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Friday 20 December 2019 | 23 Rabia II 1441 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8111 | 2 Riyals

Watch the best of football on beIN SPORTS, on the go with the new Qatarna 5G plans Amir: Categorising people into ranks based on religions reflects racist thinking

The Role of Development in Achieving We cannot give up to structural National Sovereignty”, reflects the great difficulties or what are alleged to be challenges facing the world in general, and cultural obstacles existing in our the Muslim world in particular, with regard countries and societies. Also resorting to to issues of security, peace, development, conspiracy theories to justify failure in any of good governance and human rights. the above areas is also a form of surrender.

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with other leaders at the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. RIGHT: H H the Amir delivering his speech in the Summit.

QNA/KUALA LUMPUR attended by their excellencies ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and H E politicians and State leaders role that influencing under favorable domestic that are members of the official delegation the Prime Minister of Malaysia. requires having faith in the political will and conditions. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al accompanying H H the Amir, heads of the Delivering speech at the opening potential to effect change. H H the Amir added that countries, Thani participated yesterday in the delegations of Islamic countries, a number session of the Summit, H H the Amir said H H the Amir said that we cannot where there is a Muslim majority, have opening session of the Kuala Lumpur of intellectuals and researchers in the that this summit’s theme, “The Role of give up to structural difficulties or what proved by experience and practices that Summit 2019, which carries the theme Islamic world’s issues. Development in Achieving National Sov- are alleged to be cultural obstacles existing there is no contradiction between "The Role of Development in Achieving The session was attended by a ereignty”, reflects the great challenges in our countries and societies. Also Islamic culture, development, good gov- National Sovereignty". H M King number of Their Excellencies, members facing the world in general, and the resorting to conspiracy theories to justify ernance and human rights, and that, like Abdullah Riayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah of the official delegation accompanying Muslim world in particular, with regard failure in any of the above areas is also a other major civilizations, they can be Shah of Malaysia, President of the His Highness, and a number of Their to issues of security, peace, development, form of surrender. This does not mean incubators of enlightened and rational Republic of Turkey, H E Recep Tayyip Excellencies, members of the official good governance and human rights. that there are no external conspiracies and systems of governance; meanwhile Erdogan; President of Iran, H E Dr delegations accompanying the leaders, Various schools seeking to approach foreign interventions. But their use to other regimes justify underdevelopment, Hassan Rouhani, and Prime Minister of partaking in the meeting. and address these issues have emerged, justify failures and wrong choices is an tyranny, and treading on human rights Malaysia, H E Dr. Mahathir Mohammed H H the Amir also participated in the yet we cannot tackle them at this summit. expression of intellectual indolence and on the grounds of the Islamic culture of participated in the summit. closing session of the Summit 2019, Our meeting today does not emanate from political incompetence. Also, the negative their peoples, although such justification The session that took place at Kuala along with H E the President of the a particular theoretical approach to these external factors, dubbed sometimes as in itself is incompatible with the spirit Lumpur Convention Center was also Republic of Turkey; H E the President issues, but rather from the nature of the conspiracies, often become effective and of Islamic civilization. `P2

Qatar 2019’s biggest climber in FIFA rankings Qatar announces extending financial grant to Gaza till March 2020 THE PENINSULA/DOHA start to the Asian Zone World Cup by defeating Japan 3-1 in the final of qualifiers. Besides accumulating the the AFC Asian Cup. What is more, no QNA/GAZA 22 vehicles and fire mechanisms equipment Qatar made the biggest move up biggest point haul, Qatar have also team improved its ranking position to the civil defence in Gaza, that Qatar is FIFA’s world rankings in 2019, while jumped a year-high 38 places, more than Qatar in 2019 (up 38 ranks). The Chairman of Qatari Committee for studying positively a request to extend the Belgium emerged the Team of the followed closely by fellow climbers Belgium have held on to top spot Gaza Reconstruction, H E Ambassador Qatari grant, stressing that it will continue Year for the second successive time, Algeria (up 32 ranks) and Japan (up in a December table barely impacted Mohammed Al Emadi has announced that to provide it to the sector until next March. details showed yesterday. Qatar, the 22 ranks). by just 19 friendlies towards the end of the State of Qatar would continue to “Everything will certainly continue in the FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts, gained The Qataris won 16, drew two and a year in which 1,082 international “A” provide the financial grant for the sector first quarter of the coming year ... There is an impressive 138 points over the lost seven of those 25 matches. Their matches have been played – an all- until next March. hope for its continuous renewal ... We are course of a year in which they won biggest success came in early 2019 time high since the ranking’s 1993 H E Ambassador Al Emadi said in continuing with you in the grant, electricity the AFC Asian Cup and made a strong when they became Asian champions inception. statement yesterday, during the delivery of and monthly aid for poor families,” he said. Over 333,000 passengers used Doha Metro on National Day SACHIN KUMAR expected to follow throughout the day. National Day Parade. “Parade is a big THE PENINSULA Passengers began to reach metro sta- attraction of Qatar National Day celebra- tions at 6.30am to reach Doha Corniche, tions, but reaching the venue by car is not The popularity of Doha Metro was once which was the venue for National Day an easy task because of heavy traffic. I have again visible on the Qatar National Day as Parade. Many residents used metrolink missed parade in the past few years, but record number of residents used metro service to reach stations. There were long this year I decided to watch it from the Cor- trains on Wednesday to enjoy National Day queues for tickets at the stations but the pas- niche. I reached the Corniche on time celebrations. Braving cold weather and sengers with travel cards evaded the queues. because of Doha Metro. Reaching corniche intermittent drizzles, over 333,000 But, there was no escape from the crowd was convenient and did not take much passengers used Doha Metro network to inside the trains. Only few passengers were time,” said Leena Ghosh, who took morning reach different destinations holding Qatar lucky enough to get the seats while others train from Wakra Station with her group of National Day celebrations. had to complete the journey standing. friends to watch the parade. The crowd was expected as it was the Most of the passengers were headed to With the newly opened Katara station, first National Day after the start of preview Souq Waqif or DECC stations to watch a large number of visitors even from as far services of all the three lines- Red Line, Gold National Day Parade. Access to Al Bidda, as Al Wakrah were able to attend various Line and Green Line- of Doha Metro Corniche and West Bay QIC stations was cultural shows and activities organised by network. restricted between 6:00am and 12:00pm Katara in partnership with different entities. Anticipating huge rush of passengers, on Wednesday. Qatar Rail staff was seen Many of the visitors who took the metro Qatar Rail was all geared up to face the chal- going extra-mile to help and guide pas- expressed how satisfied they were of the lenge with special arrangements in place. sengers to reach their destinations. service reaching Katara conveniently to The rush was visible on metro stations since For many passengers, Doha Metro attend the National Day celebrations com- Passenger rush at one of the metro staions on Wednesday. early morning, giving a glimpse of huge rush became an important reason to attend the pared to previous years. 02 HOME FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 Amir participates in Kuala Lumpur Summit

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H E Dr Hassan Rouhani, on the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. RIGHT: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Prime Minister of Malaysia, H E Dr Mahathir Mohammed during the summit.

FROM PAGE 1 of veto does not prevail in favor of this H H the Amir said we are not fundamen- or that country. With the exception of tally different from other people and justice based on international law, col- civilizations in the world. The approach lective security requires a kind of ration- that categorises people into ranks ality in the relations between States so according to their religions reflects a that these international relations and racist thinking which is not different other peoples’ issues should not be from the thought that branded them into subject to internal political rivalry grades in the past according to their between parties in each country, at a ethnicities. We treasure our civilization stage when populism and irrationality and religion within the framework of may become dominant in internal our adherence to our humanity and political considerations. Incitement universal values, and there is no contra- against Islam and Muslims has recently diction between the two issues. become a populist tool for gaining votes. H H the Amir said that as we meet These are short-sighted internal party here to discuss the co-relation between politics, yet it would make the relations development and sovereignty, we stress with other peoples subject to irrational that national development, especially policies and whims in domestic politics, the one that takes human development which negatively affects relations into consideration, is not possible between States. without national sovereignty in coun- H H the Amir said that it has become tries that own their decision. On the evident that the relationships with the other hand, it is almost impossible to other within each State and the dealing maintain national sovereignty and inde- with him on an equal footing while pendence of decision in conditions of respecting differences and disparities is economic backwardness and a test of the extent to which this country dependency. Therefore, development is civilized and developed. Just as we is an essential pillar of independence demand from communities in Western and national sovereignty. and other countries to deal with Islam In this regard, the State of Qatar has and Muslims in accordance with the placed development on top of its prior- principles of democracy and human Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other leaders during the summit. ities by means of the National Devel- rights that they adhere to, and to crim- opment Strategy 2012/2017 and the inalize racial abetting against Muslims Second Development Strategy and improve health care. incomprehensible by many countries a just solution to the Palestinian issue, as well, we should also expect Muslim 2018/2022 to achieve its National Vision H H the Amir said that the violent that are trying to impose disputes set- but the party that refuses to comply States as well as Muslim and non- 2030. bigotry that some people try to attach tlements according to the existing with the international will and inter- Muslim societies in the East to deal with H H the Amir said that in our devel- to a particular religion and culture is, as parameters of powers, and not according national law, and rejects the fair peace their citizens and residents equally, opment policy, we consider that our the sequence of events in the modern to the principles of justice. Therefore, offer, even if relatively, is Israel. regardless of race, religion and doc- trust in the national identity and time shows, a global problem that has our alignment with fair causes stems H H the Amir said that we suffer trines, and respect their religions and adherence to our moral values and our not spared a society or culture from its not only from the moral principles of from double standards in more than one exclusivity. We must also consider cit- true Islamic faith is consistent with affliction. It is a blight that may afflict international politics but also from the issue. There are double standards even izenship and equality before the law as rationality in social and economic all and is fueled by religious fanaticism, mutual interest in stability. in dealing with human rights, and the regulators of the interaction between planning, openness to the world, and as well as non-religious ideology, H H the Amir said that one of the global conflict of axes makes some the individual and the State, regardless the universal human view of justice and despair, frustration, conditions of igno- most important sources of instability harbor war criminals who have perpe- of race, religion, gender, or origin in human rights issues. Also this means tol- rance, poverty and unemployment. in our region is the neutralization and trated crimes against their own peoples, Muslim countries as well. erance of other beliefs and accepting Therefore, its long-term confrontation marginalization of the international as allies, while being fought by others. H H the Amir said that in short, pluralism and diversity in our world as must include addressing its roots. legitimacy, and the attempt to dictate However, situations may alter with the justice is indivisible. We demand justice a reflection of Gods enduring laws that Our topic is closely related to the will of the occupation by of force change of locations and interests. and good governance within States, and govern his creation. In any case, we see regional and international collective in Palestine, where annexation and set- Double standards also prevail in the we look forward to justice and good gov- fanaticism as not only an evidence of security issues, as stability is one of the tlement policies, including the case of armed militias that commit ter- ernance in international relations. I pray lack of self-confidence but rather a proof most important conditions for devel- Judaization of Jerusalem, continue. rorist acts. Some forget their eloquence to God Almighty to crown the deliber- of an identity crisis. opment. It requires balanced relations These are the policies that wipe out the against terrorism and terrorists when ations of this summit with success and H H the Amir said that out of our between States based on common Arab character of the city and provoke they harbor armed militias that operate to guide our steps towards what is good firm belief in the importance of inter- interests, shared regional and interna- the feelings of Arabs and Muslims against domestic and international law for our people. national cooperation for achieving tional responsibilities, mutual respect everywhere. and commit crimes against civilians. H H the Amir attended yesterday a development as a pillar of regional and for sovereignty, non-interference in What disturbs the Arab and Islamic H H the Amir said that we call for luncheon banquet held by H M King international security and stability, the internal affairs, and no dictation on public opinion and a large part of the the endorsement of methods of negoti- Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah State of Qatar has spared no effort in foreign policy. global public opinion regarding the ation and dialogue for resolving lin- Shah of Malaysia in honour of their high- fulfilling its obligations to provide devel- H H the Amir said that justice is one cause of Palestine is that it is an unre- gering issues, and we reject the use of nesses and excellencies heads of states, opment assistance, that is unfettered by of the most important conditions for sta- solved issue of settler colonialism. The methods of force, blockade, starvation governments and delegations partici- political agendas, to developing coun- bility in conflict areas, so no settlements Arabs have accepted a settlement and dictation of opinions. Adopting this pating in the Kuala Lumpur Summit tries to enable them implement their and solutions would last in the long run through the Arab Peace Initiative and approach requires a minimum of una- 2019. The banquet was attended by their development programs, combat poverty if they are not based on justice and showed great willingness to cooperate nimity in granting greater power to excellencies members of the official del- and unemployment, develop education fairness. In many cases, this is with the international community for international institutions where the right egation accompanying H H the Amir. UN praises role of Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre in Doha

QNA UN General Assembly recognised Documentation Centre for preventing violent extremism. implementation of its mandate, The United Nations Human DOHA that the Centre has made South-West Asia and the Arab The group sponsoring the and welcomed the expansion of Rights Training and Documen- progress in the promotion of Region, which is based in Doha resolution witnessed the joining awareness-raising activities tation Centre for South-West By a majority vote of 187 in human rights and advocacy in through capacity building activ- of the United States, Turkey, undertaken to include the Asia and the Arab Region was favour, the United Nations (UN) the region and will continue to ities in the field of human rights. Afghanistan, Australia, El Sal- League of Arab States and addi- established by General Assembly General Assembly adopted draft strengthen its effectiveness. It In this regard, the General vador, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, tional countries in the region, Resolution 60/153 of 2005, and resolution XIX, “United Nations encouraged the Centre’s Assembly noted the capacity- Libya, Morocco, Sultanate of and the increasing number of is based in Doha. The centre is in Human Rights Training and engagement with other United building activities provided by Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, beneficiaries, including youth. charge of training and documen- Documentation Centre for Nations regional offices to the Centre in the areas of civil Bosnia and Herzegovina, In its decision, the UN tation activities in accordance South-West Asia and the Arab strengthen its work and avoid and political rights as well as Canada, Fiji, Ghana, Malaysia, General Assembly stressed the with international human rights Region”, which was previously duplication. economic, social and cultural Papua New Guinea, Uganda and role of the centre as a source of standards, and providing support adopted by the third Committee The UN General Assembly, rights, such as activities imple- Venezuela. expertise at the regional level to governments, United Nations of the General Assembly at its also expressed its appreciation mented in the areas of freedom In the resolution, the General and the need to meet an agencies and programs, national 74th session, by a majority of 180 for the success of the assistance of opinion and expression, com- Assembly recalled the Centre’s increasing number of requests human rights institutions and votes out of a total of 193 votes. provided by the United Nations bating hate speech and full commitment to ensuring for training and documentation, NGOs in this regard within the Adopting the resolution, the Human Rights Training and incitement to discrimination and more effective and efficient in languages including Arabic. region. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 HOME 03

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 53 AM Qatari missions celebrate National Day SHOROOK 06. 14 AM QNA DOHA development. She highlighted ZUHR 11. 31 AM MAGHRIB 04. 50 PM the investment countrys wise ASR 02. 29 PM ISHA 06. 20 PM leadership made in promoting Qatar’s embassies and diplo- the rights of women to achieve matic missions celebrated the the sustainable development WEATHER TODAY National Day in commemo- goals. Her Excellency said that ration of the state’s founder the national day is a very Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed special day for the Qatari bin Thani, under the theme people, as the founder of Qatar “The Path of Excellence is Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Difficult”. bin Thani united the country. In New York, Permanent She paid tribute to the men Representative of Qatar to the and women who contributed United Nations, H E Sheikha to making what Qatar has Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani become today. hosted a reception marking the For her part, CEO of Doha National Day at the Whitney Film Institute Fatma Al Museum of American Art. Remaihi reviewed the efforts Welcoming the guests was of DFI in promoting the culture also Consul General of the of cinema, particularly DFIs State of Qatar in New York, focus on youth and the role it Nasser Ibrahim Allenqawi. plays in giving them a voice, The reception was as well as encouraging dia- attended by CEO of Doha Film logues between different cul- Institute (DFI) Fatma Al tures. She also praised the role Remaihi; Deputy Secretary- played by Chairperson of General of the United Nations, Qatar Museums and Reach Out Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed H E Amina Mohammed; Pres- to Asia H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bin Saif Al Thani (right), during an event to mark Qatar National Day in New York City. ident of the United Nations bint Hamad Al Thani. After- General Assembly, H E Tijjani wards, a number of short Muhammad-Bande, in movies produced by DFI were The ceremony was Committee on Foreign Affairs, Interior, Economy, Finance o o addition to members of the shown, some of which were attended by H E Secretary Defence and Armed forces and Defence, a number of 14 C 23 C diplomatic corps, United award winners. General of the French Ministry Christian Cambon, a number ambassadors and heads of Minimum Maximum Nations officials, media per- In Paris, Qatar’s Ambas- of Europe and Foreign Affairs of political and economic diplomatic missions sonalities, and Qatari students sador to the French Republic, Francois Delattre, H E Head figures, heads of major com- accredited to the French Moderate temperature daytime with studying in New York. H E Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al of the counter-terrorism Task panies, a number of parlia- Republic, UNESCO officials, scattered clouds and chance of slight rain H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed Thani, held a reception on the Force at the Elysee Pierre de mentarians and senior offi- in addition to the senior and relatively cold by night. bin Saif Al Thani welcomed the occasion of the National Day Bousquet, H E Presidential cials of the Presidency of the officers of the French army,

guests and reviewed in a of the State that was attended Advisor on North Africa and Republic (Elysee), the Presi- police and gendarmerie.

