SHAWWAL 25, 1442 AH SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021

16 Pages Max 50º Min 35º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18452 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Delhi, Mumbai ease lockdown Facebook imposes 2-year Trump Sotheby’s selling first The Budapest exception: 7 as India COVID numbers fall 8 ban, revises rules for politicians 12 NFT that sparked a craze 15 Packed stands at Euro 2020

G7 strikes ‘historic’ agreement over global corporate tax rate

Deal to tax multinational companies and squeeze havens

LONDON: Finance ministers from wealthy G7 taxation, Britain’s Treasury noted that “the largest nations yesterday endorsed a global minimum cor- and most profitable multinationals will be required porate tax rate of at least 15 percent, rallying behind to pay tax in the countries where they operate - and a US-backed plan targeting tech giants and other not just where they have their headquarters”. multinationals accused of not paying enough. US Welcoming the move, Facebook’s vice president Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hailed the of global affairs Nick Clegg tweeted that the com- “unprecedented commitment”, saying in a statement pany wanted “the international tax reform process that a global minimum tax “would end the race to to succeed and recognize this could mean... paying the bottom in corporate taxation”. more tax, and in different places”. British finance Facebook even got behind the move despite the minister Rishi Sunak, who chaired the talks held in social media giant facing the prospect of having to person after an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, pay more tax - while non-governmental organiza- expressed delight at “a historic agreement to reform tions said it did not go far enough. Following the the global tax system”. two-day gathering in London, the G7 said in a final Sunak said the G7 had agreed to make the sys- communique that it will “commit to a global mini- tem “fit for the global digital age”, as he thanked his mum tax of at least 15 percent on a country by counterparts for striking “a deal of historic signifi- country basis”. cance”. The landmark move comes as governments The G7 - comprising Britain, Canada, France, seek to repair finances battered during the pan- Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - said it demic by slashed tax receipts plus vast spending hoped to reach a final tax agreement at the July and borrowing. The London gathering has also pre- gathering of the expanded G20 finance ministers pared the ground for a summit of G7 leaders in group. The G7 also committed to making companies Cornwall, southwest England, starting Friday, and carry out mandatory reporting regarding the cli- which Biden is set to attend. mate impact of their investments. Momentum has grown behind the US-led plans It additionally said it will continue to support to limit the ability of multinationals such as tech “the poorest and most vulnerable countries as they giants to game the tax system to boost profits, LONDON: Top officials pose for a family photo on the second day of the G7 finance ministers’ meeting at address health and economic challenges associated especially at a time when economies around the Lancaster House yesterday. —AFP with COVID-19”. Regarding the commitment on Continued on Page 2 16 stranded Riyadh holds Indian sailors first concert return home since COVID By Sajeev K Peter RIYADH: Hundreds gathered Thursday for the first concert in the Saudi capital since the start of the KUWAIT: All 16 Indian sailors who were stranded COVID-19 pandemic to watch performances by onboard the ship MV Ula in Kuwait for the past 14 Syrian diva Assala Nasri and Kuwaiti crooner months have reached their homeland safely. The KUWAIT: Sixteen Indian sailors who were stranded in Nabeel Shuail. Before stiff rules were brought in a sailors left Friday on a ‘Vande Bharat’ mission flight Kuwait for the past 14 months are seen at Kuwait year ago to stem the spread of coronavirus, the RIYADH: Kuwaiti singer Nabeel Shuail is seen on bound for New Delhi with tickets arranged by the International Airport prior to their departure to India ultra-conservative kingdom had started to ease large screens at a theatre hosting the first concert in Indian Embassy in Kuwait, a press release issued by on Friday. decades-long restrictions on entertainment, as part the Saudi capital since the start of the COVID-19 the embassy said. of efforts to improve its image and attract tourists. pandemic late on June 3, 2021. — AFP The sailors were stranded on the ship after it sincere gratitude to the Kuwaiti leadership and the “This is the first concert to take place in Saudi was detained at Kuwait’s Shuaiba Port since concerned authorities in the country, including offi- for a very long time,” said one spectator at the con- Jackson to 50 Cent and Korean pop group BTS - for February 2020 following a legal dispute between cials from the ministries of foreign affairs, communi- cert, held in a restaurant of a large Riyadh hotel. concerts that were unimaginable in the conservative the ship’s owner and the owner of its cargo. The cations and interior; Kuwait Port Authority and cus- “We are delighted to come from Kuwait to attend country just four years ago. The pandemic put a sailors had gone on hunger strike over the pro- toms authorities for their cooperation and support. the concert,” said a Kuwaiti tourist. Saudi Arabia brake on the country’s ambitious push to revamp its longed crisis. All the other formalities including The embassy’s officers regularly coordinated has officially recorded more than 454,000 coron- global image and draw tourists. medical checkups and PCR tests were arranged by with each of these departments to resolve the com- avirus infections, including 7,408 deaths. But Riyadh is now accelerating a nationwide vac- the embassy prior to the departure of the plex issues involved and ensure the crew’s depar- It was not the first concert - Italian tenor Andrea cination drive as it moves to host sports and enter- crewmembers in cooperation with the authorities in ture to India. The embassy will continue to remain Bocelli sang in April at the ancient Saudi city of tainment extravaganzas, all pandemic-hit sectors Kuwait, the release added. in touch with the authorities to follow up on other Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Saudi Arabia that are a bedrock of the “Vision 2030” program to Indian Ambassador Sibi George expressed his issues involved, the release added. has hosted international musicians - from Janet diversify the oil-reliant economy. — AFP

Finland FA ‘Sea snot’ on offers hijabs Turkey’s shores to players alarms residents ISTANBUL: A thick, brown, bubbly foam VANTAA, Finland: Finland’s foot- dubbed “sea snot” has covered the shores of ball association has begun offering a VANTAA, Finland: Kamila Nuh (left) the Sea of Marmara, alarming Istanbul resi- free “sports hijab” to any player who and Nasro Bahnaan Hulbade, both 13 dents and threatening marine life. The natu- wants one, in a move designed to years old, pose for photos at the rally occurring mucilage was first document- attract a greater diversity of players beginning of a football training ses- ed in Turkey in 2007, when it was also seen into the sport. So far, the FA has dis- sion at the MUP Stadium on June 1, in parts of the Aegean Sea near Greece. But tributed “dozens” of the head- 2021. — AFP this outbreak is the largest on record, blamed scarves, which are made out of tech- by experts on a combination of pollution and nical, stretchy fabric, Heidi Pihlaja, to use a scarf or not. It doesn’t flap global warming, which speeds up the growth head of development of women and around as much as normal and you of algae responsible for the slimy sludge. girls’ football, told AFP. don’t need to tuck it into your shirt,” “Of course it affects our work,” fisherman “In Finland, it’s been really hard to 13-year-old Nasro Bahnaan Hulbade Mahsum Daga, 42, said as the viscous sub- get girls of immigrant backgrounds told AFP during a training session at stances lapped rows of surrounding boats. into football clubs,” Pihlaja said. “So her club VJS in Vantaa, in the Finnish “You know what it does to shellfish? When we wanted to start this initiative to capital. “It’s easier to run in it,” said they open up, it prevents them from closing welcome everyone, regardless of her teammate Kamila Nuh. up again because it gets in the way. ISTANBUL: This aerial photograph taken on Friday shows mucilage in the Marmara Sea at a your religion and whether you want Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 2 harbor on the shoreline. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Sunday, June 6, 2021 Local Kuwait Amir’s envoy delivers letter to Yemen president

RIYADH: His Highness the Amir Sheikh return of the Yemeni government to Eden. In Yemeni case.” Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s a statement for Eden Satellite Channel, the Meanwhile, Kuwait Society for Relief envoy, Foreign Minister and State Minister Minister said, “we positively discussed ways said on Friday it completed handing out for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser to create a suitable atmosphere to imple- 6,000 food packs to people in Yemen Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, delivered a letter ment the Riyadh agreement signed by the across five governorates as part of a cam- from His Highness the Amir to Yemen’s Yemeni government and the Southern paign, which has been ongoing for six years President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Transitional Council in November 2019. now. The food will go to displaced families Riyadh yesterday. The letter discussed He pointed that the government was keen and host communities of the impoverished in brotherly ties that bind the two nations and to boost the trust between all parties involved the governorates of Hadhramaut, Shabwah, the latest regional and global developments. in the process of forming a government, but Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf. This year’s cam- Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Bin the escalations affected its performance and paign, which began in the Muslim holy Mubarak had said earlier yesterday that a existence in the capital Eden. The govern- month of Ramadan, aims to distribute delegation from the Yemeni government held ment was able to work positively during the 24,000 food packs to a total 10 gover- talks with the Saudi side to discuss the last months despite many commonalities with norates, in coordination with four local implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. all parties including the transitional Council, humanitarian relief organizations, the chari- RIYADH: Yemen’s President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi reads a letter from His During the talks, both sides focused on secu- he explained. The Minister highly evaluated ty’s Yemen office deputy director Adel Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, delivered by rity and Military issues and guarantees of the “the sincere Saudi efforts to support the Baashen said. — AFP Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah. — KUNA

I encourage all students to choose a university in States have well-established measures to look after Adviser at [email protected]. The There are many the United States. To any parents reading this, the safety and wellbeing of all students on campus, National Union of Kuwaiti Students can give you please think about allowing your daughters and including international students. For female stu- advice about where to live and help you get set- sons to study in America. dents, there are many excellent all-female colleges tled in and will continue be a resource throughout reasons to study in Why choose America? The US offers a wide you can consider. your entire time as a student. array of quality educational institutions situated in Second, applying to US universities is much sim- Once you arrive on campus, you will have an the United States diverse geographic regions across the country. pler than you might think. You can use one applica- international student adviser who will help you And there’s “the American Dream” that you may tion to apply to over 900 US colleges! It’s called select courses and maintain your student status By US Ambassador to Kuwait have heard about through social media, movies, the Common Application, and at least one college under US law. US universities offer special servic- Alina L Romanowski music, or Americans you’ve met. in every state accepts it. Visit commonapp.org and es for international students. And because the I recall with fondness my own experiences at the begin filling out your application today! United States is home to over 3.5 million Muslims, o high school sen- University of Chicago. Like so many other universi- Even the student visa application process is easier Muslim students can easily find a university with a iors in Kuwait: ties in the United States, Chicago has a vibrant aca- than you think. Once you have been admitted to a US Muslim student community and nearby mosques TCongratulations! demic and cultural environment with inspiring pro- college and receive your enrollment confirmation to attend. You are about to com- fessors and wide array of international students. form (I-20), you can schedule a visa interview at After you graduate, you have the option of plete your exams and There, my mind was opened to so many ways of ustraveldocs.com. Students can get an appointment working on your student visa for 1-3 years at a US graduate during the most thinking, of doing - and of dreaming. within one week. Kuwaiti student visas are valid for company to gain practical work experience and challenging time for stu- For Kuwaiti students who are aware of those five years, and if you need to renew the visa for any launch your professional career. The connections dents in many genera- benefits but still have doubts, here are three key reason, you can do so without another interview. If you will make with talented classmates from tions. You should be reasons why you should study in the United States: you have any questions about visas, please email around the world and US alumni from your univer- proud of how you perse- US Ambassador Alina Safety, ease of application, and a support network [email protected] and a visa officer will reply to sity will benefit you throughout your life. vered through all the Romanowski that will help you during your time in America and you promptly. So, as you think about your next educational adversity caused by the throughout your career. Third, you will have a support network that will options, please contact the US Embassy’s COVID-19 pandemic. Parents also deserve our First, on safety. Currently, over one million inter- help you through the entire process. The US Education Adviser for a free consultation. We can appreciation for supporting their children’s educa- national students are studying at US universities Embassy’s Education Adviser can help you pick help you find the school that fits all your needs! tion during this very difficult period. and colleges, far more than any other country. the school that fits your personality, academic Congratulations again to the class of 2021, and I As you embark on the next chapter in your life, University and college campuses across the United interests, and favorite location- you can email the wish you all the best of luck.

Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Abdul Omani mediators Salam in Oman in late April. On Monday Griffiths urged rival Yemeni forces to in Sanaa as truce “bridge the gap” to reach a ceasefire, following talks in Sanaa with Houthi officials. “There’s an extraordinary amount of diplomatic consensus... talks intensify there is a real diplomatic energy now, which hasn’t always been the case,” Griffiths said. SANAA: Omani officials, accompanied by senior The effort to secure peace in Yemen comes after Houthi figures, arrived yesterday in Sanaa to try to regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restarted talks convince the rebels who control the capital to in April, holding their first high-level meeting since accept a ceasefire, Houthi sources said. Yemen has Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. The been devastated by civil war between the govern- UN says Yemen is suffering the world’s worst ment - supported by a Saudi-led military coalition - humanitarian crisis as its years-long war rumbles and Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2014, pushing on, with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced the country to the brink of famine. and two-thirds of its 30-million population depend- Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have inten- ent on aid. sified in recent weeks. “An Omani delegation arrived Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (in Sanaa), accompanied by Houthi spokesman called on Houthi rebels to allow inspectors to visit a ISTANBUL: This aerial photograph taken on Friday shows mucilage in the Marmara Sea at a harbor on the Mohammed Abdul Salam and other (Houthi) offi- long-abandoned fuel tanker off Yemen “without fur- shoreline. — AFP cials,” a rebel source told AFP on condition of ther delay” Thursday. The 15-member council held a anonymity. The Saudi-led coalition controls Yemen’s special meeting on FSO Safer at the request of The Sea of Marmara, which stretches along airspace and since 2016 had prevented Abdul Salam Britain after the rebels said an agreement to allow ‘Sea snot’ on Istanbul’s southern coast from the Bosphorus to the and other rebel figures from returning to Sanaa. the UN mission had “reached a dead end.” Aegean Sea, is densely populated and home to numer- The delegation’s arrival, which would have The 45-year-old fuel vessel FSO Safer has 1.1 ous industrial sites. Balci said it also absorbs some of required approval from Riyadh, demonstrates million barrels of crude on board and has been Turkey’s shores... the waste that flows into the neighboring Black Sea something of a step forward in negotiations. The abandoned near Yemen’s western port of Hodeida Continued from Page 1 from the polluted Danube River that cuts across east- since 2015. The UN says it threatens a catastrophic ern Europe. “This is an extra burden for the Sea of Houthis have repeatedly demanded the re-opening of Sanaa airport before any ceasefire agreement. oil spill that would destroy Red Sea ecosystems, All the sea snails here are dead.” Istanbul University Marmara,” said Balci, calling for a collective action The source said the delegation was to meet with shut down the fishing industry and close Yemen’s biology professor Muharrem Balci said when the algae plan for all of the sea’s coastal cities. lifeline Hodeida port for six months. grow out of control in springtime, as they have done Workers are trying to remove the sludge with nets, Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi and update him on talks held in Muscat. Members urged the Houthis to “facilitate this year, they block out the sun and cause oxygen but their efforts have so far proven largely ineffective. unconditional and safe access for UN experts to Balci said a lasting solution requires proper marine The aim of the Omani mediators seems to be “to depletion for fish and marine life. conduct a comprehensive and impartial assess- supervision, as well as biological and chemical disposal convince the Houthis to accept a ceasefire and take The “sea snot” results from a sort of nutrient over- ment and initial repair mission without further load for the algae, which feast on warm weather and systems for the sea’s cities and industrial zones. part in peace negotiations”, the source added. Ali Oztunc, a lawmaker for the main opposition CHP Abdul Salam, in remarks carried by Houthi-run Al- delay,” a statement said. UN inspectors were ini- water pollution that has grown progressively worse in tially meant to assess the tanker last year but the the past 40 years, Balci said. “This mucilage is now party, urged the government to impose tough penalties Masirah television, said: “We are working to mission has been repeatedly delayed over dis- covering the sea surface like a tent canvas,” Balci told on waste disposal facilities that fail to follow the rules. advance arrangements on the humanitarian question AFP. “After a while, this cover collapses to the bottom “The Sea of Marmara is an inland sea but, unfortunately, as well as the peace process.” The visit aims to agreements with the rebels. and covers the (sea floor’s) ecosystem.” This could it is becoming an inland desert because of the wrong “complement efforts” made in Oman, he added. The Houthis insist that the UN team conducts poison the sea’s mussels and creatures such as crabs. environmental policies,” he told AFP. The sultanate of Oman, which borders both maintenance work but the world body says it must “It will smell like a rotten egg unless this process is On Tuesday, President Recept Tayyip Erdogan’s rul- Yemen and Saudi Arabia, is a close US ally but at be allowed to assess the site first before carrying halted,” he said. ing coalition shot down a CHP proposal to set up a par- the same time has good relations with Iran. It has out any works. On Tuesday, the Hothi rebels said Cevahir Efe Akcelik, an environment engineer and liamentary committee to investigate the “sea snot”. regularly played the role of mediator in regional negotiations with the UN had reached an impasse secretary general of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Oztunc also called on Erdogan’s government to finally conflicts. Muscat has hosted UN special envoy for after several days of talks. The UN’s Office for the approve the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit Engineers and Architects, said the foam could cover Yemen Martin Griffiths and US envoy Tim Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told the coun- temperature rises by cutting carbon emissions. “The the sea all summer unless urgent measures are taken. Lenderking in recent weeks, while Iran’s Foreign cil meeting that the UN team “remains ready to “Studies show the mucilage is not only on the surface government should approve the Paris Agreement with- deploy.” — AFP now but also goes 25 to 30 meters deep,” he told AFP. out delay,” Oztunc said. — AFP said in response to the criticism. “Where they want consensus necessary to reform the international tax Finland FA to use it, we want to show that they are welcome G7 strikes ‘historic’ system”. British charity Oxfam said the agreed mini- and that the headscarf isn’t an obstacle.” mum rate was not high enough. “It’s about time that Yet although the FA’s announcement prompted a some of the world’s most powerful economies force offers hijabs... flurry of negative comments on social media, the hijab agreement over... multinational corporations, including tech and pharma scheme has not become a major talking point in the giants, to pay their fair share of tax,” said Gabriela Continued from Page 1 country of 5.5 million people, one of Europe’s most Continued from Page 1 Bucher, executive director of Oxfam International. homogenous nations, according to official statistics. “However, fixing a global minimum corporate tax The girls have been playing for one and two years Finland’s widespread anti-immigrant sentiment is world are reeling from the impact of the coron- rate of just 15 percent is far too low. It will do little to respectively, but said they were “happy and grate- currently less apparent in the footballing arena, avirus outbreak. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz end the damaging race to the bottom on corporate tax ful” to find out from their parents about the free where the men’s national team - which comprises a yesterday said the commitment was “very good news and curtail the widespread use of tax havens.” Ireland, headscarves. Pihlaja said that cultural issues and number of foreign-background players - enjoys for justice and fiscal solidarity”. “Enterprises can no which has expressed “significant reservations” about cost - rather than the headscarves themselves - near-universal support. This month, Finland will longer shy away from their fiscal obligations by cun- Biden’s plan, has at 12.5 percent one of the lowest cor- were often the main obstacles to girls and women make its debut appearance at the European ningly transferring their profits to countries with porate tax rates in the world, prompting tech giants from immigrant communities taking up the sport. But Championships, while the country’s women’s team opaque tax structures,” he said, calling the move “bad such as Facebook and Google to make the eurozone offering the hijabs has “a symbolic importance” to has also for the first time made the Euro 2021. news for tax havens”. country their European base. making the sport more accessible, she said. In another move to boost equality, Finland’s FA in French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called it a Yellen, holding a press conference following the G7 Although the response has mainly been “really 2019 removed the word ‘women’ from the title of its “historic step” in the fight against fiscal evasion. “It’s a meet, identified Ireland and China as having concerns positive”, the scheme has also received criticism top female competitive division, renaming it the starting point and in the months ahead we will fight for regarding a global minimum rate. “The post-pandemic “from people saying it demeans women or is bringing “National League”. It also announced equal pay and this minimum tax to be the highest possible,” Le Maire world must be fairer in particular with regard to inter- religion to the game”. A 2018 Pew Research Centre bonuses for male and female players in the national said in a video message on Twitter. Biden had called national taxation,” she added. Proponents argue that a comparison found that Finland housed the strongest team. Wearing her VJS kit, the same color red as that for a unified minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent minimum tax is necessary to stem competition anti-Muslim attitudes out of 15 countries, while the of her beloved Liverpool, Kamila Nuh said she in negotiations with the Organization for Economic between countries over who can offer multinationals far-right Finns Party is predicted to make record “loves” football and “I’m not planning on stopping Co-operation and Development and G20. the lowest rate. They say that a “race to the bottom” gains in the country’s local elections later this month. any time soon.” There still aren’t that many female OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann called saps precious revenues that could go to government “We support every woman’s right to choose players in Finland, she admits, “but I want to be one the G7 agreement “a landmark step toward the global priorities like hospitals and schools. — AFP themselves whether they use a scarf or not,” Pihlaja of them.” — AFP Established 1961 3 Local Sunday, June 6, 2021 State departments pay great attention to Kuwait’s marine environment

