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THURSDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11401 December 19, 2019 Rabia II 22, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir attends majestic parade to mark Qatar National Day

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and other dignitaries attended the 2019 National Day Parade at the Doha Corniche yesterday.

By Joseph Varghese ence of a large number of people who naval force; armoured personnel car- Staff Reporter had assembled at the venue from early riers; special forces; military police; morning. The members of the crowd support forces; the Amiri Guard and who were waiting patiently to witness armoured vehicles. is Highness the Amir Sheikh the parade, were waving the national Thereafter the teams of the Ministry Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani fl ag enthusiastically. As His Highness of Interior and Civil Defence started Hyesterday attended the 2019 the Amir and His Highness the Father their show with a line of facilities se- National Day Parade that draped Doha Amir arrived, they were greeted by curity vehicles; women police, rescue Corniche in national colours and show- colourfully dressed girls and boys. police department (Al Fazaa), Internal cased the military might of the country. A huge fl ower bed arranged beauti- Security Force (Lekhwiya), followed by His Highness the Father Amir fully in the colours of the National Flag a show of the armed forces’ armoured Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in front of the parade venue was another vehicles, tanks, air defence systems, His Highness the Amir’s Personal attraction and was a great treat to watch. military police vehicles, anti-terrorism Representative His Highness Sheikh After the national anthem and the fi r- vehicles, military communications sys- Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, His High- ing of the cannons, the parade started tems and electronic warfare in addition ness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al- with horsemen and camels, leading to an to a naval show featuring Amiri Naval Thani, His Highness Sheikh Moham- airshow, displaying the country’s very Forces, warships and speed boats. ed bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE Sheikh modern and advanced military aircraft. The show concluded with a parade Abdulaziz bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE The airshow included the display of children dressed in Amiri Guard Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani and of several types of aircraft including, uniform. After the parade, His High- a large number of ministers and other Rafale; Apache helicopters; F-15 war- ness the Amir walked onto the Cor- dignitaries were present. planes and Typhoon multirole fi ght- niche road and waved at the cheering The parade was also attended by HE ers in addition to other military heli- crowd and shook hands with many. the Shura Council Speaker Ahmed bin copters as well as transport and cargo All units of the land, air, and navy Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and a aircraft, according to the offi cial Qatar armed forces, the Amiri Guard forces, number of the members of the Shura News Agency (QNA). The aircraft, es- and the Lekhwiya participated in the Council, in addition to a number of pecially six jets in diff erent patterns, national parade, in addition to mem- dignitaries, including FIFA president moved around the sky, emitting wisps bers of the Ministry of Interior from Gianni Infantino, and commander of smoke in maroon and other colours. the Civil Defence Force, coast guard, of US Air Force’s Central Command The air show was followed by the borders guard, traffi c police, mem- Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella. parade of the Armed Forces infantry, bers of the Police College and National The parade that lasted for over an holding a large national fl ag. It was Service Recruits. hour started at 9.30am in the pres- followed by the air force; land force; Pages 8, 9, 23, 24 Amir arrives in Kuala Lumpur

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to participate in the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019. He was received upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Minister of Education Maszlee bin Malik, Kuala Lumpur Summit Secretary-General Samsudin Osman, a number of ranking Malaysian off icials, Qatar’s ambassador to Malaysia Fahad bin Mohamed Kafoud and members of the Qatari embassy.

Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 3 QATAR

Barahat Msheireb the hub of Qatar affi rms support to UNHCR, National Day celebrations rejects diminishing UNRWA role he lights went up and eve- Airways, Msheireb Properties district and the first fully sus- ryone rose to their feet to organised the event for all resi- tainable regeneration project Tchant for Qatar as the na- dents in Qatar to celebrate Qa- worldwide. Recently, the dis- QNA tional anthem reverberated loud tar National Day in the historic trict welcomed its first batch of Geneva and proud in Barahat Msheireb Downtown Doha that holds a residents and commercial ten- in celebration of Qatar National very special place in the hearts ants with many shops opening Day. of Qataris. up their doors to the public, atar has reaffi rmed its This is the fi rst ever public Folkloric tunes, family games and residents moving in Wadi 1, commitment to continue event to take place in Barahat and delicious food and enter- Al Kahraba, and Al Khail neigh- Qto enhance its strategic Msheireb, the world’s larg- tainment attracted fl ocks of bourhoods. relations and partnerships with est open-air covered square in people to Msheireb as the fun With its signifi cant central United Nations High Commis- the Middle East, and the hub of went on for two days. location in Doha, Tram Msheir- sioner for Refugees (UNHCR), entertainment and social gath- Msheireb Downtown Doha, eb, and the fully operational and to provide the necessary erings in Msheireb Downtown by Msheireb Properties, is the Msheireb Central Metro Station, support for its activities and ef- Doha. latest destination for leisure, residents have reported satis- forts. In collaboration with the living and business. It is also faction with connectivity smart Ministry of Transportation and the world’s smartest and most features of their units, and other Qatar provided $60mn to Communications and Qatar sustainable fully built city conveniences. the UNHCR over the last fi ve years, while Qatar Fund for Development provided aid to the tune of $235mn from 2013-2019 to countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and the Rohingyas in Bangladesh

HE the Assistant Minister of HE the Assistant Minister of Foreign Aff airs and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Lolwah Foreign Aff airs and Spokesper- Rashid Alkhater at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. son of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Lolwah Rashid AlKhater agreements to support the UN- pointed out, in the statement HCR, and is considered one of of Qatar at the Global Refu- the biggest donors to the UN UNRWA: Qatari fi nancial support gee Forum, to the struggle of agency. HE AlKhater noted that contributed to reducing defi cit 5.4mn Palestinian refugees and Qatar has launched many hu- stressed the need for fi nding a manitarian initiatives, such The United Nations Relief and Off ice, which concluded that just solution based on related as Education Above All, that Works Agency for Palestine there is no corruption or international resolutions, and to pledged to provide education to Refugees in the Near East financial abuse. continue supporting the United 10mn children, 2.3mn of which (UNRWA) said that the financial He added, in a statement to Nations Relief and Works Agen- are refugees. She also discussed deficit for the year 2019 the Qatar News Agency (QNA), cy for Palestine Refugees (UN- the QUEST initiative which aims decreased from $167mn to only that the Qatari support for RWA). to benefi t 619,000 Syrian refu- $90mn. UNRWA contributed greatly to She stressed that the gov- gees, and added that Silatech UNRWA Media Adviser Adnan reducing the financial deficit ernment of Qatar and Qatari provides vocational training to Abu Hasana said that over the of the UN agency this year, charitable organisations were roughly a million young people. past three weeks, intensive praising the development of the committed to enhancing the The organisation is also working eff orts were made which relationship with Qatar in order partnership with the UNHCR. on providing 5mn jobs by 2022, resulted in the agency receiving to provide better service to She noted that Qatar provided particularly to refugees. $77mn from more than 20 millions of Palestinian refugees $60mn to the UNHCR over the She noted that Qatar issued countries and partners. It in the UNRWA’s five fields last fi ve years, while Qatar Fund in 2018 a law regulating political includes funds transferred from of operations. UNRWA had for Development provided aid to asylum, stressing its humanitar- countries that have frozen their announced that it needs at least the tune of $235mn from 2013- ian role in protecting refugees. remaining contributions for this $167mn to be able to continue 2019 to countries such as Syria, She added that the law was part year in light of the investigation its services and pay the salaries Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and of a larger legal framework that supervised by the United of its employees until the end of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. aims to enhance and protect hu- Nations Internal Oversight this year. - QNA A view of the first public Qatar National Day celebrations at Barahat Msheireb. She said that Qatar signed man rights. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, December 19, 2019 QATAR

Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah led the honouring of school principals and representatives yesterday at the QND Associated Activities, held at Lusail Multipurpose Hall. PICTURES: Nasar TK 18 Asian schools stage cultural shows in Lusail to mark Qatar National Day

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

diverse range of cul- tural and entertain- Ament shows marked the 2019 Qatar National Day (QND) Associated Activi- ties at Lusail Multipurpose Hall yesterday, bringing together thousands of stu- dents, teachers and offi cials from 18 Asian schools in the country under one roof. The event, organised by the Ministry of Inte- rior (MoI) as part of the QND annual celebration for schools and expatriate com- munities, featured students’ parade, thematic songs and shows, and traditional dances, among others. Dressed in colourful and uniquely designed costumes, Students waving the Qatari flag during the students’ parade. groups of students enthralled a large number of spectators with their exceptional per- formances on stage. Part of the programme also included a series of cul- tural shows by members of the Indonesian community, featuring Kipas and Plate dances, as well as an Ang- klung musical. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the celebration, Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa al- Muftah, director of MoI’s Pub- lic Relations Department, said the QND Associated Activities for schools has become one of the major events in Doha on The 2019 QND Associated Activities featured a series of cultural performances yesterday at this annual occasion. the Lusail Multipurpose Hall. “We can see the joy and happiness of students who Indian School, Shantiniketan ticipating and supporting Sri Lankan School in Doha, are taking part here today Indian School, Ideal Indian this endeavour. Barwa Village – Mukainis, in this huge celebration,” he School, Birla Public School, The QND Associated Ac- Sheehaniya Industrial Area, said, noting that the number Noble International School, tivities for schools in Lusail Lusail Sports Complex and of participants continues to Sri Lankan School, Bangla- forms part of the 12 mega Al Khor Barwa Workers increase every year. desh School, Rajagiri Public cultural, musical, and sports Recreation Complex. Brig. al-Muftah cited School, Scholars Interna- events in various locations “The National Day Asso- the keenness of the schools tional School, Philippine by the Organising Commit- ciated Activities for schools across Qatar to participate School Doha, Philippine tee of the Associated Activi- provides an opportunity for in the programme and share International School Qatar, ties of QND 2019. students not only to show- their joy with their Qatari Olive International School, Other QND venues, case their talents but also brothers in celebrating this Doha Modern Indian School, which also showcased cul- the culture and heritage of momentous event. and Qatar Institute for tural and musical perform- the country they represent Participating schools Speech and Hearing. ances, included Wakrah in this special occasion,” are: Pakistani International The programme also saw Sports Club, Barwa Al Bara- said Rajesh, an Indian par- School, Bhavans School, the honouring of schools, ha and Asian Accommoda- ent who was accompanying Delhi Public School – MIS, represented by their princi- tion City in Industrial Area, his daughter at the celebra- Pak Shamaa School, MES pals, for continuously par- Asian Town, Doha Stadium, tion.

Indian forum celebrates Qatar National Day

Hundreds attended the arts and cultural feast organised by the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre at Al Wakrah Stadium as part of the National Day celebrations. Students from Indian schools staged various arts forms including dances and Oppana. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 5 QATAR

The Bedaya Centre showcased projects curated for entrepreneurs in the age group of 10-16 years. Bedaya Centre takes part in National Day events at Darb Al Saai he Bedaya Centre for En- ticipating in such initiatives. viewed and screened and subse- the “Young Entrepreneurs” trepreneurship and Ca- “Young Entrepreneur – Al quently, four “Young Entrepre- will have a promising oppor- Treer Development, a joint Tajer Al Saghir” programme has neurs” whose projects met all tunity to promote their prod- ond consecutive year. This year tivities and work to enhance “Young Entrepreneur – Al Tajer initiative by Qatar Development been curated by the centre for the requirements were selected. ucts, interact with the public we are participating with “Young their strengths and search for Al Saghir” programme is to sup- Bank (QDB) and Silatech, is cel- entrepreneurs in the age group The selected candidates were closely, and gain many skills Entrepreneur – Al Tajer Al weaknesses to improve it. port these children, introduce ebrating Qatar National Day of 10-16 years. chosen on the basis of owning that will help them to develop Saghir” programme that will be “By participating at the Na- them the proper way to deal with through four entrepreneurial It worked relentlessly to pro- their own business or manag- and progress as well as facili- located in the Souq Waqif area. tional Day celebrations, the entre- customers, and teach them how projects that are part of the vide this platform to all young ing family businesses owned by tate in growth and continuity “Our aim is to promote those preneurs will undoubtedly ben- to track their inventory and cal- “Young Entrepreneur – Al Tajer entrepreneurs who were willing their parents. of their businesses. entrepreneurial projects that efi t from direct interaction with culate daily incomes, which en- Al Saghir” programme at the to be part of this initiative by The four selected projects Reema al-Khater, marketing are either owned or managed by the public which will give them hances the skill of self-reliance specially designed Souq Waqif promoting this excellent oppor- that have been chosen this year manager, Bedaya Centre said, individuals who are in the age skills and experience and help and love of entrepreneurship, area in Darb Al Saai. tunity on all of its social media are divided between food and “We are delighted to take part in group of 10-16 years and provide them to continue their business under the supervision of a spe- This is the second consecutive channels and its website. products sectors. the Qatar National Day celebra- them with the right platform to and motivate to innovate. “ cialised team from the Bedaya year that Bedaya Centre is par- All the applicants were inter- Through this participation, tions at Darb Al Saai for the sec- practice their commercial ac- “The main objective of our Centre,” she added. Qatar Foundation’s National Day celebrations inspire love of learning

atar Foundation (QF) is making Qlearning fun at its Qatar National Day tent at Darb Al Saai with people of all ages participating in an array of exciting and edu- cational activities that truly celebrate the spirit of Qatar. This year, QF’s activi- ties, which kicked off on December 12 and conclud- ing tomorrow, have centred around the theme of ‘Our Unity...Our Pride’. Sarah al-Qahtani, a visi- tor to the Qatar Founda- tion tent, said, “This is not the fi rst time I have visited the Qatar Founda- tion tent – every year it features a variety of initia- tives and activities. What distinguishes it from oth- ers is that it covers various Children take part in an activity. topics, such as reading, science, technology, and Institute booth; discover teractive and educational involve them in the vari- sports. It truly is a unique the importance of reading activities on off er. We ous activities and events learning opportunity for with Qatar Reads’ engaging particularly enjoyed the provided by Qatar Foun- visitors.” learning corner; and con- Akhlaquna Award booth dation. For us, the most Visitors this year can trol Tetrix robots with Texas this year as it aims to intro- prominent feature of the learn about future career A&M University at Qatar’s duce people to various mor- tent is its focus on science opportunities with Qa- gaming area. al values, which we should and research which is evi- tar Career Development Mohamed al-Meer, an- all strive to uphold.” dent through the activities Centre’s interactive maze; other visitor, said, “Every Another visitor, Salem organised by Stars of Sci- explore the eff ects of un- year, I make sure that my al-Hajri, explained how ence and Hamad Bin Kha- healthy foods at Hamad family and I visit Qatar his family enjoyed the ac- lifa University’s College of Bin Khalifa University’s Foundation’s tent to par- tivities. “We are keen to Science and Engineering.” Qatar Biomedical Research ticipate in the diff erent in- bring our children and added, al-Hajri. Islamic lectures in Urdu

ari Suhaib Meer topic ‘A Happy Family.’ ‘Worship of the Soul’ on Muhammadi, Tomorrow after Isha Sunday, December 22 at Qpictured, a well- prayer Qari Suhaib will de- Jaam’e-Mu’adh Bin Jabal in known Islamic caller and liver a talk on ‘Obedience to Doha Jadeed after Maghrib preacher from Pakistan, will Allah and His Messenger’ at prayers. deliver a series of lectures Jam’- e-Imam Abu Hanifa On Monday, December in Urdu in Qatar on top- in Old Airport area. 23, he will speak on the top- laib (Doha) at Aisha Bint Ab- ics ranging from ‘A Happy More lectures will take ic ‘I am Proud to be a Mus- dulrahman Masjid after Isha Family’ to ‘Upbringing of place as follows: ‘Diseas- lim’ at Jaam’e-Khateeya in prayers. The topic is ‘How to Children!’ es of the Heart’ at Imam Dukhan. Raise Your Children.’ This evening he will Bukhari Masjid at Asmakh The last lecture in the se- Special seating arrange- speak at Fanar in Doha Street in Doha on Saturday, ries will be held on Tuesday, ments have been made for from 5pm-9.30pm on the December 21. December 24, in Fareej Ku- women. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, December 19, 2019 QATAR Qatargas celebrates National Day

atargas celebrated Qatar the QND emblem and one of the the world celebrated Qatar National make Qatar the world’s largest National Day with em- most prominent architectural Day with ceremonies, held in co- exporter of helium and the sec- Qployees at multiple lo- monuments in Doha – the arches operation with Qatar’s embassies ond largest producer, two of the cations throughout Qatar, and of Interchange 5/6. in the respective countries, and world’s largest condensate re- at the Company’s liaison offi ces The iconic arches symbol- media advertisements wishing the fi neries, and the world’s largest in South Korea, Japan, Thailand ise the country’s resilience and government and people of Qatar chartered fl eet of LNG vessels. and China. ability to overcome challenges. continued peace and prosperity. Qatargas is currently execut- In support of Qatar National Inscribed with the National Day A unique global energy opera- ing the North Field Expansion Day (QND, a giant glass wrap slogan in Arabic, the sticker tor in terms of size, service and (NFE) project on behalf of Qa- was mounted on the Qatargas’ also includes a quotation from reliability, Qatargas operates tar Petroleum that will take headquarters building in Doha. the country’s founder Sheikh 14 LNG trains with a produc- the State of Qatar’s current The glass sticker features an Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani. tion capacity of 77mn tonnes LNG production capacity to image of His Highness the Amir, Qatargas liaison offi ces around per year, two helium plants that 110mn tpy by 2024. Ashghal opens new interchange at Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor he Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) yesterday Tjoined the National Day celebrations with the opening of a new interchange at the in- tersection of Al Rasheeda Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. With the new development, the Lekhwiya roundabout has been converted to a two-lev- el interchange to connect Al Rasheeda Street with Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. A new signalised intersec- tion in all directions along with a part of the longest bridge in Qatar was opened. The 1km- long bridge above the inter- section provides commut- ers with free traffi c fl ow from the Al Mukafaha intersection with Al Rayyan road towards Al Waab. The bridge reduces travel time by more than 50% and accommodates more than 4,000 vehicles per hour. It facilitates movement of traf- fi c on major roads including Al Amir Street, Al Rasheeda Street, Sabah Al Ahmed Corri- dor, Al Waab Street, Al Rayyan Street, Al Khufoos Street and Al Samriya Street, serving the neighbourhoods of Luaib, Muraikh, Mehairja, Al Waab and Al Sadd. New interchange at the intersection of Al Rasheeda Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. The works included the construction of a 12.5km long works also necessitated excava- spreading over Al Rasheeda change will enable all the turn- vital entities and facilities in the rainwater drainage network, tion works of about 56,000 cubic Street intersecting with Sabah ing movements thus improve the region such as Internal Security 11km-long treated water lines metres as well as backfi lling and Al Ahmad Corridor, Al Waab In- accessibility and connectivity to Forces (Lekhwiya) offi ce, Khalifa and 19km-long telecommuni- paving by 153,000sq m. terchange and the intersection of all the adjacent neighbourhoods. International Stadium, Jassim cation lines. The materials used Longest bridge in Qatar: Al Snay Bu Hasa Street with Sabah The capacity of the signalised Bin Hamad Stadium, shopping in construction include about Rasheeda Interchange includes Al Ahmad Corridor. Opening the junction is approximately 10,000 malls like Villagio Mall, educa- 205,000 cubic metres concrete part of the longest bridge in newly constructed signalised vehicles per hour. tional institutions and health The new interchange at the intersection of Al Rasheeda Street and and 48,000 tonnes asphalt. The Qatar with a length of 3.1km junction at Al Rasheeda Inter- This interchange serves many facilities. Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor reduces travel time by more than 50%. Qatar delivers QCRG chairman signs agreement fi refi ghting to establish Noora vehicles to Rashid Al Kaabi Gaza Strip Center for Dialysis QNA provided to dialysis patients and QNA to the people of the Strip and Gaza ensure the continuity of provid- Gaza enhance safety and protection ing services to them, as well as for them. reduce their daily crowding in He stressed the continued ef- he chairman of the Qatari other health centres, led by the he chairman of Qa- forts of Qatar to mitigate one of Committee for the Recon- Al-Shifa Medical Complex. tar Committee for Re- the humanitarian crises expe- The vehicles, donated by Qatar, to the civil defence and fire brigade on display in Gaza City during a visit Tstruction of Gaza (QCRG), In August, Qatar Committee Tconstruction of Gaza rienced by the residents of the from the Qatar envoy to Gaza yesterday. ambassador Mohamed al-Ema- for the Reconstruction of Gaza (QCRG), ambassador Mohamed Gaza Strip. di, signed yesterday an agree- held a ceremony to lay the foun- al-Emadi, delivered a number of For his part, Major General Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Major General Tawfi q Abu enhance the safety and secu- ment to begin the implementa- dation for the project to estab- special and equipped fi refi ght- Tawfi q Abu Naim expressed the for his clear and distinguished Naim stressed that the sup- rity standards for the residents tion of the project to establish lish and equip Noora Rashid Al ing vehicles and equipment, for Palestinian leadership’s thanks eff orts in the service of the port provided by Qatar to the of the Strip and achieve safety and equip the Noora Rashid Al Kaabi Center. the benefi t of the Civil Defence to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Palestinian cause. Civil Defence Authority would standards for them. Kaabi Center for Dialysis in the The groundbreaking cer- Authority in the Gaza Strip, as northern Gaza Strip. emony took place on the a generous donation from Qa- The signing ceremony of the project’s land in the northern tar, yesterday, at Mashtal Hotel agreement was held between Gaza Strip, in the presence of in Gaza. ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi representatives of the Pales- The QCRG held a ceremony and Al Ahram Al Zahabia General tinian Ministry of Health and for the delivery of 22 fi refi ght- Trading and Contracting Com- the International Co-operation ing vehicles and equipment pany, marking the start of the Department, and a number of by ambassador Mohamed al- project implementation works in hospital directors operating in Emadi, to Major General Taw- the northern Gaza Strip. the sector, where the Under- fi q Abu Naim, undersecretary The project works are to be secretary of the Palestinian of the Ministry of Interior and implemented under the direct Ministry of Health Dr Yousef National Security in Gaza, supervision of the Palestin- Abu Al Rish, thanked Qatar for in the presence of a group of ian Ministry of Health, near the its great eff orts in serving the the leadership of the Ministry headquarters of the Indonesian people of Gaza in various fi elds, of Interior and National Se- Hospital in the northern Gaza the most important of which is curity and the Civil Defence Strip, at a total cost of $1.2mn. the health fi eld. Authority in the Strip. It is also scheduled to allocate Abu Al Rish praised the Qatari Speaking at the event, am- about half a million dollars to projects implemented in Gaza bassador al-Emadi said that equip the building with medi- Strip, stressing the importance Qatar always affi rms its serious cal equipment and devices for of establishing and equipping a stand by the Palestinian peo- dialysis patients in the northern dialysis centre in the northern ple and the people of the Gaza Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip, which will provide Strip in particular, express- Ambassador al-Emadi health services and necessary ing hope that these vehicles stressed that Qatar hopes, care for the kidney patients in would contribute to improving Qatari envoy to the Gaza Strip Mohamed al-Emad, left, and Hamas’ security chief Tawfiq Abu Naim (second left) inspect the 24 vehicles, through the completion of this the northern Gaza Strip, who are the quality of service provided donated by Qatar, to the civil defence and fire brigade during a visit in Gaza City yesterday. project, to improve the services about 200 patients. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 7 QATAR HIA celebrates National Day

