www.thepeninsula.qa Saturday 18 January 2020 Volume 24 | Number 8140 23 Jumada I - 1441 2 Riyals

BUSINESS | 13 SPORT | 18

US-China trade deal Al Ghazali to ease global guides What uncertainty: A Pleasure IMF Chief to win

New version of Labour Ministry’s mobile app offers 33 services SANAULLAH ATAULLAH The e-services of THE PENINSULA ‘Amerni’ application The Ministry of Administrative Devel- include housing opment, Labour and Social Affairs has launched the third patch of electronic application follow up, services for ‘Amerni’ application on smart phones in Arabic and English to rent allowance follow save time and efforts of users — indi- up, house purchase- viduals and companies. The third patch includes five new ownership request, services. As of now, the app offers a total and title deed re- of 33 services including 21 services for individuals and 12 services for com- quest, among others. panies, said the Ministry in a post ‘Mobile Application Guide’ published on its website. Android Users, in both languages Arabic The users will now be able to file and English. The user guide is intended complaints against violating manpower to inform the users how to use an recruitment offices. The domestic e-services application - Amerni - for Al Sadd crowned Qatar Cup champions workers can also file formal complaints, the Ministry of Administrative Devel- in addition to other services provided opment, Labour and Social Affairs in Al Sadd’s players and officials pose with the Qatar Cup trophy at Al Sadd Stadium, yesterday. Al Sadd defeated Al Duhail by the Labour Relations Department. Qatar. The application includes a range 4-0 in the final. `P20 One of the most important features of e-services designed to request of the application is its ease of use to services or query Information. request services and inquire about The application aims at providing them, as the user can complete regis- services to the owners of the establish- More than 100 artworks exhibited at tration in three simple steps, starting ments or their representative in addition with obtaining a username and to individuals, whether they are citizens password through the national docu- or residents of Qatar. Amerni appli- mentation site, and then logging in cation running on Android OS version Katara Global Art Fair preview show through the application. 4.3 or higher and IOS OS version 8 or The e-services of ‘Amerni’ appli- higher. All smart phones that support RAYNALD C RIVERA is a section showcasing works by abstract paintings. cation include housing application these versions of operating systems will THE PENINSULA Chinese artists Guo Jianyuan, Bokui, The opening of the exhibition was follow up, rent allowance follow up, be able to run the application. The app and Li Zhongjun. While Guo’s still life attended by several heads of missions house purchase-ownership request, title is designed to work on smartphones but Art connoisseurs and enthusiasts were paintings depict ancient artifacts such including ambassadors of Argentina, deed request, installment exception also works on tablets. left in awe of the stunning cornucopia as porcelain of the Song Dynasty and France and Italy in addition to other request, labour residency extension, App users are supposed to download of contemporary art pieces at an exhi- blue and white porcelain of Yuan officials and members of Doha’s establishment transactions suspension the app from the approved Apple Store bition launched yesterday at Katara Dynasty, Bokui’s works resemble vibrant art community. follow up, and establishment’s inclusive and Google Play Store for the safety. The Cultural Village which serves as ancient Chinese paintings with nature A concept developed in 2019 by statistics. user is supposed to have an account on preview of the first-ever Katara Global as subject and Li’s combine Chinese Pallas Arts - Qatar’s first registered Other services are labor complaint National Authentication system website Art Fair (KatArt) happening in characters and symbols with colours. arts brokerage - in partnership with follow up (individual/corporate), job to use the same username and password October. Two sculptures which are an Katara; KatArt is a contemporary art seeker’s registration certificate, nursery in Amerni application www.nas.gov.qa. Art galleries in Buildings 19 and intricate assemblage of a large fair aimed at promoting local and location, report violation of nurseries, When a user clicks on (individuals) 22 are packed with over a hundred number of spoons and forks made by international artists while contrib- house loan request, house request for it shows services related to individuals. art pieces in different mediums Doha-based Filipino artist Danny uting to children’s education in people in need, senior staff loan var- The top of the page shows service cat- created by artists from around the Ponce were also unique and eye- various countries. iance disbursement, social security egories — employment, labour and globe at the KatArt Preview exhibition catching among the collections on On its first edition, the fair targets follow up, social security documents. business, housing and social and nurs- which is on show for six days. display at Building 22. helping educate children in Argentina The app also offers other services eries. When you click any of these cat- The carefully selected artworks Local artists also have strong through the Margarita Barrientos including labour approval details fol- egory, the services for each category ranging from paintings, metal sculp- presence in the exhibition such as Foundation, an important charity lowup, inclusive statistics approvals, will appear. Also, when a user clicks on tures, and ceramics to digital art, video Qatari artist Mohammed Faraj Al organisation which currently looks updating establishment official’s data, (corporate) it shows services related to installations and mixed media art dis- Suwaidi who is presenting a video after the welfare of 8,000 children updating establishment branches’ data, corporate. The top of the page shows played in the well-curated show rep- installation and paintings inspired with focus on their daily needs house keeping complaint request, com- service categories — recruitment, noti- resent the wealth of talents from by his recently completed successful including food, health care and edu- plaint against labour office, e-notice fication and complaints and estab- countries such as Argentina, China, residency in New York, Wadha Al cation among others. apply/inquiry for individual/corporate. lishment data. when you click any of Qatar, Venezuela, Philippines, UK, Sulaiti showcasing calligraphic works Art lovers have until Wednesday The application is available on these category, the services for each cat- USA, Turkey, Australia and Lebanon. in mixed media and Hanadi Al to visit and see the exhibition at Apple’s App Store and Google Play for egory will appear. One of the show’s main attractions Darwish with a number of her Katara Building 19 and 22. `P3

Erdogan confirms Syrian regime’s 407 erring vehicles violation of truce agreement in Idlib seized at Sealine THE PENINSULA — DOHA violations at Sealine area include QNA — ISTANBUL reckless driving, drifting, hiding The Ministry of Interior (MoI), vehicle’s number plates among Turkish President Recep represented by the General others and this behaviour Tayyip Erdogan said that the Directorate of Traffic, seized endangers lives and property of Syrian regime has proven that 407 vehicles for violating road users. it is not committed to a traffic rules yesterday at the Reckless drivers are ceasefire in Idlib, adding that Sealine area. referred to the Public Prose- this issue will be discussed at “The motorists of these cution to take legal actions the Berlin Conference on vehicles committed various against them according to the Libya, especially after the sys- grave traffic violations in the type of violation they com- tematic military campaign by Sealine area and they will be mitted. The Traffic Department the Syrian regime forces and brought before the competent had also taken strict action the Russian forces in clear vio- public prosecutor to complete against a number of vehicles lation of the ceasefire legal procedures against them,” whose drivers committed agreement announced on the Ministry of Interior tweeted serious traffic violations in the January 12. yesterday. Sealine area on January 10. “Idlib is clear proof that The General Directorate of The Department, on is social the regime does not comply Traffic has called on all motorists media accounts, has been saying with the steps we have taken and road users to adhere to the that it will not hesitate from regarding the ceasefire,” traffic law and be careful and taking any legal action against Erdogan said. The Turkish avoid committing wrongdoing reckless drivers advising eve- president added that he and wrong behavior that ryone to must respect traffic law intends to have a detailed dis- endanger the lives and property and avoid violations and wrong cussion on this issue with his of road users. behavior that endanger the lives Russian counterpart Vladimir Recently, the MoI, repre- of road users. Putin in Berlin on Sunday. sented by the General Direc- The General Directorate of Erdogan will participate The Reading Garden torate of Traffic, intensified its Traffic has also measures this in the Berlin conference on efforts to curb reckless driving year including conducting Libya on Sunday, to discuss The Reading Garden set up by the Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment by apprehending the violators round-the-clock traffic patrols the latest developments in besides the 3th Doha International Book Fair which is running at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). and seizing their vehicles in the and inspection drives on shops PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA Libya and ways to bring Sealine area. According to to make them comply with peace and stability to it. traffic authorities, major traffic safety requirements. 02 HOME SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020

QU, Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum sign MoU Director of Public Security meets Pakistani official

QNA — DOHA ongoing efforts made by the institutions affiliated with OIC State of Qatar to support young to support the nation’s youth in Qatar University (QU) and the people and enhance their the fields that benefit them. Islamic Cooperation Youth welfare at the national and Following the signing of the Forum (ICYF), an international international levels. MoU, Dr. Al Khanji underscored organization affiliated to the The two parties agreed to that QU seeks to benefit from Organization of Islamic Coop- cooperate in joint activities and the MoU to organise and eration (OIC), have signed a areas of concern, including the sponsor many important activ- Memorandum of Under- holding of an annual sym- ities of interest to students and standing (MoU) to enhance the posium in cooperation with QU, youth at the level of the Islamic relations between the two dealing with youth issues. They world in accordance with the parties, following consultations agreed in principle to establish provisions of this cooperation. previously held on enhancing a model club at QU. The President of ICYF, Taha possible means of cooperation. QU’s Vice President for Ayhan, thanked QU and the The MoU allows QU to Student Affairs, Dr. Khalid Al Student Affairs Department for support ICYF’s activities aimed Khanji, stressed the importance providing this opportunity for at intellectual and cultural of this cooperation in strength- cooperation, appreciating the The Director of Public Security, H E Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, met with the development and developing ening the common ties between efforts and quality initiatives of Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions and Narcotics Control of the Islamic Republic of the capabilities of youth in the QU and ICYF, adding that the the State of Qatar that are in the Pakistan, H E Shehryar Khan Afridi, who is on a visit to Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed a OIC Member States and Muslim University is always looking interest of Islamic cooperation minorities as part of the forward to cooperating with all and serving the youth sector. number of issues of common concern. QU announces launch of World Congress of Engineering and Technology THE PENINSULA — DOHA training sessions and tutorials and present recent advances in Qatar University (QU) College the field.” of Engineering (CENG) has QU’s Head of Civil and announced the launch of the Architectural Engineering World Congress of Engineering Department Dr. Mohammed and Technology (WCET), which Hussein said, “The aim of will be organised at the Grand CIC2020 is to provide a Hyatt Doha Hotel from platform to discuss next-gen- February 2-5, 2020. eration infrastructure and its The WCET will join both the construction among key players IEEE International Conference such as researchers, industry on Informatics, IoT, and Ena- professionals and leaders, local bling Technologies (ICIoT’20) government agencies, clients, and International Conference construction contractors and on Civil Infrastructure and Con- policymakers in the con- struction (CIC2020). struction industry. The central CIC 2020 is co-organised by Officials of Qatar University College of Engineering during the announcement of the launch of upcoming World Congress of Engineering theme of the conference is in Qatar University, the Public and Technology next month. civil infrastructure and con- Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ and struction with special emphasis the Ministry of Municipality and for Delivery and Legacy, Min- “This conference is one of the research papers of high value plans of the state and devel- on important aspects for the Environment (MME). It is spon- istry of Transport and Commu- high-value conferences that we in the engineering and con- oping planning legislation, industrial sector such as sus- sored by a number of leading nications and Dell. co-organize and we hope to struction sector, which will be strengthening and activating tainability, innovation and organization and companies. During the press conference continue the organization of the discussed in the conference, in partnership between the public technological impact.” The sponsors on the platinum CENG Dean Dr. Khalid Kamal conference bi-annually addition to the participation of and private sectors to partic- The conference will include category are Qatari Diar, AlSarh Naji said, “The upcoming con- because of the high importance experts as executive ipate in development projects a number of professional Holding Group, Consolidated gress will include plenary ses- of the infrastructure in the speakers.”MME Head of Infra- in the country, and to promote partners from engineering soci- Contractors Company (CCC), sions and keynote lectures on country. This event comes as a structure Planning Department and activate the efficiency of eties inside and outside Qatar Supreme Committee for various topics related to infor- result of efforts of communi- Mr. Ali Farish Al-Salem, was operation and investment in including the Institute of Civil Delivery and Legacy, Qatar matics, e-health, Internet of cation and cooperation also present at the press con- infrastructure and its Engineers (ICE), Engineers Aus- Rail, Qatar National Tourism Things (IoT), enabling technol- between all parties and will ference and said, “The ministry sustainability.” tralia, International Association Council, and Qatar National ogies, artificial intelligence (AI), form a building block for the is working to achieve a smart QU’s Head of Computer for Bridge and Structural Engi- Research Fund (QNRF). infrastructure, and con- establishment of a permanent and sustainable infrastructure Science and Engineering neering (IABSE) and Qatar The sponsors on the gold struction. We expect that the conference in this field with the at the state level in cooperation Department Dr. Sumaya Al Green Building Council. category are JH Construction congress will provide a forum participation of researchers, with other executive bodies in Maadeed said, “ICIoT’20 aims The conference will have and Al-Waha Contracting and for exchanging technical infor- specialists and those with the state to support urban, eco- to provide a forum for sharing world-class keynote speakers Trading Company. On the silver mation, disseminating high- expertise to exchange views nomic and social development ideas and new research from top international engi- category are Qatar Building quality research results, pre- and solutions, especially towards the goal of Qatar advances among researchers neering organizations and soci- Company, AlTawfeeq and senting new policies and sci- relating to the construction National Vision 2030.” and practitioners working on eties and host policy makers Partners Contracting and WSP. entific progress in this area.” sector.” “This is achieved through state-of-the-art solutions. The and key figures in the field of ICIoT’20 is sponsored by Ahmed Al-Ansari, Director several axes that are summa- conference is expected to infrastructure and construction QNRF, Qatar National Tourism of the Technical Office at Public He added, “Ashghal will rized in enhancing the effi- attract renowned researchers in Qatar to present at the Council, Supreme Committee Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ said, participate through several ciency of comprehensive urban as keynote speakers, organize conference. Qatari fashion designer inaugurates her first exhibition of sports Abayas THE PENINSULA — DOHA Dreama initiative launched by feasibility study, strategic the General Center last year, planning and organizing eco- A Qatari fashion designer, Alia with the aim of attracting com- nomic projects Al Suwaidi, inaugurated her munity cooperation in the field It is expected that the pro- first exhibition of sports of developing, qualifying and ceeds of Alia’s Exhibition for Abayas (gown), which is a training orphans. Ajaweed Sports Abayas (gown) will be unique precedent in Qatar and Dreama is an initiative provided entirely to the children the Arab world, in cooperation organized by the center to of Dreama, and the designer with Dreama Center for the attract all those with skills, Alia Al Suwaidi was keen to Empowerment and care of projects and innovations. involve the girls of the center in Orphans. Alia Al Suwaidi organised the project in order to enable Alia Al Suwaidi is one of the her first fashion show on the them from the reasons of their volunteers in the ‘Ajaweed stage of the Qatar National independent living after grad- Dreama’ initiative that seeks to Theater on January 14 in the uating from Dreama. integrate orphans through their presence of Amal bin Abdul In this context, Mariam bint Qatari fashion designer, Alia Al Suwaidi, during her first exhibition of sports Abayas (gown). participation in the experiences Latif Al Mannai, CEO of the Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, CEO of entrepreneurs, development Qatar Foundation for Social of the Dreama Center, says that privileged groups in society in which prompts us to rediscover Suwaidi project is one of the and community projects, as well Work. The Dreama Center the primary goal of these initi- order to achieve concepts of the capabilities of girls and pioneering projects in the field as driving them into the operates according to a new atives is to support all targeted social justice and equal distri- giving them the opportunity to of sports and investment, as it investment environment in strategy recently introduced as development work and raising bution of opportunities express their thoughts and aspi- is a project that highlights the Qatar. the first center in the region to the standard of living of the According to Al-Misnad, rations. There are many urgent importance of preserving the The exhibition that supports adopt the concept of economic target groups we sponsor these initiatives are a result of details in this field that the place Qatari and Islamic customs and women’s sport comes alongside and professional empowerment Besides stimulating the local the excellence of Qatari girls has no spare capacity to be not contradicting the require- its support for customs and tra- of orphans and train them on market with new projects and and women in the entrepre- discussed ments of modern life and the ditions within the Ajaweed investment concepts such as ideas that attract the least neurial and investment sector, She added that the Alia Al aspirations of women. Pavilion of Al Reyada Girls Center showcases QRCS, Jordan Red Crescent provide aid to 250 families QNA — AMMAN that Jordan is currently wit- cooperation, meeting the books in Arabic, English, French and Turkish nessing. She explained that needs of needy families and Qatar Red Crescent Society they distributed food parcels introducing joy in the hearts THE PENINSULA — DOHA of the People of Determination’ that reflects the concept of (QRCS) in cooperation with and heaters to 250 families. of children and women during book by Dr. Hamad bin (reading illuminates the minds), Jordan National Red Crescent Head of QRCS Mission in the winter months. Al Reyada Girls Center the affil- Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari; Intro- whereby this concept was Society, with the support of Jordan praised the role of Country Manager of iated with the Ministry of Culture duction by Ibn Khaldoun; Pirate reflected by presenting a Qatar Airways, provided char- Qatar Airways, which has Jordan at Qatar Airways and Sports is participating the novel by Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud; summary set of books chosen itable aid to 250 Syrian and always provided generous Samer Khalaf stressed the 30th Doha International Book and book (The Guide to the Stars by the center’s participants, in Jordanian needy families in support and is one of the importance of the cooperation Fair 2020 at the Doha Exhibition in the Sky of Qatar and the Gulf) the section (pull a book) and the Ashrafieh area in the largest supporters of QRCS with QRCS to implement this and Convention Center by author Muhanna bin Rashid with each book pulled by the Jordanian capital, Amman. and its humanitarian work for humanitarian campaign, The participation of Al Al Asiri Al Maadeed. visitor, the lights of the pavilion In a statement to Qatar the benefit of the needy eve- explaining that Qatar Airways Reyda Center for Girls was The Pavilion of Al Reyada are illuminated in a beautiful News Agency (QNA), Head of rywhere, based on the airline’s attaches great importance to embodied in the design of the Girls Center targeted its and interesting way. QRCS Mission in Jordan Nihal belief in the principle of cor- its social responsibility innovative pavilion, which audience by providing offers of The Pavilion of Al Reyada Hefni said that the dis- porate social responsibility, program. reflects the idea of a trip in a these books in four languages Girls Center hosts a group of tributed-aid was part of the and its noble orientation to He expressed the keenness book where the visitor lives in Arabic, English, French and writers and narrators who are Warm Winter Campaign support civil society organi- of Qatar Airways to contribute a virtual world, in which he Turkish so that the visitor can interested in various fields in lit- carried out by QRCS, in coop- zations concerned with to support the needy families engages with selection of books live in it a unique experience, erature, stories, arts, health, eration with its humanitarian humanitarian and social and provide them with in an attractive way, with sound through which he learns the drawing, Arab poetry and others partners, to alleviate the suf- affairs. assistance, through the distri- and image, in an interesting focus of the book in an inno- in daily discussion sessions for fering of the Syrian refugees The families benefiting bution of food parcels and internal presentation. vative, attractive and easy way. their writings and modern pub- and their host communities, from aid hailed QRCS’s role in heaters, in cooperation with There was a selection of On the other hand, the lications they talk about with the by providing all forms of aid implementing this charitable QRCS, which is sparing no books available in Al Reyada center’s pavilion was distin- presence of the center’s and assistance to them in light campaign, which reflects the effort to help the needy in pavilion, including ‘On the Fate guished by a beautiful design audience. of the cold climatic conditions meanings of solidarity and various parts of the world. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 HOME 03 Students experience 'A Day in the Life' at GU-Q More than 100 artworks exhibited at THE PENINSULA — DOHA An annual tradition, the Day educational landscape, saying: in the Life Open House gave “We always look forward to Katara Global Art Fair preview show Georgetown University in Qatar high school and transfer stu- hosting the next class of com- (GU-Q) held its annual ‘A Day in dents the unique opportunity to mitted and enthusiastic learners, the Life’ Open House on January have a real college experience and to share with them the 15, which gave prospective by attending a sample lecture unparalleled opportunities for students a chance to experience delivered by a member of the inquiry, education, service, and college life first-hand, and help faculty, and to ask current stu- personal enrichment they have guide their path to academic dents and alumni about their at GU-Q and as part of the Qatar success. experience at Georgetown and Foundation family,” she said. The event is the final student career path following gradu- “We also love to hear from stu- recruitment drive before the ation. They also learned about dents about their education university’s upcoming February newly expanded financial aid interests and career goals. Ulti- 1st application deadline, and options, student services, sports, mately, we want them to see provided key information about housing, and more. themselves here.” Georgetown’s the school’s degree programs Assistant Director of Admis- unique interdisciplinary and application requirements sions Mariam Lachin shared Bachelor of Science in Foreign for the 2020-2021 academic how important admissions Service degree programs, which year. events are for Qatar’s use the same internationally- ranked curriculum as Georget- own’s main campus in Wash- ington, DC, include majors in International Economics, Inter- national History, International FROM RIGHT: Mariame Farqane, CEO of Pallas Arts; Carlos Hernandez, Ambassador of Argentina to Politics, and Culture and Politics. Qatar; Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar; and Franck Gellet, Ambassador of France Newly added minors in Arabic, to Qatar, at the opening of KatArt Preview Exhibition at Katara Building 22 yesterday. Economics, Government, PIC: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA History, Philosophy, and The- ology, allow students to cus- tomize their majors and expand their areas of interest and QRCS supports social integration of expatriates expertise as graduates. Information about the appli- THE PENINSULA — DOHA from the Indian community in congratulated the graduates for cation process, future admis- Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) a cooperation with the Indian attending this course and sions events, and the upcoming celebrated Graduating of the Cultural Centre. receiving certificates of passing deadline can be found on the first class of the Learning Arabic The Executive Director of them successfully . This event university’s website or through for Non-Native Speakers the Volunteering and Local came as part of the Arabic The Assistant Director of Admissions at Georgetown University in a visit to the Admissions course, that was held over three Development Division at QRCS, learning courses for foreign Qatar, Mariam Lachin, addressing the students at the open house. Department at GU-Q. weeks, attended by 32 trainees Muna Fadel Al Sulaiti, communities living in Qatar. Seminar discusses MME’s Reading Garden attracts children media’s role in achieving valuable concepts at DIBF QNA — DOHA Al Rumaihi praised A seminar entitled “Media and the high level of the Valuable Concepts” was held Doha International on Thursday evening, within the framework of the cultural Book Fair, as it program of the 30th Doha has become an International Book Fair (DIBF) at the Doha Exhibition and important cultural Convention Center. demonstration. During the seminar, Pro- fessor of International Rela- tions at Qatar University Dr. Directors of the Qatar Press Mohammad Noemi Al Hajri dis- Center Saad Al Rumaihi in the cussed the concept of media, presence of a large number of Children learning the art of planting flowers during a workshop organised by the Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality its development and the great media professionals, intellec- and Environment as part of the third Doha International Book at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. impact that media have on tuals, and the exhibition’s societies at the beginning, audience. The dialogue was noting the importance of the moderated by media presenter THE PENINSULA — DOHA Department is participating in a wonderful space for bibli- flowers, in addition to enjoying media being the general Tayseer Abdullah. the 30th Doha International ophiles. The park attracted a colouring activities and humanitarian principles and Al Rumaihi praised the high The Ministry of Municipality Book Fair with a unique activity large number of school students listening to stories and painting positive values, despite the level of the Doha International and Environment (MME) repre- by setting up a garden for to participate in practical work- workshops throughout the existence of editorial policies Book Fair, as it has become an sented by the Public Parks reading beside the Fair, creating shops on the art of planting exhibition days. for media institutions. He important cultural demon- stressed that even though stration, that contains other workers in the media field are artistic and cultural aspects, subject to the policies of insti- appreciating the distinguished tutions, they should not be presence of the Qatari pub- absent from logic and reason, lishing houses and the high and to have a professional con- content they offer, and the high science as a ruler in their production of Qatari literature visions and ideas. that promises of a generation Dr. Al Hajri said that thanks of young inventors in the field to the information network and of literature and media. social media, the receiver can Al Rumaihi talked about the distinguish between objectivity, summary of his life and profes- bias, and propaganda, noting sional experience and his work that the recipient has an since his beginnings in the sev- important role in confronting enties of the last century in the false media, which does not sports weekly newspapers and adhere to the charter or ethics Al Arab daily until he took over of media work, and that the the editor-in-chief of Al Saqr spectator must search and Magazine, passing through scrutinize to reach the truth many important media stations 'Passage to India' show and leave this medium. and positions in his life until the Children performing Punjabi dance as part of the ‘Passage to India’ show at the MIA Park in Doha, yesterday. A dialogue session was held current presidency of the Qatar PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA for Chairman of the Board of Press Center. Month-long QCS campaign raises awareness on cervical cancer THE PENINSULA — DOHA Heba Nasser, head of the Health Education Department Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) has at QCS, said, “The campaign launched a month-long comes within the framework of campaign titled ‘You are January, which is the global precious’ to raise awareness awareness month of cervical about cervical cancer. cancer, which is considered one Through the campaign, of the most common types of women can do Pap Smear test cancer among women. free in Al Ahli Hospital after Nasser noted that QCS is getting a coupon from QCS. That holding awareness lectures and will organise a closing cer- workshops involving the coun- emony of the campaign on try’s diverse sectors to raise January 29 at Al Messila, Luxury awareness of the symptoms of Collection Resort & Spa, Doha . the disease, the factors respon- The ceremony will include sible for it as well as methods many activities as lectures and of prevention and cure. awareness workshops , healthy Nassar presented a set of Healthcare professionals during Qatar Cancer Society's campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer. cooking , exercises , also present prevention methods such as do on the occasion will be health a Pap test , HPV test HPV educators from QCS to answer vaccine (starting from age of 15 between the age of 20 and 50 best time to do the test is 10-14 21 years or above. stopped if the last three Pap questions from the participants. years), stop smoking , eat and one of most common days from the first day of men- After the first Pap test, tests are normal. Pap tests can In addition, women who did healthy and be active . cancers in women worldwide. struation. The first Pap test women should go for the test be done in most of the health Pap Smear test will enter the Cervical cancer can affect According to Nasser, the Pap should be done after three every three years until the age centers of Primary Health Care draw and win prizes. any woman and especially test is a simple one and the years of marriage if the age is of 65. After 65, the test can be Corporation. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Erdogan confirms Syrian regime's ceasefire violation in Idlib ANATOLIA — ANKARA Erdogan reminded war-weary country. Erdogan reminded that he will be in The Turkish President yesterday that he will be in Berlin, Germany tomorrow and expressed concern on recent Berlin, Germany, they are planning to discuss the developments in the embattled Idlib issue in depth with Russian Idlib province in northwestern tomorrow and they President Vladimir Putin, on the Syria, saying they were an indi- are planning to sidelines of Berlin peace cation that the Syrian regime process. did not comply with cease-fire discuss the Idlib issue Erdogan also said Turkey deals initiated by Turkey and in depth with Russian would not let a deadly terrorist Russia. President Vladimir car bombing in northern Syria “[Idlib] is clear proof that “go unanswered” after it mar- Trucks carry belongings of people fleeing from Maarat Al Numan in northern Idlib, Syria. the regime does not comply Putin, on the sidelines tyred three Turkish soldiers with the steps we have taken of Berlin peace while conducting road controls regarding the cease-fire,” Recep in the anti-terror Operation terrorists to withdraw from the the PKK — listed as a terrorist Tripoli yesterday,” he said. Tayyip Erdogan told reporters process. Peace Spring zone. region so a safe zone can be organisation by Turkey, the US Erdogan added that the in Istanbul, referring to a cease- “We will make them pay for created to pave the way for the and EU — has been responsible issue will be discussed in Berlin fire that began early on January this in a very different, very safe return of some 2 million for the deaths of 40,000 people, thoroughly, and said: “We will 12, succeeding an oft-violated Russian forces as the cease-fire heavy way,” he said. refugees. including women, children, and see what they will do after one de-escalation deal reached in continued to be violated. Turkey on October 9 On October 22, Ankara and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s or two days” following the September 2018. Over 1 million Syrians have launched Operation Peace Moscow reached a deal under Syrian offshoot. meeting. Turkey and Russia agreed moved near the Turkish border Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK which YPG/PKK terrorists Referring to the situation in He also said he hopes that in September 2018 to turn Idlib due to intense attacks over the terrorists from northern Syria would pull back 30km south of Libya, where Turkey supports they would keep their promise into a de-escalation zone, last year. The de-escalation east of the Euphrates River in Turkey’s border with Syria, and the UN-recognised Government as Turkey will be following up where acts of aggression are zone is currently home to some order to secure Turkey’s security forces from Turkey and of National Accord (GNA) the situation. On Jan. 12, the expressly prohibited. 4 million civilians, including borders, aid in the safe return Russia would mount joint against renegade commander warring sides of the Libyan con- Since then, more than 1,300 hundreds of thousands dis- of Syrian refugees, and ensure patrols there. Khalifa Haftar, Erdogan said flict announced a cease-fire in civilians there have been killed placed in recent years by regime Syria’s territorial integrity. In its more than 30-year Haftar was not “trustworthy.” response to a joint call by in attacks by the regime and forces from throughout the Ankara wants YPG/PKK terror campaign against Turkey, “They continued to bomb Erdogan and Putin.

