THULQAADA 9, 1441 AH TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

20 Pages Max 45º Min 27º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18169 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Palestinian leaders struggle to Pak launches electric vehicle Lebanon summons US envoy Man City regain FA Cup ‘focus’; 8 rally street against annexation 10 plan with cars in slow lane 16 over criticism of Hezbollah 20 Chelsea, Arsenal also in semis

Prosecution seeks to probe 2 MPs over corruption scandal

Kuwait moves into second phase of easing of virus restrictions

By B Izzak immunity is lifted or they voluntarily agree filing a no-confidence motion. to the interrogation. The immunity ceases The lawmaker said that supervisory KUWAIT: The public prosecution yester- during parliamentary recess periods. departments, especially the finance min- Amiri Diwan denies day asked the National Assembly to lift the The Bangladeshi MP has been under istry’s financial intelligence unit and the immunity of two lawmakers suspected of detention for several weeks on suspicion Central Bank should have carried out their remarks by Duwailah links to a major corruption scam led by a of corruption, bribery and trafficking in duty promptly and reported such issues Bangladeshi MP who is under interroga- persons. He has reportedly revealed a without delay, adding he will prove this in KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan on King Salman bin Abdulaziz. tion in the country. Both the MPs have large number of names of his links, who the grilling. Sunday termed as “totally untrue Duwailah made the claims during denied any links to the scandal, saying include senior government officials, MPs MPs Mohammad Al-Dallal and Osama and fabrications” remarks made for- a TV show with Mohammad Talal their names were dragged into the case for and businessmen. Al-Sheen yesterday proposed that the mer MP Mubarak Al-Duwailah that Al-Saeed, aired on June 23, 2020, political reasons. MP Riyadh Al-Adasani vowed that he Cabinet should ask the Anti-Corruption he briefed HH the Amir about details as well as in a tweet on June 25, The requests were submitted to the will highlight the case of the Bangladeshi Authority to prepare a report every four of his meeting with former Libyan 2020. His remarks are “totally speaker through the ministry of justice. MP and suspected money laundering and months to highlight the main corruption leader Muammar Gaddafi. Minister untrue and fabrications”, asserted The Assembly must vote on the request inflated accounts of some MPs in a grilling cases raised locally. They also proposed of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al- Sheikh Ali. He said no one can within 30 days of receiving the applica- he intends to file against the finance minis- that the report should include alleged Sabah, in a statement, also denied attribute anything to HH the Amir tion, otherwise the immunity ceases auto- ter. Adasani already grilled the finance corruption cases received by the authori- that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- without “official approval by the matically. Under Kuwaiti law, MPs enjoy minister earlier this month on charges of ty from the government or from individu- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asked Amiri Diwan”. Sheikh Ali warned powerful immunity under which they can- failure to perform his duty, intention to als, and measures taken towards such Duwailah to convey the contents of against such actions, which would not be arrested, detained or questioned by raise charges on public services and allegations. the meeting with Gaddafi to Saudi entail legal action. – KUNA the prosecution or courts unless their impose taxes. The grilling ended without Continued on Page 16

sent to AFP, saying an elite unit of fighters designated the BLA as a global terrorist Six killed in had carried out the assault. The separatists group, making it a crime for anyone in the have carried out a string of high-profile United States to assist the militants and attacks across the country in recent years freezing any US assets they may attack on Pak – including in the southern port city. The have. Following yesterday’s attack BLA is one of several insurgent groups Pakistani authorities vowed to strike back stock exchange fighting primarily in Pakistan’s southwest- against at any group found responsible for ern Balochistan province, which has been the onslaught, promising to dismantle their KARACHI: Baloch separatists opened fire rocked by separatist, Islamist and sectari- networks and destroy their bases. and hurled a grenade at the Pakistan Stock an violence for years. “An investigation has been launched and Exchange in Karachi yesterday, authorities The group has targeted infrastructure very soon we will reach their masterminds,” said, killing six people including a police- projects and Chinese workers in Pakistan interior minister Ijaz Ahmad Shah said in a man. Four security guards, a police officer multiple times in recent years, including video message posted after the attack. and a bystander were killed in the melee, during a brazen daylight attack on Bejing’s Business continued as usual at the Karachi while local police chief Ghulam Nabi consulate in Karachi which killed four peo- stock exchange after the attack. “Trading is Memon said all four assailants were also ple in 2018. In May last year, the BLA smooth and continuing. PSX benchmark dead. “Police have recovered modern attacked a luxury hotel near the Afghan index one of the Best Performer in Asia automatic weapons and explosive materi- border at Gwadar, where a port develop- today so far,” tweeted Mohammed Sohail, a als from the terrorists,” Karachi police said ment is the flagship project of a multi-bil- broker at the exchange. in a statement. lion dollar national infrastructure project For a while after the attack the bodies KARACHI: Policemen secure an area around a body outside the Pakistan Stock The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) funded by China. of at least two gunmen could be seen in a Exchange building yesterday. — AFP later claimed responsibility in a message Last year, the US State Department Continued on Page 16

man, by a white police officer in the US led transferred to federal agency the Central Outrage mounts to worldwide protests. Bureau of Investigation, pending the J Jayaraj, 58, and Bennicks Immanuel, approval of the Madras High Court. The 31, were arrested on June 19 and accused deaths in the small town of Sathankulam over India police of keeping their store open past permitted triggered a protest last week and shop- hours in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, keepers across Tamil Nadu staged a strike custody deaths which has reimposed a lockdown to curb on Wednesday. the spread of coronavirus. They died in “Reeling from what I’m hearing. NEW DELHI: The deaths of a father and hospital a few days later, officials said, Absolutely stunned, sad and angry... the son from alleged torture at the hands of with their family alleging in written com- guilty must not be allowed to go unpun- police have sparked outrage across India, plaints that they were severely abused by ished,” tweeted Bollywood star Priyanka with many drawing parallels with the police and had suffered rectal bleeding. Chopra Jonas on Saturday. “Let’s demand killing of George Floyd in the United Two policemen involved in the alleged for the same justice we did for George SATHANKULAM, India: In this picture taken on June 26, 2020, residents gather as States. Their case has thrown a new spot- torture were suspended, the state’s Chief Floyd,” said actress Krystle D’Souza. State they carry the coffin of Jayaraj and his son Bennicks in Thoothukudi district of light on police brutality just weeks after Minister Edappadi Palaniswami said. He politician, social activist and lawyer Tamil Nadu. — AFP the killing of Floyd, an African-American added Sunday that the case would be Continued on Page 16 Baking up a ‘blessing’ in Tehran TEHRAN: They bake what Iranians call “the barakat (blessing) of the table”, and it is eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner – traditional breads are a staple of the Iranian diet. Bakeries are easy to locate in urban centers of Iran where all one has to do is spot a queue spilling onto sidewalks or simply detect the irresistible scent of freshly baked flatbreads. Exclusively the job of men in the Islamic republic, bakers get up well before the crack of dawn while everyone else is still asleep. Dressed in all-white cloth- ing that can include caps, they hail from across the country and are usually made up of ethnic Azeris, Kurds and Lurs. The walls around them are a patchwork of flatbreads in four different shapes and sizes – barbari, TEHRAN: This combination of pictures created on June 24, 2020 shows Iranian bakers in the capital (from left) Mohammad Abdi posing with lavash bread; Mohammad lavash, sangak and taftoon. —AFP (See Page 15) Mirzakhani posing with taftoon bread; Ali posing with sangak bread; Esmail Asghari posing with barbari bread; and Hasan posing with fantezi bread. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Local Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Kuwait reports 582 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths Total recoveries 36,313 compared to 45,524 infections

KUWAIT: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infected 582 people in Kuwait during the past 24 hours, official spokesperson of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced yesterday. Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad, speaking during his daily update about the pandemic status locally, said the total number of infection cases with the contagion climbed to 45,524. Moreover, the virus claimed the lives of two persons during the same period of time, raising the total tally of deaths from the fatal pathogen to 350. The confirmed cas- es included patients who had contracted the virus due to mingling with infected persons. Others remained under examination to determine the source of the contamination. The latest infections include 319 Kuwaiti citizens and 263 Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad

to get medical care amounting to 8,861. Up to 70 patients 819 persons were discharged from quarantines however they would recovered sequester themselves at their houses for 14 days. Dr Sanad revealed that more than 3,504 swab tests for in 24 hours the virus were conducted during the past 24 hours, thus the tally of these examinations exceeded 382,842 since breakout of the contagion in the country, months ago. He appealed, anew, upon citizens and expatriates to continue taking necessary precautions against the infectious dis- ease, be keen on maintaining social distancing and exam- non-Kuwaiti residents of the country, he said. ining online accounts of relevant authorities to remain Dr Sanad said the cases were recorded in health dis- acquainted with latest directions in this respect. The tricts as follows: 158 in Al-Ahmadi, 136 in Al-Jahra, 115 in Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced earlier yesterday Farwaniya, 88 in Hawally and 85 in the Capital. The num- that 819 persons recovered from the coronavirus in the ber of cases undergoing treatment at intensive care units past 24 hours, with the overall count of the recuperated reached 145, with the total count of cases that continued amounting to 36,313. —KUNA

In my view once every six days during the curfew hours by • 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone) Coronavirus in making an appointment through www.moci.shop. • 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone) Teamwork Before that, Kuwait enforced a country-wide par- • 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone) Kuwait: What tial curfew from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am, which was • 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational later extended to start from 4:00 pm until 8:00 am Zone) during Ramadan, while allowing restaurants and • 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) we know so far food stores to make home deliveries from 5:00 pm • 51588599 (Private Education Department) until 1:00 am. The government also locked down • 51592515 (Services Department) By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: Kuwait has recorded 45,524 cases Mahboula and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh in a bid to con- • 51594544 (Public Relations Department) infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as tain the spread of the virus and enable health of yesterday, in addition to 350 deaths. With the workers to test inhabitants. Earlier, the govern- Medicine delivery exception of 145 cases in intensive care, all infect- ment decided to close all shopping malls, beauty Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a [email protected] ed cases are in stable condition and are recovering salons and barber shops as part of its measures to new medicine delivery service for people in in quarantined locations designated by the govern- prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The gov- Kuwait, which they can use to order medications ment for this purpose, while thousands have been ernment also allowed supermarkets, restaurants to be delivered during curfew hours. The medica- discharged from quarantine after exhibiting no and shops to host a maximum of five people at a tions will be delivered within 72 hours after the time and in case there are lines, the distance must order is submitted. To place an order, patients s countries started to open up and symptoms during their 14-day quarantine period, be at least one meter between people. The should send a WhatsApp to the numbers for the restore certain activities including the Ministry of Health confirmed. Meanwhile, Ministry of Commerce launched a website hospitals and medical centers as listed below. The sports, we noticed that some athletes are 36,313 people have recovered completely after A previously being infected with the virus, while (www.moci.shop) to enable people to book patient should include their name, Civil ID number, being affected with the virus. Even if the num- appointments to shop at co-operative societies in hospital or clinic file number, mobile phone num- bers are low and percentages are around 10 there are 8,861 people receiving treatment. their areas. The Public Authority for Industry also ber and the medicine needed to the following percent, there is still a chance that the virus announced that companies can apply to evacuate numbers: may move to healthy teammates, because test- Curfew their workers from Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and • Amiri Hospital: 50880699 ing cannot be done daily - rather it is being Kuwait imposed a three-week partial curfew Mahboula. To do so, they must fill a ‘workers evac- • Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital: 50880755 done selectively. starting May 31 (from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am), as uation form’ available on www.pai.gov.kw, and • Farwaniya Hospital: 50880852 In Kuwait, the Public Authority for Sport part of a five-phase plan for a gradual return to send the form via email to: [email protected]. • Adan Hospital: 50880908 allowed the return to training starting with indi- normal life, brought to a standstill by the novel • Jahra Hospital: 50881066 vidual sports, gave instructions put forth by coronavirus (COVID-19). The curfew hours were Precautions • Sabah Hospital: 97632660 health authorities and started to take swabs and later reduced to start on 7:00 pm and end at 5:00 Kuwait halted all commercial flights until fur- • Jaber Hospital: 96992079 carry out tests. Results showed that by June 27, am, starting from June 21, 2020. The first phase ther notice, and has sent special flights to repatri- • Ibn Sina Hospital: 99613948 1,198 tests were carried out, out of which 52 includes a total lockdown on Farwaniya, Khaitan, ate Kuwaitis back home from countries affected • Chest Hospital: 99258749 were positive, in addition to 59 described as and Hawally, joining Mahboula and Jleeb Al- with the virus’ spread. Kuwait took all measures to • Razi Hospital: 97633487 unclear, which will be retested. Shuyoukh which were put under lockdown earlier. test Kuwaitis repatriated from infected areas for • Kuwait Cancer Control Center: 96735242 Mathematically the percentage is low, but The lockdown ended in Hawally and Khaitan on potential infection. Kuwait had required all expa- • Psychiatric Hospital: 97350113 health-wise it is critical, because if one person June 21, 2020. Activities resumed in the first phase triates who arrived from travel on March 1 and • Physiotherapy Hospital: 99824037 can infect 50 others and each of those 50 can included home deliveries of restaurants, telecom- beyond to visit Kuwait International Fairground • Maternity Hospital: 98559531 infect 50 more, then it is really a very long munication companies, food retailers, companies’ where the Ministry of Health has set up a center to • As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center: chain. We must be vigilant and follow instruc- transportation of employees, gas stations, private test people for possible infection. Meanwhile, the 98514508 tions to the letter no matter where we may be. clinics and car workshops. Cabinet announced on April 9 the operation of all • Zain Hospital: 97552031 I hope that the opening of the government The government decided to move to the second airline flights for expats who are wishing to return • NBK Hospital: 96931761 and private sector does not give the general phase starting from June 30, 2020. The second back to their countries. Authorities also • Al-Rashed Allergy Hospital: 94162470 public a false indication that the pandemic is phase sees the curfew shortened to be between announced a public holiday in the country from • Infectious Diseases Hospital: 96989164 over or under control, because the fact is quite 8:00 pm and 5:00 am, while resuming work in the March 12 to May 28, with work resuming on May • Palliative Care Hospital: 94024786 the opposite and as we are seeing that cases government and private sectors with the work- 31, while entities providing vital services will • Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center: 90952469 are on the rise and there is no relenting. force being less than 30 percent, in addition to remain open. Meanwhile, the Ministry of • KFH Addiction Treatment Center: 94169363 Many, including the World Health resumption of constructions, banking sector, pick- Education has suspended classes at all public and Meanwhile, all licensed pharmacies in Kuwait Organization (WHO), are saying we have to ups from restaurants, as well as reopening of com- private schools (for both students and teaching delivering medicine are allowed to continue their brace for a second wave of COVID-19. I am not mercial complexes, malls, parks, and other places staffs); first from March 1 to March 12, and later services 24 hours a day. The Ministry of Health is sure this wave has started yet, but second wave of leisure between 10:00 am and 06:00 pm. extended it until March 29, before eventually sus- also asking doctors and nurses affiliated with the or not, we must be careful and act for a very The third phase would see an end of curfew, pending schools until August for grade 12 and private medical sector to volunteer in order to long time as if the virus is still there. and health authorities would be assessing situa- October for other stages. State departments have contribute to the fight against the virus. There are many contaminants surrounding tion of areas under lockdown. It would see been on high alert to take precautions against the Volunteering is available through the link: us and we must learn how to properly deal with increase of workforce to less than 50 percent. potential spread of the virus. The Ministry of http://volunteering.q8-ehealth.com. The ministry them. Our joint efforts must be directed Visits for social care homes would be allowed, Commerce and Industry has taken measures to had closed all private clinics and medical centers towards cooperation in following preventive reopening of hotels, resorts and hotel apartments. make sure that facial masks, hand sanitizers and effective March 22, 2020 until further notice. measures, which will actually help ward off the Taxis will be allowed to operate with only one other goods remain accessible to the public. coronavirus and any other disease. passenger, and mosques would be allowed to per- Kuwait suspended issuing entry permits and Mental health assistance The National Center of Biotechnology form Friday prayers. visas unless those issued through diplomatic mis- The Kuwait Psychological Association (KPA) is Information (NCBI), which is part of the US Phase four would see an increase in workforce, sions. The Interior Ministry issued an amnesty providing consultation through the phone for peo- National Library of Medicine, spoke about the restaurants would be receiving customers but with allowing residency violators to leave the country ple suffering from the psychological impacts of roles and responsibilities in preparedness and restrictions, and public transportation resumed between April 1 and April 30 without paying any coronavirus. Different doctors are working on the response. It said while all sectors of society are but with distancing. All activities would resume in fines or airfare with a chance to return to Kuwait hotline in different timings as follows: involved in pandemic preparedness and phase five, government and private sector later. The amnesty was issued in view of the cir- • Dr Rashed Al-Sahl: on Monday and Wednesday response, the national government is the natural returned to normal, families could gather, wed- cumstances the country is currently going through 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9797-6168. leader for overall coordination and communica- dings and graduation ceremonies, health clubs and and as part of the precautionary measures taken to • Dr Fahad Al-Tasha: daily from 8:00 pm - 12:00 tion efforts. gyms to reopen, as well as cinemas and theaters. fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). During am. Call 9904-8258. NCBI added that a whole-of-society Mosques in the so-called ‘model residential the amnesty period, individuals desiring to procure • Dr Othman Al-Asfour: daily 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. approach to pandemic preparedness empha- areas’ reopened their doors for worshippers on valid residencies in Kuwait and were willing to pay Call 9938-5350. sizes the significant roles played not only by June 10 amid strict health precautionary measures. the fines without being subjected to investigations • Dr Mohammed Al-Khaldi (head of this team): the health sector, but also by all other sectors - Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Mohammad were allowed to pay the fines and legalize their daily 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Call 9903-6470. individuals, families and communities - in miti- Al-Afasi said that mosques in commercial, markets status if they meet the required conditions. • Dr Ahmad Al-Khaldi: daily 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. gating the effects of a pandemic. and heavily-populated areas will remain closed Call 9910-7965. Developing capacities for mitigating the for the time being. Worshippers must wear face Hotlines • Dr Muneera Al-Qattan: Monday and Wednesday effects of a pandemic, including robust contin- masks, keep social distancing between queues and The Ministry of Health has set the following 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Call 9953-3108. gency and business continuity plans, is at the between worshippers must be strictly observed. hotlines to receive inquiries about the coronavirus • Dr Zainab Al-Saffar: Sunday and Thursday 7:00 heart of preparing the whole society for a pan- Worshippers must bring their own mats so they 24/7: 24970967 - 96049698 - 99048619. pm - 9:00 pm. Call 9954-9908. demic. Activities such as capacity development, do not get in contact with mosque carpets. The Education Ministry set the following hot- • Dr Sameera Al-Kandari: Tuesday 9:00 pm - planning, coordination and communication are Mosques will reopen five minutes before prayer lines to receive inquiries on school closures relat- 12:00 am. Call 6770-9434. cross-cutting and require action by all parties. time and close 10 minutes after prayer. ed to the anti-coronavirus measures: • Dr Kawthar Al-Yaqout: Monday and Wednesday Final Word: Teamwork: Coming together is Earlier, Kuwait imposed a total curfew from • 24970967 (24/7 hotline) 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Call 5521-0088. the beginning, keeping together is progress, May 10 to May 30, allowing room for people to • 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone) For information and other concerns, call working together is success. —Henry Ford walk out for daily exercise between 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and to shop at co-ops and supermarkets • 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone) 9401-4283. Established 1961 3

