RABIA ALTHANI 25, 1442 AH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

16 Pages Max 22º Min 10º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18305 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Health minister inspects Boeing 737 MAX returns Longest-running TV soap, PSG and Basaksehir walkout 2 COVID vaccination site 8 to sky with Brazil flight 13 Coronation Street, turns 60 16 deepens football racism row

37 lawmakers back Humaidhi as next Assembly speaker

MPs to meet again to select deputy speaker, determine priority issues

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: As many as 37 newly-elected lawmakers agreed at a meeting yesterday to vote for MP Bader Al-Humaidhi as the next Assembly speaker, which is more than the required number to elect the new head of parliament. Opposition MP Abdulkarim Al- Kandari, host of the second meeting of new law- makers, said MPs will announce on their Twitter accounts their pledges to vote for Humaidhi, a for- mer Cabinet minister. If all lawmakers comply with their pledges, MP Marzouq Al-Ghanem, speaker since 2013, will not be re-elected even if the 16-member Cabinet decides to vote for him. There has been no comment by Ghanem since he retained his seat in the Assembly from the second constituency. Following the meeting, a large number of MPs made the pledges on their Twitter accounts. MP Bader Al-Dahoum said MPs will hold a third meet- ing in Jahra on Saturday to agree on electing a deputy speaker. The meeting will also focus on set- ting priority issues for the next Assembly. Opposition MP Thamer Al-Suwait said after the meeting the message which must reach authorities is that “the people do not want Marzouq Al- Ghanem as the speaker of the Assembly”. KUWAIT: Newly-elected lawmakers meet at opposition MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari’s house yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 2

(DGCA) issued a circular yesterday allowing health Passengers who are first-degree relatives (husband, News in brief MoH employees, ministry employees and their first-degree relatives to wife, children) of health ministry employees are travel directly to Kuwait. Passengers from 34 coun- allowed to travel to Kuwait via direct flights or tran- World set for 3C warming tries are banned from flying directly to the country, sit, provided they have a valid residency or valid dependents can fly and instead have to spend at least 14 days in a third entry visa. PARIS: Earth is still on course to warm more country before travelling to Kuwait. The circular assured the Kuwait Mobile ID app than 3 degrees Celsius by the century’s end directly to Kuwait Yesterday’s DGCA circular was addressed to all can be used at all ports and airports, adding preven- despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions caused airlines operating at Kuwait International Airport. It tive health measures in force by the health ministry by the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution, By Nawara Fattahova said all health ministry employees who have valid will be applied to all abovementioned categories. the UN said yesterday. In its annual assessment residency or hold valid entry visas are allowed to Kuwait Times confirmed the issuance of this circular of emissions levels, the UN’s Environment KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation travel to Kuwait via direct flights or transit. by DGCA Director General Yousef Al-Fouzan. Program found that 2020’s 7-percent fall in car- bon pollution would have “negligible impact” on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels. — AFP (See Page 2) Gaza’s ‘only Family-to-work visa NCDs 7 of top 10 killers Iranian’ wants transfers eyed; 1-yr

GENEVA: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for seven of the top 10 causes of death to go home limit on residencies before the coronavirus pandemic, the World KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Manpower is Health Organization said yesterday, with heart RAFAH: There is only one known Iranian in Gaza - an ageing former bodyguard to longtime Palestinian contemplating allowing transfers of dependent visa disease killing more people than ever before. to work permits after they were suspended for two COVID-19 is likely to figure in the 2020 top 10, leader Yasser Arafat who dreams only of returning home, but finds himself stuck in the enclave. “I just months, Al-Qabas Arabic daily reported. Sources WHO officials said, with the death toll having GAZA: Iranian Qassem Sheyasi holds his Iranian said the decision was made for humanitarian rea- passed the 1.5 million mark on Dec 3. — AFP want to get out of here and die in Iran,” Qassem Sheyasi - known by his Arabic nom-de-guerre Abu passport and a photo of himself with longtime sons, as a large number of expats, particularly Hashem - told AFP, making it clear that he is no longer Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in his house in women, are in need of article 18 residencies with in the Gaza Strip by choice. Khan Yunis on Nov 11, 2020. — AFP which they entered the country for the first time. Democracy under threat Feeble, impoverished and sitting on a mattress laid They said that the transfer requires the approval on the floor, Abu Hashem flicked ash from his cigarette join Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization, then of the labor affairs secretary at the manpower STOCKHOLM: More than six in 10 countries into a tin can with a gentle tap of his index finger as he based in Beirut, which was one of several armed authority and a fee of KD 300 the applicant must around the world have adopted measures during recounted how he became trapped. Long before he actors in Lebanon’s civil war. “In Beirut, I met Abu pay in case the period of transfer from work to fam- the COVID-19 pandemic that threaten democra- found himself forced to beg outside Gaza’s mosques Ammar (Arafat), who asked me to stay with him,” ily visa is less than six months, in addition to sub- cy or human rights, a report by democracy insti- on Fridays, Abu Hashem was a young Tehran resident said Abu Hashem, who sometimes sprinkles his mitting a residency sequence history from the inte- tute International IDEA said yesterday. The drawn to the Palestinian cause. Arabic with Farsi. rior ministry. study concluded that 61 percent of nations He said he left the Iranian capital 40 years ago to Continued on Page 2 Meanwhile, informed sources said the interior “implemented restrictions that were either illegal, ministry has stopped issuing residencies of two or disproportionate, indefinite or unnecessary” in at in an ever-growing range of colors and fillings, more years and decided to limit them to one year least one area of democratic freedoms. — AFP the doughnut takes pride of place among dishes for wives of citizens, children of female citizens, Baker offers expat mothers of citizens, and wives and children of traditionally eaten over the week-long Jewish expats, reported Al-Rai Arabic daily. The sources holiday of Hanukkah, which begins today. Over 80m people displaced said the reason behind granting one-year residency ‘Abu Dhabi’ The Emirates in September signed a land- is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hin- GENEVA: Despite calls for ceasefires and com- mark US-brokered deal to formalize relations dered work. passion amid the COVID-19 pandemic, violence doughnut with Israel, the first such agreement by a Gulf They said granting expats of the abovemen- and persecution have continued to force people Arab state and only the third by any Arab tioned categories more than one year of residency from their homes, with record numbers now dis- JERUSALEM: An enterprising Israeli baker is country. “We want to pay tribute to Abu Dhabi requires medical examinations, review of security placed, the UN said yesterday. By the end of trying to tempt customers with a date-flavored and to peace in the region,” Kadosh told AFP. restrictions and other technical matters. The sources 2019, 79.5 million people were living uprooted doughnut from the Jewish state’s new regional Each year Kadosh and his wife Kerem try to added the suspension of granting more than one and displaced, including nearly 30 million partner, the United Arab Emirates. Pastry chef create new pastries for Hanukkah during which year of residency applies to all expats except those refugees - more than one percent of the world’s Itzik Kadosh is offering the “Abu Dhabi” the Jews commonly eat foods fried in oil, espe- working in the private sector who are in Kuwait and population. — AFP doughnut, with its Emirati dates, nougat and cially the doughnut, or “sufganiya” as it is have work permits of two or more years. cream filling, topped with a golden leaf. Coming called in Hebrew. — AFP Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Thursday, December 10, 2020 Local Amir receives Crown Prince, Speaker, PM

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Sabah meets His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. — Amiri Diwan photos meets National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem. Hamad Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al- Marzouq Al-Ghanem and His Highness the the Crown Prince received Ghanem and His Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled yesterday at at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Amir also received National Assembly Speaker Hamad Al-Sabah. In the meantime, His Highness Bayan Palace. — KUNA

vaccines. The ministry had announced in health authorities’ approval. Priority will be Minister inspects vaccination site November that the BNT162 vaccine, devel- given to frontliners and people at risk, before oped by BioNTech and distributed by Pfizer, the vaccine is made available to the public KUWAIT: Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel International Fairground in Mishref, where a will arrive to Kuwait before the end of the optionally and free of charge, the government Al-Sabah yesterday visited Kuwait hall is being prepared to provide COVID-19 year, noting that it will be subject to local had explained. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Diplomats sign the book of condolence at the Pakistan Embassy in Kuwait for the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zafarullah Jamali, who passed away on December 2, 2020 in Pakistan. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

