Officers Promoted on BDF Anniversary Falls Far Short of Minimal Pal- Estinian Demands and Would Manama Officers, As Well As Their Wish- the Supreme Commander

TWITTER SPORTS @newsofbahrain OP-ED 8 Forget two states, Trump’s plan prescribes apartheid INSTAGRAM Al-Selawe, Chimaev /nobmedia 5 heat up title fight LINKEDIN WEDNESDAY newsofbahrain FEBRUARY 2020 The war of words has begun 210 FILS WHATSAPP for the biggest fight of the year 38444692 ISSUE NO. 8378 in Sweden and Europe. BRAVE Combat Federation world FACEBOOK /nobmedia champion Jarrah Al-Selawe has fought back at his future MAIL [email protected] opponent Khamzat Chimaev with yet another provoking WEBSITE newsofbahrain.com image on social media. P16

Nicole Scherzinger responds after mistaken for Shakira 14 CELEBS BUSINESS 10 Takaful awarded highest Financial rating of ‘A-’

EU rejects Trump plan for Mideast Brussels

he European Union Tyesterday rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal for securing peace in the Middle East and expressed concern about Is- rael’s plans to annex more Palestinian land. Trump’s plan, which was unveiled last week, would foresee the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, but it Officers promoted on BDF anniversary falls far short of minimal Pal- estinian demands and would Manama officers, as well as their wish- the Supreme Commander. leave sizeable chunks of the es of further success in serving His Majesty exchanged ca- occupied West Bank in Is- is Majesty King Hamad the kingdom and enhancing its bles of congratulations with His raeli hands. bin Isa Al Khalifa, the progress, under HM the King’s Royal Highness Prime Minister In a statement, EU foreign HSupreme Commander, leadership. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al policy chief Josep Borrell yesterday issued a Royal Order, On the same occasion, BDF 677 Khalifa, marking the occasion. underlined the bloc’s com- promoting 677 Bahrain Defence Commander-in-Chief issued an BDF officers were HM the King also exchanged mitment to a two-state solu- Force (BDF) officers, from vari- order, promoting 3,474 military promoted by His Majesty similar cables of congratula- tion, based along the 1967 ous ranks. and civil non-commissioned and marking the occasion. tions with His Royal Highness lines, with the possibility of The royal order was issued His Majesty servicemen from various ranks. Prince Salman bin Hamad Al mutually agreed land-swaps, marking the Kingdom’s celebra- The Commander-in-Chief Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy made up of the state of Israel tions of the BDF’s 52nd Anniver- from HM King Hamad and His congratulated the promoted Supreme Commander and First and “an independent, demo- sary, observed every February 5. Royal Highness Prince Sal - officers, non-commissioned of- Deputy Prime Minister. HRH the cratic, contiguous, sovereign On the occasion, BDF Com- man bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the ficers and servicemen, wishing duties in defending the nation Premier and HRH the Crown and viable state of Palestine.” mander-in-Chief, Field Mar- Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme that the promotions will moti- and achieving more progress for Prince also exchanged similar Borrell said the US initi- shal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Commander and First Deputy vate them to exert more efforts the BDF and the Kingdom, under cables of congratulations on the ative “departs from these Al Khalifa, conveyed greetings Prime Minister, to the promoted while performing their patriotic the leadership of HM the King, occasion. internationally agreed parameters.” “To build a just and lasting peace, the unresolved final status issues must be decid- ed through direct negotiations between both parties,” Borrell said. “This includes notably the issues related to borders, the status of Jerusa- lem, security and the refugee Growing trade ties question,” Trump’s plan was welcomed by Israeli Prime Min- Deals worth 330 million signed between Bahraini and Italian firms ister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has dis- on to praise the EDB’s role in missed it as “nonsense.” Gulf HRH the Crown attracting foreign direct invest- Arab states also rejected the • ments, through the variety of White House plan as “bi- Prince emphasised plans and initiatives organised ased.” While Israeli officials the importance of to showcase investment oppor- were present for its unveil- bilateralism as a tunities within Bahrain. ing, no Palestinian repre- means to further HRH the Crown Prince then sentatives attended. witnessed the signing of a num- enhance international ber of agreements between Bah- co-operation. raini and Italian enterprises, worth €330 million. HRH the Crown The Minister of Finance and Prince• praised the EDB’s National Economy, Shaikh Sal- man bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, took DON’T MISS IT role in attracting foreign part in an official delegation visit direct investments, to the Italian Republic, led by through the variety of HRH the Crown Prince. plans and initiatives. During the visit, the minister affirmed that the delegation will New deals widen seek to broaden Bahraini busi- 02 spheres of joint Manama ness relations beyond traditional co-operation areas and deepen the engage- is Royal Highness Prince ment of Bahrain’s private sector Plans in place Salman bin Hamad Al with the global market. to ‘boost HKhalifa, Crown Prince, The minister welcomed the Deputy Supreme Commander, wide-range of agreements signed crackdown on’ and First Deputy Prime Minister, between the private sectors of 04 illegal donation yesterday attended a business HRH the Crown Prince with Shaikh Salman and other dignitaries during the business reception organised by the EDB in Rome. both countries, worth EUR 330 reception in Rome, organised by million, noting that economic collectors at the Bahrain Economic Develop- HRH the Crown Prince not- citizens. ties form a key pillar for Bah- mosques ment Board (EDB) in co-opera- ed that promoting the capacity HRH the Crown Prince em- raini-Italian cooperation, which tion with large Italian enterpris- for innovation is key to provid- phasised the importance of bilat- continues to grow as trade be- China virus es, on the sidelines of an official ing favourable conditions for Promoting the capacity eralism as a means to further en- tween the two countries reaches death toll rises visit to the Italian Republic. investment opportunities and for innovation is key to hance sustainable development new heights. 06 During the reception, HRH the economic growth, which are the providing favourable and international cooperation He took time to highlight above 420 Crown Prince underlined the foundations of the Kingdom’s across the economy, adding that the strength of the Kingdom’s importance of further strength- comprehensive development conditions for strong Bahraini-Italian relations national economy, noting that investment opportunities 210 fils (includes VAT) ening the Kingdom’s economic goals, led by HM the King. have resulted in the signing of ongoing diversification efforts competitiveness through the HRH the Crown Prince went and economic growth. a number of important agree- have increased productivity and adoption of initiatives aimed at on to highlight the Kingdom’s HRH THE CROWN PRINCE ments within the manufacturing, competitiveness while creating enhancing sustainable diversifi- achievements, praising Team logistics, tourism and commer- quality opportunities, in line cation efforts, in line with Bah- Bahrain’s continued efforts sup- velopment aimed at delivering a cial sectors. with the principles enshrined in rain’s Economic Vision 2030. porting Bahrain’s long-term de- promising future for all Bahraini HRH the Crown Prince went Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 02 New deals widen spheres of joint co-operation Many agreements signed between Bahrain and Italian firms Rome

RH the Crown Prince’s visit to Italy saw many Hagreements and MoUs signed between the leading firms of both nations. As part of the delegation, Al- ba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Sal- man Al Khalifa met with key Italian companies, including Fluorsid, FATA and Techmo Car, where important agreements were signed to advance com - mercial opportunities for both parties. Commenting on the occasion, In the presence of HRH the Crown Prince, President of GPIC, Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, signs the agreement. In the presence of HRH the Crown Prince, Alba Chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, signs Shaikh Daij said: “Alba is pleased the agreement. to be part of the Bahraini dele- tionship with Alba. field services company Saipem ations and build on recent suc- ery of Bahrain’s largest oil field, Al Khalifa, expressed the sup- gation to Italy led by HRH the Separately, the Gulf Petro - to study the feasibility of various cesses by studying the viability which was announced in 2018. port of the National Oil and Gas Crown Prince, Salman bin Ham- chemical Industries Compa- projects in Bahrain. of implementing new projects In a statement to mark the Authority (NOGA) to all its sub- ad Al Khalifa. As one of the key ny (GPIC) yesterday signed an The agreement is part of within its industrial complex at occasion, the Minister of Oil, sidiary companies, noting their contributors to Bahrain’s econ- agreement with the Italian oil- GPIC’s strategy to expand oper- Sitra and leverage the discov- Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa contribution to the development omy, Alba is deeply committed and sustainability of the Bah- to realising the Kingdom’s Eco- raini economy and attraction nomic Vision 2030. Through of foreign investments into the these signed agreements, Alba Kingdom. aims to further strengthen its In this regard, the minister relationship with Fluorsid, FATA highlighted that the strategy for and Techmo Car as well as ex- Bahrain’s Oil and Gas sector is plore more avenues for future in line with the Kingdom’s com- collaboration.” prehensive development goals, Alba has an existing contract led by HM the King, and receive with Fluorsid for the supply the continuous support of HRH of 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of the Prime Minister and HRH the smelter grade Aluminium Fluo- Crown Prince. ride, around 70 per cent of Alba’s The Minter of Oil highlighted yearly requirements. FATA is the GPIC’s proven excellence in pro- Engineering, Procurement and duction and marketing, adding Construction (EPC) contractor that the company’s expansion for Alba’s Port Capacity Upgrade projects have the full support of Project, part of Alba Line 6 Ex- both the government and share- pansion Project, while Techmo holders. The Minister of Oil add- is a producer of high-end mo- ed that the agreement signed bile and stationary equipment with Saipem will enhance GPIC’s for the aluminium and metal ability to increase production, production sector and enjoys a expanding its contribution to the long-standing commercial rela- Mr Al Zayani signs the agreement to boost Bahraini exports to Italy. Shaikh Khalid signs co-operation agreement. Kingdom’s economy, in line with ‘Life a cyclic process, just like seasons in nature’

Swami Amritaswarupananda offers the spiritual discourse at Indian Club.

Quoting Mata Amritanandamayi, he said, “Life is cy- Swami Amritaswarupananda is the Vice- clic. All of nature is cyclic. The seasons—spring, summer, • fall and winter—are circular in nature. They come and Chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math and go. The entire solar system—the sun, earth, the moon the President of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and stars—also travel on circular paths. Night and day the math’s deemed-to-be-university. are cyclic. So, time also must be cyclic.” He gave several examples from everyday life to drive TDT | Manama the points home. He said, “Everything good and bad that happens in our life, in the whole universe, is cyclic. Love is a cyclic. Peace is cyclic. War is cyclic. Most of our wami Amritaswarupananda, the head disciple of books are cyclic. Even our movies are cyclic in nature; world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader the same theme presented differently.” “Old wine packed SMata Amritanandamayi, was in the Kingdom on a in attractive new bottles,” he added. two-day visit. Swami Amritaswarupananda is the Vice-Chairman of At an event held at the Indian Club on Monday, Swami Mata Amritanandamayi Math and the President of Amri- Amritaswarupananda spoke on the topic ‘The circle of ta Vishwa Vidyapeetham, the math’s deemed-to-be-uni- life’. versity. Swami Amritaswarupananda being received at Shree Krishna Temple in Manama. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 03 New deals widen spheres of joint co-operation MoUs mark new era of co-operation between Bahrain, Italy

In the presence of HRH the Crown Prince, Shaikh Mohammed signs the agreement. HRH the Crown Prince being received at TechnipFMC.

HRH the Crown Prince with Alexandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO HRH the Crown Prince with Claudio Descalsi, CEO of Italian Company Eni.

the directives of HRH the Crown Prince. In another development, Shaikh Moham- Gulf Air flights to Milan med and Chairman of Tatweer Petroleum, Rome International Airport and Milan of Gulf Air’s expansion strategy nis, ensures the success of pro- that it will begin operating its first and Claudio Descalzi, Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, and coincides with the official posed destinations by measuring Airbus A321neo aircraft, serving Chief Executive Of - ulf Air, the national car- starting from July 2020. opening of the Kingdom of Bah- feasibility in terms of market size, a number of European destina- ficer of Italian oil and rier of the Kingdom, has The announcement, which was rain’s embassy in Rome. trade growth and average airfare tions, including Milan. The new gas company Eni, yes- Gannounced its plans to be- made during a business lunch or- Gulf Air’s highly professional – all of which are factors that the aircraft will feature flatbed seats terday signed an agree- gin operating a year-round daily ganised by the Bahrain Economic network planning team, com- new Milan route satisfies. and a state-of-the-art inflight en- ment to explore new nonstop service between Bahrain Development Board (EDB), is part posed primarily of young Bahrai- Gulf Air has also announced tertainment system. areas for collaboration during a high-level visit to the Italian Republic led by His Royal High- ness, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister. The agreement will facilitate joint assessments as well as the launch of new initiatives in areas of mutual interest, including renewable energy, the supply of Lique- fied Natural Gas (LNG) supply, and exploration. Shaikh Mohammed recognised the delegation’s visit as a platform to further expand in - vestment opportunities in the energy sector, and underlined the benefits of further increasing the exchange of expertise as a means to advance the Kingdom’s oil and gas sector. Among others, Export Bahrain, the national export promotion agency, signed an agreement with SACE, the Italian Export Credit Agency, to increase exports between the two countries. Under the agreement, Export Bahrain and SACE agreed to exchange information on business opportunities to further promote exports, including utilising the exchange of knowledge to aid capacity building. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 04 Plans in place to ‘boost crackdown on’ illegal donation collectors at mosques Measure aims to protect legitimate charity organisations

sources. facilitate procedures and guide The ministry stated The measure is being taken to the applicants to all that meets • protect legitimate charity organ- the public interest and serves all that obtaining required isations and curb illegal fund- Fundraising should be parties. permit is compulsory raisers. done in accordance The ministry stressed the terms and violators will The Ministry of Labour has de- with the laws and cited in the decree to regulate face consequences. cided to intensify its crackdown regulations of the donations which are raised in on organisations amidst increas- country. Those who Bahrain or abroad so as to serve ing violations, the ministry said. break the law will face society as well as religious and The Directorate The ministry stated that ob- charity institutions. of• Religious Affairs taining required permit is com- action. It underlined its role, ever since has been assigned to pulsory and violators will face LABOUR MINISTRY the promulgation of the afore- receive applications consequences. mentioned law-decree, to stream- The ministry also urged any viduals who are raising funds or line procedures and facilitate and issue licences. NGO wanting to send money receiving donations for religious measures to ensure maximum abroad need to obtain a permit purposes – such as alms-giving, benefit for those desiring to raise TDT | Manama as well. mosque construction, persons in donations, adding that it has since Exploiting children by having Donation collectors should obtain necessary licences. their capacity as clerics etc - to re- received a lot of applications. he government is imple- them collect money on the roads port and apply for a licence as per The ministry underscored the menting a crackdown on and public places would also not The ministry stressed the need The mandatory procedures are the formula put at their disposal. importance of regulating fund- Tunlicensed donation col- be tolerated, the ministry stated. to abide by legal measures to ob- in compliance with the law-de- The Directorate of Religious raisers, stressing its role in en- lectors at mosques, it emerged. “Fundraising should be done tain the necessary licences before cree 21/ 2013 on regulating fund- Affairs has been assigned to re- forcing transparency in collecting Donation collectors who visit in accordance with the laws and collecting donations, in compli- raisers for public purposes, edict ceive applications and issue li- funds and donations, conserving mosques to fundraise, need to regulations of the country. Those ance with the legal provisions 47 / 2014 on issuing the executive cences by filling in the application charities, and ensuring raised have a permit for doing so, ac- who break the law will face ac- governing fundraising for public bylaw for law-decree 21/ 2013. form. funds are not misused for illegal cording to Labour Ministry tion.” purposes. The ministry urged all indi- Competent authorities will ends. Deported European woman Delegation briefed on Takamul re-enters Bahrain using friend’s passport ‘to stay with boyfriend’ TDT | Manama ed on September 5, 2018, and launched a search operation European woman, who to nab her. was earlier deported The defendant was The defendant was eventu- A from the Kingdom af- eventually found ally found residing in one of ter being convicted in a pros- residing in one of the hotels in the Capital and titution case, was caught af- she was immediately appre- ter re-entering Bahrain two the hotels in the hended, according to Prose- months later using her friend’s Capital and she cutors. passport, it was recently re- was immediately In the interrogation she vealed. apprehended. confessed to her crime and Justifying her act, the wom- PROSECUTORS told the interrogators that she an told the prosecutors that was deported in September in she couldn’t stay away from 2018 because of her involve- her boyfriend, a GCC national, same year. ment in a prostitution case. who is residing in Bahrain. She travelled to a GCC coun- Moreover, she said in her The woman is now facing try, and there, she stole her statements that in December trial before the First High friend’s passport and used it of the same year, she stole a Criminal Court, which recent- as if it was her own to travel passport from her friend while ly ordered to adjourn the case to Bahrain two months later. they were staying in a GCC to February 12 this year to an- According to the details of country and used it to enter nounce its verdict in the case. the case, the woman succeeded Bahrain again, justifying her A delegation from Botswana Vision 2030 was briefed during a visit to the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) about Bahrain’s Court files show that the de- in entering the Kingdom, but, action for the fact that she experience on the Organisational Performance project (Takamul) and ways to integrate it with Bahrain Economic Vision fendant was caught in 2018 in the investigation of Bahrain wants to stay with her boy - 2030, the Government Action Plan and national strategic initiatives. The delegation was informed about the system a prostitution case and she was International Airport Police friend, a Gulf national, who’s used for monitoring and assessing performances, conveying reports and enabling all employees, regardless of their deported in September in the proved that she was deport- staying in Bahrain. capacities and titles, to use it. Opportunities and challenges in using the system were reviewed with the delegation.

