A Milestone Honour

TWITTER SPORTS @newsofbahrain OP-ED 8 How the carbon-neutral asset class is taking over finance? INSTAGRAM Drag racing champions /nobmedia 2 crowned after action- LINKEDIN MONDAY newsofbahrain MARCH 2020 packed season-finale 210 FILS WHATSAPP ISSUE NO. 8404 Bahrain International 38444692 Circuit (BIC) crowned its FACEBOOK newest group of champions /nobmedia over the weekend after MAIL hosting a hugely exciting [email protected] season-finale in the WEBSITE 2019/2020 Bahrain Drag newsofbahrain.com Racing Championship. P16

Oprah Winfrey falls on stage while talking about balance 14 CELEBS WORLD 10 Syria says 2 warplanes downed by Turkey

A unique Children's Plan TALEEM PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PLAN OF LIC INTERNATIONAL IN BAHRAIN FOR 30 YEARS

Horse race success

Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates:

All infected patients are in a stable Number of infected cases: 47 condition and are receiving ongoing care from a specialised medical team

Measures taken:

An electronic registration service was launched to schedule medical examinations His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday received at Al Safriya Palace, in the presence of Personal Representative His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the for returnees from Iran during February, available at: www.moh.gov.bh/444 King’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, National Security Adviser and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Affairs (SCYS) Chairman HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing High Authority Vice-Chairman HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who presented to HM the King the trophies they The mobile testing units continue to collect samples from individuals who have had won in the Saudi World Cup. Port Lions, owned by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, won the 2,100-metre-long returned from Iran before Iran announcing the pandemic race for open category in the Saudi World Cup, which was held yesterday in Riyadh under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Dark Power, owned by HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, won the second race as part of the maiden Saudi World Cup. HM Latest update: 11:00 PM the King congratulated HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on the 1 March 2020 historic achievement, which honoured the Kingdom in the Saudi World Cup.

Locusts invasion again? • General Shaikh Manama Rashid dedicated the medal to His he Agriculture and Majesty King Hamad A milestone honour TMarine Resources has bin Isa Al Khalifa for warned that locusts could Interior Minister receives Prince Naif Award for Arab Security reach Bahrain this week and trusting him to lead urged farmers to be ready. the Interior Ministry. rorist threats and immediate The department within analysis of terrorist acts, the rec- the Ministry of Works, Mu- Tunis ommendations of conferences nicipal Affairs and Urban Arab security situation and meetings that held by the Planning referred to a state- requires more General Secretary in 2019 and ment issued by the locust nterior Minister has dedi- participation in strategic the results of joint meetings centre in Saudi Arabia stat- cated the Prince Naif Award with Arab and international or- ing that opposite air currents for Arab Security, which he security causes. ganisations. I GENERAL SHAIKH RASHID from the north and south won for being the best Interior The council decided at the end this week are expected to Minister in the region, to His of the session based on a proposal carry swarms of locusts. Majesty for the great leadership Interior Minister, General by the General Secretariat of the and supportive stances. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Prince Naif Award for Arab Se- This came as Tunisian Pres- Khalifa chaired Bahrain’s dele- curity, led by His Royal Highness ident Kais Saied yesterday re- gation that took part in the ses- Saudi Interior Minister, Prince ceived at the Carthage Presi- sion’s meetings held on Sunday Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin dency Palace Arab Interior and led by Sudanese Interior Abdulaziz Al Saud, the honorary Ministers on the side-line of Minister, Lt-General El Tereifi President of the Council to grant DON’T MISS IT 37th session of the Arab Interi- General Shaikh Rashid receives the award from Prince Abdulaziz Al Saud. Idris, head of the session. the Prince Naif Medal for Arab or Ministers Council in Tunisia. The agenda of the session in- Security to Interior Minister of The Tunisian President those meetings in reinforcing re- wished success to those meet- cluded various essential security Bahrain that is awarded to a se- welcomed the Arab officials, gional security cooperation and ings to meet the inspirations of topics, including the formation curity leader with distinguished BIC lines up world- highlighting the importance of joint Arab work in all fields. He Arabs. of a work team to monitor ter- and active role. class musicians 02 for F1 Bahrain VIRUS THREAT GP off-track entertainment 1977 tested until now; six new cases BD56m e-Payment TDT | Manama en to combat the spread of the have been transferred to an iso- combat the spread of COVID-19, 04 success COVID-19 and safeguard the lation centre for treatment and ensuring the continued health he Ministry of Health has health of citizens and residents, medical care, under the supervi- and the safety of the community. Money laundering registered six new Coro- the Ministry of Health has tested sion of a specialised medical team. The Ministry reiterated its 05 convict loses plea Tnavirus (COVID-19) cases, a total of 1977 individuals return- The Ministry of Health fur- call for all individuals returning which include three female Bah- ing from Iran and other COVID-19 47 ther outlined that it is currently from Iran to isolate themselves raini nationals, two male Bahraini affected countries. people are undergoing implementing a mobile testing immediately and schedule their 210 fils (includes VAT) nationals and one male Saudi A total of 1931 individuals have treatment in the Kingdom process for the 2,292 individuals medical examinations via www. national, arriving at Bahrain In- tested negative, whilst 47 individ- after being infected with returning from Iran before the moh.gov.bh/444 or by contact- ternational Airport via indirect uals have tested positive and are in Coronavirus. country announced the pandem- ing hotline no 444, stressing that flights from Iran, bringing the total a stable condition. ic, in order to ensure full medical they should avoid contact with number of confirmed cases to 47. The ministry highlighted that examinations are carried out as others until the medical exam- As part of the measures tak- all patients that tested positive per official measures applied to inations are carried out. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 02

BIC lines up world-class musicians for F1 Bahrain GP off-track entertainment TDT | Manama

he Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, has “Tlined up a fantastic roster of world-class performers as part of the off-track entertainment at the upcoming Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020. BIC’s Formula 1 Village vending area is set to be the stomping ground for the eclectic mix of artists from all across the globe. Among the most notable will be the teams of talented musicians who will be helping set the vibrant family atmosphere at the circuit. They include Funky Style Band from Italy, Papaya Jam from Spain and Aras Stilt Band from Germany, and are certain to get the crowds moving to their beats. Funky Style Band is an innovative marching band that maintains a union between sound and movement, but re- interprets it in a unique way. Aras Stilt Band is a combination between one of the best groups of They have eye-catching uniforms Funky Style Band is an innovative marching band that maintains a union between sound and movement. percussions and and stilt-walkers in Germany. and they play and dance with the grit and enthusiasm typical of a respectable the freshness of the movements and sions and and stilt-walkers in Germany. China and Russia, to name a few. Fans who purchase a Main Grandstand street band, but without forgetting the the beats of the drum, and they will be Their colourful outstanding costumes These artists and so many more are ticket on or before March 7 will have a elegance of the Italian funky style. surprised with the effects. with big wings and their beautiful music set to entertain the crowd at the up- chance to take home a pair of Formula Papaya Jam are a young and talented Papaya Jam was launched in 2015, make them one of the most appreciated coming Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain 1 Paddock Club three-day passes worth al- batucada ensemble from Spain. They from the district of Santa Eugènia de in Europe, inspired by the Aras colorful Grand Prix, taking place March 19 to most US$10,000 in an exciting new raffle. perform a fusion of rhythm, taste, colour Ter in the city of Girona in Spain, and bird from the rain forest. 22 in Sakhir. For further information on the For- and dance through Brazilian and Latin they offer a fresh, artistic and visual Their trademark is their great joy of Tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix mula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix American sounds. spectacle ideal for all types of events. playing, which makes the spark jump to are selling fast and all those excited to 2020, visit BIC’s official website www. A musical explosion that will take Aras Stilt Band is a combination be- the audience. They have attended lots of attend are advised to purchase theirs as bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline you to different places, fans will feel tween one of the best groups of percus- festivals in Germany, France, Romania, soon as possible. on +973-17-450000.

US-Taliban peace deal welcomed Manama Online portal to schedule ahrain has welcomed Bthe signing of the peace deal between the US and Taliban as an important step towards achieving security and stability throughout Afghanistan. medical checks launched In a statement, the Min- istry of Foreign Affairs expressed its aspiration that Citizens and residents who returned from Iran in February the step would achieve its goals of de-escalation and urged to isolate until scheduled medical appointment ceasefire. The ministry also af - firmed Bahrain’s solidarity Iran returnees have with the US in its efforts to • establish security and peace been urged to follow regionally and internation- the instructions given to 2,000 ally. them by the specialised people have already President Trump says it medical team. returned to the country is “time to bring our peo- from Iran while many ple back home” after the more will be brought back US signed a deal with the Situation in Iran is soon. Taliban aimed at bringing much• more dire than peace to Afghanistan. official statistics suggest, Mr Trump said 5,000 US says media reports. troops would leave Afghan- more will be brought back soon. istan by May and he would The Ministry of Foreign Affairs meet Taliban leaders in the Manama has announced that it has begun near future, without speci- implementing an evacuation plan fying where. he Ministry of Health has for Bahraini nationals in Iran The US and Nato allies announced the launch of including screening and quar- have agreed to withdraw Tan online registration por- antine procedures, in response all troops within 14 months tal to ease the process of sched- to the outbreak of Coronavirus if the militants uphold the uling medical examinations for (COVID-19) across Iranian cities. historic deal. individuals who have returned “Over 200 people in Iran have Talks between the Afghan from Iran in February, before died as a result of the new coro- government and the Taliban Iran had announced its COVID-19 navirus disease,” sources in the are due to follow. pandemic. country’s health system have told Under the agreement, the The website can be accessed BBC Persian. militants also agreed not to via: www.moh.gov.bh/444. Most of the victims are from allow al-Qaeda or any other The Ministry of Health high- the capital, Tehran, and the city extremist group to operate lighted that, along with the new- of Qom, where cases of Covid-19 in the areas they control. ly-introduced website, the 444 first emerged. The US invaded Afghan- hotline number is also available “The figure is six times high- istan weeks after the Sep- to individuals who have returned Mobile medical units have been deployed to carry out Coronavirus tests on Iran returnees. er than the official death toll of tember 2001 attacks in New from Iran during the month of 34 given by the health ministry York by al-Qaeda, then February and need to schedule safety of their families and the nian shrine city of Qom, which is there have been 210 deaths in earlier on Friday. The ministry based in Afghanistan. appointments. community. thought to be a hub of the disease Iran due to Corona virus. spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour The Taliban were ousted The ministry emphasised that Fears are growing across the and the likely source of its spread This would mean the number insisted it was being transparent from power but became an all the individuals returned from Middle East that coronavirus elsewhere in the country and of coronavirus cases in the coun- and accused the BBC of spread- insurgent force that by 2018 Iran during the month of Febru- has infiltrated a main pilgrimage in neighbouring states, where try would be more than 10,000. ing lies. was active in more than ary should isolate themselves un- route, which could lead the dead- infected travellers have been di- This leads to more cause of con- “It comes after a member of two-thirds of the country. til their scheduled appointment, ly pathogen to vulnerable refugee agnosed in recent days. cerns for people who returned parliament for Qom accused the More than 2,400 US follow the instructions given to populations, causing perhaps un- Situation in Iran is much more from Iran in past month. authorities of a cover-up and the troops have been killed them by the specialised medical precedented public health crises dire than official statistics sug- This comes as 2,000 people US expressed concern that they during the conflict. About team and avoid interacting with across the region. gest, according to a report in the have already returned to the may not be sharing information,” 12,000 are still stationed in others to ensure the health and Concern is centred on the Ira- BBC. The report indicates that country from Iran while many the BBC reported. the country. 03 MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

To all citizens and residents All returnees from Iran during the month of February Must schedule a medical appointment by:

1- Visiting www.moh.gov.bh/444 OR 2- Calling 444

Those who schedule an appointment and test Negative:

14 Must self-isolate at home for a period of 14 days

Will receive a paid medical leave for 14 days MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 04

PUBG gaming at Oasis Mall TDT | Manama

BD56m e-Payment success UBG Tournament was held Pat Oasis Mall Juffair. It was attended by more than 600 Number of visits to the national portal reaches eight million gamers from Bahrain and KSA. Participants included gam- Manama ers who were from all walks of life. eputy Prime Minister and The youngest gamer being Chairman of the Supreme 19 years of age and the eldest DCommittee for Informa- being 40. tion and Communication Tech- 184,000 Teams included a mix of nology (SCICT), His Highness individuals use smart boys and girls as well as only Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak applications on an average girl teams were present as well. Al Khalifa, chaired SCICT’s 14th every month. The event was one of the meeting, in the presence of Depu- first gaming competitions to ty Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalid take place within a mall in bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Bahrain. The event attracted The meeting reviewed the the youngsters of Gen Z as the shift towards digital economy as the American standard, which primary participants and au- a national strategy adopted the HH Shaikh Mohammed chairs the meeting. exceeds the global average in dience. Information and eGovernment the field. The gamers participated Authority (iGA), which was com- 2019 programme, which high- channels exceeded 1.6 million the measurement of custom- HH Shaikh Mohammed bin in teams comprising of four missioned to prepare a study on lighted the development of 40 transactions, worth more than er satisfaction with electronic Mubarak Al Khalifa expressed members. Each team played this important field and future online services and completion BD56 million, as the number services carried out by iGA in his appreciation to the Informa- the knockout round, the directions for its development of seven governmental systems, of visits to the national portal co-operation with the Univer- tion and eGovernment Authority semi-finals and then the finals through adopting the best prac- in addition to activating new reached about eight million, and sity of Bahrain, the committee on the positive accomplishments over a period of 2 days. tices and seeking international payment mechanisms using the the number of smart applica- was informed that the general achieved during the last peri- The grand winners of the expertise. eWallet, as well as activating cash tions’ users rose to about 184,000 awareness on online services had od, stressing the need to achieve tournament were “Team S9”, The committee approved the payment. per month and over nine million reached 93 per cent, the level of the goals and aspirations of the followed by team RPG and team report on the achievements and The report also indicated that transactions during the past year. their use 74pc, and customer sat- government in this vital and Banana in the second and third statistics of the e-government payments through all online Regarding the results of isfaction 77pc, according to the important filed. places respectively.

‘Say no to single use AMH supports ‘Smile’ initiative plastic’ campaign TDT | Manama

he Oasis Mall-Juffair pre- Tsented a theatrical play called ‘I Don’t Love Plastic’ at its premises. The activity was part of Al Rashid Group’s efforts to create awareness on sustainability and social practices, which trigger behavioural changes in our immediate environment. The musical tells the story of the havoc played by plastic, especially single use plastic, on our ecosystem. More than 30 students from Quality Education School, British School of Bahrain, Sa- Ms Julia Tovey, CEO of the American Mission Hospital (AMH), made a cred Heart School and Al Noor donation to “Smile Initiative”, an initiative of Bahrain Future Society School, participated in this for Youth which provides psycho social support to children with cancer light and sound extravaganza, and their parents in the Kingdom. This comes in the framework of the which was extremely well re- hospital’s belief in the effective and continuous contribution and support ceived by the audience. for charitable projects in the Kingdom, in addition to its commitment to The play was created and spreading the values of social solidarity and promoting charitable and Under the patronage of Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Deputy Governor Hassan Al directed by Anupam Ramesh humanitarian work towards the community. Ms Tovey handed over the Madani yesterday inaugurated the Bahrain International Design Week (BIDW), which is being held at A’ali Mall until Kinger and Choreographer donation during a meeting with Ms Safaa Al Nasser, society treasurer at the March 7. The event features many associated functions like workshops and lectures to highlight creativity in designs, ensure interaction between participants and visitors and boost the entrepreneurship sector in the fields of jewellery- Piya Bannerjee from Khwab- Future Society Youth and the head of the communication team at “Smile” making, costumes, architectural designs and décor. gaah: House of Dreams. initiative.

