally sub- The political situation in His father, George Abela, was collection boxes received red mitting the government lineup Catalonia remains in fl ux fol- deputy leader of the Labour Par- heart-shaped stickers, which to King Felipe VI. lowing a failed 2017 independ- ty until 1998 and had contested become a common site on Poles’ The country’s fi rst coalition ence bid that triggered Spain’s the party leadership election apparel for days. government since the return worst political crisis in dec- which saw Muscat become party In the previous 27 editions of the of democracy in 1975 “will be ades. leader in 2008. fundraiser, the WOSP foundation informed by diff erent ideas but The crisis had been the major He later served as president of collected a total of over 1.1bn will go in a single direction”, stumbling block between the Malta. zloty ($288mn) and donated said Sanchez. Socialists and Podemos. Joseph Muscat in a tweet said nearly 62,000 pieces of medical “It will speak with several Sanchez was forced to en- he was proud to hand over to equipment. voices but always with the same ter into the coalition after the Supporters of Spanish far-right VOX party rally in Madrid yesterday against Spanish Prime Minister Abela. The day concluded with auctions message,” he said of his line-up, Socialists emerged weakened Sanchez’s new coalition government. He said he would formally re- of golden heart pins for the more which will be sworn in today. from November’s legisla- sign as prime minister on Mon- aff luent benefactors and “Light As recently as September he tive elections, which also saw Four other Podemos mem- Yesterday thousands of Vox December 2015 election, which day. Up to the Sky” concerts and light was claiming that joining forces a surge for the far-right Vox bers have also been given cabi- supporters protested in Madrid saw the emergence of Ciu- He has said he will stay on in shows, which were meant to with Podemos would cause him party. net positions. and other cities against what dadanos and the far-left Po- parliament and promote civil “celebrate the community and sleepless nights. Podemos leader Pablo Igle- Spain’s right-wing, as well as they called a government “in demos, ending three decades rights reform. to alight the winter sky with a But the deal allowed Sanchez sias will be one of the govern- Vox, are opposed to the agree- the hands of separatists”. of bipartisan hegemony by the He also intends working on a positive message”, the organisers to take the oath of offi ce last ment’s four deputy leaders, ment between Sanchez and a Spain has been gripped by Socialists and conservative project to raise the level of Malta say. week for a second term after with the social rights portfolio. part of the Catalan separatists. political instability since the Popular Party (PP). sports athletes.

Dortmund breathes sigh of relief Breakaway Abkhazia’s as two WWII bombs defused president steps down

DPA terday, offi cials in the western Train services in the vicinity following protests Cologne German city said via Twitter. were suspended during the de- The city regulatory authority fusing process. removed people from a densely “This weekend’s evacuation AFP by days of protests by support- wo unexploded bombs populated part of town in the is one of the biggest we’ve ever Moscow ers of opposition leader Alkhas from World War II dis- early hours of the morning, had here in the city,” said fi re Kvitsiniya who is contesting Tcovered in Dortmund forcing about 14,000 people to service chief Dirk Aschenbren- the result of the September were successfully defused yes- leave their homes. ner. he president of Abk- presidential poll, which he The bombs were located near hazia, a tiny separatist narrowly lost to Khajimba, at two hospitals, meaning patients Tregion that broke away the Supreme Court. had to be taken by ambulance to from Georgia, announced yes- Yesterday he welcomed the other hospitals or transferred to terday that he was stepping news of his rival’s resignation, safe areas within the buildings. down after days of opposition saying that it was the only to This presented a particular protests over the elections he stabilise the situation. challenge, Aschenbrenner said. won last year. The central election com- “In the 20 years I’ve been in the Raul Khajimba said he was mission has already planned fi re department, I’ve never ex- resigning “in the name of sta- fresh presidential elections for perienced anything like it.” bility”, according to a letter cit- March 22, but Khajimba has A total of 380 people were in- ed by Russian news agencies. not said if he will run again. volved in the operation. Vice-President Aslan Bar- On Thursday, protesters Four suspected bombs had tsits told Ria Novosti that the seized the presidential admin- initially been discovered. move was designed to avoid istration building in the region. The other two objects turned bloodshed. Georgia and its Western al- out not to be bombs. Only a handful of countries, lies have condemned Russia’s The discovery of bombs dat- including Russia, recognise continued “occupation” of its ing back to the fi nal months Abkhazia as independent. territory and have demanded of World War II is common in Most of the international the Kremlin reverse its recog- Germany and there are often community considers it to be nition of Abkhazia – and an- A street is blocked where World War II bombs were discovered in A member of the bomb disposal team poses with the detonator evacuations to ensure their safe part of former Soviet Georgia. other breakaway region South Dortmund, western Germany. after the two WWII bombs were made safe. disposal. The region had been rocked Ossetia. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 15 INDIA AAP using pop culture, social media in poll campaign

IANS sions of advertisements to give a a cue from The Avengers, a su- The party has been posting 20,000 litres of free water to the shown to have put up a brick Ankit Lal, social media and IT New Delhi twist to the campaign and make perhero fi lm based on a team of satirical and political cartoons as people of Delhi. wall between their houses. How- strategist of AAP, said the party it more appealing to the tech- Marvel Comics superheroes. well. However, as the elections When BJP’s Hardeep Singh ever, after realising that they had has limited resources and so they savvy voters. It has also posted a meme, are approaching, it has become Puri said that the AAP believed committed a mistake, they try to need to be creative. n the last several elections So far the party has used so- in which, Delhiites when asked more creative. AAP has been in freebie model as they have take the wall down through dif- “We have around 200 full- starting from 2014, social cial media to promote the works “how much do you pay for your posting quirky replies to the re- nothing to off er, AAP used Ti- ferent means, but fail to do so time volunteers for the social me- Imedia has made its presence done by its government in the electricity and water”, answer: marks made by Bharatiya Janata wari’s statement in counter and because of the strength of the dia team, who have taken a break felt as it has become a tool to past fi ve years, but over the last “We Don’t Do That Here” - a Party leaders and has been tak- asked the two BJP leaders to cement. from their work for the elections. garner support for parties. few days, it has turned to more quote by the character ‘Black Pan- ing a jibe at them. “talk to each other and decide In the morphed version by the We have about 5,000 volunteers The upcoming Delhi assem- popular means of attracting ther’ from the fi lm The Avengers. It asked BJP’s Delhi unit presi- what exactly you want to do”. AAP, the twins are shown to rep- across the country who are as- bly election is no diff erent as the people’s attention. AAP had posted a photo where dent Manoj Tiwari to stop “cop- Among the most liked and cir- resent Congress and BJP, and the sociated with us online on a ruling Aam Aadmi Party is trying After the Election Com- several people are seen raising their ying” AAP when he said BJP will culated tweet from AAP was the video ends equating AAP leader part-time basis. In Delhi, a team to woo young voters through the mission announced the poll hands during a town hall meeting give fi ve times more electricity morphed version of an adver- Kejriwal with the cement brand of 3,000 volunteers are on the use of pop culture references and date, AAP tweeted: “Delhi As- with Chief Minister Arvind Kejri- and water to the city if elected. tisement of a cement company. and named it “Kejri-Wall”. The ground and help us in our social social media. The AAP is using sembly Elections are declared. wal, and the caption says “who all AAP government is off ering In the original video adver- video has received over 317,200 media campaign. Kejriwal had satire, memes and morphed ver- AAPvengers! Assemble,” taking got zero electricity bill”. 200 units of free electricity and tisement, twin brothers are views in just about 50 hours. met 800 of them,” Lal told IANS.