‘Mathematics challenge’ Carjacker loses appeal success for NMS student | Manama TDT was inside one of the shops and In the investigation, he TDT | Manama left his car running for less than claimed that he was under the he First High Criminal 10 minutes. influence of drugs prescribed to dvait Mandar, a Grade Court of Appeal recently After reporting the case to I was under the him by doctors at the Psychiatry IX student of the New Tupheld a six years im- the police, search and investi- influence of Hospital, and told the police- AMillennium School, DPS prisonment sentence issued last gation led to the vehicle on the drugs prescribed men that he wasn’t aware of his Bahrain, made his alma mater year against a Bahraini national next day. actions and doesn’t remember proud by completing the level 2 for stealing a car, ramming into When a police patrol ap - by doctors at anything. and securing a position among five cars and injuring two po- proached the defendant who the psychiatric It was uncovered when the the top 100 meritorious stu- licemen. was inside the stolen vehicle, he hospital. I don’t defendant’s criminal record dents, in the Aryabhata Ganit The Public Prosecution drove off and a car chase began, remember anything was reviewed that there were Challenge 2019. charged the 39-year-old on according to Prosecutors. I did. 35 complaints lodged against Advait secured rank in the Advait Mandar May 21 last year of assaulting Driving on Khalifa Bin Sal- DEFENDANT him to the police earlier. national level ‘Ganit Challenge’ public security personnel, car- man Highway towards the Cap- These complaints includ- conducted by the Central talent in Mathematics and ap- jacking and damaging five ve- ital, the only stop he faced was ed several assault cases, some Board of Secondary Education ply the same to their daily life. hicles, including a police patrol the traffic signals near Bahrain tempted to escape again, hitting against his own father, theft and for schools around the world. The Chairman, Dr Ravi Pil- vehicle. Financial Harbour junction. the patrol vehicle, four other carjacking cases. This computer-based con- lai, Managing Director, Gee- The case originated back in There, the two policemen cars and both policemen who The court sentenced him last test aimed at promoting com- tha Pillai and Principal, Arun May 2019 when the defendant blocked his way with the police were on foot. year to six years imprisonment petencies among students Kuumar Sharma congratulated stole a car from Souq Waqf area patrol vehicle and asked the de- The defendant was eventually and ordered him to pay for the through joyful assessment. It Advait, his teachers and par- in Hamad Town in broad day- fendant to get out of the car. controlled, handcuffed and tak- damages he caused to the five also helped students to identi- ents for this commendable per- light, while the owner of the car However, the defendant at- en to the police station. vehicles he rammed into. fy, encourage and nurture the formance. 05 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 world

Taiwan duo in hot water for Warrant issued for S.Africa’s smuggling heroin in noodles Bangkok

wo Taiwanese men have Tbeen caught trying to Zuma, suspended until May smuggle 15 kilograms of heroin in packets of instant noo- “When you start to issue war- dles from a Bangkok airport, Zuma’s lawyers rants under such circumstances, Thai police said, in a kingdom • people start to question wheth- which is a key regional drug told the court that he er we are all equal under the route. was ill and receiving law,” said Mantsha. Police found the haul inside treatment abroad Zuma was due in court on packets of MAMA noodles -- a Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing Thai brand ubiquitous across Thai police found 15 kilograms of Johannesburg in a case that has seen numerous Asia -- as well as tins of prickly heroin inside packets of MAMA legal turns over a decade and heat powder. noodles and tins of prickly heat a half. The pair were trying to re- powde South African court yes- He is alleged to have taken turn to Taiwan when they terday issued an arrest bribes worth four million rand were arrested on January 30 and fentanyl has overtaken Awarrant for embattled ($270,000) related to a $3.4 bilat Suvarnabhumi Airport after heroin in recent years. former president Jacob Zuma lion arms deal in 1999 when he a tip-off, police said Monday, Opium poppy cultivation after he failed to appear for a was deputy president. without saying from where the in Myanmar fell 11 percent in pre-trial hearing over corrup- In all Zuma faces 16 charges heroin originated. 2019 from the year before, action charges he faces related to of fraud, graft and racketeering The lawless border areas of cording to data released Tues- a 1990s arms deal. related to the purchase of fight- Myanmar, Thailand and Laos day by the United Nations Of- But execution of the warrant Former South African president Jacob Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft er jets, patrol boats and military have for decades been a hub fice on Drugs and Crime. will be deferred until May 6 and racketeering related to an arms purchase in the 1990s, when he was deputy equipment when he was deputy for heroin. But the agency said the re- when the case is due to resume. leader to the country’s second black But the large-scale produc- gion still has around three mil- Zuma’s lawyers told the court president, Thabo Mbeki. tion of synthetic drugs such as lion heroin users in a market that he was ill and receiving judge Dhaya Pillay. “But this “We are very concerned when Both Zuma and French de- methamphetamine, ketamine worth $10 billion. treatment abroad. court needs reliable evidence courts issue warrants under the fence company Thales, which The High Court in the south- that Mr Zuma is indeed ill.” circumstances like this when supplied equipment for navy eastern city of Pietermaritz- “It is not clear that (the doc- the whole country knows that vessels, deny the charges. burg issued the warrant after it tor) is indeed a regular practi- president Zuma is not well ... Zuma was forced to step down Bangladesh drug kingpins surrender questioned the authenticity of tioner,” she said. indeed president Zuma under- in 2018 by the ruling African the sick note said to have been Zuma’s lawyer Dan Mantsha went two operations in early National Congress (ANC) party as deadly crackdown continues signed by a military doctor. told reporters outside the court- January this year,” he said, add- after a nine-year reign marked Cox’s Bazar | Bangladesh “The court accepts that Mr room that “our courts have no ing the country knew Zuma was by corruption allegations and Zuma may be unwell,” said sympathy, no compassion”. outside the country. dwindling popularity. ozens of Bangladeshi drug Dkingpins surrendered in a meth hub along the border with Myanmar, authorities said Tuesday, as fears grow Spain court doubles jail term for Picasso-smuggling banker over a Philippines-style violent Madrid crackdown against traffickers. during his pre-Cubist phase. Addiction to “yaba”, a cheap Spanish court yesterday It was purchased by Botin in and addictive methampheta- Adoubled the jail term hand- London in 1977 and brought mine pill, has soared in the im- ed to a former top banker for back to Spain. poverished South Asian nation smuggling a 26-million-euro Pi- Since 2012, Botin, whose fam- in recent years, experts say Members of Rapid Action Battalion casso painting out of the coun- ily are founder members of the -- even in remote rural villages. (RAB) search people at the exit point try onboard a yacht. Santander banking group, had Authorities say the border of Suhrawardy Udyan park during a Former Bankinter boss been trying to obtain authori- towns have become hotspots drive against drugs, in Dhaka Jaime Botin, who is 83, was sation to export the painting in for trafficking as Rohingya ref- found guilty last month with a order to auction it at Christie’s ugees -- 740,000 of whom fled anti-drug campaign, with se- Madrid court sentencing him in London. Myanmar in 2017 following curity forces killing nearly 500 to 18 months in prison and a However, the culture ministry a military crackdown -- turn alleged traffickers -- including 52.4-million-euro fine ($58.4 refused on grounds there was to drug smuggling to try and dozens of Rohingya refugees -- million) “no similar work on Spanish make ends meet. from May 2018, rights groups But in a rare turnaround two territory” from the same period Some 21 smugglers from say. weeks later, the judge raised the in Picasso’s life, with its decision Teknaf -- a major transit point More than 25,000 people sentence to three years and a confirmed by Spain’s National used by dealers to bring in were also arrested for alleged- 91.7-million-euro fine following Court in May 2015, which de- tens of millions of yaba pills ly taking part in drug-dealing what she said was an “error in clared it “unexportable” due to from Myanmar’s border states activities. the imposition of the penalty”, its “cultural interest”. -- surrendered late Monday, The deadly crackdown saw court documents released on But barely three months lat- police said. 102 yaba traders surrender to Tuesday showed. er, the painting was found by The smugglers also sur - the country’s home minister Under the initial ruling, Bo- The Picasso painting “Head of a Young Woman” was seized by French customs French customs officers on rendered thousands of yaba last February, also in Teknaf. tin -- who also served as a top agents on board a yacht docked in Corsica in July 2015 board a yacht docked at a har- pills as well as weapons, while Police said those who sur- executive at Santander Bank -- bour on the island of Corsica, swearing publicly never to rendered Monday would not had not been expected to spend years if convicted of a non-vio- jailed, given his advanced age. who found documents attesting smuggle or sell narcotics again. escape prosection, but would time behind bars as first-time lent crime. Entitled “Head of a Young to its value and seized it, saying The soaring addiction rate be given fair opportunities to offenders are usually spared It was not immediately clear Girl”, the work was painted by it had been packaged up to be has sparked a Filipino-style fight their cases. jail for sentences of under two whether Botin would now be Picasso in Catalonia in 1906 sent to Switzerland. No takers for Indonesia’s ‘pluck a tyre off the croc’ contest Palu | Indonesia ified reward was offered. to late Australian “Crocodile ndonesia has called off a con- The local conservation agen- Hunter” Steve Irwin -- was keen Itest offering a cash reward to cy offered few details about for another shot after a failed anyone brave enough to remove the reward -- or how outsiders attempt two years ago. a motorbike tyre stuck around might pull off the dangerous task Officials said a team from the the neck of a giant crocodile. -- but its chief said the mon - environment ministry will now Authorities in Palu, capital of ey would come out of his own redouble efforts to free the croc Central Sulawesi, said no would- pocket from its rubber stranglehold. be crocodile wrangler stepped Conservationists who fear the “The contest has been can- forward to take up the challenge croc is being slowly strangled celled,” said Central Sulawesi of removing the unwanted neck- have been trying -- and failing Natural Resources Conserva- lace from the 13-foot (4-metre) -- for years to find a way to un- tion Agency Head Hasmuni reptile. tangle the beast. Hasmar. The contest was rolled out Rumours circulated that pop- “But we now have back up last month, but made headlines Authorities have cancelled a reward offered for anyone who could remove a tyre from the neck of a wild crocodile in ular TV personality Panji the from the ministry and govern- again last week when an unspec- Indonesia Explorer -- Indonesia’s answer ment experts to help us.” WEDNESDAY, FEBRIARU 5, 2020 06 China virus death toll rises above 420

Readies thousands of• new hospital beds

Fifty patients arrived• at a new military-run facility

Hong Kong and the• Philippines have also reported deaths

Local Communist Party• secretary Ma Guoqiang acknowledged Friday that officials had worsened the spread Sixty-four new deaths were confirmed on Tuesday -- surpassing Monday’s record to post the new biggest daily increase since the virus was detected late last year in the central city of Wuhan AFP | Beijing

