SATURDAY JANUARY 12, 2019 JUMADA AL-AWWAL 6, 1440 VOL.12 NO. 4512 QR 2 PARTLY CLOUDY Fajr: 4:59 am Dhuhr: 11:43 am HIGH : 23°C Asr: 2:43 pm Maghrib: 5:03 pm LOW : 15°C Isha: 6:33 pm Business 9 Sports 12 Oil prices fall amid economic China, South Korea make woes but set for weekly gain the grade; Australia roar US begins Record 4,000 run for fun and pulling gear fitness at Ooredoo Marathon Amir greets from Syria Madagascar president-elect Washington not withdrawing troops for now DOHA The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani AFP bers of his administration have deliv- on Friday sent a cable of WASHINGTON ered mixed messages about when the congratulations to Andry withdrawal may actually occur. Rajoelina on his victory in THE US military has begun moving A military spokesman said on Fri- the presidential election in non-essential gear out of Syria but is day that the US had already begun Madagascar. (QNA) not withdrawing troops for now, de- “the process of our deliberate with- fence officials said on Friday as uncer- drawal” from Syria. tainty grew over America’s planned US defence officials quickly sought pullout from the battered nation. to clarify the remark, stressing that the withdrawal was only of certain types of gear, and not troops. “We are not withdrawing troops at this stage,” Expect colder one US defence official said. A second US defence official told nights: QMD AFP that the military had conducted a Participants at the start line of the Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2019 on Friday. (JALAL PATHIYOOR) number of preparations for a deliber- DOHA The Qatar Meteorologi- ate withdrawal. AYENI OLUSEGUN ior executives from Ooredoo. Ooredoo CEO Waleed al Sayed, cal Department has warned of “That includes planning for the DOHA Runners who scooped top spot said: “We’re delighted to kickstart strong winds and colder moving of people and equipment, in the Men’s Open category and the the year with the most success- nights during the weekend. preparation of facilities to accept ret- THERE was fun and excitement Women’s Open category both re- ful edition of the Ooredoo Doha The temperature in Doha is rograde equipment,” the official said, in the air as a record 4,000 people Marathon yet, hoping that runners, expected to drop to a low of noting that no troops had been with- from all walks of life took part in spectators and sponsors all enjoyed 15 degree Celsius. “Weather drawn. the Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2019 Record prizes a great event. I’d like to congratu- inshore until 6 am on Saturday The Pentagon stressed it would on Friday for a cause – to remain fit late the winners of each category, not telegraph its troop movements and healthy. ORunners who scooped of course, but also all participants or give timelines for when they may Besides record participation, top spot in the Men’s Open – in both marathon and the shorter leave Syria. this edition of the Ooredoo Doha category and the Women’s distance-runs - on their commit- The Syrian Observatory for Hu- Marathon saw record prizes too for Open category both received ment to getting fit and joining in this man Rights reported earlier that the winners. QR45,000, with winners worthwhile sporting event. I’d also The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights US-led coalition in Syria had started More than 4,000 runners took and runners-up in the other like to thank our generous sponsors reported earlier that the US-led coalition in scaling down its presence at Rmeilan their places at the start line, with re- categories also receiving for their incredible support, with- Syria had started scaling down its pres- airfield in the Hasakeh province of cord entrants in all categories, and generous cash prizes. out whom the event simply couldn’t will be slightly cloudy and cold ence at Rmeilan airfield in the Hasakeh northeastern Syria. scores of Doha residents lining the have happened.” by night,” the QMD said in its province of northeastern Syria. The US-led coalition has several streets to witness some incredible Chebii Collins Kiptarus led a daily weather report. Offshore, other bases across northeastern Syria, performances from the world’s top ceived QR45,000, with winners and Kenyan sweep of the podium in the it will be partly cloudy at times, President Donald Trump last as well as in neighbouring Iraq, where marathon professionals as well as runners-up in the other categories men’s category of the marathon. The the report added, warning of month claimed the Islamic State Trump has said American forces will local runners. also receiving generous cash prizes. 