line with that figure, it took an unprecedented slow- adding that the next Cabinet must not include what World set for 3C down in industry, travel and manufacturing to achieve. 37 lawmakers back he called ministers who stir problems. MP Bader Al- Experts fear that a rebound in carbon emissions is Mulla said the agreement on a new candidate for nearly inevitable in 2021; last week the UN said that speaker is the translation of the outcome of the warming by 2100 countries planned to increase fossil fuel production Humaidhi as... elections. PARIS: Earth is still on course to warm more than 3 by 2 percent each year this decade. To limit warming Opposition MP Hasan Jowhar stressed on the degrees Celsius by the century’s end despite a dip in to 1.5C it said oil, gas and coal production instead Continued from Page 1 need to reform the Assembly speakership in order greenhouse gas emissions caused by the pandemic must fall 6 percent each year. Yesterday’s assessment to achieve national reconciliation and tackle corrup- and pledges to curb pollution, the UN said yesterday. found that emissions in 2019 - a year scientists still He also called on the prime minister to “read the tion issues. He declared his support for Humaidhi. In its annual assessment of emissions levels, the UN’s hope will represent a peak in annual carbon pollution events carefully after the agreement on Humaidhi”. The unanimous selection of Humaidhi comes after Environment Program found that 2020’s 7-percent - stood at 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent. Leading opposition MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri said his only competitor - MP Mohammad Al-Mutair - fall in carbon pollution would have “negligible impact” This represents a 2.6 percent increase compared he will vote for Humaidhi as the next speaker, withdrew from the race on Tuesday. on warming without a broad and rapid shift away with 2018, largely driven by an increase in forest fires, from fossil fuels. UNEP said. All told, Earth is still on course to warm Sources said nearly 2,300 violators applied for The Emissions Gap report analyses the gulf more than 3C by 2100 - a temperature rise that would Family-to-work appointments, but those who actually went to res- between action required under the Paris climate deal displace hundreds of millions of people because of idency departments is very low, either because and emissions cuts currently planned by countries. It rising seas, crop failures and increasingly extreme they changed their minds or changed the dates. weather such as droughts and storms. It said reduced found that a “green recovery” from the pandemic, in visa transfers... The sources said the reasons behind violatorsí travel, industrial activity and electrical generation dur- which emerging net-zero pledges are accelerated, reluctance can be inability to pay fines and ing the pandemic would see emissions fall 7 percent could shave 25 percent off of emissions by 2030. This Continued from Page 1 expensive tickets, but they advised expats to take compared with last year. But that would only translate would bring the world closer to levels required to limit advantage of the amnesty because the interior to a 0.01C reduction of global warming by 2050. warming to 2C as stipulated under Paris. Meanwhile, only 400 out of 130,000 expats in ministry will launch round-the-clock security UNEP said a green recovery from COVID-19 With just over 1C of warming since pre-industrial violation of residency laws have come forward campaigns to arrest and deport violators, who would see emissions hit 44 GT in 2030 compared times, Earth is already experiencing stronger and since the start of a one-month grace period to cannot return to Kuwait or any other GCC coun- with a predicted 59 GT, giving humanity a 66 percent more frequent droughts, wildfires and superstorms correct their legal status or leave the country. try for five years. rendered deadlier by rising seas. “Obviously the chance of holding temperature rises under 2C. This world has been in lockdown. During this time we saw would need widespread switches to renewable ener- up a new base in Gaza from where he was to launch an a 7 percent decline in emissions,” UNEP Executive gy, direct support for zero-emission technology and era of Palestinian self-governance beginning with control Director Inger Andersen told AFP. “But we also know infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new Gaza’s ‘only over the territory and the West Bank town of Jericho. that the answer is not to lock up the world and have coal plants and widespread reforestation, it said. 1.9 billion children out of school.” Yet the pandemic recovery already appears to Iranian’ wants... Abu Hashem joined Arafat in Gaza and was promoted She said yesterday’s report showed that a green have support for high pollution industries already within the fledgling Palestinian security forces. He married pandemic recovery “can take a huge slice out of figured in, with only a quarter of G20 nations dedi- three women and fathered six children. His eldest daugh- greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate cating spending shares to low-carbon measures. Continued from Page 1 ter Mona Sheyasi said she remembered seeing her father change”. UNEP said last year that emissions must fall The report also laid bare the vast inequality of car- alongside Arafat, who died in 2004. “After Gaza, he never 7.6 percent annually through 2030 to keep the more bon pollution: the wealthiest 1 percent account for “I became a bodyguard for (Arafat) and Abu Jihad,” travelled again,” said the 24-year-old, who lives in a shack ambitious Paris temperature goal of 1.5C in play. more than twice the combined emissions of the he recalled, referring to Khalil Al-Wazir, the former head made of concrete and tin next to a landfill. While 2020 is likely to see emissions fall broadly in poorest 50 percent. — AFP of the PLO’s military wing who was killed by Israeli com- Economic opportunities are limited in Gaza which mandos in Tunisia in 1988. has been under Israeli blockade since 2007, the year Security sources with Hamas, the Islamist movement Hamas took power in the coastal enclave. Before the which has controlled Gaza since 2007, said Abu Hashem pandemic the poverty rate was above 50 percent and is was the only known Iranian currently in the territory. His widely believed to have surged in recent months. Abu age is a subject of some uncertainty. His Palestinian Hashem said he still receives his Palestinian pension of papers put him at 70, his Iranian documents at 78 but, as $460 per month, hardly enough to support his wives, far he is concerned, he’s been around for nearly 100 children and grandchildren. “It’s humiliating. I lost every- years. His box of yellowed and dog-eared photos tell a thing. My family is suffering from poverty,” he said. somewhat clearer story. Compounding Abu Hashem’s plight is his connection In several, he is wearing military fatigues, straight- to Arafat. Hamas is a longstanding rival of Arafat’s Fatah backed and looking fit, with Arafat firmly grasping his movement, making it nearly impossible for Abu Hashem shoulders with both hands. Abu Hashem, an explosives to make connections with Gaza’s current rulers, even expert, was however evasive when asked for details on though the Islamist movement is close to Iran. Short on the nature of his work for Arafat in Beirut. When Arafat money or powerful contacts, Abu Hashem is effectively a moved the PLO from Beirut to Tunis in 1982, Abu Hashem prisoner in Gaza. headed for the then North Yemen, where he trained The enclave is wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian fighters. Mediterranean Sea. Exit through Israel, which considers Among his papers is an expired Iranian passport that Iran its number one enemy, is a non-starter, while travel was issued in Yemen as well as forged papers identifying through Egypt would require a valid passport, which Abu QULUSUK, Greenland: This file photo taken on Aug 17, 2019 shows bergy bits and growlers floating in him as a Palestinian refugee. After Israel and the Hashem no longer has. “Even Iran’s sewers are better than front of the Apusiajik glacier. — AFP Palestinians signed the historic Oslo Accords, Arafat set Gaza,” he said. “I was a fool to stay here.” — AFP Established 1961 3 Thursday, December 10, 2020 Local Kuwait elections held amid high degree of integrity and transparency: Watchdog Interior Minister thanks Amir for praising policemen’s role in elections

KUWAIT: Kuwait Society of National Integrity some recommendations and observations,” he said, mendation which will be, as he said, a push for fur- insisted that the 2020 National Assembly elections however positive points “prevailed” with a “high ther progress and efforts so as to maintain the secu- were conducted with a “high degree of integrity degree of integrity and transparency.” There were rity of the country and citizens. He prayed to Allah and transparency,” and were “well managed” in light 63 positive points, 18 observations and 12 recom- Almighty to preserve His Highness the Amir, and of the large voter turnout and strict health measures mendations recorded, he said, explaining that this maintain the country’s security and stability under adopted. The elections watchdog had monitored the illustrates a “high commitment to local and interna- His Highness’ leadership. electoral process after being invited to do so by the tional standards of electoral integrity.” Saleh sent a similar cable to His Highness the Cabinet, its director Mohammad Al-Otaibi told a Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- press conference at the Kuwait Lawyers of Interior Anas Al-Saleh on Tuesday sent a cable of Sabah for commending the efforts of policemen in Association. The one-day event was lauded as an thanks to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- creating appropriate conditions to help citizens “achievement” due to it being held on schedule Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for lauding the efforts practice easily their electoral rights during the 2020 amidst the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic emer- made by the ministry’s sectors so as to make a suc- National Assembly elections. Saleh voiced pride for gency. The society’s assessors were deployed cessful National Assembly poll. In the cable, Saleh His Highness the Crown Prince’s cable, stressing across all electoral districts, with a large number of said “I and the ministry’s staff have received with keenness on doing their best to maintain security of electoral committees and polling stations visited, great gratitude and thanks the praise of Your the country and people. Furthermore, Saleh sent a and the voting process examined. They also attend- Highness to efforts made by the different sectors of cable of thanks to His Highness the Prime Minister ed the opening of ballot boxes and the sorting and the ministry in order to make a transparent and suc- Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for setting up of results, which were all carried out in cessful election,” the ministry’s security media and commending the role of policemen in the National “very high transparency,” he underlined. “The public relations department said in a statement. This Assembly elections. “It pleases us to send Your judges, prosecutors, and Ministry of Interior staff success was made due to the distinguished and Highness sincere greetings and gratitude, and we lasting well-being, and the country permanent showed a great deal of cooperation in dealing with fruitful cooperation amongst all government min- wish Your Highness everlasting good health,” he security, stability and prosperity, under the wise the society’s teams. “In its final assessment report, istries and bodies as well as citizens, he added. He said. The minister wished His Highness the Crown leadership of His Highness the Amir and His the society recorded “many positive points, with expressed pride for His Highness the Amir’s com- Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister ever- Highness the Crown Prince. —KUNA