amad International Air- port (HIA) celebrated HQatar National Day by marking a wide range of remark- able festivities across the termi- nal for passengers and employ- ees. The airport collaborated with Qatar Duty Free (QDF) to design and decorate the airport with Qatari fl ags and manifestations of Qatar National Day. HIA and QDF also introduced authentic traditional cuisines across vari- QIB invited all employees to come together and celebrate at QIB’s headquarters in Grand Hamad Street. ous food and beverage outlets in the airport for passengers to get a taste of Qatari cuisine. This includes a special menu of Qatari inspired dishes at the QIB hosts slew of events on recently opened ‘Harrods Tea Room’ in celebration of the much-anticipated Qatar Na- tional Day across the month of the occasion of National Day December. HIA has partnered with Al-Reyada Girls Centre to The airport featured a series of celebrations reflecting Qatari culture and tradition to share Qatari pride and joy provide travellers a feel of the to nationals, residents, and all passengers. IB celebrated Qatar Na- photo of one of Qatar’s national of our mission as the nation’s country and its geography by tional Day by hosting an monuments. The winners were leading Islamic Bank.” installing an interactive mod- Qinternal event on Tues- announced and rewarded dur- He added, “As we celebrate el showcasing the iconic sites day. To mark the occasion, QIB ing the event. Qatar National Day, on behalf around Qatar. invited all employees to come QIB chairman Sheikh Jassim of QIB, I would like to extend Al-Reyada Girls Centre is an together and celebrate at QIB’s bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber our heartfelt congratulations entity under the umbrella of the headquarters in Grand Hamad al-Thani said, “Qatar National and well wishes to His High- Ministry of Culture and Sports, Street. Day is a special occasion for us ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim which aims to empower girls and The event was attended by all and therefore we are proud to bin Hamad al-Thani, His High- enhance their skills in sports, the executive management of see QIB employees take part in ness the Father Amir Sheikh culture and social fi elds. the bank. In the run up to this celebrations. We are commit- Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Through this partnership, HIA year’s QND event, QIB held a ted to Qatar and have built our and His Highness the Deputy has provided Al-Reyada Girls bank-wide photography con- strategy to best complement Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Ha- Centre an opportunity to show- test to celebrate the occasion. Qatar National Vision 2030 mad al-Thani. We wish Qatar case their work to millions of Employees were encouraged to and the government’s commit- continued success and progress passengers passing through Qa- explore the country and take a ments, as this an integral part in the future.” tar’s terminal. Travellers have been given the opportunity to engage with the tions in Qatar culminated at the and local cuisine stations and On the festive spirits, Badr model present at the activity airport, where the fl ag was fi nally food trucks. Mohamed al-Meer, HIA chief node in concourse ‘C’ through- handed to a Qatar Airways pilot The airport also featured a operating offi cer stated, “This out the month of December, who fl ew it to Japan where the series of celebrations refl ect- is a signifi cant day for the peo- which sheds light on the beauty Qatari team will be represented ing Qatari culture and tradition ple of Qatar, and we are proud of Qatar, its heritage and hospi- for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. to share Qatari pride and joy to to celebrate it with our passen- table people. Bolstering employee engage- nationals, residents, and all pas- gers. As the gateway to the State HIA also partnered with Qatar ment and culture, HIA has also sengers. of Qatar, its art and culture, it is Olympic Committee (QOC) to partnered with Qatar Aviation The fi ve-star airport provided our responsibility to share our bring the third edition of ‘Qatar’s Services (QAS) to organise a Qa- traditional activities and enter- deeply rooted traditions with Flag Relay’ to the airport on De- tar National Day 2019 staff en- tainment across the terminal those travelling through HIA to cember 13. The 5,000 participant gagement event on December 17. including calligraphy writing, get a taste of what Qatar has to event witnessed participation HIA and QAS management and henna tattoos and a photo corner off er. We are happy to share the from HIA subsidiaries and part- staff engaged in live traditional where travellers captured their joyous celebrations and wish our ners. The fl ag relay which took Qatari performances and activi- memorable experiences before residents and global passengers place around prominent loca- ties, while enjoying traditional boarding their fl ights. wonderful celebrations.” QIB employees pose for a group photo. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, December 19, 2019 QATAR

Glimpses of National Day parade PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 9 QATAR

Scenes from the National Day parade PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times 10 Thursday, December 19, 2019 QATAR Qatar embassies abroad celebrate National Day Qatar’s embassies and diplomatic missions abroad marked the National Day, which is celebrated on December 18 of every year, in commemoration of the State’s founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani, under the theme “The Path of Excellence is Difficult” Qatar eyes UK energy security, sport ties

n London, Qatar ambassa- rison, along with a number of Qatar intends to become a part- dor to the United Kingdom ranking offi cials from diff erent ner to the UK in energy security. IYoussef bin Ali al-Khater ministries, the House of Lords, As for the FIFA World Cup held a reception on the occasion and Arab, foreign and former UK 2022, the ambassador discussed of Qatar’s National Day. ambassadors accredited by the the joint interest of Qatar and The function was attended by UK and Qatar. the UK in sports. Director of Protocol and Vice- The ambassador said that The ambassador also dis- Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps 2019 coincides with the 10th an- cussed the success of the World Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani at the Foreign and Common- niversary of opening the South Athletics Championships in speaking at the function. with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. wealth Offi ce Neild Holland and Hook Gas Company that distrib- Doha and the FIFA Club World Her Majesty’s Marshal of the utes gas across the UK. Cup hosted by Qatar from De- Diplomatic Corps Alistair Har- The ambassador stressed that cember 11-22. ( QNA ) Pelosi stresses importance of Qatar-US partnership

eads of diplomatic, con- More than a thousand people Alex Azar, saying their attend- she had the honour of meeting sular and representa- attended the function. Attend- ance refl ects the strength of bi- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Htive missions of Qatar ing were a number of ranking of- lateral ties. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sev- abroad extended greetings and fi cials at the US administration, He also thanked members of eral times, as well as Chairperson congratulations to His Highness members of the Arab and foreign the diplomatic corps who rep- of Qatar Foundation Her High- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- diplomatic corps in Washington, resent friends of Qatar from ness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser mad al-Thani, His Highness the in addition to Qatari citizens around the world. to discuss initiatives related to Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin who live in the US and students The ambassador welcomed children’s education. Khalifa al-Thani, and the Qatari studying there. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that it was for these Guests at Qatar’s National Day celebrations in London. people on this occasion, wishing Welcoming the guests, Qatari Pelosi, saying her attendance reasons and more that she ap- the state further progress and student Ahmed al-Hajri said the refl ects the clear commitment to preciates and celebrates all the prosperity. celebration is in commemora- enhancing the ties between the eff orts made by Qatar all over the The diplomatic celebrations tion of Sheikh Jassim bin Mo- American and Qatari peoples. world. in the capitals and cities of the hamed bin Thani who founded Pelosi expressed her delight at She said that she had a chance QND reception in Kuwait world have been attended by a the country in 1878. participating in the national day to pay a short visit to Qatar and high-level offi cial and public He added that they are also celebrations, saying that she has went to Al Udeid Air Base, and representation that refl ected celebrating 47 years of partner- just returned from Spain where thanked Qatar for hosting US- Qatar’s distinguished relations ship between Qatar and the US. she was attending a conference soldiers there. with the countries of the world. For his part, the ambassador on climate change, and got to Pelosi concluded by saying it In Washington Qatar’s am- praised members of US admin- know Qatar’s commitment to was an honour to celebrate Qa- bassador to the United States istration and Congress, par- protecting the planet. tar’s National Day and thanked Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al- ticularly Secretary of Treasury She stressed on the impor- everyone working on enhancing Thani hosted a reception at the Steven Mnuchin and Secretary tance of the partnership the ties between Qatar and the Unit- US Library of Congress. of Health and Human Services two sides have, and added that ed States. ( QNA ) Call for boosting Qatar-Nepal economic ties

he Qatar embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, cele- Tbrated the Qatar National Day (QND) at Crown Plaza Solti hotel. Qatar ambassador Yusouf bin Mohamed al-Hail received the guest of honour, Nepal Vice Qatar’s ambassador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohamed al-Attiyah hosted a reception on the occasion President Nanda Bahadur Pun. of Qatar National Day. The reception was attended by Kuwait’s former prime minister Sheikh Nasser The event was attended also by a al-Mohamed al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman al-Jarallah, number of dignitaries from gov- representative of the Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Hamoud al-Hamad al-Sabah, representative ernment, political, parliamen- of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Khaled Nasser al-Saleh, Assistant Foreign tary, and economic institutions Minister for Protocol Aff airs ambassador Dari Ajran al-Ajran, in addition to a large number of Sheikhs and heads of diplomatic mis- of the ruling family, deputies of the National Assembly and ambassadors accredited to Kuwait. (QNA) sions accredited to Nepal. The event kicked off with Qa- tar and Nepali national anthems, followed by a cake-cutting cer- emony. Ambassador al-Hail Pakistan president thanked Nepal and the partici- Qatar pants of the event. Speaking on the occasion, the congratulates Amir envoy explained that the slogan milestones of this year’s QND celebrations, On the occasion of Qatar Pakistan embassy in Doha said: ‘Al Maali Kaydah’ (the path of Nepal Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Qatar ambassador Yusouf bin Mohamed al-Hail and other National Day, Pakistan “Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close, excellence is diffi cult) refl ects dignitaries at the event. President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime cordial and fraternal ties based on show the belief of successive genera- Minister Imran Khan conveyed on shared faith, culture and tions of Qatari youth. The ambassador stated that tion. “Qatar National Vision istry of Tourism with an aim to their heartiest felicitations to heritage. In their messages, the He pointed out that the slo- Nepali workers enjoy the re- 2030 has plans for other major bring in 2mn tourists in a year. His Highness the Amir Sheikh President and the Prime Minister in Manila gan is inspired by a poem of the spect and appreciation of the projects and would like to con- Nepal is a country of choice as Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and have expressed their desire to founder of Qatar, Sheikh Jassim leadership of the State and the tinue this co-operation it’s our a destination for tourism, trade HE the Prime Minister Sheikh further strengthen the brotherly bin Mohamed al-Thani. The Qa- Qatari people because of their intention to carry on further and investment opportunity and Abdullah bin Naseer bin Khalifa relations and mutually beneficial n Manila, Qatar’s ambas- tar National Day highlights the integrity, sincerity and dedi- after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. both Nepal and Qatar should al-Thani, respectively. cooperation between Pakistan sador to the Philippines Ali strength and resilience of the cation and their refl ection of “I support Visit Nepal 2020 boost their economic relations,” A statement forwarded by the and Qatar”. (QNA) Ibin Ibrahim al-Malki hosted country. the high ethics of Nepali na- initiative launched by the Min- he added. ( QNA ) a reception on the occasion of Qatar National Day. The reception was attended by Assistant Secretary of Foreign Aff airs Department for Middle East and African Aff airs Les- QND reception in Kuala Lumpur lie Baja as the guest of honour, Undersecretary of Presidential Communications Marvin Gat- n Kuala Lumpur, Qatar’s ambas- payat representing the Secretary sador to Malaysia, Fahad bin Mo- of Presidential Communications, Ihamed Kafoud, held a reception on in addition to a large number of the occasion of Qatar’s National Day. ranking offi cials, members of The ceremony was attended by Ma- the Senate of the Philippines, a laysia’s Minister of Economic Aff airs number of Philippine diplomats, Mohamed Azmin Ali, Minister of De- ambassadors, and heads and fence Mohamed Sabu, Speaker of the members of diplomatic missions Parliament Mohamed Ariff Md Yusof, and international organisations Deputy President of the Senate Abdul accredited to the Philippines. Halim bin Abdul Samad, Adviser of the The event included a docu- Prime Minister for Economic Aff airs mentary video on the history of Dr Mohamed Abdulkhalid, Secretary- Qatar and the comprehensive de- General of the Ministry of Women, velopment achieved in all fi elds. Family and Community Development An exhibition was held on the Janida bint Qamar al-Deen. The cel- sidelines of the ceremony in- ebration included a visual presenta- cluded models and photographs tion of the biggest achievements of of the milestones taking place the state, in addition to the country’s in Qatar and the ongoing prepa- latest preparations for the 2022 FIFA rations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. ( QNA ) World Cup. ( QNA ) Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 11 QATAR

HE Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Hussain Alfardan, Yousuf K Darwish, Yousef Mohamed al-Darwish, Abdullah Ghanim al-Binali al-Mohannadi, and other dignitaries at the event. PICTURES: Thajudheen and Jayan Orma GPPC chairman HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah launched the new website. Arrayah’s new website, mobile app and social media accounts launched

By Ayman Adly Staff Reporter

ulf Publishing and Print- ing Company (GPPC), Gpublishers of Arrayah and Gulf Times newspapers, launched yesterday Arrayah’s upgraded website and mobile app in a move to enhance its news services and presence on the Internet. GPPC chairman HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, launched the new website and mobile app in the presence of members of the board of directors of the company, Arrayah editor-in- chief Abdullah Ghanim al-Binali al-Mohannadi, a number of heads of departments, editors, reporters and guests. The ceremony saw also the launch of the revamped and up- graded design of Arrayah print edition’s business and sports GPPC chairman HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah speaking at the event. supplements, and news serv- ices on Telegram and WhatsApp. Further, the daily launched its new upgraded accounts on the social media including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. A unique addition to the new website and app of the daily is a special link dedicated to its ex- cellent archives of photos, arti- cles and old news of the region. HE al-Attiyah expressed his happiness on this important Arrayah editor-in-chief Abdullah Ghanim al-Binali al-Mohannadi making a presentation at the event. event that would further set Arrayah on the proper way for launching a modern newspaper 40 years of the launch of the pa- continue progress and develop- coverage of local, Arab, interna- more technological progress and in Arabic to follow on the suc- per it has become a pioneering ment. Al-Othman considered tional news and other updates. distinguished presence on the cess of Gulf Times, which was publication and a leading media the launch of the new website, He said young people greatly Internet to keep up with the de- launched fi rst by the company. institute, which gives him great mobile app and social media ac- liked the website and praised it velopments in the world of me- The fi rst editor-in-chief of happiness. counts as a quantum leap and for its unique updates with news, dia and journalism. Arrayah was Nasser al-Othman, “Now after the launch of the a key step for more future up- videos and photos. Further, the In his address on the occasion, also a board member. Back in new website and app of Arrayah grades. new platforms of the daily will he pointed out that the board of 1979 it was issued on weekly on smart devices, the reader will He expressed his great opti- give better services to both the directors is always keen to pro- Hussain Alfardan goes through a copy of the commemorative edition. basis every Thursday, which have everything easily accessible mism on the future of Arrayah, reader and the advertisers as it vide all the support for the daily was followed by two editions a and can go through Arrayah from stressing that it will have a much will achieve more instant reach to continue its pioneering work focuses on popular issues and HE Abdulla bin Hamad al- week. A year later it became a anywhere,” said Alfardan. brighter future as it constantly without extra cost for the adver- and to enhance the media and national causes and gives key Attiyah, member of the board daily, which was a move to keep He said that the fi eld of de- embraces developments and tisers. national role of Arrayah to be up updates of the events in the and chairman of Abdullah Bin up with the developments of the velopment in press is broad, es- overcomes the involved chal- Al-Mohannadi presented to the high expectations of the country and the world. He also Hamad Al-Attiyah International country and give voice to the pecially with new innovations lenges. commemorative copies of the readers and serve the strategic thanked the members of the Foundation for Energy & Sus- people and their views and de- and ideas that can make the Yousef Mohamed al-Darwish, fi rst edition of Arrayah issued on objectives of the country. board for their unrelenting sup- tainable Development, said that mands. In addition, the compa- services given to the readers and general manager of GPPC, said May 10, 1979 to the board mem- Al-Mohannadi talked about port and continuous encourage- Arrayah has seen great devel- ny maintained its own commer- the society more diversifi ed and that the new tools will give read- bers and the guests at the cer- the various features of the up- ment. He further thanked the opments and advancements for cial press to print both papers. easily accessible. Accordingly, ers many services easily ac- emony, who expressed happi- grades of the Arrayah website, team of the paper for their dedi- the past 40 years. The paper was Prominent Qatari business- he praised and appreciated the cessible and respond to their ness to receive such a gift, which social media accounts and print cation and excellent perform- established in 1978, when the man and board member Hussain effi ciency of the team work at demands and expectations mo- was specially reprinted for the edition, stressing that the daily ance. members of the board thought of Alfardan, pointed out that after Arrayah and their readiness to ment by moment, regarding the occasion.

Nasser al-Othman receiving a copy of the commemorative edition from Abdullah Ghanim al-Binali al-Mohannadi. HE Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah making a point at the event as other dignitaries look on. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, December 19, 2019 HOL STIC Wellbeing Were you active on National Day?