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Local Arab ministers call for helping Palestinians respond to coronavirus Kuwait’s COVID-19 response consistent with int’l standards: Minister CAIRO/KUWAIT: The council of Arab min- News in brief isters of social affairs called for helping the Palestinian authorities combat the novel coro- School ordered to return fees navirus (COVID-19) pandemic and control its fallout on economic and social situations. Act- KUWAIT: The Education Ministry’s Private Education ing on request from Jordan - the current Department ordered a bilingual school to refund within 30 presidency of the 39th session of the council, days fees that were taken from parents unlawfully, Al- the ministers adopted a statement at the end Anbaa reported quoting Department Director Sanad Al- of their emergency videoconference on Sun- Mutairi. Mutairi explained that the school collected KD 25 day, calling for joining forces with Palestinians from each student in exchange for their certificates, point- ing out that this is considered a violation especially since in the face of the pandemic. The ministers students’ parents have paid the tuition fees in full. urged regional government and nongovern- ment organizations to step in immediately and help the countries that have been already Rumors denied overwhelmed by internal conflicts, or vulner- able communities such as internally displaced KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways denied social media reports people and refugees. They highlighted the claiming that they have terminated the contracts of a num- need of sharing information and programs of ber of Pakistani pilots after discovering that their licenses social integration in a bid to mitigate the im- were fake. The airline said in a statement that their pilot pacts of the pandemic on day laborers, low- crew does not include Pakistani nationals, noting that the income families and the jobless persons, as company only employs 13 Pakistani engineers who hold well as people with special needs, women, certified degrees accredited by international safety and children and the elderly. maintenance organizations, “and they are currently work- The ministers appreciated the national ini- ing with their colleagues efficiently and professionally.” tiatives for digitalizing the social services for KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al- vulnerable people including the online report- Aqeel and other ministry officials attend the videoconference. — KUNA 4,295 passengers ing of cases that require social or medical help amidst the current lockdowns, according to KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation an- the statement. They reiterated the call for im- fairs and Minister of State for Economic Af- mitigates its economic and social fallout were nounced that 26 flights were set to depart from Kuwait plementing the Arab strategic framework for fairs Mariam Al-Aqeel said the measures and in keeping with international human rights International Airport yesterday, carrying a total of 4,295 poverty eradication, adopted in the fourth standards. “The measures implemented by passengers. They included 14 flights to India, six flights to Arab development summit in Beirut last year. Kuwait have won praise of the World Health Egypt, one flight to Qatar, one flight to Thailand, one flight Highlighting the need to implement the Arab Organization (WHO),” she said in a speech to Sudan, one flight to Nepal, one flight to Ethiopia, and strategy for the elderly, adopted in the 30th during the videoconference. one flight to Kyrgyzstan. Arab summit in Tunis in March 2019, the min- Efforts to help “In its response to the pandemic, the State isters called for updating the Arab family of Kuwait took stock of the right to decent strategy in order to make it adapt to the im- vulnerable living and ensured accessibility to health Barcode system pacts of coronavirus. They suggested working communities services for everybody as per the instructions out a roadmap for helping people with special of His Highness the Amir,” Aqeel pointed out. KUWAIT: President of the Union of Consumer Co-op- erative Societies Fahd Al-Kashti asked the Ministry of needs in the face of the pandemic in collabo- The government spared no effort in providing social protection and assistance to vulnerable Commerce to end the barcode system to receive cus- ration with regional and international partners. tomers at co-ops via appointments, as the country moves people, particularly the expatriates, and into the second phase of easing the coronavirus restric- Human rights initiatives taken by Kuwait to combat the helped non-government organizations raise tions today. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Minister of Social Af- novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and funds to these people, she added. — KUNA 4 Established 1961 Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Local

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Towers are seen against the setting sun on a hot summer day. —Photo by Shakir Reshamwala Kuwait Association of Surgeons receives COVID-19 prevention supplies from Taiwan

KUWAIT: Taipei Commercial Representative in Kuwait on June 15, which will be in aid of in Kuwait Hua-Wei Mou that the association will Office in Kuwait teams up with Kuwait frontline medical workers to fight COVID-19. cooperate with Jaber Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital Association of Surgeons to contribute 10,000 President of Kuwait Association of Surgeons to distribute prevention supplies to the medical N95 masks, 800 protective gowns, and 200 pro- Dr Salman Al-Sabah expressed sincere apprecia- doctors and nurses who are taking care of the tection suits for the healthcare professionals in tion to Taiwan’s government for its generous COVID-19 patients tirelessly. Kuwait. A total of 37 boxes of epidemic preven- contribution of the equipment in need. He Only a week ago, Taiwan donated 50,000 sur- tion supplies airlifted from Taiwan have arrived expressed to Taiwan Commercial Representative gical masks to UN-HABITAT GCC, which is based in Kuwait. These high-quality masks are expected to be used by Kuwaiti medical workers and volunteers. Representative Hua-Wei Mou said that this teamwork between his office and the Kuwaiti counterparts symbolizes international collective efforts in diminishing the pandemic, adding that he is looking forward to seeing more cooperation KUWAIT: President of Kuwait Association of Surgeons Dr between the two countries in the dimensions of Salman Al-Sabah receives the equipment from Taiwan public health and medical training. Commercial Representative in Kuwait Hua-Wei Mou.

better use of national KPA to launch industrial cadres and attract foreign direct investment,” he pointed industrial port out. On May 20, 2020, KPA and the Public South of Kuwait Authority for Industry (PAI) signed a memoran- KUWAIT: Director-General of Kuwait Ports dum of understanding on Authority (KPA) Sheikh Youssef Abdullah Al-Sabah laying the groundwork of said KPA has formally asked the competent authori- an industrial port to the ties to allocate a site for launching an industrial port south of the country as in the framework of the state’s third layout. Soon part of the state restruc- Sheikh Youssef Al-Sabah after allocation of the site, KPA would start plan- turing layout. The memo ning, designing and then constructing the port, aims to elevate Kuwait among the ranks of the Sheikh Youssef told reporters Sunday evening. “The advanced country and enhance its industrial capa- authority is keen on backing up the development bilities, PAI Director-General Abdulkarim Taqi said, projects and the initiatives to curb overreliance on noting that the memo has to be finally endorsed by oil revenues, increase domestic production, make boards of PAI and KPA. —KUNA

drugs that arrived in a shipment from China on Customs officers Sunday. A customs inspector had grown suspicious of three packages that arrived on a cargo plane via express mail, then obtained permission to inspect seize 33 kg them, and discovered that they’ve contained 11 kilograms of drugs each. Police were called to drug shipment locate and arrest the person who imported the shipment for questioning. In a separate case, By Hanan Al-Saadoun police arrested three persons who were out during partial curfew hours, as they found drugs in their KUWAIT: Customs officers seized 33 kilograms of possession.

KUWAIT: A picture released by the Customs General Department showing drugs found in a shipment that Drugs found with three suspects arrested for breaking arrived by express mail Sunday. the partial curfew. 5 Local Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Defense Ministry highlights efforts in support of Kuwait’s fight against COVID-19

KUWAIT: The Defense Ministry’s quarantine camp in Sabhan — Defense Ministry photos The quarantine building in Julaia.

KUWAIT: The Defense Ministry re- regard, the ministry pointed out that it es- 1000-bed capacity, in addition to three dition to the ‘medical service quarantine’ full coordination with relevant authorities leased a report yesterday highlighting its tablished full cooperation with the Min- quarantine buildings in Jahra with a 150- with a 595-bed capacity. The ministry to make sure that all quarantine sites are contributions in support of state depart- istry of Health since the beginning of the bed capacity. Furthermore, the Defense provided full logistic support to quaran- on par with international standards, the ments’ efforts to contain the novel coron- crisis in Kuwait, which resulted in setting Ministry prepared a quarantine building tine sites as well as the Jaber Al-Ahmad ministry’s Moral Guidance and Public Re- avirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In this up a quarantine camp in Sabhan with a in Julaia with a 450-bed capacity, in ad- Armed Forces Hospital, and maintained lations Department said in the report.

Medical staff at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital. Medical staff at the ‘Northern Military Medical Complex’ in Jahra.

A patient receives medical attention at the Sabhan camp. Ambulances at the field hospital in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Medical staff inside the field hospital in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

Beds inside the field hospital in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Beds inside the ‘Northern Military Medical Complex’ in Jahra. Beds inside the Jaber Al-Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital.

The intensive care unit inside the ‘Northern Military Medical Complex’ in Jahra. Paramedics at the ‘Northern Military Medical Complex’ in Jahra. InternationalEstablished 1961 TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 Australia sees biggest ‘daily rise’ in COVID Coronavirus rekindles global trade disputes Page 8 Page 8

ANTIGUO CUSCATLAN: Workers at the Municipal Pantheon carry the coffin during the burial of an alleged COVID-19 coronavirus victim, in the municipality of Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. — AFP Virus death toll hits 500,000 LA shuts bars again as US struggles PARIS: More than half a million people have died in ‘Severe and complicated’ state notched a record 9,585 cases in 24 hours. nearly every country. US deaths now exceed the coronavirus pandemic, an AFP tally showed Sun- The US state of California was the latest authority Young people frustrated by months of confinement 125,000, about a quarter of the world total. “This is day, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close to reimpose restrictions, ordering bars in Los Ange- have poured back to the state’s beaches, boardwalks a very, very serious situation and the window is again due to surging cases in the United States. The les and six other counties - an area with 13.5 million and bars, often without masks and seemingly uncon- closing for us to take action and get this under con- worldwide number of recorded infections is now just residents - to close because of the rising number of cerned about social distancing. Miami announced trol,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in cases. The hardest-hit parts of the US are in the beaches would close over the July 4 holiday weekend Azar said on CNN. China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown south and west, where many state leaders had and bars are also shutting their doors. New coron- The EU has pushed back a decision on a list of second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since pushed for early economic reopenings. But Los An- avirus cases have been surging in more than half of “safe countries” from which travellers can visit Eu- May 21. One million new infections were recorded in US states, reaching record highs. rope - a list which could exclude the US. With Trump just six days, according to the AFP count based on Several other countries have also imposed new struggling to get his re-election bid off the ground official sources, even as some countries loosen pun- restrictions to counter fresh outbreaks. China im- ahead of the November vote, the campaign con- ishing lockdowns that have devastated their posed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million peo- firmed that planned events featuring Vice President economies and thrown millions out of work. More than 10 ple in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a Mike Pence in Arizona and Florida next week had The United States, the hardest-hit country, has fresh cluster. Beijing official Xu Hejian described the been postponed “out of an abundance of caution”. more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to re- million infected situation as “severe and complicated”. And while the Infections are also running higher in India, with open the world’s biggest economy have been set British government warned it might have to shut densely populated cities particularly hard hit. Al- back by a jump in new infections in big states such worldwide down the city of Leicester because of a spike in though a nationwide lockdown is gradually being as Florida and California. President Donald Trump cases, it still plans a July 4 reopening of pubs, restau- eased, the country set a daily record Saturday with was under growing pressure to set an example by rants and hairdressers across England. In Paris, po- 18,500 new cases and 385 deaths. Total infections wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned lice used tear gas to disperse crowds of young are at 509,000, with more than 15,600 deaths. Iran, the “window is closing” for the country to gain con- people who had gathered for an impromptu party on which has struggled to curb its outbreak even as it trol of the situation. The disease is also rampaging geles, the second-largest US city, only re-opened its Saturday evening. gradually lifted restrictions from April, said it would through Latin America, where Brazil alone has over bars on June 19. California had already ordered some make mask-wearing mandatory in certain areas 1.3 million cases. Infections are up too in some other areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders, while San ‘Very serious situation’ from next week. Many global events have had to be parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe Francisco announced a “pause” in its reopening. The tension between reopening battered curtailed because of the pandemic, with the 50th registering a caseload of over 2.6 million, although In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis conceded economies - efforts pushed in the US by Trump - anniversary of the first Gay Pride march marked daily rates have stabilized. there had been an “explosion” in new cases as the and public health concerns is a source of debate in mostly online. — AFP

Tehran’s mayor, many do not wear masks Colombian with Virus-hit Iran in places like the capital’s public transport network, where it is already mandatory. “Fifty percent of metro passengers wear COVID-19 gives to make masks masks... and even fewer in buses,” Mayor Pirouz Hanachi was quoted as saying by compulsory the semi-official ISNA news agency. “We birth in coma can’t forcefully confront people without masks,” he added. CALI: Diana Angola was fighting for her TEHRAN: Iran said Sunday it will make own life when she gave birth to son Jef- mask-wearing mandatory in certain areas ‘Red’ counties ferson. The 36-year-old had been put into and has allowed virus-hit provinces to Iran reported its first COVID-19 cases on February 19 and it has since struggled a coma having contracted the novel coro- reimpose restrictions, as novel coron- to contain the outbreak. The health min- navirus, which left her lungs barely able avirus deaths mounted in the Middle istry on Sunday announced 144 virus cope. Doctors performed a caesarian East’s worst-hit country. The new steps were announced as Iran counted 144 new deaths in the past 24 hours, its highest for section due to the state of her lungs and fatalities from the COVID-19 disease, its a single day since April 5, raising the total Jefferson was born at least 14 weeks pre- highest death toll for a single day in al- to 10,508. Spokeswoman Sima Sadat maturely. The case generated “a lot of most three months. The Islamic republic Lari also raised total confirmed infections shock,” Paula Velasquez, a doctor spe- has refrained from enforcing full lock- to 222,669, with 2,489 new cases during cializing in internal medicine at the Ver- downs to stop the pandemic’s spread, and the same period. Official figures have salles clinic in the southeastern city of the use of masks and protective equip- shown an upward trajectory in new con- Cali, told AFP. “We knew that there were ment has been optional in most areas. firmed cases since early May, when Iran few reported cases of survival in a con- CALI: Diana Paola Angola who recovered of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, caress her President Hassan Rouhani said Iran hit a near two-month low in daily text as severe as our patient,” said Ve- son Jefferson at the neonatal room in the Versalles Clinic, in Cali, Colombia. — AFP would have to live with the virus for the recorded infections. “Considering the ris- lasquez. Angola, who also has a daughter, “long haul”, as he announced the latest ing numbers, I plead with you to defi- was taken to hospital on May 15 with a measures to combat it. Mask-wearing nitely use masks outside and in covered terrible fever. Three days later she was on neurological development and the “Don’t let them put me on artificial ventila- would be “obligatory in covered spaces places,” Lari said. Iran closed schools, put into an induced coma and kept that lungs,” said Velasquez. tion, get me out of here, I don’t want to die,” where there are gatherings”, he said dur- cancelled public events and banned way until surgery. after doctors told her what treatment they ing a televised meeting of the country’s movement between its 31 provinces in Because of her pregnancy, she was kept Painful memories were proposing. anti-virus taskforce. According to him, March, but the government progressively sitting up at a 45 degree angle, when those Now recovered from the virus, Angola is With Latin America now the epicenter of the measure would come into force as of lifted restrictions from April to try to re- suffering from pneumonia are normally laid desperate to be discharged with her son. the coronavirus pandemic, Angela wants next week, continue until July 22 and open its sanctions-hit economy. down flat to help their breathing. Jefferson, “It’s really emotional knowing that we her sister and nephew’s case to act as a les- would be extended if necessary. Rouhani The economy is starting to suffer though premature, was born without the fought, that the doctors helped us survive,” son for others. “There are many people who said the health ministry had devised “a under the pressures of the health crisis. coronavirus - but doctors said he struggled she said, her voice faint. She says she does- go around without face masks, who go to clear list” of the types of spaces and The country’s currency, the rial, has hit to breathe, and that they had to revive him. n’t know how she contracted the virus and parties, because they don’t know anyone gatherings deemed high-risk, but he did new lows against the US dollar in re- “We had to go through the whole proce- her family insists she complied rigidly with (with the virus) they don’t realize” how not elaborate. cent days, mostly over border closures dure of a critical patient,” pediatrician the lockdown, first imposed on March 25 dangerous it is. With more than 2,600 He also did not say what the penalty and a halt in non-oil exports, according Edwin Olivo, who was one of the specialists but which has been easing recently. In the deaths and 80,000 cases, Colombia is the would be for those who fail to observe to analysts. The increasing virus case- involved in the birth, said. But, he added, hospital corridors, her sister Angela sixth most affected country in Latin Amer- the measure. According to deputy health load has seen some previously un- though the baby remains in an incubator he breathes a sigh of relief. Hospitals bring ica in terms of fatalities and fifth worst for minister Iraj Harirchi, services would not scathed provinces classified as “red” - quickly started putting on weight and back painful memories: two years ago her infections. However, the virus is spreading be provided to those without masks in the highest level on Iran’s colour-coded breathing more easily. “A human being can mother and another sister died in intensive quickly in the country of 50 million, with a areas such as government organizations risk scale - with authorities allowing survive from 24 weeks with a good weight, care, where Diana was for several weeks. quarter of those deaths and cases reported and shopping malls. But implementing the them to reimpose restrictive measures but with a lot of technology and an effect Angela remembers her sister screaming: just last week. — AFP measure may be difficult, as according to if required. — AFP Established 1961 7 Tuesday, June 30, 2020 International France’s Macron takes drubbing in local elections, Greens surge Elections are mid-term test for French president