undreds of empty beds lined an exhibition Hcentre converted into World Bank calls for a makeshift hospital at the epicentre of China’s deadly virus epidemic yesterday, awaiting global effort against virus coronavirus patients. Washington Authorities are scrambling to provide facilities, beds and medical treatment for an influx of he World Bank called on sick people in Wuhan in central TMonday for countries to Hubei province, the ground-ze- step up programs to fight the ro of China’s fight against the new coronavirus outbreak, and virus. said it was considering mobi- The disease has killed more lizing its own resources against than 400 people and infected a the disease. Since breaking out in China, the new further 20,000 in China, nearly “We are calling on all coun- coronavirus has spread worldwide and all of them in Hubei, and spread tries to strengthen their health infected 17,200 people amid fears it to two-dozen countries since it The 1,000-bed facility was built to relieve hospitals swamped with patients in Wuhan, the city in Hubei province at the surveillance and response sys- could slow the global economy emerged in December. epicentre of the national health emergency tems, which is essential to con- Hong Kong and the Philip - tain the spread of this and any nomic and social impacts of pines have also reported deaths, future outbreaks,” the institu- this crisis,” and would support and the World Health Organi- Red Cross official fired for failures tion said in a statement. “China’s efforts to respond, in- zation has declared the crisis a “The World Bank Group is cluding its efforts to maintain global health emergency. Beijing reviewing financial and tech- resilience in its economy.” State media said the converted nical resources that can be International Monetary exhibition centre, along with a top Red Cross official working at the epi- mobilized quickly to support Fund chief Kristalina Georgie- nearby gymnasium, will house Acentre of China’s coronavirus outbreak was affected countries,” and also va said last week that negative an extra 3,400 beds and provide dismissed for dereliction of duty, authorities said “closely coordinating with in- impacts on the economy in the “emergency treatment and clin- yesterday, following local anger over a lack of ternational partners to acceler- first half of 2020 were likely ical testing” for those infected access to donated medical equipment. ate the international response.” but “it would be irresponsi- with the virus in Wuhan. Hubei Red Cross Vice President Zhang Qin The World Bank said it was ble to offer any speculations In its daily update Tuesday, was fired for “dereliction of duty while receiv- “monitoring the wider eco - around what may happen.” China’s National Health Com- ing and distributing donated funds and goods”, mission said there had been 64 according to a statement on the Hubei province new deaths from the virus -- all party discipline commission’s website. in hardest-hit Hubei province -- Two other officials received disciplinary Disabled Chinese boy dies while bringing the national toll to 425. warnings for the same charge, it added. Other coronavirus patients be- The local chapter of the charity was the tar- father in virus quarantine gan arriving yesterday at a field get of online anger last week as social media Beijing hospital in Wuhan built from users and Chinese media asked why frontline scratch in under two weeks, doctors in the stricken province were still un- disabled boy has died after state media said, following a der-equipped despite donations pouring in. Abeing left to fend for him- round-the-clock construction Under local law, Chinese authorities super- self when his father was quar- marathon that became a national vise the charity’s “performance of its functions Medical staff in protective clothing delivering supplies antined over the deadly new social media sensation. and duties... and exercise supervision over its to the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital coronavirus in China’s Hubei Fifty patients arrived at the activities”. province. military-run facility, the state- The Red Cross Society of China said it had “Clearly the Wuhan Red Cross hasn’t dealt Yan Cheng, who was confined backed China Daily reported, received 849 million yuan ($121 million) in cash with this type of situation recently, (and) they to a wheelchair because of cer- life (because of being in isola- with images showing workers in donations as well as supplies as of January 31. had to massively scale up in a short period of ebral palsy, was abandoned at tion)... so he entrusted his rel- protective suits pushing people Chinese news outlet Caixin reported on Sat- time, so to have some shortcomings is not totally home when his father was iso- atives, village cadres and vil- in wheelchairs up a ramp and urday that Red Cross warehouses in Wuhan unnatural,” he added. lated because of a fever. lage doctors to take care of Yan into the pre-fabricated struc- were full of donated supplies, including medical The organisation said on Sunday it was send- The 17-year-old, who could Cheng,” the county government ture. As reports surfaced of bed masks, but local hospitals still had to wait for ing personnel from its headquarters to Wuhan not speak, walk or eat by him- said. shortages in hospitals in Wuhan, hours to receive small amounts of equipment. in order to “ensure that the use of donated funds self, and whose mother died The boy’s death has cost sen- construction began on Huoshen- Secretary-general Jagan Chapagain said on and materials is standardized, efficient, open several years earlier, had no one ior local figures their jobs. shan -- “Fire God Mountain” in Monday that he supported the “deliberate” and transparent”. to feed him or help him with The local Communist Party Chinese -- on Friday January 24. decision by Red Cross officials to withhold a On Tuesday China’s National Health Com- daily life. secretary and mayor were fired Workers toiled day and night number of the donated masks in Wuhan because mission admitted it was still facing “supply and His father, Yan Xiaowen, was because they had “failed to fulfil amid a forest of earthmovers and they were not safe for use by health professionals demand conflicts” regarding protective gear, taken into quarantine on Jan- their responsibilities”, officials trucks carting materials around working on the frontline. namely masks and suits, in Hubei. uary 22, and diagnosed with said. the site, southwest of the centre the potentially deadly virus five The son’s cause of death had of the city of 11 million. mandated by the authorities for State media had initially re- However, with the death toll days later. yet to be confirmed, they said. On the side of one of the the entire population of Wuhan, ported that patients would begin surging in Wuhan and elsewhere He posted a desperate plea News of the tragedy sparked trucks, the isolated city’s new and were checked for fevers dur- arriving Monday -- inside the in Hubei province, it was not for help on social media, calling an outpouring of rage and grief rallying cry -- “Let’s go Wuhan!” ing their breaks. 10-day timeframe authorities immediately clear what over- for someone to go and look after on social media, where author- -- was written on a banner. By the following Friday, they had set out when construction all impact the hospitals would his son. ities in Hubei have already been Leishenshan (“Thunder God had laid 400 prefabricated ship- began. have on the virus spreading But the post, entitled “An ap- criticised for withholding infor- Mountain”), another hospital ping-container-like rooms, after Authorities said the Wuhan elsewhere. peal for help from a father diag- mation about the infection. on an adjacent site, is set to start setting concrete foundations and facilities were modelled on the The city also plans to convert nosed with novel coronavirus”, On Weibo, the hashtag “The admitting patients on Thursday, routing the power supply to the Xiaotangshan hospital in Bei- three existing venues, including came too late. father of Hubei’s cerebral palsy with 1,600 beds. complex. jing, which was built from pre- a gymnasium and an exhibition The teenager died on January victim speaks out” had been Fire and thunder are tradi- The two-floor facility was fabricated structures in barely a centre, into hospitals, the Wu- 29, according to a statement read 270 million times by Tues- tionally associated in China with handed over to the army on week to treat patients infected han government said. by the Hongan county govern- day morning. protection against illnesses. Sunday and will be staffed with by SARS in 2003. The three buildings will be ment. A hashtag about the mayor 1,400 military medics, including That pathogen killed 349 peo- turned into healthcare facilities “Yan Xiaowen was unable to being fired had been viewed 66 Fire and thunder some with experience dealing ple in China and hundreds more with a total of 3,400 beds to take take care of Yan Cheng’s daily million times. All workers wore masks, as with SARS and Ebola. in Hong Kong and abroad. in patients with mild symptoms. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 07 HIV drugs touted as weapon in war on coronavirus Bangkok Best approach s doctors scramble to contain the fast-spread- Aing coronavirus, a potent brew of anti-retroviral and flu drugs has emerged as a possible defence against the myste- rious sickness that has killed hundreds. But the science is inconclusive on whether they are actually effective and experts say successful treatment could take years. Here is what we know -- and don’t know -- about the drugs deployed against the SARS-like virus.

Why anti-retrovi The best approach for the general public is to try and stay healthy so your rals? immune system can offer a robust response to the threat of the virus, said Singapore’s health minister Gan Kim Yong Patients diagnosed with the common flu are often prescribed an antiviral drug widely known as Tamiflu. Two weeks ago Chinese doctors confirmed they had been giving anti-HIV drugs to coronavirus patients in Beijing But the seasonal flu is “very different from the Chinese coro- primary care, or community set- navirus”, said Sylvie van der tings are needed to get a full pic- Werf at the Paris-based Pasteur ture,” they wrote. Institute. So far, the new coronavirus What’s big phar has infected tens of thousands ma doing? worldwide and killed more than 420 people mostly in mainland Biotech firms are working on a China. suite of treatment options. Two weeks ago Chinese doc- California-based Gilead tors confirmed they had been Sciences said they are working giving anti-HIV drugs to corona- with Chinese authorities on clin- virus patients in Beijing, based ical trials to determine if remde- on a 2004 study during the out- sivir -- a drug used to treat SARS break of Severe Acute Respira- -- is effective against the new tory Syndrome, or SARS, that coronavirus. showed “favourable” responses. Meanwhile three teams Used together, lopinavir and around the world -- in China, ritonavir decrease the amount A passenger checks herself with a digital infrared thermometer at Kuala Lumpur Australia and the Pasteur In - of HIV cells in a patient’s blood, International Airport stitute in France -- have now stripping back the virus’s ability succeeded in cultivating the new to reproduce and attack the im- coronavirus in the laboratory. mune system. That could lead to pinpoint- Doctors have also combined ing its “Achilles’ heel” by un - the treatment with another an- derstanding how it replicates supportive care to prevent com- in China. ti-flu drug called oseltamivir, in cells, said Christophe d’En- plications. But Chinese state media lat- hoping the creative cocktail can fert, the institute’s scientific “Chances are if you already er sounded a more cautionary sap the new coronavirus of its director. have underlying medical condi- note, as researchers warned of strength. But as of now there is no spe- tions... your defences are weak potential side effects from the In Thailand, where there are cific treatment against it, World and your organs may already medicine. 19 confirmed cases, a 71-year- Health Organization spokesper- be impaired, and therefore the In India, where there are three old Chinese patient returned a son Tarik Jasarevic said. risk of death is higher,” he told reported confirmed cases, the negative test within 48 hours of “More investigations and anal- parliament Monday. government has touted ancient being given the three drugs. ysis of the epidemiological data Developing a successful solu- homeopathy and Ayurveda rem- But Thai doctors cautioned is still required,” he told AFP. tion may take months or years, edies as the answer. the medicine needed to be given he added. The jury is out on the effec- under supervision due to pos- So what should tiveness, and doctors still recom- sible side effects or it clashing you do? Home remedies mended that patients be treated with pre-existing medications. Traditional Chinese medicines have been touted as treatment for the coronavirus and quackery in a hospital. The best approach for the gen- Online posts erroneously Does it actually ical benefits”, experts in China The researchers were not able eral public is to try and “stay But misinformation has pro- identified saline -- basic salt work? said. to obtain complete samples from healthy” so your immune sys- liferated online about home and water -- as a coronavirus killer But random trials on 41 coro- the patients’ lower respiratory tem can offer a robust response traditional remedies. in Australia, while in Thailand In short, we don’t know for navirus patients had “limita- tract -- which is suspected to be to the threat of the virus, said A liquid made with honey- social media touted that an an- sure. tions”, according to the research, the target site of the new coro- Singapore’s health minister Gan suckle and flowering plants used tiseptic should be sprayed in a The 2004 study showed an- which was published in medical navirus -- and there were not Kim Yong. in traditional medicine was in- person’s mouth. ti-retrovirals used on patients journal The Lancet on January enough patients to verify results. But for already infected pa- itially claimed to “inhibit” the The antiseptic company Beta- with SARS had “substantial clin- 24. “Further studies in outpatient, tients, hospitals must provide virus, sparking frenzied buying dine has refuted the claim. Indonesian women arrested for spreading coronavirus hoax Balikpapan | Indonesia has since killed at least 425 peo- pelago has one of the world’s wo Indonesian women who ple in China and spread around biggest internet audiences, Tallegedly posted misinfor- the world. with some 130 million people mation online about the deadly “They posted a hoax on their online. coronavirus have been arrested, Facebook account that a Balik- At the weekend, more than police said, as they warned doz- papan resident has been diag- 230 Indonesians arrived home ens of hoaxes were being rapidly nosed with coronavirus,” local after Jakarta received Bei- shared by the country’s millions police spokesman Ade Yaya jing’s go-ahead to repatriate of internet users. Suryana said yesterday. its nationals living near the The pair were taken into cus- epicentre. tody in Balikpapan, a city on “They were spreading lies.” The returnees will be isolated Borneo island, in the past few The women -- a farmer and for 14 days at a hospital in Natu- days after separately posting a maid -- could face up to three na, a cluster of islands bordering rumours on their social media years in prison if convicted un- the South China Sea. accounts that a local resident der laws banning the spread of Their arrival has set off pro- was infected and undergoing misinformation, he added. tests in regional capital Ranai treatment. Indonesia’s communications where demonstrators called Indonesia has yet to report ministry has warned that it has on officials to ditch plans to a confirmed case of the virus, spotted at least 50 online hoaxes quarantine the returnees near which emerged in a Chinese The pair -- pictured centre in pink and green -- were taken into custody after separately posting virus rumours on their about the virus recently. a residential area over safety market at the end of last year and social media The Southeast Asian archi- concerns. EDUCATION IS WHAT QUOTE SURVIVES WHEN WHAT HAS OF THE BEEN LEARNED HAS BEEN DAY FORGOTTEN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 B. F. SKINNER

of new sites, hoping that a future US president may give the nod to Forget additional “facts on the ground.” As well as announcing the severance of security contacts with Israel, Palestinian President two states, BARIA ALAMUDDIN Mahmoud Abbas was right to respond with “a thousand no’s,” aking a random district in given Benjamin Netanyahu’s in- the West Bank and calling flexibility over the fundamental Trump’s plan Tit Al-Quds is no more a issues. Fruitful negotiations re- magical method for conjuring up quire at least some shared con- a capital city than taking a swath sensus on the parameters for of the Amazon jungle and calling discussion. The deal was also prescribes it London. angrily rejected in states circling Circling an area of the Negev Israel, where about 1.5 million desert on a map and writing “ag- Palestinian refugees reside. The ricultural” over the top doesn’t cancelation of refugees’ right of apartheid miraculously make the sands return is just one of the issues bloom into irrigated gardens to that will have long-term conse- eternally nourish the inhabitants quences for these nations. of Gaza. The deal’s promised incentives The deal’s promised incentives Boasting about state-of-the-art are dependent on Palestinians road systems, customs facilities, agreeing to the wholesale theft are dependent on Palestinians hospitals, and an underground of their territories, and disarm- agreeing to the wholesale theft tunnel connecting Gaza to the ing of all militant groups. Based Dis and Shuafat, that sit on the Nearly six million Arab West Bank is all very nice. But on previous precedents, even if other side of a hulking concrete citizens throughout Palestine given that these pledges rely on Palestinians bent over backwards separation barrier.” of their territories still-unconfirmed foreign donors, to do everything they were told, It is easy to dismiss Trump’s aren’t going anywhere. These Jared Kushner could have prom- Israel could still exploit flimsy proposals as a meaningless side- proposals address neither ised gold-plated pavements and security pretexts to permanently show concocted by two deeply their grievances nor their diamond-studded street lighting. obstruct the implementation of problematic leaders drowning in statehood aspirations. By kill- Previous peace plans necessi- plans for industrial zones, con- corruption allegations. The nau- ing off the Oslo parameters tated that the wild-eyed Zionist necting roads and other infra - seating adoring gazes, back-slap- with proposals premised on fanatics in dozens of tiny settle- structure. ping and effusive compliments ethnic cleansing and apart- ment “outposts” would be sent The global media almost uni- with which this incestuously ne- packing back to Israel. Kushner’s versally acknowledged that this gotiated travesty was launched heid, Kushner and Netanyahu plan not only gives them the right deal offers Israel everything, say everything we need to know will force Palestinian national to remain, but Palestinian lands while being a nonstarter for the about its intended beneficiaries. aspirations to be expressed are dissected to accommodate Palestinians and trampling on the However, with Netanyahu within new guises. roads and supporting infrastruc- religious rights of the millions rushing to annex the immense ture for even the most remote and of Christians and Muslims who territorial concessions carved provocative locations. The map venerate the many holy sites in from the occupied Jordan Val- provided with the plan is suffi- these territories. The Economist ley, West Bank, Jerusalem and the parameters of a two-state ciently vague to allow settlers to described Donald Trump’s deal Golan Heights, we shouldn’t be deal. Future, more enlightened, carve out additional kilometers as the “steal of the century,” not- in denial that this is a catastroph- US presidents will have to ex - of “natural growth.” It is difficult ing that the new Palestinian “cap- ic game-changer; representing pend almost unconceivable po- to imagine a bigger incentive for ital” amounted to a “few grim the demise of three decades of litical capital in rowing back on settlers to inaugurate hundreds neighbourhoods, such as Abu post-Oslo relative consensus over Trump’s sovereignty giveaways. Fake news about coronavirus is infecting the world