communities of KAFO Kuwait’s Prime this year, with emphasis being on the sugges- France readying tions that could con- Minister to attend tribute to stronger and education, arts more active coopera- KAFO-4 Forum tives,” Dr Mousawi revealed. “A new com- for ‘new normal’ munity on public policy KUWAIT: Under the auspices and in the presence By Ben Garcia of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- has been added to KAFO and 2021 KAFO Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the fourth forum of KUWAIT: France is ready to receive new appli- agenda will see new Kuwait’s Achievers for Future Opportunities cants and enrollees in its schools and universities initiatives for coopera- (KAFO-4) will be held between the 12th and 16th of as it sees an end to the coronavirus pandemic tion with the various December 2020. His Highness the Prime Minister soon. “It’s the reality of life for many countries institutions,” she added. His Highness the Prime will address the Kuwaiti youth during the opening around the world, but we refuse to be affected Founded in keeping Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- session of the annual event, KAFO Executive and are readying our institutes for the ‘new nor- with the directives of Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Director Dr Fatimah Al-Mousawi said in a press mal’ very soon. Arts and culture are considered KUWAIT: Pierre Colliot, Counselor for Cooperation and His Highness the late release yesterday. KAFO-4, a national platform the heart of France. Our life and activities were Culture Affairs at the French Embassy. Amir of the Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- connecting and collaborating with young achievers disrupted, but we can see the light as coronavirus —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Jaber Al-Sabah as part of the National Youth via Zoom, will gather more than 30 speakers repre- vaccines are being rolled out all over the world,” Project 2013, KAFO aims to establish a database of senting national institutions as well as guests from said Pierre Colliot, Counselor for Cooperation and of medicines, judiciary and engineering. “I am young achievers in different professions, academic the World Bank, she noted. “As many as 100 figures Culture Affairs at the French Embassy, and the happy to serve as the counselor for cooperation careers, and creative fields. —KUNA were selected for various voluntary roles in the ten current Director of Francais du Koweit, an insti- and culture for France in Kuwait. Kuwait and tute run by the embassy. France enjoy very close cooperation in the field Kuwait had provided over $9 million to the CERF since Colliot admitted things will still be slow until of education and we want them to know that we COVID-19 raised its inception knowing the importance of the fund’s role in the second quarter of next year, but believes life are ready to accept their inquiries. If they want to addressing issues of humanitarian needs. The global com- in France in the fields of culture, literature, music, learn French, we have online classes available at munity is in need of boosting cooperation in the efforts to research and education will be back to vibrancy our institute. We have the technology - we only humanitarian battle against the rising humanitarian concerns created by very soon. “Tourism is one of the badly-hit sectors need to be ready and reinvent. Soon we will conflict, natural disasters, and the spread of disease, Yahya by this pandemic all over the world, but with the reopen cinemas and museums - probably with a needs: Kuwait said, reiterating his country’s support to the UN’s calls for vaccines, we can see life returning back. We are small number of attendees at first, but we can all a global ceasefire due to focus efforts on battling COVID- still in strict lockdown in some areas, but the gov- agree that this is very important in our social NEW YORK: The State of Kuwait has said that humanitar- 19, which infected more than 67 million people and claimed ernment is contemplating opening businesses life,” he said. ian needs were on the rise due to the upsurge of conflicts, the lives of 1.54 million others. Since March, Kuwait had soon. Once vaccines are rolled out, we will soon Colliot said his priority is to enhance coopera- catastrophes, and the spread of dangerous aliments includ- donated $100 million to help the world confront the coron- be back to a ‘new normal’, and this is the reason tion in the field of education and culture between ing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Delivering his avirus, while $188 million were allocated via the Kuwait why we want to announce that we are now ready France and Kuwait. “My priority is making sure country’s statement to the high-level annual meeting of the Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to help to accept students from Kuwait,” he said. French language is widespread in Kuwait’s UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Tuesday struggling countries during this pandemic, affirmed Yahya. “Some Kuwaiti students are back in France, but schools, and maybe in colleges and universities. evening, third secretary at the Kuwaiti mission to the UN The Kuwaiti diplomat urged all countries to address the we want all of them to come back and are ready Kuwait has taught French since 1966 in the coun- Ali Al-Yahya indicated that it was vital to support the needs of the CERF to help lessen human suffering and save to accept new enrollees - our education affairs try and we are happy that they are welcoming this language as a foreign language in high needs of the fund to battle all challenges facing humanity. lives worldwide. —KUNA are ready now,” Colliot added. France has around 200 students from Kuwait studying in the fields schools,” he said. Kuwait lists five COVID deaths, 304 new cases KUWAIT: Kuwait listed 304 new coronavirus infec- tions yesterday raising the total to 145,204, while five deaths recorded over the past 24 hours upped the death toll from the outbreak to 905, the health ministry said. The ministry had announced earlier that 351 COVID-19 patients had recovered during the same period, raising the total number of recoveries to 140,989. The number of people hospitalized with the virus stood yesterday at 3,310, with 79 of them in intensive care units, according to ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad. He added that 6,656 swab tests were conducted over the same period, while total swabs reached 1,158,859. Dr Sanad went on to urge the public to abide by health precautions, mainly fol- lowing social distancing, which he said is the best way to halt the spread of the virus. —KUNA 4 Established 1961 Local Thursday, December 10, 2020

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf First 3D printing model THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961 Founder and Publisher of human heart in Kuwait YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN Ability to create personalized healthcare and cost effective solutions EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 KUWAIT: Dr Michael Masoomi, the lead FAX : 24835620/1 researcher in the Department of Medical imaging - CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 Adan Hospital, in association with research col- ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 leagues in Belgium, have managed to develop a 3D COMMERCIAL : 24835618 printing of a female human heart, for the first time in P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. Kuwait and probably in the region. Email: [email protected] “Three-dimensional printing has the potential Website: www.kuwaittimes.net for significant impact within healthcare, with its ability to create personalized healthcare and cost effective solutions,” Dr Masoomi said. “The tech- nology originated in engineering and the aeronau- ICSK hosts career tical industry that has begun to find applications in the world of medicine and has allowed the genera- tion of accurate complex anatomical models.” awareness program The medical benefits of individualized 3D printed models include assisting clinical diagnosis, choosing KUWAIT: The Indian Community School, Kuwait the best operative strategy, predicting any intra- (ICSK) set the stage for a Career Awareness operative challenges in advance, education and Program on December 5, 2020 via digital plat- training for junior surgeons, and generating cus- forms for the parents and children of classes nine tomizable prostheses and implants to suit the indi- and 10. The objective behind organizing the career vidual patient. A 3D generated computer model of a female human awareness program was to help the children make “The diagnosis and treatment of structural and A Transaxial CT image of the patient’s heart. heart. informed choices while focusing on their career congenital heart disease has traditionally relied on and skill development so as to enable them to the analysis of images obtained by echocardiogra- revolutionize medical training, especially in percu- build an adaptable approach to the management phy, angiography, computed tomography (CT), and taneous interventions. It has been reported there of their careers with the selection of the right sub- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Nuclear are current moves to make simulations a required ject and stream. Medicine imaging,” Dr Masoomi said. In recent element of cardiac catheterization training, part of a The career trainer for the program was Dr T P years, three-dimensional (3D) printed models have joint effort affecting the clinical practice guidelines Sethumadhavan, who is a leading education and been incorporated into cardiology because of their of several international societies, including the Career Consultant in India and Abroad. He is the potential usefulness in enhancing understanding of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Consultant to the Ministry of Food Processing, congenital heart disease, surgical planning, and Society of Europe, the Society for Cardiovascular Government of India, World Bank, UNDP, Int’l simulation of structural percutaneous interventions. Angiography and Interventions, the Society of Cooperative alliance Geneva and National Skill It also allows for the production of individualized Interventional Radiology, development Corporation. The session saw the cardiac stents to reduce and the Radiological participation of 21 CBSE schools in Kuwait. Dr the rate of in-stent re- Society of North America. Sethumadhavan familiarized the children with stenosis. This application Simulations involving 3D innumerable number of streams and courses that of 3D printing is especially Significant cardiac models allow they could choose matching their intellect and relevant to the teaching of trainees to practice with a area of interest with the support of a content- congenital heart disease impact within diverse range of scenarios, packed power point presentation. The session was because it can expose stu- repeat technical proce- indeed knowledgeable, apprising and interactive dents to the full spectrum healthcare dures, and learn from mis- as all the children of classes IX and X were able to of malformations and the takes without putting seek answers to all their queries. variability. patients at risk. Simulations 3D printing of a female human heart based on the gen- Moreover, the intercon- can be used to train spe- erated computer model - Medical Imaging, Adan nectivity provided by the cialists before they carry Hospital. internet makes it easy to share digital files through out their first procedures on patients, for training online networks, allowing users to rapidly access reinforcement, and for instruction in new and more that there is no doubt that 3D printing is an and print 3D models of the disease of interest. complex procedures. immensely promising technology, set to have an Making 3D images available through online collec- Another application of 3D models is as a tool for enormous impact on medicine generally and in the tions can provide hospitals and research centers explaining procedures to patients during medical treatment of congenital and structural heart dis- with free access to a broad spectrum of heart con- consultations, a practice demonstrated to improve eases in particular. Widespread incorporation of 3D ditions. Even more importantly, 3D models promise patient satisfaction and instill a sense of involve- printing will be a major advantage in tackling new to transform teaching in ways that go beyond the ment with medical staff. Dr Latifah Al-Kandari, the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the follow- lecture hall, and over the next few years are set to Head of Medical Imaging Department, elaborated ing years. Indian ambassador meets KMA officials

KUWAIT: Ambassador of India to Kuwait Sibi (IDF) officials. Enezi welcomed the ambassador and George met with the Kuwait Medical Association praised the Indian Community for the excellent (KMA) President Dr Ahmad Al-Enezi and other services rendered in building Kuwait. He also spoke KMA Board members at KMA, in the presence of highly about the contributions of Indian doctors in past Presidents and present Indian Doctors Forum developing the health sector in Kuwait.