a day last week. Maybe you want to go for a slow jog or speed walk in this beautiful winter weather. Why not take your partner, fam- ily and/or children to the park or corniche to walk and move your bodies, or even in your own home garden. Okay, maybe you don’t even want to leave your home and you just want to relax, why not do a quick 20 minute bodyweight workout? You can easily search Oceans of Plastic simple at home routines online By Reem Abdulrahman Jassim or even make it up as you go. al-Muftah Fine, maybe you don’t feel mo- and we are all responsible to take tivated enough or are extremely our own action. Not only should tired, there is still something you we minimise the use of plastics in irst of all, Happy Qatar Na- can do…stretch. Stretching, in our daily lives — which is possible, tional Day! I hope you all my personal opinion, is still con- given plastic alternatives available Fhad enjoyable National Day sidered a low intensity workout everywhere, including here in celebrations yesterday and took and comes with so many benefi ts Qatar — but we should also recycle advantage of this blessed na- if done properly. Now you really the waste as much as possible. As tional holiday. As the title of this it, you might want to initiate time off and always tell yourself them how self-care is impor- have no excuse, especially if you winter begins, many of us in Qatar article goes, were you physically working out as a routine event in that now I can fi nally have time tant and that ‘our health is our keep telling yourself and others will spend the time in the desert. active yesterday? If you have off your daily programme but need for myself or with my family, ask wealth.’ The future generations that your day off is to relax and It’s occasions like these where we today as well, will you be physi- a few days to get on it, this long yourself, is self-care not impor- need to understand and real- do nothing, perfect, stretching is need to make sure that plastic is cally active before the day ends? weekend would have been one of tant? Especially when it comes ise the importance of self-care, relaxing! Remember, anything is properly disposed of. This is our Yes, no, maybe, whatever your the best opportunities to get that to your alone time or your fam- mental health, physical health always better than nothing. By Ghanim al-Sulaiti Earth, our home, our country — and answer, let’s talk about being ac- lifestyle going, and trust me, it is ily, teaching yourself to just take and overall wellness and it is our Regardless of what you did or if you are willing to leave plastic on tive during short, ‘staycation’ not too late. a few minutes of your day off to job to help guide them in that di- didn’t do on our beautiful Na- a sand dune, you must realise you holidays… Why workout during your better yourself is crucial. Why rection. tional Day, today is a new day Each year, 400 million ton of are single-handling contributing to So, is being on holiday an ex- staycation when your time off wouldn’t you want to take care of Let’s discuss options. Getting and you still have time to get out plastic is produced and 40% of that the end of animal species, marine cuse to not workout? Especially if might be extremely valuable yourself? You say you value your active on your holiday is quite and get active. Don’t forget, you is single-use – the plastic we’ll only life, and killing off creatures that you are staying in town, of course to you? True, you might highly time off , do you value yourself simple and I don’t have to ex- have the weekend as well and if use once before it’s put into the help our worldwide eco-system. not! Being on holiday is the value your time off because you too? Why wouldn’t you want to plain to you how to do it but let’s you didn’t do anything yesterday, trash. While you may think a simple Even those living in landlocked prime time to take advantage of are working all the time or maybe feel those positive endorphins talk options. Think about what what’s your excuse today? grocery bag, drinks bottle or a countries need to be aware that your free time and squeeze in at even barely get time off , but stop and that post-workout boost of you want to do and how you can straw is virtually harmless given its balloons at a birthday party can least 20-30 minutes of medium and listen to yourself. If you re- energy? How about your family? achieve it. Maybe you want to  The author is a wellness advocate small size, the Earth’s plastic waste blow for miles before landing in the intensity activities. Think about ally do appreciate and value your Why not take the time to show hit the gym because you missed and infl uencer @keys2balance. has become a worldwide crises. In sea and being ingested by fish. fact, experts think that by 2050, More than 50 nations – from the the amount of plastic in the ocean Galapagos Islands to India and will weigh more than the amount from Rwanda to China – are taking of fish in the ocean. action to reduce plastic pollution. ‘The best way out Music and memory All animals, whether they live on The UN has compiled a list of what land or in the sea, can be hurt by each of these countries are doing. is always through’ plastic. Birds, fish and shellfish Plastic bags are banned in Kenya. can mistake plastic for food when India’s Prime Minister pledged to it has broken down into smaller eliminate all single-use plastic in visit a hair dresser, consider pieces. Plastic pollution aff ects 700 the country by 2022, with an im- dress to wear or plan any task diff erent marine species. Other mediate ban in urban Delhi. Many to boost your confidence. Invest estimates have suggested a death other European countries have energy and hard work in your toll of at least 100 million marine introduced a tax on plastic bags, field of interest. animals annually, due to plastic while China, Kenya and Morocco 4- Learn and Practice: Reading, pollution. One in three sea turtles, have implemented a ban on thin learning and acquiring knowl- and around 90% of seabirds have plastic bags. But as with most edge is the phase with no end. eaten it. They can’t digest plastic things that aff ect our planet, we No matter at what stage you so their stomach can become full, shouldn’t wait to be told what to are, you still need to be updated. meaning they don’t have room for do. Our individual actions together Spend time on reading newspa- actual food. can collectively ensure we are part pers, books and articles of your By Sanah Thakur Plastic pollution negatively impacts of the solution…not part of the concern. It will help you to speak almost every living organism in problem. in front of others confidently. the world’s oceans. Because we By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi Sometimes, just learning isn’t As a University student, I was con- are the source of plastic pollution, enough. Practice and train your- fident in the belief that listening to human beings must take action  The author is an expert in vegan self in your field. You must have music helped me focus. It was only to improve the quality of life for wellbeing and health. Instagram Do you feel shy of sitting in front heard, ‘Practice makes a man after I spent an entire hour during marine animals. This is one Earth, handle: @Ghanim92  of the guests? Do you feel nerv- perfect.’ my Persian exam trying to get an ous while going for an interview? 5- Think positive: You have to ABBA song out of my head, that I Do you panic at the time of tak- believe in the ‘Law of Attraction’. realised the impact music had on my ing serious decisions? If yes, then Helen Keller said, “Optimism is mind, specifically my memory. It’s it’s time for you to realise that the faith that leads to achieve- hardly ever brought to our aware- Wellness Meal Plan all these feelings and nervous- ment.” Focus on you plus points ness; how much music interlays adults were randomly segregated verbal memory in children using ness are just your fear. Though, and highlight your strengths and our existence. Today, music is more into two groups, each presented a sentence recall test (Hare, 2011). fear is considered a negative no one will ever be able to shat- accessible than basic necessities with negative and positive musical In comparison to the silent control phenomenon but it is the factor ter your confidence. are and it’s important to know the clips played in opposite order. Their group, the experimental group, that that helps you determine your 6- Set a definitive target and relationship it shares with human memory was tested using a digit was exposed to music, showed no direction. The very first step to clear goals: Most people don’t cognition and behaviour. span and a computerised spatial significant improvement in memory build confidence is to realise and know what they want. If you are A popular finding of research into span test. There was conclusive performance, but when split into embrace your fear. If you have a not clear about goals, you cannot music and memory is that music evidence that the adults showed im- groups exposed to either vocal or fear of heights, there must be a accomplish them. To build confi- is shown to stimulate parts of the proved working memory following instrumental music, the instrumen- reason behind it. Recognise that dence in yourself, bring clarity in brain. This has been revolutionary positive music. This was attributed tal group outperformed the vocal reason, embrace it and then try your thoughts. Think and create for treatment of diseases such as to increased dopamine (the happy group. A possible explanation for to overcome it. a vision for your future and Alzheimer’s and Dementia (Guetin, brain chemical) transmission to the this diff erence is attributed to the As Robert Frost said, “The best follow that vision without distrac- 2009,Van de Winckel et al, 2004). frontal lobe, the control centre of an presence of irrelevant speech in way out is always through.” tion. If stepping backwards helps Research indicates that exposure individual’s mood in the brain, that vocal music which influences the Confidence isn’t something that you visualise your target, do it. to certain types of music can also lead to improved working memory part of memory that is responsible you can read and learn or get Know what you want to do. enhance short term and long term (Ashby, Isen, &. Turken, 1999). for retention of auditory material in through remembering a set of 7- Outline your vision and verbal memory (Balch et al., 1992; While listening to music can lead to working memory. This is why stud- rules, but it is a state of mind. limitation: Having a defined Balch and Lewis, 1996), thereby better memory, listening to music ying with headphones or working It comes from feeling of being goal is good but knowing limita- providing certain contextual cues and consciously doing another actively on a piece of information comfortable, believing in your tion is better. Draw a boundary that aid episodic memory (memory task can pose to be a challenge. with lyrical music can ultimately abilities, complimenting yourself, of space and never let anyone of autobiographical events such as I was intrigued to read about become a major distraction. accepting your body and mind. violate it. It helps you take stand birthdays, graduation etc) other studies that challenged the A small column in the newspa- It’s a continuous process of for yourself which is a symptom Music has displayed qualities of cognitive-capacity hypothesis which per isn’t going to be enough to improving yourself through posi- of confidence. being a strong mood inducer and essentially states that background comprehensively understand the tive thinking, practice, exercise, 8- Act like a confident person: research shows that positive mood music interferes with cognitive nature of the impact of music on training and knowledge. Your body language represents is positively correlated with an tasks. This is because it limits the memory; however, it is enough to the inner you. So, act like a con- individual’s working memory (short resources available in the brain for initiate an awareness about it. Next Tools to build and boost con- fident person, even if your weak term memory) performance. In a mental processing and focusing at time you plan on concentrating, fidence: and nervous. Open body lan- study conducted in 2013 (Wang), the a given point in time. Anna O’Hare remember to pause your melody. 1. Recognise your strengths guage, uncrossed legs and head beneficial impact of music on work- conducted a study that aimed at and fears: Try to get a close up gives a positive impact to ing memory performance in older identifying a diff erence between  The author can be contacted on friend or relative and make a others. Such body poses increase adults was investigated. A group of vocal and instrumental music on Instagram @sincerelysanah list of your strengths and fears. blood flow and stabilises oxygen If you can make a list of your flow making you calm and relax. achievements, it will be much better. Acknowledging your Finally, embracing your mistakes, current status pushes you to get using criticism in a positive man- better each day. ner, staying cheerful, following Happy Holidays 2- Build Self-Reliance: Try to the leads of a role-model, step- know yourself, think independ- ping out of your comfort zone, ently and make decisions by doing activities you are scared of is a combination of with the flow photos, but I have also learnt the yourself. Figure out your own and enhancing your experience and some pre- planning. If you have benefit of not always having my reality and try to reduce your with each passing day is what a trip coming up soon, here are phone in my hand. On my last trip deficiencies and replenish your makes you confident. some of my suggestions. to Langkawi I wanted to savour the creative energy. Now, let’s get confidant! Research shows that the planning moment, without being distracted 3- Planning and Preparation: before our vacations gives us more by constantly taking pictures. Date and almonds coff ee Before starting any new journey, joy than the actual trip itself, it’s all There are small things you can do to squares Method: take some time to plan it and  The author is a consultant in about the excitement and anticipa- pack smarter, such as bringing light- Mix all the ingredients together in prepare yourself for the event. Public Relations and Personality tion. Usually I tend to over schedule weight fabrics that are easy to layer, Ingredients: a food processor. Top with fresh Practice through a mock test, Types. Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill and over plan when I travel. On this as well as versatile shoes — hiking 8-10 khola dates berries or mix in your favourite trip I am learning how nice it can be shoes that double as athletic shoes, 1 tbs almond butter dried fruits or chocolate chips. By Shefa Ali to explore a new place for the day wedges that can work both for your 1 cup oat flour Press in a tray and refrigerate without any plans at all. You can night out and during the day. 1 tbs cashew milk for 30 minutes. Cut into bars or discover places you might not find Most of us love travelling but vaca- 1 tbs coff ee squares. I hope you have had a wonderful on the Internet and uncover city’s tions are usually always over way 1 tsp salt Qatar National Day and enjoyed secret gems. too quick. I think it’s important to 1/2 cup crushed almonds all the celebrations going on in There’s nothing worse than being keep our spirits high and maintain 1/4 cup chia seeds Enjoy the taste of eating right! the country. I am writing you from in a new city and spending an hour that sense of wonder once you are Pokhara. Currently I’m on a short Googling a dinner spot. Although back to real life. break to Nepal, the majesty of the too much planning can stress you If you are travelling for the festive Himalayas is just breath-taking. out, a little bit can be good. Make season I hope you have a wonderful When I travel, I’m usually OCD a few dinner reservations or find a trip and come back to Doha with (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) few places you want to try ahead lots of new stories to tell. about planning and scheduling, but of time so you don’t waste time since it has been such a hectic year, staring at your phone. Pokhara has I am going to try something diff er- amazing restaurants, everything’s  The author is a consultant and ent with this trip and just go with so fresh and organic here. coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ the flow. I think the perfect vacation Don’t get me wrong — I love taking shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Iraqi poet wins Oman award Lebanon’s Hariri says he is not a PM candidate

Reuters/AFP Beirut Chairman of Oman’s Public Authority for Radio and Television Abdullah bin Nasser al-Harasi (left) awards ebanon’s Saad al-Hariri Iraqi poet Basim Furat during the Sultan Qaboos Prize for yesterday withdrew as a Culture, Arts and Letters ceremony in Muscat, yesterday. Lcandidate to become prime minister of a new government, leaving no obvious alternative to head a cabinet that must tackle the worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. Hariri, the country’s leading Intelligence agency politician, took himself out of the running on the eve of formal consultations to pick a prime arrests 50 Palestinians minister. Since Hariri quit as premier in late October, Lebanon’s main DPA killed an Israeli teenager while parties have feuded over form- Tel Aviv hiking in August were among ing a new government which the those arrested, as was Palestin- country badly needs. ian politician Khalida Jarrar. Foreign donors say they will srael’s domestic intelli- Jarrar, a PFLP politician, has only help after there is a cabinet gence service yesterday an- been arrested by Israel multiple that can enact reforms. Inounced the arrest of 50 times in the past, including for Hariri, aligned with Western Palestinians tied to a fi ghter accusations of incitement to and Gulf states, resigned un- group that had plotted several violence. der pressure from huge protests attacks, including a deadly West Shin Bet, also confi scated against a ruling elite that has Bank bombing. the members’ weapons stash, steered the country towards cri- The intelligence service said which included several types of sis. He was expected this week to the members of the Popular guns, as well as bomb-making be named PM, a post he has held Front for the Liberation of Pal- material and walkie-talkies. three times. estine (PFLP) were behind sev- PFLP members are said to have The consultations, which po- eral shooting attacks and were planned a bombing on August litical rifts had delayed, require planning several signifi cant 23 that killed a 17-year-old Is- President Michel Aoun to des- attacks. Shin Bet, the intelli- raeli woman in the occupied ignate the candidate with the gence service, added that those West Bank and severely injured most support among Lebanon’s responsible for a bombing that her father and brother. 128 MPs. “I announce that I will not be a candidate to form the coming government,” Hariri, who has People walk through concrete barricades that were erected overnight to block or control access to protest sites, following attacks by stayed on in a caretaker capacity, counter-demonstrators, in the capital Beirut, yesterday. said in a statement. Prince Charles to visit “It has become clear that insisted they go ahead but did With the endorsement of Leb- centres in central Beirut, after better control the sites and pre- despite my absolute commit- not say who he would nominate. anon’s religious establishment, several nights of violence dis- vent further clashes. ment to forming a government His Future party is due to meet Hariri had re-emerged this week rupted two months of largely After violence between pro- Palestinian territories of specialists,” others would not today to make a decision on its as the only frontrunner despite peaceful anti-government dem- testers and security forces in change their positions, he said. PM choice. political tensions and despite onstrations. Beirut on Saturday and Sun- Hezbollah and its allies, in- FPM Chief Gebran Bassil, saying before that he did not Barricades were erected over- day night, and between counter DPA Charles will attend the cluding the Christian FPM party Aoun’s son-in-law, deemed want the job. night to block or control access demonstrators and police on London World Holocaust Forum in founded by Aoun, have rejected Hariri’s move “responsible” and But when the Lebanese Forces to protest sites in the capital Monday night, the capital re- Jerusalem at the invitation of Hariri’s demand to head a gov- said he hoped Hariri would pro- party said it would nominate where counter demonstrators mained calm on Tuesday. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin ernment of expert ministers. pose “a trusted fi gure” for the neither Hariri nor anyone else, have previously tried to attack But tensions were recorded rince Charles will visit Isra- on January 23 and will “under- Instead, they have sought a various sides to agree on. it meant he would not have the protesters, AFP journalists said. elsewhere in the country, as el and the Palestinian terri- take a number of engagements cabinet mixing both technocrats A series of compromise deals backing of either of the two main An offi cer who spoke to AFP Lebanon awaits scheduled par- Ptories next month on behalf on behalf of the British gov- and politicians. attempting to reach consensus Christian parties. on condition of anonymity said liamentary meetings to name a of the British government, the ernment,” said Charles’ offi ce, Hariri added he would take on other candidates for the PM Meanwhile, Lebanon in- the concrete barriers were in- new premier, a required step to royal family revealed yesterday. Clarence House. part in today’s consultations and job have already unravelled. creased security around protest tended to help security forces form a cabinet.

LEGAL Payout ordered for family of boy UN calls for ‘de-escalation’ in Syria US envoy warns of further sanctions drowned in latrine

South Africa’s Supreme Court AFP ported that regime air strikes and artillery fi re AFP torn African nation. Ambassa- of obstructing a peace accord of Appeal awarded 1.4mn rand Beirut had killed 23 civilians. Rochdi condemned “the Juba dor Thomas Hushek was recalled signed in 2018 that has paused, ($97,500) yesterday to the family of recent intensifi cation of hostilities in northwest in November when South Su- but not resolved, fi ve years of a five year-old boy who drowned Syria, in particular aerial bombardments and the dan’s rival leaders failed to meet confl ict. in human waste after falling into he United Nations yesterday con- reported use of barrel bombs, killing civilians in- he US ambassador to a promised deadline to form a Hushek stood by the deci- a pit latrine at his school. Michael demned a deadly uptick in violence in cluding women and children,” her offi ce said. South Sudan yesterday unity government, straining ties sion — which was criticised by Komape’s death in the north east- TSyria’s last opposition bastion. The militant-dominated region of Idlib is sup- Twarned that Washington with Washington. the offi ce of South Sudan Presi- ern province of Limpopo in January Najat Rochdi, senior humanitarian adviser posed to be protected by a months-old ceasefi re would not hesitate to slap ad- The United States this week dent Salva Kiir — and warned of 2014 shocked the country. to the UN’s Syria envoy, called for “immediate deal to prevent a broad regime off ensive, but ditional sanctions on “spoilers” slapped sanctions on two South further measures if peace talks The toilet structure above the dug- de-escalation” a day after a war monitor re- bombardment has continued. holding back peace in the war- Sudan ministers, accusing them failed to advance. out latrine he was using collapsed and drowned him in faeces, where he was found four hours later. “His hand peered out of the sewer- age as if he was asking for help,” his father told local television sta- Boko Haram militants tion eNCA about the moment they Gabon’s Bongo opens summit found his son’s body. The court in Bloemfontein made the damages kill 14 in attack on award for the “emotional shock AFP and grief” caused by his death. Libreville The National Department of Basic western Chad village Education was also ordered to pay for all future medical expenses abonese President Ali for each member of the Komape AFP attack,” Souabebe said. Bongo Ondimba opened family, including his parents N’Djamena “The attackers fi rst came Ga central African sum- and siblings. in a small group and then mit yesterday, marking a re- brought in reinforcements to turn to the international scene ourteen people were attack the fi shermen.” nearly 14 months after suff ering DIPLOMACY killed and 13 were miss- The region’s governor, Noki a stroke. First foreign Fing after Boko Haram Charfadine, gave a toll of at Bongo, 60, gave a roughly militants attacked a fi shing least nine dead. He said the at- four-minute speech to launch a diplomatic post opens village in western Chad on tack had taken place in a “red gathering of the 11-nation Eco- in Western Sahara Tuesday, government offi cials zone, where fi shing is forbid- nomic Community of Central said. den.” Boko Haram launched African States (ECCAS).The Comoros opened a consulate yes- Violence from the Boko its armed insurgency in north- audience comprised around a terday in Western Sahara, the first Haram insurgency started in eastern Nigeria — a campaign hundred politicians, diplomats foreign diplomatic post to open Nigeria a decade ago, but has that has killed 35,000 people and journalists. in the Moroccan-controlled part since spread to neighbour- and caused around 2mn to fl ee “I would like...to wish you of the former Spanish territory, ing countries Chad, Niger their homes. the most cordial welcome to Li- Leaders of various African countries pose during the extraordinary summit of the Economic an off icial said. For Rabat, the tiny and Cameroon. “There were The spread of violence to breville on the occasion of this Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Libreville, yesterday. African island nation inaugurating 14 dead, fi ve wounded and 13 Chad, Cameroon and Niger extraordinary summit, which is an off ice in the city of Laayoune missing in the attack” near has prompted the formation of devoted to the institutional re- mon market among 11 states. Tshisekedi of the Democratic father Omar Bongo Ondimba, represented “a supreme expres- the village of Kaiga on the a regional military coalition to form of our community,” Bongo The extraordinary summit, Republic of Congo; and Evaris- head of state from 1967 until he sion” of Moroccan claims to shores of Lake Chad, Dimouya fi ght the militants. said from the podium. announced with only a few to Carvalho of Sao Tome and died in 2009. Western Sahara, a Moroccan dip- Souapebe, the prefect of the Boko Haram has since split Reform “should enable weeks’ notice, aims at beefi ng Principe. Shockwaves have rippled lomatic source said. The kingdom region, said yesterday. in two, with the emergence of our community to adapt to up ECCAS’ secretariat to create Bongo, who has ruled the across Gabon’s political scene maintains that Western Sahara, Kaiga lies in marshland in a branch allied to the Islamic the challenges of the day and a more powerful commission, oil-rich equatorial country for in recent weeks as Bongo has mostly under Morocco’s control, a remote, sprawling region State (IS) group, known as Is- strengthen its role as a pillar of similar to that of the AU or Eu- 10 years, had a stroke in Octo- stepped up his public appear- is an integral part of its territory. where the borders of the four lamic State Group in West Af- the African Union,” he said. ropean Union. ber 2018 while in a Gulf state, ances, clearly appearing to be in The Polisario Front campaigns for countries — Cameroon, Chad, rica or ISWAP. Bongo’s health has become The group lags far behind where he was hospitalised. better health. its independence. The Gambia Nigeria and Niger — meet. The other faction, loyal to a closely-watched issue in Ga- similar bodies such as the Eco- He was later fl own to Moroc- Former presidential cabinet also plans to open a consulate The village is about 60 kilo- the movement’s historic lead- bon, with critics insisting that nomic Community of West Af- co to convalesce and went back director Brice Laccruche Ali- in the Western Saharan port city metres from the border with er, Abubakar Shekau, is known his stroke has left him medi- rican States (Ecowas) and the to Gabon last March, making hanga, has been dismissed and of Dakhla, according to Moroc- northeast Nigeria, the spring- for targeting civilians, includ- cally unfi t to run the country. Southern African Development few public appearances. charged with embezzlement can state news agency MAP. The board for Boko Haram raids ing village attacks and suicide He spoke without notable Community (SADC) in terms of While he was convalescing, together with three former opening “will take place as soon and kidnappings in neigh- attacks. The ISWAP, which diffi culty yesterday but paused regional integration. Bongo’s supporters put down a ministers. as possible,” Gambian Foreign bouring countries. has about 3,000 men grouped for a few seconds between each Four ECCAS heads of state brief coup bid in January that Thirteen senior govern- Minister Mamadou Tangara said “We know that there are at Lake Chad, has been build- sentence, an AFP reporter said. were present — presidents Id- challenged an elected family ment fi gures and state offi cials at a recent Organisation of Islamic always Boko Haram elements ing its capacity and mainly Bongo is current chair of EC- riss Deby Itno of Chad; Faus- presidency that has ruled for deemed to be close to Lac- Co-operation meeting in Rabat, moving around the (border) targets the armed forces of CAS, a 36-year-old organisa- tin-Archange Touadera of the more than 50 years. cruche have also been placed in according to MAP. area, so they are behind this countries in the region. tion which aims to forge a com- Central African Republic; Felix Ali Bongo took over from his custody. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, December 19, 2019 AMERICAS