KUWAIT: An aerial view of Kuwait’s coastline. —KUNA photos Kuwait diving team members carrying out a cleanup campaign at a local island.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s marine environment enjoys great official attention, therefore, laws and executive regulations have been enacted that prohibit any encroachment against it. The World Environment Day, which was marked yesterday, focuses on taking urgent measures to revive the damaged ecosys- tems from forests to coasts, including Kuwait which gives attention to the envi- ronment as a whole, especially the marine environment. Deputy Director-General for Technical Affairs at the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Dr Abdullah Al- Zaidan stressed the importance of pre- serving Kuwait’s environment and raising community awareness on the necessity of preserving marine life. Zaidan noted that the EPA plays a vital role in protect- ing the marine environment from pollu- Kuwait diving team members lift neglected fishing nets. Kuwait diving team members help in lifting a sunken ship. tion and preserving its biodiversity, and applies the needed laws, in addition to following up on the implementation of the future, fishing licensing requirements Biodiversity in August 2002, which guar- ate with various governmental and volun- main resource, he added. He also noted the national plan for managing the will be changed to achieve the desired antees the preservation of biological tary agencies to remove damage to the that the team recovered 768 boats and marine environment. goal of preserving the marine environ- diversity, whether in the terrestrial or Kuwaiti marine environment, whether on marine vessels weighing 11,000 tons, and He pointed out that the authority ment, he added. He also stressed the marine environment. the coast or in the sea. Since the team’s removed harmful waste from coasts, har- guarantees the protection of the marine keenness to implement international Meanwhile, the head of the establishment in 1986, the team has car- bors and islands, in cooperation with biodiversity, as it is prohibited to hunt, treaties related to biodiversity protec- Environmental Volunteer Foundation’s ried out several activities and programs government agencies, weighing 3,711 kill, collect, harm and possess wild or tion, as Kuwait ratified the CBD Kuwaiti diving team Waleed Al-Fadhel aimed at protecting the marine environ- tons, in addition to lifting neglected fish- marine species or harm their young. In Convention for the Conservation of affirmed the team’s keenness to cooper- ment from pollution, as it is the country’s ing nets weighing 241 tons. — KUNA

tered 1,156 recoveries on Friday and 1,087 on Kuwait reports 8 Thursday, raising the total of those to have overcome the disease to 298,485, ministry COVID deaths, 2,723 spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad told a Kuwait renews press conference. The number of people hospitalized with the cases in two days virus stood at 14,297 as of Friday, with 151 of commitment them in intensive care units; up from 14,177 KUWAIT: Kuwait said 1,280 people tested total patients and 146 ICU patients on to UNCAC positive for coronavirus while four related Thursday. Some 22,107 swab tests were con- deaths were reported on Friday, while 1,443 ducted over the previous 48 hours, Dr Sanad NEW YORK: The State of Kuwait renewed people tested positive for coronavirus and said Friday, out of a total of 2.65 million. He commitment to the UN Convention against four related deaths were reported on went on to urge the public to abide by health Corruption (UNCAC), said a senior Kuwaiti Thursday taking the total up to 314,569 and precautions, mainly social distancing, in order diplomat on Friday. Cooperation and joint 1,787, respectively. The health ministry regis- to help limit the spread of the virus. — KUNA Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad action are the best means to counter this dan- gerous crime that jeopardizes safety of commu- nities, especially recently on the backdrop of COVID-19, said Ambassador Mansour Al- Otaibi, Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the UN before the organization’s 32nd General Fire extinguished at Hawally mall Assembly on anti-corruption. Terming UNCAC a “cornerstone” in the fight against corruption, yet the phenomenon, according to Otaibi, is still prevalent and becoming more complex due to advancing technology, making it a trans-border crime, branching out to terrorism financing, money laundering, arms dealing and drug traf- ficking. Corruption continues to drain countries’ resources, especially developing ones, making it a major obstacle for those countries to accom- plish the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said. Despite all precautionary measures, yet, no country is safe from this phe- nomenon, which causes global economy to lose $2 trillion on an annual basis, he added. Good governance, less bureaucracy and improving performance of the state’s public institutions are all key elements for fighting corruption; an endeavor the State of Kuwait been aiming for and pursuing on a national level through many KUWAIT: Kuwait Fire Force overlooking the Third Ring Road, laws and legislations that guarantee the rule of (KFF) on Thursday managed to the KFF public relations and media law and reinforce, as well as buoy the level of extinguish a fire that broke out at department said in a press state- integrity, Otaibi carried on saying. He also the front view of a commercial mall ment. No casualties were reported, referred to ‘Nazaha’; Kuwait’s anti-corruption in Hawally Governorate, with no it added, noting that some parked body, established in line with articles five and casualties. Fire engines of Hawally, vehicles have been damaged by six of UNCAC. UNCAC is the only legally bind- Salmiya and Shuhda took part in flames. Investigations are under- ing international anti-corruption multilateral controlling the blaze at the mall way to reveal the cause of the inci- treaty, as it recognizes the importance of both located at the end of Tunis Street dent, it pointed out. — KUNA preventive and punitive measures, addresses the cross-border nature of corruption with pro- visions on international cooperation and on the return of the proceeds of corruption. — KUNA

NEW YORK: Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the UN, speaks before the 32nd General Assembly on anti-corruption. — KUNA 4 Established 1961 Local Sunday, June 6, 2021

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Kuwait, Oman Ministers discusses regional issues KUWAIT: Kuwait Foreign Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- LONDON: Kuwaiti photographer Mohammad Murad won the second place of the 2021 Nature TTL Photographer Awards in the Urban Wildlife cate- Mohammad Al-Sabah gory for his photograph ‘The Fox of Arabia’. The international competition witnessed the participation of nearly 8,000 photographs from different called Omani Foreign countries around the world. — KUNA Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al-Busaidi on Friday. Badr Al-Busaidi (left) and During the call, both Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Sabah sides discussed the strong and deep- DHAMAN visits rooted strong historic bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance develop them in various fields. They also discussed the latest devel- embassy of opments and events on the regional and internation- al levels and ways to coordinate on them. — KUNA Sudan in Kuwait KUWAIT: Health Assurance Hospitals Company (DHAMAN) conducted a visit to the embassy of the Kuwait’s oil price Republic of Sudan in Kuwait to discuss a number of mutual interest topics. During the meeting, the up to $71.39 pb Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Kuwait Abdulmonem Alamin expressed appreciation to KUWAIT: The price Kuwait for its efforts in providing integrated health- of Kuwaiti oil went up care services to expatriates and all members of the by 20 cents to $71.39 populations. While noting the role of DHAMAN in Qenai noted: “As part of continuing the applica- model through establishing an integrated health- per barrel Friday after employing Sudanese health professionals, the tion of global standards in the healthcare sector, the care system that includes medical insurance pro- being at $71.19 pb the Ambassador added that Sudan is looking forward Company pays great attention to overall alignment, grams, as well as building and operating a net- day before, said the to play a bigger role in the healthcare sector. accuracy, and progress in the mobilization phase of work of primary healthcare centers and hospitals Kuwait Petroleum Meanwhile, DHAMAN Acting CEO Dr shifting beneficiaries from the Ministry of Health that cover all areas in Kuwait. Corporation (KPC) Mohammad Al-Qenai said: This visit is part of our (MoH) to DHAMAN.” The visit was also attended by the Deputy yesterday. The prices of collaboration with various bodies, including Throughout the visit, discussion included high- Head of Mission at the Embassy Dr Mohammed the Brent crude and the West Texas Intermediate, glob- embassies, to fully explain the role and objectives of lighting DHAMAN as the first public-private Ali, as well as DHAMAN acting Medical Services ally, saw an increase with the first going up by 58 cents DHAMAN to ensure overall alignment between all partnership (PPP) in Kuwait and the first compa- Director Dr Fatema Bendhafari, HR Corporate to $71.89 per barrel, the same case with the latter, which stakeholders, especially the beneficiaries from the ny in the Gulf to provide its services based on the Director Ahmad Bourisli and Corporate Director also went up by 81 cents to $69.62 pb. — KUNA Company’s services. Healthcare Maintenance Organization (HMO) - Communication and PR Ali Al-Hamad.

tion, and entertainment through practical col- VO positions laborations that resulted in tangible impact across various platforms, including: 1) Building the capacity of a long list of Kuwait globally by actors, directors, and producers such as Mohammed Al-Fozan, Laila Al-Buloushi, and unleashing young many others through substantial initiatives and collaborations that opened up opportunities for them to connect with prominent names in talents to the world the field and directly work with them. Those KUWAIT: VO, the first Kuwait-based inte- names include Kuwaiti actor Osama Al- grated youth platform for incubating young Buloushi, director Sadeq Behbehani, and pro- talents, launched “It happened! And their ducer Dr Meshari Al-Mutawa. dreams are fulfilled”, a campaign that fosters 2) Fulfilling Humood Al-Bader and Kuwait’s global positioning on social media Mohammed Abdel-Razaq’s dream and passion platforms by exposing young Kuwaiti talents in moderating their first e-gaming competition to the international community. to transform their talent to an The campaign’s success was entrepreneurial skill. VO is cur- exemplified in its recent pro- rently supporting them to repre- duction of ‘BRAVO’, a song that sent Kuwait in international tour- crossed above 4 million views in naments. three days and claimed number 3) Supporting Fahad Al- one on Kuwait’s YoutTube, Bishara in hosting his own social GCC, Morocco, and currently media show called Al-Morad. hitting Egypt. “Unleashing Kuwaiti talents to The inspiring story of VO ful- the international community will filling the dream of the Kuwaiti support Kuwait’s global position- amateur singer, Haneen Hussain, ing and economic diversification. who aspired to have the world We must recognize that oil and natural gas are not the only recognize her talent and sing Haneen Hussain with her favorite Kuwaiti resources of Kuwait. The country singers, Bader Shuaib and possesses many talents and Abdulaziz Louis, grasped the unique gifts that we can capitalize attention of many Kuwaitis and on, and this will only happen once infused hope in having their tal- we acknowledge the potential of ents recognized. Kuwaiti youth and practiVO, the “There are so many ‘Haneens’ integrated youth platform and in Kuwait who have the talent Kuwait’s first talent incubator, was but don’t know how to start. founded in July 2020 as result of a Kuwaiti youth currently need fruitful collaboration between practical opportunities and Sheikha Ohoud Al-Sabah and proper guidance that would sup- Riham Al-Ayyar aiming to empow- port their journey of do-ing. er local talents and position them And, this is exactly what we are in the global market. The platform doing at VO. If you have a spe- Riham Al-Ayyar will provide an academic program cific talent or passionate about a for Kuwaiti youth to identify and field, we help you fulfill your nurture their talents, an all-inclu- dream with the support of highly qualified sive studio to empower and express their ideas, experts, international entities, and those who and a ‘smart’ app to promote their creative are leading the field,” stated Riham Al-Ayyar, productions on a seamless, high-tech and effi- CEO of VO. cient digital platform.cally support them,” stat- The participating talents have praised VO ed Riha, Al-Ayyar, CEO of VO. and commended the platform’s idea and VO, the integrated youth platform and efforts in providing them with concrete Kuwait’s first talent incubator, was founded in opportunities that helped them to practically July 2020 as result of a fruitful collaboration achieve their dreams and follow their passion. between Sheikha Ohoud Al-Sabah and Riham Prominent celebrities such as Bader Al- Al-Ayyar aiming to empower local talents and Shuaibi stated, “When I was first introduced position them in the global market. The plat- to the concept of VO, I was pleased to be form will provide an academic program for finally collaborating with an entity that invests Kuwaiti youth to identify and nurture their tal- in Kuwaiti talents and fulfills its promises.” ents, an all-inclusive studios to empower and Officially launched in May, the campaign express their ideas, and a ‘smart’ app to pro- has already supported a number of Kuwaiti mote their creative productions on a seamless, young talents in the fields of music, produc- high-tech and efficient digital platform. International SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 Bomb-sniffing Church criticizes Austrian govt’s ‘Islam Map’ rat retires Page 6 Page 7

HONG KONG: Political activist and barrister Chow Hang-tung speaks to the media after leaving Tsuen Wan police station a day after being arrested in Hong Kong yesterday the day after the annual vigil to mourn the victims of China’s June 4 Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989 which authorities banned and vowed to stamp out any protests on the anniversary. —AFP HK democracy vigil leader released on bail China blasts US, EU consulates in Hong Kong for Tiananmen candles

HONG KONG: One of the organisers of the annual vigil remem- Chow said the Facebook post, her articles and media inter- park laid empty for the first time as police blocked access, but Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs at large, and avoid play- bering Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown was views were used by police as evidence against her. “They want flashes of defiance still flickered across the city on Friday night ing with fire.” released on bail yesterday after authorities prevented the sensi- to threaten the media by saying if you are doing more interviews as residents simultaneously turned their mobile phone lights or For three decades in Hong Kong, huge crowds, often tens of tive commemoration from taking place on the massacre’s 32nd on this sensitive topic, your interviewees will get arrested,” Chow lit candles in multiple districts across the city to mark the date. thousands strong, have held candlelit vigils on June 4 for those anniversary. Lawyer Chow Hang-tung, one of the few remaining said, adding that she would continue to speak up. While Public commemorations of the June 4 crackdown are forbid- killed in 1989 when tanks and troops crushed pro-democracy prominent democracy activists not already in jail or in exile, was detained in the police station, Chow said she fasted for a day in den on the mainland. protests in Beijing. Crowds have swelled in recent years as Hong detained by police on Friday morning for publicising the banned commemoration of the anniversary of the crackdown in which Meanwhile, China yesterday berated the US and EU con- Kongers chafe under Beijing’s increasingly assertive rule. June 4 vigil in Victoria Park where Hong Kongers traditionally hundreds were killed, by some estimates more than 1,000. sulates in Hong Kong for displaying candles to commemorate However this year’s vigil was banned at a time when Hong come together every year. “I reject all the allegations,” Chow, Soldiers marched into Beijing and opened fire on local resi- the June 4 Tiananmen crackdown, slamming it as a “clumsy Kong authorities are carrying out a sweeping clampdown on vice-chair of a democracy group behind the vigil, said outside a dents and student protesters on June 4, 1989, crushing a weeks- political show” to destabilise the city. Candles were seen lit in dissent following huge and often violent democracy protests Hong Kong police station after her release, accusing the finan- long wave of demonstrations calling for political change and the windows of the US consulate building, which is next to the two years ago. Flashes of defiance still flickered across the city cial hub’s police force of abusing its powers. curbs to official corruption. On Friday, police cordoned off the residence of Hong Kong’s Beijing-appointed leader Carrie Lam, Friday night as residents simultaneously turned their mobile “The arrest yesterday is obviously an unjust preventive city’s Victoria Park where huge crowds, often tens of thousands and the European Union’s office on Friday night. phone lights or lit candles in multiple districts across the city to arrest with a blatant purpose of stopping myself from physically strong, have held candlelit vigils on each June 4 for three The missions also posted photographs of their candlelit mark the date. being in Victoria Park and to frighten other people from doing decades for those killed in Beijing. Tiananmen memorials on social media. “Any attempt to exploit There were online calls for people to turn off the lights at the same.” She was released on HK$10,000 ($1,300) cash bail Crowds have swelled in recent years as Hong Kongers Hong Kong to carry out infiltration or sabotage activities home and place candles in their windows in commemoration. and needs to report back to police on July 5. The 37-year-old chafe under Beijing’s increasingly assertive rule. However, this against the mainland crosses the red line ... is absolutely intoler- Public commemorations of June 4 are forbidden in mainland activist wrote in a May 29 Facebook post that “lighting a candle year’s vigil was banned at a time when Hong Kong authorities able,” a spokesperson for the Hong Kong office of China’s for- China and, until recently, semi-autonomous Hong Kong was is not a crime” and said she would light a candle in public on are carrying out a sweeping clampdown on dissent following eign ministry said. “We again urge the organs of relevant coun- the one place in China where large scale remembrance was June 4 to commemorate the anniversary. huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago. The tries in Hong Kong to immediately ... stop meddling with Hong still tolerated. —AFP 6 Established 1961 International Sunday, June 6, 2021 Putin says wants to find ways with Biden to improve ties We have no disagreements with the United States: Putin