LOYAC, we focus on including LOYAC marks volunteering in all of our pro- grams and projects, especially in the community service International department programs as we aspire to make community serv- Volunteer Day ice a constant practice in our society,” she said. “This comes from LOYAC’s mission in KUWAIT: LOYAC celebrated the International empowering the youth, devel- Yusra Al-Essa Volunteer Day by hosting a virtual event on Zoom oping their skills, and instilling with the attendance of LOYAC Vice-Chairperson values through volunteering and and managing director Fadia Al-Marzouq, and vol- community engagement.” unteers from LOYAC Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon. Essa also mentioned that despite the current The volunteers displayed and discussed their health situation and the challenges it presents, it achievements in 2020 despite the challenges. brought communities together and gathered volun- In this regard, Yusra Al-Essa, LOYAC teers from different countries. She stressed the Community Service Department Manager, empha- importance of adapting to different circumstances sized the importance of spreading the humanitarian and working around them for the common objective and voluntary culture within the society. “Here at of benefiting the whole community and society. International THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 Trump signs vaccine decree, questions raised on supply Record hunger in Philippines as coronavirus restrictions bite Page 7 Page 6

KAREMLASH, Iraq: Worshippers attend mass at the Chaldean Catholic Church of Mar Addai on Tuesday. — AFP Iraqi Christians eagerly await Pope Visit will be pontiff’s first trip abroad since COVID hit Italy KAREMLASH, Iraq: Morning mass in Karemlash, from the city of Mosul, the provincial capital and in building peace in this wounded country,” he said father will be,” Sako told AFP in Baghdad. Families an Iraqi village once held by Islamic State militants, jihadists’ former stronghold. Half of the village’s outside St Adday, which has been mostly renovated are also still grieving the deaths of nearly 600 Iraqis is usually a somber affair. But this week, elderly roughly 800 families have returned, with others after Karemlash was recaptured from IS in 2016. who died in protest-related violence since an parishioners could rejoice: Pope Francis is coming hesitating due to a lack of public services and ten- Pope Francis was formally invited to Iraq in 2019 unprecedented youth-led movement erupted in to Iraq next year. “We’re all so happy. We have sions among state-sponsored armed groups in the by President Barham Saleh, but all of the pontiff’s Iraq’s capital and across the south in October 2019. been waiting for this for so long,” said 45-year-old surrounding plains. “We hope this visit can prevent trips were cancelled in June this year due to the At a mass last year, Pope Francis said he was Adiba Henna, smiling in the cold air after a prayer demographic change, preserve the identity of our coronavirus pandemic. It will be the pope’s first trip “saddened” by the “harsh” crackdown on demon- service at St Adday Chaldean Church, in the region and prompt the government to seriously abroad since the outbreak hit Italy - and Iraq is the strators. The Pope’s visit could help turn the page. Nineveh highlands of northern Iraq. “Every time he start rebuilding our areas,” said St Adday’s priest, perfect destination, said Louis Sako, patriarch of “As Iraqis, as Middle Easterners, we need to hear a visits a country, we think, why doesn’t he come to Father Thabet Al-Mekko. “We’ve started the count- Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church. “Visiting Ur is a voice other than the sound of gunshots,” Sako said. Iraq? Aren’t there Christians in Iraq? This is the down. We need to feel closer to the Christian com- visit to Abraham (PBUH), the father of all believers. Martin Banni, the 29-year-old priest who heads the greatest, most beautiful thing he could do.” munity in the rest of the world.” It is a pilgrimage, a pilgrimage to an Abrahamic parish at the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin The Vatican announced Monday that the 83-year- family that should draw people together, not tear Mary in Baghdad, said he hoped the papal trip old pontiff would make the first-ever papal visit to ‘Unique to Iraq’ them apart,” said Sako. “This is unique to Iraq - the would spur real change for Christians. Iraq in early March. The itinerary consists of trips to Iraq once counted more around 1.5 million Pope can’t do this anywhere else.” “We hope it won’t just be a media visit, and that Baghdad, the southern city of Ur - where Abraham is Christians, but the community has been ravaged by it has an impact on our leaders,” said Banni, who said to have been born - and the Christian heartland back-to-back conflicts. Following the US-led inva- ‘A Christmas gift’ hails from Karemlash but fled IS in 2014. His church of Nineveh province. The Nineveh plains were seized sion in 2003, sectarian warfare prompted diverse Although much of Iraq is no longer experiencing is modest and still doesn’t feature Christmas deco- by IS in 2014, displacing hundreds of thousands of Christian sects to flee and IS’ 2014 attacks further hit active conflict, thousands have died from the coron- rations, but Banni said that could change now. “The Christians who feared execution or forced conver- all minority communities. Now, an estimated avirus and the worst economic crisis in decades will news of the Pope’s visit is a great, wonderful sion by the extremist fighters. 400,000 Christians remain in Iraq. Zuhair Mansour, a see poverty rates double this year. “It’s an excep- Christmas gift,” he said. “We will celebrate the com- Christians have slowly started to come back, 50-year-old school principal in Karemlash, said the tional time for Iraq. And in a time like this, a father ing of Christ on December 25th, and the coming of including to the historic village of Karemlash, 28 km pope’s visit could help Iraq heal. “It could be the step needs to be with his children - so that’s where this the Pope in March.” — AFP

