THULHIJJA 9, 1441 AH THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

16 Pages Max 50º Min 34º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18195 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Crown Prince meets members In Kashmir, the hills are alive UAE’s emerging hip hop Hole in none: How screen golf 2 of National Assembly office 7 with the sound of schooling 13 scene searches for identity 13 got serious in South Korea

MoE reduces tuition fees by 25% for 2020-21 school year

Ministry cancels fees due after Feb 26 for students of private Arabic schools for 2019-2020

KUWAIT: Education Minister Saud Huwailah to issue further regulations studies and complete the second term started preparing the online education NOTICE Al-Harbi yesterday issued a ministerial under this resolution, including ones for all school stages. Notably, private program for grade 12 students due to resolution reducing tuition fees for the related to online education, e-platforms, schools were excluded from an educa- start on Aug 9, noting that the plan Eid Mubarak to all our readers! Kuwait Times 2020-2021 school year by 25 percent assessment methods and study plans, tion ministry decision earlier this month includes online quizzes. The school day will not publish its print edition from July 31 to compared to the 2019-2020 academic and hold schools that violate the fee to end the 2019-2020 school year. will be of four hours - from 8:30 am till August 3. Readers can stay informed with year. The decision is effective from the reduction decision responsible. Parents had asked Huwailah to inter- 12:30 pm. breaking news, events and information via beginning of the new school year until Later yesterday, Harbi issued anoth- vene and prevent private schools from The sources added that the public KuwaitTimes.net and our digital media chan- students are allowed to return to er decision to cancel fees for the 2019- demanding full payment of fees for the education sector agreed on a mech- classes. 2020 academic year due after Feb 26, 2019-2020 academic year, but were anism to monitor students’ absence - nels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: Harbi stressed the need for private 2020 for students of private Arabic met with silence. Sources alleged the a student who fails to log in to the @KuwaitTimes schools to activate their online learning schools from kindergarten to grade 11. education ministry’s move to exclude portal for an entire week will lose platforms using virtual classes and vari- Schools that fail to comply with the new foreign and bilingual schools in its deci- one mark, while a decision on those ous e-learning resources from the decision face punitive measures as per sion to end the 2019-2020 school year who are absent for one or two days beginning of the 2020-2021 school year the ministry’s’ regulations, the ministry was made so that the schools do not will be up to the teachers. Moreover, News in brief until students are allowed back on cam- said in a statement. lose their right to demand full fees. the sources said the ministry is cur- puses. The minister also warned that Meanwhile, foreign private and bilin- Parents, however, argue that since rently considering offers it has Flights restart to 20 countries schools may not hike fees prior to pro- gual schools are continuing procedures schools were online-only from March received to reinforce communication viding the 25 percent discount until the to complete the 2019-2020 school year, 2020, they should not have to pay full networks in various schools, adding KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil end of the 2020-2021 academic year. with classes to resume online from Aug fees for the last school year. that teachers had already started Aviation (DGCA) announced Tuesday that air- Harbi also authorized his assistant 4, 2020, five days a week. A report in Meanwhile, unnamed educational training on using the program and lines operating at Kuwait International Airport undersecretary for private and qualita- Al-Anbaa daily said the schools have sources quoted by Al-Rai Arabic daily how to prepare assignments, meet- will start commercial flights to 20 countries from tive education affairs Abdul Mohsen Al- asked students and parents to resume said that the education ministry has ings and online tests. — Agencies Aug 1 - UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Iran, Nepal, Switzerland, Germany, Pilgrims begin Azerbaijan, the Philippines and India. — KUNA downsized hajj KIPIC starts operation of gas line amid pandemic DUBAI: Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co (KIPIC) has begun operating the MAKKAH: Mask-clad Muslim pilgrims yesterday gas line that will feed its long-delayed Al-Zour began the annual hajj, dramatically downsized this year as the Saudi hosts strive to prevent a coron- refinery, KUNA said on Tuesday. Originally avirus outbreak during the five-day pilgrimage. The planned more than a decade ago but repeatedly hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for delayed, Al-Zour will be the largest integrated able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, refinery and petrochemicals plant in Kuwait. Al- is usually one of the world’s largest religious gather- Zour’s production capacity is estimated at ings. But this year only up to 10,000 people already 615,000 barrels per day, increasing Kuwait’s residing in the kingdom will participate in the ritual, overall refining capacity to over 1.5 million bar- a tiny fraction of the 2.5 million pilgrims from rels a day. — Reuters around the world that attended last year. Pilgrims walked into Makkah’s Grand Mosque in batches to begin the ritual with their first “tawaf”, or Egypt executes 7 over killing walk around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure draped in gold-embroidered cloth towards which CAIRO: Egypt has executed seven people over Muslims around the world pray, state television the killing of a police officer in the northeastern showed. Pilgrims will be required to wear masks city of Ismailiya in 2013, a security official said and observe social distancing during a series of Tuesday. “The prison service on Tuesday car- religious rites that are completed over five days in ried out the sentence of death by hanging the holy city of Makkah and its surroundings in MAKKAH: Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the center of the Grand Mosque in against seven people convicted of killing western Saudi Arabia. this holy city during the annual hajj pilgrimage. — AFP Captain Ahmad Abu Douma,” the security offi- Continued on Page 2 cial told AFP. Their bodies had been handed to their families, he added. — AFP Iran targets mock Yemen separatists Half of slum residents infected

NEW DELHI: Over half the people living in US aircraft carrier abandon self-rule, the slums of Mumbai have had the coronavirus, according to a city-commissioned study in Gulf exercises push peace deal released Tuesday that raises fresh doubts about India’s official case numbers. Blood tests on TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards blasted a RIYADH: Yemeni separatists abandoned their decla- 6,936 randomly selected people conducted by mock-up of a US aircraft carrier with missiles yester- ration of self-rule in the south yesterday and pledged to implement a stalled Saudi-brokered peace deal, Mumbai’s city authorities found that 57 percent day during military exercises in sensitive Gulf waters, state television said. The exercises were held near the mending a rift between allies in the war against Houthi of slum-dwellers and 16 percent of non-slum rebels. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) pro- residents had virus antibodies. — AFP Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for a fifth of global oil output. They were staged at a time of This handout photo shows a mockup US aircraft car- claimed self-governance in April after accusing the heightened tensions between Iran and its decades-old rier encircled by Iranian speedboats during a mili- government of failing to perform its duties and of ‘Hunger will kill Lebanon kids’ arch enemy the United States. tary exercise near the Strait of Hormuz. -— AFP “conspiring” against the southern cause, pushing the Footage of the war games broadcast on state tele- war-ravaged country deeper into crisis. The breakdown between the one-time allies had vision showed the Guards’ air and naval forces ready- pelling onto the deck of the vessel, before around a BEIRUT: Close to a million people in Beirut can complicated a long and separate conflict between a ing for an attack off the country’s southwest coast. dozen speedboats circle around it. no longer afford basic necessities and children Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-allied rebels, Speedboats skimmed across the water in formation “What was shown today in these exercises, at the are likely to starve to death this year, the charity who control much of the north, including the capital before ground forces fired cannons and a missile was level of aerospace and naval forces, was all offen- Sanaa. The STC “announces that it is abandoning its Save The Children said yesterday. The group launched from a helicopter. The mock-up of a Nimitz- sive,” Guards commander Major General Hossein self-rule declaration” to allow the implementation of a said 910,000 people, more than half of them class aircraft carrier came into view with rows of Salami told state television. The war games come children, in the Greater Beirut area no longer power-sharing deal known as the Riyadh Agreement, dummy fighter jets on either side of its landing strip. only days after Tehran accused US fighter jets of spokesman Nizar Haitham wrote on Twitter. have sufficient amounts of food because of the The television then cut to rockets being fired out harassing an Iranian commercial airliner in the skies He acknowledged the announcement came after economic crisis. “We will start seeing children to sea from the backs of trucks, before showing dam- over Syria. At least four passengers on board the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates exerted dying from hunger before the end of the year,” age to the hull of the mock-up aircraft carrier. Mahan Air plane were injured in Thursday’s incident, pressure to row back on their decision. Saudi Arabia said Jad Sakr, acting country director of Save Another missile fired from a helicopter left a trail of after the pilot took emergency action to avoid the said it had proposed a plan to “accelerate” the imple- the Children in Lebanon. — AFP smoke before appearing to smash into the side of the warplanes. mentation of the Riyadh Agreement, the official Saudi fake warship. Armed forces were then seen rap- Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Thursday, July 30, 2020 Local Crown Prince assures MPs on Amir’s health

Sheikh Nawaf urges lawmakers to cooperate for achievement

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem and members of the National Assembly office. — KUNA photos

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir applauded the ‘legislative achievements’ Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- made at the National Assembly. He urged Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received lawmakers to continue putting effort and and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- cooperation in order to complete issues Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of Health Dr Basel Ghanem, and members of the National pending on the assembly’s schedule. Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Assembly office at Seif Palace yesterday. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf took the Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh opportunity as well to greet the lawmakers Al-Sabah. Nawaf assured the lawmakers on the on Eid Al-Adha. Speaker Ghanem and In other news, His Highness the Deputy health of His Highness the Amir Sheikh members of the assembly’s office Amir and Crown Prince received on Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and expressed contentment on being reas- Tuesday cables from Afghanistan’s expressed gratitude to citizens and resi- sured about His Highness the Amir’s health, President Ashraf Ghani and Senegal’s dents for their sincere sentiments towards and appreciation for the guidance they President Macky Sall, who inquired about His Highness the Amir. received from His Highness the Deputy the health of His Highness the Amir Sheikh His Highness the Deputy Amir and Amir and Crown Prince, vowing to contin- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, wish- Crown Prince also praised the parliament’s ue bearing their responsibility towards ing him good health and wellbeing. His work, highlighting the cooperation Kuwait and its people. Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown between Speaker Ghanem and His Also yesterday, His Highness the Prince expressed deep gratitude for their His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Deputy Amir and Crown Prince received sincere gestures, wishing them good Al-Sabah meets with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah. Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh health. — KUNA

His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Health Dr Basel Al-Hmoud Al- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh. Sabah. Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.

size all direct information on COVID-19, SARS and and adhering to the facemask policy. Out of 300 peo- properly. Salmiya is a crowded area with a mix of Facemask: Who MERS, and provide the currently best available evi- ple surveyed, none of them was without a facemask. nationalities. Five in the afternoon is considered rush dence on the optimum use of these common and sim- The question however is whether they are wearing it hour and many are either rushing to buy something in ple interventions to help ‘flatten the curve’.” properly or not. the supermarkets or rushing home. When asked why wears it and Wearing a facemask has become mandatory in Kuwait Times went to Rai near Lulu Hypermarket he wasn’t wearing the facemask properly, Bassam, a many countries around the world. In Kuwait, those not and counted 100 people with or without a facemask. Syrian man, said he has health issues. “I am experienc- wearing a facemask face punishment of a maximum of We repeated the same in both Kuwait City in Maliya ing shortness of breath. But I am wearing it - I just who doesn’t? three months in jail or a KD 5,000 fine. When the rule near Souq Muttahida and in Salmiya in the old souq wanted to breathe fresh air,” he said. By Ben Garcia was implemented in March, people started wearing near the MRG Building, and here are the results: Meliza, a Filipina nurse, said she regularly wears a masks in public places, streets, government facilities, Al-Rai (100:3) (at 11:30 am) facemask but removes when there are no people KUWAIT: The most powerful weapon against the private companies, malls and offices. Many establish- Out of 100 people, three are not wearing the facemask around her. “Doctors are telling us to breathe fresh air coronavirus is the facemask. According to WHO- ments have implemented strict measures obliging all properly. They all have a mask - one is carrying it in his as well - they are telling us that it is also harmful to backed research, wearing a facemask can reduce the employees and individuals to wear a mask or they will hand, while the other two have lowered it on their chin. our health if we wear a mask all the time. But we need spread of COVID-19 by 85 percent. The research not be allowed to enter their premises. Kuwait City (100:9) (at 1 pm) to wear it in public so we can be spared from this claimed that the chance of infection or transmission is To check whether everyone is strictly adhering to Out of 100 people, nine are not wearing the face- killer virus,” she said. Sujin, an Indian national, three percent with a mask compared to 17 percent Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines, Kuwait Times mask properly. But at 1 pm, not many people are removed his facemask because he said he is not in a without a mask. Holger Schunemann, a professor at went to three separate locations to observe the flow of around. crowded area. “I always have it when I am out of the McMaster University, said in the statement quoted in a people and how they are following these guidelines. Salmiya (100:16) (at 5 pm) house. I don’t want to pay the KD 5,000 fine or be medical journal: “Our findings are the first to synthe- We found out that a majority of people are wearing Out of 100 people, 16 are not wearing the facemask imprisoned,” he said.

pilgrims residing in the kingdom would be permit- announcement, with spokesman Rajeh Badi express- Pilgrims begin ted for the hajj, but local media reports say as many Yemen separatists ing hope that this would be a “serious and true start” as 10,000 will be allowed to take part. Some 70 to implementing the Riyadh Agreement. Yemeni percent of the pilgrims are foreigners residing in the President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, exiled in Riyadh, downsized hajj... kingdom, while the rest are Saudi citizens, authori- abandon self-rule... separately announced the appointment of a new ties said. All worshippers were required to be tested Continued from Page 1 police commander and governor for Aden. Continued from Page 1 for coronavirus before arriving in Makkah and will Saudi Arabia’s efforts “have succeeded in bringing also have to quarantine after the pilgrimage as the Press Agency (SPA) reported early yesterday. The together the Yemeni government and the Southern Those selected to take part in the hajj were sub- number of cases in the kingdom nears 270,000 - plan calls for the Yemeni prime minister to form a Transitional Council in accepting the mechanism pro- ject to temperature checks and placed in quarantine one of the largest outbreaks in the Middle East. new government within 30 days, as well as the posed by the kingdom to implement the Riyadh as they began trickling into Makkah at the weekend. They were given elaborate amenity kits that appointment of a new governor and security director Agreement,” deputy defence minister Prince Khalid State media showed health workers sanitising their include sterilized pebbles for a stoning ritual, disinfec- for second city Aden where the government had set bin Salman said on Twitter. If it holds, the break- luggage, and some pilgrims reported being given tants, masks, a prayer rug and the ihram, a seamless up base. through should allow the Saudi-led coalition and its electronic wristbands to allow authorities to moni- white garment worn by pilgrims, according to a hajj “Once this is implemented, the government should allies to refocus their energies on the war against their tor their whereabouts. Workers, clutching brooms ministry document. “I did not expect, among millions commence its work in Aden, and oversee the comple- common foe - the Houthi rebels. and disinfectant, were seen cleaning the area of Muslims, to be blessed with approval,” Emirati pil- tion of the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement “This largely means the Saudis want to de-escalate around the Kaaba. Using his bare hands, one work- grim Abdullah Al-Kathiri said in a video released by in accordance with all its clauses and tracks,” SPA in Yemen and push the warring parties towards er was shown daubing its outer wall with perfume. the Saudi media ministry. “It is an indescribable feel- said, citing an unnamed Saudi official. Yemen’s inter- peace,” Fatima Abo Alasrar, a scholar at the Middle Hajj authorities have cordoned off the Kaaba this ing... especially since it is my first pilgrimage.” nationally recognized government welcomed the East Institute, told AFP. — AFP year, saying pilgrims will not be allowed to touch it, The hajj ministry said foreign residents of the to limit the chances of infection. They also reported kingdom from around 160 countries competed in setting up multiple health facilities, mobile clinics the online selection process but it did not say how laterally withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal in and ambulances to cater to the pilgrims. “There are many people applied. Some disappointed applicants Iran targets mock 2018. The arch foes have come to the brink of war no security-related concerns in this pilgrimage, but have complained that the government-run lottery twice since June 2019, when the Guards shot down a (downsizing) is to protect pilgrims from the danger was not clearly outlined and that no reason was giv- US drone in the Gulf. Their animosity deepened after of the pandemic,” said Saudi Arabia’s director of en for their rejection. The hajj ministry has fielded a US aircraft carrier... Iran’s most prominent general, Qasem Soleimani, was public security, Khalid bin Qarar Al-Harbi. The for- deluge of anguished queries on Twitter from reject- killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in eign press are barred from this year’s hajj, usually a ed applicants. But Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten Continued from Page 1 January. One of the most recent confrontations was huge global media event, as the government tight- insisted the process was transparent, telling the in mid-April, when the United States accused the ens access to Mecca. Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television that “health Tensions have escalated between Iran and the Guards of using speedboats to harass its warships in Saudi authorities initially said only around 1,000 determinants” formed the basis of selection. —AFP United States since US President Donald Trump uni- the Gulf. — AFP Established 1961 3 Local Thursday, July 30, 2020 Kuwait National Assembly to hold sessions next week MPs demand probe on Malaysian fund case

By B Izzak now the public prosecution is investigating into the case. Roumi said the national assembly should not remain KUWAIT: National assembly speaker Marzouq Al- silent on the authorities’ reluctance to confront corrup- Ghanem said Tuesday the house will hold two regular tion cases and that the government must explain to the sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to assembly the reasons for the suspension in a bid to clean debate issues on its agenda, based on a decision by the Kuwait’s image abroad. assembly office. Ghanem said that although next Monday will be a public holiday for the Eid Al-Adha, the assembly will coordinate with the ministry of health to test MPs and Two grillings on staff who are likely to take part in the sessions. High on the agenda are two grillings against the ministers of assembly’s finance and interior over alleged violations in the two key ministries. agenda In the meantime, two lawmakers yesterday demanded a probe into why a government investigation into the Malaysian fund corruption case was shelved by authori- ties two years ago. The public prosecution appears to be headed to press charges against high profile personali- ties accused of being involved in money laundering and MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari called on the government transfer of millions of dollars in connection with the to investigate why there had been a delay in referring the Malaysian fund through Kuwaiti firms and personalities. Malaysian fund case to the public prosecution, adding MP Abdullah Al-Roumi said that he has submitted a that it may have been the result of ignorance or participa- motion calling for an assembly debate into the reasons tion and in either case an investigation must be carried for shelving the government investigation into the issue out. The two lawmakers praised the government authori- two years ago. He said that the reason given that time for ties for referring a number of corruption cases to the The National Assembly. suspending the probe was that there was no crime and public prosecution.

of Commerce and Industry closed 54 social media Corruption scandals accounts that host online auctions for valuable items Minister forms panel to modify on suspicions that they were used to facilitate money laundering operations, the same daily reported. dominate local The judge had denied requests made by attorneys money laundering law of five suspects questioned in one of the money laun- headlines dering cases under investigations to release their KUWAIT: Minister of Finance Barrak Al- clients, and remanded them in custody until August 12 Sheetan on Tuesday issued a ministerial when they will stand again before the judge for ques- resolution to form a panel to examine the KUWAIT: Reports on investigations in corruption tioning. The five suspects (two Kuwaitis, one Iranian, amendment of Law 106/2013 on money cases that have recently surfaced in Kuwait dominat- one Egyptian and one Belgian nationals) had denied laundering and terrorism financing, mainly ed front pages of Arabic dailies that published yester- charges of money laundering, bribe and trafficking of with regards to the tasks undertaken by day. Al-Qabas reported that customs inspectors were alcoholic drinks, Al-Anbaa daily reported. the financial inspection unit. Minister given strict instructions to thoroughly inspect all In the meantime, Al-Rai claimed possession of offi- Sheetan explained in a statement to the vehicles and shipping trucks at border checkpoints cial letters between the State Audit Bureau and the press that his decision was intended to out of concern that at least 10 social media influ- general secretariat of the council of ministers, which affirm his keenness and continuous support encers whose names were mentioned in investigations the daily says reveal that the Interior Ministry used for activating the inspection unit since he in corruption cases could try to escape out of the some of the money donated to support Kuwait’s fight took office in February. The unit’s person- country. Meanwhile, the same report quotes a source against the spread of COVID-19 to fund arm deals. nel have taken measures referring money familiar with the investigations who said that travel Nearly KD 54 million were collected during the pub- laundering suspects to the public prosecu- bans were issued against 14 former senior officials lic donation drive in March, which was launched by tion, the minister said, affirming its key role involved in at least four major corruption scandals dozens of local charities to support the government’s at this level. The committee which he has that are currently under investigation. The source efforts in its fight against the spread of the deadly ordered to be formed will examine short- warned that an estimated 300 convicted citizens have disease. However, the State Audit Bureau reportedly comings in existing legislations and pro- Finance Minister Barrak Al-Sheetan managed to escape after being convicted by court in approved the Interior Ministry’s request to sign mul- pose adequate modifications to enhance the past few years. tiple deals worth KD 1.6 million to purchase ammuni- Al-Jarida reported meanwhile that the public pros- tion and bullet proof vests, funded from the dona- efficiency of the financial inspection team’s added. This approach, he continued, is personnel, back up their independence, ecution plans to question nine more social media tions. Al-Rai’s report quotes a statement from the aimed at preserving Kuwait’s image with influencers on suspicions over their ‘inflated bank State Audit Bureau which explains that the approvals and boost their jurisdictions and tools for respect of combating money laundering accounts’, in addition to 10 others and an ‘online bou- were made “in light of the current unusual circum- attaining the aspired objective, Sheetan and terrorism funding. — KUNA tique’ which are currently under investigations in a stances due to the spread of COVID-19, and in order money laundering case. This comes while the Ministry to achieve public security.”