Left activists creating chaos on campuses, Some parties say academics

IANS New Delhi ‘misleading’ ver 200 academics, including university vice Ochancellors, have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that the left-wing is sponsoring violence on cam- people about puses in the name of student politics. They also said that eff orts were being made by left activists to engulf the campuses in a “fi re of violence”. Expressing deep concern on the CAA: PM issue, the academics has urged Modi to liberate educational in- Agencies ity to make these people under- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and stitutions from the atmosphere Belur, West Bengal stand. It is our duty to clear their the state’s ruling Trinamool of chaos. Citing recent incidents, doubts on this issue.” Congress party. they said a handful of left-wing The prime minister said that the Chief Minister Mamata Ban- activists from the Jawaharlal Ne- rime Minister Narendra CAA provides citizenship to those erjee is among state leaders na- hru University (JNU) and Jamia Modi yesterday alleged migrants who faced persecution tionwide who have said they will Milia in New Delhi and Jadavpur Psome political parties were in the name of religion in Bangla- not implement the CAA. University in Kolkata were stalling not ready to understand the new desh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Opponents say the govern- educational activities by creating citizenship law, and continued to “It’s not that we came up with ment has created a religious test an atmosphere of chaos. fuel misconception about a legis- a new law overnight. The people for citizenship in the secular The academics said the cha- lation which provides citizenship who believe in the constitution country. otic activities of left activists and not snatch it from people. of India will be given citizenship Many among India’s 200mn were a hindrance in organising Speaking on the occasion of on the basis of certain legalities.” Muslims fear the law is a precursor programmes and learning to ex- the 157th birth anniversary of Earlier, police baton-charged to a National Register of Citizens change ideas. Swami Vivekananda at the Belur protesters to stop them reaching that could leave them stateless. There is an attempt to impose Math – the global headquarters Modi’s car as nationwide pro- Many poor Indians do not an ideology on the campuses of the Ramakrishna Math and tests against the citizenship law have documents to prove their in which the left organisations Ramakrishna Mission - Modi entered a second month. nationality. Widespread demon- have a hold, the letter said. Such said youth and other citizens of Tens of thousands staged pro- strations have rocked the nation campuses are being regarded as the country are being misled on tests through the night in Kolkata since the law was approved by private estates where personal the Citizenship Amendment Act to denounce Modi’s weekend visit. parliament last month. freedoms are under attack, while which came into force last al- Police said they were forced to At least 27 people, mostly teachers are also facing intoler- most a month after parliament act after protesters tried to storm Muslims, have been killed with ance, it added. passed the law on December 11. past barricades to stop Modi’s police accused of using dispro- “The politics of the left organ- “The CAA is a law to provide vehicle outside a stadium, where portionate force in several states. isations in universities is causing citizenship, it does not snatch he again defended the law and Home Minister Amit Shah maximum damage to poor stu- citizenship. The government is insisted the demonstrators were also held a rally in Jabalpur yes- dents, who come to study re- providing citizenship through “misguided”. terday to build support for the motely amidst all the troubles. the law, it is not taking away the Nearly 2,000 protesters gath- law and several hundred sup- But by creating unrest on the citizenship of anyone,” Modi ered outside chanting “Fas- porters of the measure marched campus, diffi culties are being said at the Math, in Howrah dis- cist Modi, Go Back” before the in New Delhi. created for such students,” the trict close to Kolkata. showdown between demonstra- But in a new sign of interna- letter read. Swami Vivekananda’s birth an- tors and police. tional unease over the law, a third This academics said it was niversary is celebrated as National More than 100 protesters were Bangladesh minister cancelled a necessary that all democratic Youth Day across the country. detained, a police offi cial said. visit to Delhi in apparent protest. forces came forward and raised “Some political parties are not Protesters have burned effi - Deputy Foreign Minister their voice in favour of academ- ready to understand CAA, they gies of the prime minister during Shahriar Alam was to have at- ics and freedom of expression. are fuelling misconception,” the his visit and brandished black tended a diplomatic symposium Among the academics who prime minister said. fl ags - considered an insulting in the Indian capital this week. signed the letter are R P Ti- “What is there in this Act? gesture in Indian society. Foreign Minister A K Abdul wari, vice chancellor of Haris- Why was it needed? There are “The government can’t sup- Momen and Home Minister ingh Gaur University in Mad- a lot of questions in the minds press our voice. We are not Asaduzzaman Khan called off hya Pradesh; H C S Rathore, of the people which have been afraid. We are determined to separate visits in December. vice chancellor of the Central fuelled by various people. Most fi ght for our rights,” Samit Nan- The government has denied University of South Bihar, and people have a sense of aware- di, one of the protesters, said. any link to the new law, however. Rajneesh Kumar Shukla, vice ness,” Modi said. “We will continue our protests The United Nations and a US chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi “But there are some who are until Modi leaves our city.” government religious freedom International Hindi University, Students shout slogans to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a demonstration in victims of misconception and West Bengal has become a po- commission have also expressed Wardha in Maharashtra. Kolkata yesterday. rumours. It is our responsibil- litical battlefi eld between Modi’s concern.

Police offi cer arrested for Entrepreneurs’ session Two more Maradu helping Kashmir militants high-rises razed IANS huge crowd of curious onlook- AFP guns and ammunition from Twelve people including fi ve Kochi, Kerala ers gathered in and around the Srinagar several locations in the follow- attackers were killed in the at- area and the police chased them up to the arrests, including from tack, which India blamed on away. Singh’s residence in Srinagar. Pakistan-based militant groups uthorities yesterday razed India has seen a construction decorated offi cer has Hours after the four men - prompting a months-long two more unauthorised boom in recent years but devel- been arrested for helping were detained, police killed military stand-off that brought Aluxury high-rises in con- opers have often ridden rough- Ato transport militants in three alleged rebels during a the two nuclear-armed coun- trolled explosions for breaking shod over safety and other regu- Kashmir, police said yesterday. gunfi ght in southern Kashmir’s tries to the brink of war. environmental rules. lations, with the connivance of Deputy Superintendent of Tral district, where the arrested Singh acknowledged in 2006 Jain Coral Cove and Golden local offi cials. Police Davinder Singh had militants were based. he had tortured his accuser, Kayaloram were brought down The inhabitants of the apart- worked for the police for dec- One of those arrested was Mohamed Afzal Guru, while he in controlled explosions. ment blocks in the well-off Ma- ades and was a member of an Naveed Baba, the deputy com- was in custody, but the claims Ahead of the blast, all resi- radu district had bought their elite counter-insurgency force mander of the local rebel outfi t were not taken seriously by in- dents in the vicinity of 200m 343 fl ats in good faith and now in the region. Hizbul Mujahideen. vestigators. from the neighbourhood were face a lengthy legal fi ght to re- He was apprehended late on Baba had stolen four assault Guru was later convicted for evacuated by police. coup their money. Saturday when his vehicle was rifl es and deserted the police his part in the attack and hanged. At 10.30am, the fi rst siren Some had invested their life pulled over at a police check- force to join the militant group Kumar told yesterday’s press came signalling that the 18-fl oor savings. point south of Srinigar. in 2017, according to police. conference that the allegations Jain Coral Cove comprising 125 The demolition capped a saga “The fast moving car was Singh had risen steadily would now be revisited. apartments was set for razing. that began in 2006 when a local stopped and searched. Two through the ranks of the Kash- “We will ask him about the At 10.55am came the second si- governing body granted permis- wanted militants and our offi cer mir security apparatus during attack in the interrogation,” the ren and at 11 the third and a minute sion to private builders to erect and a third person were arrested his career and was last year police chief said. Education and agriculture are areas where Kerala can make later in about six seconds all that the high-rises. in the operation,” police chief Vi- awarded a medal by the presi- Security across the territory developmental leaps in the coming decade, Doha-based remained was a pile of debris. But last year, the Supreme jay Kumar told reporters. dent for his service. has been tightened since August Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur J K Menon (right) told the On Saturday, the 19-fl oor Court ruled that the builders Kumar said police and intel- But years earlier he was ac- 5, when India revoked Kashmir’s ‘Insights of Successful Entrepreneurs’ session at the ‘Ascend H2O Holy Faith complex of 90 were in breach of rules about ligence agencies were ques- cused of forcing a man to help semi-autonomous status, ar- Kerala-2020’ event held at Lulu International Convention fl ats and the twin towers of Alfa construction in an ecologically tioning Singh, accusing the of- armed militants travel to New rested the region’s top political Centre in Kochi on January 9 and 10. Chief Minister Pinarayi Serene tumbled down with an sensitive coastal zone, calling it fi cer of a “heinous crime”. Delhi in a deadly attack on the leaders and imposed a security Vijayan inaugurated the event. ear-splitting noise. a “colossal loss” to the environ- Security forces recovered parliament in 2001. and communications blockade. Like the previous day, a ment. Gulf Times 16 Monday, January 13, 2020 PAKISTAN Federal minister quitting over ‘unfulfi lled’ pledges