Carrefour Inks MoU with society to support farming sector

TDT | Manama a result-driven project for na- We are delighted that this tional food production in line arrefour, operated in the with the vision of the Kingdom. Kingdom of Bahrain by collaboration gives us the “This includes allocating sites CMajid Al Futtaim, signed opportunity to promote for plant production, raising the a Memorandum of Understand- and market Bahraini proportion of local output, and ing (MoU) with the Bahrain Ag- produce at our stores developing national capabilities ricultural Co-operative Society while giving our customers in the food sector.” to enhance the diversity and the opportunity to enjoy Akel added: “We are delight- sustainability of Bahrain’s agri- local foods during their ed that this collaboration gives cultural sector. us the opportunity to promote Through the agreement, Car- shopping experience. and market Bahraini produce refour aims to use its network of Shaikha Maram and Mr Akel with Carrefour in Bahrain staff and dignitaries. MR AKEL at our stores while giving our stores and industry know-how customers the opportunity to to increase support for local farmers and its partnership with the quality of local produce and marketing processes are integral Jerome Akel, Country Man- enjoy local foods during their farmers and help them devel- the National Initiative for Agri- other imported products. when it comes to production ager of Carrefour in Bahrain at shopping experience.’’ op and promote their products cultural Development to spread “The National Initiative for development and ensuring con- Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: After signing the agreement, across the country and abroad, awareness about food securi- Agricultural Development seeks sumers have access to agricul- “This initiative embodies one Shaikha Maram and the Bah- ultimately maximising the reach ty with all members of society, to support Bahrain’s diverse ag- tural goods. We are proud to of our long-term strategic goals raini farmers were accompa- of the Bahrain’s farmed prod- while actively promoting sus- ricultural production and its partner with one of largest retail here at Majid Al Futtaim retail, nied on a tour of Carrefour Hy- ucts. tainability and environmental local farmers by opening new giants in the region, Carrefour, which is to work hand in hand permarket, where they visited This initiative further demon- preservation. outlets, and sales and marketing alongside the Bahrain Agricul- with the communities that we several departments inside the strates Carrefour’s commit- In a statement, Shaikha Mar- channels to meet the current tural Cooperative Society. We operate in and to take agricul- store and the areas display - ment to creating an improved am bint Isa Al Khalifa, the Sec- demand of locally produced veg- hope that this cooperation will tural sectors to new heights. ing fresh Bahraini agricultural sales and marketing platform retary General of the National etables and fruits.” encourage farmers to keep im- “Our partnerships with the products from local farmers. for Bahraini agricultural prod- Initiative for Agricultural De- She continued: “The agricul- proving and developing their Bahrain Agricultural Co-oper- She praised Carrefour’s efforts ucts which include vegetables, velopment said: “The demand tural sector is one of the most products while ensuring farms ative Society and National Ini- in enabling the national agricul- fruits, herbs, and plants, among for local production has recently important sectors; it contrib- continue to work towards sus- tiative for Agricultural Develop- tural sector, supporting local pro- others. Carrefour is also using increased and consumers have utes to achieving food security, tainable agricultural production ment showcase our dedication duction, and promoting and mar- its cooperation with Bahraini begun to distinguish between while the agricultural sales and in the Kingdom of Bahrain.” to developing and implementing keting local Bahraini products. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 05 Money laundering SCW strides stressed at meeting Manama preme Council for Women (SCW), Hala Al the efforts and initiatives of Her Royal Ansari, in the presence of Assistant Foreign Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim convict loses plea inister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ab- Minister, Abdulla Al Doseri and Foreign Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King dullatif Al Zayani, received in his Ministry Undersecretary, Dr Shaikha Rana and President of the SCW, to highlight Defendant generated BD190,000 Moffice at the Ministry’s General bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa. the role of women in all fields of devel - Court today Secretary General of the Su- The Minister of Foreign Affairs hailed opment. through drug peddling activities TDT | Manama

he High Appeals Court has upheld the sen - The man bought Alhilal Life B.S.C. (c) Alhilal Takaful B.S.C. (c) Ttence issued against a several boats and 70-year-old man convicted shops as well as of laundering BD190,000 gen- restaurants in an CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION erated through drug peddling At 31 December 2019 Audited Audited effort to avoid At 31 December 2019 Audited Audited activities. 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18 being questioned ASSETS USD USD The defendant had al - ASSETS USD USD Cash and balances with banks 3,359,368 4,016,874 on his wealth. Cash and balances with banks 2,660,209 2,678,381 ready spent 10 years in pris- Statutory deposits 2,245,124 2,243,491 Statutory deposits 1,979,872 1,978,239 on for selling drugs and he PROSECUTORS Investments 52,395,388 48,463,736 Investments 32,096,920 30,561,965 Insurance receivables 2,188,886 2,346,901 was released from prison Re-takaful share of technical reserves 3,395,861 3,124,960 Amounts due from related parties 1,096,764 297,053 Retakaful balances receivable 161,662 1,450 in 2017. on his wealth, according to Reinsurers’ share of technical provisions 6,993,967 8,249,490 Takaful Receivables 960,497 505,450 He reportedly imported Prosecutors. Reinsurers’ share of outstanding claims 6,240,896 5,510,167 Deferred acquisition costs 70,233 125,437 Deferred acquisition costs 70,233 125,437 banned drugs worth more He also deposited money Amounts due from related parties 2,582,911 576,656 Intangible assets 323,002 148,024 BD Intangible assets 19,944 34,975 than 1.5 million and made into his children’s bank ac- Property, furniture and fixtures 693,970 73,267 Fixed Assets 10,348 8,780 BD190,000 profits, which he counts and loaned a fellow Other assets 1,419,034 956,892 Other assets 1,440,681 685,390 TOTAL ASSETS 77,026,632 72,431,332 wanted to launder through national BD40,000. 40,281,683 TOTAL ASSETS 45,379,138 investing in various commer- However, the police tracked LIABILITIES, PARTICIPANTS’ FUND AND EQUITY LIABILITIES, PARTICIPANTS’ FUND AND cial activities besides selling him down and discovered the Liabilities SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Outstanding claims 9,423,345 8,131,899 drugs too. sources of his wealth, thus ar- Liabilities Technical provisions 18,332,262 19,394,813 The man bought sever - resting him again and put him Technical reserves 7,941,840 6,699,008 Liabilities to unit-linked policyholders 27,222,122 25,065,840 Participants’ liabilities 27,222,122 25,065,840 al boats and shops as well on trial. Reinsurers’ balances payable 1,358,287 2,586,256 Amounts due to related parties 1,267,312 as restaurants in an effort The defendant was also Other liabilities 3,330,607 1,249,362 Retakaful balances payable 1,076,849 506,827 Total liabilities 59,666,623 56,428,170 to avoid being questioned fined BD190,000 for his crime. Other liabilities 2,306,052 943,348 Surplus in participants’ fund 284,259 187,253 34,482,335 Total liabilities 38,546,863 Equity Participants’ fund Share capital 25,000,000 25,000,000 Retained surplus 286,259 187,253 Statutory reserve 57,820 57,820 Investment fair value reserve (2,000) Investment fair value reserve 198,710 (59,065) Shura praises efforts to Net surplus in participants’ fund 284,259 187,253 Accumulated losses (8,180,780) (9,182,846)

Total equity 17,075,750 15,815,909 Shareholders’ Equity combat COVID-19 TOTAL LIABILITIES, PARTICIPANTS’ FUND Share capital 13,262,600 13,262,600 AND EQUITY 77,026,632 72,431,332 Manama King’s leadership through Accumulated losses (6,709,566) (7,650,505) Investment fair value reserve (5,018) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME their implementation of var- Total shareholders’ equity 6,548,016 5,612,095 he Shura Council has ious instructions that ensure ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTICIPANTS TOTAL LIABILITIES, PARTICIPANTS’ FUND 40,281,683 expressed deep pride their safety and that of the Year ended 31 December 2019 2019 2018 AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 45,379,138 USD USD in the advanced pre- nation. STATEMENT OF PARTICIPANTS’ REVENES AND EXPENSES T Revenue cautionary measures taken It also paid tribute to Contributions net of refunds 14,243,915 9,383,333 Year ended 31 December 2019 2019 2018 by the Kingdom, in line with the National Taskforce for Surrenders and maturities (5,757,956) (8,207,052) USD USD Unearned contributions adjustment - gross (809,518) (925,468) His Majesty King Hamad bin Combating the Coronavi- Revenue Earned contributions 7,676,441 250,813 Isa Al Khalifa’s directives, to rus (COVID-19), commend- Contributions net of refunds 14,243,915 9,383,333 Retakaful share of gross contributions (3,576,607) (1,268,189) Surrenders and maturities (5,757,956) (8,207,052) deal with the Coronavirus ing the dedicated efforts of Unearned contributions adjustment - retakaful 473,340 568,194 Movement in participants’ liabilities (2,156,282) 3,475,691 (COVID-19) and prevent its its highly-qualified national Retakaful share of earned contributions (3,103,267) (699,995) Investment gain / (loss) 2,994,297 (769,673) Provision for liabilities to unit-linked policyholders (2,156,282) 3,475,691 spread in the country. competencies to address the Total revenue 9,323,974 3,882,299 Net contributions earned 2,416,892 3,026,509

In this regard, the Shu- virus in the most professional Fair value gain / (loss) on investments at fair value Expenses ra Council lauded the con- way, as well as its transpar- through profit or loss 2,994,297 (769,673) Wakala fees (2,543,546) (1,749,272) Realized gain / (loss) on available for sale investments 82,440 (52,200) stant interest of His Royal ency and constant keenness CONTRIBUTION TO PARTICIPANTS’ FUND 6,780,428 2,133,027 Profit income 101,033 101,199

Highness Prince Salman bin to reassure the public and Total revenue 5,594,662 2,305,835 PARTICIPANTS’ FUND Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown issue the necessary health Revenue Expenses Prince, Deputy Supreme instructions. Net contributions 6,780,428 2,133,027 Claims incurred (6,290,819) (2,597,112) Commander and First Dep- The Shura Council valued Retakaful share of gross contributions (3,576,607) (1,268,189) Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 3,502,509 1,939,621 Net retained contributions 3,203,821 864,838 uty Prime Minister, as well as highly the on-going coop- Impairment on takaful receivables (72,063) Unearned contributions adjustment - gross (809,518) (925,468) Wakala fee (2,543,546) (1,749,272) his direct oversight over the eration and coordination Unearned contributions adjustment - retakaful 473,340 568,194 Mudarib share (91,737) (24,500) efforts exerted by the Nation- among the relevant public Earned contributions 2,867,643 507,564 Total expenses (5,495,656) (2,431,263) Impairment on takaful receivables (72,063) al Taskforce for Combating and private institutions in Realised gain / (loss) on sale of investment in sukuks 82,440 (52,200) SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR the Coronavirus (COVID-19), responding positively to in- Profit income 101,033 101,199 TRANSFERRED TO PARTICIPANTS’ FUND 99,006 (125,428) and his directives to develop structions on ways to deal Total revenue 2,979,053 556,563 Fair value changes arising during the year (2,000) 49,255 an integrated national plan to with COVID-19, praising the TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) FOR THE YEAR 97,006 (76,173) fight COVID-19. great role played by the af- Expenses Claims incurred (6,290,819) (2,597,112) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The Shura Council assert- filiates of Bahrain Defence Retakaful share of claims incurred 3,502,509 1,939,621 ed that the current critical Force, Interior Ministry, ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS Mudarib share (91,737) (24,500) period and the extraordi - Health Ministry, Ministry of Year ended 31 December 2019 2019 2018 SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR IN THE PARTICIPANTS’ FUND 99,006 (125,428) nary health challenges re- Transportation and Telecom- USD USD STATEMENT OF INCOME quire more national unity, munications, the Information Revenue cohesion and solidarity in Affairs Ministry, among oth- Gross written premiums 9,348,757 13,673,962 Year ended 31 December 2019 2019 2018 order to overcome the cur- ers, in combating the virus Reinsurers’ share of insurance premiums (2,752,722) (4,980,822) USD USD rent situation, stressing that and keenness to work as a 6,596,035 8,693,140 Revenues Premium rebates / refunds (1,762,822) (2,091,669) Wakala and mudarib share 2,635,283 1,773,772 Bahrainis have also proved unified team to ensure the Reinsurance portion of premium rebates / refunds 65,570 96,503 Management fee 445,666 447,511 their cohesion, unity and health and safety of everyone 4,898,783 6,697,974 Investment income - net 169,746 (6,035) rallying behind HM the in the kingdom. Movement in risk reserve 1,988,050 (423,616) Profit income 236,427 252,546 Movement in reinsurers’ share of risk reserve (1,728,863) 540,278 Movement in unearned wakala (115,981) (111,241) Net premiums earned 5,157,970 6,814,636 2,356,553 Total revenues 3,371,141

Interest income 1,182,954 1,099,401 Expenses Management fee 445,666 447,511

Wakala fees 2,543,546 1,749,272 General and administrative expenses (1,939,169) (1,176,702) Other income 3,618 179,403 Acquisition costs (347,840) (156,833) Six flights evacuate Mudarib share 91,737 24,500 Amortisation of intangible assets net of recharge (14,728) (3,986) Movement in unearned wakala (115,981) (111,241) Investment management fee (115,812) (115,856) Investment income - net 1,059,089 (6,035) Depreciation (12,653) (7,922) 3,382,811 Kuwaitis from Iran 5,210,629 Total expenses (2,430,202) (1,461,299) Total revenue 10,368,599 10,197,447

Kuwait City PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 940,939 895,254 “The arrivals from Tehran Claims have to remain in quarantine Claims incurred (9,427,198) (11,246,927) ive flights arrived at Ku- while those from Thailand Reinsurers’ share of claims incurred 5,593,023 6,140,240 wait International Air- will be under observation at Net claims incurred (3,834,175) (5,106,687) The financials were audited by Ernst & Young, Kingdom of Bahrain, and approved by the Board of directors on 11th February 2020 and signed on their port from Tehran, and home,” she told KUNA. Expenses behalf by: F Acquisition costs (860,363) (350,087) one from Bangkok, yesterday “The persons who suffer Impairment on insurance receivables (100,659) with Kuwaitis on board. from chronic illnesses, such Staff costs (2,730,822) (2,424,325) Sanjeev Baijal Rajeev Gogia Said Hathout Upon their arrival at Shai- as heart disease, were admit- General and administration expenses (1,840,514) (1,553,523) (Chairman) (Director) (CEO) kh Saad Al Abdullah Termi- ted into a specific hospital to (5,532,358) (4,327,935) nal, the evacuees underwent verify their health condition,” Total claims and expenses (9,366,533) (9,434,622) Interested parties may contact the Company at the below address for full financial TOTAL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 1,002,066 762,825 preliminary medical tests to she pointed out. statements. Other comprehensive income: Registered Office: Office 1701 / 1702, 17th Floor, Building No 470, Fakhro Tower Other comprehensive income to be reclassified to make sure they are free of Affirming her earlier state- Road No 1010, Sanabis 410, P.O. Box 5832 Manama coronavirus (COVID-19) infec- ment that no new COVID-19 consolidated statement of income in subsequent periods: Available-for-sale investments: Kingdom of Bahrain tion, said Assistant Undersec- cases were detected today, Dr Fair value changes arising during the year and Tel: + 973 17589800 retary of the Health Ministry Al Mudhaf said the previously other comprehensive income 257,775 (59,065) Alhilal Life B.S.C.(c) and Alhilal Takaful B.S.C.(c) are Dr Buthaina Al Mudhaf to confirmed 45 patients are in TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 1,259,841 703,760 authorised by the Central Bank of Bahrain. C.R. numbers: are 70934 and 71181. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). stable condition. 06 MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 business OPEC could deepen supply cuts with or without Russia