News in brief

Kuwait seeks safe vaccines

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health announced that Kuwait would only procure COVID-19 vaccines after they are approved by global health organizations and cleared to be safe for human use. Kuwait is currently coordinating with international organizations and research institutes, including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), as a pre- emptive step to help secure the vaccine as soon as its test results return effective and safe, the ministry explained in a statement.

Employee tests positive

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) announced that one of its employees tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The PACI building was closed yesterday, but civil ID distributions remained available. PACI will resume work as usual on the first day after the Eid Al- Adha holiday, it added.

National Guard to release prisoners

KUWAIT: Kuwait National Guard Undersecretary, Lieutenant General Hashim Al- Rifai on Tuesday ordered the release of impris- oned guards who have been held for discipli- nary offenses, on the occasion of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha. Kuwait National Guard said in a statement the order came in line with instruc- tions by Kuwait National Guard Chief His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, and the KNG Deputy Chief Sheikh Meshaal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

4,870 passengers

KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that 26 flights were set to depart Kuwait International Airport yesterday, carrying a total of 4,870 passengers. They included 17 flights to Egypt, three flights to the UAE, two flight to Lebanon, one flight to Qatar, one flight to Pakistan, one flight to Bangladesh, and one flight to Yemen. 4 Established 1961 Local Thursday, July 30, 2020

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf Client reserves right to end THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961 automatic renewal at any time Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief Read contract before signing: Consumer protection department ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 By Nawara Fattahova the contract that was signed by the client. of a local bank. Ahmad himself was a victim of ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 Even in this case, the client should be able to another TV service provider. FAX : 24835620/1 KUWAIT: Always read the contract and be cancel it without delay,” he added. “I signed a contract for one year. I wasn’t CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 sure of what services you are buying, and how Different fields of services follow different even watching TV much. When the year end- ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 you will pay for them, before you sign. Failure institutions, where consumers can file their ed, I still received a deduction message from COMMERCIAL : 24835618 to do so can result in a tangled effort to can- complaints. “For instance, any complaint relat- my account. I called the company saying the P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. cel and you might end up paying long after ed to telecommunication services should be contract had expired, but they replied that it Email: [email protected] you have terminated or stopped using the filed at the Communication and Information has been renewed automatically. So I request- Website: www.kuwaittimes.net service. Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), ed to cancel it, and they did cancel it. But the Kuwait Times recently spoke with the con- complaints against shipping companies at the next month the monthly fee was deducted sumer protection department at the Ministry General Administration of Customs, and again from my account, and when I asked why, of Commerce regarding this issue. According against home businesses and selling items they told me the cancelation request takes to the consumer protection department, many two months to process, so I had to pay for Japan ambassador customers don’t read the entire contract they two more months,” Ahmad said. sign, which gets them into trouble later. Other banks have different charges for wishes Kuwait When someone subscribes to a service like issuing a new credit card. “We frequently a satellite channel for instance and signs a Complaints receive complaints against various service Eid Mubarak contract, they are liable for the entire period received on providers. If the client considers it as fraudu- of the contract, even if they want to stop the lent, we may cancel their credit card and KUWAIT: Ambassador service early. “In this case, the service 135 hotline issue a new one free of charge. The service of Japan to the State of provider has the right to charge for the provider won’t be able to deduct any pay- Kuwait Masato Takaoka remaining period of the contract. Also, the ments from the client’s account, even if the extends his warmest terms of the contract are obligatory for the credit card wasn’t a prepaid one and is con- wishes and sincerest con- client, and in most contracts for such services, nected to their account, unless the client gratulations to the renewal is automatic, which means that even online by individuals who don’t have commer- gave his account number to the service Kuwaiti people on the after the contract period ends, it renews auto- cial license should be made at the Interior provider,” noted Sana from the call center of occasion of Eid Al-Adha. matically unless the client withdraws from it,” Ministry’s Cyber Crimes Department. For the another bank. Takaoka also prays for said Abdullah from the consumer protection services provided by a seller that doesn’t have Customers who feel they have been the speedy recovery of department call center. an agent in Kuwait, the only solution is filing a scammed or cheated can complain with docu- His Highness the Amir Japan’s Ambassador Automatic renewal, however, is another court case,” explained Abdullah. mentary proof at the consumer protection Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Masato Takaoka matter. A contract can stipulate automatic “In this case, the client can demand block- department, or call them on the hotline 135. Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. renewal of a subscription service but must ing their credit card so no further payments Customers should always carefully read the leave the customer the option of cancelling. can be made to that service provider. The contract they sign when subscribing to any “Automatic renewal can’t be applied by any bank will then issue a new credit card for a services, especially those related to the State working to service provider unless clearly mentioned in fee of KD 15,” said Ahmad from the call center Internet, TV channels, gaming, etc. facilitate Eid prayers CEO of Al-Zour Refinery Khalid Al-Awadhi in a KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Justice Dr Fahad Mohammad KIPIC activates statement. Awadi expressed gratitude to Kuwait Oil Al-Afasi said Tuesday the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Company (KOC) for cooperation and efforts to Affairs was working with other competent state bodies to Zour refinery complete operation of the gas pipeline for Al-Zour make it easy and safe for worshippers to perform Eid Al-Adha refinery. The success was due to determination of prayers on Friday morning. The interagency coordination has the workers in completing Al-Zour refinery despite crucial importance this year amid the precautions to curb the gas pipeline the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. Al-Zour refin- spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr Afasi, who is ery is the largest project with a refining capacity of also Minister Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said in a press 615,000 barrels per day, built to refine different release. The statement followed a coordinative meeting held KUWAIT: Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries types of Kuwaiti crude oil. The project is one of the by the mosques’ sector in the Ministry of Awqaf to review the Company (KIPIC) announced Tuesday completion main initiatives in the Kuwait Petroleum preparations for the prayers at mosques and in outdoor areas of the vital stage of the Al-Zour refinery by intro- Corporation (KPC), envisaged in the 2040 strategy, countrywide. Dr Afasi noted that the mosques’ sector plays an ducing hydrocarbon to run its gas pipeline. This which aims to expand capacity by building a new important role in raising the public awareness about the cor- achievement came by efforts of Kuwaiti workers oil refinery with a capacity of 615,000 barrels per rect values and concepts of Islam as well as the health safety. and various other groups in KIPIC as well as advis- On July 13, the ministry decided to lift the four-month ban on day, representing 43 percent of the total refining Friday congregational prayers as from July 17. —KUNA ers and contractors of the project, said Deputy capacity of Kuwait. —KUNA Fire guts four warehouses in Sulaibiya

KUWAIT: Ten fire squads worked together to up. Several refrigerating gas cylinders exploded battle a huge blaze that gutted four warehouses during the fire, KFSD said, noting that the ware- located over an area of 8,000 square meters in houses were used to store petrochemical sub- Sulaibiya agricultural area yesterday. The fire was stances, air-conditioning spare parts, electrical reported at 1:15 am, prompting Kuwait Fire Service appliances and fiberglass materials in violation of Department (KFSD) to send teams from eight dif- the terms of their licenses for agricultural use. No ferent fire stations, while Kuwait Army and Kuwait injuries were reported in the fire, and a case was National Guard sent their fire teams to back them filed to investigate the causes. International THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 Hong Kong implements tough virus restrictions

Aliens, ‘reptilians’: US viral video doctor’s odd beliefs Page 6 Page 7

MAKKAH: Photo shows the first group of female pilgrims praying in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Makkah at the start of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. — AFP Coronavirus deaths surge in US Scaled-down hajj begins amid pandemic WASHINGTON: Coronavirus deaths outbreaks have forced nations around ‘Rapidly and uncontrollably’ in the United States surged to their the world to step up measures against Several countries have nonetheless highest level in months as Muslim pil- the contagion, leaving holiday tourism imposed quarantines on people return- grims began yesterday a pandemic-cur- and event calendars in shambles. ing from Spain, including its biggest tailed version of their sacred hajj. The The annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi tourist market, Britain. Spain’s strict human toll of the disease surged to a Arabia’s Makkah drew 2.5 million lockdown destroyed more than a million level not seen since mid-May in the Muslims last year, but in pandemic- jobs during the second quarter of the United States, the world’s hardest-hit shadowed 2020 just 10,000 already year, the National Statistics Institute country, with nearly 1,600 deaths residing in the kingdom will be (INE) reported Tuesday-mainly in recorded in 24 hours, Johns Hopkins allowed in. The chosen ones were sub- tourism. Germany, which has registered University reported on Tuesday. ject to temperature checks and placed an average of 557 new cases a day over Case numbers have been rising for in quarantine as they began trickling the past week, also tweaked its mask weeks across swathes of the nation, into Makkah over the weekend. State rules, saying they must be worn out- leaving health authorities and leaders to media showed health workers sanitiz- doors wherever social distancing was watch nervously for a feared spike in ing their luggage, and some pilgrims not possible. “We must prevent that the fatalities. President Donald Trump’s reported receiving electronic wrist- virus once again spreads rapidly and effort to be re-elected in November has bands to let authorities monitor their uncontrollably,” its disease control been dogged by a crisis that has whereabouts. agency said Tuesday. already killed nearly 150,000 In addition to being a spiritual high- Iran suffered its worst day yet of the KATHMANDU: A health worker collects a swab sample from a woman for a COVID-19 PCR test in Americans and wreaked havoc on the light to faithful Muslims, the pilgrimage pandemic, reporting 235 new deaths on the Mahaboudha area of the Nepalese capital on Tuesday. — AFP world’s biggest economy. normally provides a boost to the local Tuesday, a record toll for a single day in Twitter removed a video that Trump economy that will be sorely missed this the Middle East’s hardest-hit country. reimpose restrictions progressively lift- bar and restaurant capacity. And in retweeted in which doctors made year. In Europe, resurgent virus cases “The situation is worrying,” health min- ed since April to reopen Iran’s sanc- Colombia, President Ivan Duque allegedly false claims about the pan- are blasting a similar hole in local hopes istry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari tions-hit economy. announced an extension of lockdown demic, saying it was in violation of its for a financial windfall in summer holi- said, with Tehran, the most populous Lebanon also raised fears for its cri- measures until August 30, as the num- “COVID-19 misinformation policy.” day hotspots. Spain, one of the coun- province, hitting the highest category sis-hit health sector after recording 175 ber of cases in the South American Earlier, Facebook had also withdrawn tries hit hardest by the pandemic, insists on the country’s coronavirus risk scale. cases on Saturday, its highest daily tally. country continues to climb. Colombia the video, which claimed masks and it is a safe destination for tourists Officials have made masks mandatory in On Tuesday, it announced a full lock- has reported more than 9,000 COVID- lockdowns were not necessary to despite tackling 361 active outbreaks enclosed public spaces and allowed down July 30-August 3 over the Muslim 19 deaths in nearly five months of the counter the pandemic. Resurgent virus and more than 4,000 new cases. Tehran and other hard-hit provinces holiday of Eid al-Adha, and limits on pandemic. — AFP

thousands of people subject to criminal ion,” he told CNN-Turk television on from some mistake or a failure in the Turkey tightens proceedings for “insulting” President Tuesday. “Here is the rule: whatever is a Scientists revive experiment,” said lead author Yuki Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media. crime in real world is also a crime in cyber Morono. “We now know that there is They argue that increased control of social world ... there must be a limit to criticism.” microbes from no age limit for (organisms in the) grip on social media will also limit Turkish access to inde- Erdogan vowed to tighten government con- sub-seafloor biosphere,” he told AFP. pendent or critical information in a country trol over social media earlier this month URI Graduate School of media where the news media is in the hands of after he said “dark-hearted” users insulted 100 million Oceanography professor and study government-friendly businessmen or con- Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and his co-author Steven D’Hondt said the trolled by the state. wife Esra, the president’s daughter, follow- years ago microbes came from the oldest sedi- ISTANBUL: Turkey’s parliament yester- “Why now?” asked Yaman Akdeniz, ing the birth of their fourth child. ment drilled from the seabed. day passed a controversial bill giving the professor at Istanbul’s Bilgi University and And last month, the Turkish leader met PARIS: Scientists have successfully “In the oldest sediment we’ve drilled, government greater control of social media also a cyber rights expert. “While print with a spate of negative comments during a revived microbes that had lain dor- with the least amount of food, there are and criticized by human rights advocates and broadcast media platforms are already video-conference with young people. The mant at the bottom of the sea since still living organisms, and they can wake as an attempt to increase online censor- under government control, social media Turkish presidency then turned off com- the age of the dinosaurs, allowing the up, grow and multiply,” he said. ship. Under the new law, social media networks are relatively free. Social media ments but there were 388,000 clicks on the organisms to eat and even multiply Morono explained that oxygen traces giants such as Facebook and Twitter have has become one of the few spaces for free “thumbs down” button, compared with after eons in the deep. Their research in the sediment allowed the microbes to to ensure they have local representatives in and effective expression in Turkey,” he 114,000 on the “thumbs up” button. sheds light on the remarkable survival stay alive for millions of years while Turkey and to comply with court orders told AFP. Erdogan is not a fan of social media despite power of some of Earth’s most primi- expending virtually no energy. Energy over the removal of certain content or face Human Rights Watch expressed con- a large following on different platforms, tive species, which can exist for tens levels for seabed microbes “are million heavy fines. cerns that the law would enable the gov- including Twitter. He once compared the of millions of years with barely any of times lower than that of surface The legislation targets social networks ernment to control social media, to get con- media platforms to a “murderer’s knife” and oxygen or food before springing back microbes,” he said. Such levels would with more than a million unique visits every tent removed at will and to arbitrarily target previously promised to “eradicate” Twitter. to life in the lab. be far too low to sustain the surface day and says servers with Turkish users’ individual users. “Social media is a lifeline His government previously blocked A team led by the Japan Agency for microbes, and Morono said it was a data must be stored locally. If companies for many people who use it to access news, Twitter and YouTube in 2014 after audio Marine-Earth Science and Technology mystery how the seabed organisms had refuse to comply, they will face fines and so this law signals a new dark era of online recordings were posted implicating the analysed ancient sediment samples managed to survive. restriction of bandwidth making the plat- censorship,” said Tom Porteous, deputy president, then prime minister, and his inner deposited more than 100 million years Previous studies have shown how form unusable. The bill was submitted by program director at Human Rights Watch in circle in an alleged corruption scandal. ago on the seabed of the South bacteria can live on some of the least the ruling AKP and its nationalist partner a statement before the legislation passed. Erdogan’s aversion of social media also Pacific. The region is renowned for hospitable places on Earth, including the MHP, which have a majority in the par- The legislation has aroused deep concerns dates back to anti-government protests in having far fewer nutrients in its sedi- around undersea vents that are devoid liament, and passed after debates beginning for many Internet users in Turkey who 2013, which were often mobilized by ment than normal, making it a far- of oxygen. Morono said the new on Tuesday and lasting into Wednesday. mobilized online in recent weeks using the Twitter and Facebook posts. A Turkish from-ideal site to maintain life over research, published in the journal After the night-long debate, the parliament hashtag “don’t touch my social media”. court in January lifted a ban on the online millennia. The team incubated the Nature Communications, proved the went into summer recess till October. encyclopaedia Wikipedia after almost three samples to help coax the microbes out remarkable staying power of some of ‘No obstacle’ years. According to Twitter’s latest “trans- of their epoch-spanning slumber. Earth’s simplest living structures. ‘Dark era’ Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan’s spokesman, parency report” for the first half of 2019, Astonishingly, they were able to “Unlike us, microbes grow their popu- Human rights groups and the opposition brushed off fears the law would hamper Turkey ranked number one for seeking revive nearly all of the microorgan- lation by divisions, so they do not are worried over what they call the erosion free speech. “There is no obstacle to social content removal with more than 6,000 isms. “When I found them, I was first actually have the concept of lifespan,” of freedom of expression in Turkey, with media users freely expressing their opin- requests. — AFP skeptical whether the findings are he added. — AFP 6 Established 1961 Thursday, July 30, 2020 International Aliens, ‘reptilians’: US viral video doctor’s odd beliefs ‘This virus has a cure-it is called hydroxychloroquine’ WASHINGTON: A Houston physician who praised Asked later by a reporter about his retweet, the hydroxychloroquine as a miracle coronavirus cure president said: “I thought her voice was an impor- in a viral video retweeted by President Donald tant voice, but I know nothing about her.” The Trump blames gynecological problems on sex with debate over hydroxychloroquine has become evil spirits and believes the US government is run supercharged politically with leaders like Trump by “reptilians.” Stella Immanuel’s viral speech has drawn attention to a little-known group calling themselves “America’s Frontline Doctors” who appear to exist to promote the common antimalarial drug in the fight against COVID-19. Video clip “Nobody needs to get sick. This virus has a cure-it is called hydroxychloroquine,” Immanuel shared exclaimed Monday as she stood on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington at a so-called “White by Trump Coat Summit” of likeminded physicians. Early on in the pandemic, scientists were eager to find out whether hydroxychloroquine’s antiviral properties would make it effective in real-world patients with SARS-CoV-2. So far though, all the major clinical and some fellow US conservatives cheerleading trials that have reported their findings on this ques- heavily in its favor. And the curious case of tion have found no benefit, and leading national Immanuel and colleagues-first reported in depth by health authorities have moved to restrict its use The Daily Beast-underscores just how far the drug’s because of potential cardiac harm. advocates are willing to go. BRASILIA: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro shows a box of hydroxychloroquine to supporters outside the Nonetheless the family doctor said all 350 Alvorada Palace in Brasilia. _ AFP patients she had treated with the medicine-includ- Right-wing political group ing those with serious pre-existing conditions-had The website for “America’s Frontline Doctors” research on Immanuel’s web page, now accessible Immanuel, who leads a religious group called Fire survived, and that hydroxychloroquine was so was registered just 11 days ago, a web domain age only via an archived website viewer, as well as her Power Ministries, said: “There are people ruling this potent it made mask-wearing and lockdowns checker revealed-and the site was taken down by YouTube account, reveal a long list of bizarre and nation that are not even human,” describing them as unnecessary. The clip was shared by Trump and Tuesday afternoon. “Tea Party Patriots,” a right- unscientific beliefs. These include that “tormenting “reptilian spirits” who are “half human, half ET.” In described as a “must watch” by his son Donald wing political group backed by wealthy spirits” routinely have “astral sex” with women, the same video she rails against the use of “alien Trump Jr, but has since been deleted by Facebook, Republicans, said on its website it was responsible which in turn causes “gynecological problems, mari- DNA” to treat sick people, which she said had result- Twitter and YouTube for promoting misinformation. for organizing the Washington summit. Further tal distress, miscarriages” and more. In a 2015 video, ed in human beings mixing with demons. — AFP