Internews ises made to us has seen any lamabad, the other in the Baha- “The government had selected dressing the MQM-P: “The PPP Meanwhile, Special Assistant Karachi progress,” Siddiqui said while durabad, in Karachi, in the pres- his [Farogh Naseem] name on its will support the toppling of PTI to the Prime Minister on Infor- addressing a press conference in ence of the PTI’s Jahangir Tareen. own.” rule. The economic situation is mation Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Karachi along with senior Mut- Siddiqui said that the MQM-P Siddiqui denied that his de- dangerous and the PTI govern- said that “Khalid Maqbool Sid- Prime Minister Khan: is aware of ederal Minister for Infor- tahida Qaumi Movement – Paki- had supported the federal gov- cision had anything to do with ment is making policies that go diqui has not sent his resignation the MQM-P’s grievances and mation Technology and stan (MQM-P) leaders. ernment in every diffi cult phase the recent proposal of provincial against the [interests of] pover- to the federal cabinet.” believes them to be legitimate. FTelecommunication Khalid “It is becoming increasingly but “injustice was still being ministries by Pakistan Peoples ty-stricken people.” “A committee headed by fed- Maqbool Siddiqui has announced diffi cult for me to remain a part done with Sindh province”. Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal “We are ready to give you the eral minister Asad Umar will Khan is said to be in agree- his decision to leave the federal of the federal cabinet as ques- In response to a question re- Bhutto Zardari, in exchange for same number of ministries in meet MQM-P leaders tomorrow ment with the MQM-P’s con- cabinet over “unfulfi lled promis- tions are being raised upon my garding the ending of its alliance the MQM-P’s help in toppling Sindh,” he added. and try to address their grievanc- cerns, deeming their grievances es” on part of the ruling Pakistan presence in the cabinet,” he ex- with the government, Siddiqui the government. Speaking about Karachi, Bhut- es,” she told Geo News, adding “legitimate” and vowing that the Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) of Prime plained. said: “We did not ask for the law “This has nothing to do with to Zardari said that the city “is that “the MQM is our coalition promises made to them will be Minister Imran Khan. Speaking about the agreement ministry. Neither did we propose the PPP’s off er,” he said. very important” and acknowl- partner and will remain so”. “fulfi lled”. “We had promised the govern- with the government, the MQM- (law minister) Farogh Naseem’s Last month the PPP chairman edged that, “we need to give basic Separately, Prime Minister Im- The prime minister, as per ment to help with the formation P convener told the media that name. The two names that we had off ered the MQM-P provin- rights to the Karachiites”. ran Khan, according to sources, sources, said that he is aware of of the government, and we held two agreements were made with had proposed for the ministry did cial ministries if it helped “topple He had also blamed the PTI for has tasked Sindh Governor Imran Karachi’s importance as an “eco- our end of the deal. the PTI, one in Bani Gala, the not include [Farogh] Naseem’s the government”. the ongoing gas crisis in Sindh Ismail and other party offi cials in nomic hub” and vowed not to ig- “However, none of the prom- PM’s personal residence in Is- name. Bhutto Zardari had said, ad- and accused it of “stealing gas”. Sindh to meet MQM-P leaders. nore it. Turkey Govt feedback centre resolves 91% complaints lauds Internews (8,816), social workers (6,841), Pakistanis, and 5,636 from for- 91% resolution rate. land and revenue (60,207), over- tion of Prime Minister Khan to Islamabad lawyers eigners. Out of these 11,151 complaints seas Pakistanis (52,427), media create a robust link between the Pakistan’s (4,616), senior citizens and Province-wise break-up by journalists, 5,363 complaints cyber-crimes (47,293), excise government and the people of retired persons (2,990), politi- shows that 726,133 (43.93%) were related to Punjab, 4,071 to and taxation (28,450), envi- Pakistan. ut of 1.653mn complaints cal workers (2,615), journalists of complaints originated from the federal government, 1,002 ronment and forests (18,400), The portal has enabled citi- peace made on the Pakistan (2,309), and 1,695 persons be- Punjab, with 686,283 success- to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 543 to investment (18,063), National zens to highlight their issues and OCitizen Portal by peo- longing to non-governmental fully resolved. Sindh, 83 to Baluchistan, 82 to Database and Registration Au- seek intervention at the highest ple from all walks of life during organisations (NGOs). Out of 564,207 complaints re- the Islamabad Capital Territory, thority (16,639), licences and level for their resolution. eff orts the past 14 months, 1.509mn “With a complaint resolution lated to the federal government, fi ve to Gilgit-Baltistan, and two certifi cates (14,435), agricul- While encouraging people to (91.32%) have been resolved. rate of 91.32%, the Pakistan Cit- 527,779 have been resolved. complaints related to the Azad ture (13,867), immigration and utilise this facility, the prime According to statistics re- izen Portal has become the most Similarly, 189,425 out of Jammu and Kashmir govern- passports (11,784), youth aff airs minister has also made it very Internews leased offi cially by the Prime eff ective tool in redressing peo- 201,177 complaints from Khy- ment. (11,168), and the Federal Board of clear that no leniency will be Islamabad Minister’s Offi ce, the number of ple’s complaints thus becoming ber Pakhtunkhwa, and12,931 out Category-wise complaints Revenue (4,624). shown to any government offi - registered members on the por- voice of the people of Pakistan,” of 15,316 from Baluchistan have status data states that out of Complaints about disaster cial who neglects his duty in ad- tal launched by Prime Minister says an offi cial handout that was been resolved, while 86,404 total 1,653,045 complaints, emergency numbered 3,194, dressing complaints reported on urkish Foreign Minister Imran Khan in October 2018 has issued by the Prime Minister’s (62.6%) complaints out of 340,339 were related to mu- poverty alleviation and social Citizen Portal. Mevlut Cavusoglu, dur- now reached 1,397,537, out of Offi ce. 137,946 from Sindh have been nicipal services, followed by safety (573), banking (414), and In November last year, Khan Ting a telephone conversa- which 48,349 are students, fol- According to the latest data, resolved up to January 10. energy and power (299,701), Security and Exchange Com- while taking notice of the inac- tion with Foreign Minister Shah lowed by 34,995 businessmen, a total of 1,653,045 complaints The data shows that so far, education (179,004), human mission of Pakistan (277). tion of offi cers regarding citi- Mehmood Qureshi, extended and 33,277 engineers. have been received so far, from 11,151 complaints have been re- rights (132,161), law and order The super-escalated com- zens’ complaints, had reportedly condolences over the Quetta Other registered members are nearly 1.4mn registered mem- ceived from more than 2,300 (101,153), health (97,764), complaints are those complaints directed all ministries and de- mosque blast, and praised Pa- civil servants (20,025), teach- bers. journalists who are registered munication (60,858), and trans- which remain unresolved be- partments to form fi ve-member kistan’s eff ort for de-escalating ers (16,437), corporate sec- Out of these, 1,552,529 members of the portal. port (60,605). yond specifi ed time limit. committees to “conduct per- tensions in the region. tor employees (14,579), armed (93.92%) have originated from Out of 11,151 complaints, Complaints about develop- The Pakistan Citizen Portal formance evaluation and submit The Turkish minister ex- forces personnel (9,542), doctors inland, 94,880 from overseas 10,203 have been resolved, with ment projects numbered 60,496, was established on the direc- their reports within 30 days”. pressed grief on the attack in the provincial capital of Baluchistan which claimed many lives. Membership of more than 400 He condemned the loss of val- uable lives and expressed soli- In the running lawmakers might be suspended darity of Turkey with Pakistan on this tragic incident. More than 400 senators and members of the national and Cavusoglu also ensured full provincial assemblies who have failed to disclose the details support of Turkey to Pakistan of their assets and liabilities could face the termination of their on establishing peace in the re- membership from January 16. gion following the killing of the According to sources, 495 lawmakers failed to submit their annual top Iranian military commander statement of assets and liabilities with the Election Commission of Qasem Soleimani by the US. Pakistan (ECP) by the due date. He lauded Pakistan’s eff ort to At least 1,195 lawmakers have submitted their statement; those who de-escalate US-Iran tensions in failed to submit their legal obligation include 21 members of the Middle East. Senate and 125 members of the National Assembly. Qureshi apprised his coun- Those who failed to submit their legal obligation in provincial terpart of his upcoming visits to assemblies include 140 members of the Punjab Assembly, 46 of the Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Sindh Assembly, 68 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, and Similarly, Cavusoglu briefed 25 of Baluchistan Assembly. his Pakistani counterpart on his According to the ECP, top political leaders, federal and provincial recent visit to Iraq, during which ministers and constitutional off ice holders are among those who the situation in the region was failed to meet their legal obligation. discussed. They include Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Pervez Khattak, Qureshi said Iran’s admis- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Faisal Vawda, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Khurram sion of unintentionally shooting Dastagir, Musadaq Malik, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Mian Mehmoodur down Ukrainian fl ight PS752 is Rasheed, Sardar Yar Mohamed Rind, Sharjeel Memon, and likely to reduce tensions. Sanaullah Zehri. The minister said in his statement that the region cannot af- ford another war and stressed Man pays $150,000 to hunt markhor that Pakistan will continue to play its role in lessening the on- A US citizen has hunted a markhor under trophy hunting going tensions. programme in the Toashi Conservation area of Chitral of Pakistan. Qureshi revealed that he is He paid $150,000 to hunt markhor under the trophy programme. leaving for Iran on Prime Minis- Al Burhan Village Conservation Committee general secretary ter Imran Khan’s directions and Ameer Hasnat Uddin said that 80% of the amount received under will hold meetings with the Ira- Runners are seen taking part in the Second Commissioner Karachi City Marathon. trophy hunting was distributed among locals, while the balance nian leadership. was deposited in exchequer. New buildings to be specially-abled friendly in Islamabad, Senate told