- a key member of OPEC+ - has Saudi Arabia has been duction policy. OPEC has been sufficient resources to contend holding its output to Moscow has a history of agree- • with any deterioration in the ing to OPEC+ actions only at the discussing cutting global economy. 400,000 bpd beneath its last minute after showing initial oil production by “Saudi Arabia wants to hold quota, bringing the total reluctance. a further 1 million prices from falling, but Russia effective OPEC+ cuts to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minis- barrels per day (bpd) is still not agreeing. So the only 2.1 million bpd ter Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman way might be for OPEC to cut last month described as “non- alone, which will not send a OPEC has been discussing cut- sense” a media report that Ri- • That is more than good signal to the market,” one ting oil production by a further yadh is considering a break from an initially proposed of the sources said. 1 million barrels per day (bpd), the OPEC+ alliance with Russia. cut of 600,000 bpd “There should be a cut, there among other options, as it seeks He also expressed confidence is no other option,” another to stabilise declining oil prices, that OPEC+ would respond re- Moscow has a source said, adding that another OPEC and industry sources said sponsibly to the spread of the • option might be for OPEC to de- on Friday. coronavirus and that Saudi Ara- history of agreeing to lay a decision until low oil prices That is more than an initially bia and Russia would remain OPEC+ actions only force Moscow to come on board. proposed cut of 600,000 bpd. engaged on oil policy. at the last minute The existing OPEC+ pact en- The prince has been advocat- Markets rattled tails output cuts of 1.7 million ing a swift oil supply cut since Global oil and stock markets bpd under a deal that runs to the the initial outbreak of the virus Reuters OPEC and allies are scheduled to meet in Vienna over March 5-6 to seek agreement on production policy have been rattled by the spread end of March. in January, aware that delays of the coronavirus, which has Saudi Arabia has been hold- have previously led to costly PEC could agree on deeper talks. known as OPEC+, will not nec- infected 82,000-plus people ing its output to 400,000 bpd price collapses, sources famil- oil supply cuts this week, Moscow is resisting further essarily revive oil demand, the globally, with more than 2,700 beneath its quota, bringing the iar with the kingdom’s thinking Owith or without Russia’s output curbs, arguing that resources said. deaths in China and 57 fatalities total effective OPEC+ cuts to 2.1 have told Reuters. support, to halt the slide in crude duced production by the Saudi Russian President Vladimir in 46 other nations. million bpd. Saudi Arabia needs oil prices prices triggered by the global Arabia-led Organisation of the Putin yesterday said that cur- Brent crude fell to $49.67 a OPEC and allies are scheduled of about $80 a barrel to balance spread of the coronavirus, said Petroleum Exporting Countries rent prices are acceptable for his barrel on Friday, having lost to meet in Vienna over March its state budget while Russia can two sources familiar with the (OPEC) and its allies, a group country’s budget and that Russia more than $15 since January. 5-6 to seek agreement on pro- cope with prices as low as $42.

Niche Garden (Al Hawaj Group) and Creed Parfums hosted a special Meet and Greet Event for Edwin Creed from the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Shaker Al Shater alongside his House of Creed Paris (1760) at Al Hawaj Niche Garden in Seef Mall. French Ambassador Jerome Cauchard, Al Hawaj Deputy Dr Abdulla Al Sada and officials from the chamber recently received at Bait Al Tijjar the Consul of the embassy Managing Director Jawad Al Hawaj, Al Hawaj General Manager Abdul Wahab Al Hawaj, Operations Manager Shyam of the Syria Alabbas Hayder. The meeting mulled invigorating business between Bahrain and Syria and activating the Narayanan, Hussein Al Hawaj, Ahmed Al Hawaj were present aside from other top officials and guests including Marc cooperation agreements signed between both friendly countries. The meeting also probed obstacles curbing business Bierer from Creed. owners on both sides, and means of eliminating them.

Motorcity launches new look SsangYong Tivoli TDT | Manama gasoline turbo engine and is also otorcity, the exclusive available in a 1.6 litre standard Mdistributor for SsangYong engine. The focus on style and cars in Bahrain, announced the innovation is noticeable with the arrival of the 2020 Tivoli, a com- generous use of LED lighting and pact SUV combining luxury, style its futuristic demeanour. and performance for the Bahrain The interior follows a similar market. trend, energising the already Commenting on the launch, sporty interior with streamlined Chairman of Motorcity, Waleed features to enhance driving con- E. Kanoo, said, “SsangYong re- venience and enjoyability. The cently revealed a revolutionary car also comes in trendy new direction for their vehicles and colours to suit every taste. we are seeing this come to fru- Motorcity is offering an ex- ition with this new model. The traordinary 10-year warranty, Tivoli has been very popular in along with free registration, in- Bahrain in recent years due to surance and window tinting, and its stylish look, luxurious inte- a complimentary 3-year service rior and its affordability, and we package. are sure this new model will be The 2020 Tivoli and the rest equally successful.” of the SsangYong range are now The compact SUV is powered available at the Motorcity show- by SsangYong’s very first 1.5 litre The compact SUV is powered by SsangYong’s very first 1.5 litre gasoline turbo engine and is also available in a 1.6 litre standard engine room in Sanad. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 07

Kuwait, other bourses decline since January 2016, bringing this year’s Switzerland files complaint Kuwait sees biggest losses to 12.5pc. • Al Rajhi Bank fell 3.9pc, while Saudi ever intraday fall Public Transport plunged 10pc, to become top loser on the index. over Crypto spying scandal Dubai hits lowest Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended since• December 2018 the entry of foreigners for the Umrah pilgrimage and tourism from countries by newspaper Sonn - Egypt sees biggest where the coronavirus has spread. The Swiss tagsZeitung. • Oil giant Saudi Aramco closed down • The technology Cryp- fall in over 7 years 2.1pc to 32.65 riyals ($8.70). government to sold to dozens of gov- Dubai’s index fell 4.5pc, touching its has appointed ernments including those In Saudi 190 stocks lowest since December 2018, with Emir- a former Swiss of Iran, India, Pakistan, were• in red of 199 ates NBD Bank declining 6.8pc and Emaar Supreme Court Libya, Egypt, Chile, and Properties decreasing 5.1pc. Argentina had deliber- The Abu Dhabi index lost 3.6pc, its justice to look into ate flaws or built-in back Reuters biggest intraday fall since January 2016. Operation Rubicon doors that made messages First Abu Dhabi Bank dropped 3.9pc, easily readable to US and iddle Eastern stocks plunged yes- while telco Etisalat ended down 3.2pc. Reuters | Vienna German spies. In effect, Mterday, with Kuwait falling the The central bank of the United Arab those client countries paid most, as the spread of coronavirus stoked Emirates on Saturday advised banks to he Swiss govern- millions to be spied on. fears that outbreak could hurt the global reschedule loans and reduce fees and ment has filed a The technology Crypto sold to dozens of governments including SonntagsZeitung said economy and oil prices. commissions as part of measures to mit- Tcriminal complaint those of Iran, India, Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Chile, and Argentina SECO, which is in charge of Leaders in Europe, the Middle East igate the economic effects of the corona- over the US Central Intel- had deliberate flaws or built-in back doors that made messages authorising exports of sen- and the Americas rolled out bans on big virus outbreak. ligence Agency’s alleged easily readable to US and German spies. sitive equipment, believes gatherings and stricter travel restrictions The UAE is a regional business hub and use of a cryptography com- it was deceived into clear- as cases of the virus spread around the major transit point for passengers trav- pany as a front to spy on which sold encryption de- “The Office of the At- ing the sale of Crypto’s ma- world. elling to China and other destinations in various governments’ se- vices and software while torney General confirms chines and software, and In Kuwait, the index, which traded Asia. The country has reported 21 people cret communications, the being secretly owned by US it has received a criminal argues it would never have after a three session break, slumped 11 infected with the coronavirus, five of Swiss attorney general’s and German intelligence complaint by the State done so had it known of per cent, its biggest ever intraday fall, whom have recovered. office said yesterday. services that could freely Secretariat for Economic the scheme. dragged down by a 14.5pc fall in National Qatar, which reported its first corona- The complaint against read what it encrypted, is Affairs (SECO) dated Feb. The Swiss government Bank of Kuwait. virus case, was close for a public holiday. persons unknown for al- embarrassing for neutral 2, 2020 regarding possi- has appointed a former Kuwait, which reported 46 people in- leged breaches of the law Switzerland and could ble violations of export Swiss Supreme Court jus- fected with the coronavirus, called on its Closing Bell governing export controls hurt its international rep- control law,” the attorney tice to look into Operation citizens to avoid travelling over concerns follows recent reports utation, particularly if it general’s office said in a Rubicon. He is due to re- SAUDI  3.7pc to 7,345 pts about the spread of the disease. on “Operation Rubicon”, turned a blind eye. statement. SECO is part port back by the end of Egypt tumbled 6pc, its biggest intraday ABU DHABI  3.6pc to 4,724 pts which for decades in - Although the outlines of of the Swiss Economy June and the cabinet will fall since November 2012. Commercial DUBAI  4.4pc to 2,474 pts volved the CIA and German Operation Rubicon were Ministry. be briefed. International Bank slid 6pc, whereas BND spy services covert- known for years, new de- The attorney gener- But pressure is mount- EGYPT  6pc to 12,223 pts Eastern Company was down 5.9pc. ly reading other nations’ tails about its scope and al’s office will review the ing for parliament to Egyptian exchange data showed that BAHRAIN  3.4pc to 1,605 pts secret messages encoded duration were made public complaint before deciding launch its own investi - foreign investors were net sellers. OMAN  1.2pc to 4,081 pts with technology sold by last month by Swiss, Ger- whether to open criminal gation to find out who in Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index re- Swiss firm Crypto AG. man and U.S. investigative proceedings, the statement Switzerland knew about KUWAIT  11pc at 5,991 pts treated 3.7pc, its biggest intraday fall The case of Crypto, journalists. said, confirming a report the scheme. Dollars under the mattress: Argentines’ preferred savings Buenos Aires The exchange rate was 18 to De la Rua inherited a ticking o sooner does she receive the dollar before the currency time bomb from the government Nher paycheck in Argentine crash. of Carlos Menem (1989-1999) pesos than 43-year-old lawyer However, a black market ex- who had linked pesos to the Eugenia exchanges them for change, with a rate of 83 to the dollar. dollars and takes them home to dollar, has seen a surge in trans- Since then, many Argentines hide away. actions due to the monthly limit have hoarded their dollars out- The fear of losing everything on purchasing dollars. side the country. in a burglary pales in compar- But experts say it’s unlikely However the government ison with the mistrust she has Argentine faith in the peso will plans to increase taxes on per- for banks and her own country’s grow. sonal and foreign assets, while currency. “In this country there’s a sys- also imposing tariffs on those “I don’t trust the peso; it’s not tematic history of violating the who take their savings out of just now, it’s always been that saver’s legal security,” said Ra- Argentina. way,” she said. jnerman. According to the country’s Bludgeoned by an eighth ma- “Private savings end up being central bank, Argentines are jor financial crisis since 1950, seized by the government or ex- holding $300bn of savings in many Argentines prefer to seek changed into bonds. It happened foreign accounts in the United refuge in the US dollar as a form several times, it happened in States and Switzerland, among of savings they can hide “under 2001,” when Argentina suffered other places. the mattress.” its worst economic crisis in mod- But economists say this dollar Eugenia actually hides hers in flight causes a vicious cycle. the bathroom. “If we keep dollars under the “I’d rather be robbed by a thief mattress or take them out of the than a bank,” she said. country, it reduces the financial There’s nothing new about Argentines are keeping $300 billion outside the country, according to the country’s system ... and that makes it diffi- this mistrust. central bank, money the government wants to bring back cult to turn things around,” said “Historically, things didn’t go Rajnerman. well for those who tried to save For 18 months Argentina has risen over 10 per cent. in pesos,” said Matias Rajner- been in a recession provoked by The economy shrunk by 3.1pc Safe deposit boxes man, chief economist at consult- a currency collapse. in 2019, and Argentine debt is Financial uncertainty has led ants Ecolatina. The poverty rate in the coun- more than 90pc of GDP. to a spike in requests for safe “Those who did so in dollars, try of 44 million is over 40 One of the country’s major deposit boxes in banks, some did well. It’s the consequence of percent, inflation is around 55 problems is its citizens’ mistrust of which even have waiting a broken financial system.” percent and unemployment has of the peso, which has deprived lists. the government of much-needed Fabiana, a 56-year-old doctor, dollars. wanted to stash her $40,000 savings in one. No faith in the peso “But I didn’t get it, many peo- When the new government ple got there before me,” she of center-left Peronist Alber- said. to Fernandez came to power, Currency exchange values are displayed on the buy-sell board of an exchange The desperation to escape it moved to combat currency bureau in Buenos Aires; Argentina’s peso rose more than 3 percent against from government controls, tax- flight by slapping a 30pc tariff the dollar after the October 27, 2019 victory of presidential candidate Alberto es and the banks has led many on foreign currency purchases Fernandez Argentines to emigrate, despite and maintaining the previous their country being one of the government’s purchase cap of pointing out that the peso lost ern times as it defaulted on a richest in the world in terms of $200 per month. almost 40pc of its value in 2019, $100 billion debt. natural resources. Ahead of Fernandez’s assump- after losing more than 50 per- It was the year that then-pres- “In Argentina, no one respects tion of power, 52-year-old interi- cent in 2018. ident Fernando de la Rua limited your money,” said a 40-year-old Security fences were installed around the Argentinian congress in Buenos Aires or decorator Sofia withdrew all Fernandez’s measures appear Argentines to withdrawing 250 businessman who moved with in December 2019 while deputies debated new economic laws proposed by her dollar savings. to be working, as the peso has pesos (then worth $250) a week his family to Uruguay and de- President Alberto Fernandez “What can I do?” she asked, stabilized at 63 to the dollar. from banks. clined to give his name. LET MY SOUL SMILE THROUGH MY HEART AND MY QUOTE HEART SMILE THROUGH MY OF THE EYES, THAT I MAY SCATTER DAY RICH SMILES IN SAD HEARTS. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA

RAGHIDHA DERGHAM

Hizbollah adds ebanon’s dysfunction and ongoing disintegration are largely Lthe fault of the country’s politi- coronavirus to list cal class, which has looted its resources and stolen its future. Lebanon is in grave danger, with Iran and Hizbollah of things imported directly implicated, as it faces political siege, economic collapse and now a viral epidemic. from Iran, imposed A troika system, in which Lebanon’s three high offices are shared between religious sects, governs in Beirut. This on Lebanese means that responsibility for political-economic and health crises alike falls on the shoulders of President The militant party’s Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hassan Diab and parliamentary speaker Nabih perpetuation of crisis in Berri to confront Hizbollah – the militant party controlling parliament. Lebanon is weakening the But instead of acting on Lebanon’s issues, the leadership is engaged in health system and exposing stalling and horse-trading. If this continues, it must be held accountable at people to new dangers home and internationally. The ongoing shirking of moral and constitution- al responsibilities puts the Lebanese people at mortal risk. At present, Hezbollah’s continued rejection of assistance from the In- ternational Monetary Fund to bail Lebanon out of its ongoing financial crisis risks causing economic catastro- phe. Moreover, the United States has already started preparing new sanc- lah - backed government in Beirut, But in Lebanon, the performance of The interests of Hizbollah’s tions on Hizbollah allies and associ- without American consent. the health minister Mohammad Has- ates under the Magnitsky Act. The Instead, Lebanon needs the inter- san, who is affiliated to Hezbollah, has popular base and American law has both security and national community to support a bold been dismal and dangerous. constituency are better human-rights dimensions, and em- position against Hezbollah, as well as All over the Middle East, countries served by fighting corruption powers US courts with universal ju- clarity from the party on its organisa- are endeavouring to contain coronavi- and taking practical steps risdiction to prosecute those involved tional relationship with Iran – includ- rus by halting flights from Iran – by far to receive much-needed in serious violations or corruption by ing overlaps within its ranks between the worst-hit country in the region. Mr global support. The party’s freezing assets, imposing travel bans its own militants and personnel from Hassan and the Hizbollah government leaders fear IMF assistance and compelling governments to coop- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard are declining to do so, leaving all Leb- erate on penalty of sanctions. Corps, particularly the latter’s elite anese people heavily exposed. because they think it would Europe, for its part, is coddling the Quds Force. It falls on all three of Lebanon’s undermine their power, and Lebanese government by implying These murky political and militant top leaders to fully disclose the coro- because real reforms would through diplomatic channels that EU links are not only threatening Leba- navirus-related risks being imposed lead to Hizbollah’s financial policies diverge from American ones. non’s economy, but also its people’s on the people, and to be transparent ruin. This is misleading, given that Euro- health. Of course, one first hopes that about the virus’s spread within Leb- pean leaders will find it difficult to Iran will be able to contain the epi- anese borders. It is widely suspected provide any assistance to the Hizbol- demic there for the sake of Iranians. that Iran is putting itself on a path to

How the carbon-neutral asset class is taking over finance?

DAMIEN MCELROY which in turn makes future investment more worthwhile. This virtuous nvestment flows are often like circle keeps advances in energy gener- weather patterns, erupting in sud- ation and consumption going. Iden storms before shifting to new In some areas, investors funding cycles. In economics and meteorology ESG-friendly debt have driven up the alike, an increase in the frequency discount on borrowing rates over of dramatic shocks is a sign that the so-called “bad” investment grades overall climate may be changing. to two percentage points. A survey Financial It is no surprise, therefore, that by Deloitte has projected that ESG- investment bankers are starting to classed investments will rise to $34 flows can listen to meteorologists and climate trillion by 2025, an almost two-fold change like scientists. The flood of investment increase on current levels. into carbon neutral projects is be- That is a huge amount and dwarfs the weather, coming significant and long-term. the $100 billion per year pledged by Over the last year, the carbon-neutral the world’s biggest economies to meet but heavy asset class – or Ethical, Social and the 2030 climate targets set out in Governance (ESG), as it is known in Paris Accord of 2015. investment in investment jargon – has become a The world of finance has sat up and benchmark for money flows. taken notice not only of the warnings, sustainability As the storm on the financial mar- but also the opportunities. kets that has taken place in the last On Thursday, outgoing Bank of appears to be week has proved, there is little in the England governor Mark Carney gath- way of certainty in the face of natural ered the financial elite in the City of a change in forces such as pandemics, climate or London to rally support for a “whole conflict. economy transition”. climate However long the current market Mr Carney argued that the choice gyrations last, the wall of money going at hand was not between funding in the UK later this year. After he steps ing to an analysis of pension funds, the nine-metre rise in sea levels, affecting into climate solutions is not going to green activity and blacklisting brown down, he is due to take up the role of policies of companies are currently 700 million people. be blown off course by this downturn. and black industries. Instead, he said, the UN Secretary General’s envoy for consistent with an expected climate It is no wonder the teenage cam- The benefit of investing in these there were 50 shades of green invest- climate action and finance. warming of around 3.8 degrees. That paigner Greta Thunberg can rally solutions – as with any technology – is ment that could get the world to net In the months ahead, the pressure is far above the 1.5 degrees that gov- thousands of school children her own that a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy zero. on the finance industry will not just ernments and citizens movements see age to break school, as she did on comes into play. More resources un- The Canadian superstar central come from winter storms in Europe as the threshold to disaster. Friday in the western English city of lock efficiencies or capturing “free” banker is the special envoy on Climate or hurricane season in north America. The impacts of an almost four-de- Bristol. energy sources like solar or wind, Finance ahead of the COP 26 summit Mr Carney pointed out that, accord- gree rise in temperatures includes a Her charge is that nothing is being

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing LET MY SOUL SMILE THROUGH MY HEART AND MY QUOTE HEART SMILE THROUGH MY TODAY 1815 1825 1836 1855 DAY IN OF THE EYES, THAT I MAY SCATTER Signing of the Kandyan Roberto Cofresí, one of the last Texas Revolution: The Alexander II becomes Tsar of DAY RICH SMILES IN SAD HEARTS. HISTORY Convention treaty by British successful Caribbean pirates, Declaration of independence Russia. PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA invaders and the leaders of the is defeated in combat and of the Republic of Texas from MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 Kingdom of Kandy. captured by authorities. Mexico is adopted.

RAGHIDHA DERGHAM eral, Sheikh Naim Qassem, barring anything more than “technical assis- Rising need for calculating Hizbollah adds ebanon’s dysfunction and on- tance”. going disintegration are largely This would earn Mr Diab the confi- ecological footprint Lthe fault of the country’s politi- dence of the Lebanese and the global TOP coronavirus to list cal class, which has looted its resourc- community. It would also render him es and stolen its future. Lebanon is in an ally of the revolution against cor- grave danger, with Iran and Hizbollah ruption. But crucially, it would also TWEETS4 of things imported directly implicated, as it faces political attract to Lebanon the resources it siege, economic collapse and now a needs to brace for the other challenges viral epidemic. that lie ahead. from Iran, imposed A troika system, in which Lebanon’s It is no secret that US President Don- 01 three high offices are shared between ald Trump, Secretary of State Mike religious sects, governs in Beirut. This Pompeo, and the rest of the US govern- KOTA SRIRAJ on Lebanese means that responsibility for politi- ment have resolved that political solu- cal-economic and health crises alike tions in Lebanon are the condition for falls on the shoulders of President economic ones, and that Hizbollah is imply put ecological footprint measures human demand The militant party’s Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Hassan the main obstacle standing in the way. on nature or the quantity of nature required to sustaina- Diab and parliamentary speaker Nabih Denial of the necessity to meet these realDonaldTrump bly support human life of a nation. This is usually done perpetuation of crisis in Berri to confront Hizbollah – the mili- demands has brought Lebanon to the @ instead of going to Sthrough an ecological accounting system. In these testing times tant party controlling parliament. brink. Yet, many in Lebanon – first war with Russia of natural resources depletion amid the challenges posed by Lebanon is weakening the But instead of acting on Lebanon’s and foremost those who support the and Syria in order to pro- rising levels of pollution and climate change, there is an urgent issues, the leadership is engaged in current government – demand that tect the al-Qaeda-Turk- need to calculate the ecological footprint of a nation on a fre- health system and exposing stalling and horse-trading. If this con- the US and other Western powers ish alliance, you should quent basis. This calculation is able to calibrate and balance the tinues, it must be held accountable at “accommodate and adapt” to their focus on the war against demands that are put on a nation’s ecological biodiversity in the people to new dangers home and internationally. The ongo- country’s “special circumstances” of the Coronavirus. #Stand- process of supporting the survival of its population. ing shirking of moral and constitution- being open to the West yet beholden WithTulsi Ecological footprint accounting is able to uncover the gaps al responsibilities puts the Lebanese to Iran. In reality, what the Lebanese @TulsiGabbard between demand and supply of various natural resources. people at mortal risk. must do, in order to save themselves, is This form of assessing the demand is also able to unravel the At present, Hezbollah’s continued demand that Hizbollah accommodate weaknesses of a nation in the form of those necessities that the rejection of assistance from the In- and adapt. 02 nation is unable to fulfill and for which the nation is having ternational Monetary Fund to bail The interests of Hizbollah’s pop- to depend on imports. The efficient and accurate assessment Lebanon out of its ongoing financial ular base and constituency are bet- of the resource consumption of a nation compared with the crisis risks causing economic catastro- ter served by fighting corruption resource generation to meet this consumption is able ensure phe. Moreover, the United States has and taking practical steps to receive that the nation is put on a right track of ensuring that it is able already started preparing new sanc- lah - backed government in Beirut, But in Lebanon, the performance of The interests of Hizbollah’s self-destruction by covering up the much-needed global support. The to generate enough for its survival and becomes self-reliant tions on Hizbollah allies and associ- without American consent. the health minister Mohammad Has- popular base and real number of cases. Lebanon cannot party’s leaders fear IMF assistance be- without undue outside support. ates under the Magnitsky Act. The Instead, Lebanon needs the inter- san, who is affiliated to Hezbollah, has popular base and afford to do the same. cause they think it would undermine nion Home Minis- Traditionally ecological footprint accounting broadly tracks American law has both security and national community to support a bold been dismal and dangerous. constituency are better Hizbollah has already imported a their power, and because real reforms Uter Shri @AmitShah the use of six categories of productive surface areas: crop - human-rights dimensions, and em- position against Hezbollah, as well as All over the Middle East, countries served by fighting corruption failing revolution from Iran to Leba- would lead to Hezbollah’s financial takes stock of the pre - land, grazing land, fishing grounds, built up land, forest areas powers US courts with universal ju- clarity from the party on its organisa- are endeavouring to contain coronavi- and taking practical steps non because of its misplaced loyalty to ruin. For this reason, the issue is al- vailing Law and Order and carbon demand on land. Bahrain can and must evolve a risdiction to prosecute those involved tional relationship with Iran – includ- rus by halting flights from Iran – by far to receive much-needed Tehran. It must not allow the import most an existential one for Hizbollah. situation in Delhi. Citi- dynamic and tech savvy system of assessing its ecological in serious violations or corruption by ing overlaps within its ranks between the worst-hit country in the region. Mr global support. The party’s of a viral epidemic on that account Hizbollah would be better off zens must not believe in footprint taking into account the above aspects. The ability freezing assets, imposing travel bans its own militants and personnel from Hassan and the Hizbollah government leaders fear IMF assistance as well. re-conceiving itself as a purely Leb- rumours and fall prey to of a nation to supply the much-needed resources for its pop- and compelling governments to coop- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard are declining to do so, leaving all Leb- because they think it would Furthermore, a deepening of Leba- anese entity that does not play along evil designs of miscreants ulation, also called as Biocapacity needs to be erate on penalty of sanctions. Corps, particularly the latter’s elite anese people heavily exposed. because they think it would non’s economic crisis will only weaken with Iran’s regional expansionist pol- and groups interested in assessed by Bahrain as a part of this ecological Europe, for its part, is coddling the Quds Force. It falls on all three of Lebanon’s undermine their power, and the ability of its medical sector to fight icies. Only by engaging with an IMF precipitating communal With the given accounting system. A well-executed ecological Lebanese government by implying These murky political and militant top leaders to fully disclose the coro- because real reforms would coronavirus. bailout programme, taking a path to tension: Shri Shah track record accounting will be able to compare the nation- through diplomatic channels that EU links are not only threatening Leba- navirus-related risks being imposed lead to Hizbollah’s financial Mr Diab and his cabinet would do real reform and adopting measures @PIBHomeAffairs of initiating al ecological footprint versus its biocapacity. policies diverge from American ones. non’s economy, but also its people’s on the people, and to be transparent ruin. well to ignore Hezbollah’s opposi- that support the healthcare system many ambitious A gap between the two would mean that there This is misleading, given that Euro- health. Of course, one first hopes that about the virus’s spread within Leb- tion to an IMF rescue plan, which has rather than weaken it will the govern- exists an ecological deficit, this is an unenvi- pean leaders will find it difficult to Iran will be able to contain the epi- anese borders. It is widely suspected been entrenched further by a “fatwa” ment in Beirut win the real support of 03 environmental able position for a nation to find itself in. On provide any assistance to the Hizbol- demic there for the sake of Iranians. that Iran is putting itself on a path to from the party’s deputy secretary gen- the people it claims to represent. projects and the other hand, when the biocapacity exceeds completing them a nation’s ecological footprint, then this state successfully, is called as ecological reserve, and this is what Bahrain must aim for. it will not be a The world in general has been experiencing challenging task ecological deficit or overshoot since long. n Tuesday any reg- for Bahrain to Calculated from 1970 onwards, the deficit Oistered voter in Ala- evolve and set a has only been growing and the gap between How the carbon-neutral asset class is taking over finance? bama, Arkansas, Minne- superior ecological demand and supply for the natural resources sota, Tennessee, Texas, has only been growing with annual demand Vermont and VA can vote accounting system on resources exceeding what Earth can re - in the Democratic prima- and benefit from generate each year. It would be interesting to DAMIEN MCELROY which in turn makes future invest- The Canadian superstar The last climate summit in Madrid ry. In CA, CO, NC, OK and the same. know that today humanity uses the equivalent ment more worthwhile. This virtuous central banker is the special failed because of divisions over how Utah, you can register or of 1.75 Earths to provide the resources we use nvestment flows are often like circle keeps advances in energy gener- envoy on Climate Finance to price carbon output. Whatever change parties that day. If and absorb our waste. This basically means weather patterns, erupting in sud- ation and consumption going. formula is reached, it is clear there you think we deserve bet- that it now takes the Earth one year and eight months to den storms before shifting to new In some areas, investors funding ahead of the COP 26 summit will be a burden-sharing regime at ter than a Trump-Sand- regenerate what we use in a year. This gap of eight months I in the UK later this year. cycles. In economics and meteorology ESG-friendly debt have driven up the some point. ers choice in Nov., vote. is due to excessive use of natural resources and services than alike, an increase in the frequency discount on borrowing rates over After he steps down, he is The cheapest producers of the @BillKristol nature can regenerate through overfishing, deforestation and of dramatic shocks is a sign that the so-called “bad” investment grades due to take up the role of world’s carbon resources should be emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the Financial overall climate may be changing. to two percentage points. A survey the UN Secretary General’s reassured that their lower impact out- forests can sequester. It is no surprise, therefore, that by Deloitte has projected that ESG- envoy for climate action and put will not be penalised dispropor- 04 This concerning gap must be controlled at national levels investment bankers are starting to classed investments will rise to $34 finance. tionately. Meanwhile consumers will if difference is to be felt at global levels eventually. Bahrain flows can listen to meteorologists and climate trillion by 2025, an almost two-fold exert pressure to keep costs cheap. must set the ball rolling by taking ambitious initiatives in change like scientists. The flood of investment increase on current levels. The big calculation is therefore this regard. As a first step, technology must be incorporated into carbon neutral projects is be- That is a huge amount and dwarfs how technology and innovation ad- into the ecological footprint assessment and the same must the weather, coming significant and long-term. the $100 billion per year pledged by dress consumer and citizen concerns. be made available through easy to use mobile apps for the Over the last year, the carbon-neutral the world’s biggest economies to meet For example, electricity generated by general population to download and understand. These apps but heavy asset class – or Ethical, Social and the 2030 climate targets set out in solar energy in intensely hot regions must also facilitate the common people to asses and establish Governance (ESG), as it is known in Paris Accord of 2015. can now be used for round-the-clock ruly concerned by the ecological footprint of their respective households. When investment in investment jargon – has become a The world of finance has sat up and done to stop the crisis, and the youth, consumption that is cheaper than any Tthe developments carbon emissions and ecological footprints are quantified benchmark for money flows. taken notice not only of the warnings, she points out, cannot be silenced for- other source. at EU external borders. from the grass root levels in this manner, it will help Bahrain sustainability As the storm on the financial mar- but also the opportunities. ever. If adults are acting like children All is not lost for major states to fol- Strong appeal to all par- establish extremely detailed and accurate data from across kets that has taken place in the last On Thursday, outgoing Bank of with fingers in their ears, it falls on the low youth demands for rapid change. ties to honour their com- the nation which will eventually add to the national database. appears to be week has proved, there is little in the England governor Mark Carney gath- young to act like adults. Whatever resistance may come from mitments and implement This database can not only ensure that Bahrain can create way of certainty in the face of natural ered the financial elite in the City of Financiers would beg to differ. Washington or elsewhere, annual the agreements. Full sup- a superior ecological accounting system that is based on a change in forces such as pandemics, climate or London to rally support for a “whole While there are deep pockets of po- diplomatic calendar – from the annual port for Greece in their real-time primary data but is also able to set a remarkable conflict. economy transition”. litical resistance to the message, there UN General Assembly to the first G20 efforts to prevent anoth- example for the world to follow. This system coupled with climate However long the current market Mr Carney argued that the choice is also diplomatic-level progress. summit in the Arabian peninsula – er humanitarian disaster. dynamic feedback mechanism of information can ensure that gyrations last, the wall of money going at hand was not between funding in the UK later this year. After he steps ing to an analysis of pension funds, the nine-metre rise in sea levels, affecting The COP 26 conference takes place revolves around this issue. @MiroslavLajcak the national resource consumption pattern is calibrated with into climate solutions is not going to green activity and blacklisting brown down, he is due to take up the role of policies of companies are currently 700 million people. just days before the G20 meeting Ri- Investment opportunities drive the its resource generation ability which will boost Bahrain’s bio- be blown off course by this downturn. and black industries. Instead, he said, the UN Secretary General’s envoy for consistent with an expected climate It is no wonder the teenage cam- yadh in November. The organisers of logic of rapid transformation. Thus capacity and eventually lead Bahrain to the coveted position The benefit of investing in these there were 50 shades of green invest- climate action and finance. warming of around 3.8 degrees. That paigner Greta Thunberg can rally both summits are already working to technological benefits of the invest- of being ecological reserve state. With the given track record solutions – as with any technology – is ment that could get the world to net In the months ahead, the pressure is far above the 1.5 degrees that gov- thousands of school children her own have a coordinated outcome. Despite ment wave are leaching through daily Disclaimer: (Views expressed of initiating many ambitious environmental projects and that a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy zero. on the finance industry will not just ernments and citizens movements see age to break school, as she did on the resistance of significant states like life. by columnists are personal and completing them successfully, it will not be a challenging task comes into play. More resources un- The Canadian superstar central come from winter storms in Europe as the threshold to disaster. Friday in the western English city of the US, India and China, there is the It may not seem like it, but from the need not necessarily reflect our for Bahrain to evolve and set a superior ecological accounting lock efficiencies or capturing “free” banker is the special envoy on Climate or hurricane season in north America. The impacts of an almost four-de- Bristol. potential for Saudi Arabia and Britain boardroom to the classroom, a storm editorial stances) system and benefit from the same. energy sources like solar or wind, Finance ahead of the COP 26 summit Mr Carney pointed out that, accord- gree rise in temperatures includes a Her charge is that nothing is being to find a common platform for action. is brewing.

