THULHIJJA 14, 1440 AH THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

28 Pages Max 48º Min 32º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 17906 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Firemen battle string of Breathtaking Biles is Special Supplement inside 5 fires during Eid holiday 25 ‘unbeatable’, rivals say Established 1961

MP questions expat numbers, issuance of new work permits

Tabtabaei asks Aqeel about nationality, jobs, qualifications of new recruits

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: MP Omar Al-Tabtabaei yesterday probed the number of expatriates in the country in a series of ques- tions to Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al- Aqeel. Tabtabaei said on his Twitter account that the questions were prompted by reports about an influx of Egyptian workers into Kuwait. The reports said that around 100,000 new work permits were issued last year to Egyptian workers, with around 8,000 new Egyptian entrants into the labor market monthly. Tabtabaei said the issuance of a large number of new Omar Al-Tabtabaei Mariam Al-Aqeel work permits came even after the government pledged to take measures to rebalance the labor market, including laborers in Kuwait is 2.85 million - a quarter of them restricting the issuance of new work permits. In his ques- domestic helpers. There are also around 550,000 expat tions, the lawmaker asked the minister about the number dependents - children and housewives - making the total of expats who entered the country on new work permits number of expats 3.4 million. in the past three years based on nationality. He also Last month, Director General of the Public Authority inquired about the qualifications of expats who were for Manpower Ahmad Al-Mousa said bringing in expat recruited in the past three years. labor is subject to rules mentioned in labor law 6/2010 Tabtabaei asked about the number of expats and its decisions. He said the authority carries out its employed in ministries and other public sector jobs over responsibilities to issue work permits based on employers’ the last three years, and also the number of unemployed requests according to rules that are not related to the Kuwaitis registered with the government. He also inquired nationality or numbers of expat workers. He said the labor if those expats obtained their degrees from recognized law and the law establishing the authority 109/2013 gave KUWAIT: Pilgrims are welcomed on their return from hajj at Kuwait International Airport yesteday. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh universities. Based on latest figures, the number of expat it the right to bring in labor based on employers’ requests.

prising move to revoke the autonomy of its according to a tweet from the army’s News in brief Pak PM visits portion of the disputed Himalayan territo- spokesperson. Khan and the military’s ry last week. comments followed other fiery speeches in Forensic examination needs time “The Pakistani army has solid informa- the territory’s parliament, with the prime Kashmir as tion that they (India) are planning to do minister of Pakistani Kashmir at one point KUWAIT: Examination of human remains Kuwait something in Pakistani Kashmir, and they begging for permission to cross the de- received from Iraq purportedly belonging to citizens tensions boil are ready and will give a solid response,” facto border dividing the territory and who had gone missing or held as prisoners of war Khan said during a televised speech in then later bragging about opening fire on needs both time and effort, an official said yesterday. MUZAFFARABAD/NEW DELHI: Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-admin- Indian troops in the past. Interior Ministry’s Acting Undersecretary Sheikh Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan istered Kashmir. “We have decided that if The heated rhetoric follows days of ris- Faisal Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah’s remarks came during his vowed to “fight until the end” against any India commits any type of violation we will ing hostilities from Islamabad. Following visit to the ministry’s forensic laboratory, where he Indian aggression in the disputed region fight until the end,” Khan added in the Delhi’s move to abolish Indian-adminis- got a close-up view of the DNA analysis used to of Kashmir. The warning represented a speech marking the country’s tered Kashmir’s special status, Pakistan identify the remains. Iraqi authorities last week dramatic escalation in rhetoric after Independence Day. “The time has arrived launched a diplomatic offensive aimed at handed over to Kuwait the remains of 48 Kuwaitis, Islamabad said last week that they had to teach you a lesson.” reversing the order and formally asked the who went missing after Iraq’s invasion of its neighbor ruled out a “military option” over the The head of the Pakistani military also United Nations Security Council late MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan’s Prime and the subsequent Gulf War 29 years ago. — AFP Kashmir dispute. The remarks come as added that the country’s security forces Tuesday to hold an emergency session to Minister Imran Khan addresses the tensions skyrocketed between the were “fully ready to perform its part in line address India’s “illegal actions”. assembly in the capital of Pakistan-con- nuclear-armed rivals following India’s sur- with our national duty for Kashmir cause”, Continued on Page 24 trolled Kashmir yesterday. — AFP 6 acquitted over vigilante murder

NEW DELHI: An Indian court yesterday acquitted six people accused of murdering a Muslim man who The Kaaba is a cube structure that is was attacked while transporting cows. Pehlu Khan, a Makkah hotels the focal point of Islam, draped in a gold- 55-year-old farmer, died after around 200 vigi- embroidered black cloth, towards which lantes attacked trucks carrying cattle on a highway offer VIP hajj Muslims around the world pray. “Guests in the western state of Rajasthan in April 2017. Nine dream of seeing the Kaaba 24-hours a people were accused of killing Khan, with six of day,” added the hotelier. In a room on the them acquitted by a local court in Rajasthan yester- experience 29th floor, male worshippers gathered to day. The three other accused are minors and are pray their eyes fixed on the holy site being tried in a juvenile court. The Khan family’s MAKKAH: Five-star hotels with views of below as the hajj was in full swing. Some legal team told AFP the prosecution plans to file an Islam’s holiest site and luxury hajj pilgrim- 2.5 million faithful travelled to Makkah appeal against the verdict in the high court. — AFP age packages are attracting a super- from across the world to take part in this wealthy clientele and establishing Makkah year’s pilgrimage - one of the five pillars as the capital of premium religious tourism. of Islam - which began on August 9 and Philippine boy eaten by croc Makkah’s finest hotels are lavishly appoint- ended yesterday. ed with shimmering marble, fine wood pan- At another similarly prestigious hotel, MANILA: A boy was killed after being snatched elling and vast chandeliers, serving super- guests are offered a “pilgrimage area” from a boat by a saltwater crocodile in the south- wealthy pilgrims from around the world. At complete with a view “of Islam’s holiest ern Philippines, as the reptiles’ shrinking habitat one of the high-end establishments, the site... allowing (them) to lift their spirits”. leads to repeated attacks, authorities said yester- main selling point is clear according to a Luxury accommodation has mushroomed MAKKAH: Pilgrims pray and read the Holy Quran in a luxury hotel room with a day. The 10-year-old was on board with his two representative: “We have three prayer in Makkah in recent years with a panoramic view overlooking the Kaaba and its encompassing Grand Mosque ahead older siblings near the town of Balabac, which is rooms overlooking the Kaaba.” Continued on Page 24 of the annual hajj pilgrimage on Aug 8, 2019. — AFP notorious for confrontations with the massive crea- tures, when he was yanked into the water. His father failed to find the boy after an overnight search, but a fisherman discovered the child’s half- NASA descends Facebook listened eaten remains late Monday in a mangrove swamp, a police report said. — AFP on lava field to to conversations SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook has paid hundreds of Family spares ex-Tehran mayor prepare for Mars contractors to listen to and transcribe snippets of users’ conversations, US media reported yesterday, amid heightened scrutiny of the social network’s data collec- TEHRAN: A former mayor of Tehran sentenced to LAMBAHRAUN LAVA FIELD, Iceland: To prepare for tion practices. Facebook acknowledged the transcrip- death over the murder of his wife has been spared the next mission to Mars in 2020, NASA has taken to the lava fields of Iceland to get its new robotic space explorer tions, which were first reported by Bloomberg, telling by her family in a post shared on Instagram yes- ready for the job. With its black basalt sand, wind-swept the news agency in a statement that they were made terday. Mohammad Ali Najafi, 67, was sentenced dunes and craggy peaks, the Lambahraun lava field at the with users’ permission, but that the practice has to death last month after being convicted of foot of Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjokull, was nonetheless been stopped. “Much like Apple and shooting dead his second wife Mitra Ostad at their chosen as a stand-in for the Red Planet’s surface. For three Google, we paused human review of audio more than a home in the Iranian capital on May 28. “My father, LAMBAHRAUN LAVA FIELD, Iceland: This picture taken week ago,” the company said. Facebook did not weeks, 15 scientists and engineers sent by the US space on July 19, 2019 shows NASA’s new robotic space my mother and our Mahyar (his sister’s son) for- agency descended on the site, 100 km from the capital, respond to a request for comment from AFP. give Mr Mohammad Ali Najafi” after mediation explorer at their base, where they are getting it ready The contractors were testing the ability of the social Reykjavik, last month to develop a prototype. for the next mission to Mars. — AFP that involved others, her brother Masood Ostad It will aim to continue the work of the “Curiosity” network’s artificial intelligence to interpret messages, wrote. “We are happy that we made no deal for and the only users affected were those on Facebook rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012 in “It’s a very good analogue for Mars exploration and the blood of that honorable (person),” he added. search of signs of ancient life and making preparations Messenger app who had opted to have their voice learning how to drive Mars rovers,” said Adam chats transcribed. Bloomberg said the contractors Najafi remains behind bars after also receiving a for human exploration. Experts say that Iceland, a vol- Deslauriers, manager of space and education, at working on the project were “rattled” by listening to two-year jail sentence for illegal possession of a canic island in the middle of the North Atlantic, is in Canada’s Mission Control Space Services. private audio whose origin wasn’t disclosed and which firearm. —AFP many ways reminiscent of the fourth planet from the Sun. Continued on Page 24 Continued on Page 24 2 Established 1961 Local Thursday, August 15, 2019 Crown Prince receives Acting Prime Minister, Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf thanks Eid Al-Adha well-wishers

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yester- day at Bayan Palace Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. He also received Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh

Amir performs Eid prayer at KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Grand Mosque meets with Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA photos with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah.

ued all efforts exerted by ministries and other state under the sagacious leadership of His Highness the was accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has addressed a bodies in the country in organizing and facilitating this Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah, senior message of gratitude to citizens in and outside Kuwait year’s Eid celebrations. His Highness prayed to Allah leader of humanitarian action. sheikhs, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber and residents in the country, who expressed their sin- Almighty so this joyful occasion may recur in the dear His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Acting National cere congratulations and impassioned sentiments on homeland, with abundant bounties, blessings, and wel- Jaber Al-Sabah had performed Eid Al-Adha prayers at Assembly Speaker Dr Oudah Al-Ruwaei as well as a Eid Al-Adha. His Highness the Crown Prince also val- fare for all so Kuwait may continue to enjoy prosperity the Grand Mosque on Sunday. His Highness the Amir number of senior state officials. — KUNA Zain awards winners of KON Program KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in Kuwait, participated in award- ing the top three winners of the KON Social Entrepreneurship Program during the closing ceremony held at the American University in Kuwait (AUK). The program, brought to Kuwait in collaboration with Babson College in Boston, came as part of Zain’s strategic partnership with LOYAC, a non-profit organization that aims at devel- oping youth’s talents and skills. Zain’s support to KON for the second year running came as part of its strategic partnership with LOYAC, which continues this year for over 15 consecutive years. The Zain and LOYAC teams with the winning students. partnership comes in line with the compa- ny’s corporate sustainability and social al trip to the Sultanate of Oman that aims at extends to various educational programs responsibility strategy, which centers enhancing their team building, leadership, that cater to developing the youth’s skills around the development of the education and self-discovery skills. and talents, including KON Social and youth sectors, especially in regard to Last July, Zain hosted KON’s students at Entrepreneurship Program, LOYAC AC nurturing and developing entrepreneurial the Zain Innovation Center (ZINC) in the Milan Soccer School, and more. skills within the youth. company’s main headquarters in Shuwaikh. Through its Strategic Partnership with The KON Social Entrepreneurship The students took part in a workshop facil- LOYAC, Zain also trains hundreds of stu- Program witnessed the participation of 64 itated by Khalid Al-Amiri, founder of Li3ib dents as part of the LOYAC Summer bright students aged 12-16 years, who project and an entrepreneur of the fourth Internship Program. The students take part formed 14 different teams each with an inno- Zain Great Idea accelerator program. The in completing tasks, learning new skills, and vative idea for a socially responsible and workshop covered tech startup accelera- go through professional training in the real profitable business that tackles an issue in tion and the secrets of pitching new tech business world at various departments and the local community. Zain took part in startups, as well as many other experiences divisions within the company. Zain also awarding the winning teams during the clos- that benefited the students in their entre- offers the students financial rewards in ing ceremony held at AUK; first place: preneurship journey. KON, one of LOYAC’s recognition of their efforts and as an Edully, a business that provided innovative latest youth development programs, trained encouragement to their dedication. online services for the youth in Kuwait to youth (12-16 years) in the area of Social Zain is proud to be one of the strategic Zain officials award one of the winning teams with the presence of LOYAC officials. fight bullying. Second place: ECOMESH, a Entrepreneurship throughout six weeks at partners of LOYAC since its inception, business that designed an affordable, light- the American University in Kuwait. The especially that it is considered one of the weight, and portable recycling bin to elimi- program was brought to Kuwait in collabo- most prominent national programs that very important part of the company’s overall the youth in Kuwait when it comes to inno- nate pollution and preserve the environment. ration with Babson College in Boston, con- cater to the youth and offers them a healthy success. The company considers education vative and high-quality educational pro- Third place: Top Team Talent, a business that sidered the most prestigious entrepreneur- and empowering environment to develop as a core element in the community develop- grams. LOYAC runs several programs for the created a platform that links talented youth ship college in the United States and the their skills and talents in an educational, fun, ment process, and it will continue to support youth to develop their professional skills, with sponsors and events to help them number one institution in the world for and social atmosphere. it to contribute to the further progress of the enhance their personal growth and to help develop their talents and skills. The winning entrepreneurship education. Zain believes in the development of the country’s youth. Since its inception in 2002, them find their sense of purpose by extend- teams will take part in an exciting education- This year, Zain’s support to LOYAC communities in which it operates, and it is a LOYAC has grown to be the first choice of ing themselves to others.

Amir congratulates Saudi King on successful hajj

KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways staff welcome returning pilgrims at Terminal 4 (T4).

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable to his Saudi minister also spoke highly of Saudi hajj bodies for their exerted efforts during this year hajj season. The Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratula- counterpart and Crown Prince Mohammad bin capitalizing on state-of-the-art technology to help pil- mission chief also highly appreciated the follow up and tions to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on the successful hajj season. Sheikh Nasser grims perform relevant rituals in an easy and smooth keenness by Minister Shula for easing up all proce- Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on the end of the hajj also hailed the efforts of Saudi Arabia to provide pil- mode. He further appreciated all Kuwaiti ministries dures and work related to hajj this season. Emadi season. In the cable, His Highness the Amir lauded the grims with different services and enable them to per- and agencies concerned for having harnessed all ener- thanked the Saudi government led by King Salman, for success of the pilgrimage this year. His Highness Sheikh form their rituals easily, the Ministry of Defense said gies to answer the needs of Kuwaiti pilgrims this year. their efforts and huge task in serving all pilgrims this Sabah also expressed gratitude for King Salman and in a statement. In the meantime, Head of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission year. Emadi added that members of the mission had his government’s strenuous efforts in addressing the Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Farid Emadi praised the efforts exerted by members of made tremendous service and relentless efforts, day needs of pilgrims, wishing persistent prosperity for the Fahad Al-Shula commended this year’s hajj pilgrimage the mission for their labors in service of Kuwaiti pil- and night, to serve all Kuwaiti pilgrims. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people. season as ‘unprecedentedly successful.’ “This success grims this year. Emadi said he received a phone call Saudi Minister of Health Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah had His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- has capped the efforts of the Saudi government to from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber boasted that this year’s hajj season has seen neither Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime serve pilgrims and provide all potential to ensure this Mubarak Hamad Al-Sabah, who asked about pilgrims’ epidemics nor incidents, considering it a completely Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- great success,” Shula, who doubles as Minister of status and Kuwaiti missions in general. Emadi added successful event. According to Saudi authorities, the Sabah have sent similar cables to King Salman. State for Municipal Affairs, said in a statement. He that Sheikh Jaber also conveyed greetings on behalf of number of pilgrims this year hit 2,489,406 — Meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister and added that Saudi authorities had exerted great efforts His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown 1,855,027 from abroad and 634,379 from within Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad to properly cater for pilgrims this year. The Kuwaiti Prince to all members of the mission, thanking them for Saudi Arabia. — KUNA Established 1961 3 Local Thursday, August 15, 2019 Kuwait urges coordinating efforts in compliance with int’l humanitarian law ‘The world witnesses flagrant disregard for implementation of humanitarian agreements’

NEW YORK: Kuwait has urged all parties to abide The fundamental answer is by strengthening the rule by and respect their obligations under international of law and respecting humanitarian principles during humanitarian law (IHL). This came in a speech by armed conflict, but the question is how can it be Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United achieved. UNSC has a vital and pivotal role in ensur- Nations Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi at a UN ing compliance with IHL and strengthening the rule of Security Council (UNSC) meeting held on Tuesday law by ensuring the full implementation of relevant evening about encouraging and strengthening IHL. Security Council resolutions, particularly in the con- This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1949 text of the protection of civilians and compliance by Geneva Conventions, which resulted in the aftermath parties to the conflict and international organizations of the most devastating war in humanity, the Second operating in the field, he noted. World War (WW2), when the UN was founded as a Otaibi underlined the responsibility of the UN result of its effects and losses and to prevent another Peacekeeping forces to protect civilians within their devastating war, he said. mandate, providing security The scale of violence and for the camps of the dis- suffering witnessed in dif- placed, medical evacuation ferent conflict zones around of the wounded and the world over the past strengthening the capabili- decades is no less than the ties of the national police to amount of violence and suf- Sanctions can play carry out responsibilities. He fering that the world wit- an important role also stressed ensuring nessed in WW2 74 years accountability for war ago, he added. crimes, genocide and crimes Strengthening the rule against humanity, guaran- of law, especially IHL, is teeing that those responsi- highly vital, Otaibi pointed ble for targeting civilians out, noting that the four Geneva Conventions and will be held accountable. NEW YORK: Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi their Additional Protocols provide the legal frame- Otaibi said sanctions could play an important speaks during a UN Security Council meeting about encouraging and strengthening the international work for the protection of human beings during role in ensuring that those responsible for violations humanitarian law. —KUNA wars and armed conflicts. The world is still witness- of IHL and international human rights law are held ing neglect and flagrant disregard for the imple- accountable if used in an effective manner. He said mentation of the provisions of these agreements in member states should apply the existing interna- should not in any way affect obligations and veto to block international humanitarian convoys recent times, he warned. tional laws more fully through specific practical and responsibilities under international law, especially in from reaching the needy, pointing out the possibility Otaibi reviewed examples of disregard, such as operational measures, while no one can deny differ- the humanitarian field, the provision of humanitarian of redoubling efforts at the bilateral level, especially what is happening in the occupied Palestinian territo- ent national priorities and policies. It is often diffi- assistance and allowing unhindered access to the through the exchange of experiences and best ries, Syria and the Rohingya minority in Myanmar. cult to coordinate all positions uniformly but this needy, he said. He renewed the call not to use the practices between countries. — KUNA

Israeli raids prove peace calls false: Kuwait Speaker

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem has labeled Israel’s raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque “brutal,” saying the latest assault once again demonstrates that the “occupational entity’s calls for peace are false.” Several Palestinian Marzouq Al-Ghanem worshippers were injured on Sunday after being attacked by Israeli police, who were guarding 450 Israeli settlers and global action across political, as they reportedly broke into the human rights and cultural forums mosque on the first day of the Islamic worldwide to put pressure on an Eid Al-Adha holiday. “It is utterly woe- “occupational entity that knows only ful and shameful to leave Jerusalemites the logic of oppression and power.” “If facing their enemy alone, without any our military conditions are unfavorable, support or backing,” the chief lawmak- this does not prevent daily action on er said in a statement. He urged the the political, cultural and human rights need for comprehensive Arab, Islamic spectrums,” he added. — KUNA Kuwaiti Ambassador presents credentials to Nepal President NEW DELHI: Kuwait’s Ambassador to convey her greetings to His Highness India Jassem Al-Najem presented his the Amir and praised current level of credentials as a non-resident relations and its steady development Ambassador to President of the Federal between the two friendly countries, it Democratic Republic of Nepal Bidya added. She lauded the hospitality and Devi Bhandari. During the meeting, good living condition enjoyed by Najem’s conveyed greetings from His Nepalese people working in Kuwait Highness the Amir to the Nepalese and their contribution to the national President, said the Kuwaiti Embassy in development and economic growth. New Delhi in a statement on Tuesday. The Nepalese president expressed her Ambassador Najem praised the close wish to see the current relations relations between Kuwait and Nepal enhanced further in political, economic also hailed the warm ties in several and social sectors. She further com- fields, including trade and cultural mended the strong relations with exchange. He commended the role of Kuwait, saying that such was evident in the Kuwait Fund for Development in the visit of former Nepalese President enhancing the relationship through soft Dr Ram Baran Yadav to Kuwait in loans given to the Himalayan nation February 2011 during Kuwait’s celebra- since 1977. Meanwhile, the President of tions of the Golden Jubilee of inde- Nepal asked Ambassador Najem to pendence. — KUNA

Kuwait’s Ambassador to India Jassem Al-Najem meets with President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari. 4 Thursday, August 15, 2019 Local

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: Anglers cast their lines near Souq Sharq during sunset. — Photo by Nawaf Al-Hmoud (KUNA) Ministry to ‘blacklist’ companies behind schedule on road repairs Air conditioners tested at schools around Kuwait

By A Saleh the start of the school year. The principals will begin Salam, while the other person involved in the accident arriving at schools to prepare for the school year which was taken to hospital. The woman died on arrival. An KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works is preparing a list begins in about two weeks. Students will report in mid- investigation was opened in the case. Meanwhile, a of companies it deems were lax in implementing the road September. Informed sources said Education Minister bedoon man fell from the third floor of his residence. repair project. Sources said the ministry launched an oper- Woman killed Hamed Al-Azmi instructed undersecretaries and school The man died from his injuries two days after being ation to repair roads and waited two months for its com- zones to be in contact with school principals to follow admitted to Jahra Hospital. pletion, but the roads are still in their previous condition. in Salam car school preparations and provide them with all necessary Separately, a motorist fired at policemen after being “The ministry is preparing names of companies that did not needs. They said air conditioners were tested yesterday pulled over, before escaping. The culprit was chased finish their work on time in order to apply contract rules accident to make sure they are functional. The sources said school on foot before disappearing. The car was impounded such as charging delay fines,” said the sources, adding that principals were told to inform school zones through the and drugs were found in it. In another case, customs Minister Jenan Bushehri believes the absence of road license officer about the presence of cleaners and main- officers at Egypt’s Sohag Airport discovered a dis- repairs is in violation of what she promised MPs during a tenance of educational facilities. mantled air rifle that could be modified to become a parliamentary session. The ministry will withdraw projects shotgun with a passenger who arrived in Egypt on a from companies that proved weak, and the projects can be School year Fatal crash flight from Kuwait. The officers also found 191 car- put forward with a new tender, the sources noted. School principals began extraordinary work before A Kuwaiti woman was killed in a car accident in tridges with the passenger.

Sharq [fish mar- Fish available ket] reached 1,100, including 818 baskets of in large quantities, Um Naira and 282 baskets of says union’s chief Shahamia,” he pointed out. Suwayyan By Faten Omar noted that the market has a KUWAIT: The head of Kuwait Fishermen huge number of Union Thaher Al-Suwayyan told Kuwait Thaher Al-Suwayyan mullet and Times that fish are available in the market shrimp baskets, in large quantities, especially shrimp and adding there is Kuwaiti mullet, which is helping lower demand by consumers, and prices will prices. likely fall. “On Eid, prices ranged between Kuwaiti shrimp include Um Naira, a KD 50 to 55 for an Um Naira shrimp bas- large-sized shrimp, and Shahamia, a desir- ket, KD 25 to 30 for Shahamia shrimp and able variety because of its medium size. KD 18 to 32 for a 25-kg basket of mullet,” “The number of shrimp baskets at Souq he noted.

KUWAIT: Egyptian butcher Mohammad Ibraheem, aged 27, work at a slaughterhouse in Kuwait City on August 13, 2019, during the third day of Eid al-Adha. Mohammed is famous for his resemblance with Egyptian football player Mohammed Salah, and people from around Kuwait come to meet him and take pictures with him. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Commerce Ministry monitors ‘back to school’ prices By Meshaal Al-Enezi monitor school products’ prices because neces- attendance percentage at the Social Affairs sary plans were made and teams were instruct- Ministry reached 65 percent of the total KUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce and ed to start working on ensuring quality and employees yesterday, adding that the rest of Industry said it completed its plan to monitor availability. employees are on annual leaves. In other news, school supplies amid preparations for the new Meanwhile, the social affairs ministry under- the customs department banned the import of school year in order to maintain suitable prices secretary said work is regular at all organiza- ruminant meat from Lesotho due to anthrax. for consumers. The ministry said the supervision tional units in all ministry sectors, particularly Meanwhile, it lifted a ban on bird meat and department took the necessary preparations to social care and its housing homes. He said eggs from Ghana and Togo. KUWAIT: A large number of fish and shrimp baskets seen at Souq Sharq’s fish market. Established 1961 5 Local Thursday, August 15, 2019 Firemen battle string of fires around Kuwait during holiday Medical Emergencies Department received 1,462 calls during Eid

Firemen battle a blaze at a private hospital under construction in Mahboula. Vehicles heavily damaged by a fire reported in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun statement. Firemen from the Mangaf, Separately, Jleeb fire station men put out a Fahaheel, Bidaa, operations and backup fire blaze in four parked vehicles in a sandy KUWAIT: Firemen had a busy holiday as stations were at the scene. The fire was on open area. No injuries were reported. they battled a string of fires reported Meanwhile, Hawally and Salmiya fire sta- around Kuwait during Eid Al-Adha. In tions responded to a call about a fire in a Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, firemen put out a blaze house in Shaab. The fire was put out with in an old-style house which was used to no injuries. store carpets, furniture, tents and foam. In other news, the Medical Emergencies Ardiya, Jleeb, Mishref and backup fire sta- Department received 1,462 calls during the tions responded. An Asian man suffered Man hurt in holiday, while 1,158 urgent cases were fractures as he jumped from the roof of the Jleeb blaze transferred to hospitals and nearby sta- house and was taken to hospital by para- tions and 303 cases were treated onsite. medics. Firemen faced difficulties tackling All incidents varied between road acci- the blaze due to narrow passages and dents, fights, burns and cuts. Meanwhile, parked vehicles. 263 non-urgent cases were transferred to In the meantime, firemen dealt with a hospital, making up a total of 1,472 cases blaze reported at a private hospital under the second floor in construction material. that were dealt with during the Eid holiday. construction in Mahboula, Kuwait Fire The flames were put out as investigations Also, six cases were medevacked between KUWAIT: Flames engulf an old-style house in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Service Directorate (KFSD) said in a press began to find out the cause of the blaze. Saturday and Tuesday. International THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 Floods and landslides kill over 270 in India The weird world of Trump’s conspiracy theories Page 8 Page 9

MINA: Muslim worshippers arrive in Mina to throw pebbles as part of the symbolic Al-A’qabah (stoning of the devil ritual) at the Jamarat Bridge during the hajj pilgrimage, near Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah. Faith 2.0: Pilgrims turn to tech to boost hajj Pilgrimage accelerates the growth of digital worship

MINA: The hajj pilgrimage underway in Makkah has been friends and family back home. Almost 2.5 million Muslims turned to technology to improve the hajj experience and accelerating the growth of digital worship and spawning a have travelled to Makkah in western Saudi Arabia, closed avoid incidents like the stampede that claimed some slew of religious apps, tablet Qurans and faith-based to non-Muslims, for the religious gathering, which is one 2,300 lives in 2015. gadgets. At the peak of Mount Arafat, numerous Muslim of the world’s largest and most logistically complex. The In the wake of that tragedy, pilgrims are now issued pilgrims were absorbed in Quranic verses displayed on hajj has taken on an increasingly high-tech dimension in with electronic bracelets containing their personal data. their smartphones - rapidly replacing traditional printed recent years with the emergence of mobile phone apps “All of their information is loaded, a bit like an ID card. If holy books. designed to help pilgrims from around the world navigate you can’t read or write and you get lost, you can give it to “Of course I read the Quran on my phone... it’s much their experience. anyone and they can help you find your address. more simple,” said Egyptian teacher Ahmad Salim, 46, Software exists to help visitors get around Makkah Technology helps ease the hajj,” said Sami Abdelaziz, a who had travelled to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, one of and the surrounding area as well as access medical serv- 37-year-old Saudi pilgrim. Shdaifat, the Jordanian pilgrim, Islam’s five pillars. For the first time in the hajj’s history, ices and properly follow religious rites. Saudi’s hajj min- sheltering under an umbrella from the heavy rains that 5G super high-speed mobile technology has been istry even sends text messages to pilgrims with a variety have lashed the Mina Valley outside Makkah, said of the deployed around the holy sites to allow the faithful to of information and advice. A major digital innovation for bracelets: “If a pilgrim gets separated, their group can transfer data at breakneck speeds. Tech giants Zain and this year’s hajj has been the introduction of electronic hajj locate them. Nokia will even “demonstrate advanced virtual reality... visas “delivered online for the first time without necessi- “It’s very useful.” Saudi authorities have also fitted GPS allowing users to experience the hajj remotely as if they tating a consulate visit. It’s been a success,” said hajj min- trackers to 18,000 shuttle buses to monitor the flow of pil- were there”, using 360 degree high-definition video istry official Hassan Qadi. grims. Shdaifat brandished a second bracelet that gives over 5G. him access to the metro system connecting Makkah’s vari- ‘It’s very useful’ ous pilgrimage sites. Classic watches and alarm clocks are ‘A success’ “It’s very practical, especially for those travelling with also losing ground to phone-based tools that alert wor- MINA: Muslim worshippers throw pebbles as part of the symbol- Many pilgrims snapped selfies over the five-day rite, family,” said Jordanian Abderrahman Shdaifat, 44, mak- shippers to their five daily prayers. “Nearly all the pilgrims ic Al-A’qabah (stoning of the devil ritual) at the Jamarat Bridge held this year August 9 to 14, and sent video clips to ing his first hajj. The authorities have also increasingly have it,” said Egyptian Ahmad Salim. —AFP during the hajj pilgrimage in Mina. —AFP Photos

after trying to cross the fire on a motorbike, and three church for communion. Once their guests settled around Ecological disaster cars belonging to campers were burned, a local mayor Religious feast a huge platter of barbecued food, Christians could not be said. “We should be able to tackle the fire by the end of told apart from the Muslims, though Yves-Martin the day,” Yiannis Razos, a local official, told Athens Kemden wore a special long robe to honour his hosts on Greek island as municipal radio. highlights interfaith during his tenth Tabaski. “It’s a custom,” the young dog The area faced power outages and water cuts yes- breeder said. “Here, you’re always invited by a neighbour fire burns on terday, residents said. Two Italian water bombers unity in Senegal even if you don’t share the same religion.” arrived after Greece requested EU assistance, and were MAKRYMALLI: Firefighters on the Greek island of on standby, the fire department said. A third plane from DAKAR: When Senegal’s Muslim families gather for the ‘Indivisible’ Evia were still battling yesterday to contain a fire that Spain was due to arrive by evening. EU Humanitarian biggest Islamic religious feast of the year, they often encour- Hardline Islamist militants have made their mark in has caused massive damage to a pristine mountain Commissioner Christos Stylianides called the mobiliza- age the Christian minority to join them in a tradition of toler- other parts of West Africa, trying to impose their more wildlife habitat after threatening four communities. tion of Greek forces “exemplary”. “I think we will be ance rare in West Africa. Many Roman Catholics in Dakar intolerant and often violent vision of Islam on communi- “Things are going better, but we must not relax our able to limit the ecological losses...European solidarity were invited Monday to join Muslim friends for Tabaski, the ties in countries like Nigeria and Mali. For those ultra- vigilance,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told is tangible,” Stylianides told reporters. local name for the Eid al-Adha or the Festival of the conservatives, other religions and even other branches of reporters aboard a fire department bus. No injuries or respiratory problems that required Sacrifice, which commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to Islam are often seen as apostates. Sociologist Fatou Sow The blaze burned for a second day in a ravine at the hospitalization were reported at the height of the emer- slaughter his own son if God commanded it. For Senegalese Sarr believes Senegal’s religious harmony dates back to 550-hectare wildlife habitat of Agrilitsa, causing major gency on Tuesday, Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said student Grasse Diop, his preparations to welcome Christian the preachings of leaders of the widespread Mouride damage to pine forests. “It’s a huge ecological disaster in a in a tweet. But three ambulances were stationed close friends were placidly watched by Dembel, a family sheep brotherhood, who taught tolerance towards Christians unique, untouched pine forest,” said acting regional gov- to the area as a precaution. Greece has been hit by a destined for imminent slaughter like the ram God told from the 19th century on. “You find Christians and ernor Costas Bakoyannis. The fire that broke out in the spate of wildfires since the weekend, fanned by gale- Ibrahim to sacrifice as reward for obedience. “They come Muslims in the same family and they intermarry. Religion early hours of Tuesday on Greece’s second-largest island force winds and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius every year for the Tabaski and I go to the Christmas mass. comes second to blood ties, so the communities have prompted the evacuation of three villages and threatened (104 Fahrenheit). The PM, who cancelled his summer We spend all our religious feast days together,” said Grasse, never been antagonists,” she said. “Today there’s more the town of Psachna during the night, officials said. vacation and returned to Athens on Tuesday, called for whose name is derived from Grace, a Christian one. risk of dissent among Muslims because of conflict “From Psachna to Kontodespoti and Makrymalli the EU to take action. The family courtyard in Dakar’s Ouakam district was between the Mouridic communities and Wahabi influence everything has been burned down. It’s fortunate that we “Climate change is taking its toll on southern Europe turned into both abattoir and kitchen. Women sang as than between Muslims and Christians,” Sow Sarr said, do not have human victims,” Thanassis Karakatzas, a and that is why it is imperative at European level to they cut up the freshly killed meat while children played distinguishing between Senegal’s predominant Sufi order deputy regional civil protection officer, told state strengthen the EU rescue mechanism,” Mitsotakis said. by bowls containing discarded entrails. “Jacques, Marie, and a more conservative Islamic branch. agency ANA. Over 200 firefighters were in action He paid tribute to the fire crews coping with some 50 Joseph... All my Christian friends are wishing me a good In their courtyard sheltered by palm trees, the Ndoye backed by 75 fire trucks, nine water-bombing helicop- forest blazes daily on average. “I am aware that our Tabaski,” Grasse said amid a flurry of calls on her mobile family was packing boxes with mutton to take to ters and seven planes along a 12-kilometre (seven-mile) firefighters, particularly over the last five days, have phone. “When I visit them, I feel at home. There’s no dif- Christian friends no longer able to get around. “Our front, managing to avert damage to inhabited areas. given their all, they are without sleep and often without ference.” “When a Christian dies, all the neighbours go to cousins invite us at Easter, making sure not to cook “We succeeded in protecting human lives and saving food,” Mitsotakis said. Other fires on Tuesday were the church for the funeral,” added her brother Pape pork,” smiled Karim Ndoye, a house painter in his 50s properties,” said citizen’s protection minister Michalis contained on the island of Thassos, the central region of Doudou Diop. Though a Muslim like more than 90 per- who added that one of his grandmothers was Catholic. Chrisohoidis. A firefighter suffered burns on Tuesday Viotia, and in the Peloponnese region. —AFP cent of the population, he said he regularly goes to “It’s family, we’re indivisible.” —AFP Established 1961 7 International Thursday, August 15, 2019 South Africa’s show of force in Cape Town ganglands brings little relief 1,300 soldiers deployed to shore up the police forces