News in brief Immanuel and a group of doctors told Americans Trump ditches new that masks are unnecessary and that hydroxy- chloroquine can defeat the COVID-19 virus. Nile dam saga to ‘drag on’ tone on coronavirus Twitter said Tuesday that tweeting the video, which was seen by millions of people online late CAIRO: Egypt’s president said Tuesday that talks Monday and remained up on different right-wing over Ethiopia’s Nile dam would “drag on”, but to tout questionable websites, was “in violation of our COVID-19 misin- voiced hope for a negotiated settlement to the formation policy.” Twitter also blocked Trump’s son dispute. “We are negotiating and these negotia- theories Don Jr-a major player in the president’s reelection tions will be a long battle,” President Abdel campaign-from tweeting for 12 hours after he Fattah El-Sisi said. But, he added, “we will suc- uploaded a version of the video. ceed, God willing.” Sisi’s comments, in a speech WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s much The physician, who calls herself “God’s battle broadcast on state TV, came amid heightened heralded new tone on the coronavirus pandemic axe,” claims in the video that “the virus has a cure” in tensions between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over evaporated Tuesday in a burst of misleading med- hydroxychloroquine. This is false-there is currently the vast Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the ical speculation, criticism for his own top virus WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump speaks to no cure for the coronavirus. Also, a majority of med- Blue Nile. For nearly a decade, talks between the expert, and praise for an eccentric preacher-doctor the press in the Brady Briefing Room of the White ical authorities now have decided, after some initial three countries over the operation and filling of touting conspiracy theories. Just a week ago, Trump House in Washington, DC. — AFP debate, that hydroxychloroquine has no proven ben- the mega-dam have faltered. Last week, Ethiopia sought to get his shaky reelection campaign back efit for coronavirus patients and can be very harmful. announced it had reached its first-year target for on track by addressing national criticism of a lead- patients. “Many doctors think it’s extremely success- Trump has for months pushed the notion of hydroxy- filling the reservoir, a move that sparked anxiety ership void in a crisis that has already killed nearly chloroquine and says he took the drug for two weeks 150,000 Americans and wreaked havoc on the ful.” And he took pains to praise Stella Immanuel, a in downstream Egypt and Sudan, who fear for as a precaution, without suffering ill consequences. world’s biggest economy. doctor and preacher who believes in witchcraft and their vital water supplies. — AFP As he repeated on Tuesday, “I’m here, right? I’m The president admitted things were going to “get a plot being carried out to vaccinate people against here.” In his Twitter spree late Monday, the president worse before they get better.” He indicated he was being religious, calling her “spectacular.” also retweeted a growing right-wing conspiracy the- Biden to pick vice president embracing the science. He finally urged the wearing of masks. But at a press conference in the White Social media outcast ory that Fauci helped push coronavirus to hurt Trump’s reelection in November. The tweet, shared WILMINGTON: Joe Biden, the presumptive House on Tuesday, it was the old Trump in full. He Trump’s testy press conference, which he said it was unfair that the leading US infectious dis- abruptly ended while answering a second question by Trump to his 84 million followers, claimed that Democratic presidential nominee, said Tuesday Immanuel is highlighting “what should be the biggest that he will pick his running mate next week for eases specialist Anthony Fauci was more popular about his praise for Immanuel, followed an overnight than him. “Nobody likes me,” he said. He pushed his row with social media giants Twitter and Facebook scandal in modern American history.” This was “the the November election against President Donald suppression of #Hydroxychloroquine by Fauci & the Trump. “I’m going to have a choice in the first pet theory-counter to advice from his own govern- over some of the same controversies. Twitter took ment and most doctors-that the anti-malarial drug the rare step of removing clips tweeted by Trump Democrats to perpetuate Covid deaths to hurt week in August,” Biden told reporters. “And I Trump,” the tweet reads. — AFP promise, I’ll let you know when I do.” Biden, who hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 from a video earlier deleted by Facebook in which has pledged to put a woman on the Democratic ticket, was asked whether he would be able to meet face-to-face with his vice presidential pick because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ll Record 212 see,” the 77-year-old former vice president said. Biden joked that he would have to try to “trick” environmental activists journalists camping outside his Wilmington home to allow him to meet discreetly with his choice murdered in 2019 before making an announcement. — AFP

PARIS: At least 212 environmental campaigners Uganda leader eyes 6th term worldwide were murdered in 2019, making last year the deadliest on record for frontline activists bat- KAMPALA: Veteran Ugandan President Yoweri tling the destruction of Nature, watchdog group Museveni was on Tuesday nominated as his par- Global Witness reported yesterday. Colombia and ty’s candidate in the 2021 presidential election in the Philippines combined accounted for just over which he will be seeking a sixth term in office. half of the confirmed deaths - 64 and 43, respec- Museveni, 75, a former rebel leader who seized tively-followed by Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and power in 1986 and was first elected a decade lat- Guatemala. er, changed the constitution in 2005 to abolish a The real number is likely higher due to unreport- two-term limit. In 2019 the Supreme Court con- ed or misrepresented cases, especially in Africa, the firmed the scrapping of the age limit for the pres- NGO said in its annual review. About 40 percent of idency, paving the way for a further election bid. FLORIDA: Cars line up for Covid-19 test at a ‘walk-in’ and ‘drive-through’ coronavirus testing site in Miami victims were indigenous people, and over two- “The president was today nominated as the party Beach, Florida. — AFP thirds died in Latin America. One in ten were flag bearer in the coming general elections,” said women. For decades, native communities in the Rogers Mulindwa, spokesman for the ruling forests of Central and South America, Asia and National Resistance Movement (NRM). “There infected with the virus, and as of Tuesday it has killed more than 6,000 people. New cases are Africa have seen ancestral lands degraded and has been common desire within the party that Slow tests and poor destroyed, sometimes with the blessing of corrupt the president becomes our sole candidate given around 10,000 a day. The latest single daily death toll was a record 186. “What do I do with a patient local or national governments. his great contribution to the country and Africa,” tracing: Virus disaster Of the 141 murders last year that could be linked Mulindwa said. Museveni is facing a challenge that I test today, and the results come back in three, four, five, six days-when between the test and the a specific economic sectors, more than a third from music star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, unfolds in Florida involved campaigners protesting mining operations, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. — AFP time of a positive result they have been with a load of people?” asked Alberto Dominguez-Bali, a doc- some legal most not. Thirty-four killings related to agribusiness were overwhelmingly in Asia, especial- MIAMI: Florida has emerged as a major new epi- tor at Hialeah Hospital in Miami. “That is poor man- agement of the situation,” he said. ly the Philippines. Two Indonesian activists were Migratory river fish populations center of the US coronavirus battle, but two key stabbed to death in October near a palm oil planta- With things so messy, people are pointing fin- weapons in the state’s fight are misfiring badly: test- tion in northern Sumatra. In the Philippines, police gers searching for a culprit. Two weeks ago PARIS: Populations of migratory river fish col- ing and contact tracing. Health officials say that and counter-insurgency operations led to the mas- Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a firm ally of lapsed by 76 percent on average in the last 50 when a person is tested they need to get the results sacre of 14 sugar plantation farmers on Negros President Donald Trump and of reopening the years, according to a report by conservation in 48 hours or less, so if they are in fact positive island in March, only months after nine others had economy despite the warnings of health experts, groups Tuesday, warning the “catastrophic” they can self-isolate right away and avoid infecting been killed in similar circumstances. blamed the labs doing the testing. DeSantis declines could impact people and ecosystems others. But in the Sunshine State it is taking up to 10 “Agribusiness and oil, gas and mining have con- threatened to stop sending work to those labs that around the world. Overfishing and loss of habitat days for results to return. sistently been the biggest drivers of attacks against take a long time to return the results. “You have have had a devastating impact on migratory fish, Such was the case of Gemma Garcia, a Spanish land and environmental defenders,” said Global somebody going through one of the sites, and according to the research by groups including journalist who waited 11 days for her test results. Witness campaigner Rachel Cox. “They are also the the International Union for the Conservation of During that span she practiced social distancing but then they get a result back 10 days later. That is industries pushing us further into runaway climate Nature, WWF, World Fish Migration Foundation did not quarantine. Her test came back positive, and not really going to be very helpful,” he said. Since change through deforestation and increased carbon and the Zoological Society of London. Almost then she did isolate herself. “And I contacted all the then two big lab companies, Quest Diagnostics emissions.” one in three of all freshwater species are threat- people I had been with,” said Garcia, who is 53. and LabCorp, said the government has allowed Burning forests not only robs the planet of ened with extinction, the report said, with migra- Luckily, they all came back negative. This lag them to do what are called pool tests to save time. greenhouse gas absorbing vegetation, it also tory fish “disproportionately threatened”. The between testing and results coming back is one of This means several samples are combined and releases stored CO2 into the atmosphere. Logging study looked at 247 species of fish from around the reasons Florida is a red hot spot in the pandem- examined altogether. If that group tests positive, operations were directly linked to 24 deaths, with the world and found that their populations had ic-along with Texas and California-in the country then the individual parts that compose it are test- another 14 related to illegal crop substitution, 11 to declined on average 3 percent per year between hardest hit by the virus sweeping the globe. ed one by one. LabCorp told AFP this is helping land reform, and six to water management or dam 1970 and 2016. — AFP Right now one of every 50 people in Florida is to speed things up. — AFP construction. — AFP Established 1961 7 Thursday, July 30, 2020 International Hit by COVID and drought, rural Moroccans tighten belts for Eid Snap domestic travel restrictions cast a pall over trade SKHIRAT: Moroccan farmer Hamid had pinned his hopes on selling his sheep for the Eid al-Adha feast, to make up for a year of drought and the economic paralysis linked to the novel coronavirus pandemic. But snap domestic travel restrictions imposed by the North African country’s authorities on Sunday after a surge in new infections has cast a pall over trade ahead of the festival Friday. While the Moroccan countryside has seen fewer infections than the kingdom’s cities, it has been hit hard by the economic repercussions of the crisis. “We lowered our prices in response to weak demand,” Hamid said, a mask slung under his chin. For the 54-year-old farmer, who heads to market every year ahead of Eid to sell his livestock for slaughter, “the most important thing is to earn money after months of hardship when we had zero income.” According to a study by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), in charge of official statistics, the drop in income has affected 70 percent of the rural population compared to 59 percent of urban SKHIRAT, Morocco: Moroccans buy sacrificial animals ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha at a livestock market in the coastal city of Skhirat. — AFP dwellers, and 77 percent of farmers have seen their revenues fall in recent months. This is in part Abdellatif said. Eid al-Adha will still be celebrated (around $1.3 billion), according to the agriculture Minister Khalid Ait Taleb urged the population to because people from rural areas “who work in the this year even though mosques will not hold public ministry. But concerns have been raised, cited by “avoid unnecessary visits”, limit physical contact city and transfer a good part of their income to their prayers and travel restrictions will limit the tradi- local media in recent weeks, that celebrating the and “ensure preventive measures are respected families have stopped doing so after losing their tional family gatherings held during the holiday. holiday could exacerbate the health crisis as a result during family gatherings”. jobs,” agronomist Larbi Zagdouni told AFP. Seated on the back of a truck carrying sheep to the of families coming together. Morocco has in recent days seen record case Skhirat market near the capital Rabat, Abdellatif Authorities decided not to ban celebrations but numbers, reporting 811 new infections on Saturday ‘Pay off debts’ says he thinks not celebrating the feast of sacrifice have required social distancing and wearing masks, and 633 on Sunday. The total number of cases in the The lockdown imposed for around 10 weeks “would be a disaster”. levying fines for non-compliance. But observance kingdom stands at 20,278, including 313 deaths. The from mid-March compounded problems for farmers Zagdouni echoed this, saying, “This festival is of the measures on the ground is mixed, with travel restrictions slapped on eight cities over the already facing a severe drought in a country heavily important for rural areas and particularly during this social distancing largely ignored in markets weekend sparked chaos across the country, with dependent on agriculture. In difficult times, many period of crisis. Banning it would be a catastrophe packed with un-masked buyers and vendors. Faced giant traffic jams on the roads and train stations farmers rely on selling their livestock to “reduce for rural areas.” Last year, overall revenues related with general laxity on anti-virus rules, authorities crammed with people wanting at all costs to spend losses and pay off debts,” 34-year-old farmer to Eid al-Adha reached about 12 billion dirhams have increased calls for “responsibility” and Health the festival with family. — AFP

News in brief Hong Kong Philippines: Deadliest Three migrants shot dead implements tough country in Asia for TRIPOLI: Three Sudanese migrants were killed in a shooting in Libya after the country’s coast guard virus restrictions land defenders intercepted them at sea and returned them to shore, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday. The HONG KONG: Hong Kong is on the verge of a International Organization for Migration said sep- MANILA: The Philippines was the deadliest country “large-scale” coronavirus outbreak that could over- in Asia for land and environmental defenders again arately that “local authorities started shooting whelm hospitals, its leader warned yesterday, as when the migrants attempted to escape from the last year while slipping to second most dangerous in authorities implemented their toughest social dis- the world behind Colombia, a watchdog said yester- disembarkation point”. The UNHCR said it tancing measures yet. From yesterday all residents “deplores the tragic loss of three lives and calls for day. A total of 43 defenders were killed in the archi- in the densely packed city of 7.5 million must wear pelago-the vast majority on the fertile and resource- an urgent investigation” into the shootings at Al- masks when they leave their homes while restau- Khums, a port city about 100 kilometers east of rich islands of Mindanao and Negros-compared with rants can only serve takeaway meals. 30 in 2018, Global Witness said in a report. Nearly Tripoli late Monday. “The shooting occurred after No more than two people from different house- HONG KONG: Pedestrians wear face masks in the Kowloon-side Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong in half of the killings recorded since President Rodrigo more than 70 people were disembarked from a holds can gather in public with fines of up to vessel,” the UNHCR said, adding that two the early morning of yesterday, as new social distanc- Duterte took power in 2016 have been linked to the HK$5,000 ($625) for those who breach the new ing measures come into effect which include having armed forces or paramilitary groups, it said. migrants died at the scene and a third en route to emergency rules. The latest measures are a bid to hospital, while two more were wounded. “The to wear masks in public, to combat a new wave of reverse a sudden spike in coronavirus cases that has coronavirus infections. — AFP remaining persons who were disembarked were Who is being killed? upended the city’s otherwise enviable battle against Indigenous leaders, farmers and state employees moved to detention,” it said in a statement. — AFP the deadly disease. More than 1,000 infections have the coronavirus when it emerged from China at the charged with protecting the environment were been confirmed since early July - more than 40 per- start of the year. It initially had remarkable success in among the victims. More than half the deaths were cent of the total since the virus first hit the city in related to agribusiness, Global Witness said. Sixteen Mali PM urges unity govt late January. controlling the outbreak - helped in part by a health- killings were linked to mining-the highest in the New daily infections have been above 100 for the conscious public embracing face masks and an effi- BAMAKO: Mali’s Prime Minister tried to break past six days. “We are on the verge of a large-scale cient track and trace program, forged in the fires of world. Nearly half of those killed lived on Mindanao, the country’s political deadlock Tuesday, visiting community outbreak, which may lead to a collapse the deadly SARS virus in 2003. By June, local trans- where the army has long maintained a heavy pres- the home of a key opposition figure and inviting of our hospital system and cost lives, especially of mission had all but ended. But the virus later sneaked ence in the fight against communist and Muslim him to bring his movement into a unity govern- the elderly,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam said in a back into the city and began spreading. insurgents. The island was under martial law until the ment. Boubou Cisse visited the influential reli- statement released yesterday to coincide with the Health officials have been scrambling to uncover end of last year. Large numbers of defenders were gious leader imam Mahmoud Dicko-regarded as new measures. “In order to protect our loved ones, the source of the latest outbreak. Some have blamed also killed on Negros, a sugar-producing island in the figurehead of the June 5 Movement (M5- our healthcare staff and Hong Kong, I appeal to you exemptions from the usual 14-day quarantine that the the central Philippines that is also heavily militarized RFP) - at his home in Bamako in the to follow strictly the social distancing measures and government granted to “essential personnel”, includ- and where activists have long campaigned for land Badalabougou district, close to the mosque stay at home as far as possible,” she added. ing cross-boundary truckers, air and sea crew and reform to reduce inequality and poverty. where he preaches. Cisse “asked the imam to get During their lunch break yesterday, many resi- some manufacturing executives. The government has “Defenders living in Mindanao and Negros made involved so that ... the M5-RFP accept the out- dents were eating takeaway meals outside in the since tightened restrictions for some of those groups. up almost 90 percent of land and environmental stretched hand of (President Ibrahim Boubacar intense summer heat and humidity. “It’s so hot out- Gladys Chan, who was taking her lunch break, said activists killed in the country in 2019,” the report Keita) by joining the government of national uni- side now,” a construction worker, who gave his sur- she felt the government had not done enough to said. Kaylo Bontolan, a leader of the Manobo tribe ty, by favoring dialogue as an unavoidable solu- name as Chow said as he tucked into a pork chop in monitor those with exemptions. “I think the govern- on Mindanao, was among them. He was killed in a tion to end the crisis”, the prime minister’s office an alcove outside a department store. “Ten minutes ment has failed us, especially with this third wave of military airstrike in April last year when he returned said. But the June 5 Movement’s (M5-RFP) fig- after I start work, my shirt is all sweaty,” he said, the pandemic,” she told AFP, adding the latest meas- to his mountain home to help document violence urehead, was scathing about the latest govern- adding he missed the air conditioning of restaurants. ures were “too little, too late”. As isolation wards fill against fellow tribe members. “Like Datu Kaylo, ment offer in a statement earlier Tuesday. — AFP Hong Kong has some of the world’s smallest and up, authorities have announced plans to build a tem- many of those killed were indigenous people assert- most expensive apartments. Some residents barely porary 2,000-bed field hospital near the city’s air- ing their right to self-determination and their ances- have a kitchen to cook in, making them hugely port, something Chinese authorities have offered to tral lands,” the report said. The impact of climate Philippines eyes nuke power reliant on cheap eateries. help with. The latest lockdown measures are a new change has dialed up the pressure on defenders as body blow for a city that was already mired in reces- they seek to protect indigenous land rights and stop MANILA: The Philippines has taken a big step From success to sudden surge sion thanks to the US-China trade war and months of commercial loggers and miners destroying pristine towards tapping nuclear power, its energy minister The finance hub was one of the first places hit by political unrest last year. — AFP rainforests and polluting the environment. — AFP said yesterday, after President Rodrigo Duterte created an inter-agency panel to study the adop- tion of a national nuclear energy policy. As power In Kashmir, the hills demand soars in what has for years been among the world’s fastest-growing economies, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has been passionately are alive with the advocating use of nuclear power, despite public concern over safety in a country hit frequently by sound of schooling natural disasters. Nuclear power is seen as a potential answer to the Philippines’ twin problems of precarious supply and Southeast Asia’s highest DOODHPATHRI: Sitting cross-legged and hunched electricity costs, but Duterte has yet to express full over her textbooks in a lush meadow surrounded by support for Cusi’s proposal. In a July 24 executive mountains and pine trees, Tasleem Bashir can hardly order and made public on Wednesday, however, contain her joy at being back at school. The 14- Duterte created a committee to conduct the study, year-old is among hundreds of students attending indicating openness to reviving the country’s open-air classes in Doodhpathri, high above nuclear energy ambitions. — Reuters Srinagar in Indian-controlled Kashmir, as the coro- navirus continues to cripple life in the country. “It feels so good to have school in this fresh air. At Papua New Guinea’s outbreak home I didn’t study much because there were many DOODHPATHRI: Students attend a class at their open-air school situated on top of a mountain in house chores to do,” Bashir said. Doodhpathri, Indian-administered Kashmir. — AFP PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea ramped “After classes, I sit around with friends and we up coronavirus testing and rushed to build field also play together before walking back home,” she semi-autonomy. With India now the third-most lages are supplied with face masks and sanitizer hospitals yesterday after an outbreak was found told AFP. The relief is obvious for everyone involved infected nation in the world-with almost 1.5 million before sitting in eight groups divided by age. Teachers to have spread beyond its locked-down capital. in the classes in the clouds held at an altitude of infections-it is not yet clear when classes will restart. carried whiteboards to the meadow to use during the More than 70 people have been isolated and 2,730 meters (9,000 feet). Parents and grandpar- Unable to afford smartphones, and with limited inter- three- to four-hour classes. “It felt wrong to receive contact tracing was underway at four hotels in ents walk or carry their children up a slope to the net access in remote villages, many students were my salary sitting at home,” said teachers Manzoor the second city of Lae, after a health conference flat patch of grass ahead of the daily classes. unable to attend online lessons. So parents turned to Ahmad. “I really enjoy teaching in this enchanting attendee tested positive for COVID-19, the Children run to a glacier-fed stream to dip their feet the education department, pleading for help. atmosphere rather than inside usually cramped class- provincial health authority said. It was the first in the cool water during breaks, while others jump rooms,” he told AFP. Shabnam, 12, who walks over a infection detected in the city. Papua New Guinea in after classes for a bath before heading home. Face masks and sanitizer mile to the makeshift classroom, said she initially felt is among the poorest countries in the Pacific and Even before the coronavirus epidemic, schooling “We decided to organize classes for these children suffocated by wearing a face mask during lessons. had until recently been spared a serious coron- in restive Kashmir had been severely disrupted by a in the open air, where we observe social distancing,” “But now I feel good and enjoy it here very much,” she avirus outbreak. — AFP strict curfew imposed almost a year ago when New local education department official Mohammad said. “I had thought my school was over for good and I Delhi stripped the Muslim-majority region of its Ramzan told AFP. In this meadow, pupils from 15 vil- would never meet my school friends again.” — AFP Established 1961

