THULQAADA 10, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

20 Pages Max 46º Min 28º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18170 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Boeing begins test flights Francis Bacon triptych sells Iraq virus spike risks pushing Spy claims hit America’s 11for grounded 737 MAX 14 for $84m at online auction 16 strained doctors over the edge 18 Cup in New Zealand

People flock to malls as more virus curbs eased

Kuwait airport to resume commercial flights from Aug 1

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Thousands of people headed Zain Bahrain launches to malls and traffic jams returned yester- day as Kuwait entered the second phase 5G commercial services of easing of coronavirus restrictions. Malls, restaurants and cafes, in addition to public parks, reopened following a clo- Bader Al-Kharafi: Zain plays a big role sure that exceeded three months. Curfew hours were also relaxed to start from 8 in kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030 pm instead of 7 pm and end at 5 am. Malls are allowed to operate until 6 pm, while MANAMA: Zain Group announces dine-in is not allowed at restaurants and that its mobile operation in Bahrain cafes. Government offices reopened par- has launched 5G commercial services, tially at a capacity not exceeding 30 per- creating substantial change for the cent. The second phase is scheduled to kingdom’s telecom industry, fostering last for 30 days. new innovative business models and Commercial flights at Kuwait unlocking opportunities for many sec- International Airport will resume from tors. The state-of-the-art 5G network Aug 1, the government’s communications built in partnership with global solu- office said on Monday, after being sus- tions provider, Ericsson, will enable pended in March because of the COVID- customers to benefit from super high- 19 pandemic. The Cabinet agreed on a speed data, extremely low latency and three-stage resumption starting at 30 ultra-high reliability and unleashes percent capacity with a maximum of highly connected technologies trends Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO 10,000 passengers and 100 flights daily, such as virtual reality, augmented real- Bader Al-Kharafi the statement said. The second six-month ity, and the internet of things (IoT). stage starts on Feb 1, 2021 at 60 percent As 5G becomes mainstream, Zain use cases and capture new revenue capacity with a maximum of 20,000 pas- Bahrain will continue its dedication to streams by addressing industry digi- sengers and 200 flights daily. The third transforming industries and enhancing talization. stage starts on Aug 1, 2021 at 100 percent KUWAIT: Mask-clad shoppers walk inside the Avenues Mall yesterday as Kuwait people’s digital lives and explore new Continued on Page 16 capacity with more than 30,000 passen- entered the second phase of easing restrictions imposed due to the spread of COVID- gers and 300 flights daily. 19. – Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

increasing pressure to explain mount- Trump briefed ing media reports saying he was informed that Russian military intelli- gence had offered and paid cash to Inferno guts lumber warehouse on bounties by Taleban-linked militants for US sol- diers’ deaths – and did nothing in Russia in Feb response. The Times, citing two unnamed WASHINGTON: Donald Trump officials, said the claim had been received a written briefing about included in a written version of the alleged Russian bounties offered to president’s daily briefing in late Afghan militants to kill American February. CNN confirmed the story troops as early as February, The New but cited an official saying the docu- York Times said Monday in a new WASHINGTON: In this photo taken on June 26, 2020, ment was produced “sometime in the report undercutting the US presi- US President Donald Trump looks on during a meet- spring”. Trump has denied being dent’s assertion that he was not told ing in the East Room of the White House. — AFP informed of the assessment while the of the threat. Trump has come under Continued on Page 16

Ali Qasi Mehr, quoted by state news the judiciary’s Mizan Online official web- Iran issues agency IRNA, said 36 US political and site, said “the Iranian judiciary has issued military officials “involved in the assassina- arrest warrants against the 36”. tion” of General Qasem Soleimani “have He called for the international police arrest warrant been investigated and were ordered to be agency Interpol to issue red notices, which arrested through Interpol”. are not arrest warrants but issued for Hanan Al-Saadoun for Trump “These people have been charged with those wanted for prosecution or sentenc- By morning. There were no injuries, murder and terrorist acts,” he said. “At the ing. Interpol, however, told AFP that any Kuwait Fire Service Directorate TEHRAN: Iran said Monday it has called top of the list is US President Donald such intervention would be contrary to its KUWAIT: A massive fire in an announced on Twitter. Firemen for Interpol to help arrest President Trump, and his prosecution will continue constitution, without directly confirming it open lumber warehouse belonging shielded more than 3,000 new Donald Trump and 35 other US officials for even after the end of his term,” said the had been contacted by Iran. Under Article to the Ports Authority west of cars from the blaze, in addition to the January killing of its top general in an prosecutor, referring to his bid for re-elec- 3 of the constitution, “it is strictly Mina Abdullah refinery was extin- paint supplies and large quantities American drone strike. Tehran prosecutor tion in November. Qasi Mehr, quoted on Continued on Page 16 guished by firefighters yesterday of diesel. (See Page 4)

June. sharing apps TikTok and Helo, file-sharing India bans 59 The apps “are engaged in activities... app SHAREit and Alibaba’s UC browser prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of and UC News, with a combined user base India, defense of India, security of state of more than half a billion. Chinese apps and public order,” the Ministry of TikTok yesterday denied sharing Indian Information Technology said in a state- users’ data with the Chinese government. DELHI: India on Monday banned 59 ment. “The government of India has decid- “TikTok continues to comply with all data Chinese mobile apps, including the wildly ed to disallow the usage of certain apps... privacy and security requirements under popular TikTok and WeChat, over national This decision is a targeted move to ensure Indian law and have not shared any infor- security and privacy concerns two weeks safety and sovereignty of Indian cyber- mation of our users in India with any for- after a deadly Himalayan border clash space.” eign government, including the Chinese between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The statement said the move was taken government,” TikTok India chief Nikhil Relations between the world’s two most after the ministry received several com- Gandhi said in a statement. populous nations have been strained fol- plaints alleging theft of users’ data and “Further if we are requested to in the lowing the deaths of 20 Indian troops in violations of user privacy. It was unclear future we would not do so. We place the hand-to-hand fighting with their Chinese when the ban would come into force. Most highest importance on user privacy and FARIDABAD, India: This photo illustration shows a person using the social counterparts on the western end of the of the applications are highly popular in integrity,” he said, adding that it had media video-sharing app TikTok yesterday. — AFP high-altitude, contested border in mid- India, including ByteDance-owned video- Continued on Page 16 2 Established 1961 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Local Population density caused rapid COVID-19 spread in isolated areas Kuwait Cabinet examines conditions in shadow of pandemic KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly Cabinet decided to task the ministerial coronavirus fully equipped to honor health authorities’ criteria in a session via videoconference on Monday under emergency committee to examine in details condi- drive to curb spread of the virus. chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister tions of these areas, results of the isolation, along The government, said Saleh, also assigned the Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, dis- with consideration to the need for boosting the econ- Public Authority for Disabled Affairs to start resum- cussing the country’s health conditions in the shad- omy in the shadow of the residents’ living and social ing services for people with disabilities, and rehabili- ow of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), namely in conditions. The panel study will be referred to the tation services for students with mental disability. some isolated districts. Following the session, next Cabinet session The government Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and scheduled tomorrow. approved a draft decree Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh Minister of Health over the establishment said the ministers examined a report presented by Sheikh Dr Basel Humoud of the international the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet American university, Affairs Dr Buthaina Al-Mudhaf, explaining condi- ministers about the to discuss and was referred to His tions in the isolated areas of Farwaniya, Jleeb Al- country’s health condi- Highness the Amir. It Shuyoukh and Mahboula with respect of the popu- tions in the shadow of panel study also approved draft lation density and living conditions. Such a status the pandemic, along decrees over an MoU has caused rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, with the reaped positive between Kuwait and tomorrow KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh amid risks of its transmission to other areas, she results, stressing on the South Korean custom Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attends the explained to the ministers. necessity to continue to departments, an Arab meeting. —KUNA The assistant undersecretary presented results of adhere to the health protocol on combating isolation of these districts, namely proportions of terms, social distancing and relevant medical meas- human trafficking and an Arab agreement on fighting increasing confirmed cases and results of field med- ures. Meanwhile, President of the Directorate General transnational organized crime. The government also vent fund and Public Institute For Social Security. In ical examinations. Her report included proposals on for Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah and senior approved draft agreements with Sierra Leone, the the meantime, the government condemned an attack how to preserve the residents’ health, ensure correct DGCA officials briefed the Cabinet about a three- United Arab Emirates (UAE), Burkina Faso, on a stock exchange in the Pakistan city of Karachi implementation of health conditions, preserving the phase plan to resume operations at Kuwait Indonesia, Gambia, Greece and the Netherlands. It which killed and injured a number of people. Kuwait, health system, without contradiction with the plan for International Airport, which would begin on August 1. also approved draft laws regarding the civil and said Minister Saleh, rejects all forms of terrorism and phased restoration of normal life. On these bases, the The cabinet assigned DGCA to make sure the airport commercial laws, postponing installments of insol- violence. —KUNA

KUWAIT: People wearing face masks walk inside the Avenues Mall yesterday as Kuwait entered the second phase of easing restrictions imposed due to the spread of COVID-19. Malls and commercial complexes around Kuwait are allowed to open daily between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: Heavy traffic jams returned to Shuwakh yesterday as Kuwait entered the second phase of easing restrictions imposed due to the spread of COVID- 19. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: The Ministries Complex welcomed public sector employees who returned back to their offices yesterday as Kuwait entered the second phase of easing restrictions imposed due to the spread of COVID-19. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

refers to it. media activists, who accused her of trying to exploit MP Al-Humaidhi Al-Subaei called on the health Hashem claims Hashem said she has been getting death threats such incidents for electoral purposes. Well-known minister to lift a lockdown on Mahboula that has been “simply because I am a Kuwaiti member of parlia- presenter and owner of the private Scope TV Fajer Al- in place for over 100 days. Addressing the health min- expats sending ment who has been calling for amending the demo- Saeed said Hashem should stop such election stunts. ister, the lawmaker demanded to know the reasons for graphic structure and imposing charges on expats”. Meanwhile, the National Assembly secretariat continuing the lockdown and why there has been a death threats to her She blamed the government for not taking any yesterday asked MPs who attended a regular ses- rise in cases in several other areas but they were not By B Izzak effective measures to reform the population com- sion some two weeks ago to test again for the coro- placed under lockdown. position, which is severely tilted in favor of expats, navirus ahead of resuming meetings. Speaker The criminal court has set July 13 to issue its verdict KUWAIT: MP Safa Al-Hashem, an outspoken crit- saying all government promises in this regard have Marzouq Al-Ghanem told the Assembly on June 17 in the first case of visa traders that involve a Kuwaiti ic of expats, claimed yesterday she received a not been fulfilled. that a lawmaker was suspected of contracting the and three Egyptian accomplices. The government has death threat via email from an expat, allegedly for Hashem directed her criticism at expat legal disease and called on all MPs and staff who attend- referred about a dozen of such cases to the public repeatedly calling to replace foreigners with experts who work at the Council of Ministers, Civil ed the sessions to test for the virus. Later, the health prosecution. Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh said gov- Kuwaitis. The lawmaker said it was the ninth death Service Commission and other government depart- ministry advised MPs to undergo a 14-day quaran- ernment efforts to “eradicate the cancer” of visa trad- threat she has received by email, all from expats ments, who “played with our legislation to deprive tine that ended on Tuesday. The lawmaker who was ing will continue, adding that he will also continue to belonging to one nationality. Although she did not Kuwaitis from taking top jobs”. But Hashem’s latest suspected of contracting the disease - Hamdan Al- work to amend legislation and toughen penalties reveal the nationality, she released the email, which complaint was strongly criticized by some social Azemi - later said that he twice tested negative. against those working in this illegal trade. Established 1961 3 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Local ‘Living Aid’ links families in need with sponsors in Kuwait amid COVID-19 Two sisters use Instagram to facilitate charity in time of crisis

By Nawara Fattahova The next day, our house worker informed us of more people reaching out and we repeated the process KUWAIT: The damage caused by the COVID-19 over and over again until it became too expensive crisis has affected thousands of people in Kuwait, so and our WhatsApp was flooded. We knew we had to various organizations groups, and even individuals come up with another way to help, and to make sure have taken the initiative of finding different ways to we weren’t being used. help people in need. We sat for a couple of days thinking it over - not Living Aid Kuwait is a humanitarian charitable wanting to accept donations was very important, and project based on bringing together families in need we knew many people would want to help those fam- and people desiring to help them by sponsoring ilies in need but didn’t know how. Just like us, they them. Two Kuwaiti sisters, who prefer to stay anony- were clueless. Then the idea of matching those peo- mous, set up an Instagram account @LivingAid- ple together (the families in need and the people will- Kuwait to match people affected by the pandemic ing to help) came to our mind. It would allow us to with people willing to sponsor them. help without it depleting our funds. We came up with “We at Living Aid Kuwait don’t accept donations. a name and a logo within 10 minutes and started our Our way of attracting both sponsors and needy fam- Instagram page. We already had several clips of in- ilies is by using our Instagram platform to announce terviews done the previous day with some families the list of families in need. Potential sponsors and while delivering their food boxes, so we posted them other needy families who see the list end up ap- proaching us,” one of the founders told Kuwait Times. Some excerpts: Eighty-eight Kuwait Times: How many people are working on this project? families Getting in contact KT: How do you find the families in need? Currently, our team consists of two people and a This information is gathered in a list and published They find us through our Instagram account. Also, volunteer to translate the content of our Instagram sponsored as our Instagram story @livingaidkwt. Sponsors ap- when we visit the families that approach us, we come account. Our plan is to add more volunteers in the proach us via DM, choose the family, the cost with or across other people on the streets who need help as near future. in 16 days without rent and the number of months the sponsor- well, in addition to referrals from previously-spon- ship covers. Once we get the agreement from the sored families. KT: How did you come up with this idea? family in need, then their details are sent to the spon- When the pandemic first spread and lockdowns sors. And with that final step, our part is over. What KT: Which areas have the most families in need ? started to take effect, we wondered about the status on our page to show people our process of obtaining is left is for the sponsor to reach out to the family and Farwaniya, Mahboula, Salmiya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh of low-income people and how they are surviving, information about each family/person. deliver the funds. We encourage the sponsors to chat and Hawally. especially when many businesses are terminating We decided the family-interview system is a great with the families, request to see their living conditions their employees and many others are permanently way to confirm information that was previously sent and listen to their stories. KT: When will this project end? We keep contact with both the sponsors and the closing. However, we didn’t know how to reach them. to us on our many platforms. In addition, posting The sponsorship program that our account offers families to resolve any issues. Since our account only By coincidence, we came across the these interviews would allow for transparency and should become redundant when the economic and started on June 13, 2020, our plan is to reevaluate the @food_box_kw Instagram account. Their idea was encourage potential sponsors to approach us. health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis are families’ situation by the fourth week, as some busi- if you know someone in need, order for them from a resolved. selection of grocery boxes and baby-need boxes on Collecting information nesses are restarting, and many employees are going their website, which are very reasonably priced, and The information we gather from people in need in- back to work. KT: How do you choose the family that will re- they would be delivered the next day. We sent the clude: Their work history; were they affected by Some families who reside inside lockdown areas account to our house workers to inform us of anyone COVID-19 or were destitute from before; how many have approached us for aid. Since visiting them and ceive help among other families? in need. Soon, they provided us with 11 names of people are they supporting in Kuwait and abroad; if assessing their situation is not possible for the time We only accept new family requests when we people in desperate need of something to eat or their rent is still high, we encourage them to have a dis- being, we make sure that their basic needs are cov- sponsor the ones we already have. As for families baby milk and diapers. Apparently, one of our house- cussion with the building guard (haris), the agent (wa- ered. They are currently included in our database in in lockdown areas, we would like to start with fam- hold workers had put it up as her Facebook status keel), the representative (mandoob) or even the owner order to visit them once the lockdown is lifted. ilies that have the largest number of children and and many reached out for help. of the building in order to reduce their rent expense then move down the list to single people. We’d like We were excited - finally, we had a link to some- and consequently the sponsorship amount; if their KT: How many families you’ve sponsored so far? to add one more thing: We are cross-referencing one in need. We made a small Excel sheet and or- sponsors decided to cover rent; how much they spend Eighty-eight families as of June 28, 2020 (in our database with other aid groups in order to dered grocery and baby boxes from @food_box_kw. on groceries; and how much they spend on baby needs. 16 days). mitigate the risk of fraud.

avirus pandemic with a value of KD 405 million under all circumstances, and in light of the spread of Audit Bureau ($1.3 billion). Final decision COVID-19. Dabshah added that the platform is The Ministry of Health had the lion share with 49 mainly run by national manpower to avoid the need percent, or 202 contracts, with a value of KD 198 to hire private companies. approves KD 1.101 million ($637 million), said Darwish, for the pur- on school year In the meantime, MOE’s assistant undersecretary chase and import of medicine, personnel protective for public education Osama Al-Sultan said that 90 billion contracts equipment for frontline workers and ventilators. after July 15 percent of grade 12 students (27,728 out of a total of Darwish spoke about the urgent contracts exam- 29,908) have already registered to use the online ined by SAB. She said 63 percent of contracts, val- platform. “Registration is way beyond expectations KUWAIT: Kuwait’s State Audit Bureau (SAB) said ued KD 696 million ($2.2 billion) were urgent. They KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education (MOE) an- and will remain open until all students are regis- Monday it approved 545 out of 849 contracts since included services, maintenance, cleaning and con- nounced Monday that the final decision on conclud- tered,” Sultan added, noting that registration is being March 12 with a value of some KD 1.101 billion struction. Darwish, meanwhile, said SAB rejected ing the school year for all grades will be made after done without using a database in order to allow ille- ($3.5 billion). Auditing process taking place at the 197 contracts valued KD 311 million (around $1 bil- July 15. In this regard, MOE’s assistant undersecre- gal residents join in. The education ministry has not start of the contracts contributed to saving around lion) because they failed to abide by SAB’s criteria. tary for educational research and curriculums affairs provided timetables or details on when it plans to KD 44 million ($141 million) for the State’s Treas- SAB formed, on March 12, a team to examine the Salah Dabshah said that the recently launched online launch online classes for grade 12 students via the ury, said Fatma Darwish, SAB’s senior auditor for urgent contracts amidst spread of the pandemic. platform for grade 12 students had only cost KD 400 online platform. The current plan calls for grade 12 social affairs, said in a statement. She said 37 per- The team ended its mandate with the beginning of (around $1,320) and that it is supervised by 7,267 ed- students to resume classes by August, and students cent of contracts, or 307, were related to coron- the restoration of normal life. — KUNA ucationists with the aim of continuing education of other grades by October. — KUNA

News in brief ‘Isolated’ co-ops open 24 hours

KUWAIT: Co-ops and central markets will be al- lowed to open 24 hours to serve residents in the isolated areas (Farwaniya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula). They are not allowed to serve people with no pre-booking appointments, however.

Twenty five flights

KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil Avi- ation (DGCA) announced that 25 flights were to depart from Kuwait International Airport yester- day, carrying a total of 4,305 passengers. They in- cluded ten flights to India, eight flights to Egypt, three flights to Nepal, one flight to Qatar, one flight to Jordan, one flight to Afghanistan, and one flight to Bangladesh.

Oil exports to Japan down

TOKYO: Kuwait’s crude oil exports to Japan fell 3.2 percent in May from a year earlier to 7.48 million bar- rels, or 241,000 barrels per day (bpd), for the second consecutive monthly decline, government data showed Tuesday. As Japan’s third-biggest oil provider, Kuwait supplied 10.6 percent of its total crude im- ports, compared with 8.2 percent in the same month of last year, the Japanese Natural Resources and En- ergy Agency said in a preliminary report. Japan’s overall imports of crude oil in May plunged 25.0 per- cent year-on-year to 2.28 million bpd, down for the fifth month in a row. Shipments from the Middle East accounted for 92.9 percent of the total, up 5.7 per- centage points from the year before. Saudi Arabia re- mained Japan’s top oil supplier, but imports from the kingdom slid 5.5 percent from a year earlier to 932,000 bpd, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 730,000 bpd, down 28.9 percent. Qatar ranked fourth with 153,000 bpd and Russia fifth with 92,000 bpd, respectively. Japan is the world’s-third biggest oil consumer after China and the US. 4 Established 1961 Local Wednesday, July 1, 2020

KUWAIT: Firemen battled a blaze that gutted a 8,000-square-meter timber warehouse of the Kuwait Ports Authority in western Mina Abdullah Monday night. Firefighters from the army, Ministry of Interior, National Guard, Medical Emergency, Kuwait National Petroleum Company and Kuwait Ports Authority took part in extinguishing the flames, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate said in a statement.