HIGH TIDE 00:44 – 10:37 LOW TIDE 04:44 – 18:46 speech the achievements of by a number of political and the Middle-East Patrick Durel, dency of the Government, the There was also intellectuals, Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department the State of Qatar in diplomatic figures in France. H E Chairman of the Select Ministries of Foreign Affairs, academics, university pro- fessors, researchers, as well Qatar participates in as Qatari students. H E the ambassador wel- Arab League Council comed the guests and praised the development of strategic emergency meeting bilateral ties in the last few years in all fields. H E the QNA ambassador and H E the Sec- DOHA retary General of the French Ministry of Europe and The Arab League Council emergency Foreign Affairs also meeting started in Cairo yesterday at the announced of the Qatar- level of permanent representatives, headed France year of culture 2020. by Iraq, to discuss the steps and proce- The year will see a host of dures that Arab countries can take cultural events that take regarding the illegal move by Brazil by place in the two countries, opening a diplomatic commercial office reflecting the strength of in occupied Jerusalem. bilateral ties. The State of Qatar was represented at For his part, Delattre the meeting by H E Ambassador Hassan stressed the strength of ties bin Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Deputy Permanent with Qatar, particularly in Representative of the State of Qatar to the political, economic, and cul- League of Arab States. tural fields. He also high- The meeting is being held at the lighted that officials from the Qatar’s Ambassador to the French Republic, H E Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani (fifth right), with officials during a reception held request of the State of Palestine with the two countries exchange visits in Paris to celebrate Qatar National Day. approval of a number of Arab countries. on a regular basis. Doha-London ties strong Last day to enjoy National Day festivities at Darb Al Saai and historic, says Envoy SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA QNA DOHA The National Day festivities at Darb Al Saai, a major venue of Ambassador of the UK to the Qatar National Day (QND) cele- State of Qatar, H E Ajay Sharma, brations, will conclude today in stressed that the two countries the evening after attracting enjoy strong and historic rela- thousands of visitors during the tions. past nine days. Visitors can In a statement on the enjoy the festivities at Darb Al occasion of Qatar National Day, Saai until 11pm today (Friday). the British Ambassador said that Several ministries, gov- over the past few years, those ernment entities and top organ- relationships have got even isations in the country are stronger, with increased co- taking part in Darb Al Saai operation on business and events, such as the Ministry of investment; security and Interior, the Ministry of Munic- H E Ajay Sharma, Ambassador defence; and health and edu- ipality and Environment, the of the UK to the State of Qatar cation in addition to the people- Ministry of Defence, the Min- to-people contacts, which have istry of Education and Higher also increased. responded so successfully to the Education, Qatar University, and He pointed to some notable challenges it has faced. I have Qatar Foundation among others. successes in the two countries’ been impressed by the way that The festivities are aimed at ties, including the agreement on people have come together, achieving the vision of Qatar Typhoon fighter aircraft, both expats and Qataris, and National Day, by promoting between the Royal Air Force and worked together to make loyalty, solidarity, unity and Visiting families, children and officials taking part in National Day festivities at Darb Al Saai. Activities Qatar’s Air Force to have a Joint progress; and by the way in pride in the Qatari national will continue until 11pm today. Typhoon Squadron and the which Qatar has changed its identity. opening of Aberdeen University, engagement with the region For the past nine days, the University of Sussex and North- and the rest of the world, from visitors to Darb Al Saai have State for Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. educated children about many Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed umbria University branches in new trade routes to new enjoyed various activities such Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi; tasks that the traffic police do bin Thani. Qatar. political relationships”. as Al Maseer parade with the President of Planning and Sta- on the roads. It also educated Darb Al Saai means the “The twin focus of UK efforts The Ambassador of the UK participation of horses, camels tistics Authority, H E Dr. Saleh adult visitors about road safety ‘Route of the Messenger’ used over the next few years will be to the State of Qatar, Ajay and motor cycles. They also bin Mohammad Salem Al Nabit; in desert areas and the require- by the delegates whom the supporting Qatar in its 2022 Sharma, concluded his enjoyed Metro and ‘Al Maqtar’ and Dr Hassan Rashid Al ments to be followed. More than country’s founder Sheikh Jassim World Cup — I am sure it will statement by extending congrat- activity which is similar to the Derham, President of Qatar Uni- 30,000 people visited the bin Mohamed bin Thani would be amazing — and on working ulations to everyone in Qatar on old desert lifestyle, in addition versity visited Darb Al Saai General Directorate of Traffic entrust to deliver his instruc- with Qatar on its ambitious 2030 a very successful 2019, and pre- to heritage and cultural events festivities. activities at Darb Al Saai. tions and directives. National Vision,” he said. senting his best wishes to Amir about the Qatari customs and The activities which The activities began in an These men were known for The Ambassador went on H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad traditions. attracted more visitors at Darb environment full of patriotism their outstanding characteristic saying: “I have been struck in Al Thani, the Father Amir H H Deputy Prime Minister and Al Saai include horse riding, and pride under a slogan of this traits such as loyalty, obedience, my 4 years here by the pace of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Minister of State for Defence shooting competitions, educa- year’s celebration ‘Al Maali courage and insight on account change from infrastructure to Thani and the Deputy Amir H H Affairs, H E Dr. Khalid bin tional activities for kids, flag Kaydah’, which means ‘the path of which they were chosen to policies — in Qatar and in par- Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Mohamed Al Attiyah; Minister hoisting event, sports activities, of excellence is arduous’, taken play such a sensitive role in ticular by the way Qatar has Thani. of Justice and Acting Minister of and ‘Traffic Village’ which from the poetry of the Founder those difficult times. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 Hezbollah-backed Diab likely to become PM REUTERS & AP/BEIRUT Diab, who served as demand of the protest education minister in movement — while the Iran- Former minister Hassan Diab, 2011, gained attention backed Hezbollah, which ini- who has the backing of tially backed him, has demanded Hezbollah and its allies, gained after caretaker Prime a government that includes all enough votes from lawmakers Minister Saad Hariri major political factions. yesterday to be named Leba- withdrew his name Yesterday, Hezbollah said it non’s new prime minister. from consideration backs Diab for prime minister. President Michel Aoun Mohammed Raad, the hosted consultations with dep- following weeks of spokesman for the group’s par- uties to pick the new premier, haggling and deep liamentary bloc, said he hopes who must be a Sunni Muslim divisions between the Diab receives enough votes and under the country’s sectarian various factions over for him to “succeed in his power-sharing system. Aoun is national duties,” and vowed to required to designate the can- naming him again. cooperate in tackling the current didate with the most support crisis. from Lebanon’s 128 MPs. mammoth task amid mass pro- Binding consultations While the consultations were tests that have recently taken a between President Michel Aoun still ongoing, Diab now has violent turn. and representatives of the 128- Iraqi protesters gather on Al Rashid Street in the capital Baghdad amid ongoing anti-government enough votes that he cannot be Diab, who served as edu- member parliament were demonstrations yesterday. overtaken by the second-placed cation minister in 2011, gained delayed twice as Lebanon saw candidate, diplomat Nawaf Salam, attention after caretaker Prime some of the worst violence since according to a Reuters count and Minister Saad Hariri withdrew protests erupted in mid-October. a tally from local TV stations. his name from consideration fol- The clashes have involved security Iraq deadline to appoint PM A dozen lawmakers named lowing weeks of haggling and forces and anti-government pro- Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s former deep divisions between the testers, as well as supporters of UN ambassador who is currently various factions over naming him Lebanon’s two main Shia groups, looms, protesters unyielding a judge on the International again. Hariri resigned on October Hezbollah and Amal. Court of Justice, as a potential 29 in response to unprecedented Aoun was expected to name AFP/BAGHDAD Following elections last broker in Iraqi politics. candidate. mass protests against the entire Diab at the conclusion of the year, no bloc was able to Outgoing higher education The emergence of Hassan political class while an already long-delayed talks with the Iraqi political leaders faced a establish the majority nec- minister Qusay al-Suhail has for Diab, a university professor, as dire economic crisis was quickly heads of parliamentary blocs. midnight deadline yesterday to essary to put its nomination for several weeks been presented a possible candidate comes amid deteriorating. For a nomination, he needs the choose a new prime minister premier to a vote. Instead, the by officials as the candidate of the country’s worst economic Since then, efforts to agree backing of a simple majority of to run a country shaken by parties agreed on an inde- Iran. crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. on a new prime minister and the lawmakers. By early afternoon, months of unprecedented pendent candidate with no base A former key member of The backing by the Iran- shape of government have kept at least 39 lawmakers had street protests that have left of his own — Abdel Mahdi. Shia cleric Muqtada Sadr’s backed group guarantees a thorny hitting a dead end. Hariri, who abstained from naming a can- hundreds dead. A consensus choice, Abdel movement, Suhail rejoined the path for any candidate, potentially is aligned with the West and Gulf didate, including Hariri’s If parliament fails to propose Mahdi lasted a year in the role State of Law Alliance of former inviting push-back from Western countries, has insisted he would 18-member bloc and a main a candidate from inter-party before resigning in November prime minister Nouri Al Maliki and Gulf nations, which had sup- head a Cabinet made up of spe- Christian party. At least 25 law- negotiations to replace outgoing after two months of unprece- —close to Iran and enemy of ported the outgoing Hariri. A new cialists to deal with the economic makers backed Diab, including Adel Abdel Mahdi, then Pres- dented anti-government protests Sadr -- and seems to become the prime minister also faces a and financial crisis — a key the powerful Hezbollah bloc. ident Barham Saleh has the right in the capital Baghdad and favourite for the premiership. to appoint a premier himself. Shiite-majority south, marked But nothing is sure after But if lawmakers do not by 460 killed and 25,000 weeks where each day a leading German parliament urges total ban on Hezbollah approve his choice and the post injured. candidate ends up being dis- remains vacant at midnight, then Despite his resignation, pro- missed. In Baghdad’s Tahrir REUTERS/BERLIN ditch its current policy of distinguishing between the constitution will place Saleh tests have continued in the face Square, posters display the Hezbollah’s political arm and military units, himself in the role, though for of brutal repression, killings and rejected candidates with their The German parliament yesterday approved a which have fought alongside President Bashar just 15 days. abductions, and a chilly winter. faces crossed out in red. motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Al Assad’s army in Syria. “The lower house calls The current parliament is the Several names for the pre- On Wednesday, Mohammed government to ban all activities by the Iran- on the government to ban Hezbollah and not tol- most divided in Iraq’s recent miership are still circulating Al Soudani, a former minister backed Hezbollah group on German soil, citing erate any activity by its representatives in Germany,” history. On Wednesday, deputies hours before the expiration of and ex-governor, presented its “terrorist activities” especially in Syria. the motion said. The motion praised government failed to agree on amending the the constitutional deadline. himself in Najaf to be endorsed The motion was backed by Merkel’s conserv- efforts to take action against Hezbollah supporters electoral law -- the only signif- But all are insiders in a by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani -- atives, their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition suspected of raising funds for the Lebanese Shia icant reform proposed by political system rejected in its longtime kingmaker in Iraqi pol- partners and the opposition Free Democrats. It is group in Germany, mainly by giving prosecutors authorities to appease protester entirety by protesters, who itics. But he was rejected, not binding but will increase pressure on the gov- more investigative powers. But it said those demands -- rescheduling it to its also oppose the growing according to sources in the Shiite ernment to act. The motion said Germany should measures were not enough. next meeting on Monday. influence of Iran, a power- shrine city.

Turkey rejects ex-Israeli envoy’s Palestinians protest in support of prisoner on hunger strike AP/RAMALLAH, WEST BANK was arrested in February and is several times and previously protect classified information. prisons, including those con- remarks on being held without charge in spent 15 years in Israeli prison. Zahran’s brother, Adel, says victed by military courts of Hamas ties Dozens of Palestinians protested what is known as administrative His family says he went on he is taken to a clinic and given taking part in deadly attacks outside an Israeli military court detention. He is a member of the hunger strike to protest admin- nutritional supplements when he against Israelis. An estimated 450 ANATOLIA/ANKARA in the occupied West Bank Popular Front for the Liberation istrative detention, under which faints. are being held in administrative yesterday calling for the release of Palestine, a leftist group that Israeli authorities can hold Israeli troops dispersed yes- detention. Turkish Foreign Ministry of a prisoner who has been on a Israel blames for a bombing in a detainees for months or years terday’s protest with sound gre- In a separate development, yesterday rebuffed allegations partial hunger strike for nearly settlement in August that killed without charge or trial. Rights nades and tear gas. There were Israeli police said 18 vehicles saying its territory was used for three months. a 17-year-old Israeli girl and groups have criticized the no reports of any injuries. were vandalized in an Arab act against Israel or any other The protesters carried por- wounded her brother and father. practice, which Israel says is nec- Nearly 5,000 Palestinians neighbourhood of east country. traits of Ahmed Zahran, 42, who Zahran has been arrested essary to prevent attacks and to are serving time in Israeli Jerusalem. The statement came after Dore Gold, a former Israeli ambassador to the UN, accused Turkey of permitting senior S Sudan recalls ambassador Hamas figures to “order attacks against Israel from Istanbul.” “The majority of the inter- to US, amid peace problems national community considers Hamas not as a terrorist organ- AP/NAIROBI process. The US sanctions are not isation but as a political reality constructive and do not reflect recent which has won the elections in South Sudan is recalling its ambas- positive steps toward forming a coa- Gaza in 2006,” the ministry said sador to the United States, an adviser lition government by President Salva on Twitter. to the president said. Kiir and opposition leader Riek It went on saying that the Ambassador Phillip Jada is Machar, said Dagne. UN General Assembly had expected to return to the capital, The two leaders are currently in rejected calling Palestine’s Juba, this weekend for “consulta- Juba having face-to-face talks trying Hamas as a terrorist organi- tions,” said presidential adviser Ted to resolve outstanding issues to the sation in 2018 and various Dagne. country’s ailing peace deal. countries enjoyed ties with South Sudan’s withdrawal of its But after more than half a decade Hamas at different levels. ambassador to Washington is in of fighting that killed almost 400,000 “We firmly reject the accu- response to sanctions placed by the US people, the fragile peace deal is sation that the Turkish territory Treasury earlier this week on two hanging by a thread, fraught with is being used for any act against Sudanese protesters waiting at a train station in Khartoum to board a train to Atbara to senior South Sudanese officials. The delays, a lack of funding and ques- Israel or any other country,” the celebrate the one-year anniversary of their protest movement that brought down Omar US in a statement, accused the two of tionable political will, say experts. statement concluded. Hassan Al Bashir after a thirty-year rule. perpetuating South Sudan’s “conflict The formation of a coalition gov- for their own personal enrichment, ernment with Kiir and Machar has Putin seeks end leading to much suffering for the South been delayed twice. Last month the Sudanese flood streets a year after Sudanese people.” creation of a unity government was to Libya conflict Last month, after South Sudan’s postponed by 100 days in order to REUTERS/MOSCOW start of uprising that toppled Bashir warring parties failed to form a coa- reach agreement on key issues. But lition government to end its crippling more than a month into the extension Russian President Vladimir REUTERS/KHARTOUM “Our martyrs have not died, they live with five-year civil war, the US said it there has been little progress and some Putin said he wants to see an the revolutionaries!” marchers chanted in would reevaluate its relationship observers are concerned war could end to the conflict in Libya and Tens of thousands of people took to the streets Khartoum, referring to people killed during with the country. In November it resume. “We’ve seen no tangible then talks between the two of Sudan yesterday to celebrate the first anni- demonstrations that led to the military called back its ambassador to Wash- progress in the past month. The peace opposing sides to begin. versary of the start of the uprising that toppled deposing Bashir on April 11 after over three ington for consultations and he deal is stuck,” said Alan Boswell, Speaking at an annual news long-time ruler Omar Hassan Al Bashir. decades in power. returned to South Sudan last week. senior analyst for the International conference, Putin said he would Marchers gathered in different parts of the About 10,000 people gathered in front of Earlier this month the US State Crisis Group. Without urgent inter- discuss Libya with a Turkish capital Khartoum and in the city of Atbara the Martyrs’ Centre in Khartoum, set up by Department said it will implement vention by regional heads of state, delegation in Russia in the where protests began against dire economic the government for the families of people visa restrictions against those who come February, South Sudan is coming days. conditions on December 19 last year. killed in protests. “undermine or impede” the peace heading for another crisis, he said. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 ISLAM 05 The peace and beauty of Islam DEANA NASSAR

slam, a religion of peace, is the fastest growing religion on earth bearing the same message that was given to Jesus and all the other messengers. Like all Divine reli- Igions, Islam came to clarify three points: that there is only one God worthy of worship, that there is a Day of Judgment, and that we are all equal no matter what colour, gender, or creed we may have. The Quran illustrates this in the beautiful verse: Say: We believe in Allah God Almighty and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him (God) we submit. (2:136) It is on this note that we must acknowledge that Islam does not claim to be a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) into the Arab world, but rather to be a re- expression in its final form of the true religion of the Almighty God as it was originally revealed to Adam and subse- quent Prophets. We have been taught that Islam cannot be confined to any one people, place, or period of time. Within the central principle of Islam its defi- nition is to surrender to the will of God and this is where the roots of Islam’s universality lie. Once we come to the realisation that God is one and distinct from His cre- We must acknowledge that Islam does not claim to be a new religion they had distributed part of it, she ation, we become part of a beautiful brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) into the Arab responded: “Nothing but its shoulder; religion in body and spirit and are then for we have sent the rest to the poor and eligible for paradise, our final abode. world, but rather to be a re-expression in its final form of the true neighbours.” Unfortunately today there are miscon- religion of the Almighty God as it was originally revealed to Adam She was then assured by her ceptions which prevent non-Muslims husband that: “The whole goat remained from seeing the beauty of Islam, and it and subsequent Prophets. except its shoulder” (Tirmidhi, 2470); is our responsibility as Muslims to that is in terms of reward and blessings convey the true picture in an effort to by God. spread knowledge, even if it’s just This is demonstrated in the verse change misconceptions regarding Islam. barbaric backward people is a miscon- This among other kind actions is through our actions. which I personally find much comfort Remember composure and mutual ception which we need to change. Islam necessary to advocate the beauty of The message which was revealed to in; it reads: Only in the remembrance of respect is the key here. Another false places emphasis on education describing Islam, even without uttering a word or Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Islam in Allah can the heart find peace. (13:28) impression dictates that Islam oppresses the seeking of knowledge as an obligation preaching others to join our faith, we its comprehensive, complete, beautiful women; this could not be further than for both men and women alike. can promote the religion. The Prophet and final form. It provides definite guide- Some misconceptions the truth. While some Muslim countries Reading history and discussing the teaches us that Islam is easy, simple and lines for us all to follow in all walks of life Unfortunately with all its beauty, may have laws that oppress women, this framework of both Eastern and Western beautiful, and he advised us to: “Let covering the social, economic, political, some non-Muslims, when they think should not be seen as coming from Islam ideas and the merging of new thought people rejoice in being Muslims and not moral and spiritual aspects of it. about Islam, picture religious fanatics particularly as these countries do not with old, we can see that it brought run away from it’ and ‘Cheerfulness Reciting the Quran we are reminded on camels with a sword in one hand and rule by any kind of Islamic law, intro- about great advances in medicine, math- towards other people, even a smile is a of our purpose of life on earth, and our a Quran in the other. I remember this ducing their own cultural standpoints ematics physics, astronomy, geography, charity to be rewarded by God.” (Tir- duties and obligations towards our- was how many acquaintance thought on the issue of gender equality. architecture, art, literature, and history. midhi, 1956) selves, our family, our community, our my relatives oversees travelled, and I Remember Islam is simple, culture is Much to the chagrin of my children, In short, Islam is beautiful and easy fellow human beings and our Creator. recall how much I, as a feisty youngster, difficult. In fact no discrimination what- I also have placed emphasis on edu- and the rules are there for us to follow, We are given basic guidelines about a wanted to show them my fist but was soever is made on the basis of sex. cation, after all as Muslims we are the not to oppress not to be cruel just simply purposeful life and are expected to put reminded by my parents how inade- Islam in all its beauty recognises the ambassadors of Islam and it would not to guide us through our life here on earth these high ideals into practice. quate that would be, stressing it would responsibilities of men and women as do if we were to lack knowledge. Islam in the correct way. If we follow these In all its beauty we are taught that be more suitable to take on the adage equally important in themselves as the in all its beauty advocates simplicity and rules that God gave us as Muslims, we Islam is a simple, rational and practical ‘actions speak louder than words’ and roles of men and women are comple- ease. While enjoying the many blessings cannot go wrong. Although we may religion where the unity of God, the share the message of Islam with people mentary to each other. In reality, there of God, the path of moderation and sim- stray occasionally, we are human and Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad softly just as the Prophet Muhammad are many instances where Prophet plicity must not be forsaken. As one of God gave us prayers so that we may (PBUH) and the concept of life after (PBUH) was advised in the Quran: Muhammad (PBUH) took advice from Islam’s pillars, almsgiving is Islam’s praise and love and ask mercy of Him; death are the basic articles of our faith. It is part of the mercy of Allah that females recorded in his biography as they solution to help those in need in the most after all God is all forgiving. As Muslims Everybody and anybody may approach you deal gently with them if you were were highly regarded in Islam. Islam suitable manner away from causing any we should remember and remind others the Quran directly and translate its dic- severe or hardhearted, they would have recorded the last sermon given by the sort of humiliation. about the Prophet’s teachings. Indeed, tates into practice with the bonus of broken away from you. (3:159) Prophet before his death which discussed We are taught that the best of alms the meanings found in the Quran, the finding peace. According to a recent Freedom of religion is in fact laid women’s status in Islam where he advised is that which the right hand gives, and Hadith and many of the messenger’s study by researcher David B Larson, down in the Quran itself and it is evident men to treat women well and be kind to the left hand knows not of. It’s imper- stories are astounding, touching upon those who enjoy spiritual beliefs are psy- in the verse which reads: There is no them describing them as their partners ative we instill in our children the habit some of the most important rights God chologically and physically healthier compulsion or coercion in the religion and committed helpers. of giving to those less fortunate than has over humanity, and humanity has since they behave in accordance with Islam. The right direction is distinctly ourselves. over each other. Though Prophet the purpose of their creation. The study clear from error. (2:256) Islam is perfect We are told by the Prophet’s wife Muhammad’s (PBUH) soul has left this cites that: “Philosophies and systems Now, many years later, I have It is here that I stress Islam is perfect; Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), world, his words are still living in our which contradict human creation always acknowledged that our role as bearers Muslims are not. Contrary to the belief of that after slaughtering a goat the Prophet hearts and for this we should be grateful. lead to pain and unhappiness”. of good will is significant, and we must the intolerant few depicting Muslims as asked her how much meat was left after www.onislam.net