SAINT PETERSBURG: Russian President ramped up pressure on the Kremlin, and his com- Vladimir Putin said Friday he hoped to improve ments likening Putin to a “killer” were met with deeply damaged relations with the United States fierce criticsm in Moscow. when he holds his first summit with US counter- part Joe Biden later this month. The face-to-face ‘That’s nonsense’ meeting in Geneva on June 16 comes amid the The Biden administration imposed new sanc- biggest crisis in ties between the two countries in tions over what US authorities say was Russia’s years, with tensions high over a litany of issues role in the massive SolarWinds cyber attack and including hacking allegations, human rights and alleged meddling in the 2020 presidential elec- claims of election meddling. tion. Biden said he is also “looking” at possible “We need to find ways to regularise these rela- retaliation after the White House linked Russia to tions,” Putin told the Saint Petersburg a cyberattack against global meat processing International Economic Forum, adding that bilat- giant JBS. eral ties are currently at a “low level”. Usually Putin said on Friday that those claims were joined at the forum’s main session by other world “risible”. “I’ve heard about some meat processing MOSCOW: This combination of file pictures created on June 4, 2021 shows then US vice-President Joe leaders, the Russian president was alone on the plant. That’s nonsense,” he said. “I think US secu- Biden (L) at a Drive-in event in Coconut Creek, Florida on October 29, 2020 and Russian President Vladimir stage on Friday with a moderator and Austrian rity services should establish who this blackmailer Putin following his inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2018. —AFP Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Sheikh Tamim bin is. Not Russia for sure,” Putin added. Hamad Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, participating Washington has also harshly criticised Moscow via videolink. for the near-death poisoning and subsequent the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to European Union were also at “the most difficult “We have no disagreements with the United imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Germany has been completed, despite strong US point” since the Cold War. States,” Putin said. “They only have one disagree- Putin on Friday signed a law barring “extrem- opposition. “If you listen to what Sergei Lavrov says, you ment: they want to hold back our development, ist” groups from participating in parliamentary The United States and several European coun- can come to the conclusion that Russia doesn’t they talk about it publicly.” elections, with a court in Moscow holding a hear- tries have deeply opposed the construction of the value relations with the EU,” the German diplomat Speaking to Russia’s Channel One television ing next week as it considers whether to assign pipeline, arguing that it will increase European added, referring to Russia’s foreign minister. The later in the day, Putin said he did not expect any the label to Navalny’s organisations. dependence on Russia for critical gas supplies Saint Petersburg International Forum, often breakthrough in Geneva but said it would be good Critics have denounced the law as the latest and increase Moscow’s geopolitical clout. referred to as Russian Davos, is the country’s main to discuss topics of mutual interest. “I expect a move to crack down on Russia’s opposition ahead showcase for investors and brings together busi- positive result,” said Putin, 68. of elections in September for Russia’s lower house ‘Difficult point’ ness and political leaders. The two previously met in 2011, when Biden State Duma. The diplomatic crisis with the United Putin also suggested that European nations It is one of the largest offline events held served as vice president and Putin was prime min- States has resulted in a mutual expulsion of diplo- should pay for Russian gas in euros, rather than in Russia and the world since the outbreak of ister. Putin said he remembered that meeting, mats, with Moscow prohibiting the US embassy dollars, part of a wider effort by Moscow to the coronavirus pandemic, although the num- praising the 78-year-old US leader as a “very from employing foreign nationals, practically halt- reduce its reliance on the dollar. Markus Ederer, ber of participants was restricted to 5,000, experienced” and “careful” politician. ing its consular services. the EU ambassador to Russia, said at the forum on nearly four times fewer than when it was last Since taking office in January, Biden has Putin vaunted at the forum that the first line of Thursday that Moscow’s relations with the held in 2019. —AFP

on their location and photos of mem- nities was singled out. Umit Vural, head ots” to join them. The Council of Church criticizes bers. The map was first presented by of the Islamic Religious Community of Europe’s Special Representative on a government-funded group monitor- Austria, described the map as a “mas- Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hatred Austrian govt’s ing Muslim extremism and by sive security threat” to Muslims, while and Hate Crimes Daniel Hoeltgen Syria Kurds hand Austria’s Integration Minister Susanne the Muslim Youth Austria organisation urged the government to take down ‘Islam Map’ Raab, a member of conservative, anti- said several Muslims had already been the map, while a range of representa- IS relatives to migration Austrian People’s Party attacked and a mosque has been tives of other religious communities, VIENNA: The Austrian Catholic (OeVP), who called it a tool to “fight defaced since that map went online in including the president of the church on Friday became the latest political Islam as a breeding ground late May. Conference of European Rabbis, Dutch authorites religious group to criticize a govern- for extremism.” About a quarter of Austria’s major- Pinchas Goldschmidt, also rebuked it. ment-backed online map of hundreds Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the ity Catholic population voted for the Verbal and physical attacks QAMISHLI: Syrian Kurdish authorities yes- of Muslim organizations which head of the Austrian Catholic church, Islamophobic far-right party, and far- against Muslims have already been terday handed four relatives of Islamic State sparked violence against the Muslim wrote in an op-ed Friday that it was right extremists in the past week have on the rise since an Austrian-born group fighters, including three children, to a minority. The highly controversial map “dangerous to give the impression that put up signs reading “Be careful! jihadist killed four in Vienna in early Dutch diplomatic delegation for repatriation, shows details of more than 600 one of the religious community is under Political Islam is near you” on streets November, according to a group Kurdish and Dutch officials said. The group Muslim associations-from youth general suspicion”, and asked why one where the map showed Muslim documenting Islamophobia and anti- consisted of a Dutch woman and her two groups to mosques-including details of the country’s many religious commu- organisations, calling on “fellow patri- Muslim racism. —AFP children as well as another 12-year-old girl, “a humanitarian case,” whose mother had agreed to her repatriation following a request from the Dutch government, top Syrian Kurdish foreign affairs official Abdel Peru peasant patrols Karim Omar said. The four were handed over to a delegation banking on Castillo led by The Hague’s Syria envoy Emiel de Bont and senior foreign ministry official Dirk Jan Nieuwenhuis. De Bont said the delegation had to bring change “a clear and well-defined mandate to receive in CHOTA: Chewing on coca leaves and brandishing the care of a mission, a small number of Dutch whips, 15 Peruvian peasants patrol the paths nationals up to now residing in the Roj deten- around an Andean hamlet in the dead of night, just tion facility”, following a Dutch court ruling on like presidential candidate Pedro Castillo once did. the individuals’ cases. “We are here then to The “peasant patrols” were created more than four serve the rule of law and to do what we can to decades ago in the Cajamarca region some 900 assist the due legal process,” he added. kilometers north of the capital Lima, initially to pre- Since the fall of IS’s self-styled “caliphate” in vent the theft of livestock. But during Peru’s armed March 2019, Syria’s Kurds have repeatedly conflict between 1980 and 2000, the patrols were urged foreign countries to repatriate their also forced to fight off incursions by Maoist nationals held in northeast Syria. At least 220 Shining Path guerrillas. children with Dutch nationality remain in Syria One patrolman in Cajamarca was Castillo, a rural or Turkey, 75 percent of whom are under the schoolteacher who was born and raised in this age of four and were born in the region to par- region, and who will take on seasoned corruption- ents with Dutch citizenship. tainted politician Keiko Fujimori in Sunday’s sec- At a press conference in the regional capital ond round runoff. The patrolmen of rural Peru feel Qamishli, Kurdish official Omar reiterated calls marginalized by elites ruling from the urban power LURIN: Peruvian police forces stand guard next to a fleet of trucks as they prepare to leave Lurin, near for other countries to “meet their responsibili- centers, but socialist Castillo is one of their own. Lima, on their way to distribute voting material to voting stations ahead of the presidential election ties by repatriating their citizens and cooperat- They’re pinning their hopes on him winning and runoff. —AFP ing with us on this situation”, a major burden providing more support to the rural poor. “We for authorities in the de facto autonomous hope to elect a democratic government that views region. About 75 boys and girls are living with Community policing police. The patrolmen also stop suspicious vehicles the whole population as equals,” Aladino Burga, the their mothers in Kurdish-run camps in Syria, The 15 patrolmen, dressed in ponchos and rubber to verify the occupants’ identities and find out what president of the Chota Peasant Patrols in while a few are also in the jihadist-run north- boots, some wearing high-topped hats like Castillo, and they’re up to. Cajamarca, told AFP. western area of Idlib, according to Dutch chewing the coca leaves that are popular in Andean “Castillo needs to win because we get screwed a authorities. There are some 30 Dutch women communities for alleviating feelings of hunger and ‘Betting on change’ lot in Peru. We want jobs for the poor, we want and 15 men in Kurdish-run camps. fatigue, perform daily nighttime rounds in Chota, a “I feel fulfilled because we’ve brought peace, tran- Peru to progress,” added Dagoberto Vasquez, a hat municipality at 2,300 meters above sea level. quility to the community. The people feel protected,” seller who has led patrols around the hamlet of San Thorny issue The patrols are a form of voluntary community Segundo Belizario Heredia Idrogo, 61, told AFP. He Antonio de Iraca for decades. One thing the patrol- Anna Sophia Posthumus, spokeswoman for policing in rural areas with little police presence. said the patrols “emerged as a response to the lack of men are banking on is Castillo putting an end to the the Netherlands justice and security ministry, During the 1980s, these patrols extended across state protection for the rights of people in rural areas.” corruption that has gripped Peruvian politics for said the country did not have a “general policy” almost all of rural Peru. An AFP team accompanied the “We’re betting on change and we’re betting on Pedro decades. of repatriating people from war-torn regions. 15 patrolmen one night through corn, alfalfa and veg- Castillo. We hope Pedro Castillo won’t betray Former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) She said also there have only been one excep- etable plantations in Cuyumalca, the site of the first Peruvians,” said Heredia, who carried a wooden stick is currently serving a 25-year jail sentence for tion in 2019 with two minors. “We would prefer ever patrol in 1976. and a leather whip. “If he does, we’ll be in the streets crimes against humanity and corruption, while four a tribunal in the region, have had discussions At one point they stopped a man in his 60s who demanding more democracy and justice for Peru.” more ex-presidents since his rule have also been but its still at a very starting, initial phase,” she was walking in the dark with two horses, questioning “We’re proud that Castillo was a patrolman,” said accused of corruption. And Fujimori’s daughter, said. The question of repatriating Dutch nation- him on where he lived and trying to find out if he really Heredia, who has two patrolmen sons and like Castillo Keiko, is herself being investigated for graft relating als in areas formerly held by IS is a thorny issue owned the animals. Unimpressed with his answers, is a teacher. to illegal funding for her previous presidential cam- in the Netherlands. they took him back to their shelter to spend the night. There are 26,000 patrolmen amongst the popula- paigns in 2011 and 2016. “I’m convinced Castillo will Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal VVD The next morning they would fill out a report and con- tion of 143,000 in the Chota province, but they com- win because he’s a professor and won’t get involved party has emphasised the security threat posed tinue their investigations. plain of never having had support from the state, in corruption,” said Vasquez, 82. “Because if he does by such returns, while the centre-left D66 par- If he were found to be telling the truth he would which they view as biased towards urban centers like get involved in that, we’ll kick him out!” ty, a likely potential partner as he seeks to build be released, if not, he would be handed over to the the capital Lima. —AFP a coalition, supports bringing back children on humanitarian grounds. VVD politician Ingrid Michon tweeted that Initial investigations suggest the collapse was due to a security, labor and civil protection ministries to the “We do everything that’s possible to keep Mexico mine flood at the mine in the municipality of Muzquiz, the area. “We are watching and in coordination with Netherlands safe. Then we should not pick up state of Coahuila’s labor department said. “Some peo- municipal and state authorities,” he tweeted. “We hope these IS-goers from Syria. This is about our collapse leaves ple who were working were trapped inside the mine,” that the rescue is favorable for the families and for safety. Stop this.” Far right-wing politician it said in a statement. everyone.” Coahuila, the country’s main coal-produc- Geert Wilders said it was “unacceptable and Police and civil protection authorities were at the ing region, has seen a series of fatal mining accidents unbearable” to repatriate women linked to IS 7 workers trapped scene for the rescue effort, it added. The National over the years. The worst was an explosion that fighters. “Those terror women have forfeited Guard said on Twitter its personnel “were deployed in claimed 65 lives at the Pasta de Conchos mine in their right to ever set foot on Dutch soil,” he MUZQUIZ: Rescuers were trying Friday to free seven the area to provide security and allow the rescue of 2006. The bodies of 63 of the miners are still at the tweeted. —AFP mine workers trapped after an accident in a coal-pro- trapped workers.” Mexican President Andres Manuel site and the families have repeatedly appealed to the ducing region in northern Mexico, authorities said. Lopez Obrador said he had sent personnel from the Mexican authorities to recover them. —AFP Established 1961 7 Sunday, June 6, 2021 International Delhi, Mumbai ease lockdown as India COVID numbers fall Markets and malls will operate on alternate days

NEW DELHI: Markets and shopping malls in New and hospital bed occupancy below 25 percent-all Delhi will be allowed to reopen from tomorrow in a fur- shops, restaurants and malls will be allowed to reopen. ther easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, the chief minis- But level-five districts-with infection rates over 20 ter said as infections fall in major Indian cities after percent-will remain under severe movement restric- weeks of restrictions. Delhi Metro will also resume tions. Daily infections reported across India have services at 50 percent capacity, the city’s chief minister dropped to about 120,000 from more than 400,000 in Arvind Kejriwal said yesterday. May, according to official statistics. Markets and malls will operate on alternate days, Deaths have also fallen, with 3,380 reported in the with half of them open on any given day. Offices can previous 24 hours, although this is widely seen as a also reopen at half capacity but Kejriwal urged people major underestimate. At least 344,082 people in the to still try to work from home. country have lost their lives to the coronavirus, which is The easing comes after Delhi allowed construction now surging in parts of rural India. Delhi reported sites and factories to reopen last week. “They have been about 400 new infections yesterday, down from about open for a week but the COVID-19 situation is still 25,000 daily cases when the lockdown was announced under control, and we have less than 500 fresh cases in seven weeks earlier. The devastating surge was blamed the last 24 hours,” Kejriwal said. “It is important to bring on new virus variants and the government having the economy back on track now that the COVID-19 sit- allowed most activity to return to normal including mass uation improving. We pray that the situation remains the religious and political gatherings. same.” India’s vaccination programme meanwhile is making The government of Maharashtra state, which slow progress due to shortages, confusion and squab- includes India’s economic powerhouse Mumbai, bling between the central government and state authori- announced a five-level plan to ease restrictions depend- ties. So far about 180 million people, only 14 percent of ing on infection rates and hospital bed occupancy. In the population, have received one dose, and 45 million, NEW DELHI: People make their way through a wholesale food grain market during a lockdown imposed as a level-one areas-with infection rates below five percent or 3.4 percent, two shots. — AFP preventive measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 yesterday. — AFP

artillery,” Ko John, a self-defence force member, told With homemade rifles, AFP. Junta soldiers then closed to within 200-300 feet (60-90 metres) of the group. “When we decided to shoot back at them, our guns did not fire as expected Myanmar groups take since they were homemade,” he said. “We called for support from our two snipers and we fight to junta shot eight rounds at them but only six rounds were fired properly.” As well as the rise of local self-defence forces, analysts believe hundreds of anti-coup protest- YANGON: At makeshift factories hidden in Myanmar’s ers from Myanmar’s towns and cities have trekked into jungle, locals who have formed self-defence groups insurgent-held areas to receive military training. make rifles to take the fight to the military junta, but But part-time fighters know the odds are stacked their homemade weapons don’t always hit the mark. against them in any confrontation with Myanmar’s mili- Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paral- tary-one of Southeast Asia’s most battle-hardened and ysed since the generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s gov- brutal. Ko John described being overwhelmed by supe- ernment in February, accusing it of fraud during 2020 rior numbers and weaponry during one recent elections. Several communities across Myanmar-espe- encounter. “When we tried to capture the military camp, cially in townships that have seen a high death toll at the their helicopter arrived and the reinforcements from the hands of police-have formed local “defence forces”. helicopter shot down at us.” Fighting has escalated in At one workshop in Kayah state near the Thai bor- Kayah state in recent days, with locals accusing the mil- der, an amateur gunsmith-pieces of wood strewn itary of using artillery shells that have landed in villages. around him, the sounds of saws and hammering in the After fleeing the clashes, Mar Ko, 36, and his family background-prepares to fit a trigger guard. SIEM REAP: File photo shows Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, wearing his gold medal received from have been living in a makeshift shelter in the jungle for Another applies the final touches to the stock with a PDSA for his work in detecting landmines, in Siem Reap. — AFP more than two weeks. sander, before examining the finished product: a bolt- “The military shot at us with heavy weapons. That’s action rifle that would not look out of place in a WWI why we ran from there and stay hiding here,” he told him with tasty treats-his favourites being bananas and film. The performance of the homemade weapons is not AFP. “Now we are running out (of food) and we need Bomb-sniffing peanuts. always up to the exacting standards required in combat. rice, salt and oil... For the curry, we eat whatever we He alerts de-miners by scratching the earth. “One night, the military... shot at us with heavy have like banana stem and jackfruit.” — AFP Magawa can scurry across an area the size of a tennis rat retires court in just 30 minutes, something that would take four days using a conventional metal detector. He is PHNOM PENH: A giant African pouched rat called big enough to be attached to a leash as he goes about Magawa who spent years sniffing out landmines in the his business but light enough not to set off mines. Cambodian countryside has stopped working and will In his autumn years, Magawa will spend more time enjoy a well-earned retirement eating bananas and doing what he loves, says Heiman-eating bananas and peanuts, his employers told AFP. peanuts. In September last year the rodent won the Magawa, originally from Tanzania, was trained by animal equivalent of Britain’s highest civilian honour the Belgian charity APOPO which says the rodent for bravery because of his uncanny knack for uncover- helped clear mines from 225,000 square metres of ing landmines and unexploded ordnance. Magawa was land in his five-year career, the equivalent of 42 foot- the first rat to receive a PDSA medal in the 77 years of ball pitches. But after detecting 71 landmines and 38 the awards, joining an illustrious band of brave canines items of unexploded ordnance “he is getting a bit and felines-and even a pigeon. tired”, Michael Heiman, the charity’s programme man- The group says 20 newly trained rats that recently ager in Cambodia, told AFP yesterday. arrived in Cambodia have just received their accredi- “The best thing to do is to retire him.” Millions of tation from the authorities to start landmine detection landmines were laid in Cambodia between 1975 and work. But it will be a tough challenge following in LONDON: Witness Uyghur teacher Qelbinur Sidik (L) gestures as she speaks on the first day of hearings at the 1998, causing tens of thousands of casualties. APOPO Magawa’s footsteps. Magawa is a “very exceptional “Uyghur Tribunal”, a panel of UK-based lawyers and rights experts investigating alleged abuses against trained Magawa in his native Tanzania to detect the rat”, Heiman said. “Obviously we are going to miss him Uyghurs in China, in London. — AFP chemical compound within explosives by rewarding in operations.”— AFP tribunal. “The police, the guards in the camp, they didn’t told AFP. “I won’t take the vaccine because it has many ‘Uyghur Tribunal’ see the male prisoners as human beings,” Sidik said. In rural India, fear of side effects. People get sick after getting vaccines.” “They enjoyed watching them being humiliated and In other states, reports have emerged of people their suffering was for them their joy.” testing and vaccines jumping into rivers or fleeing into forests just to escape hears allegations of Female prisoners were allegedly abused when they mobile health teams. Hom Kumari, a health worker at were taken for interrogation. “They were not only tor- hampers COVID fight Bhatau Jamalpur village in Uttar Pradesh, said some rampant China abuses tured but also raped, sometimes gang-raped,” Sidik locals seemed impossible to convince. “What do we tell said. Forced sterilisation of Uyghur women was com- someone who says, ‘If I’m destined to live, I will, even mon and in one instance, a female prisoner died from LONDON: A London panel investigating the plight of KALWA: When health worker Neelam Kumari knocks without the vaccine’?,” she asked. the process, she added. Sidik said she was also subject- Uyghurs in China on Friday heard witness testimony of on doors in Indian villages the occupants sometimes Health facilities are also few and far between and ed to forced sterilisation before she was given a visa to torture and gang rapes, in a process slammed by Beijing run out the back, terrified that she wants to vaccinate some people believe that going to a public hospital is visit her daughter in the Netherlands and fled China. as a mendacious smear. Witnesses described squalid them against COVID-19. more dangerous than staying away. “The things that I have witnessed and I experienced, conditions and brutality in camps in the northwestern With India’s devastating recent virus surge easing in “People who went to hospital never came back,” I cannot forget even for a day,” she said. “I am a woman Chinese region of Xinjiang, with one claiming a woman cities, the deadly pandemic is ravaging the vast pover- another villager in Nuran Khera, who gave his first myself, I have a daughter. I don’t wish anyone to suffer had died after undergoing forced sterilisation. ty-stricken rural hinterland. But here, ignorance and name as Kuldip, told AFP. Kumar said that when his like that.” The tribunal also heard from Omir Bekali, a wife fell sick, a private clinic wanted 50,000 rupees The nine UK-based jurors of the “Uyghur Tribunal”, fear rule. “A lot of people in my village don’t want to Kazakh national with Uyghur heritage, who was arrest- ($700) in advance to treat her. A doctor at a public including lawyers and human rights experts, convened take the vaccine. They fear that they will die if they take ed when visiting family in Xinjiang on a visit from hospital said to take her home. “My neighbours started the first of two evidence sessions ahead of the intended it,” Kumari told AFP in Dhatrath, a collection of two- Kazakhstan. saying she has corona. They were frightened,” he publication of a report in December on whether China storey buildings in Haryana state with buffaloes wan- At one point in his testimony he put on chains to added. “I took care of her and on the third day she was is guilty of genocide. “Allegations made against the dering the streets. “One of the villagers was so angry show the panel how he had been held in a camp for over back on her feet.” PRC (People’s Republic of China) are grave,” tribunal that he beat up a (health) worker who was trying to seven months. “For the first four days and nights, I was chair Geoffrey Nice said at the opening of the first four- convince him to take the vaccine.” tortured intensely,” he said. “I was hung from the ceil- Communication key day session, adding that they included numerous Just 15 percent of people in rural areas, compared ing,” Bekali explained, adding that he was beaten all Coronavirus has also dealt the Indian economy a breaches of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. with 30 percent in towns and cities, have received at over his body and on the soles of his feet. He said his heavy blow, and villagers are often more worried about The tribunal is not affiliated with any government, least one vaccine dose so far — even though two- father had been killed and his brother left disabled fol- making ends meet, said community health specialist and China has refused to participate, branding it a thirds of cases are being reported in the countryside, lowing torture. “My father died and my sister and Rajib Dasgupta. “It’s extremely difficult to communicate “machine producing lies”. Beijing has slapped sanctions according to an analysis by The Hindu daily. Rumours brother were branded terrorists,” he told the tribunal. why vaccination is important until some of those dis- on Nice, a former UN war crimes prosecutor, and oth- are shared online or spread through messaging apps tressed conditions are alleviated,” Dasgupta told AFP. ers involved. However, lawyers for the tribunal said the like WhatsApp. Fears that 5G causes COVID-19 led to ‘Pseudo tribunal’ Experts say that India needs to apply the lessons learnt US and Australian governments had offered to provide Rights groups say up to one million Uyghurs and mobile towers being attacked in Haryana. “People do in its polio vaccination campaign in the 2000s of chil- relevant material, complementing thousands of pages of people from other ethnic-Turkic minorities are detained not even step forward for testing as they think the gov- dren under five. documentary evidence already compiled. in internment camps in Xinjiang. The allegations heard ernment will declare them COVID-positive even if they The programme succeeded after trusted community It was set up at the request of the World Uyghur at the tribunal are consistent with many other accounts are not,” Shoeb Ali, a doctor in Miyaganj village in the leaders were involved to spread the message to parents Congress, the largest group representing exiled emanating from the camps, leading the US government northern state of Uttar Pradesh, told AFP. that inoculation was safe. Using a similar approach, Uyghurs, which lobbies the international community to to declare that a genocide is underway. But China insists religious leaders in Uttar Pradesh were recently called take action against China over alleged abuses in they are for the educational improvement of Xinjiang ‘Deaths after shots’ in to encourage their followers to get vaccinated for Xinjiang. But Nice and his colleagues have vowed that residents, to deter extremism and boost incomes. This fear pervades despite the sight of bodies coronavirus. Navneet Singh, who oversees immunisa- the panel’s work will be “impartial” and led by evidence. “This pseudo tribunal has nothing to do with the law. dumped in rivers and hundreds of shallow graves sug- tion efforts in Haryana’s Jind district, says that face-to- gesting that COVID-19 is raging in India’s hinterland face communication had helped ensure that nearly 70 It is embezzling the name of a ‘tribunal’ to engage in where 70 percent of the 1.3-billion population lives. In Cannot forget’ anti-China politics,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman percent of over-45s in Kalwa and neighbouring villages Qelbinur Sidik, an ethnic-Uzbek teacher from Nuran Khera village in Haryana, residents are reluctant have received at least one shot. Kalwa health worker Wang Wenbin said. “This so-called tribunal has also to get inoculated even though they said many house- Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, said she was ordered by entangled a group of people whose opposition to China Sheela Devi said her “heart was pounding” when her Communist Party bosses to teach Chinese in two fetid holds reported having fever — and dozens of people name was included in the vaccination list, but she was is their profession and livelihood,” he added, noting the dying. “Even after opening up a vaccine centre here, and crowded “re-education” camps-one male and one backing of the World Uyghur Congress. Dolkun Isa, the reassured when she saw the local doctor getting the female-for Uyghurs. The so-called students were made nobody is ready to take it,” villager Rajesh Kumar, 45, shot. —AFP president of the Congress who was granted asylum in to wear shackles during hours-long classes, she told the Germany, also addressed the panel. —AFP Established 1961