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 Quest to recreate sun’s energy on earth Scientists seek to demonstrate fusion power can be generated sustainably and safely

SAINT-PAUL-LES-DURANCE, France: Fourteen hailed “the biggest international science project in years after receiving the official go-ahead, scientists human history,” which he said offered hope of a clean, on Tuesday began assembling a giant machine in safe energy source as soon as 2050. southern France designed to demonstrate that nuclear fusion, the process which powers the sun, can be a Low-risk safe and viable energy source on Earth. The ITER project was launched in 2006 by 35 The groundbreaking multinational experiment, countries including the United States, Russia, China, known as ITER, has seen components arrive in the Britain, Switzerland, India, Japan, South Korea and tiny commune of Saint-Paul-les-Durance from pro- the 27 members of the European Union. “Fusion is duction sites worldwide in recent months. They will safe, with minute amounts of fuel and no physical now be painstakingly put together to complete what possibility of a run-away accident with meltdown” as is described by ITER as the “world’s largest puzzle.” with traditional nuclear power stations, the partners The experimental plant’s goal is to demonstrate said in a statement. that fusion power can be generated sustainably, and A further advantage: The fuel for fusion and lithium safely, on a commercial scale, with initial experiments to help manage the reaction is found in seawater and set to begin in December 2025. is abundant enough to supply humanity for millions Fusion powers the sun and other stars when light of years. “A pineapple-sized amount of this fuel is the atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, re- equivalent of 10,000 tons of coal,” the partners said. leasing huge amounts of en- ITER, the world’s largest ergy in doing so. The experimental fusion facility, is challenge is to build a machine meant to produce about 500 which can harness this energy ITER dubbed megawatts of thermal power, which is meant to be held in as the world’s equivalent to some 200 place in the reactor vessel and megawatts of electric energy if controlled by an immensely largest puzzle operated continuously, enough A picture shows the exterior of the Takomak seen from the assembly hall during the launch of the assembly strong magnetic field. “With to supply some 200,000 stage of nuclear fusion machine “Tokamak” of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in fusion, nuclear holds promise homes. Its “Tokamak” nuclear Saint-Paul-les-Durance, southeastern France, on Tuesday.—AFP for the future,” French Presi- fusion reactor will comprise dent Emmanuel Macron said in a message broadcast about a million components in all, some like its hugely project management, systems engineering, risk man- imental project, it is not designed to produce elec- to an event Tuesday to mark the official start of as- powerful superconducting magnets standing as high agement and logistics of the machine assembly must tricity. If the technology proves feasible, future fusion sembly. as a four-floor building and weighing 360 tons each. perform together with the precision of a Swiss reactors would be capable of powering two million As a technology, it promises “clean, no-carbon, watch,” he said, adding: “We have a complicated homes each at an operational cost comparable to safe and practically waste-free energy,” added the “Three-dimensional puzzle’ script to follow over the next few years.” those of conventional nuclear reactors, Bigot said. president, who has long advocated nuclear power in Some 2,300 people are at work on site to put the Once finished, the reactor should be able to recre- Such “artificial suns,” however, are criticized by en- the global fight against climate change driven by the massive machine together. “Constructing the machine ate the fusion processes that occur at the heart of vironmentalists as a cripplingly expensive scientific greenhouse gases produced from the burning of coal, piece by piece will be like assembling a three-dimen- stars at a temperature of some 150 million degrees mirage. The ITER project is running five years behind oil and natural gas. sional puzzle on an intricate timeline,” said ITER’s di- Celsius, 10 times hotter than the sun schedule and has seen its initial budget triple to some South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, for his part, rector general Bernard Bigot. “Every aspect of It could reach full power by 2035, but as an exper- 20 billion euros ($23.4 billon). — AFP

Faded photo giant Kodak gets $765m Tech titans in for drug business spotlight at US

WASHINGTON: Erstwhile photo giant Eastman antitrust hearing Kodak will launch a new business manufacturing pharmaceuticals amid the coronavirus pandemic, WASHINGTON: US lawmakers were yesterday using a $765 million government loan, the company poised to grill the chiefs of Amazon, Apple, Face- announced Tuesday. book and Google about how they wield market- The loan from the US International Develop- place power in what promises to be a rare political ment Finance Corporation (DFC) will fund the cre- spectacle. ation of Kodak Pharmaceuticals, which “will The House of Representatives hearing comes produce critical pharmaceutical components that amid rising concerns over Big Tech dominance, have been identified as essential but have lapsed which has become even more pronounced during into chronic national shortage,” the agency said in the coronavirus pandemic. The unprecedented joint a statement. appearance before the House Judiciary Committee The firm, which signed a “letter of interest” with features Tim Cook of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, the DFC on Tuesday, will produce “up to 25 percent Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Sundar Pichai of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in non- From photos to pharmaceuticals: The former giant in the world of cameras will now be producing components of Google and its parent firm Alphabet. biologic, non-antibacterial, generic pharmaceuti- of generic drugs.—AFP The CEOs of four of the world’s most powerful cals.” Kodak, once a giant in the world of companies will testify remotely, less than 100 days photography whose business has struggled in re- before the US election. It will be the first time Bezos cent years as cell phones have replaced cameras role in the return of a reliable American pharmaceu- used to make generic pharmaceuticals worldwide, has testified before a congressional committee. and film, will expand its existing facilities in tical supply chain,” the company’s Executive Chair- only about 10 percent of those are made in the The world’s richest man will paint online giant Rochester, New York and St. Paul, Minnesota. man Jim Continenza said in the statement. country’s borders, the DFC said. Amazon as an example of US entrepreneurship. The company said the new pharmaceutical busi- The DFC loan is the first to be made after Pres- “We are pleased to support Kodak in this bold “I believe Amazon should be scrutinized,” Bezos ness will support 360 direct jobs and 1,200 indi- ident Donald Trump in May signed an executive new venture,” DFC Chief Executive Adam Boehler said in prepared remarks posted online, defiantly rectly. “By leveraging our vast infrastructure, deep order aimed at encouraging domestic production of said. “Our collaboration with this iconic American adding that “when you look in the mirror, assess the expertise in chemicals manufacturing and heritage materials needed to fight COVID-19. While Ameri- company will promote health and safety at home criticism, and still believe you’re doing the right thing, of innovation and quality, Kodak will play a critical cans consume about 40 percent of the components and around the world.” — AFP no force in the world should be able to move you.” Zuckerberg called social media colossus Face- book a “proudly American company” in prepared marks ahead of the hearing. “Our story would not have been possible without US laws that encourage Barclays takes competition and innovation,” he said. But, he is to say, the rules of the internet need £3.7bn virus hit updating. Pichai will highlight how Alphabet is helping America remain a technology leader in the face of as profits slump growing competition. Cook will say scrutiny is “rea- sonable and appropriate” but that Apple will make “no concession on the facts.” Apple does not have LONDON: British bank Barclays said yesterday that a dominant position in any market, and the iPhone first-half net profits tumbled by two thirds, as it set aside faces fierce competition, according to Cook’s pre- £3.7 billion ($4.7 billion, 4.0 billion euros) to deal with pared remarks. coronavirus fallout, and warned over a possible second wave. Profit after taxation dived to £695 million in the Political theater? six months to the end of June, compared with £2.07 bil- The hearing is part of a congressional probe into lion in the same portion of 2019, Barclays said in a results “online platforms and market power” and takes statement. place against a backdrop of antitrust investigations And net profit tanked 91 percent to just £90 million in the US, Europe and elsewhere. “The Street will in the second quarter, when it took a £1.6-billion hit from be laser focused on this next step in the Big Tech pandemic turmoil-on top of the £2.1 billion it had set vs. Beltway UFC battle,” Wedbush analyst Daniel aside for the first quarter. The cash should help Barclays Ives said in a recent note to investors. “Will this be weather the increased risks that customers may not be a grandstanding event with minimal substance or a able to repay bank loans on the back of the coronavirus- potential Fort Sumter moment for the anti-trust mo- induced recession. mentum against tech stalwarts?” he wrote, referring The sharp economic downturn was sparked by the lenging, our diversified model means we can remain fi- downturn following the emergency health crisis. “The to the opening salvo of the US Civil War. three-month nationwide lockdown on March 23 which nancially resilient and continue to support our customers actions taken by the UK government and the Bank of Avery Gardiner, an antitrust expert at the Center was not relaxed until early June. and clients.” England, may indicate a view on the potential severity for Democracy & Technology, said the hearing will Barclays meanwhile took the vast £3.7-billion charge of any economic downturn and post recovery environ- offer a timely focus on key issues around competi- despite assistance from the Bank of England and UK ment, which from a commercial, regulatory and risk per- ‘Bridge to recovery’ tion and concentration of economic power. government to help lenders boost lending and keep spective could be significantly different to past crises “This has been a period focused on supporting our “People are feeling frustrated with the way our customers, clients and the UK economy through the businesses afloat. The impact of the coronavirus has and persist for a prolonged period,” it warned. society is organized, and antitrust is one tool to go COVID-19 pandemic-providing the people and busi- been cushioned somewhat by emergency action from “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a weakening in after powerful companies,” she said. Current US nesses that we serve with a bridge to recovery in every the BoE and other major central banks, which have to- gross domestic product (GDP) and an expectation of antitrust laws make it difficult for enforcers to target way we can,” said Chief Executive Jes Staley. gether injected enormous amounts of liquidity-and higher unemployment and lower house prices in the UK. companies simply for being large or dominant with- “Credit impairment charges increased to £3.7 billion thanks to separate government stimulus. These factors all have a significant impact on the mod- out also showing harm to consumers or abuse of in the first half due to the forecast impact of COVID-19.” However, Barclays cautioned Wednesday that the elling of expected credit losses by Barclays Bank UK He added: “While the remainder of 2020 will be chal- drastic measures were also indicative of the depth of the Group.” —AFP market power. Because of that, —AFP Established 1961 9 Thursday, July 30, 2020 Business Boubyan Bank records KD 44m in operating profits for H1 2020 Bank allocates KD 25 million as precautionary provisions for first half of this year

KUWAIT: Boubyan Bank has announced KD 44 mil- upon the post Covid-19 stage, and that many things “Without delving into Achievements of the first half of year lion in operating profits for the first half of this year, will change as we are now facing new challenges details about the services Al-Majed pointed out that: “Boubyan Bank has despite the exceptional situation the world and Kuwait whether those related to the nature of business, or the and products available to succeeded in its regional and international offering are going through due to the unprecedented repercus- new investment opportunities in light of the clear our customers via our of its debut unsecured sukuk under the umbrella of a sions of the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the globe change in business models. The bank is currently website or our mobile sukuk program with total bids amounting to $4.6 bil- over the past months, leading to the halt of almost all working with its partners to align its business model banking App, customers lion approximately, i.e., the issuance was oversub- aspects of our daily lives. with the post Covid-19 era, and to evaluate the impact can now perform many of scribed by more than six-fold over the targeted Furthermore, the Bank continued its prudent of such unprecedented challenges on Kuwait, and the their banking transactions amount (i.e. $750 million), with the sukuk subse- approach by allocating KD 25 million in provisions, economic sectors therein.” without the need to visit quently listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.” thereby ending the first half of the year with KD 17 “During the crisis, the bank’s human resources our branches. They can During Q1 of this year, Boubyan Bank announced million in net profits. demonstrated that they were able to face the difficul- now do so while staying at its acquisition of additional shares in the Bank of Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed, the Bank’s Vice- ties and the risks caused by COVID-19, and this ability home, especially during London and Middle East “BLME”, amounting to Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, commented: manifested itself when the bank continued to perform Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed curfew times”, he added. 45.25 percent approximately. Accordingly, the total “Thanks to Allah, we built on our experiences over the in the best possible manner without failing to serve In April, the bank holding grew to approximately 71 percent of BLME’s past years, and managed to deal with the ongoing cri- customers owing to the skills of our staff who worked started to receive applications for concessional ordinary issued shares after adding the shares sis professionally by continuing to record profits, and during the crisis”, Al-Majed added. financing announced by CBK as a part of the stimu- already owned by Boubyan Bank Group. we hope all businesses in Kuwait will return to work lus package to support corporate customers & Al-Majed stressed: “Increasing our shareholding normally.” Boubyan Bank during the crisis SMEs impacted by the ongoing crisis. All financing in BLME will help us develop its business and grow “Of course, we had to allocate additional precau- Moreover, Al-Majed highlighted the most signifi- procedures are easily and smoothly processed elec- both banks. Following the completion of the acquisi- tionary provisions to strengthen the bank’s financial cant initiatives of the bank during the crisis, starting tronically, while ensuring the confidentiality of infor- tion, Boubyan Bank’s intention is for BLME to con- position, and to bolster our ability to face any future with the bank’s contribution to the KD 10 million fund mation and data, thereby meeting the objectives of tinue to work as an independent bank as a part of repercussions of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which established by the Central Bank of Kuwait, and co- CBK to facilitate and accelerate access to financing Boubyan Bank Group.” is normal as a result of this unprecedented crisis; a first funded by Kuwaiti banks, to support the government’s to the specific sectors included within the economic “Furthermore, Boubyan Bank has continued to of its kind in our modern world.”, he added. efforts to fight the Covid-19 outbreak. stimulus package. top the pyramid of customer service in Kuwait, sup- With Boubyan Bank’s acquisition of the Bank of Also, the bank dedicated all its resources in imple- This step aims at supporting vital sectors, and ported by earning two awards from Service Hero, London and Middle East “BLME” during Q1 of this menting the resolution of deferring all the installments activities which add value to the Kuwaiti economy, the international consumer-driven customer satis- year, the combined assets of Boubyan Bank Group of financing and credit cards for all customers in addi- and which were efficiently operational before the cri- faction index. The bank received the First Place grew by 28 percent until the end of Q2 to reach KD tion to deferring the installments for SMEs for a six- sis, while working hand-in-hand with the Central Award in Customer Service as a Country Winner, for 6.1 billion. Also, the total of customers’ deposits grew month period effective April 2020, without charging Bank of Kuwait and other bodies to prevent any the fifth time in addition to being named the Best by 19 percent to reach KD 4.7 billion, while the any additional profits or other charges for the deferral exacerbation of the situation, by turning from a liq- Islamic Bank in Customer Service for the tenth year financing portfolio grew by 28 percent to reach KD period. Al-Majed stated: “During this crisis, we uidity crisis to a solvency crisis, and to maintain the in a row since 2010. Additionally, the bank received 4.5 billion, and operating income grew by 8 percent to reaped the fruit of our investment in our digital bank- national manpower and circular flow of funds the Decade’s Award for the best Islamic bank”, Al- reach KD 79 million. ing services. Since the beginning of the crisis, we between economic sectors. Al-Majed thanked all Majed noted. noticed the growing usage of our digital banking serv- entities that managed the crisis, especially frontline Moreover, the bank was named the Best Islamic Post COVID-19 ices by our customers whether through the bank’s personnel, and thanked CBK as well for the measures Bank in Kuwait in 2019 by Global Finance for the Al-Majed went on to add: “Everyone is focused website or through the bank’s mobile App.” taken by it, which alleviated the severity of the crisis. fourth consecutive year.