It will be embarrassing for many of us to Revive your relationship with the Quran try to compare the MUHAMMAD FATHI pious (angel) scribes. As for he who credited with a good deed and a good Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whenever a amount of time spent stammers when reciting the Quranand deed is multiplied into ten. I do not say group of people assemble in one of the browsing the internet midst our fast-paced life we tend find it difficult for him, he will be that the word: “Alif Lam Meem” is Houses of Allah (i.e. Mosques), reciting to forget a very important granted a double reward” (Bukhari counted as one letter. Rather, Alif is one the Book of Allah and studying it, tran- or following Facebook/ Aquestion: How well is our rela- and Muslim) letter, Lam is one letter and Meem is quility descends upon them, Mercy Twitter accounts with tionship with the Quran? How much one letter” (Tirmidhi) covers them, angels surround them and the time dedicated time and effort do we spend in reciting, 2. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al Aas (may Allah makes a mention of them among studying and understanding this Guide, Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Help in Critical Time those who are with Him.” (Muslim) to the Book of Allah. granted to us by Allah to lead a suc- the Prophet (peace and blessings be 5. Abu Umamah (may Allah be Some of us may not cessful and happy life? upon him) said: “The one who was pleased with him) narrated that the Invest in Learning the Quran even open their copies I think it will be embarrassing for devoted to the Quran will be told on the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Recite the Quran, 8. `Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah many of us to try to compare the amount Day of Resurrection: ‘Recite the Quran for it will come as an intercessor for its be pleased with him) narrated that the of the Quran except of time spent browsing the internet or and ascend in ranks as you used to recite reciters on the Day of Resurrection.” Prophet (PBUH) said: “A person who has in the month of following Facebook/Twitter accounts when you were in the world. Your rank (Muslim) nothing of the Quran in his heart is like Ramadan only. with the time dedicated to the Book of will be at the last verse you recite.”’ (Abu a ruined house.” (Tirmidhi) Allah. Some of us may not even open Dawud and Tirmidhi) 6. An-Nawwas ibn Sm`an (may their copies of the Quran except in the Allah be pleased with him) narrated that 9. Abu Musa Al Ash`ari (may Allah month of Ramadan only. 3. Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be the Prophet (PBUH) said: “On the Day be pleased with him) narrated that the that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Envy In this article we will explore a pleased with him) narrated that the of Resurrection, the Quran will be Prophet (PBUH) said: “Keep refreshing is not justified but in case of two number of the Prophet’s Hadiths that Prophet (PBUH) said: “The best among brought with its people who acted your knowledge of the Quran for I swear persons only: encourage us to revisit and revive our you (Muslims) are those who learn the according to it in this world. The Surahs by the One in whose hand the soul of -One who has been given knowledge relationship with the Quran. Quran and teach it.” (Bukhari) of Al Baqarah and Aal Imran will be at Muhammad is, it is more liable to of the Quran by Allah and thus he recites the front arguing on behalf of their escapes (from memory) than camels do it during the night and day, An Elevated Rank A Treasure of Good Deeds devoted reciter.” (Muslim) from their hobbles.” (Bukhari and -And a man who has been given 1. A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with 4. Abdullah ibn Masud (may Allah Muslim) wealth by Allah, so he spends it during her) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) be pleased with him) narrated that the Overwhelming blessings the night and the day (in ways that said: “One who is proficient in reciting Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever recites 7. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be 10. Abdullah ibn `Umar (may please Allah).” (Bukhari and Muslim) the Quranis associated with the noble, a letter of the Book of Allah will be pleased with him) narrated that the Allah be pleased with him) narrated www.onislam.net 06 ASIA FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 Hundreds detained as protests rage over new citizenship law in India

AFP/REUTERS Security forces and hundreds of protesters set fire to NEW DELHI protesters clashed vehicles and threw stones at in Uttar Pradesh, security forces who responded Indian police fired tear gas and Gujarat and Karnataka with tear gas, local police chief detained hundreds of people Yamuna Prasad said. yesterday as fresh violence broke states as elsewhere “We are trying to control the out and demonstrators defied police bundled situation. People have been bans on assembly, amid growing demonstrators onto asked to return to their homes,” anger at Prime Minister buses, shutting Delhi Prasad said. Police fired tear gas Narendra Modi’s alleged anti- and water cannon at several Muslim agenda. metro stations and thousand protestors in state Security forces and pro- cutting cellphone capital Lucknow while in Modi’s testers clashed in Uttar Pradesh, access in some areas. home state of Gujarat, police said Gujarat and Karnataka states as they baton-charged demon- Police officers holding rose flowers given to them by demonstrators, during a protest against a new elsewhere police bundled dem- strators and arrested 50 people. citizenship law in Delhi, yesterday. onstrators onto buses, shutting abroad that Modi wants to As others ignored the Delhi metro stations and cutting reshape India as a Hindu nation, assembly bans in Delhi and else- cellphone access in some areas. something he denies. Seven where, authorities ordered was reported, however, after last is the first time in a long time that “If they show us the lathi Three persons died of months after Modi swept to a telecom firms to cut calls, text week’s deadly clashes. people in Mumbai have come out (police baton), we will show them injuries suffered in violent pro- second term, the past week has messages and data in parts of the But the day’s biggest demon- in such large numbers to register roses,” a student in Delhi, Shivanji, tests in the southern city of Man- seen six people killed, dozens city. India is already the world stration so far took place in dissent,” said consultant Karishma said as she handed flowers to galuru, hospital officials said yes- injured and on Thursday, author- leader in cutting the internet, Malegaon in Maharashtra state -- V. The crowd in Kolkata was esti- police yesterday. terday. They said that at least one ities banned gatherings across activists say, and access was also no assembly ban was in place -- mated at more than 40,000. With international concern of the two dead had been shot. swathes of the world’s biggest restricted in parts of the northeast with as many as 60,000 people, The protests have been fuelled about the situation growing, Local government official democracy that together are and in Uttar Pradesh, home to a police said. by anger about alleged police bru- Modi has insisted that his gov- Sindhu B Rupeh said there had home to hundreds of millions of large Muslim minority. In Mumbai, a crowd of thou- tality including at a university in ernment does not aim to mar- been clashes between stone- people. In Bangalore, one of those sands including tattooed students Delhi on Sunday night. Security ginalise Muslims, tweeting this throwing crowds and police in They included all of Uttar dragged onto a police bus was glo- and older Muslim men wearing forces in the capital have fired week that the new law “does not Mangaluru since Thursday Pradesh and Bangalore, areas of bally renowned historian Ram- skullcaps brandished Indian flags, some 450 tear gas shells in the past affect any citizen of India of any afternoon, despite restrictions the northeast and parts of Bihar, achandra Guha, while in Delhi, posters of Mahatma Gandhi and five days, the Hindustan Times religion”. imposed on public gatherings. New Delhi, Hyderabad and Harsh Mander, a prominent rights handed out copies of the daily reported. One student But many in India’s The protests were sparked Chennai. All of them have seen activist, was also detained. constitution. reportedly lost an eye. The dem- 200-million-strong Muslim by a new law easing citizenship protests in recent days, and in the In the northeast, where the “We cannot stay silent or on onstrations in the city have at minority fear that they will be the rules for people fleeing perse- case of the capital, riots and protests began last week -- albeit the fringes anymore. We have to times turned violent with vehicles main target of Modi’s plans to cution from three neighbouring police storming a university. for different reasons -- around act now,” financial adviser Aman set on fire and protestors hurling implement a national “register countries, but not Muslims, Fresh violence erupted in 20,000 people took to the streets Verma said. stones at police in heavily Muslim of citizens” to remove all “infil- stoking accusations at home and Samhbal, Uttar Pradesh, where in different locations. No violence “Something has changed. This parts on Wednesday. trators” by 2024. Protests rock Mamata seeks UN-conducted referendum on CAA, NRC Amaravati over IANS/KOLKATA meeting against CAA and NRC in their existence. This is a struggle central Kolkata. for everybody’s existence,” she three capital plan Throwing a challenge to Centre’s Banerjee said she would like said. Banerjee urged everybody ruling BJP, West Bengal Chief to see how many people say yes, to hit the streets across India IANS Minister Mamata Banerjee and how many say no. irrespective of their political AMARAVATI yesterday called for a “If you lose, you have to affiliation and religion. UN-conducted referendum resign. This is a challenge,” she “Don’t sit idle,” she said. across the country on Citizenship said. Claiming that people were A shutdown was under way Amendment Act (CAA) and On a day the protests esca- asked to furnish birth certificates yesterday as huge protests National Register of Citizens lated across India, Banerjee said of their parents during the NRC rocked the region against the (NRC) and said the Nerendra it was a struggle for everybody’s process in Assam that concluded Andhra Pradesh government’s Modi government would have to existence and prophesied that earlier this year, Banerjee proposal to develop three state resign if the people rejected the the movement would gather mocked the BJP saying it was capitals here. two. steam with every passing day. itself born only in 1980. “And Farmers and other villagers, “If you have the guts, let Pointing to the prohibitory they are asking people to who had given their lands for there be a referendum across the orders issued in many parts of produce documents dating back development of Amaravati as country on CAA (Citizenship India, she said, “We will resist all to the 1970s, 1960s or 1950s, or the state capital, took to the Amendment Act, 2019) and NRC these. Don’t think we are weak. even earlier. streets in 29 villages, (National Register of Citizens) Protesters shouting slogans during a demonstration against new The movement will gather steam “Where was the BJP before demanding YSR Congress Party issues. You won’t conduct it, it with each passing day. You Independence. Neither did they government to drop its proposal citizenship law in Guwahati, India, yesterday. will be conducted by the United cannot stop the movement with participate in freedom to develop Visakhapatnam and Nations—an impartial your guns, agency.” movement, nor helped in Kurnool as two other state organisation. human rights. Neither the Tri- like Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, “This is not a communal building the nation. Now they are capitals. “Let them play a very namool, nor BJP nor any other Christians, will be there,” she movement, but a movement for dividing the nation, and pitting Protesters, including important role. Let there be a parties will be there. said while addressing a Tri- your rights, democracy, people against one another,” she women blocked the roads committee of experts of UN, “None of the communities namool Congress protest humanity. People never sacrifice said. including the road leading towards State Secretariat in Velagapudi. The Secretariat Sri Lankan president says he is Delhi HC rejects Nirbhaya case convict’s juvenility plea employees had to use an alternate route to reach their IANS appear, for playing hide and seek after the final disposal of the offices. ‘victim’ of Swiss kidnap claim NEW DELHI in the court. The court also asked case. Gupta sought the court’s Holding placards and the Rajapaksa family sought the Bar Council of Delhi to take direction for an ossification test raising anti-government asylum in Switzerland. The Delhi High Court yesterday appropriate action against the to determine his age and settle slogans, the villagers took out Gotabaya Rajapaksa — who dismissed Nirbhaya case advocate for filing false the question of juvenility. rallies since early morning, was elected president last convict Pawan Gupta’s plea document. He claimed to be an “innocent demanding that Amaravati be month — told Colombo-based claiming to be a juvenile at the The petitioner stated that no boy” who was “totally falsely developed as the only capital. foreign correspondents yes- time of offence. ossification test was conducted implicated” in the case by “anti- Shops and business establish- terday that he was the real Justice Suresh Kait also by the investigating officers and social elements” due to a ments remained closed. “victim” of the saga. imposed Rs25,000 fine on Gupta’s claimed that the juvenility claim “revengeful motive” with the “help Additional police forces “In this case, the victim is advocate AP Singh, who didn’t could be raised at any time, even of police officials”. were deployed in all villages me because immediately after to prevent any untoward my election, this story came incident. Opposition Telugu up,” he said, giving details of Desam Party (TDP) leaders the Swiss embassy staffer’s also joined the protestors at AFP COLOMBO movements on the day she several places. claimed she was held against Farmers, who had given her will. 33,000 acres of land for Ama- Sri Lankan president “It is very clear it is a ravati, fear that the devel- Gotabaya Rajapaksa planned thing to discredit me opment of three state capitals (pictured) yesterday alleged and the government.” would hit hard their interests. kidnapping of a Swiss Rajapaksa said he did not “We had given our lands, embassy staffer which trig- believe the Swiss embassy hoping for a better future for gered a diplomatic spat itself had any role in making our children. between Colombo and Bern the allegations, and insisted “The government had had been concocted to he did not want anyone to promised to develop our lands discredit his election victory. create tensions between the and give them back. Now all A Sri Lankan national two countries. our hopes had dashed by this working for the Swiss mission Switzerland on Monday crit- decision,” said a protestor. in Colombo was arrested on icised the embassy worker’s arrest Chief Minister Y S Jagan Monday for allegedly falsely and “lack of due process in the Mohan Reddy had told the claiming she had been case”, and asked for evidence that State Assembly on Tuesday abducted and sexually she had faked her claims. that the state may have three assaulted by unidentified Swiss Foreign Minister capitals. He said while Amar- attackers on November 25. Ignazio Cassis also spoke to avati could serve as legislative The alleged abduction his Sri Lankan counterpart Migratory Eurasian teal ducks arrive in Nepal capital, Visakahpatnam could happened a day after a Sri Dinesh Gunawardena about be developed as executive Lankan police inspector the case, the foreign ministry A group of Eurasian teal ducks fly over Taudaha Lake on the outskirts of Kathmandu, yesterday. capital and Kurnool as judicial investigating cases involving said this week. capital. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 ASIA 07 Court declares ex-Pakistan ruler Musharraf a fugitive

ANATOLIA Musharraf has who undermine or attempt to KARACHI termed the judgment undermine the Constitution by any means. This court after pres- A Pakistani court that sentenced “suspicious” and entation of undeniable, irrefu- to death the country’s former a scheme of his table and unimpeachable evi- military ruler General retired opponents. dence by the prosecution against Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday for the accused reaches to the con- high treason has issued its clusion that indeed the accused detailed judgment in the case. bench, in his remarks said if the is guilty and deserves exemplary The 167-page verdict former army chief is found dead punishment,” the judgment read. released yesterday directed law “his corpse be dragged to the “The convict be hanged by enforcing agencies to nab the D-chowk [square], Islamabad, his neck till he dies on each “fugitive” who is seeking medical and be hanged for 03 days.” count as per charge,” the verdict treatment in United Arab However, other judges dis- added. Emirates and has failed to agreed with the part about Musharraf has termed the appear in court despite repeated parading his body in a public judgment “suspicious” and a summons in the high profile case square. scheme of his opponents. which has dragged on for six The special court in “This is an unprecedented years. Islamabad convicted Musharraf case in which neither the Shopkeepers have their tea near television screens displaying the news of court verdict against This is the first time in Paki- with a 2-1 majority for imposing defendant nor his lawyer was former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, in Karachi, yesterday. stan’s history that a military chief emergency in 2007, subverting allowed to defend the case,” has been declared guilty of high the constitution, and putting Musharraf alleged in a video treason and been given the death judges under house arrest. statement from his hospital bed News regarding CJP role in verdict baseless: SC sentence. “The trial of high treason is in Dubai. Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, the requirement of the Consti- He is currently undergoing INTERNEWS Association of the Supreme had not issued any direction of the head of the three-member tution against those individuals treatment for several health con- ISLAMABAD Court on Tuesday, the statement any sort to the special court ditions, including cardiac said, adding some misleading other than the judicial directions problem. The Supreme Court of Pakistan and out of context news items issued by the relevant benches Govt seeks to remove judge over His lawyer Salman Safdar has taken strong exception to were aired/published by dif- of the Supreme Court in these vowed to challenge the verdict “stage managed” misperception ferent TV channels and news- cases, which already stand pub- public hanging observation in the Supreme Court. that Chief Justice Asif Saeed papers without identifying any lished in the law reports of the REUTERS In March 2014, Musharraf Khosa had played any role in the source. country. ISLAMABAD was charged with high treason conclusion of Pervez Mushar- This created an impression It was expected that for implementing emergency raf’s treason trial by a special that the CJP was personally accuracy of reporting would be Pakistan’s government is seeking to remove the leader of a three- rule and suspending the consti- court. involved in the progress of the ensured in future, the court judge panel that sentenced former military ruler Pervez Mush- tution in 2007. In a rather strong reaction, case before the special court, the statement said. arraf to death on charges of treason and added a rider about his In August 2017, he was the apex court said the news statement said. Meanwhile, at the launch of corpse, Law Minister Farogh Naseem said yesterday. declared an “absconder” by item that was aired and pub- The Supreme Court a research study on “Impact of The judge, Waqar Ahmad Seth, had violated judicial conduct Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court lished by a section of print and explained that its different militancy on administration of by issuing the bizarre order that Musharraf’s body should hang in the verdict on the 2007 electronic media was “baseless, benches had been hearing dif- justice in former FATA and in public if he dies before his execution. The federal government murder of Benazir Bhutto, a two- concocted, false, stage managed, ferent aspects of the case of PATA” held at the Federal had decided to approach the Supreme Judicial council. “Our plea time prime minister. out of context and contrary to former president Pervez Mush- Judicial Academy, the Chief is that such a judge has got no authority to be a judge of any high Musharraf — a former four- the facts”. arraf and had passed different Justice of Pakistan highlighted court or the supreme court,” he said. “He is unfit.” The court sen- star general — ran the country The news item concerned orders for early disposition of the the need for adopting a multi- tenced Musharraf to death on Tuesday after finding him guilty of as president from 2001 until ten- with an informal meeting of treason trial. pronged approach to defeat the high treason for subverting the constitution in 2007. dering his resignation, to avoid Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif The statement made it clear scourge of militancy and impeachment, in 2008. Saeed Khosa with the Press that the chief justice of Pakistan terrorism. British MP of Afghan election results expected in coming days: Official Pakistani AFP Commission (IEC) spokesman as well as fraud allegations from protest the preliminary results from voting more than once. But descent takes KABUL Zabih Sadat said the key recount Abdullah’s team. Abdullah last and was counting on the coun- nearly a million of the initial and audit of votes from the Sep- month withdrew his team’s try’s electoral complaint com- votes were purged owing to oath in Urdu Preliminary results from Afghan- tember 28 election had been election observers from an mission to purge any fraudulent irregularities, meaning the istan’s delayed presidential polls completed in all but one official recount. votes before final results are election saw by far the lowest INTERNEWS will be announced in the coming province. “The recount in one His supporters then blocked announced. turnout of any Afghan poll. ISLAMABAD days, an election official said remaining province will be com- the process in seven northern “The result — if not first The ongoing uncertainty has yesterday, after a main candidate pleted today,” Sadat said. provinces, demanding the elec- cleaned from hundreds of thou- raised the risk of a repeat of the As the newly elected represent- ended his boycott of a recount. “Then we will gather data toral commission first invalidate sands of fraudulent votes — will crisis that followed the last pres- atives of the British Parliament The country has been stuck and announce the preliminary around 300,000 “fraudulent” not be acceptable for us and the idential election in 2014. Then, were sworn in, a Pakistani- in political limbo since the vote, results to the public early next ballots out of a total of 1.8 million. people,” Manawi said. Ghani and Abdullah fought a origin MP took his oath in Urdu. with the two top candidates — week.” In Afghanistan, Saturdays Last Friday, however, The election was meant to be close race that sparked wide- Afzal Khan, who retained President Ashraf Ghani and Chief mark the start of the week. Abdullah said the recount could the cleanest yet in Afghanistan’s spread allegations of fraud and his seat for the Labour Party Executive Abdullah Abdullah — The result was originally due go ahead. Fazel Ahmad Manawi, young democracy, with a saw the US step in to broker an from Manchester Gorton in the locked in a close race. on October 19 but was repeatedly a senior official with Abdullah’s German firm supplying bio- awkward power-sharing general election, hailed on Independent Election delayed amid technical issues, team, said he did not plan to metric machines to stop people agreement between the rivals. Twitter the diversity in par- liament and said: “Thrilled to be back in Parliament as an MP for Manchester. I am proud to Blasts hit Myanmar represent a city where over 200 languages are spoken.” He added: “Today at the state as Suu Kyi visits swearing-in ceremony, I recited AFP The rebel group claims to be my oath in Urdu to honour my YANGON fighting for more autonomy and father who served in the British rights for the ethnic Rakhine Indian Army.” Three small explosions went off Buddhists and garners sympathy Khan was elected as the in a southern Rakhine town in from many local people who Labour MP from the same con- Myanmar yesterday just before have long felt marginalised in stituency in 2017. One month civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi the Bamar-majority country. after being elected, Khan was landed there in a rare visit to the But tens of thousands have appointed as Labour’s shadow conflict-ridden state, a local fled their homes over the past immigration minister. official said. year and dozens of civilians have Born in Pakistan, he moved The blasts happened in the been killed. to the UK at age 11 and worked normally quiet town of Manaung There have been allegations as a labourer in a cotton mill, a on an island off Myanmar’s of abuse against both sides. bus driver and a police officer western coast where Suu Kyi Rights groups say Myan- before he qualified as a solicitor was due to open a solar power mar’s military has abducted, tor- and became a partner at a law plant. tured and killed civilian firm. He became the first Asian “There were three explo- detainees. mayor of Manchester. sions, but no casualties,” Win Nearly 70 local adminis- Myint, spokesperson for trators in northern Rakhine tried Rakhine’s regional government, to resign en masse this week Minister: Pakistan said. after one of their peers was He said it happened before killed by the military. hosting 3 million Suu Kyi arrived, but since they The army admitted respon- refugees Dhaka engulfed in thick fog were on the other side of town sibility but said he had been the event went ahead as planned caught in the crossfire, which Bangladeshi boatmen make their way through heavy fog on the Buriganga River in Dhaka, yesterday. INTERNEWS / ISLAMABAD and she had since left safely on locals deny. “We’re worried for a flight to Yangon. our lives,” said village head Myo Special Assistant to Prime “This has never happened in Kyaw Aung, one of the admin- Minister Imran Khan on Infor- Manaung before.” No group has istrators of Minbya township mation and Broadcasting, Dr Bomb stuck to car goes off in Kabul, one dead yet claimed responsibility for who had his resignation refused. Firdous Ashiq Awan says planting the small bombs, which The army, meanwhile, Pakistan has been hosting three AP responsibility and it was unclear According to police detonated at the side of a road, points to targeted shootings, million refugees. KABUL why the people in the car were spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz, photos from local media roadside bombings and kidnap- She said Pakistan’s hosting targeted. The Afghan capital fre- the victims were on their way to showed. pings by the insurgents. of Afghan refugees for 40 years A sticky bomb attached to a quently sees attacks — both a market in western Kabul when The area has remained A number of hostages seized despite all difficulties is private car in Kabul went off large-scale bombings claimed the bomb exploded. largely unscathed by unrest by the rebels in a raid on a ferry commendable. yesterday, killing one civilian by the Taliban or militants from The Taliban today control or further north, where Myanmar’s packed with scores of police and She called for addressing and wounding two others, a the Islamic State group, but also hold sway over half of the military is locked in an increas- soldiers were killed in October, the circumstances that force police spokesman said. smaller explosions from so- country and, along with IS, stage ingly vicious conflict with the with each side blaming the people to become refugees. No one immediately claimed called sticky or magnetic bombs. near-daily attacks. Arakan Army (AA). other. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 The technocracy that helped Trump ESTABLISHED IN 1996 win now wants him impeached