Firemen battle Amghara blazes

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Firefighters from four different fire sta- tions worked together to put out flames that gutted lumber and ceramics left in an open yard in Amghara Monday. Firemen isolated the area to keep the flames from spreading before extinguishing the fire. No injuries were reported. Jahra vocational, Tahreer, Kabd and Amghara fire stations responded to an emergency call reporting the fire, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate said in a statement. An investi- gation was opened to reveal the cause of the fire.

Fire guts Sulaibiya warehouse By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Firemen battled a blaze reported yester- day morning in a heavy equipment spare parts’ warehouse in Sulaibiya, covering an area of 1,000 square meters. Sulaibikhat, Doha, Tahreer and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh fire stations rushed to the scene in response to an emergency call, and worked togeth- er to prevent the flames from spreading to a nearby 18,000-square-meter factory. They were able to extinguish the fire while no injuries were reported, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate said. An investiga- tion was opened. 5 Local Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Kuwait, ICRC High-Level Policy Dialogue explores COVID-19 humanitarian challenges

Pandemic compounds suffering of people in war-torn countries

KUWAIT: The International Committee of The participants acknowledged that the Red Cross (ICRC), the Kuwait Min- beyond treating and preventing COVID- istry of Foreign Affairs, the Kuwait Red 19 infection, the numerous long-term sec- Crescent Society (KRCS), and the Kuwait ondary impacts remained a major Fund for Arab Economic Development concern. The pandemic threatens every (KFAED) Monday held the third edition of aspect of peoples’ lives, amplifying in- the annual High-Level Policy Dialogue to equalities, disrupting communities and re- exchange insights on trends in the human- versing development gains made in the itarian environment and responses amid past decade. It is also a massive education the COVID-19 pandemic. crisis, and potential food security crisis The event, held by videoconference, that could deepen poverty and hunger. brought together Sheikh Dr Ahmad “Globally, we see hard-won develop- Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, ment gains set back as schools shut, KUWAIT: Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Minister of Foreign wages are lost, Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Affairs of businesses close, attends the meeting. — KUNA photos Kuwait, Dr Hilal Al- Shared and health needs Sayer, President of are put at risk. The the Kuwait Red commitment to socioeconomic im- portance of the critical nexus between hu- Crescent Society, humanitarian pact has been sub- manitarian action and development work. Abdulwahab stantial,” said Peter The High-Level Policy Dialogue be- Ahmad Al-Bader, action Maurer, the ICRC’s tween ICRC and the State of Kuwait af- Director General of president. firms the shared commitment to principled the Kuwait Fund for The response humanitarian action as a public good. The Arab Economic De- should look to sup- role of states in supporting and facilitating velopment, and Peter Maurer, President of port the social system, building on past Participants in the videoconference. humanitarian action, exemplified by the ICRC, to discuss the impact of the experience of pandemics. “I am confident Kuwait’s international initiatives in general COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait and the that the continued partnership with the and support to ICRC remains crucial. This Middle East region and explore how they State of Kuwait, the KRCS and KFAED to be followed between other states and response, which should be an integral part is doubly true given the new operating can enhance cooperation to provide sus- will contribute to the alleviation of human humanitarian organizations. “Our dialogue of the diplomatic relations between coun- constraints that the COVID19 pandemic tainable responses to the needs of af- suffering through a dedicated collabora- demonstrates that many changes occurred tries.” has wrought. The ICRC and the State of fected persons. tive approach to humanitarian causes,” he during the current crisis. It also shows the Abdul Wahab Al-Bader, the Director Kuwait reiterated their commitment to In countries affected by armed conflict, added. There is also a critical role for importance of emphasizing the coopera- General of KFAED, reassured that human- fighting the dire consequences of the the pandemic compounds the suffering of states to play to facilitate the work of in- tion between the State of Kuwait and the itarian efforts through partnership and COVID19 pandemic through humanitarian millions of vulnerable people that are al- ternational actors while maintaining the ICRC in the framework of international practical strategic dialogue fosters re- and development work on both local and ready struggling to meet basic needs such necessary exceptional measures for fight- humanitarian law, which is a pillar of sponse to the COVID-19 pandemic, inside international levels. The State of Kuwait as shelter, food, water, and medical care. ing the pandemic, Maurer said. Kuwait’s foreign policy,” he stated. Kuwait and globally. and the ICRC reaffirmed their commit- The ICRC shared its experience in trying Meanwhile, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, President of the The event concluded with a joint state- ment to their policy engagement by con- to address those challenges in Iraq and Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister KRCS, said “participating in this high- ment, reiterating the continued support of firming the fourth high-level policy discussed examples of its response in of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, said that this level dialogue ensures the delivery of ef- the State of Kuwait to the humanitarian dialogue to take place in Geneva, Switzer- Yemen and Syria. strategic dialogue should be an example fective, coordinated humanitarian efforts of the ICRC, underscoring the im- land, in 2021.

Europe must continue to support the Syrian people

By Josep Borrell and even top-tier salary earners are left with little real In Syria itself, we have been doing what we can to fos- Kuwait Foreign purchasing power. Basic goods are becoming scarce; ter livelihoods, support communities and stimulate the very he conflict in Syria is entering its tenth year. Ten food and medicine are starting to become unaffordable basics of economic life. Since 2011, the EU put in place Minister calls EU years of war, suffering and grief. And it’s still not to ordinary people. sanctions in response to the actions of the regime and its Tover. Syrians continue to live in fear and despair, Syrians want the same things as every person and fam- supporters. The goal of these measures is to put pressure their future held hostage. While the war forced half the ily anywhere else in the world: personal security, jobs and on the Syrian regime to halt repression and negotiate a representative population to flee their homes in the past decade, those a future for their children. In other words, they need lasting political settlement of the Syrian crisis in line with who stayed behind are facing an unprecedented eco- prospects for the future. The EU and its Member States UNSC Resolution 2254, under UN auspices. nomic crisis and the threat of the Coronavirus. have been supporting Syrians everywhere since the start These sanctions target designated people and entities, KUWAIT: Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr At the fourth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the of the conflict. Over €20 billion have been provided in hu- not the population. They do not prevent the delivery of hu- Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah future of Syria and the region” on 29 and 30 June, more manitarian, stabilization and resilience assistance since manitarian aid or prohibit the export of food, medicine or conducted on Monday a telephone call than 80 countries, regional and international organiza- 2011 - for Syrians in Syria and in support of the neighbor- medical equipment. Today, we want to tell the Syrian peo- with Josep Borrell, High Representative of tions and UN agencies were scheduled to sit around a ing countries. ple and the people of the countries hosting the refugees the European Union. Discussions during virtual roundtable to address all the key dimensions of We are very grateful for the solidarity shown by Jordan, that we know what they have been going through, that we the call addressed preparations for Brus- the Syrian crisis: political, humanitarian, financial, and Lebanon and Turkey in particular. They are looking after care and that we will continue to stand by them. sels fourth conference on future of Syria regional. We reaffirm our strong support to the UN ef- more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees. These countries are We know that the Syrian refugees’ dearest dream is forts for a political solution to the conflict and to the struggling with complex domestic situations; they continue to go back home. We are ready to help make this happen and regional countries, which was due terms of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. A polit- to need assistance to meet the growing needs of both the once the conditions are in place. But, to what home? It yesterday. It was held at joint invitation ical solution, reached through a UN-mediated, inclusive, refugees and their own people. The EU is also helping is not realistic to expect refugees to return to the risk of from the EU and he United Nations Un- Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue, is the only way them. Our assistance in response to the Syrian crisis does being arrested, tortured or forced to fight a war they dersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs and of achieving sustainable peace in Syria. The alternative not only benefit Syrian refugees but also the Lebanese, wanted to escape. Their security of life and of property Emergency Coordinator, Mark Lowcock. is ever more misery caused by the obstinate determina- Jordanian and Turkish people, to create job opportunities, needs to be guaranteed. And we know that the stability Borrell expressed appreciation of the tion of the long discredited regime. infrastructure including schools, as well as better health necessary for the reconciliation and reconstruction of leading humanitarian role played by the This year, on top of being the worst humanitarian and water services. Syria will only come once the regime renounces brutality State of Kuwait to relieve afflicted nations, crisis since the Second World War, Syria is close to The EU Regional Trust Fund (MADAD) has helped and embarks on a process of genuine political dialogue, noting that it hosted three donors’ confer- economic collapse. The regime’s mismanagement of the communities in Lebanon and Jordan by providing basic backed with tangible changes and moves that will heal ences for Syria, under leadership of His economy, widespread corruption, the financial crisis in income, access to health services and to education and Syria’s wounds. That was, is and remains our goal. Our neighboring Lebanon and the Coronavirus pandemic much more, ensuring that Syrian refugees and local hosts motto is that the Syrian people must decide the future Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- have brought the country’s economy to its knees. The alike have a foundation to build a better future. In Turkey, of Syria. As EU, we will stand by them in doing so. Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who along with situation is dire. Syria faces its highest inflation rate the EU supports an emergency social safety net, the ac- — Josep Borrell is the High Representative of the Eu- Kuwait earned admiration of the interna- ever, alongside a record devaluation of its national cur- cess of Syrian refugees to high quality Turkish health serv- ropean Union For Foreign Affairs and Security tional community. — KUNA rency. Eight in ten Syrians reportedly live in poverty ices, and school enrolment. Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Kuwait’s Prime Kuwait’s Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Sabah receives Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah (center) and Minister His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in this his Canadian counterpart Harjit Sajjan during the latter’s visit to Kuwait Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait Louis-Pierre Emond (left) participate in file photo. in December 2019. last year’s ‘Canada Day’ celebration. Embassy celebrates ‘Canada Day’

KUWAIT: Louis-Pierre Emond, Ambassador of Canada port those affected around the world. We have moved exchanges. Prime Minister. to the State of Kuwait, released the following statement quickly to make significant investments in vaccine re- “Key Kuwaiti projects in Canada continued to de- “Over the last months we were proud to continue to on Canada Day, addressing the Canadian community in search and development and are actively working with velop positively. Projects like KUFPEC’s Kaybob-Du- promote women empowerment in Canada and abroad. Kuwait as well as “all our Kuwaiti friends”: partners to help ensure the continued flow of essential vernay shale gas development, PIC’s partnership with Here in Kuwait we have organized various events fo- “Canada Day is the national Day of Canada and is goods and supplies. Canada stands ready to work with Pembina to build a propane dehydrogenation plant and cused on women empowerment in trade, sports and pol- celebrated every year on July 1. It celebrates the anniver- Kuwait as we move toward a long-term recovery from polypropylene upgrading facility, and EQUATE’s oper- itics. sary of the effective date of the Constitution Act of 1867, the pandemic. ations in Fort Saskatchewan. The Kuwait Investment Au- “Various virtual celebrations will take place on social which united the three separate colonies of the Province “The relationship between Kuwait and Canada con- thority also has interests in Canada. media over the next days so please feel free to watch of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Across the tinued to grow over the last year in all areas of common “Our commercial links are growing and we hope to and participate online. country and around the world, Canadians gather to cel- interest. The people-to-people links between Canadians see continued expansion in areas such as oil and gas, life “As we all get through this pandemic together, ebrate our country’s birthday. and Kuwaitis continue to be at the core of the relation- sciences, defense and security, agriculture and food, and Canada and Canadians in Kuwait are pleased to cele- “This year the celebration will be different as we all ship we are building with our friends from Kuwait. infrastructure. brate once again Canada Day with all of our friends from celebrate a ‘stay at home’ birthday. The COVID-19 pan- “This is best illustrated by the large and always in- “Kuwait is an important partner of Canada, a fact around the world. demic is having a devastating impact on health systems, creasing number of Kuwaiti students going to Canada proven by the numerous high-level visits of the past “I would like to take this opportunity to thank His economies and our lives and we all need to work to- every year. Close to 500 Kuwaitis study in Canada, most months. Since my arrival in Kuwait in 2018 we received Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad gether to respond effectively to the pandemic. I am of them medical students who will build friendships and visits from the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Gov- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his government and people for proud that Canada is working with international partners relationships with Canadians that will last a lifetime and ernor-General Julie Payette, the Minister of Foreign Af- their continuous support of Canada and the Canadian to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 and to sup- will spark various commercial, research and scientific fairs, Minister of Defense, and a Special Envoy of the community in Kuwait.” InternationalEstablished 1961 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 Ukraine becoming ‘online baby store’; Army of women workers on India’s COVID front line surrogacy booms Page 8 Page 8

HONG KONG: Police enter a shopping mall to disperse people attending a lunchtime rally in Hong Kong yesterday, as China passed a sweeping national security law for the city. — AFP China passes national security law US ends arms exports, China restricts visas in Hong Kong row HONG KONG: China’s parliament passed national ment on the legislation as the meeting in Beijing was not affect rights and freedoms, nor investor interests. roar over a national security law which Hong Kong ac- security legislation for Hong Kong yesterday, setting still going on, but she threw a jibe at the United States. tivists say will destroy the city’s freedoms. “We can no the stage for the most radical changes to the former “No sort of sanctioning action will ever scare us,” ‘Overpowering’ longer distinguish between the export of controlled British colony’s way of life since it returned to Chinese Lam said. Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of a think-tank The legislation may get an early test with activists items to Hong Kong or to mainland China,” US Sec- rule 23 years ago. State media is expected to publish under the Beijing cabinet’s Hong Kong and Macau Af- and pro-democracy politicians saying they would retary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. details of the law - which comes in response to last fairs Office, told Reuters the law was passed unani- defy a police ban, amid coronavirus restrictions, on a “We cannot risk these items falling into the hands of year’s often-violent pro-democracy protests in the mously with 162 votes. It is expected to come into rally on the anniversary of the July 1 handover. At last the People’s Liberation Army, whose primary purpose city and aims to tackle subversion, terrorism, sepa- force imminently. The editor-in-chief of the Global year’s demonstration, which came amid a series of is to uphold the dictatorship of the CCP by any means ratism and collusion with foreign forces - later on. pro-democracy protests, a crowd stormed and van- necessary,” he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Amid fears the legislation will crush the global finan- dalized the city’s legislature. “We will never accept the Party. The direct impact will be modest. The State De- cial hub’s freedoms, and reports that the heaviest passing of the law, even though it is so overpowering,” partment last year approved $2.4 million in defense penalty under it would be life imprisonment, pro- said Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai. It is un- sales to Hong Kong, of which $1.4 million worth were democracy activist Joshua Wong’s Demosisto group A turning clear if attending the unauthorized rally would consti- actually sent, including firearms and ammunition for law said it would dissolve. “It marks the end of Hong Kong tute a national security crime if the law came into force enforcement, according to official figures. that the world knew before,” Wong said on Twitter. point for by then. A majority in Hong Kong opposes the legis- The Commerce Department simultaneously said it The legislation pushes Beijing further along a col- lation, a poll conducted for Reuters this month was revoking its special status for Hong Kong. It will lision course with the United States, Britain and other Hong Kong showed, but support for the protests has fallen to only now treat the financial hub the same as China for so- Western governments, which have said it erodes the a slim majority. called dual-use exports that have both military and high degree of autonomy the city was granted at its civilian applications - and which are highly restricted July 1, 1997, handover. The United States, already in US ends exports when sought by Beijing. China promised autonomy for dispute with China over trade, the South China Sea Meanwhile, The United States has ended sensitive Hong Kong before Britain returned the territory in and the novel coronavirus, began eliminating Hong Times, a tabloid published by the People’s Daily, the defense exports to Hong Kong, further ramping up 1997 but wants no repeat of massive and sometimes Kong’s special status under US law on Monday, halt- official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party, pressure in a row over the financial capital’s autonomy destructive protests that rocked the territory last year. ing defense exports and restricting access to high- said on Twitter the heaviest penalty under the law was from China. The US announced the decision hours “It gives us no pleasure to take this action, which is a technology. China said it would retaliate. Hong Kong life imprisonment, without providing details. Authori- after China said it would curb visas to some Ameri- direct consequence of Beijing’s decision to violate its leader Carrie Lam, speaking at her weekly news con- ties in Beijing and Hong Kong have repeatedly said the cans heading to Hong Kong, itself a response to a US own commitments under the UN-registered Sino- ference, said it was not appropriate for her to com- legislation is aimed at a few “troublemakers” and will move. The United States has been leading a global up- British Joint Declaration,” Pompeo said. — Agencies

The public in all three countries still Post-COVID, said that the United States was the China ‘sterilizing’ most influential nation but less over- whelmingly. In France, 55 percent of Uighurs to control more in West people said the United States was the top global player in May, down from population: Report see China as 67 percent in January. Similar figures were reported in Germany. major power One comparative loser was the BEIJING: Chinese authorities are carrying European Union, which the French out forced sterilizations of Uighur and other and Germans had put solidly in sec- ethnic minority women in an apparent cam- WASHINGTON: The coronavirus ond place, over China, before the paign to curb the population, a study said pandemic has led a growing number pandemic. Despite China’s perceived Monday, triggering swift international con- of Westerners to see China as a top influence, the survey found that ma- demnation. China called the allegations power, with the lead of the United jorities in both Germany and France baseless but the United States demanded an States slipping, a study said yester- said their countries should get immediate end to the campaign described in day. A survey of French, German and tougher on Beijing over climate the report, which was based on a combina- US opinion released by the German change, human rights and cybersecu- tion of official regional data, policy docu- Marshall Fund of the United States rity. The figures were lower in the ments and interviews with ethnic minority found significant increases in percep- United States, possibly because women. tions of Chinese influence since the President Donald Trump’s adminis- China is accused of locking more than XINJIANG: A Uighur woman waits with children on a street in Kashgar in China’s northwest outbreak of COVID-19 - in which tration has already been championing one million Uighurs and other mostly Mus- Xinjiang region. Chinese authorities are carrying out forced sterilisations of women in an Beijing has alternately been por- a hard line and pushing Europe to do likewise. The Trump administration lim minorities in re-education camps. Beijing apparent campaign to curb the growth of ethnic minority populations in the western Xin- trayed as a culprit and an aid has blamed COVID-19 on poor man- describes the facilities as job training cen- jiang region. —AFP provider. ters aimed at steering people away from The proportion of people who agement in China, where the virus terrorism following a spate of violence said China was the most influential was first detected late last year. blamed on separatists. Now a report by unusual bleeding consistent with the effects ‘Ethno-racial domination’ global player shot up from 13 to 28 Critics say Trump is trying to de- Adrian Zenz, a German researcher who has of birth control drugs. China appears to be using coercive birth percent in France between surveys in flect from his own handling of exposed China’s policies in Xinjiang, says Government documents studied by Zenz control in Xinjiang as part of a “wider game January to May, from 12 to 20 percent COVID-19 in the United States, Uighur women, among other ethnic minori- also showed that women in some rural mi- plan of ethno-racial domination,” Zenz wrote in in Germany and from six to 14 per- which has suffered by far the highest ties, are being threatened with internment in nority communities in the region received the report. “These findings raise serious con- cent in the United States. “Chinese death toll of any country. The survey the camps for refusing to abort pregnancies frequent mandatory gynaecological exams cerns as to whether Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang influence in the world was kind of an also showed a sharp transatlantic di- that exceed birth quotas. and bi-monthly pregnancy tests from local represent, in fundamental respects, what might abstract idea before the crisis,” said vide on the influence of Britain, which Zenz’s data-driven work - which uses health officials. Zenz found that population be characterized as a demographic campaign Martin Quencez, deputy director of left the European Union this year. public documents found by scouring China’s growth in Xinjiang counties predominantly of genocide” under UN definitions, Zenz said the German Marshall Fund’s Paris of- Fifty-three percent of Americans said internet - on the camps has previously been home to ethnic minorities fell below the av- in the report. The US State Department called fice. “When you think about the de- Britain was the most influential coun- cited by experts on a UN panel investigat- erage growth in primarily Han majority the campaign “reminiscent of the abuses pendency on China for mask and try in Europe, an opinion shared by ing the facilities. Women who had fewer counties between 2017 and 2018, a year against members of ethnic and religious minor- medical equipment, for instance, this just eight percent of Germans and six percent of French. The study, con- than the legally permitted limit of two chil- after the officially recorded rate of steriliza- ity groups throughout the 20th century.” “We has become very concrete,” he said. ducted with the Bertelsmann Founda- dren were involuntarily fitted with IUDs, tions in the region sharply overtook the na- call on the Chinese Communist Party to imme- Quencez expected a lasting im- tion in Germany and Institut says the report. It also reports that some of tional rate in 2016. Uighur activists say diately end these horrific practices and ask all pact, saying that the changes in per- Montaigne in Paris, surveyed more the women said they were being coerced China is using the internment camps to con- nations to join the United States in demanding ceptions were seen across than 1,000 different people in each into receiving sterilization surgeries. Former duct a massive brainwashing campaign an end to these dehumanizing abuses,” Secre- generational and political lines. “It country both from January 9-22 and camp detainees said they were given injec- aimed at eradicating their distinct culture tary of State Mike Pompeo, a frequent critic of seems more structural than just a May 11-19. — AFP tions that stopped their periods, or caused and Islamic identity. Beijing, said in a statement. —AFP quick response to the crisis,” he said. Established 1961 7 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 International Racism in UK: The effects of a ‘hostile environment’ Floyd’s death sparks a wave of Black Lives Matter protests