NBK Economic Report

ty. KEC jumped above $40 on 1 July and was as high as low oil prices. In India, petroleum product consumption Oil prices remain $44.8/bbl last Thursday before slipping a little to is recovering from its 13-year low in April (9.9 million $43.4/bbl on Friday. tons), with fuel demand reaching over 92 percent of Indeed, medium crudes such as KEC, Saudi Arab pre-COVID levels in June, the Ministry of Petroleum range-bound in Medium and Basra Light, which traditionally sell at a and Natural Gas reported. This has been led by gasoline discount compared to lighter crudes that yield more and diesel demand, as commuters prioritize private over July as virus gasoline, diesel and jet fuel per barrel, have had a good public transportation-a recurring theme of the post- run in recent months, commanding higher than usual lockdown global landscape. In contrast, aviation fuel prices as a result of weak demand (and therefore refin- demand remains considerably weak. clouds outlook ing margins) for diesel and jet fuel due to the coron- avirus pandemic. OPEC+ to taper supply cuts KUWAIT: Oil prices have been range-bound for most OPEC-13 crude production fell to a three-decade of the last month, trading in the low $40s and inching up Oil demand outlook low of 24.3 mb/d in June as producers, led by Saudi only in the last week to four-month highs of $44.32/bbl The spike in coronavirus infections in economies Arabia, slashed output to bring supply and demand A McDonald’s restaurant in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. — AFP for the international benchmark Brent crude and newly emerging from weeks of lockdown has, however, closer to balance. OPEC-10 recorded compliance of $41.96/bbl for the US marker West Texas Intermediate been troubling, especially in the US. Some restrictions 110 percent in June (Libya, Iran and Venezuela are (WTI). Gains stemming from a visibly tightening physi- on mobility have had to be reimposed. Coming in the exempt from production quotas). After including the cal market have largely been kept in check by worries midst of the peak summer driving season, when gaso- 10-non-OPEC members led by Russia, aggregate McDonald’s profits over prolonged oil demand weakness due to resurgent line usage usually rises, the persistence of the pandem- compliance reached 106 percent in June, up from 85 Covid-19 infections in the US and elsewhere. ic is bound to add to US oil demand woes especially. percent in May. As proxies for oil demand, the weekly movements in The threat of prolonged oil demand weakness was a The OPEC+ group therefore delivered around 10.3 tumble, shifting US crude and product stocks and, to a lesser extent, major caveat in the International Energy Agency’s mb/d of output cuts (or more than 10 percent of pre- refinery processing rates, have been the primary (IEA) upwardly revised oil demand forecast for 2020. pandemic global oil supply), exceeding their target of focus to value barometers of market sentiment and the triggers for The agency, in its July oil market report, noted that its 9.7 mb/d, according to non-OPEC figures assessed by movements in oil prices. This has been more pro- 360 kb/d upward revision to oil demand growth (vs. Platts. At July’s Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee NEW YORK: The coronavirus pandemic took a bite nounced since supply-side fundamentals are roughly June estimate) in 2020 is contingent on the pandemic meeting (JMMC), the group agreed to begin winding out of McDonald’s profits and the Big Mac maker said pointing in the right direction thanks to the supply- being brought under control. This would bring the year down these cuts, to 7.7 mb/d for the period of August Tuesday it plans to focus on affordability in upcoming tightening efforts of OPEC+. average contraction in global oil demand to 7.9 mb/d to end-December. marketing campaigns as US consumer surveys reveal Fiscal and monetary stimulus to mitigate the negative rather than 8.1 mb/d as forecast earlier. The estimate of In practice, however, only about half of the 2 mb/d of mounting recession fears. But while there is still a lot of effects of the pandemic have also been significant price the year-on-year decline in 2Q20 is an eye-watering additional supply is expected in August, since non-com- uncertainty because of COVID-19, executives expect influencers. News of the European Union’s EUR750 bil- 16.4 mb/d. These are unprecedented figures for pliant producers, such as Iraq, Nigeria and Angola, have the second-quarter to be the low mark for the year. lion recovery fund propelled Brent crude to its four- demand destruction, and with the pandemic raging in promised to continue with deeper cuts to compensate The fast-food company suffered a 68 percent drop month high last Tuesday. News on anti-COVID drugs large parts of the southern hemisphere and persisting other members for the months in which they failed to in profits to $483.8 million, but the impact was mitigat- and vaccine development has a powerful effect on the in heavy oil consuming economies in the northern cut output to the required level. ed somewhat by drive-through sales that are becom- oil and broader financial markets. hemisphere, downside risks to the oil demand outlook ing a bigger factor, including in European markets. Nevertheless, it has been the OPEC+ oil supply are sizeable. Tighter supplies should see global Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski cautioned that cuts and those involuntary supply curtailments in the For the time being, oil consumption is accelerating in inventories draw down in 2H20 there are “a lot of warning signs out there that would US shale patch and Canadian tar sands developments countries emerging from lockdown. In the far east, in According to our estimates, which draw on IEA suggest the consumer sentiment and consumer con- that have really underpinned price gains since the end Europe and in the middle east, where summer tempera- demand and non-OPEC supply projections, global cerns about the economy is negative and going in the of April; a third consecutive month of price rises looks tures typically drive increased domestic demand for stocks should begin to decline from this quarter wrong direction.” “The vagaries of the pandemic cre- on the cards in July, with Brent up almost 6 percent power generation (cooling etc.) Indeed, Saudi energy onwards-by 4.8 mb/d in 3Q20 and 6.2 mb/d in 4Q20 on ate an unpredictable operating environment,” he said this month (though still down more than 34 percent in minister Prince Abdlulaziz pointed to such seasonal oil average-having ballooned in 2Q20 (+9.3 mb/d) on the on a conference call with analysts. 2020). The decision by the OPEC+ group after the demand effects being even more ‘pronounced’ this year back of rampant oversupply and dramatic demand “In many markets around the world, most notably recent JMMC meeting to begin tapering its 9.7 mb/d as GCC populations stay indoors amid continued travel destruction. (See chart 2.) This should help OPEC+ the US, the public health situation appears to be wors- worth of production cuts and start pumping again in restrictions. The Prince assured market watchers fearful achieve its key target of returning global inventories ening.” The chain saw revenues plunge 30 percent to August for the first time since April had negligible of a deluge of new Saudi supply that “not a single addi- back to their five-year average. The IEA estimated that $3.8 billion, but he added that the second quarter impact on the markets, much of it having already been tional barrel will be exported”. Russian energy minister global (OECD) inventories stood at 3.22 billion barrels would likely be the “trough in our performance.” priced in thanks to careful signposting by the produc- Novak echoed the Prince’s remarks, saying that he in May, 258.5 million barrels above the five-year aver- Comparable sales tumbled throughout major mar- er group. Moreover, expected additional volumes in believed that most of the additional oil be consumed by age, the most recent month for which there is data. kets for the fast food giant, but the US outperformed August will be about half as much as initially sched- domestic market rather than exported. The outlook, of course, is dependent on continued other regions because of drive-through and takeaway uled, since producers such as Iraq, Nigeria and Angola The improvement in oil demand has been most OPEC+ compliance and oil demand growth recovering service that continued even where in restaurant dining will have to continue to make deeper cuts to compen- noticeable in China. Figures from the country’s National in tandem with consumer and industrial activity. A per- service was stopped. The company had trimmed back sate for not meeting their targets in May, June and Bureau of Statistics showed that crude refinery sisting pandemic and/or a second flare up of infections its advertising spending in the first half of 2020, but perhaps even July. throughputs hit an all-time high of 14.14 mb/d in June, in the autumn/winter represents a major downside risk had amassed a “marketing war chest” that it would use Kuwait Export Crude (KEC), has risen by a sizeable rising 9 percent y/y on the back of record-high crude factor for oil prices. News that a University of Oxford the rest of the year. “It’s time for us to get back on the 19.5 percent this month; after months of heavy dis- import volumes (13 mb/d in June, according to General Covid-19 vaccine has shown promise and moved into front foot,” he said. —AFP counts, the medium sour blend finally caught up to the Administration of Customs data), much of which is phase three clinical trials would be just the right medi- price levels of competitor crude grades of similar quali- admittedly opportunistic buying as China capitalizes on cine for the oil market as well.

McCarthy, cleared Adesina of all charges alleged by ment sectors. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation Independent whistleblowers. “The Panel concurs with the and largest economy, has firmly backed Adesina in the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allega- face of the allegations. Nigerian President Muhammadu CBK to serve tions against the President and finds that they were Buhari said the panel’s report “validates his compe- experts clear properly considered and dismissed by the Committee,” tence and integrity to lead” the bank. —AFP Monday’s report concluded. clients during AfDB chief The African banking institution and Adesina-who is the sole candidate for the bank’s August’s presidential Eid holidays ABIDJAN: An independent panel of experts, headed elections-has been battered by the rollercoaster of by former Irish president Mary Robinson, has cleared allegations after the whistleblowers’ complaints were KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait the beleaguered leader of the African Development leaked to the media in April. (CBK) announced that it would continue serving Bank (AfDB) of corruption, according to a report The former Nigerian finance minister had always its clients during the Eid Al-Adha holidays start- obtained by AFP. Akinwumi Adesina, 60, a charismatic declared himself “innocent” of the charges. Robinson- ing today (July 30) until Monday (August 3) speaker known for his elegant suits and bow ties, who led Ireland from 1990 to 1997 before serving as through the self-service branches at CBK head- became the first Nigerian to helm the AfDB in 2015 — the United Nations High Commissioner for Human quarters, Hawally branch on Beirut street, Jahra but a 15-page report earlier this year claimed that Rights until 2002 — dismissed the 16 whistleblower branch, Ajyal branch in addition to the services under his watch the bank had been tarred by poor allegations against Adesina. provided online at the bank’s website, CBK governance, impunity, personal enrichment and The panel did not investigate the charges them- In this file photograph, African Development (AFDB) mobile, WhatsApp on number 50888225 as well favoritism. selves, as that was not within their mandate. The AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina gestures as he addresses a as the bank’s call center on 1-888225. The panel of three experts, led by Robinson along- plays an important if largely behind-the-scenes role in press conference after a G5 Sahel Energy Summit in The bank will officially resume work at all side Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the African economies, financing projects in agriculture, Ouagadougou. — AFP branches on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. World Bank’s former integrity vice president Leonard health, energy, education, transport and other develop- 10 Business Thursday, July 30, 2020 Ooredoo Group posts revenue of QAR 14bn and net profit of QAR 818m in H1 2020

Customer base increased by 2% to reach 117 million

DOHA: Ooredoo Q.P.S.C. (“Ooredoo”) - centers and hubs across the country. In ad- over 10,000. Ticker: ORDS yesterday announced its fi- dition, more than 200,000 customers have Ooredoo Kuwait became the first nancial results for the half year ended 30 now signed-up for Shahry 5G and Qatarna telecommunications company in Kuwait to June 2020. 5G plans. launch an e-learning solution as it sought to • Revenue declined by 3 percent year-on- Ooredoo Qatar’s #StayHomeWithOore- support schools across the country in the year to QAR 14.1 billion due to the COVID- doo continued to provide dedicated services provision of uninterrupted education 19 impact. A reduction in handset sales and for customers working from home, while the throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. roaming business as well as macroeconomic ‘Hadaya’ campaign for Ramadan, which en- weakness in some of our markets was par- couraged customers to interact with the Asiacell - Iraq tially offset by robust growth in Indonesia, Ooredoo app, saw more than 300,000 cus- Government measures designed to limit Tunisia and Myanmar. tomers participate. Ooredoo Qatar’s popular the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic im- • EBITDA declined by 5 percent year-on- loyalty program Nojoom celebrated its 11th pacted Asiacell’s results for the half year year to QAR 6.0 billion, impacted by move- anniversary with a variety of promotions. The ended June 30, 2020. The company reported ment restrictions to contain the spread of company also launched Ooredoo Money revenues of QAR 1.9 billion in H1 2020, down COVID-19 in our markets as well as chal- sub-wallets for family members and domestic 10 percent compared to the same period last lenging market conditions in Algeria, Kuwait, staff and partnered with Netflix to bring the year. As a result, EBITDA declined to QAR Iraq and Oman. Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Al-Thani Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al-Thani streaming service to Ooredoo tv. 828 million (H1 2019: QAR: 970 million) dur- • Group Net Profit attributable to Oore- ing the first half of 2020. Asiacell continued doo shareholders declined by 3 percent to Ooredoo Oman to manage costs to absorb the impact of rev- QAR 818 million in H1 2020, compared to the Ooredoo Oman reported revenues of enue declines by optimising operational ef- same period last year, due to the reduction QAR1.3 billion, a reduction of 4 percent com- ficiency and controlling its marketing spend. in EBITDA which was partially offset by a pared to the first half of 2019 due to a decline Asiacell’s customer base decreased by 4 more favorable Foreign Exchange environ- in prepaid mobile and roaming revenues as percent to 13.3 million customers at the end ment compared to the same period last year. well as fewer sales due to retail outlet clo- of H1 2020, as movement restrictions and • Data revenues account for more than 50 sures (for up to 14 weeks). Free local call of- curfews were implemented across the coun- percent of total Revenue driven by our data fers were extended to the community in try. To help keep communities connected leadership and digital transformation initia- support of the national “Stay at Home” ini- during the COVID-19 pandemic, Asiacell of- tives across the countries we operate in. tiative during the period. fered its customers data bonus on recharge, • Ooredoo Group has healthy cash re- EBITDA declined 7 percent to QAR 684 doubled their quota on emergency credit and serve and liquidity levels to be able to absorb million during the first half of 2020, com- extended the validity of prepaid lines. the impact of COVID-19 for the year 2020. pared to the same period in the previous The company continued to prepare for year. Ooredoo Oman’s commitment to main- the launch of 4G as the Government commit- bottom line, despite the decline in revenues. Ooredoo’s revenues increased 6 percent, Operational highlights: taining operational efficiency enabled it to ted to allow operators to launch LTE services Consequently, Ooredoo Group reported Net driven by its refreshed strategy and Ooredoo • COVID 19 response: Ooredoo Group maintain a robust EBITDA margin of 54 per- in 2021. remained sharply focused on mitigating the Profits of QAR 818 million for the first half of Tunisia’s value creation plan supported a 6 cent for H1 2020 as the company focused on 2020, which were slightly down compared to percent rise in its revenues. Strong demand impact of COVID-19 during Q2 2020. Meas- optimizing its marketing and advertising North Africa the same period last year. The COVID-19 for data supported an 8 percent increase in ures included enhancing health and safety spend. Ooredoo Algeria pandemic has disrupted our world in an un- Ooredoo Myanmar’s revenue during the pe- and work from home initiatives for employ- The company continued to deliver inno- Ooredoo Algeria continued to be im- precedented manner and has impacted every riod. ees, continuing to provide uninterrupted vative solutions to its customer base of 2.6 pacted by challenging economic conditions, aspect of our lives. Throughout this period, Group EBITDA declined 5 percent to connectivity and services for customers, op- million customers, such as the launch of 5G intense price competition and currency de- our priorities at Ooredoo Group have been QAR 6.0 billion during H1 2020, compared timized data traffic flows across our fixed and Home Internet in the Sultanate which offers preciation as the Algerian Dinar depreciated clear: the health and safety of our employees to the same period last year, due to declining mobile networks, relief to communities that connectivity of up to 10 times faster than by 3 percent year on year. The company re- need it the most and targeted CSR cam- and customers; the continued provision of revenue and challenging market conditions in current home internet services and brings uninterrupted services to keep our cus- Algeria, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman. Across all ported revenues of QAR 1.1 billion in H1 paigns and donations. high speed internet access to new areas. 2020, down 11 percent compared to the same * Ooredoo Group enabled more people tomers connected at all times, and the em- our OpCos we remain committed to carefully Supporting education in these times of powerment of frontline workers and optimizing costs and driving operational ef- period last year. Consequently, EBITDA de- to work, study and socialize from home, with uncertainty, Ooredoo Oman partnered with clined to QAR 371 million (H1 2019: QAR 459 its customer base increasing by 2 percent to disadvantaged communities through CSR ficiencies. In our home market of Qatar, our the Ministry of Education to launch an e- activities and donations. For our customers, post-paid customer base crossed the half a million) during the first half of 2020. Ooredoo 117 million customers, boosted by additions learning platform for the academic year Algeria remains focused on optimizing its in Myanmar and Qatar during H1 2020. we provided more value with free data offers, million mark and the 5G plans launched in 2020-2021. Additionally, during H1 2020 the upgrades and bundles, free access to educa- December attracted over 200,000 cus- cost base through a more efficient marketing * Ooredoo Group continued to demon- company offered free minutes to help con- spend. strate its global leadership in 5G commercial tional and health resources online and in- tomers already. nect families and communities during the creased convenience with access to fully In Kuwait and Oman, we have partnered Ooredoo Algeria launched ‘Dima Oore- deployment, with Ooredoo Oman being the COVID-19 pandemic. Ooredoo Oman won doo’, a new digital portfolio launched latest to launch 5G Home Internet, enabling digital services. with the respective Ministry of Education to two gold awards at the Stevie Awards Middle through an innovative interactive campaign customers to experience connectivity up to Digital transformation and technology launch e-learning platforms from home for East 2020 for “Innovative Use of Technology featuring sitcom actors; and launched ‘Yara’, 10 times faster than current home internet continue to be a driving force for Ooredoo the upcoming school year 2020-2021. With in Customer Service” and “Innovation in the a VOD platform that attracted 350,000 daily services and bringing high speed internet ac- Group and our early investments in this area digitalization at our core, we continue to in- management, planning application of tech- active users, as it continues to develop its cess to new areas of the country. have enabled us to seamlessly respond to the vest in new products and services to power nologies”. The company was also awarded digital ecosystem across all 48 Wilayas, to • In Qatar, Ooredoo reached a milestone new operating environment and serve our the future of connectivity. In Oman we “Excellence in Digital Transformation and In- better serve its 12.9 million-strong customer of half a million mobile postpaid customers, customers in a safe and convenient way. To launched 5G Home Internet which enables novation Telecom Industry in the Middle base. The company donated to the Red while its 5G plans, launched in December accommodate the steep growth in data traf- customers to experience connectivity up to East, by the Annual Global Brands Magazine Crescent to support the fight against the 2019, have attracted more than 200,000 fic during the pandemic, we are continuously 10 times faster than the current home inter- Awards after being evaluated alongside COVID-19 pandemic. customers. optimizing data traffic flows across our fixed net services, while bringing high speed inter- 10,000 companies. • Ooredoo Group maintained its world and mobile networks. Additionally, experi- net access to new areas of the country, and ranking in the 2020 edition of the Telecoms ence sharing and cross-OpCo collaboration in Algeria we continue to operate the fastest Ooredoo Kuwait Ooredoo Tunisia 300 report, as one of the top 50 global activities were implemented to help reduce 4G network in the country spanning all 48 Ooredoo Kuwait reported revenues of Ooredoo Tunisia reported revenues of telecommunications brands for the fourth year the required resources and time to market. Wilayas. QAR 1.2 billion for the first half of 2020, QAR 731 million for the half year ended 30 in a row, with a brand value worth over $3.5 These efforts have enabled us to stay true down 10 percent compared to the same pe- June 2020, up 6 percent compared to the billion. It also maintained its Brand Rating sta- to our mission of enriching the digital lives of Operational Review riod last year, as measures implemented to same period last year, despite deteriorating tus of AA+ for the second consecutive year. our customers, which is now more important Ooredoo Qatar manage the COVID-19 pandemic - such as economic conditions following the imple- • Ooredoo Group launched a Ramadan than ever, and therefore, we have managed Ooredoo Qatar withstood significant Free Daily 5GB Internet usage and Free Un- mentation of Government measures to con- campaign under the theme “In a time when to accelerate our digital transformation plans pressure and strengthened its leadership po- limited Local Calls - impacted an already trol the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. we can’t be together, at least we can still be across all markets. We now offer 5G speeds sition during the first half of 2020, despite the competitive market environment. EBITDA declined 2 percent to QAR 314 close,” showcasing the power of technology in three of our markets, with Ooredoo Oman unique challenges created by the global The decline in Revenue had a negative million during H1 2020 due to increased bad to bring families and friends together during being the latest to launch 5G Home Internet COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on impact on Ooredoo Kuwait’s EBITDA for H1 debt provisions as the economy slowed and the traditional Holy Month, and to enable plans in Q2 2020 and 5G trials are ongoing roaming revenue and shop accessibility in 2020, which stood at QAR 316 million com- one-off reversals that took place in H1 2019. communities around the world to overcome in Indonesia, Myanmar and Maldives.” particular. Reported revenue was down 4 pared to QAR 432 million during the same The company continued to focus on cost op- the current disruptions in their daily lives. Also commenting on the results, Sheikh percent year-on-year to QAR 3.5 billion (H1 period last year. The company enhanced its timization to manage the deceleration in rev- Commenting on the results, Sheikh Faisal Saud bin Nasser Al-Thani, Group Chief Ex- 2019: QAR 3.7 billion). EBITDA stood at plans to drive efficiency and further optimize enue growth. Bin Thani Al-Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo, ecutive Officer of Ooredoo said: “Ooredoo QAR 1.9 billion (H1 2019: QAR 2.1 billion). costs in order to manage the pressure on its Ooredoo Tunisia’s customer base re- said: Group reported revenues of QAR 14.1 billion Customer numbers were 3.4 million, up 1.3 top line. Despite these market challenges, mained stable at 8.8 million customers in H1 “Ooredoo Group, with its strong balance in H1 2020, down 3 percent year-on-year percent year-on-year. Ooredoo Kuwait continues to progress with 2020, reaffirming its position as the number sheet and geographically diversified opera- due to movement restrictions designed to The strength of Ooredoo Qatar’s network its digital strategy to better serve its cus- one telecom player by customer market tions, has built a resilient business to suc- contain the spread of the pandemic, reduc- proved an important asset during the period, tomer base of 2.4 million. Strong demand for share. The company supported hospitals and cessfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. tions in handset sales and macroeconomic as the company re-optimized its mobile and the company’s 5G home broadband product confinement centers with data access Due to our strong digital capabilities, and in- weakness in some of our other markets. This fixed network to accommodate a significant enabled it to grow its 5G user base during throughout the pandemic and extended its novative technology, Ooredoo Group was was partially offset by strong performances increase in data traffic demand and extended the period and its fully digital mobile solution, free Mobicash card promotion until the end able to partially contain the erosion in its in Indonesia, Tunisia and Myanmar. Indosat network and telecom support to quarantine ANA, remains popular with a user base of of July.