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR am loath to make mention of New MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED York Times columnist Thomas [email protected] Friedman, but the bizarre times Iand the historical record demand it. Friedman is a marquee member of DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR America’s technocracy - the men and MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI women in corporate media, politics, [email protected] economics, diplomacy and the so-called intelligence “community” who run the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaks during a vote on the articles of impeachment show in Washington, DC and beyond. against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The chat-show-friendly scribe is read and feted by other members of Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth- failure on this count fatally undermined America’s technocracy who treat his century America, that a despairing the credibility of an institution he now musings about America and the world, working class - largely abandoned by its wants to save from Barr and his rule-of- EDITORIAL particularly the Arab world, in print or traditional allies on the academic and law allergic boss. on TV with a reverence usually reserved political left - would turn to a strongman Of course, post 9/11, Friedman and for pontiffs. for succour and to balm their his legion of fellow liberal technocrats Lately, Friedman has been writing resentment and bitterness at being left joined hands with their Republican An evening to remember about the imperative of impeaching US behind and adrift. brethren to launch calamitous wars in President Donald Trump to save “At that point, something will crack. Iraq and Afghanistan - where the lethal fully packed Khalifa Stadium witnessed a pulsating democracy. This recent column, like his The nonsuburban electorate will decide human consequences are still being semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup on antipathy towards Trump, is a facsimile that the system has failed and start endured almost two decades later. AWednesday between European champion Liverpool of countless other columns by countless looking for a strongman to vote for - Those wars were predicated on the lies and CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey. other members of the technocracy who someone willing to assure them that, authored by technocrats inside the US The much anticipated first match of current Premier insist the impeachment of a diseased once he is elected, the smug bureau- intelligence community. Friedman et al League favourites Liverpool went beyond the expecta- presidency will not only rehabilitate crats, tricky lawyers, overpaid bond hoped to “liberate” Iraq and Afghanistan tions of the crowd as Monterrey was not in a mood to American democracy but the, by now, salesmen, and postmodernist professors from the talons of Islamic extremists. give the British champions an easy walkover. The hard- sullied institutions that gird it.This will no longer be calling the shots,” Rorty Their geopolitical designs failed, bank- fought narrow win will give the Reds a chance to try and aching nostalgia for democracy and its wrote. As long as “the proles can be dis- rupting America and the institutions that win the one silverware they don’t have in their cabinet, once pristine apparatus is flagrantly tracted from their own despair by assured Americans the wars would be when they meet the Brazilian club Flamengo. ironic since the same technocrats who media-created pseudo-events, fast, easy and winnable. Here is While the match won the heart and minds of 45,000 want to evict Trump from office helped including the brief and bloody war, the Friedman offering penance as a “con- plus football fans inside the stadium, it also gave Qatar put him there. super-rich will have little to fear.” senting adult” and on behalf, I suppose, an opportunity to fine tune its organisational capabil- That a liberal technocrat would seri- Sound familiar? of the battalion of technocrats who now ities and test the readiness well ahead of biggest football ously suggest that House Democrats Rorty was right. The super-rich had express their mendacious “regret” over extravaganza, FIFA World Cup, comes home. In three voting to impeach Trump will magically nothing to fear. Something did crack and the loss of life and treasure to war- years, Qatar will be hosting thousands of visiting fans restore Amer- a strongman surfaced from the Pan- exhausted Americans. and players and holding the Club World Cup is one step ica’s phantom American swamp of disillusionment and What is absent from Freidman’s closer to that. democracy is despair to offer easy answers to complex qualified mea cupla is any recognition Going by the reactions of not only pre- questions. Another liberal technocrat, that the cost of the lie-propelled wars in fans, who attended the Liv- dictable but Barack Obama made sure his adminis- Iraqi and Afghan lives has not only ren- erpool match on Wednesday, Post 9/11, Friedman amusing. Any tration was, as Rorty wrote, “not even dered Trump’s lies trifling, but palatable, it went on very smoothly and and his legion lucid under- trying to prevent wages from sinking or in comparison. the fan zones were much of fellow liberal graduate jobs from being exported” and, in the The fact is that many like-minded appreciated. technocrats joined political apocalyptic aftermath of the 2008 technocrats were party to the assault on While the match An added advantage was science financial collapse, that no one, beyond a the truth that presaged Trump’s patho- the opening of all Doha Metro hands with their student knows few insignificant tadpoles, was held to logical lie-telling. After the quagmires won the heart and lines and stations ahead of Republican brethren that the account for the looting committed by that Iraq and Afghanistan inevitably minds of 45,000 the tournament. This made to launch calamitous United States America’s untouchable gilded class. turned into, the other crack that techno- plus football fans commuting to and from the wars in Iraq and has long been The crack liberal technocrats would crats should have noted was that the lec- inside the stadium, Khalifa International an oligarchy have heard back then - if they had turing know-it-alls knew nothing at all. Stadium very easy as it is Afghanistan - where where the bothered to listen - was the remnants of To compound their ignorance, the it also gave Qatar located at walking distance the lethal human interests of the America’s already tenuous faith in near- liberal technocrats decided not to an opportunity from the station. This cut consequences are still few are cham- sacred institutions like the Justice indict any of the architects of the sys- to fine tune its down any chance of possible being endured almost pioned at the Department to uphold the rule of law tematic torture regime set up by organisational traffic disruptions in the area expense of the collapse. So, I chuckled after reading a George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald as families could be seen two decades later. interests of the column published in the Washington Rumsfeld and their compliant lawyers. capabilities and taking the metro instead of many. Post by yet another liberal technocrat Their failure to do so established that test the readiness their cars. The metro not only Freidman’s and Obama’s former attorney general, the president and his cabinet are well ahead of extended the timing of the folly is that he still fails to acknowledge Eric Holder, excoriating Trump’s servile immune from the law - domestic or biggest football operation in view of the Cup publicly the blatant role he and other attorney general, William Barr, as “unfit” international - and it provided the World Cup match and Qatar establishment technocrats played in dis- to serve. template and license for Trump to extravaganza, FIFA National Day (QND) celebra- crediting the very institutions they now Holder’s indictment would have treat the rule of law and the constitu- World Cup, comes tions, it also gave free day seek to rejuvenate with all the bluster been slightly more convincing if the tional checks on the executive branch home. pass to match ticketholders. they can muster against the destructive Justice Department he led under Obama as a quaint anachronism. Still, liberal The trains were running full, residue of Hurricane Donald by had prosecuted the bankers who technocrats inside and outside the from morning, as majority of endorsing wars conceived and sustained profited handsomely from the sub- New York Times will, no doubt, cele- people decided to travel by by lies and deserting the rule of law prime mortgage implosion they engi- brate the impeachment of a “rogue” metro to attend the parade and other QND celebrations when politically expedient. neered which triggered the Great president by the House of Representa- held at various parts of the country. The late philosopher Richard Rorty Recession and the suffering and angst of tives when it takes place. Forgotten The well-connected network of Doha Metro means understood the subversion of demo- so many ordinary, hardworking amid the euphoria will be how and fans coming for the World Cup in 2022 will be able to cratic institutions was already well Americans. why Trump became president with the even watch multiple matches in a single day. It also means underway in the 1990s and predicted in Holder needs to put away the rod implicit and explicit aid of the techno- easier access to various landmarks and residential areas. his collection of essays, Achieving Our and finally accept that his signature crats cheering his comeuppance today. The compactness will be a big advantage for the fans as they will save a lot in time and money as travel time between venues and other entertainment hubs will be much shorter and cheaper than in a bigger country. The Syrian defector who got Congress to act Every such tournament gives a lot of learning expe- rience for everyone and helps fine tune future ones even ELI LAKE National Defense Authorization story before Congress, and controlled by Assad’s forces better. Like legendary player David Beckham said, Qatar BLOOMBERG Act. That counts as a victory for when he did he had to wear a enables ethnic cleansing. In 2022 will be a dream for players and fans. a coalition of human-rights disguise. His 2014 testimony these areas, says Mouaz or anyone looking to activists, Syrian-Americans and before the House Foreign Moustafa, the executive director prevent Syria’s Bashar members of Congress from Affairs Committee spurred a of the Syrian Emergency Task Assad from securing a both parties who have pushed handful of lawmakers from Force and Caesar’s translator Ffinal victory in the civil for these sanctions for years. both parties to take action, during his 2014 hearing, Syrian war he started in 2011, it has The sanctions provision, eventually leading to the so- residents are being forced to QUOTE OF THE DAY been a dispiriting few months. initially known as the Caesar called Caesar bill. leave, replaced by people loyal President Donald Trump Syrian Civilian Protection Act, The provision has two key to Assad and Iran. US Democrats abruptly ordered a full with- is named after a Syrian defector components. It would place In light of Assad’s atroc- drawal of U.S. forces in who smuggled thousands of financial sanctions on Syrian ities, one might think it would had impeached northern Syria in October. Even photographs out of the country leaders and organizations as have been fairly easy for the President though the U.S. sent troops in 2013, exposing the regime’s well as any Russian or Iranian Caesar bill to become law. But Donald Trump back to guard Syria’s oil fields a mass killings, torture and other individuals or entities that have it took five years. Initially Pres- few days later, the president’s war crimes. His code name was engaged in significant transac- ident Barack Obama’s admin- for “fabricated” declaration that he was ending Caesar. (A 2016 New Yorker tions with the regime. The point istration was nervous that reasons in order to the “endless war” in Syria was a profile details how he did it, is to make any business with sanctioning Iranian and reverse his 2016 boon to Syria’s strongman and using flash drives that he hid in Assad’s government toxic until Russian entities and indi- election victory. his Russian and Iranian his socks.) The photos are it accounts for its war crimes viduals would make it harder patrons. Now there is a sliver stomach-turning evidence that against civilians. The bill would to negotiate a cease-fire and a of good news. New sanctions Assad’s prisons and hospitals also penalize the regime and its political resolution to the con- Vladimir Putin on Assad’s regime, along with were abattoirs, where pris- foreign backers who are flict. More recently the road- Russian President Russian and Iranian entities oners were hung by their engaged in reconstruction in block was Sen. Rand Paul of that have assisted its war on wrists, beaten, burned and regime-controlled areas. This Kentucky, a libertarian Repub- Syrian civilians, are set to murdered. It would take a year may seem counterproductive. lican who opposes an inter- become law as part of the 2020 for Caesar to finally tell his But reconstruction in areas ventionist foreign policy. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 HOME 09 10 ASIA FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 Court convicts key clan members in 2009 Philippine massacre

AP The judge acquitted families’ search for justice MANILA more than 50 police remains far from over. Some 80 officers and other other people accused have yet A Philippine court yesterday members of the to be arrested.” found key members of a President Rodrigo Duterte’s powerful political clan guilty of Ampatuan family, spokesman said the rule of law a 2009 massacre in a southern citing a lack of had prevailed and urged those province that left 57 people dead, evidence, while 15 who disagree with the verdict to including 32 media workers, in people were given continue seeking legal remedies a brazen execution-style attack up to the Supreme Court. that horrified the world. 6- to 10-year prison The case involved more than Families of the victims and terms as accomplices. 100 detained suspects and is media watchdogs welcomed the seen as a test of the Southeast convictions but said the fight for Asian nation’s notoriously justice was far from over. reading of the verdict from a 761- clogged and vulnerable judicial Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes page decision. system. sentenced eight members of the “This is a partial victory,” Rep While the mass killing has Andal Ampatuan Jr. (front left) and others accused of the involvement in the 2009 Maguindanao Ampatuan family led by former Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost largely unraveled as an offshoot massacre waiting to hear the court’s verdict at the trial venue inside a prison facility in Manila, yesterday. town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., his wife, sisters, an aunt and of a violent electoral rivalry who she said oversaw and led many supporters in the common in many rural areas, it fire as they begged for their lives. capital. Mangudadatu, now a leg- mutilated bodies were found the killings, and 20 others to life November 23, 2009, killings, told has also showcased the threats Ampatuan Jr. was convicted islator in the House of Repre- inside the vans, sprawled on the imprisonment without parole. reporters outside the packed and faced by journalists in the Phil- of leading nearly 200 armed fol- sentatives, did not join the ground or buried in the pits with Their time in prison is limited heavily secured courtroom. ippines. Thirty-two of those lowers who blocked a seven- convoy to ensure his safety. some of the vehicles, in a to 40 years, the maximum pun- Mangudadatu raised his right gunned down were local vehicle convoy carrying the rel- The gunmen commandeered gruesome scene that drew inter- ishment allowed by law. They fist to show he would fight on reporters and media workers in atives and lawyers of Mangu- the convoy, including the pas- national outrage and shocked were also ordered to compensate with the expected appeals of the worst single attack on jour- dadatu, a politician who decided sengers of two unsuspecting cars many even in a country long the victims’ families. those convicted. nalists in the world. to run for governor of that got stuck in the traffic, to a used to political violence. The judge acquitted more “This momentous verdict “If I have the power to kill Maguindanao province. He chal- nearby hilltop, where a waiting The Ampatuans have denied than 50 police officers and other should help provide justice to the them all in a blink of an eye, I lenged the powerful Ampatuan backhoe had dug huge pits to be the charges against them. members of the Ampatuan families of the victims, and build would have done it. But I realized clan, which held sway over used to bury the victims and their Prosecutors have insisted for family, citing a lack of evidence, toward greater accountability for in the end that I’m not a demon almost every aspect of life in the vehicles. years that there were 58 people while 15 people were given 6- to rights abuses in the country,” like them,” said Mary Grace impoverished region long The court found that killed but the court yesterday 10-year prison terms as said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia Morales. Her husband, a reporter wracked by a insurgency. Ampatuan Jr. and his followers declared there were only 57 accomplices. director of Human Rights Watch. for a provincial newspaper, and The journalists joined the opened fire on the victims at victims because the body of one Applause and cheers rang out Nicholas Bequelin of her elder sister, the paper’s pub- convoy to cover the filing of close range and hurriedly media worker, Reynaldo Momay, in the courtroom, where some Amnesty International said that lisher, were among those killed, Mangudadatu’s candidancy in an escaped after sensing that army was never found although parts relatives of the victims heard the even with the convictions, “the mostly in a blaze of automatic rifle election office in Maguindanao’s troops were approaching. The of his dentures were located. Chinese envoy to Australia defends Uighur treatment Six charged with treason in AFP He also denied recent alle- “Uighurs in detention is utterly espionage. rising tensions between China SYDNEY gations from current and former fake news,” he said, echoing Bei- Early this month, Foreign and Australia, saying 2019 had Indonesia after security officials that China has jing’s claims the facilities are voca- Minister Marise Payne decried been “a mixed year for bilateral China’s ambassador to Australia been involved in a vast campaign tional training schools that have China’s treatment of Yang as relations”. Papua protest held a rare press conference of espionage and political breathed economic life into the “unacceptable”, saying he was The press conference came yesterday to defend his influence in Australia, saying poor far-west region. not being allowed access to barely two weeks after Prime REUTERS government against charges of such charges were “not He said any arrests that have lawyers and had been interro- Minister Scott Morrison launched JAKARTA human rights abuses, espionage well-founded”. been made were aimed at coun- gated while shackled during his a high-level intelligence task and political meddling which Australia is reliant on China tering extremism. “It’s nothing 11 months in detention. force to combat foreign inter- An Indonesian prosecutor have frayed relations between for trade, by far its biggest to do with human rights, nothing “We do not accept the alle- ference in Australia — a move charged five men and a the major trade partners. market for critical resource and to do with religion. It’s about gations made by Australia’s side,” widely seen as targeting China. woman with treason Cheng Jingye held a press commodities exports. fighting terrorism and taking Cheng said. “The relevant Relations with China have yesterday, accusing them of conference at Beijing’s embassy Cheng pushed back on inter- preventive actions”. Chinese security department will been further strained by Beijing’s organising a protest in Jakarta in Canberra where he rejected national charges that China has Relations with China have deal with the case in accordance detention of a well-known demanding independence for reports that China has detained detained more than a million been further strained by Beijing’s with Chinese law and his lawful Chinese-Australian author, Yang the easternmost province of more than a million mostly Uighurs and other ethnic minor- detention of a well-known rights are protected. In due time Jun, who goes by the pen name Papua. Uighurs in northwest Xinjiang ities in reeducation camps in a Chinese-Australian author, Yang you will know the details.” Yang Hengjun, on suspicion of The peaceful protest of region as “utterly fake news”. drive to erase their culture. Hengjun, on suspicion of The envoy acknowledged the espionage. about 100 people had been held outside the Presidential Palace and military headquarters on August 28 and followed a Hong Kong police freeze period of unrest in Papua. Prosecutor P. Permana read $10m in protest fund out the indictment in the Central Jakarta court saying the AFP donations were allegedly used six defendants had organised a HONG KONG by the fund owners for other rally demanding the Indonesian investments. government allow a vote in Hong Kong police yesterday said “We found the donated Papua to let it separate from they had frozen $10m from a money was transferred to a shell Indonesia major fund for donations to help company and a significant One of the six waved the pro-democracy protesters, and portion of this money was “Morning Star” flag, while arrested its four members for invested in personal insurance dancing and singing, the money laundering. products,” Senior Superin- indictment said. The flag is a Police said their investi- tendent Chan Wai-kei said. “The banned symbol of Papuan gation focused on Spark beneficiary of these products is nationhood. Alliance, a non-profit online the person in charge of the shell “The action by the platform formed in 2016 that company.” defendants is treason with the collects donations to provide Four people aged between 17 aim to separate Papua province support to political critics of the and 50 — three men and one and West Papua province from city’s pro-Beijing authorities. woman — were arrested for the unitary state of Indonesia,” It is one of two crowd- money laundering, including the said Permana. sourced funding platforms that alleged director of shell company. The six could face up to 20 An aerial view of the Green Wattle Creek fire crossing the railway line near Balmoral, in Wollondilly, have collected millions of dollars Chan did not respond years in jail if found guilty. New South Wales, yesterday. to provide legal and other help directly to questions from A hearing for the defence is for people arrested in the pro- reporters on whether donating due on January 2, but the six democracy protests that have to legal defence funds for have said it was their constitu- Bushfire: State of emergency in Australia upended the city since early June. arrested protesters could count tional right to participate in the But police said some of the as money laundering. rally. AFP state since an early, drought- afternoon expected to fan bush- SYDNEY fueled bushfire season began in fires burning ever-closer to the September, was due to “cata- city. China urges US, North Korea to resume talks Australian authorities declared strophic weather conditions”. There are 2,000 firefighters a seven-day state of emergency The country experienced its battling the blazes with the REUTERS/BEIJING on achieving denuclearisation introduced a joint proposal that in New South Wales (NSW) state hottest day on record on support of US and Canadian on the Korean Peninsula in calls on the UN Security Council yesterday as a record heat wave Tuesday, with the average teams, as well as Australia China urged the United States and stages, China’s foreign ministry to lift some sanctions on exports fanned unprecedented bushfires nationwide temperatures Defence Force personnel. North Korea to resume dialogue said. and foreign workers to “break raging across the region. reaching 40.9 degrees Celsius New South Wales Rural Fire and work to resolve disagree- It added in a statement that the deadlock” in the stalled talks Some 100 fires have been (105.6 degrees Fahrenheit), Service commissioner Shane Fit- ments as soon as possible amid the two sides agreed to continue between Pyongyang and burning for weeks in the state, which is expected to be sur- zsimmons said five 100-person renewed tensions between communication on the matter. Washington. with half of those uncontained, passed as an intensifying heat “strike teams” were on standby Washington and Pyongyang over Pyongyang has conducted a “This is the best plan in the including a “mega-blaze” ringing wave spreads across the east. to deploy to the most dangerous the latter’s nuclear and missiles series of weapons tests and current situation to resolve the Sydney, covering Australia’s Temperatures are expected fires, “given the enormity of programmes. waged a war of words with US stalemate in the denucleari- biggest city in a haze of toxic to peak at 41 degrees Celsius in some of these fire complexities Chinese Vice Foreign Min- President Donald Trump in sation of North Korea and for its smoke. central Sydney and 45 degrees and the severity of the forecast ister Luo Zhaohui and US special recent weeks, stoking fears the peace and stability,” Luo said, NSW Premier Gladys Bere- Celsius in the western suburbs weather conditions that are envoy for North Korea Stephen two countries could return to a adding that a political solution jiklian said the state of emer- on Thursday, while turbulent expected to unfold throughout Biegun met in the Chinese capital collision course. is still achievable despite a gency, the second declared in the winds of up to 100km in the today”. yesterday and exchanged views China and Russia on Monday recent rise in tensions. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 EUROPE 11

