UN Trying to Cut Numbers at EU-Funded Migrant Center in Libya
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Migrants are seen at the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency in Tajora shelter center in Tripoli, Libya April 24, 2019. (Reuters)
The UN refugee agency is working to cut the number of migrants staying at an overcrowded transit center in Libya’s capital. Charlie Yaxley, an UNCHR spokesman, tells The Associated Press Saturday that “the situation is very difficult” as the center is at about twice its capacity, with some 1,200 migrants. The UNCHR is asking those refugees not registered with the agency to leave the European Union-funded facility. The surrounding areas of Tripoli have been the scene of fighting after the Libyan National Army launched an operation to cleanse the capital of militias associated to the Government of National Accord in April. According to a document obtained by the AP, the agency says it will phase out food distribution for the unregistered migrants, including dozens of tuberculosis patients, from January 1. Libya is a major waypoint for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to Europe.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014876/un-trying-cut-numbers-eu-funded-migrant-center-libya
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Bolivia's Foreign Minister Karen Longaric speaks during a conference with the international press in La Paz, November 28, 2019. AFP
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has welcomed Bolivia's decision to restore relations with Israel. Ties were severed on Jan. 14, 2009 following Israel’s Operation Cast Lead on the Gaza Strip. Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric made the announcement in a meeting with foreign reporters, without giving a date for the reestablishment of ties. However, Katz said that the "Foreign Ministry has been working for a long time directly as well as through mediation of the Brazilian president to promote the renewal of relations. “The resignation of President (Evo) Morales, who was hostile to Israel, and his replacement with a friendly administration, has enabled the process to come to fruition.” Bolivia designated Israel a ‘terrorist’ state in objection over the war against Gaza in July 2009. Back then, Morales said Israel’s operation was evidence on its disrespect for life and basic rights.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014861/bolivia-renews-diplomatic-ties-israel
Science Warnings, US Retreat Add Urgency to UN Climate Talks
World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Student activists from School Strike for Climate Australia (SS4C) hold a 'Solidarity Sit-down' outside of the office of the Liberal Party of Australia in Sydney, Australia. (Reuters)
Mass protests, a last-minute venue change and talk of climate tipping points are adding some unplanned drama to this year’s international talks on tackling global warming. Delegates from almost 200 countries had hoped to put the finishing touches to the rules governing the 2015 Paris accord, ironing out a few wrinkles left over from last year’s conference in Katowice, Poland, and setting the scene for a major review of their efforts in 2020. But then Brazil pulled its offer of hosting the talks and stand-in Chile, rattled by anti-government protests, canceled five weeks before the meeting. Next, President Donald Trump served formal notice that the United States was quitting the Paris accord, delivering a symbolic blow to one of his predecessor’s signature achievements. And scientists? Well, they didn’t have any good news either. Study after study published in recent months has underscored the rapid pace of global warming and the need to cut emissions of greenhouse gases as soon as possible. Against that backdrop, the December 2-13 meeting in Madrid has gained fresh urgency, reported The Associated Press. “We have to do more in less time,” said Spain’s environment minister Teresa Ribera, whose country stepped in at short notice to host the talks, saying it wanted to support “constructive multilateralism” in the wake of Chile’s announcement and the US withdrawal. Organizers expect around 25,000 visitors, including heads of state, scientists, seasoned negotiators and activists to attend the two-week meeting. The main items on the agenda include finalizing rules on global carbon markets and agreeing how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations. Proposals to create a worldwide market for emissions permits have been around for decades. The idea is that putting a price on carbon dioxide — the main greenhouse gas — and gradually reducing the available permits will encourage countries and companies to cut their emissions, notably by shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources. The European Union and some other jurisdictions already operate limited emissions trading systems, but efforts to roll these out worldwide have been hampered by fears that the lack of robust and transparent rules could corrupt the market. “It would be great news to finalize this issue,” said Ribera. But she warned that the “solvency and integrity of the system” was a concern. “If we cannot complete it correctly, it’s better to lay the ground for later completion,” said Ribera. That view was echoed by Yamide Dagnet, a former EU climate negotiator now with the Washington-based environmental think tank World Resources Institute. “Without proper oversight and robustness these mechanisms could severely undercut climate action by creating loopholes, letting countries off the hook for making meaningful emission cuts, resulting in double counting and jeopardizing environmental integrity,” she said. The question of compensating poor countries for environmental destruction — technically referred to as loss and damage — is also likely to be sensitive, said Dagnet. Attributing specific weather disasters such as hurricanes and floods, or slow but irreversible changes like sea level rise and desertification, to climate change remains a delicate issue given the potential sums involved. Concerns about the cost of climate change are growing on all fronts. Trump cited financial demands on the United States as one of the reasons for quitting the Paris accord; European countries have hesitated to raise fuel prices for fear of sparking yellow vests-style protests like those seen in France; meanwhile, businesses are beginning to consider the price not just of reducing emissions but also of failing to do so. Scientists say the time to act is now, if the world wants to meet the goal set in Paris of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C by the end of the century. By some measures average temperatures have already increased by one degree Celsius since pre-industrial times, with the sharpest rise occurring in the last few decades. “Global warming is going faster,” said Johan Rockström, co-director of Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “Climate impacts are occurring earlier and we are approaching potentially irreversible thresholds earlier than we previously thought.” Rockström and several colleagues recently warned that the world is heading for several “tipping points” that could sharply accelerate the pace of climate change. They include deforestation in the Amazon and the decline of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. Such messages resonate with environmental activists like Laura Laguna, a member of the Madrid chapter of Fridays for Future, one of the groups planning to protest during the climate talks, known as the 25th Conference of the Parties, or COP25. “We are close to the point of no return on global warming,” Laguna said. “Our generation’s future depends on what we do now.” Ribera, whose formal title is interim minister for ecological transition, indicated that European Union leaders may try to send a strong signal during the meeting that the bloc is prepared to make sharper cuts to its emissions than previously pledged. A recent proposal to aim for “climate neutrality” by 2050 failed to win support from all of the EU’s 28 member states — including the host of last year’s talks, Poland.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014841/science-warnings-us-retreat-add-urgency-un-climate-talks