LONDRES: Ijeoma Moore came to Britain from Nigeria as a toddler and is now 25. “I have lived here since I was two. I feel very much British,” she said. But two years after a scandal involving the “Windrush” generation of 500,000 Caribbean migrants who came to Britain after World War Two, race and identity remain hot topics. The death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during a US police arrest has sparked a wave of Black Lives Matter protests across the country. And there have been calls to take down colonial-era statues to figures who were involved in, or profited from, the interna- tional slave trade. Moore said she cannot remember having studied colonialism at school and was shocked at the treatment of some of the Windrush migrants. They were LONDON: Performers in costume enact a Windrush-inspired performance on the LONDON: A protester makes a Black Lives Matter fist at a demonstration in Trafalgar supposed to have been granted British cit- main Parade day of the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. — AFP Square in central London. — AFP izenship but still had to prove every year they had a right to remain, under threat of expulsion. “If that happened to them, what ernment immigration policies. “They (the promised to “right the wrongs” suffered by vironment” towards immigrants by succes- I speak,” said Moore. But next year, the first could happen to me?” she asked. Cur- government) should not look at black peo- the Windrush migrants from its former sive governments and said it was grounded permanent sculpture celebrating the Win- rently, Moore herself has only a lim- ple or migrants like they are bad things but colonies, many of the victims are still bitter. in racism. The report’s author said earlier drush generation will be unveiled in Lon- ited right to remain in Britain, which “We don’t matter,” said Anthony Bryan, this month there was a “grave risk” of sim- don, based on archive photographs from means she has to renew her papers 63, who arrived in Britain in 1965. Several ilar failures happening again if the govern- the time and people’s stories. every 30 months. decades later, he found himself placed in ment did not implement a series of its Sculptor Thomas J Price, 39, said the It takes 10 years to get permanent detention twice and threatened with de- recommendations. bronze, three-metre (10-foot) piece will resident status, and then another year Group tackles portation. But at the very last moment, show “what it means to descend from the to apply for British nationality in what lawyers managed to secure his release. Face history Windrush generation and to live in Britain she said was a “very complicated” - hostile policies The experience left him traumatized, he For many, British society has been too today”. It will stand outside Hackney Town and expensive - process. “I think I paid said, and he is still waiting for compensa- slow to change. In Bristol, southwest Eng- Hall, in the northeast of the capital. Price, £1,500 ($1,840, 1,640 euros) the last tion. But he has at least received his British land, anti-racist campaigners toppled a whose grandmother was a nurse and came time I made my application back in passport, which meant he could visit his controversial statue of 17th-century mer- to Britain from Jamaica, said the sculpture 2017. The next one is this year and the mother in Jamaica in 2018, the first time he chant and slave trader Edward Colston and would give people “a sense of visibility” and fees have increased again,” she said. had left the country in 53 years. threw it in the port, after years of inconclu- a “sense of belonging”. The removal of Col- “I am looking to pay at least £3,000 for my see how much they contribute to society,” With other activists, he recently brought sive wrangling about its future. Statues to ston’s statue was a good thing, he said, as it next application.” She is now a member of she added. a petition signed by more than 130,000 leading Black, Asian and minority ethnic fig- “raised awareness” of the issue. “The UK the We Belong group of young migrants, people to Downing Street, calling on Prime ures are few and far between, increasing needs to face its history, the disparities, how born abroad but who have grown up in ‘Right the wrongs’ Minister Boris Johnson to act. In March, a alienation. “Some people will always see me black people have been treated. We can’t Britain, and have had to battle “hostile” gov- Although the British government has damning report denounced the “hostile en- like a foreigner, no matter what I say or how move forward until it’s done.”— AFP

one of the rare moments where he faced UK locks down US-Russia severe criticism within Republican ranks, Trump appeared to take Putin at his word during a 2018 summit that Leicester after tension soars Russia did not meddle in the election. virus flare-up once again ‘Superficial’ plan with Putin Every US president since the end of the Cold War has taken office seeking LEICESTER: Britain has imposed a strin- WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has better relations with Russia - but with gent lockdown on the English city of Leices- spent much of the past four years mus- mixed results. James Jay Carafano of ter following a local flare-up of the novel ing about warmer ties with Russia. But the conservative Heritage Foundation, coronavirus just as Prime Minister Boris explosive new allegations show that re- who served on Trump’s presidential Johnson attempts to nudge the United King- lations may only get worse. Top De- transition team, said Trump’s Russia dom back to normality. The United Kingdom mocrats have demanded answers and promises in 2016 were “just as superfi- has been one of the world’s worst-hit areas, even some Republicans have urged re- cial as everybody else’s.” “He didn’t taliation after reports, first published by with more than 54,000 suspected deaths, LEICESTER: People walk by an electronic billboard displaying a government message have a secret plan to have better rela- The New York Times, that a Russian though infections have been waning in re- reminding people to wear face coverings on public transport as a precaution against tions with Russia,” Carafano said. “If unit offered rewards to Taliban-linked cent weeks and Johnson is rolling back na- spreading COVID-19 in the centre of Leicester. — AFP you want a better relationship with tionwide restrictions to revive the economy. militants to kill US-led forces in Russia you would need a different However, in Leicester, in the eastern Mid- Afghanistan. The furor comes weeks Putin. And this is the problem every- lands of England, the seven-day infection Schools close “Policing it is going to be something of a after Trump again offered an olive body has, is you don’t get a different rate was 135 cases per 100,000 people, The Leicester lockdown was overshad- challenge until we know actually what the branch to President Vladimir Putin, Putin,” he said. three times higher than the next highest city. owing a major speech by Johnson later on area is to be policed.” Schools in the city, speaking of inviting him to an ex- Putin, a Soviet-era intelligence offi- Leicester accounted for 10% of all positive Tuesday in Dudley, just 50 miles away, in where the remains of King Richard III of panded summit of the Group of Seven, cer who has spoken of restoring lost cases in England in the past week, the gov- which he will detail plans to rebuild the England were found under a car park in from which Russia was kicked out over Russian glory, has been president or ernment said. “We will be bringing forward British economy after it was battered by the 2012, will close from Thursday with Hancock its 2014 takeover of Crimea. House prime minister since 1999 - and a ref- a legal change very shortly, in the next cou- coronavirus lockdown. Hancock said the saying there had been an unusually high in- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Demo- erendum Wednesday could let him stay ple of days, because some of the measures government was still analyzing the exact rea- cidence of infections in children there. “In crat in Washington, said that with in power until 2036. “There’s nothing that we’ve unfortunately had to take in sons behind the rise of cases in Leicester. the very significant testing that we’ve Trump, “all roads lead to Putin.” that we really need from the Russians Leicester will require a legal underpinning,” However, city mayor Peter Soulsby said it had brought into Leicester ... We have seen a Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican that we can’t live without. And there’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky. been hard to get details from the government number of positive cases in the under 18s in a tight re-election bid, said he would nothing that Russians can really do for Asked if some aspects of the lockdown and even the exact boundaries of the lock- and that’s why we took the decision with a push to declare Russia a state sponsor us that is worth bargaining for,” would be enforced by the police, he said: down. “It’s obviously going to be quite a heavy heart to close schools in Leicester,” of terrorism - a designation with far- Carafano said. Reports said US intelli- “Yes, in some cases.” challenge enforcing it,” Soulsby told Sky. Hancock said. — Reuters reaching legal implications. Trump said gence was assessing the Russian unit’s he was not briefed on the Afghanistan motivations in Afghanistan, from seek- charges. He has scoffed in the past at ing to bog down the United States in a US intelligence, particularly its finding war that Trump is seeking to end, to re- Suspect pleads guilty that Russia interfered to sway the 2016 taliation for US attacks on Russian election to him over Hillary Clinton. In mercenaries in Syria. — AFP to 13 murders, rapes President Donald Trump. “We’ve en- SACRAMENTO: An elderly was held in a Sacramento univer- Facebook advert tered a totally new era of digital ac- ex-policeman confessed on sity ballroom, rather than a court- tivism,” said Greg Sterling, a digital Monday to being the violent se- house, to allow for socially boycott enters a marketing analyst and contributing edi- rial prowler known as the distanced seating amid the coro- tor at Search Engine Land. “Golden State Killer,” pleading navirus pandemic. The defendant new phase “Non-profit groups are appealing to guilty to 13 murders and admit- and his attorneys wore medical- advertisers to police social media, given the general reluctance or refusal of the ting to dozens of rapes and style, clear plastic face shields. WASHINGTON: The advertiser boy- companies to do so themselves. Indeed, break-ins that terrorized Califor- DeAngelo, dressed in orange jail cott of Facebook has morphed into a all social media will be compelled to re- nia during the 1970s and ‘80s. garb, sat expressionless and global digital activist campaign aimed at examine and adjust or adopt new poli- Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, en- slack-jawed in a wheelchair In this file photo Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected ‘Golden curbing hateful and toxic content on the cies that don’t permit hate and racism to tered the pleas as part of a throughout the seven-hour pro- State Killer’, appears in court for his arraignment on April 27, 2018 social media giant. But its impact re- proliferate.” Michelle Amazeen, a Boston broader deal with prosecutors ceeding. He spoke in a weak, in Sacramento, California. — AFP mains unclear. The unprecedented move University professor of communication, sparing him from a potential raspy voice only to give yes and has been joined by major brands like said the latest action “suggests that so- death sentence in return for his no answers to procedural ques- Unilever, Starbucks, Levis and Coca- cial media need to take this issue seri- admission to all of the offenses he tions from the judge, and later to mated conversation with him- than 40 years of investigation Cola, with nearly 200 firms pausing ad- ously or it’s going to affect their bottom stood accused of - charged and answer “guilty” when Bowman self, referring to an apparent that authorities finally solved vertising on the world’s leading social line.” Amazeen added that the move- uncharged - in 11 California asked his plea to each of 13 alter ego named “Jerry,” whom through DNA evidence and data network, and has wiped out billions in he described as being “in my from commercial genealogy ment highlights that “long overdue pres- counties. Under terms of the un- counts of first-degree murder Facebook’s market value. Some compa- sure is finally mounting on social media head” and compelling him to websites. The breakthrough usual plea agreement, approved and kidnapping. nies have signed on to the #StopHate- platforms to be accountable gatekeep- “do those things.” came about two months after the by Superior Court Judge Michael He also replied “I admit” to ForProfit campaign organized by social ers and stop promoting hate and vio- case gained renewed national at- Bowman at Monday’s hearing, dozens of allegations of rape, justice activists, while others have sim- lence for profit.” ‘Not afraid to face him’ tention in the bestselling book, DeAngelo faces life in prison robbery, and other crimes as ply acted on their own to avoid the toxic The wave of announcements last One of many surviving victims “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.” A TV without the possibility of parole prosecutors took turns present- atmosphere of Facebook. week sent Facebook shares tumbling, who attended the hearing, Kris documentary series spawned by rather than a potential death sen- ing “factual-basis” statements Ford, for example said it would pause leading to a loss of some $50 billion in Pedretti, said she felt satisfied the book premiered by coinci- tence. Prosecutors said the deal graphically detailing every mur- all social media advertising to “re-eval- market value, with a partial bounceback with the outcome of DeAngelo’s dence on HBO on Sunday. Be- ensured that aging survivors and der, sexual assault and burglary uate our presence on these platforms,” on Monday. Facebook appeared to re- plea, telling Reuters during a sides the 13 murders and victims’ relatives lived to see the with which DeAngelo was ac- adding that “content that includes hate spond Friday by announcing it would break, “I do think he is owning it.” kidnappings, prosecutors said case resolved, sparing them fur- cused. His admissions encom- speech, violence and racial injustice on ban a “wider category of hateful con- ther legal proceedings likely to passed a total of 161 uncharged Pedretti, who was 15 when sexu- DeAngelo was tied to nearly 50 social platforms needs to be eradi- tent” in ads. Chief executive Mark have dragged on for 10 years. crimes, prosecutors said. Pros- ally assaulted, said she and other rapes and more than 120 home cated.” The boycott gained momentum Zuckerberg said Facebook also would “The time for justice stands in ecutors also revealed that on the survivors “want people to know invasions - mostly in and around amid the latest civil unrest as activists add tags to posts that are “newsworthy” front of us now,” said Amy Holli- day of his arrest, while alone in that there’s hope and that we’re Sacramento, the eastern San have pressed Facebook to be more ag- but violate platform rules - following the day, deputy district attorney for an interview room, DeAngelo not afraid to face him.” DeAn- Francisco Bay area and Southern gressive in curbing racism and inflam- lead of Twitter, which has used such la- Sacramento County. The hearing was overheard having an ani- gelo’s arrest in 2018 capped more California. — Reuters matory content, including from bels on tweets from Trump. — AFP 8 Established 1961 International Wednesday, July 1, 2020 More domestic flights, interstate trains; India eases virus lockdown Pilgrims trickle back to the Ganges; India lockdown eases

NEW DELHI: India will allow more domestic flights than 85,000 cases. The government has been criticized MK Vashistha, a wizened priest, told AFP that his eld- string contains records going back 11 generations for and interstate train services to operate but keep over a lack of testing that experts say has hidden the ers would recount how even in the Spanish flu pan- thousands of families. “This is our culture, our tradition schools shut as the nation of 1.3 billion further eases true number of cases in India. demic a century ago - which hit India hard - and history. It may be difficult for people to find their its lockdown despite growing concern about rising cremations on the banks of the holy river still took kids’ school notebook after six months, but we’ve kept coronavirus cases. The South Asian nation recorded Pilgrims trickle back place constantly. “Things still didn’t stop here at that these records for centuries,” Jha said. The tomes, some almost 550,000 virus infections on Monday, includ- Meanwhile, life is slowly returning to normal among time, like they have now,” he said. In the past few weeks 500 years old - the birch leaves used before then have ing 16,475 deaths, making it the fourth worst-hit in the hallowed temples of Haridwar, one of Hinduism’s as India has eased restrictions - even as case numbers long since crumbled - are written in a mix of Hindi, terms of case numbers after the US, Brazil and Russia. holiest places, but the Indian pilgrimage town still has have surged - a few pilgrims have begun to return. Urdu and Punjabi, reflecting the area’s complex mix of But with the economy struggling during the shut- a forlorn air as the country emerges from its coron- Now though, instead of broadcasting hymns and languages and cultures. People from all over come to down, authorities have sought to restart activities chants, Haridwar’s loudspeakers blare announcements trace their ancestors and are visibly touched to see while maintaining “containment zones” to try and limit telling people to wear masks and use sanitizer. Temples their forebears’ handwriting, tipping the priests hand- the virus spread. ask devotees to keep a safe distance from each other somely for a detailed family tree. “Domestic flights and passenger trains have already and keep away from the statues of the gods that they been allowed in a limited manner. Their operations will usually touch, bless and offer flowers, sweets and ‘We can’t live in fear’ be further expanded in a calibrated manner,” the Home India records crumpled rupee banknotes to. “Look around,” Tan- Haridwar’s usually narrow and congested bylanes, Affairs ministry said late Monday in its “Unlock 2” many Vashishta from the Shri Ganga Sabha, one of full of shops selling religious books, artifacts, statues guidelines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to ad- 16,475 deaths Haridwar’s most influential religious groups, told AFP, of Hindu gods, clothes, toys and sweets, have also never dress the nation in a speech yesterday. The new meas- pointing to a few hundred pilgrims on the streets, most been so deserted. “It isn’t a good situation right now,” ures - which also include a shorter night curfew - will in masks and keeping their distance. “This isn’t even Jyoti Arora, the owner of a shop bereft of customers come into force today and remain in place until the end one or two percent of the normal times.” told AFP. “Right now, who knows who could be corona of July. The night curfew would be further relaxed to positive? Even we take a daily risk coming for work, permit the movement of people and goods for work or Centuries of records but we have to do it for our families.” Many normally when they take public transport, the ministry said. avirus lockdown. The town usually teems with tens of Hugging the banks of the Ganges as it emerges from busy hotels, eateries and restaurants remain shut. Schools, metro trains in cities, cinemas, gyms and thousands of visitors who flock from far and wide for the Himalayas, Haridwar is believed to be one of four Thousands of workers have gone back to their swimming pools would remain closed, while activities a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges and to catch places where drops of the elixir of immortality were home villages, and nobody is sure when they will come in “containment zones” would still be severely re- riverside prayer ceremonies at dusk. But India remains spilled from a pitcher carried by the mythical bird back. One of the few pilgrims to return is Mohit Kumar, stricted, it added. Under a major easing of the lock- in the grip of a raging COVID-19 outbreak that has Garuda. A trickle of customers are now returning for who came from Delhi to take a purifying dip in the down in early June, places of religious worship, hotels, claimed more than 15,000 lives and infected over half the town’s famous ancient order of some 2,500 Hindu Ganges, which is looking slightly cleaner for the lock- restaurants and shopping malls were allowed to re- a million people. priests who since time immemorial have registered down. “We can’t live in fear. We have taken all precau- open. The virus has particularly hit India’s densely For the first time in as long as any local can remem- births and deaths for visiting pilgrims. tions, and pray that everyone around us stays healthy,” populated cities and there are now major concerns for ber, pilgrims stopped coming in late March after India Deepak Jha, one eighth-generation such “purohit”, he said, accompanied by two friends as he headed to New Delhi which has overtaken Mumbai with more imposed the world’s biggest coronavirus shutdown. says the chunky ledger he is rolling up and tying with the holy river. — Agencies

not to use her surname. Alka and her Army of women colleagues visit households and ask the Ukraine becoming occupants to fill out a questionnaire on workers on any virus symptoms they might have ‘online baby store’; and their recent travel histories. Many of the residents are among the India front line millions of migrant workers left jobless surrogacy booms and destitute by the months-long virus lockdown imposed by the government KIEV: Tears of joy stream down Andrea MEERUT: Unprotected and poorly in March. If someone looks like a po- Viez’s face as she lifts her baby boy, born to paid, an all-women army of health tential case, the ASHAs report them to a surrogate mother in Ukraine. “He’s a star,” workers confront suspicion, anger and authorities. Some ASHAS have been the Argentinian in her late 40s says, her the threat of infection as they go door physically attacked by villagers who voice trembling. After nine years of trying to door searching for coronavirus suf- fear they are carrying the virus or are to have a child, Viez can finally hold her son ferers in India’s poor communities. government spies. During a recent in her arms, thanks to a booming surrogacy About a million accredited social health doorknock in a village in the northern industry in Ukraine that has given hope to activists, or ASHAs, are deployed in state of Uttar Pradesh, Alka and her thousands of struggling would-be parents. cities and villages to administer basic two colleagues were spotted by eight But behind their dream-come-true is a medical care such as vaccinations and men in a store who came out and sur- highly profitable and murky business that delivering babies. But as the number of rounded them. many worry is taking advantage of desper- confirmed infections in India soars past The men shouted at the women about ate young women and operating in a grey KIEV: Argentinian Andrea Viez holds her baby as she and her husband collect their son 500,000, the women find themselves the shortage of basic food and protec- zone open to abuse. born to a surrogate mother, in the Hotel Venice in Kiev. — AFP on the front line of the battle against tion against the virus. Standing her “Ukraine is becoming an international the contagion, identifying potential ground, Alka said she told the men: online baby store,” the country’s commis- cases and educating locals in the hope “Even we don’t get gear and grains. and pick up their children a few weeks later. Antonov, who runs a law firm specializing sioner for children’s rights Mykola Kuleba of slowing its spread. Where will we get it for you?” Such ha- Though it has existed since the early 2000s, in reproductive issues. Women are some- warned last month, condemning the “ex- ASHA workers told AFP they had rassment is bearable, she told AFP. “Re- the industry exploded in Ukraine after India times not paid promised amounts or are ploitation” of Ukrainian women and calling nothing except their headscarves to cently some locals tore the clothes on and Thailand outlawed commercial surro- housed in terrible conditions during the protect them from the virus and were for a ban on the industry. The fact that gacy for foreigners about five years ago. later stages of their pregnancies. In some one woman while she was working.” Ukraine is one of the few countries allowing often abused by people angry about One the poorest countries in Europe, the cases parents have discovered they have no Given the lack of contact tracing in India, commercial surrogacy for foreigners was the government’s handling of the out- post-Soviet nation is also known for its at- genetic link with children born to surro- the ASHAs were “critical elements” in oddly thrown into the spotlight by the coro- break, which is one of the worst in the tractive prices, with birth through a surro- gates. Authorities suspect some clinics are India’s fight against COVID-19, said navirus. When travel restrictions imposed to world. “I have been an ASHA for 14 gate costing about $42,000. In the United also using surrogacy as a cover for illegal Anant Bhan, a leading public health ex- fight the pandemic prevented dozens of years now and never have I been as States it can cost more than twice as much. commercial adoptions. “It’s total chaos,” pert. The women know their communi- parents from picking up their children born scared to knock on a door with my ties well, Bhan said. But their work is Antonov says. Olga Korsunova, a 27-year- to surrogates, a local surrogacy company ‘Total chaos’ bare hands. We don’t have gloves, not difficult and poorly paid despite a 1,000 old going through her fourth surrogate posted a video online showing the infants There are no official statistics, but ex- pregnancy, says women “very often” have even masks,” said Alka, who asked AFP rupee ($13) coronavirus bonus. — AFP lying in rows of plastic cots in a hotel on the perts say between 2,500 and 3,000 chil- trouble obtaining money they were prom- edge of Kiev. dren are born every year through ised. They are most often hired through in- The BioTexCom clinic hoped to draw at- surrogacy in Ukraine for foreign parents. termediaries who keep part of the tention to the stranded babies’ plight. It About a third of customers are Chinese. surrogacy fee. Korsunova is paid $400 a worked and the government stepped in to The industry is poorly regulated and rife month during a pregnancy and receives help parents like Viez obtain special permits with abuse and corruption, says Sergiy $15,000 after delivery. — AFP