PARIS: France President Emmanuel Macron’s cen- Naouel, a voter in Paris’ 9th district who said she was trist party received a drubbing on Sunday in munici- backing the center-right opposition candidate. In pal elections, as the Greens celebrated victories in Perpignan, Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement several big cities after a surge in support. Macron had National (National Rally) claimed victory, the first hoped the elections would help anchor his young time the protectionist, anti-EU party has taken con- party in towns and cities across France, including trol of a town with a population of more than Paris, ahead of an anticipated 2022 re-election bid. 100,000 people. But aides had more recently been playing down expectations and the sweeping wins by the Greens, who in some cities joined forces with leftist allies, may compel Macron to reshuffle his government to win back disenfranchised left-wing voters. In a rare bright spot for Macron, his prime minister, Edouard Philippe, Macron’s party won his bid to become mayor of the northern port may fail to win city of Le Havre. Although the French constitution al- lows Philippe to name someone to act as mayor while a big city he remains prime minister, his win deepens questions over his job as premier. Exit polls showed the Greens winning in Lyon, MONTPELLIER: Montpellier city hall candidate leading the Montpellier Unie (Montpellier United) electoral Marseille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg, building on the list, Michael Delafosse (left) of the Socialist Party (PS), Montpellier Unie co-lister Coralie Mantion (center) momentum created by their strong performance in of the Europe Ecologie - Les Verts (EELV) green party, and European Member of Parliament Yannick Jadot France in last year’s European Parliament elections. Reshuffle? of EELV react as they sit at a cafe terrace in Montpellier. — AFP Yannick Jadot, a European Parliament lawmaker from In this second round of voting, turnout was low the Europe Ecology - The Greens, hailed an historic and people wore masks because of the novel coron- victory. “It’s an incredible green wave,” he said. In avirus pandemic. The first round was held just days on companies and relaxed worker protections as he suade Macron to put more emphasis on the envi- Paris, the biggest prize of all, the incumbent Socialist before Macron imposed one of Europe’s strictest enacted reforms to liberalize France’s regulation- ronment in his policies if he seeks to shore up his mayor Anne Hidalgo celebrated victory after a sham- lockdowns in mid-March. Turnout was just 40.5%, choked economy. The reforms were bearing fruit: support on the left. “Ecology is the area where bolic campaign by Macron’s camp. interior ministry data showed. The weak performance growth was robust among euro zone peers and stub- Macron is perceived as having done nothing,” said France’s 35,000 mayors set policy on issues from of Macron’s La Republique en Marche will prompt bornly high unemployment was falling. Frederic Dabi, director of pollster Ifop. “The French urban planning to education and the environment. much soul-searching for the president, who in the But the past three years have been mired in so- will want results on green issues.” Macron will hold While local factors typically drive voter choices, they run-up to the vote said he wanted to reinvent his cial unrest and the pandemic’s impact is reversing talks with his prime minister, presidency officials give the electorate an opportunity to support or pun- presidency with two years left in his mandate. Early some of Macron’s hard-fought gains, as disillusion said. Asked about Philippe’s future, a source close ish a president mid-mandate. “We have a government in his presidency, Macron’s left-wing opponents de- amongst the leftist faction of his party grows. The to Macron said: “What follows will be enshrined in that is completely disconnected from reality,” said rided him as a ‘president of the rich’ as he eased taxes Green’s stunning performance on Sunday may per- continuity.” — Reuters

that a Christian channel for Jews would Civilians among Israel orders not be automatically disqualified in the future, but that it would have to seek evangelical’s council approval, which Shelanu had not over 100 victims done. Hot could file a new request for Shelanu that would include “a truthful of Libya mines GOD TV off air and detailed” characterisation of the channel, the statement added. A spokeswoman for Hot said that the Israel’s media watchdog TRIPOLI: Mines have killed or wounded JERUSALEM: company was “cooperating with the more than 100 people, including many civil- said Sunday that it had withdrawn the council and will act in accordance with ians, south of Libya’s capital following broadcast license from US-based evan- its decisions on the matter”. In one pro- deadly combat between rival forces, the gelical network GOD TV, accusing it of motional clip for Shelanu, GOD TV di- UN said Sunday. “Mines and improvised seeking to target Jews with Christian rector Ward Simpson tells viewers, explosive devices (planted) in or near content. International Christian net- “we’re going to preach the Jewish Jesus homes have caused more than 100 victims,” work’s GOD TV launched its Shelanu to the nation of Israel... they’re going to including civilians and mine disposal ex- (Hebrew for “ours”) channel at the end hear the gospel presented to them in perts, UNSMIL, the UN mission in Libya, of April on Israeli cable provider Hot, their native tongue”. In a separate online said in a statement. TARHUNA: An aerial view shows Libyan experts searching for human remains during describing it as catering to video response to the criticism, he ac- It did not give a breakdown of killed or the exhumation of mass graves in Tarhuna, southeast of the capital Tripoli. — AFP Christians. But the channel provoked an knowledged that “proselytising in Israel wounded. The toll was for casualties since immediate outcry in Israel, with then- is a very touchy subject” but went on to early June, it said following a meeting in Rome communications minister David Am- say that preaching about Jesus was a between interim UN envoy to Libya meeting, Williams also expressed concern longtime leader Mummar Gaddafi, oil-rich salem accusing it of being a “missionary mission. Stephanie Williams and Government of Na- over reports claiming that “mercenaries of Libya has two rival administrations. Haftar’s channel” seeking to convert Jews to GOD TV broadcasts religious con- tional Accord head Fayez al-Sarraj. Earlier various nationalities” had been deployed in forces, which are also backed by Egypt and Christianity. The Cable and Satellite tent in around 200 countries and claims this month, the Tripoli-based GNA recog- Libyan oil installations. On Friday, the coun- the UAE, launched an assault in April 2019 Broadcasting Council launched an in- to have several hundred million nized by the UN regained full control of the try’s National Oil Corporation said Russian to wrest control of the capital Tripoli from vestigation to determine if GOD TV had viewers. Israel enjoys vigorous support capital and its suburbs after more than a year and other foreign mercenaries had entered the GNA. Haftar’s fighters withdrew from the misrepresented its content when it ap- from evangelical movements in the of fighting off an offensive by eastern strong- the key Al-Sharara oil field the previous day. southern outskirts of Tripoli and the entire plied for a licence. United States but keeps a lid on mission- man Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s forces have been Al-Sharara is under the control of forces west of the country earlier this month after Council chairman Asher Bitton said ary work in the Holy Land. While Israeli accused by the GNA, the UN and Human loyal to Haftar, who is backed by Russia. a string of battlefield defeats to the Turkish- on Sunday that following the probe and law only expressly forbids the giving of Rights Watch (HRW) of laying mines in resi- Williams said the presence of mercenaries backed GNA. On Saturday, Sarraj also held a hearing, he had informed Hot that She- money or gifts to encourage conversions dential southern suburbs of the capital. there “threatens” to transform Libya’s so- talks in Rome with Italian Prime Minister lanu broadcasts must be removed within to another religion, missionary activities HRW said earlier this month that antiper- called oil crescent region into a “battlefield”. Giuseppe Conte during which he stressed seven days. “The channel is aimed at in general are closely monitored by the sonnel mines discovered in May were “of Plunged into chaos by the 2011 NATO- that a solution to the Libyan conflict cannot Jews with Christian content, in contrast authorities and are offensive to many Is- Soviet and Russian origin”. At the Rome backed uprising that toppled and killed its be military, the GNA said. — AFP to the original broadcast request, which raelis. According to Israeli government stated it was designated for Christians,” data, around two percent of the popula- Bitton said in a council statement. It said tion is Christian, mainly Arabs. — AFP

Mississippi ropean Commission chief Ursula von Germany takes der Leyen said it was “very fortunate votes to remove that Germany is taking over the presi- dency at this time of a major crisis.” on high-stakes Merkel’s long experience and credibil- Confederate ity “helps enormously,” she told the symbol EU presidency Handelsblatt newspaper. German ‘bulldozer’ BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel Besides its geopolitical weight and JACKSON: Lawmakers in Mississippi voted hosted French President Emmanuel economic heft, Germany takes on cus- Sunday to remove the Confederate battle Macron for talks yesterday, just days todianship of the bloc with a strong standard from the state flag, after nationwide before Germany takes on the rotating hand as it has so far withstood the protests drew renewed attention to symbols presidency of the European Union with health emergency better than most of the United States’ racist past. The measure an economy mired in the worst crisis other member states. Compared to the passed with a 91-23 majority vote in the since World War II. Berlin’s chairing of debt crisis that threatened to sink the House of Representatives, triggering cheers MISSISSIPPI: The Mississippi state flag flies in front of the Mississippi State Capitol the 27-member bloc will be its last with single currency zone in 2009-2010, in the Senate gallery. A few hours later, the building in Jackson, Mississippi. — AFP Merkel in charge, and could be the one Germany looks very different today - Senate voted 37-14 for the bill. “In the name that defines the legacy of the leader it’s out with Scrooge and in with Lady of history, whether you’re black or white, rich dubbed the “eternal chancellor”. Bountiful. Once an obstinate champion or poor, Democrat or Republican, I ask you approved. Democratic senator John Horhn to retain its current flag, hailed by its defend- With the future of the bloc’s rela- of budgetary rigor, Merkel’s govern- today to stand in the name of history,” Dem- said changing the flag was a “big step... in the ers as a proud symbol of southern heritage tionship with Britain still to be deter- ment has ditched its no-new-debt ocratic senator Derrick T Simmons urged his journey we are on to recognize everybody’s and history. The push to change the flag has mined, a crucial shift to a lower dogma to throw resources at the crisis. colleagues before the vote. God-given humanity.” grown dramatically in the past week. “Either carbon world in the balance and Its program to shore up the economy “I ask each of you as we recognize and Democratic presidential candidate Joe change the flag or I won’t be representing crises from Libya to Syria all jostling totals more than a trillion euros in understand the Mississippi of yesterday, let’s Biden also hailed the decision. “The arc of the this State anymore,” a star Mississippi State for attention, there is no shortage of spending, loans and guarantees. vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow.” moral universe bent a little more today,” he University football player tweeted in recent burning issues to tackle. But it is the Together with Macron, Merkel Senators celebrated with cheers, hugs and wrote on Twitter, in reference to a famous days. “I meant that,” senior running back COVID-19 pandemic and the eco- sketched out the backbone of the 750 fist-bumps. Mississippi is the only American quote on justice by civil rights campaigner Kylin Hill, who is African-American, added. nomic devastation it has wrought million-euro ($840-million) fund pro- state to incorporate the Confederate stan- Martin Luther King. Votes in both houses of “I’m tired.” The day after Hill’s tweet, the which will dominate and concentrate posed by von der Leyen to bolster the dard on its official flag, after nearby Georgia the state’s legislature followed weeks of powerful Mississippi Baptist Convention, an minds. “This crisis that we’re currently bloc’s economy. The fund would offer dropped it in 2003. The criss-crossed diag- mounting pressure and hours of impassioned association of the state’s Baptist churches, experiencing is different compared to grants - with no repayment obligation onal stars pattern was used by southern debate. Governor Tate Reeves said Saturday called to change the flag’s design. any other we have experienced since - to countries hardest hit by the pan- troops, including Mississippians, during the that he would sign the bill into law. Racial in- They were soon joined by state business the founding of Europe,” Merkel, in demic, a major policy U-turn for Berlin. 1861-1865 American Civil War - the bloody justice has been the subject of a renewed and associations. Athletic directors and coaches power since 2005, told parliament in With an eye on the devastating blow conflict that brought an end to slavery - and fiery national conversation in the US since from Mississippi universities have also urged an address laying out Berlin’s priori- taken by the worst-hit countries like for many it remains a symbol of the country’s the death in May of unarmed African-Amer- lawmakers to act. “I understand many view ties for the EU presidency. Spain or Italy, Merkel explained that it dark racial legacy. ican man George Floyd at the hands of a the current flag as a symbol of heritage and “Alone in Europe, it has claimed was “imperative that Germany not only The bill calls for a nine-member commis- white police officer. His killing ignited mass Southern pride,” country music star Faith Hill, more than 100,000 lives. A few weeks thinks of itself but is prepared for an sion to design a new flag that does not use protests and civil unrest across the country a Mississippi native, tweeted. “But we have of economic standstill was enough to extraordinary act of solidarity”. “In the Confederate standard and does include that has also led to the destruction of statues to realize that this flag is a direct symbol of endanger what we have built up over such a crisis, everyone is expected to the phrase “In God, We Trust.” State resi- of former Confederate military leaders. terror for our black brothers and sisters.” But years.” With all to play for, member do what is necessary. And what is nec- dents would vote on the design in November. Governor Reeves warned Saturday that states are anxiously looking to Eu- essary in this case is rather extraordi- If they reject the new design, Mississippi will ‘Symbol of terror’ changing the flag would not end racism or rope’s biggest economy to take charge. nary,” she told the Sueddeutsche go without a state flag until a new design is Mississippi in 2001 voted overwhelmingly end divisions in his state. — AFP In an interview published Saturday, Eu- Zeitung newspaper. — AFP 8 Established 1961 International Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Coronavirus rekindles global trade disputes Mistrust grew, notably between US and China

BRUSSELS: At the start of the year, US-China tensions Rhetoric vs reality were easing after their Phase I trade deal, while Wash- To some extent, political rhetoric is running ahead ington, Brussels and Tokyo agreed on new global trading of reality: US China trade rose in April after COVID- rules to curb subsidies. A relative calm had set in. Then 19-related falls and US officials have said China is com- the new coronavirus struck. Countries across the world mitted to buying more US goods in line with the Phase imposed 222 exports curbs on medical supplies and 1 deal. Chinese leaders and EU chiefs met virtually last medicines and in some cases food, according to Global Monday, although Brussels told China to make good on Trade Alert, a Swiss monitoring group. For medical its promise to allow greater access for European com- products, it was more than 20 times the usual level. panies and criticised its actions on the coronavirus and Those curbs are now being lifted, but the pandemic has reinforced protectionist arguments by highlighting how global supply chains can deprive people of essential medical protection and disrupt food supplies, as well as threaten jobs. US President Donald Trump has said he US election a wants to cut ties with China, the European Union is planning barriers to state-backed investment from China pivotal moment and elsewhere and China is demanding declarations that food imports are virus-free. for global trade Former EU trade chief Cecilia Malmstrom said there was a “worrying” tendency towards protectionism in the world and the re-emergence of trade conflicts briefly paused by the health crisis. “Trade-wise we should be concerned,” she told a seminar on Wednes- Hong Kong. China offered deeper cooperation on BEIJING: A woman and a child wearing face masks walk past a row of fountains in a business district in day. The World Trade Organization said on Tuesday COVID-19 and urged the EU to relax export controls. Beijing. China reported another 17 cases of the coronavirus, of which 14 were local cases in Beijing. — AFP that global trade in goods was set for a record fall this On Wednesday, Beijing said it was opening up seven year and that wider restrictions could see a 2021 re- more sectors to foreign investors. Beijing and Brussels bound falling short. In the past fortnight, the United are keeping up contacts with Washington and some Joe Biden challenger Joe Biden wins. “Biden as president is the only States has withdrawn from negotiations with European progress has been made in limited EU-U.S. talks on Trade is a bellwhether for the cooperation and trust chance for China-US relations to regain rationality,” said countries over a tax on digital firms and pledged a food standards and technology cooperation. Senior EU needed to help economies recover, particularly those of Zhu Feng, dean of the Institute of International Studies “broad reset” of its set of tariffs agreed with World and US trade officers are holding talks every three smaller countries, said Rohinton Medhora, president of at Shanghai’s Fudan University. But he did not expect re- Trade Organization partners. It has also threatened weeks, officials say. China’s most senior diplomat Yang Canada-based think tank the Centre for International lations to change dramatically in the short term. There is tariffs on a new range of European products, including Jiechi also met with US Secretary of State Mike Pom- Governance Innovation. Both China and Europe are broad bipartisan support in the US Congress for being fresh olives, bakery items and gin, to maintain pressure peo in Hawaii on Wednesday, although Trump renewed bracing for rocky relations in the leadup to the US pres- tough on China, and European optimism over more co- in a 16-year dispute over aircraft subsidies. his threat to cut ties with Beijing the next day. idential election, but see some hope if Trump’s Democrat operation with Washington is also tempered. — Reuters

Palestinians struggle Wang Yi delivers to mobilize against a speech on the Israel annexation

Middle East RAMALLAH: With loudspeakers mounted, Palestin- ian flags unfurled and civil servants allowed off work, everything appeared set for a large protest in Ramal- KUWAIT: On June 24, 2020 local time, State lah against Israel’s annexation plans in the occupied Councilor and Foreign Minister delivered a writ- West Bank. But only 200 people turned up for the ten speech entitled Upholding International Fair- June 8 demonstration, in a sign of the struggles the ness and Justice and Advancing the Middle East Palestinian Authority (PA) has faced generating out- Peace Process at the Security Council Open rage on the street against the prospective Israeli VTC on the Middle East, Including the Palestin- moves. ian Question. Wang Yi noted, the Palestinian International condemnation of possible Israeli an- question remains at the heart of the Middle East nexations has mounted ahead of July 1, when the Jew- situation. Its just, equitable settlement is a pre- ish state could take its first steps toward implementing requisite for lasting peace and security in the re- part of a US-proposed Middle East peace plan. Pres- WEST BANK: Photo shows a view of ongoing construction work at the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, gion. Recently, the persistent tension between ident Donald Trump’s proposals, rejected outright by near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. — AFP Palestine and Israel and this development is the Palestinians, pave the way for annexing key parts deeply unsettling. Wang Yi expressed, such a sit- of the West Bank, including settlements long consid- uation has further highlighted the significance of buses chartered by the event organizers - the Pales- among some Palestinians about their leaders’ ability ered illegal by the majority of the international com- tine Liberation Organization and Fatah party - but to secure a deal with Israel that would be accepted on the four-point proposal on the Palestinian ques- munity. But on Palestinian streets, mobilisation against tion put forth by President Xi Jinping in 2017. many left even before the speeches began. Odeh said the Palestinian streets. “The PA is so weak! It has no looming Israeli actions has been muted. “There is fa- the malaise was driven in part by frustration with power,” said a farmer who requested anonymity in the Building on this proposal, the Chinese side tigue,” Palestinian analyst Nour Odeh said. “Fatigue wishes to emphasize the following four points: Palestinian leaders who “promised to deliver peace Jordan Valley, a strategically crucial West Bank area from the usual - to stand in Ramallah and wait for the through negotiation, (but) they failed.” targeted for annexation in the Trump plan. For Ghas- First, international consensus must not be cameras to show how angry we are,” she added. contravened. The two-state solution is a bottom san Khatib, an academic and former PA official, signs “You’re talking to yourself, and then what?” There ‘No power’ of apathy about the prospect of annexation reveal a line of international justice, on which there was a substantially larger rally in the West Bank city should be no backtracking. China supports the Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 widening “gap” between the Palestinian people and of Jericho on Monday, where crowds sang in unison Six Day War. The 1993 Oslo peace accords were de- their leaders. Khatib blames this gap in part on “the establishment of an independent state of Pales- and hoisted banners declaring “Palestine is not for tine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of signed to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and es- absence of elections,” last held in 2006 and on a dis- sale,” in condemnation of the Trump plan. The crowd tablish the scope of Palestinian autonomy in the West connect between an ageing Palestinian leadership and the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its of several thousand was brought to the protest site on capital. This is an inalienable right of the Pales- Bank. But nearly three decades on, doubts have grown a young population. — AFP tinian people, one that cannot be bargained away. At the same time, Israel’s right to survival and legitimate security concerns should be fully Australia sees biggest daily rise More stimulus needed respected. Relevant UN resolutions, the “land In May, Victoria - home to more Fighting in Taiwan for peace” principle and the two-state solution than 6 million people - began lift- set out the overall direction of the final settle- in COVID cases in two months ing restrictions imposed a month parliament as oppn ment. As such, they should be duly observed and earlier to slow the spread of the reaffirmed. SYDNEY: Australia’s second most residents in 10 hotspot sub- virus. It has pledged to remove the Second, peace talks must not be abandoned. most populous state said yester- urbs. However, some locals de- bulk of restrictions by the end of occupies chamber Palestine and Israel need to resume dialogues on day it is considering reimposing clined the voluntary throat and July. The restrictions, including an equal footing as soon as possible in order to social distancing restrictions after nasal swab tests. Victoria is hoping forcing restaurants and cafes to TAIPEI: Fighting erupted in Taiwan’s parliament yes- rebuild trust, deescalate disputes and work out the country reported its biggest a new saliva test, which is less in- offer only takeaway services, shut- terday as lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Pro- a way to live in peace as neighbors. The question one-day rise in new coronavirus trusive, will encourage more peo- ting schools and halting sports gressive Party (DPP) broke through barricades of occupied territories in the West Bank should infections in more than two ple to get tested - even though it proved successful in slowing the erected by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) be resolved as early as possible based on rele- months. Propelled by Victoria is slightly less accurate. “We think spread of COVID-19. But it was a who had occupied it to protest against government vant UN resolutions, and the final Palestine-Is- state reporting 75 cases, Australia it will play a role in bolstering test- hammer blow to Australia’s econ- “tyranny”. Taiwan is a rambunctious democracy and rael border delineated through peace talks. recorded 85 new COVID-19 in- ing reach across the state,” said omy, which is heading into its first fights and protests inside the parliament building are Third, international support must not slacken. fections in the past 24 hours, its Professor Sharon Lewin, Director recession in three decades as the not uncommon. The Palestinian question should remain front and biggest daily outbreak since April of the Doherty Institute, which de- unemployment rate hits a 19-year More than 20 KMT lawmakers occupied the leg- center of the international agenda. The global 11. Australia has fared better than veloped the test. “Vulnerable pop- high of 7.1%. Prime Minister Scott islature overnight on Monday, blocking entry to the community should stick to an impartial and just many countries in the coronavirus ulations or in people who have Morrison has called on states to main chamber with chains and chairs, saying the gov- position, and push forward the Middle East pandemic, with around 7,800 trouble with the throat swab, such continue easing restrictions, insist- ernment was trying to force through legislation and peace process with sincere efforts. Solution that cases and 104 deaths, but the re- as children or other individuals ing the country’s economy must be demanding the president withdraw the nomination of departs from the track of peace will never bring cent surge has stoked fears of a who find it more acceptable.” revived. — Reuters a close aide to a high-level watchdog. Late morning enduring peace to the Middle East. second wave after several weeks yesterday, DPP lawmakers pulled down the barri- Fourth, humanitarian issues must not be ig- of fewer than 20 new cases a day. cades and forced their way in, surrounding the main nored. It is imperative to end the blockade on the The resurgence in Australia podium where their KMT opposite numbers had Gaza Strip as soon as possible and earnestly ful- comes as total infections hit 10 holed up. There were scuffles and shouting as the fill the obligations under the Paris Protocol and million cases worldwide and the KMT, including its youthful new chairman Johnny other international treaties. The international global death toll from the virus Chiang, struggled to hold their position. community should support Palestine in growing tops half a million people. As new The KMT lawmakers eventually withdrew, but de- its economy, facilitate the work of the UN Relief coronavirus cases have mounted, nounced their DPP counterparts for using violence and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Victoria has embarked on a mas- against them. “This is a very dangerous thing. You can’t the Near East and help improve the humanitarian sive testing regime and the state’s treat lawmaker colleagues like that,” KMT lawmaker situation in Palestine. chief health officer said the state Wayne Chiang, the great-grandson of late autocratic Wang Yi said, China is a sincere friend of the may need to re-introduce social leader Chiang Kai-shek, told reporters. Wayne Chiang Palestinian people. We have all along followed distancing restrictions. “Changing is not related to the party chairman. The KMT, trounced the Middle East peace process with concern, the law is something we have to in January’s parliamentary and presidential elections, and remained a staunch force for international consider because we have to do began their protest in parliament on Sunday afternoon. justice and fairness and for all efforts conducive whatever is required to turn this The party traditionally favours close ties with China, to de-escalation. Shouldering the primary re- around,” Brett Sutton told re- which claims Taiwan as its own territory. The KMT said sponsibility for the maintenance of international porters in Melbourne, referring to it was protesting the DPP and President Tsai Ing-wen’s peace and security, the Security Council should questions about enforcing local- MELBOURNE: A member of the Australian Defence Force (right) takes forcing though bills and Tsai’s nomination of her senior play its due role in bringing about a compre- ized lockdowns. a swab for a COVID-19 coronavirus test on a member of the public as aide Chen Chu to head the Control Yuan, an independ- hensive, just and enduring solution to the Pales- Victorian state officials last people queue outside in their cars at a drive through testing facility in ent government watchdog, calling Tsai’s government tinian question. week deployed ambulances and mobile test centers in a bid to test Melbourne yesterday. — AFP “more tyrannical than before”. — Reuters Established 1961