KFH continues to serve NBK announces winner of customers during holiday KD 125,000 in Al-Jawhara draw KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait part of our keenness to provide a variety Sarah Ab- KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) con- (NBK) always attempts to provide the of rewards and prizes that suit the ex- dulaziz Ab- tinues to offer round the clock services for its best services and offers to its customers pectations of all customers all year round. dullah customers in Kuwait and overseas during Eid and reward them with prizes that meet “Al-Jawhara Account is a key pillar of Al-Wazzan Al-Adha holiday. Customers can use KFH their expectations. In this context, the NBK efforts to promote the culture of , Bader Ali services through its KFHonline that offers a bank announced MIN Jana Derbas Mo- saving among all segments of society. It Mo- wide range of eservices, in addition to the al- hammad Al-Omar as the winner of Al- also plays a pivotal role in light of our hammed ternative channels KFH Go, XTM, Call Center Jawhara Monthly prize worth KD endeavors to provide an integrated Saleh Al- Hisham Al-Nusif and the social media channels. 125,000 for July 2020. banking experience to our customers, Kandari The self-banking station (KFH Go) allows Al-Jawhara Account gives customers giving them the opportunity to save and Abdul- customers to conduct their transactions and the opportunity to enter draws and win money with a chance to gain profit and lah Mohammad Al-Darawshah . The draw perform many banking services in minutes in prizes of KD 5,000 weekly, KD 125,000 plan for a successful future,” he contin- was held live on NBK Instagram page in a very modern way using advanced tools monthly as well as the grand prize of KD ued. Al-Nusif added: “NBK is commit- the presence of a representative from the through visual and audio communication op- 250,000 quarterly. Every KD 50 de- ted to reward its customers and provide Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as tions; conference call with KFH staff who are posited into Al-Jawhara Account gives them with top-notch services, and ex- well as representatives from NBK, noting always available and ready to answer all cus- the customer a chance to be one the ceptional offers and prizes, noting that that Al Jawhara, monthly and quarterly tomers’ questions. Customers can purchase next lucky winners, and if no withdrawal all Al-Jawhara Account holders have the draws are supervised by Deloitte. and receive Gold biscuits (10grams) and in- or transfers occur on the account during chance to win, in addition to a variety of Since 2012, National Bank of Kuwait stant cheque printing through KFH Go smart the holding period, customers will re- services and benefits offered by this ac- has rewarded loyal customers with a branches. ceive an additional chance to enter the count. Al-Nusif affirmed that anyone total worth of prizes amounting KD KFH has uniquely rolled out innovative lutions, including local and telex financial draw for every KD 50 held in the ac- could open an Al-Jawhara Account by 2,200,000 in Al-Jawhara weekly, services that can be completed online and via transfers, opening deposits, adding benefici- count, doubling their chance to win. visiting the nearest NBK Branch, while monthly and quarterly draws. In addi- mobile using robotics, AI, XTMs and the aries, balance inquiry, cheque book request, Commenting on Al-Jawhara monthly NBK Customers can open an account tion to providing top-notch, cutting- smart branches KFH Go. This contributed to opening KFH gold account, conducting gold draw Hisham Al-Nusif, Deputy General through NBK Mobile Banking or NBK edge and highly secure banking adding value to the customer’s experience, transactions (purchase, sell and trade), re- Manager of Consumer Banking, National Online Banking. services, NBK is keen to offer cus- confirming that the easy banking services en- questing financing, opening an account, ap- Bank of Kuwait, said: “At NBK, we al- On the other hand, NBK announced tomers a variety of offers, rewards and courage customers to use KFHOnline in their plying for Al-Khair card, and checking the ways strive to reward our customers, es- the names of the winners of Al-Jawhara prizes that suit the expectations of cus- transactions. KFH offers online financial so- PINs for credit and debit cards. pecially Al-Jawhara Account holders, as weekly draws of KD 5,000 including: tomers all year round. Classifieds Thursday, July 30, 2020

Sabah Hospital 24812000

Amiri Hospital 22450005

Maternity Hospital 24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700

Chest Hospital 24849400

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010

Adan Hospital 23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300

Al-Razi Hospital 24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9

Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144

Khaldiya 24848075

Kaifan 24849807

Shamiya 24848913 Airlines

Shuwaikh 24814507 Kuwait Airways 171 Jazeera Airways 177 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Turkish Airlines 1884918 Nuzha 22526804 FlyDubai 22414400 Qatar Airways 22423888 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 KLM 22425747 Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6 Qadsiya 22515088 British Airways 22425635 Dasmah 22532265 Air France 22430224 Emirates 22921555 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Air India 22456700 Air India EXPRESS 22438185/4 Shaab 22518752 Sri Lanka Airlines 22424444 Qibla 22459381 Egypt Air 22421578 Swiss Air 22421516 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Saudia 22426306 Middle East Airlines 22423073 Mirqab 22456536 Lufthansa 22422493 Sharq 22465401 PIA 22421044 Bangladesh Airlines 22452977/8 Salmiya 25746401

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Aries (March 21-April 19) Cancer (June 21-July 22) Libra (September 23-October 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) This is going to be a rather intense day, Aries. On Much has happened recently, Cancer. Have you This isn't the most cheerful time, Libra, You have a keen analytical mind that has served the positive side, you'll accomplish a lot. On the less positive allowed enough time to process it? It's likely that big changes because important issues are rearing their heads again you well in business. Alas, Capricorn, this character- side, you may be exhausted by the end of the day. You're are brewing at home or work. Stay focused on the job at hand and forcing you to address them. You'd rather not, but istic doesn't always serve you well in your personal life. It's likely advised to try and pace yourself. Remain focused on what's rather than fret about events over which you have no control. you can't wish them away. The time has come to deal with that someone close has bristled from your lack of empathy. them once and for all. It's especially important that you Take time to reflect upon the events of the past few weeks. Did truly important rather than let yourself get caught up in trivia. You may feel as if you're on a roller-coaster ride, but everything Keep the big picture in mind and the little things will take care make an effort to make your home life more positive and you inadvertently send a wrong message? Correct any uninten- will settle down in a few days. Blink to adjust your eyes to the of themselves. upbeat. Your loved ones look to you to set the tone. tional slights. A simple "I'm sorry," will do wonders. strange new light.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Leo (July 23-August 22) Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

Today it's important that you make your own deci- You've made progress these past few weeks, Don't try to force anything or anyone right This is the beginning of an exciting period in your love life, Aquarius. Your relationship with a sig- sions and stick with them, Taurus. Much as you prefer to depend especially where your temper is concerned, Leo. It has taken now, Scorpio. You'll find that today's elements are just as nificant other may have been in a rut lately, but that's on others, your judgment really is best. You'll be paralyzed if you some effort, but it does seem that you can overcome your ten- stubborn as you are. Today's planetary configurations will dency to speak before thinking. Don't lose the ground you've force you to finally start to turn your dreams into reality, about to change. Both of you are ready for something think only of how others will react to your decisions. You do big. Perhaps a move is in store or you could both gained. There's one person whose mission seems to be to whether you want to or not. Face it - you've been plan- know what is best, and everyone will benefit when you act on decide commit to one another more permanently. your beliefs. This is no time to be wishy-washy. Just do it. make you explode. Don't let him or her rankle you. Take a deep ning for a long time without making much concrete progress. All that is about to change. Follow your instincts, because they'll lead you where breath and rise above it. you're meant to go.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Virgo (August 23-September 22) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Pisces (February 19-March 20) You're incredibly productive, with good busi- You're a dreamer, Gemini. Everyone loves you This is likely to be an intense day, Virgo. Family You have a passionate nature, Pisces. Sometimes ness sense, Sagittarius. However, lately you may for it, but today the planetary aspects urge and friends may seem testy, so you're advised to stay out of it's difficult for you when other people don't share have felt dissatisfied with where you are in life. As you look practicality. There are personal issues to resolve, and it their way. Don't worry - it isn't anything you've done. It's the your exuberance. This is a good time to tone things down a around, you might wish you had more possessions to show does no good to have your head in the clouds. This is a planetary energy. If you can go someplace private and shut notch. There's some tension in the air, and your enthusiasm for all your hard work. Don't pursue this line of thought. Real time to focus on loved ones. Perhaps your partner or your the door, do it. If someone tries to pick a fight, don't rise to the only serves to annoy rather than charm, as it usually does. Don't value comes from relationships and the pride you get from children feel neglected. Do whatever is necessary to let pout. It's only temporary. Tomorrow you'll be the center of bait. Tomorrow the air will clear and good spirits will reign doing a job well. A new car or fancy clothes may lift your spir- your family know you're available and eager to give them attention again and bestowing hugs and kisses to all. what they need. again. its, but it's superficial. 12 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Thursday, July 30, 2020

he Emmy nominations on Tuesday widen their periphery.” But while black yielded a step forward for diversity, and Asian actors made gains this year, Ta new record for Netflix and nods the lack of any Latino actors in the mix aplenty for ESPN’s popular Michael was glaring. Jordan documentary. Here are some top ere is a list of the nominees in key Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live” takeaways form the announcement by Newcomers fare well categories for the 72nd Emmy Method” Annie Murphy, “Schitt’s Creek” the Television Academy, ahead of the The amount of television content eligi- HAwards, which will be handed out Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” Yvonne Orji, “Insecure” Emmy Awards on September 20: ble for Emmys increases just about every in Los Angeles on September 20. HBO’s Ramy Youssef, “Ramy” Cecily Strong, “Saturday Night Live” year, and this year, while Netflix earned a “Watchmen” leads the way with 26 nomi- record 160 nominations, a few new nations, and is competing in the limited LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES streaming platforms earned their first series categories. Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me” “Little Fires Everywhere” nods. Disney+ made its mark with 19 Amazon hit comedy “The Marvelous Mrs Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs “Mrs America” nominations — 15 of them for its flagship Maisel” was in second place with 20 Maisel” “Unbelievable” series, the “Star Wars” spinoff “The nominations. On the drama side, dark Linda Cardellini, “Dead to Me” “Unorthodox” Mandalorian.” Apple TV+ nabbed 18 crime thriller “Ozark” and family drama Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek” “Watchmen” nominations, including for Jennifer “Succession” led the pack with 18 nomi- Issa Rae, “Insecure” Aniston, Steve Carell and Billy Crudup nations each. Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish” OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE for its flagship launch program “The “American Son” Morning Show.” The fledgling short-form OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA “Bad Education” streaming platform Quibi also scored 10 “Better Call Saul” Nicholas Braun, “Succession” “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old nominations, including for cop spoof “The Crown” Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” Bones” revival “Reno 911!” and dystopian thriller “The Handmaid’s Tale” Kieran Culkin, “Succession” “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” “Most Dangerous Game.” “Killing Eve” Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs “The Mandalorian” Giancarlo Esposito, “Better Call Saul” the Reverend” Father/daughter nominees “Ozark” Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession” In this file photo an Emmy statue is seen on “This Is Us” actor Ron Cephas Jones “Stranger Things” Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale” LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED the stage at the 71st Emmy Awards and his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones “Succession” Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld” SERIES OR MOVIE Governors Ball press preview at LA Live in shared the limelight Tuesday as they Jeremy Irons, “Watchmen” Los Angeles, California.—AFP both received Emmy nods. Jones was OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA Hugh Jackman, “Bad Education” nominated for outstanding guest actor “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown” Paul Mescal, “Normal People” Diversity for the NBC tearjerker, for which he won “Dead to Me” Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies” Jeremy Pope, “Hollywood” Of the more than 100 acting nomina- an Emmy in 2018. His daughter, who “The Good Place” Julia Garner, “Ozark” Mark Ruffalo, “I Know This Much Is True” tions in the series, limited series and tele- earned fame as a member of the original “Insecure” Thandie Newton, “Westworld” vision movie categories, more than a cast of the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” “The Kominsky Method” Fiona Shaw, “Killing Eve” LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED third of them went to black actors—a joined the club of Emmy nominees for “The Marvelous Mrs Maisel” Sarah Snook, “Succession” SERIES OR MOVIE new record. Among them are Billy Porter her role in the Quibi drama “Schitt’s Creek” Meryl Streep, “Big Little Lies” Cate Blanchett, “Mrs America” (“Pose”), Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us” “#FreeRayshawn.” “I’m still in shock! “What We Do In The Shadows” Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale” Shira Haas, “Unorthodox” and “The Marvelous Mrs Maisel”), Issa Thank you to @TelevisionAcad for this Regina King, “Watchmen” Rae (“Insecure”) and Regina King Emmy nomination!” Jasmine Cephas LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY Octavia Spencer, “Self Made” (“Watchmen”). The increased number of Jones said in a tweet, in which she also Jason Bateman, “Ozark” Mahershala Ali, “Ramy” Kerry Washington, “Little Fires nominations for black performers con- congratulated her dad. “Proud to be a Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us” Alan Arkin, “The Kominsky Method” Everywhere” firmed efforts by the Television Academy part of important stories during this cli- Steve Carell, “The Morning Show” Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Programs with most overall nominations: to boost racial diversity on the small mate,” she added. Brian Cox, “Succession” Sterling K Brown, “The Marvelous Mrs “Watchmen” - 26 screen. “Black Lives Matter. Black The salacious Netflix series “Tiger Billy Porter, “Pose” Maisel” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” - 20 Stories Matter,” the Academy tweeted King,” which was all the rage at the onset Jeremy Strong, “Succession” William Jackson Harper, “The Good “Succession” - 18 Tuesday. The Emmy nominations of the COVID-19 lockdown, will face off Place” “Ozark” - 18 announcement comes amid a national against “The Last Dance,” which LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA Daniel Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” “The Mandalorian” - 15 reckoning over race, with protests revolves around basketball legend Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show” Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs “Schitt’s Creek” - 15 against racism and police brutality taking Michael Jordan’s career with the Olivia Colman, “The Crown” Maisel” “Saturday Night Live” - 15 place across the country. Chicago Bulls, in the outstanding docu- Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve” Kenan Thompson, “Saturday Night Live” “The Crown” - 13 “This type of representation is a long mentary or nonfiction series category. Laura Linney, “Ozark” Top five platforms with most overall nomi- time coming. There’s no shortage of tal- The two shows will compete against Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY nations: ent within the black community,” Yahya Hulu’s “Hillary,” about failed presidential Zendaya, “Euphoria” Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs Netflix: 160 Abdul-Mateen II, a nominee for HBO’s candidate Hillary Clinton, PBS’s Maisel” HBO: 107 “Watchmen,” told Entertainment Tonight. “American Masters,” which examines the LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY D’Arcy Carden, “The Good Place” NBC: 47 “Sometimes it takes certain circum- lives of outstanding artists, and HBO’s Anthony Anderson, “black-ish” Betty Gilpin, “GLOW” ABC: 36 stances in the world for people to open “McMillion$,” about the McDonald’s Don Cheadle, “Black Monday” Marin Hinkle, “The Marvelous Mrs FX: 33—AFP their eyes and people to open up, to Monopoly game scam.—AFP Ted Danson, “The Good Place” Maisel”

everal top musicians, including Last month, British rock legends the Mick Jagger and Sheryl Crow, Rolling Stones threatened legal action Shave signed a letter demanding against Trump for his use of their classic that politicians get their consent before “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” playing their songs at campaign rallies. at campaign rallies. The same month, The soundtrack to political events was a the family of rock musician Tom Petty hot topic during the 2016 election and is issued a cease and desist letter over again this year, with several stars Trump’s use of “I Won’t Back Down” at a objecting to President Donald Trump rally in Tulsa on June 20. Queen com- playing their songs without permission. plained when Trump walked on stage to Michael Stipe of REM, Regina Spektor their anthem “We Are The Champions” and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler were during a Republican Party event in among others to put their name on the Cleveland, Ohio in the run-up to the letter, which was written in partnership 2016 presidential election. Pharrell with the Artist Rights Alliance, Rolling Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith, Adele, Stone magazine reported. “No artist Neil Young and the estate of singer should be forced to compromise their Prince all have also hit out after Trump values or be associated with politicians used their songs. Other signatories of they don’t respect or support,” the Artist the letter revealed Tuesday include Rights Alliance tweeted on Tuesday. “To Lionel Ritchie, Elvis Costello, and bands defend free speech and political Blondie, Green Day and Pearl Jam, expression, we’re calling on campaigns Rolling Stone said. — AFP to get permission before using music at political events,” it added.