French boy Putin rejects idea thrown from London gallery Russia meddled begins to speak

AFP in UK politics LONDON

REUTERS We reserve the right A young French boy who was MOSCOW to behave in the thrown off the 10th floor same way towards viewing platform of London’s President Vladimir Putin you. If you think that Tate Modern art gallery has yesterday rejected allegations of uttered his first syllables, his Russian interference in British is interference, then family said. politics and praised Prime keep thinking that. But The six-year-old suffered a Minister Boris Johnson for better it has nothing at all to broken spine, legs and arm in understanding the mood of do with interference: the attack, which happened in British society on Brexit than his front of horrified visitors to the political rivals. Vladimir Putin riverside contemporary art Relations between London gallery on August 4. and Moscow remain strained official governing bodies in Jonty Bravery, 18, pleaded over everything from the 2018 various countries, including guilty to attempted murder at poisoning in England of a former Britain, assessments of what is a hearing in London’s Central Russian spy and his daughter to happening inside Russia. Is that Criminal Court on December 6 Syria and Ukraine. interference?” said Putin. People watching a broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual end-of-year news conference, and is in custody awaiting Putin, fielding questions “We reserve the right to in a library in Kaliningrad in Russia, yesterday. sentencing. from reporters at his annual behave in the same way towards In a post published on a news conference, was asked you. If you think that is inter- whatever anyone has said about in forging stronger economic “As regards what’s hap- GoFundMe page helping to pay about an unpublished British ference, then keep thinking that. me has no importance when ties with Moscow. pening now, it’s possible to con- for their son’s recovery, the parliamentary report into alle- But it has nothing at all to do with compared to the fundamental “We value this and are doing gratulate Johnson. He turned out family said the boy has also gations Russia had attempted to interference.” tasks that Russia is interested in everything to support them so to be the victor after all (in this regained some movement in his interfere in British politics, Reminded by a reporter that solving”. that they feel like they are at month’s British election) and limbs. “Our little knight begins something the Kremlin has Johnson had once compared him Citing unnamed British home here”. better grasped the mood in British to speak!” the family wrote. repeatedly denied. to Dobby the House Elf from the business people and investors And despite being reminded society than his opponents,” Putin “He pronounces one syl- “As regards (Russian) inter- Harry Potter films, Putin said he whom he said Russia regarded of Johnson’s elf joke about him, said. “And as I understand it, he lable after another, not all of ference or non-interference, didn’t care. “I know what my as friends, Putin said he Putin had warm words for the intends to go through with all of them, and most of the time we we’ve heard many times from country’s interests are. And believed London was interested British politician. his Brexit plans.” have to guess what he means but it’s better and better. It’s a wonderful progress!” But the family stressed he Ukraine, rebels fail to agree on prisoner exchange remained in great pain and that progress was slow. AP Germany on December 9, had Another rebel envoy, Vadym Prystaiko voiced regret process. However, they made no “As he begins to move, sen- MINSK hailed the prospective exchange Vladislav Dainego, said the in televised comments that the progress on central issues — a sations come back and he feels as a key result of the Paris talks. parties also failed to agree on the talks failed to produce an timeline for holding local elec- more pain, above all during the Ukraine and rebels failed to He said he expected all 72 areas where Ukrainian forces agreement. He wouldn’t elab- tions in eastern Ukraine and night, which is very exhausting reach an agreement on a Ukrainian prisoners held by the and the rebels would pull back orate on details of the talks. control of the borders in the for everybody, but he is very prisoner exchange and troops rebels to return home before the from the front line to help A 2015 peace deal in Minsk rebel-held region. courageous and we stay strong pullback after several hours of year’s end. maintain a lasting ceasefire. brokered by France and The Minsk deal envisaged for him.” tense talks on the conflict in But Olga Kobtseva, a rebel “We proposed some areas, Germany helped reduce the that Ukraine can regain control The boy fell from the eastern Ukraine. representative in the so-called but the Ukrainian side proposed scope of hostilities, but Ukrainian over the border with Russia in viewing platform onto a fifth- Representatives of Ukraine, Contact Group in Minsk, said nothing,” Dainego said. forces and the rebels have con- the rebel-held regions only after floor roof below. Prosecutors Russia and the rebels met in the Wednesday’s talks failed to Ukraine and the rebels had tinued to exchange artillery they are granted broad self-rule at Bravery’s last court hearing Belarusian capital Minsk to produce an agreement. She cited pulled back troops and weapons salvos and gunfire. and hold local elections. said it was “extraordinary” that discuss conditions for a prisoner Ukraine’s refusal to absolve rebels in several areas to help pave the During the talks in Paris, Zel- Zelenskiy pushed for tweaking he survived at all. swap following a tentative in its custody of criminal charges way for the Paris talks, and the enskiy, Russian President the timeline laid out in the accord Bravery’s lawyer Philippa agreement reached during peace as the main stumbling block. four leaders agreed last week Vladimir Putin, French President so that Ukraine gets control of its McAtasney told the court that talks in Paris last week. On top of that, the parties that the disengagement will con- Emmanuel Macron and German border first before local elections her client had autistic spectrum Ukrainian President Volo- were unable to confirm the tinue in a few other sectors of Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced are held, but Putin insisted that the disorder, obsessive compulsive dymyr Zelenskiy, who met the numbers and verify the lists of the front line. their adherence to the 2015 deal 2015 deal should be implemented disorder and was likely to have leaders of Russia, France and prisoners to be swapped. Ukrainian Foreign Minister and agreed to revive the peace without any revisions. a personality disorder. Albania passes anti-slander law despite protest

REUTERS demand retractions, impose existence of these regressive from causing loss of life or TIRANA fines of up to $9,013.88, and laws,” the media organisations pressing businesses for bribes by suspend their activity. said in a statement. shaming the quality of their Albania’s Parliament passed an The journalists, who pro- The package was initially products. anti-defamation package criti- tested by wearing black scarves meant to cover some 700 to 800 The law did not violate at all cised by journalists and the outside parliament, said that the online news sites that have the right to free speech and Council of Europe as an attempt measures were tantamount to sprung up over the last decade, opinion, but restored dignity to to muzzle the media while the censorship. but may also apply to TV sta- the slandered, Rama added. government countered it was More than a dozen media tions, according to last-minute “This is a jungle that takes merely regulating “a jungle of organisations condemned the changes. money right and left ... A jungle misinformation and hate.” law and said they would start an “This law says ‘if we do not that produces hate, misinfor- Parliament adjusted two information campaign that like your news story, we can mation and despair,” he told the laws to empower the Albanian would also aim to kill those bills remove it and fine you’”, said chamber. Media Authority (AMA) and the or nullify them with litigation. editor Enton Abilekaj. Dunja Mijatovic, the Council Authority of Electronic and We call on journalists to keep Prime Minister Edi Rama told of Europe Commissioner for Postal Communications to hear working by reporting truthfully parliament the move intended Human Rights, said the laws were Marian Kocner, suspected of ordering the 2018 assassination of complaints about news websites, and correctly and fear not the to stop fake news or slander in urgent need of improvement. investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova is escorted into the courtroom in Pezinok, Slovakia, yesterday. Four on trial over Slovak Hundreds held journalist, fiancee’s deaths in massive raid on Italian mafia AP Martina Kusnirova, they face PEZINOK potential prison sentences of 25 AFP years or life. ROME Four people went on trial in Kuciak and Kusnirova were Slovakia yesterday over the killed in their home on February Italian police said that they have arrested alleged contract killing of an 21, 2018. Slovak authorities said 334 people, including a police colonel and a investigative journalist and his they believed the killings were former MP, in a major operation against the fiancee, a crime that shocked the linked to Kuciak’s work inves- southern ‘Ndrangheta organised crime country and led a government tigating possible widespread syndicate, considered Italy’s most powerful to fall. government corruption and ties mafia group. The suspects appearing in between Slovak politicians and The swoop by helicopter-borne tactical court in a town near the capital Italian mobsters. units was the biggest in years and targeted of Bratislava include a Slovak The 27-year-old reporter the ‘Ndrangheta in Vibo Valentia — near the businessman accused of mas- was shot in the chest and Kus- tip of Italy’s boot — but also in regions farther terminding the double slaying nirova was shot in the head in north, including Veneto, Lombardy and Some of the weapons and ammunition seized by the Italian Police as part of a swoop and the alleged hired assassin. the town of Velka Maca, east of Tuscany. against the southern ‘Ndrangheta organised crime syndicate in the Joppolo campaign A fifth suspect made an Bratislava. Some 2,500 police as well as army par- close to Vibo Valentia, yesterday. agreement to cooperate with At the opening, Judge Ruzena atroopers took part in the raid, which netted prosecutors in exchange for a Sabova, who heads a three-judge the former MP, from Silvio Berlusconi’s party, European arrest warrants. Police also seized property worth $17m. lower sentence. The deal has to tribunal, dismissed the calls by as well as the head of the Calabrian mayors’ “Some of the bosses knew that the oper- Seventy of those arrested are being held be approved by a judge, and the the defence for the trial to be association. ation was planned for tomorrow (Friday) so under house arrest. other suspects said they weren’t postponed because a lack of time “This is the biggest sweep since the we had to bring it forward by 24 hours, which Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese interested in striking similar to study the evidence. Palermo maxi-trial (475 suspects tried in was a big (logistical) problem,” said Gratteri, praised “a very hard blow to the ‘Ndrangheta”. deals Sabova rejected the argu- 1986-1987),” Cantanzo prosecutor Nicola a renowned anti-mafia magistrate. Those arrested include Giancarlo Pit- The suspects were escorted ments by the defense. Gratteri said in a statement. Including those already in prison, the telli, a renowned lawyer, and former MP and to the court by heavily armed “The right to defense was The elite tactical ROS unit took part, vast operation targeted 416 people, crippling senator from ex-PM Berlusconi’s Forza Italia guards. If convicted of last year’s not violated at all,” she said. The while some of those held were arrested in ‘Ndrangheta’s Vibo Valentia, Mancuso di party. Lawyers, accountants and other offi- killings of Jan Kuciak and trial will resume on January 13. Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria on Limbadi and Lo Bianco-Barba clans. cials were also arrested. 12 EUROPE / AMERICAS FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 British PM puts Brexit top of new agenda

AFP Scotland’s First Department for Exiting the LONDON Minister called European Union “will be wound for a new vote on up once the UK leaves the EU on Prime Minister Boris Johnson independence, January 31”. yesterday put Britain’s departure Rebellions over Brexit left from the EU at the top of his signalling a looming Johnson without the Commons to-do list, as Queen Elizabeth II constitutional battle support he needed to govern so read out his plans for between London and he called a snap election -- and government in a parliamentary Edinburgh. won a landslide. ceremony following a sweeping As a result, yesterday’s election win. speech was scaled down, with The monarch formally he negotiated in October but the 93-year-old monarch opened parliament with plenty could not get through a dead- eschewing her horse-drawn car- of traditional pomp and pag- locked parliament. riage for a car and her regalia for eantry before ermine and red- Now with a comfortable a matching coral green hat and robed members of the upper majority in the 650-seat House coat. House of Lords, and MPs from of Commons, he hopes to push The highlight of the proposed the lower House of Commons. through the deal in time to fulfil legislation was the Withdrawal But before the queen’s set- his election campaign pledge to Agreement Bill (WAB) to ratify piece speech, Scotland’s first “Get Brexit Done” on the next EU the terms of Brexit, which will be minister called for a new vote on deadline. put to a first vote among MPs on Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles walks through the Royal Gallery at the State Opening independence, signalling a “My government’s priority is Friday. of Parliament ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in London, yesterday. looming constitutional battle to deliver the United Kingdom’s “After the dither, after the between London and departure from the European delay, after the deadlock, after The bill covers Britain’s agree a new relationship after three general elections since Edinburgh. Union on 31st January,” the the paralysis, the time has come financial obligations to the EU, Britain leaves the bloc’s single 2015 made the case for a new Nicola Sturgeon said Brexit queen confirmed from her gilded for change and the time has the rights of European expa- market and customs union. referendum “unarguable”. and election results north of the throne. come for action,” Johnson told triates and new arrangements for Johnson’s Tories may have “Scotland made it very clear border made a clear “constitu- She added: “Thereafter, my MPs. “A new golden age for this Northern Ireland. won a majority across Britain in last week it does not want a Tory tional and democratic case” for ministers will seek a future rela- United Kingdom is now within It will also enshrine the dates the December 12 poll but lost government led by Boris a fresh look about whether tionship with the EU based on a reach. of a transition period, which will more than half their seats in Johnson, taking us out of the Scotland should end its more free-trade agreement that ben- “Tomorrow is the day when keep EU-UK ties largely Scotland on a campaign European Union,” Sturgeon told than 300-year-old union with efits the whole of the United we finally peel back the plastic unchanged until December 31, opposing a fresh independence a news conference. England and Wales. Kingdom.” wrapping... and present our 2020, to allow both sides to sign vote. “That is the future we face if Johnson’s top priority is a bill In a sign of the government’s oven-ready deal... clearing the a new trade deal. First Minister Sturgeon said we do not have the opportunity to ratify the terms of Britain’s exit vow to keep to the Brexit time- way for our overarching pro- But the EU has warned the sweeping victories by her to consider the alternative of from the European Union, which table, a spokesman said the gramme of national renewal.” timetable is extremely tight to Scottish National Party in the independence.” Three US states file lawsuit seeking to block Equal Rights Amendment

AP court in Alabama comes in Ferriero, the archivist of the statement announcing the or require boys and girls to based on gender. It fell short of MONTGOMERY response to a renewed push to United States, from accepting a lawsuit. compete against each other in the required 38 states needed to get the required 38th state to new ratification from a state. Marshall said Alabama, Lou- sports. make it the 28th amendment to Alabama, Louisiana and South ratify the Equal Rights “The people had seven years isiana and South Dakota are The Republican Alabama the Constitution. Dakota have filed a federal Amendment, which would ban to consider the ERA, and they committed to equality but con- attorney-general also noted that Virginia is among the states lawsuit seeking to block the discrimination on the basis of rejected it. To sneak it into the tended the “ERA would not five states that previously ratified considering ERA ratification. addition of the Equal Rights gender. Constitution through this illegal promote true equality, but rather the amendment later moved to Charlotte Gomer, press secretary Amendment (ERA) to the US The lawsuit notes that Con- process would undermine the a far-left agenda.” rescind their support. for Virginia Attorney-General Constitution, Alabama’s gress set a 1982 deadline to get very basis for our constitutional He argued that the The amendment, submitted Mark Herring, said their office attorney-general announced. the required 38 states to agree order,” Alabama Attorney amendment could be used to to the states in the early 1970s, will examine the suit to see if The lawsuit filed in federal and seeks to prevent David General Steve Marshall said in a strike down abortion restrictions would ban any discrimination they need to get involved. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS 13 Trump impeached for abuse of power, obstruction