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 Facebook imposes 2-year Trump ban, revises rules for politicians ‘Ex-president deserved maximum punishment for violating platform rules’

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook on that risk has receded,” Clegg said. belongs to the American people,” Clegg Friday banned former US president When Trump’s suspension is lifted, he said in a podcast with Richard Reeves of Donald Trump for two years, saying he will face strict sanctions that could rapid- the Brookings Institution. deserved the maximum punishment for ly escalate to permanent removal for “And it’s the legislators and politicians violating platform rules over a deadly rule-breaking, according to Clegg. Last of this country who in the end have to attack by his supporters on the US month, the independent oversight board govern the rules that prevail.” Some Capitol. The punishment will be effective said Facebook was justified in ousting activists criticized Facebook for even from January 7, when Trump was booted Trump for his comments regarding the opening the door to reinstating Trump. off the social media giant, and comes deadly January 6 rampage at the US Angelo Carusone of left-leaning after Facebook’s independent oversight Capitol but that the platform should not watchdog Media Matters for America board said the indefinite ban imposed have applied an “indeterminate and stan- called Facebook’s move dangerous, say- initially should be reviewed. dardless penalty of indefinite suspension. ing if Trump is reinstated, “the platform “Given the gravity of the circum- will remain a simmering cauldron of stances that led to Mr Trump’s suspen- Trump denounces ‘insult’ extremism, disinformation and violence.” sion, we believe his actions constituted a Trump said in a statement the ban Activists in a group that calls itself The severe violation of our rules which merit was an “insult” to voters, renewing his Real Facebook Oversight Board said: the highest penalty available under the false claims that the 2020 presidential “Facebook shouldn’t have needed a $130 new enforcement protocols,” Facebook election was stolen from him. “They million Oversight Board and a team of vice president of global affairs Nick shouldn’t be allowed to get away with law professors to tell them dictators and Clegg said in a post. In updating its poli- this censoring and silencing,” Trump authoritarians were running wild on their cies, Facebook also said it will no longer said. Trump also took a jab at Facebook platform.” give politicians blanket immunity for founder Mark Zuckerberg, who attended White House press secretary Jen In this file photo illustration taken on May 04, 2021, a phone screen displays a Facebook deceptive or abusive content based on a White House dinner with the former Psaki, when asked about the Facebook their comments being newsworthy. president in 2019. decision, said a social media platform logo with the official portrait of former US President Donald Trump on the background in At the end of Trump’s two-year ban, “Next time I’m in the White House which is disseminating information to Arlington, Virginia. —AFP Facebook will enlist experts to assess there will be no more dinners, at his millions of Americans, “has a responsibil- whether his activity on the platform still request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his ity to crack down on disinformation... tion loss, in which he told them: “We love greater clarity, consistency and trans- threatens public safety, according to wife,” Trump said. “It will be all busi- whether it’s about the election or even you, you’re very special.” parency in the way the company moder- Clegg. “If we determine that there is still ness!” Zuckerberg has long maintained about the vaccine.” Trump was suspend- The oversight panel had called on ates content, and promote public safety, a serious risk to public safety, we will private companies should not be the ed from Facebook and Instagram after Facebook to justify why his ban should defend human rights and respect free- extend the restriction for a set period of arbiters of truth. “American democracy posting a video during the attack by his be permanent. “The steps Facebook has dom of expression,” the board said in a time and continue to re-evaluate until doesn’t belong to Silicon Valley; it fired-up supporters challenging his elec- committed to today will contribute to release. —AFP Indonesian women take on plastic waste brick by brick India warns Twitter JAKARTA: Alarmed by the moun- old Sabrina said. tains of plastic waste leaching into Rebricks staff mulch the packaging to comply with Indonesia’s waters, two best friends into tiny flakes that are then mixed are taking on the environmental men- with cement and sand and molded new IT rules ace by turning crisp bags and sham- into building blocks. They make look poo packets into paving bricks. like conventional bricks, but break NEW DELHI: India yesterday issued “one Ovy Sabrina and Novita Tan one open and it is dotted with flecks last notice” to Twitter to comply with new IT launched Rebricks after their country of plastic. regulations that the social media giant says drew headlines as the second-biggest threaten privacy guarantees. Digital rights producer of marine waste in the Tons of trash activists say New Delhi’s latest rules could world, behind China. Indonesia has The two entrepreneurs say their be used by the government to identify pledged to reduce plastic waste by method diverts waste that would have authors of critical posts on social media sites. some 75 percent over the next four otherwise ended up in a landfill or the But the government argues they are need- years-a mammoth task in the ocean-about four tons so far and ed to investigate national security offences Southeast Asian nation of nearly 270 counting. “Every day, we can stop and cases involving sexually explicit material. million people. about 88,000 pieces of plastic India’s electronics and IT ministry said The pair got their start two years sachets from littering the environ- JAKARTA: Rebrick founder Novita Tan sorting packages of plastic waste sent by sup- yesterday it was “dismayed” over Twitter’s ago visiting food stalls across the ment,” Tan said, adding that the com- porters, used to form bricks that use plastic mixed with cement and sand, at a brick- “non-compliance” and flagged the May 26 capital Jakarta on the hunt for dis- pany has produced more than making factory in Jakarta. — AFP deadline, when the new rules came into force. carded instant coffee sachets, dried 100,000 bricks. Some Indonesian “The refusal to comply demonstrates noodle packs and shopping bags. cities have banned single-use plastics, Twitter’s lack of commitment and efforts Thanks to a viral social media cam- but waste recycling is still rare. Sabrina’s family. Some Indonesian their company, which employs four towards providing a safe experience for peo- paign, the pair now receive reams of The problem was underscored in entrepreneurs are molding plastic people, and said they were in talks ple of India on its platforms,” its notice said. plastic waste packaging from donors 2018 by the discovery of a dead waste into flower vases, umbrellas or with a big consumer-goods firm about “Needless to state, such non-compliance across the country. sperm whale that washed ashore in a purses. But the two women decided to a possible collaboration. will lead to unintended consequences includ- That rubbish flows in daily and is national park with nearly six kilo- focus on bricks so they could reach Customer Andi Subagio said he ing Twitter losing exemption from liability as piled high at the little firm’s Jakarta- grams (13 pounds) of plastic waste in more customers. “If our approach was had used the eco-bricks for repaving an intermediary,” the ministry said. “As a area factory. “It shows how its stomach. The Rebricks pair spent to sell expensive decorative goods, a restaurant walkway. “They’re not as gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby Indonesians have a strong awareness two years trying to perfect their there would only be a few people fragile as conventional bricks because given one last notice to immediately comply of recycling plastic waste, but they method, and picked up hints from a buying our products,” Sabrina said. of the plastic inside,” he said. “And it’s with the rules.” The regulations demand that don’t know where to do it,” 34-year- building materials business run by The two women hope to expand about the same price.” — AFP social media companies give details of the “first originator” of posts deemed to under- mine India’s sovereignty, state security or straints,” she said in an analysis, adding, public order. US hiring drops “Ongoing pandemic-related issues Tech companies are also required to including childcare and health concerns appoint a chief compliance officer for the as reopening are likely a constraint on job growth.” rules and a “grievance redressal officer”, That echoes widespread reports both based in India. New Delhi last week hits turbulence from businesses about the difficulty fill- said most major social media sites had ing open positions. President Joe Biden already shared details of their chief compli- WASHINGTON: The United States acknowledged the bumpy recovery but ance officer, contact person and grievance added 559,000 jobs last month as said his bet on the $1.9 trillion pandem- officer, including Koo, ShareChat, Telegram, hard-hit sectors rehired workers laid ic rescue measure he signed into law in LinkedIn, Google, Facebook and WhatsApp. off during the worst days of the pan- March was paying off, helping the The row between India and Twitter esca- demic, but analysts warned the virus economy recover strongly from the lated in May after the tech firm marked a was continuing to complicate the mass layoffs that put tens of millions of tweet from a ruling party spokesman as economy despite massive government people out of work as the pandemic “manipulated media”. New Delhi accused stimulus. began in March 2020. Twitter and other US tech giants of “double The Labor Department data under- “This is progress, historic progress” standards” in taking down disputed content. shot analysts’ expectations for a lofty after “our worst crisis in 100 years,” A ‘Now Hiring’ sign is posted in front of an ice-cream shop in Los Angeles, California. —AFP Delhi police visited Twitter’s office to serve a rebound in hiring enabled by accelerat- Biden said of the data. He said the coun- notice ordering it to join an official inquiry ing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, try was leading the world in recovering flipping on a light switch.” recreation businesses added 58,000, into the “manipulated media” label-a move following the surprisingly weak from the pandemic with two million jobs Still, the report contained important but the leisure and hospitality sector the company described as “intimidation”. employment gains in April. Even so, the created in his first four months in office. evidence that people who wanted jobs overall remains short 2.5 million posi- There was no immediate comment from jobs gains pushed the unemployment “No other major economy in the world were getting them, with 431,000 peo- tions compared to February 2020, the Twitter on the latest notice from New Delhi rate down to 5.8 percent from 6.1 per- is going as fast,” he said. ple leaving the ranks of the long-term report said. yesterday. — AFP cent in April. unemployed, dropping the total to a Brian Deese, director of the White Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Bars and restaurants rehire still-high 3.8 million in May. Sectors House National Economic Council, Economics said the report indicated The US economy still has a long that were badly damaged by pandemic noted the jobs report was based on unemployed Americans were staying road to travel before it can return to business restrictions made up the bulk data for the week of May 12, and since away from workplaces as companies the record-low unemployment seen of the employment gains last month, then vaccinations have increased fur- rehired, which she blamed on the per- before the pandemic hit. The May data with the leisure and hospitality sector ther as business restrictions eased. sistent aftershocks from business showed there are still 7.6 million jobs adding 292,000 jobs, two-thirds of “Since that period, an additional 21 mil- restrictions meant to stop the virus yet to be regained from February which were in businesses like bars and lion adult age Americans have gotten from spreading. “Job growth remains 2020. “We’re going to hit some bumps restaurants. fully vaccinated, and so we’re making surprisingly sluggish in an economy along the way,” Biden said. “You can’t Accommodations added 35,000 progress even since this snapshot in that is no longer facing capacity con- reboot the world’s largest economy like jobs, and amusement, gambling and time,” Deese told reporters. — AFP Established 1961 9 Sunday, June 6, 2021 Business A first in the region, Ooredoo rolls out eSIM online purchasing process Facility introduced in partnership with PACI and through ‘Kuwait Mobile ID’ app

KUWAIT: In continuation of the its ongoing digital improve the customer SIMs in the smartphone and is activated by scanning we have also reduced the information required to fill out change efforts to efficiently attain digital transformation, experience and increase the QR code from the phone’s camera. Note that the the form, however, our collaboration with the Public demonstrate flexibility and efficiency, and after witness- productivity. Hence, since eSIM is built into the phone and cannot be removed, Authority for Civil Information enables us to extract the ing exquisite results triggered by its collaboration with the emergence of COVID- and it only works with devices that support it. needed information directly from their database, which the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), 19 pandemic; flexibility, Customers can activate the eSIM with simple easy raises the level of security, as the service is designed Ooredoo Telecom, the first to introduce innovative digi- mobility and digitization steps: visit Ooredoo eShop, select the phone number, according to the highest international security stan- tal services in Kuwait, is now the first telecom operator have been key factors for package and commitment, enter your civil ID number dards,” Al-Babtain added. in the country and region to offer customers the ability business continuity and and verify it through the “Kuwait Mobile ID” app, “I take pride of all the experts of Ooredoo Kuwait, to conduct a complete purchasing process of a new customer satisfaction. choose the payment method and use the camera to scan who have worked efficiently and effectively to make this eSIM online and without any physical interaction or sig- Thus, Ooredoo Kuwait has the QR and follow the instructions on your screen. vision become reality, which in result gave us the honor nature utilizing “Kuwait Mobile ID”, a mobile applica- overcame itself once again Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, Chief Executive Officer, of being the first telecom operator in the country and tion provided by the Public Authority for Civil in taking major steps in Ooredoo Kuwait, expressed his pride in this remarkable region to offer this feature. I look forward to hit more Information (PACI) that provides users with a digital Abdulaziz Al-Babtain deploying the most effi- achievement and said: “This is only the tip of the ice- milestones and raise the bar of competition in the civil ID accredited for identification and digital signa- cient features and tech- berg; our long-term vision still holds unique plans that future,” Al-Babtain concluded. ture for both government and private sector. nologies that not only improve the customer experience, will continue sitting us apart from the competition game. It is noteworthy that early in 2021, Ooredoo, has offi- Ooredoo customers can now purchase and sub- but also enhance the country’s economy and digital The objective is building drivers of continues and sus- cially announced the adaptation and utilization of scribe to a new eSIM prepaid or postpaid plan, or infrastructure that go in line with the Kuwait vision tainable change that will drastically enrich our cus- “Kuwait Mobile ID” for secure authentication of identi- transfer from the traditional SIM to an eSIM utilizing 2035 “New Kuwait”. tomers’ experience”. ties at any of its branches, sales channels, online or the “Kuwait Mobile ID” and My Ooredoo applications. The eSIM (Embedded SIM) is the equivalent of a “It goes without saying that the customer comes through the My Ooredoo application. Such collabora- Today, the availability of digital solutions and servic- digital or electronic version of the traditional SIM, first, thus, simplifying the process was critical, so we tion positioned Ooredoo Kuwait as the first telecom es has become a necessity in order for companies to which gives customers the opportunity to store multiple have used simpler language in notifications and texts, company in the country to adapt this application. UK strikes post-Brexit trade deal with 3 European countries