Fonda reveals bid House debates Trump to meet president

AFP impeachment articles Washington Trump an ‘ongoing threat’ to As the debate unfolded, publican, said: “This an im- democracy: Pelosi Trump on Twitter called the peachment based on presump- ollywood legend Jane proceedings “AN ASSAULT ON tion. Fonda revealed that she Reuters AMERICA” and on his party. “This is basically also a poll- Hattempted to meet Presi- Washington Trump has denied wrongdo- tested impeachment on what dent Donald Trump shortly after ing. actually sells to the American his 2016 election with a group of While the House twice previ- people. “beautiful, brilliant” climate ac- S House Speaker Nancy ously has voted to impeach pres- “Today’s going to be a lot of tivists, including Pamela Ander- Pelosi has called Don- idents – Bill Clinton in 1998 and things. What it is not, is fair. son, in order to convince him to Uald Trump an ongoing Andrew Johnson in 1868 – no What it is not, is about the tackle global warming. threat to American democracy president has ever been removed truth.” But after discussing her idea who left Congress no choice but from offi ce via impeachment. The debate underscored the with the president’s son-in- to impeach him, as bitterly di- Separate votes on the two deep divide in Congress over law Jared Kushner and daugh- vided lawmakers debated before charges are expected. Trump’s conduct during his tu- ter Ivanka Trump, Fonda did historic votes on charges accus- The votes are expected to fall multuous presidency and the not hear back, which eventually ing the Republican president of almost entirely along party lines, larger political schism dividing helped convince her to move for abusing his power and obstruct- with Democrats in favour and the United States. several months to Washington ing Congress. Republicans opposed. Republican Representative and use the power of her celeb- With billowing partisan dif- In speeches on the House Mike Rogers said: “The matter rity to help drive mass mobilisa- ferences on full display, the fl oor, Republicans defended the before the House today is based tions. Democratic-controlled House president and accused Demo- solely on a fundamental hatred Speaking at the National Press of Representatives launched a crats of seeking to use an unfair of our president. Club on Tuesday, Fonda, who planned six hours of debate on and rigged process to nullify the “It’s a sham, a witch hunt – turns 82 on Saturday, said she the two articles of impeachment results of the 2016 election in and it’s tantamount to a coup hatched the plan the day after – formal charges – arising from which Trump defeated Demo- against the duly elected presi- the New York real estate tycoon the president’s actions toward crat Hillary Clinton. dent of the United States.” was elected in 2016. Ukraine, with time equally di- The House voted down a Re- Impeachment is an extraordi- “I kind of know men like vided between the parties and publican bid to adjourn and a nary check on presidential pow- Pelosi is seen on a jumbotron outside ABC News studios at Times Square in New York City, speaking to Trump, not as bad, but you no amendments. motion accusing Democrats of er spelled out in the US Con- the US House of Representatives during the session to discuss rules ahead of a vote on two articles of know, I sort of know those incli- Trump would become only violating the chamber’s rules. stitution enabling Congress to impeachment against President Trump. nations,” she said. the third US president to be im- “If we do not act now, we remove presidents who commit “And I thought, I’m going peached. would be derelict in our duty. “high crimes and misdemean- Representative Justin Amash, Democrat Hillary Clinton. separatists and a coveted White to get three or four of the most That would set the stage for a It is tragic that the president’s ors”. an independent who left the Re- “Can you believe that I will be House meeting for Zelenskiy as beautiful … brilliant climate ac- trial in the Republican-led Sen- reckless actions make impeach- “The founders’ great fear of a publican Party in July, joined the impeached today by the Radi- leverage to coerce Kyiv into in- tivists – Pamela Anderson is one ate, with House members acting ment necessary,” Pelosi added. rogue or corrupt president is the Democrats in the vote. cal Left, Do Nothing Democrats, terfering in the 2020 election by of them – and a few scientists, as prosecutors and senators as “He gave us no choice. What we very reason why they enshrined Vice-President Mike Pence, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG! smearing Biden. and I’m going to make an ap- jurors. are discussing today is the es- impeachment in the Constitu- speaking in Michigan, touted A terrible thing,” Trump wrote On the July telephone call, pointment, and we’re all going Republican senators have tablished fact that the president tion,” Pelosi said, calling the the economy under Trump and on Twitter before the debate. Trump asked Zelenskiy to inves- to see Trump and we’re going to shown little interest in convict- violated the Constitution.” gathered lawmakers the “custo- called the House proceedings “a “Say a prayer!” He later added tigate Biden and his son Hunter get on our knees,” she added, to ing Trump, which would result “It is a matter of fact that the dians of the Constitution”. disgrace”. a Twitter post attacking Pelosi, Biden as well as a discredited laughter. in his ouster. president is an ongoing threat to House Democrats accuse “They are trying to impeach writing, “Will go down in his- theory promoted by the presi- “And we’re going to say to On the House fl oor, Pelosi our national security and the in- Trump of abusing his power by this president because they tory as worst Speaker.” dent and benefi cial to Russia him, President Trump, you can read the US Pledge of Allegiance, tegrity of our elections – the ba- asking Ukraine to investigate know they can’t defeat this Fearful of political blowback, that Democrats conspired with be the hero of the entire world, then said, “today we are here to sis of our democracy,” she said. former vice-president Joe Bi- president” in 2020, Pence said. senior Democrats long resisted Ukraine to meddle in the 2016 you can be the most important defend democracy for the peo- Following Pelosi, Representa- den, a leading contender for the However, House Judiciary an impeachment inquiry, even election. human being ever to be born, the ple” to applause from fellow tive Doug Collins, the House Democratic nomination to face Committee Chairman Jerrold after Special Counsel Robert Hunter Biden had joined the most better, perfect, wonderful, Democratic lawmakers. Judiciary Committee’s top Re- Trump in the November 2020 Nadler said on the House fl oor: Mueller outlined episodes of board of Ukrainian energy com- big, huge, wonderful, if you pro- election. “We cannot rely on the next Trump seeking to impede the pany Burisma while his father tect the planet.” Trump is also accused of ob- election as a remedy for presi- federal investigation that docu- was vice-president. She said she then called Kush- structing the House investiga- dential misconduct when the mented Russian interference in Trump has accused the Bidens ner, who referred her to his wife tion by directing administra- president threatens the very in- the 2016 election to boost his of corruption without off ering Ivanka – the “environmentalist tion offi cials and agencies not to tegrity of that election. candidacy. evidence. in the family” – to call her back. comply with subpoenas for tes- “He has shown he will con- But after a whistleblower They have denied wrongdo- Fonda said Ivanka laughed timony and documents related tinue to put his selfi sh interests from the US intelligence com- ing. when told the plan but did not to impeachment. above the good of the country. munity brought to light a July 25 The Senate has yet to set its take it further. The House vote to approve the We must act without delay.” phone call in which Trump asked procedures for a trial on the The Oscar-winning actress, rules to formally begin debate Trump, 73, on Tuesday sent Ukrainian President Volodymyr charges, which would be over- who made a name for herself as was 228-197, a possible preview Pelosi a letter in which he ac- Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, seen by US Chief Justice John a pacifi st and feminist since the of the later votes on the articles cused her of engaging in a “per- House Democrats launched an Roberts. 1970s, has been taking part in of impeachment, with only two version of justice” and an “at- impeachment inquiry in Sep- Removing Trump from offi ce non-sanctioned protests outside Democrats – Representatives tempted coup”. tember and moved swiftly to would require a two-thirds ma- the US Capitol since October and Collin Peterson and Jeff Van The businessman-turned- take testimony from current and jority of those present and vot- getting arrested alongside other Drew – voting no and no Repub- politician argued that Demo- former administration offi cials. ing in the 100-member Senate, activists, hoping to spark a mass licans voting in favour. crats are trying to undo the Democrats said Trump held meaning at least 20 Republicans movement of millions to force Van Drew has announced results of the 2016 election in back $391mn in security aid in- would have to vote to convict the the government to act. Trump: (Pelosi) will go down in history as worst Speaker. plans to become a Republican. which the Republican defeated tended to combat Russia-backed president. Asked what she thought of Trump’s repeated mockery of Swedish activist Greta Thun- berg and its impact on other teens fi ghting for climate action, Fonda said the president de- Boeing sends fi rst crew capsule to space station this week served pity, not scorn, because he sounded “traumatised”. “A man who could do that to AFP The US has relied on Russia Starliner will then remain save the taxpayer money. a girl like Greta is so empty, so Washington to transport its crews to the ISS docked for seven days before de- As of May 2019, Boeing and lacking in empathy and compas- since the end of the Space Shut- taching and returning home. SpaceX’s contracts were valued sion, that we need to be compas- tle programme in 2011, but in It will land following a four- at $4.3bn and $2.5bn, with each sionate,” she said. “We may hate oeing is all set to launch 2014 hired Boeing and SpaceX hour rapid descent in the New company awarded six round- the behaviour! But we have to its Starliner spacecraft for under multi-billion dollar con- Mexico desert on December trip missions to the ISS. understand that the behaviour is Bthe fi rst time to the Inter- tracts, with the two companies 28 at 3.46am local time (1047 Assuming four astronauts per the language of the traumatised, national Space Station (ISS) at already two years behind sched- GMT). fl ight, Nasa’s auditor estimat- so we don’t hate the trauma- the end of this week, a key mis- ule. SpaceX’s capsule, known as ed the average cost per seat at tised.” sion as Nasa looks to resume Nasa is now targeting next Crew Dragon, undertook the $90mn for Boeing and $55mn for crewed fl ight by 2020. year to start the fl ights, as long same type of mission success- SpaceX, compared to the $80mn This time around its sole pas- as the tests are completed with- fully last March. paid to Russia for the same serv- senger will be bandana-clad out a hitch. The main diff erence is that ice. dummy Rosie, named after Ro- The mission that starts on Crew Dragon lands in the ocean Since neither company is con- sie the Riveter, a campaign icon This Nasa/ Boeing handout image obtained yesterday shows an Friday will last eight days and instead of dry land – but both fi rmed as being ready for 2020, used to recruit women to muni- artist concept of a Boeing CST-100 Starliner in Earth orbit. serves as a dress rehearsal. rely on parachutes to slow their Nasa has begun negotiating the tions factory jobs during World The CST-100 Starliner, to descent. purchase of another seat with War II. urday,” Kathy Lueders, manager “The spacecraft is in really give it its full name, will launch Unlike in the past, Nasa is Russia for the fall of 2020, said “If we’re blessed with great of the National Aeronautics and good shape,” added John Mul- from Cape Canaveral at 6.36am paying private companies for Joel Montalbano, the agency’s weather, I look forward to a mis- Space Administration (Nasa)’s holland, vice-president and local time (1136 GMT) on an At- their services rather than own- deputy ISS programme manager. sion early on Friday morning, Commercial Crew Programme programme manager of the las V rocket built by the United ing the hardware, a move de- The last confi rmed seat for an Fonda: And I thought, I’m going and then coming to the Inter- told reporters at the Kennedy Boeing Commercial Crew Pro- Launch Alliance, and will reach cided under former president American on a Russian ship is for to get ... the most beautiful... national Space Station on Sat- Space Centre in Florida. gramme. the station 25 hours later. Barack Obama and intended to April 2020. brilliant activists ... to see Trump.

After 25 years, Carey’s All I Want for Lab results of 15mn 14 die in shooting in Panama jail Christmas Is You tops US charts A quarter-century after releasing her holiday classic that’s become one of the season’s love-to-hate, hate-to-love clichés, Mariah Carey Canadians hacked AFP The country’s prisons director “That means weapons are be- has finally pushed All I Want for Christmas Is You to top the charts Panama City Walter Hernandez said 14 pris- ing allowed into the prison,” the for the first time. oners were wounded, one seri- president said. “We did it,” the diva said on Monday in a tweet that featured several AFP on its computers in early No- ously. The government said that the emojis, including a face with happy tears. Ottawa vember. ival gang members opened The shooting broke out among ringleaders will be relocated and Many social media users voiced shock that the inescapable pop Most of those aff ected are in fi re in a crowded Pana- young inmates in a section of the isolated to avoid further vio- juggernaut had not already jingled its way to the top. Ontario or British Columbia. Rmanian prison killing 14 prison known as Hall 14, which lence. But when the de-facto Holiday Queen originally released the global rivacy watchdogs have The company also said it inmates and wounding around houses around 500 prisoners, Panama has a prison popula- hit in 1994 as part of her Merry Christmas album, Billboard’s rules at launched an investi- paid an undisclosed sum to the a dozen others, the government authorities said. tion of some 17,000, held in 20 the time did not allow it to compete on the Hot 100 chart, because Pgation into a hack of hackers to retrieve the data, announced yesterday. Deputy Director of National prisons, according to offi cial fi g- it was not commercially available as a single. health records, which a labora- and has retained cyber-securi- The gunbattle, involving AK- Police Alexis Munoz said the ures released in June. That changed in December 1998, when cuts off an album were tory said on Tuesday may have ty experts to isolate and secure 47 automatic rifl es and other shooting arose from “disputes” La Joyita, with some 3,700 welcomed to the US top songs list, bumping Carey’s song onto the compromised data on up to its aff ected computers, as well fi rearms, erupted late on Tues- between inmates – mostly mem- inmates – most of them held chart for the first time on January 8, 2000. 15mn Canadians or nearly half as determine the scope of the day in La Joyita penitentiary, one bers of criminal gangs. awaiting trial – is the most pop- The 2003 holiday film Love Actually helped keep Carey’s bubbly the population. breach. of the country’s largest prisons, Police seized eight fi rearms, ulous prison in the country along Christmas wish for love in the collective consciousness, as LifeLabs, which does blood “We want to emphasise that east of Panama City. including three AK-47 rifl es, with La Nueva Joya, both located streaming ensured its place in the holiday canon. work and other tests across at this time, our cyber-security “After the fi ght yesterday in after the incident, according to in the town of Pacora. This week the song posted 45mn streams, 27,000 digital sales and Canada, said in a letter to cus- fi rms have advised that the risk Hall 14 of the La Joyita peniten- Hernandez. Prisoner rights organisations 34mn radio plays, according to Billboard. tomers that their names, con- to our customers in connection tiary we can report that 14 pris- Panama’s President Lauren- have denounced conditions in Carey’s climb to the top marks the first time a Christmas track has tact information, health card with this cyber-attack is low,” oners have died,” the interior tino Cortizo said that a search of the prison, which they say cur- claimed number one on the Hot 100 in six decades, when The numbers and lab test results the company said in a state- ministry said on Twitter, updat- the same prison weeks ago had rently houses 900 more inmates Chipmunk Song reigned for four weeks in 1958-1959. were exposed in a cyber-attack ment. ing an earlier toll of 12 dead. discovered several weapons. that it was designed for. It’s Carey’s 19th number-one hit. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 15 ASIA

2 Indonesia Indonesia president seeks soldiers killed in Papua to speed up capital project attack Reuters observing from a helicopter the Some non-governmental or- Jakarta spot where a new state palace ganisations have also said that was due to be built, according to a number of national and local Reuters government statements. politicians with land interests Jakarta ndonesian President Joko In a Facebook post yester- in the area could stand to benefi t Widodo said yesterday he day, Widodo said the govern- from the megaproject. Ihad ordered his cabinet to ment would form a new agency The 256,000 hectare site of wo Indonesian soldiers speed up a $33bn project to move to oversee the relocation project the capital is on highland over- have been shot dead in the capital city from Jakarta to next month and it would then seeing a bay, Widodo said, not- TIndonesia’s easternmost forested Borneo island so that offi cially submit a bill backing ing government offi ces would province of Papua, ambushed the new ‘Silicon Valley’-like city the move to parliament. begin to be built next year and by separatist rebels while trans- could be ready by 2023. “The whole process, includ- should be ready by 2023. porting goods to a village in a re- That timeline is a year earlier ing the grand design, I hope can On Tuesday, Widodo ex- mote area, a military spokesman than the government’s original be completed in six months. pressed hope that the new capi- said yesterday. estimate and Widodo said he Then, we can do some land tal could be the “next Silicon Papua has suff ered a simmer- had also ordered the construc- clearing and basic infrastructure Valley” due to a cluster of re- ing confl ict led by a mostly poor- tion of basic infrastructure to construction,” he wrote on the search and innovation facilities ly armed and fractured separatist begin next year. posting, next to a photograph of envisaged for the area. movement for decades. The president announced himself standing on some bar- He also inaugurated the fi rst Muhammad Aidi, intelligence in August the government in- ren, scrubby land atop a hill. toll road in the Kalimantan area. assistant for Indonesia’s spe- tended to move the administra- While some Indonesians have Jakarta, the current capital of cial forces unit, said the rebels tive capital to East Kalimantan been excited by the plans to move the world’s fourth most popu- attacked when soldiers and lo- province, on Borneo, by 2024 to the capital, some green groups lous country, on the island of cal residents were transporting relieve the heavy burden on the have criticised the project for its Java, is now home to 10mn peo- goods for year-end celebrations current capital Jakarta due to potential environmental impact ple and is sinking due to over- from a helicopter pad to Kulapa overcrowding and pollution. and others have questioned how extraction of ground water, as Indonesian President Joko Widodo reacts during the inauguration of Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road village in Intan Jaya regency. He visited the site of the new Indonesia will raise the funds to well as being prone to fl oods and section 2, 3 and 4, near the area of Indonesia’s new capital in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara regency, East “Around 150m (500ft) from city for two days from Tuesday, build it. traffi c gridlock. Kalimantan province, yesterday. the outskirts of the village, sud- denly 10 members of an armed separatist group with various weapons attacked,” Aidi said in a statement, adding the bodies of the two soldiers remained at the location. Thai army ‘regrets’ killing The rough terrain, bad weather and poor communications in the area were hampering the evacua- tion of the victims, he said. Currently, soldiers were three civilians in south guarding the village to ensure the security of residents, he said. AFP “mistaken identity” made by the tigation into whether perpetra- ies were transported to a nearby A former Dutch colony, re- Bangkok offi cers. tors had “intentionally” killed hospital. source-rich Papua was incor- Accused drug smugglers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, “All three people shot dead the men, which could result in The admission comes months porated into Indonesia after a Chile and Switzerland attend a press conference at the customs were villagers, not militants,” Lt prosecution. since the death in August of controversial UN-backed refer- off ice near Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali yesterday. he Thai army has expressed General Pornsak Poolsawat ad- Critics say impunity reigns in Abdulloh Esormusor, a Muslim endum in 1969. The region has “regret” after troops mitted in a statement obtained the south, with no military person- man who was detained by the since endured decades of mostly Tshot dead three Muslim yesterday. nel ever having been successfully military and left in a coma after low-level separatist confl ict. men foraging in the jungle this The military has been locked prosecuted for alleged abuses. being interrogated at a notorious After a spike in protests and week and promised a probe, a in simmering confl ict with A heavy military presence Thai detention centre. civil unrest in August, Indone- 5 foreigners accused of rare admission of wrongdo- Malay-Muslim militants in blankets the region under mar- Suspects are routinely taken sia sent about 6,000 additional ing by the military in Thailand’s Thailand’s south for 15 years tial law as soldiers attempt to for interrogation and held un- military and police personnel to insurgency-scarred south. as the rebels agitate for more contain an insurgency master- der emergency laws in detention the region. traffi cking could face On Monday, security forces autonomy. minded by shadowy rebel groups centres where rights groups have Suspected militants ques- killed three men aged 24-27 in a More than 7,000 lives have who accuse the Thai state of documented torture. tioned: Indonesian anti-terror- jungle in Narathiwat province, been claimed in clashes - the heavy-handed tactics. Anger has snowballed over Ab- ism offi cers are interrogating death in Indonesia believing them to be militants. majority civilians both Buddhist The bodies of the three men dulloh’s case, with an umbrella eight suspected militants arrest- The commander of the south- and Muslim. were retrieved Tuesday from the group representing some of the ed in the province of Papua on ern army region – which over- The three men killed Monday mountainous terrain. shadowy rebel groups saying they suspicion that they were plan- AFP carrying 77 grams of meth while sees the three southernmost had been foraging in the jungle, Tearful relatives gathered at a suspected foul play and calling for ning an attack, a police spokes- Bali a Swiss citizen was arrested with provinces – apologised for the Pornsak said, vowing an inves- local school as the covered bod- an international probe. man said yesterday. 30 grams of marijuana in his The arrest was a “pre-emptive possession, police said. strike” by the anti-terrorism ive accused drug smugglers The Thai man had nearly 18 squad earlier this month in sev- from Hong Kong, Chile, grams of marijuana, they added. eral locations in Papua, National FSwitzerland and Thailand “The law allows for a life sen- Rohingya repatriation talks Police spokesman Asep Adi who were caught in Bali could tence or the death penalty,” Ida Saputra said in Jakarta. face the fi ring squad if convicted, Bagus Komang Ardika, head of The suspects have been trans- police on the Indonesian holiday the Bali police narcotics unit, ferred to Jakarta for questioning, island said yesterday. told reporters he said. They were suspected of The group, arrested in sepa- A sixth female accused from having links to the Islamic State- rate incidents this month and Singapore who was caught with inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah in November, was paraded in a small amount of cocaine would (JAD), which has carried out a se- shackles and orange jumpsuits not face the death penalty, au- ries of attacks in Indonesia. at Bali’s airport customs offi ce, thorities said. Police said the arrests were escorted by machine-gun toting Indonesia has slowed the pace made after offi cers had con- police – a common practice in of its executions in recent years duced surveillance of meetings Indonesia. despite broad public support for between the suspects, as well as Muslim-majority Indonesia the penalty. training and preparation for sus- has some of the world’s toughest In October, police said two pected attacks. drug laws, including the death Thai women and a Frenchman “Their target and their plan penalty for traffi ckers. could face the death penalty af- is currently being investigated,” While death sentences are ter they were caught smuggling Saputra said. often reduced to long jail terms, drugs into Bali. Separately, Papua police chief Indonesia has executed foreign A French drug traffi cker brief- Paulus Waterpauw said on Tues- nationals in the past, including ly on death row saw his sen- day the suspects were part of JAD two Australian masterminds of tence commuted to 19 years this networks on the Indonesian is- the Bali Nine heroin gang who summer. land of Sumatra that had moved were shot in 2015. There are dozens of smug- to Jayapura, the provincial capi- Two of the fi ve are men from glers on death row in Indonesia, tal of Papua. Hong Kong, who were caught including a cocaine-traffi cking He said the arrest prompted with 3.2kg and 4kg of metham- British grandmother, an Ameri- police in Papau to heighten secu- phetamine, respectively, police can caught with crystal meth- Myanmar government off icials meet with Rohingya refugees (right) at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh. A group of Myanmar rity in the area, especially before said. amphetamine, and several west government off icials are currently visiting the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar in a bid to persuade the refugees to repatriate to Myanmar. the Christmas and New Year’s The Chilean was allegedly African inmates. holidays. Wanted Thai serial killer Thailand police make arrest held after early release over Facebook rally photo AFP murder this week of a 51-year- spotted the suspect wearing a Bangkok old hotel maid in the country’s cap and face mask and sent a AFP Carrying posters denouncing Thailand has some of the itary-aligned establishment northeast. photo to police. Bangkok “dictatorship” and calling for world’s harshest lese majeste since it rode a youth-propelled Authorities distributed his Thailand’s corrections de- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O- laws, but authorities have not wave to become the country’s hai police arrested a con- photo under the heading “Most partment said it was urgently Cha to “get out”, the protesters specifi ed what the suspect was third-largest party in this year’s victed serial killer yester- Wanted” and off ered a 50,000 reviewing its sentence reduction hai police have arrested a rallied peacefully for an hour. charged with. elections. Tday in connection with baht ($1,650) reward for infor- policies but also said it was op- suspect behind an “inap- The event drew the ire of au- Buddhipongse said he had Since then it has called for an another murder after his early re- mation leading to his capture. erating at three times capacity Tpropriate” photo posted thorities, however, with Digital conducted investigations before end to military conscription and lease from jail for good behaviour, Yesterday, released photos with 370,000 inmates. on Facebook from an anti-gov- Economy and Society Minister the suspect’s arrest, but refused for the defence budget – one of authorities confi rmed. showed police offi cers detain- Thailand has one of the largest ernment rally, a minister said Buddhipongse Punnakanta sin- to give any further details. the highest in the region – to be Somkid Pumpuang was sen- ing the suspect on a train in the prison populations in the world yesterday, as the off ending im- gling out an “inappropriate post “No one can tolerate this slashed. tenced to life in 2005 for the kill- town of Pakchong in Nakhon and overcrowding remains a age went viral days after the of a picture that has upset all kind of thing,” he said in a But it has also come under ing of fi ve women believed to be Ratchasima province. serious problem. largest protest since March’s Thais”. Facebook post. fi re for voicing political ob- involved in the sex and nightlife “Somkid Pumpuang was ar- The number reached an all- elections. The photo shared was The monarchy sits at the apex jection to a royal command, industry, leading the media to rested thanks to information time high earlier this year, ac- Downtown Bangkok saw snapped during the rally, dis- of Thai society, buttressed by unprecedented in Thailand. dub him Thailand’s “Jack the from the public,” Major General cording to a report this month thousands turn out Saturday for playing a protester holding a the powerful military – which Authorities have threatened Ripper”. Puttipong Musikul from Khon from the International Federa- a rally led by ultra-popular op- profanity-laced sign decrying has staged more than a dozen legal moves against Thanath- Authorities considered him Kaen police force said yesterday tion for Human Rights and the position frontman Thanathorn “dictatorship”. coups since 1932 – and the orn and FFP for not obtaining an “excellent prisoner” and re- morning. Union for Civil Liberty. Juangroongruangkit and his Fu- A mural of the revered late business elite. permission for Saturday’s rally, leased him in May this year, but Local media described how Nearly 80% are jailed for ture Forward Party (FFP) execu- King Bhumibol Adulyadej ap- The upstart FFP has proven although police said Wednesday he is now the chief suspect in the a fellow passenger on the train drug-related off ences. tives. peared in the background. a thorn in the side of the mil- no charges had been fi led. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, December 19, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Jailed Uighur’s daughter receives top EU rights prize