CAPE TOWN: Waving and giggling, crowds of chil- Working with intelligence dren scamper behind a Casspir military armored truck Police statistics say murders in the Western Cape trailed by police vehicles as they snake through the province rose 6.3 percent to nearly 4,000 in the year streets on a raid in the gang-ridden Cape Flats area of up to April 2019. A new report on urban safety South Africa. A few blocks down the road, the rifle and released by the South African Cities Network this year, shield-brandishing forces hop off their vehicles and showed Cape Town recorded the highest murder rates meander through lines of hanging laundry, before in the country at 69 people killed per 100,000 — dou- swooping in on a cluster of apartment buildings sus- ble the national average of rate recorded last year. pected to be crime hotspots. South Africa in July “They send in the army but the army can’t do any- deployed some 1,300 soldiers to shore up the police thing,” said 50-year-old Sally-Anne Jacobs who lost forces which has been battling deadly gang violence both her son and 19-year-old cousin to gang violence ravaging the area. over the past four years. “The army is here but I don’t Situated on the southeastern outskirts of the know how far they can go to minimize the killings on touristic city of Cape Town, the Cape Flats,” she said. the Cape Flats area compris- Bowing to pressure from es multiple townships where local government, community blacks and people of mixed and social organizations after race were condemned to live Troops battling 43 murders were recorded in by the oppressive apartheid just one weekend in July, regime. It has become one of deadly gang President Cyril Ramaphosa the most dangerous places in violence cleared a temporary three- South Africa, plagued by month military deployment. gangsterism and under- Working with intelligence resourced policing. But a gathered from community month after their deployment, members and other sources, the troops appear to have the military goes in and CAPE TOWN: A South African National Defense Forces soldier stands guard as suspects lay on the brought little relief for the crime-weary and poverty- secures parameters allowing the police to raid and ground after being searched for drugs and weapons during a joint police operation in the Mitchel’s Plan stricken community. arrest - at times evoking applause from neighbors. But district of the Cape Flat in Cape Town. —AFP “Everybody was elated when they heard the news the numbers of killings have not reduced much. that the army was going to come in because the situa- Despite the army presence over the past month, 47 tion was so dire, that anything to improve the situation deaths were reported on the second weekend of arrests, locals continue to live in fear and suspect may “From what I’ve seen the army hasn’t done much. would have helped,” said Kader Jacobs, who heads a August - making it the deadliest weekend since the cases won’t be thoroughly investigated. “Half of the Minimal to nought impact has been measured. Two community policing forum in Manenberg township. infantry arrived. detectives in the province have a caseload of 200 guns in the last operation were found out of the many People had expected a roll-out of large scale lock- Police Minister Bheki Cele said while “it’s not an dockets or more, when the ideal number is between artillery we know is out on the streets,” she said. downs with specific targeting of well-known criminal ideal world to send soldiers into communities,” there 50 and 60,” provincial minister Alan Winde said. There’s more to curbing crime than just military show hotspots and gang leaders but “there’s been none of has been more than 1,000 arrests so far for various of force, according to Pascoe. “The social fabric of our this”. “The people aren’t seeing any major changes or crimes including attempted murder, robbery and ‘No major changes’ communities has broken down entirely. We sit with improvements in the area,” said the frustrated commu- hijackings. In addition, police have seized 45 firearms Social activist of the Manenberg Safety Forum broken families, with unemployment, teenage preg- nity leader. and 1,036 rounds of ammunition. Even with such mass charity, Roegchanda Pascoe is also not impressed. nancy, drug and alcohol abuse.” —AFP

CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting use provisions of the peace pact, “in particular the establish- Central Africa militias that broke out when former president Francois Bozize, a ment of joint security units, as a way to legitimize their con- Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka trol over parts of the country.” The Paoua massacre will not rebels. be forgotten, Mankeur Ndiaye, the UN special representa- Female suicide abuse peace deal to Former colonial ruler France intervened militarily under a tive in the country has pledged, adding that the UN is put- UN mandate, pushing the Seleka from power, and a UN ting pressure on those responsible. bomber kills 6 tighten grip: Experts peacekeeping mission was set up to help stability. But the Although they faced possible prosecution, several leaders country is still engulfed in regular clashes and armed groups of armed groups were integrated into the new “inclusive” N’DJAMENA: A female suicide bomber killed six peo- BANGUI: After years of bloodshed in the poor and largely control about 80 percent of the country. Murders, rapes, government formed on March 3, as part of the peace agree- ple after blowing herself up in western Chad early yes- lawless Central African Republic, renewed hopes of peace hold-ups, kidnapping and arbitrary detention account for ment signed in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Yet, accord- terday, a senior army officer said, in an attack attrib- are being eroded by the country’s militia groups, experts say. anything between 10 and 70 violations of the CAR peace ing to the report issued last month, some of these leaders are uted to Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadists. “Six people The military situation across the landlocked country has agreement recorded each week by MINUSCA, the 15,000- reluctant to respect the provisions of the agreement. One of died, including a soldier,” in the attack in Kaiga- strong UN stabilization force in the country. the biggest blanks is their participation in a “disarmament, Kindjiria district, said the source, speaking on condi- been considered stable since the deal - the 13th in a decade demobilization, reintegration and repatriation” program - a tion of anonymity. - was signed in February between the government and 14 A number of people were also injured, the officer armed groups. But assaults on civilians and fighting among Disarmament task keystone initiative launched last December aimed at dialling said, without giving figures. A provincial security official the militias themselves continue unabated in the provinces, The only force capable of rapid deployment across the down tension and returning militiamen to civilian life. said a woman wearing an explosives-laden belt “blew and some armed groups are even misusing terms of the pact country to tackle violence, MINUSCA favors dialogue over herself up near the home of a traditional chief”. Four to tighten their grip. military action, critics say, especially since the latest peace Troubled centre guards as well as a soldier were among the dead, and A new report to the UN says impediments to peace accord was signed. UN troops intervened in April to clear More than 450 militiamen belonging to smaller groups five people were wounded, the official said. The death range from attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers to the supply corridor from the capital Bangui to neighboring have been disarmed in the west, an area where government toll of six was confirmed by Chadian army spokesman “doublespeak” from rebel forces, banditry and arms traffick- Cameroon, when it was temporarily blocked by militias loyal authorities are slowly regaining control. But disarmament Colonel Azem Bermandoa, and by a local NGO. ing. “There is little evidence to demonstrate that there has to Abdoulaye Miskine. But no military action was taken will be more complex in the central regions. These are occu- There was no immediate claim of responsibility. been a significant change in the behavior of combatants or against militia of the force known as “3R” (Return, pied by the two most powerful armed groups: the former Kaiga-Kindjiria lies in Lac province, which abuts the that leaders have made efforts to identify and discipline Reclamation and Rehabilitation and Force) who massacred Seleka militia the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central vast Lake Chad - a region shared by Chad, Cameroon, those responsible,” according to the report, authored by 46 civilians in the northern town of Paoua on May 22. The 3R African Republic (FPRC) led by Abdoulaye Hissene and Niger and Nigeria. Boko Haram launched an insur- experts. arms trafficking lines to obtain weapons from Chad are Nourredine Adam, and the Union for Peace in Central Africa gency in northeastern Nigeria a decade ago that has The panel was founded to advise the UN on enforcing detailed in the report. (UPC) commanded by Ali Darassa. “The FPRC made multi- since spilled over into neighboring countries. It has sanctions on the CAR, including travel bans on targeted indi- 3R leader Souleyman Bi Sidi, alias “Abbas Sidiki”, is one ple declarations of peace, but does not intend to disarm its carried out at least 10 cross-border attacks in Chad viduals, the freezing of assets and an arms embargo. The of several leaders named by the experts for attempting to men,” one FPRC source said. —AFP since 2018, mainly targeting army positions. In March, 23 troops were killed when their forward position on the northeastern side of the lake came under attack. In June, 11 soldiers were killed and six were wound- ed in clashes at Tchoukoutalia, according to the author- ities, who said 26 jihadists were killed. Boko Haram’s campaign has left some 27,000 people dead and dis- placed around two million in Nigeria alone, according to some estimates. In 2015, the four Lake Chad coun- tries, together with Benin, set up a combined force to fight Boko Haram with the help of local groups of armed citizens. —AFP

Khamenei meets Yemen rebels TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader has held talks with a senior Yemeni rebel official just days after the long-running interven- tion against the rebels by its regional foes Saudi Arabia and the UAE suffered a major setback. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hosted Houthi rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam at his Tehran residence late Tuesday after southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates seized Yemen’s second city Aden on Saturday. The defeat for President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s unionist supporters, who have been backed by Saudi Arabia, exposed the divergent ambitions of the key coalition partners and threat- ened to weaken their common struggle against the Houthis. Khamenei renewed his support for the rebels, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the north, and accused Iran’s foes of a “plot” to partition the country. “I declare my support for the mujahidah (struggle) of Yemen,” he said in a statement issued after the talks. “Saudi and UAE and their supporters have committed major crimes in Yemen. “They seek to divide Yemen. This plot should be strongly resisted and a unified, coherent Yemen with sover- eign integrity should be endorsed,” the Iranian leader said in an English-language statement. South Yemen was an independent country until it merged with the north in 1990. An armed seces- sion bid four years later ended with its occupation by northern forces, which provoked resentments that persist to this day. Four and a half years of Saudi- and UAE-led military inter- vention in support of Hadi has seen the Houthi rebels pushed out of the south. But the UAE, which has led ground operations in the region, has relied heavily on southern separatists at the expense of the unionists, who dominate Hadi’s government. Khamenei called for talks to stop Yemen being divided. “Given Yemen’s religious and ethnic diversity, protecting Yemen’s integrity requires domestic dialogues,” he said. —AFP 8 Thursday, August 15, 2019 International UK Prime Minister sees ‘collaboration’ between Brussels and anti-Brexit MPs EU accused of taking an uncompromising position towards London

LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday adamant they are in sticking to their position,” he said. said Brussels and Brexit-blocking MPs were guilty of a “terrible collaboration” that would force Britain No-deal ‘betrayal’: Hammond towards a no-deal exit from the EU. He accused the Earlier, Hammond said a no-deal Brexit would betray European Union of taking an uncompromising position Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the EU. Hammond, who towards London because it believes Brexit can be quit as chancellor just hours before Johnson took over stopped in the British parliament. from May on July 24, said there was no popular or par- Taking questions from the public live on Facebook-a liamentary mandate for a no-deal Brexit, saying most first for a British PM-Johnson said Brussels needed to people wanted an orderly exit from the EU. “No-deal compromise to avoid the UK leaving the EU without a would be a betrayal of the 2016 referendum result. It deal on October 31. It came after former finance minis- must not happen,” he wrote in The Times newspaper. ter Philip Hammond slammed Johnson’s “wrecking” He said it could turn Britain into “a diminished and approach to negotiations, saying the new PM had set inward-looking little England”. Hammond said the shift Brussels an impossibly high bar to meet, in demanding of position from seeking changes to the backstop to the complete removal of its fallback provisions. demanding its complete removal “is a pivot from a “There’s a terrible collaboration going on between tough negotiating stance to a wrecking one”. “This is a people who think they can block Brexit in parliament demand the EU cannot, and will not, accede to,” he and our European friends,” Johnson said. “They are not wrote. “It’s time for our government to demonstrate its compromising at all on the withdrawal agreement... commitment to a genuine negotiation with the EU to because they still think that Brexit can be blocked in achieve a deal.” parliament,” he said. “The awful thing is that the longer Hammond said a no-deal Brexit would risk breaking that goes on, the more likely it is, of course, that we will up of the United Kingdom. He also warned that if par- be forced to leave with a no-deal Brexit.” liament wanted to go down a particular route to pre- The British parliament three times rejected the vent a no-deal Brexit, the means would emerge to allow divorce deal negotiated between Brussels and that to happen. John Bercow, the speaker of parlia- Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May. Many MPs were ment’s lower House of Commons, warned separately he troubled by the “backstop”-a mechanism that would would “fight... with every bone in my body” against any keep the UK in EU customs arrangements to prevent a attempt by Johnson to suspend parliament to force hard border on the island of Ireland. Johnson said he through no-deal against MPs’ wishes. The Commons did not want a no-deal Brexit but Brussels had to give “must have its way”, he told an audience at the LEEDS: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (2nd right), Britain’s Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland (2nd left), and Governor of HMP Leeds Steve Robson (right), are shown a ground in order to avoid it. “The more they think there’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, according to The Daily torso and body scanner by a member of prison staff during a visit to HM Prison Leeds. —AFP a chance Brexit can be blocked in parliament, the more Telegraph newspaper. —AFP

one or made them feel uncomfortable-no matter how September 18. “We are Opera’s Domingo long ago and despite my best intentions,” he added. committed to providing a The LA Opera, where Domingo has been director gen- safe, supportive, respectful eral since 2003, said in a statement that it would and appropriate environ- The weird faces harassment “engage outside counsel to investigate the concerning ment,” the orchestra said allegations.” “Placido Domingo has been a dynamic in a statement. world of Trump’s probe, shows creative force in the life of LA Opera and the artistic The San Francisco culture of Los Angeles for more than three decades. Opera also canceled one “Nevertheless, we are committed to doing every- of his concerts, on conspiracy theories canceled thing we can to foster a professional and collaborative October 6. New York’s WASHINGTON: The Clintons killed financier Jeffrey environment where all our employees and artists feel Metropolitan Opera said it NEW YORK: Opera legend Placido Domingo faced a equally comfortable, valued and respected,” it added. would await the outcome Epstein in jail, Barack Obama was secretly born in Africa... growing #MeToo storm Tuesday as the Los Angeles the wacky list of conspiracy theories promoted by Spanish-born Domingo was one of the most recognized of the LA Opera’s investi- Opera opened an investigation into multiple allegations President Donald Trump knows few limits. opera stars of the 20th century, starring in the Three gation before making any Spanish opera singer of sexual harassment against him and two other major Tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras. final decisions about Placido Domingo Clintons are killers? venues canceled his upcoming performances. Domingo In recent years, the long-time married singer has trans- Domingo’s “ultimate A pedophile financier who hobnobbed with the rich and defended himself after several women, one of whom formed himself into a baritone and still performs to future.” However, the head of the Salzburg Festival in famous dies in his New York jail cell hours after court doc- was identified, accused him of using his position as one packed audiences at age 78. Austria said Domingo would perform there as planned uments on his sex-trafficking case are made public: the of opera’s most celebrated singers to pressure them “I believed that all of my interactions and relation- this month. “I would find it objectively wrong and irre- apparent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein on Saturday had all the into sexual relationships. ships were always welcomed and consensual. People sponsible on a human level to come to definitive judg- elements of a paperback thriller. But where senior officials Eight singers and a dancer told the Associated Press who know me or who have worked with me know that I ments at this time, and to base any decisions on them,” might be expected to show caution, Trump retweeted a that they were sexually harassed in incidents going am not someone who would intentionally harm, offend, said Helga Rabl-Stadler. video rant by a comedian blaming former president Bill and back to the 1980s. One said Domingo had put his hand or embarrass anyone,” he said. “However, I recognize Domingo has made more than 100 albums and former Trump election rival Hillary Clinton for Epstein’s down her skirt while three said he had forcibly kissed that the rules and standards by which we are-and picked up 14 Grammy awards. Earlier this year, he cel- death on Saturday. “For some odd reason, people that have them. Some said they felt their careers had been dam- should be-measured against today are very different ebrated his 4,000th performance in a career that information on the Clintons end up dead and they usually aged by rejecting his advances. “The allegations from than they were in the past,” he added. stretches back 60 years. The allegations are the latest die from suicide,” the comedian, Terrence K. Williams, says these unnamed individuals dating back as many as 30 in a series made against high-profile entertainment in all seriousness - and with no proof. Williams has about years are deeply troubling, and as presented, inaccu- half a million Twitter followers. Trump? Some 63 million. #MeToo personalities as part of the #MeToo movement against rate,” Domingo said in a statement sent to AFP via his Following the allegations, the Philadelphia sexual misconduct. They have seen television icon Bill publicist. Orchestra Association withdrew its invitation for Cosby jailed, with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein Obama an illegal president “Still, it is painful to hear that I may have upset any- A president accusing a former president of murder Domingo to appear in its opening night concert on awaiting the start of his trial next month. —AFP would be an unimaginable breach of Washington protocol if it came from anyone but Trump. But he has form. Trump’s (M5S) complicates the appointment of the spectacular rise from television entertainer and real estate EU president-elect new Italian commissioner. Once she has dealer rests in large part on his long-running pursuit of the names and qualifications of all the can- another presidential conspiracy theory: that his predeces- treads carefully as didates, von der Leyen will start handing sor in the White House, Obama, was born in Kenya. You out portfolios, and they will then face con- have to have been born in the United States to seek the firmation hearings at parliament in presidency, so Trump was really saying that the first black she builds team president was illegal. Even Trump finally accepted this is September. not true. Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii. BRUSSELS: While others spend August on the beach, EU president-elect Ursula von October vote Who shot JFK? der Leyen works on the delicate task of The process ends with a vote to inaugu- Along with the supposedly faked Moon landing, prob- building a team to run the bloc’s executive rate the new executive on October 22, dur- ably the richest of all US conspiracy fields is the assassi- for the next five years. After she was only ing the parliament’s plenary session in nation in 1963 of John F Kennedy. Was the president shot narrowly approved by the European Strasbourg. Twelve men and eight women in Dallas by lone gunman Lee Harvey Oswald, as the Parliament, the former German defense have already been put forward, according police and the subsequent 10-month Warren Commission, minister faces a tricky balancing act. She is to an AFP count based on official found? Or was his murder arranged by the CIA? Or trying to accommodate the competing announcements. Seven are members of the Cuba? Or the KGB? The unproven theories are many. demands of different political parties to centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Trump, when running for the White House in 2016, added make sure her team survives a confirmation like von der Leyen herself, while another an incredible new twist: that none other than the father of vote by MEPs in October. seven are from the centre-left Socialists and one of his main opponents for the Republican nomination Each EU state gets to nominate one per- Democrats group. Three belong to the liber- had a hand in the killing. son to serve on the European Commission, al family, while there is one from the Greens, A grainy black and white photograph of Oswald shows and von der Leyen’s executive will have only an independent and one member of the PIS, an unidentified man in the background and that man, 27 members instead of the current 28 which is part of the eurosceptic right in the Newly elected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Trump claimed, with zero evidence, was opponent Ted because of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU European Parliament. Cruz’s father. “What was he doing with Lee Harvey A member of von der Leyen’s team Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting?” - expected on October 31. She is still waiting Five more women cise, because many member states are pointed out that “the nominated candidates Trump asked. Trump has since quietly forgotten about this for six countries to name their candidates: Von der Leyen has said she will present demanding economic portfolios, the most seemingly important question and is a supporter of Cruz, France, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Portugal and will not necessarily be the new commission- the European Parliament with a gender- prestigious, according to a member of the an influential senator. Romania, which have until August 26, the ers”. Von der Leyen, who takes office on balanced commission — but to achieve new president’s team. Chosen by the deadline imposed by the European Council, November 1, can ask governments to put this, five of the remaining six nominees will European Council, von der Leyen’s room for The case of the dead judge to appoint representatives. forward another candidate and the have to be women. France is expected to maneuver is also limited because the Also back in 2016, with Trump already frontrunner in “The unknown will be Italy,” said a European Parliament might reject some put a woman forward, with the names of Council, which groups the 28 EU heads of the Republican nomination contest, there was the case source close to von der Leyen. She visited after their hearings. Outgoing commission Defense Minister Florence Parly and junior state and government, has imposed two of Antonin Scalia, a Supreme Court justice who died in Rome in early August, but deputy prime president Jean-Claude Juncker recently said environment minister Brune Poirson circu- vice-presidents. They are the Dutch socialist his sleep. minister Matteo Salvini’s decision to pull that he had refused six candidates, and par- lating in Brussels. Frans Timmermans and the liberal Margrethe his far-right League party out of a ruling liament then forced him to reshuffle his team The constitution of the new commission Vestager, and the Council has insisted they Or did he? coalition with the Five Star Movement in 2014 to grant him the nomination. is a “complex and politically sensitive” exer- be given important responsibilities. —AFP The owner of the luxury ranch where Scalia had been on a hunting expedition said the judge was found in the morning, having apparently died peacefully. A pillow was placed on administrative leave by the Bureau of ous politicians and celebrities over the years, was over his head. Trump and several right-wing media outlets Epstein death: Two Prisons had been assigned to Epstein’s unit at the awaiting trial on federal charges he trafficked underage smelled a plot - or at least created one. “They say they Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC), Justice girls for sex. Barr, who oversees federal prisons as found the pillow on his face, which is a pretty unusual Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a head of the Justice Department, said Monday that place to find a pillow,” Trump told a conservative radio prison guards put statement. “serious irregularities” had been found at the jail show. “Over his head, not his face,” the ranch owner had Attorney General Bill Barr directed the Bureau of where the disgraced financier died. “We will get to the to repeat. on leave, warden Prisons to temporarily assign the warden of MCC to a bottom of what happened and there will be accounta- #QAnon regional office pending an FBI and Justice Department bility,” he said. Maybe the weirdest conspiracy theory community is investigation into the death of the high-profile prison- Epstein apparently managed to take his own life just QAnon, a movement that believes an anonymous govern- reassigned er, Kupec said. “Additional actions may be taken as the weeks after he was found unconscious with marks on ment insider, known as Q, is secretly leaking details of an circumstances warrant,” she said. Epstein, 66, was his neck following an earlier reported suicide attempt. epic battle between Trump and the Deep State seeking WASHINGTON: The warden of the high-security found dead in his cell on Saturday morning and the FBI According to media reports, Epstein had been taken off his overthrow. Followers of Q look for coded messages New York prison where convicted pedophile Jeffrey and Justice Department are conducting an investiga- suicide watch. US newspapers have reported that MCC online and in Trump’s speeches for signals and supposed- Epstein apparently committed suicide has been tem- tion into his death, which has been classified as an guards were working overtime due to major staff short- ly leaked intel. —AFP porarily reassigned and two guards put on leave, the apparent suicide. ages at the jail and that Epstein had been left without a Justice Department said Tuesday. The two guards The multi-millionaire, who hobnobbed with numer- cellmate, which was against protocol.—AFP 9 International Thursday, August 15, 2019 India floods and landslides kill over 270, displace one million More than 50 people missing in southern state of Kerala BENGALURU: Floods and landslides have killed more added some people are returning home as flood waters than 270 people in India this month, displaced one mil- recede. In neighboring Karnataka, home to the technology lion and inundated thousands of homes across six states, hub Bengaluru, 54 people died and 15 are missing after authorities said yesterday after two weeks of heavy rivers burst their banks when authorities released water monsoon rains. The rains from June to September are a from dams. Nearly 700,000 people have been evacuated lifeline for rural India, delivering some 70% of the coun- in the state. Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of try’s rainfall, but they also Karnataka, Maharashtra and cause death and destruction Gujarat, as well as the central each year. state of Madhya Pradesh, in the The southern states of Western and next two days, weather officials Kerala and Karnataka, and said. Maharashtra and Gujarat in the southern In Maharashtra, which west, were among the hardest includes the financial capital hit by floods that washed away states Mumbai, 48 people died but thousands of hectares of sum- flood waters are receding, said mer-sown crops and damaged hardest hit a state official. “We are now roads and rail lines. At least 95 trying to restore electricity and people were killed and more drinking water supplies,” he than 50 are missing in Kerala, said. In Madhya Pradesh, the where heavy rainfall triggered biggest producer of soybeans, dozens of landslides last week and trapped more than heavy rains killed 32 people and damaged crops, authori- 100 people. ties said. In Gujarat, 31 people died in rain-related inci- About 190,000 people are still living in relief camps in dents, while landslides killed nearly a dozen people in the MEPPADI: Volunteers, local residents, fire force officials and members of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) the state, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, but he northern hilly state of Uttarakhand. — Reuters search for survivors following landslides at Puthumala village in Kerala’s Wayanad district yesterday. — AFP

in love and kissing each other without knowing each other. ‘I put two bullets After years of having to do everything in secret, we could fight in the open.” in German officer’s Outfoxing the Germans The spaces scanning Her biggest exploit was capturing a German arms and head,’ recalls supply train and taking the 80 soldiers on board prisoner faces - from airports with just three men and an heroic French train driver. After French heroine a fierce battle where they chucked all the grenades and explosives they had at the train, Riffaud used fireworks to to schools to hotels hoodwink the Germans into thinking they were hugely PARIS: One sunny summer Sunday in 1944 Madeleine outnumbered and outgunned. “We made an incredible LONDON: From speeding up boarding at airports to Riffaud hopped off her bicycle and followed a German amount of noise and it terrified the poor Germans and they boosting security at malls and concerts, facial recog- officer who was taking a stroll on one of the most pictur- pulled back into a tunnel. The locomotive was still sticking nition technology has become increasingly pervasive, esque bridges over the River Seine in Paris. He was taking out and we managed to persuade a retired train driver who raising concerns about privacy. Britain’s data protec- in the view of Louvre and the Tuileries gardens when was washing the dishes with his wife to go down with us tion watchdog said this week it was looking into use Riffaud, then just 19 and a trainee midwife, shooed a little to detach it. “He was a brave man. We warned him that he of the technology after reports that a property boy away and took out her pistol. would be a perfect target, but he told us not to worry, and developer had set up facial recognition cameras in “It happened all very quickly,” she told AFP. “I didn’t crawled underneath the engine, unhooked it and drove it London’s central King’s Cross area. Computers have want to shoot him in the back... I wanted him to see me, so away, and then walked home. We didn’t even think to thank become adept at identifying people by matching a he would have time to get his weapon out. “He turned and him.” By then Riffaud’s happy few had been reinforced by scan of their facial features against a photograph, I put two bullets in his head. He dropped like a stone. He local firemen and even the mayor. “It was all quite festive,” but critics say the technology is still prone to errors didn’t suffer. “It wasn’t done with hate, if anything I was PARIS: Madeleine Riffaud, 94, speaks about the liberation of she admitted. Cut off inside the tunnel, the cowed Germans and could lead to excessive surveillance. Here are pained about having to do it,” she said, her eyes closed as Paris on 1944 during an interview with the AFP at her eventually gave themselves up. eight other world locations with facial recognition she remembered the moment. Riffaud, now 94, was one of apartment in Paris. — AFP It was only then that Riffaud realized it was her 20th technology. the most remarkable Resistance leaders who helped liber- birthday and they partied with the ham, jam and dried ate the French capital in August, 1944. But she very nearly sausages they found on the train. Two days later, while the Bengaluru Airport did not live long enough to see it. Having ridden away on orrhaging woman to go to hospital, the officer battered rest of Paris celebrated the liberation, she was battling the In July, the airport in the southern Indian tech hub her bicycle, members of the collaborationist French militia Riffaud and handed her back to the Gestapo, saying they last battalion of fanatical SS soldiers holed up in the city. of Bengaluru launched a “paperless biometric technol- chased her and mowed her down with their car. Knowing would “poke out my eyes and cut me into little pieces”. But Her men carried the last Resistance fighter to die in Paris, ogy” system that uses facial recognition to identify she would probably be sexually abused and tortured somehow Riffaud - who had taken on the codename her old comrade violinist Michel Tagrine, to her, but she passengers checking in. Another airport in the south- before they killed her, she reached out for her gun that had “Rainer” after the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke - sur- could do nothing for him. ern Indian city of Hyderabad was also testing the been knocked onto the pavement. But they got there first. vived, narrowly avoiding the firing squad before briefly technology. escaping as she was being deported to a concentration Frontline journalist ‘I expected to be shot’ camp. She was then released in a prisoner swap on August Riffaud later tried to join the French army but was not No. 11 Middle School, Hangzhou “I was lucky because they could have killed me right 19, a week before Paris was liberated. allowed because of her sex and age. “You had to be 21,” A high school in the Chinese city of Hangzhou last there,” and she was “lucky” again that they handed her she said. In the months that followed, she battled depres- year installed cameras with facial recognition tools over to the Gestapo so their leader could collect a bounty German arms train ambush sion but luckily the young communist fell in with writers that capture students’ expressions and movements to for her rather than to his own militia interrogators - who A day or two later Riffaud was back in action com- and artists like Paul Eluard, Louis Aragon and Picasso, ensure they pay attention in class. The Hangzhou No. tended to rape their female prisoners. “Because it was a manding a group of fighters in the working class northeast who drew her portrait. “They stopped me from doing 11 Middle School’s “smart classroom behaviour man- Sunday afternoon the Gestapo’s torture specialists were of Paris as a popular revolt against the Nazis broke out myself in, because a lot of Resistance fighters killed agement system” detected whether students were off, so I was questioned by some crudely brutal SS mem- across the city. She was already regarded as a hardened themselves after the war.” Riffaud returned to the front- reading, listening or napping at their desks - feeding bers who knocked me out but lacked the finesse of the true veteran of the Resistance, even though she had only joined lines after the war as a radically engaged journalist, the information to the teacher in real time. experts. “I told them nothing and I expected to be shot the the armed struggle the previous winter. meeting the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, covering the next morning,” Riffaud said, holding a cigarillo. Instead she Back then the raids and bombings she and her com- Algerian War of Independence and living with the Viet Flyzoo Hotel, Hangzhou was handed over to the French police. While in detention rades undertook were often little more than suicide mis- Cong guerrillas fighting the Americans in South Vietnam Guests at the futuristic FlyZoo hotel in Hangzhou Riffaud helped a Jewish woman deliver a baby. It was still- sions. Now people were flocking to join the Resistance before returning to France. There she took up the cause check in by scanning their faces as well as passports born. A notorious quisling officer had repeatedly kicked “who had done nothing during the war. They were pouring of low-paid workers by becoming one herself, writing a or other ID at podiums in the lobby. Elevators scan the mother in the stomach to try to get her to betray the onto the streets and learned very quickly how to handle a bestselling expose of the drudgery of care assistants in guests’ faces again to verify which floor they can child’s father. Having shamed him into allowing the haem- rifle. “It was joyous,” Riffaud recalled. “People were falling Parisian hospitals. — AFP access and hotel room doors are opened with another face scan. Facial recognition cameras automatically add charges from the hotel’s bar and restaurant to the room rate. The hotel, owned by Chinese internet giant Brits nabbed in huge Alibaba, opened last year. Tokyo 2020 Olympics Tokyo 2020 will be the first Olympics to use facial Australia drug bust recognition technology to increase security around all venues, the organizers announced last year. More than SYDNEY: Four British men were arrested in 300,000 athletes and Games staff will have to submit Australia and New Zealand in an international photographs to a database before the Olympics start drugs sting that netted a record haul of potent in July next year. MDMA, Australian police said yesterday. Authorities seized 766 kilograms (1,670 pounds) of Winter Wonderland, Cardiff the “highest purity” MDMA recorded in In 2017, South Wales police became the first British force to deploy cameras equipped with facial recogni- Queensland state, with a conservative street value tion software to scan passers-by in public spaces and of Aus$90 million ($US61 million). The bust compare them to watchlists of people being sought by involved coordination between Australian, New police. It has since used the technology during a num- Zealand and British authorities. ber of high-profile events, including concerts and rug- “Organized crime syndicates are making signifi- by matches. The trial has prompted a legal challenge KASHMIR: India’s Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol along the India-Pakistan border in Akhnoor near Jammu cant profit at the expense of our Australian com- over concerns police is violating citizens’ rights by yesterday after the Indian government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy. — AFP munity but more importantly they are placing our recording their faces without consent or any grounds young people’s health at risk,” Detective for suspecting they have committed a crime. Superintendent Jon Wacker, of Queensland police, region’s largest town. He added that Buddhists had felt said in a statement. Police said the MDMA was to Kashmir outposts excluded from government posts and other opportunities. Taylor Swift concerts be sold in pill and capsule form. “We believe the Despite Ladakh’s sparse population and thin air, its border US singer Taylor Swift used facial recognition drug would have been diluted with other agents with China’s regions of Tibet to the east and Xinjiang to cameras to enhance her own security during a 2018 and had the potential to make between six and 12 divided over status the north make it strategically important to New Delhi. tour, according to Rolling Stone magazine. It said million capsules,” Wacker added. Stobdan said the region was underdeveloped and needed kiosks played videos of the star and would simultane- He said the seizure was the biggest ever in change a shake-up. “You can’t keep the area in a frozen state ously photograph the viewers to check their images Queensland and the third-largest in Australia. Two when the entire land mass across on the other side (in against a database of known stalkers. British men aged 51 and 40 were arrested in China) is getting roads and railways under the Belt and Australia, along with a 26-year-old Queensland NEW DELHI: India’s move to carve up Kashmir and cur- Road project,” he said. “New Delhi had to do this to Changi Airport, Singapore man, and face charges relating to drug possession tail its autonomous powers has caused division and anger change the status quo. This is a masterstroke.” Singapore’s Changi airport uses facial recognition and supply. New Zealand police charged two more in parts of the far-flung Himalayan region even as followers At the other end of Ladakh, many in the Shia Muslim technology to offer self-service options at check-in, men from the UK, aged 60 and 49, after a separate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejoice. Since Modi’s majority town of Kargil are in shock. Traders kept their bag drop, immigration and boarding at its newest ter- linked bust of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of shock decree last week, protests and celebrations in many stores closed for several days after the government minal. Last year the airport said it was also consider- methamphetamine last week. towns have widened religious fault lines between commu- announcement, amid showdowns between demonstrators ing using facial recognition systems to find late pas- A 51-year-old woman was also arrested in nities in the strategic region. International focus has and police. “This was an undemocratic move. It should be sengers. remained on the Kashmir valley, where tens of thousands Australia with connections to the syndicate. rolled back,” Asgar Ali Karbalai, a former regional law- of troops have enforced a lockdown and cut off phone Authorities estimate that Australians consume over maker who led some of the protests, told AFP by tele- US border lines and internet connections to head off opposition to phone. As a so-called union territory, Ladakh will not have The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 1.1 tons of MDMA each year. Australian police in the government move. its own legislature under the new system. agency has been using facial recognition systems at June seized a record 1.6 tons of methylampheta- But tensions have spread to other parts of the state, mine worth an estimated Aus$1.2 billion hidden in “It just takes away our voice,” said Karbalai. “The dozens of airports and ports around the country to which will be cut in two under the new administrative verify the identity of travelers entering and exiting the speakers after a shipment arrived in Melbourne. arrangements. In remote Ladakh, perched on a steep debate around this issue may become communal now as, I The country has a growing problem with meth, feel, most Muslims in Ladakh oppose and the Buddhists country. Run in partnership with air and cruise lines mountain border with China, the region’s Buddhist minori- the pilot program aims to enhance security and speed known as “ice”, with a government report released ty welcomed Modi’s decision to split the territory from the support the move.” But even in Kargil, many are looking for last year showing Australia has proportionally more a boost to the rudimentary economy promised by Modi, up custom controls but has drawn criticism from Muslim-majority valley. “Ladakh has finally gained free- human rights groups. — Reuters users than most nations. — AFP dom,” exclaimed Phunchok Stobdan, a former Indian who said tourism and even the film industry would bolster diplomat and now head of a conference centre in Leh, the Ladakh and Kashmir if there was peace. — AFP 10