LONDON: Britain announced Friday a free-trade agreement with three European countries-major fishing neighbor Norway as well as Iceland and Liechtenstein- in its latest move to boost trade ties post-Brexit. The deal, agreed in principle and which builds on “an economic relationship already worth £21.6 billion ($30 billion, 25 billion euros)”, will slash tariffs on British food OSLO: (Left to right) Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Seafood products, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said. Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Britain formally left the European Union in January 2020 Nybo, Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Minister of Agriculture after nearly five decades of membership, and quit its sin- and Food Olaug Bollestad address a press conference on the gle market and customs union at the start of this year. status of free trade negotiations with the United Kingdom, Since then, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s govern- Friday. — AFP KFH wins ‘Best Bank in Kuwait’, ment has replicated or rolled over existing trade agree- ments with the bloc and several countries, vowing that Britain is Norway’s biggest trading partner after the they will be more advantageous than those negotiated ‘Best Islamic Bank in Middle East’ EU, accounting for 22 percent of its exports, including by the EU. London is currently in advanced trade deal natural gas and fish. Friday’s agreement also calls for discussions with Australia and has held early talks with KUWAIT: In another achievement added to its dents, digital signature service in personal financing caps on the charges mobile operators are allowed to India, New Zealand and the United States. track record and list of awards it received, Kuwait products that includes the electronic handling of all charge each other for international mobile roaming, and Talks are also due to begin soon with Canada and Finance House (KFH) won four awards at the thir- paper documents for personal finance transactions mutual recognition of professional qualifications, such as Mexico. Trade between non-EU member Norway and teenth edition of the EMEA Finance Middle East and the electronic forms system that converts tradi- nurses, lawyers and vets. Banking Awards 2021. KFH was named the ‘Best tional banking forms into secure electronic ones. In Britain, separated by the North Sea and key fishing Bank in Kuwait’, the ‘Best Islamic Bank in the addition, KFH was the first bank in the world to spots, amounted to £20.4 billion last year. Access to Britain’s rich fishing waters was a major sticking point in Second-best option Middle East’ and the ‘Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait’. launch the service of instant card issuance without a Prior to Brexit, Britain, Norway, Iceland and post-Brexit talks with the EU. “Reduced import tariffs on In addition, KFH- Bahrain won the “Best Islamic prior request through over 100 ATMs. Liechtenstein had signed a temporary agreement shrimps, prawns and haddock will reduce costs for UK Bank in Bahrain” Award. In addition to its high reputation in offering inno- enabling them to continue to trade goods freely pending fish processing, helping support some 18,000 jobs in Regarded as one of the most prestigious Middle vative banking solutions, KFH employs all its capa- a broader, permanent agreement. Speaking to reporters that industry in Scotland” and northern England, said East banking awards, the EMEA Finance Awards bilities and profound banking experience in provid- in Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg hailed Friday’s statement. aim to honor banking institutions for their financial ing the best banking services, complementing its the new deal as “the biggest free trade agreement we’ve The agreement also “significantly cuts tariffs as high performance, services quality standards and bank- leading role in supporting the economy and enhanc- ever had.” Solberg-a pro-European in a country that has as 277 percent” for exports of some British cheeses to ing sector excellence. The illustrious finance maga- ing the vital role of the Kuwaiti banking sector as twice rejected EU membership-noted nonetheless that Norway. “There are also tariff reductions and quotas on zine awards are based on robust criteria in selecting well as improving customers experience, making life “a free trade agreement will never be as good as the pork, poultry and other goods. UK wines and spirits the best banks, such as the bank’s market share, its easier for them by sparing them the necessity of European Economic Area.” including Scotch Whisky will also now be recognized in products market growth, profitability, products and visiting a branch and implementing fast and secure With Brexit, Britain also quit the EEA, which allows Norway and Iceland,” the statement added. Exports to services innovations as well as the strategic quality means to achieve their aspirations and enrich their for the free movement of people, goods, services and the three non-EU countries will meanwhile be done of its operations. life style.” capital between the EU, Norway, Iceland and without the need for any paperwork. The awards demonstrate the efficiency and As part of its developmental role, KFH focuses on Liechtenstein. “A free trade agreement means more “All documents, contracts and signatures can be elec- excellence of KFH in offering high-quality innova- supporting the financial inclusion that plays key fac- bureaucracy and added costs for businesses and citi- tronic, allowing goods to move seamlessly across bor- tive products through its advanced infrastructure tor in achieving the sustainable development goals zens, and is less dynamic than what we have in the EEA,” ders and saving businesses time and money,” the state- despite the challenges in 2020. Coinciding with through providing comprehensive series of prod- Solberg said. “The agreement doesn’t eliminate all the ment said. Norway meanwhile stressed that the deal COVID-19, the awards reflect the importance of ucts and services that suit all categories of cus- obstacles to trade either. Some are not resolved,” she would not lead to an increased quotas for British beef KFH’s digital transformation strategy that empha- tomers based on the easiest innovative procedures added. The agreement must still be approved by the and cheeses, reassuring the country’s farmers as the sized the prudent management and proactive to enable them to manage their money and savings Norwegian parliament, where Solberg’s government is in center-right government trails in the polls ahead of leg- approach of the bank in adopting technology and in a secure and safe manner. the minority. —AFP innovation and focusing on reinforcing customer Thanks to the efforts it exerts to keep up with islative elections in September. experience by delivering the most advanced bank- the latest developments in FinTech and digitization ing solutions. by using AI, KFH has achieved significant and well- The digital services offered by KFH witnessed big deserved leaps in the digital banking services that boom through launching a series of innovative digital would enable the bank to experience the digital banking solutions thanks to the continuous improve- banking future, maintain its leading position in digi- ment in products and services offered by the bank tal solutions and deliver exclusive and developed and its keenness to keep up with innovations and service offerings that meet customer aspirations. developments in the global banking sector and to It is worth noting that the British financial maga- boost the banking industry in Kuwait. These solutions zine, EMEA Finance, covers dynamic financial mar- include, for example and not limited to, “opening kets in Europe, Middle East and Africa using spe- bank account online” service for citizens and resi- cialized analysis made by team of experts.

‘Repressive action’ Twitter restricted Amnesty International on Friday condemned the moved, calling on Nigeria to “immediately reverse the unlawful suspension”. “This repressive action is a DUBLIN: The sun sets behind the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm in Liverpool Bay in the Irish Sea in north west England. in Nigeria after clear attempt to censor dissent & stifle the civic Ireland’s economy grew by nearly 8 percent in the first quarter of 2021, the country’s statistics office said Friday. — AFP space,” Human Rights Watch researcher Anietie government decree Ewang said. Twitter said that the move was “deeply concern- 2020 thanks to the multinationals, defying the global ing”. “We’re investigating and will provide updates Irish economy grows downturn caused by the pandemic. ABUJA: Telecoms operators in Nigeria restricted when we know more,” the company said in a state- The CSO figures released Friday also showed Ireland Twitter yesterday, a day after the government ment. Nigeria in 2019 had announced it would tighten 7.8%, buoyed by was operating a trade surplus of more than 1.3 billion announced its indefinite suspension for activities regulations on social media to fight fake news and dis- euros for goods with Britain in the first quarter of 2021. “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate exis- information, sparking concerns over freedom of However merchandise imports from the UK dropped by tence”. International human rights groups have already expression. multinationals 1.9 billion euros year-on-year, as Ireland’s domestic condemned the move. Twitter on Wednesday deleted a remark on the economy was slowed by pandemic restrictions and new The suspension in Africa’s most populous country president’s account after he referred to the country’s post-Brexit checks came into effect. came two days after the social media giant deleted a civil war in a warning about recent unrest in the south- DUBLIN: Ireland’s economy grew by nearly 8 percent in Finance minister Paschal Donohoe said the GDP tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari’s account for east. The 78-year-old president, a former general, the first quarter of 2021, the country’s statistics office said growth revealed Friday was “exceptionally strong”. “This violating its rules. “The Federal Government has sus- referred to “those misbehaving” in recent violence in Friday, as multinational firms’ revenues helped it continue was driven by a relatively small number of sectors with, in pended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblog- the southeast, where officials blame separatists for to buck neighbors’ pandemic downturns. Figures some cases, the increased activity generating limited ging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” attacks on police and election offices. “Those of us in released by the Central Statistics Office showed gross domestic employment,” he added in a statement. The ministry of information and culture spokesman Segun the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent during the finance ministry said much of the growth was driven by Adeyemi said in a statement on Friday. will treat them in the language they understand,” the January through March period-an increase of 97.4 billion “contract manufacturing”. The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of president had posted on Twitter. euros ($118 billion). In this process, an overseas firm manufactures goods Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed its members had received Reacting to the government’s decision to suspend The surge was fuelled by a robust 5.8 percent growth for an Irish incorporated company. When they are formal instructions from the Nigerian Communications the platform, the UK’s deputy high commissioner in in exports over the period, despite Ireland being gripped exported to a third nation they count as an Irish export Commission (NCC), the industry regulator to suspend Nigeria Gill Atkinson said “any action taken by gov- by a coronavirus lockdown at the time. Many multina- despite having never been in the country. Donohoe said access to Twitter. It said in a statement that a robust ernment must be measured, proportionate and not tional firms, particularly US technology and pharmaceuti- Ireland’s vaccination program and people’s efforts during assessment of the request had been made and that suppress basic freedoms.” Several countries including cal outfits, have established bases in Ireland to capitalize lockdowns had allowed the government to lift gradually members had “acted in compliance”. China and Turkey have come under fire for putting on its attractively low corporation tax regime. However, many restrictions, which has already “supported econom- “Network data show that access to the Twitter restrictions on social media platforms such as Twitter. their figures have a warping effect on the economic sta- ic recovery in the second quarter”. The non-essential platform and backend servers is now restricted on In February Twitter condemned Myanmar for tistics of Ireland-a nation of just five million people-and retail sector opened in mid-May after a four and a half leading networks MTN, Globacom, Airtel and blocking access to its platform as part of a crackdown the finance ministry consistently notes GDP is not an month hiatus, while the hospitality sector is due to restart 9mobile,” the London-based internet monitor on social media, days after a coup that saw Aung San accurate yardstick of growth. Ireland made headlines in trading outdoors on Monday. Around 5,000 people have Netblocks wrote on its website yesterday. Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders jailed. — AFP March when it registered a GDP jump of 3.4 percent in died from coronavirus in Ireland. — AFP 10 Established 1961

Sunday, June 6, 2021 Business

NBK Economic Report Kuwait’s real estate sales return to pre-COVID levels Transaction volumes in residential sector up 144% y/y in 1Q21

KUWAIT: Real estate sales, previously depressed down months of 2Q20, coupled with solid funda- Although the picture on rents is not fully clear due to the pandemic and the national lockdown mentals in the sector including its resilience to (the rents component of the CPI has been unusu- that brought sales to a historical low in 2Q20, pandemic pressures. Robust fundamentals stem ally stable), anecdotal evidence points to lower have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, averag- from limited supply and a growing national popu- rents or discounts being commonly offered to new ing a monthly KD 280 million in 1Q21, up 26 per- lation, and are supported by good liquidity and or renewing tenants given prevailing softness in cent y/y. The solid sales extended through April, minimal job losses for citizens during the pandem- the market. which saw KD 250 million, and came despite ic, keeping demand stable. Moreover, as prof- We expect a full recovery to take some time, ongoing weakness in the commercial and invest- itability in the investment sector comes under especially in light of a relatively soft economic ment sectors, where levels have only partially increasing pressure from vacancies and falling recovery, job nationalization efforts, and the recovered from their 2Q20 lows, largely due to the rents, there are signs of investors turning increas- recently proposed measures to address the demo- deterioration of business and labor market condi- ingly to the residential sector for investment graphic imbalance by imposing caps on the num- tions in the aftermath of the pandemic. opportunities. An additional driver is the ber foreign residents. Meanwhile, residential sector sales proved increased offerings in the relatively more active resilient, swiftly rebounding following the easing and less saturated emerging areas such as the Commercial sector of lockdown measures in July, and gathering Sabah Al-Ahmad, Saad Al-Abdulla, and Jaber Al- Commercial sector sales amounted to just KD strength supported by pent-up demand and Ahmad residential areas. 12 million in April, doubling from a year earlier but increased offerings in several emerging areas. It is While yet to be confirmed, there are some indi- still well down on its averages for both 2019 and cussion. Although a sign of progress, the law also worth noting that overall sales, though cations that point to moderate price gains in some even 2H20. Low volumes were a contributing fac- could take some time to be approved. The law decent, were likely affected in April by the start of parts of the residential sector, which would have tor, with 7 deals in April, compared to an average aims to ease the rising pressure on the state- the Holy month of Ramadan, usually a slower contributed to the higher sales levels seen in of 38 deals per month in 2019. The commercial owned Kuwait Credit Bank (KCB) to provide month for real estate trading. Looking ahead, we recent quarters. Though the strong activity and sector - which normally comprises a minority housing loans to citizens, especially given the expect the residential activity to remain solid in sales in the residential sector may ease in coming share in total sales - was negatively affected by current liquidity constraints faced by the gov- the near to mid-term, backed by a strong demand months as pent-up demand fades, we expect it to weak business activity extending beyond the ernment. Although the details of the law are yet base and somewhat limited supply, while the be stable in the near-to-medium term, as strong lockdown, with reports of businesses struggling to to be confirmed, some elements are apparent weakness in the commercial and investment sec- demand by nationals should persist. pay rent, leading to rent reductions and deferred (though still subject to change). The loans of up tors will likely take some time to subside as the payments for some tenants, especially severely to KD 70,000 will be sourced from commercial overall economy continues to recover. Investment sector impacted retail tenants with high rents in malls. As banks rather than the KCB, but with a shorter Investment sector (i.e. apartment) sales the economy and the business environment picks maturity of 30 years rather than the 58 years Residential sector amounted to a relatively weak KD 39 million in up supported by progress on the vaccine front, a under the current arrangement, in effect nearly The strength in aggregate real estate sales April, down 23 percent m/m, but still up signifi- gradual recovery may get underway for the sec- doubling the monthly installment to just under since the rebound last summer stemmed mostly cantly from the historical lows of April 2020 when tor, but weakness may still take some time to sub- KD 200, a popular area of concern. The law also from elevated volumes in the residential sector. the national lockdown was in effect. Still, side. This is especially true given the large number provides for repossession of the home in the Sales averaged a monthly KD 215 million in 1Q21, Investment sector sales remained well below pre- of distressed SMEs and a considerable loss of event of default, though it is unclear whether the stemming from a monthly average of 675 deals, up pandemic levels, amid a marked decline in monthly expat jobs, which will could continue to weigh on government will step in to mitigate this risk on 25 percent and 148 percent y/y respectively. volumes reflecting weaker demand and a decline demand for commercial space and prices in some homeowners. Further, all interest payments to More recently in April, residential sales totaled in the expatriate population - who dominate areas. banks generated from the loans are to be KD 199 million from 748 transactions, contrasting demand for this type of property. This adds to the assumed by the government. It follows that the sharply with the pre-pandemic average of 371 pre-existing weakness in the sector, which faced Draft mortgage law residential sector should receive a boost as easi- transactions per month in 2019. We believe the declining rents, lower prices, and rising vacancies On a related note, the much anticipated draft er access to financing lifts demand, though the higher volume is being driven by pent-up demand prior to the pandemic, arising from a period of mortgage law was recently approved by the supply side will need to be addressed if exces- after several months of non-trading in the lock- oversupply and slower economic growth. government and passed to parliament for dis- sive price gains are to be mitigated.

was first launched. prizes, she mentioned. NBK announces NBK announced Fatimeh Ali Melyouni, Shemali Ali NBK Push Notifications Al Shemali and Phani Kumar Katurias the lucky win- enables NBK Mobile ners, who expressed their great pleasure, not only Banking App users to winners of NBK with the prizes received, but also with the full- receive real-time alerts EU, UK probe fledged banking experience combining advanced about account activities mobile banking banking services and exclusive rewards. that include transaction Facebook ad The winners stated that NBK Mobile Banking details as an alternative for meets all their needs, by enabling them to make all SMS notifications. The app prizes their transactions, anytime, anywhere. On this occa- service allows customers data use sion, Hala Al-Shoaibi, Head of Digital Service Quality to receive notifications KUWAIT: In an effort to increase its customers’ Management, National Bank of Kuwait said: “We are 24/7, wherever they are, BRUSSELS: The European Union and Britain reliance on digital channels for their transactions and Hala Al-Shoaibi launched parallel competition probes on Friday pleased with customers’ remarkable interest in using inside or outside Kuwait, encourage them to use e-payment solutions, National NBK Mobile Banking as well as all digital channels, as long as they are con- into whether Facebook uses data from advertis- Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has launched a campaign that ers to unfairly dominate the online classifieds thanks to the digital services and solutions regarded nected to the internet. NBK Push Notifications is a gives the chance to customers signing up to NBK as the most advanced in Kuwait.” continuation of a number of services added to the market. The US social media behemoth sells clas- Mobile Banking App or opting to NBK Push sified advertising on its Marketplace service, but “Our digital services are a key pillar of the full- NBK Mobile Banking App that are suitable for the Notifications instead of SMS notifications to enter a fledged and integrated banking experience we are fast-paced modern lifestyle, with dramatically also gathers data from commercial advertising draw on valuable prizes, in collaboration with Huawei. that may give it an unfair advantage-a charge the keen to provide to our customers, which is tailored to increasing reliance on smartphones in daily life. The campaign lasting for three months until 10 fit their needs and expectations,” added Al-Shoaibi. These services also include NBK Geo Alerts, which firm declared “without merit”. Investigators will July 2021 also gives chances to enter the draw for all also probe whether Facebook’s single user log-in NBK launches exquisite campaigns all year round, allows customers to receive notifications about avail- customers who opted to NBK Push Notifications in line with NBK’s strategy to reward its customers able offers and discounts on their smartphones at allows it to unfairly use data gathered across its available for all NBK Mobile Banking users, since it social media, dating app and advertising plat- through a variety of unique campaigns, draws and specific locations while shopping nearby. forms. The cases opened by the European which took place on 3rd May, 10th May, Commerce and Industry, underscores situation with COVID-19, to limit direct Commission and Britain’s Competition and 17th May, 24th May & 31st May, 2021, the Bank’s commitment to bolster digital interaction wherever possible. Markets Authority (CMA) are separate, but the ABK congratulates under the supervision of the Ministry of channels, especially during the current The winners are: regulators are working closely together. “Facebook collects vast troves of data on the final 15 winners activities of users of its social network and KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait beyond,” EU vice-president and competition (ABK) announced the final 15 winners of chief Margrethe Vestager said. the ‘Go Digital & Win KD 50 Cash with “We will look in detail at whether this data ABK’ reward campaign, granting 30 of gives Facebook an undue competitive advantage its prepaid and credit cardholders a in particular on the online classified ads sector, chance to win KD 50 cash. The draw where people buy and sell goods every day, and where Facebook also competes with companies from which it collects data,” she said. in Miami’s trendy Wynwood neighborhood headquarters from Atlanta to Miami and launch- “In today’s digital economy, data should not Miami, looking to wrapped around the building. Everyone was in ing a new $25 million fund for local startups be used in ways that distort competition.” A high spirits and there were no face masks to be using blockchain technology. And the mayor Facebook spokesperson responded in an email: seen. Beyond Dorsey, two of the other speakers announced the launch of MiamiCoin, a Miami- “We will continue to cooperate fully with the be next crypto were Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, twin specific cryptocurrency that will allow investors investigations to demonstrate that they are with- Harvard classmates of Mark Zuckerberg who to boost the city’s coffers while making money out merit. hotspot, hosts sued him over claims he stole the idea for themselves. “This is not a moment. This is a “We are always developing new and better Facebook from them, and now run cryptocurren- movement,” Suarez said Friday. services to meet evolving demand from people cy exchange Gemini. who use Facebook. ‘Marketplace’ and ‘Dating’ huge bitcoin event “We think bitcoin is gold 2.0,” Tyler said at a ‘A bit wary’ offer people more choices and both products panel discussion. “When we get to Mars, what is Since late last year, Miami has been attracting operate in a highly competitive environment with MIAMI: Thousands of people have descended the currency going to be in Mars? Dollars? No. techies away from Silicon Valley and New York many large incumbents.” on Miami for a massive two-day bitcoin confer- Bitcoin.” for a variety of reasons-thanks to Florida’s lack ence that opened Friday-a sign that the US city, of state taxes and relatively lax coronavirus pre- Marketplace ads in the midst of a tech boom, is hoping to become ‘A movement’ cautions, along with the city’s multicultural work The formal probe follows a preliminary inves- the next cryptocurrency hub. So where does Miami fit into the picture? For force and proximity to Latin America. It’s not tigation focused on Facebook’s Marketplace “I don’t think there’s anything more important David Abner, Gemini’s global head of business exactly clear how many have moved, but there classifieds service-available to most of its three in my lifetime to work on” than bitcoin, given the development, Miami is “centrally located, espe- are signs of growth — home prices are soaring, flexibility it offers, billionaire entrepreneur Jack billion users. Companies advertising on cially in the Americas, and there’s a lot of politi- up nearly 35 percent in just a year, according to Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and payments Marketplace have to provide data to Facebook cal support here.” the Miami Association of Realtors. which the European Commission said led to con- firm Square, told a crowded auditorium. “I think they’ve spent time to understand it But not everyone is happy. The Miami Herald cerns that the internet giant may distort competi- “We don’t need the financial institutions that and think about the ramifications of bitcoin. warned in an editorial of the possible pitfalls of tion. “Facebook could, for instance, receive pre- we have today. We have one that is thriving, And so they’re very supportive of the econo- the city’s embrace of all things crypto. “Don’t cise information on users’ preferences from its that is sound, that is owned by the community, my,” Abner told AFP, adding that cryptocurren- get us wrong. We hope cryptocurrency-and the competitors’ advertisement activities and use that is driven by the community,” said Dorsey, flashing neon welcome mat we’ve set out for the one of the keynote speakers at Bitcoin 2021. cy could revolutionize remittances sent back to such data in order to adapt Facebook tech industry-elevate this city to new prosperi- Dorsey tweeted Friday that Square was con- Latin America. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Marketplace,” it said. ty,” the paper said. The EU executive is also concerned about sidering making a hardware wallet for safely who opened Bitcoin 2021, has become a bit of a “Just don’t blame us for being a bit wary,” it how Marketplace is integrated into Facebook’s storing bitcoin. celebrity in tech circles, for his intense efforts said. “Because Miami has history, folks. We’ve core social network platform-”a form of tying With 12,000 participants and all speaker ses- to turn the Magic City into a beachfront Silicon been a smugglers’ paradise, the epicenter of the which gives it an advantage in reaching cus- sions sold out, the Bitcoin 2021 trade show fea- Valley. In February, the Republican mayor cocaine trade, a mecca for money laundering, tomers and forecloses competing online classi- tures exhibits from crypto mining companies, announced that the city would explore ways to ground zero for mortgage fraud...” “We worry fied ads services”. There is no deadline for the crypto traders and bitcoin exchange networks. do some of its financial transactions using probe to be wrapped up, with the commission The conference was originally scheduled to cryptocurrency, including paying salaries to about going through another boom-and-bust saying its duration depended on factors including take place in Los Angeles, but was moved due to employees. cycle or a wave that crashes and takes us all the complexity of the case. —AFP tougher coronavirus restrictions in California. Earlier this week, venture capital firm down with it. If we’re staking the city’s future on The line to get into the Mana Convention Center Borderless Capital announced it was moving its this, please, let’s not repeat the past.” —AFP Established 1961 11