Expelling foreign Libya's Haftar in Greece ahead of Berlin Conference forces ‘bad

ANATOLIA — ANKARA cooperation and the other on conference in an attempt to precedent’: UK: Berlin Conference crucial maritime boundaries of coun- reach a political solution to the Libya’s renegade commander tries in the Eastern conflict. The Greek government Iraq’s KRG The Berlin Conference tomorrow is “an important step Khalifa Haftar paid a visit to Mediterranean. had expressed its desire to par- towards securing a ceasefire” in Libya, Britain’s foreign sec- Greece and met with top Greek The maritime pact asserted ticipate in the conference, but ANATOLIA — ERBIL retary said yesterday. In a Twitter post, Dominic Raab wrote officials yesterday, local media Turkey’s rights in the Eastern was not included. his country is committed to uniting all sides behind peace reported. Mediterranean in the face of The German government The President of Iraq’s Kurdish efforts initiated by the UN. “Sunday’s Berlin Conference is an According to Greek daily unilateral drilling by the Greek announced that Fayez Al Sarraj, Regional Government (KRG), important step towards securing a ceasefire and political Kathimerini, Hafter met with Cypriot administration, clari- head of UN-recognised gov- Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday solution to conflict in Libya,” Raab said.“Spoken to Libyan Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos fying that the Turkish Republic ernment in Libya, Libyan saw that the Iraqi parliament’s PM Serraj to stress UK commitment to uniting international Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister of Northern Cyprus also has warlord Khalifa Haftar, as well decision to expel foreign forces community behind UN’s efforts to find lasting peace,” he Nikos Dendias. There was no rights to the resources in the as representatives from Turkey, was a “bad precedent” in Iraq, added. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attend the news conference after the area. It went into effect on Dec. Russia, China, France, Italy, the as it was issued by “the Shia conference alongside the leaders of other countries invited to meeting, however, Haftar said 8. Greek Premier Mitsotakis said US, the UK, United Arab blocs” only. event — a high-level international effort to end fighting in the ahead of the meeting that he late on Thursday that they will Emirates, Republic of Congo, In statements reported by North African country. came to “discuss peace.” Haftar veto “any political solution” to the UN, the EU, African Union, local media, Barzani said that also had a one-to-one meeting the conflict in Libya on the EU Arab League, Algeria, and Egypt “the decision taken by the Iraqi Putin to take part in conference with Dendias. The Greek official Council level, if Turkey-Libya were invited to the conference. parliament was not good and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the Berlin said after the meeting that treaties are not cancelled. Since the ouster of late leader that the Kurds and Sunnis did conference on Libya on January w19, the Kremlin announced Haftar agreed the treaties Mitsotakis also expressed Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two not take part in making it.” On yesterday. Putin will take part in exchange of views on the signed between Turkey and his discomfort over not being seats of power have emerged January 5, the Iraqi parliament problems of the Libyan settlement, including the establishment Libya’s UN-recognised Gov- invited to the Berlin conference in Libya: one in eastern Libya voted for a resolution calling of a sustainable cease-fire and launch of a political dialogue ernment of National Accord on Libya, which Germany will supported mainly by Egypt and for the government to remove under the UN auspices, the Kremlin said in a statement on its (GNA) need to be cancelled. host on Sunday. the United Arab Emirates and foreign forces from the official website. “Key agreement will be written down in the On November 27, Ankara Germany seeks to bring the other in Tripoli, which country during a session boy- final document of the conference,” it said. and the GNA signed two sep- countries concerned with the enjoys UN and international cotted by Kurdish represent- arate pacts, one on military Libyan issue at the Berlin recognition. atives and most of Sunni law makers. The decision was made after the killing of Gen. Qasem Kenyans hold protest Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, and Abu against inequality Mahdi Al Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi ANATOLIA — NAIROBI a 48-year-old businessman or Popular Mobilization Forces from Western Kenya’s Nyanza in a US airstrike on January 3 Kenyan citizens yesterday took Province, said people living in in Iraq. to the streets of the capital some counties get better access Barzani added that the Nairobi against inequality in the to government facilities com- decision “set a bad precedent country. pared to those who live in rural as it was taken by the Shia bloc Traffic along the busy areas. without consulting any of the Uhuru Highway came to a “I know people who suffer main components of this standstill as the placards- from HIV/Aids and who miss country, the Kurds and the holding protesters marched. medication because of poor Sunnis [Arabs].” “It was a very The marchers were pro- healthcare facilities and critical step which was taken testing against inequality in services in rural Nyanza. When without seeking consensus income, education, unem- you go to schools in central and thus violating the spirit of ployment rates, gender-based province, almost every child the Iraqi constitution,” he bias, healthcare and access to has been enrolled in school, added. clean water for drinking among while in Northern Kenya you Barzani went on to note many others. will find only one out of three that “it is better now to engage The protest is part of a children are not going to seriously and hold talks Thomas Thabane (centre), Prime Minister of Lesotho, during a press conference at the old state global protest against ine- school,” Omondi added. between Iraq and the US on house in Maseru. quality carried out in 30 coun- Lucy Kinyanjui, 52, came the future of the American tries to coincide with the World from Kibera slums that borders presence in the country.” * Economic Forum in Davos, the posh Lang’ata estate in Bassel Ibrahim contributed to Lesotho PM confirms resignation Switzerland. Jackson Omondi, Nairobi. this report from Ankara. after alleged link to wife’s murder Hezbollah warns of ‘chaos’ if AFP — MASERU, LESOTHO “Truth be told, I have In his inaugural speech, become of age and my strength Thabane described his wife’s Lesotho’s prime minister has lessened, hence I announce murder as a “senseless killing”. Lebanon government delayed confirmed yesterday that he before you today that I have an Police commissioner would resign after police linked intention to step down and Holomo Molibeli, who is chal- AP — BEIRUT factions scuttled his latest withdrawal of dollars and him to the murder of his when such time comes I will let lenging Thabane’s attempts to attempt. foreign transfers from the estranged wife nearly three you know,” the 80-year-old sack him, has filed court docu- A senior Hezbollah official Lebanon has been without country. The economy has years ago. said. ments last week — alleging warned yesterday that Lebanon a government since Prime Min- worsened since mass protests Thomas Thabane had faced He said he had worked as there was evidence linking could fall into chaos and ister Saad Hariri resigned on began October 17, turning calls from senior members of long as he could for the well- Thabane to the murder. “complete collapse” unless a October 29 amid nationwide violent in recent weeks as anger his All Basotho Convention being of the Basotho, an ethnic Thabane was previously new government is formed. protests against corruption and mounts. “We see that it is nec- (ABC) party to step down after group native to Lesotho and premier after 2012 elections but Sheikh Ali Daamoush’s mismanagement by a political essary to form a Cabinet as soon police said there was evidence South Africa. was forced to flee to South comments came amid more class that has been running the as possible because we know connecting him to the 2017 “I am convinced that there Africa — which entirely sur- bickering between politicians country since the end of the that the crisis which the country killing. is still much to do.” Thabane’s rounds Lesotho — following an on the formation of a new 1975-90 civil war. and people are suffering from However, Thabane did not 58-year-old wife Lipolelo was attempted coup two years later. Cabinet amid a crippling Panic and anger gripped the cannot be solved without a address the allegations against gunned down by unknown His coalition had been financial crisis and ongoing public as they watched their Cabinet,” Daamoush said him when he announced his assailants on the outskirts of the largely expected to usher in a mass protests against the coun- local currency, pegged to the during the Friday prayers resignation plans at a press capital in June 2017 — two days new era of stability to the try’s ruling elite. dollar for almost three decades, sermon. briefing in the capital Maseru. before he took office — in a mountain kingdom following Prime Minister-designate plummet, losing more than 60% “Losing the opportunity to Thabane gave no timeframe killing that shocked the tiny the collapse of both the pre- Hassan Diab had been expected of its value in recent weeks on form a government now means for his departure, but said he country. vious joint administrations but to announce an 18-member the black market. Meanwhile, that the country is headed into would nevertheless continue in The couple were in the three years on, Lesotho remains Cabinet on Friday, but last banks have imposed informal chaos, disorder and total col- his role as leader of the ABC. process of getting a divorce. poverty-stricken. minute disputes among political capital controls, limiting lapse,” Daamoush warned. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 ASIA 05 Protests against citizenship law continue unabated in India

AP — NEW DELHI The nationwide protests have brought tens of thousands of people from different faiths Hundreds of demonstrators perched themselves on the steps and backgrounds together, in part because of an iconic mosque in the the law is seen as part of a larger threat to Indian capital yesterday to the pluralistic social fabric of Indian society. protest against a new citi- zenship law that excludes Thousands of Hindus, too, have joined the Muslim immigrants. protests to assure minority Muslims that they Demonstrators carried are not isolated. placards and shouted slogans accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nation- between the protesters and the It has triggered nationwide pro- alist government of pursuing police. A New Delhi court tests and clashes with police policies aimed at forcing people ordered his release from jail on that have led to 23 deaths. to prove their citizenship and Thursday. The court asked him The nationwide protests putting Muslims and other to leave the capital within 24 have brought tens of thousands people from marginalized com- hours of his release and to stay of people from different faiths munities at risk out of the city for four weeks. and backgrounds together, in The protest at the 17th The cleric of Jama Masjid part because the law is seen as century mosque, Jama Masjid, made announcements before part of a larger threat to the plu- was led by Chandrashekhar Friday prayers that commented ralistic social fabric of Indian Azad, leader of the Bhim Army, on 16 Muslims who were killed society. Thousands of Hindus, a political party of Dalits who in Uttar Pradesh last month too, have joined the protests to represent the Hinduism’s lowest during protests against the new assure minority Muslims that caste. “We will continue protest law. “The lives of Muslim youth they are not isolated. Protesters gather outside the Jama Masjid after Friday prayers to demonstrate against India’s new against the law till repealed,” lost in Uttar Pradesh violence Modi’s party downplays the citizenship law, in New Delhi. Azad said as he and hundreds shouldn’t go to waste,” Syed protests, saying they are orches- of his supporters read out the Ahmed Bukhari announced to trated by opponents. constitution’s preamble, which a congregation of thousands. Meanwhile, hundreds of states and small towns have law, known as the Citizenship the first to legally challenge says there should be no discrim- He added people must women continued with a sit-in carried out similar sit-ins in Amendment Act. the new law. In a petition to ination on the basis of religion. “raise their voice against the law on a road side in New Delhi, protest against the law. “The CAA enacted by Par- the Supreme Court, the state Azad was arrested on in a peaceful way.” braving freezing temperatures Also yesterday, the Congress liament has caused countrywide government said the law vio- December 21 after leading a The new citizenship law and attempts of law party, which is the governing anguish and social unrest with lates the secular nature of similar protest at the steps of the provides a path to naturali- enforcement agencies to break party in northern Punjab state, widespread protests all over the India’s Constitution, and mosque. He was accused of zation for immigrants from them up for almost a month. adopted a resolution in the state country,’’ the resolution said. accused the government of instigating violence as the Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Emulating their example, legislature demanding On Tuesday, the southern dividing the nation along com- protest ended in a clash Pakistan, unless they’re Muslim. women across the many Indian scrapping of the controversial Indian state of Kerala became munal lines.

Sri Lanka's former Rain brings joy for Australian minister held over phone firefighters and farmers recording scandal AFP — SYDNEY New South Wales, the eastern rain gave many rare cause for AFP — COLOMBO state where many of the worst celebration. “What can I say, we Drought-breaking storms blazes have raged. are so lucky. Before this, dams Sri Lankan authorities have dumped desperately needed “Our fingers are crossed that were dry, and we were carting arrested a former minister rain on some bushfire-ravaged this continues over the coming water and feeding stock for who allegedly recorded parts of eastern Australia yes- days.” However the rains have months,” Stephanie Stewart, 100,000 phone calls, the terday, while giving joy to many not hit all fires in New South who lives on a farm in northern sometimes lewd and compro- farmers who have faced losing Wales, nor in the state of Vic- New South Wales, said. mising contents of which were precious livestock and crops. toria to the south, where many “This has made life a lot leaked on social media. The rains gave exhausted of the worst blazes are raging. easier on the land, that’s for In what has become a firefighters a boost in battling The rain has also completely sure. Now hoping it spreads and major scandal, Ranjan Rama- some of the blazes, with more missed Kangaroo Island, the can ease the burden for so many nayake is heard discussing relief expected over the nation’s third, biggest off the other amazing farmers who court cases with judges, police, weekend as the wet weather is southern coast of the mainland have been and still dealing with politicians and local celebrities forecast to hit other hotspots. that is famed for its pristine this dreaded drought.” in some of the recordings. The unprecedented fires, wilderness. Roughly a billion animals Police, who seized hard fuelled by climate change and Fires have devastated the are estimated to have died in drives from Ramanayake’s a years-long drought, have national park on the island, the fires nationwide. home, said they were investi- claimed 28 lives over the past wiping out much of its koala pop- With huge tracts of their gating whether the recordings five months. They have scorched ulation and threatening to com- habitats destroyed, environ- had been used for blackmail massive tracts of pristine forests pletely eradicate bird and other mental groups have warned the or other criminal activity. in eastern and southern Australia, endemic marsupial species. blazes could drive many species The opposition lawmaker, decimated livestock on already Authorities have warned the to extinction. Much attention 56, who was remanded in barren farms and destroyed crisis could worsen again with has focused on Australia’s tree- custody earlier this week, has 2,000 homes. Australia only halfway through dwelling koalas, with images of said he is being targeted for Following extreme hot and its summer. Still, the prospect the cuddly-looking animals speaking out against cor- dry weather that have fuelled of more wet weather across being rescued from wildfires ruption. In some of the leaked the fires, yesterday saw the eastern and southern Australia making world headlines. audio tapes, Ramanayake is heaviest rainfalls in nearly a over the coming days offered But yesterday morning, heard slating the leadership of decade in some areas close to further hope. some koalas and other native his own opposition United hotspots. “Rain has fallen across The bushfires and the animals at the Australia Reptile National Party, which has since most fire grounds over the last drought have pushed many Park on the east coast of New suspended his membership. Injured koalas lay in baskets after being rescued from a bushfires 24 hours, which is great news,” farmers in Australia to the South Wales had to be rescued Parliamentary Speaker on Kangaroo Island, Australia, yesterday. said the Rural Fire Service of brink, and this week’s heavy from floodwaters. Karu Jayasuriya said the scandal demonstrated the moral degradation of the oth- Nirbhaya convicts erwise conservative Buddhist- World’s shortest man dies in Nepal at 27 majority nation of 21 million to go to the gallows people. “Recording private on February 1 conversations as well as AFP — KATHMANDU appearances in Europe and the broadcasting them (illegally) IANS — NEW DELHI United States. “We’re terribly shows the moral decay in our The world’s shortest man who sad to hear the news from Nepal country,” Jayasuriya said in a A court here yesterday issued could walk, as verified by that Khagendra is no longer statement urging the clergy to fresh death warrants against Guinness World Records, died with us,” said Craig Glenday, encourage higher ethical the four convicts — Akshay yesterday at a hospital in Nepal, Guinness World Records standards in society. Singh, Pawan Gupta, Mukesh his family said. editor-in-chief. and Vinay Sharma — in the Khagendra Thapa Magar, “Life can be challenging Nirbhaya murder case. who measured 67.08 centi- when you weigh just 6 kilo- Number of suicides Additional Sessions Judge metres (2 feet 2.41 inches), died grams and you don’t fit into a Satish Kumar Arora fixed Feb- of pneumonia at a hospital in world built for the average in Japan hits ruary 1 as the date of execution Pokhara, 200km from Kath- person. But Khagendra cer- record low of the four death row convicts. mandu, where he lived with his tainly didn’t let his small size The convicts will be hanged at parents. “He has been in and out stop him from getting the most AFP — TOKYO 6am. The move came after the of hospital because of pneu- out of life” he said. prosecution moved an appli- monia. But this time his heart Magar became an official The number of suicides in cation seeking issuance of was also affected. He passed face of Nepal’s tourism cam- Japan fell to a record low in fresh death warrants following away today,” Mahesh Thapa paign, which featured him as 2019, the government said the rejection of the mercy plea Magar, his brother, said. the smallest man in a country yesterday, as the country of convict Mukesh by the Magar was first declared the that is home to the world’s tackles one of the world’s President. world’s shortest man in 2010 highest peak, Mount Everest. highest suicide rates. “None of the petitions of after his 18th birthday, photo- During his stint he met other Preliminary data released any convict is pending before graphed holding a certificate short people around the world, by the health ministry showed any forum. So my prayer is only a bit smaller than him. including the shortest woman, 19,959 people died by suicide in that new death warrants be However he eventually lost Jyoti Amge, from India. 2019, a 4.2 percent drop for the issued for execution of the four the title after Nepal’s Chandra In a video released by country of 127 million people. convicts,” said Public Prose- Bahadur Dangi, who measured Guinness World Records, Magar Seventy percent of those were cutor Irfan Ahmed while filing 54.6 centimetres, was dis- is seen playing a guitar with his men. Final data will be released the application. covered and named the world’s brother, riding a bike and sitting in March, and the figures are The new death warrants shortest mobile man. at his family’s shop. likely to be slightly higher, after are dated to exactly 14 days Magar regained the title The world’s shortest non- police confirm whether deaths from today, in accordance after Dangi’s death in 2015. “He mobile man remains Junrey recorded in the final months of with a law that states convicts was so tiny when he was born Balawing of the Philippines, the year were linked to suicide. to be executed must have a that he could fit in the palm of who measures only 59.93 cen- But officials said the final reprieve from the time their your hand, and it was very hard timetres but is unable to walk figure was still expected to be mercy plea is turned down. to bathe him because he was so or stand unaided, according to a record low since data col- The 23-year-old victim small,” said his father, Roop Guinness World Records. lection began in 1978. The was brutally molested and tor- Bahadur, according to Guinness The record for shortest number of suicides in Japan tured on December 16, 2012, World Records. living mobile man is now peaked in 2003 at 34,427 and In this file photo taken on October 29, 2010 Nepalese Khagendra which later led to her death. As the world’s shortest man retained by Edward “Nino” Her- the figure remained above Thapa Magar, the world’s smallest man, poses with his Guiness All the six accused were the 27-year-old travelled to nandez of Colombia, a reg- 30,000 between 2004 and record certificate against the backdrop of Mount Machchhapuchhre arrested and charged with more than a dozen countries gaeton DJ who stands 70.21 2011, but has been falling assault and murder. and made television centimeters tall, Guinness said. at their home in Pokhara, some 200km west of Kathmandu steadily since then. 06 ASIA SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Pakistan: US must remain engaged in Afghanistan even after troops leave AFP & INTERNEWS Foreign Minister meeting with the US Senate — WASHINGTON Shah Mehmood leadership discussed US- Pakistan relationship, the situ- Pakistan said that the United Qureshi met US ation in South Asia, the Afghan States must remain engaged in Secretary of State peace process, and recent Afghanistan’s reconstruction Mike Pompeo and developments in the Middle even if it succeeds in with- East. The senators lauded Paki- drawing troops and ending its talked on the growing stan’s role in the Afghan peace longest war. momentum toward process and requested Islamabad Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, for its continued support. The Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who a deal between the Foreign Minister assured the sen- is in Washington, urged the United States and ators that Pakistan was com- United States not to return to the Taliban. mitted to the Afghan political rec- neglect of Afghanistan, as seen onciliation process. after 1989 when Soviet troops Qureshi noted that the history US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo (right), shakes hands with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah pulled out under pressure from to remove the more than 12,000 of Pakistan-US relationship was Mehmood Qureshi at the State Department in Washington, US, yesterday. Islamic guerrillas backed by US troops remaining in Afghan- testimony to the value of working Washington and Islamabad. “Do istan, seeing the war as no longer together. He reaffirmed Paki- not repeat the ‘80s,” Qureshi worth its cost. stan’s resolve to continue to play Democratic Senator Bob He added that the relationship thanked Qureshi for his briefing said at the Center for Strategic The Taliban, in their latest a constructive role and to work Menendez, Chair of the Senate was on an “upward positive tra- and appreciated Pakistan’s inval- and International Studies. negotiations with the US, have with the United States to bring Foreign Relations Subcommittee jectory” since the last year. uable contributions for regional “Even if there is a successful proposed a brief ceasefire in peace in the region. on Asia, Senator Mitt Romney, “The Foreign Minister also peace and security. “They also agreement, challenges will hopes of building momentum to “Pakistan is for peace and we and Democratic Ranking briefed the caucus about gov- recognised the role of the Paki- remain there, so the United a deal. Pakistan was the main would do whatever we can to Member of the Asia Subcom- ernment of Pakistan’s vision for stani American community in the States and its friends and coa- backer of the former Taliban promote and facilitate peace,” mittee Senator Chris Murphy. socio-economic progress and US which were contributing lition partners will have to have regime and maintains contacts. said Qureshi while referring to The Foreign Minister also human development in the towards further strengthening a more responsible with- Qureshi says he has seen a Pakistan’s role in defusing ten- held separate meetings with country as well as Pakistan’s bilateral linkages and relations,” drawal,” he said. “They should willingness from the Taliban to sions in the Middle East. members of the Senate Foreign efforts for regional peace and said the Foreign Office. remain engaged — not to fight, reduce the violence. “They are The Foreign Office said Relations Committee and the prosperity including in facili- The event was attended by but to rebuild,” he said. pragmatic and not foolish. They that the senators agreed with Pakistan Caucus of the US Con- tating peace in Afghanistan and Chair of Congressional Pakistan Qureshi yesterday met US are also fatigued,” he said at the Qureshi on the need for con- gress. In a separate meeting defeating terrorism in the Caucus Congresswoman Sheila Secretary of State Mike Pompeo event in Washington. tinued cooperation between with the US Congress’s Pakistan region,” Foreign Office said. Jackson Lee, Congressman and talked on the growing The Foreign Minister also the two countries. They Caucus, the Minister empha- Qureshi underscored the Thomas Suozzi and Jim Banks. momentum toward a deal met with US lawmakers at believe that cooperation was sised that Islamabad values its significance of further strength- Congressman Eliot Engel, between the United States and Capitol Hill in Washington DC needed to achieve each other’s relationship with Washington. ening people-to-people and Chairman of the House Foreign the Taliban. The United States as a part of his diplomatic trip common objectives on the Qureshi also lauded the caucus inter-parliamentary linkages Affairs Committee as well as Con- returned to Afghanistan in 2001 to the US, Pakistan embassy bilateral and regional fronts. for its role in “further improving between the two countries and gressman Ami Bera, Chairman in an invasion to out the Taliban. officials said here yesterday. The meeting was attended by bilateral relations between urged the lawmakers to play of the House sub-Committee on President Donald Trump is eager The Foreign Minister in his Republican Senator Jim Risch and Pakistan and the United States”. their role. The Pakistan Caucus Asia were also in attendance.