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Tunisia demolishes homes to protect A forensic scientist inks the fingers of an unidentified body to take fingerprints that will later be used to create a more detailed database that police can use for future iden- ancient Carthage tification or relatives can search to find a loved one, on March 3, 2019 at the Johannesburg Morgue. — AFP

aber Sessi was working the night shift at a municipality vehicle depot in Carthage, Tunisia, Swhen he signed off on five bulldozers in the early hours of July 9. Unbeknownst to him, the intended tar- Searching for lost lives in South Africa get for those bulldozers was his home. “I opened the gate, I handed (the keys) over and then I saw them t Olifantsvlei cemetery on the outskirts of southern thought to be undocumented migrants. Millions of African ect, we were under the impression that we would probably drive around to my house,” said Sessi, 50, who lived Johannesburg, undertakers clad in white plastic migrants pour into South Africa, the continent’s most get none,” said Mahon. beside the depot in the working-class neighborhood Aoveralls, boots and face masks take on a grim task: advanced economy, in search of greener pastures. “The of Mohamed Ali, in the northern suburbs of the mass pauper burials. They are burying 46 bodies that have facility with the highest percentage is Johannesburg Lost relatives Tunisian capital. been lying in public morgues, unidentified and unclaimed, because of the migrant and immigrant population,” said Many of the bodies are accident or murder victims, Sessi’s house and nine other buildings were razed to for up to three months. It is a task undertaken every month Vellema. A team of volunteer forensic practitioners from found with no identity or fake identities, in a country with the ground that night in a government operation to - the numbers are often higher. The routine is a somber the Wits medical school dedicate two days a week to one of the world’s highest murder rates, at 57 per day. No- clear illegal homes from the area that used to be a bat- reminder of South Africa’s perennial failure to identify looking for clues to identify the bodies. one knows how many of the millions of migrants in South tleground for gladiators in the Roman Empire - the many corpses. At the largest and busiest morgue in Johannesburg’s Africa are illegal or exactly where they hail from. “It’s a Circus of Carthage. Today, two-thirds of Carthage - At the busiest mortuaries in Johannesburg, one in every Hillbrow area, they pull out a body from the cold room and massive continent and we work with the authorities to about 430 square km - is archaeological land, accord- 10 bodies is unidentified. As each flimsy coffin is pulled off place it on a gurney as blood drips on the floor. It is develop very pragmatic ways to link these unidentified ing to Hayet Bayoudh, the municipality’s mayor. a refrigerated truck, one undertaker reads aloud an identity wheeled into an examination room for hours of meticulous bodies to individual families,” said Fonseca. The area earned a spot on the UNESCO World number inscribed on top while another ticks off the number data collection, piecing together evidence such as finger- Scientists are also examining ways to distinguish where Heritage List in 1979. Now Carthage’s place on that on a sheet of paper to confirm it has been buried. The only prints, dental patterns, tattoos, tribal marks or any distinc- people come from through chemical “signatures” found in list is under threat, due to what the UN’s cultural other marker on each coffin is a basic description of the tive scars. a corpse, possibly linking them to food, drink or air from a body calls “uncontrolled urban sprawl”. All building body by gender and skin color, nothing more detailed than But for undocumented foreigners, the data is hard to specific location. Far from Johannesburg, deep in South projects and repair works within the boundaries of “black adult female” or “white male adult” for example. match with any official paperwork. Despite the challenges, Africa’s Mpumalanga province, a Zimbabwean family Carthage must first be approved by the municipality Without any ceremony, the coffins are hastily put into the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) makes a rare find of a migrant relative - 58-year-old and the National Heritage Institute (INP), Bayoudh freshly-dug graves, three-metre deep, with three or four helps South Africa to match data with individuals reported Sampinya Ndou - who left home 45 years ago, working as explained. But over the years, a number of homes and stacked in each hole. South Africa is feeling the strain from missing from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe or a laborer on a farm. buildings have gone up without permission. “We having to deal with hundreds of unidentified cadavers, Mozambique. “An unidentified body doesn’t really tell us But two other relatives, who also came to South Africa need to clear and clean two zones, the Punic Port (in with the most populous province of Gauteng reporting an anything about their origin,” said Stephen Fonseca, a in the 1970s, are still missing, despite the best efforts of the area’s south) and the Roman Circus - the two average of 1,000 each year. “It’s incredibly high - 1,000 forensic expert with the ICRC. “The authorities are over- the ICRC. The two could be among the thousands already black points for UNESCO,” Bayoudh told the people being unidentified in just one province,” said pro- whelmed... There is only so much space in the mortuary to buried as paupers. Ndou’s nephew, Samson, who had trav- Thomson Reuters Foundation. “These demolitions fessor Jeanine Vellema, head of forensic pathology at hold the remains. It’s really tough for them to manage elled 700 km from Zimbabwe’s southern border village of are an urgent measure.” Johannesburg’s Wits University who is also in charge of these volumes.” Dite in search of his long lost relatives, said that he Gauteng’s 11 public morgues. About 40 percent of the 16 or so bodies handled at the “expected anything... either dead or alive”. The two still Off the list Hillbrow mortuary a month are positively identified, missing are Samson’s brother and another uncle. “One Today, the only obvious trace of ancient grandeur Forensic hunt for clues according to Trisha-Jean Mahon, a forensic practitioner. can’t tell whether they are still alive or not. All that we can on the site of the Circus is the inspiration for the name Most of the unidentified bodies at the morgues are “It’s a very good success rate. When we initiated our proj- do is wait,” he said. — AFP of a popular cafe on Mohamed Ali’s main high street: Amphitheatre. But the cafe and the cluster of homes behind it sit on land that archaeologists consider to be some individuals organized various protests over the change Hong Kong into a troublesome sore for China and of immense historical value. UNESCO first expressed Uphold the rule of amendments. As to the peaceful protests, the HKSAR in turn constrain China’s development. These attempts concern about the conservation of Carthage in 2012, government exercised law-based governance and post- will get them nowhere. The ill-intentioned forces have prompting a “monitoring mission”, explained poned work on the amendments, and the HKSAR police overlooked a fact, that is, Hong Kong is part of China, and Mustapha Khanoussi, a consultant with the INP. law, implement ‘One have granted approval and provided protection in accor- its affairs are of domestic concern alone. The Chinese So far, 90 demolitions have been carried out in the dance with the law. However, some Hong Kong opposi- government will never allow any foreign forces to inter- area since 2013, with another 30 planned by February Country, Two Systems’ tion parties and radical violent elements, under the pre- fere in Hong Kong’s affairs, nor will allow them to mess 2020, according to mayor Bayoudh. UNESCO proce- text of anti-amendment, misled good citizens, deliberate- up Hong Kong. dures say all sites risk being removed from the World ly created violent incidents, blocked the building of the The rule of law is the core value that Hong Kong peo- Heritage list if they are not sufficiently protected. By Li Minggang Liaison Office, defaced the national emblem, besieged ple take pride in, a foundation for a favorable business However, “it is extremely rare that a site loses its status. Ambassador of the China to Kuwait police stations, beat police officers, insulted the national environment, and an important cornerstone for prosperi- It has only happened twice,” said Laetitia Kaci, a flag, and even shouted the slogan of “Hong Kong inde- ty and stability. Once the rule of law is undermined, Hong spokeswoman for the organization. According to ecently, many Kuwaiti friends have asked me what pendence” during the illegal protests. These numerous Kong cannot retain its prosperity and stability. On 10th UNESCO’s website, it deleted Oman’s Arabian Oryx happened in Hong Kong. For many Kuwaitis, Hong crimes have totally gone far beyond the proper scope of August 2019, more than 700 prominent individuals from Sanctuary from the list in 2007, after the country RKong is one of the most familiar cities in China, for it peaceful demonstrations, severely sabotaged Hong various sectors in Hong Kong called upon: “Hong Kong decided to pursue hydrocarbon exploration on the site. is well known as “the Pearl of the Orient” with good social Kong’s overall situation of prosperity and stability, chal- cannot be in chaos anymore!” through a jointly-signed Tunisia has been given until Feb 2020 to take action on order and economic freedom, a fashion capital and a lenged Hong Kong’s rule of law and social order, threat- open letter, reflecting sincere aspirations of Hong Kong UNESCO’s recommendations. shopping paradise. However, the recent riots in Hong Kong ened the safety of Hong Kong residents’ life and proper- residents to combat violence, uphold the rule of law and have shocked and worried many people. What happened ty, disproportionately affected Hong Kong’s rule of law, ensure the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Local discontent in Hong Kong? I would like to take this opportunity to social order, economic livelihood and its international The central government will continue unswervingly The cluster of houses on the Circus is mainly made introduce the current situation to my Kuwaiti friends. image, and crossed the bottom line of the “One Country, stick to and implement the policy of “One Country, Two up of half-built structures lining un-tarmacked roads, The incident stemmed from a simple criminal case. A Two Systems”, which are absolutely intolerable. Systems”, firmly support the HKSAR government to but there are also street lights, running water and Hong Kong resident was suspected of murder in Taiwan, Regarding the principle of “One Country, Two exercise law-based governance, and firmly support the authorized electricity connections. Hayet and Nacer and fleeing back to Hong Kong. Since the Hong Kong Systems”, I would like to make clear that this is a com- HKSAR police in meting out punishment to violent crimi- Gerbi, a couple in their 60s, bought a plot of land on Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has plete concept and an integrated set of guidelines and nals according to the law, in order to maintain peace, the Circus in 2016. Two months after they built their no jurisdiction over the case, and it has no effective legal policies. “One Country” is like the roots of a tree. security and stability in Hong Kong. We believe that with house and finalised the deed for their property, Hayet arrangement for juridical assistance regarding fugitive Implementing the principle in Hong Kong and Macau, we the full support of the central government and the main- Gerbi said they were informed by the authorities that transfers or criminal matters with jurisdictions in the should never hit the three bottom lines: Any attempt to land, and under the leadership of HKSAR government, their land was to be confiscated as heritage. mainland, Macau and Taiwan, in order to transfer the endanger national sovereignty and security is absolutely Hong Kong compatriots will surely be able to administer, “The municipality had installed electricity here, we murder suspect to Taiwan for trial, the HKSAR govern- impermissible, any attempt to challenge the power of the develop and manage Hong Kong well. Hong Kong will have running water,” she noted, showing an INP- ment proposed to amend the Fugitive Offenders central government and the authority of the Basic Law of assuredly overcome all difficulties and challenges on its stamped document granting the previous owner permis- Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal the HKSAR is absolutely impermissible, and any attempt way forward. The ship of “One Country, Two Systems” sion to install electricity in 2010. “I said, ‘If you want to Matters Ordinance, allowing it to cooperate with the to use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage will sail far and steady despite winds and storms. crush the house, crush me with it.’” The Gerbis and oth- mainland, Macau and Taiwan on extraditing criminal sus- activities against the mainland is absolutely impermissible. China and Kuwait have established strategic partner- ers in the neighborhood are battling court cases over pects and fugitives in individual cases through a special Recently, some politicians in the United States, Britain ship, and the peoples of our two countries are close their homes, but “permission to install electricity doesn’t arrangement. This would be helpful in handling the afore- and other Western countries deliberately confused friends and dear brothers. We believe that the Kuwaiti mean permission to build,” noted Achour, the INP con- mentioned case, and would close an existing legal loop- peaceful demonstrations and violent crimes, adopted people can feel the same way, and will continuingly servationist. As for Sessi and his wife, they are now rent- hole to jointly combat crime, and uphold law and justice. double standards and “selective blindness”, turned a adhere to the objective and fair position, identify the ing a studio in Mohamed Ali. Residents and civil society Unfortunately, due to insufficient knowledge about the blind eye to the criminal acts of the mob, confounded facts and truth, understand and support China’s determi- activists see the demolitions in the Mohamed Ali neigh- mainland’s situation and its legal and judicial systems, right and wrong, blamed the police for their law enforce- nation and efforts to preserve its sovereignty and dignity, borhood as discrimination. “The demolitions only hap- some Hong Kong residents had doubts about the HKSAR ment; there are even signs of manipulation behind the and uphold the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” pen in this zone, where the poor are,” said Hechmi government’s decision on amending the ordinances, and scene. Their ulterior motives are to disrupt Hong Kong, and the rule of law. Mohamed Salah, a 59-year-old Mohamed Ali resident. Bayoudh, the mayor, denied that the clearing operation focuses only on poorer areas. “We target the sites, not the people - unfortunately the Roman Circus is in a poor mostly of men in high-visibility safety vests and work them. But other countries are not taking care of their plas- neighbourhood,” she said. Fossil fuels? boots, cheered. tic use and they haven’t for a long time.” The status of land in Carthage has been in flux over the past few decades. Before the country’s revolution Fantastic plastic Breaking it up in 2011, some parts of the area were declassified to Plastic? Trump The Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex will Trump’s focus on old-school heavy manufacturing and benefit those close to former dictator Zine El-Abidine make manufacturing-grade plastic out of liquid natural gas fossil fuel energy production goes far beyond just visiting Ben Ali so they could sell the land and build luxury says more is better extracted through fracking from the Marcellus Shale the occasional new factory. He has sought to rewrite strict properties, explained Khanoussi of the INP. After Ben deposit. The facility, a huge web of pipes and half-con- environmental protection rules that he referred to on Ali’s ousting, many of these sites were reclassified; structed buildings, is a symbol of Trump’s aggressive pro- Tuesday as “horror stories”. Trump gleefully told the some building projects were halted, while others con- S President Donald Trump has seen the future and fossil fuel agenda - and a powerful statement to his work- crowd that his Environmental Protection Agency chief, it is oil. And plastic. Where most environmental sci- tinued illegally. Most of the building on the Circus site ing-class voters that he meant business when he promised Andrew Wheeler, “knows how to break it up.” entists and most US allies fear that overuse of fossil - which was never declassified under Ben Ali - took U to restore the US manufacturing base. Pennsylvania is a Breaking it up means the Trump administration’s dis- fuels is driving the planet into crisis, the US president spies place after 2011, in the chaotic period following the particularly important target: The state will be one of the mantling of regulations put in place by his predecessor only opportunity. In a speech on Tuesday to hundreds of revolution, said Moez Achour, a Carthage conserva- vital pieces in the 2020 presidential election puzzle and workers building a new Shell petrochemical factory near Barack Obama, including the Clean Power Plan, which tionist with the INP. — Reuters Trump is struggling. Pittsburgh, Trump did not bother paying even lip service sought reduced greenhouse gas emissions from power But plastic? The material, once celebrated as a near- to environmental concerns. He just wanted to make clear plants. As he mentioned in his speech, Trump has also that America is winning. “We’re the number one energy miraculous byproduct of hydrocarbons, is increasingly pushed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a producer and I’m so proud of that,” he said. seen as a scourge, clogging up rivers, circulating forever in remote and beautiful area of Alaska, to oil drilling. One of All articles appearing on this page are the Already, the United States has won “independence” the seas, invading the food chain, and showing up every- his first acts as president was on an even bigger scale: personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait from the former Middle Eastern guardians of the oil spig- where from the deepest ocean to the seemingly pristine Pulling the United States out of the 2015 Paris Climate Arctic. All that, Trump says, is someone else’s fault. “It’s not Times takes no responsibility for views ots, Trump said. Next up? “Dominance.” Trump said that Agreement, which aims to unite the planet in a joint push his priority on entering office had been to halt “the war on our plastic. It’s plastics that’s floating over in the ocean,” to reduce carbon emissions. Without US participation, the expressed therein. energy”. Ending “the far left’s energy nightmare” is at the Trump told reporters on the way to the Shell plant. massively ambitious plan lacks both the world’s biggest core of his presidency, he said. The crowd, comprised “Plastics are fine, but you have to know what to do with economy and most active leader. — AFP Established 1961

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

US import prices unexpectedly Deliveroo food deliveriesBusiness NREC announces KD6.6m 12rose in July, but trend still weak 13 hit European roadblocks 14 net profit for H1 2019

A combination of file pictures show facets of German industry. — AFP Exports stutter as Eurozone growth halves German economy teetering on edge of recession

BERLIN: Slumping exports sent Germany’s economy to 0.4 percent from 0.9 percent in the first quarter, the “The bottom line is that the German economy is uncertainties facing exporters presaging more pain into reverse in the second quarter, with prospects of Federal Statistics Office data showed, and for 2019 teetering on the edge of recession,” Andrew over the rest of the year. ING’s Brzeski said a national an early recovery slim as its manufacturers struggle at overall Berlin expects growth to drop to just 0.5 per- Kenningham from Capital Economics said, noting that debate about easing fiscal policy to provide stimulus - the sharp end of a global slowdown amplified by tariff cent from last year’s 1.5 percent. exporters were facing an even bigger potential hit if a a focus for international criticism of the government’s conflicts and fallout from Brexit. The economy ministry called the outlook subdued, no-deal Brexit materialized. economic management since the peak of the financial Overall output fell 0.1 percent quarter-on-quarter, noting that Britain’s scheduled exit from the EU on Oct. crisis - would get more heated. data showed yesterday. With pressure growing on a 31 looked likely to be a disorderly one, while Economy Domestic safety net? In a guest article in yesterday’s edition of business thus far reluctant government to provide more fiscal Minister Peter Altmaier said Wednesday’s data was a The statistics office said that net trade slowed sec- daily Handelsblatt, BDI association managing director stimulus, the economy minister said action was needed wake-up call. “We are in a phase of economic weakness ond quarter economic activity as exports recorded a Joachim Lang said the balanced budget that the gov- to prevent a second consecutive quarter of contraction but not yet in recession. We can avoid that if we take the stronger quarter-on-quarter decrease than imports. ernment has stuck to rigidly since 2014 “should be that would tip the country into recession. right measures,” Altmaier told mass-market daily Bild. Construction was also a drag, after the sector pushed called into question in an economically fragile situa- The global slowdown has broadly impacted the His ministry said impetus was unlikely to come from up overall growth in the first three months due to an tion”. A government official told Reuters last week Eurozone, where corresponding data showed second the industrial sector, whose BDI association - in an unusually mild winter. that Berlin was considering issuing new debt to quarter growth halved to 0.2 percent. unusual move -joined a growing chorus of voices urg- In a conclusion echoed by the economy ministry finance a costly climate protection package. On But Germany’s traditionally export-reliant economy ing the government to kick-start growth by ditching its and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann, the office Tuesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel poured cold - Europe’s largest - has been particularly vulnerable, balanced budget rule and finance more public invest- said domestic demand remained robust. That has water on the calls for more fiscal stimulus, and yes- amid signs that the boost it has received from a sus- ments through new debt. become an important growth driver for Germany in terday the government spokeswoman said this posi- tained period of surging domestic demand is waning. A government spokeswoman said Berlin did not cur- recent years as consumers benefit from record-high tion had not changed. “The fiscal policy of the “Today’s GDP report definitely marks the end of a rently see “any need for further measures to stabilize employment, inflation-busting pay hikes and low bor- German government is already expansive,” the golden decade for the German economy,” said ING the economy,” which was still expected to grow slightly rowing costs. spokeswoman added. Merkel had noted the already analyst Carsten Brzeski. “Trade conflicts, global uncer- this year. Despite yesterday’s headline quarterly figure But UniCredit analyst Andreas Rees suggested the agreed removal of the Soli income tax surcharge for tainty and the struggling automotive sector have finally matching expectations, markets also took fright, with positive impact of those factors was limited. most employees from 2021, a relief worth some 11 bil- brought (it)... down on its knee.” the yield on Germany’s benchmark 10-year government “For a year now, the German economy has been lion euros per year that is likely to support domestic On a calendar-adjusted basis, annual growth slowed bond hitting a record low of -0.624 percent . only crawling forward,” Rees said, with the many demand and with it overall growth. — Reuters

turers are among the world’s largest Wall St slides Global motor consumers of energy and raw materials, intermediate products such as plastic, steel and aluminum, and services such as as recession manufacturing marketing and advertising. The industry is a crucial source of demand for fears grow slump hits durable capital goods, a generator of high-value exports, and a provider of NEW YORK: Wall Street main indexes slid high-wage middle-class employment in 1.5 percent yesterday, as a closely watched US oil demand most countries. bond market indicator pointed to a renewed And its dispersed supply and market- risk of recession following poor economic ing chains are a major driver of domestic data. Yields on the two-year Treasury notes LONDON: Global vehicle production is and international freight demand, and by rose above the 10-year yield for the first time falling at the fastest rate since the finan- extension transportation fuels, especially since 2007, a metric widely viewed as a classic cial crisis - depressing manufacturing diesel. recession signal. output, freight and the consumption of Growth in the worldwide vehicle fleet The interest-rate sensitive bank index oil and other commodities. Global motor is the most important driver of con- slipped 2.50 percent and the broader financial vehicle output declined last year by 1 sumption of refined fuels, and conse- sector fell 1.95 percent in response. Slumping percent, the first annual decrease since quently crude oil. Motor manufacturing NEW YORK: Traders work after the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on exports sent Germany’s economy into reverse 2009 and only the third fall in 20 years, therefore lies at the heart of the global Tuesday at Wall Street in New York City. — AFP in the second quarter. according to data from the International energy system. Right now, the industry’s The downbeat mood followed a rally in Wall Organization of Motor Vehicle problems, with output falling for two Street’s main indexes on Tuesday thanks to the cent, at 25,873.18, the S&P 500 was down Meanwhile, London’s FTSE 100 tumbled to Manufacturers (OICA). years in a row, help explain the severe Trump administration’s decision to delay tariffs 44.61 points, or 1.52 percent, at 2,881.71. The its lowest in more than two months yesterday But output is on course to drop much slowdown in oil consumption growth on some imports. “It’s almost as if global Nasdaq Composite was down 140.86 points, after the yield curve on US and UK govern- faster in 2019, with production up so far since the middle of 2018. investors either don’t buy the tariff delay as a or 1.76 percent, at 7,875.50. The high-growth ment bonds inverted for the first time since the in Japan, but down slightly in the United Japan’s vehicle production was up by sign of real progress in the trade war or have technology sector was the hardest hit. Shares global financial crisis, fuelling fears of a possi- States and plunging in other major auto 3 percent in the first five months of the been too consumed by further evidence of of Apple Inc were down 1.74 percent after ble recession ahead. The FTSE 100 index, manufacturing centers, including China, year compared with the same period a global economic weakness to care,” BMO boosting markets a day earlier with a 4 per- which was already lower because of weak India and Germany. Motor manufactur- year earlier. But US vehicle output was Capital Markets strategist Stephen Gallo said. cent rise. Declining issues outnumbered economic data, dropped 1.4 percent by 1326 ing is one largest and most networked of down by almost 2 percent in the first six At 9:52 am ET, the Dow Jones Industrial advancers for a 5.40-to-1 ratio on the NYSE GMT with losses across all sectors. The mid- all global value chains, making it central months, according to data from the US Average was down 406.73 points, or 1.55 per- and for a 5.99-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. cap index slipped 1.1 percent. — Reuters to the global economy. Motor manufac- Federal Reserve. — Reuters 12 Established 1961 Thursday, August 15, 2019 Business US import prices unexpectedly rose in July, but trend still weak Export prices up 0.2%; down 0.9% year-on-year

WASHINGTON: US import prices unexpectedly rose tariffs. US stock index futures were trading sharply in July, but the underlying trend continued to be weak, lower as weak German data triggered recession fears. pointing to subdued imported inflation pressures. Prices of US Treasuries rose while the dollar was slight- The report from the Labor Department yesterday ly stronger against a basket of currencies. suggested inflation could remain moderate despite a broad increase in consumer prices in July, which could Export prices rebound allow the Federal Reserve to cut interest rate further to In July, prices for imported fuels and lubricants limit the damage to the economy from trade tensions. rebounded 1.8 percent after falling 7.3 percent in the The Trump administration on Tuesday delayed impos- prior month. Petroleum prices increased 1.9 percent ing a 10 percent import tariff on laptops, cell phones, after plunging 7.0 percent in June. Imported food video game consoles and a wide range of other products prices fell 0.5 percent, the third straight monthly drop. until mid-December, saying the move was to avoid hurt- Excluding fuels and food, import prices were ing American shoppers heading into the Christmas holi- unchanged last month after dropping 0.2 percent in day. Economists said the delay of the duties, which had June. The core import prices fell 1.5 percent in the 12 been scheduled to kick off on Sept. 1, still left a cloud months through July. The cost of imported capital over the economy. Fears about the impact of the trade goods decreased 0.1 percent last month after falling 0.2 war on the US economic expansion, the longest in histo- percent in June. The price of imported motor vehicles ry, prompted the Fed to cut its short-term lending rate and parts declined 0.3 percent last month. by 25 basis points last month for the first time since Prices for imported consumer goods excluding 2008. Import prices increased 0.2 percent last month as automobiles rose 0.2 percent after being unchanged in a rebound in the cost of petroleum products offset June. Prices fell 1.6 percent in the 12 months through declines in prices for capital goods and motor vehicles, July, matching June’s decline.The report also showed the government said. Data for June was revised down to export prices rose 0.2 percent in July, boosted by gains show import prices dropping 1.1 percent instead of in prices for agricultural and nonagricultural products, falling 0.9 percent as previously reported. after declining for two straight months. Export prices Economists polled by Reuters had forecast import fell 0.9 percent on a year-on-year basis in July after prices would be unchanged in July. In the 12 months decreasing 1.6 percent in June. animal feeds, nuts and vegetables. Prices for agricultur- ed nonagricultural goods rose 0.2 percent in July after through July, import prices dropped 1.8 percent after Prices for exported agricultural products rose 0.4 al products jumped 3.7 percent in the 12 months to July, tumbling 1.0 percent in June. In the 12 months through decreasing 2.0 percent in June. Import prices exclude percent, lifted by a surge in prices for soybeans, other the largest advance since June 2017. Prices for export- July, prices dropped 1.5 percent. —Reuters

general elections in October. “With a victory Argentine peso for Mr Fernandez on the cards, a sovereign default is even more likely,” analysts Capital on roller coaster Economics warned in a note. Macri’s populari- Singapore cuts ty has plunged since a currency crisis last after Macri defeat year-in which the peso lost half its value growth outlook against the dollar-and a much-criticized $56 BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s peso slipped billion International Monetary Fund bail-out further against the dollar Tuesday while the loan that analysts say may now have to be as trade war bites stock market partially recovered as South restructured. America’s third-largest economy continued So far the Washington-based IMF has SINGAPORE: Singapore further cut its annu- to take a pummeling in the wake of pro-busi- refrained from commenting publicly on the al growth forecast on Tuesday as the escalat- ness President Mauricio Macri’s crushing primary results. ing trade war hammers exports, in another defeat in party primaries. The currency-which plummeted 18.76 Restructure looming ominous sign for Asia’s trade-reliant A key moment for action could come on economies. The government said it expected percent on Monday-closed a further 1.77 percent down on Tuesday after the Central September 15, when the next tranche of the growth of 0.0-1.0 percent this year, sharply Bank had intervened to stave off bigger falls IMF loan is due to be disbursed. “With the down from the 1.5-2.5 percent previously following losses of more than 3 percent by debt ratio having exploded over the past two years, and the sovereign now even further estimated, marking the second downward midday. The peso traded at 58.33 pesos to BUENOS AIRES: Currency exchange values are displayed on the buy-sell board of the dollar, as against 57.30 at Monday’s away from regaining market access, we think revision this year. The economy expanded 3.2 there’s a good chance that the IMF asks for a a bureau de exchange in Buenos Aires, on Tuesday. Pro-business Argentina’s percent in 2018. close. President Mauricio Macri predicted worse would follow after Argentina’s peso The stock market rebounded 10 percent restructuring,” Capital Economics said. The export hub is highly sensitive to exter- “This could come as a condition of the and the Buenos Aires stock exchange plummeted Monday following his crushing on Tuesday after having lost 38 percent in defeat by populist candidate Alberto Fernandez in a party primary election. —AFP nal shocks and has traditionally been one of Monday’s rout. next loan tranche (of $7.6bn), due on 15th the first places in Asia to be hit during global The Buenos Aires Stock Exchange Merval September.” Beyond that, the lurch to the left has rekindled market fears of a sovereign downturns — with ripples then spreading out Index closed Tuesday up 10.22 percent, recov- cent inflation for the first half of the year-one especially in terms of economic policy,” said default, reawakening painful memories of of the highest rates in the world. Eurasia Group’s Latin America managing across the rest of the region. Shipments from ering some of the losses shipped following Macri’s defeat to a leftist opponent in the Argentina’s 2001 default. Poverty now affects 32 percent of the director Daniel Kerner. “This means there will the city-state have plunged while its economy country’s primaries ahead of October elec- “About 80 percent of Argentina’s debt is population. Backed by the International be a lot of pressure to make changes even suffered a surprise quarter-on-quarter con- tions. Center-right Macri was dealt a huge nominated in foreign currency. Therefore, an Monetary Fund billions, Macri has initiated before the end of Macri’s term, for example in traction in the three months to June. blow in his bid for re-election when he polled acute depreciation negatively affects the an austerity plan that is deeply unpopular terms of fiscal and monetary policy. ability to pay,” said Alejo Czerwonko of UBS “The growth prospects of key emerging 15 points less than center-left Peronist candi- among ordinary Argentines, who have seen “This will become even more urgent if the Global Wealth Management. Argentina is their spending power shredded. market reaction is negative, and this leads to markets and developing economies have date Alberto Fernandez in Sunday’s primary elections, which served as a bellwether for currently in a recession and posted 22 per- “Fernandez won on a demand for change, even worse economic conditions.” —Reuters worsened, partly due to the escalation of the trade conflict in recent months,” the trade ministry said. How does it work? curve and narrow the margin financial institutions earn from “Uncertainties and downside risks in the How does negative Under a negative rate policy, financial institutions are lending. If prolonged ultra-low rates hurt the health of financial required to pay interest for parking excess reserves with the institutions too much, they could hold off on lending and damage global economy have increased since three central bank. That way, central banks penalize financial institu- the economy. months ago,” it warned, citing US President rate policy work? tions for holding on to cash in hope of prompting them to boost There are also limits to how deep central banks can push Donald Trump’s announcement this month he lending. The European Central Bank (ECB) introduced negative rates into negative territory - depositors can avoid being TOKYO: Negative rate policy - once considered only for rates in June 2014, lowering its deposit rate to -0.1 percent to charged negative rates on their bank deposits by choosing to would impose tariffs on an additional $300 economies with chronically low inflation such as Europe and billion of imports. “This could severely dent stimulate the economy. Given rising economic risks, markets hold physical cash instead. Japan - is becoming a more attractive option for some other expect the ECB to cut the deposit rate, now at -0.4 percent, in global business and global confidence, with central banks to counter unwelcome rises in their currencies. September. What are CBs doing to mitigate the side-effects? adverse implications on global trade and This is how a negative rate policy works and its poten- The Bank of Japan (BOJ) adopted negative rates in January The BOJ adopts a tiered system under which it charges 0.1 global economic growth.” tial pitfalls: 2016, mostly to fend off an unwelcome yen spike from hurting an percent interest only to a small portion of excess reserves finan- export-reliant economy. It charges 0.1 percent interest on a por- cial institutions deposit with the central bank. It applies a zero or Singapore has been particularly hard hit Why have some central banks adopted negative rates? by falling demand for electronic goods, a tion of excess reserves financial institutions park with the BOJ. +0.1 percent interest rate to the rest of the reserves. To battle the global financial crisis triggered by the collapse The ECB is also expected to take “mitigating measures”, such key export that is vital to the manufacturing of Lehman Brothers in 2008, many central banks cut interest What are the pros, cons? as a partial exemption from the charge in the form of tiered sector. DBS Bank said the downgraded fore- rates near zero. A decade later, interest rates remain low in most Aside from lowering borrowing costs, advocates of negative deposits rates, if it were to deepen negative rates from the cur- cast has strengthened the case for countries due to subdued economic growth. rates say they help weaken a country’s currency rate by making rent -0.4 percent, analysts say. With little room to cut rates further, some major central banks it a less attractive investment than that of other currencies. A But designing such a scheme won’t be easy in a bloc where Singapore to ease monetary policy during a have resorted to unconventional policy measures, including a meeting in October in a bid to stimulate the weaker currency gives a country’s export a competitive advan- cash is distributed unevenly among countries. It could even negative rate policy. The euro area, Switzerland, Denmark, tage and boosts inflation by pushing up import costs. backfire by pushing rates up in certain countries, rather than economy. —AFP Sweden and Japan have allowed rates to fall slightly below zero. But negative rates put downward pressure on the entire yield down. —Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES

Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.224 Turkish Lira 55.125 Chinese Yuan 0.042046 0.045546 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Tunisian Dinar 109.590 Singapore dollars 220.065 Hong Kong Dollar 0.0367068 0.039818 Jordanian Dinar 430.510 Indian Rupee 0.003785 0.004557 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Lebanese Lira/for 1000 0.203 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 US Dollar Transfer 304.650 Syrian Lira 0.000 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Japanese Yen 0.002781 0.002961 Euro 343.490 Morocco Dirham 32.375 Korean Won 0.000241 000266 Sterling Pound 371.060 Malaysian Ringgit 0.069418 0.075418 Canadian dollar 231.320 CURRENCY BUY SELL Nepalese Rupee 0.002680 0.003020 Turkish lira 55.910 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Europe Pakistan Rupee 0.001311 0.002081 Swiss Franc 315.050 British Pound 0.359942 0.373842 Philippine Peso 0.005908 0.006209 US Dollar Buying 297.450 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Czech Korune 0.005164 0.014464 Singapore Dollar 0.214639 0.224839 US Dollar 304.090 Danish Krone 0.041538 0.046538 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001376 0.001956 ASIAN COUNTRIES Canadian Dollar 230.300 Euro 0. 332573 0.346273 Japanese Yen 2.865 Taiwan 0.009931 0.010111 Sterling Pound 368.445 Georgian Lari 0.132152 0.132152 Indian Rupees 4.299 Thai Baht 0.009562 0.010112 Euro 341.840 Hungarian 0.001148 0.001338 Pakistani Rupees 1.952 Vietnamese Dong 0.00013 0.00013 Norwegian Krone 0.030300 0.035500 Srilankan Rupees 1.718 Swiss Frank 297.245 Romanian Leu 0.065299 0.082149 Nepali Rupees 2.681 Bahrain Dinar 808.690 Arab Singapore Dollar 221.160 UAE Dirhams 83.195 Russian ruble 0.004709 0.004709 Bahraini Dinar 0.801938 0.809998 Slovakia 0.009111 0.019111 Hongkong Dollar 38.828 Qatari Riyals 84.435 Egyptian Pound 0.018653 0.022013 Swedish Krona 0.027894 0.032894 Bangladesh Taka 3.593 Saudi Riyals 81.985 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086 Swiss Franc 0.305297 0.316297 Philippine Peso 5.855 Jordanian Dinar 430.185 Iraqi Dinar 0.000210 0.000270 Thai Baht 9.935 Egyptian Pound 18.403 Jordanian Dinar 0.424785 0.433785 Malaysian ringgit 77.916 Sri Lankan Rupees 1.719 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Australasia Indian Rupees 4.297 Lebanese Pound 0.000157 0.000257 GCC COUNTRIES Australian Dollar 0.198504 0.210504 Pakistani Rupees 1.919 Moroccan Dirhams 0.021401 0.045401 Saudi Riyal 81.294 New Zealand Dollar 0.190534 0.200034 Bangladesh Taka 3.601 Omani Riyal 0.786168 0.794069 Qatari Riyal 83.730 Philippines Pesso 5.859 Qatar Riyal 0.083024 0.083858 Omani Riyal 791.813 Cyprus pound 18.090 America Saudi Riyal 0.080153 0.081453 Bahraini Dinar 809.490 Japanese Yen 3.881 Canadian Dollar 0.224917 0.233917 Syrian Pound 0.001292 0.001512 UAE Dirham 83.000 Syrian Pound 1.590 US Dollars 0.300650 0.306850 Tunisian Dinar 0.103748 0.111748 Nepalese Rupees 2.679 US Dollars Mint 0.301050 0.305850 Turkish Lira 0.047569 0.057414 ARAB COUNTRIES Malaysian Ringgit 73.480 UAE Dirhams 0.082311 0.083139 Egyptian Pound - Cash 21.650 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 43.520 Asia Egyptian Pound - Transfer 18.413 Yemeni Riyal 0.000990 0.001070 Thai Bhat 10.870 Bangladesh Taka 0.002996 0.003796 13 Business Thursday, August 15, 2019 Deliveroo food deliveries hit European roadblocks Hyper-crowded food delivery space in Europe witnesses consolidation

LONDON: Striking French couriers. Spanish court set- that it was pulling out of Germany after four years and backs. The white flag of surrender raised over Germany. refocusing on other parts of Europe and further afield in British food delivery company Deliveroo-its boxy lime- Asia. The decision was especially painful because it clears blue bags a welcome sight for legions of office workers the path for a local rival called Lieferando to dominate across London-is hitting sudden bumps on other Germany on its own. Lieferando is owned by the Dutch European roads. company Takeaway-itself in the process of merging with The rough times come as a growing group of startups the UK-based upstart Just Eat. jostle for the pocketbooks of hungry city dwellers craving “Consolidation has come to the hyper-crowded food for that special burger or lunch bento box. delivery space,” Euromonitor International research group Deliveroo has helped revolutionize meals on wheels in analyst Maxine Vogt said. “There are at least two dozen much the same way as Uber-which has a rival food cater- companies in the restaurant ordering and delivery busi- ing app-has upended the taxi market. It is now encounter- ness. And that doesn’t even include grocery delivery!” ing identical questions over whether its employment Scale and size are essential for these rivals to forgo schemes meet labor laws across around 200 cities where it immediate profits as they pile money into expansion that has set up shop. could eventually force the laggards to drop out. Deliveroo Its tens of thousands of delivery workers-most of them remains an investor darling that has made it into one of the young men on bikes and scooters-are officially self- world’s few “unicorns”-privately-owned tech companies employed and deprived of a minimum wage or paid leave. valued at more than a billion dollars by the market. They must also provide their own means of transportation It has even piqued the interest of Amazon. The and smartphones that keep them connected to both clients Seattle-based online shopping behemoth was the biggest and dispatchers. investor in a round of fundraising in May that brought in This arrangement prompted Deliveroo’s French bik- $575 million. The various investments and mergers show ers to call for clients to boycott the brand last week. that “scale is the only way to survive,” Vogt said. But they Discontent in Deliveroo’s second-biggest market after also come with their own sets of pitfalls: Britain’s compe- Britain boiled over only days after a Madrid court ruled tition regulator launched a “phase one” review of the that it had wrongly signed up more than 500 riders to Amazon deal last month that could lead to a formal inves- self-employed contractors. Deliveroo has appealed the tigation. The UK Competition and Markets Authority ruling but faces several more similar cases in Spain later (CMA) said it had “reasonable grounds for suspecting” this year. that the agreement could “result in Amazon and Deliveroo ceasing to be distinct”. ‘Hyper-crowded’ The CMA said Deliveroo and Amazon must remain two PARIS: In this file photo, a biker working for the Food delivery service Deliveroo cycles off to deliver an order in Saint-Ouen, These cost-cutting contracts are being tested at a tur- separate businesses with their own “sales or brand identi- outside Paris. Unhappy riders in France, an adverse court ruling in Spain, withdrawal from Germany: Times are tough for bulent time for a new service that is booming in popularity ty” throughout the review-a process without a clear dead- Deliveroo delivery company in an ultra-competitive sector. — AFP but unable to turn a profit. Deliveroo announced Monday line but massive repercussions for the entire sector. — AFP

losses due to the weather, but not on this scale,” says said, but warned, “We are 18 months into this trade war American farmers Jamie Beyer, a farmer in Wheaton, Minnesota who grows and we don’t know if it might ever improve.” soybean, corn, sugar beet and alfalfa. That “compounds the stress we are having on trade issues,” she said. The US Supportive farmers struggle to stay Department of Agriculture in a Monday report lowered its The challenges haven’t stopped farmers from support- Ooredoo started soybean production estimate, but predicted a rise in corn ing Trump, Hurst said. “Most of them keep supporting afloat amid floods output despite lower acreage planted. Trump,” he said. Farmers also like the president because taking pre-orders he’s fought to cut regulations and presided over a healthy and trade war ‘Caught in the middle’ economy, Reifsteck said. John Reifsteck, who grows corn and soybeans in “Farmers live in a community, and the economy is doing for new Galaxy Illinois, said that experiences differ among farmers and pretty well,” he said. Flood insurance and $28 billion in aid NEW YORK: Caught in the middle of a trade war and that “luck or good decisions, really, play a big part.” from the Trump administration to farmers affected by the Note 10 devices hammered by massive spring floods, American farmers are “There’s no question about the fact that trade issues are trade war should help limit the damage in the short term. facing a tough year and worry about their future, yet some affecting market prices, especially for our soybeans, and James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal still trust President Donald Trump. It’s “a body blow to we are caught in the middle,” he said. Reserve Bank, whose district encompasses swaths of farm thousands of farmers and ranchers who are already strug- Plentiful harvests in prior years have also dropped country, called the trade war a “downside surprise” after gling to get by,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the Farm prices, as has an African swine fever outbreak in that deci- four or five good years. But he’s heard from farmers that Bureau, the country’s largest agricultural association. mated the hog population and lowered demand for soy- government support “while welcome... is probably not suf- “Now we stand to lose all of what was a $9.1 billion beans. Blake Hurst has managed to sow all of his land in ficient to really cover everything that’s occurred because market in 2018,” he said in a statement, noting that exports northwestern Missouri, a region where other farms are still of the trade dispute,” he said. Bruce Rohwer, a farmer in had already dropped dramatically from the $19.5 billion. underwater. But between weather conditions and trade northwestern Iowa and president of the state’s Corn KUWAIT: Consistent with its unremitting Trump’s Democratic rivals in next year’s presidential tensions, he does not expect to make money this year. “We Growers Association, said the payments are a “a token endeavors to provide customers with the best election have seized on the trade war, with former vice know from long experience that weather will improve,” he response” to the losses caused by tariffs. — AFP and most innovative telecom products and serv- president Joe Biden saying the dispute “is going to cause a ices that truly fit with customers’ lifestyle, enrich lot (of people) to go bankrupt” during a stop last week in their experience and fuel their passion to Iowa, an agricultural state that backed the president in the enhance the way they connect and optimize digi- 2016 election. Trump shrugged off the criticism on Tuesday. tal life, Ooredoo, Kuwait has already started tak- “They’ve said they’re going to buy farm products. So far, ing pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 10 and they’ve disappointed me with the truth,” he said. Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphones as of Thursday, August 8. New and existing customers The strain is showing who place their pre-order for the new Galaxy There is no question farmers are under pressure. Note 10 devices before 23 August will receive as According to the Farm Bureau, farm bankruptcies have jumped 13 percent over the 12 months ending on June 30, an exclusive valuable gift the Galaxy buds that after holding about steady in 2018 compared to 2017. will complement their experience with the latest The bureau cited “several years of low farm income, a Samsung smartphones. low return on farm assets, mounting debt, more natural The launch of the Galaxy Note 10 smartphone disasters and the second year of retaliatory tariffs on many series comes as a further testament of Ooredoo’s US agricultural products” as causes of farmers’ distress. commitment to providing its customers with the Heavy rains in the spring and early summer flooded a large newest products and the best offers. part of the farmland, delaying planting by several weeks or Ooredoo will offer both Galaxy Note 10 and preventing it altogether. Not only will yields be affected, According to the Farm Bureau, farm bankruptcies have jumped 13 percent over the 12 months ending on June 30, Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphones in Aura Black, but farmers are worried that the late-blooming crops will after holding about steady in 2018 compared to 2017. Aura Glow and Aura White colors. Additionally, be hit with early frosts in the fall. “It’s not unusual to have the new Samsung gadget which is by all means an ultra-powerful and intelligent phone, has an array of new and exciting features that include a top quality 10 MP front (Selfie) camera and Al Tijari announces winners of triple-camera setup on the rear featuring a 12 Slovakia’s car-reliant economy MP primary sensor with a wide-angle lens, a 12 Al Najma, Salary & Cash on Top MP 2x optical zoom equivalent telephoto lens slows sharply as trade wanes camera and a 16 MP camera with an ultra-wide- KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank conduct- retirees and which is valid until December angle lens. BRATISLAVA: Slovakia’s economy, partial shutdown at oil refiner Slovnaft ed the weekly draws on Al Najma Account 31, 2019 and the mechanism of joining this Furthermore, the two devices are also dominated by car manufacturing, slowed MOLB.BU in May and June and output and the draw on the “Salary and Cash on campaign for availing its benefits, the Bank equipped with very large batteries: 3,500mAh unexpectedly in the second quarter cuts at United States Steel Corp’s Top” campaign. The draws were conduct- explained that Kuwaiti employees with a for the Note 10 and 4,300mAh for the Note 10 when it expanded by 1.9 percent year- Slovak factory as the steel industry ed in the presence of Ministry of salary of KD 500 and above whether new- Plus and both come with 256GB of storage with on-year, down from a 3.7 percent rise in struggles across Europe have also con- Commerce and Industry representative ly recruited or in service can transfer their a 512GB storage option for the Galaxy Note 10 Ms. Latifa Al Jean. salary to the Bank and avail the benefits of the first quarter and missing analysts’ tributed to slower growth. Statisticians Plus. The Galaxy Note 10 has a large 6.3-inch expectations of 3.3 percent growth. will release the full breakdown of the this campaign by getting instant cash gift The results of the draw were as follows: of KD 250 or an interest free loan 5 times Dynamic AMOLED screen with QHD+ resolu- The quarterly, seasonally adjusted Slovak data, including household con- ● tion while the Galaxy Note 10 Plus comes with growth of 0.4 percent given by the sta- sumption, on Sept. 6 Al Najma weekly account - the prize the salary up to KD 10,000, add to this of KD 5,000 was for the share of Adel Said they will automatically enter the weekly an enormous 6.8-inch display. Both devices use tistics office yesterday also missed ana- A slump in exports sent Germany’s the Octa core 2.7 GHz/2.4 GHz/1.9 GHz lysts’ expectation of a 0.7 percent economy into reverse in the second Abdulla Nasralla. draw on KD 1,000. As for the expatriate ● The “Salary & Cash on Top cam- customers categorized under Premier Processor, with 8GB RAM for the Galaxy Note expansion - buffeted by turbulence in quarter, data showed yesterday, as its 10 and 12GB for the Galaxy. the global economy and a shrinking manufacturers bore the brunt of a global paign” prize of KD 1,000 was for the share Banking Account with a salary KD of 1,700 Note 10 Plus. Both devices also have a dual- Germany economy. “Slovakia is feeling slowdown amplified by tariff conflicts of Bassam Salman Al Attar. and above, they will get instant cash gift. the impact of the global slowdown and and uncertainty over Brexit. — Reuters The Bank stated that the account prizes The retirees with pension KD 1,000 and SIM slots, operate on LTE network and run the economic stagnation in Germany, this year is featured by the highest cash above will also get an instant cash gift of Android 9 Pie based Samsung One UI software. our biggest trade partner,” VUB Bank prize and diversity of prizes throughout the KD 150 when transferring their pension to analyst Michal Lehuta said. year clarifying that Al Najma Account will the Bank and automatically enter the weekly “Slovakia’s unexpected slowdown in offer weekly prize of KD 5,000, monthly draw for a prize of KD 1,000 and avail the the second quarter was due to the slow- prize of KD 20,000 and a semi-annual benefits of this campaign designated for down in industrial output, falling net prize of KD 500,000 in addition to the Kuwaiti and expatriate employees working exports and weak household consump- largest prize - linked bank account payout in private and public sector as well as the tion.” Slovakia’s data has been the of KD 1,500,000. Al Najma Account can retirees. Further, the campaign provides biggest disappointment in central be opened by depositing KD 100, and the customers with the opportunity to get addi- Europe as Hungary, Poland and the customer should maintain a minimum tional benefits and take advantage of the Czech Republic all posted strong amount of KD 500 to be eligible to enter advanced and unrivalled services and prod- growth, albeit slowing down from first all draws on Al Najma Account prizes. As ucts the Bank provides to its customers to quarter. for the chances of winning, the more bal- meet their needs and expectations. Slovakia’s industrial output dropped ance a customer maintains in Al Najma Customers can obtain further informa- 2.1 percent year-on-year in June, the Account, the more chances the account tion on Al Najma Account by either calling first contraction since March 2018 and holder will get to win, where each KD 25 the Service Center on 1888225 or by visit- the lowest level since April 2017, statis- will give the customer one chance to win, ing the Bank’s website www.CBK.com and tics office said last week. Car manufac- the account also offers additional benefits they can also visit their nearest CBK turing at factories run by Volkswagen , like the ATM card, a credit card against branch where the Bank staff will be ready BRATISLAVA: An employee works on a customer’s account and all CBK banking to serve them and respond to their queries. Peugeot , Kia and Jaguar Land Rover fell Porsche vehicle at a production line of for the first time in 18 months in June, services that customer can enjoy. Furthermore all details and information Volkswagen plant in Bratislava, As regarding “Salary & Cash on Top” related to the latest offers and services dropping by 7.6 percent. Slovakia. — Reuters The country’s central bank said a campaign designated for Kuwaiti and launched by the Bank is also available on expatriate employees as well as the the Bank’s social sites. 14 Established 1961

Thursday, August 15, 2019 Business NREC announces KD6.6m net profit for H1 2019 Operating revenue: KD 8.5m; EBITDA: KD 11.8m; Total assets: KD 465.9m

KUWAIT: National Real Estate Company position by reducing debt and enhancing the needs of a growing population in Cairo and its in Janzour, a suburb of Tripoli. In Iraq, the (NREC), which is presently developing proper- performance of its operating properties and suburban areas. Company operates an existing property and is ties valued at over $2 billion in the Middle East developing landmark projects. In a year, the Sultan said: “Reem Mall and Grand Heights seeking new investment opportunities in close to and North Africa region, yesterday reported its Company’s debt was reduced palpably while are significant investments that will support largest and busiest ring road in Erbil. financial and operational earnings for the first operations performed better from our existing NREC in growing and diversifying its sources of Established in 1973 and listed on Boursa half of 2019, announcing a net profit of KD 6.6 income-generating portfolio in Kuwait, Jordan, operating cash flow in the coming years.” Kuwait, National Real Estate Company (NREC) million, and an EPS of 4.9 fils. Libya and Iraq, translating into our bottom line.” In Kuwait, NREC manages the waterfront is a real estate investment, development and The company’s operating revenue stood at NREC has also progressed in the develop- destination, Souq Sharq, and the El Joan resort. property manager based in the Middle East and KD 8.5 million in H1 2019 and its EBITDA at KD ment and leasing of the landmark project, Reem In Jordan, the Company owns and operates the North Africa, presently developing assets 11.8 million. Total assets reached KD 465.9 mil- Mall, in Abu Dhabi. The project has a confirmed South Aqaba Investment Park, a 1.5 million exceeding $2 billion. The company’s portfolio lion by June 30, 2019. Total liabilities decreased tenant-mix of leading retailers in the region and square meters property dedicated for ware- comprises a mix of retail, commercial and resi- by 16.2 percent to KD 194.9 million from Q2 world. housing, factories, companies and logistics in an dential properties in the region. In addition to 2018, while loans and borrowings decreased by In Egypt, the Company’s mega-residential attractive investment climate the provides access its core real estate business, NREC is the 18.5 percent. project, Grand Heights, reached advanced to major international markets and Free Trade largest shareholder with a 22.3 percent share in NREC Vice Chairman and Chief Executive phased of development and delivery of residen- Agreements. In Libya, NREC’s Palm Residences Agility Public Warehousing Company K.S.C.P. Officer, Faisal Jamil Sultan Al-Essa, said: “NREC tial units. The project covers a total of four mil- is a residential project offering high-end facili- which is one of the top ten logistics companies Faisal Jamil Sultan Al-Essa is delivering on its strategy to strengthen its cash lion square meters and caters to the housing ties and security on the Mediterranean coastline in the world.

on adopting innovative technological developments in account and credit card KIB launches the banking sector; thereby delivering a high-quality requests. customer banking experience that is both secure and Customers can also easy to use.” adjust notifications for cred- new video Tawfeqe added that call center staff are always it cards and debit cards for Warba Bank available to answer all questions, from both KIB cus- travels, configure language call service tomers and non-customers, as well as marketing the preferences, telecommuni- announces Bank’s products and services. Additionally, he noted cation companies (Zain, KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) launched its that through this service, customers can also activate or Viva, and Ooredoo) and latest video call service, enabling customers to com- deactivate credit cards, debit cards, and SMS notifica- set/reset debit card and winners of plete a number of transactions in an innovative way by tion services. Customers can also receive information credit card PIN. communicating with a customer service representative about their IBAN number, update email details, request Tawfeqe also noted that Al-Sunbula draws via video call. bank statements via fax, bank cards and Murabaha. The this new service is easy to KIB’s latest service enables both customers and Video Call service also allows customers to redeem use. Customers can simply Othman Tawfeqe KUWAIT: Warba Bank, “the Best investment Bank” and non-customers alike to video call customer service KIB’s cash bank reward points. call 1866866, then proceed “Best Corporate Bank” in Kuwait, held its weekly representatives face-to-face on weekdays from 9am Moreover, Tawfeqe pointed out that customers can to enter the VIVR service Sunbula draw number 30 and Sunbula Kids. The draws to 4pm (except Fridays and Saturdays). On his part, also release/hold bank account requests, delivery via a link sent by SMS. Then, customers can select the announced the 8 lucky winners in the presence of rep- General Manager of the Retail Banking Department at requests from branches, or cheque book requests. This Video Call service from the main menu or from a spe- resentatives from the Ministry of Commerce and KIB, Othman Tawfeqe, said: “Our newly launched is in addition to submitting sales referrals to KIB cial menu for non-customers, or by entering the direct Industry and bank officials. service comes as part of KIB’s strategy, which focuses branches and the Sales Department, as well as bank number of the call center representative. The bank proudly announced the weekly draw num- ber 30 lucky five winners of the KD 1000 prize: Secondly, the Kirin 980, Huawei’s first com- Mohammad Rasheed Sabakh Al-Enezi, Ahmad Sudan Mate 20 X (5G): mercial 7nm AI SoC, known for its incredible Saleh Al-Dhuwaihi, Meshari Menem Monther Al- processing speeds and efficiency, which pow- Dhafeeri, Abdullah Dhuhawi Faddan Al-Dhafeeri and Huawei’s first 5G ers the phone. Basem Helal Abdullah Al-Shammari. Together, the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) is Warba Bank has added Sunbula Kids Account for capable of download speeds up to 4.6 Gbps, the first time to Sunbula draws, it’s an investment smartphone packs along with support for both NSA and SA Saving’s account with promising competitive returns Network Architecture. Actual user experi- along with monthly draws with innovative prizes chosen powerful features ence is based on telecom operators’ networks carefully for the kids. The winners of this month are: The and associated deployments. 1st winner of a trip to Dubai Parks is Reem Mohammad KUWAIT: The era of 5G connectivity is Mubarak Al-Douseri, the 2nd winner of a one year sub- almost upon us and Huawei is right in front Stunning photography with scription at Flex is Haya Naser Abdullah Al-Ajmi and with the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G), the King of powerful hardware the 3rd winner of a one year subscription in one of the 5G smartphones and the brand’s feature- Keeping in mind the photography enthu- participated clubs is Omar Ahmad Adel Al-Awadhi. packed 5G powered smartphone. While the siasts, the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) packs a display, putting it simply, the Huawei Mate 20 addition to this, the phone also supports the Al-Sunbula both account and fixed deposits are the phone by itself is a culmination of Huawei’s powerful Matrix triple camera system that is X (5G) has a lot of it. Users can enjoy a mas- Huawei 40W SuperCharge, certified by TUV perfect choices for customers who wish to save money greatest innovations, it is much more than a powered by Leica. This setup includes a sive 7.2” OLED display with FHD+ resolu- Rheinland, which can charge the phone back and achieve steady returns while at the same time have 5G powerhouse, packing in premium features combination of a 40MP wide-angle camera, tion, giving you a stunning viewing experi- up to 70 percent in just 30 minutes. On the the opportunity to win cash prizes throughout the year. and powerful hardware for a user experience a 20MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP tele- ence, be it gaming, movies or even while software end, the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) In line with the bank’s mission to develop and differenti- like no other. photo camera. Thanks to this powerful setup browsing the internet. Thanks to Huawei pushes for longer battery life with an AI- ate its offerings, Warba Bank has enhanced its Sunbula Packing powerful 5G hardware and fea- and the on-board AI, users can enjoy a stun- SuperCool, an advanced cooling solution powered battery optimizer that helps in campaign for 2019 with more cash and prizes reaching tures that cater to every user’s needs, the ning photography experience, complete from that consists of a vapor chamber and managing the power consumption of various more than KD 1 million. Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) is perfect for gaming, ultra-wide to macro photography. graphene heat pipes, the phone also man- apps in the background. Warba Bank will continue its weekly draws for 5 entertainment and productivity. ages to stay cool and maintain its perform- With this lineup of powerful hardware, winners of KD 1,000 each. What’s new in 2019 are the All-day gaming or movies ance levels even during extended periods of user-targeted features and stunning innova- “Mega Draws” which will be held every quarter to Stay connected with 5G The Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) comes intensive use. tions all rolled into one solid device, the reveal five winners, the 1st winner will get KD 100,000! Powering the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) are packed with some powerful features that can Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) proudly earns the The four winners thereafter will each get the latest Land two solid chipsets that handle connectivity provide you with a stunning gaming or even Never run out of juice slogan “King of 5G smartphones” and takes Cruiser VXR. Furthermore, the final Mega draw held in and performance. Firstly, the Balong 5000, a comfortable movie watching experience. To ensure that users can get the most out the success of the Huawei Mate 20 one step January 2020 will feature 2 more Land Cruiser VXRs! Huawei’s first multi-mode chipset that allows This is possible thanks to a stellar display of their Huawei Mate 20 X (5G), the phone further, providing users with not just a simple As for the chances for winning, each customer is eli- for unprecedented 5G connectivity across and an innovative cooling system that makes packs a large 4200mAh battery that keeps it smartphone, but one that can boldly take the gible to enter the draw against each KD 10 in the multiple networks ranging from 2G to 4G. it enjoyable over the long run. Speaking of alive even after a day full of intensive use. In first steps in today’s 5G race. Sunbula Account. Nevertheless, Sunbula Fixed Deposit investors also get chances in the Sunbula draws along higher yields. Q2 2019 tonnage fell 8 percent with high expected returns that reach up to 3.5percent Agility reports vs. Q2 2018. The decrease was the result of distributed either monthly or at maturity upon the cus- weak market conditions and lower demand tomer’s preference. Furthermore, Warba Bank is lever- across industries and geographies, along with aging on its Customer Onboarding solution, in line with 8.1% increase a return to more normal volumes following a spike in high-volume shipments a year earlier. its ambitious five-year strategy that enables non- The Air Freight market was affected by volume Warba Bank customers to request the opening of Al- in Q2 earnings declines and shifts that have resulted from US- Sunbula account in a simple electronic manner without China tariffs and import restrictions. having to visit the branch, through 5 simple steps in 5 KUWAIT: Agility, a leading global logistics Strong Ocean Freight performance was driven minutes. New customers will be able to request open- provider, yesterday reported second-quarter primarily by yield improvement, despite a 2 per- ing the account at anytime, anywhere, through the new earnings of 12.99 fils per share on net profit of cent drop in TEUs. Ocean Freight performance and unique electronic system used to implement this KD 21.6 million, an increase of 8.1 percent over was strongest in the Americas and Asia Pacific. service. Representatives will then contact the customer the same period in 2018. Q2 EBITDA grew 31.2 Contract Logistics growth continued in Q2 ALP is looking to develop new facilities that management operations in (T4), the newly to determine the appropriate time to visit the branch to percent to KD 48.6 million, and revenue with gross revenue of KD 32.8 million, a 1 per- optimize the use of its existing land bank. In dedicated Kuwait Airways terminal. In Abu get required signatures, verify the customer’s identity, increased 3.2 percent to KD 396.3 million. cent increase from the same period in 2018. Saudi Arabia, ALP has completed the develop- Dhabi, construction continues to progress on deliver his/her debit card, and activate the account. First-half earnings of 25.18 fils per share and The Middle East-Africa region, notably the ment of two of the three warehouses it is build- Reem Mall, the $1.2 billion project set to net profit of KD 41.9 million were up 7.7 per- Kuwait and Egypt markets, was the key driver ing in 2019, each with 40k SQM capacity. ALP become the new retail and leisure attraction in cent. First-half EBITDA was KD 95 million, an of growth and improved margins. Saudi Arabia is now moving ahead with the the Emirate. Reem Mall is scheduled to open in increase of 27 percent. Revenue for the first half Net revenue margins for GIL improved to development of the third warehouse. In Africa, late 2020. UPAC continues to optimize its was KD 775 million, an increase of 2.5 percent. 24.6 percent in Q2, up from 23 percent a year ALP projects are progressing well. New ware- existing real estate management platform in Burgan Bank announces Tarek Sultan, Agility Vice Chairman and earlier. During the first half of 2019, GIL EBIT- housing space at the ALP in Ghana will be Kuwait and work to expand its presence there CEO, said: “We had a good Q2 despite the DA improved 69.5 percent on a reported basis, delivered soon. More space in other locations and elsewhere in the region. winners of Yawmi draw tough environment we operate in. GIL report- taking into account the impact of IFRS 16 (it will be added towards the end of 2019. GCS, Agility’s customs modernization com- ed very good results and continues to imple- remained at the same level after excluding the Tristar, a fully integrated liquid logistics pany, posted revenue growth of 12 percent, KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the ment its strategy to drive operational efficien- IFRS 16 impact). Revenue decreased 1.9 per- company, posted 23.2 percent revenue growth driven by increased trade activity in Kuwait, in names of the daily draw winners of its Yawmi account cy. Agility’s Infrastructure companies per- cent on a reported basis (or increased 2.1 per- in the second quarter, driven by increases in addition to new service offerings. GCS contin- draw, each taking home a cash-prize of KD 5,000. formed well, and key initiatives in each busi- cent on a constant-currency basis). GIL net road transport and warehousing operations ues implementing initiatives to drive efficiency The lucky winners are: ness unit are moving ahead according to plan.” revenue improved 3.1 percent in the first half. from new contract wins from new and existing and improve profitability. 1. Saud Abdulrahman Al-Samakah GIL is focusing on accelerating the roll-out customers, in addition to the shipping business. 2. Imran Muzamil Naqvi Agility Global Integrated Logistics of its global operating platform, as part of a Tristar continues to execute and to look for Recap of Agility Q2 performance 3. Mohammad Al-Wazzan Global Integrated Logistics achieved EBIT- broader digital transformation strategy that is opportunities to unlock additional value for its l Agility’s net profit increased 8.1 percent 4. Rawan Salah Mahmoud Nabtiti DA growth of 7 percent (excluding IFRS 16 intended to drive improved customer experi- shareholders. to KD 21.6 million in the 2nd quarter of 2019. 5. Mona Abbas Hamzah Ibrahim impact) despite higher operating expenses ence, more effective supplier management, National Aviation Services (NAS) grew EPS was 12.99 fils vs. 12.02 fils a year earlier. In addition to the daily draw, Burgan Bank also offers a related to new facilities and higher staff costs enhanced business efficiency and productivity, revenue 1.6 percent in the second quarter. l Agility’s 2nd quarter EBITDA increased quarterly draw with more chances to win higher rewards, for operations and commercial requirements. and better data for decision-making. NAS’s performance this quarter was affected 31.2 percent to KD 48.6 million. offering the chance to one lucky customer to win KD GIL’s Q2 reported EBITDA was KD 15.9 mil- by airspace closures and a decrease in com- l Agility’s 2nd quarter revenue rose 3.2 per- 125,000 every three months. The Yawmi Account offers lion, or KD 10 million excluding IFRS 16 vs. KD Agility’s infrastructure companies mercial flights in some countries where it oper- cent, to KD 396.3 million and net revenue daily and quarterly draws, wherein the quarterly draw 9.3 million in Q2 2018. Agility’s Infrastructure group EBITDA rose ates. However, NAS anticipates a rebound increased 3.9 percent. requires customers to maintain a minimum amount of KD GIL Q2 gross revenue fell 2.6 percent to 18.2 percent to KD 32.8 million in the second towards the end of the year. l GIL 2nd quarter revenue declined 2.6 500 in their account for two months prior to the draw KD 281.9 million, mainly due to currency fluc- quarter. Revenue grew 21.2 percent to KD At United Projects for Aviation Services percent to KD 281.9 million, or increased 1 per- 118.2 million. First-half EBITDA grew 14.7 per- date. Additionally, every KD 10 in the account will entitle tuations. On a constant-currency basis, GIL Company (UPAC), a leading real estate and cent on a constant currency. revenue grew 1 percent. Net revenue increased cent, and revenue increased 15 percent. All facilities management company operating in l Infrastructure’s 2nd quarter revenue grew customers to one chance of winning. If the account bal- 4 percent to KD 69.4 million, mainly as a result entities in the group contributed to this per- Kuwait, revenue fell 2.3 percent in the second 21.2 percent to KD 118.2 million. ance is KD 500 and above, the account holder will be of better Ocean Freight and Contract Logistics formance. quarter. The decline was largely the result of a l Agility enjoys a healthy balance sheet qualified for both the quarterly and daily draws. Burgan performance. The global air freight market Agility Logistics Parks (ALP) reported 15 shift in passenger traffic to dedicated airline with KD 2 billion in assets. Net debt excluding Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account continued to be under pressure. GIL Air percent revenue growth for the quarter. terminals, along with a reduction in the number IFRS 16 impact was KD 203.5 million as of and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances Freight net revenue decreased 1.8 percent as Revenue from facilities completed in late 2018 of flights operating out of Sheikh Saad June 30, 2019. Reported operating cash flow of becoming a winner. The higher the level of the deposit, the result of lower job volume and tonnage, contributed to this growth, as did yield Terminal. was KD 41 million for the first half of 2019, an the higher the likelihood to win. although the decrease was offset in part by improvement at existing facilities. In Kuwait, Earlier this year, UPAC began car park increase of 40.3 percent. Established 1961 15 Health & Science Thursday, August 15, 2019 Greta Thunberg: Climate debate is slowly shifting ‘I feel like people are taking this more urgently’