Stock exchange attack ‘targeted MEERUT: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers (2nd left to right) Nir- mala, Alka and Meenkashi talk to a woman during a door-to-door survey to China, Pakistan’ check on residents after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19. — AFP KARACHI: Separatists from Pakistan’s Balochistan province attacked the national stock exchange in Karachi on Monday, stitute that laid bare the penetration of killing four people in a brazen daylight as- Distorted virus such foreign outlets in English-language sault the breakaway group said also tar- markets. In their French, German as well geted Chinese interests. Four gunmen drove as Spanish output, state media groups up to the entrance gate of the Pakistan Stock news takes root have “politicized the coronavirus by crit- Exchange around 10:00 am (05H00 GMT) icizing Western democracies, praising then lobbed a grenade before opening fire in the West their home countries, and promoting con- with automatic weapons, officials said. spiracy theories about the origins of the All four attackers were killed in an ensu- ing firefight as they attempted to storm the LONDRES: Coronavirus misinformation virus,” the institute said. “A majority of the KARACHI: Mourners carry the coffin of a private security guard, killed in a gunmen attack exchange, along with three security guards spread by Russian and Chinese journalists content in these outlets is factually based. at the Pakistan Stock Exchange building, during his funeral in Karachi. —AFP is finding a bigger audience on social But what they have, especially if you look and a policeman, the Karachi police said in media in France and Germany than con- at the Russian outlets, is an agenda to dis- a statement. In an email to AFP, the Balochis- tent from the European nations’ own pre- credit democratic countries,” Oxford re- tan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed respon- The BLA have targeted infrastructure rity unit describing the firefight. “I shot one mier news outlets, according to new searcher Jonathan Bright told AFP. sibility and said the assault was not only projects and Chinese workers in Pakistan of them dead... The second guy saw me and... research. Whether it is distorted coverage “The subtle weave in the overarching targeting “Pakistan’s economy” but was “an multiple times in recent years, including an he took out a grenade. I shot him twice in his or outright conspiracy theories, articles narrative is that democracy is on the attack on Chinese economic interests in re- attack on Beijing’s consulate in Karachi that hand and his weapon fell down. I then shot written in French and German by foreign verge of collapse.” The institute looked at sponse to China’s exploitative plans in killed four people in 2018. In May last year, him in the head as he tried to pull out the state media are resonating widely on output from Russia’s RT broadcaster and Balochistan”. the BLA attacked a luxury hotel near grenade pin,” said Mohammad Rafiq, a mem- Facebook and Twitter, often with their ori- Sputnik news agency; China Global Tel- The BLA have long accused China of Gwadar, where a deepwater port develop- ber of an elite rapid response team. The video gins unclear, the Oxford Internet Institute evision Network (CGTN), China Radio plundering Balochistan, the largest of Pak- ment is a CPEC flagship project. The BLA is of the officer was shared widely online, with said in a report published on Monday. International (CRI) and Xinhua News istan’s four provinces that makes up the just one of several insurgent groups fighting social media users calling Rafiq a hero.Last The institute, which is part of Oxford Agency; plus foreign-language output southwestern part of the country. The sep- primarily in Balochistan, which has been year, the US State Department designated University, looked at content generated from Iranian and Turkish networks. It aratists say Chinese-backed projects un- rocked by separatist, Islamist and sectarian the BLA as a global terrorist group, making by leading media outlets from Russia and measured median engagement per fairly exploit the region’s mineral and violence for years. it a crime for anyone in the United States to China, as well as from Iran and Turkey - shared article - how many times a user hydrocarbon resources. Impoverished Pak- assist the militants and freezing any US as- all of which are state-controlled or closely actively shares or likes an article on Face- istan has repeatedly turned to Beijing for in- Shot in the head sets they may have. Following Monday’s at- aligned to regimes in power. Its report book, or comments about it and retweets vestments and loans including under the Pakistan’s military praised the swift re- tack, Pakistani authorities vowed to strike comes as the US government imposes it on Twitter. The study covered each $54-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corri- sponse of the city’s security forces in Mon- back against any group found responsible, new restrictions on Chinese state media, outlet’s 20 most popular stories from dor (CPEC) that Western critics say will be day’s attack, while the Karachi police released promising to dismantle their networks and and builds on previous research by the in- May 18 to June 5. —AFP of greatest benefit to China in the long run. a video of one member of a provincial secu- destroy their bases. — AFP Established 1961

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 Business

Pandemic set to undo decade Nepal families face hunger Latin America’s airline apocalypse 10of progress in Africa: IMF 10 as virus hits remittances 11 signals a future with weak rivalry

TOKYO: People wearing face masks walk across a street at Kabukicho district of Tokyo. Japan’s unemployment rate rose to 2.9 percent in May, official data showed yesterday. —AFP Japan jobless data mask woe for millions Country’s unemployment rate climbed to 2.9% in May

TOKYO: Unlike most major global powers, Japan has fear they will have few options to recruit when the cri- ‘In limbo’ been spared an explosion in unemployment during the sis passes. Japanese law also makes it difficult for com- These staff are still technically on the payroll of coronavirus pandemic, despite the world’s third- panies to hire and fire flexibly during a downturn, notes their firms and so not included in the official unem- biggest economy suffering its first recession in more Munehisa Tamura from the Daiwa Institute of Research. ployment data but many temporary workers complain than five years. “Therefore, even if an economic shock happens, they are getting paid very little or nothing at all. However, economists say the situation is not as generally speaking, it does not directly lead to an “I was told to stay home, using my paid holidays,” Saudi economy rosy as the low headline figure may suggest, with mil- immediate and sharp spike in unemployment,” he told said one restaurant employee, who spoke to AFP on lions struggling to make ends meet on precarious tem- AFP. Even then, analysts point out the low rate does not condition of anonymity. But his handful of paid holi- porary contracts. The latest figures published yester- account for millions—especially women—who gave up days were quickly used up. contracts 1% day showed Japan’s unemployment rate climbed to 2.9 their job during the pandemic to care for family and are “For all of April, May and until now, I have been percent in May, up 0.3 percentage points from April paid no salary. Absolutely zero.” He said seven other amid oil plunge and the third consecutive increase. shift workers were in a similar position, while four full- There were 120 jobs available for every 100 job- time regular employees were continuing to work and DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s economy contracted by 1 seekers, compared with 132 in April. This was the be paid. percent in the first quarter, official data showed yes- steepest fall in this closely watched indicator since the His employer, contacted by AFP, declined to com- terday, but the figures only marginally captured the 1974 oil crisis. Economists forecast the unemployment Firms leave ment. But the case is far from unique, experts say. collapse in oil prices and the coronavirus crisis, which rate in Japan will hit four percent by the end of the Union official Tetsuya Obayashi told AFP it was deteriorated in March. “This negative growth origi- year, as the tourism and hospitality sectors suffer from shift workers “easier for companies to leave shift workers in limbo”. nated mainly from the contraction in the oil sector by border closures and people staying at home because “When the economy comes back, they can use them 4.6 percent, while the non-oil sector recorded a posi- of the virus. in limbo again. Shift-workers are nothing but a convenient tive growth rate of 1.6 percent,” the General Authority Many countries would welcome an unemployment buffer.” for Statistics said, citing preliminary estimates. The rate of “only” four percent, with the luxury of having According to Ippei Torii, head of an NGO support- world’s largest oil exporter is facing its worst eco- more jobs than jobseekers. The US unemployment rate ing overseas workers, the worst affected are foreign nomic decline this year after the COVID-19 pandemic hit 13.3 percent in May, with more than 47 million peo- staff, who made up just 2.7 percent of the workforce dampened global crude demand and measures to ple laid off since coronavirus lockdowns began. not counted as jobseekers. in 2019 but frequently occupy temporary and precari- contain the coronavirus hurt the kingdom’s non- And some critics say the apparently healthy unem- ous jobs. “They will be the last to go back to work,” oil economy. Temporary contracts ployment data belies the daily reality for millions— he told AFP. “The coronavirus crisis means that this is some- So why has Japan’s rate stayed so low? One major especially the 40 percent of the workforce on tempo- Geraldine, a hotel cleaner in Tokyo from the what old news and the figures for Q2 will almost cer- explanation lies in the country’s dearth of workers rary or part-time contracts. The government launched a Philippines, told AFP she is now working just 10 tainly be terrible,” James Swanston, MENA econo- owing to an ageing population. Japan has the world’s massive economic package that includes funds to help days a month, three hours a shift. “I earn less than mist at Capital Economics said. only “super-aged” society where more than 28 percent businesses keep employees on — 4.2 million are on this 10 percent of my salary,” she said. “Right now I’m In the first quarter, the value of Saudi Arabia’s oil of people are 65 and over. This means firms are reluc- furlough system, according to government data, some living on my savings. But they are almost complete- exports plunged by about $11 billion year on year, and tant to lay people off even during a recession, as they six percent of the workforce. ly gone.” —AFP in April alone the drop was of about $12 billion, official data showed this month. Sharp production cuts in exhibitors need time to be able to invest in the show.” May and June, aimed at lifting oil prices, are likely to Geneva auto show It also pointed out that it was unclear whether the weigh further on oil GDP in the second quarter, and health and safety situation next March would allow for figures released by the central bank this week showed the organization of an event that usually draws more the non-oil economy continued to suffer in May. 2021 cancelled than 600,000 visitors and 10,000 journalists. This Profits for the banking sector posted an annual year’s edition was cancelled after Switzerland banned decline of nearly 40 percent in May and points of sale large gatherings before introducing stricter lockdown transactions were down by nearly 16 percent, accord- over virus crisis ing to Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority data. measures to fight the novel coronavirus. GENEVA: The wealthy Alpine nation has, like other European “Lockdown measures and weak confidence contin- Geneva’s auto show was cancelled this ued to take a toll on spending,” said Dubai-based countries, lifted many of those measures, but still has year amid the coronavirus pandemic, and organizers Arqaam Capital, which estimated consumer spending restrictions on large gatherings. The foundation said said Monday they were also scrapping the 2021 edi- GENEVA: This file photo shows a press day of the Geneva fell by 32 percent year on year last month after a 35 tion as the auto sector reels from the crisis. that back in March, it had asked the canton of Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva. The annual Geneva percent decline in April. International Motor Show was cancelled earlier this year The executive committee of the foundation that to provide financial support to help cover 11 million Hoping to raise non-oil revenues, the government amid the coronavirus pandemic. —AFP runs the Geneva International Motor Show, a major Swiss francs ($11.6 million, 10.3 million euros) it lost has ordered an increase in value-added tax, but this event on the auto industry calendar, said that after when the 2020 edition was cancelled at the last is likely to dampen consumer spending and slow polling exhibitors, it had “given up the idea to organize minute, and to help prepare for next year’s show. loan of 16.8 million francs, but it had been forced to down economic recovery as measures to contain the a 2021 edition. “A majority of exhibitors have said they The GIMS is the largest public event organized in turn down the money due to the reimbursement con- coronavirus are lifted, economists have said. probably will not participate in a 2021 edition and that Switzerland, and usually fills the Geneva region’s cof- ditions, and a stipulation that it host an event in 2021. The International Monetary Fund estimates they would prefer taking part in a 2022 edition,” a fers with around 200 million francs each year, the Instead, it said that it was exploring selling GIMS Saudi Arabia’s economy will shrink by 6.8 percent statement said. The GIMS Foundation noted the auto foundation pointed out. At the beginning of June, it to the Palexpo exhibition space where the show nor- this year. —Reuters sector was “currently facing a major crisis, and the said, the Geneva cantonal government approved a mally is held. —AFP 10 Established 1961 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Business Pandemic set to undo decade of progress in Africa: IMF Sub-Saharan African economy could shrink 3.2% in 2020

WASHIGTON: The coronavirus pandemic could IMF expects the Seychelles to shrink by 13.8 per- set back incomes in sub-Saharan Africa by a cent in 2020 and Mauritius by 12.2 percent. decade as weak oil prices, a tourism standstill and Even diversified economies will suffer. business lockdowns shrink the region’s economy Ethiopia’s GDP is expected to grow just 1.9 per- 3.2 percent in 2020, an IMF official said Monday. cent in fiscal year 2020 then “stall completely” Activity is expected to recover in 2021, but the following year, the IMF said. South Africa, the countries first will have to get through a year in continent’s most-industrialized economy—which which many will see tepid growth at best, while also has the highest number of recorded coron- those that rely on commodities or tourism will suf- avirus infections—will contract 8.0 percent in fer severe declines. 2020 due to lockdowns imposed to curb the “It is a worrisome picture, really, in terms of the virus, a risk Abebe said countries across the con- economic outlook, and really reflects the continu- tinent face. ing weak global economic environment that coun- “Unfortunately, the region remains still on the tries in the region face,” exponential side of how Africa director for the the pandemic is playing International Monetary out in the vast majority of Fund Abebe Aemro countries,” he said. Selassie told AFP. Crisis lender “Absent vigilance, there’s The continent is grap- no reason why we cannot pling with more than to jack up expect the same kind of 383,000 cases of coron- dynamics that we’ve seen avirus, according to the Africa aid elsewhere in terms of the Africa Centres for pandemic.” Disease Control and Prevention. The IMF on Fear of spillovers An exterior view of the building of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seen in Washington, Monday released its The Washington- DC. The coronavirus pandemic could set African incomes back a decade as weak oil prices, updated outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, showing based crisis lender has moved quickly to roll out curbed tourism and business lockdowns contract the continent’s economy 3.2 percent in 2020, an the downturn is set to cause a drop in real per- support programs to help African economies IMF official said. —AFP capita income of as much as 15 percent in all but weather the downturn, with aid totaling up to $10 two countries, meaning the region overall will suf- billion over the last two months or so, and more to fer a decline of 7.0 percent, back to where it was be announced, Abebe said. Africa also stands to The world’s poorest continent is expected to China, and Washington’s threat of new taxes on a decade ago. benefit from debt relief agreed to in April by the rebound in 2021 with growth in sub-Saharan European goods amid a trade feud, Abebe warned With oil prices low globally, crude exporters G20 representing the world’s largest economies. Africa of 3.4 percent, assuming lockdowns have that wider tensions could threaten Africa’s recov- will be badly hit. Nigeria is expected to shrink by There is “strong willingness to provide” the eased and the pandemic does not get markedly ery. “A tense geopolitical environment, one which 5.4 percent and Angola by 4.0 percent, its fifth relief and about 25 countries have applied, though worse with a second wave of infections. leads to adverse trade outcomes, growth out- straight year of economic contraction. Flight bans details are still being discussed with some credi- But given the tentative nature of the “phase comes, economic outcomes, will also have some and health concerns mean less tourists, and the tors, Abebe said. one” trade deal between the United States and spillover on the region.” —AFP Nepal families face India plans sops hunger as virus for auto firms hits remittances KATHMANDU: Nepali housewife Shiba Kala Limbu grimaced as she recalled how she went to boost exports hungry in order to feed her five-year-old daugh- NEW DELHI: India is drawing up an incentive ter after the coronavirus pandemic cost her hus- scheme for the autos sector aimed at doubling band his job as a mason in the Gulf state of Qatar. exports of vehicles and components in the next The 25-year-old said she had no money for five years, four sources with direct knowledge of rent after the payments from her husband, Ram the matter told Reuters. Kumar, stopped. “It is painful,” she said, as she The Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) peeled potatoes in a dimly lit kitchen that doubles has sought feedback from auto industry groups as her bedroom in the Baniyatar locality of the on the initial proposal, which suggests giving Nepali capital. incentives over five years to increase local pro- “I skipped several evening meals to save what- duction and procurement for export, the ever little food I had for my daughter.” The spread sources said. of the deadly respiratory disease caused by the The incentives would be based on the sales virus has choked economies worldwide and value of vehicles or components and pitched millions of migrant workers out of jobs, eligible companies would need to meet certain leaving them unable to send money home. conditions, including a minimum revenue and More than 56 percent of Nepal’s estimated 5.4 million households receive remittances that are a profit threshold and presence in at least 10 coun- KATHMANDU: A Nepali housewife Shiba Kala Limbu ties up her five-year-old daughter Masim Limbu’s vital lifeline for families that have no other source tries, two of the sources said, adding the form the hair in Kathmandu. —Reuters incentives would take had not been decided. of income, official figures show. Remittances DHI did not immediately respond to a request totaled $8.1 billion last year, or more than a quar- for comment. The move is part of India’s effort to ter of Nepal’s gross domestic product, but are Limbu, the housewife, used to receive up to pling interest rates to ensure she and her 15-year- create ‘champion’ sectors to attract investment, likely to drop 14% in 2020 because of the global 20,000 Nepali rupees ($165) every month before old son can survive. “If the corona (virus) situation generate jobs and boost manufacturing, and recession caused by the virus, as well as a fall in the pandemic. does not improve, we’ll have to eat only one meal comes amid calls by Prime Minister Narendra oil prices, the World Bank says. But in the last six months she has received only a day,” Marasini said. Modi to be self-reliant as a nation. Millions of Nepali migrants work in the oil-rich 40,000 Nepali rupees from her husband, most of it The virus has caused 13,248 infections and 29 India wants to promote exports and has iden- Gulf countries and Malaysia. Remittances are cru- borrowed from his friends. “That’s all he has man- deaths in Nepal. Some migrants, like Limbu’s hus- tified some sectors, including autos and textiles, cial for lower-middle-class families that have aged to send this year,” she said. “I used some of it band Ram Kumar, are staying overseas despite the for which incentive plans are being designed, moved to city centers and rely on them to pay for to pay for the rent and the rest to buy groceries.” loss of their jobs, in hopes the situation will said a senior government official. “For autos the rent, groceries, school fees and utilities, said ana- In the southwestern town of Gajedah, Radha improve and they can resume work. government has engaged with various stakehold- lyst Ganesh Gurung. “Without remittances these Marasini said her husband, Indra Mani, lost his job “It is traumatic to be away from the family,” ers. We have to see what needs to be done in the families will get poorer and crimes like human as a security guard at a textile factory in India’s Kumar said from Qatar, which plans a limited re- global context,” said the official, adding that even trafficking and prostitution could rise,” said northern city of Ludhiana after the outbreak. opening of restaurants, beaches and parks from though talks are in early stages and details have Gurung, an expert on migrant issues at the Nepal As her income dried up, the 43-year-old had no July 1. “If there was any hope for finding a job in not been finalized there is a plan to give a “big Institute of Development Studies think tank. option but to turn to a local lender and pay crip- Nepal, I would go.” —Reuters push” to the sector. India’s auto sector exports touched $27 bil- (NBS). The readings will be welcomed lion in the fiscal year ending March 2019, led as the economy slowly emerges from by companies including Ford Motor, Hyundai China factory the disease, having shrunk in the first Motor, Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen and Bosch, quarter for the first time in decades. which analysts say stand to gain the most. The activity picks NBS senior statistician Zhao push, however, comes at a time when auto sales Qinghe noted that the surprise uptick globally have been battered because of the came as “supply and demand contin- coronavirus pandemic and demand may take a up in June ued to pick up” in June, while imports while to recover. and exports are also looking better as To make it a success in the present scenario, BEIJING: China’s factory activity major global markets restart their India needs to ensure the proposal is not com- picked up pace in June, official data economies. But he warned there were plicated by too many conditions and is not showed yesterday, although analysts still “uncertainties”, with the import based on sales targets, said Vinay Piparsania, warned weak global demand and a and export indexes below the 50- consulting director, automotive, at Counterpoint potential coronavirus resurgence are mark and a larger number of small Research. “Having a liberal trade policy will weighing on its longer-term recovery. enterprises reporting a lack of orders. allow companies to bring in new and global The world’s second-largest econo- UOB economist Ho Woei Chen technologies which will increase their scale and my has been whirring back to life after told AFP the poorer performance of India’s competitiveness as an export hub,” he the virus and sweeping lockdowns small businesses suggests China’s said. —Reuters prompted a near-halt in activity at the start of the year. But economists cau- government needs to continue pro- tion that momentum may weaken in viding targeted support. And while the second half of 2020 as key mar- there was a relatively good recovery kets struggle to recover from the cri- in the second quarter, Nomura chief BEIJING: A woman wearing a face mask picks out shoes at a shop in Beijing yesterday. —AFP sis and as orders for medical supplies China economist Lu Ting flagged abroad—which have boosted “strong headwinds ahead and height- exports—peak and fall. ened uncertainty”. China’s Purchasing Managers’ “The momentum could lose some cities dealt a blow to the service sec- Economics added that overseas ship- Index (PMI), a key gauge of activity in steam in coming months,” he warned. tor,” he said, adding that recent data ments “look ripe for a pullback factories, came in at 50.9 points in Lu told AFP the manufacturing PMI suggested no clear recovery in despite the improvement in export June, better than the 50.5 forecast in a improvement may have been driven tourism in recent months. orders”, with demand for virus-relat- Bloomberg News poll of analysts and by an improvement in new export Premier Li Keqiang has made sta- ed products like masks that were up 0.3 points from May. Anything orders but they remained in contrac- bilizing employment a top priority, needed in the global outbreak likely to above 50 is considered to show tion territory, adding that the fall in targeting new urban employment of weaken. “But the continued rapid expansion. the employment sub-index also did over nine million—a drop from 11 mil- issuance of government bonds means MANESAR: Cars are seen parked at Maruti Suzuki’s The non-manufacturing PMI came not bode well. lion targeted in 2019 — after the pan- that infrastructure spending should plant at Manesar —Reuters in at 54.4 points from 53.6, according “The rebound in new COVID-19 demic hit. remain strong and help keep the to the National Bureau of Statistics cases in Beijing and some surrounding Martin Rasmussen of Capital recovery on track,” he said. —AFP Established 1961 11 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Business Latin America’s airline apocalypse signals a future with weak rivalry Airlines mull once-unthinkable cooperation with rivals