SHOLTO BYRENES a range of western countries, with the backlash so great in France s the death toll from the that a hashtag, #JeNeSuisPasUn- current coronavirus ris- Virus – I am not a virus – has been Aes, the organism itself re- trending among Chinese French mains invisible to the human eye residents. but signs of the fear it arouses are All this serves to remind us of very visible. On a recent trip to the tremendous importance of the Malaysian island of Penang it combating fake news – the force Governments seemed that everyone, from the driving much of this. Strange, airport staff to our taxi driver, sensationalist stories about the around the was wearing face masks. We had dangers of eating Chinese food to have our temperatures taken have been in circulation. In Can- world need to enter the hotel, while all the ada, the head of Toronto’s public to police the pharmacies we passed had no- health department warned that tices saying that they had run out misinformation was creating “un- truth more of masks. necessary stigma against mem- Fear can turn readily to ob - bers of our community”. carefully, but session and then panic. There One Australian newspaper are close links between China called the coronavirus a “Chinese also introduce and South East Asia, with tens virus”, despite the country’s for- of millions from the former tak- mer race discrimination commis- critical ing holidays in the latter every sioner, Tim Soutphommasane, year. It is no surprise that cases pointing out that “viral diseases thinking of infection by the virus have been don’t have ethnic, racial or na- found throughout the region; the tional characteristics”. into school first fatality outside the main- In Indonesia, a WhatsApp mes- land has been confirmed in the sage warned that buying Chinese curriculums Philippines. clothes could lead to infection. Sadly, it was therefore predict- In Malaysia, the situation was able that a rise in xenophobic in- getting so out of hand a week ago cidents targeting not just Chinese that Dzulkefly Ahmad, the health but other Asians too have been minister, told reporters: “We have Despite repealing an Anti-Fake real teeth, as convictions can Loong, the city-state’s prime min- recorded in countries far away, two problems at hand. One is the News Act passed in 2018, the Ma- lead to a fine of up to RM50,000 ister, was unapologetic about do- including France, Italy, the UK, virus, but the more pressing one is laysian authorities fortunately (Dh44,610) or a one-year jail sen- ing so. “People who are making Australia and Canada. In Rome, the viral fake news on the spread still have the tools to back up in- tence. up stories, people who are de - the director of a music school told of the virus.” To counter this, he formation campaigns with pu- Singapore has also used its liberately fomenting fear, uncer- students from China, South Ko- said: “We will have daily updates nitive action. So far, six people relatively new Protection from tainty and doubt,” he said, “we’ve rea and Japan to stay home until and hope the public will go to have been arrested for spreading Online Falsehoods and Manip- acted promptly against them us- doctors had declared them free reliable sources for news instead misinformation about the virus ulation Act, or Pofma, to move ing Pofma.” from the virus. South-east and of believing what goes viral on under the Communications and against those posting falsehoods Both countries have been right east Asians have faced hostility in social media.” Multimedia Act – a law that has about the virus online. Lee Hsien to do so, as it might be a miracle

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing EDUCATION IS WHAT QUOTE SURVIVES WHEN WHAT HAS TODAY 1939 1941 1945 1958 DAY IN OF THE BEEN LEARNED HAS BEEN Generalísimo Francisco Franco World War II: Allied forces begin World War II: General Douglas Gamal Abdel Nasser is nominated DAY FORGOTTEN. HISTORY becomes the 68th “Caudillo de the Battle of Keren to MacArthur returns to Manila. to be the first president of España”, or Leader of Spain. capture Keren, Eritrea. the United Arab Republic. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 B. F. SKINNER

of new sites, hoping that a future carnage that leaders like Trump, trol of borders, armed forces, etc. Wide Angle US president may give the nod to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping However, the deal also (for now) Forget additional “facts on the ground.” have wreaked upon mechanisms blocks the drift toward a one- As well as announcing the of international justice and con- state solution, in which Pales- severance of security contacts flict resolution. Putin and Xi tinians could enjoy fair political TOP The #hashtag: Fad, with Israel, Palestinian President have gridlocked the UN Security representation. These proposals two states, BARIA ALAMUDDIN Mahmoud Abbas was right to Council, while Trump’s acolytes thus represent neither a one nor trend or megatrend? respond with “a thousand no’s,” advocate an absolutist model of a two-state solution, but instead TWEETS4 aking a random district in given Benjamin Netanyahu’s in- presidential power that rejects are a recipe for apartheid. the West Bank and calling flexibility over the fundamental all legal constraints. US and Israeli experts are also Trump’s plan Tit Al-Quds is no more a issues. Fruitful negotiations re- This is also visible in Naren- describing these proposals as 01 magical method for conjuring up quire at least some shared con- dra Modi’s heavy-handed ad - creating apartheid Bantustans. a capital city than taking a swath sensus on the parameters for dressing of the Kashmir question Israeli rights group B’Tselem of the Amazon jungle and calling discussion. The deal was also and other issues of religious and warned of the consequences of prescribes it London. angrily rejected in states circling citizenship rights in India; Chi- Palestinians being “relegated Circling an area of the Negev Israel, where about 1.5 million na’s internment of more than 1 to small, enclosed, isolated en- desert on a map and writing “ag- Palestinian refugees reside. The million Uighur citizens; Bashar claves, with no control over their JOEL INDRUPATI ricultural” over the top doesn’t cancelation of refugees’ right of Assad’s continued genocidal lives.” apartheid miraculously make the sands return is just one of the issues campaigns; Iran’s paramilitary Trump and Netanyahu’s blue- he Democrat Caucus lowly, but surely, the hashtag is growing in cyber- bloom into irrigated gardens to that will have long-term conse- expansionism; and Myanmar’s print for apartheid is only sus- Tis an unmitigated dis- space to prodigious proportions. eternally nourish the inhabitants quences for these nations. purges of the Rohingya. Nobody tainable as long as Israel enjoys aster. Nothing works, just S If email has made the “at sign” or the “commercial of Gaza. The deal’s promised incentives is awaiting serious international military supremacy, under- like they ran the Country. at” or “@” symbol famous, social media has made the “hash The deal’s promised incentives Boasting about state-of-the-art are dependent on Palestinians efforts to address these injus - pinned by billions of dollars of Remember the 5 Billion sign” or “pound” or “#” symbol famous. road systems, customs facilities, agreeing to the wholesale theft tices and, in the absence of any US support; as long as there are Dollar Obamacare Web- In this strange hashtag world – hang on, let me tag this are dependent on Palestinians hospitals, and an underground of their territories, and disarm- reassertion of the primacy of in- no sustained mass uprisings by site, that should have cost write-up as #HashtagWorld - the importance of an issue agreeing to the wholesale theft tunnel connecting Gaza to the ing of all militant groups. Based Dis and Shuafat, that sit on the Nearly six million Arab The Arab League issued a ternational law, these examples Palestinians; and in the absence 2% of that. The only per- or a topic is now measured by the number of times it gets West Bank is all very nice. But on previous precedents, even if other side of a hulking concrete citizens throughout Palestine stronger-than-expected state- will proliferate. of consolidated international son that can claim a very tweeted, retweeted, or shared, within a certain time. given that these pledges rely on Palestinians bent over backwards separation barrier.” ment, unanimously rejecting Nobody is happier than the pressure. big victory in Iowa last And hashtags in posts are helping users to quickly access of their territories still-unconfirmed foreign donors, to do everything they were told, It is easy to dismiss Trump’s aren’t going anywhere. These Trump’s proposals, “which fail likes of Daesh and Iran, which Nearly six million Arab citizens night is “Trump”. millions of tweets and webpages that are ‘trending’. All Jared Kushner could have prom- Israel could still exploit flimsy proposals as a meaningless side- proposals address neither to address the bare minimum of are using their many media or- throughout Palestine aren’t go- @realDonaldTrump based on specific hashtag-ed words and phrases. ised gold-plated pavements and security pretexts to permanently show concocted by two deeply their grievances nor their the Palestinian people’s aspira- gans to agitate against this deal. ing anywhere. These proposals Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are all supporting diamond-studded street lighting. obstruct the implementation of problematic leaders drowning in statehood aspirations. By kill- tions and rights, while violating Trump and Netanyahu play into address neither their grievances hashtags now and they are helping us find, categorise, and Previous peace plans necessi- plans for industrial zones, con- corruption allegations. The nau- ing off the Oslo parameters established parameters of the the terrorist narrative of betray- nor their statehood aspirations. 02 sort our favourite topics, pictures, and postings. tated that the wild-eyed Zionist necting roads and other infra - seating adoring gazes, back-slap- with proposals premised on peace process enshrined in in- ing prospects for a dignified By killing off the Oslo parame- It all started with Twitter actually. When in 2007, soft- fanatics in dozens of tiny settle- structure. ping and effusive compliments ethnic cleansing and apart- ternational law and relevant UN peace. Just as Al-Qaeda exploited ters with proposals premised on ware developer Chris Messina proposed, in a tweet, that ment “outposts” would be sent The global media almost uni- with which this incestuously ne- resolutions.” The UN and EU have Muslim outrage over Jerusalem, ethnic cleansing and apartheid, Twitter should begin grouping topics using the hash packing back to Israel. Kushner’s versally acknowledged that this gotiated travesty was launched heid, Kushner and Netanyahu likewise emphasised the neces- these fundamental injustices pro- Kushner and Netanyahu will symbol. plan not only gives them the right deal offers Israel everything, say everything we need to know will force Palestinian national sity of compliance with UN res- vide copious lighter fuel for the force Palestinian national aspi- Though Twitter initially rejected the idea, by October to remain, but Palestinian lands while being a nonstarter for the about its intended beneficiaries. aspirations to be expressed olutions. British Prime Minister decades of violence and terror- rations to be expressed within 2007 some citizen journalists had begun using the hashtag are dissected to accommodate Palestinians and trampling on the However, with Netanyahu within new guises. Boris Johnson showed none of ism to come. new guises. For those of us who owa is charming and #SanDiegoFire, at Messina’s suggestion, to tweet updates roads and supporting infrastruc- religious rights of the millions rushing to annex the immense these reservations, urging Pales- Kushner boasts that, for the have lived through multiple his- Ieverything but let’s all on a series of forest fires in San Diego. ture for even the most remote and of Christians and Muslims who territorial concessions carved tinians to engage with the plan, first time, Netanyahu has com- toric bouts of bloodletting and admit that if we saw this And the practice of hash-tagging took provocative locations. The map venerate the many holy sites in from the occupied Jordan Val- although his foreign secretary mitted to a two-state proposal. conflict, we can only view the sloppy, chaotic, slap-dash The use of hashtags off. It left Twitter with no choice but to provided with the plan is suffi- these territories. The Economist ley, West Bank, Jerusalem and the parameters of a two-state later expressed “concerns” that Why? Because this isn’t a two- future with extreme dread. voting system employed embrace it. ciently vague to allow settlers to described Donald Trump’s deal Golan Heights, we shouldn’t be deal. Future, more enlightened, Israel was rushing ahead to an- state solution. The envisaged Pal- in another country we’d is in fact a trend Even Facebook which was reluctant Baria Alamuddin is an award-win- carve out additional kilometers as the “steal of the century,” not- in denial that this is a catastroph- US presidents will have to ex - ( nex much of the West Bank. estinian entity (which won’t ever ning journalist and broadcaster in the call for UN election mon- than is becoming for long had to finally accept the use of of “natural growth.” It is difficult ing that the new Palestinian “cap- ic game-changer; representing pend almost unconceivable po- A deal that is so fundamentally see daylight) lacks any trappings Middle East and the UK. She is editor of itoring. a megatrend. hashtags from 2013. to imagine a bigger incentive for ital” amounted to a “few grim the demise of three decades of litical capital in rowing back on at odds with international law of statehood: Sovereignty, con- the Media Services Syndicate and has @TimAlberta Especially because Thanks to hashtags, we are now able settlers to inaugurate hundreds neighbourhoods, such as Abu post-Oslo relative consensus over Trump’s sovereignty giveaways. is only possible because of the tiguous territories, a capital, con- interviewed numerous heads of state.) to know what the world is talking about, the world is quickly. 03 discovering how It is enabling social media analysts to quickly it can see know what people around the world, specific topics and and people even in very specific regions of a large city are most interested in – specific webpages. actually, even at a certain point of time Fake news about coronavirus is infecting the world I found out that on a certain day. hashtags.org It is also helping us understand what he human toll of is really ‘trending’ and what is going SHOLTO BYRENES actually gives its a range of western countries, with There are lessons to be licing the truth more carefully, TAgent Orange, used users analytic tools ‘viral’. the backlash so great in France learned here; and I do not in clamping down and being un- during the Vietnam War, Recently, the hashtag #MeToo trend- s the death toll from the that a hashtag, #JeNeSuisPasUn- afraid to prosecute when neces- has been tremendous. A to see the trends ed for several weeks and many celebri- current coronavirus ris- Virus – I am not a virus – has been have space now to go into sary. For any “human right” to tell number of U.S. service of several specific ties in Hollywood and many bigwigs in es, the organism itself re- trending among Chinese French the role of big tech, nor the lies that cause real damage and members who came in hashtags. But even Politics had to run into hiding to escape A puzzling gullibility of many mains invisible to the human eye residents. leave publics bewildered about contact with the chem- without special the accusations from their victims of but signs of the fear it arouses are All this serves to remind us of who used to rely on trusted what and whom to believe is not ical would battle com- sexual harassment. very visible. On a recent trip to the tremendous importance of media that checked their worth the dignity of so exalted plications attributed tools, simple I remember our marketing professor Governments the Malaysian island of Penang it combating fake news – the force facts but now appear to a title. to it. Agent Orange has hashtag links are who had explained to us, ‘fad, trend and seemed that everyone, from the driving much of this. Strange, believe anything that appears Another lies in education, and been linked to cancers easy to track. mega trend’, during a lecture on Product airport staff to our taxi driver, sensationalist stories about the in this Finland provides a superb and other fatal diseases. Life Cycles. around the was wearing face masks. We had dangers of eating Chinese food on their phone. example. The country incor - #WorldCancerDay Roughly speaking (1) a ‘fad’ quickly world need to have our temperatures taken have been in circulation. In Can- porated a programme to instil @VVMF gains in popularity and may fade just to enter the hotel, while all the ada, the head of Toronto’s public critical thinking and to develop as quickly (2) a ‘trend’ is a bit slower-paced than fad, but to police the pharmacies we passed had no- health department warned that how to assess reliability of infor- 04 represents something that is occurring on a much wider tices saying that they had run out misinformation was creating “un- mation into its national school scale and (3) a ‘megatrend’ is the long-lasting one, and can truth more of masks. necessary stigma against mem- curriculum in 2016. Thousands of go on for years. Fear can turn readily to ob - bers of our community”. government employees and civil To paraphrase, if the fad of using snapchat filters may carefully, but session and then panic. There One Australian newspaper about the coronavirus. Fake news servants have also been trained die out soon, the trend of using smartphones is unlikely to. are close links between China called the coronavirus a “Chinese – or downright lies – have been in the approach over the past few And the mega trend of using hashtags may not go easily. also introduce and South East Asia, with tens virus”, despite the country’s for- a particular poison to political years. It has had results. Accord- The use of hashtags is in fact a trend than is becoming of millions from the former tak- mer race discrimination commis- discourse in America, as I have ing to one annual survey of 35 a megatrend. Especially because the world is discovering critical ing holidays in the latter every sioner, Tim Soutphommasane, previously written, where free- European countries, Finland is possible vaccine how quickly it can see specific topics and specific webpages. year. It is no surprise that cases pointing out that “viral diseases speech laws set a particularly now the most resistant by far to Afor the 2019 novel I found out that hashtags.org actually gives its users thinking of infection by the virus have been don’t have ethnic, racial or na- high bar for defamation and libel. fake news. coronavirus, which has analytic tools to see the trends of several specific hashtags. found throughout the region; the tional characteristics”. This has provided cover not There are lessons to be learned infected over 17,000 and But even without special tools, simple hashtag links are into school first fatality outside the main- In Indonesia, a WhatsApp mes- just for the near-unending series here; and I do not have space now killed at least 360 since easy to track. land has been confirmed in the sage warned that buying Chinese of outlandish claims and plain to go into the role of big tech, nor late 2019, is stored in a For instance, I checked the trends yesterday evening curriculums Philippines. clothes could lead to infection. untruths that appear on President the puzzling gullibility of many lab in Texas. It was first (Tuesday, 4 Feb at about 6 pm Bahrain time) on twitter for Sadly, it was therefore predict- In Malaysia, the situation was Donald Trump’s twitter feed, but who used to rely on trusted media developed for SARS, what people are posting. Among the top topics worldwide able that a rise in xenophobic in- getting so out of hand a week ago also a state of affairs whereby that checked their facts but now but researchers think it were K-pop singers’ birthdays #HappyJiSungDay with cidents targeting not just Chinese that Dzulkefly Ahmad, the health figures in public life have false- appear to believe anything that could be just as effective 532000 tweets, and #OurMagicalMiracleTaehyun with but other Asians too have been minister, told reporters: “We have Despite repealing an Anti-Fake real teeth, as convictions can Loong, the city-state’s prime min- that malicious falsehoods have ly accused their rivals of crimes appears on their phone. in 2020. 262000 tweets. recorded in countries far away, two problems at hand. One is the News Act passed in 2018, the Ma- lead to a fine of up to RM50,000 ister, was unapologetic about do- not yet led to outright violence with no legal rebuke for doing so. But the falsities leaking and @dcexaminer Compared to that #IowaCaucusDisaster was a mere including France, Italy, the UK, virus, but the more pressing one is laysian authorities fortunately (Dh44,610) or a one-year jail sen- ing so. “People who are making and even deaths. In too many oth- And this is not new. The Trump swirling around the coronavirus 41,300 tweets. #coronavirus is trending too but with less Australia and Canada. In Rome, the viral fake news on the spread still have the tools to back up in- tence. up stories, people who are de - ers, however, the elevation of free administration might be particu- epidemic should sharply focus tweets. Quite clearly, youth can skew the truth. the director of a music school told of the virus.” To counter this, he formation campaigns with pu- Singapore has also used its liberately fomenting fear, uncer- speech into a kind of holy grail of larly blatant in its promotion of our attention once again on fake News journalists use these hashtags and drive some students from China, South Ko- said: “We will have daily updates nitive action. So far, six people relatively new Protection from tainty and doubt,” he said, “we’ve human rights that should nev- “alternative facts”, but the ground news. In the short term, it might Disclaimer: (Views expressed topics to trend. And of late, these hashtags are also being rea and Japan to stay home until and hope the public will go to have been arrested for spreading Online Falsehoods and Manip- acted promptly against them us- er be marred by any restrictions has been laid for such unashamed not be as harmful as this fright- by columnists are personal and manipulated by political parties and their IT Cells. doctors had declared them free reliable sources for news instead misinformation about the virus ulation Act, or Pofma, to move ing Pofma.” has allowed fake news to flourish disregard for the truth for dec- ening new infection. In the long need not necessarily reflect our So, it looks like we will be caught-up in this megatrend from the virus. South-east and of believing what goes viral on under the Communications and against those posting falsehoods Both countries have been right and spread unchecked. I refer ades. term, though, it is undoubtedly editorial stances) of #hashtagworld for long. east Asians have faced hostility in social media.” Multimedia Act – a law that has about the virus online. Lee Hsien to do so, as it might be a miracle here not just to misinformation One answer to this lies in po- far, far more dangerous. (The writer’s twitter handle: @joelindrupati)