2011 All-Africa Games silver medal- strong wind and high sea. Wind group had been defeated in Syria and remain. The event, a much-anticipated fix- Thousands of spectators cheered ist finished the full marathon in inshore will be northwesterly at said all US troops were “coming back The coalition, which also includes ture on Qatar’s sporting calendar, was the runners, both in the marathon 2:24:27sec just ahead of compatri- a speed of 10 to 20 knots. Off- now”. countries such as France and Britain, attended by Minister of Culture and categories and the shorter distances, ots David Rutoh and Timothy Kip- shore, it will be northwesterly But in the weeks since he gave the was formed in mid-2014 to counter IS, Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem al Ali along the course of the runs, and sup- rop Kemei. at a speed of 15 to 25 knots order, and the Pentagon began to im- which had seized swathes of Iraq and and Qatari Olympic Medalist Mutaz porters packed the finish line creating gusting to 37 knots at some plement it, Trump himself and mem- Syria and proclaimed a “caliphate.” Barshim, along with a number of sen- an electrifying atmosphere. Continued on page 16 Ô places at times. (TNN) Fleeing Saudi teen on way Palestinian woman killed by Israeli fire to Canada for asylum AFP was shot in the head east of recent weeks. Protesters tried GAZA CITY Gaza City. Qudra named her to destroy a barbed wire fence A Saudi woman who fled her family and became stranded at as Amal al-Taramsi, 43, say- near the border and Israeli Bangkok’s main airport is now flying to Canada to seek asylum, ISRAELI forces shot dead ing she was the third woman forces responded with gunfire according to Thai officials. Rahaf Mohammed al Qunun, 18, had a Palestinian woman dur- to die in months of clashes and teargas. At least 25 other been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok, but was initially told ing protests along the Gaza that have seen at least 241 Pal- Palestinians received gunshot to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting. She refused border on Friday, the health estinians killed. wounds, Qudra said in a state- to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, ministry in the Hamas-run An AFP journalist said ment. attracting international attention. The UN’s refugee agency has enclave said. several thousand protesters At least once a week since said it considers her to be a legitimate refugee. PAGE 7 Spokesman Ashraf al- gathered east of Gaza City, March, Palestinians have tak- Qudra told AFP the woman with stronger clashes than in en part in protests. PAGE 7 Trump says won’t declare national Snow brings emergency so fast WASHINGTON US President parts of Europe Donald Trump on Friday ruled out declaring a national emergency imminently to bypass Congress and get funding for his Mexico- to a standstill US border wall project. “The easy solution is for me to call a na- tional emergency... (but) I’m not HEAVY snowfalls brought chaos to parts of Germany going to do it so fast because and Sweden on Friday, leaving roads blocked, trains this is something for Congress halted and schools shut. The Red Cross helped to do,” he told reporters. Trump’s drivers stuck on a motorway in the southern German demand for funding for a wall to state of Bavaria and a nine-year-old boy was killed by crack down on illegal immigration Rare amber artworks on a falling tree. The front of a Swiss hotel was hit by an -- a central plank of his 2016 avalanche and a winter storm made roads impass- election campaign -- has sparked display at Kahraman expo able in Sweden and Norway. Austrian rescuers had a political crisis that has seen to battle through chest-deep snow to reach a snow- 800,000 federal employees go DOHA Kahraman Exhibition has some of the most rare art- boarder. There was some respite in Austria on Friday, without paychecks. On Friday, works made from amber on display at Katara. The section after three metres (10ft) of snow fell in some parts the partial government shutdown of Sheikh Abudlrahman bin Saoud al Thani has some of the in previous days. Seven people have died in the hit the 21-day mark, equaling most rare art pieces of different kinds and shapes. The am- past week and two hikers have been missing since the record from previous funding bers in that section are shaped like trees, birds, horses, and Saturday. “Such quantities of snow above 800m alti- freezes and marking the first day famous world landmarks among others. Some of the pieces tude only happen once every 30 to 100 years,” said in the saga that paychecks failed in that section weigh up to 250 grams.