REUTERS The Senate’s top Ukrainian President Volodymyr WASHINGTON Republican, Mitch Zelenskiy as leverage to coerce McConnell, has Kiev into interfering in the 2020 Donald Trump became the third predicted there is “no election by smearing Biden. US president to be impeached as “President Trump abused his the House of Representatives chance” his chamber power, violated his oath of office, formally charged him with will remove Trump and betrayed our nation,” Biden abuse of power and obstruction when it holds its trial. said on Twitter, adding: “In the of Congress in a historic step that United States of America, no one will inflame partisan tensions is above the law — not even the across a deeply divided America. vote was under way in the president.” The Democratic-led House’s House. The second article accused passage of two articles of “They’ve been trying to Trump of obstruction of Con- impeachment on a mostly party- impeach me from day one. gress by directing administration line vote sets the stage for a trial They’ve been trying to impeach officials and agencies not to next month in the Republican- me from before I ran,” he said. comply with lawful House sub- controlled Senate — friendlier Trump, who is seeking poenas for testimony and docu- terrain for Trump — on whether another four-year term in the ments related to impeachment. to convict and remove him from November 2020 presidential During a daylong debate office. election, has denied wrongdoing before the vote, Pelosi read the No president in the 243-year and called the impeachment US Pledge of Allegiance and said: history of the United States has inquiry, launched by House “We are here to defend been removed from office by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Sep- democracy for the people.” impeachment. That would tember, a “witch hunt.” “If we do not act now, we require a two-thirds majority in The first of the articles would be derelict in our duty. It People taking pictures of newspaper front pages on display after US President Donald Trump’s historic the 100-member Senate, accused Trump, 73, of abusing is tragic that the president’s impeachment, at the Newseum in Washington, DC, yesterday. meaning at least 20 Republicans his power by pressuring Ukraine reckless actions make would have to join Democrats in to investigate political rival Joe impeachment necessary,” Pelosi the duly elected president of the America’s entry into World War that was bipartisan was in oppo- voting against Trump - and none Biden, a leading contender for said. United States,” Republican Rep- Two. sition. The President is just have indicated they will. the 2020 Democratic presi- As the debate unfolded, resentative Mike Rogers said. The abuse of power article getting stronger while support The Senate’s top Republican, dential nomination, as well as a Republicans accused Democrats Republican Representative was passed on a 230-197 vote for the Democrats’ political Mitch McConnell, has predicted discredited theory promoted by of seeking to use an unfair, Mike Kelly compared the and the obstruction article was theater has faded,” Trump cam- there is “no chance” his chamber the president and beneficial to rigged process to nullify the 2016 impeachment to the Japanese passed by 229-198. All of the paign manager Brad Parscale will remove Trump when it holds Russia that Democrats conspired election and suggested Demo- attack on Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor House Republicans opposed the said in a statement. its trial. with Ukraine to meddle in the crats would pay a price in the in 1941, calling the House pro- articles, and two Democrats, US Representative Tulsi “This lawless, partisan 2016 election. 2020 election. ceedings another “date that will Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Gabbard, a Democratic presi- impeachment is a political Democrats said Trump held “The matter before the House live in infamy” — similar to the Drew, voted no on both. Dem- dential candidate, voted present suicide march for the Democrat back $391m in security aid today is based solely on a funda- words Democratic President ocrat Jared Golden voted against on both articles, declaring in a Party,” Trump told a raucous intended to combat Russia- mental hatred of our president. Franklin Roosevelt used to the obstruction charge but for statement: “I could not in good rally for his re-election campaign backed separatists and a coveted It’s a sham, a witch hunt — and describe the raid that killed abuse of power. conscience vote either yes or in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the White House meeting for it’s tantamount to a coup against about 2,400 people and led to “The only part of the vote no.” Bolivia’s AG orders arrest of Evo Morales Woman arrested for allegedly AFP by accusing the interim gov- trespassing at Trump’s resort LA PAZ ernment of manufacturing the audio to damage him REUTERS The president and the rest Bolivia’s attorney-general politically. PALM BEACH of his family were not at the yesterday ordered the arrest of The controversial October resort at the time. Media exiled former president Evo poll in which Morales was re- A Chinese national trespassed at reported that Trump was Morales (pictured) after the elected was annulled following US President Donald Trump’s expected to travel to Mar-a- interim government accused him an Organization of American Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida Lago today for a nearly two- of sedition and terrorism. States (OAS) audit that found yesterday and was arrested upon week stay for the holidays. Public prosecutors in La Paz clear evidence of vote rigging. refusing to leave, police said. Chinese foreign ministry signed a warrant for police to Right-wing deputy senate It was the second time this spokesman Geng Shuang, asked detain the 60-year-old — who leader Jeanine Anez took over as year that a Chinese national was about the case during a daily is in Argentina — and take him interim president and has vowed arrested at the property. briefing in Beijing yesterday, to the attorney-general’s office. to call new elections early next ing Lu, 56, trespassed at the said he was not aware of the Morales fled Bolivia last year, although no date has been property and was asked to leave incident but that Beijing asks its month after civil unrest broke set. by security, Palm Beach Police citizens overseas to abide by out following his re-election in The interim government has Department said in a statement. local laws and refrain from an October 20 poll widely dis- American country for almost 14 supporters to block trucks and barred Morales from standing in “She returned and began to illegal activities. missed as rigged. years before resigning last month interrupt the food supply to the ballot. take photos, at which time the In March, another Chinese The former trade union and leaving Bolivia. several cities. Bolivia’s constitution limits Palm Beach Police Department national, Yujing Zhang, passed leader denounced the arrest He initially received asylum Morales was in Mexico at the a president to two consecutive responded and took her into an initial Secret Service check- order as “illegal, unfair and in Mexico and then arrived in time, the complaint alleges. terms but Morales stood for a custody,” the department said, point by passing herself off as a unconstitutional” on Twitter. Argentina last week. Murillo began legal action potential fourth term in October. adding that it was discovered relative of a resort member. “I’m not worried. As long as The allegations against him against Morales in November, Ahead of the last two elec- her visa had expired. Zhang, 33, was found guilty I’m alive I’ll continue with stem from an audio recording after weeks of road blocks tions, the constitutional court Lu, who was charged with in September of lying to a greater strength in the political released by Arturo Murillo, the caused food and fuel shortages made controversial decisions loitering and prowling, was held federal officer and trespassing and ideological struggle for a free interim government’s interior in the capital La Paz following authorising him to run again. His in the Palm Beach County jail, at the resort by a US District and sovereign Bolivia,” he said. minister. In the recording, his resignation. detractors accused him of cor- police said. She invoked her Court 12-member jury in Fort Morales ruled the South Morales allegedly tells one of his The ex-president countered ruption and authoritarianism. right to an attorney. Lauderdale. Airline mechanic pleads guilty to jetliner sabotage AP/MIAMI

A longtime airline mechanic with some possible links to extremists pleaded guilty yesterday to sabotaging a jetliner with 150 people aboard, causing the pilot to abort the flight just before takeoff at Miami Interna- tional Airport. Abdul Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani entered the plea in Miami federal court. He previously admitted to investigators that he committed the sabotage, insisting it was an attempt to gain overtime to fix the American Airlines jet — which he did. “I do admit the guilt,” Alani, shackled and wearing tan jail clothing, said through an interpreter. Alani, 60, is a naturalised US citizen originally from Iraq who has been an airline mechanic for 30 years. Prosecutors said he has a brother in Iraq who may be involved with the IS extremist group. Investigators said Alani also had IS videos on his phone depicting mass murders and that he traveled to Iraq in March but did not disclose that to the FBI after his arrest. Despite that evidence, Alani was never charged with any terrorism-related crime. He pleaded guilty to attempted destruction of an aircraft, which carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Alani will likely get less prison time when he is sentenced March 4. Court documents show the sabotage involved Pen.Mag gluing styrofoam inside the nose of the Boeing 737 so that it disabled a component pilots use to monitor Every Sunday To Thursday things such as airspeed, altitude and the pitch of the plane. Authorities said if the flight had taken off as planned on July 17 for Nassau, Bahamas, the sabotage could have caused a crash. For Advertisements Many of Alani’s actions that day were captured on surveillance video and he was identified by fellow Please call: 44557857 workers. 14 CLASSIFIEDS FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019

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70482655 BUSINESS FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 15 PAGE | 16 PAGE | 16

Germany debuts Bank of England green bonds in audio feed 2020 to support ‘misused’ by climate action hedge funds

Your Global Remittance Partner Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate QAR/INR : 19.35 QAR/PHP : 13.80 QAR/LKR : 49.53 QAR/BDT : 23.50 EUR/QAR : 4.20 GBP/QAR : 4.94 CAD/QAR : 2.89 AUD/QAR : 2.65 CHF/QAR : 3.89 SGD/QAR : 2.80 KWD/QAR : 12.18 OMR/QAR : 9.55 MAIN BRANCH LULU HYPER MARKET SANAYYA (STREET 17) AL KHOR PH: 44441448 PH: 44650768 PH: 44510088 PH: 44213444 MATAR QADEEM MANSOURA - AL MEERA ABU HAMOUR BIN OMRAN - ALMEERA PH: 44655559 PH: 44357552 PH: 44621271 PH: 44162002 alzamanexchange www.alzamanexchange.com 44441448 Oil hovers near UK wants 80% of trade 3-month highs on covered by trade progress, new deals lower inventories by 2022 REUTERS /LONDON REUTERS LONDON The British government said yesterday it wanted to cover 80 Oil prices hovered near three- Brent crude futures percent of its external trade month peaks yesterday, buoyed were down 7 cents with new free trade agreements by falling US crude inventories by 2022 as it seeks to build new and thawing trade relations at $66.10 a barrel relationships with the world between the United States and at 1321 GMT, after after leaving the European China. five straight days of Union on January 31. Brent crude futures were “Our ambition is to cover down 7 cents at $66.10 a barrel at gains. US West Texas 80 percent of total UK external 1321 GMT, after five straight days Intermediate (WTI) trade with free trade agree- of gains. US West Texas Interme- crude fell 1 cent to ments by 2022,” the gov- diate (WTI) crude fell 1 cent to $60.83 a barrel. ernment said in a briefing note $60.83 a barrel. The contract for Malaysia-Turkey enhancing economic ties accompanying its legislative January delivery expired improved the global economic agenda. The UK has already yesterday. outlook, lifting prospects for President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (second left), and Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir announced it will be negotiating Trading volume was thin higher energy demand next year Muhammed (second right) signed bilateral agreements during their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia. free trade agreements with the before the Christmas holiday with and underpinning oil prices. Turkey’s Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank (left) also attended the ceremony. EU, US, New Zealand, Australia news of President Donald In a further sign of thawing and Japan. Trump’s impeachment by the US relations, China’s finance ministry House of Representatives failing yesterday published a new list of to stir the oil market. six US products that will be “A resilient performance in exempt from tariffs starting Goldman in talks for Asia unit to admit guilt in 1MDB the coming two weeks will flip the December 26. monthly technical picture unre- A week earlier, the Organi- BLOOMBERG $2bn, the people said. compliance, Dow Jones reported public stance of wanting to servedly positive for next year,” zation of the Petroleum Exporting NEW YORK Federal agencies have been earlier yesterday. recover $7.5bn. Goldman is still PVM oil market analysts said, Countries and non-Opec pro- seeking penalties between Spokespeople for Goldman privately seeking to reduce its although they added prices were ducers such as Russia agreed to Goldman Sachs Group is nego- $1.5bn and $2bn in recent and US Attorney Richard sanctions, arguing that the still likely to be volatile. deepen production cuts by a tiating a settlement of the 1MDB weeks, less than what some Donoghue in Brooklyn, New crimes were committed by a Oil prices are on track for a further 500,000 barrels per day scandal that would include an analysts had previously pre- York, where the case is pending, rogue employee and that the third consecutive weekly rise, (bpd) from January 1 on top of admission of guilt by one of its dicted, Bloomberg reported didn’t have an immediate bank wasn’t aware of the surfing momentum from this previous reductions of 1.2 million subsidiaries instead of the earlier this month. comment. The bank has previ- misconduct. month’s announcements about bpd. Offering a further lift to oil parent company, according to Banks often push for sub- ously said it continues to coop- Goldman’s involvement deeper output cuts by major crude prices, weekly data from the people familiar with the matter. sidiaries to plead guilty to erate with all investigating with 1MDB has triggered one of producers and the “Phase One” Energy Information Adminis- The guilty plea would come wrongdoing in order to avoid authorities. the biggest blows to its repu- deal between Washington and tration showed US crude inven- from a unit in Asia, the people the impact on business that The bank is separately nego- tation in recent years, leading China that has eased trade tories dropped 1.1 million barrels said, asking not to be identified would come from a parent com- tiating a settlement with to a litany of investigations and tensions. in the week to December 13, while because the talks are confi- pany’s admission of guilt. The Malaysian authorities, who have embarrassing revelations of a The deal between the world’s gasoline and distillates stockpiles dential. The agreement would deal could include an inde- in recent discussions floated former banker bribing gov- two largest economies has rose. also include a fine of almost pendent monitor to oversee much lower figures than their ernment officials. Qatar to increase downstream gas investments; BMW and Daimler quit retains position as Mena’s top gas exporter: APICORP carsharing

THE PENINSULA/DOHA come from Qatar, where tenders crunch materialising increase service in for additional LNG processing again in the region. The other Qatar, which continues to retain trains (estimated at $15bn), have interesting development is that US, Canada its position as the Mena’s top gas recently been issued. with global gas prices dropping, exporter, is expected to see an Dr. Ahmed Ali Attiga, Chief investors in the gas value chain are AFP/FRANKFURT increase in its downstream gas Executive Officer, APICORP, com- using a variety of financing strat- investments which makes the mented: “Due to higher upfront egies and commercial schemes to Luxury carmakers BMW and country one of the exceptions in risks associated with exploration get project FIDs”. Daimler have announced that the region which sees declines in activity, we are seeing govern- Oman underwent a period of they will ditch their joint car- gas investments, said the Arab ments shouldering the majority of limited gas rationing for industries sharing scheme in North America Petroleum Investments Corpo- the investments on the upstream as well as electricity reform, but its and scale back the service in Dr Leila Benali (left), Chief Economist, and Dr Ahmed Ali Attiga, ration (APICORP) in its latest side. Currently, government production is expected to increase. Europe, citing lower than expected CEO, of APICORP report released, yesterday. investments account for a little Oman continues its upstream take-up in a “complicated” According to The Gas Invest- under 92 percent of committed reform drive by awarding three market. ments Outlook 2019-2023 on the emergent technologies. roughly 30 percent of the region’s upstream gas investments com- blocks to international IOCs in The move comes less than a MENA region’s planned and com- It highlighted the $70bn y-o-y total gas consumption. pared to just 29 percent for petro- 2019. Over the next five years, the year after the German rivals mitted investments for the period decline in Mena’s total committed Declines in gas investments chemicals projects where we are Sultanate’s gas production is launched their Share Now scheme 2019 to 2023, Qatar is moving and planned investments. It added largely offset by significant seeing more private sector expected to increase by 47 bcma to great fanfare as part of a plan ahead with upgrades that will see that out of the nine countries with increases in petrochemicals. By involvement. This involvement is from its current level of 40 bcma. to join forces and pour €1bn its liquefaction capacity rise from committed upstream investments contrast, APICORP’s Annual Mena expected to expand given the This increased production will ($1.1bn) into the “mobility services” current 77 Mtpa to 126 Mtpa by in the 2018 outlook, seven of them Gas Investments Outlook shows increasing share of planned pet- underpin the 15 percent increase of the future. In a statement on 2027. Qatar has plans to nearly saw a year-on-year (y-o-y) petrochemicals investments as a rochemicals and other down- in the share of gas in the country’s Wednesday, the firms said they double its 65-strong LNG fleet by decline, including Iran, which saw bright spot, with a 50 percent stream gas projects estimated at fuel mix (from 35 percent in 2015 would scrap Share Now in the adding at least 60 new carriers at its share of projects under exe- y-o-y increase compared to its $134bn, or 71 percent, in the to 50 percent by 2025). United States and Canada from an estimated cost in excess of cution fall by 77 percent. 2018-2022 outlook. overall gas value chain versus Algeria’s domestic demand February 29, 2020, blaming “the $12bn, growing the current global Notably, Qatar is one of the Two-thirds of the Mena coun- upstream and midstream.” continues to grow, jumping by 70 volatile state of the global mobility LNG fleet of 525 carriers, as of Q4 exceptions, and the country is tries will record lower planned Dr Leila Benali, Chief Econ- percent from 2008-2018 due pri- landscape” and rising costs. 2018, by 11-19 percent. expected to see an increase in its investments in their upstream gas omist and Head of Strategy, marily to the power sector which Share Now, born out of Daim- The report, released by downstream gas investments. sectors. Even though reforms have APICORP, said: “The downward relies on natural gas to feed 98 ler’s Car2Go and BMW’s APICORP, a multilateral financial Overall, the decline in Mena com- contributed to the reduction in shift is not necessarily an indi- percent of the country’s total gen- DriveNow operations, will also development institution, provides mitted investments was most energy subsidies and improved cation of low investment appetite. erated electricity. exit the carsharing market in a detailed country-by-country notable in Kuwait (close to 80 energy efficiency and renewables In some countries it actually indi- Gas-fired capacity will con- London, Brussels and Florence analysis, and highlights interesting percent), with Algeria and Iran at programmes, there is still a risk of cates a deceleration from a heavy tinue to feature heavily in the “due to low adoption rates”. trends and dynamics shaping the around 50 percent. under-investment in upstream upstream activity and the com- Algeria’s estimated $31bn of new The firms said they had to face gas landscape over the short and In terms of total gas con- gas. A fair number of the green- missioning of major projects. Nev- power generation projects over up to “complicated realities” in the medium terms, including the sumption at the Mena level, the field power projects will ertheless, with some countries the next five years, which equals fiercely competitive business of energy transition, gas pricing, report indicates that the industrial undoubtedly require additional struggling to attract private sector 56 percent of the country’s total using apps to book cars for short- private sector participation and sector currently accounts for gas supplies. Major upsides will investment, the risks of supply energy investment. term rentals in urban areas. 16 BUSINESS FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 Germany debuts green bonds in 2020 for climate action

BLOOMBERG/BERLIN to €148bn, while shorter-maturity “Twinning” the green bonds bills are to total €62bn. Some entails topping up regular bonds Germany will join European peers €180bn of the issuance will be of the same maturity though the like France and Poland next year used to amortise existing debt. top-up volume won’t be sold to in selling green bonds, tapping Pressing climate protection investors but bought by the agency rising demand and favorable challenges have increased “in support of market man- issuance costs for such debt as it financing needs for Chancellor agement,” the agency’s Tammo boosts investments to cut carbon Angela Merkel’s government to Diemer (pictured) said in a press pollution. help meet climate targets. Sov- conference yesterday. Europe’s benchmark issuer ereign green bond issuance will The agency will sell the bonds government may spend as much will sell about €10bn of the bonds have a supporting role and will not via auction at the moment as the as €270bn by 2030 to achieve from mid-year via auctions, increase net debt, the government instrument offers all potential programme targets, according to “twinning” emissions with regular has said. investors a fair and fully acces- the legislation’s pre-amble. bonds of the same maturity and In time, investors will be able sible market to acquire the debt. Green bond issuance has so coupon, the Federal Finance to purchase the bonds “all along ‘There are also good reasons to far channeled by proxy through Agency said yesterday as part of the interest rate curve,” the agency use a syndicate,” he said. the KfW Group development its overall issuance calendar for said. The government aims to Germany may assign some lender, in which the government 2020. The bonds will be fully con- establish a “liquid” green bond revenue from green bond sales to has an 80 percent stake. The vertible with their sister bonds benchmark in the euro area, it help Merkel’s sweeping €54bn Frankfurt bank started selling the ahead of maturity. added. Revenue from the sales ($60bn) Climate Protection Pro- bonds in 2015 and this year sold The federal government will will be channeled “one-to-one” gramme 2030, a move to double the debt in a record 7 currencies, sell €210bn ($233bn) of bonds and in financing green projects. The down on cutting pollution that’s an activity which it says comple- bills in 2020, the agency said. agency may also in time sell due to gain final parliamentary ments the plan to sell sovereigns Thereof, bond sales will amount 30-year green bonds, it said. approval in Berlin this week. The in euros. Bank of England audio feed ‘misused’ by hedge funds

AP/LONDON the official broadcast provided by before other investors. Bloomberg News. Carney and others on the British authorities began investi- Having access to comments bank’s nine-member rate-setting gating yesterday how some hedge from Carney seconds early could panel hold quarterly news con- funds got access to market-sen- have been lucrative for investors ferences to discuss the outlook for sitive news conferences of the who use powerful computer pro- UK interest rates. Those news con- Bank of England five to eight grammes to trade quickly. ferences often lead to big moves seconds ahead of others, enough So-called high-frequency in financial markets as traders to give them a huge edge in the trading can execute a huge react to changes to the outlook for fast-moving world of financial number of transactions in a interest rates. That’s been espe- markets. fraction of a second. Large organ- cially the case over the past few Following a report in The Times isations such as investment banks years of Brexit-related newspaper late Wednesday, the and hedge funds use artificial uncertainty. Bank of England confirmed an According to the newspaper, intelligence and automated “Those outlook comments can investigation was underway into some market participants who sub- trading platforms to track markets determine interest rates, the value what it termed the “wholly unac- scribed to a news service offering and execute trades. of the pound, and a lot of financial ceptable” use of an audio feed that an audio feed of the Bank of If Carney, for example, indi- instruments,” said Sue Noffke had been set up as a back-up to the England Governor Mark Carney’s cates that the central bank is ready (pictured), UK equities fund official video broadcast. quarterly press conferences got to raise interest rates, traders manager at Schroders, told BBC The bank referred the case to access to the audio feed. That would could see that as a potential pos- Radio. It was unclear whether the financial regulator, the Financial have given them a crucial itive for the pound and start anyone had made money off of Conduct Authority. advantage over those watching via buying the currency heavily the audio feed access.