Takaful awarded highest Financial Most of Gulf markets gain

Bank Aljazira gains rating of ‘A-’ on• higher profit TDT | Manama Aramco closes akaful International Com- down• at 33.85 riyals Tpany has been assigned a Financial Strength Rating of TAQA extends gains (A-) Excellent with a stable • outlook and a Long-Term Is- on ADPower proposal suer Credit Rating of “a-“ by AM Best Rating Agency. Brent crude stood The rating, Takaful said, re- at• $54.88 a barrel flects the sound financial position enjoyed by the company, by 1135 GMT being the only takaful provider in the kingdom to be rated (A-) Saudi Arabia’s Stable Outlook. benchmark• index AM Best said the rating re- rose 0.3pc. flects the efficiency of operational performance, the robust procedural system on the Reuters performance of risks, and the strong link it has with its par- ost Gulf stock mar- ent company and Gulf Insur- kets rose yesterday, ance Group. Msupported by bank- An investor watching stock movements at the Saudi Stock Market (AFP) The statement also high- ing shares, following a rebound lights that Takaful Interna- in oil prices on hopes for new Closing Bell The Abu Dhabi index rose blue-chip index was up 0.3pc, tional Co. is at an advantageous output curbs from OPEC and 0.4pc as First Abu Dhabi Bank driven by a 0.3pc gain in Com- position with its synergized its allies. SAUDI  0.3pc to 8,138 pts gained 0.7pc. mercial International Bank operations with gig-Bahrain The Organisation of the Pe- ABU DHABI  0.4pc to 5,096 pts Abu Dhabi National Energy as it reported an increase in and its pioneering position in troleum Exporting Countries DUBAI  0.1pc to 2,767 pts Company soared 14.9pc, extend- fourth-quarter profit. It also the kingdom’s takaful market. and its allies are considering ing the previous session’s gains. proposed a cash dividend of 1.25 Essam Mohamed Al-Ansari, cutting crude output by 500,000 QATAR  0.2pc to 10,270 pts Abu Dhabi Power Corpora- Egyptian pounds ($0.0794) per CEO of the company, expressed barrels per day, as demand EGYPT  0.3pc to 13,915 pts tion (ADPower) is planning to share for 2019. his happiness at receiving the Essam Mohamed Al-Ansari, CEO shrinks because of the corona- BAHRAIN  0.1pc to 1,664 pts take control of the energy firm Qatar’s index edged up 0.2pc. financial and credit ratings. virus outbreak in China, people in an asset swap that would Qatar National Bank , the Gulf’s The move, he said, reflects familiar with the matter told OMAN  0.7pc at 4,145 pts create a combined utility with largest bank, gained 1.7pc. Me- the company’s position as a rain and becoming distinctive Reuters on Monday. KUWAIT  at 6,975 pts assets worth a total of about saieed Petrochemical was up strategic pioneering market addition as a member of Gulf Brent crude stood at $54.88 a 200 billion dirhams ($54.45 2pc. leader having a prominent role Insurance Group expending barrel by 1135 GMT, up 43 cents, billion). In Dubai, the index slipped in setting the fundamentals around the MENA region. or nearly 0.8 per cent. Nasdaq-Dubai listed port op- 0.1pc, hurt by a 1.2pc drop in of the takaful industry in the He noted that the company Saudi Arabia’s benchmark in- erator DP World added 0.9pc developer Emaar Properties and kingdom since its establish- has adopted a balanced un - dex rose 0.3pc. Al Rajhi Bank after it reported growth in a 0.7pc drop in Emirates NBD ment in 1989. derwriting and investment added 0.8pc and Banque Sau- 2019 volume, handling 71 mil- Bank . The CEO said that the com- strategies that had positively di Fransi 2.8pc. Bank Aljazira tributed to lower zakat charges. lion twenty-foot equivalent However, Dubai Investments pany focuses on enhancing affected the company’s finan- closed up 1.9pc after it posted State-owned Saudi Aramco units. ended 2.3pc higher following a operational capacity in Bah- cial results. a rise in annual profit that it at- fell 0.3pc to 33.85 riyals ($9.02). Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s higher annual profit.

Volkswagen’s Skoda targets Indian revival with tougher safety, emission rules Reuters | New Delhi Motors and Mahindra & Ma- koda is hoping government hindra. Smoves to drag regulations Among the new rules are for cars sold in India up to tighter emissions standards, developed market standards pushing up the costs for do- will help turn around its for- mestic carmakers and forcing tunes in a market where it has many to increase prices in In- stalled. dia, which is expected to be- The Volkswagen-owned come the world’s third-largest Czech carmaker has been car market by 2026. tasked with helping its Ger- Their cars have typically man parent achieve a 2025 tar- been designed to meet strict- get of a 5 per cent market share er standards than were need- Banagas held a joint exercise on emergencies in compressor station No. (7) in continuation of its cooperation with the Ministry of Interior represented by the in India, which is dominated ed in India, that meant their General Directorate of Civil Defense. The exercise evaluated emergency response systems and the effectiveness of the firefighting team and support team by home-grown automakers cars were over-engineered and in managing the emergency and evacuation process. Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Company’s Chief Executive, expressed his thanks and including Maruti Suzuki, Tata more expensive. appreciation to the General Directorate of Civil Defense for their continuous cooperation.

A special ceremony was held to honour Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Ayman Almoayyed, Bahrain national football team coach Helio Souza and his support staff for winning the 24th Gulf Cup in December. It was hosted by Al Hawaj Group at its Seef Mall outlet. Present were the ministry’s assistant under-secretary for sports and establishments’ affairs Dr Shaikh Saqr bin Salman Al Khalifa, Al Hawaj Group chairman Jawad Al Hawaj, general manager Abdul Wahab Al Hawaj and Ahlia University managing director Professor Abdulla Yusuf Abdulwahab Al Hawaj. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 11

Motorcity launches all-new Stock markets rally as traders SsangYong Korando TDT | Manama

otorcity has launched assess virus impact on economy Mthe all-new Korando, the 4th generation SUV that boasts AFP | London a fresh new look and the latest safety and tech features for the Bahrain market. tock markets rallied yes- The chairman of Motorcity, The new Korando is available in a 1.5-litre turbo engine terday, as trading floors Waleed E. Kanoo, highlighted Sassessed the early impact the significance of the new Ko- of China’s deadly virus on the rando stating, “We are certain the company announcing economy. that this car will gain momen- plans for an electrified version Asian and European indices tum due to the quality of its next year. climbed after gains overnight build, the beauty of its all-new Starting at BD 7,700, Mo- on Wall Street, while the dollar interior and exterior and, of torcity is offering an offer of largely firmed. course, its affordability.” registration, insurance and The pound recovered, after The new Korando is availa- window tinting, along with 3 heavy falls Monday triggered ble in a 1.5-litre turbo engine years service package and a by Britain and the European for the Bahrain market with 10-year warranty. Union offering very different ideas regarding their new trade deal following Brexit. Markets’ main focus re - mained on authorities’ efforts Alibaba-backed fund to build to contain an outbreak that has now infected over 20,400 HQ in Saudi ‘media city’ people and killed more than the SARS epidemic that ham- mered Asian economies in 2003. “Investors find themselves at More than 20,000 people have now been infected by the virus, with 425 dead, while it has spread to more than 20 an interesting, slightly difficult countries point in the coronavirus outbreak timeline,” noted Connor Key figures around 1230 GMT The virus has spread to more Campbell, analyst at Spreadex than 20 countries, while several London - FTSE 100:  1.3 pc at 7,422.05 points trading group. have imposed tough travel rules “This has happened multiple Frankfurt - DAX 30:  1.3 pc at 13,208.88 including banning flights to and times since the outbreak began, Paris - CAC 40:  1.3 pc at 5,910.25 from China. investors picking and choosing Meanwhile the World Health EURO STOXX 50:  1.4 pc at 3,712.14 Representative picture what developments they are Organization has declared a willing to pay attention to. Shanghai - Composite:  1.3 pc at 2,783.29 (close) global health emergency. Reuters | Dubai/Riyadh han, who is also the chairman “Further complicating mat- Hong Kong - Hang Seng:  1.2 pc at 26,675.98 (close) The virus was “inflicting a of the new media city, said on ters is the fact... the impact on heavy blow” to China’s econ- audi Arabia has signed an Twitter. Tokyo - Nikkei 225:  0.5 pc at 23,084.59 (close) the Chinese economy won’t omy, said National Australia Sagreement with a fund The minister also said an really be known until the next New York - DOW:  0.5 pc at 28,399.81 (close) Bank’s David de Garis. linked to China’s Alibaba to agreement had been reached batch of data out of the country,” Euro/dollar:  at $1.1052 from $1.1060 at 2200 GMT “It stands to reason that build a new headquarters in a to build a new headquarters Campbell added. Pound/dollar:  at $1.3019 from $1.2995 growth will be much weaker, “media city” in the kingdom’s for Saudi-controlled media Oil prices have tumbled since even if there is ultimately a re- capital, the Saudi minister of group MBC, as well as a new the deadly outbreak in the Euro/pound:  at 84.88 pence from 85.11 pence bound of sorts next quarter on culture said yesterday. hub for MBC-owned sister world’s second-biggest econo- Dollar/yen:  at 109.06 yen from 108.69 yen a quick passing of the viral epi- The minister, Badr bin Ab- news channels Al Arabiya and my, which is a huge consumer Brent Crude:  0.4 pc at $54.69 per barrel demic,” he added. dullah bin Farhan, said on Al Hadath. of crude. Shanghai’s main stocks in- Twitter that he signed the The media city will be in the And on Tuesday, Iraq’s oil West Texas Intermediate:  1.1 pc at $50.65 per barrel dex rose 1.3 per cent Tuesday agreement with Jerry Li, embassies district of Riyadh, ministry said OPEC members -- boosted by China’s central founding partner of e WTP state TV said on Twitter. and their ally Russia were dis- bank injecting around another Capital, which is backed by It will be in competition cussing a further cut to crude oil discuss the virus’s impact and fore recovering. $60 billion into the financial Jack Ma, head of e-commerce with Dubai Media City in the output because of the epidemic. whether an output reduction is The WTI oil contract also hit markets. giant Alibaba Group. United Arab Emirates. The The Organization of the Pe- needed, it said. the lowest level in 13 months, at It had dived 8.0 pc Monday, “An important first step to Dubai project is the region’s troleum Exporting Countries Benchmark oil contract, Brent $49.66 per barrel. with Chinese traders catching strengthen our partnerships leading media hub and where is holding a meeting of a “joint North Sea crude, slumped to Around 1230 GMT, Brent had up with losses elsewhere while and attract innovators from MBC Group is currently head- technical committee” in Vienna $53.95 per barrel Tuesday -- the further recovered to $54.69 per away for the long Lunar New all over the world,” bin Far- quartered. on Tuesday and Wednesday to lowest level for 13 months, be- barrel and WTI reached $50.65. Year break. Disappointing growth hits Google parent Alphabet shares San Francisco YouTube as a digital ad vehicle,” oogle parent Alphabet Perrin said. Gmissed revenue expecta- “YouTube is growing strongly tions in the fourth quarter de- according to this report, and rev- spite stellar growth at YouTube enues are above where eMarket- and in the cloud, earnings fig- KNOW WHAT er had thought they were.” ures released Monday showed. Alphabet’s “other bets” Detailing its cloud comput- which include Waymo autono- ing and YouTube revenues for Indian-born Pichai, who mous vehicles, life sciences and the first time, Alphabet report- had been CEO of Google, drone delivery, took in $172 mil- ed that profits rose 19 per cent lion in revenue in the final three from a year ago in the quarter to was promoted last year to months of the year, ending the 12 nearly $10.7 billion as revenues the same role at Alphabet months with a big operating loss. increased 17pc to $46bn. The results come with the Alphabet and Google chief company facing intense pressure executive Sundar Pichai touted around the globe over its domi- YouTube as a revenue star at Alphabet and Google chief executive Sundar Pichai touted YouTube, whose logo nance of the online ecosystem. the company, with ad revenue is seen at the right, as a revenue star at the company Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said fewer holiday shopping days. It also has been at the center of reaching $15bn last year in an in- the firm’s investments in “deep a dispute over tax policy for mul- crease of about 36pc from 2018. which dominates online search computing services took in $2.6 computer science”, including artificial Highlighting YouTube tinational firms. Global negoti- YouTube music and televi- and makes the Android mobile billion in revenue during the last intelligence, provide a strong base for Despite that, Sebastian said he ators are seeking a new treaty sion premium services now have operating system, has been three-month period -- up more continued growth sees “no change to our positive on how to tax digital operations more than 20 million paid sub- working to reduce its depend- than 50pc -- and nearly $9bn for long-term thesis” for Alphabet. spanning the globe. scribers, according to Pichai. ence on the digital advertising the year. here and continues to be.” Analyst Nicole Perrin at eMar- “It is something we always Despite assurances by execu- which delivers most of its cash. Chief financial officer Ruth Google advertising took in the keter said the results highlight need to take a look at,” Pichai tives that Alphabet sees plenty of “Our investments in deep Porat said Alphabet will ramp- majority of revenue at $38bn in the significance of YouTube, the said on an earnings call with in- money-making potential ahead computer science, including up hiring this year. Much of that the quarter, and more than 80 popular video service for which vestors and others, when asked and is investing to capitalize artificial intelligence, ambient will be engineering talent for its percent of its annual revenues Alphabet had not up to now dis- how regulatory or taxation on long-term trends, Alphabet computing and cloud comput- cloud division which competes of $162bn. closed financial data. moves could affect Alphabet’s shares slipped more than four ing, provide a strong base for with cloud market-leaders Am- Colin Sebastian, an analyst “This is something investors bottom line. percent in after-market trades continued growth and new op- azon and Microsoft. at Baird, said the earnings re- have been looking for, but the “We are engaged in these that followed release of the earn- portunities across Alphabet,” “We are leaning into investing port showed “a deceleration” in information should also give issues and we anticipate and ings figures. said Pichai. for longterm growth,” Porat said. growth for Google, which may advertisers valuable informa- structurally work on them early The California tech giant, The company said its cloud “That has been a key principle have been due to the impact of tion about the importance of on.” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 12 AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes steps aside amid probe ringgit (25 cents at the current of 180 aircraft from Airbus. Probe found rate) in 2001, is the European But in a new statement Tues- • manufacturer’s largest customer day, the pair denied that his individuals associated for single-aisle jets. Caterham F1, the former Formula One team was with the planemaker Airbus is the only plane sup- company alleged to involved in any bribery scandal. had paid to secure deals plier to AirAsia. have been sponsored “Caterham F1, the company improperly by Airbus, alleged to have been sponsored with AirAsia and its AirAsia shares plunge long-haul unit AirAsia X was at the relevant improperly by Airbus, was at the The news has sent shares in time a Formula 1 relevant time a Formula 1 racing AirAsia plunging 20.9 per cent racing team that had team that had gone round the Kuala Lumpur since Monday following the re- globe promoting among others lease of the SFO’s investigation, gone round the globe AirAsia, AirAsia X, GE and Air- irAsia’s colourful chief with the price at its lowest since promoting among bus,” Fernandes and Kamarudin executive Tony Fer - September 2015. others AirAsia, said in the statement. Anandes has stepped aside Tan Kam Meng, analyst with AirAsia X, GE and “Throughout the period we from the company while author- local brokerage TA Securities, Airbus were shareholders in Caterham, ities probe unusual payments at warned of further losses if Fer- the company made no profit and the Malaysian carrier, as the fall- nandes and Kamarudin are was eventually disposed of for out from a $4 billion bribery fine charged. FERNANDES AND KAMARUDIN 1 pound sterling in 2014. From at Airbus reverberates across the While flamboyant AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes and his executive chairman “If the probe is unfavourable start to finish, this was a brand- industry. Kamarudin Meranum have denied any wrongdoing, the firm’s share price has against them or they are charged ing exercise and not a venture to The shock decision came after plummeted this week in court, the impact will be a dis- make profit.” Britain’s Serious Fraud Office aster to shareholders,” he said. Britain, France and the United The flamboyant Fernandes (SFO) released details of a probe They added that they “cate- any act of corruption commit- “I am shocked by the news of States to settle corruption in- has carved an image for him - that found individuals associat- gorically deny any and all allega- ted by citizens or permanent the bribery.” quiries sparked by suspicious self as Asia’s answer to Richard ed with the planemaker had paid tions of wrongdoing or miscon- residents anywhere outside the The losses have been com - equipment sales. Branson, shaking up Southeast to secure deals with AirAsia and duct on our part as directors of country. pounded by a deadly Chinese A court document on the SFO Asian air travel with his carrier’s its long-haul unit AirAsia X. AirAsia. We would not harm the Two other agencies in Ma - virus outbreak that has seen sev- website says EADS France SAS -- slogan “Now everyone can fly”. Fernandes and executive very companies that we spent laysia, including the aviation eral airlines cancel flights to the which was later renamed Airbus Fernandes and Kamarudin chairman Kamarudin Meranun our entire lives building up to agency and the Securities Com- country, one of AirAsia’s most Group SAS -- paid $50 million as have not been shy in flaunt - said in a statement late Monday: their present global status”. mission, reportedly have started profitable routes. sponsorship for a sports team ing their wealth and both once “We are relinquishing our exec- They will remain with the air- their own probe. “It is a double whammy for owned by two unnamed AirAsia owned the now-defunct Cater- utive roles with immediate ef- line as advisors, they said. Fernandes has been one of AirAsia,” analyst Tan said. executives. ham Formula One racing team, fect for a period of two months, Malaysia’s anti-corruption Airbus’s most loyal customers A French court last week said “Key decision makers” in while they are also majority or such other period that the commission said on Saturday it and his Malaysia-based budget Airbus had agreed to pay 3.6 bil- AirAsia and AirAsia X allegedly owners of London football club companies may deem fit.” was empowered to investigate airline, which he bought for one lion euros ($4 billion) in fines to rewarded the firm with an order Queens Park Rangers.