PLYMOUTH: A year after starting a school strike that underwater turbines that allow it to operate without pro- an impact.” For her, the most powerful part of the past made her a figurehead for the fight against global warm- ducing carbon emissions. year has been watching the children around the world join ing, Greta Thunberg believes her uncompromising mes- Thunberg — who has never sailed before this week — her school strike. “To be a part of such a big and strong sage is getting through — even if action remains thin on will be onboard for two weeks, along with her father movement, the Fridays for Future movement — just to see the ground. The 16-year-old Swede, who sets sail for New Svante and a filmmaker. “It just shows how impossible it is all the children, the young people around the world, all the York on Wednesday to deliver her demand for climate to live sustainably today — it’s absurd that you have to sail millions of young people who are rising up,” she said. action to North America, has been a target of abuse but across the Atlantic Ocean like this to get there with no Her plaits, battered trainers and sweatshirt make sees that as proof she is having an effect. emissions,” Thunberg said in the English port of Plymouth. Thunberg look younger than she is, but that doesn’t stop “The debate is shifting. I feel like people are taking this “But I feel like since I’m one of the few people in the world her critics throwing abuse at the teenager for speaking out. more urgently, people are starting to be more aware, slow- who can actually do this I want to take that opportunity to “I just ignore it because it’s also a good sign that they are ly,” she told AFP on board the 60-foot (18-metre) yacht do it.” She has no plans to meet with President Donald actually trying to make us quiet, that means that we are taking her across the Atlantic. However, she admits this still Trump in the US, saying: “I can’t say anything that he having an impact, and they see us as a threat,” she says. needs to be matched by action, warning: “When you see hasn’t already heard.” After New York, where she also plans to take part in the big picture almost nothing positive is happening.” climate demonstrations, she will travel to Canada and Since she made headlines by skipping school to protest ‘They see us as a threat’ Mexico, before heading to another UN meeting in Chile in outside the Swedish parliament in August last year, In the past year, Thunberg has addressed the World December. Her goal is to ensure “that the climate crisis is Thunberg has met political and business leaders across Economic Forum in Davos, UN talks in Poland, been inter- being taken as seriously as it should be taken and that Europe. viewed for Vogue magazine and featured on the new people really start to understand”. “Then together we cre- Now she is heading to the United States to attend a album of band The 1975. She has received several awards ate an international opinion, and movement so that people UN climate summit in New York in September — and as and been nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Thunberg stand together and put pressure on the people in power,” she refuses to fly, she’s been offered a lift on a racing is sceptical about some of those who ask her to appear at she said. Thunberg does not like talking about herself, say- yacht. Malizia II will be skippered by Pierre Casiraghi, a their events. ing she is just an activist, but acknowledges that having member of the Monaco royal family, and German sailor “Many people see this an opportunity to invite us, children speak out has a special power.”We tell it like it is, PLYMOUTH: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg poses for Boris Herrmann. The facilities are basic — the toilet is a school striking people, to clear their name in a way,” she we don’t care to be polite. And we make people feel very a photograph during an interview with AFP onboard the Malizia bucket, there is no kitchen — but it has solar panels and said. But she adds: “I do this because it is actually having guilty.” — AFP II sailing yacht at the Mayflower Marina. — AFP

Caution: Remove false teeth Conservationists before surgery urge ‘tighter wildlife laws’ PARIS: This is the story of a 72-year old retired elec- trician in Britain — let’s call him “Jack” — who forgot GENEVA: Countries should be strengthening to tell his surgeon that he wore dentures. Anyone read- their laws protecting endangered species, not ing this account of what happened next is unlikely to weakening them, international conservationists make the same mistake. Six days after having a benign said Tuesday, after US President Donald lump removed from his belly while under general anes- Trump’s administration announced plans to alter thesia, Jack turned up at the emergency room. the country’s Endangered Species Act. Amid He complained of blood in the mouth, difficulty growing global alarm over the accelerating pace swallowing, and pain so intense that he couldn’t eat of species extinction, leading figures from the solid food. Noting a history of lung problems, doctors Convention on International Trade in assumed he had a respiratory infection, according to Endangered Species (CITES) called for BMJ Case Reports, a medical journal that describes stronger protections of animals and plants medically noteworthy cases. They prescribed mouth- under threat. wash and antibiotics, and sent him on his way. But two “Parties are all encouraged to strengthen days later, Jack showed up again with worsened symp- their wildlife laws. We need more tight wildlife toms — he couldn’t even swallow his meds. laws, not to weaken them,” Juan Carlos Vasquez, This file aerial photo taken on March 13, 2019 shows the Arado tribal camp threatened by defor- “He was also feeling short of breath, particularly head of legal affairs and compliance regulatory estation in Arara indigenous land, located beside the Transamazonica highway (BR-230), between when lying down, and had taken to sleeping upright,” services at CITES, told reporters in Geneva. His the cities of Uruara and Medicilandia, in Para state. — AFP Harriet Cunniffe, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at comment came after the Trump administration Universities Hospitals NHS in Yarmouth noted. The ER on Monday announced changes to the doctor suspected a type of pneumonia often caused by Endangered Species Act, which critics warned ‘Callous indifference’ could dramatically weaken the legislation cred- “Scott Morrison has done the exact opposite of what inhaling food or stomach acid into the lungs, and Ardern backs Pacific ited with saving the grey wolf, bald eagle and the leaders of the Pacific have asked Australia to do and admitted Jack into hospital. That’s when a grizzly bear. placed Pacific communities on the frontlines of the climate nasendoscopy — a fibre optic camera on the end of a on climate, puts crisis in an even more precarious position,” he said. tube inserted through a nostril — revealed a large, Neither Vasquez nor CITES Secretary “Morrison’s callous indifference to the plight of Pacific semicircular object covering his vocal cords. General Ivonne Higuero wanted to comment on heat on Australia islanders suggests he has no problem sacrificing entire the specific impact of the changes, saying they nations for the short-term profits of his backers in the coal ‘Zebra retreat’ had yet to see the details and that any analysis WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda industry.” “On explaining this to the patient, he revealed that was “premature”. CITES, which regulates inter- Ardern yesterday backed Pacific leaders’ calls for urgent Morrison has staunchly defended Australia’s climate his dentures had been lost during his general surgery national trade in over 35,000 species of plants action on climate change, ramping up pressure on record, insisting the country will meet its 2030 emissions eight days earlier, and consisted of a metallic roof plate and animals, has a compliance mechanism that Australia to overhaul its stance on global warming. reduction target set under the 2015 Paris Agreement. He and three front teeth,” Cunniffe said. The denture was allows it to push through sanctions on countries Australia’s Scott Morrison arrived at a meeting of Pacific also announced an A$500 million ($340 million) package removed surgically, and Jack was discharged six days that fail to follow the rules. island leaders in Tuvalu with Canberra’s regional leader- this week, with funding drawn from Australia’s existing aid later. Such incidents are less rare than one might think. Higuero stressed that the announced US ship in question amid intense scrutiny of his government’s changes may not fall under the CITES conven- budget, to boost climate resilience in the Pacific. Australia In one 15-year period in Britain, 83 cases of “aspirated climate change policies. and New Zealand reportedly persuaded PIF leaders to tion, which only covers endangered species dentures” were identified, according to the journal. Is Wealthy Australia has long dominated the Pacific weaken the language in their communique four years ago subjected to international trade, or listed as so this end of Jack’s story? Not by a long shot. Islands Forum (PIF), an 18-member grouping consisting ahead of the landmark Paris climate talks. threatened that trade is banned or very closely Bouts of bleeding brought him back to the hospital mainly of small atoll nations dotted around the vast However, the pre-summit rhetoric from island leaders controlled. If the changes do impact any of the a week later, and then 10 days after that. His fifth trip Pacific ocean. But its role is in doubt after leaders of the this year indicates they are unlikely to cave in to pressure species on the most-endangered lists, “of to the emergency room revealed blistering in his throat low-lying nations questioned in recent days whether from Canberra. Australia will also be without a key ally on course the convention would have to take some surrounded by “wound tissue”, which was cauterized Australia’s climate-sceptic leader is committed to curb- the climate front in New Zealand, which is now led by the steps,” she told reporters. She said there was ing a problem they see as a fundamental threat to their progressive Jacinda Ardern rather than her conservative to prevent further bleeding. But by that time Jack currently widespread concern “about what is survival. predecessor John Key. “To hold a forum on an island needed a transfusion. On his sixth — and last — slog happening with the extinction of species”, fol- Ardern joined the chorus after touching down at the where climate change is not a theoretical proposition but to the hospital, the doctors discovered a torn artery lowing a UN report in May indicating that one PIF meeting, further isolating coal-producing Australia. is very much a reality and a visual reality I think will be and performed another round of emergency surgery. million species are rapidly being pushed to the “New Zealand will do its bit and we have an expectation quite pointed,” she told reporters. Jack, it seems, simply forgot to tell his surgeon at the brink of extinction. that everyone else will as well... Australia has to answer to Oxfam Australia accused Australian officials of refusing outset about his dental plate. She was speaking ahead of a meeting of the the Pacific, that’s a matter for them,” she told reporters. to negotiate with PIF leaders as a whole, saying they were As for the doctors, there may be a couple of 183 parties to CITES, scheduled to kick off in Greenpeace campaigner Joseph Moeono-Kolio said pushing for bilateral meetings as part of a “divide and explanations as to why it took them so long to figure Geneva on Saturday. The dangers of illegal Morrison’s government appeared intent on watering down rule” strategy. Oxfam climate adviser Simon Bradshaw things out. One, called “anchoring,” occurs with a trade and the plight of Africa’s rhino, elephants the summit’s communique, due to be issued today, which is said Australia was “working actively against the top priori- physician misinterprets data to fit into an initial diag- set to demand urgent action on climate change. “Australia and giraffes were among a long line of issues to ties of Pacific Island countries” by trying to dilute the nosis that was erroneous, Cunniffe said. The other, is poised to become the pariah of the Pacific,” he said. be discussed. Governments have submitted 56 message their communique sent to the world. “Moving known as “zebra retreat”, is when “a diagnostician Moeono-Kolio said among the measures deemed unac- beyond coal and limiting warming to 1.5C have been the new proposals to change the levels of protec- retreats from making a correct diagnosis because of ceptable by Australians were calls to ban new coal mines most consistent and urgent requests of Pacific island tion that the convention provides for various self-doubt about entertaining such a remote or and set a timeframe for phasing out use of the carbon- countries for many years,” he said. “For the Pacific, these species of wild animals and plants. — AFP emitting fuel. commitments are a matter of survival.” — AFP unusual diagnosis.” — AFP

Neanderthals — who lived from around 400,000 to Modern cave man 40,000 years ago — were “very intelligent”, Camia says. “He discovered fire. He was able to adapt to all weather.” offers ‘Neanderthal’ “He was a nomad who moved around a lot, lived in caves, but also knew how to build small shelters.” For a survival courses starting price of 80-100 euros ($90-112) per person per night, the basic course includes accommodation in a CHIANALE: Guido Camia can show you how to light bivouac shelter. Camia says he also offers sessions of fires using just a flintstone, survive on a diet of insects two or three hours to families and school groups. “I and build a forest shelter. The 37-year-old, who origi- show them how Neanderthals lived, what they ate, how nally trained to be a patisserie chef, now makes a living they lit fires, used a spear. I show them how to use the offering “Neanderthal” survival courses in the Italian basic equipment to cook.” For customers who opt for Alps. On one of his weekend trips, you can watch him the beginners’ survival course, “I provide them with climb rocks and fish from streams barefoot, dressed in enough to get by with.” animal skins, carrying a spear and looking like some- But more advanced customers have to find their own thing out of “The Flintstones”. But Camia’s outdoor sur- food over a number of days. “That makes people under- vival courses also come with an official stamp of stand that the brain uses the most energy. And even very approval. simple calculations become difficult after three days “For the past five years, my courses have been super- without food,” he smiles. Camia insists he is no “collap- vised by Italy’s International Survival Federation sology theorist” who believes in the pending collapse of (FISSS),” he told AFP. Camia says he also gives courses industrial civilization. “But we have to know how to adapt Guido Camia dressed as a Neanderthal Cave man tries to catch a fish in a river in Chianale, in the in more traditional attire, but his “passion for the pale- to the changing climate, to other types of food and to be Italian Alps, near the French border. — AFP olithic” gave him the idea of a Neanderthal sidekick. able to change our ways of life,” he says. — AFP 16 Health & Science Thursday, August 15, 2019 Growing pains for pot industry in famed California farm lands LOMPOC: A bitter war has erupted between pot growers this is all happening very quickly,” said Kathy Joseph, and vintners in one of California’s famed wine regions owner of Fiddlehead Cellars and Fiddlestix Vineyard. “No where cannabis farms are proliferating, leading critics to one anticipated the visual impact, nobody in the region denounce a “green rush” they fear could prove disastrous. had ever experienced cannabis in this quantity. “In many The battle, which began shaping up after California voters ways, cannabis is ruling the roost right now.” legalized recreational marijuana in November 2016, has Vintners, avocado growers and other farmers say they pitted wine growers in Santa Barbara County and resi- are having to adapt their farming practices — including by dents of the picturesque beach town of Carpinteria against using organic pesticides often less effective than conven- a new neighbor they say literally stinks and threatens their tional ones — lest the newcomers sue them for inadver- livelihood and way of life. tently contaminating their high-value crop. Wine growers “I think this is the single greatest threat to the wine add that they, in turn, fear that their grapes could be con- industry that I have seen in my 25 years here,” said taminated by particles from pot plants. Stephen Janes, general manager at Pence Vineyards, locat- “This has turned into a living nightmare,” said Joseph, ed in the Santa Rita Hills. At issue is the vast expansion of whose neighbor has filed a complaint against her over fears the cannabis market in the county in the last two years, that the pesticides she uses on her vines may have contami- thanks partly to loose licensing regulations at the local lev- nated his cannabis. “I have committed over 40 years to el that opened the door to a rush of growers keen to cash making wine ... and as wine growers we operate under strict in on the lucrative crop. controls,” she added. “But this year, I am probably going to Almost overnight, critics say, millions of flowering lose my crop of Chardonnay, worth $50,000, because I had cannabis plants popped up in the Santa Ynez and Santa to switch to a pesticide that was not as effective for Maria valleys, a vast wine-growing area made famous mildew.” The cannabis association that represents pot internationally by the movie “Sideways.” Further south in farmers in the area did not respond to AFP requests for Carpinteria, greenhouses once used to grow flowers and comment. Members of the Santa Barbara County Board of located near residential areas have been repurposed to Supervisors, which is responsible for setting policies on grow weed, much to the chagrin of some local residents cannabis, acknowledged that the county should have antici- irate over the pungent and pervasive odor that emanates pated the unintended consequences of pot farms on exist- CARPINTERIA: Maureen Claffey talks about problems with the new cannabis growing operation on the other side from the plants. “I have to wear a mask now when I go out ing agriculture and residents in the region. of her fence which emits a strong odor of marijuana while walking through the family avocado trees with her to my garden, and my grandchildren won’t visit anymore daughter Maisie, 7, in the small seaside community of Carpinteria near Santa Barbara, California. — AFP because of the smell,” sighed Joan Esposito, who has lived ‘Community supports cannabis’ in the town for 36 years. In the Santa Rita Hills area, known “I am very concerned about the impacts of outdoor for its Pinot Noir production and located about two hours cannabis operations concentrated in the Santa Ynez Valley Farms in Carpinteria and president of the local Cannabis specifically,” he said. He also dismissed complaints about north of Los Angeles, white plastic hoop houses for pot and am working vigorously to protect existing vineyards Association for Responsible Producers, said pot growers odor, saying that while there may still be an occasional whiff growing extend in places as far as the eye can see and sit and agricultural operations from the negative impacts of this have gone out of their way to be good neighbors, installing of the skunk-like smell, it was hardly overwhelming. “I think near vineyards and avocado farms. new industry,” said board member Joan Hartmann. She said odor control systems and injecting much-needed tax dollars that many of the people who talk about the odor don’t like it the county had limited cannabis cultivation in the region to into the community. “The community supports cannabis and because it reminds them that there is cannabis growing ‘Cannabis ruling the roost’ under 2,000 acres and was exploring ways to defuse the the average individual walking down the street either there and they think cannabis is a moral failing and society “It’s not like any farming neighbor we’ve ever had, and escalating conflict. Graham Farrar, CEO of Glass House doesn’t care, supports cannabis in concept or the farmers would be better without it,” Farrar said. — AFP

infection would have enormous public health and eco- infected, making them more susceptible to other STDs three groups. Two groups of 15 each received slightly dif- Chlamydia vaccine nomic impact,” commented University of South Carolina such as gonorrhoea and HIV. ferent versions of the new vaccine, and the third group professor Toni Darville, who did not contribute to the was given placebos in the form of an inactive saline solu- research. “Although clinical vaccine testing for chlamydia Phase II trials ahead tion. Participants were injected on the first day of the trial, shows promise in is in its infancy, this trial suggests optimism for the “Given the impact of the chlamydia epidemic on and then again on days 28 and 112, with boosters on days future.” Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex, chlamydia women’s health, infant health through transmission, and 126 and 140. All of the vaccinated women — 30 out of 30 its early tests is the most common bacterial STD in the world, infecting increased susceptibility to other sexual diseases, a global — showed an immune response. None of the women in some 130 million people each year, according to the unmet medical need exists for a vaccine,” co-author Peter the placebo group had such a response. World Health Organization. Andersen, a professor in the Department of Infectious One of the vaccine variants, however, produced nearly PARIS: The first chlamydia vaccine encouragingly trig- For one in every six women afflicted, the bacteria Disease Immunology at Imperial College London, said in a six times more antibodies than the other, and has been gered an immune response in women during preliminary causes a painful condition known as pelvic inflammatory statement. Up to now, national treatment programs have chosen for the next round of testing. If the “phase two” clinical trials and was found to be safe, researchers said disease, which can in some cases lead to infertility. mostly failed to curb the global epidemic, despite the trials are successful, scientists would then set up a final Tuesday. Further trials, starting later this year, will show Infection during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse availability of cheap and easy-to-use diagnostic tests, and round of tests. “Although many more years of research are whether the vaccine actually protects against the sexually outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm effective antibiotic treatment. In the trials — designed to needed before this vaccine is marketed, we are planning transmitted disease (STD), they reported in The Lancet, a birth. Globally, 4.2 percent of women 15 to 49, and 2.7 check safety and the capacity to activate the immune sys- the next stage of research,” said lead author Helene Juel, a medical journal. “A vaccine for prevention of Chlamydia percent of men in the same age bracket, are thought to be tem — researchers separated 35 healthy women into scientist at the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. — AFP 17

Thursday, August 15, 2019

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Stars Thursday, August 15, 2019

CROSSWORD 2281 STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22)

This is a great time to become friends with your co-workers as you work You may find that both your personal growth and your career depend on together. A period emphasizing an enhanced sense of personal possibility has just how you can handle the very sensitive psychological material that may be coming up begun. This is a time of tremendous psychological growth, which can lead to personal now. You will benefit from analytical insights, getting to the heart of things: penetrating. success if you follow through with it. You might also find that you will put on the You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others. This pounds if you are not careful. Everything points to your taking the initiative. In the is a time of much energy and drive, perfect for beginning a new project or taking care working world you will find yourself coming up with all sorts of productive ideas. This of business—very physical too. You may be asked for your advice and counsel could mean a new advertising strategy or new sales approach. At home or in your own regarding some very personal and emotional issues. artistic expression it could just be the touch that gains you recognition.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You may find yourself having emotional differences with someone. Those around you, or the situation you find yourself in, may not feel right to you—you could An announcement at work this morning may cause you to want to review be challenged. However, this is of short duration; you are in the mood to seek the right parts of your education that you have not had a chance to put to good use. Consider solution for all. Your instinctive thinking at this time is toward becoming focused and your options and put your good sense to use. If you are very discreet, you can restore completing unfinished business. You have a love affair going with the mind and you a difficult situation at work to a state of harmony. A new professional assignment value the intelligent use of words, ideas, thoughts and such. This afternoon you may appeals to you this afternoon. You may feel that you will be able to make those impor- enjoy games of trivia. tant strides forward as you take on this new assignment. If you are not as technically skilled as you would like, this is a good time to invest in a class or the equipment you need. Someone you respect will be able to advise you.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This morning you may find you are at odds with others regarding mat- ters of convention. If you do not become carried away by other people’s foolish ideas Secrets, taboos and mysteries appeal now. Learning the process of find- you will be able to insert some positive, commonsense alternatives to projects that ing solutions holds your interest. This may mean that some numbers did ACROSS DOWN may need salvaging. Connecting with others through an attitude of teamwork will not add up properly, and you are usually able to detect the missing link. Someone may 1. A toothed wheel that engages another 1. Disability of walking due to crippling of the make for profitable results. Your enthusiasm could become popular, particularly if have lost something important or a similar problem has your attention—don’t lose toothed mechanism in order to change legs or feet. you point out the good points that others have created and how they will fit with the track of your goal for today. Your instinctive orientation at this time is toward getting group. This makes you ideal as a teacher or group leader, especially with young peo- the speed or direction of transmitted 2. An organic compound that contains a down to basics and eliminating any misunderstanding or mistake. You uncover ple. Know when to pull back and take the back seat, so to speak. You will feel real answers from the most unexpected places. You could receive unexpected help today motion. hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom which in turn is doubly bonded to harmony this afternoon from those around you. or support from others. 5. Brought together into a group or crowd. another carbon atom. 12. A Chadic language spoken in northern 3. God of fire. Nigeria. 4. Echo repeatedly, echo again and again. 15. English prelate noted for his pessimistic 5. Goddess of criminal rashness and its pun- Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) sermons and articles (1860-1954). ishment. 16. A region in central Italy. 6. Motivation based on ideas of right and You have blind courage and sheer guts—a self-starter. Innovations— New forms of creativity and self-expression seem to open up new avenues 17. A rapid bustling commotion. wrong. new and possibly unconventional approaches to being productive or making mon- for accomplishments. Increased confidence and a more outgoing manner may be the 18. A skilled worker who coins or stamps 7. A very poisonous metallic element that has ey—are in order today. Independence is a very good thing. We are all connected, but keys that open many a new door in your career. This is certainly a time during which money. three allotropic forms. we also need to be in control of our own goals and this is something you strongly your career or life path undergoes a certain amount of change and transformation. You 20. A state in New England. 8. Disposed of as useless. work to achieve. Listen to your own inner guidance particularly if you have the sense find yourself firmly against sidetracks: the unessential. You can really home in on how 9. The main city of ancient Phoenicia. of being pulled into investments or other projects that seem to distract you from your 21. Polish filmmaker (born in 1929). to solve problems and get where you want to go. Your support system that consists of 10. Half the width of an em. path of success. Your response to life is becoming more original and innovative. You family and friends becomes more secure at this time. 23. A folded part (as a fold of skin or muscle). 11. Common black-and-gray Eurasian bird look to home and family for support and encouragement. 24. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. noted for thievery. 26. Any of the short curved hairs that grow 12. The seventh month of the Moslem calen- from the edges of the eyelids. dar. Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 27. A member of a North American people 13. The probability of a specified outcome. Leo (July 23-August 22) formerly living in the Colorado river val- 14. The Hebrew patriarch who saved himself There is a project due at work today and you enjoy being able to concen- and his family and the animals by build- trate on it. There are no interruptions and if you wish, others are ready to lend a helping ley in Arizona. This is a great time to be working in group or team situations. 30. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB ing an ark in which they survived 40 hand. A number of new goals make a lot of sense to you and you work to create greater days and 40 nights of rain. Discovering what you truly believe in—fighting for it, even—is a high personal priority success. Feeling successful and prosperous is the first step toward becoming those gun. 19. Tropical American aroid having edible now. Religion, law, politics, travel and higher education are some of the areas where things. Picture yourself living the life you want to lead and you will be very pleased at 31. Poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected this takes place. This is a time of testing your limits to see how far you can go. Learning the outcome. A family member, perhaps a child, wants to share some quality time with tubers that are cooked and eaten like what makes people tick is exciting and enlightening psychological information. There grain products. yams or potatoes. you this afternoon. Later this evening you may meet an old friend for dinner. If you have 34. The compass point that is one point east is an emphasis on close relationships and a preoccupation with ideas of fairness and been overdoing it lately, this evening may be a good time to relax. 22. American dramatist (1928- ). harmony that are part and parcel of the mental cycle you have just begun. (clockwise) of due north. 25. Fallow deer. 37. The seat within a bishop's diocese where 28. Having help. his cathedral is located adv. 29. Draw in by breathing. 38. A state in the Rocky Mountains. 32. A net or mesh foundation for lace. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 39. United States writer (born in Poland) who 33. United States writer of children's books wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957). (1904-1991). Others will follow your lead today. Obtaining and exchanging information 35. English theoretical physicist who applied This is a period of increased mental activity and sensitive communication takes on more emotional importance for you now. You could come up with plenty of 42. Expel, as of gases and odors. relativity theory to quantum mechanics 44. A unit of pressure. with others. Intellectualism, the exchange of ideas and the idea of being smart as a fox new ideas for making the work you are doing run as smoothly as possible. Your and predicted the existence of antimat- are the things that have a special appeal and importance at this time. You are most instinctive orientation now is toward getting down to business and accomplishing your 45. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that ter and the positron (1902-1984). persuasive with others and eloquent in making yourself understood. You should be goals for the day. The power of organization on a social scale-business, politics and was responsible for research into atomic 36. Material consisting of seed coverings and able to get your ideas across with ease. The makings for a bright and witty day are at such-seems to take on a larger-than-life energy, as you enter into a new cycle. It’s as if energy and its peacetime uses in the small pieces of stem or leaves that have hand. Your communication skills are at a high-water mark. New understandings of ambition and authority are answers in themselves, rather than only a means to an ideal United States. been separated from the seeds. those around you bring about a special time of enjoyment. objective. 47. According to the Old Testament he was a 40. A region of Malaysia in northeastern pagan king of Israel and husband of Borneo. Jezebel (9th century BC). 41. (Mexican) Ground beef and chili peppers Wordsearch Puzzle Sunday’s Solution or chili powder often with tomatoes and 49. A constellation in the southern hemi- kidney beans. sphere near Telescopium and Norma. 43. Type genus of the Majidae. 50. The 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 46. System of measurement based on cen- 52. 1/10 gram. timeters and grams and seconds. 53. Of or relating to or being a speech sound 48. A soft silvery metallic element of the that is articulated using both lips. alkali earth group. 55. The United Nations agency concerned 51. A port in northwestern Israel on the Bay with atomic energy. of Acre. 56. A river that rises in central Germany and 54. A rule made by a local authority to regu- flows north to join the Elbe River. late its own affairs. 57. (informal) Of the highest quality. 58. Noisy talk. 60. A firearm that is held and fired with one 59. Eurasian perennial bulbous herbs. hand. 62. The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet. 61. Type genus of the Alaudidae. 64. A young woman. 63. Made from goats' milk. 69. The dialect of Malay used as the national 65. Supporting yourself on your knees. language of the Republic of Indonesia or 66. A subsidiary proposition that is assumed of Malaysia. to be true in order to prove another 74. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- proposition. cially in Turkey). 67. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on 75. Russian writer of stories and novels and a skewer usually with vegetables. 68. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan plays (1818-1883). River. 78. A master's degree in business. 70. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- 79. A doctor's degree in theology. cially in Turkey). 80. A meter that shows mileage traversed. 71. A pilgrimage to Mecca. 81. An adult male person (as opposed to a 72. A person who is of equal standing with woman). another in a group. 82. A pilgrimage to Mecca. 73. The basic unit of money in Peru. 83. A substance derived from amygdalin. 76. Fish eggs or egg-filled ovary. 84. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 77. The local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England. from aba cloth.