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 Business

Pakistan eventually launches its Ooredoo Group ranked 25th in Shale pioneer Chesapeake 10ambitious electric vehicle plan 10 ME’s top 100 firms: Forbes 11 Energy files for bankruptcy

TOKYO: Pedestrians walk on a zebra crossing during a rainy morning outside Shinjuku station in Tokyo. Retail sales in Japan tumbled at a double-digit pace for the sec- ond straight month in May. — AFP Japan’s retail sales extend slump Coronavirus curbs keep shoppers away

TOKYO: Retail sales in Japan tumbled at a double- sonally adjusted 2.1 percent following a 9.9 percent in place in crowded areas. Midori, a 29-year-old work- US markets as fears grow over a resurgence of coron- digit pace for the second straight month in May as the drop in April. “Although consumption has picked up a er at an electric instrument maker who declined to give avirus infections. coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures deliv- little, there was a strong sense of caution towards the her last name, said only one of her friends has received The Nikkei 225 dropped 2.30 percent, or 517.04 ered a heavy blow to consumer confidence and eco- infection and customers were slow to come back,” said the government payout so far. points, to end at 21,995.04 — its first close below the nomic recovery prospects. The sustained downturn in Takumi Tsunoda, senior economist at Shinkin Central “I think consumption will decline compared to 22,000 level since June 15th. The broader Topix index demand raises risks that the world’s third- Bank Research. before the coronavirus outbreak,” she said on fell 1.78 percent, or 28.15 points, to 1,549.22. “The largest economy could remain mired in recession Saturday while going shopping in Yokohama, adding Nikkei index fell following sharp losses on US shares longer than expected and a revival may be more slug- that she plans to invest part of the cash handout and over fears of the spread of new coronavirus infections,” gish. Retail sales fell 12.3 percent in May from a year spend the rest on daily life essentials. Shinkin’s Yoshihiro Ito, chief strategist at Okasan Online earlier, pulled down by a slump in spending on big Tsunoda worries that a weakening economy and Securities, said in a commentary. ticket items such as cars as well as clothing and gener- Consumer “strong sense of uncertainty about the future” could In Tokyo trading, SoftBank Group dropped 2.76 al merchandise, trade ministry data showed yesterday. confidence lead to cuts in year-end bonus payouts and employ- percent to 5,380 yen after it announced estimates it The decline followed a 13.9 percent drop in April, ment adjustments by firms. will gain 600 billion yen ($5.6 billion) from the initial which was the biggest fall since March 1998, and was tumbles The economy is forecast to contract by more than sale of T-mobile shares. Last week, the investment giant worse than a 11.6 percent fall forecast by economists 20 percent on an annualized basis this quarter, mark- said it will sell the US firm shares worth over $21 billion in a Reuters poll. Policymakers are hoping a rebound ing the third straight quarter of decline, with business as it sheds assets to shore up its financial health. in private spending, which accounts for more than half activity hit by lockdown measures from April through Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing fell 2.35 of the economy, will help support growth as uncertain- Some analysts say cash payouts of 100,000 yen late May. percent to 60,640 yen while Sony shed 2.73 percent to ty over the global demand outlook threatens to delay a ($933) per citizen in response to the pandemic could 7,313 yen. Nissan tumbled 3.40 percent to 394.7 yen recovery. fuel a bout of “revenge spending” following the lifting Nikkei falls 2% and Toyota 1.58 percent to 6,759 yen. Compared to a month earlier, retail sales in May of a state of emergency in May and as more people Meanwhile, Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei index lost The dollar fetched 107.13 yen in Asian trade, against saw their first rise in three months, increasing a sea- get used to social distancing measures, which remain more than two percent yesterday following a rout on 107.22 yen in New York. – Agencies

ployment rate for females looking for full-time work Vulnerable services tourism-dependent economies are the ones we worry Australian economy surged to 8.3 percent in May from 5.4 percent in During the unprecedented run of about the most,” said Citi’s global chief economist, February before coronavirus-driven shutdowns kicked growth, Australia transformed into an open, services- Catherine Mann. Mann sees a V-shaped rebound for in. That compares with 7 percent for men from 4.8 per- driven economy, feeding China’s rise with its mineral manufacturing generally but for the services or con- faces long road cent in February. and commodity wealth and shedding much of its man- sumer discretionary sector, “it is absolutely an L- “Australia is known as the lucky country but I am ufacturing capability. The services sector accounts for shaped recovery,” she said, meaning it could take a to recovery not very lucky at the moment,” Gulin, who is receiving almost two-thirds of Australia’s A$2 trillion ($1.4 tril- while for growth to fully recover. “What was lost in the government welfare payments, told Reuters. “I have lion) annual economic output - but is now particularly early part of this year will never be recovered from the SYDNEY: Coronavirus has done to Australia what been talking to a few people about some opportunities vulnerable to the closure of national borders and social standpoint of revenues for a company.” even the global financial crisis couldn’t: abruptly end a but nothing has come up yet.” distancing measures to tame coronavirus. “The record growth run and help trigger a deep recession Virus shadow from which the country will take time to recover. Policymakers, too, are worried about the long road While Australia has had great success so far in back to economic health. The Reserve Bank heading off the pandemic, with just over 100 deaths, of Australia has pledged to keep its benchmark cash the cure of shutting out the rest of the world means rate at a record low 0.25 percent until there is massive hits to three key growth drivers - tourism, progress in achieving its employment and inflation education and immigration. Fiona Gulin was 18 when goals. “We’re going to have low interest rates for a the last recession hit Australia in the early 1990s. Back long period of time,” central bank Governor Philip then, she managed to keep a part-time job at a music Lowe said last week, adding that there would be “a publication, before moving on to full-time work and a shadow from the virus for quite a few years.” lucrative career in the entertainment industry. “People will be more risk averse, they won’t want to This time, she hasn’t been so lucky. borrow. In Australia, we’re going to have lower popula- “I have been hit hard in this recession,” said Gulin, tion dynamics,” Lowe said, referring to the idea that who was laid off in April as the marketing director of fewer foreigners entering the country would lead to the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, prompting her to ditch lower consumer demand and a tighter labor market. her rented house in the city and move back to her Puja Basnet, an international student from Nepal, is home in Melbourne. Gulin is among the hundreds of reconsidering her options in Australia after losing her thousands who have lost their livelihoods overnight to part-time job as a waitress. “I was at home for two the COVID-19 pandemic as Australia suffers its first months without work and I have almost run out of my recession in 30 years and its unemployment rate hits a savings. As a non-Australian I don’t even have access to 19-year high of 7.1 percent. Centrelink,” she said, referring to government welfare Even though Australia’s economy was among the payments. For Basnet, the future is even more challeng- first to reopen after lockdowns worldwide and earlier ing as more people are now jostling for each job. An L- than the government expected, it contracted 0.3 per- SYDNEY: People are seen on the nearly deserted steps of the Sydney Opera House, in shaped recovery also means the unemployment rate cent in the first quarter and a new wave of coronavirus the wake of New South Wales implementing measures shutting down non-essential will stay higher for longer. “I am really worried about cases could put a recovery at risk. businesses. – Reuters the future. I have been applying for 30-40 jobs a week Women have been particularly hard hit. The unem- but there has been zero responses.” – Reuters 10 Established 1961 Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Business Pakistan eventually launches its ambitious electric vehicle plan Late-stage change leaves cars out of first phase

ISLAMABAD: Ghulam Hussain was used to zipping shaws - the most common form of transport through the streets of Lahore with his wife and three in Pakistan’s densely populated urban areas - as well young children perched perilously on his motorbike, as buses and trucks. whenever they visited relatives or ran errands. Malik Amin Aslam, climate change advisor to the But now that Pakistan has launched a plan to move prime minister, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation vehicles over to electric power, Hussain is excited that incentives for cars would be added to the policy about the prospect of no longer spending 4,000 “at a later stage”, without specifying when. Leaving rupees ($24) each month on petrol. “It would be a out cars makes the new policy “like a wedding party substantial saving for me to switch to an electric arriving with no bridegroom”, said Shaukat Qureshi, motorbike,” said Hussain, who works as a driver for a general secretary of the Pakistan Electric Vehicles and family in the upscale Gulberg district, earning about Parts Manufacturers and Traders Association 20,000 rupees a month. (PEVPMTA). “Eventually I’d like to buy a small car for the fami- “The rest of the world is adopting this technology ly, as the children are getting older. I would buy an and it is pollution-free. The sooner it comes, the bet- electric car, if they are affordable.” He will have to ter it is for everyone,” he said. Abdul Waheed Khan, wait a while to find out. After a lengthy director general of the Pakistan Automotive delay, Pakistan’s ambitious electric vehicle (EV) poli- Manufacturers Association, which represents petrol- cy was approved for implementation this month, but powered carmakers, told the Thomson Reuters a late-stage change leaves Foundation that the policy cars out of its first phase. “states the broad parame- Critics warn this means it ters to which we agreed”. will take longer “We appreciate the for Pakistanis to reap the Policy offers direction and are awaiting policy’s environmental and further details,” he added. incentives to ISLAMABAD: After a lengthy delay, Pakistan’s ambitious electric vehicle (EV) policy was approved financial benefits. for implementation this month. —AFP Covering buses and manufacturers Poorer families left trucks, as well as two- and behind three-wheel vehicles, Mian Ali Hameed, mar- policy makes it cheaper for authorities and compa- includes incentives for their owners, such as removing including rickshaws and keting director at Sazgar nies to install charging stations in cities and along yearly registration fees and a 50 percent discount on motorcycles, the new poli- Engineering Works motorways. motorway tolls. In a country where large cities rou- cy introduces a raft of Limited, a leading rickshaw But Qureshi of the PEVPMTA noted that owners tinely suffer high levels of air pollution, the benefits incentives to encourage manufacturers to start pro- manufacturer, said his company was ready to start of electric motorbikes, e-rickshaws and small electric to Pakistan’s environmental health will also be signifi- ducing electric vehicles and customers to buy them. producing electric rickshaws before the end of 2020. cars do not need to wait. “You just plug them in at cant, he added. Passed on June 10, the new policy was originally Hameed confirmed that Sazgar’s e-rickshaws will home, like a fan,” he said. Each electric vehicle produces 65 percent fewer approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan in be more expensive than traditional versions, costing Qureshi worries that leaving cars out of the policy pollutants than traditional petrol-powered engines, he November, with the goal of cutting air pollution and about 400,000 rupees, compared with 250,000 for now will disadvantage lower-income families, esti- said. According to the latest World Air Quality curbing climate change. It aims to bring half a million rupees for a petrol-powered ride. However, customers mating that switching to a small electric car could Report, Pakistani and Indian cities dominated the electric motorcycles and rickshaws, along with more will soon see savings, as their petrol use drops dra- save up to 25,000 rupees a month in fuel costs. most polluted cities in 2019. than 100,000 electric cars, buses and trucks, into the matically and they spend less on maintenance like oil “For many families in Pakistan, this much savings Much of that pollution is due to Pakistan’s rapid transportation system over the next five years. and filter changes, he explained. per month means a change in their lifestyles,” he said. motorization, environmental experts say. A World The goal is to have at least 30 percent of all vehi- “Customers could recover the (purchase) cost in Bank study published in 2014 noted that the number cles running on electricity by 2030. After pushback one year, according to our estimates,” he said. One Good for health of vehicles on the country’s roads jumped from about from traditional automakers, the first stage of the poli- potential obstacle to the speedy uptake of EVs is a Addressing concerns about the cost of electric 2 million in 1991 to more than 10 million two decades cy bypasses cars to focus on motorbikes and rick- lack of charging infrastructure. To address that, the vehicles, climate advisor Aslam said the policy later. —Reuters

Highlights’, by taking readers ‘Inside the Numbers assets worth $24.2 billion Ooredoo Group of the World’s Largest Public Companies’. From this and an overall market val- perspective, the magazine also profiles Ooredoo at ue of $5.2 billion. Sheikh the end of March 2020 as one of the top three Saud Bin Nasser Al-Thani Burgan Bank’s new ranked 25th in regional telecommunications operators, with sales added: “Our teams around worth $8.2 billion and profits of $611 million. the world are working ME’s top 100 Reflecting upon this news, Sheikh Saud Bin together as one to enable KD 125,000 cash Nasser Al-Thani, Group Chief Executive Officer, the communities we serve Ooredoo, said: “This latest accolade reflects our by providing much need- firms: Forbes phenomenal growth and vision. We have taken giant ed relief measures, inno- prize winner leaps since the company was founded as the Qatar vative solutions and digi- DOHA: Ooredoo Group was honored recently National Telecom Service in 1949, with one Doha tal services.” KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced Faisal Faleh when Forbes, the prestigious global business telephone exchange and a capacity of just 50 lines Forbes also notes that Sheikh Saud Bin Ayed Al-Subaiei as the new KD 125,000 cash brand founded in 1917, published its listing of the — as Forbes correctly deduces from its thorough the group employs over Nasser Al-Thani prize winner in the Yawmi quarterly draw. The leading 100 enterprises in the region. Ranked overview of the region.” 16,000 people, and has winner expressed his excitement for being the 25th, Ooredoo Group is in the top quarter of all Forbes’ commentary is framed by the economic football’s Leo Messi as a global brand ambassador. winner of the rewarding cash prize with Yawmi MENA-based enterprises, thanks to the efforts of uncertainty which has accompanied the novel According to Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, such Account from Burgan Bank. its companies across the Middle East, North coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these colleagues “exemplify Ooredoo Group’s vision and The Yawmi quarterly draw offers customers Africa and South East Asia. difficult conditions — to which Ooredoo has devel- values— expressed in a genuine commitment to our chances to win higher rewards, entitling one Targeting an audience of business leaders and oped a robust response — the Group has retained company’s goals”. lucky customer to win KD 125,000 cash prize influencers, Forbes promises ‘Global 2000 every three months. To enter Burgan Bank’s Yawmi quarterly draws, customers should maintain a minimum source of revenue before the grounding amount of KD 500 in their account for two Boeing 737 — back into service. months prior to the draw date. Additionally, The model’s anti-stall flight system, the every KD 10 in the account will entitle customers MCAS, was partially to blame for both to one chance of winning. MAX ready crashes. But other technical malfunctions, including one involving electrical wiring, to take off were subsequently detected during the aircraft’s modification process, slowing down its recertification. For weeks, Boeing Huawei loses out in NEW YORK: Boeing’s 737 MAX plane has been awaiting the green light from could take its first test flight today, a cru- authorities to conduct test flights to prove cial step for the survival of the company’s the modifications provide maximum safety. 5G bid in Singapore star model that has been grounded for 14