Pope makes first Sri Lanka heads for snap polls public appearance as Rajapaksa tightens grip following illness Syria says 2 warplanes Colombo

ri Lanka’s new president is downed by Turkey Sset to dissolve parliament shortly and call snap a legisla- tive election six months ahead Turkey’s Defense of schedule, a state-run news- Pope Francis leads the daily Santa Ministry• said it had shot paper said yesterday. Marta Mass at the Vatican Gotabaya Rajapaksa is ex- down two SU-24 aircraft pected to exercise his con- Reuters | Vatican City stitutional power to sack the AP | Kastanies, Greece assembly when it completes Gotabaya Rajapaksa won a landslide ope Francis yesterday four-and-a-half out of its five- at November presidential polls Pmade his first public year term on Sunday night, the and appointed his older brother appearance in four days yria’s official news agency Sunday Observer said. and former president Mahinda as following what the Vatican said two of its warplane Rajapaksa, 70, won a land- prime minister in a move that saw has called a “slight indispo- Swere shot down by Turk- slide at November presidential the family consolidate their hold on sition” that forced him to ish forces inside northwest Syr- polls and appointed his older power cancel some audiences and ia, amid a military escalation brother and former president activities. there that’s led to growing di- Mahinda as prime minister in a Peramuna (SLPP, or People’s The 83-year-old Roman rect clashes between Turkish move that saw the family con- Front) party to a comfortable Catholic leader appeared and Syrian forces. solidate their hold on power. victory. at the window of the Vat- SANA says the jets were tar- SANA says the jets were targeted over the Idlib region, and that the four pilots “The Gazette Extraordinary Political commentators have ican’s Apostolic Palace to geted over the Idlib region, ejected with parachutes and landed safely will be issued announcing the said it would be a formidable address thousands of people and that the four pilots ejected dissolution of the present challenge for the opposition to in St. Peter’s Square for his with parachutes and landed The Syrian announcement tions said Sunday that at least parliament at the end of the prevent Rajapaksa securing a weekly Sunday noon mes- safely. came after two days of Turkish 13,000 people were massed completion of four-and-a-half two-thirds majority which will sage and blessing. Turkey’s Defense Ministry drone attacks in Idlib province on Turkey’s land border with years in terms of the provisions allow him sweeping powers to It was his first public said it had shot down two SU- that Syrian activists said caused Greece, of the 19th Amendment to the govern the nation of 21 million appearance since an Ash 24 aircraft and destroyed air heavy losses to Syrian govern- Erdogan did not explicitly Constitution,” the Observer people. Wednesday Mass in Rome, defense systems after one of ment forces. These confron- link his decision to open the said quoting its sources at Ra- The United National Party during which he was seen its aerial drones was downed. tations have added to soaring gates to Europe to the military japaksa’s office. (UNP) of former prime minis- coughing and sneezing. Earlier, Syrian military-run tensions between Turkey and escalation in Syria’s northwest- Official sources told AFP that ter Ranil Wickremesinghe has The Vatican has not speci- media said it had downed a Russia, which support opposing ern Idlib province. However, he a general election was most been plagued by a debilitating fied what was ailing Francis. drone inside northwest Syr- sides of the Syrian civil war. has warned that Turkey “can’t likely in the final week of April internal power struggle. However, amid fears in Italy ia, and was closing its airspace Meanwhile, Turkish Pres- handle a new wave of migra- if the 225-member national as- The Rajapaksas are adored over an outbreak of corona- for any flights or drones across ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan tion,” an apparent reference sembly is dissolved by Monday by the Sinhala-Buddhist ma- virus, spokesman Matteo the country’s northwestern re- had on Saturday announced his to Idlib where hundreds of as widely expected. jority -- but loathed among Bruni dismissed on Friday gion. It said any aircraft that country opened its western bor- thousands of desperate Syrian Mahinda, who had been minority Tamils -- for spear- speculation that the pope penetrates Syrian airspace will ders to migrants and refugees civilians fleeing Syrian troop president twice and prime heading the defeat of separa- was anything more than be treated as hostile and shot hoping to head into the Euro- advances have moved toward minister thrice, is expected to tist militants in 2009 to end slightly unwell. down. pean Union. The United Na- the Turkish border. lead the Sri Lanka Podujana the island’s 37-year ethnic war. For ballet shoes, one Russian company is on pointe AFP | Moscow sian craftmanship, its shoes sold ballet line is the company’s heart 32,000 to 37,000 pairs of pointes raftsman Sergei Murza runs around the globe and gracing the and soul. per month, using only natural Chis fingers over the pink sat- stages of the world’s top ballet Nearly 80 per cent of its materials. in of a pointe shoe he has just venues. production is for export, with Cats roam around the work finished making. Then he gives It’s hardly surprising, founder the United States -- where the tables as artisans cut cloth, make it the final test: the ballet slipper Nikolay Grishko says, given the shoes sell under the brand name their own glue, assemble the balances perfectly on its tip. aura that surrounds Russia’s sto- Nikolay -- and Japan the top shoes and dry them in ovens, Murza produces the shoes ried ballet tradition. buyers. before a meticulous check for in the Moscow workshop of “It is in Russia that classical Inspired by the liberalisa - quality. Grishko, a company born in ballet has reached its highest tion of the Soviet Union under Among them are some 70 the chaos of the collapse of the level,” says the 71-year-old, who Mikhail Gorbachev, Grishko set people who are deaf or hard of Soviet Union and now one of founded the company more than up the company in 1988. hearing, says Irina Sobakina, the world’s top makers of ballet 30 years ago and continues to the 53-year-old deputy head of pointe shoes. run it. Passing on tradition production, praising “the higher In a country better known for Grishko has diversified into A former diplomat posted in sensitivity of their hands”. exporting oil and arms, Grishko clothing and other types of Laos and economics professor, is a rare success story for Rus- dance shoes, but the he found inspiration close to The perfect fit home. Some employees of Grishko have worked there for decades, others are blind or In the sewing workshop, Olga “My wife was a danc- hard of hearing Monakhova, who is 56 years old er... I already knew what and has worked at the factory pointes were,” he says for 27 years, recalls orders from in his office at the famous dancers like Anastasia factory, dapper Volochkova and Nikolay Tsis- in a dark suit and karidze. black-rimmed Across the capital in her stu- glasses. dio, dancer Alexandra Kirshina When he completes a rehearsal on pointes launched the busi- made especially for her. ness, Russia’s big the- “We wear them constantly, atres like the Bolshoi so it’s important that they fit had their own in- perfectly,” says the 28-year-old house workshops mak- soloist for the Moscow Ballet. ing pointes. That tradition “I used to dance in plastic is now gone, but the expertise pointes and I had big problems built up over centuries lives on with my feet.” in his company. Star dancers can go through “I took the best of the tradi- Some clients are not even dancers, but women who are taking up ballet to keep up to 30 pairs of pointes a month, tion of Russian pointes, which fit but professionals account for have been made since the end of only 10 percent of Grishko’s the 19th century. This tradition than 500 people at workshops housed on the grounds of the buyers. Most sales go to ballet Some shoes are was passed on in the theatre in Moscow, the Czech Republic historic Hammer & Sickle schools. custom made workshops but practically dis- and Macedonia. In Russia, a pair Factory, a Soviet-era institu - Grishko says he is even see- for Russia’s top appeared after the fall of the of Grishko pointes sells for the tion that once housed a steel ing a new kind of client: women ballerinas Soviet Union” in 1991, says equivalent of 30 euros, in west- plant. who, tired of “boring aerobic the Ukrainian-born Grishko. ern Europe about twice that. Grishko’s master shoemakers exercises” and treadmills, are Today he employs more The Moscow workshop is work in silence as they produce taking up ballet to keep fit. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 11 What you need to know about ‘Super Tuesday’ all night. • California is the Delegate mother lode biggest prize on Super A third of the delegates who Tuesday, and some will formally pick the Demo - of the state’s voters cratic presidential nominee are have already cast up for grabs, making it a critical point in the US electoral calen- ballots in early voting dar. procedures, like this Earning the party’s nomina- woman in Los Angeles tion requires a candidate to win an absolute majority of delegates AFP | Washington -- 1,991 -- who are assigned pro- portionally according to results in each primary or caucus. mericans eager to know A whopping 1,357 delegates which Democrat will are available Tuesday, compared Aface President Donald to just 155 that have been allocat- Trump in November’s election ed so far. Sanders is leading polls may have a clearer view after Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, the current in crown jewel California (415 “Super Tuesday” -- sure to be Mike Bloomberg is betting big on his frontrunner in the Democratic delegates) and Texas (228), and a defining moment in the race. Super Tuesday chances -- he is seen White House race, could build an the firebrand leftist could strike A miserable debut debate per- lead, regardless of whether he Four of the country’s 50 states here at a rally in one of the 14 Super insurmountable lead on Super a hammer blow against rivals if formance in mid-February and or she has an outright majority, have already voted, but March 3 Tuesday states, Virginia Tuesday, with contests in 14 states he does well there. an unconvincing second appear- should be declared the nominee. is the biggest day of the entire including Virginia -- he is seen here at a Candidates must meet a par- ance last Tuesday lowered his His rivals demand the party presidential primary process, day morning: defy the odds and rally in the state capital Richmond ty-imposed threshold of 15 per- trend line in polling, but he still stick to its rules, which state that with tens of millions of Ameri- keep going, or bow out. cent of the vote in order to win remains in third place nationally, if no candidate wins a majori- cans eligible to cast ballots. Here are a few things to watch The other states in play are delegates, creating headaches behind Sanders and Biden. ty-plus-one during the primary It could be a turning point for on Super Tuesday: Arkansas, Massachusetts, Min- for Biden, Buttigieg and Klobu- race, the pledged delegates be- when frontrunner Bernie Sand- nesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, char, who have been splitting Brokered convention? come free to vote for another ers secures an insurmountable Fourteen battlegrounds Utah and Vermont. moderate votes. The party’s top contender will candidate on the convention’s lead -- or former vice president The states in play span the With the 14 states -- plus be formally nominated at the second ballot. Joe Biden could mount a dra- nation, from sparsely populated American Samoa and Demo - Bloomberg’s formal debut Democratic National Conven- In addition, some 771 “su - matic comeback. northeastern Maine to Califor- crats living abroad -- reflecting The billionaire former mayor tion, set for July 13-16 in Mil - per-delegates” -- party commit- Success on Super Tuesday nia, the progressive west coast the nation’s social and economic of New York, Michael Bloomb- waukee, Wisconsin. tee officials and leaders, along requires a tremendous ground powerhouse whose population diversity, Super Tuesday pro- erg, sat out the four early con- But with none of Sanders’s ri- with Democratic members of game, top-notch fundraising and of 40 million is the country’s vides opportunity for candidates tests but has already spent a re- vals prepared to drop out before Congress -- will be eligible to serious momentum. largest. to demonstrate their ability -- cord $500 million in campaign Super Tuesday, the prospects of vote on the second ballot. Several candidates -- Pete The southern state of Texas, or weakness -- to draw from a advertising. a bitter nomination battle on the Given that super-delegates are Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, with 29 million, is another top broad swathe of voters from dif- Voters will see if his uncon- convention floor are increasing- usually members of the party es- Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer prize. Virginia, North Carolina, ferent backgrounds and across ventional gambit pays off in Su- ly real. Sanders argues that the tablishment, their involvement among them -- will likely have to Alabama and Colorado also cast different regions. per Tuesday states, where he is candidate who heads into the could tilt the result away from face a daunting choice Wednes- ballots. Tabulating votes could take on the ballot for the first time. convention with the delegate Sanders. Peace, but not at our cost: Afghan women fear Taliban return ‘I don’t want this so-called Here are some of their stories: swathes of Afghanistan and peace’ The militants threatened to while they now allow girls to behead her then three-year-old ‘How will I support my family?’ attend primary school in some For those who bore the brunt daughter, she told AFP from her Under the Taliban, women areas, occasional reports of of the insurgents’ merciless rule, home in central Bamiyan prov- were barred from seeking ed- floggings and even the public however, there is little doubt ince. ucation or work -- rights that stoning of women persist, fuel- that a Taliban comeback will The family survived and fled Afghan female professionals are ling fears they will turn back the bring anything other than a re- to Pakistan, but her husband was fiercely protective of today. clock if they return to power. peat of “dark and painful mem- disabled and traumatised by the In the western city of Herat, ories”. brutal beatings he suffered. saleswoman Setara Akrimi, 32, ‘Every family is grieving’ Factory worker Uzra, from the “To this day, when the word told AFP: “I will be very happy Many ordinary Afghans are mainly Shiite Hazara ethnic mi- ‘Taliban’ comes up, he starts cry- if peace comes and the Taliban struggling to balance their desire nority, sobbed as she recounted ing,” she said. stop killing our people.” for peace with their dread of the life as a young mother, alone at “Everybody wants peace, but “But if the Taliban come back insurgents. home with her children when not if the Taliban returns. I don’t to power... with their old men- “Every family here is grieving the Sunni-fundamentalist Tali- want this so-called peace.” tality, it is a matter of concern because they have lost their chil- ban arrived in her village. for me,” the divorced mother of dren, sons, husbands, brothers “I still vividly remember Head Veterinarian Tahera Rezai is pessimistic about her prospects if the three added. in the war,” government official the day... They massacred all Across Afghanistan, women remain insurgents return to government, even in a truncated capacity “If they tell me to sit at home, Torpekay Shinwari said in east- the men, and then came to my wary of the Taliban, desperate to see I will not be able to support my ern Nangarhar province, which house,” the 40-year-old said, too an end to the violence, but fearful of family,” she said. witnessed fierce battles between frightened to give her full name. paying a heavy price “There are thousands of wom- the Taliban and the Islamic State en like me in Afghanistan, we are group’s Afghanistan affiliate. all worried.” The 46-year-old said she - ‘No change in Taliban men- was praying for peace, but was tality’ - increasingly concerned that Akrimi’s anxieties are echoed “women would be looked by Kabul-based veterinarian Ta- upon as the second sex and hera Rezai, who believes “the suppressed” if the mili- arrival of the Taliban will affect tants gain ground. women’s right to work, freedom - ‘The young genera- and independence”. tion has changed’ - “There has been no change But in Kandahar, the in their mentality,” the 30-year- birthplace of the Talib- old said. an, schoolgirl Parwana Passionate about her career, Hussaini struck a rare Rezai said she was pessimistic optimistic note. Torpekay Shinwari is increasingly concerned women would be ‘suppressed’ if the about her prospects if the in - “I am not worried. militants gain ground surgents return to government, Who are the Taliban? even in a truncated capacity. They are our broth- AFP | Kabul Afghanistan with an iron fist “Looking at their history, I feel ers,” the 17-year-old that turned women into virtual less hopeful... I believe the situa- said. s US troops prepare to prisoners under a strict interpre- tion will get harder for working “We are all Af - leave Afghanistan, open- tation of sharia law. women like me,” she said. ghans and want Aing the door for a poten- The Taliban’s fall transformed In the run-up to the US deal, peace.” tial Taliban comeback, women women’s lives, much more so in the militants made a vague Furthermore, across the war-torn country are urban areas like Kabul than in commitment to respect wom- she added: “The nervous about losing their hard- conservative rural Afghanistan. en’s rights in line with “Islamic young generation won freedoms in the pursuit of But across the country, women values”, prompting warnings has changed, and peace. remain wary of the insurgents, from activists that the pledge will not allow the The militants were in power desperate to see an end to the was mere lip service and open Taliban to enforce for around five years until the violence, but fearful of paying a to broad interpretation. their old ideology upon us.” US invasion of 2001. They ruled heavy price. The Taliban control large MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 12 New Malaysia PM sworn, Mahathir fights on