Wooden Relic of Jesus Manger on Display in Jerusalem
Varieties
Jerusalem - Asharq Al-Awsat
A fragment of a wooden relic, reputed to be from Jesus' manger, is displayed in Jerusalem's Notre Dame, November 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
A fragment of wood reputed to be from the manger where Jesus was laid after his humble birth went on display in Jerusalem on Friday, ahead of its transfer to Bethlehem for the official launch of the Christmas season. The wood piece, just a few centimeters long, was once kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. It was handed over earlier this week to the custodian of the Bethlehem church, who said it brought "great honor to believers and pilgrims in the area". It was unveiled to the public at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, encased in a silver-colored ornamental table-top stand, and will later be taken to Bethlehem, Reuters reported. There, it is expected to be placed inside Saint Catherine's Church, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree, the news agency said.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014821/wooden-relic-jesus-manger-display-jerusalem
Asharq Al-Awsat
The burning vehicle of Iraqi security forces is seen after clashes with protesters during ongoing anti-government protests, in Nassiriya, Iraq November 29, 2019. (Reuters)
Protests raged in Iraq on Saturday despite Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s pledge to resign on Friday after a call from the country’s top Shiite cleric for the government to step down to end weeks of deadly unrest. In Baghdad, demonstrations set tires ablaze on three bridges spanning the Euphrates River as hundreds more converged in the main protest camp in the flashpoint city's center, according to an AFP correspondent. Their renewed rallies came despite a bloody crackdown by security forces that left more than 40 protesters dead over the past two days in the city. The violence was unleashed after protesters stormed and burned the Iranian consulate in the city of Najaf, accusing Iraq's neighbor of propping up the Baghdad government. That city, too, saw security forces and armed men in civilian clothes try to snuff out rallies in the aftermath of the consulate torching, leaving more than 20 protesters dead, medics told AFP. Najaf was relatively calm on Saturday, according to AFP's correspondent, but protests there usually swell in the afternoon and evening. The city of Karbala was rocked by overnight clashes between young protesters and security forces trading fire bombs until the early hours of the morning. And in Diwaniyah, thousands hit the streets early to demand "the downfall of the regime." "We'll keep up this movement. Abdel Mahdi's resignation is only the first step, and now all corrupt figures must be removed and judged," one protester told AFP. In the southern city of Nassiriya, protesters burned tires and surrounded a police station, a Reuters witness said. Parliament has yet to make Abdul Mahdi’s resignation effective and will convene on Sunday to pass a vote of no confidence in him. Weeks of political wrangling are expected before a successor to Abdul Mahdi is picked and a new government formed. However, the premier’s promise to quit will not satisfy protesters, who are demanding the overhaul of a political system that they say is corrupt and keeping them in poverty and without opportunity. Many Iraqis fear violence will continue to escalate as angry families mourn dead relatives and the government moves slowly to enact very little reform. The grassroots movement is the largest Iraq has seen in decades and also the deadliest, with more than 420 people killed and 15,000 wounded in Baghdad and the Shiite-majority south, according to an AFP tally. Iraq’s semi-official Human Rights Commission said in a statement on Saturday that those responsible for the killings of protesters must be brought to justice and that it would gather evidence for prosecution. The statement did not acknowledge the prime minister’s resignation. The International Committee of the Red Cross urged a halt to rising casualties. “Firearms and live ammunition must only be used as a last resort,” it said in a statement. The rising deaths have sparked global criticism, with the United Nations saying the deaths "cannot be tolerated" and the French foreign ministry saying it "strongly condemns the excessive and disproportionate use of force against protesters".
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014811/iraq-protests-continue-unabated-despite-pm%E2%80%99s-resignation-pledge
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas waves in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank May 1, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman/File Photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent letters to the United Nations Secretary-General, the president’s of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and the chair of a UN committee on the occasion of the world body’s Partition Plan for Palestine. In his letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres, General Assembly President Tijani Mohammed Pandey, Security Council President Karen Pierce, and Cheikh NIANG, who chairs the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Abbas stressed commitment to peace and rejection of oppression and occupation. Friday marked the anniversary of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine and the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority agrees with international legitimacy and international law to resolve the Palestinian cause, and it has also accepted negotiations and dialogue as a means to reach a solution. Abbas continued that the Israeli occupation state has been procrastinating since the Oslo Accords. Further, the current prime minister has expressed rejection to the two-state solution and moved on with annexation and settlements in occupied territories. The Israeli government has also sought to change the identity of East Jerusalem, adopted racist laws, isolated the Gaza Strip through a blockade, strangled the Palestinian economy and violated all the signed political, economic and security agreements, Abbas said. He slammed the US administration, accusing it of once again violating international law. He said Washington has proven that it is unqualified as an impartial mediator. He was referring to the US Department of State’s announcement earlier this month that the establishment of Israeli settlements is not inconsistent with international law. Several events were held on Friday in Palestinian areas to commemorate the UN Partition Plan. Among others, an Israeli delegation of more than 350 pro-peace figures arrived in Ramallah on the occasion. The Israelis affirmed that efforts should be intensified to end the occupation, establish the Palestinian state and maintain peace. They held Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party responsible for the freeze in negotiations to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Partition Plan was adopted by the General Assembly on Nov. 29, 1947. It was endorsed by 33 countries and rejected by 13 others including all Arab states. The resolution recommended ending the British Mandate and creating independent Arab and Jewish states and a Special International Regime for the city of Jerusalem.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014801/abbas-renews-commitment-peace