Britain to ban new petrol, hybrid cars from 2035 White House does not see Reuters | London in which electric vehicles pre- US economic ‘disaster’ vail. ritain will ban the sale of Ford, Volkswagen and Vaux- from coronavirus Bnew petrol, diesel and hy- hall are Britain’s biggest-selling brid cars from 2035, five years car manufacturers, according earlier than planned, in an at- to the Society of Motor Man- tempt to reduce air pollution ufacturers and Traders. Tesla, that could herald the end of over Mitsubishi and BMW produce a century of reliance on the in- the top three selling electric ternal combustion engine. cars in Britain. The step amounts to a victory Although the ban will not for electric cars that if copied come into force for another 15 globally could hit the wealth of years, the change will affect de- oil producers, as well as trans- cision-making sooner as car- form the car industry and one of Electric cars are charged at Source power points in London, Britain makers decide on investments the icons of 20th Century cap- long before a vehicle first rolls White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow speaks during a TV interview at italism: the automobile itself. France is preparing to ban the off a production line with a the White House in Washington Prime Minister Boris John- sale of fossil fuel-powered cars model life cycle lasting around son is seeking to use the an - by 2040. seven years. Reuters | Washington rus outbreak, saying: “It’s not a nouncement to elevate the Unit- While demand for electric ve- The ban poses a threat to Ger- catastrophe. It’s not a disaster.” ed Kingdom’s environmental hicles has surged in Britain, Eu- man jobs as Britain is the biggest he coronavirus outbreak “We’ve been through this credentials after he sacked the rope’s second-largest market for export market for its car manu- Tthat began in mainland before and I just think the im- head of a Glasgow UN Climate new vehicles, diesel and petrol facturers, amounting to about China will likely have some pact is minimal,” he said later. Change Conference planned models still account for 90 per 20pc of global sales, and electric impact on US supply chains, China is a key trading part- for November known as COP26. cent of sales. Prospective buyers cars take less time to build than but the effects will probably ner of the United States. “We have to deal with our of greener models are worried combustion-engined or hybrid not be catastrophic, White Kudlow said he thought CO2 emissions,” Johnson said about the limited availability variants. House economic adviser Lar- the virus outbreak could spur at a launch event for COP26 at of charging points, the range of ry Kudlow said in an interview business investment and lead London’s Science Museum on As a country and as a certain models and the cost. Power source with Fox Business Network. to increases in production in Tuesday. “As a country and as a society, as a planet, The government said last year The two-week COP26 summit The number of cases and the United States. society, as a planet, as a species, as a species, we must it was providing an extra 2.5 is seen as a moment of truth for deaths in the fast-spreading Asked if component short- we must now act.” now act million pounds ($3.25 million) the 2015 Paris Agreement to outbreak have continued to ages could be a result of the The government said that, to fund the installation of more combat global warming. Britain climb, spurring the United outbreak, Kudlow said: “Yes. PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON subject to consultation, it would than 1,000 new charge points has pledged to reach net zero States to evacuate some of its To a point. It’s not across the end the sale of new petrol, die- for electric vehicles on residen- by 2050. citizens from China, issue a board.” sel and hybrid cars and vans in emissions scandal and the EU tial streets. Johnson also signalled that a travel warning, and impose “Chipmakers are not go - 2035, or earlier if a faster tran- is introducing tougher carbon phase-out of Britain’s coal-fired quarantines and a partial travel ing to be affected that much. sition was possible. dioxide rules. Electric dream? power plants would be brought ban. Beijing has criticised the Pharmaceuticals probably will Countries and cities around The mayors of Paris, Madrid, While some automakers may forward by a year to 2024. Coal measures. be affected much more. Some the world have announced plans Mexico City and Athens have find it hard to countenance the provides just 3pc of the coun- In the television interview, things are kind of in the mid- to crack down on diesel vehicles said they plan to ban diesel ve- end of the combustion engine, try’s electricity, down from 70pc Kudlow played down the po- dle, when you get to automo- following the 2015 Volkswagen hicles from city centres by 2025. others have embraced a future three decades ago, he said. tential wider impact of the vi- biles and auto parts.” Indian Oil Corp, Phinergy seal next generation battery deal Reuters | New Delhi the government is pushing for a India, the world’s third set up a join venture in India ndian Oil Corp, the country’s shift to electric vehicles to cut biggest oil importer and to manufacture Al-Air batteries Itop refiner, has bought a mi- pollution and lower the coun- consumer, ships in over and to facilitate development of nority stake in Israel’s Phinergy try’s fuel import bill. 80pc of its overall needs supporting infrastructure. and signed a joint venture deal to “We are confident that this from overseas, and is In another step to diversify produce metal-air batteries, an Al-Air battery technology would and clean up supplies, Singh said alternative to more mainstream complement lithium-ion batter- working to reduce that last week the IOC would install lithium technology. ies to provide a hybrid solution dependency liquefied natural gas dispensers IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh for the large-scale adoption of at fuel stations to serve some said the IOC could use its vast electric vehicles,” he said in a ify the size of the stake or how commercial vehicles able to run retail network to supply the au- company statement on Tuesday. much the IOC had paid for it. on the relatively cheap super tomotive sector in India, where An Indian Oil tanker driver waits outside a fuel depot in Mumbai The statement did not spec- The IOC and Phinergy will cooled gas. 1413 TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY FEBRUARY 28, 2020 5, 2020

PANGA (PG-13)(HINDI/ROMANTIC/DRAMA/SPORT) DOLITTLE (PG)(ADVENTURE/COMEDY/FAMILY) MASAMEER: THE MOVIE (PG)(ANIMATION/COMEDY) From Thursday 23rd 7.00 PM onwards OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 10.45 AM + 1.00 + 5.30 + 7.45 + 10.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 10.45 AM + 3.45 + 8.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D) :11.00 AM + 1.00 PM ABDULAZIZ AL-MUZAINI, ABDULAZIZ AL-SHEHRI, MAZROA AL-MAZROA CITY CENTRE: 11.45 AM + 2.45 + 5.45 + 8.45 + 11.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 2.15 + 4.30 + 6.45 + 9.00 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): 11.45 AM + 2.00 + 4.15 + 6.30 + 8.45 + 11.00 PM MALEFICENT 2: MISTRESS OF EVIL WADI AL SAIL: 12.00 + 5.45 + 11.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 5.15 + 9.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 1.15 + 6.15 + 11.15 PM KANGANA RANAUT, JASSIE GILL, RICHA CHADHA ROBERT DOWNEY JR., ANTONIO BANDERAS, MICHAEL SHEEN ANGELINA JOLIE, TERESA MAHONEY, MICHELLE PFEIFFER STREET DANCER 3 (PG-15)(HINDI/DANCE/MUSIC/COMEDY) 1917 (PG-15)(WAR/ACTION/DRAMA) 1917 CHHAPAAK (PG-15)(HINDI/DRAMA) OASIS JUFFAIR:11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE:11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE:11.15 AM + 2.15 + 5.15 + 8.15 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.30 + 6.00 + 8.30 + 11.00 PM SEEF (I): 10.45 AM + 1.15 + 6.45 + 9.15 + 11.45 PM DEEPIKA PADUKONE, VIKRANT MASSEY, MADHURJEET SARGHI SEEF (II): 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM GEORGE MACKAY, DEAN-CHARLES CHAPMAN, MARK STRONG WADI AL SAIL: 2.45 + 8.30 PM TANHAJI:THE UNSUNG WARRIOR VARUN DHAWAN, SHRADDHA KAPOOR, RAGHAV JUYAL OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.00 AM + 4.00 + 9.00 PM TOY GUARDIANS (G)(ANIMATION/ACTION/ADVENTURE) SEEF (I): 3.00 + 8.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.00 + 3.00 + 5.00 PM AJAY DEVGN, SAIF ALI KHAN, KAJOL SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.30 + 4.30 PM BIG BROTHER (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) MITCH SANDRINGHAM,JULIA NOBLES,CATIA NATHANSON OASIS JUFFAIR:10.45 AM + 4.45 + 10.45 PM AL NIHAYA (PG)(KUWAITI/ACTION/COMEDY) MOHANLAL, ARBAAZ KHAN, ANOOP MENON, SARJANO KHALID, HONEY ROSE, SEEF (II): 6.30 + 8.30 + 10.30 PM SIDDIQUE EBRAHIM AL-SHEAKHLI, MESHAAL ALFARHAN, MOHAMMED ALHMLY ALA VAIKUNTHAPURRAMLOO (PG-15)(TELUGU) BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (PG-15)(ACTION/COMEDY/CRIME) OASIS JUFFAIR: 1.45 + 7.45 PM SEEF (I):12.00 + 5.30 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM ALLU ARAVIND,S. RADHA KRISHNA, ALLU ARJUN, POOJA HEGDE, TABU, OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 3.00 + 8.15 PM NIVETHA PETHURAJ CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D): 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM DISCO RAJA ()(TELUGU) CITY CENTRE: 11.15 AM + 2.00 + 4.45 + 7.30 + 10.15 PM + (1.00 AM THURS/ THE GENTLEMEN (15+)(CRIME/ACTION) FRI) From Friday 24th CITY CENTRE (ATMOS): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN SEEF (I): 3.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.15 AM + 1.45 + 4.15 + 6.45 + 9.15 + 11.45 PM CITY CENTRE (VIP II) : 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM RAVI TEJA, PAYAL RAJPUT, SATYA OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 12.30 + 5.45 + 11.00 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN + (12.30 MN CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 2.00 + 4.30 + 7.00 + 9.30 + 12.00 MN + (1.00 AM THURS/FRI) THURS/FRI) WADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM ANJAAM PATHIRA (PG-15 )(MALAYALAM) CITY CENTRE (VIP I) : 10.45 AM + 1.15 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM WILL SMITH, MARTIN LAWRENCE, VANESSA HUDGENS OASIS JUFFAIR:12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM SEEF (I): 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I) : 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL (PG-15) WADI AL SAIL: 3.15 + 8.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 10.45 AM + 1.15 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM + (12.45 MN THURS/FRI) AL HAMRA : 12.00 + 6.00 + (12.00 MN THURS/FRI) MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, CHARLIE HUNNAM, HENRY GOLDING SEEF (II): 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM KUNCHACKO BOBAN, SHARAFUDHEEN, INDRANS DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK BLACK, KEVIN HART THE TURNING (15+)(HORROR/THRILLER) OASIS JUFFAIR: 1.45 + 6.45 + 11.45 PM AL FELOUS (THE MONEY) (PG-15) CITY CENTRE:10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 + 9.45 + 12.00 MN + (1.00 CITY CENTRE: 11.15 AM + 1.45 + 4.15 + 6.45 + 9.15 + 11.45 PM AM THURS/FRI) SEEF (I):10.45 AM + 1.15 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II):11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 + 6.15 + 8.30 + 10.45 PM + (1.00 AM THURS/ TAMER HOSNY, ZEINA, KHALID EL-SAWI FRI) WADI AL SAIL:10.30 AM + 3.00 + 7.30 + 12.00 MN FROZEN 2 (PG)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY) MACKENZIE DAVIS, FINN WOLFHARD, BROOKLYNN PRINCE CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 + 6.15 + 8.30 + 10.45 PM SEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 3.30 + 8.00 PM JUST MERCY (PG-13)(DRAMA) KRISTEN BELL, IDINA MENZEL, JOSH GAD CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM +2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM SEEF (II): 12.15 + 5.45 + 11.15 PM SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG) WADI AL SAIL: 2.30 + 8.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA):3.15 PM BRIE LARSON, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, JAMIE FOXX CITY CENTRE: 11.15 AM + 1.30 + 3.45 + 6.00 + 8.15 + 10.30 PM SEEF (II): 1.15 + 5.45 + 10.15 PM SHYLOCK (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) THE LAST FULL MEASURE (PG-15)(DRAMA/WAR) WILL SMITH, TOM HOLLAND, KAREN GILLAN OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.30 + 3.00 + 5.30 + 8.00 + 10.30 PM SEEF (I): 11.30 AM + 2.00 + 4.30 + 7.00 + 9.30 + 12.00 MN SEEF (II): 3.15 + 8.45 PM UNDERWATER (PG-15) WADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 6.00 + 11.15 PM WADI AL SAIL:12.00 + 5.30 + 11.00 PM AL HAMRA : 3.00 + 9.00 PM CITY CENTRE:7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, SEBASTIAN STAN MAMMOOTTY,MEENA,SIDDQUE,RAJKIRANA KRISTEN STEWART, T.J. MILLER, JESSICA HENWICK