CROSSWORD MALL ROYAL PLAZA

Go Fish (2D/Animation) 2:00pm Prati Roju Pandaage (2D/Telugu) 2:00pm Prati Roju Pandaage (2D/Telugu) 2:30pm Hero (2D/Tamil) 2:15 & 11:00pm Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 6:15, 8:30 & 11:15pm Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 2:30, 5:15 & 8:15pm Frozen II (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:15pm Frozen II (2D/Animation) 4:30pm Hero (2D/Tamil) 3:15pm; Thambi (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm Legend Of The Christmas Witch (2D/Comedy) 5:30pm Jumanji: The Next Level (2D/Action) 5:00 & 7:15pm; Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2D/Action) 6:15 & 8:45pm Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2D/Action) 6:00 & Bombshell (2D/Biography) 7:15pm 9:00pm; Into The Ashes (Crime) 9:30pm Mamangam (2D/Malayalam) 11:15pm Jumanji: The Next Level (2D/Action) 9:15pm Thambi (2D/Tamil) 11:15pm; I See You (2D/Horror) 11:30pm LANDMARK FLIK Mirqab Mall Prati Roju Pandaage (2D/Telugu) 2:15pm Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 5:40, 7:25, 8:50, 10:35pm & 12:00 midnight Mamangam (2D/Malayalam) 11:15pm Frozen II (2D/Animation) 10:30am, 12:40 & 2:50pm Frozen II (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:45pm Bonnie Bears: Blast Into The Past (2D/Animation) Go Fish (2D/Animation) 10:35pm 4:15pm; Hero (2D/Tamil) 2:00 & 8:15pm; Jumanji: The Next Level (3D/Action) 10:10, 12:40, 3:10, 5:00pm & Jumanji: The Next Level (2D/Action) 6:00pm Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2D/Action) 6:30 & 0:4am 9:00pm; Hero (2D/Tamil) 8:15 & 11:00pm Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2D/Action) 10:30, 11:00am, Thambi (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm 11:50, 12:10, 1:20, 1:50, 2:40, 3:00, 4:40, 5:30, 5:50, 7:00, 7:30, 8:20, AL KHOR 8:40, 9:30, 9:50, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30pm Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (3D/Action) 10:00am, 11:30am, Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 10:30am, 1:45, 5:00, 8:15 & 11:30pm 12:50, 2:20, 3:40, 5:10, 6:30, 8:00, 9:20, 10:50pm & 0:10am, Hero (2D/Tamil) 11:45am, 5:45 & 11:45pm Jumanji: The Next Level (2D/Action) 11:45am, 11:30pm; ASIAN TOWN Thambi (2D/Tamil) 3:00 & 9:00pm; Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2D/Action) 2:30pm; Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30, 2:30am & 12:15am Mamangam (2D/Malayalam) 5:30pm Thambi (2D/Tamil) 12:30, 3:15, 6:15pm & 12:00 midnight ROXY Hero (2D/Tamil) 3:15, 9:00pm & 2:45am Mamangam (2D/Malayalam) 5:45 & 11:15pm Bonnie Bears: Blast Into The Past 10:30 & 3:45pm; Kettyolanu Ente Maalakha (2D/Malayalam) 8:45pm Dabangg 3 (2D/Hindi) 10:30, 1:00, 2:50, 4:00, 4:50, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 11:10pm Prati Roju Pandaage (2D/Telugu) 12:30pm Frozen II (3D/Animation) 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 & 5:45pm Hero (2D/Tamil) 12:30, 6:40 & 10:10pm Jumanji: The Next Level (3D/Action) 11:00, 12:30, 1:20, 2:40, 3:30, 4:20, 5:10, 7:40, 8:00 & 9:00pm Ruler (2D/Telugu) 10:30pm Stand Up (2D/Malayalam) 10:30am, 12:30, 1:20, 4:00, 6:00, 7;00, 8:10, 10:00 & 11:30am Thambi (2D/Tamil) 3:40, 7:30, 10:00 & 10;30pm

DABANGG 3

The film, a prequel in part, traces Chulbul Pandey’s journey from a young man named Dhaakad to police officer Chulbul Pandey, and his fight with the demons of his past. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 SPORT 17 We are in great form and we are Real captain Sergio CRICKET FOOTBALL Ramos says after a also in good shape physically. It’s Pakistan vs Sri Lanka La Liga: Eibar vs Granada goalless draw against a shame that the year is about to 2nd Test - Day 2 Italian Serie A: Fiorentina vs end, we would like it to not stop. Barcelona.

ACTION in Karachi Roma TODAY’S

Bangladesh Pakistan fight back after SL ‘reluctant’ to play Tests in bowlers shine in Karachi Pakistan: PCB AFP Dimuth Karunaratne (25) and had him stumped off a well- KARACHI Kusal Mendis (13) leaving Sri disguised delivery. REUTERS Lanka still 127 runs behind on Shafiq hooked Kumara MUMBAI Pakistan fought back after the first innings. tentatively to deep square- being dismissed relatively Lanky pacer Shaheen leg, ending Pakistan’s hopes Bangladesh are “slightly reluctant” to play cheaply yesterday as bowlers Shah Afridi had Fernando of a big total in their bid to a Test series in Pakistan and have offered dominated the opening day caught behind before win the series after the first only to tour the country for three Twenty20 of the second Test against Sri Mohammad Abbas removed Test ended in a draw due to internationals next month, the Pakistan Lanka in Karachi. Karunaratne and Mendis. poor weather in Rawalpindi. Cricket Board (PCB) has said. Lahiru Kumara and Lasith At stumps, Angelo Shafiq admitted the Paki- Pakistan are currently hosting Sri Embuldeniya grabbed four Mathews was eight not out stani batsmen were undone Lanka in a two-match series, the coun- wickets each to dismiss and nightwatchman by the wicket. try’s first Tests on home soil since the 2009 Pakistan for just 191 before Embuldeniya unbeaten on “It was unexpected turn militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in the home team had the vis- three. and seam on the first day’s Lahore. itors at 64-3 at stumps at the Pakistan were well set at pitch,” said Shafiq, playing his That attack left six security personnel National Stadium. 127-3 with Babar Azam (60) 67th consecutive Test. and two civilians dead and six players Pacer Kumara took 4-49 and Asad Shafiq (63) involved “(But) If we bowl well we injured, and saw Pakistan spend the next while left-arm spinner in a 62-run stand for the can get them out in this total decade in the Test wilderness as teams Embuldeniya finished with fourth wicket, but once Azam and then put up a winning refused to play there due to security 4-71 after Pakistan won the fell the home side lost their score.” concerns. toss. last six wickets for just 24 Kumara dismissed Bangladesh were due to arrive in But Pakistan staged a runs. Azam was shaping well Mohammad Rizwan for four January for three T20s and two Tests and fightback with the wickets of after scoring his 13th half- and Yasir Shah (nought) off the PCB was hopeful the full tour would Oshada Fernando (four), century before Embuldeniya successive deliveries in the go ahead given that Sri Lanka had returned first over after tea before to the country for the Test series. SCOREBOARD Embuldeniya removed the tail. “We have had a round of corre- Earlier, Sri Lanka left-arm spondence with them and they are happy Pakistan Bowling: Fernando 13-3-31-2, Kumara pacer Vishwa Fernando dis- to play three T20s in Pakistan but they are Shan Masood b Fernando ...... 5 18-5-49-4, Karunaratne 1-0-11-0, Em- missed opener Shan Masood slightly reluctant to play Test cricket,” PCB Abid Ali lbw b Kumara ...... 38 buldeniya 20.3-3-71-4, Perera 7-0-23-0 for five and skipper Azhar Chief Executive Wasim Khan told Azhar Ali b Fernando ...... 0 Sri Lanka Ali for a duck to rattle reporters. B’ Azam st D’wella b Embuldeniya ... 60 O. Fernando c Rizwan b Shaheen ...... 4 Pakistan at 10-2 in the “I have written to Bangladesh, been morning. very, very strong in my response, and Asad Shafiq c Fernando b Kumara .....63 D. Karunaratne b Abbas ...... 25 Sri Lanka’s pacer Lahiru Kumara celebrates after taking the Fernando’s new-ball asked them for the reasons why. The ICC wicket of Pakistan’s Abid Ali on first day of second Test in Haris Sohail lbw b Embuldeniya ...... 9 K. Mendis c Haris b Abbas ...... 13 partner Kumara dismissed (governing body International Cricket Mohammad Rizwan b Kumara ...... 4 A. Mathews not out ...... 8 first Test centurion Abid Ali Karachi, yesterday. Council) has signed off on our security Yasir Shah lbw b Kumara ...... 0 L. Embuldeniya not out ...... 3 for 38 to end a third-wicket plans and it has been signed off for a while Abbas c de Silva b Embuldeniya ...... 0 Extras: (lb 6, w5) ...... 11 partnership of 55, which had Perera, but could not match before clean bowling skipper now.” Shaheen c Mathews b Embuldeniya ....5 Total: (for three wkts; 19 overs) 64 lifted Pakistan from a pre- his hundred in the first Test. Azhar with a full-length The PCB promised watertight security Naseem Shah not out ...... 1 Still to bat: D. Chandimal, D. de Silva, carious 10 for two. Azam’s 96-ball knock delivery. for the Sri Lankan players as the team Fernando thought he had contained eight boundaries That left Azhar without a returned to play several limited overs Extras: (b 4, lb 2)...... 6 N.Dickwella, D. Perera, V. Fernando, L. Ku- Azam leg-before on four, but and a six while Shafiq’s 126- fifty in 13 innings, including matches earlier this year - though 10 key Total: (all out; 59.3 overs)...... 191 mara TV referalls showed the ball ball stay had six boundaries. nine scores of under 10. players opted out of that visit citing Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Masood), 2-10 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Oshada), 2-39 hit the bat first. It was Fernando who pro- Pakistan brought in leg- security concerns. (Azhar), 3-65 (Abid), 4-127 (Azam), (Karunaratne), 3-61 (Mendis) Azam reached his fourth vided Sri Lanka with early spinner Yasir Shah for ailing However, a full-strength Sri Lankan 5-167 (Sohail), 6-172 (Rizwan), 7-172 (Ya- Bowling: Shaheen 6-2-18-1, Abbas 8-3- half-century in the last five breakthroughs. paceman Usman Shinwari, side returned for the Tests, the first of sir), 8-179 (Abbas), 9-185 (Shafiq) 21-2, Naseem 5-0-19-0 (w5) innings with a crisp boundary He angled one in to while Embuldeniya came in which was drawn in Rawalpindi and the to cover off-spinner Dilruwan Masood to hit his off stump for unfit Kasun Rajitha. second started in Karachi. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne was one of the players to have opted out of the lim- ited-overs schedule but travelled for the Tests and on Wednesday said Pakistan was Indian Premier League 2020 auction safe to play cricket. The Marylebone Cricket Club also said that former Sri Lanka captain Kumar San- gakkara would lead a MCC side on a tour of Lahore in February to help Pakistan Cummins sold for record $2.17m convince touring sides to return to play Test cricket. “Sri Lanka are going to complete two AFP Test matches here very safely and every- KOLKATA thing has gone well. All the security pro- visions are in place,” said the top PCB Australian players attracted official. big prices in the Indian “So we are asking Bangladesh what Premier League auction are the reasons for you not wanting to yesterday with paceman Pat come. Cummins becoming the cost- “It’s (correspondence) not finished and liest overseas buy after he it doesn’t mean they are not going to come. went to Kolkata Knight Riders They are talking about three T20s, but for for $2.17m. us playing Test cricket in another country Explosive allrounder is not an option now.” Glenn Maxwell joined Kings XI Punjab for $1.51m after recently returning to cricket FROM LEFT The Chief Executive officer of the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Satish Menon, head coach of Royal Challengers from a short break due to Bangalore (RCB) Mike Hesson, head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Brendon McCullum and CEO of KKR Venky mental health issues. Mysore, attending apress conference for the Indian Premier League 2020 auction in Kolkata, yesterday. Injured Indian In the annual IPL auction, held before the start of each paceman Chahar season, teams buy players goes to their national board. elated to get “the best player Maxwell improved from Chennai Super Kings who who sign central contracts. Cummins initiated the of the auction”, but insisted his base price set at Rs20m to also got England allrounder out of 3rd ODI The players get around 75 biggest bidding war. Ban- India’s Dinesh Karthik will re-unite with his former Sam Curran for $773,340. percent of the auction price galore and Delhi Capitals both remain captain for the two- team. While most of India’s big AFP -- effectively their salary for upped the ante before time champions. “He has the capacity to name players are already NEW DELHI the season -- while the rest Kolkata swooped in for their Other big foreign buys really blast through on a good attached to franchises, several former player, who has included South Africa bowler day,” Punjab chief executive newcomers bagged lucrative Indian paceman Deepak Chahar has been ruled Other big foreign claimed 32 wickets in 25 IPL Chris Morris ($1.4m to Royal Satish Menon said after the deals such as uncapped out of the third and deciding one-day interna- buys include South matches. Challengers Bangalore), West big buy. batsman Virat Singh who tional against the West Indies after injuring his Africa bowler Chris “Absolutely pumped to be Indies quick Sheldon Cottrell “He is the only guy we went up from his base price back, the country’s Cricket board said yesterday. Morris ($1.4m to back on board ... Can’t wait to ($1.19m to Punjab) and Aussie see as ‘X factor’ in the middle- of $28,000 to fetch $267,000 Navdeep Saini will replace Chahar, who get over there,” Cummins said quick Nathan Coulter-Nile order which we lack very from Sunrisers Hyderabad. felt mild pain in his lower back after India’s Royal Challengers in a video message posted on ($1.12m to current champions badly. We couldn’t have A total of 338 players are 107-run victory in Visakhapatnam on Bangalore), West Kolkata’s official Twitter site. Mumbai Indians). thought anyone better than under the hammer at the Wednesday left the series tied 1-1. Indies quick Sheldon While it was a best for a West Indies batsman him. He knows the ground, auction for the 13th edition of The third ODI between the two sides is on Cottrell ($1.19m to foreign player, the price paid Shimron Hetmyer ($1.08m to the Kings XI Punjab the way the cash-rich league. Sunday in Cuttack. Punjab) and Aussie for Cummins is still short of Delhi), England’s World Cup- it has been.” The IPL, which was hit by INDIAN SQUAD quick Nathan the Rs160m ($2.3m) that Ban- winning skipper Eoin Morgan Maxwell has scored 1,397 a spot-fixing scandal in 2013, galore paid for Indian ($734,265 to Knight Riders) runs in the IPL at an average has emerged as the world’s Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Coulter-Nile ($1.12m batsman Yuvraj Singh in 2015. and Australia limited-overs of 22.9 at a rapid strike rate wealthiest league in the sport, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar

to current champions Kolkata’s new coach and captain Aaron Finch of 161.13. Leg-spinner Piyush with the tournament repli- Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mo- Mumbai Indians). former New Zealand skipper ($619,303 to Bangalore) were Chawla was the highest cated by other nations such hammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini. Brendon McCullum was other notable buys. Indian bid for $949,100 to as Australia. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019

Nadal not focused on Fares one to watch as 6th Qatar Federer’s Slam record AFP International Cup kicks off today ABU DHABI

CHINTHANA WASALA Rafael Nadal insists he is not focused on chasing Roger THE PENINSULA Federer’s record Grand Slam haul, but admits it would be “amazing” if he manages to eclipse the Swiss star’s tally of 20 Qatar’s weightlifting star Fares Ibrahim majors wins. Hassouna will be looking to defend his Nadal’s heroics in 2019 saw him capture a 12th Roland crown in the 96kg class when the 6th Garros and fourth US Open and the Spaniard is now just one edition of Qatar International Cup kicks Slam shy of Federer’s men’s all-time record. off in Doha today. At 33, Nadal became the oldest year-end No.1 when he The tournament will take place at the secured that position last month, following a tremendous Radisson Blu Hotel until December 23. season that saw him scoop four titles on tour, along with the The silver winner at the 2019 World Davis Cup crown for Spain. Championships in his weight category, “Happy to achieve these things, but I would love to have Hassouna will be looking to rewrite five years less,” Nadal joked with reporters in Abu Dhabi on record books in the same manner he did Thursday ahead of his 10th appearance at the Mubadala World a year ago. Tennis Championship exhibition. The two-time Junior World “It has been a little bit of a magic year because it had been Champion and a silver medallist at the a good start, but then I went through a couple of very hard 2018 Asian Games, the 21-year-old lifted months in terms of injuries. a record total of 397kg to win gold during “Then I came back and I came back well. I started to play the previous edition of the event last year. at a very high level again. I enjoyed a lot of great moments In the men’s 96kg category (Group on court, very emotional ones, Roland Garros, Rome, then Qatari weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Hassouna trains ahead A), Fares lifted 172kg in the snatch, fol- New York, that final was amazing, and then of course ending of the 6th edition of Qatar International Cup which kicks lowed by a clean and jerk lift of 225kg to the season with that Davis Cup title on home soil, so an unfor- outclass a field of 14 top class weight- off in Doha today. gettable experience to finish that way.” lifters, renewing the junior records in Nadal’s Davis Cup participation meant he had to finish both clean and jerk and combined his 2019 season later than usual - on November 24 - and the weights. Mallorcan says he just started hitting again a week and a half Fares will begin his quest for back- ago in preparation for 2020. to-back titles in the home event at He will get a taste of where his level is at when he takes 3:00pm on Sunday. on either Karen Khachanov or Chung Hyeon in the Emirati This year’s championship, hosted by capital on Friday, before resuming his pre-season training the Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF) back home ahead of the Australian summer. under the auspices of the International Asked if usurping Federer is a main target for him moving Weightlifting Federation, will see over forward, the top-ranked Nadal said: “I can’t say yes because 150 lifters representing 42 countries in honestly I just work on my diary basis. I have to do my things action, showing a significant growth from thethe bbestest wawayy possipossibleble anandd tthenhen ttoo jujustst ggiveive mmyselfyself cchanceshances to last year’s 117 from 35 nations. keep being competitive at the highesthighest level Female lifters will compete under possible.possible. seven weight classes while men will vie “So“So ifif thatthat happens,happens, great, ifif not, I for honours in eight categories during justjust gave my best all my career to be this year’s edition of the annual inin the position that I am today.today. And championship. obviouslyobviously of course, increase the The tournament kicks off with the number of 20, or tyingtying 20 would be women’s 49kg competitions at 8:00am. FROM LEFT: Abdullah Al Jarmal; Mrs Ursula Garza Papandrea, President of USA Weightlifting; somethingsomething amazing,amazing, but I cannot The women’s 55kg and men’s 61kg events Mohamed Hassan Jalood, IWF General-Secretary and Makhmadov Shakhrelo, General- complaincomplain at all. will be held before the opening ceremony Secretary of Uzbekistan Weightlifting Federation, briefing the athletes and officials during “I’m“I’m supersuper happyhappy the way I am which will be followed by the men’s 67kg the verification meeting ahead of the Championship in Doha yesterday. havinghaving mymy tennistennis career, I gavegave event. mymy best all the time and I’m proudproud about the way I workedworked and the way I enenjoyedjoyed the tetennisnnis duringduring all these yyears.ears. “So“So I just really believe anandd hopehope thatthat I can kkeepeep hhavingaving tthehe chancechance to keepkeep goinggoing and keepkeep havinghaving fun andand keepkeep giving myselfm yself chanceschances to competecompete at thet h e highesthighest level.”level.”