Asharq Al-Awsat
Emergency vehicles are seen in the City, near the site of an incident at London Bridge in London, Britain, November 29, 2019. (Reuters)
UK counter-terrorism police are searching for clues into an attack that left two people dead and three injured near London Bridge. Police said Saturday a man imprisoned six years for terrorism offenses before his release last year stabbed several people on Friday before being tackled by members of the public and shot dead by officers on the bridge. Neil Basu, London’s police counter-terrorism chief, said 28-year-old Usman Khan was attending a program that works to educate prisoners when he launched the attack. He killed a man and a woman and injured three others just yards from the site of a deadly 2017 van and knife rampage. Health officials said one of the injured was in critical but stable condition, one was stable and the third had less serious injuries. The attack raises difficult questions for Britain’s government and security services. Police said Khan was convicted in 2012 of terrorism offenses and released in December 2018 “on license,” which means he had to meet certain conditions or face recall to prison. Several British media outlets reported that he was wearing an electronic ankle bracelet. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had "long argued" that it was a "mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early.” "It is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals, especially for terrorists, that I think the public will want to see,” he said. Johnson, who chaired a meeting of the government’s COBRA emergency committee late Friday, said more police would be patrolling the streets in the coming days “for reassurance purposes.” Police said they were treating the stabbings as a terrorist attack and were not actively looking for any other suspects. The violence erupted less than two weeks before Britain holds a national election December 12. The main political parties temporarily suspended campaigning in London as a mark of respect. Metropolitan Police Chief Cressida Dick said officers were called just before 2 pm to Fishmongers’ Hall, a conference venue at the north end of London Bridge. The pedestrian and vehicle bridge links the city’s business district with the south bank of the River Thames. Learning Together, a Cambridge University-backed prison education program, was holding a conference there Friday. Cambridge Vice Chancellor Stephen Toope said he was “devastated to learn that today's hateful attack on London Bridge may have been targeted at staff, students and alumni attending an event organized by the University of Cambridge's Institute of Criminology.” Minutes after the stabbings, witnesses saw a man with a knife being wrestled to the ground by members of the public on the bridge before officers shot him dead. Video images showed people spraying the fleeing suspect with a fire extinguisher, while another passer-by held what appeared to be a long white stick. One video posted on social media showed two men struggling on the bridge before police pulled a man in civilian clothes off a black-clad man on the ground. Gunshots followed. Another depicted a man in suit and overcoat holding a long knife that apparently had been taken from the attacker. Police confirmed that the assailant died at the scene. Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the “breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran towards danger not knowing what confronted him.” London Bridge station, one of the city’s busiest rail hubs, was closed for several hours after the attack. Political leaders expressed shock and sorrow at Friday’s attack. “We will not be cowed by those who threaten us,” Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said. “We must and we will stand together to reject hatred and division." Security officials earlier this month downgraded Britain's terrorism threat level from "severe" to "substantial," which means an attack is seen as "likely" rather than "highly likely." The assessment was made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center, an independent expert body that evaluates intelligence, terrorist capability and intentions. The UK's terror threat was last listed as "substantial" in August 2014; since then it has held steady at "severe," briefly rising to "critical" in May and September 2017.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014791/uk-police-seek-clues-deadly-london-stabbings
Lebanon Petrol Stations Suspend Strike, Union Meets Monday
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
A gas station closes during a protest agains tight supply of dollars in Beirut, Lebanon September 18, 2019. (Reuters)
Lebanon’s petrol stations syndicate chief announced on Friday night that the union was suspending its open-ended strike, state news agency (NNA) quoted Sami al-Brax as saying. Lebanese daily Al-Nahar cited al-Brax saying the union was suspending its strike to hold talks with authorities and added the syndicate would have a meeting on Monday. The union had called for the strike starting Thursday because of losses incurred from having to buy dollars on a parallel market, the main source of hard currency during the country’s economic crisis. The strike had seen angry Lebanese block roads across the country on Friday in protest. In Beirut and several other major cities, drivers briefly stopped their cars in the afternoon, blocking some main roads. In the capital, most stations had closed their pumps and blocked off their entrances with a barrier or yellow tape, but a handful had remained open, the photographer said. Clutching empty one-gallon (four-liter) bottles, dozens clustered around pumps in the few still operating to fill up on fuel. On local television, a woman complained she had to abandon her car in the middle of the road as she looked for petrol. The Lebanese pound is pegged at around 1,500 pounds to the dollar, and both are used interchangeably in everyday transactions. But banks in Lebanon have been rationing dollar withdrawals, forcing those in need to resort to money-changers and pushing the unofficial exchange rate above 2,000 pounds to the greenback. The central bank last month said it would help fuel importers with access to the dollar at the lower official exchange rate. But petrol stations say they are making losses because they are forced to buy dollars at the higher rate to pay importers demanding the foreign currency. The government stepped down on October 29, less than two weeks after the first demonstration, but the country's deeply divided political parties have failed to form a new one. The protesters have demanded a new technocratic cabinet made up of independent experts, rather than representatives of the country's traditional political parties divided along sectarian lines.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014781/lebanon-petrol-stations-suspend-strike-union-meets-monday
French-Lebanese Engineer Chosen as Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Secretary General
Business
Asharq Al-Awsat
Hadi Zablit looks on during the presentation of the autonomous car service in the northwestern city of Rouen on June 26, 2018. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP
A French-Lebanese engineer has been chosen as secretary general of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi auto alliance, part of a new business framework announced a year after former boss Carlos Ghosn was arrested. Hadi Zablit, 49, will oversee industrial cooperation projects to improve the efficiency and financial performance of the partnership, a source close to the matter told Agence France Presse on Friday, confirming a report in French newspaper Le Figaro. The operational revamp aims to mark a new start for the trio as they battle to emerge from the shadow cast by the legal woes of Ghosn, detained last November over allegations of financial impropriety. Zablit is currently business development chief for the French-Japanese auto alliance, which sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide in 2017. The dual citizen, born in Lebanon, first joined Renault as an engineer and product manager in 1994. He left to work for the Boston Consulting Group in 2000 and returned to the French car giant nearly three years ago. Ghosn's sudden arrest last year at a Tokyo airport sent shockwaves through the business world. The 65-year-old Brazil-born executive -- one of the world's best-known and respected tycoons -- is now out on bail after 130 days in a Japanese detention center. He faces charges of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as siphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. Ghosn says he is innocent and is seeking to have his case declared null and void -- even if legal experts and his own defense deem his chances unlikely.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014776/french-lebanese-engineer-chosen-renault-nissan-mitsubishi-secretary-general
London - Asharq Al-Awsat
FILE PHOTO: The logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is seen at OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, Austria July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
OPEC oil output has fallen in November as Angolan production has slipped due to maintenance and Saudi Arabia has kept a lid on supply to support the market before the initial public offering (IPO) of state-owned Saudi Aramco, a Reuters survey found. On average, the 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has pumped 29.57 million barrels per day (bpd) this month, according to the survey. That is down 110,000 bpd from October’s revised figure. The survey suggests Saudi Arabia, after resuming normal supply after attacks on facilities in September, is still pumping far less than an OPEC-led supply deal allows. OPEC meets in Vienna to review the pact on Dec. 5, the same day Aramco is due to announce the final offer price. OPEC, Russia and other allies, known as OPEC+, agreed to reduce supply by 1.2 million bpd from Jan. 1. OPEC’s share of the cut is about 800,000 bpd, to be delivered by 11 members, with exemptions for Iran, Libya and Venezuela. The producers are expected to extend their supply pact at meetings on Dec. 5-6. OPEC delegates have said the producers could discuss deeper supply cuts amid forecasts of excess supply in 2020. “The minimum is to extend,” said an OPEC delegate. Oil LCOc1 has slipped to $63 a barrel after spiking to $72 following the Sept. 14 attacks on Saudi oil plants. The current price is below the levels many OPEC countries need to balance their budgets and below the levels officials say they favor. The 11 OPEC members bound by the agreement, which for now runs until March 2020, have easily exceeded the pledged cuts. Compliance has risen to 152 percent in November, the survey found, from 135 percent in October, although Iraq and Nigeria remain laggards among larger producers. Oil prices will remain subdued in 2020 as growth concerns weigh on demand and fuel a glut of crude, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. The poll of 42 economists and analysts forecast Brent LCOc1 to average $62.50 a barrel next year, little changed from last month’s $62.38 outlook, which was the lowest prediction for 2020 in about two years. The benchmark has averaged about $64 per barrel so far this year. “There is simply too much oil in the market,” LBBW analyst Frank Schallenberger said.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014766/opec-oil-output-slips-vienna-meeting
Bahrain King Congratulates King Salman on 5th Anniversary of Accession to Power
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated in a cable on Friday Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on the fifth anniversary of his ascension to the throne, reported the Saudi Press Agency. Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa sent King Salman similar cables.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014726/bahrain-king-congratulates-king-salman-5th-anniversary-accession-power
Asharq Al-Awsat
Rooftops shrouded in polluted air in Tehran, Iran. AP file photo
High levels of air pollution forced the closure of schools and universities in parts of Iran on Saturday, including Tehran, which was cloaked by a cloud of toxic smog, state media reported. The decision to shut schools and universities in the capital was announced late Friday by deputy governor Mohammad Taghizadeh, after a meeting of an emergency committee for air pollution. "Due to increased air pollution, kindergartens, preschools and schools, universities and higher education institutes of Tehran province will be closed," he said, quoted by state news agency IRNA. An odd-even traffic scheme was imposed to restrict the number of private vehicles on roads of the capital city and trucks were banned outright in Tehran province, IRNA reported, according to Agence France Presse. The young and elderly and people with respiratory illnesses were warned to stay indoors and sporting activities were suspended on Saturday. Schools were also closed on Saturday in the northern province of Alborz and in the central province of Esfahan, IRNA reported, citing officials. Other areas where schools were shut included the northeastern city of Mashhad, Orumiyeh city in northwestern Iran and Qom, south of Tehran. In Tehran, average concentrations of hazardous airborne particles reached 146 micrograms per cubic meter on Saturday, according to air.tehran.ir, a government-linked website. In the mornings, the sun has been barely visible owing to the city's smog. The pall of pollution has shrouded the sprawling city of eight million for days and is only expected to dissipate on Monday when rain is forecast. Air pollution was the cause of nearly 30,000 deaths per year in Iranian cities, state media reported earlier this year, citing a health ministry official. The problem worsens in Tehran during winter, when a lack of wind and the cold air traps hazardous smog over the city for days on end -- a phenomenon known as thermal inversion, AFP said. Most of the city's pollution is caused by heavy duty vehicles, motorbikes, refineries and power plants, according to a World Bank report released last year.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014696/iran%E2%80%99s-toxic-smog-shuts-schools-universities
Jordan to Begin Negotiations over New, ‘Dictates-Free’ IMF Program
Business
Amman - Asharq Al-Awsat
People stand in line to buy bread at a bakery in Amman, Jordan, January 26, 2018. (Reuters)