Sunday’s Solution

Daily Sudoku Sunday’s Solution Established 1961 Lifestyle

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

Water flows from the Soaring Teapot sculpture in Temple City, California on August 13, 2019. China is the world’s largest producer of tea, another item among a number of products expected to get hit after the US slaps $300 billion of tariffs on Chinese imports in September. — AFP

op star Miley Cyrus and her husband actor PLiam Hemsworth have agreed to separate after less than a year of marriage, People magazine has reported. “Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time. Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and their careers. They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals,” a repre- sentative for Cyrus was quoted as telling People. Cyrus’s management team did not immediately reply to AFP requests for confirmation. People said that rumors of a split between the 26-year-old singer and her Australian husband, who is 29, began a day earlier when Cyrus-who has been ranked as one of the world’s most power- ful celebrities-posted a photo of herself on Instagram not wearing a wedding ring. The couple Photos show android robot at Kodaiji temple in Kyoto. — AFP photos have had a long and at times stormy relationship. They met in 2009 while filming the romantic drama 400-year-old temple in Japan is attempting to hot- between the Zen temple and renowned robotics professor kinds of stress, but the goal hasn’t really changed for over “The Last Song.” In 2012 they were engaged, but wire interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest it Hiroshi Ishiguro at Osaka University, the humanoid-called 2,000 years.” ended the engagement the following year. Abelieves will change the face of the religion-despite Mindar-teaches about compassion and of the dangers of A recent Osaka University survey showed a wide range In 2016, they were engaged again. And in critics comparing the android to “Frankenstein’s monster.” desire, anger and ego. “You cling to a sense of selfish of feedback from those who have seen the android at December 2018 they married in a private ceremo- The android Kannon, based on the Buddhist deity of mer- ego,” it warns worshippers. “Worldly desires are nothing work, with many expressing surprise at how “human” it ny at their home in Nashville, Tennessee, only a cy, preaches sermons at Kodaiji temple in Kyoto, and its other than a mind lost at sea.” looked. “I felt a warmth you wouldn’t feel from a regular month after losing their California home in a wild- human colleagues predict that with artificial intelligence it machine,” said one of those polled. “At first it felt a little fire. But in an interview for Elle magazine’s current No ‘fuddy-duddy’ priest could one day acquire unlimited wisdom. “This robot will unnatural, but the android was easy to follow,” replied issue, Cyrus said that she didn’t like the idea of never die, it will just keep updating itself and evolving,” With religion’s influence on daily life flat-lining in another temple-goer. “It made me think deeply about right being called “wife,” which she said was “confus- priest Tensho Goto told AFP. “That’s the beauty of a robot. Japan, Goto hopes Kodaiji’s robot priest will be able to and wrong.” Others were less convinced, some insisting ing.” She said she did not “fit into a stereotypical It can store knowledge forever and limitlessly. reach younger generations in a way traditional monks the robot was too “fake”. “The sermon felt uncomfortable,” wife role” and that she was “very sexually attract- “With AI we hope it will grow in wisdom to help people can’t. “Young people probably think a temple is a place for complained one worshipper. “The robot’s expressions felt ed to women.” Cyrus reportedly declared as a overcome even the most difficult troubles. It’s changing funerals or weddings,” he said, trying to explain the dis- too engineered.” young teen that she was “pansexual.” Buddhism,” added Goto. The adult-sized robot began connect with religion. “It might be difficult to relate to fud- The daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ service earlier this year and is able to move its torso, arms dy-duddy priests like me, but hopefully the robot is a fun and of actress/producer Tish Cyrus, Miley has had and head. But only its hands, face and shoulders are cov- way to bridge that gap. We want people to see the robot Kodaiji temple has also faced criticism-mostly from for- a huge profile in the entertainment world. She ered in silicone to replicate human skin. Clasping its hands and think about the essence of Buddhism.” Goto insisted, eigners-for tampering with the sanctity of religion. played in the Disney series “Hannah Montana,” together in prayer and speaking in soothing tones, the rest however, that Mindar was no gimmick to boost income “Westerners have been the most upset by the robot,” said repeatedly hosted “Saturday Night Live” and of the droid’s mechanical parts are clearly visible. from tourists. Goto, noting largely positive feedback from Japanese visi- served as a coach on the television singing compe- Wiring and blinking lights fill the cranial cavity of its “This robot teaches us ways to overcome pain,” he tors. “It could be the influence of the Bible, but Westerners tition “The Voice.” —AFP open-top head and snake around its gender-neutral, alu- said. “It is here to save anyone who seeks help.” The pious have compared it to Frankenstein’s monster,” he added. minum body. A tiny video camera installed in the left eye droid delivers sermons from the Heart Sutras in Japanese, “Japanese people don’t possess any prejudices against completes an eerie, cyborg-like frame seemingly lifted with translations in English and Chinese projected onto a robots. We were brought up on comics where robots are straight out of a dystopian Hollywood sci-fi thriller. screen for foreign visitors. “The goal of Buddhism is to our friends. Westerners think differently.” Developed at a cost of almost $1m in a joint project ease suffering,” said Goto. “Modern society brings other Goto denies accusations that Kodaiji, recently visited by French President Emmanuel Macron, is guilty of sacri- lege. “Obviously a machine doesn’t have a soul,” he said. “But Buddhist faith isn’t about believing in God. It’s about following Buddha’s path, so it doesn’t matter whether it is represented by a machine, a scrap of iron or a tree.” The temple insists the deity of mercy is able to transform itself at will and that an android is merely the latest incarnation. “Artificial intelligence has developed to such an extent we thought it logical for the Buddha to transform into a robot,” said Goto. “We hope it will touch people’s hearts and minds.”— AFP In this file photo US singer Miley Cyrus and husband Australian actor Liam Hemsworth arrive for the Saint Laurent Men’s Spring-Summer 2020 runway show in Malibu, California. — AFP 20 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Thursday, August 15, 2019

In this undated photo, Annie Birch is pictured at the In this undated photo, festival goers take a dip in “the pond” at the Woodstock Music Festival In this undated photo, people rest at the campground of the Woodstock Music Festival during Woodstock Music Festival during the week-end of August 15 during the week-end of August 15 to 18, 1969 in Bethel near Woodstock. the week-end of August 15 to 18, 1969 in Bethel near Woodstock. — AFP photos to 18, 1969 in Bethel near Woodstock, New York.

The six legendary acts of the 1960s who missed freewheeling weekend of indulgence. A New York ‘Idyllic notion’ dentally ran over one person in a sleeping bag, while at Woodstock farm transformed by idealistic youths into a mid-size Sri Swami Satchidananda, a yoga master from India, least one person is said to have died from a drug overdose. Acity. A celebration of rock music and utopian ideals. opened the festival with an address urging compassion, a Like a critically panned movie turned cult film, in the days Woodstock was many things but one thing is clear-it is moment seen as embodying the non-violent culture following the festival, mainstream news outlets were largely anis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez... their revered by many as the cultural touchstone of a generation. Woodstock aimed to represent. “I am overwhelmed with dismissive. “The dreams of marijuana and rock music that performances at Woodstock remain The 1969 festival of peace, love and music marks its 50th joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the drew 300,000 fans and hippies to the Catskills had little etched in the collective memory, even 50 anniversary this weekend, triggering a wave of nostalgia for name of the fine art of music,” said the slight, bearded man, more sanity than the impulses that drive the lemmings to J years after the iconic music festival. But six of an era when rock was for the young, tie-dye was cool, long sitting cross-legged before the massive crowd, leading the march to their deaths in the sea,” read an editorial pub- the biggest acts of the 1960s skipped that hair was a statement, and kids said “groovy” without a concertgoers in chants of “om.” Later on, Country Joe lished in The New York Times. date with musical destiny, some of them for trace of irony. McDonald of the psychedelic rock band Country Joe & the “They ended in a nightmare of mud and stagnation ... reasons that seem highly questionable in hind- It’s estimated that anywhere from 400,000 to half a mil- Fish famously led them in chants of “fuck,” before playing What kind of culture is it that can produce so colossal a sight. lion people descended on Max Yasgur’s alfalfa fields in the anti-war protest song “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die mess?” But Annie Birch, who caravaned in with a group of upstate New York that August 15-18, embarking on a trip of Rag.” friends at age 20, remembers the festival as “so peaceful, Bob Dylan a party that saw icons like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and By the time Hendrix tore through his electrified, abstract given all that mass of humanity.” “That crazy rain, we had An icon of the era, and now a Nobel laure- Santana jam as increasingly filthy festival-goers danced, rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” now considered an amazing fire that never went out,” she told AFP. “All ate, Dylan missed Woodstock even though he stripped and dropped acid in torrential rain. At the outset, iconic, the masses were heading back to the real world, just those bands became iconic. It was just like wow, let’s get lived close to the upstate New York venue. organizers were charging $18 a ticket for revelers to attend beginning to sear their collective myth into the history together in a big way.” “It was legendary.” Popular legend has it that Dylan was so the event, which featured now legendary rock bands like books. Danny Goldberg, a longtime music industry insider annoyed at the constant stream of hippies Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, and Crosby, Stills, who covered the festival for Billboard as a starry-eyed 19- ‘Music and peace’ showing up at his door that he turn the gig Nash and Young. year-old, fondly remembers the weekend as “a lot of people In the festival’s aftermath, Yasgur, the landowner, told a down and headed to England that August John Roberts and Joel Rosenman bankrolled the festival, with smiles on their faces.” “I was taken almost immediately television crew he “became quite apprehensive” when weekend of 1969. which they dreamed up with fellow 20-somethings Michael with this sweetness-the idyllic notion of the hippie brother faced with the “sea of people.” But “these young people Another tale, recounted in music journalist Lang and Artie Kornfeld as a business opportunity to pro- and sisterhood that rarely manifests itself, even then,” he made me feel guilty today because there were no prob- Julien Bitoun’s book “50 years: The Story of mote a would-be recording studio in upstate New York. told AFP from his Manhattan office. “But it was quite palpa- lems-they proved to me, and they proved to the whole Woodstock live. Relive the magic. Artist by But as news of the bucolic rock concert spread, a crush of ble at Woodstock, from the minute I got there until the world, that they didn’t come up for any problems,” he said. Artist,” has it that the writer of “Like a Rolling eager attendees bottle-necked country roads winding to minute I left.” “They came up for exactly what they said they were com- Stone” did not play because his son was sick the festival site in White Lake, a hamlet of the small town of ing up for-for three days of music and peace.” Birch, now at the time. Two weeks later, however, he did Bethel, some 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) southwest of ‘Nightmare of mud’ 70, said Woodstock was a defining moment both for her take to the stage at a music festival on the Isle the namesake town of Woodstock. The adage holds that if you can remember Woodstock, personally and for her entire generation. of Wight in southern England. The overwhelmed masterminds had little choice but to you weren’t really there-and many precise details of the “It was amazing,” she said. “I was happy to be a part of declare that Woodstock would be, like the love, free. As the weekend are hostage to the drug-addled and ever-aging that experience.” But she views it as a one-of-a-kind The Beatles music began, rains swept in, food ran out and helicopters recollections of attendees and even the organizers them- event-not something that can be recreated. “I’m eternally In the late summer of 1969, the Fab Four whirred overhead-sometimes delivering musicians, other selves. Rumors persist but mystery endures whether any hopeful for the state of humankind that something equally had just done the photo shoot of them on a times supplies. Despite the mud and warnings of bad acid, babies were born at Woodstock. Sleuthing over the amazing could happen,” she said. “I much prefer the love pedestrian crossing for the now legendary the myth of Woodstock lives on-the festival is venerated as decades has fallen short, and no one has come forward as and peace more than the war and hate.” — AFP cover of their album “Abbey Road.” But the a beacon of hope that emerged out of the tumultuous offspring born onsite-though it’s likely some were con- band were not ready to cross the Atlantic to 1960s, rife with assassinations and riots as the Vietnam War ceived there. play their latest hit “Come Together” at raged. Reports from the time say a tractor cleaning debris acci- Woodstock. Some have historically blamed John Lennon’s girlfriend Yoko Ono for the no- show, but Bitoun said that theory does not hold water. In fact, the Beatles had reached the end of the road, and what would prove to be their final public performance together had already been held on a London rooftop in January of 1969. Lennon quit the band in September 1969 and the band officially dissolved the following year.

The Rolling Stones It was not a great summer for Stones front- man Mick Jagger: he skipped the rock festival that everyone would talk about as the defining moment of the age, and instead went to Australia to shoot a movie that no one even remembers now, in which he played the outlaw Ned Kelly. When organizers tried to replicate the Woodstock moment months later in Altamont, California, the Rolling Stones were center In this undated photo, people rest at the campground of the Woodstock Music Festival during In this undated photo, the crowd and the back of the stage is seen from the campground at the stage, but unfortunately that stage was being the week-end of August 15 to 18, 1969 in Bethel near Woodstock. Woodstock Music Festival during the week-end of August 15 to 18, 1969 in Bethel near patrolled by Hell’s Angels gang members, and Woodstock. one of the audience was killed. For many vet- erans of the age, that incident provided the full stop on the decade of “peace and love.”

museum, which put on an exhibition about the event for as the largest such event of its time, with an estimated Led Zeppelin its 50th anniversary. 600,000 to 700,000 attendees turning out to see stars The London rock icons preferred the beach like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Miles Davis, Joan Baez to the mud of Woodstock that summer, and the Newport Folk Festival and Sly and the Family Stone. Like Woodstock, it weekend of the festival they were thrilling Founded in 1959 as part of the already established became a free event after sheer numbers made it crowds at Ashbury Park on New Jersey’s Newport Jazz Festival to showcase the growing folk impossible to hold back crowds. The chaos led to a Atlantic coast. revival moment, the Newport Folk Festival is perhaps British law preventing crowds of more than 5,000 peo- Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin’s manager, is best known as the site where Bob Dylan “went electric” ple from attending an open air event on the island, but quoted in the book “Led Zeppelin: the Concert usic festival culture in recent decades has in 1965, upsetting folk purists of the era. He didn’t play the festival was revived in 2002 and has run annually File” as saying, “I said no because at Mbecome an institutionalized part of the indus- again at the still-running festival until 2002, when he since. Woodstock we’d have just been another band try, but its first inklings began in the mid-twen- performed in a wig and fake beard. on the bill.” tieth century. Woodstock is often heralded as a seminal Considered one of the first modern music festivals in Live Aid moment in modern festival history, but here are some the United States, the annual Newport weekend, held in Promoted as a “global jukebox,” 1985’s transatlantic The Doors other highlights of the early days. the coastal eastern US state of Rhode Island, is also Live Aid benefit concert was intended to raise money The Doors didn’t play Woodstock “because famous as a catalyst for politically minded songs like for relief agencies and raise awareness of mass famine we were stupid and turned it down,” accord- Monterey Pop Pete Seeger’s rendition of the spiritual “We Shall in Ethiopia. Some of the era’s biggest stars including ing to the band’s guitarist Robby Krieger. “We A three-day festival held during 1967’s Summer of Overcome.” It’s regarded as important to the 1960s civil Madonna, U2, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Santana thought it would be a second class repeat of Love, California’s Monterey Pop festival is credited with rights movement and has more recently become a plat- and Eric Clapton were among those who played Monterey Pop Festival,” he said of the gather- launching the stateside careers of rock legends Jimi form for climate change along with feminist activism. London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. ing of musical giants in California in 1967. Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The June 16-18 line- Kennedy Stadium, as like-minded concerts were held up for the festival held near San Francisco drew hun- Isle of Wight worldwide including in the Soviet Union, Canada, West Joni Mitchell dreds of thousands of attendees and featured 32 artists First held in 1968, the Isle of Wight festival held on a Germany and Yugoslavia. Joni Mitchell may have come up with the including soul star Otis Redding and Indian sitar player British island in the English Channel exploded the fol- More than one billion people around the world song “Woodstock” but she never played there. Ravi Shankar. lowing year, notably thanks to the appearance of Bob watched the live broadcast, one of the largest-scale tel- She composed the ballard idealizing the festi- Hendrix’s now history-making performance at the Dylan. It was the legendary poet-musician’s first sched- evision events of all time. Queen’s rousing set led by val in 1970, but the Canadian, who had been Bay Area event, considered the first rock festival, saw uled public performance since he suffered a motorcycle frontman Freddie Mercury became the stuff of legend, scheduled to play the Sunday of the festival the late icon light his black Fender Stratocaster ablaze accident three years prior. He left for the Isle of Wight and is widely considered as one of the greatest live per- weekend, had to cancel because her manager after his rendition of “Wild Thing.” “Without Monterey, the same day that 1969’s Woodstock festival began, formances ever. — AFP David Geffen had booked her into a television there would have been no Woodstock, no Coachella snubbing organizers of the event in upstate New York appearance in New York City on the Monday, even. It was both a musical and cultural event that who had hoped he’d play there, as he’d been living in and feared she would not be able to make it in reflected everything good about ‘60s rock,” said Bob the region for some time. time. — AFP Santelli, the founding executive director of the Grammy The Isle of Wight festival in 1970 became regarded Established 1961 21 Lifestyle Features Thursday, August 15, 2019

By Chidi Emmanuel

s part of its social activities aimed at promoting Africa in Kuwait, the Frenzy Organization held its A‘African Talent Kuwait’ on 12th August, 2019 at Safir Hotel. The program featured football tournament (male and female), showcasing African culture and tradition, African beauty contest etc. There were 12 contestants representing 7 African countries in Kuwait. At the end of the fourth round, Kenya’s Brenda Bitok was declared Miss Africa in Kuwait, followed by Miss Cameroon (Akem Bethsheba) and Miss Sierra Leone (Mariatu Mahoi) respectively. On the other hand, the Malawian team (Male) won the soccer tournament, seconded by the Sierra Leonean team. On the female soccer tournament, the Cameroonian team took the trophy after beating their Sierra Leonean counter- parts in a thrilling game. The event attracted lots of dignitaries including the Kenyan Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Abbas Ali, top diplomats and representatives from African embassies in Kuwait. In his closing remark, the president of Frenzy Organization Ahmed Dauda Bangura thanked all for gracing the occa- sion and urged Africans in Kuwait to be good ambassadors of the continent. Bangra also thanked Unimoni, Xpress Money and others for sponsoring the event.

By Nawara Fattahova his performance at 10:15 pm. At 11:00 pm, the young Iraqi singer Hameem came round 2,000 people attended a concert by Aseel onstage and her fans welcomed her by loudly screaming Hameem and Hamad Al-Qattan on Monday at her name. She expressed her happiness for performing in AJumeirah Hotel. This was the first Aseel concert in Kuwait for the first time, and promised this won’t be the Kuwait, and she later said she was surprised by the great last. Besides her popular songs, which the audience attendance by her fans in Kuwait and their interaction demanded her to sing, she also sang a song by the popu- with her during the entire show. The concert started at lar Kuwaiti singer Nawal, and other old songs. She con- 9:00 pm with the young Kuwaiti singer and composer cluded her performance at 12:30 am. Qattan, who presented some of his new and old songs. Hameem launched her career in 2008 with a song in a Hamad started his career as a composer in 2011. Later, Kuwaiti soap opera, followed by soap operas of other he released singles, most of which became hits on radio GCC countries. She has released over 30 songs till date, and he became very popular, especially among the youth. including some collaborative songs with other singers. He also sang a few songs of popular Kuwaiti singers such as Abdullah Al-Ruwaished and others. Qattan concluded 22 Established 1961

Thursday, August 15, 2019 Lifestyle Features

A customer buys a glass of legmi from a street vendor, a coveted date palm drink, A street vendor holds a bottle of legmi, a coveted date palm drink, in the south- A customer buys bottles of legmi from a street vendor, a coveted date palm drink. in the southwestern Tunisian town of Gabes. — AFP photos western Tunisian town of Gabes.

s soon as the sun is up, people in southern Tunisia Back at the Gabes roundabout, Haithem described the rush out to buy a glass or bottle of legmi, a coveted alcoholic drink as “a young people’s game”. “They don’t Adate palm drink that is too delicate to be sold far have a lot of money to get drunk, so you pay one dinar from the oasis. At 7:00 am, at the busy Ain Slam round- and get dead legmi... but it’s not good at all.” In his youth, about in the center of the coastal city of Gabes, bicycles, Haithem and others fermented living legmi for hours in a cars and military vehicles are clustered around three men hut to produce their own alcohol. “Everyday we tested it. seated on plastic chairs. Next to them are jugs brimming We added herbs, mint... Until today, we don’t know which with the precious juice, a testament to the Gabes saying: one was the best because nobody agreed. Those are good “Even if the legmi attracts mosquitos, people will stick memories.” Along with the harvesting, storing the drink is around.” complex as it turns rapidly into vinegar. To keep it fresh, Favored particularly during the Muslim holy month of bottles of ice are placed in the can that the sap flows into Ramadan for its high sugar content, this drink, typical of overnight, then the juice is immediately frozen until it’s Saharan oases, is primarily consumed from March to poured for sale. October. Many Tunisians enjoy legmi for breakfast, such as This fragile process limits the consumption of legmi. Akram, who has walked to the roundabout for the morning “Even in Sfax, there is none,” Haithem said, of the coastal rush. “We were born with legmi,” he said. “My grandfather city to the north. “It has stayed organic, without any and my father produced it, my one-and-a-half-year-old chemicals or ingredients for preservation, nothing.” Some daughter has already drunk it, and me, I have even written A man picks fruits from a palm tree, to be used for making residents see its fragility and limited reach as a positive. a song about legmi,” said the singer, in his thirties. Another legmi. Haithem said that some were afraid: “If there is a lot of customer, Haithem, 30, described the drink as “part of our demand, what’s going to happen? They’re going to cut a identity”. “It’s something rare, it’s a gift,” he said. A pro- lot of palms and risk losing the oases.” ducer must have an expert hand and not be too greedy to harvest for the day. Moussa, the legmi producer, warned that “chemical draw the sap from the palm without killing it, he said. To extract a daily take of 15 liters (3.9 gallons), he pollution from factories is a threat to the oases.” State- climbs the palms barefoot, using nothing but notches he owned Tunisian Chemical Group has been processing ‘Prince’ of palm tree made in their trunks. He carefully cuts the bark to cause a phosphate in the area since the 1970s and has been At the Ain Slam roundabout, a 1.5-litre bottle sells for reaction from the palm that makes its sap rise. But “one blamed for putting the oases at risk. But for now, the around 2.5 dinars ($0.87). One of the producers is Ridha must not touch the heart of the palm, otherwise it dies,” future of legmi producers is assured. “I taught my son Omrane Moussa, who describes himself as the “prince of Moussa warned. He has 25 palm trees but harvests from this work so that this tradition stays in Gabes forever,” the palm tree”. Now in his sixties, he has harvested the each for just two and a half years before letting them rest Moussa said. — AFP nectar since learning the technique aged 14 from a relative for four years, producing around 8,000 liters annually. in the Gabes oasis of Nahal. “He who doesn’t love the palm tree is not Gabesian. After God, there is the palm ‘Young people’s game’ tree,” he said. Perched atop an eight-meter (26-foot) palm, Other than fresh, or “living” legmi, a fermented, alco- cigarette between his lips, Moussa had just finished his holic version of the drink is produced, called “dead” legmi.

A man climbs a palm tree to pick fruits used for mak- ing legmi.

French star Alain Delon ‘getting better’ egendary French actor Alain Delon is “get- Lting better and better”, one of his sons has assured fans, after the 83-year-old suffered a stroke. Posting a photo of the actor, known for his starring roles in films such as “The Swimming Pool” and “Purple Noon”, on his Instagram account late Sunday, Alain-Fabien Delon thanked his father’s fans for their support. alalah, a heaven on earth, greenery, waterfalls, rocks, are filled with 105,000 square meters of seawater, to fine dining Middle Eastern and Western cuisine. “Thank you for your many messages, which Smountains, especially in khareef season. Starting refreshed every four days using natural tidal patterns. Guests looking to rejuvenate and rebalance can make have deeply touched me. mid-June till mid-September. With a promise of treasured time, the resort provides use of the ‘Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club’ and three As you can see, he is getting better and better. The five-star Salalah Rotana Resort opened in March five-star opulence synonymous with the Rotana brand, impressive outdoor pools, Jacuzzi and tennis clubs or And he sends you his love,” the post said, with a 2014 in the capital of the southern Omani Governorate of infused with traditional Omani hospitality. Drawing inspi- indulge in spa treatments at ‘Zen the spa at Rotana’, picture of the actor sitting up, wearing a red polo Dhofar, and is the largest free-standing hotel in the ration from the landscape’s natural beauty and culture, the Rotana’s home-grown spa concept derived from ancient shirt and smiling. On Thursday, Delon’s eldest son Sultanate. Only 35 kilometers from Salalah Airport, Salalah heart of the hotel features high ceilings and a central, holistic Asian philosophies. The spa features eight treat- Anthony had said the actor had suffered a stroke Beach is spread over 15.6 million square meters, with an internally-lit handmade red clay dome complementing the ment rooms that blend natural Omani elements with holis- a few weeks ago and was currently “resting” in 8.2 kilometer beachfront, and is home to Salalah Rotana wooden finishing and decorative Mashrabiya latticework tic treatments and rituals including full body massages, Switzerland. Then a day later, his daughter Resort. Surrounded by one of Oman’s most breathtaking windows. In-room furnishings have been carved from facials and soothing wraps. The resort also has five fully Anouchka had said Delon was “already thinking natural settings, the resort is nestled between spectacular desert rock while Arabesque geometric designs and stone equipped meeting rooms, a Grand Ballroom, state-of-the- about his next projects”. He has spent over 60 mountains, fresh water springs and tropical scenery. archways, constructed using traditional techniques, resem- art Business Centre and 250-seat private outdoor years working in European cinema. — AFP Rotana prides itself on identifying desirable travel des- ble atriums. amphitheater, making it the perfect destination for both tinations and the 422-room waterfront resort in Salalah is Ranging from 43 to 143 square metres, Salalah Rotana leisure and business travelers. part of the company’s steady expansion plan. Salalah Resort boasts some of the most spacious accommodations Whether socializing at the restaurant by the beach, Rotana Resort marks the 50th hotel to be operated by in Oman. Private terraces, ensuite bathrooms and gener- relaxing poolside or spending time with children in Rotana in the region, representing the half-way mark for ous living areas make for a grand setting with optimal pri- the playful ‘Flipper’s Kids Club’, Salalah Rotana the group’s plans for 100 hotels by 2020. vacy and superior comfort. With four restaurants including Resort exceeds the expectations of even the most Set on the pristine Arabian coast, each of the resort’s Saffron, The Beach Restaurant, Silk Road and Olive, as discerning guest. luxury rooms and suites are located directly on unique well as the Arabesque Lounge & Terrace, the lobby lagoons. An elaborate network of manmade Venetian lounge, the resort offers the perfect melange of dining waterways connect the property to the Indian Ocean and options from casual beachside cuisine and all-day-dining

This photograph obtained from the Instagram account of Alain Fabien Delon, son of the actor, shows French actor Alain Delon smiling as he sits on a armchair next to a message reading ‘Thank you for your numerous messages, which go straight to my heart.’— AFP Classifieds Thursday, August 15, 2019

that henceforth my name CHANGE OF NAME will be read as given name: FOZIA FIROZ and surname: I, ABRAHAMCHETHI NETTARWALA (C 5570) Sabah Hospital 24812000 PURACKAL ABRAHAM hold- 7-8-2019 er of Indian Passport No. Amiri Hospital 22450005 K2098802 do hereby change I, JOAQUIM ANTONIO my name as ABRAHAM Maternity Hospital 24843100 FILOMENO CAESAR HEN- CHETHIPURACKAL ABRA- RIQUES holder of Indian Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 HAM. (C 5574) Passport No. P7117842, hav- ing permanent address at I, JOSEPH GEORGE KURIAP- Chest Hospital 24849400 Molla,Chandor, Salcete, Goa- PILLY, holder of Indian Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Passport No. Z3830804 hav- India,PinCode 403714, resid- ing permanent address ing in Kuwait at Adan Hospital 23940620 Kerala, India-683518 resid- present,hereby declare that ing in Kuwait at present, henceforth my name will be Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 hereby declare that hence- read as Given Name: JOAQUIM ANTÓNIO Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 forth my name will be read as given name: GEORGE and FILOMENO CÉSAR and Last Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 surname: KURIAPPILLY Name: HENRIQUES (C 5665) JOSEPH (C 5666) 6-8-2019

I, BINDUMOL KULAT I, SUSAN JOHN (given HUNKAL ABRAHAM holder name) holder of Indian Kaizen center 25716707 of Indian Passport No. Passport S 3697819 do here- H8468361 do hereby change Rawda 22517733 by change my name to my name to BINDUMOL (giv- SUSAN (given name) JOHN Adaliya 22517144 en name) KULATHUNKAL (surname) for all purposes. I ABRAHAM (surname) for all also undertake to effect the Khaldiya 24848075 purposes. I also undertake change in all my other pub- to effect the change in all lic documents. Kaifan 24849807 my other public documents. (C 5664) 5-8-2019 (C 5571) Shamiya 24848913 I, Mookan Kumar Kannan Shuwaikh 24814507 FOR SALE holder of Indian Passport Abdullah Salem 22549134 No. J0976988 having perma- nent address 173-68A, All house hold items in Nuzha 22526804 Melapidavoor, good condition for sale with Manamadurai, Sivagangai- new flat in Abbasiya. Call: Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Dist. Tamilnadu-623707, 97654511 (C 5572) residing in Kuwait at pres- 8-8-2019 Qadsiya 22515088 ent, hereby declare that Dasmah 22532265 henceforth my name will be read as given name: KUMAR Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 KANNAN and surname: MOOKKAN. (C 5573) 112 Shaab 22518752 8-8-2019

Qibla 22459381 I, NETTARWALA FOZIA Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 FIROZ, holder of Indian Automated enquiry Passport No. J3509812, hav- Mirqab 22456536 ing permanent address 6/62 about the Meenakshi Apts., Dockyard Civil ID card is Sharq 22465401 Road, Mazgaon, Mumbai 400010, residing in Kuwait Salmiya 25746401 1889988 at present, hereby declare