MOVIE REVIEW Margot Robbie leads vigilante squad in ‘Birds of Prey’ irds of Prey (and the Fant- Basco, Ali Wong, and Ewan to direct in April 2018. The ma- abulous Emancipation of McGregor. jority of the cast and crew were BOne Harley Quinn), or The film follows Harley Quinn confirmed by December 2018. simply Birds of Prey, is a 2020 as she joins forces with Black Principal photography lasted American superhero film based Canary, Helena Bertinelli, and from January to April 2019 in DON’T MISS IT on the DC Comics team Birds Renee Montoya to save Cas - Downtown Los Angeles, parts of Prey. It is the eighth film in sandra Cain from Gotham City of the Arts District, Los Angeles, the DC Extended Universe, and crime lord Black Mask. and soundstages at Warner Bros. a follow-up to Suicide Squad Robbie, who also serves as Margot Robbie returns Studios in Burbank, California. (2016). producer, pitched the idea for as Harley Quinn in the Additional filming took place in It was directed by Cathy Birds of Prey to Warner Bros. first DC Comics film September 2019. Yan and written by Christina in 2015. since the blockbuster Birds of Prey is the first DCEU Hodson, and star Margot Rob- The film was announced in success of “Joker” film and the second DC Films bie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, May 2016, with Hodson being production to be rated R by the Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie hired to write the script that Motion Picture Association of Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay November, while Yan signed on America.

SUDOKU CROSSWORD AcrossAcross 1-1- Exclamation Bustles; 5- City to express near Kobe; sorrow; 10- Final 5- Bear Four up org.; there; 14- 9- Han Western ___ was Native a “Star Americans; Wars” Yesterday’s solution Yesterday’s solution 13-character; “Goldberg 15- Variations” External; 16- composer; Melodies; 14- 17- Freedom Abductors; from 19- war;Annapolis 16- Swabbies; inst.; 20- 17-Concerning; Reflected sound;21- Without 18- Appropriate; interruption; 19- 23- Split; Zeta follower;20- Antlered 25- Locale; animal; 26- 21- Helper: Single unit;Abbr.; 22- 29- Brings Carbonized out; 24- fuel; Furniture 31- Biblical wood; brother; 26- Faucet 35- Explosiveproblem; stuff;27- Like 36- some Keep bearsaway and from; icecaps; 37- Complete; 29- Unselfish; 38- Home 33- Lustfulbroker; deity; 40- Official 34- “David permit; Copperfield” 41- Conductor wife; 35-Toscanini; Neighbor 42- of Assistant;Sask.; 36- 43-Singer Nursery Garfunkel; offering; 37- 44- Experiment; Shorthand 38- taker; Skid 45- row Manitoba woe; 39-native; Will of 46- “The Contact, Waltons”; e.g.; 47- 41- Flash___ She of Sweet; light; 49- 42- Aussie Weeps; hopper; 44- Incoming; 51- Thief; 46- 54- Less Tore; outgoing;58- Horrors!; 47- Tyler’s 59- Place successor; to research; 48- Pass 63- Regan’s the breaking dad; 64- point; Violinist 49- Ring Zimbalist; combo; 65- 52-Sharpen; Loss leader?; 66- “Critique 53- Portfolio; of Pure 57- Reason” Actress author; Moore; 67- 58- Brings Summarize; up; 68- 60-Supplements, Minerals; 61-with “Ars “out”; Amatoria” poet; 62- Brazilian ballroom dance; 63- Tears; 64- Network of nerves;Down 65- Exam used to measure aptitude or intelligence; 66- Go out with; Down1- ___ silly question...; 2- Slay; 3- Shoppe sign word; 4- Poem of 14 lines; 5- Alley-___; 1-6- In Eat the dinner; sack; 2- 7- Ornamental Had a little lamb;fabric; 8- 3- Core; Dull 9-pain, Burning often desire?; in the head 10- Sicken; or back; 11- 4- Soon;Prehistoric 5- Turmoil; sepulchral 6- Freshen, tomb; as12- a Florence’s stamp pad; river; 7- Saltimbocca 13- PDQ; 18- seasoning;ABA member; 8- Essen22- exclamation;Subtlety; 24- 9- Blessed As above; sound?; 10- Baby25- Covered powder; vehicle; 11- HOMES 26- Gillette part; 12- razors; Fast 27-fliers; Hagar 15- Endless;the Horrible’s 23- Decease; dog; 28- 25- Condition; Musical ability;30- ___ Town; 26- Clear 32- Washerof vermin; cycle; 27- 33- Kitchen Director gadget; How to play 28-Welles; Sleek 34- swimmer; Food and 29- water; Departing; 36- Ramble; 30- Blast 37- Duckfrom withthe past; soft down; 31- Say; 39- 32- Pulmo Cheek;- Place a number in the empty boxes in such 33-naria; Narrative 40- Fail of toheroic tell the exploits; truth; 42-34- Branch; Imbibe; 45- 37- Wide-mouthed Suit makers; 40- bottle; Swimmer’s 46- Feel fear; a way that each row across, each column 42-intense Chinese aversion; tea; 43- 48- It opensConger your catcher; parachute; 50- ... ___ 45- mouse?; Pledge; 51- 46- Tyler’s Be short successor; with; 48- down and each 9-box square contains all Runs52- Earthbound through; 49- bird; Scent; 53- 50-___ even Campbell keel; 55- of “Scream”;Prepare food; 51- 56-Send Sea-going forth; 52- eagle; Pinnacle; 57- of the numbers from one to nine. 54-Stains; La Scala 60- solo;Bikini 55- top; Equinox 61- ___ the mo.; land 56- of “___ the quam free...; videri” 62- Apt. (North divisions; Carolina’s motto); 59- Absorb, as a cost; 14 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Lady Gaga shares picture with Eilish feared she was heading for boyfriend Michael Polansky, makes Spears’ head-shaving meltdown Los Angeles relationship Instagram official In a new interview with US Los Angeles Vogue, she said she began sym- Monday by sharing a photo of rammy-winning pathising with the personal the pair cuddling on a yacht. Paula singer Billie Eil- troubles Spears went through merican singer Lady Along with the adorable picture Shakira Abdul Gish feared she was so publicly over a decade ago, Gaga was seen snuggling she wrote, “We had so much heading for a breakdown because Eilish was concerned Aup with her new beau fun in Miami. Love to all my Nicole Scherzinger akin to singer Britney she was destined for the same while she enjoyed Super Bowl little monsters and fans, you’re Spears’ 2007 head-shav- fate. over the weekend. the best! (Along with heart responds after ing drama after hitting “As a fan growing up, I was According to Peo- emoji).” her “lowest point” while always like ‘What the hell is ple magazine, On December on tour last year. wrong with them?,’” Eilish the 33-year- 30, Gaga and Po- mistaken for Shakira The 18-year- shared of watching her teen old pop star lansky were seen old became a idols fall from grace as a was spotted together at a bar Los Angeles pop phenome- child. leaving Hard in Las Vegas non with the huge “All the scandals. The Rock Stadium ahead of the inger Nicole Scherzinger was a good sport success of her debut Britney moment. You grow in Miami with New Year’s Day. when singer Paula Abdul awkwardly mis- album, “When We up thinking they’re pretty her boyfriend According to a Stook her for Shakira. Fall Asleep, Where and they’re skinny; why after watching the source the cou- Abdul took to Twitter to support Shakira, Jennif- Do We Go?”, but would they mess it up? But Super Bowl LIV. She ple was er Lopez and Demi Lovato before they performed Eilish recently the bigger I get, the more was seen kissing Mi- kiss- at the 2020 Super Bowl, reports metro.co.uk. said her sudden I’m like ‘Oh, my God, of chael Polansky, the ing. However, instead of using a picture of herself rise to fame course they had to do CEO of San Fran- standing with Shakira, she chose a photograph of took a huge that.’ In my dark cisco-based herself with Scherzinger. toll on her places I’ve wor- organisa- She wrote: “Can’t wait to watch these amazing mental ried that I was tion Park- women perform at the #SuperBowl,” and correctly health, going to become er Group. tagged Lovato and Lopez but tagged Shakira in the and even the stereotype Photos photograph of Scherzinger. made that everybody had also ap- Scherzinger didn’t seem to mind and found the her feel thinks every peared of the humour in the awkward blunder. She replied: “I suicidal, young artist two having a good mean, my hips don’t lie… but I’m not @shakira babes” reports becomes, be- time in Las Vegas. along with a kiss emoji and heart emoji. ace- cause how can The ‘Shallow’ singer Abdul promptly deleted the tweet. Nicole showbiz. they not?” she made her relationship Scherzinger com. said. Instagram official on Saif Ali Khan is extremely Margot Robbie promises to ‘disappear soon’ Disha professional: Elena Los Angeles Patani crosses ctress Margot Robbie still 30mn followers’ mark Mumbai cannot get over the fact that on Instagram Ashe had two nominations Mumbai ctress Elena Fernandes, who has shared in the same category at the British screen space with Saif Ali Khan in the Academy of Film and Televisions Arecently released film “Jawaani Film Awards (BAFTA) this year. ctress Disha Patani has Jaaneman”, is completely in awe of Robbie was nominated crossed the mark of 30 million the latter. in the Best Support- Afollowers on the photograph “Saif is a legendary ac- ing Actress category sharing application Instagram. tor and sharing screen for “Bombshell” Expressing happiness on achieving the space with him it- and “Once Upon milestone on social media, Disha, who will self is a big deal A Time In Holly- be seen in Mohit Suri’s “Malang”, wrote a for me. He is wood”. lengthy post, thanking every person who extremely “I didn’t ac- has supported and stood by her through her professional tually know it journey till now. and watching could happen,” “30 million and happy faces… Just wanted to him perform was said Robbie. say a big thank you to my entire team of ‘Ma- mind-boggling. She said that lang’, who have worked so hard everyday and I am really after learning of her given me so much love. @mohitsuri I am happy that double nomination in blessed to be your heroine,thank you for the audience the same category she literally holding my hand through every is receiving promised she wouldd shot and making everything so seam- the film so well. “disappear soon”, reports less and easy. @vaibhavi.merchant I wish to work with metro.co.uk. cant express in words how lucky Saif and amazing Saif Ali Khan “I’ll disappear soon, I’m I am to be getting a chance to producers Jackky and sorry. I’m still shooting work with you again, you’re Deepshikha again soon,” Elena said. ‘Suicide Squad’, so more my wonder woman, Apart from “Jawaani Jaaneman”, Elena is Harley to come and after and someone I look also known for her roles in “Kapoor & Sons” that another exciting pro- upto.” and “Badla”. She also featured in “Housefull ject that I can’t talk about. I 4”. Currently, she is working on a British project. love working,” Robbie said.