AFP that provoked an outcry from symbolic empty chair at the Eu- more than 1mn Uighurs and peo- hope for her father. “I was just Chinese and other minority peo- this week when China’s state Strasbourg foreign governments and human ropean Parliament in Strasbourg, ple of other mostly Muslim eth- told one of the recent laureates of ple to post articles and their un- broadcaster pulled an Arsenal- rights organisations. France. “So that was also the last nic minorities have been rounded the Sakharov Prize was released derstanding freely on the website Manchester City match from The parliament hailed the time my family saw him. I don’t up and put in the camps in the from prison. I do hope same thing and join discussion forums,” she its programme after comments he daughter of jailed Ui- former economics professor as even know if he is alive.” tightly controlled region. happen to my father,” she said. said. by the London club’s midfi elder ghur intellectual Ilham a “voice of moderation and rec- China has faced growing in- Tohti ran the UighurOnline She insisted that contrary to The EU’s diplomatic chief Mesut Ozil. Ozil, a German of TTohti received the EU’s top onciliation” when it announced ternational condemnation for website, which wrote in Uighur the allegations against him, her Josep Borrell tweeted his sup- Turkish origin, condemned Chi- rights prize on his behalf yester- the award in October, while Bei- setting up a vast network of and Chinese about social issues, father had “never mentioned any port, saying the bloc would al- na’s crackdown on Uighurs and day, saying she did not even know jing condemned the move, call- camps in its western Xinjiang gaining prominence as a moder- word about separating the coun- ways “uphold, stand up and take other minorities in the western if he was still alive. Jewher Ilham ing Tohti a “terrorist”. “The last region aimed at homogenising ate voice drawing attention to try”, saying he had simply wanted action for human rights”. “We region in a tweet on Friday. Bei- said she hoped the award of the time I heard about my father the Uighur population — who are ethnic tensions in the region. Il- to improve the situation in Xin- will continue supporting those jing said the footballer had been European Parliament’s Sakha- was 2017, that was also the last mostly Muslim and speak a Tur- ham said the release of Ukrainian jiang by fostering greater under- who fi ght for human rights, all “deceived by fake news” but US rov Prize would help her father, time a family visit was granted kic language — to refl ect China’s fi lmmaker Oleg Sentsov – who standing between communities. around the world,” he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sentenced to life imprisonment to my father,” Ilham told AFP be- majority Han culture. also won the Sakharov Prize “My father created a website The Uighur controversy took backed Ozil, saying “the truth in 2014 for “separatism” in a trial fore receiving the prize next to a Rights groups and experts say while behind bars – gave her to create a platform for Uighurs, an unexpected turn into football will prevail” about Xinjiang. Xi lands in Macau for China handover anniversary party

AFP Macau Security personnel members gather before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival at Macau International Airport in Macau, China.

hinese President Xi Jin- ping landed in Macau yes- Cterday as the city prepares to mark 20 years since the former Portuguese colony was returned, a celebration that stands in stark contrast to months of unrest in neighbouring Hong Kong. Secu- rity has been ramped up ahead of Xi’s three-day visit which culmi- nates on Friday’s anniversary. China’s authoritarian leader- ship is keen to showcase Macau as a successful example of its “one country, two systems” model, with party leaders heaping praise on a pliant city of 700,000 that has grown rich on gambling and deference to authoritarian rule. “The Chinese people and the central government are proud of the achievements and progress Macau has made in the past 20 Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks next to outgoing Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui, upon his years since its return to the moth- arrival at Macau International Airport in Macau, China, yesterday ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Outgoing Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui stands next to Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) erland,” Xi said on arrival at the former Portuguese colony’s return to China. as Xi speaks upon his arrival at Macau International Airport in Macau, China. city’s airport, a troupe of school- children waving Chinese and Xi’s schedule. He will meet local territory’s lifeblood. Security cities. Since last week police from chairman of Hong Kong’s Ameri- population have become wealth- Vegas makes in a month. “The Macau fl ags behind him. leaders and attend a dinner and a has been dramatically tightened mainland China have been man- can Chamber of Commerce were ier. Macau’s skyline and economy diff erence in the economy is like Since the 1999 handover by cultural performance today. The ahead of Xi’s visit. Police set up ning a newly created checkpoint also denied entry to Macau with- have changed beyond recognition the sky and the earth,” Chang Sio Lisbon, Macau has witnessed following day Xi will preside over checkpoints and extra screenings on an artifi cial island that links out explanation. since four centuries of Portuguese Kun, a 60-year-old local who re- little of the dissent that has ex- the inauguration of the city’s new for passenger arrivals while au- the bridge and tunnel system be- “It’s totally one country, one rule ended in 1999, with glittering cently retired, told AFP. ploded in Hong Kong during six leader Ho Iat-seng. thorities said some major roads tween Hong Kong, Macau and system,” a 34-year-old local who casinos the backbone of the city’s “There are casinos, more and months of often violent pro-de- A former member of China’s would see closures. Zhuhai, the fi rst time they have regularly travels to Hong Kong dramatic rise. more tourists and it’s easy to fi nd mocracy protests as large chunks top lawmaking body, Ho won The city’s fi rst light rail line done so. told AFP, adding that protesting As the only place in China a job with a high salary,” he added. of the population seethes under a one-horse race this sum- announced it would shut down Multiple journalists with Hong in Macau was “pointless and dan- where gambling is allowed, But while Macau has grown rich Beijing’s rule. Like Hong Kong it mer to become chief executive for the duration, just a week after Kong passports working for lo- gerous”. “The reason it looks like Macau’s GDP has soared from and been politically stable in the maintains its own currency, judi- — a position that is chosen by a it was fi rst opened to the public cal and international media have it’s working well is because Macau $6.4bn in 1999 to more than 20 years of Chinese rule, it has ciary and free market. But it has 400-member committee stacked while the airport said some fl ights been denied entry to Macau in the people don’t protest.” $55bn. Per capita GDP is the third many vulnerabilities. Much of the long since passed mainland style with Beijing loyalists. would be rescheduled. run up to the anniversary while But he said there was local highest in the world behind Lux- city’s wealth is concentrated in anti-sedition laws that have been Bunting and banners hail- Security checks were also a group of pro-democracy law- anger about the wealth of the embourg and Switzerland, ac- the hands of a small elite and all successfully resisted by Hong ing the anniversary were erected ramped up in Hong Kong’s ferry makers were denied permission city’s elites, the limited trans- cording to the International Mon- its economic chips are in the gam- Kongers. Limited details have across the city, including on some terminals and on a huge bridge to board a ferry yesterday. Ear- port infrastructure and severe etary Fund, while its casinos now bling basket which still accounts been released by authorities on of the casinos that serve as the and tunnel system linking the two lier this month the president and overcrowding, even though the rake in each week the same as Las for 80% of government revenue. Australia experiences its hottest day on record NZ scales down

AFP bal warming and a prolonged “We are going to have a Sydney drought that has left the land number of fronts that are gong search for two tinder dry and many towns run- to fuel, or escalate the fi res burn- ning out of water. The fi res have ing, but also the potential to have ustralia this week expe- sparked climate protests target- spot fi res and embers travelling rienced its hottest day on ing the conservative govern- very long distances,” NSW Pre- Arecord and the heatwave ment, which has resisted pres- mier Gladys Berejinklian warned. missing after is expected to worsen, exacer- sure to address the root causes Yesterday police evacuated resi- bating an already unprecedented of global warming in order to dents from dozens of homes in bushfi re season, authorities said protect the country’s lucrative the coastal area of Peregian near deadly eruption yesterday. coal export industry. Record spot the popular tourist hotspot if The average nationwide tem- temperatures were recorded this Noosa in the northeastern state peratures of 40.9C on Tuesday week in Western Australia, where of Queensland, as an out of con- Reuters Mike Clement told report- beat the previous record of 40.3C fi refi ghters have also been bat- trol fi re threatened properties. Wellington ers at a press conference in in January 2013, the Bureau of tling blazes raging across thou- “Fire crews and waterbombing Whakatane, the town close to Meteorology said. “This heat sands of hectares (acres) of land. aircraft are working to contain White Island. “We have to wait will only intensify further today,” The hot weather then began the fi re but fi refi ghters may not ew Zealand police said for mother nature to produce meteorologist Diana Eadie Said. drifting across the country’s arid be able to protect every prop- yesterday they would those bodies ... it may or it may The heatwave is another alarm centre toward the heavily popu- erty,” Queensland Fire and Emer- Nbe scaling down search not,” he added. bell about global warming in lated eastern states, where the gency services said. operations for the two people Clement said search opera- Australia, where this year’s early most of the bushfi res have raged. “You should not expect a fi re- who are missing after a vol- tions will now be continued by and intense start to regular sum- Parts of the eastern state of New fi ghter at your door. Queensland canic eruption last week, ad- regional offi cers while the na- mer bushfi res has heaped pres- South Wales, of which Sydney is Police Service are door knock- mitting the bodies may never tionally run teams would re- sure on the Australian govern- the capital, were forecast to reach ing in the area. Power, water, and be found. turn. He said experts believe ment to do more to tackle climate the mid-40s celsius on Thurs- mobile phone service may be The offi cial death toll from the two missing bodies were change. Hundreds of bushfi res day. On Saturday parts of Sydney lost.” the eruption on White Island, washed out to sea. have been raging across Australia are forecast to tip over 46C. Prime Minister Scott Morri- also known by its Maori name The tides in the area are for months, including a “mega- Turbulent winds of up to son last week made a rare admis- of Whakaari, stands at 16. Six such that if a body in the bay blaze” burning north of Sydney, 100km (60 miles) an hour are sion that climate change was one bodies were retrieved from the reached the open sea, they the country’s biggest city. forecast to also hit the east coast of the “factors” behind the fi res. island on Friday. would be taken in the direc- Smoke from the fi res has en- at the same time and worsen the But he defended the govern- Those still missing, pre- tion of East Cape, the tip of the gulfed Sydney, raising air pollu- blazes. ment’s record on emissions re- sumed dead, are Winona North Island, he said. tion to levels so hazardous that “Over the next few days we duction and failed to announce Langford, a 17-year-old Aus- There were 47 people on the leading doctors have labelled are going to see fi refi ghters, the further measures to address the tralian, and Hayden Marshall- White Island when it erupted the event a “public health emer- emergency services and all those issue. Inman, a 40-year-old New last Monday. Of them, 27 are gency”. communities close to fi res... Climate protesters plan to Zealand tour guide. Their still being treated at hospitals At least 3mn hectares (7.4mn challenged with a new threat,” march on Morrison’s offi cial bodies are believed to be in in New Zealand and Australia acres) of land has been torched New South Wales fi re commis- residence in Sydney this week the waters around the island. for severe burn injuries. across Australia, with six people sioner Shane Fitzsimmons said to rally for change and highlight “We have not given up ... but There has been criticism killed and about 700 homes de- yesterday. Embers carried by the his absence as large parts of the have reached a phase where that people were allowed on stroyed. Scientists say the blazes winds can travel up to 30km (18.6 country burn. Morrison is holi- we are literally at the hands the island, a popular destina- have come earlier and with more miles) from a blaze, authorities daying at an undisclosed location A dog cools off under a shower at St Kilda beach as a heat wave of the sea,” New Zealand’s tion for day-trippers, given the intensity than usual due to glo- said. overseas. sweeps across Victoria, Australia. Deputy Police Commissioner risks of an active volcano. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 17 BRITAIN Political coverage row puts BBC funding under threat

AFP Morgan has said she would be tough economic times for media His ruling Conservative party versity of Sussex, said the threats “We have a catalogue of com- this pressure greater than ever. London “open-minded” about scrap- companies. were incensed when one of the were also “revenge” for Neil’s plaints against our public serv- The conspiracy theories that ping the licence and replacing it That makes it open to criti- BBC’s top political interviewers, personal attack on Johnson and ice broadcaster, our precious abound are frustrating”. with a Netfl ix-style subscription cism, particularly from commer- Andrew Neil, publicly berated the hospital scandal. BBC, which I’m afraid has been Abuse of journalists had been ritain’s new government service. cial rivals as advertising revenues the premier on air for refusing to Jean Seaton, professor of me- brought into the fray.” “sickening”, he said, calling on is taking aim at the BBC, The government has previ- fall, and viewing habits and news speak to him. dia history at the University of Despite claims about a break- social media platforms to “do Baccusing it of bias in re- ously committed to maintain the consumption change to stream- The Tories were also angry at Westminster and the BBC’s of- down in trust in the national more” about the vitriol. porting the recently-concluded licence fee model until 2027. ing and social media. the broadcaster’s reporting of a fi cial historian, said similar criti- broadcaster, at least twice as Veteran news presenter Huw elections that gave Prime Min- A standard licence costs each A largely right-wing print me- story from the main opposition cism from Labour made the situ- many people watched the BBC on Edwards also weighed in, admit- ister Boris Johnson a sweeping British household just over £154 dia, meanwhile, sees the giant Labour-supporting Mirror about ation more dangerous. election night than their rivals, ting some “honest mistakes” but mandate. ($202, €182) a year. corporation as an unapologetic a young boy sleeping on the fl oor “That’s what’s unusual,” she fi gures showed. accusing the BBC’s most vocal The row over perceived par- But Rishi Sunak, the junior fi - bastion of the liberal, metropoli- of a hospital. told AFP, describing the face-off The corporation maintains critics of seeking to “undermine tiality from the corporation and nance minister, suggested non- tan – and largely pro-EU – elite. The government has not de- as an “information war”. that the licence fee, at £2.97 per trust” and “cause chaos and con- ensuing threats about its licence payment could now be decrimi- Anger and frustration at the nied reports it has since stopped Andy McDonald, a lawmaker week, is value for money, as it fusion”. fee funding have erupted be- nalised. failure to implement Brexit – senior ministers from appearing close to Labour leader Jeremy pays for all its TV, radio and on- “The BBC can never be good fore, but this time come against “That is something the prime particularly outside London – on BBC radio’s fl agship Today Corbyn, has claimed the BBC’s line services. enough, and people will for- a backdrop of tensions about minister has said we will look has only made the situation more show, which often sets the day’s political coverage “played a part” BBC chairman Tony Hall said ever shout at the screen,” added Brexit. at, and has instructed people to acute. political agenda. in the party’s crushing election in a post-election message to political commentator and ex- The issue is likely to dominate look at that,” the minister said on Johnson’s electoral success To some extent, the row is the defeat. staff that elections “always put BBC staff er Polly Toynbee in the the brief of newly-reappointed Sunday. largely came on the back of pop- most recent example of the gov- Corbyn had been “demonised the BBC’s impartiality in the Guardian newspaper. “To be the Culture Minister Nicky Morgan In the last fi nancial year to ulist sloganeering to “Get Brexit ernment of the day trying to con- and vilifi ed” during the cam- spotlight”. only national arbiter of every- in the run-up to talks in 2022 April 30, the BBC received £3.7bn Done” but he also faced criticism trol its media image. paign, and portrayed as a sup- He blamed social media for thing is an impossible burden. about whether to maintain the in funding from the licence fee that he was unwilling to face But Ivor Gaber, professor of porter of anti-Semitism, and as a off ering “a megaphone to those But recently it has become infi - licence at current levels. – an enviable revenue stream in close scrutiny over his policies. political journalism at the Uni- terrorist sympathiser, he said. who want to attack us and makes nitely harder.” Lower courts can roll back EU laws Blair urges Labour to after Brexit: No 10

By Peter Walker bill will ensure that the Su- Guardian News & Media preme Court is not the only institution able to consider re- pick a centrist leader tained European court of jus- owning Street has con- tice rulings. AFP more centrist course. The party was riddled with fi rmed a plan to allow “This is an important London Blair castigated Corbyn for anti-Semitism scandals that saw Dlower courts to roll change, which will ensure that “the takeover of the labour party several prominent members quit back EU legal rulings following we do not face a legal bottle- by the far-left” which he said under Corbyn’s watch. Brexit, a plan that prompted neck and inadvertently stay ormer prime minister Tony turned it into a “glorifi ed protest Starmer is a London lawyer concerns that it will become bound by EU rulings for many Blair urged his Labour par- movement (...) utterly incapable who had pushed for a second easier to challenge European years. Fty yesterday to abandon of being a credible government”. Brexit referendum and now ap- standards in areas such as “We will take back control of “quasi-revolutionary socialism” And he took aim at Corbyn’s pears to be trying to win over workers’ rights and the envi- our laws and disentangle our- and pick a centrist leader fol- “almost comic indecision” about more leftist Labour votes. ronment. selves from the EU’s legal or- lowing its biggest election defeat which position to take on Brit- Lawmaker Rebecca Long- Under plans made by There- der, just as was promised to the since 1935. ain’s near half-century member- Bailey – a rising star who has sa May, the incorporation of British people.” The country’s shell-shocked ship in the European Union. faithfully defended Corbyn – has all EU case law made by the Asked if this would make it left entered a period of soul- “The absence of leadership on emerged as an early favourite in a European Court of Justice into easier for rights such as those searching and mourning in the what was obviously the biggest leadership race expected to fea- UK law after departure would on employment to be rolled wake of last Thursday’s pummel- issue facing the country rein- ture several prominent women. have left the Supreme Court as back, the spokesman said: ling at the ballot box. forced all the other doubts about She has largely avoided the the only body able to overturn “These will be matter for Brit- The snap general election Jeremy Corbyn,” Blair said in a media since Friday’s offi cial these decisions. ish courts. handed Prime Minister Boris speech in London. results handed the Conserva- But asked about reports that “In relation to workers’ Johnson a mandate to follow “He personifi ed politically an tives an 80-seat majority in the Boris Johnson had ignored rights, there is a commit- through on his “get Brexit done” idea, a brand of quasi-revolu- 650-member House of Com- concerns from some ministers ment by the government in its mantra and take Britain out of the tionary socialism, mixing far- Blair: The absence of leadership on what was obviously the biggest mons. and decided to allow lower manifesto, which will be hon- European Union on January 31. left economic policy with deep issue facing the country reinforced all the other doubts about Jeremy Labour’s foreign policies courts the same power, his oured in full, to ensure that we It also saw Labour suff er shock hostility to Western foreign pol- Corbyn. spokeswoman Emily Thornberry spokesman confi rmed that this protect and enhance workers’ defeats across swathes of Eng- icy, which never has appealed to became the fi rst candidate yes- would be part of the new with- rights. And that will be done in land’s working-class north, traditional Labour voters,” Blair because of his unwavering sup- Some potential successors said terday to offi cially declare her drawal agreement bill. UK law.” which had been Labour seats for said. “The result has brought port for the US invasion of Iraq Corbyn had the right vision but interest. The revised bill, which puts It is understood that legis- decades. shame on us. We let our country in 2003 on what proved to be the the wrong approach. The pro-European lawmaker Johnson’s Brexit plan into law, lation on maintaining work- Its current leader, Jeremy down.” false basis it had weapons of mass “The case for a radical govern- said Labour must move past its is due to be published immi- ers’ rights will form part of the Corbyn, a 70-year-old veteran Blair came to power in a land- destruction. ment has never been stronger,” internal divisions on Brexit and nently, and will face its fi rst Queen’s speech, the outline of socialist who campaigned on a slide Labour victory in 1997 in That, his promotion of more Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir focus on Johnson’s failings. vote from MPs on Friday, when the government’s legislative radical platform of state spend- a wave of popular support after business-friendly policies and Starmer told BBC radio. “When the Labour leader- it is due to have its fi rst and plan, which will take place to- ing and re-nationalisation, has 18 years of Conservative gov- abandonment of Labour totems, He attributed the defeat to La- ship contest begins, whoever is second reading. day following the state opening since promised to quit. ernment, fi rst under Margaret including nationalised industry, bour’s inability to counter John- standing – and I hope to be one of The spokesman said: “The of parliament. The formal campaign to re- Thatcher, then John Major. have made him an enduring hate son’s simple Brexit message with the candidates – the fi rst ques- place him is not set to begin until He remains Labour’s most fi gure for Labour hardliners. a clear case for why – or whether tion shouldn’t be about their next month. successful prime minister, win- But Labour must now choose – Britain should still be a part of position on Brexit, or where they However, several prominent ning three elections in a 10-year whether to re-adopt a more cen- the EU. live in our country,” she wrote in Labour fi gures have already sig- period until he handed over trist – and electable – approach “And we carried, I think, too the Guardian newspaper. “The nalled their intention to enter power to his fi nance minister and after a marked drift to the left much baggage into the election – fi rst question should instead be: a leadership contest that will deputy Gordon Brown in 2007. under Corbyn since he became and anti-Semitism is the exam- what’s your plan for taking on decide if the party realigns to a But his popularity was dented leader in 2015. ple of that,” Starmer said. Johnson over the next fi ve years?”