Thailand detects Seoul rebukes US envoy second case of over Moon comments mystery virus

AFP — SEOUL US ambassador Harry AFP — BANGKOK Harris told reporters on South Korea’s presidential Thursday that Seoul should Thailand detected its second office yesterday publicly coordinate with Washington on case of a mysterious SARS- rebuked the US ambassador for such plans and they should be linked virus in a visitor from urging consultations over Pres- “run through” a joint working China, health officials said yes- ident Moon Jae-in’s plans for group to avoid any terday, as authorities ramp up joint projects with the nuclear- “misunderstandings”. airport screenings ahead of an armed North, calling his remarks It was not Washington’s expected surge in arrivals for “very inappropriate”. role to “approve or disap- Chinese New Year. Seoul and Washington are prove”, he said, “but we are The 74-year-old Chinese security allies and the US stations Korea’s only ally, we do have woman is being treated at hos- 28,500 troops in the country to 28,500 American troops here, pital after presenting with defend it from the nuclear- American taxpayers pay bil- symptoms at Thailand’s armed North, but their relations lions of dollars to defend this biggest airport Suvarnabhumi are sometimes strained. country, so we have an interest on January 13, according to the Lunar New Year celebrations US President Donald in inter-Korean dialogue.” health ministry. Trump’s aggressive rhetoric Seoul dismissed his com- She was diagnosed with A worker hangs traditional-style lanterns at the monastery ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year towards Pyongyang in 2017 ments yesterday, saying it was pneumonia linked to the new celebration in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. provoked alarm in the South, “very inappropriate” for the coronavirus, which has stirred and more recently it has been ambassador to respond to the alarm after killing two in China stung by his demands that it media on Moon’s proposal. “It and hospitalising dozens. It has China birth rate pay $5bn a year towards the is up to our government to also been detected in Japan. Pakistani national to American troops’ costs. make decisions when it comes “People don’t have to panic hits lowest level They have also differed in to matters of inter-Korean co- as there is no spread of the their approach towards the operation,” a Blue House virus in Thailand,” the ministry become Birmingham’s since 1949 North: negotiations between official told reporters. said in its statement. The Washington and Pyongyang Harris has several times woman, whose condition is AFP — BEIJING have been at a standstill since been the object of controversy improving, arrived from the new Lord Mayor the Hanoi summit collapsed in in South Korea, accused of central Chinese city of Wuhan China’s birth rate dropped last February last year, and high-handedness and even his — believed to be at the epi- INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD Muhammad Afzal has also year to its lowest level since Pyongyang recently announced moustache has proved contro- centre of the outbreak. served as the chair of Labour’s the Communist country was the abandonment of its nuclear versial. The US envoy’s mother It came after Thai doctors Councilor Muhammad Afzal BAME (Black, Asian and founded in 1949, adding to and missile test moratoriums. was Japanese and with Koreans diagnosed another Chinese is set to become Britain city Minority Ethnic) group. concerns that an ageing But Moon has maintained still bitterly resenting Tokyo’s traveller with mild pneumonia of Birmingham’s new Lord Muhammad Afzal was also society and shrinking work- his efforts to push engagement 1910-45 colonisation of the on January 8, later confirmed Mayor. The veteran Labour elected to be the Lord Mayor force will pile pressure on a — despite a series of rebukes peninsula, commentators to have been caused by the politician was elected to be back in 2016. But soon after he slowing economy. from Pyongyang — and earlier claimed the facial hair alluded new virus. The World Health the “First Citizen” of the city withdrew from running the To avoid a demographic this week raised the prospect to governors-general of the past. Organisation has said “much where he’s lived for more than post after his alleged remarks crisis, the government relaxed of Southern tourist visits to the Harris told reporters on remains to be understood” 50 years now. about then Prime Minister its one-child policy in 2016 to North. Tourism itself is not Thursday that his duty was to about the coronavirus from the Muhammad Afzal who was David Cameron. He was criti- allow people to have two subject to international sanc- present and defend US policy, same family as SARS (Severe first elected as a councilor way cised for accusing David children, but the change has tions, but some related aspects and accepted that he would be Acute Respiratory Syndrome), back in 1982 from city’s Aston Cameron as “Islamophobe” not resulted in an increase in could become issues, such as criticised if it was unpopular in which claimed hundreds of Ward is currently the longest over the government’s anti-ter- pregnancies. In 2019, the birth financial transfers. the South. lives more than a decade ago. serving Muslim councilor in the rorism programme “Prevent” rate stood at 10.48 per 1,000 UK. Councilor Afzal who origi- during a rally at Birmingham people, down slightly from the nally belongs from Mirpur came Central Mosque. He was also year before, according to data to the UK in 1969. He was also the chairman of Central from the National Bureau of Pakistan court jails more than 80 the first Muslim to be elected as Mosque at that time a post Statistics (NBS) released yes- a councilor in Birmingham. which he held for many years. terday. The number of births has He will be the 5th Muslim Later in a statement now fallen for three consecutive Islamists over Asia Bibi protests Lord Mayor of Pakistani back- released by Labour party, he years, still, there were 14.65 ground. Other four are coun- termed it a malicious and million babies born in 2019. AFP — ISLAMABAD wake of Bibi’s acquittal in late TLP has in recent years cilor Mahmood Hussain, defamatory campaign run He Yafu, an independent 2018. At the time Pakistan took become one of the most pow- councilor Abdul Rashid JP, against him and said “Unfair demographer based in southern A Pakistani court has sentenced its leader, Khadim Hussain erful groups in Pakistan weap- councilor Shafiq Shah and and indeed untrue comments Guangdong province, said the more than 80 Islamists to 55 Rizvi, into custody as part of a onising the ultra-sensitive issue, current Lord Mayor Councilor being ascribed to me. I have number of births was the lowest years in prison each after pro- broad effort to quell the unrest. including at the ballot box. Muhammad Azim. Councilor tried to put the record straight since 1961, the last year of a tests linked to the 2018 acquittal Ashrafi said 86 members of Rizvi had demanded the Mahmood Hussain was the first but sadly it has not been pos- famine that left tens of millions of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman the TLP were convicted after a execution of Asia Bibi, a Muslim Lord Mayor of Bir- sible to do so as rumour and dead. He said there were around accused of blasphemy, one of trial which lasted for more than labourer from central Punjab mingham, while councilor Shafi innuendo has replaced facts”. 11.8 million births that year. their senior leaders said. a year but he argued that the pro- province and minority Christian Shah holds the record of being However, now after four US-based academic Yi The sentence — an unusually tests had been against Rizvi’s who had been convicted of the youngest ever Lord Mayor. years he’s all set to become the Fuxian, senior scientist at the harsh one in Pakistan, where arrest, not Bibi’s acquittal. blasphemy in 2010 and sent to Muhammad Afzal was Lord Mayor again. He will be University of Wisconsin- blasphemy is an extremely sen- “This is murder of justice death row, but was dramati- selected by councils ruling city’s 111th Lord Mayor. When Madison, said that even though sitive issue — was announced by and the sentences given are cally acquitted on appeal in Labour group earlier this week councilor Afzal will become Lord China has abolished its one- a lower court in the garrison quite ruthless and harsh,” he 2018. Bibi now lives in Canada and the announcement was Mayor, as per the tradition, the child policy, there has been a town of Rawalpindi on Thursday, said. Ashrafi said the party with her family. officially made after the full outgoing Lord Mayor councilor shift in the mindset of the pop- said Pir Ejaz Ashrafi, a senior would challenge the verdict in Another TLP spokesman, council meeting on Tuesday. Azim will become the deputy ulation, with people now used leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik the Lahore High Court. who confirmed the convictions He will take up his new role Lord Mayor. This will be the first to smaller families. Pakistan (TLP). Blasphemy is an incendiary said the government was trying in May this year when the time in the history of Bir- He added that a higher cost The Islamists were charge in Muslim-majority to subdue the party. “But they current Lord Mayor mingham that both the Lord of living is also a factor, noting members of the radical TLP, an Pakistan, where even the whiff can never succeed as we are not Mohammad Azim will step Mayor and the Deputy Lord that daycare is expensive and anti-blasphemy party which of an unsubstantiated allegation standing for Khadim Rizvi or down after completing his one Mayor will be not only Muslims inconvenient in China, posing had spearheaded violent pro- of insulting Islam can spark any organisation, but for a pure year tenure at the office. but also of Pakistani origin. another deterrence. tests across Pakistan in the death at the hands of mobs. Islam,” he said. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 ASIA 07 China’s Xi vows ‘new era’ of Myanmar ties Xi told Myanmar leaders he was “convinced that the concerted efforts of our two sides will make this visit a success and take the bilateral ties to a new level and into a new era”, Xinhua reported.

AFP — NAYPYIDAW, MYANMAR Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Myanmar President Win Myint shake hands during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw yesterday. RIGHT: Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Presidential Palace. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to usher in a “new era” of ties with Myanmar after a red Xi told Myanmar leaders he rail link is also on the cards to in separate meetings today. Myanmar’s relationship with alleged atrocities took place in carpet welcome yesterday on a was “convinced that the con- connect the port and nearby Ahead of the visit Suu Kyi made the superpower has other ben- Rakhine, which has since state visit aimed at buttressing certed efforts of our two sides planned industrial zone with the a rare appearance in Kachin state efits. In an op-ed in Myanmar’s descended into a civil war the embattled government of will make this visit a success countries’ shared border. on the border with China. state-run media this week, Xi between the military and an Aung San Suu Kyi and driving and take the bilateral ties to a Bilateral trade was worth Kachin is the site of a said China supports Myanmar ethnic Rakhine rebel group. through multi-billion-dollar new level and into a new era,” $16.8bn last year and Beijing planned Chinese-backed in “safeguarding its legitimate Myanmar has nonetheless infrastructure deals. Xinhua reported. During the trip holds the biggest share — $3.6bn, 6,000 megawatt dam rights and interests and national declared the state open for Myanmar fighter jets escorted he is expected to sign a series around $4bn or 40 percent — that was mothballed in 2011 in dignity”. business. While many Western Xi’s plane as it touched down in of mammoth infrastructure of Myanmar’s foreign debt. the face of vociferous criticism China shields Myanmar at investors are steering clear, Naypyidaw where children pre- deals as part of China’s Belt and Billions of cubic metres of across the country. This is the United Nations, where China — competing against sented him with flowers, Road Initiative — a global trade gas and millions of barrels of oil thought to have been a personal pressure is mounting for other regional giants — has few according to China’s official plan that promises to change from offshore rigs are pumped slight to Xi, who signed off on accountability over the such qualms. Xinhua news agency, as he was the face of Myanmar. each year across the country the Myitsone dam with Myan- treatment of Rohingya Muslims. “Xi’s visit will amplify con- whisked off to a greeting party. The centrepiece of the so- into China. “The next one, two, mar’s then-military junta as Suu Kyi personally cerns the West is losing In addition to being its called China-Myanmar Eco- three decades will be defined vice president in 2009. defended her nation against Myanmar to China,” said largest investor, China has nomic Corridor (CMEC) is a by Myanmar’s relationship with Activists are expected to accusations of genocide at the Horsey. Domestically, Suu Kyi become an indispensable ally $1.3bn deep-sea port at China,” said Yangon-based protest in the commercial hub UN’s top court last month after needs economic wins as well as for Myanmar as it reels from Kyaukphyu in central Rakhine analyst Richard Horsey. Yangon today against any rein- a 2017 military crackdown diplomatic support as she heads Western isolation over the state, giving Beijing a gateway to Xi will sit down with Suu Kyi statement of the project. forced 740,000 Rohingya over towards elections due at the end Rohingya crisis. the Indian Ocean. A high-speed and Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing Economic interests aside, the border into Bangladesh. The of this year. Volcano: Philippine town residents retrieve belongings US warship REUTERS — AGONCILLO, dozens of earthquakes in sails through PHILIPPINES nearby towns. The institute said yesterday Taiwan Strait Thousands of residents under that the danger level posed by orders to evacuate from a town the volcano remained at 4 out AFP — TAIPEI near the Philippine volcano Taal of a possible 5, meaning “haz- were allowed to briefly visit ardous explosive eruption is A US warship has sailed homes yesterday to rescue their possible within hours to days”. through the Taiwan Strait, animals and recover some pos- “We do not base the alert mainland and Taipei officials sessions, taking advantage of level simply on what we see on said yesterday, the first such what appeared to be waning the surface. We have to try to passage since the island resound- activity. interpret what is happening ingly re-elected its inde- Daniel Reyes, Mayor of the below,” Renato Solidum, pendence-leaning president. Agoncillo town inside the Phivolcs’ chief, told CNN Phil- The warship was on a danger zone of the 311 metre ippines. “There are sometimes “routine mission” on Thursday, (1,020 feet) volcano, said he waning activity but the activity Taiwan’s defence ministry allowed around 3,000 residents below is still continuing.” The said, as it traversed the stretch to check their properties and impact of the volcano on the of water that divides the self- retrieve animals, clothes and $330bn national economy has ruling island from the author- other possessions. been a blip, despite cancelled itarian Chinese mainland. “If I would not let them flights and a day of work lost on The waterway bristles with rescue their animals, their Sunday because of a heavy hardware on both sides and animals would die and together ashfall in Manila, 70km away. China views any sail-by as a with them their sources of live- But for some of the farmers breach of its sovereignty. lihood,” Reyes told Reuters. A growing pineapples, bananas The US and many other long line of cars, trucks, motor- Residents affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano gather at an evacuation centre in Tagaytay City, and coffee nearby it has been a nations say the strait is inter- cycle taxis carrying television Philippines’ Cavite province, yesterday. disaster. Volcanic ash has national waters and Wash- sets, gas stoves and electric fans, caused an estimated 3.06bn ington regularly carries out so- were seen leaving Agoncillo, than 40,000 residents of Agon- among a total of 66,000 people homes,” Reyes said. “The help pesos ($60.17m) worth of called “Freedom of Navi- among the towns blanketed in cillo have abandoned their sheltering in evacuation centres. they are getting now is only damage to crops, livestock and gation” operations to press the thick layers of volcanic ash. homes since Taal, one of the Phil- Taal has shown signs of momentarily”. fish farms, based on the latest point. The sail-by comes after “Our bodies are fine, but our ippines’ most active and dead- calm since Thursday and Reyes The Philippine Institute of data from the agriculture Tsai Ing-wen won a second minds and hearts are in pain”, liest volcanoes, began spewing said he took advantage of this Volcanology and Seismology department. term as President in weekend said resident Peding Dawis, 63, massive clouds of ash, steam and window to allow residents to (Phivolcs) said it observed Although Taal is one of the elections with an increased while resting after taking his gas on Sunday, Reyes said. collect their belongings. “Based “steady steam emission and world’s smallest active vol- majority. cows to safer areas. The majority of residents on what I saw outside, I thought infrequent weak explosions” canoes, it can be deadly. An China’s leadership had “It’s hard to leave our homes are now staying with families I would be doing them more from the volcano’s main crater, eruption killed more than 1,300 made no secret of its desire to and livelihood behind.” More elsewhere, but the rest are good if I let them return to their but it continued to record people in 1911. see Tsai turfed out because she and her party refuse to acknowledge their view that Taiwan is part of a “one It’s a boy! Paternity leave looms HK airline forces woman China”. Beijing regards the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by for Japanese minister Koizumi to take pregnancy test force if necessary — especially if it declares independence. REUTERS — TOKYO Koizumi told reporters he “I’ll keep a priority on policy AFP — HONG KONG Nishida and said the practice In Beijing, foreign ministry had come straight from the hos- and on managing anything unex- had been discontinued. spokesman Geng Shuang said Japanese environment minister pital and had been by his wife’s pected that comes up, while also A Hong Kong airline forced a “We have immediately sus- China “closely followed” the Shinjiro Koizumi, who has said side for the birth. “As a father carving out time for child care,” Japanese woman to take a pended the practice while we ship throughout its entire he will take paternity leave in I’m really happy that a healthy he said. The reaction on the pregnancy test before allowing review it. We’d like to apologise journey. “The Taiwan issue a rare move for a Japanese man, boy was safely born,” a tired but streets of central Tokyo was sup- her on a flight to a Pacific island for the distress caused,” the concerns China’s sovereignty announced yesterday that the happy Koizumi told a news portive. “I think it’s a wonderful popular with mothers seeking airline said in a statement. and territorial integrity, and is birth of his first child: A boy. conference. “Both of them are thing,” said Hitoshi Aoki, a US citizenship for their babies. Hong Kong Express said it the most important, most sen- Koizumi, son of charismatic doing well, that’s the most 35-year-old company employee. Midori Nishida, 25, was had taken “action on flights to sitive issue in China-US rela- former prime minister Junichiro important thing.” Kotaro Suzuki, a 22-year- escorted to a public toilet at Saipan from February 2019 to tions,” Geng said at a regular Koizumi and seen as a future Japanese Prime Minister old university student, said: “I Hong Kong airport and told to help ensure US immigration press briefing. leader himself, said on Shinzo Abe has been trying to hope my boss would say ‘OK’ urinate on a strip in November laws were not being under- He said the US must “abide Wednesday that he was encourage more men to take when I request to take before being granted per- mined”, in response to con- by the One-China principle” planning to take two weeks of paternity leave, and for busi- (paternity leave). I wish our mission to board her Hong cerns raised by the island’s in order to “avoid hurting leave over three months, in an nesses to allow a better work- society becomes like that.” Kong Express flight to the US authorities. “We recognise the China-US relations and the effort to become a role model life balance, as part of his “Wom- Cabinet ministers also territory of Saipan. significant concerns this peace and stability of the for Japan’s working fathers. enomics” programme of bol- lauded Koizumi’s decision, with She had declared in a ques- practice has caused,” it said. Taiwan Strait.” Afer Tsai’s re- But some lawmakers have stering women’s employment. Economy Minister Yasutoshi tionnaire at check-in that she Saipan is a popular des- election, China warned against criticised his interest in taking While Japan’s parental Nishimura — a father of three was not pregnant but airline tination for women wanting any move to push the island parental leave, saying he should leave policies are among the daughters — hoping it would staff nevertheless requested to give birth on US soil to closer towards formal prioritise his public duties. world’s most generous, pro- have a positive social impact. she undergo a “fit-to-fly” secure American citizenship independence. The telegenic Koizumi, pop- viding men and women with “I hope he can take as much assessment designed for for their child. The newly commissioned ularly known as Shinjiro to dis- partially paid leave of up to a time as possible. It’ll be really women with a body size or In 2018 nearly 600 babies Shandong, China’s first domes- tinguish him from his father, year, or longer if there is no good if many more men follow shape resembling a pregnant were born to tourists in the tically built aircraft carrier, grabbed headlines in the public child care, just 6% of eli- his example and take time off.” woman. The test result came Northern Mariana Islands, sailed through the Taiwan summer of 2019 with news he gible fathers take child care Koizumi seemed to still be up negative. “It was very humil- which sit just north of Guam, Strait in December just weeks was marrying Christel leave, and most of them for less adjusting to his new role. “I iating and frustrating,” Nishida also a US territory — a figure before the election. Takigawa, a French-Japanese than a week, according to gov- don’t really feel like a father yet, told the Wall Street Journal. greater than the number of Beijing’s only other carrier television personality, and that ernment data. but that should come soon. I She grew up on Saipan and babies born to locals. According — the Liaoning — has passed they were expecting a child. Koizumi acknowledged that want to be a father like my dad her family have lived on the to data from health authorities, through the Taiwan Strait Soon after, he was named envi- he had heard comments both was,” he was quoted by NHK island for more than 20 years. 575 Chinese visitors gave birth several times in recent years, ronment minister. for and against his decision. television as saying. The airline apologised to there that year. most recently in June. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