‘So much shelling’ End of nightmare “I searched and searched but couldn’t find her. I had no choice but to flee, there was so much shelling,” Otash tells AFP. Hoping she might find her Family recounts for Ethiopian child among the thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the offensive, she followed them to the border area. “An mother and child older woman from our community was helping peo- Palestinian teen’s ple to gather information about missing family members. I was told she might be in Sudan, so I last hours HAMDAYET, Sudan: It is every parent’s worst came here,” she says. nightmare: to be separated from their child. And Two weeks later, she received another call. MUGHAYIR: After waking up on Friday, the that is exactly what happened to Otash, an Shalom had never left Humera at all. She was in the day he turned 15, Palestinian Ali Ayman Nasr Ethiopian woman now living as a refugee in Sudan. care of a family that stayed behind, and despite the Abu Aliya told his mother Nihad he was hoping For a whole month, she knew nothing of the where- fighting, she was safe and sound. Otash quickly for a birthday surprise. Nihad said she had abouts of her seven-year-old daughter Shalom. On contacted Haftom Kahsai, a 29-year-old friend and HAMDAYET, Sudan: Seven-year-old Ethiopian refugee planned to serve maqluba, a traditional lamb Nov 7, three days after Ethiopian Prime Minister frequent customer of her restaurant back home, Shalom smiles with her mother Otash as they reunite and rice dish, at a party later on and had his Abiy Ahmed’s government launched a military oper- asking him whether he could help. At the time, on Tuesday. — AFP gifts ready, including a new pair of shoes. But in ation against the authorities of her native Tigray Haftom was getting ready to cross the Sitet river the early afternoon, Aliya was shot and killed region, Otash lost sight of her daughter. that separates Ethiopia from Sudan, where he during clashes with Israeli troops in his village “When the shelling and shooting started, I left planned to seek refuge. Some 49,000 Ethiopian waited there, and when Shalom arrived with my of Mughayir, just north of Ramallah in the the house to go find my sister, who is pregnant,” refugees have crossed into Sudan, according to the friend, I crossed the river with her on a boat,” he told occupied West Bank. says Otash, who used to own a restaurant in her United Nations. AFP at Sudan’s Hamdayet reception camp for recent- Clutching tasbih prayer beads, Aliya’s father home town of Humer. “I couldn’t find her, so I ran Haftom said that he then contacted a friend in ly arrived refugees. “At first, she was crying and Ayman told AFP he remembered the moment he back home. When I got there, I realized Shalom Humera who owned a motorbike, hoping that he afraid,” Haftom said, adding that despite the risks they heard gunshots. “I looked around but Ali was wasn’t there anymore.” could rescue Shalom and bring her to the border. “I faced, he was “happy to help the little girl.” — AFP not here,” he said. Israel’s army initially said its troops had not used live ammunition in the inci- dent. Responding to AFP’s questions on Monday, the army said that in order to suppress IS steps up Sinai fight with “violent riots” it had used “riot dispersal means” including 0.22 calibre bullets. Witnesses said Aliya had been throwing rocks. Mughayir has bombs in civilian homes been in mourning since the weekend, with posters honoring the 15-year-old as a “martyr” AIRO: Residents of Egypt’s restive terror in Iraq and Syria. The recent and a “hero” fixed on cars, walls and hanging off North Sinai region ran for their lives deaths have badly shaken the 1,000 electrical wires above the village streets. when an Islamic State group affiliate or so residents who returned in Nihad, Ayman as well as other devastated occupied their villages. Now, they are October after seeking refuge else- relatives and friends recounted to AFP the final returning to find their homes booby- where in Egypt for three months as hours of a young man described as intelligent, trapped. “I lost my sister-in-law and the army continued its grinding battle an excellent student, kind, helpful and a fan of her nine-month-old baby when an to crush IS. Real Madrid. On his last birthday, he woke up explosive device planted in their home Another resident, speaking to AFP at 5:00 am. His grandfather Nasser, a short man went off,” said a young resident of by phone, said locals found IS had who wears a traditional keffiyeh headscarf, had Aqtiya village, who asked not to be taken over their homes, used them as asked him to bring food to an uncle looking named for fear of repercussions. hideouts and then booby-trapped An image grab taken from a handout video released on Tuesday shows Egyptian after livestock a distance away. Nasser said his Around 15 people have been killed by them. “They even stole our livestock,” army pickup trucks and humvees driving in the desert. — AFP family had grazed sheep in Mughayir, a village improvised explosive devices (IEDs) he added. Egyptian security forces of about 4,000 people, “since God created since mid-October in villages around have been battling a long-running lated North Sinai. ning shots of its troops, tanks and air Earth”. Aliya road a donkey through West Bank Bir al-Abd, in the northwest of the Islamist insurgency in the Sinai The Egyptian army said Tuesday strikes, along with blurred, bloody pic- plains dotted with olive trees and fields with troubled province, say Egyptian secu- Peninsula, spearheaded by a local IS that since September it had killed 40 tures of what it said were dead mili- turned soil, before returning to Mughayir later rity sources. affiliate. The fighting intensified after suspected jihadist militants in air and tants. Reflecting the militants’ signifi- in the morning. Israel has occupied the West The IED attacks that have multi- the military’s 2013 ouster of Islamist ground operations in the Sinai region, cant fire power, the army said it had Bank since the 1967 Six Day War. Friday after- plied in the vast, remote and sparsely president Mohamed Morsi. In Feb and that seven of its own personnel also destroyed 437 weapons caches, noon protests against the occupation are a populated region which authorities 2018, security forces launched a had been either wounded or killed. In defused 159 improvised explosive near-weekly event in the Palestinian territory, have declared off-limits to journalists nationwide operation against mili- a slickly produced video set to rousing devices, and confiscated dozens of but their intensity varies. — AFP recall those the IS launched to sow tants, focused on the sparsely popu- military music, the army showed pan- other types of weapons. — AFP 6 Established 1961 Thursday, December 10, 2020 International Trump signs vaccine decree after questions raised on ample supply Decree aims at granting Americans priority access to vaccines