months. Two sources close to the case Boeing Field SINGAPORE: Nokia and Ericsson have been cho- told AFP Friday the flight could take place sen as Singapore’s main 5G network providers, tele- Civil aviation authorities cannot early the following week. approve the modified model until they In this file photo, Boeing 737 MAX 9 airliners are pictured on the flight line com operators said, leaving Huawei with only a Neither Boeing nor the Federal have examined how it performs in flight. at the Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washington. —AFP minor role as the Chinese tech giant faces growing Aviation Administration confirmed the They will also look at the thousands of US pressure. flight when asked for comment on Sunday. Huawei has been dogged by allegations of steal- “We continue to work diligently on safely data points collected during the flights. the MAX would return to service in mid- tor questions and meeting all certification ing American trade secrets and aiding China’s espi- returning the 737 MAX to service. We For this reason, three days of test 2020, around June. But the coronavirus and regulatory requirements. onage efforts, with Washington pushing countries to defer to the FAA and global regulators on flights have been planned, according to pandemic, which resulted in travel restric- Boeing urgently needs to get the 737 bar the company from involvement in their next- the process,” a Boeing spokesperson said. the New York Times. They will take off tions and lockdown measures to try and MAX back in the air in order to pull itself generation networks. The MAX has been grounded globally from Boeing Field, just outside Seattle, the slow its spread, has upset the schedule. out of a historic crisis. Huawei has denied ties with the Chinese govern- since March 13, 2019, following an manufacturer’s birthplace in the north- According to The Seattle Times, The aircraft accounts for more than ment. Singtel, one of the city-state’s main telecom Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 western US state of Washington. European and Canadian aviation authori- two-thirds of the company’s order book operators, said Wednesday it had chosen Sweden’s people. That catastrophe came just a few The weather is difficult to predict, but ties have demanded substantial new and is therefore crucial to the mid-term Ericsson to build its 5G network after the govern- months after a Lion Air MAX crash that forecasts show Monday will be partially changes to the plane’s flight control sys- survival of the manufacturer — which, like ment gave final approval. killed 189 people. cloudy, with little wind and a 10 percent tem. The two regulators, along with the the entire aviation industry, is suffering A joint venture that includes the country’s two The troubling similarities between the chance of rain. According to the Times, an FAA “have agreed Boeing will be required from the effects of the coronavirus crisis. other major telecom operators, M1 and StarHub, two accidents, both of which occurred FAA pilot will be at the controls to test to make these additional design changes... At the end of April, Boeing released announced it had opted for Nokia to build its main shortly after takeoff, along with the pilots’ out the modifications conducted on the only after the MAX returns to service,” details on a downsizing plan to cut total 5G infrastructure. However, both M1 and Starhub inability to regain control of the plane, led plane, and a Boeing test pilot will also be the newspaper reported. headcount by 10 percent, or roughly said that other firms, including Huawei, could have global aviation authorities to ground the on board. In general, test flights are When asked by AFP for further details, 16,000 employees in all. some involvement in the project. model indefinitely. meticulously prepared for. a Boeing spokesperson said Friday that In March, credit ratings agency S&P Huawei only won the contract to be a provider For months, the US aviation giant has safety is the company’s top priority. downgraded its rating for Boeing to BBB for a smaller, local network system, operated by been struggling to get its medium-haul Delay after delay The spokesperson also said that from A-, moving it into a speculative cate- TPG Telecom, a more minor player. The Southeast aircraft — whose sales were its main A few months ago, Boeing anticipated Boeing is committed to answering regula- gory. —AFP Asian city-state tries to maintain good relations with both the US and China, and Information Minister S. Iswaran insisted that no company had in safe-haven bonds and gold. off 0.9 percent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 been excluded in the selection process. Global stocks European stocks opened slightly lower, after Asian were up 0.1 percent. “We have run a robust process spelling out our shares ended deep in the red playing catch up with “The market is caught in a real battle between requirements in terms of performance, security and Wall Street’s ugly close on Friday as some US states recovery optimism and news of increasing cases in resilience,” he said, adding that mobile network hit two-week reconsidered their reopening plans. certain geographical areas such as the US” said operators also had their own criteria. “There is a The global death toll from COVID-19 reached John Woolfitt, director of trading at Atlantic Capital diversity of vendors participating in different parts lows, oil slides half a million people on Sunday, with one quarter of Markets. “I think this battle will remain until the US of the 5G ecosystem, and... there remain prospects those in the United States, where cases have surged get a handle on it.” for greater involvement in our 5G system going for- LONDON: World shares hit two-week lows and in a handful of southern and western states. MSCI’s Sovereign bonds benefited from the shift to safe- ward.” oil fell nearly 2 percent yesterday as the relentless world shares index was off 0.2 percent, hitting its ty with yields on US 10-year notes near 0.64 per- Iswaran said the 5G investments will run into spread of the coronavirus curbed optimism on the lowest level since June 15 dragged down by Japan’s cent, having briefly been as high as 0.96 percent “billions of dollars”. —AFP global economy, prompting investors to take shelter Nikkei shedding 2.2 percent and Chinese blue chips early in June. —Reuters Established 1961 11 Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Business

NBK Money Markets Report US dollar sell-off moderates; trade tensions back into focus UK prepares list of businesses for July 4 reopening

KUWAIT: The US dollar’s performance legally impose tariffs on $11.2 billion of US ized 46 percent in the second quarter. agreement” that the “negative side effects fears of a second wave of infections and last week continued to be driven mainly by imports in retaliation for similar illegal sub- had been clearly outweighed by the posi- Brexit uncertainties kept the pound in the day-to-day fluctuations in investor risk sidies provided to US’s Boeing. Renewed ECB minutes tive effects of asset purchases on the econ- check. sentiment. However, the dollar sell-off that trade tensions threaten to undermine the The ECB was under close monitoring omy in the pursuit of price stability”. EU Brexit Michel Barnier negotiator began mid-May seemed to have flattened economic recovery and the reaction seen last week as market participants carefully To further ease and resolve the stand- voiced his frustration with the UK saying out with a more balanced risk appetite highlighted the FX market’s continued sen- went through the minutes of the Central off with Germany’s court, the ECB agreed London needs to give “clear signals” that it from market participants given some sitivity to trade policy uncertainty. Bank’s last meeting. First, there was the to give unpublished documents underpin- is ready to work towards a resolution. “I renewed evidence of further COVID-19 Partially supported by fresh trade uncer- increase of the new Pandemic Emergency ning its policy decisions to Bundesbank believe that the deal is still possible,” he spreading. tainty, the US dollar moved higher towards Purchase Program stimulus and second, a chief Jens Weidmann. Weidmann can then said, but “Our problem is not related to The US dollar softened at the start of the end of the week as COVID fears in the response to the German constitutional present them to the German parliament timing, but to substance, in particular that the week alongside a modest improvement US were rekindled. The spread of the virus court controversy from May. and government, as demanded by the court the UK keeps backtracking on its commit- in investor risk sentiment as fears over the continued in multiple states across the The minutes suggested that an increase ruling. Most sources, expect that this ments in the political declaration.” While it COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing had eased. country while others such as New York and in stimulus was warranted by two main fac- would be sufficient enough for the is reassuring that the EU believes a deal The move was short-lived as trade policy New Jersey imposed 14-day quarantines tors. One, the medium-term outlook for Bundesbank to defend the ECB’s policy in can be made, the possibility of a failure still uncertainty was thrust back into focus on for incoming travelers from eight states. If price stability was threatened by the fallout court. Still, the ECB revealed contingency weighs heavily on the pound. comments from a White House advisor. In one message can be seen in last week’s from the coronavirus crisis. New projec- plans should the court rule against its an interview, the advisor implied that the volatile FX activity, it is a more challenging tions see 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent favor. In this worst-case scenario, the ECB Oil & gold prices phase one China trade deal was “over.” environment for risk assets which may see downward revisions in the 2022 headline would launch an unprecedented legal Oil prices inched lower at the end of the However, President Trump moved quickly the dollar’s sell-off moderate. Indeed, most and core inflation rates respectively. And action against the German central bank, its week but remained supported above the to debunk the statement by tweeting that global stocks were lower while the move $40 level as signs of fuel demand recovery towards treasuries was evident. Going for- was kept in check by a rising number of ward however, the US dollar’s performance new coronavirus cases in the US and China. will continue to be driven by fluctuations in Analysts said satellite data showing a Oil and gold risk-off/risk-on sentiment until the COVID strong pick-up in traffic in China, Europe prices remain shock fades and there is more clarity over and across the United States pointed to an the outlook for the global economy. improvement in fuel demand. However, the supported prospect of increased US crude production Economic data also kept a lid on gains Friday. The recovery US data released last week continues to in oil prices makes some shale oil wells project a slow recovery in the world’s profitable again with larger producers “the China trade deal is fully intact. At the largest economy. The number of Americans two, financial conditions for the euro area biggest shareholder, to bring it back into reopening, increasing supply. same time, it was reported that the US is filing claims for unemployment benefits fell as a whole were significantly tighter com- the program. Gold prices hit a fresh eight year high weighing up imposing new tariffs on $3.1 moderately as a second wave of layoffs pared with the period before the pandemic, last week heading for a third weekly gain billion of imports from the EU including partially offset hiring by businesses whereas the growth and inflation outlook UK eases restrictions on worries about rising coronavirus infec- products like olives, alcohol and trucks reopening. Furthermore, while orders for called for looser financial conditions. The British pound was relatively stable tions worldwide. Low interest rates and while also increasing existing tariff rates on key capital goods rebounded in May, the In May, the German constitutional court last week in comparison to its counterparts fresh money from stimulus measures are other products like aircrafts, cheese and increase recouped only a fraction of the ruled that the ECB overstepped its mandate supported by euro weakness and further currently benefiting gold, which is viewed yoghurt. The move from the Trump admin- prior declines. The recovery expected from with over two trillion euros of government easing of COVID restrictions. UK Prime as a hedge against inflation and currency istration is a continuation of the EU’s “pun- reopening regional economies is currently bond purchases and ordered the German Minister Boris Johnson revealed a list of devaluation. ishment” for providing illegal subsidies to being hampered by the labor market. While federal bank—The Bundesbank should eighteen businesses and venues including Airbus. The tariffs are expected to come the figures seem to be improving, high stop participating. In response, the minutes restaurants, bars, and places of worship Kuwait into effect in September if the US decides unemployment is undercutting demand showed that ECB council members debated that can reopen from July 4. Also, people Kuwaiti dinar at 0.30770 to go ahead. At which point, the WTO is slowing the process. Economists expect the effectiveness of their monetary policy. will be able to meet and gather with friends The USDKWD closed last week at also expected to determine if the EU can GDP could shrink at as much as an annual- In the end, the ECB said there was “broad and family more easily outdoors. However, 0.30770.

with tech kiosks for most Software providers and banks using outdated IT tech- Smart action transactions, reserving real nology and product will be out from the market shortly. person interaction for So, the priority should be to have an advanced product indulging unique require- with the latest technology. The growth of mobile and dig- to overcome ments that cannot be man- ital transformation in the banking system is already aged otherwise. More of explosive. Some of the new technologies such as block- CBK’s Najma COVID impact Interactive teller machines chain, machine learning, and cloud computing will enable (ITMs) will be the norm, banks to improve numerous facets of banking and auto- Account prizes KUWAIT: To know more about COVID-19 impact on enabling users to directly mate their operation. Artificial intelligence solutions, such the IT and financial market and action to overcome the deposit and withdraw funds, as Chabot’s, often assist customers in simple tasks such KUWAIT: Najma account prizes include a week- situation, we spoke with the industry expert Jacob or inquire balances, and as providing customer support (now 24x7) and for mak- ly KD 5000 award, a monthly KD 20,000 award, Zachariah Karuvelil. An MBA holder from the University Jacob Zachariah going one step further, this ing payments. a biannual KD 500,000 award and the world’s of Liverpool, UK, Jacob is a visionary business leader can include video screens so largest annual and Guinness world record certi- who brings over 3 decades of experience in the fields of that in case customers would need further assistance Omni-channels fied award of KD 1.5 million. IT, Banking, Finance, Operations, Organization they can use it to speak with human tellers. ATM innova- Almost all banks were already talking about digital Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) said that Development, Compliance and Standards, Legal and tions are already available globally for example, biometric transformation, most had initiated it and many have the Najma Account can be opened by depositing Core Banking System end-to-end services to clientele. authentication is already used in several countries, and implemented it but the time has now become inevitable a minimum of KD 100 but clarified that the Jacob is currently the Partner of Testhouse, an organiza- iris recognition is in place at ATMs in middle-east. These that if one isn’t ready they won’t survive anymore. Banks account balance must be at least KD 500 in order tion that is the global leader in pure-play Quality technologies can further help ensure better security by management should provide top priority to transform the to enter all draws and that each KD 25 provides Assurance and DevOps services. protecting against ATM hacks. operations to cater to the digital world and being cus- an entry chance in the draw in addition to other Jacob enlightens us that, like any other sector the Contactless payment options are rapidly being tomer-centered, and that means offering seamless Omni- benefits such as ATM card and credit cards and impact on the financial and affiliated services industries is adopted across most banks where cards have been the channel experiences. Banks should use customer journey other banking services. expected to be equally bad and restoration to the norm norm for quite some time. Technologies that use radio- mapping tools to engage with customers beyond tradi- will require some serious planning and action by the frequency identification (RFID) or near field communi- tional financial channels. Understanding mobile banking industry leaders. Banking and financial management will cation (NFC) allow smartphones and other mobile or digital banking usage of customers will help guide on never be the same. It is evident that based on how long devices to be used for payments. Mobile wallets are very how to make the best use of existing digital channels. we take to settle after this pandemic, the way people common now; these applications emphasize convenience Banks can then use re-targeting options to reach out to bank, the use of the latest technology for work and life, allowing their users to make purchases with their smart- customers who have not made any transactions. The suc- and the value of brands will inevitably change. Banks phones – without ever having to take out their physical cessful banks and financial institutions would proactively being one of the most integrated establishments to the credit card. These new options would be the new stan- update their customers much before they feel the need to general public will play a key role in the restitution of dard; typical Branches and ATM are a dying mode of reach out for help, especially in times of crisis. tomorrow. banking. At the same time, this can also be considered as Better usage of resources and reduction of overhead: Executive management focus: McKinsey in a report an opportunity to transform regular branches into a net- As per the latest edition of the “Global Economic has indicated the relevance of risk and capital manage- work of highly connected smaller, digitally enabled, mul- Prospect report”, the current recession is said to be the ment-credit-loss to be key differentiators in managing ti-format units that offer an engaging personalized expe- first such for over 100 years that has been sparked by an performance post-COVID-19. It becomes quintessential rience that supplements the customer’s digital interaction epidemic. NEW YORK: Chesapeake Energy Corp filed for Chapter 11 that processes are reviewed and revamped while ensur- with the bank. on Sunday, becoming the largest US oil and gas producer ing that the organizations’ IT function is well aligned with Importance of work from home to seek bankruptcy protection in recent years – Reuters the business goals. The need to be Agile has been proven Products innovation While the impact of COVID 19 has touched all facet of to be a significant virtue operating under the current cri- Innovation will be the keyword - banks need to inno- our lives globally, it also has revealed the advantages sis conditions and Executive Management should imbibe vate and come up with an alternative and revolutionary which a WFH solution can provide. Owing to adherence Shale pioneer these principles into their core values and how they for measures and products that could provide customers’ to best service practices, the transition to WFH has been evolve into a more effective and efficient organization. newer ways to manage, save, and even source income. particularly smooth for the IT industry and banking sec- This will sway existing customers to engage more and tors which have continued to provide the same level of Chesapeake files Branchless banking attract new ones. As per ‘Business Insider Intelligence’, service without having a significant impact on productiv- Banks of today should look to transform the way they mobile banking is flourishing at five times the rate of ity. Collaboration tools like Zoom, MS Teams, WebEx for bankruptcy engage their customers with the bank. Just as we have online banking. Successful mobile banking options that have greatly helped to promote teamwork and discussion seen how the usage of the cheque for financial transac- new banks are providing also include money manage- even though physically we may be miles apart. This indi- NEW YORK: Chesapeake Energy Corp filed for tions is almost on the verge of becoming obsolete, the ment features. Savings and financial wellness scoring cates that organizations and business leaders need to Chapter 11 on Sunday, becoming the largest US oil and banking sector should be prepared for the evolving tools, are seen to be attracting millennials and is essential seriously evaluate the pros and cons of establishing the gas producer to seek bankruptcy protection in recent nature of way transactions will be carried out in the Post with new-age mobile banking WFH as a permanent strategy even after the impact of years as it bowed to heavy debts and the impact of the COVID-19 era. Customers would be driven to interact Replace legacy systems and outdated IT technology: COVID-19 diminishes. coronavirus outbreak on energy markets. The filing marks an end of an era for the Oklahoma Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a sobering City-based shale pioneer, and comes after months of Vietnam warns opening address. He emphasized the “serious conse- negotiations with creditors. Reuters first reported in quences” of the pandemic for economic development March the company had retained debt advisers. among ASEAN’S members. ASEAN General Secretary Chesapeake was co-founded by Aubrey McClendon, an of economic calamity Lim Jock Hoi confirmed the bleak outlook, warning the early and high profile advocate of shale drilling who died region’s economy is expected to contract for the first in 2016 in a fiery one-car crash in Oklahoma while facing at ASEAN summit time in 22 years. a federal probe into bid rigging. Over more than two

There is also increasing angst that the fallout from the decades, McClendon built Chesapeake from a small wild- HANOI: South East Asian leaders warned the virus pan- catter to a top US producer of natural gas. It remains the demic had swept away years of economic gains and was virus has provided cover for new Chinese plays in the sixth-largest producer by volume. hindering negotiations over the flashpoint South China South China Sea, the resource-rich waterway Beijing Sea as they met online for a delayed summit. claims most of but is also contested by Vietnam, the Current CEO Doug Lawler, who inherited a company Vietnam, the current chair of the Association of Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan. saddled with about $13 billion in debt in 2013, managed Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), had wanted to use In a draft statement seen by AFP, ASEAN leaders not- to chip at the debt pile with spending cuts and asset the summit to inject momentum into talks on a sprawling ed concerns over “land reclamations, recent developments sales, but this year’s historic oil price rout left China-backed trade pact. But the immediate focus for and serious incidents” in the South China Sea. Chesapeake without the ability to refinance that HANOI: Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc the 10-member bloc was the crippling cost of the coron- Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte—using strong debt.“Despite having removed over $20 billion of lever- addresses regional leaders during the Association of avirus, which has ravaged the economies of tourism and language for a leader that is seen as having pivoted age and financial commitments, we believe this restruc- Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, held online due export-reliant countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. toward China from its traditional ally the United States— turing is necessary for the long-term success and value to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, in Hanoi.—AFP “It has swept away the successes of recent years... urged all parties “to refrain from escalating tensions and creation of the business,” Lawler said in a statement threatening the lives of millions of people,” Vietnam’s abide by responsibilities under international law”.—AFP announcing the filing.—Reuters 12 Established 1961 Health & Science Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Russian mining giant admits ‘violations’ at Arctic plant