CLASSIFIEDS CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME TAEKWONDO CLASSES Ashley Graham shares first pictures I, SUKUMARAN SAJEEV KUMAR, I, SABHA , W/O IMRAN SHEIK, Ladies, let’s taekwondo! I’m of her newborn son S/o of KOTTAPPURATHU PAPPU holding Indian passport no a mother, started training at Los Angeles ASHAN SUKUMARAN, holding J3688724, dated 26/11/2010 55, when I’m getting weaker, Indian passport no Z2104246, issued at BANGALORE, having joints creaking. Now feels dated 27/07/2011 issued at permanent address( full address revitalized, have higher self- merican BAHRAIN, having permanent in India) 3-105 A, KAYARPUNDU esteem. Fortunely found a Amodel address( full address in India) HOUSE, PUTHIGE VILLAGE, very patient, black belt lady Ashely Gra- Ashley KOTTAPPURATHU HOUSE, MITHABAIL POST, MOODBIDRI coach who has her own ham shared Graham KALLUMALA PO, MAVELIKARA TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA, dojang (clean and posh gym) first pictures ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT KERALA KARNATAKA – 574226, in Seef. Classes for children of her newborn son with 690 101 INDIA. Presently Presently residing at ( full and gentlemen too. BD30/ husband Justin Ervin on residing at ( full address in address in Bahrain) FLAT month, 2/week, evenings, social media. Bahrain) FLAT 11, BUILDING 27, BUILDING 989, ROAD weekends. Two weeks after his ar- 205,ROAD 41,BLOCK 340,JUFFAIR, 3320, BLOCK 333, MAHOOZ, CONTACT rival, the 32-year old model 22nd February, 2020 KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN will KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN will posted a series of photos FACEBOOK henceforth be known as henceforth be known as (Given DLQ Taekwondo and Jins on her Instagram account. SAJEEV KUMAR SABAH PM (Given name) name) (surname) INSTAGRAM “At 6:00 on 01/18/2020, (surname)SUKUMARAN. ZAHOOR HUSSAIN. dlqtaekwondojins we welcomed 7lbs 5oz of Objection(s) if any, may be Objection(s) if any, may be WHATSAPP love into our world,” Ash- Please Call / WhatsApp: +973 38862215, 33784481, 33911860 forwarded to the embassy of forwarded to the embassy of 33359476, 39944069 ley captioned the picture in India, P.O.Box 26106, Al Seef, India, P.O.Box 26106, Al Seef, see you, Mar which her son clutches onto Kingdom of Bahrain. Kingdom of Bahrain. his parent’s fingers. 15 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 sports

Lanka Lions rally past Ustad

Bahrain set up New Zealand friendly TDT | Manama Bahrain continue preparations for joint-qualifiers for the Fifa World Cup 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 enver’s all-round per- Dformance helped Lanka Lions to beat Ustad XI by 117 TDT | Manama runs in CBA Division B 25 overs League. ahrain have lined up an BETTER Lions won the toss and international friend- elected to bat first. Denver Bly match against New (106) scored an unbeaten Zealand next month as part KNOW century to help his team put of their preparations for their a total of 222 runs at the end joint-qualifiers for the Fifa of 25 overs. Thilina added 37 World Cup 2022 and the AFC runs. In the second innings Asian Cup 2023. Bahrain are currently Denver took three wickets This was confirmed last night in second place in for 26 runs in his bowling by the Bahrain Football Asso- qualifying Group C with spell and collapsed Ustad ciation. nine points from five XI’s batting lineup. They As reported earlier by The matches were wounded up for just Daily Tribune, Bahrain have al- 115 runs and Lions won the ready set up a tune-up against match by 117 runs, Thilina Malaysia at home on March 21. took two wickets for lions. They will then take to the pitch In this phase of the joint-qual- Brief score: once more for another exhibi- ifiers, there are eight groups in Lanka Lions 222/3 (Den- tion match on March 30 against all, with five nations in each ver 106, Thilina 37) beat the Kiwis. group. Teams play home and Ustad XI 115/10 (Thausif Both games are scheduled for away matches. At the end, the 32, Denver 4/26) by 117 runs a 7pm kick-off at yet-to-be-con- eight group winners and the Other match scores firmed venues. four best runners-up advance Lagoona Blues 213/9 in 24 The friendly against Malay- to the third round of World Cup overs (Yasir 35, Zeeshan 32, sia is being held prior to their qualifying, and also book their Asif 31, Karthik 4/39) beat qualifying match against Cam- berths in the Asian Cup. Biyas Bahrain Indians 209/5 bodia on March 26, which will Bahrain are currently among (Venkitesh 82, Praveen 56) be played at home. the four best runners-up. by 1 wicket That is the first of three re- Bahrain coach Sousa during national team training (File Photo) The next best 24 teams will Tornado IRS 110/3 in 11.3 maining games in their Group C will be meeting their Kiwi coun- away from securing an historic ond place in qualifying Group compete in a separate competi- overs (Suhail 54, Sameer 25) qualification campaign. terparts since the two national first-ever berth at a World Cup. C with nine points from five tion for 12 remaining slots in the beat RKCT 109/10 (Prakash Following that qualifier, the teams faced off in late 2009 for After their qualifier against matches. Iraq are currently atop Asian Cup. 22, Sajad 2/14) by 7 wickets Bahrainis then play Iran in Teh- one final slot in the Fifa World Iran, Bahrain return home to the table with 11 points. Iran are Bahrain national team head Strikers CC 164/7 in 24 ran on June 4, and they will host Cup 2010 in South Africa. It close out this current stage of third with six points but have a coach Helio Sousa has yet to overs (Gowtham 41, Syju New Zealand a few days before was a heart-breaking defeat for joint-qualifying against Hong game in hand, while Hong Kong name his squad for the upcom- 36, Inamul 2/29) beat Mud- in preparation for that contest. the Bahrainis against New Zea- Kong on June 9. are fourth on five points and ing qualifiers but is expected to abbar CC 161/4 (Nadeem 50, It will be the first time Bahrain land, as they were just one half Bahrain are currently in sec- Cambodia fifth with one. do so soon. Govind 2/33) by 3 wickets

Clay season can help Ultimate Track Experience set for plenty of thrills

TDT | Manama be purchased for BD115.5, while Murray get fit for the passenger ride is BD26.5. ahrain International Circuit The Radical SR1 prototype B(BIC), “The Home of Mot- features an engine that can gen- Wimbledon: Corretja orsport in the Middle East”, is erate 185bhp. It launches from set to host its widely popular zero to 100kph in 3.6 seconds Reuters | London Ultimate Track Experience on and has a top speed of 222kph. Saturday in Sakhir. This drive costs BD126, and ormer world number one The event is scheduled to completing the Clio drive is a FAndy Murray must build If he (Andy Murray) take place from 8am to 4pm prerequisite to taking part in the up his fitness during the Eu- skips the claycourt along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre In- SR1 experience. ropean clay-court season but season, there’s ner Track. The Radical SR3 boasts a should consider skipping the going to be such a Those who take part will be Turbocharged engine that can French Open to be fresh for long gap before the able to choose from a series of generate 220bhp, allowing it Wimbledon, his former coach grass. I believe he adrenaline-pumping drives and to power from zero to 100kph Alex Corretja has said. thrilling passenger rides in some Cars during a race at BIC in 3.4 seconds. It’s top speed is The 32-year-old Briton should use clay, not of the most powerful cars. 235kph. This passenger ride will missed the Australian Open for practice, but to On offer in the Ultimate Track rides in a Clio and an ultra-quick chine that features a 1.6-litre be conducted alongside one of due to a pelvic injury sustained get in shape Experience are drives in a Clio Radical SR3. Turbocharged engine that can BIC’s highly qualified driving at the Davis Cup Finals in No- ALEX CORRETJA Cup car and in a Radical SR1 The Clio Cup car is a Re - generate up to 220bhp. It’s top instructors, and it costs BD37 vember and then pulled out of prototype, as well as passenger nault-manufactured racing ma- speed is 235kph. The drive can per person. tournaments at Montpellier long gap before the grass. I be- and Rotterdam. lieve he should use clay, not for Spaniard Corretja said Mur- practice, but to get in shape.” ray, who recovered from hip Corretja, who worked with resurfacing surgery to win Murray in spells between Riffa Indian Star edge Jai Karnataka B to lift BIRA Cup the Antwerp title in October, 2008-11, said skipping the should prioritize Wimbledon French Open in May would TDT | Manama for his Grand Slam singles not be a bad idea if his body comeback having won the title was not ready to play five-set iffa Indian Star defeated Jai in 2013 and 2016. contests. RKarnataka B to claim the “Andy should “If he feels it can be a little Bira Cup 19-20 Indian Club Soft use clay to get bit risky, maybe he should ball cricket tournament spon- enough matches sacrifice the French Open, sored by BMMI. to be ready for because it’s very demand- Chasing 35 to win, Riffa team grass,” Corret- ing,” Corretja said. won it last over losing two wick- ja, now an analyst “He should aim for ets to claim the prestigious In- for Eurosport, was the grass season dian club Indian Expats softball quoted as saying by and why not the cricket tournament. Batting first British media. Olympics again? Jai Karnataka B scored only 34 “If he skips It’s very spe - in six overs. Winners after the match the clay- cial, he loves In the semifinals, Riffa won court the feeling a tough match against Super- mittee, led by president Stalin 1. Sharath Shetty(Kudla Man of the final and Man season, there and it’s a net Cargo, while Jai Karnata- Joseph give away the prizes for Challengers)-Best Bowler of the Series there’s go- competition he ka B defeated Jai Karnataka winning team. 2. Renjith Krishnan(Jai Kar- 4. Best Disciplined team: ing to be knows he can A. nataka B)-Best Batsman Challenger Arts & Sport such a win.” Indian Club Executive com- Individual Prize winners: 3. Sachin(Riffa Indian Star)- Club Andy Murray WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 16 Al-Selawe, Chimaev heat up title fight

Khamzat Chimaev compares• Jarrah Al-Selawe to a chicken in Instagram post

Al-Selawe bites back by• comparing Chimaev to “sheep in wolf’s clothing”

TDT | Manama

he war of words has begun for the biggest fight of the year in TSweden and Europe. BRAVE Combat Federation world champion Jarrah Al-Selawe has fought back at his future opponent Khamzat Chimaev with yet another provoking image on Jarrah Al-Selawe Khamzat Chimaev social media. After being called a chicken by “Borz”, the current titleholder Through his social media accounts, would cry soon”, but then doubled up The duo first met backstage during The BRAVE CF 37 main event has compared his rival to a sheep in a wolf’s Chimaev, who likens himself to a wolf, on the insults by uploading an image of BRAVE CF 27, when they fought different been hailed by MMA legend Alexander skin. started the proceedings by posting a a sheep getting out of a wolf’s clothing, opponents. After Al-Selawe regained Gustafsson as the biggest fight of the Al-Selawe and Chimaev will meet at picture of the animal eating a chicken, emulating and twisting the famous the title from Abdoul Abdouraguimov, year in Sweden, and it opposes two of the main event of BRAVE CF 37, which with only its leg hanging out of the saying. Chimaev stormed into the cage and the best Welterweight fighters on the will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, wolf’s mouth. In a humorous caption, Al-Selawe is known for carrying a demanded a fight with him. planet - Jarrah Al-Selawe, who’s widely on April 18th, in association with AK he tagged Al-Selawe and asked if that grudge with past opponents, even get- They stared each other down, and recognized as the greatest fighter in Fighting Championships. But both men was his leg, implying that the champ is ting into a pre-fight brawl with Abdoul Khamzat started the trash talk that Middle East history, against Khamzat seem intent on getting the upper hand a chicken. Abdouraguimov during the ceremonial culminated in the fight being booked Chimaev, touted as the number one on their opponent. After that, Al-Selawe said the “wolf weigh-ins for their fight. for April. prospect in Europe.

Barcelona’s Dembele out Injury ends Rohit Loman retains ‘Fighter with badly torn hamstring Sharma’s New Zealand of The Year’ title AFP | Barcelona Saint-Germain. tour, India recall Shaw “Of course it’s easier said rench international for- than done but I’ll always be Reuters | New Delhi test squad and is expected to Fward Ousmane Dembe- there to support you and open with Agarwal with fellow le has suffered a badly torn I know you’ll come back to ndia opening batsman Rohit 20-year-old Shubhman Gill as hamstring, his club Barcelona amaze us.” ISharma has been ruled out the reserve opener. announced yesterday. Barcelona play Napoli in the of the rest of the tour of New Pace spearhead Jasprit “Tests carried out on Tues- Champions League round of Zealand after suffering a calf Bumrah returns to the test day on Ousmane Dembele 16 on February 25. France kick strain in the final Twenty20 squad after a stress fracture have shown that the player off their Euro 2020 campaign international in Mt. Maun- on his lower back kept him has a complete proximal ham- against Germany in Munich ganui, the country’s cricket out of the home series against string tear in his right thigh,” on June 16. board (BCCI) said yesterday. South Africa and Bangladesh the club announced. “In the Injuries and poor form have Rohit retired hurt on Sun- last year. next few hours a decision recently reduced Deschamps’ day when he was on 60 off 41 Quick Ishant Sharma was will be made on the treat - attacking options on the flanks balls. He received treatment also named in the squad but his ment to be followed for his and he has used Blaise Matu- for several minutes in the 17th participation is subject to him recovery.” idi, a central midfielder, and over but hobbled off three de- clearing a fitness test after suf- The 22-year-old has strug- Mbappe in wide liveries later and was unable fering an ankle injury during gled with hamstring problems. positions. to continue. a domestic match last month. He had only just returned to “He underwent an MRI scan Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was training from an injury to in Hamilton on Monday. The left out but Rishabh Pant re- the right thigh he suffered in opening batsman has been tained his place in the side Stephen Loman celebrates after a victory (file photo) November before suffering a ruled out of the upcoming ODI though Wriddhiman Saha re- fresh problem in training on and test series and will be re- mains India’s preferred test Monday. ferred to the National Cricket wicketkeeper. BRAVE CF named Dembele joined Barcelona Academy for further manage- Wellington hosts the first • BETTER from Borussia Dortmund in ment of his injury,” the BCCI test from Feb. 21 and the sec- Philippines’ Stephen August 2017 in a deal worth said in a statement. ond begins in Christchurch Loman as ‘Fighter up to 147 million euros. He India, who swept New Zea- eight days later. of The Year’ for the KNOW has played 21 times for France land 5-0 in the T20 series, play India will also be without second year running and was part of the squad three ODIs starting Wednes- all-rounder Hardik Pandya for that won the World Cup in day in Hamilton and selectors the test series as he recovers TDT | Manama 2018. have named Mayank Agarwal from a back injury. In 2019, Loman de- That year he was also criti- as Rohit’s replacement in the On the New Zealand team, a fended his belt twice, cised for his lifestyle by France 50-overs squad. shoulder injury has ruled out RAVE Combat Federa - passing his biggest coach Didier Deschamps. Prithvi Shaw, who was side- skipper Kane Williamson from Btion Bantamweight world “It’s up to him to be aware lined first by an ankle injury the first two one-dayers. He champion Stephen Loman has challenges to date of all the demands of top-level and then a doping ban last year, will be replaced by left-handed once again captured the most with flying colours football,” Deschamps said. “I was named in the 16-member batsman Mark Chapman. coveted individual award of don’t think he’s fully aware the year. The Filipino hero of them.” has been named Fighter of Loman then travelled to In- The latest injury is similar the Year for the second time dia to produce the first-ev- to one Dembele suffered in a row by a judge of panel- er world title fight in Indian in 2017, in his first league lists from the BRAVE Insider territory. At BRAVE CF 30, he start for Barcelona. Then Podcast. took on Louie Sanoudakis, he was out for five months In 2019, Loman defended his from Canada, and went on a with a ruptured tendon in belt twice, passing his biggest rampage again, beating his ri- his left thigh. challenges to date with flying val by unanimous decision and There was instant colours. On March 15, he had a maintaining his belt in domi- sympathy from another much-deserved homecoming, nant fashion. young French striking headlining BRAVE CF 22: Storm With the win in Hyderabad, star. of Warriors, which took place Stephen extended his domi- “My brother, I know in his home country at the Mall nance as the longest-reigning for you this must be of Asia Arena. world champion from BRAVE too much and this is “The Sniper” took on former Combat Federation. He’s the becoming unbeara- Featherweight champion Elias only world champion at Ban- ble, but you have to Boudegzdame and ran through tamweight and has defended stay strong in spite the French-Algerian fighter, his title four times in a row. of everything,” stopping him in the fourth No other titleholder in BRAVE tweeted Ky - Ousmane Dembele round with a violent TKO that CF history has been able to de- lian Mbappe of sent shockwaves through the fend his belt more than one France and Par- i s India’s Rohit Sharma (R) retires with an injury division. time.