Jordan has begun negotiating a new three-year financing program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to spur growth stalling at around 2 percent in the last decade, Finance Minister Mohammad Al-Ississ said. However, Al-Ississ noted that the country would not accept “dictates” from the IMF, adding the Kingdom’s authorities were more aware than anyone else of what was needed to spur the slow economy. “Jordan won’t take any dictates in our economic file and will not allow anyone to interfere in our affairs,” Al-Ississ said, adding the country was committed to pursuing “deep structural reforms”. The IMF said on Monday it had begun consultations with Jordan on a new program to replace an earlier three-year agreement, during which it focused on reducing a record $40 billion in public debt, equal to 94 percent of GDP. The IMF said it would come to Amman to continue talks in late January on a new program after agreeing that the priority in the coming years would be to maintain economic stability, increase growth and create jobs. IMF experts criticized Jordan for its slow fiscal consolidation, saying public debt remains too high and efforts to expand the tax base and increase revenues have failed to meet their targets. The IMF noted that Jordan has “limited fiscal space”. Al-Ississ said Jordan’s 9.8 billion dinar ($14 billion) budget for 2020 that the cabinet approved on Wednesday forecast a 10% rise in revenue from higher income taxes and sales tax. The budget, which was sent to parliament for approval, predicted a deficit equal to 2.3% of Jordan’s GDP. The projected budget estimates include foreign aid of about 800 million dinars (about $1.13 billion), slightly different from the 2019 budget. Direct financial support from major donors usually covers chronic budget shortfalls.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014691/jordan-begin-negotiations-over-new-%E2%80%98dictates-free%E2%80%99-imf-program
New Round of Negotiations in Cairo on Renaissance Dam
Arab World
Khartoum - Asharq A-Awsat
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia September 26, 2019. Picture taken September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
The Ministers of Irrigation and Water Resources in Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are set to chair on Monday an experts meeting on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Cairo. This would be the second meeting for experts and technicians out of four meetings agreed upon during talks held by the three countries’ foreign ministers in Washington on Nov. 6. Ethiopia’s construction of GERD on the Blue Nile began in 2012, but since then Egypt has sounded the alarm that the project would severely reduce its water supplies. Sudan’s Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources revealed in a statement that Minister Yasser Abbas would travel to Cairo on Saturday, heading the Sudanese delegation in the two-day meeting. The talks are aimed at discussing the first filling of the dam and the start of its operation by Jan. 15. The first was held in Addis Ababa mid-Nov. The third will take place in Khartoum in Dec. while the last is expected in Addis Ababa end of Dec. or the start of Jan. The three states have submitted their quarterly proposals on the dam’s first filling and operation. The minsters and technical teams discussed in Addis Ababa relevant issues that were agreed upon in Khartoum’s October meeting.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014676/new-round-negotiations-cairo-renaissance-dam
What Makes José Mourinho Special? Former Players Give Spurs an Insight
Sports
London - Fabrizio Romano
Paulo Ferreira and José Mourinho celebrate winning the Champions League with Porto. (Getty Images)
José Mourinho had plenty of success at Porto, Internazionale and Real Madrid and players who worked for him at those clubs reveal just how demanding the Portuguese manager can be: Amantino Mancini (Internazionale, 2008-10) José Mourinho is sincere, clear and says things to your face. He always gets the most out of his players. But the most impressive thing about José is his tactical preparation – he knows every player and every opponent perfectly. He always has the solution. When you see him for the first time, if you haven’t worked with him in the past, he has an amazing impact. I remember the first meeting when he arrived at Inter, I heard him talk and I was shivering. At every word I thought: “Jesus, this guy is really amazing.” In training you need to go a thousand miles an hour and always be concentrated. If not, José will realize within 30 seconds and starts to look at you from far away. Then it’s your problem ... but he’s also such an expert he can figure out if someone is tired. He always has everything under control, on the pitch and off: this gives his player a rare level of confidence. It was almost mythical to enter his office. He would call you and tell you everything he thinks to your face: he can be thrilled with how you are working or very angry because you aren’t giving your best or even give you news about your future. He says everything to your face which in football is rare. One time Mourinho called me and he asked: “What is happening Amantino? You don’t feel well?” He always notices from a player’s face, by how they practice, if something isn’t going well. The result is you have a manager who is like a shrink, an open book who is never fake. This transmits strength and calmness. I remember the day he told me I had to leave. He called me in his office and he said: “Amantino, I see you don’t play often and you aren’t happy. I think it’s best if you leave.” I understood him completely and we agreed, like men. He understands every situation. One time we were playing in the Champions League against Panathinaikos. The first half ended, we were winning 2-0 in Athens. I had scored, I was very happy, I entered the locker room and José cornered me: “OK, you are playing like crap. You have to improve some more, don’t think you gave everything with that goal.” He made me focus 300%, but I had just scored and we were winning. Nuno Valente (União Leiria, 2001-02 and FC Porto, 2002-04) José has an intense way of working and is tactically very strong. Through his words he is able to convince players that he’s the coach who can make them win titles. He likes to joke around a lot and, if the team wins – like we did at Porto – then even more. There is always pressure at clubs like these who are the top of the table but, when things are going well, the environment is different. José is happy. But when he needs to criticize a player, he has no issues about doing it in front of the whole squad. Sometimes José has had problems with players because the mentality is different from the 1990s, for example, and egos collide. But as a person and coach, he’s spectacular, and I’m sure the Tottenham players will like him. I know that José is very happy to be back in business and has found a project that should seem interesting to him. It’s the kind of challenge he likes. For now he will fight to put Tottenham back in the top four. Going for the title is very difficult but in the coming years, with some signings, it will be a goal. He likes challenges and Tottenham don’t win titles for a long time. They picked him up to put the bar at the highest level. Pochettino has done a good job but José can give the final touch for Tottenham to start winning titles. After almost a year out he has had a long time to reflect. We could see a different Mourinho, perhaps even with a different way of playing. Surely he learned from what happened at Manchester United? Álvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, 2010-13) The first time I saw what José was all about came in a pre-season game in Los Angeles when we were losing 2-0 and, wow, he gave us a real going-over. That was the moment when you see that he doesn’t care who you are, who the star names are in a dressing room: he makes the same demands of everyone; you’re all treated the same way. That’s when we realized what he was like, who he was. I imagine that at Tottenham they’ll see that when they see the demands that he makes of all of them. When there is change made in a bad situation, there’s always a positive response, this current of optimism, and I think José will try to take advantage of that. I have spoken to him a little bit over the last few months when he wasn’t coaching and I think he is very conscious of all the good things he has: he is a coach who prepares games really well. When you turn up for a