Najib Razak, as well as a hard- prove he has enough support. 72-year-old Yassin line group that wants tougher The veteran ex-leader -- who • Islamic laws. served a first stint as premier took the oath of office UMNO is the corruption-rid- from 1981 to 2003 -- howev - at the national palace dled lynchpin of the coalition er conceded that the king had in Kuala Lumpur thrown out at the 2018 elec - refused to see him to hear his tions amid allegations Najib case, and that the “Pact of Hope” Inauguration took and his cronies looted billions alliance would now go into op- • of dollars from state fund position. place yesterday morning 1MDB. Najib is now on trial for Public anger was growing at corruption. the ejection of the reformist al- Kuala Lumpur Despite a last-minute bid by liance, with the hashtag “Not- Mahathir and his allies to prove MyPM” trending on Twitter and former interior minister that the veteran politician had more than 100,000 people sign- was sworn in as Malay- enough support to return as pre- ing a petition that said the move Asia’s premier yesterday, mier, Muhyiddin’s inauguration was a “betrayal” of voters’ choice marking the return of a scan- went ahead Sunday morning. at the 2018 poll. dal-mired regime to power after The political crisis began the last government’s collapse ‘No rule of law’ when a group of ruling coalition but ex-leader Mahathir Moham- Wearing traditional Malay lawmakers joined forces with ad slammed the move as illegal. dress, the 72-year-old took the opposition parties in a bid to The Southeast Asian nation oath of office at the national pal- form a new government without was plunged into turmoil a week ace in Kuala Lumpur during an Anwar and stop him becoming ago as Mahathir’s reformist elaborate ceremony. premier. “Pact of Hope” alliance, which But in a press conference After the government fell, stormed to a historic victory in Muhyiddin Yassin has taken oath as prime minister of crisis-hit Malaysia shortly beforehand, Mahathir Mahathir was appointed inter- 2018, collapsed after a bid to insisted that Muhyiddin did not im premier and he and Anwar force out leader-in-waiting An- The political crisis began when a group of ruling elected government was being have the support of most of the initially launched separate bids war Ibrahim. coalition lawmakers joined forces with opposition abruptly ejected. country’s 222 MPs. for power, reviving their dec- Mahathir -- who was the parties in a bid to form a new government without The king appoints the coun- “This is a very strange thing... ades-old rivalry. world’s oldest leader at 94 -- try’s prime minister, who must losers will form the government, But as Muhyiddin’s bid quick- then quit, triggering a race for Anwar and stop him becoming premier. show he has the support of most the winners will be in the oppo- ly gained support and it became the premiership which he ul- MPs. sition,” he said. clear that he could get into pow- timately lost to little-known majority. hathir’s allies claimed he had Muhyiddin’s coalition in- “The rule of law no longer ap- er with UMNO, Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin, who heads The decision Saturday by the enough support to return as cludes the United Malays Na- plies,” he said, adding he would Anwar joined forces again in an a coalition dominated by the monarch to pick Muhyiddin leader, and sparked widespread tional Organisation (UMNO), call for an urgent parliament effort to stop him -- but it proved country’s ethnic Malay Muslim was greeted with shock as Ma- anger that the democratically the party of disgraced ex-leader sitting so that Muhyiddin can too little, too late. Vatican opens archives on history’s most controversial pope Vatican City “There is no doubt that the Those who rise to the pope’s he Vatican unseals the ar- pope was aware of the murder defence note that Pius XII was Tchives of history’s most of Jews,” Wolf said. a former diplomat who was contentious popes on Mon - “What really interests us is trained in prudence, anxious to day, potentially shedding when he learned about it for the remain neutral in time of war, light on why Pius XII stayed first time, and when he believed and concerned about being able silent during the extermina- that information.” to shield Catholics from the un- tion of six million Jews in the folding devastation. Holocaust. Cryptic Christmas message He simply could not be any Two hundred researchers On December 24, 1942, Pius more explicit, Pius XII’s support- have already requested access XII delivered one of history’s ers say. Historians estimate the to the mountain of documents, most debated Christmas radio Church hid around 4,000 Jews made available after an invento- messages. in its Roman institutions during ry that took more than 14 years Buried in its long text was a the war. for Holy See archivists to com- reference to “hundreds of thou- “Quite a few Jews were saved plete. sands of people who, without in convents,” David Kertzer, an Award-winning German reli- any fault of their own and some- American historian who won the gious historian Hubert Wolf will times for the sole reason of their Pulitzer Prize for a book about be in Rome today, armed with six nationality or race, were doomed the era, said. assistants and two years of fund- to death or gradual extermina- “But why were they murdered ing to start exploring documents tion”. by people viewing themselves as Was his message -- delivered Christians?” in Italian and aired just once, For Kertzer, the reasons be- and which never explicitly men- hind the “silence of the pope” tioned either the Jews or Nazis are key. Two hundred The mountain of documents took 14 years for Holy See archivists to prepare for release -- heard and understood by Ger- “He wasn’t happy about mass man Catholics? murder. He seemed upset. He researchers from the “private secretariat” of “The only ones who heard it knew by 1941,” said Kertzer. the late pope. were the Nazis,” said Wolf, not- And yet “never uttered the have already Wolf, a specialist on the re- ing that the radio waves were word Jew”. lationship of Pius XII with the scrambled and that the pope Wolf, the German historian, requested Nazis, is anxious to discov - could have spoken German -- if added that Pius XII “remained er the notes of the his 70 am- he had really wanted to reach very withdrawn after the war, access to the bassadors -- the pontiff’s eyes the German faithful. saying nothing about the Hol- and ears during his time as “After the war, Pius XII told a ocaust”. mountain of head of the Catholic Church British ambassador: ‘I was very He also never recognised the between 1939 and his death in clear.’ And the ambassador will creation of the State of Israel documents, 1958. say in reply: ‘I did not under- in 1948. There should also be records stand you’,” the historian said. “Why?” Wolf asks. made available of urgent appeals for help from Jewish organisations, as well as after an his communications with the inventory that late US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. took more The unsealed archives addi- The entrance of the Vatican Apostolic Secret Archive tionally cover a post-World War than 14 years II era in which writers were cen- Nazi horrors. posted there as the Holy See sored and some priests hounded The Jesuits already published ambassador in 1917-1929 for Holy See for suspected communist sym- “documents the pope received There, he witnessed the rise of pathies. about the concentration camps, Nazism, then returned to Rome archivists to The Vatican first published but we never got to see his re- to become the right-hand man of the essentials covering the Holo- plies,” Wolf said in an interview. his predecessor Pius XI, elected complete caust four decades ago, an 11 vol- “Either they do not exist, or in 1922. ume work compiled by Jesuits. they are in the Vatican,” he said. Past archives have revealed But some crucial pieces are Historians have already exam- exchanges in which he was still missing, including the ined the 12 German years of Eu- alerted about the extermina- pope’s replies to notes and let- genio Pacelli, the future pope’s tion of European Jews once he Experts expect to see records of urgent appeals for help from Jewish ters -- for example, those about real name which he used while himself became the pope. organisations in the files 13 MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