Homeless households in England up by 23% in a year

Shelter urges government cover the cost of true rent and to tackle housing crisis with an increase in social housing be- RCN Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen (centre) joins the picket ‘new generation of social ing built, or we risk seeing these line outside the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast. homes’ numbers to continue to rise.” During the election campaign, By Mattha Busby the Conservatives announced Guardian News & Media plans to fund measures to reduce rough sleeping. Nurses on strike over However, the party failed to he number of households commit to building social homes considered newly home- and their plans to tackle home- pay, patient safety Tless or at risk of becoming lessness remain unclear. so has increased by 11.4% across The chancellor, Sajid Javid, England in the past year, accord- was criticised this month for By Rory Carroll Sinn Féin and the Democratic ing to government fi gures, a rise claiming that Labour was behind Guardian News & Media Unionist party (DUP) to restore of almost 7,000 households. the rise in homelessness in the the defunct power-sharing as- Between April and June 2019, UK. sembly and executive at Stor- 68,170 households were initially The Tories said in a statement ore than 15,000 nurs- mont, which collapsed three assessed as homeless or threat- that Javid “misremembered the es in Northern Ireland years ago in a row between the ened with homelessness. A homeless man in London. Some London councils have resettled people many miles away. years”. Mare striking for better two parties. Of those, 32,220 households In the report, the ministry of pay and increased staffi ng. The nurses provided skeletal were deemed to be homeless – an This has increased by 40% in the government to address the She added: “Political promises housing’s statisticians said in- Pickets appeared outside staff to keep services such as increase of 23% on the same time fi ve years. “worsening” housing emergency about ending homelessness will creases had been expected due to hospitals on Wednesday as chemotherapy, intensive care period last year. More than a quarter of these and build social homes. mean nothing if we don’t have large improvements in data cov- 9,000 nurses from the Royal and palliative care operating. The number of households households have been accommo- The charity has estimated the homes for people to live in. erage and response rate. College of Nursing (RCN) went According to the RCN, nurs- living in temporary accommo- dated in diff erent local author- there are 280,000 homeless peo- “To truly tackle this emer- “More people are getting the on strike for the fi rst time in es’ pay in Northern Ireland dation at hostels, bed and break- ity areas, with a large majority of ple in England, one out of every gency, the government must in- support they need to start re- the union’s 103-year history. has fallen in real terms by 15% fasts, hotels and elsewhere was these out-of-district placements 200 people. vest in a new generation of social building their lives – backed The one-day action marked over eight years, aggravating a already at its highest level since from London councils. “This is an emergency that is homes – and we will continue to by £1.2bn in funding to reduce a serious escalation after weeks shortage of about 2,800 nurs- 2007, and rose another 1,500 to The number of homeless tipping thousands of people into campaign to make sure that hap- all forms of homelessness and of industrial action by other es, a vacancy rate proportion- 86,130. households placed in a diff er- homelessness, forcing parents to pens.” rough sleeping, the duty we’ve healthcare workers. ally higher than England and Almost 130,000 children de- ent council area has increased by raise children in grim B&Bs and Crisis echoed the call on the placed on councils to provide vi- About 6,500 other nurses Wales. pendent on their parents and 62% in fi ve years and local au- uprooting families from their government to take action. tal help to those who need it, and who are in the Unison union Health workers want pay carers live in temporary accom- thorities have been criticised for jobs, schools and loved ones,” “The [Homelessness Reduc- our commitment to building the also joined pickets in the cold parity with their counter- modation, across more than eff ectively forcing people away said Polly Neate, the homeless- tion Act ] is intended as a tool to homes this country needs,” com- weather. parts in England, Scotland and 60,000 of the households with- from their families and support ness charity’s chief executive. prevent people from becoming munities secretary Robert Jen- Northern Ireland has the Wales. out permanent homes. networks. “Wildly expensive private homeless,” said Jon Sparkes, the rick said. worst hospital waiting lists Unions agreed a 6.5% three- Over 7,000 of these are in bed In London, a handful of coun- rents, housing benefi t cuts and housing charity’s chief executive “But there is more we can do in the UK, according to fi g- year pay rise for National and breakfasts, up 3.2% from the cils have used legal powers ag- decades of failure to build the offi cer. – which is why we committed in ures from the Department of Health Service (NHS) staff , ex- same time last year. gressively to make “take or leave social homes we need, are the “But councils have to be given our manifesto to more integrat- Health. cluding doctors, last year. At the end of June 2019, there it” off ers of private rented hous- reasons why 127,000 children in the resources and ability to ex- ed working of local health and Some 300,000 people – a But the deal did not apply to were 13,450 households in tem- ing far away from the capital in England will wake up homeless ercise this to its full potential housing services and the renewal sixth of the population – are Northern Northern because of porary accommodation with eff orts to permanently resettle on Christmas Day. A fi gure eve- and we need to see transforma- of the aff ordable homes pro- waiting for appointments. the absence of devolved gov- shared facilities, widely consid- hundreds of homeless families. ryone in Westminster should pay tive measures taken, such as re- gramme, helping prevent people The strike piled pressure on ernment. ered the worst type of housing. Housing charity Shelter urged attention to.” storing housing benefi t levels to from falling into homelessness.” Gulf Times 18 Thursday, December 19, 2019 EUROPE Govt prepared to ‘compromise’ on

CGT union general secretary Philippe Martinez (second right) speaks to the press, with as confederale pension reform secretary Catherine Perret beside him, at the French prime minister residence, Hotel de Matignon, after a meeting over the government’s pensions overhaul plan. AFP which would eliminate 42 sepa- age” of 64 for a full pension, negotiations, who was forced to Paris rate schemes that off er early re- which critics say could force mil- resign after it emerged he had Ndiaye said yesterday. of the 16 metro lines in the capi- Operas in Paris – whose employ- tirement for many public-sector lions to work beyond the offi cial failed to declare income from Further train cancellations tal. ees benefi t from a pension system workers. retirement age of 62 – one of the outside work. could spell more misery for com- A Harris Interactive poll re- that would be eliminated in the rench offi cials met union “We’re here to sound the alert lowest in Europe. Some 615,000 people took muters in Paris and other big cit- leased on Tuesday found that overhaul – again were forced to leaders yesterday hoping to about the situation in the coun- Philippe insists the new sys- to the streets across France on ies who have borne the brunt of 69% of respondents wanted a cancel performances yesterday. Fend an impasse over a hotly try, its discontent,” Philippe tem will be more transparent and Tuesday, the third day of mass the public transport stoppages Christmas “truce” – though 62% The protest is taking a heavy contested pensions overhaul, 14 Martinez of the CGT union, fairer, in particular for women demonstrations since the strike so far, while also keeping people also said they support the strike. toll on businesses during one of days into a crippling transport France’s second largest, said after and low earners, by raising the began on December 5. from travelling for the holidays. Train operator SNCF has the busiest periods of the year, strike that is casting a shadow his meeting with Prime Minister minimum guaranteed pension to Unions have warned that they National rail operator SNCF warned that it may now be too with industry associations re- over holiday travel plans. Edouard Philippe. €1,000 ($1,100) a month from will continue the public trans- said it would assure a seat for each late to get services back to normal porting turnover losses of 30- President Emmanuel Macron An Elabe poll released yester- 2022. port strike through Christmas if passenger who bought a holiday by December 25, and several uni- 60% from a year earlier. is “willing to improve” the plan, day found that six in 10 respond- It would also help plug a defi cit necessary, something the gov- ticket on high-speed TGV trains versities have cancelled or post- Geoff roy Roux de Bezieux, his offi ce said ahead of the meet- ents (57%) opposed the project, forecast to reach up to €17bn by ernment is hoping to avoid with for the coming weekend, though poned year-end exams. head of the Medef employers’ as- ings, but rejected a demand by an increase of eight points from 2025 if nothing is done. the new round of talks, expected many will face time and date More disruptions are expected sociation, told journalists after unions to drop the plan outright. a week earlier, with just 43% ap- Pressure mounted against the to continue Thursday. changes, and disruptions are still today, including for the Eurostar meeting with Philippe yesterday The government is strug- proving. government this week when it “Obviously we are ready to expected on regional lines. and Thalys trains serving London that he asked for fi nancial relief gling to win over support for its The government has come un- had to scramble to replace the top work on a compromise,” gov- Just one in three TGVs were and Brussels. for businesses impacted by the points-based pension system, der fi re in particular over a “pivot offi cial overseeing the pension ernment spokeswoman Sibeth running yesterday, and only half Both the Garnier and Bastille strike.

Farmers block Gibraltar takes Spain’s highways over far-right party to court Reuters “These are the sorts of prac- Madrid tices that were employed in pollution rules the 1930s in Germany by the National Socialists of Hit- he government of Gi- ler in whipping up aggression Reuters ways across the country. braltar has fi led a crimi- against the Jewish people,” Amsterdam One tractor carried a banner Tnal complaint against Picardo told parliament on saying “no farmers, no food”, four leaders of Spain’s far- yesterday. “These are the sorts echoing their central argument. right Vox party over its “nar- of practices we have seen in the utch farmers and con- Dozens of tractors gathered rative of unabashed hatred” Balkans at the time of ethnic struction workers blocked outside the “media park” in the towards the people of Gibral- cleansing.” Droads with tractors yes- city of Hilversum, the country’s tar, the chief minister of the Vox did not immediately re- terday and gathered outside the main broadcasting hub. British overseas territory said turn a request for comment. offi ces of national broadcaster Farmers are “written off ” in yesterday. The government said it had NOS in the latest of a series of the media as useless and de- Vox, which surged to be- also petitioned Spanish pros- protests over environmental pol- pendent on subsidies, said one come Spain’s third-largest ecutors to investigate an on- lution rules. unidentifi ed spokesman. party after winning 52 parlia- line group known as Gibraltar: The protests began after a “We’re not looking for more mentary seats in November’s Espanol, which it described court ruling in May found the money or a better contract, but general election, campaigned as an “echo chamber for anti- Netherlands in violation of EU for more respect and fewer rules,” on a fi ercely nationalist plat- Gibraltar propaganda of Vox”. rules on “reactive nitrogen” pol- he said. form that includes Gibraltar’s The government added that lution, sparking a political debate The Dutch Senate passed a law return to Spanish control. it would raise its concerns with over how to respond. on Tuesday containing measures Gibraltar’s government ac- the social media platforms that Farms are a major source of to tackle the nitrogen problem, cused the party of publishing host the group. excess nitrogen, along with the including a measure that will a series of statements that dis- “The hovernment will leave construction and transport in- lower the speed limit to 100kph paraged residents and which no stone unturned to ensure dustries, and farmers feel they nationwide from March. were “designed to create an that the promulgators of anti- are being unfairly singled out. Other protests yesterday took atmosphere of hatred among Gibraltarian hate are prosecut- Convoys of tractors and scat- place on highways, in The Hague, Spaniards towards Gibraltar- ed to the fullest extent of the tered demonstrations disrupted and near a Shell refi nery in Rot- Dutch farmers use tractors to blockade the A9 Highway at Uitgeest, north of Amsterdam, to protest a ians”, Chief Minister Fabian law,” it added. rush hour traffi c on major motor- terdam. clampdown on nitrogen emissions that they claim could wreak havoc on their businesses. Picardo told Gibraltar’s parlia- With a population of around ment. 30,000 people and a land area Filed in Spain, the com- of nearly 7sq km, the rocky plaints stemmed from state- peninsula at the mouth of ments and social media posts the Mediterranean has been a in which the Vox leaders re- point of contention between Italy heads for vote on cutting lawmaker numbers ferred to the territory as a Spain and Britain for centuries. “leech”, a “parasite” and a “den Spain ceded the port to of money launderers”, local Britain in 1713 after a war, but Reuters which is needed for constitu- The parliamentary commit- from eurozone reform to migrant on the organising committee for newspaper Gibraltar Chronicle continues to claim sovereignty Rome tional changes. tee in charge of the petition an- rights. the petition. reported. over it. However, many parliamentar- nounced yesterday that it had M5S has long argued that The full list of signatories was ians quickly set to work to try to garnered the 64 signatures re- 1,000-odd generously paid par- to be made public at a news con- talian parliamentarians have block the reform, which would quired in the senate. liamentarians are too many and a ference later in the day. German minister to face court gathered enough signatures reduce the number of deputies to The referendum still has to be waste of taxpayers’ money. With many parliamentarians Ito put to a referendum a law 400 from 630 and cut the sena- approved by the constitutional It made the reform a key con- apparently fearing for their seats, Germany’s Interior Minister Horst Seehofer will have to face the that has already been approved, tors to 200 from 315. court before its date can be set, dition for forming a government the referendum could increase country’s Federal Constitutional Court in February over a critical which would have cut their Constitutional reforms in- but the court is considered un- with the centre-left Democratic the risk of a government collapse interview statement he made about the far-right Alternative for number by a third at the next volving the workings of parlia- likely to withhold its consent. Party (PD) in September, after early next year. Germany (AfD) party last year. election. ment can be halted and put to a The setback for the reform is the collapse of its previous coali- This is because if there is an In an interview with DPA in September 2018, Seehofer described The law, championed by the referendum if one-fi fth of the likely to infuriate the anti-es- tion with Matteo Salvini’s right- election before the referendum the behaviour of the AfD in the German parliament, the Bundestag, ruling 5-Star Movement (M5S), members of one of the houses tablishment M5S and could ac- wing League. takes place, it will be held under towards President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as “state-destroying”. was approved in October by an sign a petition requesting it centuate tensions in the ruling However, numerous PD law- the current rules envisaging the The AfD accused Seehofer of improperly using state resources to overwhelming majority after the within three months of the re- coalition whose parties are al- makers have come out against election of all 1,000-odd parlia- disseminate a party political statement. long passage through parliament form being passed in parliament. ready at odds over a raft of issues the reform and one of them was mentarians. Seehofer sees no violation of his neutrality obligation as a minister.

Cutting-edge ‘tree’ displays airport contraband EU ombudsman who tangled

AFP with top offi cials is re-elected Vilnius

AFP Selmayr, who was chief of information commissioner be- taff at the Lithuanian airport in Vil- Strasbourg staff to then commission presi- fore coming to Brussels, thanked nius came up with a sharp idea to re- dent Jean-Claude Juncker, was parliament for its support. Smind travellers that safety comes fi rst: slipped into the powerful post “For the next fi ve years, I will a Christmas tree made of confi scated knives he European Union (EU)’s of secretary general in February help ensure the EU maintains the and toy guns. ombudsman was re-elect- 2018. highest standards in administra- The “tree” on display in the airport depar- Ted yesterday after six years O’Reilly found that proper tion, transparency and ethics,” tures hall stands 1.5m (5’) tall and was deftly in which she has tangled with procedures had not been fol- she said. made and decorated using items that passen- some of Brussels’ most senior lowed in the snap appointment, “One priority will remain gers had to leave behind during screening. offi cials in the name of transpar- and that Juncker’s commission tackling the lack of the transpar- “Knives, scissors, lighters, blades, and all ency. had been guilty of maladminis- ency of EU law making by na- sorts of other dangerous goods – this Christ- Emily O’Reilly, an Irish former tration. tional governments in Brussels,” mas tree has them all,” airport spokesman journalist turned government Following her damning report, she said. Tadas Vasiliauskas told AFP. watchdog, received 320 out of the European Parliament de- EU laws are proposed by the “If you don’t want your personal, yet pro- 600 votes cast in the European manded Selmayr’s resignation. European Commission, but be- hibited, belonging to land on our Christmas Parliament, giving her a new Juncker stood by his close col- fore a text is approved it must be tree next year, you’d better check out the bag- fi ve-year mandate. league, who remained in post, passed by both parliament and gage requirements before packing for your She has issued reports on sev- but this year Selmayr stepped the member states. next fl ight,” he added. eral complaints, most famously aside and he has been appointed The ombudsman’s offi ce was Vilnius airport has served more than 4.6mn when she said the European to be EU representative in Vi- created by the 1992 Masstricht A woman takes a picture of a ‘Christmas tree’ made and decorated using items that passengers so far this year, according to offi - Commission had broken its own enna. treaty to provide independent passengers had to leave behind during screening, displayed at the airport departures’ cial statistics posted the Lithuania Aiports rules in promoting senior offi cial O’Reilly, who was the Irish oversight of the work of the EU hall of Vilnius Airport in Vilnius. website. Martin Selmayr. government’s ombudsman and institutions. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 19 INDIA

MANDATE Honour DEVELOPMENT CALL WEATHER Campaigning ends for final Shashi Tharoor named for Centre okays Kerala’s Srinagar’s Jama Mosque Delhi witnesses coldest phase of Jharkhand poll Sahitya Akademi Award semi-high speed rail project reopens for prayers morning of season

Campaigning ended yesterday for 16 seats going Author, politician and diplomat Shashi Tharoor Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday The historic Jama Mosque in Srinagar reopened The national capital yesterday witnessed the to polls in the fifth and final phase of Jharkhand was yesterday among the 23 writers named for claimed through a Facebook post that the for prayers for the first time yesterday after the coldest morning of the season with the temperature Assembly elections. The vote will take place the Sahitya Akademi Award 2019 for his book An Centre had given in-principle approval to the revocation of Article 370 on August 5. The call recorded at 7 degrees Celsius, a notch below the on December 20. Over 4,005,200 voters in the Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India in the Rs66,000crore (Rs660bn) Thiruvananthapuram- for mid-day prayer (Zuhr) surprised the residents season’s average, the weather off ice said yesterday. Santhal Pargana region will seal the electoral creative non-fiction in English category, Sahitya Kasaragod semi-high speed rail corridor project. living around the area. The grand mosque was first On Tuesday, Delhi recorded day temperature fate of 237 candidates, including 29 women. In Akademi secretary K Sreenivasa Rao announced. The order was issued by the Ministry of Railways. cleaned by the mosque authorities – Anjuman- of 12.9 degrees Celsius, which was the lowest in 2014, the BJP and the JMM had won six seats The awards, comprising an engraved copper It’s joint venture of the Kerala government e-Auqaf – headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who December in the last 16 years. Many places in the each, the Congress three and the JVM one seat. plaque, a shawl and Rs100,000 in cash, will be and the Ministry of Railways, named Silver also heads a faction of Hurriyat Conference. northern plains such as Chandigarh and Amritsar The important candidates in the fray include Raj given away on February 25 during the Akademi’s Line, is envisaged to cut travel time between The mosque off icials also checked the sound were colder in the day than Shimla. Chandigarh Paliwar, Louis Marandi and Randhir Singh, all Festival of Letters. They relate to books first Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod from system before call for prayer emanated from the recorded a maximum temperature of 11 degrees ministers in the Raghubar Das cabinet. Hemant published during the five years immediately 12 hours to 4 hours. Kerala Rail Development minarets. Since August 5, no prayers were held Celsius, while Shimla saw a high of 14.9 degrees Soren, the chief ministerial candidate of the preceding the year of award. Tharoor’s book Corporation, implementing agency for the 540km at the mosque. The authorities lifted restrictions Celsius, while Palampur recorded a maximum of 14 Congress-JMM-RJD combine, is contesting from appeared in 2016. A masterful weaver of words, double-line project, had submitted the proposal on prayers last month. “We decided to clean the degrees Celsius. Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab Dumka as well as Barhet. In the last Assembly Tharoor is the author of bestsellers like Why I to the Ministry of Railways for building third and mosque today (Wednesday) and conducted Zuhr and Ambala in Haryana recorded maximum day and the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had dented this Am A Hindu, The Paradoxical Prime Minister and fourth lines between Thiruvananthapuram and and Asr (afternoon) prayers for the first time after temperatures of 11.5 degrees Celsius, 14.2 degrees JMM stronghold. Inglorious Empire. Kasaragod. August 5,” said a senior Auqaf member. Celsius and 13.8 degrees Celsius, respectively. Mistry restored as Nirbhaya case: SC rejects Tata Group chief IANS New Delhi