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Thursday 15/8/2019 KAC 614 Bahrain 12:30 Departure Flights on Thursday 15/8/2019 QTR 1075 Doha 12:10 Airlines Flt Route Time UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 611 Tbilisi 12:20 FEG 241 Alexandria 00:05 MSR 610 Cairo 12:45 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 IAW 158 Al Najaf 13:00 IGO 1757 Kochi 00:10 AXB 393 Kozhikode 13:10 MSC 406 Sohag 00:15 AHY 120 Baku 13:05 THY 772 Istanbul 00:20 FBS 118 Sarajevo 13:30 MSR 615 Cairo 00:30 JZR 123 Dubai 13:10 DLH 625 Dammam 00:50 KAC 774 Riyadh 13:35 FDB 072 Dubai 00:30 JZR 115 Doha 13:25 KAC 102 London 00:50 JZR 212 Jeddah 13:45 FEG 342 Sohag 01:05 KAC 661 Abu Dhabi 13:30 KAC 504 Beirut 01:00 IRA 607 Mashhad 13:55 IGO 1758 Kochi 01:10 SAW 702 Damascus 13:30 RJA 642 Amman 01:20 KAC 672 Dubai 14:00 KAC 677 Dubai 01:50 MSR 611 Cairo 13:45 UAE 853 Dubai 01:40 UAE 877 Dubai 14:00 THY 773 Istanbul 01:50 THY 767 Istanbul 14:00 KLM 446 Bahrain 01:45 KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10 DLH 625 Frankfurt 01:50 AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:10 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:50 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 KAC 417 Manila 02:00 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 THY 1464 Istanbul 01:50 QTR 1078 Doha 14:25 THY 765 Istanbul 02:50 FBS 119 Sarajevo 14:45 KKK 1268 Istanbul 01:55 KAC 792 Madinah 14:40 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:50 IRA 666 Esfahan 14:55 PGT 828 Istanbul 02:00 KAC 194 Trabzon 14:40 KKK 1269 Istanbul 02:55 KNE 382 Taif 15:00 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15 FDB 8065 Dubai 14:40 PGT 829 Istanbul 02:59 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 KAC 156 Istanbul 02:35 KAC 304 Mumbai 14:45 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05 FDB 060 Dubai 15:05 JZR 734 Cairo 02:35 JZR 222 Riyadh 14:45 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:10 JZR 103 Bahrain 15:05 QTR 1086 Doha 02:40 KAC 562 Amman 14:50 JZR 111 Doha 03:25 UAE 878 Dubai 15:30 JZR 722 Alexandria 02:40 KAC 618 Doha 14:50 JZR 409 Delhi 03:30 QTR 1079 Doha 15:30 JZR 254 Amman 02:40 KAC 788 Jeddah 14:55 JZR 701D Asyut 03:30 FDB 8066 Dubai 15:40 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:50 KAC 118 New York 15:00 UAE 854 Dubai 03:30 JZR 125 Dubai 15:50 PGT 860 Istanbul 02:50 KNE 529 Jeddah 15:05 JZR 713 Sohag 03:50 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:55 THY 768 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 412 Bangkok 15:10 THY 769 Istanbul 03:50 KAC 563 Amman 16:00 OMA 643 Muscat 03:05 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 KAC 775 Riyadh 16:05 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:05 OMA 645 Muscat 15:20 OMA 644 Muscat 04:05 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 JZR 262 Beirut 03:10 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 QTR 1087 Doha 04:15 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:10 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 KAC 418 Manila 03:20 SVA 500 Jeddah 15:50 PGT 861 Istanbul 04:20 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 QTR 1076 Doha 03:30 FEG 341 Sohag 16:00 JZR 1735 Cairo 04:40 OMA 646 Muscat 16:20 JZR 406 Kochi 03:30 FDB 051 Dubai 16:10 QTR 1077 Doha 05:00 KAC 785 Jeddah 16:20 OHY 352 Istanbul 04:00 JZR 732 Cairo 16:10 LMU 511 Cairo 05:00 KAC 619 Doha 16:25 LMU 510 Cairo 04:00 QTR 1072 Doha 16:15 OHY 351 Istanbul 05:00 SVA 501 Jeddah 16:50 KAC 382 Delhi 04:05 SAW 705 Damascus 17:00 IGO 1752 Chennai 05:10 FEG 242 Alexandria 16:55 IGO 1751 Chennai 04:10 JZR 116 Doha 17:05 KAC 303 Mumbai 05:15 KAC 675 Dubai 17:00 MSR 0516 Cairo 04:25 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 MSR 0517 Mumbai 05:25 FDB 052 Dubai 17:10 KAC 784 Jeddah 04:25 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:00 QTR 1073 Doha 17:25 JZR 404 Hyderabad 04:50 JZR 214 Jeddah 17:35 THY 1414 Trabzon 05:05 JZR 124 Dubai 17:40 THY 1465 Istanbul 06:00 KAC 151 Istanbul 17:35 FDB 069 Dubai 05:05 KAC 158 Istanbul 18:00 THY 771 Istanbul 06:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:40 IGA 170 Bahrain 05:05 JZR 104 Bahrain 18:00 JZR 745 Sharm el-Sheikh 06:45 KAC 343 Chennai 17:50 THY 770 Istanbul 05:20 KAC 662 Abu Dhabi 18:05 GFA 212 Bahrain 06:50 KAC 381 Delhi 17:55 KAC 344 Chennai 05:30 QTR 1080 Doha 18:10 RJA 643 Amman 07:00 SAW 706 Damascus 18:00 KAC 552 Cairo 05:50 JZR 612 Tbilisi 18:15 JZR 251 Amman 07:10 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 KAC 548 Alexandria 05:55 KAC 506 Beirut/LCA 18:15 JZR 121 Dubai 07:15 JZR 721 Alexandria 18:15 KAC 362 Colombo 06:05 JZR 302 Istanbul 18:20 RBG 550 Alexandria 07:30 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 BAW 157 London 06:10 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 BAW 156 London 07:40 JZR 127 Dubai 18:20 KAC 284 Dhaka 06:15 SAW 703 Damascus 18:55 KAC 413 Bangkok 07:45 JZR 403 Hyderabad 18:25 JZR 402 Mumbai 06:25 IRA 667 Esfahan 19:00 KAC 173 Munich 07:55 JZR 733 Cairo 18:35 KAC 678 Dubai 06:40 FDB 063 Dubai 19:05 JZR 211 Jeddah 08:00 JZR 261 Beirut 19:10 KAC 106 London 06:40 RJA 640 Amman 19:05 KAC 193 Trabzon 08:10 JZR 253 Amman 19:10 RBG 559 Alexandria 06:50 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 KAC 181 Paris/NCE 08:10 QTR 1081 Doha 19:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 06:50 UAE 875 Dubai 19:05 IRA 606 Mashhad 08:10 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 QTR 8511 Doha 06:55 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:20 IGO 1756 CNN 08:10 KAC 691 Muscat 19:35 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:00 KAC 744 Dammam 19:25 KAC 163 MXP 08:35 FDB 064 Dubai 19:45 JZR 408 Ahmedabad 07:05 NIA 161 Cairo 19:30 KAC 505 LCA/Beirut 08:40 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 JZR 112 Doha 07:05 KAC 616 Bahrain 19:40 KAC 177 Vienna 08:45 SAW 704 Damascus 19:55 IGO 1755 CNN 07:10 KAC 776 Riyadh 19:45 KAC 561 Amman 08:55 IRA 600 Tehran 20:00 IRA 601 Tehran 07:10 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 QTR 8512 Doha 08:55 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:00 KAC 354 Bengaluru 07:50 KAC 178 Vienna 19:50 KAC 121 AGP 09:00 RJA 641 Amman 20:05 QTR 1084 Doha 08:00 JZR 310 BJV 19:50 KAC 613 Bahrain 09:00 KAC 357 Kochi 20:05 KAC 352 Kochi 08:05 FDB 057 Dubai 19:50 KAC 117 New York 09:05 NIA 162 Cairo 20:30 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:05 KAC 174 Munich 19:55 KAC 791 Madinah 09:10 FDB 058 Dubai 20:30 KAC 384 Delhi 08:10 KNE 381 Taif 20:00 QTR 1085 Doha 09:10 JZR 401 Mumbai 20:30 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 OMA 647 Muscat 20:05 KAC 671 Dubai 09:15 UAE 876 Dubai 20:35 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 08:50 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:10 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:15 KNE 232 Riyadh 20:50 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 KAC 157 Istanbul 09:20 KAC 353 Bengaluru 20:50 OMA 641 Muscat 09:00 JZR 126 Dubai 20:20 KAC 773 Riyadh 09:40 DLH 624 Dammam 20:55 GFA 209 Bahrain 09:05 RBG 213 Sohag 20:30 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 OMA 648 Muscat 21:05 QTR 1070 Doha 09:20 KAC 620 Doha 20:30 JZR 731 Cairo 09:45 KAC 333 Trivandrum 21:05 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 QTR 1088 Doha 20:40 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 RBG 214 Sohag 21:10 IGO 1753 Ahmedabad 09:40 KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:00 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 09:55 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 IRA 675 Lar 09:55 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:10 JZR 301 Istanbul 09:55 KAC 301 Mumbai 21:25 JZR 702D Asyut 09:55 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 OMA 642 Muscat 10:00 KAC 545 Cairo 21:30 SVA 512 Riyadh 10:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:15 KAC 101 London 10:05 QTR 1089 Doha 21:50 IAW 157A Al Najaf 10:00 THY 764 Istanbul 21:30 GFA 210 Bahrain 10:05 IGA 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 714 Sohag 10:00 KAC 164 MXP 21:40 QTR 1071 Doha 10:30 KAC 203 Lahore 22:00 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 KAC 676 Dubai 21:45 KAC 617 Doha 10:40 KLM 445 Bahrain 22:10 MEA 404 Beirut 10:55 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:50 IGO 1754 Ahmedabad 10:40 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 QTR 1074 Doha 11:00 KAC 564 Amman 21:55 FDB 056 Dubai 10:40 JZR 1737 Cairo 22:20 SYR 341 Damascus 11:00 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 IRA 668 Mashhad 10:55 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 OMS 223 Muscat 11:00 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 SVA 513 Riyadh 10:55 THY 1401 ADB 22:25 JZR 1736 Cairo 11:05 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:20 IAW 158A Al Najaf 11:00 UAE 860 Dubai 22:35 JZR 122 Dubai 11:45 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 JZR 221 Riyadh 11:20 KAC 383 Delhi 22:35 IAW 157 Al Najaf 12:00 RBG 555 Alexandria 22:30 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:50 AHY 119 Baku 12:05 JZR 128 Dubai 22:50 OMS 224 Muscat 11:40 KAC 783 Jeddah 22:55 JZR 410 Delhi 12:10 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:00 JZR 309 BJV 11:45 KAC 551 Cairo 23:00 JZR 252 Amman 12:20 MSC 501 Alexandria 23:10 MEA 405 Beirut 11:55 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 JZR 746 Sharm el-Sheikh 12:25 MSC 415 Sohag 23:15 SYR 342 Damascus 12:00 RBG 556 Alexandria 23:10 SAW 701 Damascus 12:30 MSR 614 Cairo 23:30 JZR 213 Jeddah 12:05 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 THY 766 Istanbul 12:30 FDB 071 Dubai 23:35 24 Established 1961 News Thursday, August 15, 2019 Leave our graffiti on walls, demand Sudan protesters

KHARTOUM: The graffiti that symbolized Sudan’s uprising are being painted over across the capital Khartoum, protest leaders complained yesterday, urg- ing the military authorities to stop their whitewashing. The Alliance for Freedom and Change that led the months-long protest movement that brought down longtime ruler Omar Al-Bashir said the “enemies of the revolution” had been systematically erasing murals. “We see this as an ugly act and a pathetic attempt to suppress the beauty, the letter and the spirit of the rev- olution,” it said a statement. In recent days some of the colourful murals and slo- gans that appeared on the walls of the capital during the early stages of the protest that ousted Bashir were painted over. Together with music, these murals had become a symbol of the popular nature of an uprising that was led by young activists rather than engineered by political opposition. Most of the murals and graffiti could be found on walls outside of the army headquar- ters in Khartoum, where protesters camped out for weeks on end. “This is an absurd measure and shows the inability of the enemies of the revolution to recognize its roots and its realisation in people’s hearts,” the statement said. It called on graffiti artists to “contin- ue painting murals and exercise all their freedom of expression rights.” A mass protest this spring led to the ouster of Bashir, an Islamist general who had ruled Sudan since 1989.

‘No real change’ Continued mobilization and a deadly crackdown on a sit-in on June 3 led to a phase of negotiations that yielded a transition agreement to be officially signed on KHARTOUM: In this file photo taken on April 24, 2019, a Sudanese protester runs past a recently-painted mural during a demonstration near the army headquarters. — AFP Saturday. The deal agreed by Sudan’s generals and protest leaders provides for a power-sharing period of One graffiti artist contacted by AFP said that the Lotfy Abdel Fattah said. “And now the signals we are as a testament to a pivotal moment in Sudan’s history. 39 months meant to pave the way for elections and decision to remove murals from Khartoum’s walls was getting tell us that there is no real change, no real free- Some of the murals also honor protesters who were civilian rule. Some members of the protest camp how- evidence that the military establishment was reverting dom,” he said. killed by security forces. “I don’t know exactly who is ever were displeased with an agreement they fear to its old ways. “When I saw this I felt very disappoint- Speaking to AFP at the height of the protests in doing this but it’s definitely someone with an agenda could allow those forces accused of brutal repression ed because when we did these murals we were April, he had predicted that the murals might not all against change, because what we did was a beautiful during the uprising to maintain their grip on power. expressing the feeling that the times were changing,” stay forever but he argued now that they should remain thing,” Abdel Fattah said. — AFP

And though luxury conditions are available for the just a prototype for the one that will be going to Mars Makkah hotels super-rich, many pilgrims are lodged in basic, some- NASA descends next year. That one, which has yet to be named, will also times less than sanitary dormitories. A number of tour be able to collect samples and store them in tubes to be operators even offer VIP packages for an “exceptional on lava field to... brought back to Earth by future missions. As the proto- offer VIP hajj... pilgrimage” with a room overlooking the Kaaba” with a type isn’t capable of doing this, researchers walk to the area studied, armed with radiometers and other equip- Continued from Page 1 price tag of several thousand dollars. “The rate can reach $25,000,” said one Saudi source. Continued from Page 1 ment, to collect all the data samples that the finished rover would be able to do. proliferation of high-end skyscraper hotels in the Academic Luc Chantre, author of several books The company has been commissioned by NASA to The sites are selected to study how the chemical vicinity of the Grand Mosque - often with “panoramic” about contemporary Makkah, said that “since the test a rover prototype as part of the SAND-E (Semi- composition and physical properties of the sand and views. The premium properties were fully booked for 1930s, the pilgrimage has increasingly become a reli- Autonomous Navigation for Detrital Environments) rocks change as they move from the glacier to a nearby the duration of this year’s hajj and next year’s pilgrim- gious tourism phenomenon”. “The growth of Makkah’s project. The prototype is a small, electric vehicle with river. Before Mars became an inhospitable frozen age, but also for a dozen days before and after. Room infrastructure has occurred alongside the development white panels and an orange chassis. It has a four-wheel desert with an average temperature of minus 63 rates are more than $1,000 per night in the high season. of non-religious activities like shopping, cultural drive propelled by two motors and is powered by 12 degrees C, scientists believe that the planet shared Makkah’s most opulent hotels are located within the tourism and the showcasing of natural areas.” small car batteries stacked inside. “This rover we have... many of the characteristics of the subarctic island. “The vast Abraj al-Bait (Kaaba Towers) skyscraper complex The kingdom, which has previously been largely (is) basically indestructible,” Deslauriers told AFP. “The mineralogy in Iceland is very similar to what we would which opened to guests in 2012, or near it. The devel- closed to foreigners, has put tourism at the heart of its rovers that we have on Mars and the Moon would be a find on Mars,” Ryan Ewing, associate professor of opment is home to one of the tallest towers in the world “Vision 2030” reform program intended to reduce lot more sensitive to the environment and conditions of geology at Texas A&M University, said. with its distinctive clockface 35 times the size of the dependency on oil. Plans have been announced to trans- Iceland. “A Moon rover is completely unprepared for In particular, Ewing referred to minerals such as timepiece on London’s Queen Elizabeth Tower, com- form 50 Red Sea islands into luxury resorts as well as rain,” he added, just as a rain shower swept in. olivine and pyroxenes, both dark so-called mafic rocks, monly known as Big Ben. Created by the Binladin for an attraction park in Riyadh. But the desert kingdom, Equipped with sensors, a computer, a dual-lens which have also been found on Mars. “In addition to Group, which has ties to the family of slain Al-Qaeda which imposes strict conservative social rules, is seen as camera and controlled remotely, the rover moves its that, we don’t have much vegetation, it’s cold and we founder Osama bin Laden, the development saw the an improbable mainstream tourist destination. Religious approximately 570 kg at a leisurely speed of about 20 have some of the environments like sand dunes and demolition of the historic Ottoman Ajyad fort, which tourism is however seen as a potential boom industry as cm per second. The speed needs to be slow to enable rivers and glaciers that Mars has evidence of in the provoked a diplomatic spat between Turkey and Saudi Riyadh expects to welcome 30 million pilgrims between the rover to collect data and imagery properly, Mark past,” Ewing said. Iceland has previously been used as Arabia. Experts estimate that as many as 95 percent of 2019 and 2030 for the hajj and lesser umrah pilgrimage Vandermeulen, a robotics engineer at Mission Control a training ground for NASA missions. Makkah’s historic buildings have been demolished to which can be undertaken year-round. The two pilgrim- Space Services, said. The meager pace on the lava During the Apollo mission years, 32 astronauts in the make way for modern-era construction. ages bring in billions of dollars annually. — AFP field is still two to four times faster than the speed it will mid-1960s received geological training in the Askja lava be driving at its extraterrestrial destination. fields and near the Krafla crater in the north of the country. Utilising its sensors and camera, the rover gathers The setting allows NASA to test equipment and proce- deployed, turning the picturesque main city of Srinagar into and classifies data from its environment and sends back dures, as well as the people performing them, in extreme Pak PM visits a warren of barbed wire and barricades. the findings to the engineers’ trailer. The engineers then While rules on the movement of people would be eased environments while remaining on terra firma. Mission package the data and forward it to a tent where the sci- after India’s Independence Day celebrations today, state Control says it is planning to return to Iceland next summer Kashmir as... governor Satya Pal Malik said that phone lines and the entists are huddled, to simulate how the data would be before the launch of the next Mars rover mission, sched- Internet would remain down. “We don’t want to give that sent from Mars to Earth. The rover exploring Iceland is uled between July 17 and Aug 5, 2020. — AFP Continued frtom Page 1 instrument to the enemy until things settle down,” Malik told the Times of India. “In a week or 10 days, everything will be Pakistan has also expelled the Indian ambassador, halted alright and we will gradually open lines of communication.” Francisco headquarters. “We are rebuilding that infra- bilateral trade and suspended cross-border transport serv- The lockdown has not completely prevented anger at Facebook listened structure, and it is nearly complete.” ices. However, analysts said the actions were unlikely to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move bursting out into the The company also highlighted ongoing efforts to move Delhi. open, however. According to residents around 8,000 people make sharing thoughts on the platform safe and easy. The Indian part of the picturesque Himalayan state has protested after Friday prayers, with security forces firing to conversations... Twitter has always let users follow accounts but a new been under lockdown for over a week with tens of thou- tear gas and pellet-firing shotguns to break up the rally. feature, set to debut by the end of this year, will let sands of troop reinforcements deployed to the main city of Only on Tuesday did the Indian government confirm that Continued from Page 1 users opt into following certain sports teams or cate- Srinagar and other towns and villages. A curfew has also clashes, blaming them on stone-throwing “miscreants” and gories on a curated list. For example, sending or inter- been enforced across the region and phone and Internet saying its forces reacted with “restraint”. sometimes contained vulgar content. The contrac- acting with tweets about a team might prompt a query lines cut to quell potential unrest. Indian authorities vowed Footage filmed by AFP on Monday showed hundreds of tors also weren’t told the reason why they were doing over whether the user wants to “follow” that team or be to reduce the restrictions on freedom of movement in their people protesting in the Soura area of Srinagar, shouting the transcribing, the news agency reported. kept in the know about what is being said on Twitter on portion of Kashmir following the country’s own slogans such as “We want freedom” and “India go back” as Amazon, Apple and Google - all companies offering the topics. Independence Day celebrations today. helicopters buzzed overhead. “What India has done is unac- voice assistants - have previously acknowledged collect- “We are going to let you directly follow topics on Earlier this week Khan lambasted the international com- ceptable to us. Our struggle will continue even if India ing conversations for the purpose of improving their Twitter,” said product manager Rob Bishop. “Rather munity for failing to challenge India and said turning a blind keeps Kashmir locked down for months,” one protester told products. Apple and Google have in recent weeks said than replacing following people, we actually think this eye to the spread of Indian Hindu nationalism was the same AFP. India’s home ministry said Tuesday that since the cur- they’ve halted the practice, while Amazon gives users the will help you find new people to follow.” There will be as appeasing Hitler - a comparison he again made yester- few was imposed, “no bullets have been fired”. option of blocking the collection of their voice by Alexa, an ability to “mute” topics to avoid seeing the score of day. As tensions simmered with India, Pakistan moved ahead But Munir Khan, a senior police officer in Kashmir, said the artificial intelligence driving their Echo voice assistant. a sporting match, for example. Topics people follow will with independence celebrations which began at the stroke that the military has used pellet-firing shotguns. “There Facebook, which just settled a record $5 billion fine show up in their profiles as long as they are signed up of midnight with firework shows lighting up the skies in have been 2-3 pellet injuries but they are nothing major. with the US Federal Trade Commission for misusing for the interest. major cities, where residents jammed the streets waving the There is nothing grave,” Khan told AFP. He added that users’ private data, has given differing responses to Twitter is starting slowly, offering just a few sports national flag from their cars and motorcycles. some security personnel were also injured. In Srinagar’s reports that it uses audio recordings to better target options, to hone the feature before expanding to other main SMHS Hospital, one young man was nursing his eye, In August 1947 the British Raj was dismantled with the ads or make its pages more attractive. “You’re talking topics, according to the teams. Subjects designated saying he had been shot by pellets fired by soldiers as he subcontinent divided into two independent states - Hindu- about this conspiracy theory that gets passed around “interests” by Twitter are meant to be lasting - such as came out of a mosque on Monday. “We could not pray in majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Millions were that we listen to what’s going on on your microphone football or cricket - rather than passing hot topics, uprooted in one of the largest mass migrations in history, peace on the day of Eid. A large number of soldiers sur- according to Bishop. “It is important for us to come up rounded the mosque,” a man by his bedside said, also and use that for ads,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg with experts estimating at least one million died in the com- with a rigorous set of principles when it comes to declining to give his name. said in US Senate testimony last year. “We don’t do munal violence unleashed by a partition that continues to defining topics,” Beykpour said. “We are taking this Elsewhere in the ward, six-year-old Munefa Nazir slept that,” he said. haunt the subcontinent to this day. But the company later told lawmakers in writing that superpower very seriously.” Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan with her right eye bandaged as her family took turns waving a handheld fan to keep her cool. According to her uncle, she it does actually collect conversations if users have A conversations team at Twitter has been working ever since, and has been the spark for two major wars and specifically allowed it to do so and are using certain on ways to get people more enthusiastically engaged in countless clashes between the two nuclear-armed arch- was shot in the eye by a marble fired from a catapult by an Indian soldier at a checkpoint as they rode on his scooter on audio features. The company didn’t specify what it did meaningful exchanges, dabbling with changes while rivals. Earlier this year they came close to all-out conflict yet with the audio afterwards. being mindful not to disrupt the lives of people who again, after a militant attack in Indian-held Kashmir in Monday evening. “She screamed and blood from her eye Meanwhile, Twitter users will be able to follow a rely on the service. “We know that Twitter is at its best February was claimed by a group based in Pakistan, igniting started oozing through her fingers as she covered her face small number of interests by the end of the year in the with it is not just you tweeting something out as a tit-for-tat air strikes. with both hands,” Farooq Ahmad said. The 1,000-bed SMHS is usually busy but because of same way they follow people, the company said broadcast, but really engaging in that conversation or Meanwhile, India’s crippling 10-day-old curfew in being a host for others to engage in a conversation Kashmir will ease after today, according to the state gover- the curfew only a few beds were occupied in some sec- Tuesday. The feature will be rolled out internationally about what you are talking about,” said conversations nor, but phone lines and the Internet will remain cut. India tions. Many pharmacies have also run out of some sup- as the one-to-many messaging platform prioritizes product team member Sara Haider. Twitter has no plans shut off communications and severely restricted movement plies. “We have run out of a lot of prescription drugs peo- being an online venue for conversations rather than a in the part of Kashmir it controls on Aug 4, a day before ple here look for,” said Mubashir Hussain, a salesman at a pulpit for one-way broadcasting to the masses. “We for an often requested “edit” button that would let New Delhi stripped the Muslim-majority region of its medical shop in the Jawahar Nagar area where restrictions are basically rewriting the entire conversation service,” users change posts already fired off, saying it raised autonomy. Fearing protests and unrest in the long-restive on public and vehicular movement have been eased since Twitter product team leader Kayvon Beykpour told complex issues and was “not anywhere near the top of region, tens of thousands of extra Indian troops have been Monday. — Agencies reporters during a briefing at the company’s San our list” of things to do. — AFP Established 1961 25 Sports Thursday, August 15, 2019 Kolisi back, but Brits skippers Springboks in World Cup warm-up Get Carter: All Blacks legend settles Bledisloe nerves JOHANNESBURG: Coach Rassie Erasmus said Siya Zealand on September 21 in their opening World Cup Kolisi, who is recovering from a knee injury, may be Pool B match, then play Canada, Italy and Namibia. substituted during the first half in Pretoria and chose South Africa (15-1) veteran hooker Schalk Brits as skipper. Warrick Gelant; Sibusiso Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Andre Number eight Duane Vermeulen (twice) and lock Esterhuizen, Dillyn Leyds; Elton Jantjies, Cobus Eben Etzebeth (once) captained the Springboks dur- Reinach; Marcell Coetzee, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya ing the Rugby Championship campaign in which they Kolisi; Lood de Jager, RG Snyman; Vincent Koch, beat Australia and Argentina and drew with New Schalk Brits (capt), Thomas du Toit Zealand. Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Lizo Gqoboka, At 38 years and three months, Brits will become Wilco Louw, Marvin Orie, Marco van Staden, the second oldest captain of the Springboks after Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Francois Steyn retired lock Victor Matfield, who had the honour Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA). when 38 years and 172 days. Meanwhile, the All Blacks have drafted in leg- “I have asked Siya to empty his tank and go hard endary fly-half Dan Carter to calm any nerves among for as long as he can,” Erasmus said after making 15 the faltering world champions ahead of this week- changes to the side that triumphed 46-13 in end’s Bledisloe Cup decider against Australia. Argentina last Saturday to win the Rugby A shock 47-26 loss to the Wallabies has rattled Championship. the All Blacks, calling into question their experimen- “I told him he might even come off in the first half tal strategy of fielding two playmakers in Beauden as he has played less than 50 minutes of Currie Cup Barrett and Richie Mo’unga. rugby in the last 12 weeks. Assistant coach Ian Foster said Carter joined the “But I need him to have a taste of Test rugby New Zealanders at training in Auckland on Tuesday again before we leave for Japan,” referring to the to offer advice to Barrett and Mo’unga. absence of Kolisi from the team since a loss in Wales The 37-year-old, who retired from internationals last November. in 2015, has a wealth of experience after a stellar While Kolisi is guaranteed a place in the 31-man 112-Test career that included winning two World World Cup squad to be named on Monday August Cups and three World Rugby player of the year 26, many of those who will face the Pumas at Loftus awards. Versfeld are fighting for seats on the flight to Tokyo. “I’m actually keen to get him in to chat to our “Some of these players will know they are on the playmakers,” Foster told allbacks.com. plane but for others it is make or break — and even “He’s got a lot of World Cup experience and I just Siya Kolisi (left) and Duane Vermeulen if they do not make the plane there will be six stand- wanted to really have him around, again to talk to the by roles to be identified,” said Erasmus. likes of Beaudy and Richie about what it’s like driving “I am really excited to see what they can do on a team through a World Cup campaign where expec- Despite that setback, former All Black Ian Jones regard.” The 79-Test veteran said New Zealand Saturday, to prove their own cases, and also show tations are high. called for fire and brimstone from the men in black in could not expect Eden Park’s intimidation factor to just how strong South African rugby is.” “Who better to tell that story than him.” Auckland, saying they had to prove a point by affect the fired-up Australians. In the backline, full-back Warrick Gelant, centre Foster has talked up the need for discipline if New muscling up to the Wallabies. “They can’t just rely on this wonderful Eden Park Andre Esterhuizen and winger Dillyn Leyds, are mar- Zealand are to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th “They’ve got to physically go straight and knock factor, they’ll have to front up to themselves,” he ginal cases for inclusion in the squad. year and defeat Australia again at an Eden Park ven- these guys around and get into that zone,” Jones told said. Props Thomas du Toit and Vincent Koch and loose ue where the Wallabies have not won since 1986. Radio Sport. “Do I expect the Wallabies to be able to perform forwards Rynhardt Elstadt and Marcell Coetzee are Scott Barrett’s red card for a shoulder charge cost “(Show them) this is the fortress, this is All Black at the level again? Yes... we have to dampen that, we in similar positions. the All Blacks any chance of victory in Perth and saw rugby, this is how we’re going to beat these have to physically get into them, knock them around South Africa face defending champions New the lock suspended for three weeks. Wallabies up, and just smack them around in that and show them who’s boss.” —AFP

the fact that she is undisputedly the best Caster unfazed in the world. “I’m targeted because I’m undefeat- ed...I’m the best at what I do.” “When after middle you are the best in the world people get obsessed with what you are doing.” Kipchoge likens distance ban “Probably I’m a ‘problem’ because I’m an over-achiever so we must get rid of two-hour marathon JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s two- you,” said the self-confident athlete. time Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya was raised as a woman, Semenya yesterday shrugged off critics races as a woman and is legally classified attempt to moon in the face of a ruling that has banned as a woman. The IAAF argues that while her from defending her world middle it accepts Semenya is legally a woman, landing distance title in Doha in September. she has masculine attributes stemming The 28 year-old has been embroiled from differences of sexual development LONDON: Kenyan world record holder Eliud in a bitter legal battle with the (DSD) that create an unfair advantage Kipchoge says running a marathon in under two International Association of Athletics over other women. hours would be comparable in the annals of human Federations (IAAF) over rules that force The IAAF this year introduced rules achievement to standing on the moon or scaling female athletes to regulate their testos- requiring women with higher than nor- Everest for the first time. terone levels. mal male hormone levels — so-called The 2016 Olympic marathon gold medallist, Last month a Swiss court revoked a “hyperandrogenic” athletes — to artifi- JOHANNESBURG: South African double Olympic champion Caster Semenya (C) speaking to reporters from his home training camp temporary suspension on the IAAF’s cially lower their testosterone to run in speaks with Navitha Budhoo (R), EVB Manager, Business Enablement at the in Kaptagat on Wednesday, was sure he too could controversial testosterone-curbing rules, at some distances. It is a position hotly Standard Bank Top Women Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday. —AFP enter uncharted territory in Vienna on Oct. 12. meaning the double Olympic champion contested by South African officials. “It’s like stepping on the moon, going up the Semenya can no longer compete in Semenya did not comment on issues I am on top of my game,” she said battle — came into effect on May 8, tallest mountain and even going to the middle of events between the 400m and mile, as around further litigation in the matter, adding that she had no plans of quitting applying to distances from 400m to a the ocean,” said Kipchoge who ran 2:00.25 in his she did in June and July. saying that as an athlete she only wanted running anytime soon. mile, and including the heptathlon. previous non-world record attempt at Italy’s Speaking at a women’s empowerment to stay focused on her training, which The athlete has said she will not take The World Medical Association has Monza motor racing circuit in 2017. conference in Johannesburg, the defiant she described as her “weapon”. any body altering medication. The urged doctors not to enforce the contro- “I have no doubts at all,” added the 34-year-old, and confident Semenya said the obses- “There’s not much that I can say IAAF’s DSD rules — first adopted last versial new rules, warning that attempts who said he also wanted to make history before sion with getting rid of her was driven by about the case, what I can tell you is that year but suspended pending the legal to do so would be unethical. —AFP next year’s Tokyo Olympics. INEOS have yet to provide details about race day plans and identities of the official pacesetters beam dismount. Lee was more than con- in the 1:59 challenge http://www.ineos159chal- Breathtaking tent with her silver, while Morgan Hurd, lenge.com. who finished fourth, called Biles “super- The conference call, on a line that was at times human”. “I do consider it a win, just barely audible, was restricted to questions about Biles unbeatable because she’s unbeatable,” Lee said. Kipchoge’s preparations. Biles’ performance in Kansas City was Norwegian brothers Henrik, Filip and Jakob LOS ANGELES: Simone Biles continues a glimpse of what she has in store for the Ingebrigtsen told national broadcaster NRK this to push the boundaries of her sport to World Championships, which are being week, however, that they had been approached to the point even the American gymnast’s held in Stuttgart over October 4-13. run as pacesetters. rivals can only watch in admiration. The German event is a forerunner to “I have been hare for Filip and Jacob for many Sunisa Lee said she was “super hap- the 2020 Tokyo Games, where Biles will years, so it will go well,” said Henrik, 28 and the py” to take the all-around silver medal at be aiming to add to the five medals — European 1,500 metres champion in 2012. the US championships this weekend, four of them gold — that she won at the Jakob, 18, won 1,500 and 5,000 metres gold at where Biles capped her record-tying Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. last year’s European championships while Filip, 26, sixth national all-around title with a nev- Even as Biles continues to astonish in won 1,500 bronze at the 2017 worlds. er-before-seen “triple-double” floor competition, she admitted as the national This year’s world athletics championships in exercise landing — a finale featuring two championships began that it was “not Doha end on Oct. 6. flips and three twists. easy coming back to the sport, coming “Marathon is no longer an individual event, it’s a Even Biles admitted she couldn’t wait back to the organization that has failed team event,” said Kipchoge, who set the world to see the replay of the move, whipping you.” She was among more than 200 record of 2:01.39 in Berlin last September. “The out her phone between rotations to athletes abused by former US gymnas- pacemakers are playing a key role in my quest.” check out the video. “I didn’t want to be tics team doctor Larry Nassar and has KANSAS CITY: Simone Biles competes in floor exercise during Women’s Any sub-two hour time will not be ratified for the last person to see it,” she said. been an outspoken critic of how US Senior competition of the 2019 US Gymnastics Championships at the Sprint record purposes by the IAAF, the governing body Biles — who already has a vault skill Gymnastics and the US Olympic Center on August 11, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. —AFP of athletics, because of the use of pacemakers and and a floor exercise maneuver named for Committee failed to protect athletes. other aids but Kipchoge was unconcerned. her as their originator — pressed the While she continues to wrestle with “I think it’s about history, about leaving a lega- limits in balance beam in Kansas City, Sunday when she posted a picture of you make history ... twice,” the beaming the aftermath, Biles’s joy was evident on herself on Instagram. “That feeling when gymnast wrote. —AFP cy,” said the Kenyan. “So I am going to make histo- too, with a double-flip, double-twist ry and leave a legacy. It’s not about making a world record. of blistering feet, the result of a frostbite camp. Ballard said the injury to the front prescribed fertility medication. He said he “I am already a record holder for marathon... Brown back in mishap during cryogenic therapy. Coach of the ankle developed while Luck was reported the use to the league and the I think I have done that. This is for the human Jon Gruden was unsure when Brown would dealing with the calf. Giants prior to testing positive. family.” return to practice but expressed confi- Ballard added that no surgery is “I went into this arbitration with the The Kenyan said his training was going well, he Raiders’ camp dence the receiver would play in the sea- planned while the 29-year-old quarterback understanding that due to the facts, unlike was rising at 5 a.m. and running 200-220km a son opener against the Denver Broncos on rehabs the ankle though the preseason. many other cases, we could be the exception week. CALIFORNIA: Oakland Raiders wideout Sept. 9. Luck’s availability for the season opener is to win,” Tate said in a statement. “What has changed is mental preparation,” he Antonio Brown returned to training camp Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew uncertain. “Unfortunately the NFL stood by their no said. “I am really better prepared mentally... this Tuesday in Napa, Calif., one day after los- Luck isn’t likely to play in the preseason New York Giants wide receiver Golden tolerance policy, which I hope one day to time I know what will happen.” ing his helmet grievance with the NFL. because of a calf injury that has turned Tate lost the appeal of his four-game sus- help have a part in reforming, so no other “Certainly I am feeling good,” he added. Brown had not been with the team since he into an ankle problem, general manager pension for violating the NFL policy on player has to go through this situation.” Kipchoge said he planned to arrive in Vienna Chris Ballard said on a conference call. performance-enhancing drugs. Giants rookie first-rounder Daniel Jones is left practice early on July 30. The 31-year- about a week before the attempt and will jog over old veteran had sought permission to wear Luck, who originally injured his calf in Tate, who reportedly will forfeit the franchise’s future at quarterback, but the 4.3km Prater Hauptallee course. —Reuters his old helmet, which is no longer certified. April, has only participated (in limited $465,000 in base salary, previously indi- owner John Mara hopes to see only 38- Brown remains out of practice because fashion) in three practices in training cated that the positive test came from a year-old Eli Manning this season. —Reuters 26 Sports Thursday, August 15, 2019 Taylor rescues N Zealand after Dananjaya five-wicket haul Taylor registers his 31st Test 50 on rain hit day one GALLE: Ross Taylor hit an unbeaten half-century to keep batsman in a Test match at Galle, surpassing the 69 by New Zealand afloat after Sri Lanka spinner Akila Tim McIntosh. New Zealand have struggled at this venue Dananjaya claimed five wickets on a rain-hit day one of having lost all three previous Tests. the first Test yesterday. New Zealand were 203 for five, “They were tough at times. The ball certainly spun a having recovered from 71-3 at lunch, when rain stopped little earlier than we thought, but we expected it to be play for the day in the final session in Galle with Taylor turning,” Nicholls said of the Galle wicket. batting on 86. “If we can get some partnerships first through Mitch Dananjaya claimed his fourth five-wicket haul, bowling and Ross but also through the lower order with the tail-all with a remodelled action after being reported for a sus- those innings are going to be valuable when the wicket pect action last year. The mystery spinner took three early does get tougher to bat on.” wickets including skipper Kane Williamson for nought Earlier, openers Jeet Raval and Tom Latham put on 64 before Taylor put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket with runs before Dananjaya struck on a pitch that is already Henry Nicholls. offering big turn. Dananjaya, who was overlooked for Tests in New Latham was the first to go after being caught behind Zealand, Australia and South Africa, trapped Nicholls for for 30 as Dananjaya got the left-handed batsman to poke 42 to break the century stand and then got BJ Watling for at a delivery that was turning away. one to make New Zealand slip further. Williamson fell three balls later when he flicked one “There’s no drastic change to my action. I needed to straight into the hands of his opposite number Dimuth change a few things and with the help of spin bowling Karunaratne at short mid-wicket. coach Piyal Wijetunga, I did the necessary changes,” In the last over before lunch, Raval failed to pick a Dananjaya told reporters. “I used to send videos to him to googly and was caught at first slip by Dhananjaya de get more feedback and really happy with my action now.” Silva for 33. Both Sri Lanka and New Zealand are play- ing their first match of the World Test Championship, HIGHEST SCORE which has nine top teams competing for supremacy in Taylor handled pace and spin with aplomb as he regis- the five-day format. tered his 31st Test 50 and had no problems resisting Play was stopped at 3.42 pm (1012 GMT) due to rain GALLE: New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor (L) plays a shot as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella looks on during Dananjaya, who mixed up his deliveries to outfox the and half an hour later was called off with 22 overs lost in the first day of the opening Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Galle International Cricket Stadium batsmen. Taylor registered the highest score by a Kiwi the day. Play will resume early today. — AFP in Galle yesterday. — AFP

