Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 23 deceMber 2019

Australia's leader apologizes for vacation amid wildfires

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian Morrison said this was not a heat wave.
Prime Minister Scott Morri- time for political point-scor- "There is no argument ...
son apologized Sunday for ing, but a "time to be kind about the links between
taking a family vacation to each other." He said that broader issues of global cli-
in Hawaii as deadly bush- while he is not a trained mate change and weather
fires raged across several firefighter, "I'm comforted events around the world,"
states, destroying homes by the fact that Australians he said. "But I'm sure peo-
and claiming the lives of would like me to be here ple equally would acknowl-
two volunteer firefighters. just simply so I can be here, edge that the direct con-
Morrison cut short a vaca- alongside them, as they nection to any single fire
tion with his wife and adult are going through this ter- event — it's not a credible
children amid public anger rible time." suggestion to make that
at his absence during a Morrison also answered link."
national crisis, and arrived critics who say his govern- Rural Fire Service Commis-
home Saturday night. He ment has not done enough sioner Shane Fizsimmons
spoke to reporters Sunday to fight climate change, described Saturday as an
morning while visiting the which has been cited as "awful day" for firefighters
headquarters of the Rural Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with NSW Premier Glad- a major factor in the spate as strong southerly winds
ys Berejiklian, left, speaks to the media during a visit to the Wol-
Fire Service in Sydney. londilly Emergency Control Centre in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 22, of fires burning across the fanned more than 100 fires
"If you had your time over 2019. states of New South Wales, in New South Wales alone.
again and you had the Associated Press Victoria and South Aus- The fast-moving fires
benefit of hindsight, we tralia. He said there were scorched trees, cars, out-
would have made differ- stand that when you make have other responsibilities, also "many other factors" buildings and everything
ent decisions," Morrison a promise to your kids you and I accept that and I responsible for the unprec- else in its path, leaving
said. "I am sure Australians try and keep it." accept the criticism," he edented number of fires residents scrambling to find
are fair-minded and under- "But as prime minister, you added. during a record-breaking shelter. q

Thousands protest against new PM, close roads in Lebanon

highways in Beirut and lence on Sunday. naa Saleh said about Di-
other parts of the country Prime Minister-designate ab's nomination. "We don't
to rally against the nomina- Diab, a university professor believe this movie."
tion of Hassan Diab, who and former education min- Diab has vowed his govern-
was backed by the militant ister, will have the task of ment will not include politi-
Hezbollah group and its al- steering Lebanon out of its cians and will only consist of
lies and failed to win the worst economic and finan- independents and experts.
backing of the main Sunni cial crisis in decades. He's In Washington, a State De-
Muslim groups. also taking office against partment spokesperson
The protesters, many of the backdrop of ongoing said that U.S. Undersecre-
whom came from northern nationwide protests against tary of State for Political
Lebanon and the eastern the country's ruling elite Affairs David Hale had en-
Bekaa Valley, also gath- that the protesters blame couraged Lebanese lead-
ered in Beirut's central Mar- for widespread corruption ers during his two-day visit
tyrs Square, one of the key and mismanagement. last week "to put aside par-
places of the protests which Former Prime Minister Saad tisan interests and support
Protesters chant slogans during ongoing protests against the
Lebanese political class, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, have been underway for Hariri, the head of the larg- formation of a government
Dec. 22, 2019. more than two months. est Sunni group in Lebanon, committed to and capable
Associated Press They later marched toward resigned on Oct. 29, meet- of undertaking meaningful,
the parliament building ing a key demand of the sustained reforms."
By BASSAM HATOUM new prime minister, saying guarded by scores of riot protesters. According to Hale "reaffirmed America's
BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands he should abandon the police. Unlike last week, Lebanon's power-sharing longstanding partnership
of protesters demonstrated post because he is a mem- when scuffles were report- system, the prime minister and enduring commitment
in central Beirut and else- ber of the ruling elite. ed between protesters and has to be a Sunni. to a secure, stable, and
where in Lebanon on Sun- After sunset, protesters policemen outside the par- "We are not convinced by prosperous Lebanon," said
day against the country's closed several roads and liament, there was no vio- their choice," protester Ha- Morgan Ortagus.q