Sunday, June 6, 2021 Business Gulf Bank launches new initiative to support SMEs hit by pandemic Bank expands services for SME segment to assist small companies

KUWAIT: In recognition of the importance of the who were affected by the antee loan is deducted from public funds. In an effort to further enhance its customer small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector and pandemic, providing sup- As part of Gulf Bank’s strategic plan, the experience, Gulf Bank also launched a dedicated in line with the strategic direction of the Central port to various compa- Corporate Banking Department is working to imple- website through which SMEs can communicate with Bank of Kuwait, Gulf Bank has launched a new ini- nies through financing ment the digital transformation of all major opera- the Bank to inquire about commercial banking serv- tiative to offer basic forms of assistance to SMEs. measures amounting to tions and services provided to SMEs, which will be ices and facilitate both financing and non-financing By adopting a more holistic approach, Gulf Bank over KD 30 million. The launching soon. Through these efforts and more, Gulf requests. For more information regarding the vari- aims to offer SMEs integrated solutions that go Bank is currently looking Bank aims to offer even more services that can sup- ous services Gulf Bank provides to SMEs, the Bank beyond financing, and engage with small businesses forward to a more effec- port banking operations and contribute to the has launched a dedicated website: https://www.e- through partnerships with various sectors and spe- tive solution, and is await- growth of small and medium-sized enterprises that gulfbank.com/ en/sme cialized agencies. ing the implementation of are partnered with Gulf Bank. Companies can also apply for financing through It is worth-noting that Gulf Bank has issued the draft law to rescue Al-Wazzan added: “Gulf Bank is currently serv- Gulf Bank’s dedicated SME website, indicating the financing conditions for individuals, SMEs, and oth- Meshal Al-Wazzan SMEs, through which the ing more than 7,000 companies through its busi- company’s basic information, financial history, and er economic entities affected by the pandemic since Kuwaiti government is set ness sector and across all branches. We currently financing priorities. Upon entering the relevant the start of 2020, including the issuance of a draft to guarantee 80 percent of offer companies the opportunity to conduct all company information, business owners can then guarantee law in April 2021 to rescue SMEs affect- funding provided to businesses affected by the their corporate banking transactions online, includ- direct the form and any relevant information to the ed by the pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic. After fulfilling the legal ing collection and payment services, employee designated email provided. Upon receiving the Regarding this initiative, the Assistant General requirements for consideration, the amount of salary transfers, point-of-sale services, payment request, Gulf Bank will review the client’s request Manager of Corporate Banking at Gulf Bank, financing provided to each applicant will be deter- gateways and payment links, in addition to the abil- and evaluate funding options accordingly. If eco- Meshal Al-Wazzan, said: “We launched a digital mined based on the customer’s credit conditions, ity to open all kinds of accounts, issue debit cards, nomic viability is proven, the Bank will contact the platform to process requests from business owners while ensuring due diligence to verify that the guar- and apply for SME financing solutions.” SME for next steps.

cial education, and improve educational outcomes. It How are robots can also help enhance cognitive skills like critical Hassan’s Optician thinking and problem-solving at a very early stage. Robots can be programmed to assess students’ redefining growth against personal goals and measure their suc- AUB congratulates rolling out a cess by tracking annual progress reports and target- education? ed benchmarks. Teachers can gather valuable data Al-Hassad weekly new CSR vision By Pavel Makarevich about students with the help of robots and help them set their actionable learning goals. draw winners Hassan’s Optician Company announced One such famous humanoid robot is NAO, which KUWAIT: echnological advancements like robotics and yesterday that the company eyes an innovative caters to the needs of students and teachers in over artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the approach to its corporate social responsibility as part 6000 academic institutes in more than 70 countries KUWAIT: In accordance with full preventive workplace in the twenty-first century. It is of its 70th anniversary, which was kicked off in the T across the globe. It is employed as a teaching assis- guidelines and measures set by health authori- challenging to manage our day-to-day activities holy month of Ramadan by collaborating with the ties, Ahli United Bank (AUB) held the weekly without software, algorithms, or computers in today’s tant where the teacher-student ratio is small. Its visu- Kuwait Association for Needy Families (KANF) to draw of 02 June 2021 of Al-Hassad Islamic era. The global education system has also gone al and intuitive interface simplifies content develop- support economically disadvantaged families in account which is the very first draw account in through several changes over the years. Not long ago, ment, allowing personalized teaching activities on a Kuwait. Islamic banking in Kuwait and has won the “Best someone who needed information or needed to write one-to-one basis or a small group. NAO can easily “As we are marking our 7th decade in the market, it Savings Product in Kuwait 2019” by the presti- a paper had to visit the library. However, today, create an empathetic link with the students and is essential to reiterate Hassan’s Optician’s commitment gious Banker Middle East Magazine for the teachers with its human-like appearance and towards Kuwait and the community. We managed to almost every piece of information is readily available numerous unique features it provides. Al-Hassad humanoid behaviors. The versatile nature of NAO grow from a simple store to a network of thirty optical and accessible, thanks to the Internet. Our education- Islamic account offers over 750 prizes, Over 12- allows academic institutions to expand their basic stores throughout Kuwait and set the basis for a fully al methods are evolving, as are our tools; robots are month period and has reshaped the lives of thou- curriculum by introducing STEAM education and integrated eye care facility. Our growth story mirrors increasingly becoming part of the classroom environ- sands lucky winners. language learning to children at a very early stage. the efforts and commitment of Kuwait towards devel- ment. Advanced technologies and globalization are The bank and announced 20 winners of KD Pepper and NAO can also be effective tools in pro- oping the private sector. It is therefore our responsi- pushing the education sector towards a sustainable 1,000 as follows: Mazhar Kasimbhai Piplodwala, moting IEP (Individualized Education Program) for bility to continue giving back by contributing to and equitable future. Future growth in the education Yousef Abdarahman Al-Kandiri, Salha Salem Al- students with determination. NAO’s neutral expres- Kuwait’s development efforts,” stated Kian Saadat, sector is achievable Azmi, Najat Mohamad Almujaibel, Kawkab sion can be therapeutic for special needs children and CEO of Hassan’s Optician. through the collaboration Nema Allah Muqaddam, Kameelah Khalaf Al- help boost their confidence and social skills. An In an official statement, Saadat stressed on the of humans and robots. Enezi, Bassam Zakwan Al-Kaaki, Latifah Nemaa Australian study revealed that when students engage importance of aligning the company’s social responsi- A classic example is an Al-Shammari, Jehan Ali Qasem, Khaled Saleh Al- with humanoid robots, it enhances their curiosity and bility to Kuwait’s national development plan by part- international school in Fadhel, Mansour Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Lubna enables critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and nering with civil societies and charity organizations to India that introduced Mostafa Shaqlousi, Rajaa Mohamad Al-Behaisi, support Kuwait’s humanitarian projects. He added that humanoid robots to teach communication skills. Teachers have also observed Hasan Abdullah Al-Resheedi, Hamad Haider Hassan’s Ramadan initiative came as part of its dedi- students and work along- that a student’s coding skills automatically expand Akbar, Mohammad Saud Al-Raqwah, Majedah cated efforts towards the most vulnerable in Kuwait. side teachers. Under this beyond the expected level as they directly interact Jassem Al-Rejaib, Hasan Abduallah Al-Rashidi, Praising the work of the KNAF and Kuwait’s civil with electrical and mechanical processes and proce- Hala Qasem Al-Mahasnah and Shareefah collaborative learning societies who have contributed to Kuwait’s global dures. Abdullah Al-kandari. model, the robot took over humanitarian position, Saadat stated that it is neces- Another exciting aspect of robotics’ demand is the The draws of Al-Hassad include several cash the responsibility of pro- sary for all national entities to collaborate and collec- assistance it offers by video interactions to home- prizes, such as KD 100,000 each Eid and the Pavel Makarevich viding knowledge-based tively work together towards achieving the country’s schooled students or those who cannot attend a grand quarterly draw of KD 250,000 prize content, which teachers development agenda. He explained that this initiative is school. Double 3 is a two-wheeled self-driving video which continues to be a key aspiration for cus- used to achieve by spend- an initial step towards a comprehensive CSR vision conferencing robot that revolutionizes how you learn tomers who are wishing to fulfill their dreams. Al ing 90 percent of their time on Google. This gave bringing Hassan’s Optician’s experience in innovation remotely. By providing students and teaching staff a Hassad offers 20 weekly prizes of KD 1,000 for teachers plenty of time to concentrate on mentoring and business growth to projects contributing to physical presence where they cannot be in person, each winner. In addition to this attractive pack- the students, offering emotional support and care that Kuwait’s development. Double 3 helps them feel more connected to their age of rewards, Al-Hassad Islamic account incor- a machine cannot provide. The collaboration between Chairman of the KNAF, Badr Hamad Al Mubarak, classroom. porates a Wakala contract for projected annual humans and robots helped bridge the gap between confirmed that the association distributed more than Over 13000 humanoid robots have already been profits, making this account beneficial to all cus- efficient learning and comprehensive guidance. 300 food baskets to the most vulnerable families in deployed in various schools and universities around tomer segments that are aspiring to build their Several schools across the world have already started Kuwait in partnership with Hassan’s Optician the world. This number is projected to grow further in short and long-term savings through a unique to test these robots in a classroom setting. Some Company. Al-Mubarak explained that the initiative savings account with many advantages. experts have predicted that within 10 years, encoun- the coming years. The next step will be assessing how comes within the framework of the Naqsa project that Furthermore, for the first time in Kuwait, the tering robots in schools would be a common phe- far robotics can be integrated into our educational the association adopts to support the families with AUB Al-Hassad presents the “Privilege Draw”, nomenon worldwide. system to ensure that it operates in sync with sufficient foodstuffs adequate for a period of one which is a quarterly draw of KD 25,000 exclu- The education sector presents an excellent poten- humans. As the technological world unveils innova- month. He added that the association’s collaboration sively for Al-Hassad customers who maintained tial for robotics and its implementation to make the tions daily, it would be fair to conclude that the edu- with Hassan’s Optician comes as part of its joint their balances for more than one year and have cation sector will continue to benefit from robotics efforts with the private sector and the rest of the most positive impact. Working with robots can not won a prize in the past five years. and AI. national institutions that are collectively working improve educational programs’ quality, act as an For all draws, the clients are eligible for one Note: Pavel Makarevich is product manager, together to meet the basic needs of the most vulnera- effective tool for STEAM education (Science, draw chance for each KD 50 deposited in their Proven Solutions ble in Kuwait. Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), encourage spe- Al-Hassad account. It is worth mentioning that Established in 1951, Hassan’s Optician was founded Al-Hassad Islamic account has won the “Best by Dr. Hassan Saadat Yazdi who was the first Savings Product in Kuwait 2019” by the presti- optometrist officially approved by the Kuwaiti gious Banker Middle East Magazine for the Memac Ogilvy names Till Hohmann Department of Health in 1960. In 2016,Hassan’s numerous unique features it provides. Such fea- Optician launched its own state-of-the-art factory in tures include the simplest and easiest program, Amghara, Kuwait to produce ZEISS German as chief creative officer for MENA highest number of winners, largest prize value, Ophthalmic lenses. The company is now considered as unique draws during Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al- one of the market leaders in the optical industry in the DUBAI: Memac Ogilvy has named globally recog- Singapore, and other Adha, loyalty multipliers, unique online account Middle East and a partner to global leaders in the field nized creative Till Hohmann as its new Chief markets. opening feature, transparent draws held during of eye-care and optics, as well as jewelry and hearing Creative Officer for the MENA region. Hohmann “Till believes in the radio shows with live broadcast on the Bank’s aids with a network of more than thirty optical stores rejoins the agency, having served as its UAE power of ideas shaped social media platforms. Executive Creative Director from 2007 to 2010. differently. Business- all around Kuwait. Hohmann will be responsible for uniting the defining and change-dri- group’s five core capabilities under one modern ving ideas. The kind of ed,” said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities. creative offering. He will be dedicated to sustain- ideas the Ogilvy Group Equities rebound The Dow ended up 0.5 percent while the tech-rich able and innovative growth for major clients in is renowned for across Nasdaq added 1.5 percent. Advertising, Brand, and Content; Experience; Public the globe,” said David Before the closely-watched data was released, Relations; Healthcare; and Growth & Innovation, Fox, Memac Ogilvy’s as jobs data quash investors had been bracing for a jobs boom, after across the MENA region. Hohmann steps into the Till Hohmann Chief Executive Officer. reports Thursday showed US private employers adding role following time with Geometry and his work “Since departing these rate hike fears nearly one million positions in May and new unemploy- transforming and launching the creative commerce shores more than a ment benefit requests falling below 400,000 last week company under VMLY&R COMMERCE as Chief decade ago, he has grown into one of the world’s for the first time since the pandemic began. “The key Creative Officer for EMEA. He will oversee the cre- most notable creatives, delivering work for many NEW YORK: Equity markets moved higher while the takeaway from the report is that it shows there is still ative product for Memac Ogilvy’s 13 offices across sectors, and being recognized at the industry’s dollar fell on Friday after tepid job US growth numbers ample room for improvement, which is apt to register in assuaged fears of a rapid reduction in stimulus measures 11 markets. most prestigious award shows worldwide. He is a the Fed’s mind as a basis for sticking with its patient- and interest rate hikes. minded policy approach,” said Briefing.com analyst The announcement reaffirms Memac Ogilvy’s proven leader and expert in achieving growth for The start of a Group of Seven finance ministers meet- Patrick O’Hare. commitment to being its client’s most effective part- clients not only financially, but responsibly, sus- ing drew investors’ attention as well, with Europeans The highly accommodative monetary policies of the ner for growth, with creativity as the cornerstone of tainably, and culturally.” optimistic the world’s wealthiest countries will support Fed and other central banks have been key drivers of the that offering. The incoming Till Hohmann added, “The MENA US-backed plans for a global minimum corporate tax. blockbuster rally in world equities after they cratered at During his previous tenure, Hohmann helped pio- region is one of most diverse, unique, and interest- US Labor Department data released before Wall Street the start of the pandemic. But there have been growing neer innovative, digital, brand, and social offerings, ing in the world. The ambition of brands to do new trading began showed the world’s largest economy concerns on trading floors that too strong a rebound in restructuring the agency’s creative product and things, lead their industries, and connect with their added 559,000 jobs in May, below expectations for the the economy will set off a boom in inflation, forcing the helping drive major growth in the midst of the glob- young, impassioned populations has always inspired second straight month but an improvement on April. Fed to begin to wind down its vast bond-buying pro- al recession. Memac Ogilvy became one of the most me. I’m thrilled to be back. The work Memac Ogilvy That was good news for equities, as investors have gram or even lift interest rates to prevent overheating. successful agencies in the region during those is doing in the region, coupled with the Group’s feared the roaring return of the US economy would push CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said the jobs years, being named Agency of the Year at Lynx global mandate made this opportunity impossible to the Federal Reserve to “taper” stimulus measures sooner figure was “helping to support a view, that for all of the 2010. Since then, Hohmann has matured into one of turn down. I look forward to working with our than markets have been expecting. “This employment recent talk of a possible central bank retreat of support the world’s top creative talents, earning numerous incredible suite of clients, as well as our burgeoning report was not too hot, not too cold obviously and I measures, that any such action was likely to be later global accolades with Grey, JWT, WPP, VMLY&R talent, under the leadership of Foxy.” Hohmann think that the fact that we didn’t see any big hike in the rather than sooner.” And US central bankers have Commerce, Munich based Serviceplan Campaign 1 replaces Juggi Ramakrishnan, who served as Chief wages suggests that the Fed is not going to be in a hurry remained adamant that it is too soon to pull back on the GmbH, and more, in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Creative Officer for three years. to accelerate any tapering debate sooner than anticipat- stimulus measures. —AFP 12 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Sunday, June 6, 2021

An NFT titled ‘Quantum’ by Kevin McCoy is on display during A woman looks at a NFT by Ryoji Ikeda titled “A Single An NFT titled ‘CryptoPunk 7523’ by Larva Labs. An NFT titled ‘NGMI’ by XCOPY. — AFP photos a press preview of the upcoming Natively Digital: A Curated Number That Has 10,000,086 Digits”. NFT Sale at Sotheby’s on Friday in New York City.

he first non-fungible token (NFT) and symbolize the start of something that stand the cryptocurrency world, which had ever created, the origin of a craze is quite revolutionary and very impactful,” itself had little appreciation of art. He says Tthat is sweeping the art market, has said Max Moore, vice president of contem- the craze is only just beginning, but refus- gone on sale at Sotheby’s. “Quantum” is porary art at Sotheby’s in New York. NFT es to consider how huge it may become. an octagon-shaped animation by New exchanges happen in cryptocurrencies “The Sotheby’s thing is... a big test to see York artist Kevin McCoy. It became the such as bitcoin on specialist sites. what happens as far as that goes. first work to be associated with a NFT-type Traditional auction houses are seeking to Honestly, I don’t have any expectations,” certificate of ownership in May 2014, three capitalize on the new phenomenon. McCoy added. years before the term NFT was coined. “I fell in love with bitcoin in early 2013 The NFT boom is being fueled by early An NFT is a digital object such as a and just got really interested in that world,” investors in cryptocurrencies who became drawing, animation, piece of music, photo, said McCoy, a 54-year-old multimedia millionaires. In March, Christie’s sold an or video with a certificate of authenticity artist. He is a pioneer of NFTs that current- NFT for $69.3 million. Sotheby’s held its created by blockchain technology. It can- ly generate several hundred million dollars first NFT auction in April. During the not be forged or otherwise manipulated. in transactions every month. McCoy even “Quantum” sale it is also selling a virtual Sotheby’s has no pre-sale estimate for helped design his own platform for the character called Alice who will be able to “Quantum”, which had already reached exchange of certified digital objects: interact with her future owner using artifi- $140,000 on Friday, a day after it went on Monograph, which is no longer active. cial intelligence. — AFP sale. The sale ends on June 10. “There was a lot of misunderstanding at “In 10 years looking back, if in fact the time,” McCoy recalled, saying the A woman looks at a NFT by these are to grow, this piece can represent mainstream art world struggled to under- Mad Dog Jones titled “SHIFT//”.