EDITORIAL Members of a Palestinian family sit at the site of their destroyed house, on a winter cold day in the southern Gaza Strip. Environment-friendly tournament ‘Difficult’ year ahead, amid funding

ALL the preparations for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar reflect an emphasis on sustainability and legacy. With cuts and Israeli pressure: UNRWA a number of steps being taken by the Supreme Com- mittee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) from energy con- investigation into misconduct clarified in a statement that he servation and green spaces to use of recycled material allegations. was referring to pro-Israel and public transport connected stadiums, Qatar 2022 In the interview, Saunders, groups. He said UNRWA “had no is going to be the most environmentally-friendly football now acting commissioner- reason to believe that the U.S. tournament of the world. general, said the inquiry by the was engaged in lobbying to stop Education City Stadium has become the first Qatar UN Office of Internal Oversight funding the agency.” He said 2022 tournament venue to receive a five-star rating from Services was complete and Sec- UNRWA was feeling “the the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). Saunders said retary-General Antonio Guterres pressure in East Jerusalem in NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI The prestigious award, considered a mark of excel- he felt confident REUTERS had confirmed there had been no particular”, saying that Israel was lence in sustainability, design and construction, was corruption or misuse of funds. in the process of building schools presented by the Founding Chairman of the Gulf Organ- UNRWA had Saunders said the investi- and institutions “to compete” isation for Research & Development (GORD) Dr. Yousef enough money The interim head of the UN gation had uncovered misman- with the agency and stop it from Al Horr, to Executive Director of the Technical Delivery for at least the agency that aids Palestinian agement related to human operating there. Office at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy refugees accused pro-Israel resources and abuse of authority, “The important thing to (SC) Jassim Telefat on Thursday. first quarter of groups of lobbying foreign and that major donors, who had remember here is that UNRWA GORD presented three certificates to the SC for 2020, but he parliaments to stop donations, withheld funding while the has a mandate from the (UN) Education City Stadium: GSAS Design & Build (five even as it struggled to recover inquiry was under way, have General Assembly, from the rest stars), GSAS Construction Management Class A* and expected it to be from losing United States funding resumed contributions. of the world, the member states, GSAS Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. an “even more in 2018. Saunders said he felt con- to provide services to Palestinian Apart of Education City Stadium’s five star rating, Christian Saunders, in an fident UNRWA had enough refugees in East Jerusalem,” the SC has so far taken a number of important measures difficult” year interview with Reuters in his money for at least the first Saunders said. for organizing a sustainable sporting event in Qatar. than last. He Gaza office, also said Israel was quarter of 2020, but he expected Israel considers all of Jeru- According to the SC, more than 850,000m2 of new green added that they seeking to replace United it to be an “even more difficult” salem, including the eastern part spaces will be created in the stadium precincts, while Nations Relief and Works Agency year than last. He added that they captured along the West Bank in more than 5,000 trees will be planted. had not given up (UNRWA) services for Pales- had not given up on persuading the 1967 Middle East war, as its Qatar 2022 stadiums will be using energy efficient on persuading tinians in occupied East Jeru- the United States to change its “indivisible capital”. Palestinians LED lights which will provide better quality illumination salem with those of its own. mind about funding. want East Jerusalem to be the than conventional lights using only a third of the elec- the United States UNRWA has faced budgetary “We are engaged with the US, capital of a state they seek to tricity. The stadiums for Qatar 2022 have been designed to change its difficulties since 2018, when the we will continue to engage with establish in the West Bank and to consume 40% less energy during operation as well. United States, its biggest donor, them in the hopes that they will Gaza. Another sustainability feature of next football world mind about halted its annual aid of $360 see UNRWA as a reliable partner Last month, the UN General cup is stadiums’ connectivity through public transport. funding. million. The United States and and worth supporting,” Saunders Assembly renewed UNRWA’s Doha Metro will provide a fast, cost-effective and envi- Israel have both accused UNRWA said in the interview. mandate for another three years. ronmentally-friendly way for everyone to reach matches, of mismanagement and anti- Saunders initially said that The agency aids more than 5 fan zones and accommodation during the 2022 FIFA Israeli incitement. Israel and the United States were million registered refugees in the World Cup. Last November, UNRWA “advocating against funding West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Last year in November, the SC had also signed an commissioner-general Pierre UNRWA in the European parlia- Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, agreement with the GORD to support the delivery of a Krahenbuhl resigned amid an ments and elsewhere,” but later Lebanon and Syria. carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in 2022. Education City Stadium, known as the ‘Diamond in the Desert’, features a range of sustainability features, including direct access to public transport via the Edu- EU under pressure to prepare for Libya peace force cation City tram system link to Doha Metro; low tox- icity indoor materials which provide a healthy indoor CHRISTIAN SPILLMANN German news weekly. militias control the oil-rich asked about the risk of environment and LED sports lighting which offers better AFP Earlier this week, at the Mediterranean country, and allowing Russia and Turkey to light quality at lower energy consumption. In addition, European Parliament, Borrell forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar take charge of the crisis, 85 percent of building materials for the stadium were If this weekend’s Berlin — the former Spanish foreign -- a military strongman based responded: “Are you sug- regionally sourced, while 29 percent were generated summit on the Libya crisis minister who serves as the in the east of the country -- gesting that the EU should from recycled materials. goes according to plan, EU’s foreign policy represent- have assaulted the capital. engage in gunboat diplomacy nervous European Union ative — said Europe must learn Haftar and the head of the in the central Mediterranean? member states will come from the example of Syria. Tripoli government, Fayez al- “That hasn’t usually been under pressure to provide There — as now in Libya — Sarraj, met in Moscow earlier the EU’s line of business,” he forces to help monitor any Turkey and Russia have this week and will be in Berlin noted, drily. Nevertheless, truce. deployed troops in support of this weekend for talks to build diplomats said EU capitals are D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR The bloc’s chief diplomat, local actors in the conflict, and on a tentative ceasefire -- as reluctant to let Russia and Josep Borrell, has made it now wield greater influence will Russia’s President Vladimir Turkey have things all their EMAIL: [email protected] clear that Brussels does not on the outcome than the more Putin. They are expected to own way. want to be sidelined while cautious Europeans. approve a truce, and on “It is the troublemakers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Moscow and Ankara move “We Europeans, since we Monday the foreign ministers who paradoxically set them- FAX: +974 4455 7758 boldly to oversee an end to don’t want to participate in a of the EU member states will be selves up as peacemakers,” the conflict on their terms. military solution, we bar- in Brussels to discuss how to one said. Another European MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 But the European Union ricade ourselves in the belief coordinate their response -- diplomat said France already has no army of its own, and there is no military solution,” but will they send troops? has its hands full with the con- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 diplomats warned Friday that he told MEPs in Strasbourg. European diplomats were flict in Mail and the broader EU member states have “In Syria it has been a mil- cautious, and some warned Sahel, where its forces are LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 limited means to put together itary solution, brought by the that certain capitals would be fighting Islamist rebels, and an operation, even one so Turks and the Russians, and unable— or unwilling — to that Germany feared for the BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 close to their southern this has changed the equi- step up. “Depending on what safety of its troops coastline. librium on the eastern part of is agreed in Berlin or not, as Another option may be to SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 “If there is a ceasefire in the Mediterranean,” he for example on the monitoring reactivate Operation Sophia, Libya, then the EU must be warned. And he played to of the UN arms embargo, on a the Rome-based EU naval ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 prepared to help implement European politicians fears of ceasefire, we will see how the mission set up in 2015 to email: [email protected] and monitor this ceasefire -- a new wave of migrants from EU can contribute to the combat human traffickers but possibly also with soldiers, for North Africa, by suggesting implementation of what has de facto suspended in 2019 PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 example as part of an EU that they will lose influence been agreed,” one said. when Italy refused to accept email: [email protected] mission,” Borrell told Der on the Libyan coastline to Another envoy warned rescued migrants. Spiegel magazine. Russia and Turkey. that Borrell “has a whole dif- The operation’s mandate ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 “Or take the arms Libya has been in turmoil ferent way of doing things. is still active, but it has been FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] embargo. We Europeans have since dictator Moamer This works in both directions. assigned no warships and is been entrusted by the United Kadhafi was killed in a 2011 Sometimes this is something essentially an aerial surveil- CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 Nations to enforce it. In NATO-backed uprising. invigorating and sometimes lance exercise. The agreement email: [email protected] reality, the arms embargo is Tripoli is in the hands of a — well, I would have almost of Italy, Libya’s former ineffective. Nobody controls UN-recognised unity gov- say — erratic.” colonial power, will be SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 anything there,” he told the ernment. But elsewhere, A senior European official needed to beef it up. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar Sunday’s Berlin Conference is an important step towards securing a ceasefire and political /Peninsula_Qatar solution to conflict in Libya.

/ThePeninsulaNewspaper Dominic Raab, British Foreign Secretary

+974 6698 6188 SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 OPINION 09 We live in an age of climate disaster. Now what? carbon dioxide into the climate record has been burning,” Borge Brende, the atmosphere each year.” The broken and re-broken over president of the World Eco- findings were released jointly the past few years: The past nomic Forum, said at a news by NASA and the National five years are the five conference. “This is the year Oceanic and Atmospheric Anything less warmest years on record, the when world leaders must Administration, US federal past six the warmest six, the work with all sectors of agencies in a government led than immediately past nine the warmest nine,” society to repair and reinvig- ISHAAN THAROOR by a president who is a noto- ceasing these noted the Atlantic’s Robinson orate our systems of cooper- THE WASHINGTON POST rious climate skeptic. But a Meyer. “Since Donald Trump ation, not just for short-term huge body of data and scien- investments in the rode down his gilded esca- benefit but for tackling our “Virtually every tific analysis undercuts the fossil fuel industry lator and announced he was deep-rooted risks.” Next week This week, US scientists White House’s political pos- would be a betrayal running for president, the in Davos, climate change will important climate confirmed what anyone who turing. According to NOAA, world has experienced its loom large over proceedings. record has been has been paying attention The Post my colleagues of life itself,” hottest recorded version of The Swedish teen climate would probably already reported, global warming has Thunberg wrote. each individual month, activist Greta Thunberg is broken and re-broken know. The 2010s were the sped up over the past 40 years according to NOAA.” It’s expected to speak the same over the past few hottest decade ever recorded compared with earlier in the “Today’s business thanks to politicians like day as Trump, and probably on the planet. 2019 was the 20th century. as usual is turning Trump - and he’s hardly alone will use her platform to scold years: The past five second-hottest year ever “No individual hot year - among global leaders the global elite once more. years are the five measured, and the evidence or hot day or hot season, for into a crime against dragging their feet through a “The world of finance has a was brutally on show: We saw that matter - is by itself evi- humanity.” world on fire - that a kind of responsibility to the planet, warmest years on swaths of Greenland’s ice cap dence for climate change. But ennui has set in in the face of the people and all other record, the past melt into the sea, heat waves this hot year is just one of catastrophe. species living on it,” she wrote blaze through northern many hot years in this The latest round of UN- in a column last week. “In six the warmest Europe, extreme storms and decade,” Kate Marvel, a shepherded climate talks fact, it ought to be in every six, the past nine floods batter vulnerable research scientist at NASA, year alone, we’ve been bom- ended in disappointment, company and stakeholder’s islands and coasts, and epic told The Post. “The planet is barded with peer-reviewed with activists lamenting the interest to make sure the the warmest nine,” wildfires scorch vast drought- statistically, detectably study after study that demon- narrow ambitions of various planet they live on will thrive. noted the Atlantic’s ridden stretches of the globe. warmer than before the strated both that the planet is national governments. As But history has not shown the Robinson Meyer. As The Washington Post Industrial Revolution. We warming at astonishing rates much as the peril of climate corporate world’s willingness reported Jan. 15: “Nineteen of know why. We know what it because of human activity change has been discussed for to hold themselves the hottest 20 years have means. And we can do some- and that sweeping govern- more than a decade, it has accountable.” Numerous occurred during the past two thing about it.” “The moment mental action has to happen been accompanied by parallel titans of industry and cor- decades. The warming trend of crisis has come,” David now to at least try to stave off concerns over “apocalypse porate executives may try to also bears the unmistakable Attenborough, a famed envi- the planetary disaster that fatigue” - the sense that, for prove Thunberg wrong, with sign of human activity, which ronmental campaigner, told awaits. many people, the enormity of the forum working to coor- emits tens of billions of tons of the BBC on Thursday . This “Virtually every important what is happening to the dinate private-sector efforts planet is still too impercep- to help the world meet the tible to drive them to action. goals set by the 2015 Paris Now, though, there are agreement. Representatives clear signs of change. Ahead of the world’s four big of next week’s World Eco- accounting firms are slated to nomic Forum in Davos, Swit- sit down with other corporate zerland, the summit’s con- leaders “to thrash out green veners put out their annual audit standards,” noted the Global Risks Report, a survey Financial Times - what it sug- of hundreds of leading global gests would be a significant CEOs and policymakers. For step toward creating “a the first time in the 15-year common framework” for history of the report, it noted, companies to track their com- “environmental concerns pliance with UN-mandated dominate the top long-term climate goals. risks” projected by those sur- Still, there’s a huge gulf veyed, eclipsing jitters over between a corporate sector possible economic turmoil that’s increasingly aware of and widening social inequity. how climate change may be These include fears over affecting its bottom line and the damage caused by the activists that have been increasing extreme weather clamoring for radical action events; the potential inade- all along. Many of the major quacy or failure of climate banks whose executives will mitigation measures taken by convene in Davos continue to governments and businesses; invest hundreds of billions of the growing toll of man-made dollars into the fossil fuel environmental disasters, such industry. as oil spills; and the collapse “Anything less than imme- of ecosystems and loss of bio- diately ceasing these invest- diversity - grimly illustrated ments in the fossil fuel by the animal body count industry would be a betrayal amid the fires in Australia. of life itself,” Thunberg wrote. “The political landscape is “Today’s business as usual is Protesters demonstrate during a climate strike against governmental inaction towards climate breakdown and environmental pollution polarized, sea levels are turning into a crime against in Lausanne, yesterday. rising, and climate fires are humanity.” Brexit throws up foreign policy balancing act for Britain

He has also looked both Tuesday when he said has played with Trump, which in the world, China, seems ways over the thorny issue of replacing the accord with a is to make Trump feel problematic,” said the Iranian nuclear deal, a key “Trump deal” would be “a important,” he told AFP. Usherwood. dividing line between the US great way forward”. “A lot of it is about Meanwhile the stated aim and Europe, which backs per- “If we are going to get rid labelling things in a way that of some EU members, severing with the pact. of it... let’s replace it with the Trump might like, even if the including Britain, to impose a Trump abandoned the Trump deal. That’s what we substance does not really digital services tax on US tech PAULINE FROISSART 2015 accord with Tehran in need to see,” he said. change.” giants could strain London’s AFP May 2018 and this month But just hours later Britain Britain is also under transatlantic ties. Usherwood publicly urged all other joined Paris and Berlin in intense pressure from Wash- suggested the pronounce- powers to follow suit. insisting it remained com- ington not to allow Huawei, ments could be more rhetoric From the fraught British Prime Minister Boris Richard Goldberg, a mitted to the nuclear deal and which the US believes is sus- than substance. Johnson appears torn Trump security adviser until would not join “a campaign to ceptible to Beijing’s control, to But simply following the situation in Iran between the United States and last week, told the BBC implement maximum develop its domestic 5G US on the global stage could to controversy the European Union as he Wednesday that Washington pressure against Iran” cham- network. The issue is another “make life more difficult” for over Chinese tries to chart Britain’s course could make a future trade pioned by Trump. headache for Johnson, as he Johnson after he sold Brexit to on the international stage deal with Britain conditional Simon Usherwood, of the weighs a future US trade deal the British public with a telecoms giant weeks before Brexit. on support for that stance. University of Surrey’s politics with his aspiration for a newly message to “take back Huawei, Johnson From the fraught situation “The question for prime department, noted that “global Britain” after Brexit, control”, he said. in Iran to controversy over minister Johnson is: as you are despite occasional rhetoric, and reports of an imminent “He is trying to avoid has been accused Chinese telecoms giant moving towards Brexit... what Johnson “has actually been visit to Washington. making enemies in the inter- of trying to avoid Huawei, Johnson has been are you going to do post-31 more in line with the “If the UK is becoming a national scene but also trying accused of trying to avoid January as you come to European approach” on Iran. global actor, then to com- to show that the UK matters,” aggravating aggravating Britain’s historic Washington to negotiate a “He plays the same kind promise your trade relations the politics professor added. Britain’s historic ally and US President Donald free trade agreement with the of approach that (French and political relations with “Whether he is suc- Trump. United States?” he said. President) Emmanuel Macron the largest growing economy ceeding is much less sure.” ally and US At the same time the “It’s absolutely in his President Donald British premier, who wants interests and the people of Trump. At the future trade deals with both Great Britain’s interests to join Washington and Brussels, has with President Trump... to same time the stopped short of breaking realign your foreign policy British premier, from the European bloc’s away from Brussels.” positions on key global issues. Jeremy Shapiro, research who wants future Striking such a delicate director at the European trade deals with balance has proved tricky, Council on Foreign Relations, especially after top Iranian said Johnson was unlikely to both Washington general Qasem Soleimani was get any credit from Trump’s and Brussels, has killed by US air strikes earlier administration without giving this month. them his full support. stopped short of Johnson was on holiday in “To them, you’re either a breaking from the the Caribbean at the time and vassal or an enemy,” he told European bloc’s initially remained silent. He the New York Times earlier eventually issued a statement this month. positions on key several days later saying He suggested Johnson global issues. Britain “will not lament his risked the same criticism as death”. prime minister Tony Blair, He then agreed with the who was accused of being leaders of Germany and president George W. Bush’s France to work towards “poodle” over his support for calming tempers in the region the US-led invasion of Iraq. following the targeted strike. Johnson raised eyebrows 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Ukrainian PM offers to quit over leaked recording

AFP — KIEV The Ukraine “To remove any doubts President ordered about our respect for and trust Ukraine’s Prime Minister in the president, I have written offered to quit yesterday after that the people a resignation letter,” wrote a leaked recording emerged of involved in recording Goncharuk. him questioning President Zelenskiy’s office said it had Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s grasp of conversations received the letter of resig- economics, in the first major between officials be nation and would consider it. political test for the inexperi- The president later ordered enced leader. identified. that the people involved in It was unclear whether Zel- recording conversations enskiy would accept Oleksiy between officials be Goncharuk’s resignation, which Wednesday and came from an identified. came after the recording informal December meeting “I demand that in two emerged of him saying the pres- between ministers and senior weeks, as soon as possible, we ident had a “primitive under- officials from the National Bank. receive information regarding standing” of the economy. According to local media who recorded the negotiations,” Zelenskiy, a comedian with reports, the participants dis- Zelenskiy said during a meeting no previous political expe- cussed how to explain recent with law enforcement chiefs. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Goncharuk (centre) addressing the Parliamentary session, in Kiev, yesterday. rience, came to power after a economic developments to Goncharuk, 35, became landslide win in last year’s pres- Zelenskiy. Ukraine’s youngest-ever prime Goncharuk had co-founded a government will continue,” he some criticised Goncharuk for idential election. “Zelenskiy has a very prim- minister after Zelenskiy nomi- law firm at the age of 24 and told hromadske.ua news outlet. sending his letter directly to the His “Servant of the People” itive understanding of economic nated him in August, part of a managed an EU-funded NGO Several ministers said they president. party later won a large majority processes, or rather a simple team of fresh faces he promised to improve the business envi- backed Goncharuk after he Zelenskiy came to power in parliament. understanding,” Goncharuk said would shake up the stagnant ronment in Ukraine. offered to resign. promising sweeping change and He has been embroiled in on the recording, adding that he political scene. In the first foreign reaction, “We are a united team,” has since taken several steps to the US impeachment process himself was an economic The young lawyer was the European Union ambas- Social Policy Minister Yulia resolve the separatist conflict, and faced tough talks with “ignoramus”. tasked with helping to revive an sador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas Sokolovskaya said. “We support including prisoner exchanges Russian President Vladimir After initially denying economy hit hard by corruption said the Goncharuk’s the position of the prime min- and a landmark meeting with Putin, but had so far managed reports he would step down, and Ukraine’s five-year conflict announcement would not affect ister and are waiting for the Putin in Paris last month. to avoid any significant Goncharuk announced on his with Moscow-backed separa- cooperation with Kiev. decision of the president.” But critics have accused him domestic political problems. official Facebook page yes- tists in the east. “In whatever direction The hiring and firing of of doing little so far to boost the The audio recording was terday that he had offered to Considered a supporter of political events develop, coop- prime ministers is the formal economy or tackle endemic leaked on social media on resign. liberal economic reforms, eration with the Ukrainian remit of the parliament and corruption.