n a major turn of events, convict’s review petition the National Company ILaw Appellate Tribunal IANS review petition was a mirror (NCLAT) yesterday ordered New Delhi image of petitions of the other the restoration of Cyrus Mis- convicts. “The grounds raised try as the chairman of Tata in the present review petition Group. Cyrus Mistry he Supreme Court of In- are almost a repetition of the The appellate tribunal, dia yesterday ruled that arguments raised in the earlier however, allowed for suspen- restoration order will be op- TNirbhaya gang-rape and review petitions which were sion of part of the order on erational after four weeks and murder convict Akshay Kumar rejected and in our view, can- reinstatement of Mistry as Tata Group can appeal in the Singh’s age, socio-economic not be raised repeatedly,” it executive chairman of Tata Supreme Court during this background, unblemished ante- said. Sons for four weeks, which period. cedents and chances to reform The court told Singh’s lawyer means Mistry will have to be The bench further said that fade into insignifi cance as the that review petition is not for re- reinstated as chairman only the NCLT Mumbai bench’s off ence committed by him falls hearing of the appeal on re-ap- after said period. Tata Group, order dismissing Mistry’s under “rarest of rare” cases, and preciation of the evidence over during this time, can ap- charges against the group over therefore the death penalty is and over again, and a party is peal against the order in the his ouster was avoidable. confi rmed. not entitled to seek review of the Supreme Court. It also held the proceed- Singh had moved the apex judgment merely for the purpose The two judge bench headed ings of the board meeting of court seeking a review on the of rehearing of the appeal and a by NCLAT chairman Justice S October 24, 2016, which dis- capital punishment hand- fresh decision. J Mukhopadhaya also held missed Mistry as the executive ed down to him and other It observed that it did not fi nd the appointment of N Chan- chairman as illegal. three accused in the Nirb- any error apparent on the face drasekaran as the executive The tribunal also held the haya gang-rape and murder of the record in the apprecia- chairman as illegal. conversion of the company case. The top court upheld tion of evidence or the fi ndings In his plea, Mistry had, from a public company to pri- the death penalty in 2017 and of the judgment of May 5, 2017. among other allegations, said vate as illegal and has asked dismissed the review by other Therefore, none of the grounds that there is external interfer- the registrar of companies accused in 2018. raised in the review petition ence in the operations of Tata (RoC) to again recognise the A bench, headed by Justice calls for review of this judgment Parents of Nirbhaya outside the Supreme Court after the hearing of a review plea filed by one of the four Sons and the interests of the company as public. R Banumathi and comprising and thus, the review petition is men convicted in the 2012 Delhi Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, in New Delhi yesterday. minority shareholders were The company had in 2017 Justices Ashok Bhushan and A dismissed, it said. oppressed. decided to convert into a pri- S Bopanna, said: “In light of the Solicitor General Tushar Court and also by the Supreme wants to fi le a mercy petition to fi le mercy petition before the Thereby, in another ma- vate company whereby the aggravating circumstances and Mehta, representing the gov- Court. “And, the High Court before the President, and sought President. “We are not express- jor blow for Ratan Tata, the shareholders would not be considering that the case falls ernment, submitted that the and the Supreme Court upheld three weeks’ time. Mehta con- ing view in this regards, and the former group chairman, the able to trade their shares, within the category of ‘rarest of evidence adduced by the pros- the fi ndings as to the guilt of the tested this, stating the prescribed accused can avail the relief for tribunal directed him to stay which was vehemently op- rare cases’, the death penalty is ecution and the defence plea has accused and also the sentence.” time limit is only one week. mercy petition as per the stipu- away from the operations of posed by Mistry and his family confi rmed.” been considered threadbare both Singh’s lawyer contended However, the top court refused lated time limit available in law,” the board. who have 18.4% stake in Tata The top court noted Singh’s by the trial court, the Delhi High before the court that his client to pass an order on the time limit it said. The NCLAT said that the Sons. Protests against citizenship law spread countrywide AFP tract huge crowds were planned New Delhi for today in major cities across SC refuses to stop implementation of citizenship law the vast nation. India’s Supreme Court turned with parts of the Indian At least 21 people, including resh protests broke out down a plea yesterday to Constitution guaranteeing 12 policemen, were injured in across India yesterday as stop the implementation of a equality to all. the Delhi clashes in Seelampur Fauthorities banned large new citizenship law based on Supreme Court Chief Justice S A district on Tuesday, with police gatherings in parts of the capital religion, but said it would hold Bobde refused requests to hold fi ring tear gas after thousands of in an eff ort to contain nation- hearings next month. off the implementation of the protesters threw stones and set wide rallies and riots against a “We want a stay order in the law, which came into eff ect last fi re to buses and a police outpost. citizenship law. CAA case,” said Kapil Sibal, week. The court will however Eight people were arrested for The demonstrations over a lawyer for petitioners who hear petitions challenging the rioting and arson, police said. the past few days have turned challenged the law in court, constitutional validity of the law Another six people were ar- violent, with six people dead adding it was in conflict on January 22. rested in West Bengal state for in the northeastern state of As- hurling a bomb at policemen Supporters of Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, attend a protest march against the sam and with police fi ring tear on Tuesday that injured seven new citizenship law, in Kolkata yesterday. gas and arresting hundreds of Mumbai crowd burst into a Hin- of more than four people was offi cers. people. di version of the US civil rights imposed in some Muslim-dom- In Uttar Pradesh, more than were arrested for drawing a Nazi norities from Muslim-majority straint and urge full respect for In Mumbai, hundreds of people movement anthem “We shall inated districts of the city. 110 people were arrested over the symbol beside the Modi’s rul- neighbours. the rights of freedom of opinion under tight security carried plac- overcome”. Rallies were also held in other protests, or for posting on social ing BJP party’s lotus logo on the The UN secretary-general’s and expression and peaceful as- ards with the words “India is ours” “I am not surprised to see states including West Bengal, media, police said. wall of the police headquarters in spokesman Stephane Dujarric sembly,” he added. and chanted “we are all one”. people of all religions come out Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Hostels at the state’s Aligarh Vadodara city. said Tuesday the global body was Authorities have imposed In- “We just cannot go along with to protest this bill.” There were sporadic clashes Muslim University were emptied Modi has remained defi ant in “concerned about the violence ternet blackouts and used force this bill. I can’t believe we now Demonstrators, mostly young between police and demonstra- after residents were told by the the face of the protests and said and alleged use of excessive force to shut down rallies and sit-ins, have to prove our citizenship people, again gathered outside tors in some cities as well as administration to start winter the law would not aff ect Indian by security forces that we’ve seen but protesters have vowed to after living in India for so many Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia uni- small counter-protests. vacations early. nationals but protect persecut- that have been taking place”. keep up their fi ght until the law years,” Tabeer Rizvi said as the versity as the ban on gatherings Demonstrations tipped to at- In Gujarat state, fi ve people ed Hindu, Sikh and other mi- “We very much call for re- is revoked. As the going gets tough, Indians get going ... to the movies By Vishal Manve, AFP and ride off into the sunset for the movie business has been ic slowdown was overstated, conditioned comfort, distracted spected trade portal Box Offi ce during a slowdown and instead Mumbai the customary happy ending. pushing ahead at full throttle. sparking a fl ood of criticism. from their troubles. India show a nearly 19% increase splurge on smaller indulgences. In the last 12 months, Maneck With some 1,800 releases in Nevertheless, industry fi gures Dinner at a casual restaurant in earnings between 2006 and With the exception of high- lost her job, moved back home and 2018, India is home to the world’s indicate that even as Indians cut costs signifi cantly more. 2009. end multiplexes, ticket prices s a prolonged economic then had to scrounge for funds to biggest fi lm-making machine back on buying essential items In 2018/19, as India’s econ- Conversely, when the econo- are very low in India compared slowdown forces Indians pay for her father’s surgery. and Bollywood is arguably its including fruits and vegetables, omy worsened, PVR’s annual my picked up steam in 2014 on to other markets, undercutting Ato curb spending on eve- Her only respite came in the most highest-profi le star. movie ticket sales have only in- earnings jumped by nearly a optimism surrounding the elec- profi ts but making movies an rything from underwear to auto- form of a movie ticket, she said, Despite the market entry of creased. third to $435mn. This year is set tion of Prime Minister Narendra accessible luxury for many fi lm- mobiles, business in Bollywood describing her cherished Friday global video streaming play- “Films are the lowest hang- to be even better, Gianchandani Modi, movie revenues actually crazy Indians. has never been better – off ering night routine that always in- ers such as Netfl ix and Amazon ing fruit for many to access en- said, as more and more people fell to $511mn from $525mn the For graphic designer Shruti audiences an escape from the in- cludes a trip to the cinema. Prime, the homegrown industry tertainment without spending seek cheap escapist fare. year before, according to the Kulkarni, the cinema off ers an creasingly grim daily grind. “The current economic situation retains a powerful hold on the much during a slowdown,” said A similar trend appeared to be website. opportunity to leave a cramped And the cash registers are likely is very frustrating,” said the 29-year- Indian imagination. Kamal Gianchandani, chief ex- under way during the 2008 glo- The trend evokes comparisons house and unwind. Downloading a to keep ringing, with high-pro- old who now works as a marketing “In 2019, Bollywood has been ecutive offi cer, PVR Cinemas, bal fi nancial crisis, when movie to the oft-quoted “Lipstick Index”, fi lm on her smartphone or laptop fi le fi lms such as superstar Sal- executive in the western city of Bar- performing exceptionally well in the country’s largest operator of revenues grew as India’s econo- a term coined by Leonard Lauder, is simply not the same, she said. man Khan’s Dabangg 3 (Fearless 3) oda. “Watching movies is a great way the last three quarters and has multi-screen theatres. my stumbled. chairman of the US cosmetics “There is something about scheduled for release this week as a to escape reality,” she said. grown by 15% in comparison to For the relatively aff ordable There is no single offi cial giant Estee Lauder, in the early watching a movie in a theatre blockbuster season comes to a close. She is not the only one who last year,” Mumbai-based fi lm sum of Rs75 rupees (about $1), a source for fi lm revenues due to 2000s to explain why lipstick sales where you are alone, yet sur- Ankita Maneck will be among thinks so. As New Delhi strug- trade analyst Girish Johar said. moviegoer living in India’s most India’s complex distribution go up during a downturn. rounded by hundreds of stran- the millions queueing to see gles to kickstart the limping The Bollywood boom even expensive city Mumbai can ven- system covering thousands of The reasoning is that con- gers and sharing the same Khan beat up bad guys, break economy, with quarterly growth prompted a government minis- ture to a single-screen cinema independent exhibitors. sumers apparently hold back experience. I enjoy it,” the into song-and-dance numbers recently falling to a six-year low, ter to claim that India’s econom- and spend three hours in air- But fi gures from widely re- on making big-ticket purchases 26-year-old said. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, December 19, 2019 PAKISTAN

Opposition parties hail ‘historic’ verdict Govt moves to appeal against former ruler

Internews death penalty to Musharraf Islamabad had written a new chapter in the country’s history. With this “momentous ver- Musharraf sentence ajor opposition par- dict”, she said, the court had ties have termed the blocked any future attempts Internews Mspecial court’s verdict to abrogate the Constitution Islamabad in the high treason case against and trample the constitutional former military ruler General rights of the people. Pervez Musharraf a “historic Aurangzeb said the verdict erming the high treason one”, terming it a good omen had set the direction of the trial against former mili- for democracy and supremacy country’s future. “A new era of Ttary ruler General Pervez of the Constitution. the people’s right to self-gov- Musharraf “unfair”, the Pakistan Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ernance and supremacy of the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) govern- chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zard- Constitution will ensue after ment has decided to defend the ari, while talking to reporters this decision.” self-exiled, ailing former presi- in Ghotki, Sindh, termed it a Aurangzeb, who had served dent during the hearing of an ap- “democratic verdict”, express- as information minister in peal to be fi led on his behalf. Attorney-General Khan with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on ing the hope that the country’s the previous PML-N govern- “I will defend the law in the Information Awan. courts would now onward con- ment and has recently returned case but not any individual,” said tinue to issue democratic rul- from London after consulta- Attorney-General Anwar Man- court, and that the judgment was care unit (ICU) in Dubai. ings. tive meetings with the party soor in the late-night joint press announced in absentia without “Musharraf was not given a “In the past, our institu- leadership, said this decision conference that he addressed recording a statement of the ac- chance to record his statement tions always stood with non- against a military dictator along with Special Assistant to cused. under Article 342 (of the Consti- democratic forces. After this stood out as the most unique the Prime Minister on Informa- The attorney-general said the tution), to present his testimony verdict, we can hope that our verdict in the country’s judicial tion Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan. verdict raised questions about and witnesses, and his request courts will side with justice history. He said Musharraf had not “urgency in pronouncing the to record his statement through and democracy for all days to She said the court had been given the right to a fair trial judgment when Musharraf was in video link or before a commission come,” the PPP chairman said reached the decision in the during the case tried in a special critical condition” in an intensive was turned down by the judge,” he Musharraf: living in self-imposed exile overseas. while commenting on the ver- light of all available evidence added. dict of the special court against and witnesses and set a new No one above law: Amnesty on Musharraf sentence “There is no question that a everyone can comment on it.” for creating a fuss in Lahore, the former military dictator precedence with regards to person who had committed trea- At the same time, Mansoor then people can also comment on for imposing emergency in the Article 6 of the Constitution Amnesty International, a leading campaigner for human rights, said that son must be punished but in this added, he had tried his best to get Musharraf.” country in November 2007. while ruling in the light of the Pakistan’s judgment against former military ruler General Pervez Mushar- case the right of fair trial guaran- a copy of the judgment but he was “Had the people stopped doing Asked if the politicians who past judicial precedence. raf proved that no one was above the law but strongly opposed the death teed under the Constitution was told by the court that it would be politics when ex-PM Bhutto was had supported Musharraf’s ac- “This decision will also serve sentence. not ensured,” Mansoor said. “A issued after 48 hours. hanged?” he asked, and again ap- tions should also receive pun- as a milestone in establishing Earlier in the day, Musharraf was convicted of ‘high treason’ and sen- trial should not just be fair but Awan, meanwhile, criticised pealed to the nation to move for- ishment, the PPP chairman the constitutional importance tenced to death for suspending the Constitution when he imposed a state also seen to be fair.” the opposition for “maligning the ward after the high treason case said: “There is a lot of debate as of parliament, its members of emergency in November 2007. The attorney-general argued army” and “harming the interest verdict. to the scope of the treason law elected by the people of Pa- Responding to the conviction, Amnesty International’s deputy South Asia before the media that one of the of the state” by commenting on Chan, however, demanded that and whether it should [have kistan and the truly elected director, Omar Waraich, said: “No one is above the law, and it is encourag- major fl aws in the case was that the decision. action be taken against the ac- included] the 1999 incident prime ministers of the Islamic ing to see Pakistan break with a history of impunity for powerful generals. those who might have assisted In a TV talk show, spokesman complices of Musharraf who had [coup] or the 2007 incident. Republic of Pakistan,” she con- “At the same time, it is crucial that he receives a fair trial without recourse Musharraf in enforcing emergen- for the prime minister Nadeem assisted him or endorsed his act of “But we should talk about cluded. to the death penalty.” cy in the country “had not been Afzal Chan said that institutions enforcing emergency in the coun- what is in front of us. It is a his- Awami National Party (ANP) Amnesty has been campaigning for decades for the abolition of death made party” in the case. should not get themselves in- try in 2007. toric decision.” president Asfandyar Wali penalty. He said that if Musharraf had volved in any controversy on the The Muttahida Qaumi Move- Zardari said that several cas- Khan, in a statement issued “The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punish- been given a chance to record his judgment, as it is a verdict against ment – Pakistan (MQM-P) termed es, including the murder case from Wali Bagh in Charsadda, ment; it metes out vengeance, not justice,” said Waraich while explaining statement and present his wit- an individual. the decision against Musharraf of his mother and former prime said the special court’s verdict the group’s position on this issue. nesses, he might have come up He also urged the nation and “extremely regrettable”. minister Benazir Bhutto, were against the former military Amnesty, however, said that Musharraf and the government he led must with “logical” reasons in support institutions to move forward and “What kind of justice is this, still pending before courts and ruler was a “good omen for be held to account for all human rights violations committed during their of emergency he had proclaimed not to get themselves involved in that those looted national wealth these cases should also be de- supremacy of democracy and time in off ice, not just a select few. in 2007. any controversy. are considered patriots but the cided. parliament”. The statement also listed the violations that the Musharraf government Mansoor further argued that “Here [in the country] we have man who put his life at stake for PPP secretary-general He criticised the Pakistan committed while in power. the complaint against the former faced hanging of prime minister the sake of country has been de- Farhatullah Babar said in a Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) govern- “It includes extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, president had been fi led by a Zulfi kar Ali Bhutto, assassina- clared a traitor,” wondered MQM- statement that history would ment for allegedly favouring arbitrary detentions, deaths in custody, unlawful killings and other serious former interior secretary, whereas tion of ex-prime minister Bena- P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool record that for the fi rst time on the former military ruler. human rights violations committed against the political opposition, hu- under the 18th Amendment, only zir Bhutto, and horrible tragedy Siddiqui in his reaction to the spe- a cold December day in 2019, The ANP chief said that on man rights defenders, members of civil society and suspected members a prime minister and members of of Army Public School, but [we] cial court’s verdict. almost coinciding with the an- the one hand, the ruling party of armed groups,” the group said. his cabinet have the power to au- moved forward,” he added. He demanded that Musharraf, niversary of ignominious sur- talked about the rule of law During Musharraf’s nearly nine-year rule, Amnesty International docu- thorise any person for fi ling such The spokesman is of the opin- who he said was very ill, be given render in the then-East Paki- and, on the other, it was sup- mented widespread human rights violations conducted by his govern- petitions/complaints. ion that all stakeholders should an opportunity to defend himself. stan, “a former dictator/army porting a person who had ab- ment, including the killing, enforced disappearances and torture of Asked if he committed a con- exercise patience on the judg- The Mustafa Kamal-led Pak general was sentenced to death rogated the Constitution. members of armed groups, political activists and human rights defenders. tempt of court by declaring the ment. Sarzameen Party has also rejected for committing high treason by He said Musharraf had vio- Rimmel Mohydin, a campaigner for Amnesty International, said that while trial “unfair” during his media He said: “When we criticise the special court verdict, saying subverting the Constitution”. lated the Constitution and Musharraf “deserve(d) punishment” and has “committed many, many talk, the attorney-general said: the judiciary for not taking deci- that “legal and constitutional ob- “The doors of subverting used diff erent tactics to delay crimes”, awarding of a death penalty was “wrong”. “Once the verdict is announced, sions against military generals, ligations had not been met in the Constitution may not have the case proceedings. it becomes a public document and and when we condemn lawyers case against General Musharraf”. been shut permanently by the He said Prime Minister Im- verdict, but it will put on no- ran Khan should clarify his tice all tinpot dictators, future previous statements if his gov- Bonapartes and adventurers ernment challenged the verdict to think multiple times before in the Supreme Court. adventurism. This is a great The ANP chief said the fami- Pakistan ‘fi ghting climate change through mitigation’ day, a milestone on the journey lies of the victims of the May towards triumph of the Con- 12, 2007 incident in Karachi stitution over dictatorship,” were also waiting for justice. Internews with development partners. He said the momentum of He said it was the fi rst time country to the impacts of cli- Babar said. National Party’s Punjab Islamabad He was speaking at an event, COP25 from the very beginning when young leaders not only mate change, Aslam said that the He said the judges, who had president Ayub Malik also Media debriefi ng on the 25th was negative due to riots in Chile participated in COP25 but were ranking was based on the average delivered this verdict, upheld “welcomed” the decision. United Nations Conference of (owning to which COP shifted to also provided opportunities to of the last 20 years of climate im- the supremacy of the Consti- In a statement, he said those dviser to Prime Minister the Parties (COP25) on climate Spain), the right-wing govern- present their thoughts and vi- pacts where many countries were tution and joined the ranks of nations which allowed abroga- on Climate Change Malik change, organised by the Sus- ment in Brazil (which converted sion. automatically excluded from it. nation’s heroes. tion of their constitutions were AAmin Aslam said Pakistan tainable Development Policy In- Amazon forest land into agricul- The youth leadership has be- He added that it does not mean “As for Musharraf, let him considered to be “failed states”. has no option but to fi ght climate stitute (SDPI). ture land), and backing out of de- come the key stakeholder of cli- that the government was do- live and even strut around. As In Pakistan, he said, the change through eff ective mitiga- Aslam said Pakistan had a clear veloped countries from climate mate negotiations. ing nothing to combat climate long this badge of ignominy Constitution had been sub- tion and adaptation measures to fi ve-point agenda for climate negotiations. He said COP25 could not change. and dishonour hangs around verted many a times by the dic- save its future generations from change mitigation – planting “Despite the negative momen- conclude on any agreement or SDPI executive director Dr his neck, the purpose of the tators, and the judiciary in the the dire consequences. 10bn trees, transforming trans- tum of COP25, Pakistan’s eff orts achievement at the global level Abid Qaiyum Suleri said the verdict would have been more past had always validated these He also said with a forward- port into electric vehicle and and contribution to combat cli- mainly due to the disagreement mega talks on the climate change than served,” he went on say- subversions on fl imsy pretexts. looking focused vision on climate 30% clean energy transforma- mate change such as the billion on the carbon trading market be- remained inconclusive due to ing. Malik said that as the spe- change mitigation and adapta- tion target by 2030, materialising tree tsunami, growing man- tween developed and developing lack of resolve of the interna- Pakistan Muslim League – cial court decision was given tion, nature-based solutions, making groves forest cover, Clean and countries. tional community. Nawaz (PML-N) information against an individual, and not Pakistan successfully launched Pakistan plastic-bag free and re- Green Pakistan programme etc, Clarifying recent German However, Pakistan proved yet secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb against an institution, there its Ecosystem Restoration Fund charging Pakistan programme to received global recognition and Watch Ranking where Paki- again its resolve to remain com- said in a statement that the should be no anguish and pain at the side event of COP25 along tackle fl oods. appreciation at the conference.” stan ranked 5th most vulnerable mitted to climate agenda. court’s decision to hand the over it.

Malala becomes the face of Teen Vogue Two gunned down in attack on

Internews cluding Greta Thunberg, Emma thousands of women and girls polio vaccination security team Islamabad Gonzalez, Mari Copeny, Edna in all parts of the world who are Chavez, Xiye Bastida, Jamie standing up. Some of them we Margolin, and Naomi Wadler, to don’t even know – their names Reuters/AFP/DPA/Internews gathering at a health centre be- religious hardliners over the past efore the end of 2019 and name only a few. would never be known – but Peshawar/Islamabad fore heading out with polio vac- year have raised a scare on social a decade, Nobel Peace And in many ways, the fi rst they’re changing their commu- cinators, said police offi cial Arif media that some children were Blaureate Malala Yousafzai among them was Yousafzai. nities.” Shahbaz. being poisoned and dying from has reached yet another mile- She is now 22-years-old – Malala then concluded how unmen shot and killed “The vaccinators were un- contaminated vaccines. stone as she became the face of over the decade, after recover- this wave of young women from two police offi cers escort- hurt,” added Shahbaz. In the past, militants have Teen Vogue. ing from the attempted assas- even the under-developed and Ging a polio vaccination Another police offi cer con- called vaccination teams foreign Before closing out their sination, she went on to become developing countries have be- team, forcing a suspension of fi rmed the incident and the toll. agents, and peddled conspiracy #20teens, the magazine accu- a global activist, with the goal of come aware of their power and the immunisation campaign in Police offi cial Sultan Ghani theories that their campaigns mulated a list of defi ning char- securing girls’ access to educa- rights – and that is bound to a district of northwest Pakistan, said: “The polio campaign has were a ploy to sterilise Muslims. acteristic from the last 10 years, tion. bring change. where the crippling disease is en- been suspended after the inci- Pakistan’s government has concluding that the rise of youth She recently co-founded the “For me to see millions and demic. dent in the area.” tried to counter those falsehoods activism has remained the most Malala Fund and collaborated millions of young people, not Previous attacks have been On Monday Pakistan launched with public education cam- prominent feature. with Zayn Malik for its promo- just in the US, not just in the inspired by religious hardlin- an anti-polio vaccination cam- paigns, recruiting Muslim reli- The last decade was a decade tions. Emma (Gonzalez) and Greta are UK – the so-called developed ers spreading false rumours, and paign to target more than 39mn gious leaders to reassure people of youth activism, but the next She wrote a book. coming forward, talking about countries but from all across the latest ambush of a vaccina- children under the age of fi ve. that the vaccine only protects one is going to be about youth At 17, she was the youngest- climate change, gun violence, the world, in Pakistan, in India, tion team comes at a time when More than 260,000 polio their children. change-making. ever recipient of the Nobel and diff erent issues that impact in Kenya, you see these young the polio cases in Pakistan have workers and security staff are The involvement of a Pakistani Vogue defi nes these young- Peace Prize. all of us makes it certain that all girls, especially women that are jumped from 12 to over 100 in the visiting door-to-door to admin- doctor in helping US intelligence sters as intersectional; aware of And after having done all of this is going to aff ect the fu- coming forward, and you also last one year, making it only one ister the vaccine to children. agents to locate the whereabouts class and race dynamics and bi- that, she was accepted to Oxford ture generations.” see older people in the crowds of three countries in the world Of the 104 total polio cases in of Osama bin Laden had fuelled nary gender systems, inclusive University, where she is study- She went on to discuss the … I think that’s when you real- where the disease is endemic. Pakistan, 75 has been reported suspicion of the anti-polio cam- and “woke”. ing philosophy, politics, and change that will come through ise how powerful the voices of Two gunmen on a motorcycle from the northwest Pakistan, a paign, though attacks on vacci- These change makers argue economics. the youth, rather than just talk- these young people can be. carried out the attack in the Lal region plagued by Islamist mili- nation teams pre-dated the 2011 that it is not about them – and “We have seen huge progress ing about the change that has “And I think awareness is im- Qila area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tancy. killing of the Al Qaeda leader in their ranks include many teen over the last few years, and passed. portant. That’s the fi rst step to- (KP) province, near the border No one claimed responsibil- the northwestern town of Ab- girls who have led the charge in- now seeing how young girls like “There are hundreds and wards a change.” with Afghanistan, as police were ity for yesterday’s attack, though bottabad. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES Duterte urges military to crack down on rebels