by Jon and Lin... and the entire communi- ty.” While 18.5 percent of the US popula- ‘Hamilton’ tion is Hispanic, Latino actors accounted for just 5.4 percent of lead roles in creator celebrates Hollywood last year, according to UCLA’s “Hollywood Diversity Report.” immigrant roots ‘Struggle’ The film version of the tale is largely shot on the colorful streets of Washington with ‘Heights’ Heights, blocks from where Miranda grew up. In keeping with its recurrent theme of encroaching gentrification, location scouts ong before his mega smash-hit Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses at his exhibition “Rapture” at the had to studiously ignore the area’s Chipotle Ai poses in front of one of his artworks that is made with Portuguese tra- “Hamilton”, Lin-Manuel Miranda daz- Cordoaria Nacional exhibition center in Lisbon on June 3, 2021. and Target chains, “recasting” several ditional ‘azulejo’ tiles. — AFP photos Lzled Broadway with “In The Heights,” blocks with hand-painted signs and The show at Lisbon’s Cordoaria bition reveals two sides of Ai - “his cultural a Latin pop and salsa-inspired musical cel- awnings to evoke a nostalgic, mom-and- Nacional exhibition center brings together roots (and) the more activist side of his ebrating the New York immigrant commu- pop shop feel. around 80 works by Ai, the artist once fet- work.” The show opens with one of Ai’s nity that raised him. Warner Bros’ big- Along with highlighting the food, music ed by Chinese authorities who helped most monumental works, his “Forever screen version of Miranda’s debut work design Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic stadi- Bicycles” installation made up of hundreds finally arrives in US theaters Thursday - a um. But the sculptor, photographer and of identical bicycles. The visitor goes on to rare foray by a major Hollywood studio into filmmaker ran afoul of the state, especially take in other emblematic works such as a lavish production that puts Latino stories, when he criticized authorities over their “Snake Ceiling” commemorating children stars and filmmakers front and center. handling of 2008 Sichuan earthquake, in who died in school buildings during the “It’s a big deal, and I think it’s the begin- which more than 87,000 people died. Sichuan earthquake. ning of a Latin wave that I hope opens a lot xiled Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei He was detained for 81 days in 2011 Another work, “Law of the Journey”, more doors for more movies like this,” says the coronavirus pandemic, and eventually left for Germany four years depicts a rubber dinghy with dozens of Mexican actor Melissa Barrera told AFP. Erather than slow him down, has later, finally settling in Alentejo, in southern refugees aboard. New works include a “From the moment they started casting in spurred him on, as he prepared to open Portugal, in 2019. Speaking at a press marble sculpture some 1.6 m high of a toi- the movie, I was like ‘oh my gosh, because an exhibition of his art in Lisbon on Friday. preview of the show titled “Rapture”, Ai let paper roll, a reference to the rush on there aren’t many movies that give us this “The pandemic time is tragic for the said: “Welcome to my country, Portugal.” “I the basic necessity at the start of the coro- platform, I know everyone is going to audi- Actor Carlos Miranda attends the Los Angeles world... but for me personally I have had a feel comfortable here,” Ai told AFP later. navirus pandemic last year. The show tion for this.’” Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) open- very productive time,” Ai, 63, told a news “It’s not always easy to describe.” runs until November 28. — AFP Barrera - who rose to fame in Mexico’s ing night world premiere screening of “7th & conference. Curator Marcello Dantas said the exhi- “telenovela” soap operas - landed the key Union” at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, role of Vanessa, an aspiring designer hop- California on June 2, 2021. ing to trade the Washington Heights “bar- rio” at Manhattan’s northern tip for the chic and traditions of Miranda’s youth, the film fashion world of downtown. Her love inter- diverges from its stage predecessor by fol- est Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a bodega lowing Nina to protests supporting immi- owner, dreams of rebuilding his father’s grant rights for the so-called “Dreamers”. beach bar in the Dominican Republic, The film was shot and intended for release while their Puerto Rican friend Nina (Leslie during Donald Trump’s presidency, at a Grace) has “escaped” to Stanford time when the citizenship pathway for University but pines for home. undocumented young people brought to Miranda - who is of Puerto Rican the United States as children was under descent, and has long advocated for his attack. community in the entertainment world and The pandemic forced a postponement beyond - wrote the first version of “In The to the movie’s release. Today, the passage Heights” as a young student at Wesleyan of two immigration bills approved by the University. It reached Broadway in 2008, US House of Representatives remains where it earned 13 Tony nominations, and uncertain in the evenly divided Senate. “It’s set its creator on the path to “Hamilton” - a rarely told story - it’s a rarely told strug- the wildly popular story of the first US gle,” said Grace, whose character Nina treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton and fails to fit in at her elite West Coast school. his fellow founding fathers, itself told That feeling of self-doubt is “a universal through the lens of modern, multiethnic feeling that we all feel, both in terms of rep- America. resentation and in terms of ‘Dreamers,’” In the film, Miranda takes the small role she told AFP. “They’re told that they’re the of neighborhood “piraguero” - a vendor of worst... that they reflect a lot of things that traditional ice desserts - and hands direct- they’re not here to reflect. They come with ing duties to Jon M Chu (“Crazy Rich an aspiration... a dream.” “In The Heights” Asians”). But Barrera admitted it was opens in US theaters and on HBO Max “intimidating” to collaborate with the streaming from June 10. — AFP “Hamilton” creator on the follow-up of sorts to a global smash hit. “The pressure comes along with ‘I want to do this right, I want to do the best that I can to do good Small pieces carved in wood are displayed.

studies to help support her family, she Trakl, Hoelderlin, Lasker-Schueler and became a teacher of English in various Georg Buechner - published around 100 Vienna public schools in 1946, but dedicat- poems, text collages, novels, radio plays, ed herself to writing full-time from 1969. libretti and children’s books during her long “I’m madly in love with language. I need career. The US Poetry Foundation com- books, I need silence. I don’t like talking. pared her poems to “linguistic collages, What I have to say, I write,” she said. mystical or hallucinatory montages of lan- Mayroecker, the winner of many presti- guage and experience.” ustrian writer and poet Friederike gious literary prizes - such as the Georg She herself described the writing Mayroecker, regarded as “the great process as “a magical state, as if I were on Adame of experimental literature”, drugs” and said she often wept while work- died in Vienna on Friday at the age of 96, ing. She was associated with experimental her publisher Suhrkamp said. “All of German writers and artists of the “Wiener Vienna is mourning the doyenne of Gruppe” or Vienna Group, including poet Austrian literature and our honorary citizen, Ernst Jandl, her long-term companion who Friederike Mayroecker”, the city’s mayor died in 2000. “What I want is to disappear Michael Ludwig wrote on Twitter as tributes behind my biography. The important thing began pouring in. is the bibliography,” she once said. — AFP Born in the Austrian capital on Dec 20, 1924, Mayroecker began writing at the age (From left) Director Jon M Chu and actors Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace and of 15. Forced to abandon her German Friederike Mayroecker Jimmy Smits attend the LALIFF special preview screening of “In The Heights”. — AFP photos Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Sunday, June 6, 2021

Aerial view taken on May 27, 2021 shows Sevilla’s Cathedral. — AFP photos Aerial view taken on May 27, 2021 shows the Triana bridge in Sevilla.

eville’s pandemic-hit tourism sector is arms” but the money they will spend will billion the previous year, as the pandemic dral, chef Rafael Sanchez has recently give a forecast for reservations which will hoping to get a shot in the arm from pale in comparison to the income the sec- put the brakes on travel around the world. reopened his tapas restaurant, Las depend on the recovery of flights to the city. SUEFA’s last-minute decision to name tor has lost. Beyond the Euro, 2021 will be This drop in business led about one in Columnas, after a 15-month closure due to Seville airport currently operates 67 routes, the southern Spanish city as a host for “complicated”, added Luque, who does not five businesses to close their doors, the pandemic. With nostalgia he recalls the two-thirds of the pre-pandemic amount. Euro 2020 matches. While thousands of expect hospitality sector revenues to return according to the hospitality association. The European, American and Asian tourists “What matters is that Ryanair flights football fans are set to flock to the city later to pre-pandemic levels until 2023. fall in visitor numbers can be felt in the nar- who ate at his venue in the past. “I hope resume,” said Diego Zanoletti, an Italian this month, hotels, restaurants and bars warn the event won’t be enough to make up for the collapse in business brought on by the health crisis. “It is a first-class showcase,” said Antonio Munoz, the city councillor in charge of tourism. “It is a draw to recover the appeal this city has always had to attract tourism.” European football governing body UEFA in April picked Seville to replace Bilbao in northern Spain as a host city for the rescheduled football tournament. Bilbao was dropped because it was unable to guarantee organizers it could host fans in the stadium for matches due to the strict virus measures in place in the region. Seville’s 64,000-seat La Cartuja sta- dium is set to host all three of Spain’s Tourists ride a horse-drawn carriage in Sevilla. Bullfighting placards are displayed at a souvenir shop. A woman walks by a terrace bar at the Plaza del Salvador Group E games against Sweden, Poland Square. and Slovakia, plus a last-16 match during the second half of June. Capacity at the row streets of Seville’s old Jewish quarter, they will all come at once, and that we can who runs a bicycle rental shop. Like other venue will be limited to around 25 percent, ‘It’s dead’ the Santa Cruz neighborhood. “Here half of return to normality,” said Sanchez. business owners, he believes the Euro is “a or 16,000 people. Seville, with its sunny weather, flamenco the businesses have closed. It’s dead,” positive thing but it remains a one-off event Seville city hall expects the matches will dancing and historical landmarks such as Maria Menendez, who runs a tea shop in ‘Lost year’ which will not make up for our lost year or draw around 70,000 visitors, providing a its gothic Cathedral, is Spain’s third most the neighborhood, said as she pointed to a Just over half of Seville’s hotels are cur- what we will lose in 2021”. — AFP direct economic impact of €61 million ($75 visited city. The tourism sector accounts for boarded-up shop across the street. “The rently open but city hall expects that by million) in business. Antonio Luque, the 18 percent of the city’s economic output. Euro is a boost that will last three days,” mid-June 70 percent of hotel beds will be head of the Seville Hospitality Association, But the hospitality sector’s revenues she added. available. The local hotel association was said tourists will be greeted “with open plunged to €640 million in 2020 from €1.6 A few steps from Seville’s famous cathe- optimistic about the future, but declined to

something,” he told AFP with twinkly eyes, in the shop that he still ran half a The Indian who century later, the Pratap Music House. “I always said to people that they were good people.” took the Beatles Local journalist Raju Gusain, who has been at the forefront of restoring the run- down former ashram in recent years, home for tea said Singh thought Lennon was the most talented in the band. “Ajit Singh was a lovely chap,” Gusain told AFP, confirming jit Singh, the Indian music shop his death earlier this week, recalling how owner who befriended the Beatles he loved to recount his old stories about Aduring their magical mystery trip in the Beatles. Rishikesh over half a century ago, has “He promised he would provide some died aged 88. In February 1968 the Fab photographs of Harrison’s birthday bash, Tourists visit the ancient temple of Parthenon on Acropolis hill in Athens Tourists visit the Erechtheion on Acropolis hill. — AFP photos Four fetched up at Maharishi Mahesh but he failed to locate them and used to on Friday. Yogi’s ashram (retreat) in northern India, make excuses,” Gusain said. “He said he seeking spirituality, new experiences and was not that organized and would find Tripping over ‘Minor’ changes refuge from Beatlemania back home. them one day and give me a call. We When AFP toured the Acropolis this Mendoni has insisted that the changes Energized by their new surroundings both used to laugh about that.” week, a woman tripped into a hollow in the are “minor” and “fully reversible” and there overlooking the Ganges river, John Singh was a highly accomplished middle of the new walkway, one of many was no obligation to inform UNESCO, Lennon, Paul McCartney, George musician in his own right, performing designed to give a glimpse of the ancient whose experts are due to attend a confer- Harrison and Ringo Starr wrote much of abroad and becoming one of the top- rock beneath. Further up the path, a staffer ence in Athens in the autumn. Officials their seminal “White Album” there. graded artists on All India Radio, accord- swiftly swept soil into another hollow after a have said the makeover was needed as Turbaned, thin and with a croaky voice, ing to The Times of India. He was one of visitor group has walked past. It’s a plateau the old paths around the Acropolis monu- Singh recalled in an interview with AFP in very few people who could play the vichi- with potholes. Potholes are the opposite of ments, designed five decades ago and last 2019 the band wandering into his musi- tra veena, a traditional string instrument safe,” noted tourist guide Smaragda retopped in 2012, caused hundreds of acci- cal instrument shop in nearby Dehradun that rests horizontally in front of the ontroversy has engulfed an ambi- Touloupa, who recently took her elderly dents every year. one day. kneeling musician. “I used to tell Ajit... to tious restoration project on the parents on a visit to the site. Project supervisor Manolis Korres, a He remembered hitting it off with the pen down his experiences for posterity CAcropolis, with critics accusing the The Acropolis makeover, which cost respected architect involved with the Liverpudlians, who had been pursued and write a book,” the paper quoted life- Greek government of spoiling the country’s around €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) and restoration project since 1975, has said the by a crowd outside, and “inviting them long friend Mercy Phuntsog Nath as say- priceless heritage. Most of the fire has includes award-winning night lighting, a dis- concrete rests on a protective membrane home for tea”. Later he fixed Lennon’s ing. “He would nod his head and say, ‘I been directed at a new concrete walkway abled elevator upgrade and better that can be removed quickly if necessary. guitar and performed at Harrison’s 25th am writing’.” — AFP unveiled in December, which main opposi- drainage, was funded by the Onassis The ministry also stressed that sturdy birthday party. “They were very polite tion leader Alexis Tsipras said constitutes Foundation. The culture ministry has reject- paving was needed to allow heavy machin- with me, they were not haughty or “abuse” of Greece’s most vaunted archae- ed suggestions it was carried out without ery to move slabs of masonry in ongoing ological site. proper consultation and mainly aims at restoration work. A former member of the Acropolis boosting visitor capacity. restoration team, veteran architect Tasos Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said last Dig at metro project Tanoulas, has called the new paths “for- month the Acropolis restorers are “experts Criticism has also been levelled at plans eign” and “stifling” to the 5th-century BCE of global renown” with over four decades of to remove a Byzantine-era highway found monument. The wider restoration project - award-winning work on the site. “Nobody during construction of a new metro in delivered in little more than a year - was has questioned their work,” Mendoni said. Greece’s second city Thessaloniki. Last done without the care needed to safeguard “We have entrusted them with the restora- month, dozens of experts said the move a monument that is for many emblematic of tion of the Acropolis monuments. How can “jeopardizes the preservation of important Greece, critics charge. we doubt them over a (concrete) laying remains” of the city’s Late Antique and The government says it has taken all project?” she said. But Touloupa, who has Byzantine past. In an open letter, they said necessary precautions and that the attacks written books on heritage management the 6th-century BCE road “is one of the are politically motivated. Over 3.5 million and has been guiding visitors to the most spectacular finds from these periods people visited the Acropolis in 2019, before Acropolis since 1998, said the project was anywhere in the world.” the coronavirus pandemic shut down trav- decided within an inner circle of ministry According to reports, Greece’s top el. The culture ministry this week experts, mainly archaeologists. “It’s a com- administrative court, the Council of State, in announced further improvements to the pletely technocratic approach,” she said. April narrowly approved the temporary Acropolis for disabled visitors, which it said Even UNESCO found out about the removal of the antiquities. Its ruling has yet were carried out after consulting with lead- Acropolis “interventions” from “third par- to be published. The €1.5-billion ing associations for people with disabilities. ties,” Mechtild Rossler, director of the Thessaloniki subway project, which was The ministry said signs in Braille and UNESCO World Heritage Centre, told AFP. scheduled to be completed by 2012, is now easier-to-read bold fonts would be As a signatory to the UNESCO World slated to be operational in 2023. The min- In this file photo taken on June 19, 2018, Ajit Singh, owner of the music shop who fixed John installed, in addition to scaled models of the Heritage Convention, Greece should give istry did not respond to requests for com- Lennon’s guitar and performed at George Harrison’s 25th birthday party when the Beatles stayed at monuments, handrails and slope warnings. notice “before making any decisions that ment for this story. — AFP an ashram in nearby Rishikesh 50 years ago in 1968, poses for a picture in Dehradun. — AFP But risks remain. would be difficult to reverse”, Rossler said. 14 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, June 6, 2021

Photo of the day Olympic committee President hails Tennis Complex

KUWAIT: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (left) and Sheikh Fahad Nasser Al-Sabah. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Olympic Committee President Sheikh Fahad Nasser Al-Sabah praised the Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al- Sabah International Tennis Complex and its facilities compara- ble to the largest and most prestigious complexes in the world. In a press statement yesterday after his visit to the new head- quarters of the Kuwait Tennis Federation, Sheikh Fahd Al-Sabah said that the great efforts of the Federation’s Board of Directors resulted in the establishment of this important complex, which has become one of the most important Kuwaiti sports edifices. With such high standard complex, it has become easier for the Federation to host major continental and international tourna- ments, he added. Meanwhile, the head of the Kuwait Tennis Federation Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah affirmed that the establishment of this complex in partnership with the private sector embodies the federation’s clear vision for the develop- ment of the game. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber praised the continu- Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) and Renaud Jamoul (BEL) seen performing during the World Rally Championship. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com ous efforts made by the Kuwait Olympic Committee in over- coming all obstacles facing sports and athletes in light of the joint cooperation between sports bodies. —KUNA History-chasing Serena into French Open second week after Sabalenka exit