match, you understand very clearly why you’re playing with this system, why you’re playing with these players, what it is you’re trying to do, which parts of your team he is trying to strengthen, how he wants to go about finding the weaknesses of the opposition. You have a very clear gameplan and you understand very clearly what the mission is. And, above all, why. He’s very good at that, he knows. And that won’t change. José’s also capable of reading a game very well and making you see at half-time where your errors lie, what the other team are doing, what’s going right, what’s going wrong, and how to change that. That’s the thing I would most highlight about him: of all the coaches I have had, in that aspect he is definitely the best. So, he knows his strengths there and he also knows that there are things he has to improve; he’s conscious of that: in the playing model, in the relationship with players. I saw him the other day explaining that at Porto he had certain players and played one way; that at Inter he defended with a low block because he had great defenders who could play that way; that at Madrid he worked on transitions. He adapts to the players he has. But it’s true that his teams are very, very well-organized, teams that are quick to go for the other team’s goal. They’re not teams that hold on to possession; rather, he prefers them to be quicker, more direct, and go straight for the opponent’s goal. At Tottenham, with players like Dele Alli, Son, Harry Kane, I think he has players that fit that very well. And I am sure that he will make the most of them. He is conscious of the fact this is important for him, too: I don’t know whether to call it an opportunity, or vindication, a need maybe, the chance to make a point, because things didn’t go the way he would have liked in Manchester and he knows that it’s a chance to prove how good he is. And that’s good for everyone. He’ll come with the same intensity, the same work and that extra motivation. Esteban Granero (Real Madrid, 2010-12) I’m very happy that Mourinho is working again because it’s the thing he loves most. I was with José for two years between 2010 and 2012 and he is the best coach I have had. He’s capable of bringing the best out of all his players, allowing them to reach their potential. He’s very methodical and flexible too, able to protect his players at the same time as demanding the most from them. This is one of his great virtues. He’s won a lot during his career but it’s not just the medals that make him a winner: “winner” is something that defines his personality, not dependent solely on the number of wins. He’s a coach that leaves a mark on you and I only wish I had worked with him for longer. I am sure he will enjoy his time at Spurs and I wish him the best. The Guardian Sport
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014666/what-makes-jos%C3%A9-mourinho-special-former-players-give-spurs-insight
Amid Deteriorating Relations, Israeli President Requests Jordan Visit
Arab World
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. (Reuters)
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met in London on Thursday with a senior advisor to King Abdullah II of Jordan as relations between the two countries were at an “all-time low”. Sources in Tel Aviv revealed that Rivlin had requested during his meeting with Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed a visit the Kingdom in order to open a new chapter in relations and push forward joint projects with Amman. Informed sources said the meeting took place on the sidelines of the Israeli president’s visit to London. Discussions with the Jordanian official tackled numerous issues, including the development of Christian holy sites along the Jordan River, which flows along the border between the two countries. They added that Rivlin requested a visit to Jordan because he places “great importance” on improving relations with Amman and resolving disputes with it in order to move forward with joint projects. The London meeting appeared to be planned in advance as Rivlin brought with him as a gift a gilded copy of the holy Quran, translated into Hebrew. The president’s father had famously translated the Quran. King Abdullah had held talks in the United States last week with several Jewish leaders, complaining to them about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and provocations in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. He said relations between Jordan and Israel were at an “all-time low” “Part of it is internal [Israeli] politics – I understand that – but not at the expense of something that my father [King Hussein] and the late prime minister [Yitzhak] Rabin fought so hard to achieve,” he stated. He hoped that Israel would resolve its issues in order for “us to return to focusing on negotiations with the Palestinians.”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014656/amid-deteriorating-relations-israeli-president-requests-jordan-visit
UN Says Increasing Number of Iraqi Casualties Can’t be Tolerated
Arab World
New York - Ali Barada
UN chief Antonio Guterres. File photo
UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over reports on the continued use of live ammunition against demonstrators in Iraq. “We are deeply disturbed by the continued killing and wounding of protesters in Iraq, including the latest casualties during the extremely violent events over the past two days in Nassariya,” he said. “The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Iraqi authorities to exercise maximum restraint, protect the lives of demonstrators, respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, and swiftly to investigate all acts of violence,” read the statement issued late Thursday evening. Guterres also reminded the Iraqi authorities of their obligation to protect diplomatic and consular facilities and personnel, as well as public and private property. For her part, namely UNAMI head Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said: “The increasing numbers of deaths and injuries cannot be tolerated. Presence of spoilers, derailing peaceful protests, places Iraq on a dangerous trajectory. I’ll brief the Security Council in New York on Tuesday.” Earlier, she visited the Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital in Baghdad and tweeted saying: “Remarkable work in a most challenging environment by medical staff for whom I have the greatest respect. Extremely saddened to witness the horrific injuries. Freedom of expression should never come at this price.” The National Iraqi News Agency quoted police and medical sources as saying that most people killed during the protests were unarmed. Hospital sources noted that some died after being severely injured during Thursday’s clashes with the security forces in Nassariya. The latest deaths raised the number of anti-government protesters killed since early October to 408. Further, six UN human rights experts urged the Iraqi authorities "to prevent and cease violence immediately against protesters and ensure that those responsible for unlawful use of force are investigated and prosecuted.” The experts said it was of “paramount importance that Iraqi authorities take additional steps to prevent violence and enable a safe environment for peaceful protests.” They added: "It is incomprehensible – and heart-breaking – that such a brutal response can be leveled against Iraqis simply wanting to express their rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. “The Iraqi State has a duty to protect those exercising their right to peaceful assembly, including from violent non-state actors, and a responsibility to seek out, investigate and prosecute those responsible for killing demonstrators under international human rights law."