SAO PAULO: Bankrupt LATAM Airlines and Avianca industry group. “Less connectivity means less choice, Holdings are dramatically retrenching their once grand and less choice usually translates into higher prices.” ambitions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing All airlines in Latin America face some risk of disap- competition in Latin America as they mull once- pearing, analysts say. Dominant LATAM and Avianca unthinkable cooperation with rivals. have filed for bankruptcy protection, while auditors for Since May, LATAM has exited Argentina, partnered Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes are seeking to with rival Azul SA in Brazil and cut back domestic include a formal warning in the airline’s financial state- operations in Chile, while Avianca has departed Peru. ments that the carrier risks disappearing. LATAM is now open to a deeper alliance with Azul, Azul and Aeromexico have hired restructuring even as the two airlines usually control a combined 60 advisers, while Panama’s Copa Holdings has not flown percent of Brazil’s domestic market. since late March, straining its finances. One airline that could stand to benefit is Chile- based JetSMART, which is considering entering Brazil’s domestic market. JetSMART’s expansion is backed by deep pockets Scaling back at private equity firm Indigo Partners, which also holds stakes in Frontier, Wizz Air and Mexico’s Volaris. Indigo could reshape Partners founder Bill Franke told Reuters he expects to look into helping finance Avianca’s restructuring. That air travel could bring Avianca closer to JetSMART, keeping the Colombian airline’s markets safe from competition. Avianca declined to comment. An employee does maintenance work in an Avianca airlines aircraft on the tarmac at El Dorado International Airport during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. – AFP ‘Dividing the market’ If JetSMART expands to Brazil, it would arrive as The scaling back could reshape air travel competition is diminishing. Last year, LATAM and Gol in Latin America, weakening competition regionally fought to keep Azul from entering a key Sao Paulo air- ket the same flight sharing one aircraft - will reduce Chile’s LAN and Brazil’s TAM, which saddled the new and driving up ticket prices while also helping some port. “JetSMART in Brazil would wreak havoc on the air-travel supply, “which will benefit all of us.” The carrier with big expenses. Not long ago, LATAM and carriers survive. The moves show how the industry is current players,” said an air industry executive. LATAM-Azul partnership has led to speculation about Avianca had their planes in almost every corner already shrinking through attrition, as airlines are too But the coronavirus has turned competition into a the future. in Latin America, controlling a combined 60 percent of cash-strapped to consider buying the competition. secondary concern, evidenced by the lack of pushback “It could be the first step for deeper integration, the domestic markets in Colombia, Chile and Peru. “More than consolidation, many airlines will disap- against the LATAM-Azul code-share. The code-share even a merger,” said Andre Castellini, an aviation con- But Avianca pulled out of Peru in May, calling the pear,” said Eliseo Llamazares, an aviation consultant at “would have been untenable before,” said Carlos sultant at Bain & Company. domestic market unprofitable, surrendering to LATAM, KPMG. Latin American governments increasingly rec- Ozores, an aviation consultant at ICF. LATAM and Azul deny merger talks, but a source which has dominated travel there since the 1990s. ognize there is a new reality, and have shifted their pri- The current partnership applies only to non-over- familiar with the code-share talks said it is “possible.” LATAM, in turn, departed Argentina earlier this orities to keeping local airlines alive instead of attract- lapping routes, but LATAM said it is “open to evaluat- More than mergers, so-called joint business agree- month after losing an accumulated $350 million since ing new players. ing the possibility of the eventual future expansion of ments are in vogue. Recently, LATAM signed one with 2012. What it shows is airlines willing to surrender mar- Attrition has also occurred in Ecuador, where TAME this code-share” to overlapping routes. “They are Delta Air Lines Inc , while Avianca, Copa and United ket share that they fought hard in normal times to shut down, and in Mexico, where Interjet has scaled dividing the market for themselves,” an executive at a have announced a rival one. The agreements allow for maintain. “To talk about competition in this context back. “If this trend is allowed to continue, connectivity rival airline said of LATAM and Azul. deep route integration, without all the expenses and makes no sense, this is a fight for survival,” Bain’s around the region will be affected,” said Peter Cerda, Gol CEO Paulo Kakinoff said code-share agree- red tape of an actual merger. Castellini said. “Airlines are going to prioritize their sur- vice president for the Americas at IATA, an airline ments - in which two or more airlines publish and mar- LATAM was born out of the difficult merger of vival over their market share.” – Reuters

BP sells petchem arm to Ineos for $5 billion German Amazon

workers strike LONDON: British energy group BP, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic slashing demand for oil, for pay deal announced Monday the sale of its petrochemical busi- ness to privately-owned rival Ineos for $5.0 billion (4.4 FRANKFURT: Hundreds of workers walked out billion euros). at Amazon sites across Germany Monday to press “The agreed sale... will further strengthen BP’s bal- An INEOS logo on the JS Ineon Insight ship as it arrives to for a binding pay and conditions agreement and Gulf Bank winner ance sheet and delivers its target for agreed divestments dock at Grangemouth in Scotland. British energy group BP, highlight coronavirus risks, but the company has a year earlier than originally scheduled,” a statement hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic slashing demand for so far brushed off their demands. “We’re upping said. BP chief executive Bernard Looney added: “I rec- oil, announced Monday, the sale of its petrochemical busi- the pressure as Amazon has so far given no sign Al-Rashdan claims ognize this decision will come as a surprise and we will ness to rival Ineos for $5.0 billion (4.4 billion euros). – AFP of understanding and is endangering employees’ do our best to minimize uncertainty. I am confident health for company profits,” Orhan Akman, a rep- cash prize up to 12 however that the businesses will thrive as part of Ineos, statement Monday. BP’s aromatic and acetyls business resentative for service workers’ union Verdi, said a global leader in petrochemicals.” consists of 15 sites—five in the Americas, two in Europe in a statement. times his salary BP said that 1,700 staff employed by its petrochemi- and eight across Asia. Local worker representatives estimated that cal business worldwide were expected to transfer to “Aromatics provides the building blocks for the up to 450 employees joined the strike at an KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced the winner of its Ineos on completion of the sale that meets a $15-billion global polyester industry, key to fibers, films and pack- Amazon logistics center in the western town of third monthly Salary Account draw of the year, which divestment target one year early. “Today’s agreement is aging,” Ineos said in its statement. “Acetyls support a Rheinberg. Walkouts were also planned to last was postponed since March. This month’s lucky win- another deliberate step in building a BP that can com- wide range of downstream industries in food flavoring into Tuesday in Werne, Leipzig, Bad Hersfeld and ner, Mohammad Mansour Rashed Al-Rashdan, will pete and succeed through the energy transition,” and preservation, pharmaceuticals, paints, adhesives Koblenz, some accompanied by protests. Akman take home a cash prize of up to 12 times his salary. The Looney said. The Irish national, who became CEO of BP and packaging,” it added. highlighted a recent coronavirus outbreak in Bad Salary Account draw took place at Gulf Bank’s Head in February, is targeting “net zero” carbon emissions for Ineos will pay $4.0 billion to BP upon completion of Hersfeld with “30 to 40 colleagues infected” as Office in the presence of a representative from the the company by 2050. the deal—and the remaining $1.0 billion by June 2021. one pressing reason for the labor conflict. Ministry of Commerce. In the immediate future, BP must rebuild its finances, BP’s share price was up 3.2 percent at 314.5 pence in As well as improved measures to protect work- With the 2020 Kuwaiti Salary Offer, new customers having earlier this month said it would take a hit of up to London afternoon deals following news of the sale. ers’ health, the union wants Amazon to sign on to who transfer their salaries to Gulf Bank are automati- $17.5 billion in the second quarter. With the coronavirus The sale “raises cash for a firm that has been severe- regional wage agreements covering retail and e- cally enrolled in the monthly draws, giving them the fallout ravaging global oil demand, BP has decided also ly hit by the pandemic, while streamlining and potential- commerce stores—a battle Verdi has been waging chance to win cash prizes of up to 12 times their salary. to axe around 10,000 jobs, or 15 percent of its global ly reinventing the oil giant (BP) into a different kind of for years. Opposition Greens party co-leader Customers are also enrolled in a yearly draw of workforce. After companies worldwide closed their energy company”, said Connor Campbell, analyst at Annalena Baerbock backed the strike, calling for Kuwait’s largest salary prize, a cash prize of up to 100 doors and airlines grounded planes at the height of the Spreadex trading group. Ineos, majority-owned by “fair wages, dignified working conditions and times the winner’s salary. COVID-19 outbreak towards the end of the first quar- British billionaire Ratcliffe, employs around 22,000 peo- above all a collective bargaining agreement” at Gulf Bank’s Salary Account also gives new cus- ter, oil prices dropped off a cliff, causing them to briefly ple across 26 countries. Amazon. But the company said that it already pays tomers the opportunity to receive either a KD 100 turn negative. Prices have however rebounded sharply In 2005, Ineos spent $9.0 billion on purchasing wages “at the upper end of the scale for compara- cash gift upon transferring their salaries to Gulf Bank, in recent weeks as governments ease lockdowns and chemical assets and refineries from BP. Under previous ble work”, adding that it offers “chances for many or an interest-free loan of up to KD 15,000. businesses slowly reopen. CEO Bob Dudley meanwhile, BP kick-started a $15-bil- people to develop their careers and above all a Customers must have a minimum salary of KD 500 lion divestment program. In the past year, the energy safe working environment”. It highlighted $4 bil- and are eligible for the offer following their first salary ‘Top-class business’ major agreed also to sell its Alaska operations to Hilcorp lion of spending worldwide on measures to pro- transfer to Gulf Bank. “We are delighted to acquire these top-class busi- Alaska for $5.6 billion. tect employees and customers from coronavirus Customers can also enjoy additional benefits like a nesses from BP, extending the Ineos position in global Together the disposals were initially aimed at infection, from hand disinfectant to protective Visa or MasterCard credit card free of charge for a petrochemicals and providing great scope for expan- recouping $10 billion to finance BP’s $10.4-billion pur- masks. The strike will have “no influence on main- year. They can also apply for a loan of up to KD sion and integration with our existing business,” Ineos chase of US oil and gas operations belonging to mining taining deliveries, as the vast majority of employ- 70,000 with a repayment period of 15 years, or a con- founder and chairman Jim Ratcliffe said in a separate group BHP Billiton. – AFP ees are working as normal,” Amazon said.—AFP sumer loan of up to KD 25,000.

13, 2019, following an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed Boeing 737 MAX 157 people. That catastrophe came just a few months after a Lion Air MAX crash that killed 189 people. The test flight takes off troubling similarities between the two accidents, both of which occurred shortly after takeoff, along with the SEATTLE: US regulators launched a test flight of the pilots’ inability to regain control of the plane, led global Boeing 737 MAX on Monday, a key step in recertifying aviation authorities to ground the model indefinitely. the jet that has grounded for more than a year following For months, the US aerospace giant has been strug- two fatal crashes. gling to get the medium-haul aircraft—previously A MAX plane took off from Boeing Field in Seattle at Boeing’s main source of revenue—back into service. 1655 GMT, a Federal Aviation Administration The MAX’s anti-stall flight system, the MCAS, was par- spokesperson said. The initial flight will last “several tially to blame for both crashes. But other technical mal- hours” and will be followed by additional trips expected functions, including one involving electrical wiring, were to take about three days, the spokesperson said in a subsequently detected during the aircraft’s modification statement. process, slowing down its recertification. But though the flight is a critical step, the regulator Shares of Boeing opened sharply higher Monday stressed that the process for returning the once top- and rose further following news the flight had gone off. selling aircraft to the skies is not over. Near 1630 GMT, Boeing shares were up 10.2 percent to “While the certification flights are an important mile- $187.26. stone, a number of key tasks remain,” the FAA Civil aviation authorities cannot approve the modi- spokesperson said, adding that the agency will be fied model until they have examined how it performs in “deliberate” and “thoroughly review Boeing’s work” the air, and looked at the thousands of data points col- before allowing the plane to return to service. “We will lected during the test flights. But beyond that Boeing lift the grounding order only after we are satisfied that still must develop pilot training protocols for the MAX SEATTLE, WA: A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft lands following a FAA recertification flight at the aircraft meets certification standards.” that will be subject to public comment and a final review Boeing Field on Monday in Seattle, Washington. – AFP The MAX has been grounded globally since March by a technical advisory board. —AFP 12 Established 1961 Health & Science Wednesday, July 1, 2020 South Pole warmed three times the global rate in last 30 years: Study

BUENOS AIRES: At the South Pole, The South Pole warming is partly considered the coldest point on Earth, connected to naturally rising tempera- temperatures are rising fast. So fast, in tures in the tropical western Pacific fact, that Kyle Clem and being propelled southward by cyclones other climate researchers began to wor- in the icy waters of the Weddell Sea, off ry and wonder whether human- the Antarctic peninsula. driven climate change was playing a But that pattern, believed to be part bigger role than expected in Antarctica. of a multi-decade natural process, Temperature data shows that the deso- explained only some of the warming late region has warmed at three times trend. The rest, the researchers said, was the global warming rate over the last due to human-induced climate change. three decades up through 2018, the “The end result is a massive warm- South Pole’s hottest year on record, the ing,” Clem said, though he acknowl- researchers report in a study published edged that it’s difficult to determine Monday in Nature Climate Change. exactly how much each factor played a Looking at data from 20 weather part. With temperature records for the stations across Antarctica, the South South Pole dating back only about 60 Pole warming rate was seven times years, the region’s climate is little higher than the overall average for the understood. continent. “The South Pole seemed to be isolat- Still rigid ed from what was going on across the Scientists have known that Pacific rest of the world,” said Clem, who has weather systems can influence the west- focused his research at the Victoria ern Antarctic and the Antarctic peninsu- University of Wellington in New la, where rising air and water tempera- Zealand on better understanding the tures already are causing ice to melt. Antarctic climate. “But all of the sudden, Researchers are closely watching the Temperature data shows that the South Pole has warmed at three times the global warming rate over the last three decades.— File photo it ramps up with rapid warming, some of continent amid concerns that ice loss the strongest warming on the planet.” will lead to higher sea levels worldwide. “An area of the planet that we felt National Snow and Ice Data Center in degrees Celsius (minus 58 and minus 4 Clem and his colleagues wanted to What happens closer to the was very isolated is actually not as iso- Boulder, Colorado. So far, temperature Fahrenheit). But the average tempera- explain why the icy continent began Antarctic coastlines has more influence lated as we thought,” Isern said. changes haven’t been significant enough ture rose by 1.8 degree C for 30 years warming rapidly after a period of cool- on this ice melt. But this “significant” Still, the South Pole is not yet in any “to translate into any mass loss” in the up to 2018, the study found. Globally, ing during the 1970s and ‘80s: was it new finding that the southernmost point danger of melting. “These temperature ice at Antarctica’s interior, she said. temperatures rose about 0.5 to 0.6 natural variability? Or was it part of the of the globe is also vulnerable to warm- changes are quite striking, but it’s still Temperatures at the South Pole, degree C during that time. The new wider trend of global warming caused ing was a surprise for Alexandra Isern, pretty darn cold,” said climatologist which sits on an icy plateau a mile and a study shows that Antarctica is “waking by human industrial activity? head of Antarctic studies for the US Julienne Stroeve, who is a professor in half above sea level, generally range up” to climate change, Stroeve warned. The answer, they found, was both. National Science Foundation. Manitoba, Canada, while working for the between minus 50 and minus 20 “That, to me, is alarming.” — Reuters 13