Five arrested over Polish Senate votes down government's judicial reform bill death of African AFP — WARSAW from the governing right-wing Since taking office in late members joined hundreds of EU law in Poland is now having Law and Justice (PiS) party hold 2015, the PiS has introduced a their Polish colleagues in an impact on the functioning of student in Portugal Poland’s Senate yesterday a majority and have vowed to slew of controversial judicial Warsaw last Saturday in an the EU legal order,” Laurent rejected a controversial draft force the measure into law reforms that it insists are unprecedented street protest Pech, a professor of European AFP — LISBON law aimed at punishing judges despite the senate’s objection. designed to tackle corruption against the draft law on disci- law at Middlesex University who question government- The PiS government argues in the courts, still haunted by plining judges. London, told journalists in Five suspects have been backed judicial reforms that the that the reform will tackle cor- the communist era. In late 2017, the EU launched Warsaw this week. arrested over the beating European Union says are out of ruption in the judiciary but The changes have however unprecedented proceedings “From the EU’s point of death of a Cape Verdean step with the rule of law. opponents insist it is aimed at have sparked widespread against Poland over “systemic view, this is a survival matter,” student, Portugese police said The upper house, where the gagging critical magistrates and protest in European legal threats” posed by the reforms to he said, adding that Poland yesterday, after outcry by an opposition holds a narrow so undermines judicial circles, where concern is the rule of law that could see its would have to repeal all judicial anti-racism group and majority, voted 51 to 48 to reject independence. mounting that they threaten not EU voting rights suspended. reforms introduced by the PiS diaspora from the West the draft, Senate Speaker Supreme Court president only the rule of law in Poland The European Court of since 2015 in order to comply African archipelago brought Tomasz Grodzki said. Malgorzata Gersdorf has but also, more broadly, to the Justice has questioned several with EU law. “Otherwise this is attention to the case. The draft now returns to denounced the draft bill as a EU’s entire legal system. of the reforms. the beginning of the end of the Giovani Rodrigues, 21, and parliament, where lawmakers “muzzle law”. Judges from nearly all EU “The non-compliance with EU legal system as such.” three of his friends were assaulted during a brawl outside of a bar in the north- eastern Portuguese city of Bra- Ukraine says Iran to hand over ganca last month. The student spent 10 days downed plane’s black boxes in a coma before dying in a hospital in the northern city of AFP — KIEV Porto on December 31. Rodrigues’s family con- Ukraine said yesterday that demned police inaction fol- Iran was ready to hand over lowing the initial assault, and the black box flight recorders Cape Verde’s government of the Ukrainian passenger even stepped in to urge Por- plane downed by an Iranian tugal — the former colonial missile. ruler of the tiny island nation The Kiev-bound Ukraine — to investigate quickly. International Airlines Boeing Yesterday, Luis Neves, 737, crashed shortly after national director of Portugal’s taking off from Tehran last judicial police, said five men Wednesday, killing all 176 aged between 22 and 35 had people on board, mostly been arrested following Iranian and Canadian searches and interrogations citizens. Wednesday that Kiev has “good the previous day. Ukraine’s foreign minister cooperation” with Tehran on “They are suspected of said Iran would grant a team the crash probe, but lacked aggravated homicide and of investigators from Iran and “access to the information three offences of attempted Canada as the countries that stored in the black boxes.” homicide,” the police director Tourists queue as striking workers block the entry at the glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum France have lost the most nationals “We just want to know that added. faces its 44th consecutive day of strikes, in Paris, yesterday. access to the recorders. nobody will be tampering with However, Neves dis- “After that, the Iranian side the recordings themselves,” he missed any link to racism is ready to separately transfer said. behind the attack, saying that Louvre museum closed amid pension strikes the black boxes to Ukraine,” Prystaiko said an Iranian the fight between the two Vadym Prystaiko (pictured) official will visit Kiev next week groups outside the bar was AP — PARIS against President Emmanuel protests have hobbled public told lawmakers during a par- “to apologise officially and started over “pointless Macron’s planned changes to transportation and disrupted liamentary session. provide explanations.” motives”. Paris’ Louvre museum was the retirement system, which schools, hospitals, courthouses “This is consistent with Yesterday, Iran’s supreme “It should not be seen as a closed as dozens of protesters they said will “lower everyone’s and even opera houses and the international standards, leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei crime between people of dif- blocked the entrance to pensions.” Eiffel tower. although we still demand that insisted that Iran would not ferent nationalities or races,” denounce the French govern- Some protesters were Major French retailers Fnac they be given to us immediately bow to US pressure after he added, acknowledging the ment’s plans to overhaul the singing “Mona Lisa in on strike, Darty and Casino said that to ensure the independence months of crushing sanctions case had sparked “some social pension system. Leonardo is on strike.” business in France was badly and objectivity of the investi- and a series of recent crises — commotion”. The Leonardo Da Vinci It is the first time since the affected by the strikes, espe- gation,” Prystaiko said. from the killing of a top Iranian The victim’s father, exhibit marking the 500th protest movement began on cially during the holiday season. After initial denials, the general to the accidental Joaquim Rodrigues, has criti- anniversary of the Italian mas- December 5 that the Louvre and Fnac Darty said the strikes Islamic republic admitted it has shootdown of a Ukrainian pas- cised the fact that the judicial ter’s death, which is displayed the Leonardo exhibit were fully cost it around $78m in lost shot down the plane “uninten- senger plane. police did not take over the at the Louvre, was also closed closed. About 30,000 people revenue. tionally” while on high alert On Thursday, Canada, investigation until after his as a result, the museum said. visit the museum every day. While the number of after firing missiles at US troops Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan son’s death. Several dozen protesters, Some videos on social striking workers has dimin- stationed in Iraq in retaliation and Britain issued a five-point Anti-racism association including some Louvre media showed angry visitors ished since the movement, the for the killing of top Iranian plan for cooperation with Iran SOS Racisme said it was employees, staged the demon- booing at protesters to express country’s trains and the Paris commander Qasem Soleimani during the investigation, calling “stunned by the almost total stration after an appeal from their disappointment. subway were still disrupted. by a US strike. for “full and unhindered silence” in the immediate several hard-left trade unions The weeks of strikes and Prystaiko told CNN on access” for foreign officials. aftermath of the attack. Italian court rules arrest of migrant ship captain not warranted AFP — ROME darity’ needs reform” . allowed some of the migrants had acted “out of necessity” Matteo Salvini’s “closed ports” take a decision on Monday, The dreadlocked Rackete to be taken in for health reasons because of the migrants’ policy. though that may be postponed. Italy’s highest court yesterday was skipper of the Sea-Watch but refused entry to more than condition. Salvini is facing a potential Should the trial go head, Salvini agreed that Carola Rackete, the 3, one of several ships used by 40 others, leading to a two- The high court yesterday trial for allegedly illegally faces up to 15 years in jail if German captain of a migrant international charities to rescue week stand-off at sea. ruled that Rackete’s arrest was detaining migrants at sea. found guilty. rescue ship, should not have migrants attempting the per- As conditions on board not warranted. A tribunal has recom- “For some judges a German been arrested for forcibly ilous sea journey from North worsened, Rackete eventually Sea-Watch, the charity mended he stand trial for lady, who risked killing five docking in Sicily. Africa to Europe on rickety sailed her ship to the island of which runs the rescue ship, wel- blocking migrants on a coast- Italian soldiers by ramming “This is an important verdict boats. Lampedusa despite an order comed the ruling, tweeting: guard boat last July. But under their patrol boat, doesn’t for all sea rescue activists!” On June 12, Rackete’s ship from Italian officials not to dock “Once again: Sea rescue is not Italian law ministers cannot be deserve jail time, but the min- Rackete said on Twitter. “No picked up 53 migrants adrift there. a crime!” tried for actions taken in office ister who blocked dockings and one should be prosecuted for aboard an inflatable raft off the She was arrested on June 29, Rackete became a left-wing unless a parliamentary com- human trafficking does,” Salvini aiding people in need. The EU coast of Libya. although a judge overturned hero in Italy for challenging mittee gives the go-ahead. said on Twitter. “That’s not directive on ‘crimes of soli- The Italian authorities that order on July 2, saying she then far-right interior minister The committee is due to justice, that’s a crying sham”. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11

Brazil ousts culture Canada provides secretary after money to families Nazi-linked speech REUTERS — BRASÍLIA

Brazil’s Culture Secretary of crash victims Roberto Alvim was sacked yesterday after posting a video AP — TORONTO Justin Trudeau said in which he appeared to copy that he still expects a speech by Nazi propaganda Canadian Prime Minister Justin chief Joseph Goebbels. Trudeau said yesterday that his Iran to compensate The video, released on government will give $19,122 to the families but said Thursday announcing national families of each of the 57 prizes to revitalise the arts in citizens and 29 permanent resi- they need help now Brazil, quickly went viral, dents of Canada who perished for funerals, travel to attracting outrage due to its at in the downing of a Ukrainian times word-for-word simi- jetliner in Iran last week. Iran and bills. larity to Goebbels’ speech. Trudeau said he still expects In a statement, President Iran to compensate the families The prime minister also said Jair Bolsonaro said Alvim’s but said they need help now for the “black boxes” have been sig- position had become funerals, travel to Iran and bills, nificantly damaged and Iran untenable following his adding that any money Iran does not have the expertise or “unfortunate remarks.” provides at a later date will go equipment needed to look at “I reiterate our rejection of straight to the families and will them. He said France has a lab Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (centre) arrives for a news conference, in Ottawa, yesterday. totalitarian and genocidal ide- not be reimbursed to the that can do it and there is a need ologies,” Bolsonaro said, Canadian government. to do it as quickly as possible. assist in ensuring victim iden- Canada suspended diplo- because 138 of the passengers adding his government’s “I want to be clear, we Trudeau said no remains of tification and the importance matic relations with Iran in were headed for Canada. unconditional support for the expect Iran to compensate these Canadian victims have returned of a transparent investigation. 2012, but Trudeau and Canada’s He confirmed for the first Jewish community. families,” Trudeau said. “But I to Canada yet but he expects “The Ministers also dis- foreign minister have been in time that those included 29 In the video, Alvim, a have met them. They can’t wait that to start happening in the cussed the need for a trans- touch with their Iranian coun- permanent residents of theater director appointed last weeks. They need support coming days. parent analysis of the black box terparts since the plane was Canada. year by Bolsonaro, announced now.” Trudeau held the news con- data, to which Iran agreed. In shot down. They included students, the prize as music played in the Asked if the US bears any ference in Ottawa after addition, they discussed the Iran downed the flight as it newlyweds, doctors and background from a Wagner responsibility after US President Canadian Foreign Minister duty Iran has towards the fam- braced for possible American parents. The youngest was a opera, Hitler’s favourite music. Donald Trump ordered the François-Philippe Champagne ilies of the victims — including retaliation after firing ballistic 1-year-old girl. “Brazilian art of the next killing of Gen Qassem Sole- met his Iranian counterpart, compensation,” the statement missiles at two bases in Iraq Top diplomats from the decade will be heroic and it imani, Iran’s top general, in a Mohammad Javad Zarif, in reads. housing US forces. The missile countries who had victims met will be national ... and imper- US airstrike in Baghdad, Muscat, Oman on Friday. “Minister Zarif expressed his attack, which caused no US cas- in London on Thursday to ative because it will be rooted Trudeau said Iran bears full According to a statement support for Iran continuing to ualties, was a response to the demand Tehran accept “full in the urgent aspirations of our responsibility for having shot from Champagne’s office, the work with Canada and all killing of Iran’s top general. responsibility” and pay com- people, or it will be nothing,” down a civilian airline with 176 two discussed the need to grieving nations in these Trudeau has called the pensation to the victims’ he said in the video. people aboard. provide consular services to respects.” downing a Canadian tragedy families. Goebbels, Hitler’s ideo- logue, told theatredirectors during the Nazi regime that: “German art of the next decade Guatemala cuts ties with Venezuela, closes embassy will be heroic, will be wildly romantic, will be objective and ANATOLIA — ANKARA Venezuelan opposition leader “The Italian citizen who “Certainly his government second round was held on Aug. free of sentimentality, will be Juan Guaido. presides over the sister will become another joke in 11 and VAMOS leader Alejandro national with great pathos and Guatemala’s new President “We have instructed the Republic of Guatemala has bad taste, and lives on bor- Giammattei won the election in equally imperative and binding, Alejandro Giammattei has cut foreign minister that the only immediately thrown himself at rowed time,” Arreaza said. the second round of voting. or else it will be nothing.” diplomatic ties with Venezuela, person left in the embassy in the feet of (US President) “Our respect and affection are Incumbent President Jimmy Alvim apologised on ordering the closure of its Venezuela should return and Donald Trump,” Venezuela’s for the dignified Guatemalan Morales was constitutionally Facebook for what he said was embassy in Caracas. that we definitively end rela- Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza people.” barred from running for a an “unintentional error.” The decision came yes- tions with the government of said in response, referring that Guatemalan general elec- second four-year term. “If I had known of the terday, days after Giammattei Venezuela,” Giammattei said, Giammattei was following the tions were held on June 16, Since 2019, Venezuela has origin of the phrase I would assumed the presidential post according to local daily Prensa political steps of Washington 2019, to elect the President, been embroiled in political never have used it,” Alvim on Tuesday with an inaugu- Libre. which recognises Guaido as the Congress and local councils. unrest as President Nicolas said, explaining the speech had ration ceremony, attended by “We are going to close the legitimate leader of the South Since no candidate won a Maduro and Guaido engage in been written based on ideas a delegation representing embassy,” he added. American nation. majority in the first round, a a power battle. provided by his aides. Painting found in Greta warns world leaders at Italian museum wall is stolen Klimt climate protest before Davos AFP — LAUSANNE The System, Not the Climate”. AFP — PIACENZA Some of the young pro- Swedish climate campaigner testers took inspiration from A painting found stashed Greta Thunberg issued a the latest extreme weather inside a wall at an Italian warning to world leaders at a events around the world. museum has been confirmed protest in the Swiss city of One held up a soft toy koala as the stolen “Portrait of a Lausanne yesterday, days with a sign around his neck Lady” by Austria’s Gustav before the start of the Davos reading simply “HELP” — a ref- Klimt, prosecutors said summit of the world’s political erence to the bushfires that yesterday, two decades after and business elites. have ravaged Australia, while the artwork went missing. “So far, during this decade another brandished a card- The century-old painting we are seeing no sign what- board sign reading “Wake Up was discovered concealed in soever that real climate action and Smell the Bushfires”. an external wall by gardeners is coming,” the 17-year-old “Fear for the glaciers”, read at the Ricci Oddi Gallery of eco-warrior said to a rock-star another sign — echoing Modern Art in Piacenza last welcome from the mostly concern among residents of the month. teenage crowd. Alps about the rapidly shrinking The museum estimates its “That has to change,” she mountain ice formations due could be worth between 60 told several thousand pro- to climate change. Migrants run after going through a police fence at the Agua Caliente border crossing from Honduras, and $67m to $111m. testers, adding in a message to “There Is No Planet B”, “I near Esquipulas, Chiquimula departament, Guatemala, on their way to the US, yesterday. “It is with no small emotion world leaders: “This is just the Have a Green Dream” and “We that I can tell you the work is beginning. You haven’t seen Want A Cooler Planet”, read authentic,” Prosecutor Ornella anything yet. We assure you of some of the other signs. Chicca told reporters. Mexico offers 4,000 jobs to new migrant caravan that!”. Klimastreik Schweiz, who Museum officials had ini- Thunberg is due to address organised the march, said on tially said they could not imme- AFP — MEXICO CITY Giammattei, Mexico has vowed under the so-called “Remain in the summit in the Swiss Alpine Twitter that 15,000 people diately determine whether the to use “everything at its dis- Mexico” policy. resort town of Davos next were taking part. painting was indeed the stolen Mexican President Andres posal” to stop them. Human Rights Watch week with a call on govern- “We’re here to show the Klimt until scientific tests were Manuel Lopez Obrador offered Mexico has come under accused Mexico on Tuesday of ments and financial institu- governments and the people performed. 4,000 jobs yesterday to migrants pressure from President Donald violating migrants’ rights by tions to stop investing in fossil and the media and everyone Painted in 1916-1917, the in a new caravan currently Trump to slow a surge of failing to guarantee the security fuels. that we’re not happy with the Expressionist work depicts the crossing Central America toward undocumented migrants who of those returned by the United Yesterday’s carnival-like situation as it is,” said 17-year- face and torso of a young the United States. arrived at the US-Mexican States and detaining others in protest brought the cobbled old Deborah Hausser, one of woman with brown hair, over “We have more than 4,000 border last year. “inhumane conditions.” streets of the Lausanne city the protesters. an emerald green jobs along our southern border, Trump threatened in May Tens of thousands of centre to a standstill, with dem- Luana Bonetti, 14, said that background. and also migrant shelters. There to impose tariffs on Mexico if Central American migrants onstrators calling for urgent she felt it was “important” to The painting went missing is work in our country,” the the government did not do crossed Mexico toward the US climate action and booing as take part in the demon- in February 1997 while the leftist leader said at his daily more to stop them. last year in large caravans, they passed a branch of Credit stration, adding that Greta museum was closed for work. news conference. Cornered, Lopez Obrador’s fleeing chronic poverty and Suisse, which campaigners crit- Thunberg’s words “touched In December, gardeners The caravan, which formed administration deployed brutal gang violence and icise for its fossil fuel me emotionally”. removing ivy from a wall in Honduras this week and is 27,000 National Guardsmen to seeking safety in numbers from investments. Thunberg is taking part in found a small ventilation space making its way across Guatemala, tighten its borders and has the dangers of the journey. “One, two, three degrees! the Davos summit for the and inside discovered the currently has around 3,000 allowed the United States to That prompted Trump to It’s a crime against humanity!” second time and will be one of painting, without a frame and migrants, Lopez Obrador said. send more than 40,000 warn of an “invasion” and they chanted, while a group at the main attractions at the wrapped in a black garbage According to Guatemala’s asylum-seekers back to Mexico deploy nearly 6,000 US troops the head of the march held up annual meeting, alongside US bag. new President Alejandro while their cases are processed, to the border. a banner saying: “Let’s Change President Donald Trump. Malta activists demand new PM ensure justice for slain reporter AFP — VALLETTA an investigative reporter who barrier to justice. Let’s see if the — powerful businessman as a “one-woman WikiLeaks”, Abela was “the right sort of was killed in a 2017 car bomb present prime minister has the Jorgen Fenech — was charged had accused Mizzi and person” to achieve justice. “I Just days after Robert Abela explosion. commitment to see this case as an accomplice after being Schembri of corruption. find this great hope that some took office as Malta’s new prime Demonstrations have been through”, activist Manuel Delia detained on his yacht. Activist group Occupy Justice people around him seem to minister, demonstrators insisted held monthly in the same spot, said. “I hope we will have Fenech’s arrest in called on Abela to clean up the have to change things a bit dif- he seek justice for a murdered but yesterday was the first since justice... That’s what we have November sparked the resig- investigation — which has been ficult to share, because of what journalist in a case that forced Abela took over from Joseph been campaigning for for two nation of tourism minister plagued by allegations of cor- we know about him when he his predecessor out. Muscat, who resigned this week and a half years”. Konrad Mizzi, who formerly ruption —-- fire the police com- was part of the circle around Several hundred protesters, amid allegations he had ham- Three men are on trial for served as energy minister, and missioner, and issue a public Muscat”. But he insisted: “the young and old, gathered in front pered the murder probe to allegedly detonating the bomb Muscat’s chief of staff, Keith apology for the blogger’s death. fight goes on, and we will con- of a makeshift memorial in Val- protect his allies. that killed Caruana Galizia, Schembri. Caruana Galizia’s son tinue protesting and holding letta to Daphne Caruana Galizia, “Clearly, Muscat was a while a fourth Caruana Galizia, described Matthew said he had little faith people to account”. 12 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Pentagon denies trying to underplay injuries from Iran attack

REUTERS — WASHINGTON US military leadership in Washington only But the disclosure of the diagnose, does not have that He noted that top Pentagon became aware on Thursday that 11 US service concussive symptoms late on urgent requirement. officials have not sought to min- The Pentagon said yesteday that Thursday, more than a week Esper was only informed on imise Iran’s attack and instead there had been no effort to play members were flown out of Iraq due to after the attack itself, is likely at Thursday that the service repeatedly said Iran tried to kill down or delay the release of concussive symptoms: Jonathan Hoffman a minimum to open a debate members were flown out of Iraq US troops when it fired 16 short- information on concussive about the Pentagon’s long- to receive additional screening range ballistic missiles at two injuries from Iran’s January 8 standing treatment of brain and treatment in bases in Kuwait Iraqi bases from at least three attack on a base hosting US Iraq, in retaliation for the killing members were flown out of Iraq injury as a different class of and Germany, the Pentagon said. locations inside Iran. forces in Iraq, saying the public of a Iranian general, had not due to concussive symptoms, wounds that it says do not The first US service member Yesterday, Iran’s supreme learned just hours after the killed or injured any US Pentagon spokesman Jonathan require immediate reporting up was flown out of Iraq on leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defense secretary. servicemembers. Hoffman said. the chain of command. January 10 for further evalu- told worshippers chanting US President Donald Trump, That is no longer true, the “This idea that there was an US military has to immedi- ation, while others were flown “Death to America” that the elite Defense Secretary Mark Esper Pentagon now acknowledges. effort to de-emphasise injuries ately report incidents threat- out on January 15. Guards could take their fight and others throughout the US But US military leadership in for some sort of amorphous ening life, limb or eyesight. But “They were under their own beyond Iran’s borders after the government for a week had said Washington only became aware political agenda doesn’t hold suspected brain injury, which power, on aircraft and on their US killing of a top Iranian that Iran’s attack on bases in on Thursday that 11 US service water,” Hoffman said. can take time to manifest and way,” Hoffman said. commander. Pompeo says will probe possible surveillance of US envoy Prominent lawyers Starr Ken, Dershowitz join Trump's AFP — WASHINGTON Trump’s personal lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. impeachment legal team US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo The documents released by promised yesterday to investigate House Democrats detailed exchanges REUTERS — WASHINGTON whether the ousted ambassador to in which Yovanovitch’s location was Ukraine was being spied on by Pres- discussed, indicating that she may Former independent counsel Ken Starr, who ident Donald Trump’s supporters but be under watch. paved the way for the impeachment of Demo- said he was unaware if so. Ukraine earlier announced a cratic President Bill Clinton in 1998, and prom- House Democrats, who cited probe amid indications that officials inent lawyer Alan Dershowitz will join Pres- Trump’s dismissal of ambassador joined the alleged surveillance effort. ident Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Marie Yovanovitch as they Trump last year removed defense team, Trump’s legal team and a source impeached him, released documents Yovanovitch as ambassador and later said yesterday. this week that suggested that the denounced her in a call with his The team will be led by White House counsel envoy was under private Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Pat Cipollone and Trump private attorney Jay surveillance. Zelensky that triggered his Sekulow. Trump adviser Pam Bondi and former After days of the State impeachment. independent counsel Robert Ray will also be on Department not commenting, Witnesses testified that Trump the team, according to the source who is familiar Pompeo said in two interviews with saw the veteran diplomat as an with the team’s composition. conservative media that he had not impediment in his bid to pressure The House voted to impeach Clinton after previously heard of any surveillance Ukraine to investigate his domestic Starr investigated his affair with a White House of Yovanovitch. rival Joe Biden, whose son served on intern. The Senate acquitted Clinton. “We do our best to make sure US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a protocolary meeting of the Permanent the board of a Ukrainian company. Dershowitz has been a well-known figure that no harm will come to anyone,” Council of the Organization of American States, in Washington, DC, yesterday. Pompeo, a stalwart ally of in US legal circles for decades. He is a Harvard he told radio host Tony Katz. “We Trump, has come under sharp crit- Law School professor and was part of the so- will do everything we need to do to been reported will ultimately prove tigate,” he said. icism from former career diplomats called “Dream Team” of lawyers who won a evaluate whether there was some- wrong, but our obligation — my obli- Pompeo said he has never met for not robustly defending Yovano- 1995 acquittal of former National Football thing that took place there. gation as secretary of state — is to Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-born vitch either to the White House or in League star and actor OJ Simpson on charges “I suspect that much of what’s make sure that we evaluate, inves- American who was working with public. of murdering his wife and a friend of hers. New York man acquitted on all charges in 2013 fatal shooting AP — GOSHEN