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced a decree Tuesday aimed at granting Americans priority News in brief access to vaccines, but faced questions over whether the White House missed an opportunity to shore up suffi- cient doses in the months ahead. While Trump sought to Israel takes delivery of COVID vaccine trumpet his administration’s policies related to vaccines at his event, his upbeat message was contrasted by a TEL AVIV: Israel received its first batch of Pfizer’s more cautious presentation held simultaneously by coronavirus vaccine yesterday, with Prime Minister President-elect Joe Biden. Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the pandemic’s end Biden warned that efforts to get the vaccine out to was “in sight” and vowing to get the first jab. “This Americans would “slow and stall” if Congress does not is a great celebration for Israel,” he said on the tar- urgently come up with funding as he also introduced mac at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, as a fork- members of his health team. lift truck started unloading the cargo from a red and It was unclear whether Trump’s executive order, yellow DHL air freighter. The shipment was the first which he said would “ensure that American citizens have of eight million doses ordered from US pharmaceu- first priority to receive American vaccines,” would hold tical giant Pfizer BioNTech. It came ahead of legal weight, since drugmakers have already signed deals Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which begins with other countries. But it signals the White House is today. —AFP concerned about whether it has sufficient doses to meet its immunization targets, which are 100 million people by the end of February and the whole country by June. Speaking from his headquarters in Wilmington, US President Donald Trump signs an executive order giving priority to Americans to receive American coronavirus France probes rescue helicopter crash Delaware, Biden stressed it was imperative for lawmak- vaccines during the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent ers to “finish the bipartisan work underway now or mil- to the White House in Washington, DC on December 8, 2020. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an ALBERTVILLE, France: French investigators lions of Americans may wait months longer to get the executive order “to ensure that American citizens have first priority to receive American vaccines.”—AFP were yesterday seeking to ascertain the cause of the vaccine.” Biden also pledged that his administration crash of a mountain rescue helicopter in the Alps would carry out at least 100 million vaccinations in his Moderna’s vaccine candidate is scheduled for December good for Americans to suggest that every healthy young that left five dead with only the pilot surviving but first 100 days in office, a more conservative estimate 17. As coronavirus cases soar across the United States person in the US needs to be vaccinated before the first badly wounded. The helicopter, an Airbus EC135 than that offered by Trump officials. and states reinstitute varying levels of closures in high-risk person in India or France or Colombia. operated by a private firm, crashed Tuesday evening Biden, who has previously announced that Anthony response, the vaccines have provided hope to a country “Models have shown that a strategy like this would actu- around the town of Bonvillard just outside Fauci will be a member of his Covid team, said he would weary and grieving over the world’s highest pandemic ally make the pandemic longer, further derail the global Albertville, one of the main resorts in the French ask the globally-renowned infectious disease scientist to death toll. economy, and harm Americans.” Alps. The prefect, the top local official, for the Savoy tell him “what I need to know, not what I want to know.” On Monday, an overwhelming majority of California’s The president does have the authority to order inter- region Pascal Bolot said of the five passengers and Fauci also appeared remotely at Biden’s event rather residents went into lockdown, putting 33 million people national assistance efforts not to help less-wealthy coun- pilot on board only the pilot had survived but was than at Trump’s. under stay-at-home orders. In the meantime, complex tries get access to the vaccine, Kavanagh said. badly wounded. Despite difficult weather conditions Trump’s speech at a White House “vaccine summit” preparations are being made across the supply chain to with fog at the crash site 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) was also marked by his familiar, unproven claims that the be able to quickly deliver vaccines at the frigid tempera- More vaccines on horizon above sea level, he was evacuated to hospital. Bolot 2020 election was stolen from him. Biden is due to be tures required. The briefing document compiled by an advisory said it was the pilot himself who had raised the sworn in on January 20. But while Trump has sought to take credit for vaccine committee to the US Food and Drug Administration alarm. —AFP development, the New York Times reported Monday (FDA) offers the clearest look yet at data on the Pfizer Positive news that the White House had missed a chance to lock in the vaccine, and was hailed by experts. “It appears as good The events follow a raft of positive news related to purchase of more Pfizer doses over the summer. The US if not better than advertised,” Andrew Morris, an infec- vaccines, including US regulators calling the Pfizer- has purchased 100 million doses, but declined to extend tious disease specialist at the University of Toronto told Mexico to limit actions of US agents BioNTech immunization-which Britain began rolling out that order, allowing Pfizer to seal deals with other AFP. But there was some concern arising from four peo- on Tuesday-safe and effective in a briefing document. nations, the Times reported. ple in the vaccine group developing Bell’s palsy, a rare MEXICO CITY: Mexico plans to restrict the activ- The document further raised expectations that Pfizer will Georgetown law professor Matthew Kavanagh told but non-serious facial paralysis condition. Vaccine mak- ities of foreign agencies like the US Drug soon be granted emergency approval in the United AFP the new presidential decree was an attempt to ers Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca could be next Enforcement Administration, President Andres States, with a meeting on the topic set for Thursday. “write vaccine nationalism into law-which is both unwise on the horizon as they are expected to complete their Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, following a A meeting on emergency approval for US firm and stretches his legal authority. “It is neither ethical nor studies early next year. — AFP row over the arrest of a former defense minister. The proposed new regulations are contained in a bill that the government has presented to the Senate to Biden recruits reform the national security law. Although Lopez Obrador did not give details of the proposed changes, press leaks suggest that foreign agents raise questions would have to share all the information they gather in Mexico and could lose their diplomatic immunity WASHINGTON: US President-elect Joe Biden didn’t in certain circumstances. “We want to resolve this go far for his choice of defense secretary: former army once and for all so that the rules are clear,” Lopez general Lloyd Austin came from the same inside-the- Obrador told reporters. — AFP Beltway consultants as Biden’s secretary of state, intelli- gence chief and White House communications head. Alitalia is cooperating with Delta Air Lines to operate Biden’s recruitment of at least a half-dozen people from a single high-powered firm, WestExec Advisors, to “COVID-free” flights between Rome and the US. — AFP WILMINGTON, Delaware: US President-elect Joe Biden Maduro eyes of dialogue with Biden run his foreign and security policies, has raised new leaves the Queen Theater after announcing the members of questions about Washington’s much-derided revolving his health policy team. — AFP CARACAS: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro door of influence peddlers. said Tuesday he hopes to open channels of commu- Biden has tapped WestExec co-founder Antony nication and dialogue with the incoming administra- First ‘COVID-tested’ Blinken to be his secretary of state; Avril Haines for the heart of military and national security policy. tion of US President-Elect Joe Biden, after years of director of national intelligence; Jen Psaki as communi- The group named itself for the short road, West tension with the Trump White House. “We have flight lands in Rome cations chief; and others on his transition team. The Executive Avenue, that passes between the White House always been willing and will always be willing to president-elect made official on Tuesday his choice of and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where establish relations with communication, dialogue and retired four star general Austin, a partner in WestExec’s most White House staff work. West Executive Ave “is, respect with the government of the United States,” from New York investment unit, Pine Island Capital Partners. quite literally, the road to the Situation Room, and it is Maduro told a press conference in Caracas. “Let’s Blinken is also a Pine Island investor, as is the woman the road everyone associated with WestExec Advisors hope that the new government of Mr Joe Biden is Austin beat out for the Pentagon job, WestExec co- has crossed many times en route to meetings of the ROME: The first “COVID-tested” flight arrived in Rome installed, let’s hope that they have time to think and founder Michele Flournoy. And according to reports, highest national security consequence,” their website from New York yesterday, an initiative designed to open let’s hope that channels of communication and dia- WestExec’s David Cohen is the frontrunner to lead the reads. For many it sounds like the incestuous world of up air routes between Europe and the United States logue between Venezuela and the United States are Central Intelligence Agency. Washington lobbyists-Beltway insiders with lavish blocked by the pandemic. Passengers had to show they opened.” —AFP After four years of President Donald Trump’s admin- budgets to open doors to persuade officials and legisla- had returned a negative virus test within 48 hours of get- istration being repeatedly accused of using government tors to change rules or allocate funds for their clients. ting on the Alitalia flight from John F. Kennedy airport, for personal profit, Biden’s turn to a company with close Because of strict rules born of decades of corruption and were required to take another test on arrival at defense industry ties has raised the same kinds of ques- and influence peddling, lobbyists have to publicly reveal Rome’s Fiumicino. All 100 passengers on board came up tions. “The onus is now on the Biden administration and their clients. But so-called strategic consultants like negative, according to the AGI news agency, allowing these nominees to show that they will take careful steps WestExec do not have to, because at least officially they them to avoid a 14-day quarantine required of other to avoid conflicts of interest,” said Noah Bookbinder, are supposed to keep a distance from officials and law- arrivals from the United States. Among them was Chiara, executive director of the public interest group Citizens makers. They provide clients the lay of the land, telling an Italian living in the United States who is visiting her for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. them how to navigate policies and officialdom without parents with her husband and seven-month-old son. “I hope that the next administration learns the right taking them through the process. WestExec, though, is Hacker fighter FireEye “It’s been almost a year since we returned to Italy,” lessons” from Trump’s near-total disregard for conflict- believed to have had a host of wealthy clients in the she said. “In April our son was born and so far no one of-interest standards, he said. defense and security sectors. The American Prospect from our family has met him. That’s why we are so says breached by and The New York Times have identified among its cus- thrilled.” Everyone on board still had to wear masks and tomers drone maker Shield AI, which has a Pentagon replace them every four hours, according to airport Road to the Situation Room WestExec was created in 2017 as a home for top offi- contract; Schmidt Futures, controlled by Google former elite attackers authorities. “This is an extraordinary experiment, cials newly jobless after serving the 2009-2017 adminis- CEO Eric Schmidt; and Israeli artificial intelligence firm because it rekindles hope for air travel, mobility and the tration of Democratic president Barack Obama. It Windward. Pine Island, meanwhile, raised $283 million economy even in the presence of coronavirus,” said SAN FRANCISCO: Hacker fighting firm FireEye on offered “strategic advisory” services to companies for investments, putting some of the money into defense Nicola Zingaretti, head of the Lazio region that includes Tuesday said its own defenses were breached by wanting to tap the former Obama people’s experience at manufacturers.—AFP Rome. —AFP sophisticated attackers who stole “Red Team” tools used to test customers’ computer systems. While the hackers had yet to be identified, their tac- tics and targets led FireEye to believe it was a state- Real estate agency asks Trump fans to buy him childhood home sponsored attack “by a nation with top-tier offensive capabilities.” “The hack of a premier cybersecurity NEW YORK: Donald Trump’s childhood home in New million,” he said. Based on his real estate criteria, the said. The house was sold for $2.14 million in March 2017, firm demonstrates that even the most sophisticated York-already sold twice since 2016 — is back on the mock Tudor five bedroom, four bathroom house-where shortly after Trump took office. And now that the former companies are vulnerable to cyber-attacks,” said US market. But this time, the real estate agency is appealing Trump lived until age four, when he moved to a more real estate mogul is about to leave the White House in Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is vice chair- directly to the president’s fans to buy the house for the affluent home nearby-is barely worth more than $1 mil- January, buying the house is “almost like a thank you or a man of the senate Select Committee on Intelligence. unprecedented price of $3 million and offer it to Trump lion. But its “intangible value” makes it “unique,” Haghani going away present for those who do love him,” Haghani “We have come to expect and demand that compa- as a gift. Paramount Realty agency on Tuesday launched explained. nies take real steps to secure their systems, but this a fundraiser on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe, call- The goal is to capitalize on the fervor sparked by the case also shows the difficulty of stopping determined ing on Trump fans to contribute towards the goal of “polarizing” leader, he said. Trump, who changed his nation-state hackers.” reaching $3 million. state of residence to Florida from New York in October It did not appear any customer data was stolen If the money is raised, the house will be given to the 2019, was not consulted for the house project, Haghani from FireEye, or that the taken tools have been used in outgoing president. The agency had recently tried to sell added. Even if he no longer wants the house-though he other attacks, according to the Silicon Valley-based the house, located in the affluent Jamaica Estates neigh- said he would like to buy it when it went on sale in 2016 firm. “The attackers tailored their world-class capabili- borhood in New York’s Queens borough, for $3 million — his fans wouldn’t have invested for nothing: the ties specifically to target and attack FireEye,” FireEye at classic auctions, but without success. GoFundMe page states the house would then go to a chief executive Kevin Mandia said in a blog post But then they came up with the crowdfunding strate- charity chosen by Trump. And if he doesn’t choose a revealing the breach. “They used a novel combination gy, which has “never been done before,” Paramount real charity, “we will make a selection for him,” Haghani said. of techniques not witnessed by us or our partners in estate agent Misha Haghani said. “It is more likely that Will Trump fans take the bait? Just after the the past.” FireEye shares were down more than 7 per- one million people who love Trump would each give GoFundMe went live Tuesday, the fundraiser had cent in after-market trades that followed released of The house in Jamaica Estates, an affluent area of New York three dollars, rather than a wealthy buyer giving three received a single donation of $45. — AFP news about the hack.—AFP Established 1961 7 Thursday, December 10, 2020 International Record hunger in Philippines as coronavirus restrictions bite Charities struggling to meet the ever-growing demand for food