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Lifestyle Features Francis Bacon triptych sells for $84m at online auction

triptych by Francis Bacon fetched $84.6 last month it would stream a series of modern ings ever sold at auction. million on Monday at a Sotheby’s auc- and contemporary art sales from London Sotheby’s and Christie’s 20th Century spring Ation held without an audience and live- instead. Describing the event as “an historic auctions sales usually occur at the same time, streamed to bidders worldwide in a first for the evening”, Chairman for Sotheby’s Europe Oliver but Christie’s announced earlier this month that company forced to adapt its big events during Barker introduced the auction, the first of its it would hold its sale on July 10 this year. While the coronavirus pandemic. The British artist’s magnitude to be held without an audience. online bids have until now rarely exceeded $5 work, inspired by Greek playwright Aeschylus’s A bidding war raged for around 10 minutes million, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s drawing of a “Oresteia”, is one of 28 large-scale triptychs— between one potential buyer placing bids online head, “Untitled (Head)” sold for $15.2 million on a painting in three parts—created by Bacon from China, and another—who was victorious, Monday—a new Sotheby’s record for an online between 1962 and 1991. It previously belonged but chose to remain anonymous—making purchase—and a painting by Joan Mitchell, to a Norwegian art collector and had an esti- counter-offers on the phone to a Sotheby’s “Garden Party,” went for $7.9 million. The event mated value of $60-$80 million. specialist in New York. Another Bacon triptych, brought in a total of $363.2 million, the auction Sotheby’s spring auctions usually generate “Three Studies of Lucian Freud,” sold in 2013 house said.—AFP Francis Bacon’s Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus is exhibited as Sotheby’s billions of dollars, but with New York City hard- for $142.4 million at Christie’s in New York, NY previews highlights of the Evening Sale at Sotheby’s during the coronavirus pan- hit by COVID-19, the auction house announced making it one of the 10 most expensive paint- demic in New York City.—AFP Iconic ‘2001: A Pioneering woman artist Space Odyssey’ Delaunay’s drawings to be sold suit to hit

ozens of works by the pioneering ful and fragmented, and pushing it modernist artist Sonia Delaunay toward the more abstract art that later auction block Dwent under the hammer in Paris became dominant. The cache of works yesterday. The Ukrainian-born painter being auctioned in the French capital he elusive “2001: A Space Odyssey” was a co-founder of the Orphism move- were collected by the French publisher spacesuit believed to have been ment, which alongside Cubism shook Jacques Damase. He is renowned for Tworn by Dr. David Bowman when he the art world in the years before World publishing the drawings of many mod- “killed” HAL in the groundbreaking 1968 War I. The 88 drawings and small ern art masters from Picasso to Max film goes on the auction block next month. gouaches trace the development of the Ernst and Georges Braque. Damase was The highlight of a Hollywood and space Russian artist’s work from the 1920s to one of those responsible for reviving exploration memorabilia show that’s set for the 1970s, by which time her geometric interest in her work, which had been July 17-18 in Beverly Hills, the spacesuit is designs had appeared on fashion cat- overshadowed by her husband. conservatively estimated to fetch between walks, textiles and costumes for the Delaunay, who died in 1979, left $200,000 and 300,000. It’s a rare artifact great ballet impresario Diaghilev. behind many drawings and designs for from the classic by filmmaker Stanley Delaunay, born Sarah Ilinitchna Stern, fashion and textile works as well as Kubrick, who is thought to have destroyed married a gay German art dealer so she painting and sketches for posters and most of the props and wardrobe from In this file photo Canadian circus troop “Cirque du Soleil” performs in their acrobatic performance on could get hands on her own inheritance illustrations. A believer in making art “2001”—widely regarded as one of most ice titled CRYSTAL at Arena Riga, Latvia.—AFP before falling in love with the aristocrat- accessible in every aspect of life, the influential films of all time—to prevent ic French avant-garde artist Robert sale also includes preparatory drawings their use in other productions without his Delaunay, who she later married. for jewellery, ceramics and even playing authorization. Cirque du Soleil files Between them they helped create cards.—AFP Orphism by breaking out of the bound- for bankruptcy protection aries of Cubism, making it more colour-

irque du Soleil announced on Monday it 1984, the Cirque set up big tops in more than is filing for bankruptcy protection and 300 cities around the world, delighting audi- Ccutting thousands of jobs as the world’s ences with enchanting contemporary circus acts most famous circus troupe seeks to survive the set to music but without the usual trappings of coronavirus pandemic. Struggling with a debt of lions, elephants and bears. But the pandemic left more than US$1billion, the Canadian group said it fighting for survival, forcing it to cancel shows its application would be heard by the Superior worldwide, from Las Vegas to Tel Aviv, Moscow Court of Quebec on Tuesday. If granted, the to Melbourne, and furlough more than 4,500 Canadian company will then seek bankruptcy acrobats and technicians—or 95 percent of its protection in the United States. workforce.

Buying the Cirque Founder Guy Laliberte had announced in May he was interested in trying to buy back the troupe, adding he wanted to keep the head- quarters in Montreal and keep a Quebecois Painting, “Rythme” (left) by French artist Sonia Delaunay is displayed next to a piece (cen- management team. The Quebec government ter) entitled “Your Concentric Welcome” by Olafur Eliasso in Chaumont, eastern France. This handout photo released by Julien’s offered a conditional loan a few days later of Auctions shows a spacesuit worn in $200 million. The provincial economic minister Stanley Kubrick’s “2001 Space Odyssey”, also said that an agreement had been reached Kaepernick will be subject to be auctioned in July.—AFP photos with Cirque’s current shareholders to buy out their participating shares. “Our current share- holders, with the help of Investissement of six-part Netflix series According to Jason DeBord—chief Quebec,” the Quebec government’s arm, have operating officer of Julien’s Auctions, filed a “proposal” to purchase the company, which is hosting the event—the only other In this file photo an Artist performs at a media Lamarre said, noting they will have first right of ormer NFL star Colin Kaepernick, 2013 Super Bowl, where they lost to significant piece from the film to go up at preview in the all-new Cirque du Soleil production refusal. who launched kneeling protests Baltimore. After a coaching change for auction was the Aries 1B Trans-Lunar KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities in Sydney. A group of shareholders—which includes Fduring US national anthems to the team, Kaepernick opted out of his Space Shuttle, which in the movie trans- private equity firm TPG, Chinese conglomerate protest police brutality and racial injus- contract in March 2017 but has ported Dr. Heywood R. Floyd from the In a statement, Cirque du Soleil said it has Fosun and Investissement Quebec — will ini- tice, will be the subject of a six-part remained unsigned since then. In International Space Station to the moon. entered into a purchase agreement with its cur- tially acquire company assets in exchange for series, Netflix announced Monday. September 2017, US President Donald The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and rent shareholders, including a mix of investors providing $300 million in liquidity as the “Colin in Black & White” will focus on Trump intensified the controversy over Sciences—the organization behind the Oscars—snagged that prop in 2015 for from the United States, Canada and China. It restructuring venture seeks other investors. The the former San Francisco 49ers quarter- the kneeling protest, calling anyone $344,000. The spacesuit is especially will immediately lay off 3,480 workers who had expectation is that the company will emerge back’s high school years, formative time kneeling during the anthem “sons of sought after because it is believed to have previously been furloughed. “For the past 36 from the US bankruptcy process with less debt that led to his social activism. bitches”. been used in one of the film’s most iconic years, Cirque du Soleil has been a highly suc- and able to “meaningfully advance toward an Kaepernick, who has not played in the The May death of unarmed black scenes—when Bowman destroys HAL cessful and profitable organization. However, eventual restart by launching the in-court NFL since the 2016 season after start- man George Floyd in police custody in 9000, a sentient computer that is killing with zero revenues since the forced closure of process immediately,” Cirque du Soleil said. The ing his protest movement, will appear as Minnesota sparked global protests over the astronauts onboard to uphold its pro- all of our shows due to COVID-19, management plan establishes two employee assistance pro- himself as a narrator of the series, which police brutality and brought the Black grammed mission. had to act decisively to protect the Company’s grams totaling $20 million under the restructur- will be guided by filmmaker Ava Lives Matter movement into higher pro- Auctioneers believe this particular cos- future,” said Daniel Lamarre, chief executive ing. Cirque announced it intends to re-hire most DuVernay. file as Kaepernick had sought. NFL tume was used in that scene because its of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. of the laid-off employees as soon as conditions The project, which completed the commissioner Roger Goodell has said writing stage in May, shows how grow- the league was too slow in joining the helmet has a base green layer of paint, the “I look forward to rebuilding our operations allow.—AFP color of the helmet worn by Bowman, who and coming together to once again create the ing up as a black child with a white movement and said he was open to a adopted family impacted his journey to club signing Kaepernick for the 2020 was played by Keir Dullea. The near com- magical spectacle that is Cirque du Soleil for plete spacesuit was likely worn by other our millions of fans worldwide.” Founded in the NFL as well as social activism. “Too season, set to begin in September. often we see race and black stories por- “With his act of protest, Colin actors as well, as the helmet also has layers trayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick ignited a national conversa- of white and yellow paint. Along with the Kaepernick said. “We seek to give new tion about race and justice with far- helmet, the suit includes boots and an Kim Kardashian sells 20 percent perspective to the differing realities that reaching consequences for football, cul- MGM shipping crate. The piece was auc- black people face. “We explore the ture and for him, personally,” DuVernay tioned off in 1999 and has been in con- racial conflicts I faced as an adopted said. “Colin’s story has much to say trolled storage for two decades. “It just stake in beauty brand to Coty black man in a white community during about identity, sports and the enduring sort of fell off the face of the earth,” my high school years. It’s an honor to spirit of protest and resilience.” No DeBord told AFP. “It’s kind of magical, im Kardashian West has Coty deepen its collaboration bring these stories to life in collabora- release date was announced for the because it’s sort of a lasting artifact of the inked a deal to sell 20 per- with the celebrity Kardashian- tion with Ava for the world to see.” project.—AFP filmmaking process.” Kcent of her make-up brand Jenner family. In January, Coty, Kaepernick played six seasons for He said film buffs are hoping to track KKW Beauty to American cos- acquired a 51 percent stake in San Francisco, leading the 49ers to the down a production plan of the Oscar-win- ning film to “align the different layers of metics giant Coty for $200 mil- Kylie Jenner’s cosmetics brand. paint with the shooting schedule, and pos- lion, the pair announced on Jenner is Kardashian’s half-sister. sibly even get a little more specific about Monday. The agreement values The pair have built a beauty where it might have been used in the film.” the three-year-old company at empire on the back of the suc- “2001” received four Academy Award $1 billion. It will see Coty take cess of the hit reality TV show nominations and won for visual effects, an “overall responsibility” for the “Keeping Up with the accolade for its pioneering techniques that brand’s skincare, haircare, per- Kardashians,” which first aired in included accurately portraying space sonal care and nail products, 2007. Kardashian has 177 million flight. they said in a statement. “This followers on Instagram while In 1991, it was added to the National relationship will allow me to Jenner has 183 million. Last Film Registry, earmarked for preservation focus on the creative elements week, rapper Kanye West, by the Library of Congress. Among the In this file photo US media that I’m so passionate about Kardashian’s husband, more than 900 items going up for auction personality Kim Kardashian while benefiting from the incred- announced a deal between his at the same event are the pilot control attends the 2020 Vanity Fair ible resources of Coty, and Yeezy fashion brand and Gap stick Neil Armstrong used on the Apollo 11 Oscar Party following the launching my products around which saw the latter’s shares flight to the moon—estimated to go for 92nd Oscars at The Wallis the world,” Kardashian said. surge.—AFP $100,000 to $200,000 — and an Apollo- Annenberg Center for the The purchase is expected to In this file photo taken on September 11, 2016 Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of era spacesuit glove designed for Performing Arts in Beverly be completed in the third quarter the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to playing the Armstrong, estimated at $10,000 to Hills.—AFP of the fiscal year 2021 and sees Los Angeles Rams in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.—AFP $20,000.—AFP Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Feature Wednesday, July 1 , 2020

A fisherman drives a boat at the harbour of Sfantu Gheorghe village.—AFP photos A reed roof wooden house, a traditional roof for Danube Delta’s region, is pictured in Sfantu Gheorghe village. A vanishing way of life in Danube Delta’s natural paradise

s the “last rower” left in one of the villages dot- Ating Romania’s Danube Delta, Iosif Acsente is all too aware of how the traditions and vistas of the region are slowly disappearing—an issue brought into sharper relief by the coronavirus pandemic. Acsente has been plying the Delta with his wooden boat for more than four decades now from his home village of Sfantu Gheorghe. “I know the Danube so well that if you throw me out of a helicopter I’d know where I was”, says Acsente proudly. But living in a nat- ural labyrinth, accessible only by boat, has its draw- backs. Even though the region has been largely spared the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, residents worry that they may end up beyond the reach of necessary medical care. “There is a good chance that it will be too late when the rescue boat arrives”, says Acsente. It is only the latest challenge the modern world has thrown up for the Delta’s fragile equilibrium. Included relies on tourists eager to discover the canals and in the cold and windy winters when fog complicates A pelican colony is on Unesco’s World Heritage list, this natural paradise ponds in order to make a living. He guides them navigation and the Danube freezes over in some pictured on Sacalin island spread across 5,800 square kilometres hosts over 300 between the swamps pointing out sights such as yel- places. Sitting on a small bench in front of his house, in the Danube Delta. species of bird and 45 freshwater fish species. low water lilies and colonies of pelicans. But as he retired 75-year-old fisherman Ilie Ignat well remem- slows his boat to avoid disturbing a shag drying its bers spending weeks at a time cut off from the outside wings in the sun, even he admits the fall in visitor num- world in harsh winters. His trips on to the Black Sea bers has “given nature some respite”. The streets may almost ended in disaster many times but he neverthe- still be unpaved, covered with fine sand and framed by less laments the passing of the way of life he grew up flower-filled gardens. with. “The young people today don’t want to put in the But these days the roar of motor boats drowns out the gentle rippling of oars through the water. Marius frets that the dilapidated cars which have replaced the horse-drawn carts of old “destroy Sfantu Gheorghe just as the boats equipped with powerful engines rav- age the delta”. Meanwhile, purpose-built houses have joined the landscape alongside the traditional homes- tays. Marius says the increasing noise and pollution in the Delta are not good for the millions of migratory birds which return from Africa each spring to nest in the islets. As for fish, the other mainstay of the inhabi- tants’ livelihoods, that too is becoming increasingly Fisherman Iosif The old fishery, now aban- In normal times that makes it a magnet for bird- scarce. Perhaps it’s little wonder then that Sfantu Acsente(left), 74 and his doned,in Danube Delta watchers and other tourists, with locals throwing open Gheorghe is emptying out. wife are pictured in Sfantu couple of miles away from the doors of their traditional thatched houses for visi- Isolated winters Gheorghe village. Sfantu Gheorghe village. tors every summer. But this year that vital source of income looks likely to shrink drastically in the wake of The village has lost around 1,500 people since the effort,” he says bitterly, adding: “The days of the oars the pandemic. The deputy mayor of Sfantu Gheorghe, transition away from communism in the early 1990s are over.” Even Acsente is voting with his feet. When Aurel Bondarencu, hopes that Romanians might make and now numbers just some 500 souls. Both the weather starts turning later this year he will leave up some of the shortfall by holidaying in the Delta Bondarencu’s and Acsente’s children have emigrated, Sfantu Gheorghe behind and move to Tulcea, the near- instead of heading abroad but that would only offer joining millions of their compatriots seeking better est big city, for the winter. The journey there takes temporary relief from the region’s problems. lives in the West. “I love everything about this place, four hours—on a passenger boat of course.—AFP but I wouldn’t want my children to stay here because Respite for nature they would be isolated six months a year”, says Even “normal” tourism wasn’t without its problems Bondarencu. in the time before the virus. Fisherman Marius, 51, Life has always been rough in the Delta, especially

Swans sit at a channel leading to Sacalin island in the Danube Delta. A frog sits on a water lilly leaf on a channel in the Danube A fisherman prepares his nets in Sfantu Gheorghe village Delta close to the village of Sfantu Gheorge. in the Danube Delta.

Abandoned wood boats are pictured next the harbour of Sfantu Gheorghe village.

People watch the sunrise on the Black Sea in Sfantu Gheorghe village where Danube spills its waters into the sea.

A white egret takes off on a channel leading to Sacalin island in the Danube Delta. 16 Established 1961 News Wednesday, Junly 1, 2020 Iraq virus spike risks pushing strained doctors over the edge

BAGHDAD: Unpaid salaries, mask shortages, threats just as the Kurdish region began logging an uptick from patients’ families – doctors across Iraq are in COVID-19 cases. cracking under such conditions, just as they face a Shevan Kurda, a 30-year-old doctor, is one of long-feared spike in coronavirus cases. “We’re col- them. “We’re working 10-hour shifts every day, but lapsing,” said Mohammed, a doctor at a COVID-19 only to treat COVID-19 patients,” said Kurda, who ward in Baghdad who declined to use his full name so represents Sulaimaniyah’s Medical Residents he could speak freely. “I just can’t work anymore. I Syndicate. Kurda is owed three months of wages from can’t even focus on the cases or the patients,” he 2019 and was not paid in either April or May this year. said, speaking to AFP at the end of a 48-hour shift. Authorities and health workers across Iraq have Iraq has officially registered more than 47,000 long decried the state of the country’s dilapidated coronavirus cases, with doctors increasingly infect- hospitals, worn down by years of war, a lack of ed. “I personally know 16 doctors who caught it investment and corruption that has sapped funds over the last month,” Mohammed said. The coun- meant for new equipment. Even Prime Minister try’s overall death toll is heading towards 2,000, Mustafa Al-Kadhemi told reporters last week: “We with official daily fatalities starting to top 100 in the do not have a health system. The health system is past week – and doctors warn they cannot keep up. broken, and the most basic requirements are not In the autonomous Kurdish north, a surge in available, because those who hold positions in some coronavirus infections has pushed the number of state institutions are incompetent. This has been cases there to over 5,000 – including at least 200 accumulating for years.” health workers – and the death toll to more than Iraq is also a notoriously dangerous place to be a 160. The line at the public Ali Naji hospital in the doctor, as patients’ families are known to threaten northeastern city of Sulaimaniyah wound out the medical staff – sometimes with death – if their loved door, with dozens of people queuing to get tested – one’s condition deteriorates. This week, Iraq’s med- but inside, the medical staff was thinner than ever. ical syndicate declared a strike across the southern The Kurdish regional government, like federal province of Dhi Qar after a female doctor was authorities in Baghdad, is struggling to pay public- assaulted by a patient’s relative. sector wages this year due to a collapse in oil prices NAJAF: An Iraqi man in a hazmat suit mourns over a tombstone at a cemetery for COVID-19 victims on and an economic recession brought on by the pan- ‘Matter of time’ June 10, 2020. — AFP demic. That has had a devastating effect on person- In the capital Baghdad, doctors at several nel at state-owned medical facilities, who have not inundated coronavirus wards said they and their dead. “You think they’re going to give us a bonus admitted he was crumbling psychologically. been paid in two months. colleagues were on the brink of burnout, and now just because we’re taking on more hours?” “Before corona, you could recuperate from the complained of a long-standing lack of compensa- Falah said the Al-Kindi Training Hospital where pressure of work by seeing friends and family. But Health system ‘broken’ tion for overtime. “There was no bonus for doc- he works distributed just five N95 masks to doc- now I go from an isolation ward at work to isola- Exhausted, thousands of healthcare workers at tors working in field hospitals during the war tors each month. But with so much interaction with tion in my room at home,” he told AFP. state hospitals in the Kurdish region announced against the Islamic State group,” said Ammar infected patients, Falah said he needed to switch He and other doctors said their biggest fear was earlier this month they would stop treating non- Falah, a 27-year-old medic at one of the city’s masks much more often and had begun using his spreading the virus from their patients to their coronavirus cases. “At least 20,000 healthcare coronavirus wards. $750 monthly take-home pay to buy protective families – and with the quickening rate of infection, workers across the region are adhering to this par- “There was no bonus when there was mass gear. “If the hours go up more or the workload their worst nightmare could become a reality. “I tial strike,” said Hawzin Othman, the head of mobilization for protests in October,” he told AFP, increases, we’ll go on strike too,” he said. exhibited symptoms for a month but I was told to Sulaimaniyah’s medical syndicate. Among them are referring to anti-government demonstrations that At another Baghdad hospital, Wael, a 26-year- keep working. It’s just a matter of time before 800 doctors who joined over the past two weeks, began late last year and left over 550 people old doctor who asked his full name not be used, we’re all infected,” Wael said. — AFP