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014651/un-says-increasing-number-iraqi-casualties-can%E2%80%99t-be-tolerated
Saudi Aramco’s IPO Covered by 173%, Bids Totaling $44.2 Billion
Business
Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018 REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO) was covered by 173 percent in its first 12 days, before the Dec. 4 deadline for institutional investors to submit offers. Bids received by Friday from institutional and retail investors totaled $44.2 billion, lead manager Samba Capital said. These figures constitute 1.7 times the value Saudi Arabia aims to raise from selling a 1.5 percent stake in the state-owned oil giant. The Aramco IPO, which began on Nov. 17, was oversubscribed by Friday, but is still open to the institutional segment, while the period for the subscription of the retail portion ended Thursday at midnight. The retail segment has seen a significant influx in recent days and the number of subscribers has multiplied in the last hours, with nearly two million subscribers registering over the last three days. In a statement, lead manager Samba Capital said the retail portion of Aramco’s IPO has had bids totaling 47.4 billion riyals ($12.64 billion), around 1.5 times the amount of shares on offer to retail investors. In the first update on institutional investor interest in the listing, Samba said it had received bids from them worth 118.86 billion riyals ($31.70 billion). The IPO’s financial advisers and managers said the results achieved until the twelfth day represented an unprecedented success, which confirms the depth of the strategic decision of the Saudi national economy. Rania Nashar, Vice Chairman of Samba Capital, pointed out that the large turnout by the retail segment was a source of pride and an indicator of the success of the IPO, as well as a sign of confidence that adds a lot to the reputation and prestige of Saudi Aramco and its leading presence in the oil and energy industry in global markets.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014646/saudi-aramco%E2%80%99s-ipo-covered-173-bids-totaling-442-billion
Baghdad – Fadhel al-Nashmi
Security forces and civilians gather near the burned Iranian consulate in Najaf, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP)
Anger towards Iran has been one of the hallmarks of the anti-government protests that have been raging in Iraq since October. Along with anti-Iran chants and the torching of the Iranian consulate in the cities of Karbala and Najaf, Iraqi people have kicked off a campaign to boycott Iranian products. A wide segment of people and wholesalers have reported a significant drop in the purchase of Iranian goods. Billboards have gone up in Baghdad and central and southern provinces, promoting dairy goods at very low prices as a result of the people’s boycott. Ahmed al-Akili, a business owner in Baghdad, said that wholesalers in the Jamila region have pleaded with retailers to buy Iranian products at very low costs because they fear they would reach their expiry dates before being put on the market. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that wholesalers have even offered products, which are nearing their expiry date, for free just to get rid if them. “They are often met with rejection because retailers are unsure that they would be sold before they expire,” he added. “Iranian goods are piling up at wholesalers. This does not mean that everyone is boycotting these products,” he said, noting the goods from Iran are cheaper than those from Turkey and the Arab Gulf. Activists and civilians kicked off in early November a wide boycott campaign of Iranian goods, under the hashtag “let them rot.” The movement came in response to accusations by some Iranian clerics and leaders that the Iraq protests were receiving foreign funding A food wholesaler in Baghdad, Abou Mortada, revealed that a large number of Iraqis have boycotted Iranian products, “but we must not exaggerate.” “Some poor families still buy the cheap Iranian products,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat. “The boycott centers mainly in the rich neighborhoods of Baghdad and other regions.” What is significant, however, is that Shiites are the ones taking the initiative in the boycott campaign, he remarked, explaining that in the past such movements were usually limited to Sunni regions. Observers have also attributed the drop in the purchase of Iranian goods to the closure of some Iraqi-Iranian border crossings. This has led to an unprecedented drop in trade. Several Iraqis hold local authorities responsible for their country’s deteriorating economy and industrial sector, saying the trade balance leans heavily in Tehran’s favor and unfairly against Iraq. On Thursday, demonstrators stormed and torched the Iranian consulate in Najaf. Security forces shot dead at least 45 protesters in response. Video of protesters cheering in the night as flames billowed from the consulate were a stunning image after years in which Tehran’s influence among Shiites in Arab states has been a defining factor in Middle East politics. The uprising erupted in Iraq in October with anti-corruption demonstrations that swelled into a revolt against authorities seen by young demonstrators as stooges of Tehran. The protesters, overwhelmingly Shiite, accused the Iraqi authorities of turning against their own people to defend Iran. Hundreds of protesters have been killed as the security forces sought to crack down on the rallies. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced Friday that he would be resigning, a move welcomed in the streets, but unlikely to end the rallies with the protesters demanding the overhaul of the entire political class. The current political class is drawn mainly from powerful Shiite politicians, clerics and paramilitary leaders including many who lived in exile before a US-led invasion overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003 - including Abdul Mahdi.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014641/amid-protests-iraqis-boycott-iranian-products
The Netherlands Joins EU Naval Mission to Monitor Gulf Waters
Iran
London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for the transport of crude. Reuters file photo