(AYYAPPANUM KOSHIYUM (PG-15)(MALAYALAM نننننن (IK SANDHU HUNDA SI (PG-13) DOLITTLE (PG)(ADVENTURE/COMEDY/FAMILY SEEF (II): 1.00 + 6.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 + 6.15 + 8.30 + 10.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.45 + 4.00 + 7.15 + 10.30 PM AMRO MAMDOOH ,MAJDI IDRIS ,AMAD RASHAD SEEF (II): 10.45 AM + 3.45 + 8.45 PM SEEF (I):10.30 AM + 1.45 + 5.00 + 8.15 + 11.30 PM ROBERT DOWNEY JR., ANTONIO BANDERAS, MICHAEL SHEEN PRITHVIRAJ, BIJU MENON, RENJITH, SABUMON STOCKHOLM (PG-15) (ARABIC/THRILLER/DRAMA) SEEF (II): 10.45 AM + 2.30 + 6.15 + 10.00 PM VARANE AVASHYAMUND (PG-13)(MALAYALAM) AMRO MAMDOOH ,MAJDI IDRIS ,AMAD RASHAD OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.45 AM + 2.30 + 5.15 + 8.00 + 10.45 PM SURESH GOPI, SHOBANA, DULQUER SALMAAN, KALYANI PRIYADARSHAN, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (PG-15)(ACTION/COMEDY/CRIME) URVASHI OASIS JUFFAIR: 10.30 AM + 3.15 + 8.15 PM KANNUM KANNUM KOLLAIYADITHAAL ()(TAMIL) CITY CENTRE: 10.45 AM + 12.30 + 1.30 + 3.15 + 4.15 + 6.00 + 7.00 + 8.45 + THE INVISIBLE MAN (15+)(THRILLER/HORROR ) 9.45 + 11.30 PM ( 12.30 MN THURS/FRI.) From Friday 28th Feb. CITY CENTRE (VIP II) : 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II): 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 3.30 + 8.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 1.45 + 8.00 PM CITY CENTRE: (1.00 AM THURS/FRI.) AL HAMRA: 5.30 + (12.00 MN FRI.) CITY CENTRE:(ATMOS): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN WILL SMITH, MARTIN LAWRENCE, VANESSA HUDGENS DULQUER SALMAN, RITU VARMA, RAKSHAN CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D): 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (PG) (ADVENTURE/ACTION/COMEDY/ CITY CENTRE (VIP I) : 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 10.30 AM + 2.45 + 7.00 + 11.15 PM PARASITE (15+)(KOREAN/COMEDY/DRAMA/THRILLER) SEEF (II): (12.30 MN THURS/FRI.) CITY CENTRE: 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM Winner of 4 Oscar Award WADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II): 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.45 AM + 2.00 + 4.15 + 6.30 + 8.45 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE: (DISTRACTION FREE SCREEN): 1.00 + 6.30 + 12.00 MN ELISABETH MOSS, ALDIS HODGE, STORM REID JIM CARREY, BEN SCHWARTZ, JAMES MARSDEN SONG KANG HO, LEE SUN KYUN , MARIA SIMON PARADISE HILLS (PG-15) (THRILLER/DRAMA/FANTASY) ن (BIRD OF PREY (15+)(ACTION/ADVENTURE/CRIME ن (THE CALL OF THE WILD (PG)(ADVENTURE/FAMILY OASIS JUFFAIR: 1.00 + 6.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE : 1.30 + 6.30 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 + 9.45 + 12.00 MN CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 + 9.45 + 12.00 MN + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI.) MARGOT ROBBIE, MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD, EWAN MCGREGOR SEEF (II): 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM SEEF (II): 11.45 AM + 2.00 + 4.15 + 6.30 + 8.45 + 11.00 PM WADI AL SAIL: 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM ننننننن نننننن (WADI AL SAIL: 1.15 + 6.15 + 11.15 PM THE GENTLEMEN (15+)(CRIME/ACTION EMMA ROBERTS, DANIELLE MACDONALD, AWKWAFINA HARRISON FORD, DAN STEVENS, OMAR SY CITY CENTRE: 10.45 AM + 1.15 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, CHARLIE HUNNAM, HENRY GOLDING ن (THAPPAD (PG-15) (HINDI/DRAMA/THRILLER) BRAHMS: THE BOY II (15+)(HORROR/THRILLER OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.00 + 3.00 + 6.00 + 9.00 + 12.00 MN CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 2.00 + 4.00 + 6.00 + 8.00 + 10.00 + 12.00 MN نن (CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM FANTASY ISLAND (15+)(THRILLER/HORROR SEEF (I):11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM KATIE HOLMES, RALPH INESON, OWAIN YEOMAN CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 4.00 + 9.00 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.15 AM + 2.15 + 5.15 + 8.15 + 11.15 PM LUCY HALE, MAGGIE Q, PORTIA DOUBLEDAY TAAPSEE PANNU, TANVI AZMI, SUSHIL DAHIYA AL FELOUS (THE MONEY) (PG-15) STARDOG AND TURBOCAT (PG) CITY CENTRE: 1.30 + 6.15 + 11.00 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 12.45 + 5.00 + 9.15 PM TAMER HOSNY, ZEINA, KHALID EL-SAWI CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.30 + 4.30 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.30 + 4.30 + 6.30 + 8.30 + 10.30 PM FROZEN 2 (PG)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY) WADI AL SAIL: 11.00 AM + 1.00 + 3.00 + 5.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 3.30 + 8.00 PM LUKE EVANS, NICK FROST, GEMMA ARTERTON KRISTEN BELL, IDINA MENZEL, JOSH GAD A MILLION LITTLE PIECES (18+) (DRAMA) SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG)(ANIMATION/ACTION/ADVENTURE TRANCE ()(MALAYALAM) SEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 3.15 + 7.30 + 11.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 1.15 + 5.45 + 10.15 PM OASIS JUFFAIR: 10.30 AM + 1.45 + 5.00 + 8.15 + 11.30 PM AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, BILLY BOB THORNTON, ODESSA YOUNG WILL SMITH, TOM HOLLAND, KAREN GILLAN SEEF (I): 10.45 AM + 2.00 + 5.15 + 8.30 + 11.45 PM WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 4.45 + 11.00 PM VFW (18+) (ACTION) THIEF OF BAGHDAD (PG-13) AL HAMRA: 11.00 AM + 2.15 + 8.45 PM SEEF (II): 1.15 + 5.30 + 9.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.15 AM + 4.00 + 8.45 PM FAHADH FAASIL, NASRIYA NAZIM, GAUTHAM MENON, SOUBIN SHAHIR, VINAYA- WILLIAM SADLER, DORA MADISON, SIERRA MCCORMICK 1917 (PG-15)(WAR/ACTION/DRAMA) 1917 KAN, DILEESH POTHEN MOHAMMED EMAM, YASMINE RAEIS, AMINA KHALIL Winner of 3 Oscar Awards AIYAI : WRATHFUL SOUL (15+) (HORROR/THRILLER) DRAUPATHI (PG-13)(TAMIL) نننننن نننن (CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM LITTLE WOMEN (PG)(DRAMA/ROMANTIC SEEF (II): 12.30 + 4.15 + 8.00 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM From Friday 28th Feb. Winner of 1 Oscar Award SEEF (I): 11.30 AM + 8.30 PM KABIR SINGH, TAHLIA JADE HOLT, PENNY ANNE LACE GEORGE MACKAY, DEAN-CHARLES CHAPMAN, MARK STRONG CITY CENTRE: (DISTRACTION FREE SCREEN): 10.30 AM + 3.45 + 9.15 PM KARUNAS, NISHANTH, RICHARD RISHI SAOIRSE RONAN, EMMA WATSON, FLORENCE PUGH ننننننن ننننن DOORDARSHAN (PG-15) (HINDI/COMEDY) JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL PARAMAPADHAM VILAYATTU (PG-15) (TAMIL) CITY CENTRE: 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PM MALANG (PG-15)(HINDI/ACTION/ROMANTIC/THRILLER) SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 3.30 + 8.30 PM SEEF (II): 1.00 + 6.00 + 11.00 PM From Friday 28th Feb. SEEF (I): 5.30 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 2.30 PM MAHIE GILL, MANU RISHI CHADDHA, DOLLY AHLUWALIA, SUPRIYA SHUKLA DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK BLACK, KEVIN HART ADITYA ROY KAPOOR, ANIL KAPOOR, DISHA PATANI TRISHA, NANDHA, RICHARD, AL AZHAGAPPAN, VELA RAMAMOORTHY MOVIE REVIEW A Million Little Pieces: glossy addiction drama rings hollow Million Little Piec - It is there where he meets in- as did Lilly, however he finds es is a 2018 American teresting people, with whom the strength and will to resist Adrama film directed he forms relationships and who his addictions, when faced with and co-written by Sam Tay - play an important role in his life potential temptations. James lor-Johnson and starring Aaron both during and after his time finally recovers and never Taylor-Johnson. Based on the in the clinic. These people in- DON’T MISS IT relapses. book of the same name by James clude a mafia boss (the subject Rotten Tomatoes gives the Frey, it follows a drug-addicted of Frey’s subsequent book My film an approval rating of 27%, young man who, in an attempt Friend Leonard) who plays a Ultra-hunky Aaron based on 48 reviews, with an av- to quit his addiction, checks vital role in his recovery and a Taylor-Johnson plays a erage rating of 5.02/10. The site’s himself into a rehabilitation woman drug addict Lilly with consensus reads, “While solidly centre. whom he falls in love despite crack addict at death’s cast and competently helmed, In 1993, following a drug-in- strict rules forbidding contact door in this adaptation A Million Little Pieces amounts duced accidental fall, James between men and women at the of James Frey’s ‘memoir’ to little more than a well-in - Frey is brought home and clinic. When tragedy befalls him, tentioned but unpersuasive packed off to a rehab centre by a devastated James seems set echo of a deeply problematic his older brother Bob Frey, Jr. to spiral into self-destruction A scene from the movie memoir”.

SUDOKU CROSSWORD Across 1- Small amounts; 5- Rows; 10- Change for a five; 14- Hydrox rival; 15- Bandleader Yesterday’s solution Yesterday’s solution Shaw; 16- Ralph Lauren brand; 17- Rover’s pal; 18- Short journey; 19- Hungarian sheepdog; 20- Observes Ramadan; 22- Equiangular; 24- “You are ___”; 27- Grandson of Adam; 28- Lycanthrope; 32- Part of LED; 36- Boxer Laila; 37- Silvery fish; 39- Square one; 40- Cheek; 42- Love, in Paris; 44- Coup d’___; 45- Had dinner at home; 47- Ancient region of Asia Minor; 49- Clean air org.; 50- Keyed up; 51- Announces formally; 53- Durable wood; 56- Mariners can sail on seven of these; 57- Sub- merged to the mid-leg; 61- Cursed; 65- Bakery worker; 66- Pave over; 69- Auction site; 70- Like some orders; 71- Bucky Beaver’s toothpaste; 72- ___ dancing is popular with cowboys!; 73- Like pie?; 74- Ruhr city; 75- Hula hoops?; Down 1- Tip, as a hat; 2- Operatic solo; 3- Places to sleep; 4- Assuage; 5- ___ Mahal; 6- 401(k) alternative; 7- Sewing case; 8- Wash cycle; 9- Attack; 10- Adverse; 11- Person, place, or thing; 12- Actress Raines; 13- Potting need; 21- Puts in stitches; 23- Olympus residents; 25- Type of tomato; 26- Varnish resin; 28- Attended; 29- Overjoy; 30- Up; 31- Deluge; 33- Western; 34- Hang with cloth; 35- Kett and How to play James; 38- Melodies; 41- Sororal; 43- Wedding shower?; 46- Penury; 48- Sigher’s Place a number in the empty boxes in such word; 52- Also; 54- Eagle’s home; 55- Hangs on to; 57- Bird of prey; 58- Final Four a way that each row across, each column org.; 59- Electric fish; 60- School orgs.; 62- Theatrical award; 63- Wife of a rajah; down and each 9-box square contains all 64- Sight organs; 67- Hydrocarbon suffix; 68- Campaigned; of the numbers from one to nine. 14 MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

Hailey Jennifer Baldwin Lopez and Justin Bieber

Kourtney wears mask in Jennifer Lopez says she is in no hurry to marry Paris as COVID-19 spreads Alex Rodriguez Los Angeles Paris merican sing- eal- er-actor Jennif- ity Aer Lopez talked RTV about her special re- star Kourt- lationship with Alex ney Kardashi- Rodriguez and made it an has been spotted wearing clear that she is not in Hailey Baldwin’s ‘party trick’ a coronavirus mask while any rush to walk down visiting Paris for Fashion the aisle, while under- made Justin Bieber call her Week with her sister lining that Alex is “so Kim Kardashian and different” compared Los Angeles there’s actually another funny rapper Kanye West. to her past relationships. story behind this and that is that With US president Last March, the retired pro- odel Hailey Baldwin last time I was here, we did this Donald Trump play- fessional baseball player got down has shared the party little party trick where I opened ing down the threat on his knee to propose J.Lo in a Mtrick that made her a Corona bottle with my teeth”. of coronavirus after romantic beach-side setting and now-husband Justin Bieber give “The next morning — after the death in Wash- the two lovebirds were engaged. her a call and reconcile after the interview had aired — I got a ington state was an- According to E! News, on Sat- the two took a break from their certain phone call from a certain nounced, Kourtney urday, the ‘Hustlers’ star beamed relationship. someone and it was a little like, was not taking any in a vibrant yellow suit as she sat During her appearance on ‘Hey, how are you? I saw you chances as she head- down with Oprah Winfrey for “The Tonight Show Starring Jim- on Jimmy Fallon last night. You ed into Europe, where ‘2020 Vision Tour: Your Life in my Fallon”, the model was asked were looking really good. I loved the virus is now wide- Focus’ in Los Angeles. “Did you do any party tricks?” that trick that you did, I had no spread. Lopez even shared a series “Well, I say this because the idea that you can do that. It was Kourtney was seen of pictures with Oprah on last time you were on our show, so cool’. Cut to, I’m now mar- arriving at the Le Bour- her Instagram and wrote, you did something that was the ried to that certain someone,” get airport in France, “Such a great time with @ most amazing thing ever. Every- she said. where there have been Oprah! Thank you so much body was talking about it, you Fallon later said that the 100 confirmed cases and thank you to everyone opened a bottle with your teeth,” model initially met Bieber so far, that has led to who came out today for #Op- said Fallon, reports people.com. when she was just 13 years two deaths, reports rahs2020VisionTour.” Hailey found it “really fun and old in 2009. mirror.co.uk.

Nicolas Cage America Ferrera to exit Big B wraps up ‘Superstore’ after current season Mandy shooting for spotted holding Moore almost gave up Los Angeles acting before ‘This Is Us’ ‘Brahmastra’ hands with gly Betty” actress America Fer- Los Angeles Mumbai mystery rera is set to leave the comedy “Useries “Superstore” upon the inger-actress Mandy Moore con- egastar Amitabh ‘girlfriend’ conclusion of its current fifth season. sidered quitting acting before MBachchan has Ferrera has been with the show since Slanding her career-making role wrapped up shooting for it launched and is also an executive in the hit TV show “This Is Us”. Ayan Mukerji’s “Brahmas- New York producer on the single-camera series Moore was more well known for her singing tra”. in addition to directing multiple epi- than her acting in 2015, although had starred in Big B took to his blog on ollywood actor sodes, reports, variety.com. relatively successful movies such as “A Walk to Saturday, where he shared a HNicolas Cage was “The last five years on ‘Superstore’ Remember” and “Because I Said So” by that time, string of photographs from photographed carry- have been some of the most reward- reports aceshowbiz.com. the sets of the film, which ing a stuffed beluga ing, enriching and enjoyable years of She wasn’t sure she had what it takes to make also stars Ranbir Kapoor and holding hands my career. Producing, directing and it — with the constant knock-backs taking their and Alia Bhatt. with mystery “girl- acting with this wonderful cast and toll. The megastar also friend”. crew has given me opportunities to “I had done four failed TV pilots… So, I was shared a photograph of The 56-year-old grow as a person and storyteller,” kind of at the point where I was like, Maybe this Ranbir gifting the thespian actor was seen last Ferrera said. acting thing is done for me. Like, Maybe I need headphones. weekend taking the She added: “I’m so grateful to to hang it up and go back to Florida, go to school, “A gift of the Apple ear- same woman to visit my partners at NBC and Universal go try my hand at something else,” Moore said plugs that had been left his own pre-bought Television for the support and be- in an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning”. unpacked was initiated pyramid tomb in lief they have always placed in the She persevered, and achieved a whole new by the young comp savvy New Orleans. show, and I’m most thankful to the fan base through her role as Rebecca Pearson mobile-savvy brilliant Justin Spitzer for creating in “This Is Us”. young. As the funny, smart and relevant world Elsewhere in the interview, she spoke in Ranbir of ‘Superstore’ and inviting me to be about her marriage to Ryan Adams. The on set, a part of it. pair wed in 2009 and finalised their who sets “As I start the next chapter for my divorce in 2016, with the 35-year- it up for family and career, I wish only the best, old actress admitting her trou- me. The and much continued success, to my bled relationship con- sound is beloved ‘Superstore’ family.” tributed to her low really good. Amitabh The news of Ferrera’s exit comes just over self-worth. Had seen it Bachchan Nicolas Cage two weeks after it was announced that the chan- on Abhishek nel was renewing the show for a sixth season. and wondered. But it really is good. Thank you. When he was seen in New The 77-year-old star took York, Cage was wearing a Oprah Winfrey falls on stage while talking about balance to Twitter, where he wrote suit and carrying a big white that Ranbir taught him and Los Angeles stuffed beluga whale, re- her before she stood up and decided to just set up the sound earplugs. ports dailymail.co.uk. ditch her shoes. “Good riddance of the Meanwhile, his rumoured alk show host-producer-phi- “It’s nice to be talking about balance wires and cables,” he wrote. girlfriend sported leather lanthropist Oprah Winfrey and fall,” she said. Big B on Instagram trousers and a black jacket Ttook a tumble on stage during Among the audience were reportedly shared photograph of with thick fur trim. her motivational tour stop at The Fo- Winfrey’s best friend Gayle King and Alia and captioned it: He bought himself the rum here. Oprah Winfrey Meghan Markle’s mother Doria Ragland. “She breezed in… did nine-foot-tall pyramid tomb Ironically, Winfrey was talking about Her longtime partner Stedman Graham her shot… a huddle and in the French Quarter of balance before she suddenly tripped and came reportedly attended the Saturday, February out. The effervescent, su- New Orleans in 2010, and it crashing down in front of her audience, reports 29 motivational speech as well. premely talented, scintil- was reported that he took aceshowbiz.com. Her special guest at the event was Jen- lating Alia.” the same woman to see it “Wellness to me means all things in balance. nifer Lopez joining past guests like Lady “Brahmastra: Part One” last weekend. And balance doesn’t mean all things are equal GaGa, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and is set to release in five A source said: “He was or at peace at all times,” the 66-year-old who Michelle Obama. Winfrey is scheduled languages — Hindi, Ta- probably in there for 15 min- donned a white pantsuit said before losing her to conclude her “2020 Vision: Your mil, Telugu, Kannada utes looking at his tomb and footing and falling on the ground. Life on Focus Tour” on March 7 and Malayalam — on then he came out. He waved “Wrong shoes!” she quipped. in Denver, Colorado, with her December 4. The film to everyone and said: ”Have A stage assistant rushed to the stage to assist friend Gayle as a guest. also stars Nagarjuna a great Mardis Gras’.” and Mouni Roy. 15 MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