Internews for specially-abled people. to ensure the provision of facili- Swati said that key security operating under auspices of the projects under Prime Minister’s lah Hills National Park (MHNP). Islamabad Most of these government ties for specially-abled people in points continued to be managed housing ministry. Naya Pakistan Housing Pro- A three-year plan has now buildings, he said, were located all the government buildings. and guarded by the ICT Police. The FGEHF was mandated to gramme (NPHP) in Islamabad been devised for the gradual re- in the Mauve Areas and the ad- He added that a public notice He added the police forces of arrange aff ordable residential ac- and other parts of the country moval of these trees. o facilitate specially-abled ministrative block in Sector G-5. will also be published in the me- the twin cities of Islamabad and commodation to the employees smoothly on its own. The process was supposed to people, at least in the capi- They include the offi ces of the dia ensure the provision of facili- Rawalpindi were actively sharing of the federal government and It had fi rst been converted into commence at educational insti- Ttal Islamabad, approval of National Database and Registra- ties for specially-abled people in information on important mat- other specifi ed groups based on an authority after an ordinance tutions during 2018-19, continue plans of all new buildings to be tion Authority (NADRA), the Na- all existing public and private ters between them and with oth- no-profi t and no-loss. was passed last year. in residential areas during 2019- constructed in the city have been tional Bank of Pakistan, the Na- sector buildings. er law enforcement agencies to Its jurisdiction extends to the The bill, however, will formal- 20 and along nullahs and parks tied to the inclusion of facilities tional Electric Power Regulatory Swati briefed that the Burma prevent crime and maintain law whole of Pakistan. ise the law. during 2020-21. such as ramps for the specially- Authority (NEPRA), the National Bridge on Lehtrar Road had been and order situation in the federal The foundation, however, was The interior ministry mean- However, before the plan was abled. Industrial Relations Commission damaged due to fl ooding a few capital. not a regulatory body and it had while informed the Senate in executed, some non-govern- This was disclosed by the Fed- (NIRC), Radio Pakistan, the For- years ago. The Senate has passed The to go through the lengthy proc- a written reply that more than mental organisations (NGOs) ap- eral Minister for Parliamentary eign Offi ce, the National Engi- To repair it, tenders were Federal Government Employees ess of seeking permissions and 20,000 paper mulberry trees, proached the Supreme Court and Aff airs Azam Khan Swati while neering Services (NESPAK), the opened in July 2019 and a letter Housing Authority Bill 2019, af- NOCs (no-objection certifi cates) causing allergies to the residents, obtained a stay against cutting speaking on the fl oor of the Sen- Pakistan Post Offi ce, the Over- of acceptance has been issued to ter its approval from the relevant from diff erent authorities for have been identifi ed in Islama- of trees on Embassy Road, after ate. seas Pakistanis Foundation, the the selected contractor. standing committee. launching its projects. bad. which the apex court placed a bar During Question Hour, he said Controller General of Pakistan, Moreover, construction work Minister for Housing and The maintenance of existing Pollen from these trees causes on the cutting of all type of trees that the federal government will the State Bank of Pakistan, the on the bridge has commenced. Works Chaudhary Tariq Bashir schemes was not possible until life-threatening allergies to peo- in the city. ensure the provision of facili- Federal Ombudsperson, the Is- Replying to another ques- Cheema moved the bill for the the foundation was not given the ple with breathing problems, Hence, the process of chop- ties for specially-abled people in lamabad Capital Territory (ICT) tion, he said that the overall law establishment of the authority in status of an authority. particularly those suff ering from ping down paper mulberry trees buildings which will be con- administration offi ce, and other and order situation in the federal the House. The FGEHA, thus, will have asthma. was also stopped. structed as per the new master public-dealing offi ces. capital remained peaceful. The now-defunct Federal the power to acquire land, de- The ministry said the trees are It is now planned that a pro- plan of the federal capital. The minister said that they To ensure a quick response, he Government Employees Hous- velop it and carry out the plan- mainly located in government posal for cutting these trees will He added that a survey had have written to the Public Works said that a Counter-Terrorism ing Foundation (FGEHF) was a ning of the scheme itself instead education institutions, along- be submitted to Pakistan Envi- shown that of the 70 government Department (PWD) and the Force has already been estab- public limited company regis- of relying on other government side the nullahs and green belts, ronmental Protection Authority buildings in the city, 37 have fa- Capital Development Authority lished to protect the public from tered with Security Exchange organisations. Shakarparian, Sector F-9 Park (Pak-EPA) and the ministry of cilities which allow easy access (CDA) Services director-general criminals. Commission of Pakistan and was The authority will also build and in the foothills of the Margal- climate change for approval. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES Go assures more funds for govt hospitals