MOSCOW: A Russian mining giant behind an on the site of the facility, and had opened an enormous Arctic fuel spill last month said Sunday it enquiry. had suspended workers at a metals plant who were Heavy machinery used to clear the pipes crushed responsible for pumping wastewater into nearby a car delivering officials to the scene, Novaya tundra. Norilsk Nickel cited a “flagrant violation of Gazeta reported. Interfax said no one was injured in operating rules” in a statement announcing it had the incident which was also being probed. suspended employees responsible for dumping Norilsk Nickel spokeswoman Tatiana Egorova wastewater from a dangerously full reservoir into earlier Sunday told AFP that employees of the fac- wildlife. The incident occurred at the Talnakh tory had pumped out “purified water” and that an enrichment plant near the Arctic city of Norilsk, the internal investigation was under way. Russia’s natu- company said, one month after the unprecedented ral resources agency said the decision to remove fuel leak sparked a state of emergency declared by water from the reservoir was taken to avoid an President Vladimir Putin. emergency after heavy rains and recent tests had More than 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a caused water levels to increase dramatically. fuel storage tank at one of the company’s subsidiary The local emergency services in a statement said plants near Norilsk. The fuel seeped into the soil the wastewater was not likely to reach the nearby and dyed nearby waterways bright red. Kharayelakh river. The massive fuel spill last month A source told Interfax news agency Sunday that took place at a plant owned by a subsidiary of in the most recent case, around 6,000 cubic meters Norilsk Nickel, which had said that the fuel tank had A view of the site of a diesel fuel spill at Norilsk’s Combined Heat and Power Plant No 3. of liquid used to process minerals at the facility had collapsed or sank due to melting permafrost due to been dumped and that the discharge had lasted climate change. to the devastating 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off comments, cited Sergei Erastov, deputy head of “several hours”. Putin declared an emergency situation after the Alaska. security at the Norilsk airport as saying that the It was impossible to determine how far the accident and the head of Norilsk Nickel, oligarch The city of Norilsk is home to mining giant passengers carried samples of water and soil with- wastewater had dispersed, the source said. Vladimir Potanin, promised to pay the costs of the Nornickel. The company and emergency specialists out necessary documents. Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta published clean-up. The Russian authorities said earlier this are collecting contaminated soil and fuel from local He said they were given the option of leaving the videos from the scene showing large metal pipes month they had cleared the spill from the surface of rivers into containers. Sergei Mitrokhin, a lawmaker samples at a temporary baggage storage or doing carrying wastewater from the reservoir and dump- a river, but the full clean-up could take years. at Moscow legislature, said he was trying to fly out the right paperwork. ing foaming liquid into nearby trees. of Norilsk on Saturday with samples in his baggage, A police serviceman on duty at the airport, The journalists claimed the factory deliberately Fuel spill when the airport security held him up on suspicion Sergei Kuzmin, told Reuters that the security serv- funneled the wastewater into wildlife areas and Meanwhile, water and soil samples that were he was trying to carry combustible materials. ice had not allowed the samples to be taken on hastily removed their pipes when investigators and taken near the site of a giant fuel spill in the Russia’s “I had to leave the baggage behind. First, they board due to lack of clearance documents. emergency services arrived on the scene. Arctic and prepared for tests at an independent lab had referred to the order of the security service of Mitrokhin was in Norilsk at the request of reporters have been held up at the Norilsk airport, a lawmak- Nornickel, which had to clear transportation of all from Novaya Gazeta newspaper, who have been Unauthorized dumping er and Greenpeace said. A vast fuel tank lost pres- the samples,” he told Reuters. covering the spill for the past two weeks. They The Investigative Committee, which probes seri- sure in the end of May and released more than “Then they said the police had received an shared details of the fallout from the spill and hand- ous crimes, said it had received reports of “unau- 20,000 tons of diesel into rivers and subsoil near anonymous call that the baggage could contain ed over the samples, collected by the activists from thorized dumping of liquid waste into the tundra” Norilsk, an incident that Greenpeace has compared some combustible materials.” Nornickel, in emailed Greenpeace. — Agencies 13

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Lifestyle Features

These handout pictures taken in the park of the United Nations office in Geneva shows a giant land art painting by French artist Saype (Guillaume Legros) commissioned by Switzerland to mark the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. Entitled ‘World in Progress’ the 6000 square meters ephemeral land art painting represents two children drawing their ideal world.—AFP photos

Hey, You! Rolling Stones warns France arrests six over Banksy artwork Trump of legal action over song use stolen from Bataclan ritish rock legends The Rolling Stones have threatened legal action against Donald Trump ix people have been arrested in France over the Bfor the US president’s use of their song “You Stheft of an artwork by street artist Banksy com- Can’t Always Get What You Want” at campaign rallies. memorating the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks The band has appointed performing rights organisation that was stolen from the Bataclan concert hall, sources BMI to try to stop him using the song, according to a said Saturday. The suspects were arrested across statement given to US website, Deadline, overnight France this week after the artwork, an image of a girl Saturday. “The BMI have notified the Trump campaign in mourning painted on one of the Paris venue’s emer- In this file photo Italian Carabinieri pose near a piece of on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorised use of gency doors, was found in Italy earlier in the month, art attributed to Banksy, that was stolen at the Bataclan their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing judicial and police sources told AFP. On Friday, two in Paris in 2019, and found in Italy, during a press confer- agreement,” read the statement, which was retweeted were charged with theft while the other four were ence in L’Aquila.—AFP charged with concealing theft, the sources added. All by the Rolling Stones official Twitter account. “If emotional value, so we’re very, very, very happy”. The six were placed in pre-trial detention. Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists dramatic white stencil of a sad-faced girl on a black The door with the artwork was cut out and taken in then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo door was created when the artist “blitzed” the French January last year at the Bataclan, where Islamic State and playing music that has not been licensed.” capital with murals during a whirlwind 2018 trip. In this file photo Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones per- gunmen massacred 90 people in one of a series of The letter is the latest in a campaign to stop Trump Works by Banksy, known for their distinctive style, forms as they resume their "No Filter Tour" bloody attacks in Paris in November 2015. French and using the song at rallies which dates back to 2016. It irreverent humour and thought-provoking themes, North American Tour at the Soldier Field in Chicago.—AFP Italian police said two weeks ago that they found the was initially played at Republican party primaries. The have been found on walls, buildings and bridges from work—still in good condition—in the attic of an aban- BMI added that it has not yet received any response the West Bank to post-Hurricane Katrina New after the use of songs by Trump. And singer Betty doned farmhouse in Italy’s central east Abruzzo from lawyers acting for Trump. The Stones are not the Orleans. At auction, they have sold for more than $1 Buckley also recently urged composer Andrew Lloyd region. first major act to call on the president to stop using million. Webber to stop the president using “Memory” at his Its theft—which was caught on surveillance videos their songs. Banksy is believed to have started out as a graffiti campaign rallies. Buckley sang the song in the original showing hooded figures using an angle grinder to cut Earlier this month, the family of rock musician Tom artist in London, although he has kept his identity a Broadway production of “Cats” in the early 1980s. the door out—had caused “deep indignation,” the Petty issued a cease and desist letter over Trump’s use secret. The Bataclan door is not the only of his works “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was a track Bataclan said last year. It was “a symbol of recollection of “I Won’t Back Down” at a rally in Tulsa on June 20. to have been stolen from Paris. Others includs a mural first heard 51 years ago, on the 1969 album “Let It and belonging to all: locals, Parisians, citizens of the His family posted an open letter on Twitter saying the of a businessman in a suit offering a dog a bone, hav- Bleed”. Written by frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist world has been taken from us”, the venue said. late singer “would never want a song of his used for a ing just sawed the animal’s leg off, and an image of a Keith Richards, it was voted by Rolling Stone magazine campaign of hate”. Queen complained when Trump as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.—AFP ‘Symbolic and emotional value’ masked rat wielding a box cutter, which disappeared walked on stage to their anthem “We Are The from outside the Pompidou Centre. Some of the stolen One of the French policeman who intervened in the Champions” during a Republican Party event in works have since been recovered and fans have cov- 2015 Bataclan attack was present when the door was Cleveland, Ohio, in the run-up to the 2016 presidential ered some of his Paris street art with Plexiglass to pro- found, Christophe Cengig from the Organised Crime election. tect them. –AFP Unit at the French embassy in Rome told AFP. “It was a Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith, Adele, Neil Young and the estate of singer Prince have all hit out very emotional moment for my colleague,” he said. “Coming here, finding it... it has a strong symbolic and

Acclaimed Russian director given suspended sentence after fraud conviction

Moscow court on Friday handed outspoken ARussian director Kirill Serebrennikov a three- Assa Traore (left), the sister of Adama Traore, a black man year suspended sentence following a fraud Performer La Kim Quyen (left) of the “Sai Gon Tan Thoi” Photograph shows performers Nha Vy (centre left) and La who died in police custody in 2016, and the father of conviction denounced by his supporters as politically (Modern Saigon) LGBT LoTo troupe during a lotto show in Kim Quyen (centre right) of the “Sai Gon Tan Thoi” Lamine Dieng (third right), a French-Senegalese 25 year- motivated. Known for his daring statements and Ho Chi Minh City.—AFP photos (Modern Saigon) LGBT troupe during a lotto show in Binh old who died after his arrest in 2007, shake hands during groundbreaking projects, Serebrennikov has angered Duong province. a demonstration against racism and police brutality and Russian conservatives and criticised censorship of in memory of Lamine Dieng, a French-Senegalese 25 the arts in Russia, warning of a return “to the most appeal began to fade until Sai Gon Tan Thoi burst onto year-old who died after his arrest in 2007, on June 20, pathetic Soviet practices”. “Serebrennikov’s rehabili- the mainstream nightlife circuit in 2017. 2020, in Paris.—AFP tation is possible without a real prison term,” judge Vietnam lotto shows Boosted by a feature film that year and the hugely Olesya Mendeleyeva said, adding that the acclaimed successful documentary “Madam Phung’s Last theatre and film director would have to pay a fine and Journey” in 2014 that detailed the life of a monk France’s Assa be on probation for three years. just the ticket for turned head of a transgender troupe, Sai Gon Tan Hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside Thoi—and other modern rivals—started attracting Traore honoured the courthouse broke into applause on hearing news more than a hundred people each night. Much of the of the sentence. “A huge thank you for your support marginalised LGBT audience at the shows in Ho Chi Minh City and next and for the fact that you believe in my innocence,” door Binh Duong province is young, and view the rain- at BET Awards Serebrennikov, 50, told supporters, wearing sun- bow of swishing gowns through their phone screens. glasses and a black facemask. “Respect social dis- community nternational activist Assa Traore, whose brother tancing, do not infect each other. Because you have to ‘Just the entertainment’? Adama was killed in French police custody four years fight for the truth,” he said. Prosecutors had asked for ach night that Nha Vy steps proudly on stage in “We perform with our sweat, tears and blood—not I a six-year prison term for Serebrennikov, who was on ago, was given the BET Global Good award on Eher traditional Vietnamese ao dai, or sometimes just to sell fun but because I want people to under- Sunday. Traore thanked BET, an American television Friday found guilty of misappropriating the equiva- mini dress and heels, memories grow fainter of stand this is a real profession,” said La Kim Quyen, a channel dedicated to African-American and minority lent of two million dollars in state funds meant for a the taunts she endured as a transgender woman in her transgender woman, who has been performing with people, for the award, calling it “an acknowledgment of theatrical project. The judge had said that rural village. Nha Vy is one of hundreds of LGBT per- Sai Gon Tan Thoi and other lotto troupes — known as our fight.” “It’s an acknowledgment for all the victims, for Serebrennikov and co-defendants Yury Itin and formers in Vietnam who have found confidence, and a Lo To in Vietnam—since she was a teenager. “I am all the families who keep fighting for truth and justice,” Konstantin Malobrodsky “carried out actions direct- way to earn a living, through lotto shows, a form of happy with my life, with what I have achieved... earn- she said in a video message played during the virtual ed at personal enrichment” that misled employees of entertainment dating back to the French colonial era ing enough for myself and my mother,” added the 39- awards ceremony. the culture ministry.—AFP and now wildly popular in the south. Like many sexual year-old, softly dabbing blusher on her cheeks ahead The award is “BET International’s recognition of and gender minority people in Vietnam, the 26-year- of the night’s show. public figures who use their platform for social respon- old has faced stigma and discrimination for much of Vietnam is seen as relatively progressive on LGBT sibility and goodness while demonstrating a commit- her life—despite a gradual change in social attitudes issues—the one-party state lifted the ban on same- ment to the welfare of the global Black community,” in the communist state. sex marriage in 2015 — although it stopped short of according to the channel’s website. Before her brother’s “Not many people from the LGBT community have full legal recognition for the unions and a long- death, Traore, who has been dubbed the French Angela top class jobs... we generally don’t make it to higher promised transgender law to allow legal gender Davis after the US political activist, had never been education because we are bullied at school,” she told changes has not yet materialised. In schools, misinfor- someone who campaigned for a cause. But the 35-year- AFP, perching on a tired floor sleeping mattress in her mation about sexual orientation and gender identity is old mother of three was thrust into the heart of the glob- rented flat in Ho Chi Minh City. “Even if I had a diplo- rife and some children are taught by both teachers and al fight against police violence and racism by the death ma, I would still feel inferior and not dare (to apply for parents that homosexuality is a mental illness, accord- in Minneapolis police custody last month of George an office job). ing to a Human Rights Watch report published this Floyd. For four years, she campaigned, organized “So I do this performance to earn money... (but year. Vuong Kha Phong, LGBT rights programme offi- demonstrations, spoke out publicly and gave numerous also) whenever I am on stage as a woman I feel at cer at Vietnamese NGO iSEE, said shows that help interviews after alleging her brother was killed by the ease,” said Nha Vy, who goes by this stage name as promote visibility of sexual and gender minorities can police. An investigation is still ongoing. For a long time, she sings, dances and deals out lotto tickets at her tri- boost tolerance but warned that while they were “a Russian theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov the “Adama fight” remained a local battle unnoticed out- weekly shows with the Sai Gon Tan Thoi, or Modern good first step”, they are not enough.—AFP speaks to journalists outside a court building in Moscow side France. But the death of George Floyd has catapult- Saigon, troupe. Up until the 1990s, such performances on Friday.—AFP ed it into the global consciousness. —AFP were a regular part of rural life in the south but their Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Features Tuesday, June 30 , 2020

Iranian baker Esmail Asghari, 66, poses with Barbari bread in Tehran.

Iranian baker Farzad Rabiei, 30, poses with Barbari bread dough This combination of pictures show various types of bread being baked in traditional ovens in Iran’s capital Tehran, Barbari bread (top left, bottom left); Taftoon bread (top right) and Sangak bread (bottom right).—AFP photos The men who bake up a ‘blessing’ in Tehran

hey bake what Iranians call “the barakat (bless- ing) of the table”, and it is eaten for breakfast, Tlunch and dinner—traditional breads are a staple of the Iranian diet. Bakeries are easy to locate in urban centres of Iran where all one has to do is spot a queue spilling onto sidewalks or simply detect the irresistible scent of freshly baked flatbreads. Exclusively the job of men in the Islamic republic, bakers get up well before the crack of dawn while everyone else is still asleep. Dressed in all-white clothing that can include caps, they hail from across the country and are usually made up of ethnic Azeris, Kurds and Lurs. The baker moves and gesticulates constantly as he works in what resembles a dance in front of gas-fired ovens. He takes Iranian baker Hasan, 17, poses with loaves of bread in a ball of dough and spreads it on a board before plac- Tehran. ing it on the inside walls of the glowing furnace using a long set of tongs. Baking in the time of corona The coronavirus has also affected the bakers’ pro- fession like so many others, and their income has decreased as a result. “At the beginning of the pan- demic, some of our customers who had been quaran- tined bought ingredients from us to bake bread at Bread is the home,” said baker Esmail Asghari. But making tradi- tional bread at home is difficult, meaning customers staple and the were quick to return to their local bakery. “During iso- lation, I made bread twice at home, but it didn’t go well This combination of pictures show (top, left to right) baker Mohammad Mirzakhani, 41, making Taftoon bread; baker and I realised it wasn’t a good idea!” said Negar Rezai, Mohammad Abdi, 24, cooking Lavash bread; (bottom, left to right) baker Esmail Asghari, 66, making Barbari bread and main food of a customer clutching some sangak outside a bakery in baker Hasan, 17, displaying Fantezi bread. north Tehran. “We have bread for breakfast and dinner and often eat rice for lunch,” adds the 50-year-old our people housewife. In order to ensure hygiene, one baker has enforced the strict sanitary instructions imposed by the health ministry, including social distancing and use of bank cards instead of cash. “We had a lot of difficulty during Once they are done, the baker again uses the tongs the fasting month of Ramadan,” said Mohammad to retrieve the bread, and hangs it on the wall or piles Mirzakhani, a 41-year-old taftoon maker. “The line it up. The walls around them are a patchwork of flat- became long and many people did not respect (health) breads in four different shapes and sizes—barbari, protocols.” The health ministry reported in January lavash, sangak and taftoon. But they don’t stay there that on average Iranians consume 310 grams (nearly 11 for long, as customers jostling near the entrance are ounces) of bread per day. “Bread is the staple and the eager to snap them up while they are still hot. main food of our people,” it said. A freshly baked Iranian flatbread usually accompa- If eating bread is a choice for some, it remains an nies a piece of feta cheese and sweet tea for breakfast obligation for others who can’t afford rice, another sta- or a plate of kebab for lunch. Of the four main tradi- ple food in Iran. “Rice has recently become so expen- tional types, sangak is the most popular and is seen as sive that we can no longer eat it regularly,” said Iranian baker Abbas Abdi, 24 (not seen), prepares Lavash (From left to right) Iranian bakers Hasan, 17, and Mohsen, Iran’s national bread. It is made from wholewheat flour Mirzakhani. “We now eat most of our food with bread dough in Tehran. 23, pose behind a plastic sheet to protect their products, and topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and bread.”—AFP at their bakery in Tehran. sometimes poppy seeds at the customer’s request.

This combination of pictures show (top, left to right) bakers Farzad Rabiei 30, Esmail Asghari, 66, and Mojtaba Haydari, This combination of pictures show (top) bakers Amir Jafari, 58, and Mohammad Mirzakhani, 41, making Taftoon bread; 23, making Barbari bread; bakers Mohammad, 30 and Ali, 21, making Sangak bread; (bottom, left to right) bakers Farzad and (bottom) bakers Mohammad, 30, and Ali, 21, making Sangak bread; at separate bakeries in Iran’s capital Tehran. Rabiei, Esmail Asghari, and Mojtaba Haydari, 23 posing with Barbari bread; and bakers Esmail Asghari, Farzad Rabiei, and Mojtaba Haydari, posing with Barbari bread. 16 Established 1961 News Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Lebanon summons US envoy over criticism of Hezbollah