PARIS: Serena Williams continued her quest for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title by reaching the Serena rival Rybakina French Open second week for the first time since 2018, after third seed Aryna Sabalenka’s surprise loss left the veteran American as the highest-ranked player in her thrives at French Open half of the draw. In the men’s third round, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas after border crossing and Daniil Medvedev beat big-serving Americans in John Isner and Reilly Opelka respectively. Three-time PARIS: When Elena Rybakina takes on Serena Williams for Roland Garros champion Williams came through a a place in the French Open quarter-finals today, she will be potentially tricky third-round tie with compatriot representing Kazakhstan but there will be envious glances Danielle Collins, winning 6-4, 6-4. She will next face cast from her native Russia. Rybakina was born in Moscow Kazakh 21st seed Elena Rybakina, with a possible quar- but switched allegiance to neighboring Kazakhstan in 2018 ter-final against old rival Victoria Azarenka up for grabs. when she was struggling at 175 in the world. The 39-year-old Williams, still one short of Margaret Three years on, the 21-year-old is her adopted coun- Court’s all-time record of most Grand Slam singles titles, try’s number one with a world ranking of 22. Ironically, thundered down five aces and struck 22 winners past had she stayed loyal she would also now be Russia’s high- Collins. “Today it was very difficult, but I played well, est-ranked player, an honor currently claimed by number stayed concentrated. I’m very happy,” said Williams, 30 Veronika Kudermetova. who fought back from 1-4 down in the second set. Rybakina is the latest in a long line of players to have The eighth seed had already seen yet another of her gone Kazakh in recent years. “The Kazakhstan potential title rivals exit the tournament on Thursday, Federation made me an offer and the decision was easi- when world number one Ashleigh Barty hobbled out er,” she told WTA Insider in 2020. “I changed my citizen- during the second round with a hip injury. After Naomi ship to Kazakhstan because they believed in me and they Osaka’s shock withdrawal, Simona Halep failing to start offered. I was not so good when they offered. So they the tournament through injury and early losses for believed in me and they’re helping me a lot.” Bianca Andreescu and Angelique Kerber, none of the Under the Kazakh flag, Rybakina has won two career players who have beaten Williams in Grand Slam finals titles and taken her personal earnings to over $1.5 million. since her last title in the 2017 Australian Open are still in Few of the players reveal what kind of sweeteners were the competition. offered to entice them to cross the tennis border. World number four Sabalenka, who was the highest- PARIS: Serena Williams of the US serves the ball to Danielle Collins of the US during their women’s sin- However, the long-standing president of the seeded women’s player still in the tournament at the start of gles third round tennis match on Day 6 of The Roland Garros 2021 French Open tennis tournament in Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Bulat Utemuratov is esti- the day, was dumped out by Russia’s Anastasia Paris on Friday. —AFP mated by Forbes to be worth $3.5 billion. Currently, four Pavlyuchenkova. The Belarusian, who has never reached a of Kazakhstan’s top five women are Russian-born. Grand Slam quarter-final, slumped to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 defeat. Number two Yulia Putintseva, ranked 43 but a former top The 31st-seeded Pavlyuchenkova will next face Azarenka. kind of cleared up and helped me to that important vic- three tight sets. He cruised to a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 win over 30, is also a Moscow native and is a three-time Grand Former world number one Azarenka, who stunned tory,” said Tsitsipas whose win ended US men’s hopes in Laslo Djere on Friday, though, setting up a last-16 clash Slam quarter-finalist. Williams in their 23rd meeting in last year’s US Open the tournament. with former world number four Kei Nishikori. semi-finals, cruised past Madison Keys 6-2, 6-2 to reach Second seed Medvedev was adopted as the new “This is the main goal of my tennis career, to win ‘Rent-a-Russians’ the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time since home favourite by the French crowd as he eased to a Grand Slams, to reach the top of the rankings. I feel like In the men’s, national number one Alexander Bublik is making the last four in 2013. straight-sets win over Opelka on Court Suzanne the last year I’m on the right track again,” said Zverev. Russian-born. The 23-year-old, who is ranked at 37 in the Lenglen. The two-time Grand Slam runner-up, who Nishikori reached the fourth round when opponent Henri world, switched in 2016. Bublik still lives in Russia. Medvedev delights ‘home’ crowd speaks French and lived in France as a youngster, Laaksonen retired injured after dropping the first set. Kazakhstan’s top three is rounded out by Russians — Men’s fifth seed Tsitsipas came through the most impressed in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 success. The short outing would have been a relief for Japan’s Mikhail Kukushkin from Volgograd and St. Petersburg serious test of his title credentials so far with a hard- Medvedev had lost all four of his previous French Nishikori, who spent more than eight hours on court native Dmitry Popko. fought victory over Isner in four sets in the night match. Open matches before this week, but received generous over the first two rounds. In-form Norwegian youngster Kukushkin, now 33 and outside the top 100 having The 22-year-old Greek, who lost a dramatic semi-final support from the fans, with no French players in the Casper Ruud was knocked out by Alejandro Davidovich once been in the top 40, was one of the original ‘Rent-a- last year to Novak Djokovic, bounced back from losing a third round for the first time in the Open era. The Fokina in a marathon match which lasted more than Russians’, having switched in 2008. “At that time I was tight first set to win 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1. Russian will face Cristian Garin for a last-eight spot four-and-a-half hours. around 150 in the world and I was struggling,” he said. An excellent third-set tie-break was the key to after the Chilean beat US player Marcos Giron 6-1, 5-7, The Spaniard clinched victory in a dramatic final “I was not in good shape in that moment, but I knew securing a fourth-round match against Spanish 12th seed 6-2, 6-2. game, even including an underarm serve, on his fifth that I could play better, much better and I can get to the Pablo Carreno Busta, who eased past Steve Johnson 6-4, German sixth seed Alexander Zverev needed five sets match point, winning 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 0-6, 7-5 other level. But I didn’t have any opportunity for that. 6-4, 6-2. “I didn’t have the best start I would say, but to beat unheralded compatriot Oscar Otte in the first to secure a last-16 date with Argentina’s Federico Unfortunately in Russia nobody was interested in me. things started going my way in the second set. My head round before edging Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in Delbonis. —AFP Kazakhstan came to me and they provided everything, practice conditions, coaches.” On the international team level, Kazakhstan’s most successful singles player in the Billie Jean King Cup is Galina Voskoboeva from Moscow. In the Davis Cup, GAZOO Racing celebrates victory in Portugal Kazakhstan competed in the World Group for the first time in 2011 and have reached the quarter-finals LISBON: The GAZOO Racing (GR) World Rally five times. Team is celebrating its third win and double-podi- They will feature in the 2021 Davis Cup Finals in um finish from four events so far in the 2021 FIA Madrid later this year having beaten the Netherlands in World Rally Championship after Elfyn Evans last year’s qualifier where Bublik won both his singles claimed victory recently at the Rally de Portugal in rubbers. On Sunday, Rybakina will shrug off any lingering the No 33 Toyota Yaris WRC. Sebastien Ogier fin- regrets when she attempts to reach the quarter-finals of a ished third in the No 1 Toyota Yaris WRC and con- Grand Slam for the first time and halt Williams’s push for a tinues to lead the drivers’ championship. The result record-equaling 24th Slam. “She is a legend of the sport. I places him just two points in front of Evans, while want to be with her on the court, to feel the power and the GR team has further extended Toyota’s lead in everything,” she said. —AFP the manufacturers’ standings. Evans drove a consistent and intelligent rally together with co-driver Scott Martin in the No 33 Toyota Yaris WRC, and was rewarded with the lead by the end of the third day. He claimed two further stage wins during the fourth and final morning, bringing his tally for the event to six, and ultimately sealed victory by 28.3 seconds. The result brings Evans the fourth win of his WRC career, and his third since joining GR at the start of 2020. The FIA World Rally Championship will contin- ue in Italy with Rally Italia Sardegna, which takes place from 3 - 6 June. The fifth event of the season features fast and narrow stages coated with fine, sandy gravel. Temperatures can often be high, increasing the stress on the cars and their tires and Elena Rybakina making for challenging conditions. Established 1961 15 Sports Sunday, June 6, 2021 The Budapest exception: Packed stands at Euro 2020 BUDAPEST: Excitement is building in Budapest, sands of Hungarians followed their team to host the only Euro 2020 venue without COVID-19 atten- nation France. dance limits, with thronged stands expected for “After 500 days we can at last return to the Hungary’s first ever hosting of a major tournament stands,” said a statement by the “Carpathian despite concerns it could trigger a fourth wave of Brigade” ultras group that supports the national the virus. team, referring to Hungary’s closed-doors games Two of Hungary’s group matches, versus title since the pandemic began. holders Portugal on June 15 and world champions The group organized matchday marches through France on June 19, will be played at the 68,000- cities like Marseille at Euro 2016, and promises capacity Puskas Arena. The new stadium, opened in “spectacular” ultra-choreography at the Hungary 2019 but mostly empty since the outbreak of the ties. Raucous home support could also help the coronavirus pandemic, will also see France play team challenge its formidable Group F opponents, Portugal on June 23 and a last-16 tie on June 27. according to fans on the group’s Facebook page. “Hungarians are really looking forward to hosting “We will be there,” said many comments. a tournament like this, and in a modern national sta- The Hungarian football federation (MLSZ) says dium,” said Gyorgy Szollosi, editor-in-chief of the fans will only be allowed to enter the Puskas Arena Nemzeti Sport daily newspaper. “It is a liberation not if they can prove they have been vaccinated with an only from the virus crisis but also from a half century “immunity certificate” while foreigners will have to of problems in Hungarian football,” he told AFP. show a negative PCR test. According to the govern- ment, Hungary’s swift vaccine rollout, partly thanks Football fever to its use of Chinese and Russian vaccines alone The last tranche of tickets made available to among EU members, means the games will be safe. BUDAPEST: Hungarian fans wave their national flag behind a banner which reads “Orok igazsag (Eternal Hungary fans were snapped up within two hours of With over half of the adult population having truth)” during the friendly football match Hungary v Cyprus in Budapest on Friday, in preparation for the UEFA going on sale on UEFA’s website in April. During received a first vaccine dose Hungary is the “safest European Championships. —AFP Hungary’s distant glory years in the 1950s and country in Europe” said Prime Minister Viktor 1960s “there was no chance for the supporters to Orban, whose favorite sport is football. “We have follow the team,” said Szollosi. beaten the third wave,” he said while announcing in March and April, which threatened to overwhelm ues. “We are still not yet at herd immunity in “Then after the communist-era Iron Curtain was the lifting of most restrictions last month. hospitals. Hungary, while the appearance of the variant (iden- lifted in 1989 and the borders were opened Hungary Although new infections have since dramatically tified for the first time in India) could spark a fourth didn’t qualify for big tournaments,” he said. When Calculated risk fallen, Gabriella Lantos, a health expert with an wave,” she told AFP. A year before a general elec- the Magyars finally made it to a European But some government critics are alarmed at the opposition party, still says that packing fans into the tion that is expected to be a tight race, Lantos says Championship in 2016 — their first major tourna- prospect of full houses at Euro 2020. Hungary was Puskas Arena is “irresponsible”, particularly as fan Orban wants “to make people forget about the pan- ment since the 1986 World Cup — tens of thou- hit with one of the highest death rates in the world numbers will be restricted at other Euro 2020 ven- demic and the deaths”. — AFP

League winner with Chelsea, and Barella Spain and Portugal in lukewarm quickly set the tempo for Italy. Italy’s strik- ers Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile wasted early chances, before Immobile of stalemate ahead of Euros Lazio broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute. Barella, who injected energy from MADRID: Spain and Portugal both lacked whistled when Luis Enrique’s name was midfield, added a second before half time. firepower as they drew 0-0 in a friendly read out before kickoff and sung an anti- Immobile set up Insigne to score the third warm up for the European Championships Morata chant when the striker hit the bar. with a deflected shot. Berardi rounded off at the Metropolitano in Madrid on Friday. In the national team’s first game with a the party in style, much to the delight of The match was both an occasion to official- home crowd at Madrid’s Metropolitano, the few thousand spectators in the venera- ly launch the two nations launching a joint some spectators whistled his name when ble Dall’Ara Stadium. bid to host the 2030 World Cup and for the the line-ups were announced, but Luis They also warmly welcomed the debut hosts to test out a new-look defense. Enrique said that “It doesn’t affect me if of Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori, the Cristiano Ronaldo had a frustrating night they whistle or applaud me,” said the surprise pick on the 26-man squad, with 12 on his first game in Madrid since leaving coach. “It bothers me that they do that to minutes left. While Italy’s attack enjoyed Real in 2018 and came close to scoring my players.” itself, the defence maintained their defen- twice and set up a good chance Diogo Jota PORTO ALEGRE: Brazil’s Neymar repeats a penalty kick to score against failed to take advantage of. Backed by Joao Ecuador during their South American qualification football match for the Felix, Ronaldo was largely neutralized by FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Jose Pinheiro Borda stadium in Porto Barcelona pair Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alegre, Brazil, on Friday. —AFP Alcantara in a tight home midfield in front of a remodeled defense. “It was a very good test for us and I think we will all be ready for the European Retaken Neymar penalty helps Championship,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique. “In the first 60 minutes we man- Brazil maintain perfect start aged to almost completely cancel out the reigning European champions, they almost PORTO ALEGRE: Star forward encroachment by Dominguez. didn’t make three passes in a row,” Neymar scored a retaken penalty Neymar retook the penalty and Alvaro Morata came closest to scoring as Brazil maintained their perfect this time sent Dominguez the wrong for Spain missing two clear chances and start to South American World Cup way. The slapstick ending could not hitting the bar in stoppage time. “I think we qualifying with a 2-0 win over mask a deserved victory for Brazil, made enough chances to score,” said Luis Ecuador on Friday. Richarlison had who now top the qualification table Enrique. “I don’t get angry when my players given Brazil the lead on 64 minutes by four points from unbeaten miss chances, I’m never going to reproach and Neymar sealed the win deep Argentina, with Ecuador third, two my players for not being able to take their into injury time, but only after points further back. chances.” MADRID: Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) heads the ball next to Spain’s another VAR farce. Predictably, Brazil dominated the Manchester City defender Aymeric defender Diego Llorente during the international friendly football match between Spain Referee Alexis Herrera initially early possession with 75 percent of Laporte made his debut after opting for and Portugal at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid in preparation for the gave a free-kick against Gabriel the ball in the first quarter of an Spain ahead of his native France. Luis UEFA European Championships, on Friday. —AFP Jesus after contact between him hour. But it wasn’t until 20 minutes Enrique praised Laporte and his center and Angelo Preciado in the that they first threatened with back partner Pau Torres. “I thought they sive solidity with an eighth consecutive Ecuador area five minutes from Richarlison millimeters away from were both exceptional, dominant, with Italy cruise past Czechs clean sheet. time. But after an interminable four- turning home a whipped inswinging character, putting pressure on the A week before they kick off Euro 2020 The Czechs, who open their Euro cam- minute VAR review, he changed his Neymar freekick. Portuguese strikers.” Portugal coach in Rome, Italy crushed the Czech Republic paign against Scotland in Glasgow on June mind and awarded a penalty. Moments later Richarlison played Fernando Santos was less satisfied. “We 4-0 in Bologna on Friday, keeping an 14, started brightly before the home team Neymar stuttered in his run-up Gabriel in on goal but Dominguez can do better, I’ll be talking with the lads eighth straight clean sheet. Ciro Immobile took full control. The only real scare for but Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander was out quickly to smother his and we have the quality to improve,” he Nicolo Barella Lorenzo Insigne and Italy manager Roberto Mancini came when Dominguez wasn’t fooled and easily poked effort. Ecuador were their said. “They gave everything and it’ll serve Domenico Berardi all scored for the hosts Leonardo Bonucci limped off in the first saved his weak shot. Ecuador were usual physical selves but showed lit- us well.” who will open the Euro against Turkey half after twisting his right knee, but the then down the other end attacking tle of the attacking verve that had “We have the consistency to hope to next Friday. Juventus defender returned and finished when Herrera blew his whistle and seen them score 13 goals in their win titles,” he added. Some 14,743 masked In the absence of Paris Saint-Germain the game. Italy are undefeated in 27 brought the game back for previous three matches. — AFP fans attended at Atletico Madrid’s 68,000- midfielder Marco Verratti, who is nursing matches, since September 2018. — AFP seat Wanda Metropolitano stadium. They an injured knee, Jorginho, a Champions Established 1961 Sport

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 Leonard scores 45 as Clippers win on road to force game seven

LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard tied his postseason Leonard drained back-to-back threes down the career high with 45 points as the Los Angeles Clippers stretch as the Clippers seized a 99-90 lead with beat the Dallas Mavericks 104-97 Friday to stave off 100 seconds to go. Doncic said the Mavericks’ win- elimination and force game seven in their Western ning record at Staples Center has them confident Conference NBA series. about game seven. “We all believe we can win game The Clippers kept their season alive by winning in seven,” he said. front of an almost full house at Dallas’ American Airlines Center, marking the first time in NBA history ‘Pillars’ of Lakers that the road team has won the first six games in a LeBron James remains a “championship pillar” of best-of-seven series. the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA club will pour all Game seven is today at Staples Center arena in it can into making sure he and Anthony Davis are at downtown Los Angeles where the Mavericks have won full strength next season, general manager Rob Pelinka three games. “I didn’t want to go home,” said Leonard said Friday. of facing elimination in front of 18,300 Dallas fans in The Phoenix Suns ended the Lakers’ NBA title the first-round of the playoffs. defense in emphatic style on Thursday, leading wire- Leonard becomes just the fourth player in playoff to-wire in a 113-100 victory to win their best-of-seven history with 45 points and 70 percent shooting while Western Conference first-round series in six games. It facing elimination, joining LeBron James, Wilt marked the first time in 15 playoff appearances that Chamberlain and Canadian Jamal Murray. “I had to James — a four-time NBA champion — was eliminat- insert myself into the game,” Leonard said. “My team- ed in the first round. mates found me, I got some open looks, knocked them Inevitably the series defeat, on the heels of a regu- down and I just kept going from there.” lar season in which James and Davis both battled DALLAS: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dunks during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Reggie Jackson added 25 and Paul George scored injury and the Lakers had to play their way into the Round 1, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on Friday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. — AFP 20 points with 13 rebounds as the Clippers rallied from post-season proper as the seventh seed, sparked a seven-point deficit in the third quarter. Luka Doncic speculation as to how much longer the 36-year-old injury suffered in game four forced him to the side- that he was looking forward to a complete off-season, scored 29 points with 11 assists for the Mavericks, who James will be the man to carry a franchise and lines. James scored 29 points, but was helpless in the one that he indicated wouldn’t include the Tokyo are seeking to avenge a first-round playoff loss to the whether he can still hope to match legendary Michael face of an early onslaught from emerging Suns star Olympics. “It’s going to work wonders for me,” he said. Clippers last season when they were ousted in six Jordan’s six titles. Devin Booker, who scored 22 of his 47 points in the “I can get three months, to recalibrate, get my ankle games. Tim Hardaway added 23 points for Dallas. Pelinka, however, insisted that James and Davis first quarter. It was the end of an 18-month run that back to 100 percent. Everything else feels extremely “(Kawhi) destroyed us. He had a hell of a game. together — if they’re healthy — can return the Lakers James called “mentally, physically spiritually, emo- well.” That’s what he does,” Doncic said of Leonard. Doncic, to the summit. “Anthony Davis and LeBron James are tionally draining.” And once he’s rested, James added, he won’t need who scored 42 points in a game five win, waited until championship pillars of this franchise for years to The Lakers had only a couple of months after they to check the continuing exploits of “young guns” in the late in the game on Friday to score a large portion of come,” Pelinka said. clinched the club’s 17th championship in the NBA’s league like Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, his points. The Mavericks shot just 29 percent from the “I view the role of any organization, front office, quarantine bubble in Florida before the new season Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic to motivate himself. “I field in the final quarter and 41 percent overall. coaching staff, is to be a role of support and we have began. Despite the quick turnaround the Lakers were don’t need motivation from anybody in this league,” he Leonard carried the Clippers on his back, shooting to pour all we can resource-wise into helping LeBron 21-6 early in the season before injuries threw them into said. “I motivate myself.” 18-of-25 from the floor and draining five of nine threes. finalize getting through the end of his high ankle sprain disarray. That’s what Pelinka wants to hear as he mulls how The Clippers led 48-45 at the half but trailed 90-88 and then Anthony Davis, of course, the injuries he to tweak the Lakers’ roster to complement James heading into the fourth. Los Angeles’ Nicolas Batum faced,” Pelinka said. “We know that those guys are ‘I motivate myself’ and Davis and put the Lakers back at the top. “That made a dunk with just over five minutes left in the both two of the top two-way players in the world.” Davis missed almost two months with a calf strain. has to be the goal every year,” Pelinka said. “We fourth to give them a 90-85 lead. That set the stage for Davis limped through less than six scoreless min- James sprained his right ankle in March and missed 26 have an insatiable desire and passion to bring ban- Leonard to carry them to the finish. utes in game six against Phoenix before a groin regular-season games. He said after Thursday’s game ner No 18 here.” — AFP