A New York man has been acquitted of all charges in relation to the 2013 fatal shooting of another man who was wanted wanted on abuse charges. David Carlson faced charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide in a bench trial for the death of Norris Acosta-Sanchez. Carlson was accused of firing his shotgun twice at Acosta-Sanchez as the pair walked along the road where Carlson lives. Carlson claimed he was escorting Acosta-Sanchez at gunpoint, so a neighbour could call police and that the fugitive lunged at him before the shooting. In the past six and a half years, Carlson has been through two murder indictments, one jury trial, and a manslaughter conviction that was later over- turned, The Times Herald-Record reported. Carlson’s defence team argued that that he acted in self defence. “There’s no winners here. It was a tragic loss of life,” said Benjamin Ostrer, one of the lawyers rep- resenting Carlson. The Westchester District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it was disappointed but respected SITUATION WANTED the judge’s decision. Indian Mechanical Assistant / Document Controller Evo Morales’ party names Engineer/Coordinator !"#$% 10 years Qatar & 2 years UAE experience '( candidates for upcoming in HVAC, Plumbing, Drainage & Fire )*+-. \)-.34+5è Bolivia elections *78% Looking for Job, Ready to join immediately +9.è REUTERS — LA PAZ Please Contact - 55987029 Contact: 77233926 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] A former foreign minister and a coca CHANGE OF NAME NOTICE farmer will be the candidates for pres- MR. LAKSHITHA GAYASHAN BANDARA ident and vice-pres- I, Kerima Sapii Hashim, I, Gloria Ajos Lamata, ident for exiled MUDIYANSELAGE Bolivian President Evo holder of Philippines Passport holder of Philippines Passport SRILANKA NATIONAL Morales’ political party No. EC3532868 No. P7917349A PASSPORT NO. N7986870 in the May elections in QATAR ID NO. 29214413793 the South American (Qatar ID No. 28560823021) (Qatar ID No. 28060822312) The above said person is leaving country, officials said. hereby change my name to hereby change my name to Qatar for good. Anybody who has Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca any claim against him should (pictured), an Aymara indian, will be the presi- KERIMA SAPII HASHIM BLIN. GLORIA LAPUT AJOS. contact us on the following dential candidate for the Movement to Socialism numbers within 3 days from the (MAS) party in the vote, which will serve as a re-run date of this advertisement. We of a disputed October election. Any objection, please contact the Any objection, please contact the will not be responsible for any Coca farmer Andronico Rodriguez will join the Immigration and Passport Office within 15 Immigration and Passport Office within 15 claim whatsoever after the above ticket as the vice-presidential candidate, MAS official said date. and union leader Theodore Mamani confirmed. days from the publication of this notice. days from the publication of this notice. The ticket must formalise its participation in the Tel: 44366001 Fax: 44366004 election to the electoral tribunal by February 3. Choquehuanca, 58, is a veteran indigenous pol- itician who was born in the Bolivian highlands. Rod- I, Ukamaka Tina Owoh, riguez, 30, is currently vice-president of a prom- inent coca farmer union in the city of Cochabamba. holder of Nigeria Passport Top MAS party officials are scheduled to meet No. A50535028 Pen.Mag this weekend in Buenos Aires, where Morales, who is barred from running for president again, is cur- (Qatar ID No. 28756600341) rently living under asylum. hereby change my name to Every Sunday To Thursday Morales, a socialist leader who was at the helm of Bolivia for nearly 14 years, stepped down on UKAMAKA TINA ONYEMETU. November 10 after a disputed election victory sparked protests and led to allies, the police and For Advertisements the military pulling their support. Any objection, please contact the Bolivia’s electoral tribunal set May 3 as the date Immigration and Passport Office within 15 for fresh elections after an Organization of American Please call: 44557857 States audit found serious irregularities in the way days from the publication of this notice. votes were counted in the disputed October election. BUSINESS BBUSINESSUS | 14 BUSINESS | 15 EU warns of China’s economy WTO challenge grew 6% in fourth if China-US deal quarter as demand creates ‘distortions’ stabilises

SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020

Your Global Remittance Partner Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate Currency TT Rate QAR/INR : 19.35 QAR/PHP : 13.87 QAR/LKR : 49.63 QAR/BDT : 23.40 EUR/QAR : 4.18 GBP/QAR : 4.87 CAD/QAR : 2.91 AUD/QAR : 2.66 CHF/QAR : 3.92 SGD/QAR : 2.82 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 held in check as Chinese US-China trade deal to ease economy offsets trade optimism

REUTERS — LONDON approval of changes to the US- Mexico-Canada Free Trade global uncertainty: IMF chief Oil prices edged higher Agreement. yesterday but were little Surging Chinese demand, as REUTERS — AFP/WASHINGTON/ it would be increasing uncer- changed on the week as sluggish seen in refinery throughput HONG KONG tainty," Georgieva said. economic growth in China, the figures, offset the less positive With disputes still raging world’s biggest crude importer, economic growth data. The signing of a Phase 1 trade between the United States and raised concerns over fuel n 2019 Chinese refineries agreement between the United Europe, she said "the global demand and countered processed 651.98 million tonnes States and China will reduce - trading system is in need of a optimism from the signing of a of crude oil, equal to a record but not eliminate - uncertainty significant upgrade." China-US trade deal. high 13.04 million barrels per that has dampened global Georgieva said uncertainty The world’s second-largest day (bpd) and up 7.6 percent economic growth, IMF Managing affects not only businesses but economy grew by 6.1 percent in from 2018, government data Director Kristalina Georgieva individuals as well, especially 2019, its slowest expansion in showed. Throughput also set a said yesterday. given rising inequality within 29 years, government data monthly record for December. Speaking at an event at the many countries. showed yesterday. “The increase in China’s Peterson Institute for Interna- In Britain, for example, "the “A well-expected fourth- refinery capacity is reshaping tional Economics, Georgieva top 10 percent now control quarter China GDP rate (6 the trade flows of refined declined to give an adjusted nearly as much wealth as the percent) provided little clue for products, while the increase in global economic forecast, saying bottom 50 percent," she said. oil price trading yesterday U.S. crude oil production is that would be released on She warned that "excessive morning, and mounting reshaping the trade flows of Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Monday at the World Economic inequality hinders growth and... downward economic pressure crude oil,” said Olivier Jakob of Georgieva speaks on new research on the financial services sector Forum in Davos, Switzerland. can fuel populism and political will perhaps limit oil’s upside in consultancy Petromatrix. and its impact on income inequality, in Washington, DC, in the US, But she said the IMF upheaval." While government the mid to long-term,” said Mar- Forecasts by two major yesterday. expected the trade deal would spending to help those at the garet Yang, market analyst at agencies of a supply surplus this ensure that China’s gross deal has created a beneficial The IMF in its economic bottom is key, "too often we CMC Markets. year also weighed on prices. domestic product expands by 6 condition for future Sino-US analysis has estimated the trade overlook the financial sector, Brent crude futures were up The International Energy percent in 2020, and she had relations, state media Xinhua conflicts and tariffs have cut 0.8 which can also have a profound 26 cents at $64.88 a barrel by Agency (IEA) on Thursday shared that forecast with reported, citing comments made percentage points off of global and long-lasting positive or neg- 1501 GMT. US West Texas Inter- offered a bearish view of the oil Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Wednesday. growth but she stressed that ative effect on inequality." mediate futures were up 21 market outlook for 2020. during a meeting this week. Economic and trade rela- most of that is not due to the In a new study presented cents at $58.73. Opec supply will exceed Reuters reported from Hong tions between China and the tariffs but to the uncertainty, yesterday, the IMF highlighted Oil rose on Thursday after demand for its crude, the IEA Kong that China’s Vice Premier United States has always been which causes companies to put how access to the financial China and the United States forecast, even if Opec member Liu He said the Phase 1 trade the ballast and thruster for the the brakes on investment, sector in China and India in the signed their Phase 1 trade states comply fully with output deal bolsters future Sino-US billateral relationship, Xinhua’s reported AFP. 1990s "paved the way for accord. cuts agreed with Russia and relations. He said Beijing and report said, citing Liu He’s "If I had to identify a theme enormous economic gains in the The mood was further other producers in a grouping Washington signing the Phase 1 comments. at the outset of the new decade, 2000s." boosted with the US Senate’s known as Opec+. US to introduce 20-year bond to finance substantial debt AFP — WASHINGTON as primary dealers. As a result, “Treasury The US Treasury has said it believes that there will be will introduce a new 20-year strong demand from investors bond meant to finance the for a 20-year bond, which will country’s growing deficit, increase Treasury’s financing which exceeded $1 trillion last capacity over the long term,” year. the statement said. Treasury intends to issue Mnuchin reiterated at the the first 20-year bonds during end of August that he was con- the first half of the year, the sidering new ultra-long bonds department said in a of up to 50 or 100 years to statement, with more details finance the debt, a proposition to be released on February 5. first studied by Treasury “We seek to finance the shortly after Mnuchin’s arrival government at the least pos- in 2017. sible cost to taxpayers over President Donald Trump time, and we will continue to 10- and 30-year bond. has spent heavily during the evaluate other potential new The department said an past three years. According to products to meet that goal,” advisory committee had projections by the non-par- said Treasury Secretary informed its decision and that tisan Congressional Budget Green Week Steven Mnuchin (pictured). it had also consulted the Office, the federal budget The new 20-year bond opinion of a variety of market deficit will exceed $1 trillion German Minister for Food and Agriculture Julia Kloeckner (right) touch a globe reading “The European would serve as an interme- participants, including com- per year from 2020-2029, green deal” at the Berlin fairground during the opening day of the International Agriculture fair “Green diate option between the two panies that resell US debt totaling more than $12.2 Week” (Grune Woche) in Berlin, yesterday. The International Agriculture fair is held from January most popular maturities: the securities, which are known trillion. 17, 2020 until January 26, 2020 at the Berlin Messe with Croatia as partner country. Microsoft to erase its carbon footprint, past and future, in climate push SAN FRANCISCO — WASHINGTON headquarters in Redmond, address its historical emissions to cover all emissions. Micro- Elizabeth V. Sturcken of the Washington. may resonate with some devel- soft’s price is lower than that for Environmental Defense Fund, Microsoft Corp has set a new “We must begin to offset the oping nations which say coun- carbon traded in both Cali- said in a statement, adding that ambition among Fortune 500 damaging effects of climate tries that created the most fornia, where it was $17 per ton the nonprofit advocacy group companies in addressing change,” he said, adding if carbon, and wealth in the in the most recent auction, and was eager for Microsoft to use climate change, pledging to global temperatures continue process, are not taking respon- the European Union, where its political influence as well. remove as much carbon as it to rise unabated “the results will sibility for their past pollution. 26.57 euros, or $29.58, in the Microsoft’s goal of removing has emitted in its 45-year be devastating.” The plan US Senators Chris Coons, a current quarter. enough carbon by 2050 to history. includes the creation of a Democrat from Delaware, and Co-founder Bill Gates was account for all its emissions The focus on removing “Climate Innovation Fund,” Mike Braun, an Indiana Repub- an early backer of British since its founding in 1975 existing carbon from the atmos- which will invest $1bn over the lican, applauded Microsoft. Columbia-based Carbon Engi- includes direct emissions from phere sets Microsoft’s climate next four years to speed up the “The scope and scale of this neering, one of a handful of sources such as company goals apart from other cor- development of carbon removal proposal is exactly the kind of companies developing direct air vehicles and indirect emissions porate pledges which have technology. bold action we need from the capture technology. from electricity use. focused on cutting ongoing The announcement by the business community,” the pair, Carbon Engineering CEO The company’s emissions or preventing future world’s largest software chairs of the bipartisan Senate Smith said. He said Microsoft Steve Oldham said the firm’s announcement comes as big ones. company reflects the rising Climate Solutions Caucus, said would widen the reach of an first direct air capture plant is investors pay more attention to “If the last decade has profile of US corporate action in a statement. internal fee that it has charged under construction and is how companies will tackle taught us anything, it’s that after President Donald Trump Microsoft plans to cut to its business groups to account expected to capture 1 million climate change. Earlier this technology built without these announced in 2017 his decision carbon emissions by more than for their carbon emissions. metric tons of carbon dioxide week, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink principles can do more harm to pull the United States out of half by 2030 across its supply Microsoft said it charges $15 each year. said companies must act or face than good,” Chief Executive the Paris Agreement, the global chain, an effort that will require per metric ton for core carbon Microsoft “is at the helm of anger from investors over how Satya Nadella (pictured) said at pact to fight climate change. technology that does not fully emissions internally and will what could be a new movement unsustainable business practices a media event at Microsoft’s Microsoft’s pledge to exist, company President Brad expand the coverage in phases towards negative emissions,” might curb their future wealth. 14 BUSINESS SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020

Morgan Stanley MARKETWATCH European Union warns of bond trading revenue surges QSE FTSE100 DOW CRUDE WTO challenge if China-US REUTERS — NEW YORK/ BENGALURU 10,698.31 7,674.56 29,326.72 $58.34 +40.60PTS +64.75PTS +29.08 PTS -0.18 deal creates ‘distortions’ Morgan Stanley wrapped up 0.38% 0.85% 0.099% Dow & Brent before going to press the earnings season for big US AFP — BEIJING economic relations with its banks on a resounding note, major trading partners, rather comfortably beating quarterly The European Union will chal- than through the WTO -- profit estimates and raising lenge the China-US trade meaning further trade disputes the possibility that the Wall Troubled UK airline Flybe agreement at the World Trade with the US will have to be Street bank could raise its Organization if it creates “distor- resolved outside the global strategic targets. tions” in the market that harm trading system. The bank met most of its says seeking govt loan EU companies, the bloc’s envoy Kerstin Braun, president of key quarterly financial targets to Beijing said yesterday. Stenn Group, said on Thursday: set by Chief Executive James AFP — LONDON Flybe meanwhile criticised Ambassador Nicolas “With a weakened WTO and the Gorman, powered by strength “inaccurate” UK media specu- Chapuis (pictured) told general trend away from mul- in its bond trading and under- Struggling UK airline Flybe said lation that its tax debt stood at reporters the 28-nation EU “will tilateral trade agreements, we’re writing businesses. yesterday it is seeking a state more than £100m. monitor the implementation” of only going to see more trade Morgan Stanley’s robust loan and has been granted a tax The carrier was saved from the “phase one” deal that was goods such as clothing in squabbles.” The current crisis performance in trading mir- holiday, after this week’s collapse on Tuesday when the signed on Wednesday by Pres- September. facing the WTO could also mit- rored a similarly upbeat rescue which has sparked UK government agreed to ident Donald Trump and But punitive border taxes igate the EU’s threat, with Wash- showing from bigger rivals anger from rival carriers. review air passenger duty Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. will remain on two-thirds of ington having recently forced Goldman Sachs and Flybe managing director (APD) paid by the Flybe’s cus- “In our opinion, quantitative more than $500bn in imports the body’s appeals unit to JPMorgan, thanks largely to Mark Anderson said in a tomers, while shareholders targets are not WTO-compatible from China. suspend operations. easier comparisons with a message to staff that the pledged extra investment. if they lead to trade distortions,” When questioned on the The US has long-standing year ago when financial regional airline, which nar- In response, British Airways Chapuis said. “If it were to be the matter, Chinese foreign ministry and wide-ranging concerns markets were roiled by trade rowly avoided collapse on parent group IAG on case, we will go to the WTO to spokesman Geng Shuang said about the WTO, with its and global growth concerns. Tuesday, is in talks over the Wednesday filed a formal com- settle this matter.” He said that that the deal “is in line with WTO allegedly soft stance on China a Morgan Stanley’s revenue loan. “We are in conversation plaint to Brussels over what it during a meeting at the Chinese rules and market principles”. main criticism. from sales and trading rose with the government around a argued was state aid to Flybe. foreign ministry, he was given Paul Tan of Rajah & Tann Separately to the US-China 28 percent to $3.19bn. Bond financial loan -- a loan, not a Downing Street argues “formal assurances that in abso- law firm in Singapore, who spe- trade negotiations, the EU has trading sales more than bailout -- a commercial loan, however that it was not state lutely no way would European cialises in international dispute also been trying to reach an doubled to $1.27bn from a but that is the same as any loan aid, while any APD changes businesses be affected by the resolution, told AFP the deal agreement with Beijing on year earlier. we’d take from any bank,” would apply to the whole avi- US-China deal”. “may not violate WTO rules investments for almost seven Revenue from Anderson said in a message ation sector. The WTO’s principle of because the type of goods being years. investment banking, which that was initially reported by Flybe -- owned by Virgin most-favoured-nation bought from the US could be dif- Some of the EU’s demands includes advising on deals the BBC and confirmed to AFP. Atlantic, investment firm Cyrus treatment says countries cannot ferent from other countries’, or are similar to those of the US, and helping corporations He added: “The gov- and infrastructure specialist discriminate between trading even unavailable”. including respect for intellectual raise money, rose 11.2%, ernment will not lend if they Stobart -- is struggling due to partners. “I don’t think the trade deal property and the end of forced buoyed by higher bond and do not believe there is a weak demand and fierce Under the deal, China reversed the increase in tariffs technology transfers by foreign equity underwriting. credible plan. competition. agreed to import an additional on US goods after the trade war firms operating in China. “We delivered strong “No-one is going to throw Employing some 2,000 $200bn in US products over two broke out, for example, so I Chapuis said discussions on quarterly earnings across all good money after bad.” Flybe people, Flybe has failed to turn years -- above the levels pur- doubt this could be read as more this deal had entered a “crucial of our businesses... This con- added in a separate statement around its fortunes since it was chased in 2017 -- including an preferential treatment,” he said. stage” and that progress was sistent performance met all that it has agreed a payment purchased a year ago by a con- extra $32bn in agricultural China’s agreement to buy being made each month, with of our stated performance plan to defer tax payments of sortium led by Virgin. goods. more from the US in effect the ambition to reach an targets,” Gorman said in a less than £10m ($13m) with Her Flybe, which claims it has Beijing also pledged to cushions some of the impact agreement by the end of the statement. Under Gorman, Majesty’s Revenue and Customs been weakened also by uncer- improve protections of US intel- from increased tariffs over the year. Morgan Stanley has been (HMRC) -- which is Britain’s tax tainties related to Brexit, carries lectual property. past two years, Tan added. A draft deal is expected to hitting key financial targets authority. around eight million pas- The US said it would slash in He noted, however, that feature prominently at a China- consistently for some time, The airline said that this sengers annually and flies from half tariffs of 15 percent that such bilateral trade deals seem EU summit scheduled for March which suggests he may was standard HMRC practice 43 airports across Europe and were imposed on about $120bn to be the US administration’s in Beijing with the new EU announce new targets soon, for businesses in financial 28 in Britain. It is the biggest worth of Chinese consumer preferred method of developing leaders. according to analysts. difficulties. operator of UK domestic flights. Indonesia says SoftBank US industrial offering to invest up to output falls AFP — WASHINGTON $40bn in new capital The output of US industry fell REUTERS — JAKARTA the structure (of the 1 percent in December last investment). It could amount year compared to the same SoftBank has offered to invest to $30-40bn,” he told reporters. month of 2018, driven by up to $40bn in the new capital A spokeswoman for drops in a manufacturing city Indonesia plans to build on SoftBank said the group had not sector impacted by bitter trade Borneo island, a minister said suggested specific numbers, wars, the Federal Reserve yesterday, though the Japanese echoing comments by CEO and reported yesterday. tech conglomerate said no founder Masayoshi Son last American manufacturing, figure had been suggested yet. week. which has been in recession Indonesian President Joko “We’re not dicussing the for months, saw production Widodo announced in August specific numbers yet, but a new fall 1.3 percent in the final plans to move the adminis- smart city, newest technology, month of 2019 compared to a trative capital to East Kali- clean city, with a lot of AI year earlier, the Fed said. mantan province, on Borneo, (artifical intelligence), that’s Petroleum and coal pro- to relieve Jakarta from “a heavy what I’m interested in sup- duction which has seen strong burden” due to overcrowding porting,” Son said during a visit gains in some months, and pollution. to Jakarta last week. Economic optimism including December, was 1.2 Indonesia has previously Pandjaitan said he would percent lower than a year ago, put the cost of moving the discuss the potential People queue to buy chestnuts at a popular shop in Beijing. China’s trade surplus with the United according to the report. capital at $33bn, but Luhut investment further with Son States narrowed last year as the world’s two biggest economies exchanged punitive tariffs in a bruising Total output in December Pandjaitan (pictured), Indone- further on Monday at the World trade war, data showed on January 14, just as the two prepare to sign a deal dialling down tensions. dipped 0.3 percent compared sia’s coordinating minister for Economic Forum gathering in to November, but that was maritime affairs and the Swiss resort of Davos and skewed by a large drop-off in investment, said Softbank that President Joko Widodo will utilities due to unseasonably Group Corp had offered up to likely decide on the agreement Pound reverses gains after bleak British retail sales warm weather last month, $40bn. “So we’ll negotiate over in February. which came after colder than Widodo said on Thursday REUTERS — LONDON Several Bank of England time is right to inject some zip usual temperatures in that a planned sovereign policymakers, including out- into the economy with a rate November. wealth fund to finance infra- The pound gave up early gains going Governor Mark Carney, cut, and sterling is likely to rec- Manufacturing gained just structure projects in Southeast yesterday after UK retail sales signalled this week that a rate alibrate accordingly,” said 0.2 percent “despite a decrease Asia’s biggest economy will data came in weaker than cut was likely unless economic Ayush Ansal, chief investment of 4.6 percent for motor raise at least $20 billion once expected, prompting investors data improved. officer at Crimson Black Capital. vehicles and parts,” the Fed established, though Pandjaitan to price in a greater chance Economic data showed Weak inflation readings said. said it was still under discussion interest rates would be cut at further weakness on Friday, came in on Wednesday and “Excluding the motor whether investment would be the end of this month. with British consumers failing weak growth numbers on vehicle sector, factory output channeled through the sov- Sterling rose to a six-day to increase their spending in Monday, including slower indus- rose 0.5 percent.” Mining ereign wealth fund. Planning high before investors resumed December for a record fifth trial and manufacturing pro- output in the month rose 1.3 minister Suharso Monoarfa said selling the currency, in a week straight month. duction. That has raised the like- percent and is up 1.4 percent this week that Softbank was dominated by dismal data and “... The lack of inflationary lihood of a quarter-point rate cut year-over-year, with most of interested in providing self- dovish comments from pressure could easily persuade in January to nearly 70 percent, the gains due to oil and gas driving vehicles for the capital. policymakers. the Bank of England that the according to Refinitiv data. extraction. US housing starts at 13-year high in December; permits ease REUTERS — WASHINGTON Groundbreaking activity last of 1.375 million units in The housing market is Builders said they “continue to domestic product again in the month was likely boosted by December. regaining momentum after the grapple with a shortage of lots fourth quarter. US homebuilding surged to a unseasonably mild weather. Housing starts soared 40.8 Federal Reserve cut interest and labor while buyers are Single-family home- 13-year high in December as Despite the surge in percent on a year-on-year rates three times last year, frustrated by a lack of building, which accounts for activity increased across the December, starts remained basis in December. An esti- pushing down mortgage rates inventory, particularly among the largest share of the housing board, suggesting the housing below levels seen at the peak mated 1.290 million housing from last year’s multi-year starter homes.” While the market, jumped 11.2 percent to market recovery was back on of the housing market bubble units were started in 2019, up highs. The 30-year fixed housing market accounts for a rate of 1.055 units in track amid low mortgage rates, between 2005 and early 2006. 3.2 percent compared to 2018. mortgage rate has dropped to about 3.1 percent of gross December, the highest level and could help support the Data for November was Building permits fell 3.9 an average of 3.65 percent from domestic product, it has a since June 2007. Single-family longest economic expansion on revised higher to show home- percent to a rate of 1.416 million its peak of 4.94 percent in bigger footprint on the housing starts rose in the record. building rising to a pace of 1.375 units in December after hitting November 2018, according to economy, which is now in its Midwest and the populous Housing starts jumped 16.9 million units, instead of their highest level in more than data from mortgage finance 11th year of expansion. Resi- South. They, however, fell in percent to a seasonally adjusted advancing to a rate of 1.365 12-1/2 years in November. agency Freddie Mac. dential investment rebounded the Northeast and West. annual rate of 1.608 million million units as previously US stock index futures were Though a survey on in the third quarter after con- Single-family housing units last month, the highest reported. trading higher while prices of Monday showed confidence tracting for six straight quarters, building permits slipped 0.5 level since December 2006. Economists polled by US Treasuries were mixed. The among homebuilders dipped the longest such stretch since percent to a rate of 916,000 The percentage gain was the Reuters had forecast housing dollar was up against a basket in January, it remained near the 2007-2009 recession. It is units in December after rising largest since October 2016. starts would increase to a pace of currencies. levels last seen in mid-1999. expected to contribute to gross for seven straight months. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 BUSINESS 15