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s foreign ministry has sum- Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah on Sunday con- moned the US ambassador over remarks criticizing demned the ambassador’s “hostile behavior”, saying Hezbollah, a day after a judge slapped a controver- her remarks constituted an “attack” on the country’s sial ban on local media covering her statements, “sovereignty and dignity”. He called on Lebanese state media said Sunday. In an interview with authorities, and especially the foreign ministry, to Saudi-owned news channel Al-Hadath aired on “compel the ambassador to respect international Friday, Dorothy Shea said the United States had treaties that define the duties of diplomats”. “grave concerns about the role of Hezbollah, a des- The State Department issued a fiery response to ignated terrorist organization”. the judge’s order on Saturday, stating: “Hezbollah’s “It has syphoned off billions of dollars that attempt to silence the Lebanese media is pathetic.” should have gone into government coffers so that In Lebanon itself, Information Minister Manal Abdel the government can provide basic services to its Samad dismissed the judge’s order, saying: “No one people,” she said. “It has obstructed some of the has the right to ban the media from covering the economic reforms the Lebanese economy so des- news.” perately needs,” she added. On Saturday, a judge in Local broadcaster LBC said it would not abide the southern city of Tyre issued an order banning by the ruling, calling it a “non-binding and unen- local and foreign media working in the country from forceable” decision that violated press freedom. A airing or publishing locally comments by Shea for a senior judicial source told AFP that Mazeh had year because of her remarks on Hezbollah. “overstepped his prerogatives as a judge”. Mazeh The Lebanese Shiite movement and its allies responded to the criticism on Sunday, saying his command a majority in parliament and the cabinet. “conscious is clear” and that he was “fully con- Judge Mohamad Mazeh said Shea’s comments incit- vinced” he had made the right decision. He was pre- ed sectarian strife and served to “turn the Lebanese pared, however, to resign if there was a judicial people against each other”. State-owned National review. News Agency (NAA) said media that violate the On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people ban would be fined $200,000. demonstrated in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a But Lebanese media ignored the ruling. In one of Hezbollah stronghold, expressing anger at the US several media appearances on Sunday, Shea told and support of the judge. They brandished the flags broadcaster MTV that a senior government official of Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal, as well as signs BEIRUT: Supporters of Lebanese Shiite movements Hezbollah and Amal brandish flags and placards as had assured her the court did not have the authority with slogans that read: “We’d rather die than be they protest a statement made by the US ambassador at a rally in the southern suburbs of the capital to order the ban, and that the government would humiliated” and “We are all Mohamad Mazeh”. on Sunday. – AFP take steps to reverse it. She described the ruling as The dispute comes as Lebanon grapples with its a “really pathetic” attempt to silence the media, and worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil Washington for the economic downturn, accusing it and urged allies to follow suit. Hezbollah is the only said the government should focus more on imple- war. The Lebanese pound has nosedived against of preventing dollars from entering the cash- group to have kept its weapons since the end of menting economic reforms. “I would suggest that the dollar on the black market, sending prices soar- strapped country. The United States and Israel Lebanon’s civil war on the grounds of defending we all try to put this chapter behind us,” she said. ing. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has blamed have long designated Hezbollah a terrorist group the country against Israel. — Agencies

past 125,000, has prompted a growing chorus of Alexander said Sunday on CNN. advocating mask-wearing when he chaired the Trump under calls for much tougher rules and enforcement. In some areas, mask-wearing has taken on a first briefing in two months of the White House “This is a very, very serious situation and the win- political edge rather than being seen as a straight- coronavirus task force on Friday. dow is closing for us to take action and get this forward health choice. Among Republicans calling Pence travelled Sunday to Texas for a briefing pressure to under control,” Health and Human Services strongly for mask-wearing are Senator Marco with Governor Abbott on the pandemic response, Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN. Rubio of Florida – which has set daily records of but has cancelled upcoming events in Arizona and adopt mask new COVID-19 cases; Senate leader Mitch Florida “out of an abundance of caution”. Asked ‘A unique position’ McConnell of Kentucky; and Governor Greg why the administration hasn’t pushed harder for Azar was asked why Trump has refused to set Abbott of Texas, another state that has seen a masks, Pence told CBS on Sunday that “we believe WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump an example by wearing a protective mask in public major uptick in cases after moving aggressively to that every state has a unique situation” and that faced mounting bipartisan pressure Sunday to set – even when standing next to mask-wearing health reopen its economy. “we want to defer to governors” to decide on rules an example by wearing a face mask, as his health advisors – and reiterated the White House expla- In Phoenix, Governor Doug Ducey wore a mask for their own states. secretary warned the “window is closing” to gain nation that the president is tested daily and is “in a on Thursday when he warned fellow Arizonans that Some Democrats want Trump not only to set an control of an explosion of infections in conserva- unique position” as a world leader. But many “we are getting hit hard right now.” The best example but to mandate mask-wearing nationwide tive-led US states. New coronavirus cases have Republicans who are normally reluctant to criticize defense against COVID-19, he told local media, is – including Trump’s White House rival Joe Biden been surging in more than half of US states, reach- the president have been calling more insistently for to wear protective masks. who says he would seek to make masks compulso- ing record new highs after months of mitigation mask use, with some urging a clearer example ry in public spaces. Asked on ABC if she would efforts applied unevenly across the country and from the nation’s leader. ‘Long overdue’ support such a move, House speaker Nancy Pelosi sometimes contradictory messaging from the gov- “If wearing masks is important, and all the Liz Cheney, a member of the House leadership, called it “definitely long overdue. “We have the ernment. health experts tell us that it is... it would help if has tweeted a picture of her father, the former US worst record of any country in the world. And the Hardest hit have been southern and western from time to time the president would wear one to vice president, wearing a mask under the words: president says we’re making progress.” She added, states that pushed for early economic reopenings. help us get rid of this political debate that says if “Dick Cheney says WEAR A MASK #realmen- “The president should be an example. Real men But the latest upsurge, pushing the nation’s total of you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask, if you’re wearmasks”. Vice President Mike Pence has some- wear masks. Be an example to the country and declared cases over 2.5 million and its death toll against Trump, you do,” Republican Senator Lamar times worn masks in public but stopped short of wear the mask.” — AFP

will not only seriously damage efforts to achieve Israel annexation lasting peace in the region, it is likely to entrench, perpetuate and further heighten serious human rights violations that have characterized the conflict plans 'illegal': for decades." Her statement cautioned that such a move would UN rights chief almost certainly lead to increased restrictions on Palestinians' right to freedom of movement, as their population centers would become enclaves. In addi- GENEVA: Israel's aim to annex parts of the occu- tion, significant tracts of private land would likely be pied West Bank was clearly "illegal", the UN's illegally expropriated, and even in cases where this human rights chief said yesterday, warning that the does not occur, many Palestinians could lose access consequences could be "disastrous". Just days to cultivate their own lands. before Israel intends to kick-start plans to annex its And Palestinians who found themselves living West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley, inside the annexed areas would likely experience Michelle Bachelet added her voice to the chorus greater difficulty accessing essential services like urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to drop healthcare and education, while humanitarian the proposal. access could also be blocked. "Annexation is illegal. Period," the United Bachelet's office warned that Palestinians inside Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the annexed area would come under heavy pressure in a statement. "Any annexation. Whether it is 30 to move out, pointing out that entire communities percent of the West Bank, or five percent," she said, currently not recognized under Israeli planning urging Israel to "listen to its own former senior offi- would be at high risk of "forcible transfer". And set- cials and generals, as well as to the multitude of tlements, which are already recognized as a clear voices around the world, warning it not to proceed violation of international law, would almost certainly along this dangerous path." expand. "This is a highly combustible mix," International condemnation of the possible Bachelet said. Israeli annexations has mounted ahead of July 1, "I am deeply concerned that even the most mini- when the Jewish state could take its first steps malist form of annexation would lead to increased A picture taken from the Israeli settlement of Naale in the occupied West Bank northwest of the Palestinian toward implementing part of a US-proposed city of Ramallah shows the skyline of the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on June 17, 2020. — AFP violence and loss of life, as walls are erected, secu- Middle East peace plan. US President Donald rity forces deployed and the two populations Trump's proposals, rejected outright by the brought into closer proximity." The UN rights chief Palestinians, pave the way for annexing key parts of warned that "the existing two-tier system of law in the West Bank, including settlements long consid- the same territory will become embedded, with protectors turn into oppressors”. Several reports by ered illegal by the majority of the international com- devastating impacts on the lives of Palestinians who Outrage mounts human rights groups in India have detailed cases of munity. have little or no access to legal remedy". alleged torture of suspects in custody, with deaths Bachelet urged Israel to shift course, warning Bachelet said illegal annexation would not over India police... often blamed by police on suicide or natural causes. that "the shockwaves of annexation will last for change Israel's obligations under international law According to the National Human Rights decades, and will be extremely damaging to Israel, as an occupying power towards the occupied pop- Continued from Page 1 Commission, 3,146 people died in police and judicial as well as to the Palestinians". "The precise conse- ulation. "Instead, it will grievously harm the custody in 2017-18. “Custodial violence and torture is quences of annexation cannot be predicted," she prospect of a two-state solution, undercut the pos- Jignesh Mevani wrote that the “George Floyds of so rampant in India that it has become almost rou- said. "But they are likely to be disastrous for the sibilities of a renewal of negotiations, and perpetu- India are far too many”. “Will Indians march on tine,” it said in a report. “It represents the worst form Palestinians, for Israel itself, and for the wider ate the serious existing human rights and interna- streets in thousands like in America?” he tweeted. of excesses by public servants entrusted with the region." tional humanitarian law violations we witness Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the opposition duty of law enforcement.” Convictions in such cases The UN rights chief warned that "any attempt to today." — AFP Congress party, described it as a “tragedy when our are extremely rare, according to activists. — AFP annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territory

today as malls, restaurants and cafes, in addition to residential areas. But the situation has largely sta- Prosecution seeks public parks, are due to reopen following a closure Six killed in bilized in recent years following operations by that exceeded three months. security agencies against armed political outfits Curfew hours will be relaxed to start from 8 pm and Islamist militants. to probe 2... instead of 7 pm and end at 5 am. Malls will be attack on Pak ... Militant groups still retain the ability to launch allowed to operate until 6 pm. Restaurants and cafes periodic attacks in many rural areas and occasion- Continued from Page 1 can operate but dine-in is not allowed. Government Continued from Page 1 ally in urban centers. Yesterday’s attack comes offices will reopen partially at a capacity not exceed- more than a week after a grenade was thrown at a ing 30 percent. The second phase is scheduled to Separately, the prosecution also asked the pool of blood near the exchange. Karachi was line of people waiting outside a government wel- Assembly to lift the immunity of MP Majed Al- continue for 30 days. MP Ali Al-Deqbasi protested fare office in the city, killing one and injuring eight Mutairi regarding a problem with a police patrol. yesterday at the government’s continued lockdown of once a hotspot for crime and violence, with heavily Meanwhile, Kuwait is preparing to move into the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula, claiming he did armed groups tied to politicians frequently gun- others, according to a statement from municipal second phase of easing coronavirus restrictions not understand the logic behind the lengthy closure. ning down opponents and launching attacks on authorities. — AFP Established 1961 17 Stars Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution STAR TRACK

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

A good tip for you to remember is to be careful You might be called upon to choose between two about what you say about others, Aries. If you're talking ways of handling a situation, Libra. The old ways of doing about someone who isn't present, act as if he or she is. What things are in conflict with the new. Which way are you going is your motivation for saying those things? Is it necessary to to proceed? Don't be thrown off course by fast talk and sleight speak in such a manner? A negative comment about some- of hand. Also, don't assume that the way that has worked for- one else is going to resonate in the cosmos. People could ever is still the best solution. Use your intuition to choose the lose trust in you. best route for you.

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

You might need some time alone today to Unexpected events may be shuffling the cards bring yourself back to center, Taurus. Independence is a key- when you least expect it, Scorpio. If you have kept a close word, so keep it in the back of your mind. Make sure you eye on the deck, counting the jacks as they turn up, you aren't the victim of a commitment you made long ago. As might get thrown for a loop. Don't be discouraged. the landscape changes, we must also change. Stubborn Everyone else is subject to the same rules as you are. If the actions will be extremely detrimental on a day like this. Be dealer seems crooked, go to another table. Don't fall for the honest and grateful for the things you have. same trick twice. Find the way

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Don't automatically think that beauty always Your sense of self may be a bit challenged today, has to be defined by old-fashioned standards, Gemini. It's Sagittarius. You might just have trouble getting out of bed at all. time to create your own definition. There's no need to fit Remember that the way others see you doesn't necessarily into some socially constructed mold that doesn't resonate mean that's the way you really are. Don't feel like you have to with who you truly are. Your job isn't to try and make sure change in order to please anyone. Ultimately, your only respon- that everyone loves you. There's only one person you sibility is to you. Bizarre events could occur that prompt you to need to satisfy, and that is you. change your way of thinking.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Issues may get a little heavier than you'd per- As you follow the path toward acquiring the haps like today, Cancer. Your job is to infuse some amusement latest, greatest, fastest, and best, you might into the situation. Your powers of adaptability will be put to find that you're leaving behind some fundamental princi- the test, as other people seem to be completely fixated on ples and values along the way, Capricorn. Don't lose sight their opinions. Be extra conscious of how your words. Other of your foundation. Things could get shaken up today. people, especially superiors or elders, are apt to be offended Your ego might be on trial for pig-headed behavior. Keep by careless, offhand remarks. yourself in check and be aware of the way you project yourself to others.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

If the doorknob doesn't want to turn today, Leo, Key into your sensual, beautiful nature, don't force it. You'll only succeed in breaking the key. Perhaps Aquarius. Take time each day to attend to your soul and you just need to try another door. If things don't flow smoothly make sure it's getting the nourishment it needs to radiate into place, then they probably weren't meant to be. Life should- into the world. Unexpected people could pop up out of n't have to be a struggle. Our job is to be happy. Remember nowhere, so don't be surprised if a former lover texts or that the next time you're in a long line. View the situation as a calls. Things from the past may be coming back to the rest period. present in order to teach you a valuable life lesson.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Your newfangled approach to things might get You may sense a nervous restlessness today that some serious flak from others today, Virgo, but don't let that urges you to act, Pisces. A journey to one place may have you stop you. Realize that your independent and somewhat rebel- bouncing off to another place that may lead you on an lious nature is a key ingredient in keeping the world in balance. adventure to someplace completely different. It might seem Don't give up the fight when old, tired ways of doing things like you're on some crazy scavenger hunt toward a pot of insist on taking the upper hand. Use your power from within to gold. The energy of the day may leave you feeling ragged, but combat the forces from above. don't give up. Persistence will eventually pay off.

Join the dots Word Scramble 18 Sports Tuesday, June30, 2020

Photo of the Day NFL players union unhappy at Brady, Wilson workouts

LOS ANGELES: The NFL players union on Sunday criticised unofficial workouts conducted by star quar- terbacks Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, saying the prac- tices were risking player safety during the coronavirus crisis. Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Brady and Seattle Sea- hawks signal-caller Wilson have both faced scrutiny re- cently after conducting throwing sessions with receivers in the build-up to official pre-season training camps. However NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith told USA Today in an interview on Sunday that the sessions were potentially compromising players and the upcoming season. “Those practices are not in the best interests of player safety,” Smith said. “They’re not in the best inter- ests of protecting our players heading into training camp and I don’t think they’re in the best interests of us getting through an entire season.” Smith said the practices could complicate the NFLPA’s negotiations with the league over how players who contract COVID-19 will be classified and compen- sated. “I certainly understand how competitive our players are and I get that,” Smith said. “But at the same time we are in the process of trying to negotiate with the league about what happens to a player if they test positive dur- ing the season. “Does that player go on injured reserve? Does that player go on short-term IR? If you test positive for the virus after training camp, is that a work-related injury? Are you covered under worker’s comp? “What benefits are available to you if you have downstream injuries from contacting COVID-19? “All of the things that players may want to do during the off- Abdo Feghali seen during Red Bull Car Park Drift World Championship Qualifier 2019 in Georgia. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com season have a direct impact on how well we can negoti- ate protections for them once the season starts.”—AFP ‘Mr Fixit’ Jake White hopes spending spree can lift Bulls from doldrums Seeks to make the Northern Bulls a powerhouse again

JOHANNESBURG: Rugby World Cup-winning “We need to rebuild a winning culture at Loftus,” coach Jake White has embarked on the biggest mod- White, 56, told AFP. “Winning matches will bring thou- ern-era South African spending splurge as he seeks to sands of supporters back. “It will not be an easy task make the Northern Bulls a powerhouse again. as the team has been struggling for some time, but we The Pretoria team were the dominant southern are up for it.” White has hired a flood of experienced hemisphere franchise between 2007 and 2010, win- players, many of them former Springboks who opted ning three of the four Super to return home from Europe Rugby competitions during that and Japan and spend the twi- period. lights of their careers in Preto- Loftus Versfeld, the 50,000- ria. seat fortress of the Bulls in a It’s a different The backs who were bought leafy suburb, was the scene of include Gio Aplon and Travis the many great triumphs, no- story this year Ismaeil, both past 30 but with a tably a 61-17 thrashing of the lot to still offer, according to Waikato Chiefs in the 2009 White, who coached the 2007 final. The ground was regularly World Cup-winning Spring- packed as adoring supporters boks. To bolster the pack he turned up to watch stars like fly-half Derick Hougaard, wooed World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen back to scrum-half Fourie du Preez and locks Victor Matfield South Africa after the forward spent a year cashing in and Bakkies Botha. on the riches of Japanese club rugby. Arno Botha, It was a very different story this year in Super Nizaam Carr, Sintu Manjezi, Marcel van der Merwe Rugby, however, before the coronavirus pandemic and Walt Steenkamp have also been signed to create South Africa’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White. brought the five-nation competition to a close after a virtual new Bulls pack for the post-coronavirus pan- just seven rounds. A Bulls side shorn of stars like play- demic era. It was not one-way traffic toward the Loftus 2007 World Cup glory with a 15-6 final triumph over Forwards coach Winter is convinced White can maker Handre Pollard, who moved abroad after helping changing rooms though with backs Warrick Gelant, England in Paris. make the Bulls a force to reckon with again in Super South Africa win the World Cup a third time last No- Johnny Kotze, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw and Told to reapply for his national team post by offi- Rugby. “We should never be shy of touting the South vember, lost five of six matches. Rosko Specman leaving. cials he did not click with, White refused and Peter de African style of play. When I coach forwards, I want The packed stands at Loftus were a distant memory South Africa-born former Scotland loose forward Villiers became the first black coach of the Springboks. them to play to their strengths — a brutal, confronta- with only a few thousand hard-core supporters turning Josh Strauss was the latest departee after failing to He later dramatically improved the Super Rugby for- tional type of game. up to witness one inept display after another. It left the make an impact in Super Rugby this season. There tunes of the ACT Brumbies in Australia and the Coastal “South African forwards are naturally attuned to that three-time champions 12th in the overall standings and were also coaching changes, notably the hiring of Rus- Sharks in his homeland, taking both to the knockout way of playing and it can work so well for us.” No hopes of a top-eight finish and a quarter-finals slot al- sell Winter and the recall of former Bulls Super Rugby stages. White won the second-tier European Rugby rugby has been played in South Africa since mid March ready gone less than halfway through the regular sea- handler Nollis Marais. Challenge Cup with French outfit Montpellier and later because of the COVID-19 crisis and the most optimistic son. Something had to give and coach Pote Human Once dismissed by a rival coach as nothing more coached Toyota Verblitz in Japan. When Verblitz hired date for a resumption of matches is August. SA Rugby was fired, paving theaway for the ‘Mr Fixit’ of rugby, than a “video operator at training sessions”, White has outgoing New Zealand coach Steve Hansen this year, hope to stage a domestic Super Rugby competition, White, to take control last March and immediately em- succeeded wherever he has worked. Assisted by wily White came home and after talks with PRO14 strug- similar to the one already under way in New Zealand, bark on a signing spree. Australian Eddie Jones, he guided the Springboks to glers the Southern Kings, agreed to join the Bulls. with Australia set to follow suit in July. — AFP