“He has got a notice and we have cleared his appoint- Dravid cleared of ment. We had seen no conflict, but if the Ombudsman finds SCOREBOARD any conflict, we will give our response to the Ombudsman stating why we found no conflict.” conflict of interest The case against Dravid was brought by Sanjeev Scoreboard at stumps on day one of the opening Test Gupta, a state association member of the BCCI. The Indian between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle yesterday. NEW DELHI: India’s cricket board has cleared batting board is being run by a Supreme Court-appointed panel New Zealand great Rahul Dravid of conflict of interest charges after he tasked with clearing out corruption from the world’s J. Raval c De Silva b Dananjaya 33 was made head of the national cricket academy while wealthiest cricket body after a series of scandals. T. Latham c Dickwella b Dananjaya 30 working for a company that owns an Indian Premier Ganguly, who is president of the Cricket Association of K. Williamson c Karunaratne b Dananjaya 0 League team. Bengal and mentor of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, had hit R. Taylor not out 86 The complaint against Dravid followed similar allega- out over the accusation against Dravid, saying “God help H. Nicholls lbw b Dananjaya 42 tions against record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar Indian Cricket”. B.J. Watling lbw b Dananjaya 1 and former India captain Sourav Ganguly as authorities “New fashion in Indian cricket .....conflict of interest,” M. Santner not out 8 attempt to root out corruption in India’s powerful cricket Ganguly wrote on Twitter. The case against Ganguly is still Extras (nb1, lb2) 3 establishment. pending, as is one against former India batsman VVS Total: (5 wickets, 68 overs) 203 Last month Dravid was named as director of the Laxman who mentors the IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Fall of wickets: 1-64 (Latham), 2-64 (Williamson), 3-71 National Cricket Academy, a breeding ground for young has stepped down from the BCCI panel currently selecting (Raval), 4-171 (Nicholls), 5-179 (Watling) talent, while remaining as a vice-president of India India’s next coach. He also works as a commentator. To bat: T. Southee, T. Boult, W. Somerville, A. Patel Cements, which owns IPL franchise the Chennai Super Tendulkar, an ambassador for the IPL’s Mumbai Indians, Bowling: Lakmal 10-5-14-0 (1nb), Kumara 10-1-37-0, Kings. was cleared of any conflict of interest after he stepped Dananjaya 22-2-57-5, De Silva 6-0-20-0, Embuldeniya But Board of Control for Cricket in India administrators down from the BCCI panel. 20-1-73-0. ruled out any conflict of interest involving Dravid, who has Accusations of corruption and match-fixing tarnished Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Lahiru taken leave from the cement company, after a meeting in the IPL — the board’s lucrative Twenty20 competition and Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kusal opened a pandora’s box of other irregularities in the Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Akila Mumbai on Tuesday. “There is no conflict on Rahul’s case,” Rahul Dravid BCCI administrator Ravi Thogde told reporters. game’s finances. — AFP Dananjaya, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara and Suranga Lakmal.

“It does behave like a leather cricket ball, but it Cricket club bounces more and it’s more difficult to grip,” Shacklady Strauss tells England told the Daily Mail. “But we’re enthused by it and we’re introduces hopeful of finding a better version.” to be patient in Shacklady, who founded the club 12 years ago and at 33 is the youngest cricket club chairman in England, is hoping vegan ball other clubs in their Berkshire Cricket League will follow Australia’s Hazlewood pursuit of Smith wicket their lead. The school teacher says there was not much opposition edges out Starc for LONDON: WG Grace and Don Bradman may be spinning when he proposed switching the tea to a vegan menu two LONDON: Andrew Strauss believes patience if the in their graves at the news an English cricket club have key as England look to find a way to dismiss star years ago. Ham and beef sandwiches have been replaced switched to using a vegan ball from the traditional leather by the likes of Moroccan tagine, lasagne and meat-free second Ashes Test Australia batsman Steve Smith in the ongoing Ashes one. Earley Cricket Club in Reading a town 40 miles (64 series. Smith returned to Test cricket following a 12- spaghetti Bolognese. kilometres) west of London had already introduced a veg- “The teas have been well received as our players month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal with LONDON: Australia’s Josh Hazlewood will play in the an tea for their players. understand and support the reasoning behind the deci- innings of 144 and 142 as Australia beat England by second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s, coach That was down to their founder and chairman Gary sion,” said Shacklady, who set up the club 12 years ago. 251 runs in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston last week. Justin Langer confirmed after yesterday’s opening day Shacklady who found most cricket club teas consisted of “When other teams come to us, they pile their plates high. Smith has scored five centuries in his past six was washed out without a ball bowled. ham sandwiches, not much use to him when he became a “And when they eat the food, nobody complains. Ashes Tests, averaging 139. But former England cap- Fast bowler Hazlewood has seen off competition vegan. Now they have gone the full hog and introduced a “Although you usually get one middle-aged white man tain Strauss, speaking to reporters at Lord’s yester- from left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who was also vegan cricket ball — a synthetic animal products-free one who is horrified — it’s fine, he doesn’t have to eat it. But day as rain washed out the first session of the second included in a 12-man squad after paceman James covered in rubber instead of leather. the point is that everyone can.” — AFP Test, insisted England were not up against a superhu- Pattinson was omitted as part of a rotation policy after man in Smith. “If you look in that first innings, he featuring in Australia’s 251-run win in the first Test at played and missed a lot early on...I don’t think it’s a Edgbaston last week. case of reinventing the wheel,” he said. “You know, a “He’s got an outstanding record,” said Langer of the good ball to other people is a good ball to him, but Tennis players want 28-year-old, whose 44 Tests have yielded 164 wickets maybe just a little bit wider. at an average of 27.14 but who was sidelined with a “He played brilliantly, fantastically well. But he’s safety guarantees for stress fracture earlier this year. going to nick one at some point. “Bowlers have to be “He’s built up over the past few months. He missed prepared to be patient.” James Anderson, England’s out on the World Cup because we felt he hadn’t played all-time leading wicket-taker, broke down with a calf Pakistan trip: Mahesh much cricket.” injury after bowling just four overs at Edgbaston and Both Hazlewood and World Cup spearhead Starc the Lancashire paceman won’t now play in the second were left out at Edgbaston, with Langer having pre- MUMBAI: Indian tennis players want safety guarantees Test. “I honestly believe James Anderson going off viously made it clear he would rotate his six quicks before they travel to Islamabad for their Davis Cup tie after four overs cost us the game and there’s no blame during a series where five Tests are crammed into against Pakistan, captain Mahesh Bhupathi said yesterday. apportioned to anyone because these things happen, just six weeks. but we had them 120 for 8, we had a 90-run lead (on Pakistan last week expelled India’s ambassador and sus- Teams are not obliged to name their sides until the first innings) and then we were without your best pended bilateral trade and all public transport links with its toss, yet to happen in this match, takes place. But bowler. “Over the course of the game that counts neighbour after New Delhi removed “special status” from England appear set to give a debut to fast bowler Jofra more and more.” its portion of the contested region of Kashmir. Archer after the World Cup-winner was presented with The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars his Test cap yesterday. Australia hold the Ashes but ‘FANTASTIC’ ARCHER over Kashmir since gaining independence from colonial have not won a Test series away to England for 18 England are set give a Test debut at Lord’s to power Great Britain in 1947. They came close to a third in years. — AFP World Cup-winning fast bowler Jofra Archer and February after a deadly attack on Indian police by a Strauss had high hopes for the Sussex quick. “He’s got Pakistan-based militant group resulted in air strikes by pace, he’s accurate, he’s got good variety,” said both countries. Strauss, an Ashes-winning captain in 2009 and Bhupathi said security was his main concern for the 2010/11, “I think he’s going to be a fantastic England team. “We just want guarantees on safety,” he told Reuters bowler and have a long career, but he’s potentially by email. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) said on Mahesh Bhupathi making his debut so we can’t expect him to be the Wednesday they had written to the sport’s governing body answer to all our prayers.” Strauss was speaking once again asking them to shift the tie to a neutral venue The AITA has named a six-member squad under ahead of the inaugural Ruth Strauss day at Lord’s, with or to postpone it for a couple of months until tensions sim- Bhupathi for the Sept. 14-15 tie. An Indian tennis team last the ‘home of cricket’ set to turn red in honour of the mer down. went to Pakistan in 1964 for a Davis Cup tie, defeating the foundation that bears her name, which was set up after The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has already hosts 4-0, while Pakistan lost 3-2 on their last visit to India she died from a rare form of lung cancer in December. responded to a previous AITA request, saying they were in 2006. Thursday’s event echoes the annual ‘pink Test’ in satisfied with the current safety plan in place in Islamabad. Pakistan was forced to host Davis Cup ties at neutral Sydney, where the third day at the SCG sees the “The recent developments have resulted in an atmosphere venues for more than a decade as teams refused to travel ground turn pink for the McGrath Foundation, estab- which is not conducive for a happy friendly tie between to the country because of security concerns. They played lished by Australia great Glenn McGrath following his the two teams which have immense respect for each oth- their first home tie after a gap of 12 years against Iran in wife Jane’s death from breast cancer. “I sat down and er,” AITA General Secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee wrote to 2017, while Hong Kong was relegated and fined by the ITF did a piece with him (McGrath) last week, I really the ITF in an email seen by Reuters. after they refused to travel to Pakistan the same year. enjoyed speaking to him about his experiences...I’m “Whether or not there is a security threat in Islamabad, India’s cricket team have not toured Pakistan since sure there’s things we can do together in the future,” the moods of the two nations are deeply affected and 2007 and bilateral ties between the countries have Strauss said. “On a personal level it’s going to be an there is an undercurrent of tension which is perhaps not remained suspended since 2008, although they have met emotional day for me and the kids. “But it’s great to being taken into account by the Security Agency of ITF in in international competition. be here and sample it and get a feeling of how much their assessment.” The India association have also asked India’s sports minister Kiren Rijiju has said the govern- support there is for the foundation and people who the ITF to share the security reports from its assessment ment would not prevent the team from playing the Davis want to pay testament to Ruth.” — AFP of the situation in Islamabad and to set up a call between Cup tie in Pakistan as it was not a bilateral series and was Josh Hazlewood their respective security consultants. organised by a world governing body. — Reuters Established 1961 27 Sports Thursday, August 15, 2019 FIFA fine Manchester City over ‘international transfer of minors’ City claim problems occurred before FIFA clarified the rules

PARIS: Manchester City have been found terpretation of the regulations in question. England and by UEFA, the governing body guilty by FIFA of breaking the rules on All of the breaches occurred before of European football. international transfer and registration of December 2016 when guidance on the The FA said in February it was looking players aged under 18, world football’s interpretation of the provisions was issued, into allegations that City paid £200,000 governing body announced on Tuesday. since which date Manchester City has ($256,000) to winger Jadon Sancho’s The Premier League champions could been fully compliant.” agent when the player was 14 and still at have faced a transfer ban, but instead Last year, FIFA cleared City of any Watford. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee fined City wrongdoing over their 2016 signing of FA rules state that young players can- 370,000 Swiss Francs (339,000 euros or Benjamin Garre from Velez Sarsfield just not be represented by an agent until the $379,000). after the Argentinian midfielder’s 16th year they turn 16. Sancho later left City for A FIFA statement said that the punish- birthday. Borussia Dortmund. He is now an England ment “took into account the fact that Also in 2018, two players from the Right international. Manchester City FC accepted its respon- to Dream football academy in Ghana, UEFA is focusing on another area and sibility”. While confirming they were will- Sierra Leone’s George Davies and investigating whether City has breached ing to accept the fine, City claimed the Ghanaian Dominic Oduro, told Danish Financial Fair Play rules. problems occurred before FIFA clarified newspaper Jyllands-Posten that they City’s English rivals Chelsea are cur- the rules. signed for City and played in youth match- rently serving a one-year transfer ban The club said in a statement that the es before they turned 18. Both spent two after also being found guilty by the body fine concerned “the international transfer years at the club. in February of breaching regulations relat- of players under the age of 18, particularly Davies last played for Riga FC and ing to the recruitment of minors. in relation to their trial periods and partic- Oduro now plays for the Tampa Bay Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico ipation in friendly games.” Rowdies in the United States. City are also Madrid have all served recent transfer “The club accepts responsibility for the being investigated by both the Premier bans for breaking FIFA rules on the Manchester City avoid FIFA transfer ban despite breaking rules on signing young players. breaches which arose as a result of misin- League and the Football Association in issue. — AFP

ment will prove to be another false dawn. Judgement day Wagner looks Though determined to prove them wrong, he has warned that he will pro- vide no quick fix for Schalke’s troubles. for Real as to revive “The club has definitely had difficul- ties in the recent past, but that means it is Zidane’s second underachievers also open to change. But we know that change won’t happen overnight.” coming begins Schalke RACISM SCANDAL Just a few weeks after making those BERLIN: When David Wagner stepped comments, Wagner had his first taste of MADRID: Zinedine Zidane returned to save down as Huddersfield Town manager in just how difficult life at Schalke can be. Real Madrid and the time has come for results. January, he was convinced his next job In August, the club were dragged into a In a packed-out press conference under the would also be in the Premier League. He racism scandal after chairman Clemens Santiago Bernabeu in March, the club’s presi- was wrong. Half a year on, the 47-year- Toennies made highly controversial pub- dent Florentino Perez delivered the grandest of old German finds himself back in his lic comments about Africa. re-introductions. home country in charge of Schalke, the “We need to start working on a glorious iconic Bundesliga club with whom he Toennies stepped down for three new era,” said Perez. “That is why we welcome once won the UEFA Cup as a player. months, but the scandal completely over- back Zinedine Zidane.” Some might have “There weren’t many clubs in shadowed Wagner’s debut in the dugout, expected a bounce but nobody blamed the Germany which I would have found as as fans demanded the chairman’s perma- nent resignation at a cup game last coach when performances continued to drag Zinedine Zidane exciting as the Premier League, but when and the gap behind Barcelona, rather than nar- Schalke made contact, I made my deci- Saturday. rowing, widened. sion quickly,” Wagner said, answering Rather than focusing on football, Wagner has thus spent the last week Zidane took over a team with nothing to The assumption was he returned to a move to China. AFP questions ahead of the beginning of treading a difficult political line between play for and a squad he knew was in need of stronger hand, able to make demands the club “It is very close,” Zidane said. “We hope he the Bundesliga season this weekend. condemning his employer and protecting reform. He knew because he had left it nine were ready to meet and with the backing to leaves soon, it would be best for everyone.” “I know the region, I know how peo- the interests of his players, six of whom months earlier, just before it was broken. There rebuild in the way he had always wanted. He Bale’s agent told AFP Zidane was a “disgrace” ple tick here.” Wagner, who was once was no quick fix. In his 11 games at the end of might have been encouraged too, when Eder and if the Frenchman had hoped to push the Juergen Klopp’s assistant at Borussia are either African or of African descent. last season, Madrid won five, the only promise Militao, Ferland Mendy, Luka Jovic, Rodrygo deal over the line, he would be disappointed as Dortmund, delighted football romantics “We have talked about it in the dress- of progress the words Zidane kept repeating. and Eden Hazard all signed for a total close to Madrid changed their mind over the fee. the world over when he led lowly ing room and given every player the “Things will change, for sure,” he said. 300 million euros. James Rodriguez is also yet to leave and Huddersfield to Premier League promo- opportunity to voice their opinions, also Zidane denied it but they were seen as tri- Hazard was the headline act, a throw-back there were others that proved more difficult to tion in 2017 and then kept them up. on a one-to-one basis,” he admitted last als, every line-up scanned for clues as to who to a previous era that Zidane knew well, when bring in such as Paul Pogba and even Neymar. Back in Germany, he faces almost the week. Even by Schalke’s standards, the would survive the summer. Yet in some ways, the world’s most glamorous players seemed to In other areas, Zidane has resisted change, opposite task. Having inspired the Toennies affair is a particularly fiery none of it mattered and the results, not to walk through the doors every year. “I’m not a backing experience over youth even if many Yorkshire minnows to punch sensational- baptism for a new coach, but Wagner mention attendances at the Santiago galactico, not yet, but I hope I will be one believed experience last season had turned ly above their weight, he now needs to knows he will have to get used to the off- Bernabeu, said as much. “The best thing for us day,” said Hazard when he joined. into apathy. cure sleeping giants Schalke of their field noise. is that it’s over,” said Zidane, after the season Marcelo, Casemiro and Keylor Navas have chronic underachievement. In the football-mad Ruhr region, the ended in defeat. BALE STALEMATE stayed while Marcos Llorente was allowed to From his two years playing there in pressure is often intense, fuelled by vora- And now it begins again, the season, and But Madrid’s pockets are not as deep as join Atletico Madrid and Sergio Reguilon and the 1990s, picking up a UEFA Cup win- cious media attention, absurdly passion- Zidane’s second era as coach. Many wondered they once were and sales were also needed, by Dani Ceballos were both sent out on loan. For ners medal in the 1997 final, Wagner ate fans and a fierce rivalry between why he came back, risking everything after the the club and their coach. Zidane showed no all the talk of upheaval, Madrid’s line-up knows how big expectations are around Schalke and Dortmund. For Wagner, the perfection of three Champions League titles inclination to make soothe and use Gareth against Celta Vigo on Saturday is likely to have the Gelsenkirchen club. “The emotions atmosphere is comparable to the one out of three. Bale, instead urging the Welshman to make a a distinctly familiar feel. — AFP and the community at the club are the which his old friend Juergen Klopp has same as it ever was, and the expectations tapped into at Anfield. are justifiably big considering the club’s “It means the same thing to a guy long history,” he said. from Gelsenkirchen to support Schalke Matthaeus: “On the other hand, the recent history as it does for a Liverpudlian to support calls for a bit of realism.” A grand old Liverpool”, he said. Though Wagner still darling of Germany’s industrial Ruhr considers the Premier League to be the ‘Kovac can build region, Schalke have lurched from crisis best in the world, Schalke is a far cry to calamity in recent years. Wagner is from Huddersfield. In Yorkshire, he will an era at Bayern’ Schalke’s seventh coach in five years, and be forever a hero. At Schalke, he may be many fans quietly fear that his appoint- in for a bumpier ride. — AFP

DORTMUND: Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaeus believes under-fire coach found their groove and created chances Niko Kovac can define an era at the club and Xavi’s Al Sadd of their own as they began to put pres- walk in the footsteps of managerial greats sure on the Al Duhail defence. Ottmar Hitzfeld and Jupp Heynckes. Afif, who had scored for Al Sadd last In an interview with AFP ahead of Bayern’s reach Asian week, was once again in his element, as Bundesliga opener against Hertha Berlin on he combined well with Hassan al-Haydos Friday, the 1990 World Cup winner said that Champions and Baghdad Bounedjah. But it was Nam Kovac could emulate the achievements of Tae-hee who came up with a brilliant Bayern’s most successful coaches and lead League q-finals pass that led to Al Sadd’s first goal in the the club to Champions League glory. 20th minute The South Korean, who “I think Kovac could even build an era in DOHA: Akram Afif and Abdelkarim moved from Al Duhail in July, split the the way Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jupp Heynckes and Hassan struck in the first half as Al Sadd defence and sent Bounedjah clear, but Udo Lattek did at Bayern,” Matthaeus, 58, beat fellow Qatar giants Al Duhail 3-1 on told AFP. Kovac was under constant pressure the Algerian international swiftly MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s Croatian headcoach Niko Kovac (L) poses with the football club’s Tuesday to reach the AFC Champions squared for Afif who made no mistake in his first year at Bayern last season and new recruit, Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic, at Bayern Munich’s headquarters in Munich, faced repeated criticism from inside the League quarter-finals. from the top of the box. southern Germany, yesterday. Bayern Munich have signed Inter Milan and Croatia winger Ivan Following a 1-1 draw last week, Al dressing room, despite eventually leading the Perisic on a one-year loan deal. — AFP Bounedjah then watched in agony as club to the domestic double. Sadd outclassed Al Duhail to advance 4- his effort three minutes later hit the “He won the double in difficult conditions 2 aggregate and give Xavi a shot at an upright. Al Sadd had momentum and last year. He showed he can fight,” said compete for the Champions League. Yet Matthaeus believes that, despite their Asian continental title during his first found their second goal with a cracking Matthaeus. “He is a football expert and I think “Bayern have 17 players who are really lack of movement in the transfer market, season as coach. free-kick from Abdelkarim Hassan in the In a thrilling match at the Sheikh this season will be easier for him.” Matthaeus, at the top level, but they cannot afford to Bayern remain favourites for the Bundesliga 34th minute after Nam was brought Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Duhail who won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern suffer lots of injuries as they did last year,” title. “Dortmund have invested a lot of mon- down by Assim Madibo. dominated the early exchanges, with as a player, said that Kovac has been “left on he said. “If any German club is going to win ey, but for me, they still don’t have the quality Al Duhail bounced back in the 56th his own” by players who had “the ear of the the Champions League, it will be Bayern,” Bayern have.” the highest scorer of this year’s Asia Cup, Almoez Ali, missing a golden minute with Edmilson scoring off a pass club bosses”. he added. “There are more Bayern players who from Ali Afif after Almoez Ali had initiat- He suggested that the Croatian would find After they took the title race to the final would get into the Dortmund team than vice chance just after three minutes, shoot- ed a counterattack. Bounedjah again hit it easier now that senior players such as Arjen day of the season in 2018/19, many in versa.” Matthaeus admitted that, in general, ing wide with only the goalkeeper Saad the post a few moments later but the Robben, Mats Hummels and Franck Ribery Germany believe that this could be Borussia the Bundesliga now lacked the quality of the al-Sheeb to beat. Al-Sheeb then had left Munich. Dortmund’s year in the Bundesliga. English Premier League and the Spanish Liga. brought off two saves in quick succes- outcome was sealed in the first minute of “I think the younger players he has now The perennial runners-up have strength- “Other countries have overtaken us, you sion in the 10th minute, first producing stoppage time when Ahmed Yasser’s have the potential, the quality and the mental- ened their squad with Thorgan Hazard, Julian saw that with the English teams last season a fine dive to stop Edmilson’s shot and attempt to stop an al-Haydos free-kick ity that Niko needs to play his kind of foot- Brandt and Hummels, and have stated their and the Spanish teams in the last few years.” bouncing up quickly to block Youssef resulted in an own goal. Al Sadd will ball,” said Matthaeus. The 58-year-old said intention to end Bayern’s seven-year hege- “They are the strongest leagues in the world Msakni from the rebound. meet with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in the that he believed Bayern still had the quality to mony over the German league. in terms of international success.” — AFP But 2011 champions Al Sadd soon quarter-finals. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019

Caster unfazed after Taylor rescues N Zealand after FIFA fine Manchester City over 25middle distance ban 26 Dananjaya five-wicket haul 27 ‘international transfer of minors’

MASON: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Sam Querrey of the United States during Day 4 of the Western and Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. — AFP Djokovic advances, Serena pulls out Wawrinka eliminates 2017 Cincinnati champion Dimitrov

CINCINNATI: World number one Novak Djokovic got Williams, meanwhile, was left just trying to get healthy overnight thunderstorm, Dimitrov broke in the 12th game VENUS TOPPLES BERTENS his US Open build up off to a smooth start with a before the August 26 start of the US Open, pulling out of of the first set to take the lead. In women’s play, defending champion Kiki Bertens fell straight-sets win in Cincinnati on Tuesday as back trou- her scheduled first-round match against qualifier Zarina The 33-year-old Swiss fought back with the only in the second round to Venus Williams, with the 39-year- ble forced Serena Williams to withdraw. Defending Diyas just days after she was forced to retire from the break in the second set. Wawrinka then raced into a 5- old American putting her decades of experience to good champion Djokovic double faulted three times as he WTA Toronto final with back spasms. 1 lead in the final set but wasted two match points in use in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory. dropped serve in the opening game against Sam “I came to Mason (Ohio) on Sunday and have tried the eighth game and was broken twice while serving “Before the match I felt quite good. Stepping on Querrey but quickly put things right and pulled away for everything to be ready to play tonight, and was still for victory. court, I’d say first few games was pretty bad,” Bertens a 7-5, 6-1 victory over the American. hopeful after my practice this morning,” Williams said in Wawrinka had to hold off his Bulgarian opponent in said. “I didn’t start the match in a loose way. I knew that “I ended the match well even if the start was nervy,” a statement released by tournament officials. “But unfor- the final-set tiebreaker before squeezing through in I had to defend the title.” Williams, who reached the said Djokovic, who would break Querrey twice to take tunately my back is still not right.” more than two and a half hours with his 10th ace. semi-finals in 2012, has not been past the second round the first set then roll to victory in his first match since It’s another injury blow for 23-time Grand Slam cham- Wawrinka, who played a 2012 semi-final here, will face in Cincy since then. beating Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final last month. pion Williams, who was hampered by knee trouble earli- Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev, a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2 Former US Open finalist Madison Keys knocked out “Sam was feeling comfortable on the court at the start er this season and remains in search of her first title since winner over 15th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia. 2017 Cincinnati champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain and dictating. It was tough facing his big serve,” the 2017 Australian Open. In other opening-round matches, Montreal semi-finalist 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. Former number one Angelique Djokovic said. “I’m just pleased with this challenge in In early action, Stan Wawrinka won a first-round bat- Gael Monfils exited to Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 and Kerber continued a dismal hardcourt summer, losing in quick conditions, I’m glad I overcame it. “I’m hoping for a tle as he eliminated 2017 Cincinnati champion Grigor Belgian David Goffin beat Taylor Fritz of the United the first round for a second straight week as she fell 7-6 better performance in the next round.” Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). Under leaden skies after an States 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. (9/7), 6-2 to Estonian Anett Kontaveit. —AFP

Carlos Santana and Franmil Reyes homered loss. Zac Grotz (1-0), the second of the called up from the minors to replace Jon the final two outs for his 13th save in 16 Chris Sale for the Indians. Mariners’ seven pitchers on the night, Gray (ankle). Arizona’s Kevin Ginkel (1-0) chances. Paul Goldschmidt’s first-inning recorded his first major league victory in pitched two scoreless innings in relief for sacrifice fly opened the scoring, and Tommy Twins 7, Brewers 5 his third big league game. He gave up one his first major league win. Colorado catcher Edman hit a two-out RBI single in the third. makes strikeout Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run, go- run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings while strik- Dom Nunez homered in his major league ahead home run off Josh Hader in the eighth ing out three. debut, and Charlie Blackmon and Raimel Dodgers 15, Marlins 1 history in inning, and Mitch Garver also homered as Tapia each had three hits for the Rockies. A.J. Pollock had the first three-double visiting Minnesota moved back into first Yankees 8, Orioles 3 game of his career, and rookie Will Smith place in the American League Central by DJ LeMahieu homered on the first pitch, Giants 3, A’s 2 homered twice for the first time, helping Boston’s win rallying to defeat Milwaukee. With and New York extended its winning streak Buster Posey began a string of three visiting Los Angeles rout Miami. Cody CLEVELAND: Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a Minnesota trailing 5-4 with two outs and over visiting Baltimore to 15 games. The straight two-out doubles in the sixth inning, Bellinger hit his 39th homer of the season, tiebreaking home run in the top of the 10th runners at first and second, Gonzalez Yankees have their longest single-season and Madison Bumgarner extended his tying him for the major league lead. The inning as the visiting Boston Red Sox over- clubbed Hader’s first pitch 402 feet over the winning streak against one opponent since streak of unbeaten starts to 10 as host San Dodgers also got long balls from Corey came blowing a five-run lead to beat the fence in left-center. It was the fourth home also posting 15 straight wins against the Francisco edged Oakland. Scooter Gennett Seager, Justin Turner and Matt Beaty. Cleveland Indians 7-6 Tuesday night. After run allowed by Hader over five innings in his 103-loss Philadelphia Athletics in 1954. produced an insurance run with a sacrifice Dustin May (1-1) earned his first major the Indians tied the score on Francisco last six appearances and also his third Domingo German (16-2) allowed two fly, and Will Smith survived a shaky ninth league win. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing Lindor’s RBI double in the bottom of the blown save during that span. The Twins, runs and five hits in seven innings to inning, helping the Giants reach .500 at 60- three hits, one walk and one run while strik- ninth, Bradley’s one-out homer off Nick who passed the Indians to regain first place become the first 16-game winner in the 60 with a fourth win in the past five games. ing out five. Wittgren (4-1) in the 10th restored the Red in the division, won for the second time in majors this year. He struck out seven, Bumgarner (8-7) completed seven innings, Sox’s lead. Earlier in the game, Red Sox seven games. Yasmani Grandal hit a three- walked one and won his career-high sev- allowing just one run on two hits. He struck Braves 5, Mets 3 starter Chris Sale made major league histo- run homer for the Brewers. enth straight decision. out nine and did not walk a batter. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 34th home run, ry by becoming the fastest pitcher to reach Oakland’s Stephen Piscotty hit a solo homer and Max Fried earned his 14th win as 2,000 career strikeouts when he whiffed Mariners 11, Tigers 6 Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 3 in the fifth inning. Atlanta beat visiting New York. Acuna went Oscar Mercado to end the third inning. Sale Kyle Seager blasted three homers, twice Jarrod Dyson homered on the second 2-for-5 and scored his National League- accomplished the feat in 1,626 innings, hitting back-to-back homers with Tom pitch of the game, one of three first-inning Cardinals 2, Royals 0 leading 100th run. He also threw out Todd besting Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez’s mark Murphy, and Seattle slugged its way to a long balls for Arizona, and the Jack Flaherty continued his recent hot Frazier at the plate to end the sixth inning. of 1,711 1/3 innings. Sale gave up five runs win at Detroit. Seager drove in six runs, Diamondbacks beat Colorado in Denver. streak with seven shutout innings, and St. Fried (14-4) pitched six innings and allowed (three earned) on five hits and two walks in tying his career high. The second set of Christian Walker and Nick Ahmed also Louis won at Kansas City. Flaherty has the one run on six hits and three walks with 6 2/3 innings, recording 12 strikeouts. back-to-back homers came during a six- homered in the first, and David Peralta went longest current scoreless-innings streak in four strikeouts. Mark Melancon worked a Rafael Devers had four doubles among a run sixth inning that put the Mariners on deep in the second inning as the the majors at 23 innings. Flaherty (6-6) perfect ninth, striking out two, to earn his career-high six hits, and he also drove in top. Seattle ended a three-game skid while Diamondbacks jumped on Jeff Hoffman, allowed just three hits while striking out second save of the year, his first since join- three runs to lead the Boston offense. handing the Tigers their third consecutive Colorado’s emergency starter. Hoffman was seven with one walk. Carlos Martinez got ing the Braves. — Reuters