By Bernadette Tamayo “DoH Hospital Bed Capac- Manila Times ity and Service Capability Rationalisation Act of 2019,” aims to “expedite the process enator Christopher for improving the capacity and Lawrence “Bong” Go capability” of public hospitals. Shas vowed more funds Go said he fi led the bill be- to government hospitals to in- cause Republic Act 11223, crease their bed capacity and otherwise known as the improve equipment. “Universal Health Care Law,” As of 2017, the Philippines mandates “a people-oriented has 1,161 licensed hospitals, approach for the delivery of 405 of which are owned by the health services that is centred government and 73 run by the on people’s needs and well- Department of Health (DoH). being.” Go also urged local govern- He also gave the DoH the ment units to improve their authority to set and approve hospital facilities. the bed capacity and service “There should be a more ef- capability of its hospitals. fi cient way of enhancing capa- “Under current regula- bilities of public hospitals and, tions, a DoH hospital can only at the same time, empowering increase its bed capacity and Local off icials (left) talk to homeless people, as they distribute face masks to protect themselves from the volcanic ash along a sidewalk in Manila, yesterday. the DoH to fulfi l its mandate improve its service capability of improving healthcare in the through legislation,” he said. country,” he said. SB 1226 also obliges the In his visits to public hos- Health department to “de- pitals, Go found that many velop the Philippine Health medical institutions lack ba- Facility Development Plan sic necessities such as beds, (PHFDP) to guide the mod- equipment and even funding. ernisation and development He earlier fi led Senate plans of all government health Bill (SB) 1226 requiring the facilities, and in order to ac- Volcano halts fl ights, Health department to provide cess capital outlay investment Congress an annual report through the Health Facilities of hospitals with approved Enhancement Program of the bed capacities and necessary DoH and other national gov- funding requirements. ernment capital outlay invest- forces evacuations SB 1226, or the proposed ment mechanisms.” AFP Ninoy Aquino International Air- ger lake formed by previous Manila port (NAIA). Authorities initial- volcanic activity. Sison says Duterte’s ly halted operations at NAIA for Solidum said officials will a few hours, but later yesterday also order the evacuation of hilippine authorities announced that fl ights would people living on another island talks off er a trap warned yesterday an “ex- be suspended “until further no- nearby if the situation worsens. Pplosive eruption” of a vol- tice”. Transport secretary Arthur “Ash has already reached cano south of Manila could be Tugade had instructed aviation Manila...it is dangerous to peo- By Dempsey Reyes acceptable precondition,” he imminent, hours after it sent a offi cials to “do whatever is nec- ple if they inhale it,” he said. Manila Times added. massive column of ash skyward essary in the interest of public Social media users posted The self-exiled commu- that forced offi cials to halt ights fl safety”, said a joint statement images of cars and porches nist leader gave three reasons at the capital’s main airport until from air and transport authori- coated in fine, dark-coloured ommunist Party of the why he believes Duterte was further notice. ties. grit and commented on where Philippines founder “being malicious” in making Thousands of people living They said they planned to re- to buy dust masks. CJose Maria “Joma” Si- the offer. near Taal volcano, a popular assess the situation today morn- Earthquakes and volcanic son yesterday described the “First, he wants me to drop tourist attraction set in the cen- ing. activity are not uncommon in off er of President Rodrigo Du- the legal protection that I tre of a picturesque lake, were Government seismologists re- the Philippines due to its po- terte for one-on-one talks in have under the Refugee Con- evacuated from their homes as corded magma moving towards sition on the Pacific “Ring of Manila as a “lethal trap.” vention and Article 3 of the it spewed ash, rumbled with the crater of Taal, one of the Fire”, where tectonic plates “Knowing that I am experi- European Convention on earthquakes and lightning ex- country’s most active volcanoes collide deep below the Earth’s enced and intelligent enough Human Rights, and to put ploded above its crest. located 65 kilometres, south of surface. to recognise what is a trap, myself under the control and A “hazardous explosive erup- Manila. Two years ago, Mount Mayon Duterte is using his offer only disposition of his butcher re- tion is possible within hours Taal’s last eruption was in displaced tens of thousands of to do a bit of psywar and to gime upon my arrival in Ma- to days”, the nation’s seismo- 1977, Philippine Institute of Vol- people after spewing millions prevent the resumption of nila,” Sison said. logical agency warned, as locals canology and Seismology chief of tonnes of ash, rocks and lava the GRP-NDFP (Government Duterte also “wants to weighed whether or not to fl ee Renato Solidum said. in the central Bicol region. of the Republic of the Philip- violate” his principles by the area. A column of ash was visible The most powerful explosion pines-National Democratic having him surrendered to “I’m afraid that it might in the sky above Taal and sev- in recent years was the 1991 Front of the Philippines) the current administration erupt...but I’ll leave it to fate. eral volcanic tremors were felt eruption of Mount Pinatubo, peace negotiations,” Sison and is trying to “pre-empt” I just have to pray,” said Edu- within the vicinity of the vol- about 100 kilometres north- said in a statement. the talks by “superseding” ardo Carino, who works in a ho- cano, which is popular among west of Manila, which killed “The one-on-one talk is the proclamation released tel near the volcano. tourists for its scenic view, more than 800 people. either a malicious scheme to in 2017 that terminated the After the ash cloud reached seismologists said. It spewed out an ash cloud put me in a lethal trap or an negotiations. Sison said the 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) into The local disaster office said that travelled thousands of equally malicious manoeuvre offer was an “unacceptable the atmosphere, aviation of- it had evacuated over 2,000 kilometres in a matter of days to prevent peace negotiations precondition” that had been fi cials ordered a suspension of residents living on the volcanic and was blamed for damaging A view of the Taal volcano eruption seen from Tagaytay, yesterday in upon rejection of his offer by rejected by himself and the fl ights to and from the capital’s island, which lies inside a big- nearly two dozen aircraft. this still image taken from social media video. me and the NDFP as an unrest of the NDFP.

Call to stop bridge fee Plan to return garbage to South Korea welcomed collection in Boracay Manila Times/PNA wrongful declaration as well as for their misdeeds.” The com- Cagayan De Oro City the company’s failure to secure plete removal of the remain- Manila Times of Malay, Bernardino said any- an import permit from the De- ing waste, said Aileen Lucero, Iloilo City thing done in Boracay must still partment of Environment and EcoWaste Coalition national be consulted with the task force nvironment watchdogs Natural Resources. co-ordinator, “will help in since the island is under reha- yesterday welcomed the Quoting information from correcting the grave environ- he Boracay Inter-Agency bilitation. Eannouncement of the Bu- John Simon, BOC district col- mental injustice inflicted on Rehabilitation Manage- Bautista has raised the con- reau of Customs (BoC) that the lector for Northern Mindanao, Mindanaoans in particular and Tment Group (BIARMG) cern during the meeting last remaining trash from South the groups said the trash will Filipino people in general.” has asked the mayor of Malay November 26 but was told to Korea, now stored in a facil- be put in 60 container vans Meanwhile, the EcoWaste town to stop the collection of wait for the principals’ decision. ity in Misamis Oriental, will be and will be transported by an Coalition has urged the na- pontoons payment from Bo- “He (the mayor) was told to shipped back on January 19 and international shipping line to tional government to speed up racay Island visitors. justify the basis of the rate,” she February 9. Pyongtaek City, South Korea. its ratification of the Basel Ban BIARMG chief Natividad said, noting that the next prin- In a joint statement, Davao “The long wait will soon be Amendment, which entered Bernardino sent a formal com- cipals’ meeting is scheduled in City-based Interfacing Devel- over. In line with President into force on December 5 last munication to Malay Mayor the last week of January or the opment Interventions for Sus- Rodrigo Duterte’s directive year and to adopt a full ban on Frolibar Bautista on Thursday ﬁ rst week of February. tainability (IDIS) and Quezon banning waste imports and in foreign waste importation to to stop the collection of P30 per In a separate interview, City-based EcoWaste Coalition co-operation with the South protect the country from illegal person for the use of two pon- Bautista said the local govern- lauded the decision of the Cus- Korean government, we are waste traffic. toons. He said the fee collec- ment unit (LGU) has stopped toms bureau to send back the shipping back the remaining The Basel Ban Amendment tion had yet to be approved by the collection of fees on Sat- remaining waste to its country waste to their origin on January prohibits the export of hazardous the National Task Force Boracay urday. Of the P30 fee, he said of origin. The group was refer- 19 and February 9,” Simon said wastes for all reasons, including principals, including Environ- P4.50 goes to the LGU, while ring to the 5,177 metric tonnes in a text message. recycling, from rich countries ment Secretary Roy Cimatu and some are shared by Manoc- of mixed garbage that were “The re-exportation of the belonging to the Organisation Interior Undersecretary Epima- manoc and Balabag villages and repacked and put in storage at misdeclared plastic wastes to of Economic Co-operation and co Densing. “The problem there the private company owner. the Phividec Industrial Author- where they come from should Development, European Union is it did not go through with the The collection of the fees ity compound in Tagoloan, Mis- send a clear signal to all parties A file photo of industrial garbage packed in sacks, at a facility of the and Liechtenstein to developing task force’s deliberation and ap- started last December 21. amis Oriental. that our beloved country is not Phividec Industrial Authority. countries like the Philippines. proval. That was the proposal “There were questions that The imported trash is the re- a global dump and that waste “Ratifying the Basel Ban of the local government unit, it (collection of fees) was not mainder of the 6,500 metric traffickers will be held ac- ported trash was “good news for source is a historic win for our Amendment and further prohib- but they went ahead with it,” approved by the principals so tonnes of plastic wastes im- countable to the fullest extent the people of Mindanao as we people and the environment.” iting the export of all wastes to Bernardino told the Philippine I stopped the collection of fees ported by Verde Soko in 2018 to of the law,” he added. assert our unwillingness to be an But Golle said the re-expor- the Philippines will be our best News Agency. but the operation (use of pon- be recycled into raw materials Meanwhile, Chinkie Golle, entry point of hazardous wastes tation “is only a partial vic- legal protection against waste Though it got the nod from toons) will continue,” Bautista for plastic products. However, it IDIS executive director, said the from overseas. The reshipment tory as the culprits behind this traffi cking,” the EcoWaste Coa- the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said. was conﬁ scated by the BOC for scheduled send-back of the im- of the South Korean waste to its toxic mess have yet to account lition said. Gulf Times 18 Monday, January 13, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES The future is here between ‘the car and the cloud’