drone strikes. “Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist flu studies because they experience similar symptoms Saudi, US urge organizations. What will happen if the embargo is lift- New flu in China to humans – principally fever, coughing and sneezing. ed?” Jubeir said. “Iran will become more... aggressive,” G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating he added. Earlier this month, a UN report said cruise in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in extending arms missiles and drones used in attacks last year on Saudi oil has potential to ferrets than other viruses. Tests also showed that any facilities were “of Iranian origin”. The attacks on Saudi immunity humans gain from exposure to seasonal flu state oil giant Aramco’s facilities caused extensive dam- trigger pandemic does not provide protection from G4. According to embargo on Iran age and briefly interrupted production of half of the blood tests which showed up antibodies created by country’s oil output. exposure to the virus, 10.4 percent of swine workers RIYADH: US and Saudi officials on Monday called for Russia, China vetoes at UN WASHINGTON: Researchers in China have discov- had already been infected. extending a UN arms embargo on Iran, warning of major Hook said later in Bahrain that if the arms embargo ered a new type of swine flu that is capable of trigger- The tests showed that as many as 4.4 percent of ing a pandemic, according to a study published implications for regional security, accusing Tehran of expired, Iran would be able to acquire advanced arms the general population also appeared to have been Monday in the US science journal PNAS. Named G4, arming Yemeni rebels. The embargo, put in place as part and pose a greater threat to Gulf security and interna- exposed. The virus has therefore already passed from it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that of a nuclear accord signed with Tehran in 2015, is set to tional shipping. “It will trigger an arms race in one region animals to humans but there is no evidence yet that it expire in October but Washington is working to extend that needs it the least,” Hook said on his second leg of caused a pandemic in 2009. It possesses “all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect can be passed from human to human – the scientists’ the ban as tensions with its arch-rival remain high. the Gulf tour to garner support for extending the arms main worry. “It is of concern that human infection of Lifting the ban would “embolden” Tehran and could embargo on Iran. Allowing the UN arms embargo to humans,” say the authors, scientists at Chinese univer- sities and China’s Center for Disease Control and G4 virus will further human adaptation and increase trigger a regional arms race, US Special Representative for expire would be a betrayal of the security council’s the risk of a human pandemic,” the researchers wrote. responsibility of maintaining international peace and Prevention. Iran Brian Hook told reporters in Riyadh. “This is not an Asked about the virus yesterday, Chinese foreign outcome that the UN Security Council can accept,” Hook security, he said. From 2011 to 2018, researchers took 30,000 nasal ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press said at a joint news conference with Adel al-Jubeir, the The US official also said that the embargo has con- swabs from pigs in slaughterhouses in 10 Chinese Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs. At the conference strained Iran’s ability to freely move weapons to its provinces and in a veterinary hospital, allowing them briefing that China “has been paying close attention to venue, Saudi officials displayed remnants of intercepted proxies. Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al- to isolate 179 swine flu viruses. The majority were of a its development” and will take all needed action to missiles and drones they said were supplied by Iran to Zayyani expressed his country’s total support for new kind which has been dominant among pigs since prevent its spread and any outbreaks. The study’s Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Iran denies arming the rebels. extending the arms embargo on Iran, accusing Tehran 2016. The researchers then carried out various experi- authors called for urgent measures to monitor people The Houthis have recently targeted Saudi cities, of continuing to supply arms to militias in Yemen, ments including on ferrets, which are widely used in working with pigs. — AFP including the capital Riyadh, with a series of missile and Lebanon and Iraq. The June 15 violence took place around 4,500 India bans 59 m above sea level in the Galwan river valley abutting Aksai Chin, a strategic corridor linking Tibet to west- ern China. Thousands of soldiers remain on alert, Chinese... although both sides said they were trying to resolve the standoff through dialogue. The deaths triggered Continued from Page 1 massive outrage and street protests in India. There were calls for the banning of Chinese businesses, been invited to a meeting with the Indian gov- which export goods worth nearly $60 billion to India. ernment “for an opportunity to respond and submit A senior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarifications”. There are estimated to be about 120 government demanded a ban on Chinese food while a million TikTok users in India, making the South prominent trading union said it would boycott a range Asian nation of 1.3 billion people the app’s biggest of commodities imported from China. A hotel union last international market. Other apps on the banned list week said they would not allow Chinese guests to stay include microblogging app Weibo and strategy in their properties. Millions of Indians downloaded game Clash of Kings. “Remove China Apps”, a mobile application that But anger has been brewing across India since helped users detect and delete Chinese software, RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir speaks during a joint press conference the soldiers were killed in a brawl along the disput- with US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook on Monday. — AFP before it was removed by Google from its Play Store. ed border in northern Ladakh region on June 15 in Media reports said Chinese consignments were the deadliest faceoff for almost half a century being held up by customs at major Indian ports. between the two countries. It was the first time Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, however, which has scoffed at the Iranian request to Interpol as a “pro- troops have been killed on their frontier since 1975. a more than 30 percent share of the Indian market, is Iran issues paganda stunt”. “Our assessment is that Interpol Beijing has not disclosed if there were any casual- promoting itself as a company in line with the govern- does not intervene and issue red notices that are ties among their troops. India and China fought a ment’s “Make in India” slogan, an apparent move to arrest warrant... based on a political nature,” he told a news confer- war over the border in 1962. New Delhi has accused counter anti-Chinese sentiments. Chinese mobiles have ence in the Saudi capital Riyadh. “This has nothing China of intruding into its territory in the region, a an almost 65 percent share in the local smartphone Continued from Page 1 to do with national security, international peace or charge Beijing has denied. market. — Agencies promoting stability,” Hook said. “We see it for what forbidden for the organization to undertake any it is. It’s a propaganda stunt that no-one takes seri- intervention or activities of a political, military, reli- ously and makes the Iranians look foolish.” considered sufficiently serious and credible to gious or racial character”, said the agency based in The killing of Soleimani, who headed the Quds Trump briefed include in a May 4 article in the CIA’s classified the French city of Lyon. “Interpol would not consid- Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s World Intelligence Review, its flagship intelli- er requests of this nature.” Trump ordered the Revolutionary Guards, provoked massive outpour- gence product. killing of Soleimani in a Jan 3 drone strike near ings of grief at home. Iran retaliated by firing a vol- on bounties by... The White House briefed a small group of Baghdad international airport. Soleimani, a national ley of ballistic missiles at US troops stationed in Continued from Page 1 Republican lawmakers on its position Monday but hero at home, was “the world’s top terrorist” and Iraq, but Trump opted against responding militarily. top congressional Democrats have demanded that all “should have been terminated long ago”, Trump While the attack on the western Iraqi base of Ain White House said Monday the claim had been members of Congress be briefed by the intelligence said at the time. Al-Asad left no US soldiers dead, dozens suffered kept from him because the intelligence underpin- community. “The questions that arise are: was the Brian Hook, the US pointman on Iran policy, brain trauma. — AFP ning it was unverified. president briefed, and if not, why not, and why was The Taleban reaffirmed their commitment to a Congress not briefed,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi February deal to draw down the war in Afghanistan said in a letter to Director of National Intelligence expand the strategic partnership between our compa- during a call with US Secretary of State Mike John Ratcliffe and CIA director Gina Haspel. Zain Bahrain nies and support the commercial rollout of 5G across Pompeo, the group’s spokesman has said. The The Times previously reported that US intelli- Bahrain. This announcement endorses our global lead- Taleban have denied that their fighters received any gence officers and special forces in Afghanistan ership as we continue to switch on this era-defining Russian bounties, and the group’s Qatar-based chief began raising the alarm as early as January, and that launches 5G... technology around the world to drive the Internet of negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar reiterated the National Security Council (NSA) held an intera- Things, Industry 4.0., digitalized society, and incredible their pledge not to strike against the US. Baradar gency meeting in late March to discuss possible Continued from Page 1 new mobile broadband experiences.” told Pompeo that “according to the agreement, we responses – but the White House didn’t authorize Zain Bahrain will be expanding 5G coverage do not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against the any action. Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO Bader Al- across the kingdom throughout 2020 and will con- US and other countries”, Taleban spokesman Suhail “I am disgusted by Trump’s incompetence,” Kharafi commented: “Zain Bahrain’s 5G launch demon- tinue to grow the 5G network in 2021 and beyond. Shaheen said Monday in a statement on Twitter. tweeted Tammy Duckworth, a former US Army heli- strates our continuous commitment to investing in digi- Furthermore, the operator is also modernizing and The president is known for not regularly read- copter pilot and combat veteran who is now a talization and the latest technologies for the benefit of expanding its 4G LTE network for an unprecedent- ing the daily brief, preferring to rely on conserva- Democratic senator from Illinois. “He either didn’t our customers and playing our key role in the ed mobile experience on both 5G and 4G devices. tive media reports on the day’s big issues – but he know that Russia was offering bounties for killing Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030.” This commercial launch in Bahrain follows the launch is reportedly orally briefed by intelligence offi- American troops or didn’t care enough to remember Fadi Pharaon, President of Ericsson Middle East and of 5G services in Zain Kuwait and Zain Saudi Arabia cials up to three times a week. Crucially, the offi- a briefing that told him. Neither is acceptable for a Africa, said: “We continue to work closely with Zain to during 2019. cials told the Times the Russia assessment was Commander in Chief.” — Agencies Established 1961 17 Stars Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution STAR TRACK

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

You might experience a great deal of emotional Your artistic side may want to take to the airwaves confusion today, Aries. There's a debate brewing inside you. in some way today, Libra. Perhaps you should consider build- You're having a hard time deciding whether to pursue the ing your own website or getting a spot on a local radio show. practical or the fanciful. Looking to others for help could only Your dreams need a vehicle for distribution. Give them the add to the confusion, so take their advice with a grain of salt. means to be dispersed to others. You have the ability to If nothing seems clear to you, then wait it out and proceed inspire many people. Take this ability seriously and make use when you have a better handle on things. of your creative talents.

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

Keeping things in balance will be a challenge You could find that what was so light and today, Taurus. You're likely to find that there's conflict brew- active yesterday runs into roadblocks today, Scorpio. It ing that doesn't seem to want resolution. It's OK. Don't press might seem as if you're suddenly heading straight for a the issue. You may find that the best solution is to escape into brick wall regarding some of your current projects. the clouds and come back to reality when the storm has set- Suddenly there's a more reserved tone to things, and you tled. There's no need to try to untangle the knots if they sim- may have lost a bit of your precious momentum. Use this ply don't want to budge. time to back off and reassess the wisdom of your direction. Find the way

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

Tension is likely to arise in many different The pace of things is likely to slow down a bit areas of your life, Gemini. It's possible that you're either compared to what was happening yesterday, Sagittarius. This is too dreamy or too practical for the issue at hand. It's probably for the best. Take this time to do some planning and important for you to strike a balance. The toughest part stabilizing. You've plowed forth into the fields. Now stop and will be finding people and situations that agree with you. assess what you've accomplished. Take things one step at a Other people are likely to be quite inflexible and stub- time and don't get ahead of yourself. Be patient and things will born, and you may have to adapt in order to reach a com- promise. come your way naturally.

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

Yesterday's trajectory might run into a couple of You might find that there's a quality of snags today, Cancer. You could find that your dreamy nature dreaminess to your emotions today that conflicts with the planned and steady. This conflict of interests keeps you from focusing on the task at hand, Capricorn. may be creating some tension that will be difficult to work People are likely to be stubborn and confused, and you with. Your emotions are apt to deceive you, so try not to get could be one of them. It might seem as if your mind is pulled off course by a passing whim. Try to keep your feelings going in two directions and you aren't sure which way to well grounded. proceed. Try to incorporate more of your dreams into your waking reality.

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

Try to keep yourself in line with your emotions Little voices are whispering in your ear today, today, Leo. It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly Aquarius. They could be asking you to join them in the trying to pull you off track. If so, think about taking a break and clouds. You might get the feeling that there's a lot of ten- doing some physical activity to get your blood pumping. Go for sion between what your heart has to say and what your a walk with a friend to help clear your head so you can think mind has to say. Don't be surprised if the energy of the more rationally about the decisions you need to make. day leaves you confused by the time the day ends. Don't stress about making hard decisions or commitments.

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

You could find that an emotional issue rubs you Someone could be prodding you to take action the wrong way today, Virgo. Your tendency is to want to escape. today, Pisces. It might be best if you beat them to it and Try to do so in a healthy manner. Watch your favorite movie or motivate yourself. Stay a step or two ahead of the herd. Lead read a book. Don't fall prey to the temptation to indulge in your own stampede and go wherever you want to go. It's more dangerous pursuits. That would only push the problems quite likely that you'll run into conflict regarding issues away temporarily. When they resurface again, they could be about which you feel strongly. People are likely to be stub- even harder to handle. born, so prepare yourself for a stalemate.

Join the dots Word Scramble 18 Sports Wednesday, July 1, 2020 English becomes fifth Photo of the Day PGA player with positive virus test

NEW YORK: American Harris English was named on Monday as the fifth US PGA Tour player to test pos- itive for COVID-19 since the tour’s three-month shut- down ended on June 11. He became the second player in as many days to test positive after the PGA toughened coronavirus safety measures. Two players and two caddies tested positive two weeks ago to increase concerns and prompt tighter restrictions, players having to test negative to be al- lowed at courses. The tour said in a statement that English, who did not play last week in Connecticut, tested positive dur- ing the pre-tournament screening process in Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic that starts Thursday. English withdrew from the PGA’s fourth comeback tournament and will begin self-isolation under Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guide- lines and tour protocols. “While it’s disappointing to receive this news, as I feel healthy, I’m pleased that the new safety protocols we have in place worked this week,” English said in a statement. “I fully supported the tour’s new rule of not allow- ing anyone on the tournament grounds until testing negative, as protecting others in the field and every affiliated with the tournament and the community should be the number one priority as a result of a positive test. “I appreciate the tour’s support and I look forward to competing again after I’m fully re- covered.” English’s positive came a day after South African Dylan Frittelli tested positive for coronavirus in a test before he was to have flown on a PGA player KUWAIT: Mohammed Burbayea performs in Kuwait City. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com charter to Detroit on Sunday from the Travelers Championship.—AFP Spying claims hit America’s Cup in New Zealand A number of employees fired for leaking confidential information

WELLINGTON: Team New Zealand said it has fired was examining claims relating to the organisation of a number of employees for leaking confidential infor- the event. mation as spying claims rocked preparations for next Dalton confirmed the sacked employees were New year’s America’s Cup yachting regatta yesterday. Zealanders working for the event-planning arm of the New Zealand officials said they were investigating organisation, not the yacht racing team. He refused to “structural and financial matters” relating to the pres- say how many people were involved, or speculate on tigious race in Auckland as team managing director their motives. Grant Dalton announced the sackings. Few details were revealed but the America’s Cup, ‘LIKE JAMES BOND’ the world’s oldest international sporting trophy, has a The yachts for next year’s regatta are 23-metre history of intrigue surrounding the cutting-edge de- (75-foot) monohulls that use a state-of-the-art foiling signs employed by teams. design, making them expensive to develop and un- “We’re not 100 percent sure predictable in the water. what they (wanted) or what Dalton said he was con- they got,” Dalton told radio cerned Team New Zealand station NewstalkZB. “But what may have lost valuable intellec- I do know is that the game was Prestigious tual property about the vessels. up quicker than they ex- “Of course I’m worried, ab- pected.” A Team New Zealand race solutely,” he told RNZ. “But I statement said those involved know the competitors and I HAMILTON: File photo taken on June 26, 2017 Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton (L) and Team Principal had also made “highly defama- know their ethics and I can’t Matteo de Nora at the final press conference as winners of the America’s Cup, 2017 in Hamilton, Bermuda. Team tory and inaccurate allega- imagine for one millisecond New Zealand have fired a number of employees for leaking confidential information about next year’s America’s tions” against the organisation that this has gone (to them).” Cup defence, Dalton said yesterday. —AFP and some of its personnel. The America’s Cup, first contested in 1851, has often “These allegations are entirely incorrect,” it said. seen skullduggery as competitors seek to gain an Team New Zealand holds hosting rights for edge in a sport where innovative design can be cru- “We did everything we could within the rules and teams engaged in spying. “The level of reconnais- the America’s Cup after winning the trophy, known as cial. Members of the victorious Australia II syndicate the law but we pushed it to the edge.” sance is right up there,” he said. “It is like James Bond the Auld Mug, in Bermuda in 2017. in 1983 caught a scuba diver linked to a rival team In 2003, US challenger OneWorld was docked or the CIA. We all have teams based where the other It is organising next year’s event with oversight trying to photograph the boat’s revolutionary winged points for breaching race rules because it had Team teams are, watching them all the time.” from the New Zealand government, which has poured keel. US billionaire Bill Koch led America3 to victory New Zealand’s boat data, apparently obtained from “You can learn a lot from the competition. That is more than NZ$120 million ($77 million) into infra- in 1992 and later boasted “we were the ultimate in a Kiwi designer who had switched teams. what it is about in this game. You can look at your structure and associated costs. New Zealand’s Min- spying”. “We hired divers and we picked up people’s Before the 2017 regatta, the then-defending cham- competitors and not only take their lessons but im- istry of Business, Innovation and Employment said it garbage,” he told Boat International. pion Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA admitted all prove on it.” — AFP

Wimbledon grass will be DJ rocks, Ryder Cup wobbles as greener next year: Stubley Daniel Summerhays dreams

LONDON: Neil Stubley should have Stubley said he and his 17 staff plus HONG KONG: One player’s amazing streak con- early as this week. European Tour chief Keith Three hours later he found himself in a playoff been nervously appraising how the grass three temporary workers, reduced from tinued, Ryder Cup speculation grew and a player Pelley orginally promised a decision by the end with Paul Haley II and Kyle Jones but agonisingly he and his fellow Wimbledon ground staff the usual nine, were getting on with the retired with an almost perfect finale — here are of June, when course preparations at the Wis- the fairytale ending did not materialise as Sum- had nurtured was faring on the first day job despite the disappointment of the this week’s AFP Sport talking points in golf. consin layout would need to begin in order to be merhays bogeyed the first playoff hole. Jones of the Grand Slam. cancellation. ready for the September 25-27 USA v Europe won a hole later. Instead, the head groundsman at the “Pride pushes you that way to carry DUSTIN TIME showdown. Many top players, including McIlroy But a beaming Summerhays was still grateful All England Club has seen the “blood, on working,” he said. “Of course it is dis- Dustin Johnson is back up to third in the and Brooks Koepka, have said that holding the for the chance. “Oh man, to be in that position, to sweat and tears” spent in preparing for appointing not to be playing but the big- world rankings after recording his 21st PGA Tour noisiest event in golf without colourful galleries be able to have a little bit of extra golf was spec- the tournament come to nothing. ger picture puts that into perspective. “As win since turning pro in 2008, a tally matched of partisan fans would be unthinkable. tacular,” he told the Golf Channel. The championships, due to start on much as we love our job it has to sit in the only by Tiger Woods over the same period. The US PGA Championship, the first major of And the performance had not changed his Monday, were cancelled for the first time real world.” World number one Rory McIlroy — who also the year in August, has already announced that mind about retirement. “When it comes time for since World War II due to the coron- Stubley defended the decision in April began his pro career in 2008 — is next on the it will be played without spectators, and there school in August, that’s where I’ll be,” he added. avirus pandemic, meaning Novak to cancel the championships even though list with 18 PGA Tour titles in that time, but he has been a surge in coronavirus cases in the US Djokovic and Simona Halep were denied other sports have returned, saying it was has four majors and eight European Tour tro- over recent days. Top 20 the chance to defend their titles. about much more than the playing sur- phies whereas Johnson has only one of each. With five PGA Tour players testing positive Updated Official World Golf Rankings after the Stubley said it was surreal to walk face. Johnson, however, kept up his incredible for COVID-19 in the past week and the Euro- Travelers Championship: around and see his 38 “babies”, as he “The grass courts were fine when it streak of winning at least once in each of his 13 pean Tour unable to restart until next month, the 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 9.04 calls the courts set in 42 acres in the leafy was cancelled,” he said. “It is the infra- seasons on the PGA Tour with victory at the most responsible course of action would seem to 2. Jon Rahm (ESP) 8.03 London suburb, not humming with action. structure that takes time. It is not a case Travelers Championship last weekend. be reverting to odd-numbered years for the first 3. Dustin Johnson (USA) 7.59 (+3) “A lot of blood, sweat and tears has of saying two weeks out we can play At the age of 36, the victory puts Johnson time since 1999 — the 2001 event was post- 4. Justin Thomas (USA) 7.29 (-1) gone in to showcase them,” he told an on- them. “There is eight to 10-week spell to three PGA Tour wins behind Gary Player, but poned for 12 months because of the 9/11 attacks. 5. Brooks Koepka (USA) 7.22 (-1) line press conference. “But that disap- get it ready. Come early April in the midst with only one major to his name — the 2016 US 6. Webb Simpson (USA) 7.18 (-1) pointment is across the (All England) of the pandemic it was untenable. “Even Open — opinion is split as to whether he can yet EXTRA TIME 7. Patrick Reed (USA) 5.95 club. We are all very proud of the work be ranked among the all-time greats. American journeyman Daniel Summerhays 8. Adam Scott (AUS) 5.86 now with the restrictions in place it would we do and how well-received it is across But consider this: only Arnold Palmer (17), came within a whisker of a Cinderella sign-off as 9. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 5.85 be impossible to hold them.” Stubley said the world.” The grandly titled head of Jack Nicklaus (17) and Tiger Woods (14) started a professional at the weekend. The 36-year-old 10. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 5.53 (+1) the groundstaff would follow their usual courts and horticulture at Wimbledon their careers with wins in more consecutive sea- had ground out eight seasons on the PGA Tour 11. Xander Schauffele (USA) 5.44 (-1) routines and instead aim for next season. said the grounds felt bizarrely quiet for sons. Exalted company indeed. without a victory until losing his card in 2017. 12. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 5.31 this time of year, similar to the atmos- “I always try and get across to people Surely the laid-back, big-hitting “DJ” is only Further lean years followed, and Summerhays 13. Justin Rose (ENG) 5.11 phere after the players had gone home. you are not repairing the courts, you are a couple more major wins from being recognised announced last week that the Korn Ferry’s Utah 14. Tiger Woods (USA) 5.09 “It is an odd time and the best way to preparing for next season,” he said. as truly one of the game’s greatest. Championship on his home course would be his 15. Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 4.68 (+1) really describe it is you kind of get a “Come August early September it will final tournament before taking up a new career 16. Marc Leishman (AUS) 4.60 (-1) strange quiet feeling,” he said. “I would be the same process — rip the courts up, RYDER DOUBTS as a high school teacher. 17. Tony Finau (USA) 4.49 equate it to having been to a concert — re-seed them, grow through autumn and Speculation has been growing that this year’s And then he nearly won it. Summerhays saved 18. Gary Woodland (USA) 4.28 you get that ringing in your ears for a winter and the same prep work for the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits will be postponed his best till last, signing for a nine-under par 62 19. Matt Kuchar (USA) 4.27 couple of days.” 2021 championships.”—AFP until 2021 — with an announcement likely as on Sunday and the clubhouse lead at 20 under. 20. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 4.10 (+1). —AFP 19 Sports Wednesday, July 1, 2020 Porto win away to open up six point lead in league race Maritimo upset Benfica as title hopes slide even further away