Rafael Nadal IOC, Tokyo 2020 Russia to appeal against doping ban

approve new AFP A general view outside the “WADA is not going to reim- MOSCOW Russian Olympic Committee burse the tickets, is it?” he said. headquarters in Moscow. In fact, Russia’s participation in marathon route Russia decided yesterday to contest Euro 2020 -- and Saint Petersburg’s its ban from major sporting events hosting of four matches -- is not REUTERS over doping violations, as President affected by the ban because it is not TOKYO Vladimir Putin slammed its side- defined as a “major event” for anti- lining as unfair and insisted athletes doping purposes. Olympics organisers approved the new route for the should be able to compete under The director general of RUSADA, Tokyo 2020 marathon yesterday, after the race was the national flag. Yuri Ganus, who has long argued moved to the northern Japanese city of Sapporo earlier Russia’s RUSADA anti-doping for a major crackdown by Russia this year due to heat concerns. agency “made a decision not to against doping cheats, had told prior The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made agree” with the four-year ban by to the decision that appealing the surprise decision in October to move the mar- the World Anti-Doping Agency’s WADA’s ban would be “inefficient athon and race walk events 800 kilometres north decision, the head of RUSADA’s and useless.” to Sapporo to avoid the worst of Tokyo’s summer supervisory board, Alexander Ivlev, The suspension was handed to heat. told journalists. Russia over falsifying data from a Temperatures in the Japanese capital in July and The decision will have to be cancellation of events on Russian sanctions against them for someone doping testing laboratory that was August, when the Olympics will be held, regularly communicated to WADA before the territory. else’s actions? handed to WADA earlier this year exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) with high humidity end of the month, triggering the Putin reiterated that he believes “Russian athletes have been as part of the compliance re- adding to the discomfort. appeal process in the Lausanne- WADA’s decision to be “not only training and will be training for instatement process. Yesterday, the IOC, World Athletics and Tokyo based Court of Arbitration for Sport. unjust, but also not corresponding competition. They will keep making The significant extent of state- 2020 organisers agreed on the new route in Sapporo. WADA on December 10 banned with common sense or law”, saying us happy with their brilliant vic- sponsored doping in Russia, notably The marathon course will start and finish at the Russia for four years from major Russia was being punished the tories,” Putin said. between 2011 and 2015, was city’s central Odori Park and will consist of a 20-kil- global events, including the 2020 second time for the same alleged Under the sanctions, Russians revealed in the independent report ometre loop followed by two laps of an approxi- Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 offence. will still be allowed to compete at by sports lawyer Richard McLaren, mately 10-kilometre segment. World Cup in Qatar, over manipu- He argued that the majority of the Olympics next year and the 2022 released in 2016. The start of the race will be set against the backdrop lated doping data. Russian athletes were clean and Beijing Winter Olympics, but only The issue has dealt a colossal of Sapporo TV Tower, one of the city’s landmarks, and Putin appeared to indicate a should not be deprived of the right as neutrals and if they can demon- blow to the status of post-Soviet the route will twice cross the Toyohira River that runs lengthy legal battle loomed, as he to compete under the Russian flag strate that they were not part of Russia as a major sports power after through the city. addressed a throng of journalists in due to the actions of some what WADA believes was a state- hosting events such as the 2013 All the marathon and race walk events are scheduled his annual press conference. individuals. sponsored system of doping. World Athletics Championships, the to be held on four consecutive days, from August 6 to “We will have to calmly await “If WADA does not have any He added that some events 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and 9, with the men’s marathon remaining on the final day all the relevant decisions, including issues with our national Olympic scheduled in Russia, namely the the 2018 World Cup. of the Games, as per tradition. the decision by the arbitration court, committee our team must compete Euro 2020, which would partly be The Sochi Games later became Both marathons will start at 7.00 am local time then we will understand what under its flag,” Putin said. hosted by Saint-Petersburg, would notorious for the number of doping (2200 GMT). The women’s marathon was initially set position we’re in,” he said when “If a majority of our athletes are go on since “the tickets have been violations by prominent Russian for August 2. asked about the prospect of clean how is it possible to slap sold”. athletes. FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2019 SPORT 19

PSG cruise PSG superstar Mbappe tops value list into League AA ANKARA MOST VALUABLE Cup quarters FOOTBALL PLAYERS Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) AFP superstar Kylian Mbappe has 1. Kylian Mbappe, France PARIS become the world’s most valuable (PSG) €225m football player with a market 2. Neymar, Brazil (PSG) A Paris Saint-Germain without value of €225m ($250.5m). €185m a rested Neymar cruised into One of the world’s leading 3. Lionel Messi, Argentina the last eight of the French audit and advisory companies, (Barcelona) €180m League Cup with a 4-1 victory KPMG Football Benchmark said 4. Eden Hazard, Belgium at second-tier Le Mans on in a statement on Thursday that (Real Madrid) €152m Wednesday. 20-year-old French forward 5. Raheem Sterling, England Pablo Sarabia, Eric Maxim Mbappe tops the most valuable (Manchester City) €150m Choupo-Moting, Kylian Mbappe players’ list with €225m. 6. Mohamed Salah, Egypt and Angel Di-Maria scored for His team-mate at PSG, Bra- Paris Saint-Germain’s Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (left) is congratulated by French (Liverpool) €150m the record eight-time tour- zilian star Neymar, 27, is in the forward Kylian Mbappe (centre) after scoring a goal during their French League Cup round of sixteen 7. Harry Kane, England nament winners inside the second place with €185m value match against Le Mans FC on Wednesday. (Tottenham Hotspur) €140m opening 48 minutes as Harisson ($206m). 8. Sadio Mane, Senegal Manzala responded for the Six-time Ballon d’Or winner, of Juventus isn’t among the top 10 Mbappe broke many records and Mbappe joined PSG in the 2017 (Liverpool) €130m hosts in the final edition of the Barcelona’s 32-year-old Argentine most valuable players. managed to be the world’s most summer. He scored 76 goals and 9. Kevin De Bruyne, competition. superstar Lionel Messi comes third Hakan Ucak -- a KPMG Sports expensive player in a young age,” made 41 assists in 105 matches for Belgium (Manchester City) PSG coach Thomas Tuchel in this list as he has a market value official in Turkey -- said that Ucak said and adding that the Paris. €130m chose to leave the world’s most of €180 million ($200.4m). Mbappe is now taking firm steps French international will become A former Monaco regular, 10. Antoine Griezmann, expensive player, who has suf- A world famous superstar to be the world’s best player. more popular if he joins Real Mbappe helped France win the France (Barcelona) €125m fered with injuries since the from Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo “Despite being 20 years old, Madrid. 2018 FIFA World Cup. start of the season, in Paris as the German made eight changes from the side which ham- United will mered Saint-Etienne on Sunday. ‘Flying’ Ronaldo fires Juve top as “I think it was a game that give City we had to win,” said Tuchel. different look “We played with players Buffon equals Maldini’s record who lacked rhythm. I didn’t expect too much from my in Cup semi, team. We could have scored REUTERS second-placed Inter (39) have a Juventus’ more goals. says Solskjaer GENOA, ITALY game in hand, while Sampdoria Portuguese forward “But we are happy -- no are 17th on 15 points. Cristiano Ronaldo injuries and now is the time to REUTERS A superb Cristiano Ronaldo Sarri fielded the attacking (top) scores against prepare to play Amiens at the MANCHESTER header sent Juventus three trident of Ronaldo, Dybala and Sampdoria. weekend.” points clear at the top of Serie A Gonzalo Higuain for the second Le Mans coach Richard Ole Gunnar Solskjaer master- with a 2-1 victory at Sampdoria game in a row, and his side Dezire handed the club’s minded Manchester United’s on Wednesday as Gianluigi needed 19 minutes to find the record goal-scorer Vincent 2-1 league win at neighbours Buffon matched the league opener as Dybala struck a Crehin a start after the striker City earlier this month but he appearance record. sublime volley into the bottom came off the bench to grab the says they will have to produce Paulo Dybala’s exquisite corner. winner against Ligue 2’s something different if they volley put the champions in Sampdoria drew level 10 bottom side Orleans on Friday. are to get the better of them front before Gianluca Caprari minutes before the break when Last year’s quarter-finalists again in the League Cup levelled, but a remarkable leap Caprari swept a finish past began the brightest at the semi-finals. and towering header from Buffon after a defensive mix-up. MMArena as Spain attacker United’s superb counter- Ronaldo on the brink of halftime But Juve went back in front Sarabia, starting just his third attacking display left City’s proved decisive. through an extraordinary game of the season, opened the Premier League title defence in Ronaldo was denied his Ronaldo header, as the Portu- scoring after 21 minutes. tatters on December 7. second goal by the offside flag guese was calculated to have Choupo-Moting added a The Norwegian expects Pep late on, before Samp scorer jumped 71 centimetres off the second on the 41-minute mark Guardiola’s side to be a dif- Caprari was sent off in stoppage ground to meet Sandro’s cross and Mbappe side-footed home ferent proposition when they time when he was shown a at a height of 2.56 metres, before a third less than 90 seconds meet on Cup duty in January. second yellow card. powering home. later. United powered past “The whole team showed “Ronaldo did something that Di Maria hit a fourth three fourth-tier Colchester United the right attitude,” Ronaldo told you see in the NBA, he was up minutes into the second half as 3-0 in the quarter-finals on Sky Italia. “It was a good goal in the air for an hour and a half,” Le Mans’ goalkeeper Pierre Wednesday while holders City and I am glad to help the team said Sampdoria coach Claudio Patron fumbled the Argentina stayed on course to lift the with another three points. Ranieri. “There’s nothing you attacker’s effort into his own trophy for a third straight “I had problems with my can say about it, you can only goal. season after overcoming third- knee for a month, but that has congratulate him and move on.” DR Congo youth interna- tier Oxford United 3-1. gone now and I feel good Ronaldo, who has six goals tional Harisson Manzala “You won’t beat City twice physically.” in his last five Juventus appear- claimed a consolation effort in a row or three times with the It was a special night for ances, thought he had his second with 35 minutes to play by same tactics, so we’ll have to do Buffon as the veteran goal- when he rounded goalkeeper scoring for the first time this something better than we did keeper equalled Paolo Maldini’s Emil Audero to roll the ball into term. last time because I’m sure Pep record of 647 Serie A appear- an empty net, but the effort was Mbappe was substituted for will have his team fired up,” ances and set a new Juventus disallowed for offside. Mauro Icardi on the 68-minute Solskjaer told reporters. Serie A appearance record of The game ended on a sour mark with Tuchel turning his “We’ve looked at that game 479 games, one more than Ales- note for Ranieri’s side as Caprari focus to Saturday’s Ligue 1 and we’re very pleased with the sandro Del Piero. caught Merih Demiral in the face fixture against Amiens, a final result, and parts of that game. Juventus top the table with with a flailing arm to earn a game before a two-week winter There are things we need to do 42 points, although second yellow card. break. so much better... we’ve got to stamp our authority more. There aren’t many that can do but we have to aim for that. “They can out-football you. Zidane draws little cheer from ‘Clasico’ stalemate So we need to get our game heads on and be ready for them REUTERS “We weren’t able to again, but we’ve shown them BARCELONA overcome their pressure as as well we can cause them much as we’d have liked and problems.” Real Madrid coach Zinedine they caused us a few problems, United host the first leg of Zidane was left feeling disap- we had a few chances but we the semi-final on January 7 with pointed with his side’s 0-0 draw lacked fluidity,” he said. the return scheduled for at eternale rivals Barcelona in La “We would have liked to JJanuaryanuary Liga after they failed to take their have won the match because 28. chancescha against the champions we were at home and under a in WWednesday’s rescheduled little more pressure to win, but ‘Clasico’.‘Cla it was a very tough game. It’s Real dominated the game but very equal at the top of the werewer unable to find the net as the table and I think it will stay that matchmat between Spain’s most suc- way until the end of the cessfulcess sides finished goalless for season.” thethe first time in 17 years. Real Madrid’s The match, which was post- “The result feels like very little Sergio Ramos poned from its original date of becausebec we deserved a lot more (right) vies for October 26. butbut football is often like that,” the the ball against The game was played in a FrenchmanFre told reporters. Barcelona’s Lionel fierce and politically charged “If you create chances you Messi during the atmosphere after a huge havehav to score them and we ‘El Clasico’ on security operation but Zidane weren’twer able to do that. The team Wednesday. had no complaints. mademad a tremendous effort and “Everything went well, for wwhenhe you play like that in this Madrid, for Barca and for stadiumstad you deserve more.” them frequently on the “We pressed them high up the put in we deserved to win, but football,” he said. “The fans Zidane had a clear game counter-attack. pitch, we kept taking the ball off that’s football. Sometimes you do wanted to see a good match and planpl for the match at the Midfielder Casemiro had an them and we did a really good job. everything right but it doesn’t they did.” CampC Nou and benched effort cleared off the line by Barca’s We gave a great image of our- come off. Sometimes you score Valverde added: “Consid- LukaL Modric for the Gerard Pique in the first half and selves but we wanted more,” two or three times, others you ering everything that was going youthfuly and energetic Fed- they had two penalty appeals added Zidane, whose side are can’t score at all.” on it felt like a normal match. Ole Gunnar erico Valverde, with a view turned down. Gareth Bale narrowly second in the standings, level on Barca coach Ernesto Valverde It was a ‘Clasico’ and there will Solskjaer to breaking up Barca’s pos- missed the target after the interval 36 points with leaders Barca. recognised that his side struggled always be tension in these session game and hitting and had a goal ruled offside. “With the performance we to cope with Real’s tactics. games.” SPORT PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 Pakistan fight back Weightlifting: Fares after SL bowlers one to watch as shine on first day of Qatar International Karachi Test Cup kicks off today

Friday 20 December 2019

Qatar 2022 will be a dream for players, fans: Beckham

THE PENINSULA DOHA you wouldn’t expect to visit. It’s country and around the world. given Qatar an opportunity to do “I think that’s the greatest England legend David Beckham something that’s so special and, thing about the World Cup – it believes Qatar will host a unique I think as a player as you see, something unique is inspires future generations,” he version of the FIFA World Cup and a fan you want really being created here.” continued. that inspires future generations. to visit a World Cup A regular visitor to Qatar in “There will be a lot of During a visit to Education competition with great recent years, Beckham said he children in Qatar seeing their City Stadium – exactly three had seen the country rapidly own national team playing years before the Qatar 2022 final facilities, safe facilities, evolve. games and saying ‘maybe that will take place – the former great hotels and great “I’ve been here quite a few can be me one day’.” Manchester United, Real Madrid, culture – and that’s times and I’ve seen the change Al Thawadi took the chance AC Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris and development,” said to thank Beckham for visiting Saint-Germain star said Qatar’s what Qatar is all Beckham, who was visiting to Education City Stadium, which tournament will be ‘a dream’ for about: David Beckham attend the FIFA Club World will become the third tour- players and fans thanks to its Cup™ semi-final between CF nament venue to be unveiled friendliness and state-of-the-art stadiums like this, it’s a dream. Monterrey and Liverpool FC at when it opens in early 2020. facilities. Players are going to be spoilt Khalifa International Stadium. “It was a pleasure to “I think as a player and a fan here.” “Most importantly, it’s welcome David to Qatar and you want to visit a World Cup Beckham, who won 115 caps always been such a family envi- show him round our latest tour- competition with great facilities, for England, said it is important ronment here – and I think that nament venue, Education City safe facilities, great hotels and to take the World Cup to new is something as a player and a Stadium. It was wonderful to great culture – and that’s what countries. fan you really want at a World hear him say how impressed he Qatar is all about,” said “That’s what the World Cup Cup. Three years to the day [until is with the stadium and that he’s Beckham, who was given a tour is all about – giving countries the the World Cup final] it’s going to excited about the World Cup of Education City Stadium by chance to host the biggest com- be pretty incredible.” being hosted in the Middle East Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary petition in the game. It changes Beckham, who won 19 and Arab world for the first time. General of the Supreme Com- economies, changes people’s major trophies during a glit- I look forward to seeing David mittee for Delivery & Legacy. lives, changes fan experiences tering 20-year playing career, again over the coming years and, England legend David Beckham poses for a picture with Hassan He continued: “I wish I was and gives people an opportunity added that Qatar 2022 will of course, during the Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for still playing because to play in to experience football in places inspire young people across the tournament.” Delivery & Legacy. Flamengo will be more difficult: Klopp

FAWAD HUSSAIN hoping to guide his side to THE PENINSULA maiden world crown. Liverpool need “Probably Flamengo’s Liverpool relied on a feisty season is over, they are here Van Dijk’s fight to seal victory over with the full squad pretty much Monterrey on Wednesday as well. We have just to recover night and manager Jurgen as quick as possible and to defensive vision, Klopp (pictured) expects a make ourselves ready. But we tougher test for the Reds when saw Flamengo, of course, in the they take on South American other semi-final and it was an says Kewell champions Flamengo in the open game for a long period. REUTERS final of FIFA Club World Cup. We will see who deals better LONDON Tomorrow’s title-match is with the circumstances, who dubbed the rematch of 1981 has more right decisions,” Liverpool missed the calming presence of Intercontinental Cup final Klopp added. defender Virgil van Dijk in their 2-1 victory when Flamengo - led by Zico “But with Jorge Jesus as a over Mexico’s Monterrey in the Club World - defeated Liverpool 3-0 in manager, of course there’s a Cup semi-final on Wednesday, former Tokyo. European influence and that’s midfielder Harry Kewell said. The Brazilian side, who it, but the player themselves Dutch international Van Dijk missed the reached the final after already have quality. If there match through illness and manager Jurgen defeating Al Hilal 3-1 in the would not be a European Klopp was forced to play midfielder Jordan first semi-final on Tuesday, are coach, it would already be dif- Henderson in a makeshift defence, with centre in fine form with their ficult,” he said. backs Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip also out 30-match unbeaten streak Liverpool laboured to 2-1 injured. ending only last week, and victory against Monterrey in Liverpool grabbed a stoppage-time winner Klopp is aware what lies ahead the semi-final after Roberto through substitute Roberto Firmino after team for his European champions in Firmino’s strike in stoppage mate Naby Keita’s goal was cancelled out by the clash at Qatar’s iconic time. Rogelio Funes Mori and Kewell said that his Khalifa International Stadium. Monterrey were former team were far from comfortable “It will be more difficult impressive throughout the without Van Dijk. for sure, just because it’s the match as the CONCACAF “When I watch Liverpool, I see Virgil con- next game and we have now Champions League winners stantly talking to everyone around him. He’s to collect our bones. I don’t looked at par with the runaway Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino (left) celebrates scoring their second goal with Mohamed Salah always communicating with full backs and know who exactly will be Premier League leaders till on Wednesday in Doha. people in front of him,” Kewell, a part of the ready for the next game, so Firmino fired the winner. Liverpool side that lost the 2005 Club World we will see,” said the Liv- “I don’t think it was pos- hard way we saw now with a cannot judge a team after one feel too comfortable with that. Championship final, told BBC Sport. erpool manager, who is sible to be a different way. The couple of games here in this game. But they are good, I saw But he dealt really well, he was “Yes people talk about him being a great tournament and obviously in the game against Al Sadd always a threat, he played a defender because he can play out from the each team is here to represent already good players, all that really, really good game,” said back and is comfortable on the ball, but a the country, the continent, stuff,” he said. Klopp. defender’s first job is to defend, and in the case whatever, and try everything The Liverpool boss also Meanwhile, Monterrey of Van Dijk, it is to organise the rest of his Probably Flamengo’s to be successful. The opponent hailed striker Mohamed Salah’s coach Antonio Mohamed was defence too. That’s what Liverpool missed the tonight did exactly the same,” performance, who played role happy with his team’s most against Monterrey. No one had his kind of season is over, they said Klopp before praising the in both of team’s goals against performance. defensive vision or ability to spot danger.” are here with the full Mexican side. Monterrey. “The team played really Klopp’s side face Brazilian outfit Flamengo squad pretty much “I was never in doubt about “The attention on Mo Salah well and gave everything,” he in tomorrow’s final, a repeat of the 1981 Inter- that (Monterrey quality): why in this part of the world is obvi- said. continental Cup when a Zico-inspired team as well. We have just should we think that European ously massive. I thought he “Overall I thought we had beat Liverpool 3-0 in Tokyo. to recover as quick football stands over all or played a sensationally good the clearest chances and their “Clearly, they need him (Van Dijk) back as possible and to whatever? game for all that happened goalkeeper made four or five in the team to face Flamengo -- if he’s fit, Liv- make ourselves “But still, one game is not around. When you go out for big saves. It would have been erpool will be calm and comfortable at the enough – you cannot judge a warming up and everybody is fairer had the game gone to back and everyone will be a lot more relaxed,” ready: Jurgen Klopp player after one game and you only looking at you, I wouldn’t extra time.” Kewell added.