OYAC’s chairperson, Farea Al- stances to produce the song. “We faced posed the music and sent it to distribu- Saqqaf recently expressed her many challenges while producing the tor, Al-saidawi who did his part and sent Lgreat joy on the production of a song and could not shoot a video clip the song to Al-Mesbah without meeting new song written by the great poet, thus we opted to archive photos from once”, he explained noting that this was Waddah, the music composed by KTV and ATV channels”, she explained the most bizarre experience for him. Abdullah Al-Qa’oud, distributed by expressing gratitude to both channels Distributor, Al-saidawi also expressed Rabea’ Al-Saidawi and sung by Abdul and Kuwait Sheraton Hotel. his pride with the experience as well as Aziz Al-Mesbah under the title of ‘Ya On his part, music composer cooperation with the production team Hamam’(Oh, pigeons). Abdullah Al-Qa’oud stressed that he and Al-saqqaf. Young singer, Abdul Al-Saqqaf stressed that the artists was overwhelmed when LAPA offered Aziz Al-Mesbah also expressed joy for In this file photo English singer, songwriter and actor Mick Jagger arrives for the screening of responded and communicated with the project and found the song lyrics cooperating with the group. the film “The Burnt Orange Heresy” during the closing night of the 76th Venice Film Festival at LOYAC despite COVID-19 circum- extraordinary. “Due to COVID-19, I com- Venice Lido. — AFP

he Virgin Galactic spaceship that will cabin, which will have seats for six pas- is close to a large oval-shaped porthole, et standing out against a jet black sky. The spacecraft will be taken up by a someday carry very moneyed sengers and a two-member crew, will and a camera is attached to each window So far, 600 people who have paid up special plane and released in high alti- Ttourists boasts windows and cam- feature 12 windows and 16 cameras. It is in such a way that passengers can be to $250,000 — Virgin Galactic calls them tude. Seconds later, the spaceship—part eras galore for easy selfies with planet designed to give the best possible view photographed with Earth behind them, “future astronauts”—have been waiting plane, part rocket—will ignite its engine Earth. The company, founded by British of our planet. with no need to take a selfie of their own. for years to take their seat on and blast upward with an acceleration of billionaire Richard Branson, provided a An AFP reporter made a remote tour of The travellers can unbuckle their seatbelts SpaceShipTwo. Its development has 3.5 g, meaning three and a half times virtual tour Tuesday of the inside of the the spacecraft with a virtual reality head- and float. Portholes in the ceiling will give been delayed by a devastating crash of that of Earth’s gravitational force. — AFP ship that will transport people willing to set provided by the company. Each seat them a spectacular view of the blue plan- the first one in 2014 due to a pilot error. pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a brief taste of being at the edge of space. Besides all the windows and cam- eras, the craft will have a mirror in the back of the cabin so people can admire themselves. There is no firm date for the first com- mercial flight and the company has repeatedly pushed it back, but execu- tives said recently it is a question of months and not years away. Several test flights must still be made before Branson himself steps aboard. The inside of the Images courtesy of Virgin Galactic show the Virgin Galactic spaceship cabin design and seats.—AFP photos Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Thursday, July 30, 2020

Emirati rapper Saud Waled Ibrahim performs at his Hassane “Big Hass” Dennaoui, a Saudi host of a UAE- Suhaib S. Alises, a Jordanian-born Palestinian rapper Emirati rapper Saud Waled Ibrahim (right) performs at his recording studio in the Gulf emirate of Ajman, northeast based radio show dedicated to hip hop, poses for a pic- who was raised in the UAE, poses for a picture at a cof- recording studio in the Gulf emirate of Ajman, northeast of Sharjah.—AFP photos ture at Akil cinema in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. feeshop in the Dubai Design District of the Gulf emirate. of Sharjah.

aud Waled Ibrahim raps in a mixture even if as the years went by, reality bit. UAE, including Freek and Adamillion who Beat DXB which organises live perform- a mixture of English and Arabic. “This is to Sof Arabic and English, a blend that “As we got older, we realised we are a are both from Somalia. But like the wider ances and promotes regional artists. By reach as many people as possible... and has become a hallmark of a hip hop society with deep-rooted principles, which cultural scene, the hip hop community is drawing performers from all over the at the same time drive my message scene in search of its identity in the United we can’t violate,” he said of his generation trying to find its place in a conservative world, the UAE is rich in languages and across,” he told AFP. “There should Arab Emirates. The burly Emirati, better of performers. Born in the street culture of country where foreigners make up some culture, he said, even if many are content always first and foremost be a message, known as SG, is recording a new track in the United States in the 1970s, hip hop 80 percent of the population and where to stick to lyrics about life and love, rather and rap is an expression of poetry and his small but modern studio in a low-key has spread across the world and given a provocative or explicit topics are taboo. than political issues of the day. “When I emotion.” part of the Gulf state best known for its voice to young people, particularly those “Unlike in France, the US, Morocco, talk to a Palestinian rapper, they say how His inspirations range from the great glittering skyscrapers and artificial palm- in marginalised communities. Before mak- Egypt... we don’t have our own sound can we talk about love when I have an Arab singers such as legendary shaped islands. “There is no country ing its way to the Gulf, rap emerged as an because we are more focused on foreign army tank on the roof of my house?” he Lebanese diva Fairuz to the plight of his that doesn’t have rap... but we’re still seen art form in other Arab countries where influences rather than our own creativity,” told AFP at Dubai’s independent Cinema own people and African-American cul- as intruders,” said the 24-year-old, sport- performers defy censorship and repres- SG said. Akil, a favourite hipster haunt. “In the Gulf, ture. For him, the genre has evolved from ing an over-sized Adidas T-shirt and sion to address sensitive political and we may live comfortably but that doesn’t the days of “gangsta rap” that dominated obligatory headphones. And in a country social issues. ‘Represent the reality’ mean people don’t have struggles. As a his own teenage years. “It has become a made up of residents drawn from all over The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is Hassane “Big Hass” Dennaoui, a UAE- rapper, you have a duty to represent the respectful form of expression and adapts the world, and with little street culture to considered one of the more open states based host of a radio show dedicated to reality.” to where the person is... addressing what speak of, the hip hop scene has yet to in the Gulf region, even if security laws hip hop, said although identity in the is happening around the person’s life and find its “sound”, he told AFP. remain stringent. It has invested heavily in region is still evolving, one thing for sure is Eminem meets Fairuz their own reality.”—AFP Growing up to the beats of Tupac and arts and cultural events and a handful of that it is “one of diversity”. Originally from To relay that reality, Palestinian rapper Eminem, SG said it was the genre’s tradi- homegrown rap names have emerged Saudi Arabia, Big Hass, with his signature Suhaib S. Alises, who was born in Jordan tion of free expression that drew him in, among those who have settled in the bandana and white beard, founded The but grew up in the UAE, performs in

Rare Rembrandt sells for £14.5

ollywood superstar Amitabh touched on the mental trauma and stig- million at UK The triptych ‘Mediterranean Sea View 2017’, showing orange life vests washed up on the BBachchan has threatened to ma suffered by COVID-19 patients. shore of the Mediterranean Sea in reference to Banksy’s judgement on Europe’s response to unleash his legion of fans on online Bachchan, idolised in India and affec- auction the refugee crisis.—sputniknews.com trolls wishing him death from the coron- tionately known as “Big B”, has worked avirus, after earlier speaking out about for more than half a century in the film ne of only three self-portraits the stigma suffered by patients. industry. India’s film and financial capital by Rembrandt still in private Bachchan and his actor son Abhishek O hands sold in London have been in a Mumbai hospital for over Tuesday for £14.5 million ($18.7 mil- two weeks with COVID-19, while his lion, 16 million euros), setting an auc- actress daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai tion record for one of the Dutch mas- and granddaughter Aaradhya were dis- ter’s self-portraits. The work, “Self- charged on Monday. They are the high- triptych of a Mediterranean ship- It officially raised £2,235,000 ($2.9 mil- portrait wearing a ruff and black hat”, est-profile family to contract the virus in wreck donated by British street lion, 2.5 million euros) — well shy of the went under the hammer at Sotheby’s A India, the world’s third most infected artist Banksy raised nearly $3 mil- record £9.9 million set for a Banksy in in London as part of a 71-lot auc- nation with almost 1.5 million cases. lion on Tuesday at a Sotheby’s auction October when his “Devolved Parliament” tion—“Rembrandt to Richter”—fea- The 77-year-old and his son are in an held to raise funds for a Palestinian hospi- painting went under the hammer in the turing more than half a millennium of isolation ward, with the elderly actor dis- tal in the West Bank. The trio of highly middle of Britain’s Brexit struggle with the art history. Its sale price was within pensing regular messages to his millions stylised paintings by the mysterious artist EU. Banksy donated the triptych to raise expectations after being listed with a of fans on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. shows orange life vests and an oar money for a new stroke unit and to buy Amitabh Bachchan guide price of £12-16 million and The megastar’s messages usually focus washed up on a rocky shore. They first children’s rehabilitation equipment at the bidding getting underway at £10 mil- on thanking fans and medical staff at the appeared in the Walled Off Hotel that Bethlehem hospital. “We’re often led to lion. Sotheby’s said the work was hospital, but in a blog post published Mumbai accounts for over seven percent Banksy helped set up in the Israeli-occu- believe migration is a drain on the coun- “chased by six determined bidders”, overnight Monday to Tuesday, he wrote of all cases in the nation of 1.3 billion pied city of Bethlehem in 2017. The try’s resources, but Steve Jobs was the handily beating a £6.9 million record that some people had sent him vicious people. The South Asian giant has lifted “Mediterranean Sea View 2017” was son of a Syrian immigrant,” he said in a set for another self-portrait by the hate mail, praying for his death. In most lockdown restrictions to restart the seen as Bansky’s stern judgement on rare public comment on the piece. artist in 2003. Europe’s hesitant response to the migrant “Apple is the world’s most profitable com- response, Bachchan vowed to “extermi- struggling economy. But numerous crisis that peaked some five years ago. pany... and it only exists because they nate” such trolls once out of hospital, by states have had to reintroduce shut- Tens of thousands are thought to have allowed in a young man from Homs”. asking his millions of fans to turn on downs amid local spikes in infections. died as European countries on the Banksy depicted Jobs in a work enti- them. Describing his fans as his kin, he Late Tuesday authorities in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas turned tled “The Son of a Migrant from Syria” that wrote: “That extended family shall in the state of West Bengal, home to about 90 away people fleeing violent conflicts showed him carrying a knapsack and an flash of an eye become ‘extermination million people, extended its lockdown— across North Africa and the Middle East. Apple computer. The sale came in the family’.” only imposed for two days each week— “This work juxtaposes an historic fine art middle of a broader virtual auction Bachchan also revealed that he was to the end of August. “The goal is to pre- genre with grim contemporaneity,” Sotheby’s was staging from its London able to hug his granddaughter before vent the circulation of the virus and cre- Sotheby’s said in its sales listing for the gallery entitled “Rembrandt to Richter she left the hospital, recounting his emo- ate favourable conditions to gain time work. “Though posing as eighteenth or Evening Sale”. One of only three self-por- tional reaction to the news that she and before the arrival of effective drugs and nineteenth-century paintings of the traits by Rembrandt still in private hands her mother could go home. “The tears vaccines,” West Bengal chief minister ‘Natural Sublime’, the present work sold for £14.5 million—a record for one of flow out .. the little one embraces and Mamata Banerjee said.—AFP undermines and subverts the viewer’s the Dutch master’s famous depictions of tells me not to cry ..’you’ll be home soon’ expectations to broach a difficult contem- himself.—AFP she assures .. I must believe her,” he porary issue.” wrote. A blog entry posted Saturday A handout picture released by Sothebys shows an assistant holding a self-portrait by Dutch artist Rembrandt in London. — AFP

The third self-portrait is on a long- term loan to the National Gallery of Scotland. The work sold Tuesday, one of 80 Rembrandt created during his career, is the earliest in date of that trio. It was painted towards the end of 1632, when the 26-year-old was establishing himself in Amsterdam and enjoying his first flush of commercial success. “Rembrandt’s face is instantly recog- Wouter van der Veen, of the Van Gogh Institute, poses next to Wouter van der Veen, of the Van Gogh Institute, poses next to Wouter van der Veen, of the Van Gogh Institute, poses next to nisable to us at every stage of his the alleged spot where Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh paint- the alleged spot where Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh paint- the alleged spot where Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh paint- adulthood—far more so than any oth- ed his last canvas before his mysterious death from a gun- ed his last canvas before his mysterious death. ed his last canvas before his mysterious death. er painter,” said George Gordon, shot wound, in Auvers-sur-Oise.—AFP photos Sotheby’s co-chairman of Old Master Paintings Worldwide. “We know that this painting was created in a remarkably short period of time, because he laid in the back- researcher claimed Tuesday to Amsterdam have backed the finding, say- He was going through some documents the last week of his life.” Because of the ground first, but when he signed it have discovered the exact spot ing it was “an interpretation, but it looks during the coronavirus lockdown when way the light falls in the painting, Van der upon completion, the background A was still wet, so the signature is where Vincent Van Gogh painted like indeed it is true.” The museum’s “my eye was caught by a detail from the Veen said Van Gogh was probably still his last canvas before his mysterious director Emilie Gordenker and the great postcard”. working on it late in the afternoon, “about impressed into it by his brush.” death from a gunshot wound. The tortured grandson of Van Gogh’s younger brother 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm”. Tuesday’s auction, spanning the Dutch artist had been working on “Tree Theo travelled to the village Tuesday to ‘Shot by accident’ This, he argued, could help disprove Italian Renaissance and Dutch Roots”, a jumble of brightly-coloured tree unveil a plaque at the spot. Both Vincent He compared it with the painting and the controversial theory that Van Gogh Golden Age through to pop art and trunks, roots and stumps near Auvers-sur- and Theo, who had supported the painter found “that the trunks and roots corre- had not killed himself but had got drunk postmodern abstraction, kicked off Oise, north of Paris, on a hot July day in for much of his life and outlived him by sponded. “Discovering the place where and fought with two local boys who shot with in-person attendance limited 1890 when he staggered back wounded just six months, are buried next to each Van Gogh painted his last and most mys- him by accident. The theory was first float- due to the coronavirus pandemic. to the village inn. Wouter van der Veen, of other in the village cemetery. terious work is a waking dream which I ed in a biography of the painter by the The pieces being sold, including the Van Gogh Institute, which looks after Van der Veen told AFP that he made am still trying to comprehend,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Steven works by German artist Gerhard the artist’s room at the Auberge Ravoux the breakthrough from a postcard of the researcher added. Teio Meedendorp, of Naifeh and Gregory White Smith nine Richter, Spanish artist Joan Miro and where he spent his final 70 days, said village from the turn of the 20th century, the Van Gogh Museum, told AFP that Van years ago, and featured in the 2018 British artist Francis Bacon, have most of the tangle of roots is still there, a which shows an embankment with the Gogh would have often passed the spot movie “At Eternity’s Gate” starring Willem been on display at Sotheby’s since stone’s throw from the inn. trees on the main road through the ham- “going out to the fields behind the Dafoe.—AFP July 3.—AFP Experts at the Van Gogh Museum in let, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Paris. chateau of Auvers where he painted in 14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, July 30, 2020

Photo of the day Russian athletics asks to delay suspension MOSCOW: Russia’s athletics federation on Tuesday sent a letter to the world athletics body, asking them to delay a planned review after it failed to pay a doping fine. World Athletics is set to discuss the situation regarding the Russian Athletics Federation (RUSAF) on July 30 and may completely revoke its status, ending hopes for athletes to compete under a neutral flag. This has been a looming threat following the failure by RUSAF to pay half of a $10 million fine by July 1, part of a set of sanctions for breaching anti-doping rules. In a letter to World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe, RUSAF hoped the World Athletics council would consider “postponing the decision on the RUSAF case to a later date.” It promised the federation is committed to “over- come the crisis” with crucial reforms and noted that “the entire RUSAF platform should be revised to become a trusted ally of World Athletics.” The federation once again said it had failed to pay the fine on time due to lack of funds. “The external financial assistance RUSAF expected to receive has not been secured” by the deadline, it said in the letter the federation shared with AFP. Russian athletics has been in crisis since 2015 when it was banned for repeated doping scandals, and its athletes missed the 2016 Olympic Games. The world body had frozen the process of allowing clean athletes to compete as neutrals last November but then allowed 10 athletes to be authorised in exchange for the fine being paid. Yevgeny Yurchenko, who became RUSAF president in February to deal with the crisis, said on July 1 that RUSAF “does not have the money” in a blow to athletes who had hopes to compete in next year’s Olympic Games. He proceeded to quit two weeks later. Frustration has been building in the athletics community with some top Luciano Benavides (ARG) of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team performs during Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com competitors leaving Russia while others have threatened to quit or switch countries. —AFP Bubble-wrapped NBA readies for relaunch Players arriving in Orlando required to spend 48 hours isolated in their hotel room

ORLANDO: Four months after COVID-19 sent basket- “It requires significant sacrifice from our players,” ball into an unprecedented shutdown, the NBA takes a NBA commissioner Adam Silver told the New York leap into the unknown today as the league bids to resur- Times this week. rect its season at Disney World in Florida. “From my standpoint, it’s going very well, and I’m The Utah Jazz launch the rebooted campaign against cautiously optimistic that we’re on the right track,” Silver the New Orleans Pelicans before LeBron James and added. “But I also recognize what we’re doing has not Kawhi Leonard go head-to-head in a heavyweight Los been done before, and the competition is just beginning. Angeles derby between the Lakers and the Clippers. The real test will come when players are commingling, The two games mark the start of a painstakingly playing basketball without masks and without physical crafted plan to stage the remainder of the basketball distancing.” season safely in the midst of an ongoing pandemic There have been some early glitches however as which has already claimed around 150,000 lives in the players adjust to the relatively spartan surroundings of United States. the bubble. Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams To mitigate the risks, the NBA is basing 22 teams was forced to quarantine for 10 days after being pho- within a tightly controlled “bubble” inside Disney tographed at an Atlanta strip club during a trip to attend World’s sprawling 40-square mile campus in Orlando. a family funeral. Teams will play games at The Sacramento Kings’ three venues inside the Richaun Holmes also land- ESPN World Wide of ed back in quarantine after Sports complex inside the he left the bubble to pick- park, with no fans in atten- up a delivery of take-out dance and only a smatter- food. Inside the bubble’s ing of journalists at each Significant three arenas, meanwhile, game. the legacy of the tumul- Just over 350 players sacrifice tuous protests which will be housed at three erupted in the weeks fol- hotels located throughout lowing the death of Disney World, with access George Floyd in May will ORLANDO: Kyle O’Quinn #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during to each location severely be on full view. a scrimmage on July 28, 2020 at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. —AFP restricted and visits from Giant “Black Lives outsiders strictly forbidden until the playoffs start. Matter” slogans have been written on each court, while Players arriving in Orlando were required to spend players will be allowed to wear jerseys adorned with Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and tion NBA players are facing hardship in their confined 48 hours isolated in their hotel rooms until they had social justice messages ranging from “I Can’t Breathe” to Houston Rockets have already assured themselves of environment in Orlando. received two negative tests for COVID-19. Testing will “Justice Now” and “Education Reform.” spots in the playoffs, which start on August 17. “It doesn’t matter where you are in life, there’s always continue inside the bubble but it is not known how fre- On the courts, all eyes will be on James and his The biggest threat to James’ hopes of winning a something to complain, there’s always a problem and an quently this will take place. Lakers teammates as they attempt to return to the pin- fourth NBA championship is expected to come from the issue,” Antetokounmpo said. While multi-millionaire stars such as the Lakers’ nacle of the NBA when the season wraps in October. Eastern Conference, where Giannis Antetokounmpo is “My apartment in Greece, when I was younger, with James have joked that entering the bubble felt like After a disappointing first season in Los Angeles, aiming to guide the Milwaukee Bucks to their first title in my four brothers, was way smaller than the suite that I starting a jail term, so far the launch of the project has where the Lakers failed to reach the playoffs, James nearly half a century. The Bucks had ran away with the have in the hotel, so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.” gone smoothly. returned with a vengeance this season, leading the team Eastern Conference before the hiatus, opening up a 6.5 Antetokounmpo’s viewpoint was echoed by Practice games have passed off without a hitch, and to the top of the Western Conference before the game lead over the Toronto Raptors. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams. “Let’s be clear the most recent round of testing found zero positive cas- COVID-19 pandemic erupted. The Lakers and five other Antetokounmpo, who grew up in poverty in Greece mate,” the New Zealander said. “This is not Syria. We’re es out of 346 players tested. Western Conference teams — the Clippers, the Denver as the son of Nigerian immigrants, smiles at the sugges- living in a bloody resort.” —AFP Red Bull’s athlete Ahmad Daham reveals the most advanced Lexus drift machine on the planet