MANILA: Daniel Auminto lost his job and then his selling trash for recycling. His fortunes changed in home when the coronavirus pandemic sent the 2019 when he found stable work as a building Philippines into lockdown. Now he and his family painter. live on the street, relying on food handouts to sur- That gave him enough money to rent a room in vive. Charities are struggling to meet the ever- Manila, which he shared with his wife and their growing demand for food as millions of families go two-year-old daughter, buy food and even save a hungry across the country. little towards their dream of opening a small store. COVID-19 restrictions have crippled the econo- my and thrown many out of work. “I’ve never seen Then COVID-19 hit. hunger at this level before,” said Jomar Fleras, “We lost our home, my job. We even lost our executive director of Rise Against Hunger in the clothes which were stolen from us,” said Auminto Philippines, which works with more than 40 part- as he sat in a park where the family sleeps on a ners to feed the poor. flattened cardboard box at night. Before the pan- “If you go out there everybody will tell you demic “I planned to work and work our way out of that they’re more afraid of dying from hunger poverty. It’s for my family, so I can give them a bet- than dying from COVID. They don’t care about ter life, send my child to school.” COVID anymore.” Every day they join long queues of mostly The number of people going hungry has reached homeless people to receive a free meal from an a record high during the pandemic, according to outdoor food pantry. On some days the family gets pollster Social Weather Stations. Nearly one-third two meals from different pantries; other days it is of families-or 7.6 million households-did not have just one. Sometimes they have no food at all. enough food to eat at least once in the previous Five days a week volunteers at a center in three months, its September survey showed. Manila run by the Roman Catholic order Society of Among them were 2.2 million families experienc- the Divine Word prepare around a thousand meals ing “severe hunger”-the highest ever. of chicken, vegetables and rice that are packed into The numbers have been going up since May, boxes and given to the hungry. Demand is con- MANILA: Volunteers at a Catholic religious order Society of the Divine Word center pack free meals to be distributed to street dwellers in Manila. Charities are struggling to meet the ever-growing demand two months after the country went into a severe stantly increasing, said Father Flavie Villanueva, for food as millions of families go hungry across the country where COVID-19 restrictions have crip- lockdown-reversing a downward trend since who runs the program. “We started doing this in pled the economy and thrown many out of work. —AFP 2012. Virus restrictions have been eased in April and began with 250 (people lining up). It recent months to allow more businesses to oper- increased to 400, and then 600, then 800. Three ate as the government seeks to revive the devas- weeks ago it was 1,000,” Villanueva said. 2019 — the highest in Southeast Asia — the UN’s because many factories forced to suspend opera- tated economy, which is expected to shrink up to “The majority are still homeless but there’s a Food and Agriculture Organization said in a report. tions gave away their surplus stock. But it is not 9.5 percent this year. good number who are with homes but are desperate The impact of the virus on hunger has been enough to meet demand. For the country’s legions of poor, the pandemic because there are no jobs.” Hunger was already a exacerbated by a series of typhoons that have “We might reach 200,000 families this year,” he is just another challenge in their lives-and not even major problem in the Philippines before the pan- pummeled the country in recent months, destroying said. Auminto said it was “painful” to have lost the most serious. Auminto, 41, spent years sleeping demic struck. About 59 million people were “mod- tens of thousands of homes. Fleras said food dona- everything and be back on the street where he says on the streets and eking out a meager living by erately or severely food insecure” between 2017 and tions have soared during the pandemic, in part the police treat them “like animals”. —AFP

nation as they ride a tide of rising religious conser- News in brief Indonesia holds vatism. In the second-biggest city Surabaya work- ers followed the tradition of donning superhero costumes, dressing as Spiderman to lure voters in. Kiwis mark volcano anniversary nationwide poll Others were tasked with taking ballot boxes into hospitals so that Covid patients could vote from WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister despite warnings their sickbeds. Jacinda Ardern paid emotional tribute to vic- “All polling stations were disinfected,” said tims of the White Island volcano eruption yes- JAKARTA: Indonesia held nationwide regional Suprianto, head of a polling station committee in terday on the first anniversary of the disaster elections yesterday with more than 100 million vot- Jakarta’s Ciputat district, who like many that claimed 22 lives. Almost 50 people, mostly ers eligible to cast a ballot, despite warnings the Indonesians goes by one name. “We made spaces Australian tourists, were on the island, also poll would worsen the nation’s Covid-19 crisis. as wide as possible to allow for social distancing. known as Whakaari, in December last year The archipelago of nearly 270 million-the Voters were also required to wear masks. If you when a column of burning ash and steam world’s third-biggest democracy and fourth most don’t, then you won’t be allowed in the polling blasted from a volcanic vent. The eruption Gibran Rakabuming Raka (center), the son of populous nation-delayed the vote originally set for station.” killed 22 and left dozens more with horrific Voter Nur Oktaviani said the precautions had Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, rides a bicycle to September as it struggled to contain soaring infec- injuries, prompting a massive medical opera- put her at ease. “I’m not worried,” the 24-year- meet supporters after declaring victory in the mayoral tion rates. tion that saw victims treated in burns units From the capital Jakarta to the holiday island of old told AFP. “Here, they’re complying with health election in Solo yesterday. —AFP across New Zealand and Australia. Ardern said Bali, polling station staff in full protective gear protocols.” enforced social distancing and took voters’ temper- Laporcovid, and more than 1,000 election agency the disaster was “devastating” for all New atures before polls closed at 1:00 pm local time High risk staff were infected ahead of voting day. Over Zealanders, as well as families of victims in (0600 GMT). Abdul Rahman Wahab, 24, admitted Hundreds of hopefuls-including President Joko 580,000 Indonesians have contracted the illness Australia, Britain, Germany, the United States, he was nervous about turning up to vote on Widodo’s eldest son-are vying for 270 positions, while the death toll stands at 18,000. But the true China and Malaysia. Sulawesi island. including regional governors, district heads and scale of the crisis is widely believed to be much “Health is my priority for sure, but voting is also mayors. bigger, as testing rates are low. Infections could an important part of our life in a democratic coun- Official results are not expected for several skyrocket above one million after polling day, Cameroon lifts Kamto blockade try,” he said. Islamist parties are looking to score weeks. At least four election candidates have died warned Hermawan Saputra at the Indonesian Public Health Experts’ Association. —AFP big gains in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority so far, according to independent research group YAOUND, Cameroon: Cameroon police, who have been surrounding the home of opposition leader more closed, very top-down decision-making Maurice Kamto since September, have lifted the Kim’s sister slams process where there is very little debate on their effective house arrest, his party said Tuesday. measures dealing with Covid-19”, Kang said. Kamto, who lost to President Paul Biya in 2018’s “All signs are that the regime is very intensely election, has been prevented from leaving his home S Korean minister focused on controlling the disease that they say since the eve of a peaceful protest march in the they don’t have.” Kim Yo Jong, sister and key capital Yaounde on September 22 when demon- over coronavirus adviser to the North Korean leader, condemned strators called for Biya to go. Kamto had been Kang in a statement carried by the official imprisoned in January 2019 following a march SEOUL: The sister of North Korean leader Kim Korean Central News Agency yesterday, calling protesting the vote. Biya ordered him freed nine Jong Un has slammed the South’s foreign minister as her comments “impudent” and accusing her of months later under international pressure. —AFP “impudent” for casting doubt over Pyongyang’s seeking to worsen the already strained inter- claim that the country has no coronavirus cases, Korean relationship. state media reported yesterday. Nuclear-armed “It can be seen from the reckless remarks made Prison term for Sarkozy sought Pyongyang closed its borders in January, sealing by her without any consideration of the conse- itself off from the outside world in an effort to avoid quences that she is too eager to further chill the This picture shows Kim Jung-sook, a sister of former contamination, and has long insisted that it has had frozen relations between the north and south of South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee’s assassin Kim PARIS: Prosecutors in the landmark corrup- Jae-kyu, speaking during an interview at her home in no cases. Kim himself reiterated the claim at a huge Korea,” Kim said. “We will never forget her words tion trial of French ex-president Nicolas Paju. —AFP military parade in October. and she might have to pay dearly for it.” The state- Sarkozy on Tuesday called for him to be sen- Experts suggest it is unlikely, given that the ment came with discussions between Pyongyang tenced to a prison term of four years of which virus first emerged in neighboring China, its main and both Washington and Seoul at a standstill fol- also has yet to comment on the election of Joe he should serve two. The 65-year-old provider of trade and aid. South Korean Foreign lowing the collapse of the 2019 Hanoi summit Biden as US president, nor has its state media rightwinger, the country’s first modern head of Minister Kang Kyung-wha told a forum in Bahrain between Kim and US President Donald Trump reported the result. Biden has previously charac- state to appear in the dock, is accused of try- on Saturday that it was “hard to believe” that the over what the North would be willing to give up in terized Kim Jong Un as a “thug”. Kim Yo Jong’s ing to bribe a judge with a plum retirement job North had no coronavirus cases, adding that exchange for sanctions relief. statement came with US Deputy Secretary of in exchange for inside information on an Pyongyang had been unresponsive to Seoul’s In June, Pyongyang blew up a liaison office with State Stephen Biegun, who has led denucleariza- inquiry into his campaign finances. offers to help tackle the disease. The pandemic “in the South on its side of the border-paid for by tion talks with Pyongyang under the Trump admin- Prosecutors asked for the same punishment fact has made North Korea more North Korea-ie Seoul-saying it had no interest in talks. The North istration, currently on a visit to Seoul. —AFP for Sarkozy’s lawyer and co-defendant, Thierry Herzog, as well as for the judge, Gilbert Azibert. They also said Herzog should lead by opposition candidate John Mahama over outgo- also be disbarred for five years. —AFP Five dead in Ghana ing president Nana Akufo-Addo. Monday’s presidential and parliamentary vote has been viewed by observers as generally free and fair. election violence But Mahama late Tuesday accused Akufo-Addo of Arrest warrant for French skater showing “credentials that are very undemocratic” and as accusations fly harnessing the military to sway the outcome. “You NEW YORK: Florida has issued an arrest war- cannot use the military to try and overturn some of rant for French figure skater Morgan Cipres ACCRA: Five people have been killed in election-related the results in constituencies that we have won. We over allegations he sent obscene photos to a violence in Ghana, police said yesterday, casting a shad- will resist any attempts to subvert the sovereign will 13-year-old girl, the alleged victim’s lawyer said ow over a country hailed for its stable democracy. The of the Ghanaian people,” the 62-year-old former yesterday. Attorney Andrea Lewis said prose- deaths were reported as early results confirmed a tight president said. cutors accuse the 29-year-old — who race for the presidency and Ghana’s neighbors urged He made the accusations after rumors circulated on announced his retirement in September — of social media that he had conceded defeat. Hours earlier, political camps to uphold a peaceful outcome after trad- ACCRA: Supporters of the opposition National transmitting harmful material to a minor by the presidency — releasing an unofficial tally — claimed ing heated accusations. Democratic Congress (NDC) sing, dance and gesture electronic means in December 2017. In Florida, “Sixty-one electoral and post-electoral incidents Akufo-Addo was ahead with 52.25 percent of the vote, on the main road of the Electoral Commission on the offense is punishable by up to five years in nationwide” were reported, the police said in a state- against Mahama’s 46.44 percent. Information Minister Tuesday. —AFP prison. Lewis said investigators were in posses- Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told a press conference that ment. Of these, 21 “are true cases of electoral vio- sion of photos allegedly sent by Cipres. allegations of intimidation by soldiers were false. lence, six of which involve gunshots resulting in the Contacted by AFP for comment, the Florida death of five.” He also bluntly rejected Mahama’s claim that his party the work of the EC (electoral commission), it is irrespon- state attorney’s office did not respond. —AFP The electoral commission published results from sev- had won a majority, of 140 seats, in the 275-member par- sible and it would endanger the peace of this country,” en out of the country’s 16 regions, pointing to a narrow liament. “No candidates at this stage should undermine Oppong Nkrumah warned. —AFP Established 1961