Global stock gains China’s economy grew build on economic 6% in fourth quarter as optimism BLOOMBERG — SYDNEY

Asian stocks edged up yesterday, with the demand stabilises global record-setting rally showing little sign of letting up following signs of strong BLOOMBERG — BEIJING market Industrial output rose American consumer demand and an 6.9 percent in December from improving Chinese economy. China’s economy stabilised last the same period the previous Treasuries dipped after the US quarter after slowing to the year, versus the median announced plans for a new 20-year bond. weakest pace in almost three forecast of 5.9 percent. Retail Shares rose modestly in Tokyo, Seoul and decades, with the first acceler- sales rose 8 percent versus an Sydney. Equities ticked up in Shanghai ation in investment since June estimate of 7.9 percent. and Hong Kong as data showed Chinese signaling that a firmer recovery Policy makers have sig- industrial output topped estimates. could be underway. naled they are prioritizing eco- Futures on the S&P 500 were flat after Gross domestic product nomic stability in 2020, with the gauge on Thursday climbed to a fresh rose 6 percent in the final stimulus to be kept basically all-time high. US retail sales strengthened quarter of 2019 from a year that deal and domestic financial unchanged. Data released in December. Technology shares earlier, the same as in the pre- fragility remain risks. Thursday showed that overall advanced and Alphabet Inc.’s market val- vious three-month period and “The latest GDP and IP data credit growth held up in uation hit $1 trillion for the first time. the median estimate. Fixed- provides a very positive start to December and a gauge of bor- With an initial trade deal between asset investment rose 5.4 the Chinese New Year for rowing costs fell, indicating that the US and China now signed and percent in the year, increasing China’s economy,” said Rajiv policy makers are beginning to investor optimism over easing tensions its pace in the final month par- Biswas, Asia Pacific chief econ- see some progress in chan- helping drive global equities to record ticularly through a jump in omist at IHS Markit in Sin- neling credit to the economy. highs, attention is turning to corporate manufacturing expenditure. gapore. “The outlook for 2020 “All we can say is that and economic data. China GDP was in The world’s second-largest is for continued robust growth, China’s economy is stabilizing. line with estimates, along with a robust economy expanded by 6.1 boosted by the Phase One trade It’s hard to forecast if the trend showing for key monthly data for percent in 2019, slower than 6.6 deal with the US and the con- will continue in 2020 and if December. The earnings season con- percent the previous year but in tinued positive impact of gov- there will be a rebound,” said tinues to ramp up with the likes of line with the government’s ernment monetary and fiscal Betty Wang (pictured), senior Procter & Gamble Co. and Intel Corp. target. The signing of the phase- policy stimulus measures.” The economist at Australia &New reporting next week. one trade deal with the US this surveyed unemployment rate Zealand Banking Group. “The “It’s very hard to be bearish here,” week combined with recovering ticked up to 5.2 percent from trade deal provided some Linda Duessel, senior equity strategist at global demand has improved 5.1 percent in December, sign- short-term support for the Federated Investors Management Co., told the outlook for Chinese factories aling that the manufacturing- economy, but there still exists Bloomberg TV. “We could have really and exporters in 2020, though led slowdown in 2019 may be great uncertainty in the long good earnings surprises to the upside,” uncertain implementation of filtering through to the labor run.” as more profit reports roll in, she said. Canadian economy expected to gather steam REUTERS — BENGALURU on January 22, in line with the The January 13-16 poll of over 40 “I wouldn’t expect particularly futures market’s view. economists predicted the economy strong growth in Canada, but we A revival in the Canadian economy Optimism among economists would grow at an annual rate of should hang in there if the global may already be underway, was partly driven by a trade 1.6 percent this quarter after economy does as well.” The jobless according to a Reuters poll of agreement signed by China and the expanding 0.8 percent last quarter. rate was predicted to average 5.8% economists, who were mostly con- United States this week after an It was expected to grow 1.7 from next quarter through to mid- fident a rate cut was not needed 18-month trade war and by the percent every quarter after that 2021 -- the forecast horizon - a and so predicted monetary policy latest labour market data, which until the second quarter of next touch below the 5.9 percent would remain unchanged this year. showed more jobs than expected year. More than 85 percent - 18 of forecast in an October poll. It Nearly 70 percent, or 27 of 39, were added in December. 21 - respondents said the recent averaged 5.7 percent last quarter. economists who provided a year- “The BoC should be economic slowdown in Canada Inflation was expected to end outlook expected the central encouraged by the rebound in was temporary. A majority said the remain below the central bank’s bank to keep its key interest rate employment, remaining in a data- economy’s revival was already target of around 2 percent, aver- on hold at 1.75 percent this year, dependent mode and unlikely to underway. aging 1.9 percent this year and next compared with just over half, or cut rates in 2020,” noted Veronica “We are still subject to the year. That inflation outlook should 16 of 31, in a poll taken before the Clark, an economist at Citi in a winds of what’s going on globally. keep the Bank of Canada on the previous meeting in early research report. If the global economy is able to sidelines this year, where it’s been December. “The December rebound in hold up in the course of this year, since October 2018, even when All but one respondent in the jobs is an encouraging sign that we would likely to do the same,” the US Federal Reserve and latest poll expected rates to remain early-Q4 weakness apparent in said Benjamin Reitzes, senior European Central Bank eased unchanged when the BoC meets recent data releases is temporary.” economist at BMO Capital Markets. policy.

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TENNIS FOOTBALL We will give him the absolute amount of time Australian Open Premier League to find out. Marcus will have more checks and in Melbourne; West Ham United vs treatment today but I'm not holding my breath: ATP Auckland Everton; Newcastle ACTION

United Manager Solskjaer on Rashford TODAY’S Classic United vs Chelsea

Benoit Paire of France hits a Barty eyes home party as return against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during their men’s singles semi final Serena continues chase match during the Auckland Classic REUTERS — MELBOURNE the sports-loving nation and the lifting her second straight Grand twilight of her illustrious career. in Auckland, local media when the year’s Slam title in Melbourne fol- She was eight weeks yesterday. Ash Barty faces the double first Grand Slam kicks off on lowing her success at the 2018 pregnant when winning in Mel- burden of being world number Monday but going by what hap- US Open but subsequently suf- bourne in 2017 but similar one and the focus of an pened in the recent past, han- fered early exits at the French success in Slams has proved expectant host nation as she dling the pressure could prove Open and Wimbledon. elusive since she returned to the seeks to win the Australian arduous for Barty. The 22-year-old, who circuit as the mother of baby Open amid challenges from In November, leading Aus- appointed her third coach of the Olympia. She has lost four finals record-chasing Serena Williams tralia’s charge to win the Fed year in Belgian Wim Fissette in in her quest for a 24th Grand and a host of other Grand Slam Cup against France in Perth, she December, also disappointed in Slam singles title to equal Mar- winners. suffered an upset loss to the defence of her US Open title. garet Court’s all-time record but The 23-year-old Queens- Kristina Mladenovic which Yet Osaka regained some last week enjoyed her first WTA lander Barty spectacularly ended her team’s hopes of end-of-season form with the singles title in almost three climbed to the top of the winning the trophy for the first Pan Pacific Open and China years at the Auckland Classic. Paire, Humbert set women’s rankings in 2019 and time in 45 years. Open titles and, after having “It’s pretty satisfying to get a will start her Melbourne Park Yet Barty, who regained her dropped to number four, is back win in a final,” Williams said. “That campaign next week having number one spot in September to third in the world behind was really important for me. won her maiden Grand Slam at after holding it for seven weeks Karolina Pliskova. Williams, who “I want to build on it. Obvi- up all-French final the French Open and the WTA following her Roland Garros has for years thrived under the ously it is a step towards the Finals in Shenzhen. triumph, says she is ready for pressure of expectation that faces next goal in Melbourne.” While REUTERS — WELLINGTON towards the end of the first set Her successes saw her the next daunting chapter. Barty, has won seven of her 23 Melbourne will miss the US when he wasted his first oppor- become the first Australian “Having a number next to Grand Slam singles in Melbourne Open winner Bianca Andreescu, Benoit Paire overcame a tunity to serve out. woman since Evonne Gool- your name doesn’toesn t guarantee but faces a different test in the of CanadaCanada,, who pupulled out with second set of simmering frus- Two double faults gave agong-Cawley to gain the world anything. It doesn’tdoesn’t guar-guar- a knee injury, tthereh will be tration that ended with a Hurkacz the break and the Pole number one accolade and also antee wins. Youu still havehave plentyplenty ofof othersothers who have smashed racket and point then served to love with the raised hopes that she could end to go out there,e, dodo thethe tastedtasted major successsuc before penalty to advance to the Frenchman visibly annoyed the country’s 42-year wait for work -- put allll those in what looks a wide open Auckland Open final yesterday and appearing to just want to a home winner in Melbourne. kind of runs on the field.field. and a showdown with fellow get off court. She will be the cynosure of board, I supposese -- and Last year’syear’s finalistf Petra Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Paire ensured he closed out work from there,”here,” thethe KvitovaKvitova and SimonaSim Halep The 30-year-old Paire beat the set the next game but his former cricketereter told are equippedequipped to add to their Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, frustration levels increased in reporters in AdelaideAdelaide multiple majorsmajors whilew the 2018 6-7(1), 6-2 to set up a final on the second set and he smashed this week. AustralianAustralian Open champion Saturday with Humbert, who a ball out of the stadium when Having a number next “All you canan do is CarolineCaroline WozniacWozniackik will aim to earlier tamed the big serve of he was broken and then com- try and do yourour bestbest bowbow out from the US two-time champion John plained throughout the tie- to your name doesn’t every single match.”match.” sportspor on the Isner in a 7-6(5), 6-4 win. break of a fan heckling him. guarantee anything. Japan’s Naomi highesthighe note. It will be 21-year-old Hum- He smashed his racket on It doesn’t guarantee Osaka knows all abouaboutt AngeliqueAngeli Kerber, bert’s first ATP Tour final. set point and having received the struggles off coping SloaneSloan Stephens, “I’m very sorry,” Paire said a warning when he earlier hit wins. You still have to with the pressuresure ooff GarbineGa of his tantrums. “I broke one the ball into the adjoining go out there, do the being worldorld Muguruza,Mugu Jelena racket and... I only have two left Auckland Domain he simply number one but Ostapenko,Ostap Venus so I have to be careful in the walked off and sat down as the work -- put all those she will defendnd WilliamsWil and final before I get to Australia. umpire awarded Hurkacz a kind of runs on the her crownn MariaMari Sharapova “To play against Ugo in the penalty point and the set. board, I suppose -- having redis-- are the other final, two Frenchman, is very Paire, however, raced covered herr GraGrandn Slam special.” Paire, who lost to through the decider and and work from there: confidence. winnerswinn who are Hurkacz in the final in advanced to his ninth final Ash Barty Osakaa Ash Barty outsideoutsi the top 16 Winston-Salem in August, when Hurkacz served his started 2019 byy seeds.seeds appeared to become frustrated seventh double fault. Rybakina and Zhang to clash in Hobart decider

REUTERS — HOBART Standing in the way of time and I was a bit scared physically in the third set, Meanwhile, world number contest. The pair then Rybakina and a second career because it’s not a nice feeling,” Rybakina was able to hold her one Ash Barty fought back from exchanged a couple of breaks Third seed Elena Rybakina crown is fourth seed Zhang Rybakina told reporters. serve and broke a tiring Watson a set down to beat unseeded in the deciding set before the endured a tough test against Shuai, who powered past “It was better after the once more to secure the victory. Danielle Collins 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5) tie-break and Barty appeared British qualifier Heather Watson Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4 treatment, I’ll go away to the Earlier, Zhang sealed a spot yesterday to reach the Adelaide to feed off the home fans’ before winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to in the other semi-final. physio and try to recover.” in the third WTA singles final of International final where she energy to secure victory on her reach the final of the Hobart A bigger worry for the Rybakina converted three out her career with a clinical per- will face Ukraine’s Dayana second match point. international yesterday. in-form Rybakina will be her of four break points to claim the formance against fifth-seeded Yastremska. “It was tough but it was a lot The 20-year-old Kazakh, fitness ahead of the Australian first set but 2015 champion Russian Kudermetova. Collins came out all guns of fun,” Barty said during a who lost in the Shenzhen Open Open, which starts on Monday, Watson found a way back into She has the chance to seal a blazing in the opening set to go courtside interview, before title clash last week, became the as she twice needed treatment the match by racing to a 5-1 lead memorable double today after up 3-0 and held firm to take the addressing the crowd. first player since Agnieszka for her right leg late in the in the second set and held off a reaching the doubles final with early advantage, but Barty’s “You guys have brought a Radwanska in 2013 to reach contest. late fightback by her opponent partner Peng Shuai. The Chinese battling qualities surfaced in the little bit more enjoyment back back-to-back finals in the “I just pulled a muscle... it to draw level. duo face Nadiia Kichenok and next as she stretched the rallies into my tennis... I can’t wait to opening two weeks of the year. happened to me for the first Despite struggling Sania Mirza next. to claw her way back into the get back out here tomorrow.”

Tottenham Hotspur Pellegrini double Relentless Liverpool seek to defender Toby Alderweireld (right) lifts Roma to win challenges Liverpool midfielder Roberto in Italian Cup stretch lead over Man United Firmino during the English Premier AFP — MILAN AFP — LONDON English Premier Wednesday’s 1-0 win over League match at League Wolves in the FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur Italy midfielder Lorenzo Liverpool can widen the chasm Fixtures “I didn’t want to play him, Stadium in London Pellegrini scored both goals to between themselves and Today (1500 GMT unless but we needed the win. It has on January 11. send Roma into the Italian Cup Manchester United to a stag- stated) backfired,” admitted quarter-finals with a 2-0 win gering 30 points if they come Watford vs Tottenham Solskjaer. over Parma on Thursday. out on top in the battle between (1230), Arsenal vs Sheffield United could find them- In a match between fifth- England’s two most successful United, Brighton vs Aston selves eight points adrift of the placed Roma and Parma, in clubs at Anfield tomorrow. Villa, Manchester City vs top four by the time they kick- seventh, the side from the Jurgen Klopp’s men look Crystal Palace, Norwich vs off at Anfield if Chelsea win at capital prevailed to return to destined to end a 30-year wait Bournemouth, Southampton Newcastle today. winning wayss in the Ennio to win a top-flight title, with a vs Wolves, West Ham vs Everton, A win for the Blues on Tardini Stadium after back-to- 14-point lead over defending Newcastle vs Chelsea (1730) Tyneside would also put Frank back league defeats. champions Manchester City Tomorrow Lampard’s men 12 points clear Pellegrini, 23, struck the plus a game in hand. Burnley vs Leicester (1400), of Tottenham, unless Jose Mour- first just after the break and United are a further 13 Liverpool vs Manchester United inho’s men can snap Watford’s added the second from the points back, having also played (1630) winning streak at Vicarage penalty spot on 76 minutes a game more than their rivals, Road. Only Liverpool and City after an Antonino Barilla and in need of a strong end to leagues, with 20 wins from their have won more points in the six handball in the penalty area. the campaign to avoid failing to opening 21 games. games since Nigel Pearson took Roma next play Juventus qualify for the Champions “Our team have a winning charge of the Hornets, with 13 in the quarter-finals at the League for a second consecutive mindset. We always think about from their past five matches Allianz Stadium after the season. the next game, we don’t look too propelling them out of the rel- reaching the Champions League Bournemouth, realistically record 14-time Cup winners Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men far ahead,” said Liverpool goal- egation zone for the first time for a fifth straight season needing a win to maintain any brushed aside Udinese 4-0 on are, however, the only side to keeper Alisson Becker, who has this season. hanging by a thread. hope of survival. Wednesday. Roma are second have slowed Liverpool’s conceded just one goal in his Spurs reduced a 12-point “It is possible to talk about Daniel Farke’s side have not only to Juventus in the number relentless march towards the past 10 games. gap to Chelsea when Mourinho top four when you start the won in their past nine league of Cup trophies with nine, Premier League title. The Brazilian number one replaced Mauricio Pochettino season on zero points, but it is games to fall eight points adrift most recently in 2008. The 1-1 draw between the will be confident of another in November down to three hard to talk about it when you of safety, but have still claimed Holders Lazio made short teams in October was the only clean sheet tomorrow, with prior to their meeting a month start at minus 12,” said more points in the past two work of Serie B side Cre- time the European champions United’s top scorer Marcus later. Mourinho after last weekend’s months than their visitors. monese in their 4-0 victory in have dropped points this Rashford a serious doubt after But they have won just one defeat by Liverpool. A run of four points in 11 Rome on Tuesday with last season. They have now set a lasting just 15 minutes as a of their past five league games, The bottom two face off at games has plunged Bourne- year’s finalists Atalanta falling record for Europe’s top five second-half substitute in leaving their chances of Carrow Road as Norwich host mouth into a relegation battle. 2-1 to 10-man Fiorentina. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Al Ghazali guides What A Pleasure to win