Over the years, with quantum leaps in technology, cars have become smart, and are on their way to be smarter and eventually, some years later, storm the mass market in their autonomous avatars. The CES technology show last week in Las Vegas was a pointer in this direction with tech companies and automakers shining a spotlight on the future. The two industries have converged on the idea of cars providing services and features delivered “over the air” – that is, over the same wireless data networks used by smartphones, Scientists paint Australia fi res as reported by Reuters. Options including streaming video, vehicle performance upgrades, and dashboard commerce could enable car manufacturers to continue making money long after vehicles are sold. Cloud computing giants Amazon.com and Microsoft Corp as red alert on climate change are at the forefront, chasing the opportunity to manage torrents of data fl owing to and from connected vehicles. For example, General Motors’ new high-capacity onboard By Laurie Goering have consumed about 2,000 homes, But it was “a little too early” to tell if Australia’s normally resilient forests, electrical system facilitates providing streamed services London blanketed major cities from Sydney the bushfi re crisis was shifting views on scientists predict. to Melbourne in thick smoke, killed climate change, he added. “I’m sceptical that we will see things and over-the-air upgrades. Tesla pioneered the model for an estimated billion animals, and Australia’s brutal fi re season stems return to the way they were,” Fontaine charging for over-the-air upgrades, now asking customers ith the sky outside a pushed exhausted firefighters to from a confl uence of threats, scientists said. to pay $6,000 to turn on the full self-driving option. Other menacing red, Nerilie their limits. say. Those who argue nature will bounce automakers are eager to try their hand at turning cars into Abram’s family is staying And while summer bushfi res are Climate change is generally causing a back because Australia is fi re-prone upgradeable, revenue-generating gadgets. Winside, with the windows nothing new in Australia, scientists say long-term trend toward hotter and drier are “overlooking the interaction with shut and curtains drawn at their home these are diff erent. conditions, while Abram said shifts in climate change”, he said. Chinese carmaker in Canberra, Australia’s smoke-choked Their scale and ferocity raise clouds and winds are gradually driving Some iconic Australian tree and Floating the idea Byton’s new M-Byte capital. questions about how nature will recover winter rain toward Antarctica. plant species, like banksias with their sedan features a On their return from recent holiday — and the fi res are now aff ecting a And, this season, unusual cold in fl ower spikes, may be on their way to of cars providing 48-inch screen as a travels, “the kids didn’t want us to open much higher percentage of Australia’s the eastern Indian Ocean has cut off disappearing as they struggle with more dashboard, as well the curtains because outside it looked population, they say. moisture moving to Australia. heat, drought and fi res, he said. services and scary,” said the climate scientist at the In the well-populated southeast, All that adds up to an extremely Wildlife experts also estimate that as a steering-wheel Australian National University. nearly a third of people are estimated dangerous fi re season — but it may not as many as 30% of the country’s koalas features delivered display and a digital Family friends who struggle with to have been directly aff ected by this be the “new normal” some have dubbed could have died in the blazes. tablet for passengers. asthma have left town, she said, and season’s fi re and smoke. it, she said. The widespread destruction of this “over the air” When parked, the most residents who do venture outside In a nation of just 25mn, “most people Not every year will be this bad, season’s fi res similarly is expected car can be an office, wear disposable masks — though the know someone who’s been aff ected”, Abram said, although future years could to have implications for Australia’s city, which had the world’s worst air said Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a possibly be much worse. insurance and tourism industries, as enabling video conference calls, or a roadside cinema. quality for several days in the past week, climate scientist at the University of This season’s runaway fi res have well as for healthcare. BMW showed at its CES display a concept of its future is running out of those. New South Wales in Sydney. occurred at 1.1 degrees Celsius of global Extended smoke and fi re exposure interior with reclining lounge chairs and a windshield “We’re been really caught off -guard That may have political implications warming compared to pre-industrial may spur lingering physical and mental with augmented reality built in to annotate the road by these fi res,” said Abram, a professor in a country that less than a year times. health problems, doctors and scientists ahead. Tech companies and suppliers want to accelerate who works with the Australian Research ago elected a conservative coalition However, the world is on track for fear. the transformation of vehicles into subscription bundle- Council’s Centre of Excellence for government with close ties to the more than 3 degrees of warming, even But whether those impacts will Climate Extremes. powerful coal industry and a record of if current commitments under the Paris pressure politicians to take signifi cant ready machines by helping automakers sort out the “Scientifi cally, it’s not surprising. dismissing action on climate change as Agreement on climate change are met. action on climate change remains in tangle of computer chips that make most current vehicles We totally expected that as the climate too costly. “We’re on an upward trajectory,” doubt, they said. difficult or impossible to upgrade over the air. warmed, fi res in Australia would get Prime Minister Scott Morrison has Abram said. “How bad is this going to Previous dire warnings about climate Harman, a unit of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, is also worse. But the scale of this disaster is been verbally abused while visiting get? How bad are we willing to let it change risks to the Great Barrier Reef pushing a similar digital platform to control the fl ow of data something I couldn’t have imagined, fi re-hit areas after returning from an get?” had not worked, Abram said. and it’s the same for a lot of people in ill-timed Hawaii holiday, with angry Perkins-Kirkpatrick’s husband, a “I hope this (fi re) threat aff ecting in and out of the car. A centralised system would help protect Australia.” residents saying his government has volunteer fi refi ghter and former army such a large proportion of the Australian the car against hackers, who would have only one way in Large swathes of the country are done too little to respond and prevent fi refi ghter, said the colour of ash on the population will be the catalyst to really rather than dozens. Harman, which supplies some of the battling wildfi res that have killed 27 damage. ground and dripping aluminium from take this seriously,” she said. technology that automakers including Tesla use to deliver people and torched more than 10mn “People are deeply aff ected,” said Joe melted car parts point to higher-than- “That could be one of the only the over-the-air upgrades, plans to sell its new vehicle hectares in the wake of the southern- Fontaine, a lecturer in environmental usual temperatures in this season’s fi res. positive things that comes out of this hemisphere nation’s hottest and driest science at Murdoch University in Perth, Those, and the rising frequency of experience — if it’s that wake-up call to computing brain with cybersecurity features built in – but year on record. noting “a deep sense of loss and anxiety bushfi res in some areas, could make see what climate change looks like.” – some car buyers will have to pay to turn it on. The ferocious, fast-moving blazes in society”. recovery increasingly diffi cult for Thomson Reuters Foundation Qualcomm Inc, which already provides the cellular modem chips that allow vehicles to connect to the Internet, introduced a more comprehensive computing system that can manage in-vehicle entertainment and help the car drive itself. One element is a much easier way for automakers and their partners to deliver feature upgrades, such as unlocking a better sound system already built into the car. NXP Semiconductors is working on a chip that would serve as a gateway between the car and the cloud, to help automakers cope with the massive amounts of data that sensors and digital cockpits will create. That data has to be stored and managed, and that’s where cloud computing providers such as Amazon Web Services come in. AWS announced at CES a partnership with BlackBerry to develop a new software platform for connected vehicles. So, the process has gathered momentum and rapid development may be expected over the next few years.