LISBON: Chancel Mbemba’s early goal proved enough to tuguese champions another setback in their bid to defend hand Porto a 1-0 away win over Pacos Ferreira on Monday their league title. and extend their lead at the top of Portugal’s Primeira Liga. The pace of home right back Nanu proved the differ- Mbemba snapped up a chance after just seven minutes to ence as he raced away on the counterattack to square for hand Porto a vital win in the title race that puts them six Jorge Correa to score the first goal in the 74th minute. He points clear of defending champions Benfica with five then repeated the feat to set up Rodrigo Pinho for a second matches remaining. in the 78th minute. Benfica lost 2-0 earlier on Monday at Maritimo to con- On both occasions, he outsprinted the Benfica defend- tinue a horror series of recent results and offer Porto a clear ers, squared the ball to the back post to allow his team path to the title after finishing two points behind their rivals mates to score. It might have been even more emphatic last season. when a long ball in the last minute set Joel Tagueu away on Mbemba was quickest to react another Maritimo counterattack, when Pacos Ferreira goalkeeper but his goal was ruled out by VAR Ricardo Ribeiro flapped at an in- as he was inches offside as he set swinging corner, pushing the ball a off on his run. few metres forward where the for- Full haul The result continued Benfica’s mer Newcastle United midfielder horrid post-lockdown form. They was waiting to snap up the oppor- of points remain three points behind league tunity. But the league leaders were leaders and rivals FC Porto, who far from convincing and had some can go further ahead later on stout defending to thank for a full Monday when they take on Pacos haul of points. Ferreira. Pacos Ferreira midfielder Luiz Carlos had two good It was a boost to Maritimo’s fight for survival, moving chances to equalise – the first headed narrowly wide four them from 16th to 12th place and seven points clear of the minutes into the second half. He then saw his acrobatic bi- bottom two places in the Premeira Liga. cycle kick saved by Porto goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin Monday’s match in Madeira was a fifth for Benfica since in the 67th minute. the Portuguese league returned after the COVID-19 lock- PACOS DE FERREIRA: FC Porto’s Portuguese midfielder Danilo Pereira (L) challenges Pacos Ferreira’s Meanwhile, struggling Maritimo scored twice in the down. They drew their first two, then came from behind to Portuguese midfielder Pedrinho (R) during the Portuguese League football match between Pacos Fer- space of four second-half minutes to register a shock 2-0 edge Rio Ave 2-1 at home before last Thursday suffering a reira and Porto at the Capital Do Movel stadium in Pacos de Ferreira. — AFP home victory over Benfica on Monday and hand the Por- shock 4-3 home defeat by Santa Clara. — Reuters

could yet face each other, and their future clubs, in Pjanic joined Juventus from Roma in 2016. He was Barca and Juventus the Champions League final eight in Portugal, should brought up in Luxembourg and initially made his both sides win their outstanding last 16, second leg name in French football with Metz and then Lyon. matches. In a statement, Juventus said they had Last year, Barcelona carried out a similar transac- confirm Arthur, signed Arthur for “72 million euros payable in four tion by exchanging goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen for Stokes ‘proud’ as years. The purchase value may increase by a maxi- Valencia’s Neto, in deals worth around 30 million Pjanic swap deal mum of 10 million euros on the fulfillment of certain euros each. conditions during the contractual term.” While Pjanic will cost around 10 million euros less England captaincy Arthur, a Brazilian international, only joined Barca than the amount Juventus pay for Arthur, the Italians MADRID: Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo will join from Gremio in 2018 and was hailed as a future star might feel they have the better deal given the Brazilian looms into view Juventus at the end of the current season, with Mi- for the club, with many tipping him as the long-term is seven years younger. ralem Pjanic moving in the opposite direction, the two successor to Xavi Hernandez in central midfield. Arthur had been reluctant to leave the Camp Nou clubs announced on Monday. After an encouraging start, the 23-year-old has and even released a statement in April, insisting his LONDON: Ben Stokes said he was “proud” to Barcelona said they had paid 60 million euros been one of several players to stagnate this season “idea was clear” and that he wanted to play at be in a position where he might replace Joe ($67.4m) plus a potential five million euros more in but the primary motivation for his sale is thought to Barcelona “for many years”. Root as England skipper against the West In- bonuses for Bosnian playmaker Pjanic after earlier be financial. Arthur’s departure puts more scrutiny But he was persuaded to change his mind after dies, even though he has not captained a side confirming Juventus would pay 72 million euros plus on Barcelona’s board and president Josep Maria Bar- being given limited game time under Quique Setien since he was a teenager. 10 million in variables for Arthur. tomeu. They have overseen a number of haphazard while Juve coach Maurizio Sarri had reportedly made Vice-captain Stokes could find himself lead- The two deals have gone through separately, al- moves in the transfer market and have been accused it clear he would be a key figure in his side in Turin. ing out the team for next week’s first Test at lowing both clubs to boost their profit figures ahead of failing to implement any clear sense of direction Setien said in a press conference on Monday the Southampton — or later in the three-match se- of the end of the financial year on June 30. for the club. playmaker had promised to give his all for the rest of ries — should Root be absent attending the Pjanic’s four-year contract includes a release Barcelona have been hit hard by the three-month the season as Barcelona look to make up a two-point birth of his second child. clause of 400 million euros while Juventus said suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic and they gap on Real Madrid at the top of the table. But the powerful all-rounder said he would Arthur’s contract will run for five years, until June needed to bring in around 70 million euros to satisfy “We expect the greatest commitment from him accept the “huge honour” if it came his way. 2025. Arthur and Pjanic will remain with their current their budget for the current season. until the last day he is here,” Setien said. “Even if it’s only the once you can still say teams until the end of the 2019/20 campaign, which By selling Arthur, the board can register the profits “He is still a Barcelona player until the end of the ‘yeah, I’ve captained England’,” he told a con- will include the latter stages of the Champions from the transfer immediately before spreading the season and has promised that he will give everything ference call on Monday. League in August. payments for Pjanic over the length of the 30-year- to achieve the goals we have set. He is a guy who will Stokes was restored to his position as Test It raises the possibility that Arthur and Pjanic old’s contract. be committed until the last day.” — AFP vice-captain in July 2019, nearly a year after being found not guilty of affray following an in- cident outside a nightclub. “After that happened it was ‘right, what am I going to do from this point forward?,” Stokes told Sky in a separate interview as he recalled Menon, youngest the incident. “How am I going to carry and con- duct myself?’ elite umpire at 36 “I’m quite proud to say I’m in this situation through hard work and determination. I wanted to get better and it’s been no fluke.” NEW DELHI: India’s Nitin Menon, 36, on Monday But Stokes, who last led a cricket team aged became the youngest member of the International Cricket Council’s elite umpire list. 16 for Durham Academy, insisted captaincy had Menon gave up playing cricket when he was 22 never been on his list of priorities. “I’ve never to start umpiring and has gradually moved up the set a goal to want to be a captain,” explained rankings, officiating in three Tests, 24 one-day in- the 29-year-old. ternationals and 16 Twenty20 matches. “Alastair Cook was always destined to be “My priority was to play for the country rather England captain after Andrew Strauss. Joe than umpiring,” said Menon, who played two Root was always destined to be captain after matches for Madhya Pradesh state in 2004 before Alastair Cook. “If I’m being honest, I’m not one taking up umpiring. of those that people would necessarily associ- “I quit playing at 22 and I became a senior um- ate (as) the next England captain.” pire at the age of 23. It wasn’t worth trying to play and umpire so I decided to focus on umpiring ‘NINE SLIPS AND A GULLY’ alone,” added Menon, who replaced England’s With Stokes already England’s star all- Nigel Llong on the 2020-21 season list. rounder, pundits including former captain “I’m feeling very confident by the fact that age Kevin Pietersen have said he does not need the is on my side, but the performance is what ulti- extra responsibility of captaincy as well. mately matters. Whether I do well or not, age has But Stokes, who jokingly said he would have little to do with performance.” “nine slips and a gully” as captain, insisted Menon is only the third Indian after Srinivas LONDON: Burnley’s Dutch defender Erik Pieters (C) and Crystal Palace’s English defender Joel Ward compete for leadership would not dull his attacking ap- Venkatraghavan and Sundaram Ravi — who was the ball during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park proach. Last year he played a key role in Eng- dropped from the list last year — to join the elite in south London. — AFP group of 12 umpires who take charge at top land’s World Cup triumph before scoring a matches and tournaments. — AFP stunning century at Headingley to win an as- tounding Test victory over Australia. Roy Hodgson’s team piled on the pressure in the “Even if I am in charge that’s not going to Mee heads Burnley final minutes but Burnley, who have lost just once in change the way that I go about things, in terms the last ten games, hung on to secure the three points of how I want to influence the game, which is Buffon, Chiellini which will give them hope of a push towards possible try to make a positive effect with the ball or bat up to eighth with Europa League qualification. in my hand,” he said. extend Juve deals “There’s a long way to go because of how thin our One problem for Stokes, as fellow pace- squad is. There are no excuses though and the men- bowling all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew win at Palace tality is good, the physicality has to remain strong,” Flintoff discovered when they were England until 2021 said Dyche. captain, could be deciding on when to bowl The win was particularly impressive for Burnley himself. LONDON: Burnley moved up to eighth in the Pre- who had one fit striker in Matej Vydra and had to “It depends if it is a flat wicket or not. If it is ROME: Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini have mier League after a header from captain Ben Mee bring on reserve centre half Kevin Long when mid- flat I will throw the ball to Jofra (Archer), Jimmy extended their Juventus contracts until 2021, the Serie earned them a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Monday. fielder Jack Cork went down injured. (Anderson) and Broady (Stuart Broad) and say A leaders announced on Monday. Sean Dyche’s side move above Arsenal and Dyche has been critical of the club’s chairman ‘here you go’,” he joked. The new deals, long expected to be confirmed by Sheffield United and on to 45 points, level on Mike Garlick after three players left the club last “I guess I will have to be a bit more mindful Juve, mean that former Italy captain Buffon will stay points with Tottenham Hotspur, who have played week when their contracts ran out but he brushed off if I am the one making that decision.” England with the Turin-based club beyond his 43rd birthday. a game less. a question about his future. will select a side from a 30-man squad cur- “Bianconeri since the beginning. Bianconeri for- Despite being depleted by injuries and with an- “Everyone keeps talking about my future apart rently training at a bio-secure Southampton, ever. And to confirm it, in case there is a need, today other incomplete and inexperienced substitute bench, from me. I’m getting on with my job as I always do - with a three-day intra-squad match — their their contract renewals have become official, for an- Burnley were well on top in the first half with Dwight I’m still here,” he said. lone warm-up fixture — starting today. other: 2021!,” Juve said in a statement. McNeil influential in a central role. “We have a group that give everything and we saw National selector Ed Smith and his panel Buffon returned to Juve last summer after a disap- Palace were stronger after the break but fell be- that again tonight. When you think before lockdown, will pick the team but England captains, how- pointing season at Paris Saint-Germain and is the hind shortly after the hour mark when Mee launched in the 100 days, the fabric of the club has changed ever, traditionally have an influence upon the club’s all-time record Serie A appearance maker, himself at an Ashley Westwood free-kick and Palace somewhat. We have a group here who will never go final XI and Stokes admitted: “I might not have turning out 479 times in the league since arriving in keeper Vicente Guaita could only push the ball in off under and we have some youngsters here who can as many friends after this Test match.” — AFP 2001.—AFP the post. see that.” — Reuters Established 1961 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

Spying claims hit America’s Porto win away to open up Menon, youngest 18Cup in New Zealand 19 six point lead in league race 19 elite umpire at 36

MELBOURNE: Carlton Aussie Rules player Eddie Betts (2/L) trains with teammates in Melbourne yesterday. Australian Rules teams came together to take a knee in support of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, but ongoing racist attacks show there’s still work to do. This month veteran Eddie Betts, in his 16th season, was depicted as a monkey in a Twitter post on the very weekend all teams united in support of Black Lives Matter. — AFP Australian Rules teams take a knee Racism and Aussie Rules: ‘Why do I keep playing?’

SYDNEY: Australian Rules teams came together to take cial media user posting a monkey emoji in the comment Collingwood. Long received hate mail for speaking up, the sport. And this month, former player Heritier Lu- a knee in support of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, section of his Instagram page. but his actions sparked change with the AFL adopting a mumba went public with claims that he was routinely but ongoing racist attacks show there’s still work to do. “This is racism. This needs to stop,” his club said, and ground-breaking policy — rule 30 — that made it an called “chimp” by teammates at his club Collingwood Australia’s most popular spectator sport, which is players’ association boss Paul Walsh added: “Another offence for players or officials to insult someone due to during a 10-year stint that ended in 2014. similar to Ireland’s Gaelic football, has long featured in- week, another gutless, racist attack on one of our indige- their race, religion, ethnicity, colour, nationality or back- “When I got into the football club at Collingwood in digenous stars but many have been the target of racism, nous players. When is enough enough?” ground. The stance was widely lauded, with 2004, it had not updated its definitions of racism. It had both on-field and off. Aussie Rules, which first became a mass- other sports following suit. The AFL, which attracts not continued on that journey and found ways to prevent This month veteran Eddie Betts, in his 16th season, spectator sport in the late 1800s, has long had raucous crowds of up to 100,000, has since broadened its ‘Vili- the racial discrimination that I faced,” he told broad- was depicted as a monkey in a Twitter post on the very crowds known for taunting play- fication Framework’ to include caster ABC. weekend all teams united in support of Black Lives Mat- ers. Such behaviour was consid- sexual orientation, while setting Collingwood last week pledged an independent in- ter. That gesture coincided with a wave of protests and ered part and parcel of the game, out a clearer complaints vestigation “in an effort to search for the truth”. Paul renewed awareness around Aboriginal affairs in Aus- but attitudes began changing in AFL is processes. But underlying prob- Briggs, chairman of the AFL Aboriginal and Torres Strait tralia following the death of African American George the 1990s. lems persist. Islander Advisory Council, a body set up to provide ad- Floyd in police custody in the United States. One of the most powerful im- leading Adam Goodes, one of Aus- vice to the league on issues impacting indigenous play- Carlton star Betts, who once had a banana thrown at ages associated with racism in tralia’s most high-profile indige- ers, admitted “there is much work left to do”. him by a spectator, said the persistent attacks took their Australia is of indigenous St that change nous sportsmen, retired from the But in a statement he also praised the AFL, which last toll, but he was prepared to meet them head-on if it led Kilda player Nicky Winmar, who AFL in 2015 after being sub- year appointed its first Aboriginal as commissioner while to change. “It deeply hurts, and you think to yourself, in 1993 responded to abuse from jected to repeated booing. Many five clubs now have indigenous board members. ‘Why do I keep playing footy if I keep copping this?’ Collingwood supporters by lift- believed it was racially motivated “What was the acceptable norm of ignorance and But I want to make a change,” he told reporters. ing his shirt while facing the crowd and pointing to his and stemmed from him taking exception to being called overt racist attitudes in the game is changing fast. The “The way to hurt these guys is keep playing great skin. That gesture is often credited as the catalyst to ad- an “ape” by a young spectator two years earlier. AFL is leading that change,” Briggs said. “Incidents still footy and keep smiling and that’s what I love doing.” dressing racial vilification in Australian Rules. Then came The AFL formally apologised last year for not doing happen but the racism is identified and addressed by the Melbourne Demons defender Neville Jetta was an- Essendon’s Michael Long, who in 1995 complained more to defend him, on the eve of the release of a pow- industry, clubs and the fans much faster and to better ef- other on the receiving end of abuse last week, with a so- about on-field racial abuse during a clash, also involving erful documentary that charted his final years in fect in the last five years.”—AFP

NBPA president Chris Paul, an Oklahoma City Thun- Peter Lim in 2014 while Sanchez, who was appointed in NBA to paint ‘Black der guard, recently told ESPN that the players got per- Chaos at Valencia January, is the sixth sporting director to have left the role mission from the league to wear words promoting social in the same period. justice in place of their names on uniforms. Valencia appointed Celades last September after tak- Lives Matter’ on “We’re just trying to continue to shed light on the as coach sacked, ing the surprising decision to dispense with Marcelino, different social justice issues that guys around our who had led the club to successive top-four finishes and Disney courts league continue to talk about day in and day out,” Paul sporting director quits ended an 11-year wait for a major trophy by guiding said. “People are saying that social justice will be off of them to win the Copa del Rey. everybody’s mind in Orlando. With these jerseys, it Celades had never previously been a first team coach LOS ANGELES: The NBA’s plan to highlight social-jus- doesn’t go away.” VALENCIA: Valencia have sacked coach Albert Celades at club level, building his reputation as Spain’s under-21 tice issues when play restarts reportedly will start from According to Paul, phrases such as “Black Lives Mat- and appointed long-standing club servant Voro until the coach and as an assistant to Julen Lopetegui with the end of the season, the La Liga club said in a statement the ground up. The courts that will be used for games at ter” or “I Can’t Breathe” or the names of George Floyd, Spain side and Real Madrid. on Monday. Sporting director Cesar Sanchez then an- He made a difficult start in losing his first game in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Breonna Taylor or Ahmaud Arbery could be seen on uni- nounced his resignation shortly after Celades was dis- charge 5-2 to Barcelona but improved his reputation by Fla., will have “Black Lives Matter” painted on them, forms. Taylor and Arbery were also killed in shootings missed, deepening the institutional crisis at one of taking the team into the last 16 of the Champions ESPN reported Monday. this year. Spain’s most prestigious clubs. League. The NBA will use three arenas at the Disney site as The WNBA also might follow the NBA’s lead and put According to Spanish media reports, Sanchez de- But they were comprehensively beaten 8-4 on aggre- 22 of the league’s 30 teams conclude the regular season “Black Lives Matter” on its courts at the IMG Academy cided to resign after telling the squad earlier on Monday gate by Atalanta and pressure mounted on Celades as beginning July 30. in Bradenton, Fla., for its 2020 season, according to that Celades would remain in charge for Wednesday’s the team’s domestic form continued to decline. The National Basketball Players Association and the ESPN. The report added that WNBA players might wear game against Athletic Bilbao, only for him to be sacked He was let go after Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Villarreal, which league have discussed methods to promote messages of pregame shirts with the phrase, “Say Her Name,” seek- hours later. followed defeat by struggling Eibar and left the team equality and police reform since the death of George ing to keep the focus on Taylor and other women who Celades is the sixth manager Valencia have sacked eighth in the standings on 46 points, eight behind fourth- Floyd prompted nationwide and worldwide protests. are victims of alleged police brutality. — Reuters since the club was bought by Singaporean billionaire placed Sevilla with six games remaining.—Reuters