ARMSTRONG VAS — THE PENINSULA Nasser Al Ghazali riding What A Pleasure to the Nasser Al Ghazali guided What A Pleasure to victory victory ceremony during in Medium Tour at Hathab Series Round Six at the the Medium Tour at Hathab Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. Series Round Six at the Al On the first day of the two day event, What A Shaqab Arena yesterday. Pleasure finished in the top spot with a timing of 70.15 piping Carmen to the second spot, which fin- ished with a time of 68.89. The first place finisher collected the winner’s purse of QR 5,000 while the second placed finishing horse took home got QR 3,000. Miss Chili ridden by Mohammed Saeed Haid- ancame third with a timing of 66.30 and had to be contend with QR 2,000. Elsewhere, Ali Mohammed AL Marri rode Fernhill Friendly Touch to the top in the Small Tour. The effort got the winning team QR2,500. Hugo Z ridden by Hamad Nasser Al Qadi fin- ished second while Mohammed Saeed Haidan com- pleted the podium line up coming third with Ziezo. The podium winners in Medium Tour at Hathab Series Round Six Today’s action will see the contestants vying for at the Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. the top prizes in the Big Tour. Stokes, Pope put England on top AFP — PORT ELIZABETH England declared on 499 for Test in Johannesburg next week SCOREBOARD nine and South Africa were because of his fourth disci- England (I Innings) Bowling: Philander 16-5-41-0, Paterson Centuries by Ben Stokes and struggling on 60 for two when plinary transgression within 24 Z Crawley c Van der Dussen b Nortje 44 24-3-62-1 (1w), Rabada 28-7-97-2 (4nb, Ollie Pope, followed by two late rain brought an early close to a months. Then, after taking a wickets, put England in a day which the hosts would pummelling from the England D Sibley c Elgar b Nortje ...... 36 2w), Nortje 25-4-97-1 (1w), Maharaj 58- dominant position on the probably prefer to forget. batsmen, the day ended with J Denly lbw b Maharaj ...... 25 15-180-5, Elgar 1-0-6-0 second day of the third Test It started with the news that the hosts facing an uphill battle J Root b Rabada ...... 27 South Africa (I Innings) against South Africa at St strike bowler Kagiso Rabada to avoid going into that match B Stokes c Elgar b Paterson ...... 120 D Elgar (batting) ...... 32 George’s Park yesterday. would miss the fourth and final one-down in a series which is O Pope (not out) ...... 135 P Malan c and b Bess ...... 18 tied at 1-1. J Buttler c and b Maharaj ...... 1 Z Hamza c Pope b Bess ...... 10 Off-spinner Dom Bess took both wickets for England, while S Curran c Elgar b Maharaj ...... 44 A Nortje (batting) ...... 0 Mark Wood bowled with elec- D Bess c Malan b Maharaj ...... 1 Total (2 wkts, 18 overs) ...... 60 trifying pace and hit not out M Wood c Nortje b Maharaj...... 42 Bowling: Broad 4-1-18-0, Curran 5-0-25- Pakistan’s batsman Dean Elgar a painful Extras (B2, LB14, NB4, W4) ...... 24 0, Bess 6-1-12-2, Wood 3-2-5-0 blow on the left forearm. Total (9 wkts dec, 152 overs) ...499 To bat: F du Plessis, H van der Dussen, Q Hafeez to retire World player of the year Fall of wickets: 1-70, 2-103, 3-134, de Kock, V Philander, K Maharaj, K Rabada, Stokes (120) and Pope (135 not 4-148, 5-351, 6-354, 7-413, 8-426, 9-499 D Paterson after Twenty20 out) set up England’s big total by putting on 203 for the fifth wicket. They came together on 44 off 50 balls, with six fours the total was 467. England World Cup the first day when their side and a six. captain Joe Root signalled a were struggling at 148 for four. He and Pope put on 59 for declaration but when Rabada AFP — LAHORE In contrast to an attritional the seventh wicket, with Pope was found to have sent down first day, when England could contributing 13. a no-ball after a check by the Recalled Pakistan allrounder only score 224 for four in 90 England were already in a umpires, Root cancelled his Mohammad Hafeez (pictured) overs, the tourists scored strong position when they decision and 32 runs were yesterday said he will retire freely for most of the day, reached tea at 426 for eight. The added, with Pope playing from international cricket after although Pope made hard 37 minutes after the break some outrageous shots, the Twenty20 World Cup later work of moving from 75 at rubbed it in as Wood joined including two switch-hit left- this year, vowing to end his lunch to his century, needing Pope with a licence to score as handed shots for four and a career on a positive note. most of the afternoon before quickly as possible. hooked six off Rabada. The 38-year-old was he punched Anrich Nortje Wood slammed five sixes in South Africa reached 50 in Thursday recalled to Paki- through midwicket for his 14th an innings of 42 off 23 balls, reply without any alarms before stan’s Twenty20 series against boundary after facing 190 dealing out severe punishment Pieter Malan chipped a return Bangladesh starting in Lahore balls. to left-arm spinner Keshav catch to Bess. Coming on as from January 24. While Pope, 22, moved cau- Maharaj before holing out to third change Wood discomfited Hafeez has been one of tiously to join Dom Sibley in give Maharaj his fifth wicket, both Elgar and Zubayr Hamza Pakistan’s key players -- in all England’s Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope during the second day scoring a maiden Test hundred albeit at a cost of 180 runs. before Hamza was caught at three formats, as a top order of the Third Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in during the series, Sam Curran There was a bizarre incident short leg off Bess in what batsman and a handy off- Port Elizabeth, South Africa, yesterday. provided the impetus for when Wood appeared to have proved to be the final over of spinner -- since making his England as he hit an aggressive been caught off Rabada when the day. debut during an England tour in 2003. But his career was dogged by questions over the legality of his bowling action, India beat Australia to level one-day series reported on three occasions during international matches. AFP — RAJKOT 340 for six in their 50 overs and innings with a six and nine fours SCOREBOARD He was also banned from Australia soon fell behind in the and Marnus Labuschagne’s bat- India A Finch st Rahul b Jadeja ...... 33 bowling for 12 months in Steve Smith hit a swashbuckling run chase. tling 46, Mohammed Shami 2015. 98 but Australia could not stop India completely turned the came close to a hat-trick as R Sharma lbw b Zampa ...... 42 S Smith b Yadav ...... 98 Hafeez, dubbed the “pro- India powering to a 36 run tables on Australian captain India’s pace attack took control S Dhawan c Starc b Richardson ...... 96 M Labuschagne c Shami b Jadeja ...... 46 fessor” for his knowledge of victory to level their one-day Aaron Finch, who won the toss and Australia were bowled out V Kohli c Starc b Zampa ...... 78 A Carey c Kohli b Yadav ...... 18 the game, said he enjoyed series yesterday. and put India in to bat. India for 304 with five balls of the S Iyer b Zampa ...... 7 A Turner b Shami ...... 13 playing for Pakistan. Thrashed by 10 wickets in were a totally different propo- innings left. Shami bowled K.L Rahul run out ...... 80 A Agar lbw b Saini ...... 25 “It has been a privilege,” he the first of the three-match sition to the side that was never Ashton Turner and Pat M Pandey c Agar b Richardson ...... 2 P Cummins b Shami ...... 0 told media. series, Shikhar Dhawan made in the Mumbai contest while Cummins with successive “I want to play the R Jadeja (not out) ...... 20 M Starc c Rahul b Saini ...... 6 96, KL Rahul 80 and captain Finch’s bowlers struggled. yorkers and had an appeal for Twenty20 World Cup and then Virat Kohli 78 as India made Despite Smith’s 102-ball the third wicket turned down M Shami (not out) ...... 1 K Richardson (not out) ...... 24 exit from Pakistan’s interna- Extras (B5, LB4, W5) ...... 14 A Zampa c Rahul b Bumrah ...... 6 tional team.” India’s Ravindra Jadeja (right) celebrates dismissing Australia’s Total (six wickets) ...... 340 Extras (LB 10, W 10) ...... 20 Hafeez retired from Tests Marnus Labuschagne during the second One-day International (ODI) Did not bat: K Yadav, N Saini, J Bumrah Total (49.1 overs - all out)...... 304 in December 2018 after match of a three-match series at Saurashtra Cricket Association Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-184, 3-198, Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-82, 3-178, 4-220, playing 55 Tests. He was more Stadium in Rajkot, yesterday. 4-276, 5-280, 6-338 5-221, 6-259, 7-259, 8-274, 9-275 successful in limited over formats, scoring 6,614 runs Bowling: Cummins 10 1 53 0, Starc 10 0 Bowling: Bumrah 9.1 2 32 1, Shami 10 0 and took 139 wickets in 218 78 0, Richardson 10 0 73 2, Zampa 10 0 50 77 3, Saini 10 0 62 2, Jadeja 10 0 58 2, one-day internationals. 3, Agar 8 0 63 0, Labuschagne 2 0 14 0 Yadav 10 0 65 2 His last ODI was during the Australia Result: India win by 36 runs World Cup (50 overs) in D Warner c Pandey b Shami 15 Three match series level 1-1 England last year, and he has not been selected for that format since then. on review. He finished with more intent. Once we were set, His tally in 89 Twenty20 three for 77. “It was good to see we put the pressure on them.” internationals stands at 54 that we came back so strongly,” The series, a key prepa- wickets and 1,908 runs. said Dhawan. ration for both sides ahead of “I have played 17 years for “We had a good discussion, this year’s Twenty20 World Pakistan and tried my level we knew we had to target spe- Cup, will now be decided in best. At times I missed my cific bowlers and we showed Bangalore on Sunday. bowling,” said Hafeez. Golf: Koepka stumbles and opens door for Laporta AFP — ABU DHABI ended with a bogey on the par-5 Italian, back on the European starts, but on Friday a tour- world, had a 10-under par two- Lowry’s campaign came to an 18th hole. Tour after winning the 2019 nament-low round of nine- round total of 134. Englishman end early when a bogey from a As Brooks Koepka stumbled, “I was good on the first two Challenge Tour Order of Merit, under par 63 gave him a one- Matthew Fitzpatrick (67) and plugged lie in the greenside Francesco Laporta stepped up, but other than that, it was a bit showed he had the game to shot lead on top of a congested Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello bunker on the last took him to firing five birdies on his last five of a disaster,” said Koepka, who contend on the biggest stage. leaderboard in the first Rolex (68) were tied for second one even-par 144, one shot outside holes yesteday to grab the lead ended the round tied 35th at 141. He qualified for the Series event of 2020. behind. the cutline. Laporta, who holed at the $7m Abu Dhabi Champi- “I am going to go to the range European Tour in 2016 but lost “On the Challenge Tour, I China’s Li Haotong and his second shot on the difficult onship. and just figure it out.” his card. He returned after got more opportunity to play Garcia, the 2017 Masters par-4 fifth hole on Thursday for World number one Koepka The 2017 Masters champion winning two Challenge Tour and become better,” he said champion, both shot 69s to a rare eagle two, almost started with two birdies and Sergio Garcia shot 69 to move events late in 2019, including after his round. “This is my third catch joint overnight leader repeated the feat on the par-4 then collapsed, finishing with a into a tie for fourth, two strokes the season-ending Grand Final. event and I am leading. So, I just Renato Paratore (72) of Italy at 16th. That near miss came three-over par 75 round that behind Laporta. Back on the main tour, he want to enjoy the weekend.” eight-under. moments after he almost aced included two double bogeys and Laporta, a 29-year-old missed the cut in his first two Laporta, ranked 124th in the Defending champion Shane the par-3 15th. SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 SPORT 19

DEBRIEF The ANOC Executive Council met in Lausanne with the debrief of the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 a key item on a full agenda focused on important initiatives developed to benefit National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Following the conclusion of the Games in October ANOC Executive Council members pose for a group photo after Lausanne meeting yesterday. 2019, ANOC conducted a comprehensive debrief with the participating Top ANOC body receives positive feedback on World Beach Games in Qatar NOCs and International THE PENINSULA — DOHA Following the conclusion improvement, the feedback importance to the NOCs. We work with our partners to Federations (IFs) as well as of the Games in October 2019, from the NOCs and the IFs was were very happy with the realise the Games’ huge with the Olympic Channel The ANOC Executive Council ANOC conducted a compre- very positive. A total of 68 feedback we got from the potential,” he said. and Organising Committee yesterday met in Lausanne hensive debrief with the par- NOCs provided feedback NOCs and the IFs about the “ANOC is committed to staff. with the debrief of the ANOC ticipating NOCs and Interna- along with all 13 IFs. ANOC World Beach Games providing the very best pos- World Beach Games Qatar tional Federations (IFs) as well ANOC Acting President 2019." sible support to our NOCs and The feedback from the 2019 a key item on a full as with the Olympic Channel Robin Mitchell said: “Today’s "We know there is plenty their athletes and in this NOCs and the IFs was very agenda focused on important and Organising Committee Executive Council meeting of room for improvement and important Olympic year we initiatives developed to benefit staff. was very productive with a the feedback we received was will continue to ensure that positive. A total of 68 NOCs National Olympic Committees While it was acknowl- lot of constructive debate on invaluable in helping us plan their interests are represented provided feedback along (NOCs). edged there was room for many key topics of great for the future as we aim to and protected.” with all 13 IFs. Sainz wins Dakar Rally for third time AFP — QIDDIYA, SAUDI ARABIA Ricky Brabec triumphed in the motorbike section for Veteran Spanish driver Carlos Qatar's Al Attiyah finishes second Honda, becoming the first US Sainz won the Dakar Rally for rider to win the gruelling race. the third time yesterday, Two-time Formula One finishing with a comfortable champion Fernando Alonso fin- winning margin in the first ished 13th on his Dakar debut, running of the event in Saudi nearly five hours behind the Arabia. winner. The 57-year-old crossed the Alonso came second in one line in the 12th and final stage stage but his first participation 6min 21sec ahead of nearest in the Dakar was a bruising challenger and reigning affair as the 38-year-old champion Nasser Al Attiyah of Spaniard suffered a double Qatar, who had managed to cut rollover in the 10th stage after Sainz’s lead to just 24 seconds hitting a dune at an awkward on Tuesday but fell back after angle. navigation blunders. “I’m very proud about being “I feel very happy. There’s here, it’s the toughest rally in the a lot of effort behind this. A lot world, to finish on a first of training, practice,” Sainz told attempt is not easy but I had the the race’s website. best team around me,” Alonso “It has been a flat out rally said. since the beginning. It was fan- “Eventually we were more tastic, a first time in Saudi competitive than what we Arabia, of course you can thought at the beginning so always improve but it was a that’s a bonus,” he added. Alonso said he wants to follow Graham Hill by com- pleting a historic feat in motor- sport after victories in Formula One and Le Mans 24-hour It has been a flat endurance race. “I need to win the Indy 500, out rally since the that’s the biggest priority, the beginning. It was triple crown. All my focus is on fantastic, a first that now.” The race was marred by the time in Saudi Arabia, Spain’s driver Carlos Sainz (centre), celebrates as he is congratulated by Qatar’s driver Nasser Al Attiyah (right) and France’s Stephane death of Portuguese rider Paulo of course you can Peterhansel on the finish area in Qiddiya at the end of the Stage 12 of the Dakar 2020 between Haradh and Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia. Goncalves during Sunday’s seventh stage. The decision to always improve but it fantastic effort,” he added. Sainz, the father of F1 driver with three different manufac- third at 9min 58sec behind in stage the race in Saudi Arabia was a fantastic effort: Asked about defending his Carlos Sainz Jr., seized control turers, having previously tri- his Mini. Both the Frenchman this year and for at least the next Carlos Sainz title next year Sainz said: “It’s of the race from the third stage umphed with Volkswagen in and Sainz won four stages in the four years sparked an angry too early to think about it, let in his X-raid Mini. 2010 and Peugeot in 2018. marathon 12-day, 7,800-kilo- reaction from critics of the king- me enjoy this.” He has now won the Dakar Stephane Peterhansel was metre (4,800-mile) race. dom’s human rights record. AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN NUMBERS Djokovic the man to beat in Melbourne PRIZE MONEY Singles winners: A$4.12m ($2.84m) Total prize pot: A$71m REUTERS — MELBOURNE the Mallorcanallorcan and the Rod seedings,seedings, the pair will again face 33-year-old33-year-old claimed his sole SHOWCOURTS Laver AArenarena teterracesrraces stustunned.nned. offoff in tthehe finfinal.al. Australian OpOpen trophy in 2009, Bouchard’s bid Rod Laver Arena Gary Lineker’s celebrated quote For Djokovic, Melbourne Nadal,Nadal, the reigning back in ththee ddays when he wore Capacity: 14,820 that soccer is a simple game that Park is more than just a tennis French and US Open pirate shortsshorts and had long hair. for Australian The stadium is named after Australian “the Germans always win” might centre parkedparked on the banks of a champion, YetYet arrivingarrivin in rude physical great Rod Laver who won 11 Grand Slams, well be adapted to tennis and the murky river.river. wouldwould hhaveave hihiss health, he mmay have his best Open spot including three Australian Open titles. He is inescapable dominance of Novak Overer the years,years, it has workwor k chancechance ooff a second.s also the only player to hold all four Grand Djokovic (pictured) at the becomee something of a temple cut out ThatThat wouwould see him match Slam titles in a single year in 1969. Australian Open. for the SSerberb who has sspokenpoken ofof Federer’s recordre of 20 Grand ends Melbourne Arena For a tournament that has feeling ttouchedouched by the “divine“divine”” Slam titletitless anand fire up the debate AP — MELBOURNE Capacity: 10,500 been thrown into some doubt by when inn full flight on the blue plotting about who is ''greatest' of all time. A multi-purpose arena opened in 2001, it is bushfire smoke in the leadup, a hardcourts.urts. tthehe Yet eveneven aat 38, six-times It was in the shadows of the the second-largest court at Melbourne Park record-extending eighth Grand Acrossoss thethe riverriver areare Mel-Mel- downfalldownfall ooff champion FedererFe may have a main show courts at and is also used for other sports such as Slam title for the defending bourne’s’s Botanical GardensGardens,, a rivalrival hhee say on that.that. Melbourne Park, days before champion Serbian would hardly where Djokovic climbs a hashas notnot TheThe worldwor number three the first Grand Slam tour- basketball and netball. be a breath of fresh air for many favouritete fig tree and cocom-m- beatenbeaten onon a SwissSwiss hhasas not lost to Nadal on a nament of the season is set to Margaret Court Arena fans at Melbourne Park. munes wwithith nature in peace.peace. hardcourthardcourt hardhard coucourtrt sinsince the semi-finals begin in earnest, and Eugenie Capacity: 7,500 Some might prefer the Djokovickovic hhasas gegenerallynerally fforor nearly of the 20120144 AuAustralian Open and Bouchard’s stay at the The stadium is named after Australian romance of a Roger Federer kept hisis buildupsbuildups qquietuiet sevensev en would surprisesurp few if he Australian Open was over in Margaret Court, who won 24 Grand Slam triumph in the twilight of his before easing into his years.y ears. extendedextended the streak in the last round of qualifying. titles -- more than any player in history. She career or for one of the younger work att tthehe AAustralianustralian TheThe Melbourne.Melbourne. The 2014 Wimbledon won the Australian Open 11 times between generation finally to break Open bbutut he has FedererFederer maym find more chal- runner-up, once as high as No. 1960 and 1973. through and end the stranglehold been front and lenging obstaclesobsta earlier in the 5 in the rankings, has had a All three arenas have a retractable roof of the ‘Big Three’, who have centre inin thethe newnew draw from huhungry, young talents long slide down to No. 211. which will be used this year if conditions divided the last 12 Grand Slam season,, leadingleading unburdened bby the psychological She’s had to get used to playing become hazardous due to bushfire smoke titles between them. Serbia ttoo victovictoryry weight of yearsye of ‘Big Three’ away from packed stadium from fires blazing in New South Wales and Djokovic is unlikely to care a over Spainpain in beat-downs.beat-downs. courts. But a constant echo

Victoria. jot for those sentiments, and if the inauguralaugural Among them,th fiery Russian around the arena yesterday Total Attendance in 2019: 796,435 the bookmakers are to be ATP Cupup final DaniilDaniil MMedvedevedve will be keen to presented something new. believed, is set to crush them on Sunday.day. take the nnextext step after pushing The 25-year-old Canadian Gary Lineker’s celebrated ruthlessly. His inspiredinspired Nadal to tthehe wwall in the US Open survived nearly three hours The 32-year-old may never 6-2 7-6(4)6(4) win final.final. against China’s You Xiaodi in quote that soccer is a feel the affections of the crowd over world StefanosStefanos TTsitsipas, who won heavy smoke and haze in the simple game that 'the savoured by Federer and numberr oonene NNadaladal the season-endingseason-e ATP Finals, first round of qualifying and Germans always win' Spaniard Rafa Nadal but his was a snapshotsnapshot ofof will be aanothernoth to watch at Mel- advanced through a second- might well be adapted record of 16 Grand Slam titles is the pair’sair’s recerecentnt bourne ParParkk wwhere the city’s big rounder against Maddison to tennis and the proof that tennis is no popularity rivalry as he coolly GreekG commcommunity will be right Inglis in 65 minutes. inescapable dominance contest. produceded all the answers behind him.him. The 21-year-old set With a spot in the main of Novak Djokovic at the That was never more clear when testedtested by the all- the tournamenttournam alight with a run draw on the line, though, Bou- than in last year’s final when he action SpSpaniard.aniard. toto last yyeear’sar’s semi-finals which chard lost 6-4, 6-3 to Martina Australian Open. routed Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 with If thethe tournamenttournament includedincluded a brilliant fourth- Trevisan, a 26-year-old Italian a devastating display that left progressesesses according to round upseupsett of his idol Federer. who now will make her debut. SPORT SPORTSPO | 17 SPORT | 19 RelentlessRe Australian LiverpoolLiverpoo seek to Open: Djokovicic stretchstretch leadl over the man to beateat United in Melbourne

SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020 Al Sadd 4-0 Al Duhail

Al Sadd's players celebrate with their Qatar Cup trophy yesterday. Al Sadd crush Al Duhail to win Qatar Cup

FAWAD HUSSAIN — THE PENINSULA

Al Sadd lifted their seventh Qatar Cup trophy, trouncing Al Duhail 4-0 after a ruthless performance in the final on their home turf yesterday. As coach Xavi said prior to the title clash that Al Sadd will go into the match with an ‘extra’ motivation, to avenge their 1-4 QNB Stars League (QSL) defeat last November, his ‘Wolves’ didn’t let him down with a clinical performance. Al Sadd’s intentions to dom- inate Al Duhail – the current QSL points leaders - were obvious right from the start and they sustained the aggressive approach till the final whistle as they rejoiced their compre- hensive win with fans at the Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani congratulating Al Sadd captain Gabi Fernandez. QFA Vice President Saud Al packed Al Sadd Stadium. Mohannadi is also present. RIGHT: Akram Afif (left) and Baghdad Boundejah celebrate a goal yesterday. South Korean star Nam Tae-hee put Al Sadd ahead in team,” a jubilant Abdelkarim But, Boundejah didn’t take Al Sadd showed no compla- box, which just missed the defender Ahmed Yasser in to the fifth minute before their Hassan said after the victory. much time to console the cency after a 3-0 lead and got target. Al Haydos, who leads replace Youssef Msakni, Al goal-machine Baghdad “We were aggressive right missed chance as he made Al off the second session with the Qatar national team, was the Duhail got a golden chance Boundejah struck a brace to from the start and that was our Duhail pay dearly for a same pace. centre of attention again two when Almoez assisted new give them a 3-0 lead at half- key to win. Now we will focus defensive blunder. Soon after the start of the minutes later after he headed signing Han Kwang Song with time. Asian-Player-of-the-Year on giving the challenge to Al Al Duhail centre back Medhi second half, Hassan Al Haydos wide following a cross from a clean pass but the former Akram Afif sealed Al Duhail’s Duhail in the QSL,” he added. Benatia intercepted a long pass made goalkeeper Amin to dive Boundejah. Juventus forward’s attempt fate as Al Sadd clinched the Al Duhail had few moments and with Boundejah storming with a shot from outside the Soon after Faria sent missed the target. trophy – second for Xavi as of dominance yesterday but it for a tackle he gave the back Al Sadd continued to control coach after their Sheikh Jassim was Al Sadd who held control pass to Amin. The Al Duhail the game by blocking Al Cup triumph last August. for the best part of the decisive goalkeeper was returning the Duhail’s moves and creating “It wasn’t an easy game but match to outclass the Rui Faria- ball to Benatia but it was picked their own chances. One of their we wanted (to win) the trophy coached side. by Boundejah, who had just the attacks won them a penalty- and it was great job from the Pedro Miguel – who goalkeeper to beat from inside kick and their spot kick expert recently extended his Al Sadd the box for Al Sadd’s second Afif made no mistake with a QATAR CUP contract until 2025 – set Nam goal in 21st minute. push on right as goalkeeper for an early goal with a fine With the game advancing dived in the opposite direction, WINNERS SINCE 2005 cross, which the South Korean towards the half-time, Al in the 71st minute. 2005 : Al Khor SC converted with a brilliant Duhail, seeking to reduce lead, Croatian star Mandzukic got 2006 : Al Sadd SC header. started pushing pressure on Al another chance in the match 2007 : Al Sadd SC The home side didn’t look Sadd with repeated attacks. with 15 minutes left but he satisfied and pushed for another Striker Almoez Ali fired a strike struck right in front of Al Sheeb, 2008 : Al Sadd SC goal testing Al Duhail defense, on target from a long range but who denied him a consolation 2009 : Qatar SC who were left relying on the the speed of his shot was not goal for Al Duhail. 2010 : Al Gharafa counter attacks. enough to create problem for “It was a good performance 2011 : Al Gharafa With the clock reaching the Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al from Al Sadd but we cannot lose quarter mark, Al Duhail got Sheeb, who was right behind out concentration after this loss,” 2012 : Al Rayyan SC their first chance when new the ball. said Ali Afif as Al Sadd celebrated 2013 : Lekhwiya recruit Mario Mandzukic got the Al Sadd’s resolve to control with the Qatar Cup trophy, which 2014 : El Jaish opportunity but his attempt the game and determination to was handed over to them by 2015 : Lekhwiya from inside the box rebounded win the ball back in key moves Qatar Football Association Pres- from an Al Sadd defender. helped them as they found their ident Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa 2016 : El Jaish Soon after the move, Al third goal from none other than in presence of QSL Chief Exec- 2017 : Al Sadd Sadd almost found their second Boundejah, who fired the ball utive Officer Hani Ballan. goal after a brilliance from Afif in nets from a difficult angle Al Sadd coach Xavi Ahead of the kick off, both 2018 : Al Duhail (right) celebrates 2019: not held who set Boundejah for a goal after a clever pass from Nam, the teams paid tribute to

but the Algerian’s push from a beating goalkeeper on his left with Hassan Al Oman’s ruler HM Sultan Qaboos 2020: Al Sadd SC good position went wide off side in third minute of stoppage Haydos. bin Said Al Said, who passed goalkeeper Lecoumet Amin. time (48’m). away recently.