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© 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Protesters hold placards during a demonstration over Australia’s bushfires crisis, outside the Australian embassy in Lima, Peru, in this January 10 photograph. Gulf Times Monday, January 13, 2020 19 COMMENT Foster care adoptions reach record high in US

Tribune News Service “Parents come in using everything.” incentives for increasing the number Washington For the fi rst time since fi scal 2012, of foster children and youth who fi nd the number of children in foster care in permanent homes through adoption. the United States declined slightly in In 2014, the program was expanded record number of children in 2018, to 437,000. That’s a 6% increase to include incentives for permanent foster care are being adopted from the number of children in foster guardianship. in the US, partially a refl ec- care in fi scal 2010, before the opioid “There is a federal fi scal incentive for Ation of the continuing toll of crisis escalated. states to get these kids permanency,” the opioid crisis but also of eff orts in But the increase over the past said Ana Beltran, special adviser for many states to promote adoptions. decade has been much more dramatic Generations United, a Washington, In fi scal 2018, the latest year for in the states hit hardest by the opioid DC-based family research and which data is available, more than epidemic. advocacy group. 63,000 kids were adopted from foster In Ohio, for example, the number Whether they’re former foster care, up nearly a quarter from fi scal of children in foster care increased by parents or extended family members, 2014. That number was an all-time nearly 32% between fi scal 2010 and adoptive parents need family high, according to the US Adoption 2018, to nearly 16,000, according to preservation services, too, said Mary and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting AFCARS data. During that same time, Boo, executive director of the North System (AFCARS). adoptions from foster care increased American Council on Adoptable At the same time, the share of by 9%, to nearly 1,600. Children, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based children leaving foster care for Meanwhile, fewer children are advocacy group. adoption increased, from 21% in fi scal being reunited with their parents and Roughly 1% to 5% of adoptions fail, 2014 to more than 25% in 2018. primary caretakers when they leave with kids ending up back in foster care, Adoptive parents are most interested foster care. In fi scal 2011, 52% of according to a 2012 report from the US in babies and toddlers, and 50% of the children leaving foster care (126,000) Children’s Bureau. foster care children who were adopted were reunited with their parents Kids in foster care typically have in fi scal 2018 were under age 5. or primary caretakers, according experienced serious abuse, neglect On the one hand, the increase in to AFCARS data. With the opioid and trauma, which aff ect both brain adoptions is good news, child welfare epidemic, that percentage has declined development and their ability to have experts say. Children do best when to 49% in fi scal 2018. relationships with their new family, they remain in a stable household, “Parents disappear, and we can’t Boo said. And that often means instead of being bounced from one fi nd them,” Gooding said. “Or diff erent parenting techniques are foster family to another or placed sometimes a parent chooses a better needed – and adoptive parents need in a group home. When it’s not safe future for their child by surrendering training to meet those needs, according for them to be with their biological their parental rights.” to Boo. parents, the next best option is a home In West Virginia, another state hit For example, for children who were with adoptive parents. hard by opioid addiction, the number abandoned by their biological parents, On the other hand, the spike in of children in foster care increased a timeout can be traumatic, because adoptions is another sign of the chaos to more than 7,100 in fi scal 2018, up they fear they’re being abandoned wrought by the opioid crisis. In the nearly 74% from 2010, according to again, Boo said. Adoptive and foster past decade, thousands of kids whose AFCARS data. During that same time, parents need ongoing training to parents are struggling with addiction adoptions from foster care more than help them navigate the intricacies of to opioids or other drugs – or whose doubled, up 111% to 1,400. Two-year-old Zariah Senior smiles in her Boynton Beach home on Dec 9, 2019. She is wearing the same shirt she wore on the day parenting traumatised children, along parents have died from overdoses – But that increase has little to do with she and her siblings were adopted out of foster care by Monica Peoples and Michelle Senior. (Kristina Webb/Palm Beach Post/TNS) with the help of peer support groups have been removed from their homes state eff orts to promote adoption, said and mental health services to deal with and placed in foster care, which has Marissa Sanders, director of the West system,” Sanders said. according to AFCARS data. But Louisiana offi cials now assign a the trauma, she said. increased the adoption numbers. Virginia Foster, Adoptive and Kinship “We’re fl ooded with these cases. adoptions from foster care were up recruiter to fi nd a home for each child, “We want to make sure that states are “If I could wave a magic wand Parents Network. Everyone is struggling.” 41% since fi scal 2010 to more than 900 often by canvassing extended family thinking about family preservation also and get rid of substance abuse, there Rather, Sanders said, the In Louisiana, which also has been in 2018. and friends. Adoptions among those for adoptive families,” Boo said. “We wouldn’t be enough work,” said David skyrocketing foster care adoption hit hard by the opioid epidemic, the One bright spot has been an uptick kids jumped more than 30% in the past know it’s best for kids to be in families Gooding, a judge overseeing child numbers have everything to do number of children in foster care in the number of adoptions of kids year, according to the state. – but in families that have the resources welfare cases in the 4th Circuit Court with the state’s catastrophic opioid increased slightly, up 2% between such as sibling groups and teens, who For the past two decades, the federal and knowledge to help them grow and of Florida. epidemic. “It’s aff ected the whole fi scal 2010 and 2018, to nearly 4,600, are harder to place. government has been paying states thrive.”