KUWAIT: Drift star Ahmad Daham has again teamed like to thank every single partner for their continu- up with Lexus, this time to develop the most power- ous support and labor done to complete this proj- ful, most advanced Lexus drift car on the planet. ect” he added. The thoughtful build set out to not only develop on This second car has many refinements over the the success of his previous RCF Drift effort, but also first RC F drift car, not least because Daham had to showcase Lexus top-flight performance-craft to more time to build it. The first car was conceived and the global Drift community. This Red Bull athlete’s lat- built in a record 70 days and stands as testament to est FIA Drift-spec machine is a 1,200hp RCF-based the builder’s capability and resourcefulness. weapon weighing 1250kg/2755lb - covered in abe- Two themes are central to the latest RC F Carbon spoke featherweight Carbon Kevlar body shell. Kevlar drift car - more power and less weight. The Moreover, there was a purpose and a focus to weight loss over the standard RCF was achieved by this build beyond just raw power and speed. thoroughly rethinking the stripped platform and then Daham’s RCF Carbon Kevlar, which he hopes to be fabricating this race vehicle using materials focused campaigning in drift championships around the on weight reduction. In addition, mass was also more world, involves an obsessive attention to detail in the optimally positioned in the chassis to support car’s chassis, power train, and presentation that elevates drift mission. The locally fabricated “Python Garage” the craft of its execution to mirror Lexus levels of fabricated super-light Carbon-Kevlar body panels takumi car-building. helping the whole car shave more than 500kg.of the The result is a unique, world-class drift car that, showroom RC F as part of the mission to achieve a even in a region renowned for high-power ultimate- weight that is competitive amongst other drifters level builds, is truly exceptional. Daham chose the The power part of the equation has been provided Lexus RC F as the platform for his latest project after by inserting a heavily tuned - 1,200hp is four times building his first RC F drift car which thrilled the the standard output - version of the tuner-favorite crowds on its debut at The Goodwood Festival of 2JZ straight-six single turbo motor in place of the Engineering. Speed in 2019. standard car’s naturally aspirated V8. A Titan Motorsport dry sump has been added to “I am honored to be partnering with a brand like The iron-blocked 2JZ motor, which drives through improve reliability and a Nitrous Express 200hp kit Lexus. I am really thankful for the support the team a four-speed Samson as sequential gearbox and bolted on to help spool up the turbo and cool the has provided me as I built the new RC F Carbon twin-plate Competition Clutch, was chosen due to the intake charge. ment of the brakes with Wilwood racing calipers, to Kevlar for the upcoming season. This car is so much wide variety of readily available tuning parts. Since keeping a close eye on all these systems is reduce unsprung mass - which enables faster changes fun to drive and I cannot wait to push it to its limit. The 2JZ’s legendary robustness, compact size and critical to drift success, Daham has included his pre- of direction. We have learned a lot in 2019 as we kept a ‘Kaizen’ familiar architecture have made it a proven source of ferred equipment from New Zealand’s Link company FIGs engineering was tapped to make the angle philosophy in our research and development. I look motivation for high output drift efforts around the - a Thunder ECU and MXS Strada dash. kit, a drift car essential. Three-way BC racing forward to another successful season and am confi- globe. Ahmad’s years of familiarity with this engine With the power and the weight where Daham coilovers are used to allow adjustments to both dent with this partnership we will be able to achieve also helps make it easier to tune, modify and adjust wanted them, he turned his attention to the chassis rebound and compression damping to allow Daham all our objectives,” said Ahmad. quickly at drift events. tuning to make the most of the changes. to perfect his set up. “Building a car like this took so much effort not Key tuning components include a Garrett The most significant alterations include swapping The finishing touches are a set of Japan’s finest only from me, but from the team and partners to GTX3584 turbocharger, GSC Power Division valve the rear differential for a Winters unit - purely to Rays Engineering 57CR wheels riding on R888R help me achieve my goals with this machine. I would train and a triple-pump fuel system from Radium enable swift trackside ratio changes. And the replace- TOYO rubber. 15 Sports Thursday, July 30, 2020 Hole in none: How screen golf got serious in South Korea ‘I feel more at ease in front of the giant screen’ DAEJEON: On the final green of the tournament, ing eight of the current world top 20. Ha Ki-won carefully took his stance and addressed But with more than 65 percent of South Korea the ball. A gentle strike, and it rolled forward. made up of mountains and a population of 52 mil- In front of him it circled the hole, making a rat- lion, land for golf courses is at a premium, club tling sound as it dropped, and Ha raised his fist in memberships are highly exclusive, and green fees triumph, taking victory and a 20 million won can cost hundreds of dollars. ($17,000) winner’s cheque by a single shot. The ball, though, was not in a hole, but still on the GREENS ON SCREENS carpet. This was a professional screen golf tourna- Screen golf has stepped into the breach: Golfzon ment in South Korea, which hosts what organisers says 60 million rounds were played at its centres say is the world’s only such tour. last year, and sales were up 10 percent in the first For Ha, 38, screen golf has offered a competitive six months of 2020. lifeline: he first wielded a club at the age of 17, and Technological improvements have “narrowed the reached the second tier of the professional KPGA tour, but never made a cut in tournament play. In screen golf, though, he now has five victories, and in 2017 he gave up real-life competition alto- gether, converting fully to simulator action. Competitive “Now I feel more at ease in front of the giant screen,” said Ha. Just like on a real course, players lifeline compete in several groups simultaneously, each tak- ing shots in turn. But rather than walking in open countryside to reach their next lie, they step in front of a screen DAEJEON: This photo taken on July 24, 2020 shows a South Korean golfer hitting a ball in a simulation measuring 5.8 by 3.0 metres. Sensors on the floor booth during the GTour screen golf tournament in Daejeon, south of Seoul. — AFP and ceiling track the trajectory of the ball after impact and project its onward path down the vir- gap between real golf and screen golf”, Golfzon tual course. The country’s biggest screen golf representative Yoo Young-sang told AFP, adding for commercial sponsorship. met with rounds of applause and women calling operator Golfzon — which has more than 1,300 that interest from first-tier KPGA players has been It’s a reflection of their diverging fortunes on the “congratulations”. centres across the South — set up the tour in “on the rise”. Screen golf tournaments also attract global stage, where South Korean men fall far short If a ball lands in a bunker, the player has to play 2012, with seven events a year, culminating in fans of their own, he added: as many as 200 fans of their countrywomen’s dominance. their next stroke from a deep-pile mat to simulate November’s GTour Championship, worth 150 mil- will attend tournaments, said Yoo, although this Theories for the contrast include that the average the effect of blasting out from sand. lion won to the winner. month’s event was held without spectators as a physical differences between Asians and But there is still a gap between virtual and real, There were 130 competitors at this month’s tour- coronavirus precaution. Westerners are smaller among women than men, said competitor Kim Da-hun, 24, who first picked up nament in Daejeon, south of Seoul, eight of them South Korean female professionals are less inter- and that male South Korean players’ development is a club aged eight and is currently in the second tier first-tier KPGA professionals. The popularity is ested than their male counterparts, according to interrupted by compulsory military service. of the KPGA tour. “Out on the field, even the subtlest driven by accessibility: traditional golf is a hugely Yoo, as the real women’s game in South Korea is The Daejeon venue has no fewer than 27 golf feeling in your hands and wind movements affect successful spectator sport in South Korea, which is more lucrative than the men’s, with more tourna- booths, equipped with speakers to provide special your play,” he said. “But here, your play is mostly a global powerhouse in the women’s game, provid- ments offering larger prizes and greater prospects effects to enhance the experience: good shots are dependent on a shot angle and speed.” — AFP

Unsponsored elite runners to be CAS reveals Man provided with City ignored carbon-fibre shoes UEFA probe

PARIS: World Athletics announced Tuesday it was LONDON: Manchester City showed a creating a scheme to provide unsponsored elite run- “blatant disregard” for UEFA’s investigation ners with the same carbon-fibre versions of shoes into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) that have revolutionized road running, in an accept- breaches, according to the Court of ance that the technological advances are irreversible. Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but European Elite athletes wearing versions of the Nike Vaporfly, football’s governing body failed to prove the carbon plates of which lend a propulsive sensa- City had disguised funding from the club’s tion to every stride, have set a host of personal bests owners as sponsorship income. Earlier this and Nike runners have practically swept the board in month, CAS overturned a two-year ban long-distance events-they took 31 of the 36 podium from European competitions imposed on places at the six marathon majors last year. City by UEFA and reduced a fine of 30 mil- Eliud Kipchoge wore an advanced version of the lion euros (£27 million, $35 million) to 10 shoes when the Kenyan become the first man to million euros. break the two-hour barrier for the marathon in VIENNA: File photo taken on October 12, 2019, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, wearing the Nike AlphaFly prototype shoes, The full reasoned judgment by CAS October 2019. The shoes, which are now being pro- celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of his attempt to bust the mythical two-hour barrier for the released on Tuesday showed that the fine duced by other sportswear manufacturers, have led marathon in Vienna. World Athletics announced on July 28, 2020, it was creating a scheme to lend elite athletes was to reflect “a severe breach” in City’s to accusations that they create unfair competition. without sponsorship deals the same carbon-fibre versions of shoes that have revolutionized road running, in an unwillingness to cooperate with UEFA’s World Athletics has already limited the thickness of acceptance that the advances in technology are irreversible. —AFP investigation. But that the charges of the sole on the shoes to 40 millimeters, a rule it kept alleged concealment of equity funding in place Tuesday. were more significant violations and that In a new initiative, track and field’s governing “to maintain the current technology status quo” until ponement of the Tokyo Olympics as a result of the “based on the evidence the panel cannot body said it would provide athletes with the shoes if the Tokyo Olympics. After that the Working Group coronavirus pandemic had given the governing body reach the conclusion that disguised funding they do not already receive them from sponsors, on Athletic Shoes, which includes representatives “more time to consult with stakeholders and experts was paid to City.” under a “Athletic Shoe Availability Scheme”. “The from shoe manufacturers and the World Federation and develop amended rules that will guide the sport City’s fortunes on the field have been Working Group on Athletic Shoes will develop this of the Sporting Goods Industry, will work “to set the through until late 2021”. “We have a better under- transformed since a takeover from Shiekh scheme including timelines, elite athlete criteria, parameters for achieving the right balance between standing now of what technology is already in the Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal numbers of pairs of shoes required and method of innovation, competitive advantage and universality market and where we need to draw the line to main- family, in 2008. The club were accused of distribution,” it said in a statement. and availability.” tain the status quo until after the Tokyo Olympic deliberately inflating the value of income The governing body says the rules are designed World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said the post- Games,” Ridgeon said. —AFP from Emirati sponsors Etisalat and Etihad Airways to meet UEFA’s FFP regulations, which limits the losses clubs can make to Belichick for his habit of producing booked flights for a little family spend on player transfer fees and wages. Patriots rocked crucial plays during Super Bowl Bill Williams European holiday.” UEFA launched an investigation after campaigns. Williams, who will turn 35 next German magazine Der Spiegel published a as players opt out The 30-year-old’s sack of Atlanta confirms Sydney week, was at a loose end after the series of leaked emails relating to City’s Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the Canada-based Wolfpack said COVID- finances in 2018. CAS indicated that witness Super Bowl in 2017 was pivotal in 19 had created “overwhelming financial statements from senior City executives as over virus fear helping the Patriots score their come- Roosters return challenges” that meant it could not well as a letter from Sheikh Mansour - all back win. Chung, 32, meanwhile, was a compete as Super League’s only provided to CAS but not to UEFA during member of the Patriots teams that transatlantic club. the first process - could have swung the LOS ANGELES: The New England SYDNEY: Cross-code superstar won the Super Bowls for the 2014, Williams is still under contract with original verdict in City’s favor. Patriots’ pre-season preparations Sonny Bill Williams confirmed 2016 and 2018 seasons. Chung is also the Wolfpack, which would normally “The appealed decision is therefore not were in turmoil on Tuesday as six Wednesday that he will return to expecting a child with his wife. Under bar him from playing in the NRL, but per se wrong but, at least to a certain players abruptly opted out of the Australia’s NRL with the Sydney an agreement brokered between the the game’s hierarchy bent the rules to extent, is a consequence of MCFC’s deci- 2020 campaign over coronavirus NFL and NFL Players Association, Roosters after COVID-19 forced his allow him in due to “exceptional cir- sion to produce the most relevant evidence fears. The wave of opt-outs included players who are deemed to be at high Toronto Wolfpack to withdraw from cumstances” created by the virus. at its disposal only in the present appeal Dont’a Hightower and Patrick Chung, risk for COVID-19 can opt out of the England’s Super League. The New Zealand citizen also need- proceedings before CAS,” said the court. two three-time Super Bowl champions season and be paid $350,000 with Williams, who has won two Rugby ed a special exemption from the gov- The judgment also found that UEFA’s case who have been pillars of the Patriots contracts rolling over. Players not World Cups with the All Blacks and two ernment officials to fly into Sydney with was hamstrung by the necessity to finalize defense for several years. Running deemed to be at risk can opt out and NRL premierships in Australia, said he his wife and children, as only Australian the appeal before the start of the back Brandon Bolden, offensive tackle receive $150,000. would arrive in Sydney on Thursday citizens are being allowed in at the 2020/2021 Champions League as it relin- Marcus Cannon, fullback Danny Vitale The opt-outs come as the Patriots and undergo two weeks’ mandatory moment. Once quarantine is completed, quished a request for more evidence to be and reserve offensive lineman Najee were already facing a major defensive quarantine. he could potentially take the field for provided from City’s emails. Toran have also opted out. rebuilding effort following the depar- “It’s just the challenge that I get so the Roosters’ round 15 match against “UEFA’s approach in this regard is Hightower, 30, told NFL Network ture of free agents Kyle Van Noy, excited about, it lights that fire inside of Wests Tigers on August 22. understood, because it was faced with a his decision to opt out of the season Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts. you,” Williams told Australia’s Channel Williams played 58 times for the All dilemma between trying to obtain additional was influenced by the birth of his Quarterback Tom Brady also left the Nine before departing from Britain. Blacks, winning World Cups in 2011 and evidence and having an award issued first child on July 16. “Me and my club for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Williams played with the Roosters in 2015, as well as numerous Bledisloe before the start of the 2020/2021 UEFA fiancÈe are just more concerned with earlier this year. Concern over the 2013 and 2014, winning a premiership Cups and Rugby Championships. club competitions season,” added the CAS the health of our family than football- potential impact of COVID-19 on the in his first year with the club, and said Other honours include a Super panel. Nine Premier League clubs-Arsenal, especially the new addition to our NFL has dominated the build-up to he had remained in contact with Rugby title in 2012 and NRL premier- Burnley, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool, Man family,” Hightower said. Hightower’s the new season, which kicks off on Roosters chairman Nick Politis. “Nick ships in 2004 and 2013. He also repre- United, Newcastle, Tottenham and Wolves- mother also has Type 2 diabetes, September 10. Pre-season games due hit me up and asked if I had a couple of sented New Zealand in rugby sevens at filed an application to UEFA for City not to putting her at a higher risk from to start in August have been cancelled months in me to come back,” he said. the 2016 Olympics and triumphed in all be allowed to compete in European compe- COVID-19, NFL Network reported. while players have repeatedly voiced “To be honest, I hadn’t trained for a seven of his professional heavyweight tition if a verdict was not reached before Hightower is known affectionately as concerns over safety protocols in bit. I’d been on holiday mode. We actu- boxing bouts, winning the New Zealand the start of the 2020/21 season. — AFP “Mr February” by Patriots coach Bill place for the season. — AFP ally booked flights, me and my wife title in 2012. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

Bubble-wrapped NBA Hole in none: How screen golf Unsponsored elite runners to 14readies for relaunch 15 got serious in South Korea 15 be provided with carbon-fibre shoes

Inter stay second in Serie A final push Lazio fourth, will play Brescia

MILAN: Inter Milan eased past “We have to work, we’re lacking a grabbed the winner six minutes from Napoli 2-0 to hold on to second place bit of soul,” said Gattuso, whose side time as Atalanta warmed up for next in Serie A on Tuesday ahead of have nothing to play for in the league month’s Champions League quarter- Atalanta who earlier fought back to as they are already assured a place in final against Paris Saint-Germain. beat Parma. the Europa League as a result of the Gasperini’s side are already assured Juventus have already sealed their Italian Cup win. of Champions League football next ninth straight league title, but three “After the Italian Cup we’ve per- season and are targeting a club-best teams are fighting for second spot — formed well but don’t have the knife second-place finish in the league. Inter Milan, Atalanta and Lazio — between our teeth. Against Barcelona Parma dominated early at home going into the last round of matches in it will be a different story.” with Kulusevski, on loan from Juventus, Italy. Antonio Conte’s Inter have a one- Atalanta reacted well after a diffi- putting the hosts ahead two minutes point lead on Atalanta with the two cult start in Parma, with Ruslan before the break. teams set to go head to head in their Malinovskyi and Papu Gomez’s sec- Ivorian Gervinho broke through final match this season on Saturday. ond-half goals sealing a 2-1 victory. from midfield, sending the ball forward Lazio, in fourth, will play Brescia “That was probably our worst first for 20-year-old Kulusevski who fired later, with Simone Inzaghi’s side also half of the season,” said coach Gian in for his third goal in as many matches. still in with a chance of finishing sec- Piero Gasperini. Atalanta struggled after losing ond, with their final game against “After 12 matches at this rhythm, defender Jose Luis Palomino who Napoli at the weekend. there could be drop in pace but if we pulled up injured and could be in Danilo D’Ambrosio put Inter ahead come back as good in the second half, doubt against PSG. after 11 minutes at the San Siro with it’s because we’re in form.” But Malinovskyi finally got the Lautaro Martinez adding a second with The Bergamo club’s former Swedish equaliser with his free-kick passing 15 minutes to go against seventh-placed midfielder Dejan Kulusevski had through the Parma wall, and captain Napoli. Gennaro Gattuso admitted Napoli opened the scoring for mid-table Gomez rifled in the winner to extend MILAN: Napoli’s German midfielder Diego Demme (R) jumps for the ball past Napoli’s would need to find goal-scoring solutions Parma just before the break. his side’s unbeaten league run to 17 Polish defender Piotr Zielinski during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs before they face Barcelona in the But Malinovskyi sent in a free-kick games, with the club’s 98th league goal Napoli played behind closed doors at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. —AFP Champions League last 16 on August 8. with 20 minutes to go, and Gomez this season. —AFP