F1 goes to countries and doesn’t really leave much 5 talking points behind, if anything. Formula 1 has to shift into being a IS IT THE END OF THE ROAD FOR Cheika linked to sport that does go to places and leaves behind some- WILLIAMS? thing that can really help the communities.” George Russell and Williams face a defining chal- ahead of F1 lenge and season after the famous British team was top job at Beziers VERSTAPPEN’S CHANCE put up for sale during the lockdown – leaving their start in Austria Having proved his speed and racing talent this is young and talented English driver to race for his fu- the time for Max Verstappen and Red Bull to seize ture this year. SYDNEY: Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika their moment and emerge from the opening trio of Russell, a member of the Mercedes junior driver was yesterday linked with the top job at second-tier LONDON: Formula One emerges from its three- races as championship leaders. programme, is tipped to have a big future, but needs French rugby side Beziers, who are in talks with month coronavirus lockdown with Sunday’s new A year ago, the young Dutchman bullied his way a stronger team in 2021 to prove himself unless wealthy UAE investors about a takeover. season curtain-raiser, the Austrian Grand Prix. AFP to victory at the Red Bull Ring and a double repeat Williams find some resurgent form and haul them- Beziers were a powerhouse team in the 1970s and Sport looks at five talking talking points ahead of of that plus a strong result at Budapest would see the selves off the bottom of the championship. 1980s, winning 11 championships, but are now lan- the start of the behind-closed doors race at the Milton Keynes-based team on top of the embryonic Russell made good use of the lockdown to become guishing in the Pro D2 second division. Spielberg circuit. title race. F1’s ‘virtual champion’ during e-racing from his home The club confirmed over the weekend that they Pre-season testing in Barcelona suggested their computer and said recently he is “very excited” to re- were negotiating with United Arab Emirates in- CAN HAMILTON RETAIN FOCUS? car is very fast, but also ‘skittish’ and may face relia- turn to racing. “It’s going to be surreal, but I can’t vestors, led by former France international Christophe The main threat to Lewis Hamilton’s bid to land a bility problems. wait for it – I just want to be back in a car.” Dominici, who are keen to return the side to former record-equalling seventh drivers’ title is likely to be But the driver pairing of Verstappen and Alex glories. himself — just ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Albon has a proven ability to shine in challenging NO HUGGING The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday said it was Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. conditions and can beat Ferrari to take the fight to Daniel Ricciardo is famous for his beaming smile “a done deal” for Cheika to join as coach if the The sport’s first black champion has admitted he champions Mercedes. and big hugs, but he has had to abandon his tactile takeover proceeded. Other reports have named All is committed to racing for more than personal or team approach to life. He will be joined by a new Renault Blacks Ma’a Nonu and Beauden Barrett as players on triumphs. WILL VETTEL SHINE? team-mate in Frenchman Esteban Ocon, but decided Beziers’ radar. “I’m racing for all of you out there who may feel After confirming he is leaving Ferrari at the end of during lockdown to leave the team next year and Cheika quit as Wallabies coach in October after that you don’t have a voice,” said the Briton, who this year, Sebastian Vettel may feel freed and capable switch to McLaren as successor to departing Australia’s humiliating 40-16 World Cup quarter-final made his voice heard in support of recent anti-racism of delivering the consistency and speed that can in- Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who is joining Ferrari. exit against England and is currently a consultant with protests during the enforced time-out. spire the team again despite the threat of Charles The fact that McLaren are switching to Mercedes rugby league side Sydney Roosters. “In the world, in the society that we live in, I think Leclerc. engines was a factor and one that may not have en- Earlier this month, he told reporters he had been making it as a young black kid from a council estate The four-time champion has the speed and quality, hanced his standing with Renault as he starts his final in Europe talking to people about opportunities, but in Stevenage, making it to F1 through the tiniest win- but Ferrari have to deliver a car that can show imme- season. nothing fitted so far. He was most recently linked with dow of opportunity — that’s a very, very important diate performance development as the season unfolds. “I’ve got to keep my distance,” he admitted in a the vacant job at English Premiership side Gloucester, part of my journey and then staying there and con- Pre-season testing suggested that this year’s ma- team video call last week. “We’re going to find some but insisted he had “nothing to do with them”. tinuing to deliver against adversity.” chine had sacrificed some of last year’s outright new ways to embrace each other, especially after a Cheika has a history of turning around under-per- Asked where F1 should race, he added: “Africa. It’s straight-line speed for improved pace in slow and good result, but obviously we’re going to do what we forming clubs, notably Leinster and the NSW such an important place to go back. At the moment, medium corners. can to keep this thing out of the paddock.” — AFP Waratahs, helping both win silverware. — AFP 19 Sports Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Inter Milan rally to beat Parma as Atalanta win again Inter stay eight points adrift of leaders Juventus, four behind Lazio in second

MILAN: Alessandro Bastoni completed Inter Milan’s three points away from the last Europa League place late turnaround as they scored twice in the final six held by Napoli, who beat bottom side SPAL 3-1 in minutes to beat Parma 2-1 on Sunday, while Atalanta Naples. made it three wins in a row since the Serie A restart. Gennaro Gattuso’s side, who have already won the Gervinho gave Parma a first-half lead at the Stadio Italian Cup this season, came out on top at the Stadio Ennio Tardini but Inter, who conceded a last-gasp San Paolo thanks to goals from Dries Mertens, Jose equaliser at home to Sassuolo in midweek, fought back Callejon and Amin Younes. with headers from Stefan de Vrij and Bastoni to snatch Roma stay fifth but are only three points ahead of a vital win. Napoli and nine behind Atalanta in fourth, who are now Inter stay eight points adrift clear favourites to qualify for of leaders Juventus and four be- Europe’s top club competition. hind Lazio in second with 10 Both teams started slowly rounds of matches remaining. “I but Milan dominated after the thought it was a more than de- Team is break with Rebic breaking served victory. Thoroughly de- through on 76 minutes, rifling served,” Inter assistant Cristian doing well the ball into the roof of the net Stellini told Sky Sport Italia, at the third attempt after a fran- with coach Antonio Conte tic scramble following a Davide forced to watch from the stands Zappacosta blunder. as he served a touchline ban. Calhanoglu converted a Atalanta consolidated their grip on fourth place penalty with a minute to go after Chris Smalling fouled thanks to two stunning goals from Luis Muriel, who Theo Hernandez in the area to earn a second win this came on as a second-half substitute in their 3-2 victory week, despite the absence of star striker Zlatan Ibrahi- at Udinese. movic with a calf problem. The Colombia international put his team back ahead “We were looking for a win against a strong oppo- with a magnificent 71st-minute free-kick, after Kevin nent and we deserved to get it,” said Pioli after their PARMA: Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella (R) and Parma’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian go for the Lasagna had levelled for Udinese in the 31st minute fol- first win over one of the top-six sides this season. “This ball during the Italian Serie A football match Parma vs Inter played on June 28, 2020 behind closed doors at the lowing Duvan Zapata’s early opener for away side. victory gives us confidence to try to hit the goal of Ennio-Tardini stadium in Parma.—AFP Muriel then put Atalanta two goals ahead with a su- bringing Milan back to Europe. perb volley that ensured Lasagna’s second three min- “(Ibra) helped us raise our level. Let’s not forget that “They (Milan) were fresher in the second half,” said mire after a 2-1 home defeat to Bologna which leaves utes from time made no difference to the result. we only lost one game with him. “But the team is doing Fonseca. “Let’s not forget that they had seven days to them just a point above the drop zone, while Rogerio Roma are facing another season without Champions well without him and his return gives us other solu- prepare and it’s their third game, it’s not an excuse, it’s struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time to earn a 3- League football after losing 2-0 at AC Milan. Ante tions.” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca conceded his side the truth. 3 draw for Sassuolo against Hellas Verona. Juventus Rebic and Hakan Calhanoglu scored late to give Milan were struggling for fitness after the three-month coro- “I’m worried about physical fitness, we will play in beat Lecce 4-0 on Friday and Lazio came from behind victory at a stifling San Siro to put Stefano Pioli’s side navirus shutdown. two days.” Sampdoria sank further into the relegation to see off Fiorentina 2-1 on Saturday. — AFP

Watford relegation fears mount after Half of Tokyo Southampton defeat residents oppose

LONDON: Watford were dealt a major blow in their Olympics in 2021 bid to avoid relegation as they suffered a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton after a Danny Ings double and James Ward-Prowse’s stunning late free kick for TOKYO: Just over half of Tokyo’s residents don’t the visitors in their Premier League game on Sunday. think the postponed 2020 Olympics should be held Saints started strongly and took a well-deserved next year, backing either a further delay or outright lead in the 16th minute when Ings glided past the cancellation because of fears over the coronavirus, challenge of two Watford defenders before curling a according to a poll published yesterday. low effort into the far corner. The survey carried out by two Japanese news or- Ralph Hasenhuettl’s side were unlucky not to grab ganisations is only a single data point, but comes a second in the 24th minute when Ward-Prowse skied after health experts warned that even a year’s delay his effort from close range after latching on to a may not be sufficient to hold the Games safely. cross-field pass from Oriol Romeu. The poll conducted over the weekend found 51.7 Watford, who had omitted Andre Gray, Nathaniel percent of respondents hope the Games in 2021 are Chalobah and Domingos Quina from their squad after postponed again or cancelled, while 46.3 percent want to see the rescheduled Olympics go ahead. British media reported a lockdown breach, started the Among those opposed to a 2021 Games, 27.7 second half strongly but failed to test Saints keeper percent said they want them cancelled alto- Alex McCarthy. WATFORD: Southampton’s English midfielder Nathan Redmond gestures as he takes a knee in support of the gether, while 24.0 percent would prefer a second However, the hosts found themselves two goals postponement. down in the 70th minute when Ings intercepted a Black Lives Matter movement during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Southampton at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London. — AFP The telephone poll, conducted by Kyodo News wayward throw out from goalkeeper Ben Foster be- and Tokyo MX television between June 26-28, re- fore driving towards the penalty area and firing home ceived 1,030 replies. Of those who said they want to his 18th league goal of the season. itive intent, showing more support for each other on points, while Watford remain in 16th with 28 points, see the Games held next year, 31.1 percent said the “It was a physical battle and the lads really fought the pitch,” he added. one point ahead of third-bottom Bournemouth, who event should be in a scaled-back form, including hard,” Ings said as Southampton bounced back from The result took Saints up to 13th place with 40 have a game in hand. — Reuters without spectators, while 15.2 percent said they a 2-0 home loss against Arsenal on Thursday. wanted to see a full-blown Olympics. “After the last game, we were very disappointed. Tokyo 2020 was postponed in March as the It was important we came here and did something coronavirus spread across the globe, causing the about that. I just want to play each game and score Liverpool great Fowler parts worst disruption to the Olympics since two editions as many goals as I can,” he added. were cancelled during World War II. Jan Bednarek’s own goal handed the Hornets a late The Games are now scheduled to begin on July lifeline but Ward-Prowse’s free kick in the 82nd ways with Brisbane Roar 23, 2021, although they will still be known as the minute sealed the victory for Saints, who set a club Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Officials from Japan and the record with eight away wins in a single top-flight BRISBANE: Former England and Liverpool avirus situation” as the reason for Fowler’s depar- International Olympic Committee have warned it will league campaign. striker Robbie Fowler’s time as coach of Australian ture. “We are disappointed that the global pan- not be possible to postpone again, and even the Southampton could have added a fourth goal late side Brisbane Roar ended yesterday, with the club demic has impacted our plans together but year-long delay has created significant financial and on but Che Adams’ effort was kept out by Foster be- blaming the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. completely understand that family comes first logistical headaches. fore Nathan Redmond’s curling strike ricocheted off Fowler was appointed in April last year and he during these difficult times,” said club deputy The poll, conducted ahead of the Tokyo guber- the post. Hasenhuettl said he was pleased with the set about overhauling the squad, lifting them to chairman Chris Fong. natorial election on July 5, also found incumbent way his side responded after their defeat by Arsenal. fourth in the table before the A-League was sus- Anyone entering Australia currently must un- Yuriko Koike leading her opponents “by a large margin”. Her precise lead was not specified, in keep- “Today, we were more concentrated, more clinical pended on March 24. dergo a 14-day quarantine and time was running ing with a media tradition of not publishing polling and made better decisions,” he said. “This is what we He headed back to England and had been non- out for Fowler to return with the league due to re- committal when asked by British media when he sume on July 16. figures in the days before a vote. have to learn and when I see the performance in gen- Koike has been heavily involved in preparations eral, today was absolutely a step forward.” would return. “I would like to thank the club for He played 369 matches for Liverpool, scoring the opportunity, and the Brisbane Roar FC fans 183 goals in two stints between 1993 and 2007. for the Games, travelling to Rio for the handover cer- Watford manager Nigel Pearson bemoaned his emony after the last Summer Olympics. Earlier this for the warm welcome and support for me and the He also played for Leeds, Cardiff and Blackburn side’s lack of intent and application from kick-off. month, she told AFP that the rescheduled Olympics team. We are very proud of what we achieved,” before a spell in the A-League with the now-de- “It is frustrating, because we are not achieving the will be safe despite the coronavirus pandemic, performances we know we are capable of,” he said Fowler said in a statement. funct North Queensland. Fowler was capped 26 pledging a “120-percent effort” to ensure the first- as Watford suffered their second straight league de- The club cited “the current and ongoing coron- times by England, scoring seven goals. — AFP ever postponed Games can go ahead. —AFP feat. “It is about us approaching games with the pos-

Kuwait’s national bowling team begins training

By Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: As the Bowling Club com- pleted all precautionary and preventive measures as required by the three party committee of Health Ministry, Public Au- thority for Sport and Olympic Commit- tee, national team training began yesterday to prepare for upcoming events. The building was sterilzed and equipped with thermometers, and self sterizing system. There is also a team that carries out sterilization and cleaning in order to safeguard the health of all those at the club. Swabs were taken from athletes who were told not to enter the club unless they have a message on their mobiles stating they are free of the virus, and once in to maintain social distances. Established 1961 Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

‘Mr Fixit’ Jake White hopes spending Inter Milan rally to beat Watford relegation fears 18spree can lift Bulls from doldrums 19 Parma as Atalanta win again 19 mount after Southampton defeat

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: Manchester City’s Argentinian defender Nicolas Otamendi (L) challenges Newcastle United’s English striker Andy Carroll (R) during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England. — AFP Man City regain FA Cup ‘focus’

Chelsea, Arsenal also reach semis; City to face Arsenal in the last four next month

LONDON: Pep Guardiola believes it is easier for “We should score more but we played really well Harvey Barnes, Wilfred Ndidi and Jonny Evans with a first-half penalty after Chris Basham fouled Manchester City to focus on cup glory for the rest of and created enough chances to score a lot of goals,” wasted chances for Leicester as Lampard could be Alexandre Lacazette. the season as the holders reached the FA Cup semi- said De Bruyne. “We know it is really weird (to play heard bellowing “liven up” at his sloppy stars. United had two goals ruled out for offside by VAR finals with a 2-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday. behind closed doors), it is not something that I enjoy, The former England midfielder showed his dissat- either side of Pepe’s penalty and Basham also headed City will face Arsenal at an empty Wembley in the but we are professionals and we need to keep going. isfaction by sending on Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and a huge chance wide. The hosts finally got their reward last four next month after the Gunners struck in stop- We wanted to respond in a good way. We are happy Cesar Azpilicueta at half-time. when David McGoldrick equalised with three minutes page time to beat Sheffield United 2-1. Chelsea were we are in a semi-final now.” Chelsea instantly looked more vibrant after the left before Emiliano Martinez produced a fine save to 1-0 victors at Leicester thanks to Ross Barkley’s win- City’s eighth league defeat of the season in mid- changes and took the lead in the 63rd minute. Willian deny Billy Sharp a winner. ner which set up a semi-final clash with Manchester week again exposed the defensive deficiencies they swung in a teasing cross from the right and Barkley But in the first minute of stoppage time, Arsenal United. Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty and a stunning have to solve if they are to add the club’s first ever got in front of Evans to guide a clinical finish past broke and on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Ceballos strike from Raheem Sterling got City back to winning Champions League and another FA Cup to the Kasper Schmeichel. slotted low past Dean Henderson from a narrow ways on Tyneside after a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in mid- League Cup they retained in March. “It is a learning experience. I could have taken angle. Former City assistant manager Arteta will now week crowned Liverpool Premier League champions Newcastle had a glorious opportunity to equalise more off. I am not pulling those out on their own,” face his old boss Guardiola on the weekend of July for the first time in 30 years. when Dwight Gayle somehow fired over Allan Saint- Lampard said after hauling off youngsters Mason 18-19. “This is a difficult place to get a win. We are “In the Premier League we are struggling to Maximin’s cross. However, City possess plenty of fire- Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour. back at Wembley. I am really happy with the attitude focus,” admitted Guardiola. “Now the Cup and the power at the other end and moments later Sterling “They will be top players for this club and have top and performance of the players,” Arteta said. Champions League it is a little bit different.” City cut inside to curl into the bottom corner from outside careers. But if I have to do something in games I will “It is a great opportunity to try and win a title and were utterly dominant in the first half but had to wait the box to kill the tie as a contest. do it. They will take it on the chin.” play in Europe.” until Gabriel Jesus was pushed by Javier Manquillo Chelsea boss Frank Lampard made six changes to At Bramall Lane, Dani Ceballos fired Arsenal into Manchester United booked their place in the semi- inside the box eight minutes before half-time for De the team that beat City and was nearly made to pay semi-finals just as the Blades were smelling blood in finals on Saturday but needed extra time to see off Bruyne to break the deadlock. by a very slow start from his side at the King Power. Sheffield. Nicolas Pepe put Mikel Arteta’s men ahead 10-man Norwich 2-1. — AFP

focused on our own league. There are not many games up Gerard Moreno with an incredible, cushioned touch Lopez palming over a half-volley from the quiet Eden Madrid edge past left and every game now is a final.” in their 2-0 win over Valencia. Hazard. Espanyol were hanging on for half-time and Zinedine Zidane said Eden Hazard took a knock to his “I have to give huge credit to Karim,” said Casemiro. they were caught out by Benzema. Ramos flicked on ankle. “He took a big hit but it’s just a knock I think,” “It was an incredible assist. We’re used to how good he Marcelo’s crossfield pass and Benzema, moving away Espanyol to go two said Zidane. is, I know the quality he possesses so I was expecting from goal, backheeled off the bounce through the legs By the time his side play at home to Getafe on Thurs- something. He heard me asking for it and he played it in of Bernardo Espinosa for the arriving Casemiro to finish. day they might even have the chance to move further a brilliant way.” Wu had another chance early in the second half but clear of Barcelona clear, if in-form Atletico Madrid avoid defeat on Tuesday Madrid, though, were scruffy and ponderous at the scuffed his shot and both teams seemed content to let at Camp Nou. Barcelona certainly have the harder run- RCDE Stadium, this perhaps their least impressive win the score lie until the latter stages, when Espanyol began in, with a resurgent Villarreal side to follow Atletico and over the last three weeks. to take more risks. MADRID: Karim Benzema delivered another moment then local rivals Espanyol, who have shown they might But solidity and steel ensured they came through un- Their best chance came in the 87th minute when a of magic on Sunday as Real Madrid took a two-point yet finish strong after a determined performance under scathed and it was no surprise that defensive midfielder free-kick evaded the entire Madrid defence but Leandro lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating new coach Franciso Rufete. Rufete, who was previously Casemiro, arguably the team’s best player this term, was Cabrera was just short at the back post. Marcelo almost bottom club Espanyol. the club’s sporting director, is Espanyol’s fourth coach named man of the match. deflected into his own net for the last action before the Benzema’s volley against Valencia could be goal of of the season after the sacking of Abelardo Fernandez Espanyol were far from outplayed and might have whistle blew. the season and he might now have a claim to best assist on Saturday. His task is now to make up a nine-point been ahead if they had capitalised on a series of forays Earlier, Villarreal continued their surge towards too after his brilliant backheel teed up Casemiro to finish gap between his team in 20th and Celta in 17th. They down Madrid’s left in the first half. Champions League qualification with a victory over Va- for a crucial 1-0 win. were undone by a piece of instinctive brilliance from With Marcelo repeatedly caught up field, Wu Lei was lencia, inspired by Cazorla. Madrid’s advantage in the table, coming after Barca’s Benzema, who has been the catalyst for Madrid sealing able to sprint clear and his early pull-back was met by The 35-year-old found himself under a 60-yard punt draw away at Celta Vigo on Saturday, is their biggest five wins out of five since La Liga restarted on June 11. Sergi Darder at the back post, only for his shot to be from his goalkeeper before cushioning the ball out of the since February and puts them within sight of their sec- blocked by Dani Carvajal. air perfectly for Gerard Moreno to volley in. ond league title in eight years. SENSATIONAL ASSISTS Madrid were sloppy but created chances. Sergio Paco Alcacer also scored against his former club as “It’s a very important win,” said Benzema. “I can’t say Benzema’s backheel came on an afternoon of sensa- Ramos headed over Casemiro’s smashed effort across Villarreal moved just three points behind fourth-placed we don’t look at Barcelona, of course we do. But we’re tional assists after Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla earlier set goal. A scrap in the penalty area ended with Diego Sevilla. — AFP