For artist inspired by illness, Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 200c Minimum Temperature : 140c ‘gratitude outweighs pain’ TUESDAY Maximum Temperature : 220c Minimum Temperature : 140c “It’s seemingly a big transition but, A year and a half later, he was back in the By Cara Anthony Mortimer said. “Even if you’re in WEDNESDAY Kansas City immense pain, you know that my donor for me, being a person of faith and being operating room for another double lung Maximum Temperature : 210c is not. He lives in me, but he’s not alive an artist has all of these similarities,” transplant. Minimum Temperature : 140c anymore. I am. So I’m grateful for his Mortimer said. “You’re trying things out, This time, doctors felt more confi dent eople often ask Dylan Mortimer decision, the selfl ess act.” you’re exploring and you’re trying to fi nd about the match. And the lungs came Fisherman's forecast how it feels to breathe through In his small studio south of downtown truth.” from an unexpected place: One of his transplanted lungs. He gets that Kansas City, Mortimer creates celestial At 3 months old, Mortimer was Instagram followers, now a close friend, WARNING Pa lot because while most people and glittery interpretations of scars, lungs diagnosed with failure to thrive. His had lost a family member. The friend Inshore : Nil go through life with one pair of lungs, and operating rooms. condition was later identifi ed as cystic arranged to see if his late brother’s lungs Offshore : Strong wind and high Mortimer is on his third. One piece called “Sounds Clear” shows fi brosis. were a match and could be donated to sea mucus dripping from a set of lungs. “They didn’t even know what to call it Mortimer specifi cally. The artist has endured two double WEATHER lung transplants in the past two years. Another collage shows Mortimer’s view at fi rst,” Mortimer said. “That framed a “We couldn’t believe it,” Mortimer Inshore : Relatively cold daytime He often shares his journey onstage as a from an ambulance, while other works lot for me.” said. “I didn’t even know you could do with some clouds & that.” slight dust at times, cold speaker. But when the curtain closes, he celebrate “Air Jordan” Nike sneakers – In 1979, when Mortimer was born, by night leaves the rest of the storytelling to art. shoes that Mortimer coveted as a child. doctors weren’t sure if anyone with cystic And just a month after the surgery in Offshore : Scattered clouds to p “I’m alive because of what someone “I’m taking scars and wounds and fi brosis, known as CF, would make it past January 2019, he was jogging again. Then cloudy at times else did,” Mortimer said. “That is making them bright and shiny,” Mortimer their late teens, Mortimer said. Mortimer started to complete longer WIND humbling in all the best ways.” said. But treatment for the disease improved runs. Inshore : Northwesterly 07-17 KT The pastor turned full-time artist buys Hospitals and clinics that treat lung as Mortimer grew up and was able to “I don’t like running,” Mortimer said Offshore : Northwesterly-Westerly glitter by the pound to illustrate his battle disease often commission his work, enter art school at Kansas City Art with a chuckle. “But I like the victory 13-23/29 KT with cystic fi brosis. For most of his life, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Institute. He went on to complete his and the symbol it represents, having Visibility : 4-8 KM the debilitating disease clogged his lungs Louis, New York-Presbyterian Hospital master’s at the School of Visual Arts in gone through two lung transplants Offshore : 3-7/9 FT with mucus, making it hard to breathe. in New York City, University of Iowa New York City. At 25, he married the love and fi nishing a 10K. It’s something to As he continued to struggle for air Hospitals & Clinics and Children’s Mercy of his life, Shannon, and they started celebrate.” into adulthood, art became a way for Kansas City. Vertex, a pharmaceutical a family while he honed his skills as an The stories behind his medals, art and Around the region him to process and explore his disease. company known for its cystic fi brosis artist and pastored a church. surgery might go into a book one day. It’s Weather Weather He uses patterns and shapes inspired by research, also displays his work. But by the time he was 37, the an idea Mortimer is considering. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the structure of the lungs and cells of his Mortimer initially was a minister, leading progressive disease had taken its toll. “I believe that there is hope in the Baghdad S Showers 16/04 P Cloudy 17/04 body. His artwork feels whimsical – all a church in Kansas City after graduating Doctors told Mortimer he needed a most hopeless situations,” Mortimer Kuwait City Sunny 19/08 Cloudy 17/08 that glitter makes it glow – yet each piece from art school in New York City. He’s not double lung transplant. The hospital said. “That’s certainly what has kept me Manama Sunny 19/14 Cloudy 20/15 holds the weight of Mortimer’s pain. a full-time pastor anymore, though he said found a donor, but Mortimer’s body alive.” – Kaiser Health News/Tribune Muscat P Cloudy 20/14 M Sunny 22/15 “The gratitude outweighs the pain,” he shares his faith through art. ultimately rejected the fi rst set of lungs. News Service Tehran M Cloudy 07/01 M Sunny 08/-1

Live issues Early concussion treatment tied to faster recovery

By Lisa Rapaport University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre. week and those who took longer to start or delayed recovery,” Yang, who wasn’t Reuters Health “However, our research shows treatment had similar symptom severity involved in the study, said by e-mail. that regardless of symptoms and as well as similar levels of impairment in “Athletes may also be encouraged Around the world impairments, patients who seek areas like cognitive ability, vision, sleep to engage in the symptom-limited, Weather Weather oung athletes who get con- speciality care earlier have better and balance. light physical activity as these could today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cussions may recover faster outcomes and recover sooner than those Later initiation of treatment as well as help mitigate symptoms and hasten Athens P Cloudy 14/04 Cloudy 14/08 when they’re treated within who seek care later.” more severe vision and motion-related concussion recovery.” Beirut S Showers 17/12 M Sunny 17/13 Ythe fi rst week than when they A concussion is a traumatic brain symptoms at diagnosis were both Earlier treatment may help athletes Bangkok M Sunny 33/25 M Sunny 33/24 wait longer to get care, a new study injury caused by a jolt to the head or associated with much longer recovery receive therapy targeted to their specifi c Berlin P Cloudy 08/03 S Showers 11/08 suggests. body that disrupts the function of the times. combination of symptoms, which Cairo M Sunny 20/10 P Cloudy 22/11 Researchers examined data on 162 brain. This injury can result in physical, One limitation of the study is that might include some mix of anxiety, Cape Town Cloudy 26/19 Cloudy 26/20 athletes ages 12 to 22who were diagnosed cognitive, emotional or sleep-related researchers lacked data on how closely mood swings, sleep diffi culties, balance Colombo M Sunny 32/22 P Cloudy 31/22 with concussions. Recovery time symptoms that may or may not involve a athletes followed any prescribed problems, dizziness, vision impairment, Dhaka Sunny 24/14 Sunny 25/14 averaged 57 days, and ranged from 9 to loss of consciousness. The symptoms can treatments or rehabilitation programs, attention defi cits and cognitive problems. Hong Kong P Cloudy 18/16 Sunny 19/16 299 days. last from several minutes to days, weeks, how soon athletes returned to practice Although the study didn’t explain why Istanbul P Cloudy 09/03 P Cloudy 09/04 Compared with athletes who started months or longer. or competition, and how quickly they some athletes waited longer than others Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 T Storm 30/24 treatment within a week, those who More than half of athletes who sustain resumed regular academic work. All for care, it’s possible many either were Karachi Sunny 20/08 Sunny 20/09 didn’t receive care that quickly were over concussions don’t receive care beyond an these factors could infl uence concussion unaware of the need for rapid follow-up London S Showers 11/07 Showers 14/08 four times more likely to have a recovery initial evaluation or diagnosis around the recovery time. treatment or were unable to fi nd or aff ord Manila Cloudy 30/24 P Cloudy 31/24 that took more than 30 days, the study time of injury, researchers note in JAMA Athletes may be advised on when to specialists, Yang said. Moscow Cloudy 02/-1 Cloudy 01/-2 found. Neurology. resume exercise or school work based “It is imperative that student- New Delhi S Showers 21/12 P Cloudy 18/09 “There was an assumption that only In the current study, recovery times on the severity of their injuries and their athletes and parents understand New York Cloudy 09/04 S Showers 09/06 patients with more severe symptoms and from when athletes started follow-up progress in treatment, said Jingzhen Yang that delayed presentation for clinical Paris S Showers 10/09 S Showers 12/09 impairment following concussion would concussion care were similar, suggesting of the Center for Injury at Nationwide care after concussion may result in Sao Paulo Showers 26/19 Cloudy 27/19 benefi t from early care, which typically that diff erences in recovery trajectories Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. prolonged symptom duration, whereas Seoul Sunny 02/-9 Sunny 02/-7 involved prescribed rest and restricted were due to the number of days they “Specifi cally, athletes may be advised early presentation for clinical care Singapore P Cloudy 31/24 S T Storms 31/25 activities,” said lead author Anthony waited to begin treatment. on things they should avoid, such as strict after concussion may lead to a shorter Sydney P Cloudy 23/18 M Sunny 25/19 Kontos, research director of the Sports At their fi rst follow-up checkups, rest or excessive physical activity, as symptom duration and recovery time,” Tokyo Clear 13/04 Cloudy 12/04 Medicine Concussion Programme at the athletes who received care within a these could result in increased symptoms Yang said. Gulf Times 20 Monday, January 13, 2020 QATAR

Amir, Deputy Amir offers condolences to Oman royal family Amir, PM greet Sultan of Oman

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and the HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on the occasion of assuming power in the Sultanate of Oman.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani off ered condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of the Sultanate of Oman on the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur, at Al Alam Palace in Muscat yesterday morning. The Amir also off ered condolences to members of the royal family, ranking off icials and notables, praying to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on his soul and to rest him in peace in Paradise, and to inspire his family and the royal family with patience and solace. His Highness the Amir was accompanied by an off icial delegation.

Amir accorded official reception in Tehran

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday paid an off icial visit to Iran. He was accompanied by an off icial delegation. The Amir was accorded an off icial reception at the Republican Palace in Tehran. President Hassan Rouhani led well wishers to welcome the Amir. His Highness the Amir and President Rouhani held an off icial talks session. The Amir later gave a joint press statement with the Iranian president following the talks session.