The Dutch government announced on Friday that it would contribute a ship to the French-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz amid regional tension with Iran. The Dutch Defense Ministry said the cabinet has approved the deployment of a frigate for a six-month mission designed to enhance maritime security in the Gulf region, from the end of January to the end of June 2020. The Dutch government will contribute the frigate with an onboard helicopter to the European-led mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH). "It's very important to ensure a free and safe passage" through the strait, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters Friday. He said The Netherlands is happy to take part in the mission. “We are not getting involved just for show, but because we want to.” The Dutch government said it would also send a number of staff to the headquarters of the mission, which France said earlier this week would be stationed at a French naval base in Abu Dhabi. “Tensions in the Gulf region have risen steadily higher in recent months,” the Defense Ministry said, adding that incidents that disrupt shipping and raise uncertainty have direct consequences for the world economy including for Dutch shippers. Last week, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said the initiative could start early next year and around 10 European and non-European governments would join, pending parliamentary approvals. She did not name the countries. France has called for a European security alternative in the Strait of Hormuz after ruling out joining the US-led coalition to protect tankers and cargo ships from Iranian threats. Denmark, Italy and Spain are among countries that have previously expressed interest in joining the French-led initiative. It was still uncertain on Friday if Germany would join. The European-led maritime force is meant to ensure safe shipping in the Strait after tanker attacks earlier this year that the United States blamed on Iran.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014626/netherlands-joins-eu-naval-mission-monitor-gulf-waters
Partnership Between Morocco’s Government, Civil Society to Fight Child Labor
Arab World
Rabat - Asharq Al-Awsat
Descartes High School is pictured in Rabat, Morocco January 28, 2019. Reuters
The Moroccan government has signed 19 partnership agreements with civil society organizations to fight child labor and protect women’s rights in the workplace. “Civil society can exert strong efforts” to fight child labor, and “launch campaigns to improve working conditions for women and empower them,” Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani said on the occasion. “Civil society associations can play leading roles in fighting all sorts of child labor,” he said, adding that the enforcement of a law on fighting the abuse of child domestic workers would help reduce such employments. According to Othmani, the current and previous governments have implemented several projects to protect women in the workplace. “Yet there is still inequality,” he said. “The improvement of working conditions (for women) continues to face obstacles.” Minister of Labor Mohamed Amakraz called for stronger efforts to fight all sorts of discrimination against child laborers and women in the workplace, and improving working conditions for women. He also urged for stronger partnerships between the government and civil society. “There should be a vision and mechanisms to remove children below the age of 15 from the labor force and incorporate them into an educational system,” the minister added.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014616/partnership-between-morocco%E2%80%99s-government-civil-society-fight-child-labor
Saudi Arabia Celebrates 5th Anniversary of King Salman’s Ascension of the Throne
Gulf
Riyadh – Badr al-Khareef
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia celebrates on Saturday the fifth anniversary of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s ascension to the throne. The Kingdom has made remarkable and unprecedented political, social, economic and development achievements since King Salman ascended the throne on January 23, 2015. The achievements have demonstrated that the Saudi leadership is committed to its pledge to build a state for the future and to take its place among the major world powers, with all of their political, economic, scientific and social weight. King Salman’s speeches at international and local forums have emphasized the importance of national development and the need to achieve more accomplishments. He has sought to highlight the role of Saudi youth in making achievements possible, saying they are firmly forging their way forward, armed with their Islamic and Arab heritage. He has sought to underline that Saudi Arabia is the country of Islam, from where this religion emerged, stressing that the Kingdom stands firmly with all Arab and Muslim countries as they strive for their rights. His speeches have also underscored the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was originally formed to bolster the peace, stability, development and prosperity of the Gulf people. Throughout his five years in power, Saudi Arabia witnessed massive development, which was recognized and praised around the world. This progress aims to achieve sustainable development that will allow the Kingdom to take its place among the world’s advanced countries. The accomplishments are too many to count, but the most significant of them is the government’s approval a year ago of the Kingdom’s largest budget to date at over 2 trillion riyals and revenues of over 900 billion riyals. The Kingdom also approved development projects and signed major deals with global companies aimed at further developing the country. It has sought to ease its dependence on oil through investing in local tourism in all of its forms with the Kingdom aiming to attract 100 million tourists annually, according to Vision 2030. To that end, Saudi Arabia inaugurated several major projects, such as the King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, Green Riyadh, Riyadh Art and Diriyah Gate Project. King Salman also inaugurated during the holy month of Ramadan the Hajj and Umrah Program that is part of Vision 2030. Women empowerment has also been at the forefront of Saudi achievements in recent years under King Salman’s reign. The Kingdom has taken unprecedented decisions to empower women through granting them their natural right to employment, which will allow them to directly contribute to the country’s development alongside their male counterparts. Women were also allowed to drive during King Salman’s reign. King Salman grew up in the royal palace in Riyadh where he used to accompany his father at official meetings with kings and world rulers. He received his early education at the Princes' School in Riyadh where he studied religious and modern studies. He completed reading the holy Quran, under the guidance of late Imam of the Masjid al-Haram Sheikh Abdullah Khayyat, when he was ten years old. Since his youth, King Salman showed an interest in education and was granted several honorary degrees and awards in recognition of his efforts. King Salman was appointed Governor of the Riyadh region in 1955 when he was 20 years old. He occupied that position for more than five decades. During that time, he transformed the capital, then of some 200,000 people, into one of the Arab world’s fastest growing capitals. His tenure as governor was not without obstacles and challenges, but he was able to overcome them and Riyadh is now one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in the region. Moreover, King Salman has received several awards and medals in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2014606/saudi-arabia-celebrates-5th-anniversary-king-salman%E2%80%99s-ascension-throne