17DAYS TO BAHRAIN sports GRAND PRIX 2020

Torres guests stars at “The A-side Podcast”; reflects on “tough competition” at BRAVE Piquet sets F2 pace in testing DeFrancesco tops F3 times in pre-season testing’s first day at BIC TDT | Manama

edro Piquet and Devlin DeFrancesco set the pace Pon Sunday on the first day of their respective pre-season tests being held at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. Piquet of Charouz Racing Sys- tem was the overall quickest for the day amongst the runners in the FIA Formula 2 Champi- Jose Torres onship, while DeFrancesco of TDT | Manama “If you look at the tourna- Trident had the day’s quickest ment, you have tough compe- lap in the FIA Formula 3 Cham- RAVE CF Flyweight Jose tition at BRAVE CF. Doing this pionship tests. B“Shorty” Torres was the tournament, it’s just a scary, Both of their best times were guest star of the most recent scary tournament, said Tor- set during the afternoon ses- F2 cars during testing episode of MMA Fighting’s The res while commenting on the sions around BIC’s 5.412-kilo- A-Side Podcast, alongside José opponents he will have to best metre Grand Prix track—the Youngs and Petesy Carroll, over the next months in order same circuit both series will be BETTER available on all major podcast to capture the BRAVE CF Fly- racing on when the lights go out aggregators. weight title. for their 2020 seasons in sup- During the 64 minutes of Jose “Shorty” Torres first port of the upcoming Formula KNOW recording, Torres discusses a challenge for the “scary, 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix variety of themes from the cur- scary” BRAVE CF Flyweight from March 19 to 22. rent Mixed Martial Arts and Title Tournament is going Testing continues today. The Piquet’s pace-setting combat sports’ landscape, in- to be Matheus Nicolau, in a Formula 2 competitors will be lap was one minute cluding, of course, his upcom- quarter-final match, scheduled testing from 11.45am to 2.15pm ing challenge at BRAVE Combat for BRAVE CF 35, on March and then from 5.15pm to 7.45pm. 41.877 seconds while Federation Flyweight World 28, in Balneário Camboriú, The Formula 3 drivers will kick completing 31 laps Title Tournament. Brazil. off the day’s action from 9am to 11.30am and then again from 2.30pm to 5pm in their after- laps put in. noon run. Completing the top six were In Formula 2, 22 drivers were F2 star Mick Schumacher in the pit lane during the morning test session Sebastian Fernandez and Theo Nadal seals Acapulco title in action in both the morning Pourchaire of ART Grand Prix, TDT | Manama and afternoon test sessions on time. Completing the top six top six were Piquet, Matsush- plus Bent Viscaal of MP Motor- all-time at this event. Sunday. were Roy Nissany of Trident, ita’s MP partner Felipe Drugo- sport, who had earlier topped He nabbed his third Mexico Piquet’s pace-setting lap was Marcus Armstrong of ART vich and Gelael. the morning times. orld number two Rafael Open title to go with victories one minute 41.877 seconds Grand Prix and Sean Galeal of In Formula 3, 29 drivers put in Viscaal’s best lap during the WNadal captured his first in 2013 and 2005. while completing 31 laps as the DAMS. the work in both of yesterdays’ day session was 1:47.146 while ATP Tour title of 2020, easi- “I couldn’t be happier. I floodlights came on at BIC. His In the morning session, Louis sessions. completing 21 laps. Teammate ly defeating unseeded Taylor played a great event from time was the only one under Deletraz of Charouz Racing Sys- DeFrancesco posted the day’s Verschoor followed with a Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, the beginning to the end,” a minute and 42 seconds, and tem was the top man but he was overall best lap of 1:46.844 while 1:47.499 time and 22 laps com- in the final of the Mexico Open Nadal said. “Acapulco was he posted the day’s benchmark only 0.025s quicker than Mat- completing 26 laps in the after- pleted, while Max Fewtrell and on Saturday. the first big title that I won with only minutes remaining in sushita. Deletraz clocked a best noon session. Liam Lawson of Hitech Grand The 33-year-old Nadal, play- in my career, so to be able the session. lap of 1:43.583 while completing Alexander Peroni of Campos Prix were third and fourth ing in his first tournament to stay here after 15 years is Nobuharu Matsushita of MP 23 laps as Matsushita followed Racing followed with a time of quickest in the morning. since losing in the quarter-fi- amazing. Motorsport was second-best with a 1:43.608 time in 27 laps. 1:46.860 with 25 laps of work, Frederik Vesti of PREMA Rac- nals at the Australian Open “I can’t thank enough the with a lap of 1:42.070 while Daruvala had the third-best while Richard Verschoor of MP ing and Alexander Smolyar of last month, didn’t drop a set people who make me feel at Jehan Daruvala of Carlin was time in the morning with a lap Motorsport had his best after- ART Grand Prix completed the all week and improved to 19-2 home every single time.” third-fastest with a 1:42.163 of 1:44.135, while completing the noon time of 1:46.919 with 26 six quickest drivers. Ahli set up Nuwaidrat clash in Cup quarter-finals TDT | Manama had 18 to lead their squad. In yesterday’s other game, l Ahli yesterday stormed both sides were in high-scoring Ainto the quarter-finals of mode from the opening tip but this year’s Khalifa bin Salman it was Nuwaidrat who were able Cup where they will next face to maintain the pace the entire off against Nuwaidrat. game. Ahli booked their berth fol- American import Haminn lowing a resounding 99-61 vic- Quantance and Hassan Abbas tory over Samaheej last night combined for 70 points be - while Nuwaidrat marched tween them, including nine through after a convincing 120- three-pointers. Quantance was 98 win over Al Najma. on fire with 41 markers includ- The prestigious annual coming 18 rebounds, eight assists and petition is being played at the four steals while Abbas added 29 Khalifa Sports City basketball and seven assists off the bench. arena in Isa Town. Their biggest lead was 24 over With Ahli setting up their Nu- Najma, who were led by the waidrat clash, the quarter-final Najma’s Jaber goes for a basket in their loss to Nuwaidrat whopping 42 points of Ali Jaber. line-up of this year’s tournament Riffa. Muharraq, Isa Town, Ma- The backcourt pairing of na- His scintillating performance is now complete. nama and Riffa all had automatic tional team guards Maytham included 17 rebounds and five They join Al Hala and Bah- berths in the quarters. Jameel and Hesham Sarhan assists. Fadalallah Abbas added rain Club as the teams to ad - In Ahli’s win last night, Pol- also made their presence felt. 16 in the loss, as Najma were also vance from the competition’s ish professional Maciej Lampe Jameel contributed 19 markers without an import. opening stage, with both teams scored 21 points to lead them in while firing in an impressive The first pair of quarter-final facing off in another round of their victory. He played less than five three-pointers, while Sar- games are scheduled for this eight contest. In the two other 20 minutes as Ahli built a com- han scored 14 and dished out Thursday at the same venue. quarter-final games, Muharraq manding lead early and went eight assists. Muharraq battle Isa Town at play Isa Town and Manama go ahead by as many as 31 points in Samaheej were playing with- 5.45pm followed by Manama against last year’s Cup winners Ahli’s Sarhan tries to drive to the basket past his defender the second half. out an import and Ahmed Fateel playing Riffa at 7.30pm. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 16 Drag racing champions crowned after action-packed season-finale

TDT | Manama champions in NHRA-sanctioned events around the world. ahrain International Cir- Meanwhile, four new awards cuit (BIC) crowned its were given out at the ceremony. Bnewest group of champi- Yousif Khamiri claimed the title ons over the weekend after host- of Rookie of the Season (Cars), ing a hugely exciting season-fi- while Sayed Yousif Faisal was nale in the 2019/2020 Bahrain Rookie of the Season (Bikes). Drag Racing Championship. Zuheer Khalil Meer was named Four of the title winners were Crew Chief of the Season, while also victorious in the year’s fifth Bapco Motorsports Team took and last meeting, which capped home the Best Team of the Sea- another memorable campaign at son award. BIC’s world-class quarter-mile The ceremony was also at- strip—a proud member of the tended by many high-ranking USA-based National Hot Rod officials, participants, team A car in action at BIC BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa presents a Wally to Pro Mod Association (NHRA) Worldwide champion Hani Ali Network. Among those to end their seasons both with their category’s championship and on top of their respective podiums were Bahrainis Hani Ali the Pro Mod class and Zakariya Alkuwari in the Outlaw Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD), along with Obaid Al Blooshi of the UAE in the Com- petition 4.5 and Mishari Alturki from Saudi Arabia in the Super Street Bikes. Three other Bahraini drag racers were crowned champions for the season, including Hussain Abdulrahim Akbar in the Super Street V8 category, Nawaf Al Winners celebrate on the podium Winners celebrate on the podium Mannai in the Outlaw 6-Cylin- der and Abdulla Aldoseri in the members and their supporters. Zaman. Ahmed Alsaeei rounded He beat Saleh Janahi in the fi- capped his title run in the Su- Index 10.5 class. Champions Hani Ali and out the podium placers. nal. BHani Ali came third in the per Street Bikes class with a The list of title winners was Zakariya Alkuwari were two of Al Zayani followed suit in category. Competition 4.5 cham- 4.403s at 270.76kph, preventing rounded up by Kuwaiti Mo - six Bahraini drivers who defend- the Outlaw 6-Cylinder where pion Obaid Al Blooshi won in rival bin Eidan from claiming a hammed Suliman in the Pro ed their home turf in the sea- he had a time of 4.514s at a top the season finale after posting a season-ending double. Motha- Street V8, the UAE’s Mohammed son-finale. Also climbing to the speed of 259.09kph. He beat Mo- 323.08 mark of 4.525s at 245.22kph to na Abu Thiab finished in third Rashid in the Index 9.5, Kuwaiti top of the podium were Yousif hammed Haji in the decisive kph was the top speed beat Hisham Almulla who had to place. Adnan Daifallah in the Index 8.5, Al Zayani in the Outlaw 6-Cyl- head-to-head, as new champion recorded by Hani Ali to settle for the runner-up spot. Ali Christopher Dominique from Kuwaiti Mohammed Alawadh in inder, Salah Salahuddin in the Nawaf Al Mannai claimed third win the Pro Mod category Haji was classified third. the USA rounded out trium - the Pro Bikes, Saudi Khalid Al- Pro Street V8, Hussain Moham- place. In the bikes classes, Saudi’s phant riders, ending the sea - doseri in the Index 8.5 Bikes, and med in the Super Street V8, and In the Pro Street V8, Salahud- Theeb Alqahtani was the winner son on a high note after taking Fadi Abu Jamus from Palestine Yousif Khamiri in the Index 9.5 din eked out a narrow victory in the Street Fight Bikes. He had the Pro Bikes class in their final in the Street Fight Bikes. category. over title-winner Mohammed a time of 9.545s at 246.36kph in where he faced Bradley McCoy. The newly crowned champi- There were close to 140 racers Suliman after going for a win- third place. the final, where he beat Waleed Dominique was the winner in ons were honoured in an end- competing in the year’s conclud- ning run of 7.925s at 223.21kph Other competitors to come Albadeen. Fadi Abu Jamus a time of 4.062s at 279.03kph. of-season gala and awards cer- ing event. in the final. Hamad Al Dusari away with wins in the champi- took third place to seal his Meshal Al Saber completed the emony held at BIC the evening In the Pro Mod category, Ali finished third. onship finale were from the Sau- title. top three finishers. after the completion of the final posted an elapsed time of 3.752s Mohammed was then the di, Kuwait, the UAE and the US. The Index 8.5 Bike category The 2019/2020 Bahrain Drag round. Presenting the trophies at 323.08kph to defeat Saad Al winner in the Super Street V8 In the Index 10.5, Saudi Tham- was claimed by Kuwaiti Bader Racing Championship featured was BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Muran in their decisive battle. after beating Nabeel Al Isa. Ab- er Al Khaldey won against Mo- bin Eidan in 8.539s at 264.99kph. five rounds in all, and it attracted Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa. Mohammed Suliman completed dulla Khadada was classified hammed Al Hamad in the final. Khalid Aldoseri came second, participants from all over the Aside from their champion- the podium finishers in third. third. Khamiri won the Index Al Khaldey had a 10.615s win- which was enough to seal his world. It was organised in coop- ship trophies, each title winner Alkuwari clinched the Outlaw 9.5 class with a time of 9.549s at ning time at 179.14kph. Abdul- championship, while Fadi Abu eration between BIC, the Bahrain also took home a prestigious FWD class after clocking a pass 222.13kph, beating Abdulwahab la Aldoseri was third. Kuwaiti Jamus took his second podium Motor Federation, the Bahrain Wally. These distinct accolades of 9.215 seconds at 280kph in the Al Mutaib who had to settle for Fahad Khadada won the Index of the night in third place. Drag Racing Club and the Bah- are given out exclusively to final race, where he beat Ahmed second. Ali Abdulrahman took 8.5 class in 8.796s at 234.27kph. Saudi’s Mishari Alturki rain Motorcycle Club.

Marco Zanetti vs Bilal Tipsaev Chad Hanekom returns; will added to BRAVE CF 37, in Sweden face Enrico Cortese in Romania TDT | Manama TDT | Manama

RAVE CF 37 fight card keeps ormer Middleweight title Bshaping up. The line-up for Fchallenger Chad Hanekeom the very first visit of the fast- is back. The South-African star est-growing MMA promotion will look to bounce back from in the world to Sweden got an- the loss against the champion other addition, with BRAVE CF Daniel “Gaúcho” Pereira and officials announcing that Italy’s get himself again in the cham- Marco Zanetti will be facing pionship picture. His opponent Sweden’s Bilal Tipsaev in a Ban- will be Enrico Cortese in a fea- tamweight bout. tured bout of the upcoming An IMMAF veteran, with BRAVE CF 36 card, to be held in medals at European and World Romania. title bout. April 13, in Romania, marking Championships, Marco Zanetti One of the rising stars from Enrico “The Killing Ma - the second visit of the fast - is one of the strongest Italian South Africa, where fights out chine” Cortese also boasts a est-growing MMA promotion prospects to successfully make Tipsaev just recently turned BRAVE Combat Federation’s of Coach Quan University, Chad 6-2 professional record. The in the world to the Eastern-Eu- a transition to professional pro, after finishing an unde - debut in Sweden is sched - Hanekom holds a professional 22-year-old Italian is currently ropean country. The card, pro- MMA. Holding a professional feated amateur career. In his uled for April 18, in the capi- record of six wins and only one on a 5-win streak, including moted in partnership with local record of four wins, all finishes, only professional bout so far, tal Stockholm. The fight night loss. “Superman” had his two- his successful BRAVE Combat MMA powerhouse RFX, will be and only one loss, Zanetti com- the Gothenburg-based athlete will be promoted in association win streak stopped last Decem- Federation debut in November, headlined by the Lightweight plements its experience with a defeated his fellow country- with the local Mixed Martial ber, when he ended up defeated 2019, when he beat Jorick Mon- bout between England’s Sam 11-4 amateur record. man Martin Fouda with a first Arts powerhouse AK Fighting by Daniel Gaúcho in BRAVE CF’s tagnac via unanimous decision. Patterson and New Zealand’s On the other hand, Bilal round TKO. Championship. inaugural Middleweight world BRAVE 36 will take place on John Brewin.