By Catherine S Valente Manila Times

resident Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to Relatives and supporters of victims of the country’s worst political massacre display their photos during a candlelight vigil at a park in Pcrush the enemies of the Manila, yesterday, on the eve of a court verdict in the case. state, including the New Peo- ple’s Army (NPA), as the govern- ment continues its fi ght to defeat terrorism and insurgency in the country. He issued the order amid calls Judge to pronounce verdict on the government to declare a unilateral ceasefi re with com- munist rebels so that soldiers and civilians could celebrate the Christmas season. in massacre case today In his speech during the 84th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines By Jomar Canlas sion of the court will be up- in Quezon City, Duterte said the Manila Times held,” he added. Senator Chris- NPA, terror group Abu Sayyaf topher Lawrence “Bong” Go and kidnap-for-ransom groups said the victims’ wait for justice were destroying the lives of Fili- en years after the coun- had taken too long thus, a ver- pinos. try’s most repulsive dict was overdue. “These enemies are the ter- Tcrime was committed in “They have waited for justice rorists, including the NPA, kid- Ampatuan town in Maguindan- long enough. It’s time for them nap-for-ransom groups in Jolo ao, the verdict will fi nally be to get the justice they seek. (in Sulu), and the Abu Sayyaf. Duterte: war against rebels handed by a judge who will go Those involved in the crime My order to the military is that down in history as the magis- should pay,” he said. if they fi ght back, crush them so try,” Duterte said. rebels. Last week, the presi- trate who handled the biggest He disclosed that he and that Filipinos would no longer “I assure you of my unquali- dent said he was sending La- massacre case with the most President Rodrigo Duterte have any problem,” Duterte said. fied support, especially as we bour Secretary Bello 3rd to number of accused. played a role in identifying the The president reiterated his continue our fight to defeat The Netherlands to start the Judges, justices and legal ex- location of the massacre site. support for the military, saying terrorism and violent extrem- informal talks with communist perts interviewed by Manila In earlier interviews, he would take full responsibility ism, end insurgency, and ad- leader Jose Maria Sison and try Times expect the court to de- Maguindanao Second District for his orders to go after enemies dress lingering and emerging to revive the peace talks. cide against the accused. Relatives and supporters of victims of the country’s worst political Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangu- of the state. threats to our national secu- Duterte has been sending Justice Secretary Menardo massacre light candles during a vigil at a park in Manila, yesterday, dadatu said the president was “I am therefore asking you to rity,” he added. mixed signals with regard to the Guevarra and the prosecutors on the eve of a court verdict in the case. one of the fi rst public offi cials remain committed in your duty Duterte’s statement came negotiations with communist are optimistic that members to provide assistance to the vic- as the primary force in realising nearly a week after he hinted rebels, who have been waging of the Ampatuan clan will be Muslim Mindanao government been given permission to wit- tims of the massacre. lasting peace and sustainable at the possible resumption of an armed struggle against the found guilty. “As to the princi- offi cial Zaldy Ampatuan might ness the court procedure at Duterte, then the mayor of development across our coun- peace talks with communist government for five decades. pal accused, I am confi dent. swing both ways. the Quezon City Jail Annexe at Davao City, provided the heli- But I am not sure if everyone Zaldy denied any involve- Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig copter that ferried authorities else will be convicted,” Gue- ment in the massacre and once City. to the site of the carnage. varra told Manila Times in a text off ered to testify against his kin. The Bureau of Jail Manage- Go decried the slow pace of Weekend death toll rises message. He never did. ment and Penology said al- justice. as more aft ershocks hit The crime was brazen and Guevarra agreed that Zal- though no threat was moni- “That happened 10 years ago. Govt workers to get southern Philippines gruesome: 58 people were dy’s case could be considered tored, it would impose strict Our justice system can sap our mowed down, 32 of them jour- a “gray” area and thus, he was security protocols. strength. It’s too slow,” he said. More earthquakes shook the nalists. not certain if the former gover- The Philippine National Po- The senator added that he is pay hike next year southern Philippines yesterday They were then buried in nor would be convicted. lice (PNP) would also be on optimistic that those involved as the death toll from a magni- a shallow grave, using heavy The promulgation of the de- alert, according to PNP spokes- in the crime would be found tude-6.9 quake over the weekend equipment prepositioned at the cision will be beamed live to man Brig Gen Bernard Banac. guilty. By Javier J Ismael ment would need P130.4bn rose to nine, off icials said. scene of the crime, based on the Filipinos nationwide as the Su- “The PNP urges the public to “They should pay. Whoever Manila Times to implement the salary in- Over 780 aftershocks have narration of witnesses. preme Court had allowed live remain calm, but alert and vigi- planned it and those who were creases. been recorded by the Philippine Well-placed sources of Ma- media coverage. lant,” Banac said in a statement. involved should be held li- Angara, the chairman of the Institute of Volcanology and nila Times said the verdict on As of Tuesday, 435 local and “Whatever the verdict, the able. They should pay for their overnment workers Senate Committee on Finance, Seismology (Phivolcs) since Sun- former Autonomous Region in international journalists have PNP will assure that the deci- crime,” he said. will enjoy an increase said the funding for the fi rst day’s quake near Matanao town Gin their salaries be- tranche had been provided in Davao del Sur province, 987 ginning January 2020 once in next year’s P4.1tn national kilometres south of Manila. Congress approves the fi nal budget. The strongest aftershock was version of the Salary Stand- “We are increasing the sala- recorded around 4 am yesterday ardisation Law 5 (SSL-5). The ries of our civil servants in re- (2000 GMT Tuesday), when Marcos Jr may contest in 2022 national polls Senate approved late Monday sponse to the continued hike a magnitude-5.3 quake struck Senate Bill 1219, shortly after in daily expenses such as food, south-east of nearby Padada the House of Representatives transportation and even the town. Four hours later, another By Javier J Ismael former sen- before the Supreme Court, sitting as Presi- passed its own version of the education of their children. quake measuring a 4.8 magni- Manila Times ator added dential Electoral Tribunal. measure. By hiking their salaries, tude struck in nearby Magsaysay that the He challenged the election results in Only Senate Minority Lead- we not only give them some town, Phivolcs said. presence 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces er Franklin Drilon abstained breathing room as far as their Phivolcs urged residents to stay ormer senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” of Smart- and fi ve cities in the country. from voting on the measure. fi nances is concerned, but we away from damaged structures, Marcos Jr is “defi nitely interested” matic in the Marcos had claimed that the votes ob- Sen Juan Edgardo Angara, are also motivating them to which might collapse due to the Fin running in the 2022 national elec- 2022 elec- tained by Robredo were “products of elec- who defended the bill on be- work even harder in their re- aftershocks. tions. tions would toral fraud, anomalies and irregularities.” half of its sponsor Senator spective jobs,” Angara said. “People are reminded to be But he refused to reveal if he would run be carefully Asked on the status of his petition, Mar- Ramon Revilla Jr, said the Under SSL-5, the com- cautious of structures visibly for president or for vice president. looked into cos told Manila Times that he expects his fi fth round of salary increases pensation of the lowest sal- weakened or having signs of Marcos made the revelation during an before he case to move faster next year. would be implemented in four ary grade level employee will damage...as these may be interview with Kim Bernardo Lokin, host Ferdinand Marcos Jr makes his fi - “We have just completed the comment tranches, starting January 1 be increased to P11,661 from further damaged by succeeding of the weekly talk show “Hot Seat” aired nal decision. that we are going to submit to the Presi- next year. P11,068 a month next year. earthquakes,” the institute said in on Manila Times Television. He said he Marcos ran for vice president in 2016, but dential Electoral Tribunal and we expect The succeeding rounds This will further go up to a statement on the December 15 would also have to consult his family and was defeated by Maria Leonor Robredo. He the case to start moving faster in January or will be implemented in 2021, P12.034 in 2021, P12,517 in earthquake. supporters before fi nalising his plans. The fi led an election protest against Robredo February next year,” he said. 2022 and 2023. The govern- 2022, and P13,000 in 2023. Pharmaceutical fi rms to cut prices by up to 75%

By Jaime Pilapil tive director, said. Among the to the public. Padilla said gov- the government directly with the that through the DoH, we would With this, he said, it is be- reduction on medicines, the Manila Times medicines covered for straight ernment hospitals had been the medicine manufacturers. be able to extend the same low- lieved that the proposal to im- PHAP is also offering pro- price reductions are those for source of the cheapest medicines The existence of these low er-priced medicines to the pub- pose price controls on medicines grammes that provide a holistic heart disease, diabetes, kidney in the country because they pur- prices in the market, Padilla lic,” he added. will no longer be needed. and comprehensive assistance edicine manufacturers disease, asthma, psoriasis, neu- chase in bulk from pharmaceuti- said, belied accusations that the The partnership between the “In addition, price control, to patients. are off ering to reduce rological disorders, human im- cal companies. pharmaceutical companies had government and PHAP for ac- based on experience worldwide, “We believe that medi- Mtheir prices to the pub- munodefi ciency virus and infec- “For instance, an anti-choles- been overpricing their products. cess to aff ordable medicines had cannot be sustained mainly be- cine prices in the country are lic by as much as 75% for around tious diseases. terol tablet can sell for only P0.35 “We develop medicines be- been going on for decades, ac- cause the people have no money now comparable with those in 150 medicines that cover 36 dis- Also covered by the price in a government hospital and a cause we know they will save cording to Padilla. to buy to begin with. It also leads Asean (Association of South- ease categories. reductions are medicines for tablet for hypertension can be as lives. It is a noble mission that “We believe that if the DoH is to market ineffi ciencies that will east Asian Nations). For spe- “It is actually at these levels of various types of cancer such as low as P0.19,” he said. only a few would take on because able to secure and make available hurt the public in the end,” he cific medicines, data shows prices, which we have been sell- breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, Data from the DoH-Drug medicine and vaccine research more funds for medicines for said. that prices in the Philippines ing to the government in bulk kidney, ovarian, lymphomas and Price Reference Index showed and development is a very com- the public, the issue of cheaper “The proposal to impose are even lower than our neigh- in the past years. Several of our prostate. that a medicine for breast cancer plicated process. Yet we perse- medicines will be addressed bet- price control needs further bouring nations. However, we members are prepared to extend These price reductions are was procured by the Health de- vere to develop and make them ter,” he said. study and consultation with are willing to continue working these same price reductions to generally expected to be felt partment at a price at least 74% available to as many people as Padilla added that he hopes the stakeholders. We are will- with the DoH to reduce medi- the public, if the Department of throughout the supply chain lower than the prevailing market possible. We practice responsi- the Health department and local ing to help the department and cine prices without the nega- Health (DoH) will agree,” Teo- from manufacturers down to price, while the price for a kid- ble pricing and considering the executives would agree to gov- at the same clarify any mis- tive social costs involving the doro Padilla, Pharmaceutical both government and private re- ney drug was reduced by 50%, current situation, we see now ernment hospitals being used as impressions about medicine health of the people because of and Healthcare Association of tail drugstores and pharmacies both as a result of bulk procure- the need to be explaining our outlets for the medicines that pricing in the country,” he said. reduced access to life-saving the Philippines (PHAP) execu- that dispense medicines directly ment and price negotiation by views on this matter. We believe will be sold at cheaper prices. Aside from straight price medicines,” Padilla said. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, December 19, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Musharraf verdict sign of Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko evolving power structure P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] By Kamran Rehmat 44350478 (News), Doha 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) t is the season of precedents and Pakistan is undergoing a few that 44350474 appear to redefine the contours facebook.com/gulftimes Iof the state. Many of these, to an outside observer, might seem like twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar causing deep fissures but as evident in the last decade or so, the country has defied the odds not only to survive the doomsday prediction but, in effect, strengthen the evolving system. GULF TIMES It may take a special nerve to suggest this at a time when a special court has handed the death sentence to General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, the former army chief, who ruled the California needs to country from 1999-2008, in a case of high treason — which in itself was unprecedented — and the subsequent reaction from his institution, but one get serious about would wager on the apparent upheaval leading ultimately to a more rounded national template of accommodation. The special court decision which rising sea levels has become a cause célèbre — as well as the one relating to the extension of the current army chief which the A new report from the California Legislative Supreme Court gave its verdict on Analyst’s Offi ce spotlights a dangerous incongruity in last month — has two outstanding dimensions — political and the legal how the state approaches two issues involving global one. A reasonably logical inference warming: the push to reduce emissions of Earth- cannot be reached without taking both warming greenhouse gases and what to do about into account. the already-rising seas. While the state has been an Let’s get to the legal one first, but with a backgrounder to understand international leader on the former, it is woefully behind where it’s coming from. The IN THE EYE OF A STORM: The verdict against General (retired) Pervez Musharraf is a contentious milestone, but one which may on the latter. California has not done what it should to Musharraf case has roots in a classic ultimately, come to redefine the contours of the state. prepare for coastal erosion, sea incursions into low- battle of attrition he and the then- prime minister Nawaz Sharif were as the 18th Amendment) by the appeal with the Islamabad High Court wars for the defence of the country”. lying areas (including sensitive wetlands), storm-surge involved in following the Kargil war subsequent ruling Pakistan People’s to stop the special court from issuing He expressed the institution’s fl ooding of shore communities or the possible need for in 1999. Ironically, the former was Party government with support from a verdict originally due last month on “pain and anguish” over the ruling, a forced retreat from imperilled developments at the handpicked over other senior generals the opposition Pakistan Muslim grounds that the defendant wasn’t took issue with how the case was to the powerful post by Sharif himself, League-Nawaz in 2010 after they given a fair opportunity to respond. conducted, saying, “the due legal ocean’s edge. but when rumours began to float forced Musharraf’s ouster from power The new team of prosecutors tried process seems to have been ignored” As the report points out, most of the decisions about the PM having decided to sack with the ominous threat to impeach — vainly — to push for including the and rounded off by expecting that on how to adapt to rising seas belong to local him, the general reportedly put in him. The (technical) implication is names of the-then prime minister “justice will be dispensed in line with place a contingent plan to overthrow that Musharraf is responsible for his and interior minister amongst others the constitution”. governments, yet few are paying signifi cant attention – him, if push came to shove. The script actions before then (2007) and so does to the list of co-accused in what the In a nutshell, a process of even though estimates suggest a 6-inch rise in sea level went exactly to plan as Sharif bungled not fall in violation of the treason judges felt was just an attempt to redefinition of the power structure in the next decade, which, especially during storms in doing it behind the army chief’s act dictated by the more current prolong the case and indicated lack of that took roots in the lawyers’ and extreme tides, would increase fl ooding of many back whilst he was returning from a application of law (2010). intent on the part of the prosecution. movement in 2007 against Musharraf foreign sojourn. That is not the only point of The ‘intent’ of the PTI government following his sacking of the chief beach communities. The ‘counter’ coup staged by contention, of course. Defence lawyers is apparent in what the Attorney justice is now headlong into the next Municipalities need to Musharraf was eventually validated claim the special court decision was General (AG) — the highest law officer gear. Clearly, the judiciary is asserting California has get focused. In the face by the Supreme Court that year in line reached without due process of law and of the state — said hours after the itself and the security establishment with what is known as the “doctrine of aff ording the accused an opportunity judgment in a presser. AG Anwar despite its reservations — and fury, not done what of such a significant necessity” — a euphemism to describe to explain himself (the judges observed Mansoor Khan cited relevant clauses in this case — may have to align with threat, the state needs what is strictly speaking, not within they had — at least six times!). It even from law to suggest that even the case the changing realities. Last month’s it should to to work with a sense the ambit of or desirable under the law challenged the jurisdiction of the court was “void from the beginning” in ruling in the army chief’s extension of urgency with local but dictated by circumstance. This of to hear the case. terms of jurisdiction and questioned case is a pointer, where again, the prepare for course, did no credit to the judiciary The Musharraf case has run a “the rush” to reach the verdict. He apex court issued a verdict to seek a governments and the and remains a blot on its lily-livered gamut for six years and seen courts, also repeated the claim that the constitutional recourse by putting an coastal erosion California Coastal approach to matters of highest judges, prosecutors and defence court had refused to entertain the end to arbitrary decision-making. constitutional calling in the past. lawyers change. The prosecution team submissions that the Additional The special court verdict is Commission and other state agencies to forge Interestingly, it is also one of a under the Sharif government, which Attorney General and a new team (of a milestone — where political strategies for countering or adapting to the rising handful of key points of contention for initiated the case soon after returning prosecutors) wanted to present as a dimension of the case is concerned seas. The legislative analyst’s report makes a number his defence team: how was it “valid” to power in 2013, was more active for result of the “unwillingness of the old — in that it puts to rest, for now, the of recommendations, including creating regional back then in 1999, and not when he obvious reasons, but also saw the ex- team (under Sharif government)” to theory that only popularly elected imposed a state of Emergency and general leave the country on medical address the anomalies in the case. leaders are convicted. While it is “collaboration groups” so that local governments suspended the constitution in 2007? grounds in 2016. Having said that the verdict, given highly improbable that Musharraf can work together – with the help of state funding However, one of the foremost Musharraf is reportedly, critically ill the country’s chequered history, will return home given his ill-health – to assess vulnerable areas, craft pilot programmes arguments expected to be advanced and bed-ridden in a Dubai hospital. appears almost surreal. The swift — and the verdict, or that the ruling by the defence — as also pointed out The current government led by and again, unprecedented — reaction will come to pass, it may hopefully and run awareness campaigns to transform the by a few independent lawyers — in Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has been to a court verdict by the military create the firewalls to prevent future public debate, among other steps. appealing the verdict pertains to the less keen on an “adverse” outcome spokesman shows how it was hitherto misadventures. Without endorsing the specifi cs, it makes sense operative word “suspension”, which — also for obvious reasons — and a ‘red line’. He was unequivocal in was added as part of an amendment evidently used delaying tactics, the stating that Musharraf “can surely  The writer is Features Editor. He – in fact, it seems absolutely necessary – for state made to the constitution (known latest of which was to successfully never be a traitor” having “fought tweets @kaamyabi government to play a strong leadership role in helping local and regional governments fi gure out what their coastal future will be. This does not mean that California should ease up on reducing carbon emissions. That, combined with similar eff orts around the world, is vital to limiting The global economy’s luck may run out the worst eff ects of global warming. But one also must confront the reality that changes are underway, and By Mohamed A El-Erian growth. The EU will have to navigate the resilience of the global economy and conditions are ultra-accommodating, that conditions will worsen even if eff orts to radically Abu Dhabi perils of a prolonged period of negative markets. and US-China trade tensions have interest rates, while also shoring up This degree of uncertainty is de-escalated. But these auspicious reduce carbon emissions have an impact. It is most its economic and fi nancial core. As particularly notable in the multi-decade circumstances will not last forever. likely too late to keep the sea level from rising half a his being December, my long as the eurozone’s architecture context of globalization. In recent years, Unfortunately, a policy push that foot in the next decade, and between 1 and 2 feet by natural inclination is to review is incomplete, consistent risks of the stability that comes with broad- could improve and clarify the medium- 2050. the past year’s economic and instability will remain. based adherence to the rules-based term outlook is unlikely. The US is fi nancial developments to help Moreover, in the years ahead, international order has been considerably entering a tense and divisive election But the sea rise may be even greater than that. T policymakers and investors anticipate the United States, having notably weakened, as has the power of central year. Germany, Italy, and Spain are Scientifi c studies released this week found that the what might be coming in 2020. outperformed many other economies, banks to repress fi nancial volatility and in the midst of diffi cult political Greenland ice mass is melting faster than experts This year is ending on a relatively will decide whether to continue buy time for the real economy. transitions. The EU is dealing with positive note, especially when compared disengaging from the rest of the world – Left unmanaged, these medium- Brexit and other regional divisions. previously thought, and that rising temperatures in the to the same time last year. There is a process that is at odds with its historic term structural trends would set the And China’s government is trying to Arctic are leading to mass releases of methane from hope of a global growth pickup, trade position at the centre of the global stage for greater political and social consolidate power in the face of slowing thawing tundra in Alaska, Canada, exposed areas of tensions have lessened, and central economy. fragmentation, and raise the spectre growth and continuing protests in Hong banks have reaffi rmed that that they Or consider China’s development of secular de-globalisation. If there Kong. The main worry – one that too Greenland and the vast expanse of Siberia. will maintain ultra-low interest rates process. With the global economy acting is one thing that neither the global few market participants have spotted As we’ve argued before, fi ghting global warming – and continue to provide ample liquidity. more as a drag on growth than a boon economy nor markets are wired for, it – is that over the next fi ve years, global both reducing the rise in temperatures and adapting to Financial volatility is subdued, and to it, China may confront the risk that it is a prolonged and deepening rupture economic and market conditions may there are reasonable expectations of has overplayed its hand. Heavy reliance in cross-border economic and fi nancial need to deteriorate nearer to crisis the eff ects – will not be cheap. But to do nothing, or too solid investor returns across many asset on short-term stimulus measures is relations. Were such a new paradigm to levels before national, regional, and little, would be foolish in the face of what’s undeniably classes. increasingly inconsistent with pursuing materialise, today’s trade, investment, multilateral political systems muster an ahead.— Tribune News Service As tempting as it is to dwell on the longer-term reforms that it needs, and and currency tensions would intensify adequate response. current fi nancial and macroeconomic its geopolitical ambitions and regional and spill over to the realm of national Fortunately, we are now in a period conditions, doing so risks obfuscating economic and fi nancial commitments security and geopolitics. when action could be taken to prevent a key element in the outlook for the (including the Belt and Road Initiative) Bad outcomes are not inevitable (at the worst-case scenario from becoming To Advertise future. There is a curious contrast are becoming costlier. Most important, in least not yet). They could still be averted a binding reality. Let us hope that I’m between the relative clarity of the next fi ve years, China and the US, the through the sustained implementation wrong about today’s political paralysis. [email protected] expectations for the near term and the world’s two largest national economies, of policies to promote stronger, more As long as there is still time, there is a Display murkiness and uncertainty that comes will have to navigate an increasingly inclusive growth; restore genuine chance that policymakers will follow the when one extends the horizon further – narrow path as they try to secure their fi nancial stability; and usher in a fairer, advice off ered by then-IMF Managing 44466621 44418811 say, to the next fi ve years. own interests while avoiding an outright more credible (while still free) system Director Christine Lagarde in October Many countries are facing structural confrontation. of international trade, investment, and 2017: “Fix the roof while the sun is Classified uncertainties that could have far- Such fl uidity clouds the economic, policy co-ordination. shining.” – Project Syndicate 44466609 44418811 reaching, systemic implications for fi nancial, institutional, political, But much will depend on the markets and the global economy. For and/or social outlook for other functioning of politics in the near  Mohamed A El-Erian, Chief Economic Subscription example, over the next fi ve years, the countries. Today’s macroeconomic term. Going into 2020, politicians have Adviser at Allianz, was Chairman of European Union will seek to establish and geopolitical uncertainties will a favourable runway from which to US President Barack Obama’s Global [email protected] a new working relationship with the amplify those fuelled by technological launch the policies needed to extend the Development Council. He is the author, United Kingdom, while also dealing disruptions, climate change, and positive short-term outlook into the most recently, of The Only Game in Town: with the harmful social and political demographics. And they will raise medium and long term. Worries about Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved eff ects of slow, insuffi ciently inclusive questions about the functioning and global recession have receded, fi nancial the Next Collapse. Gulf Times Thursday, December 19, 2019 23 QATAR

His Highness the Personal Representative of the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani participated yesterday in Qatar’s Arda (traditional sword dance), which was held in Amiri Diwan Yard on the Corniche of Doha, to celebrate Qatar National Day. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud and Sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries, and citizens also participated in the Arda dance. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, December 19, 2019 QATAR Amir, Father Amir attend National Day parade

A view of the Qatar National Day fireworks yesterday on Doha Corniche. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

Another view of the fireworks that lit up Doha skyline yesterday as part of the Qatar National Day celebrations. PICTURE: Sajin Orma