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 Boeing 737 MAX returns to sky

Gol’s flight 4104 arrives safely in Brazilian city of Porto Alegre

ABOARD A BOEING 737 MAX, Brazil: More months from the date of purchase. than 20 months after it was grounded following two “Exceptional situations will be evaluated on a deadly crashes, Boeing’s 737 MAX returned to the case-by-case basis,” he said in an email. Gol, the skies yesterday with an incident-free commercial biggest domestic airline in Brazil, said it expected flight in Brazil, said journalists on board. Low-cost to have its full fleet of seven 737 MAX planes back airline Gol’s Flight 4104 from Sao Paulo arrived safe- in the air by the end of the year. The airline is bet- ly in the southern city of Porto Alegre about 70 min- ting big on Boeing’s recovery: it has also confirmed utes after take-off using the revamped jet, in a first 95 firm orders for the 737 MAX, in addition to 20 that Boeing hopes will turn the page on a badly more already in the US awaiting delivery. damaging crisis in the wake of the twin crashes. Most travelers aboard the 88-percent booked We’re in the sky! plane, which had a capacity of 186 passengers, took The MAX was grounded in March 2019 after little notice of the model number painted on its nose. two crashes that together killed 346 people. The Gol’s crew for their part made no mention of the fact fallout of the 2018 Lion Air and 2019 Ethiopian that it was the first commercial flight for the 737 Airlines crashes plunged Boeing into crisis. MAX since its worldwide grounding in March 2019. Investigators identified a principal cause of both “I thought it was a good flight,” said passenger crashes as a faulty flight handling system known as Naiara Providello before disembarking to the sooth- the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation ing sounds of Brazilian bossa nova music. “I didn’t System, or MCAS. know the plane’s history. I think maybe they should Meant to keep the plane from stalling as it have informed us. But it was a good flight.” ascends, the automated system instead forced the nose of the plane downward. The US Federal Safety first Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered Boeing to Gol said it was fully confident in the safety revamp the jet and implement new pilot training SAO PAULO: Passengers take their seats before takeoff in a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by low-cost airline Gol at Guarulhos International Airport, near Sao Paulo yesterday as the 737 MAX returns into use more than 20 upgrades and expanded pilot training program protocols. On November 18, it approved the months after it was grounded following two deadly crashes. — AFP implemented by Boeing as part of aviation regula- plane to return to service after the upgrades were tors’ conditions to recertify the plane. “For the past put in place. 20 months, we have been carrying out the most Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic. A pilot- the noteworthiness of the occasion. Passengers, intensive safety review in the history of commercial followed suit a week later. They are the only two avi- one of 140 at Gol who received special training in who were all in face masks, did not appear to aviation,” Gol’s vice president for operations, Celso ation regulators to green-light the plane so far. The the United States on the overhauled jet-flashed a notice when the captain mentioned the plane’s Ferrer, said in a statement. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) began the thumbs-up from the cockpit window as the first pas- model number. “Safety comes first and foremost.” A Gol process of recertifying it last month. Crew on the sengers boarded. In these troubled times for global travel, however, spokesman said that any passenger who did not Gol flight said they were moved to be involved in However, Gol stuck strictly to routine protocol there was still a moment of magic for at least one feel comfortable flying on the 737 MAX would be such a key moment for the airline industry, which has aboard the plane, going through the usual safety flyer. “We’re in the sky!” shouted a young boy as the allowed to reschedule at no cost for up to 12 been battered not only by the crisis at Boeing but by instructions and in-flight rituals with no mention of jet took off. — AFP

Key developments in BoP of Kuwait for 2Q 2020: CBK Global markets cheered by hopes KUWAIT: The Central Bank of indicated a drop in the surplus of Kuwait (CBK) published yesterday the Balance on Goods by KD 1,681.1 the preliminary data of the State of million or 84.1 percent to reach KD for US stimulus Kuwait’s Balance of Payments (BoP) 318.6 million during 2Q 2020, com- for 2Q 2020, and the revised data of pared with KD 2,000.4 million dur- LONDON: Asian and European stock markets 1Q 2020. The data revealed a sur- ing the previous quarter. The mostly rose yesterday after the White House put plus during 2Q 2020 of KD 108.3 Services Account (net value of serv- forward a fresh stimulus proposal of $916 billion, million in the Current Account (that ices transactions between residents lifting hopes US lawmakers could pass a deal sums up receipts and payments on and non-residents that include before Christmas. The dollar retreated, while the transactions between the domestic transportation, travel, communica- pound fought back strongly after heavy Brexit- economy and other economies in tions, construction, other services as linked losses this week. terms of goods, services and well as government services and The prospect of a rescue package for the income) compared with a surplus of goods) recorded a decline in the world’s top economy has helped revive equities, KD 220.3 million during the previ- deficit by KD 1,293.4 million or 78.5 which have drifted for most of the month after ous quarter, i.e. a drop by 50.8 per- percent to reach KD 354.9 million *Minus signs of Capital Account values indicate net capital outflows, while November’s surge, while the rollout of coron- cent equivalent to KD 112.0 million. during 2Q 2020, compared with a positive signs indicate the opposite. avirus vaccines in Britain and imminent authori- ** Negative numbers in the Financial Account statements reflect capital out- This downturn is mainly attribut- deficit of KD 1,648.2 million during zation in the US has added to the optimism. flows, indicating an increase in external assets or a decrease in foreign liabilities. Investors were given a strong lead from Wall able to the decline in the total value the previous quarter. Positive numbers indicate the opposite. of receipts on the credit side of the Regarding the Financial Account Street, where the Nasdaq and S&P 500 notched Current Account by KD 2,269.3 mil- (recording transfers of financial fresh records Tuesday. lion or 37.4 percent compared with assets and liabilities between resi- As a result, the overall position assets of some institutions listed Spiking COVID-19 cases around the world the previous quarter, and the dents and non-residents), prelimi- of Kuwait’s BoP recorded a surplus under “General Government” and and the imposition of tough containment meas- decrease in the total value of pay- nary data indicate net capital out- of KD 1,734.6 million during 2Q changes in CBK’s reserve assets, ures nevertheless continue to cast a long, dark ments on the debit side of the flows (growth in residents’ net 2020 against a surplus of KD 91.3 the BoP’s overall position, in a shadow over trading floors. “European markets Current Account by KD 2,157.3 mil- investments abroad) of KD 748.0 million during the previous quarter. broad definition, indicates a surplus (traded) significantly higher, following a fresh lion or 36.9 percent compared with million during 2Q 2020, against net From a broader perspective, and of KD 247.4 million during 2Q 2020 record high on US indices, as investors wel- the previous quarter. capital inflows of KD 679.4 million taking into consideration the against a deficit of KD 87.7 million comed the prospect of a solid US stimulus pack- Furthermore, preliminary data during the previous quarter. change in the net value of external during the previous quarter. age,” said ActivTrades analyst Pierre Veyret. “The risk-on trading stance is back on most benchmarks after the $916-billion stimulus package proposal from US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin offset mounting fears the EU single market in three weeks without a fol- due to rising COVID-19 numbers.” Johnson jets to low-on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) the damage Equities have struggled this week as focus has caused by delays to travellers and freight at its bor- been on the pandemic but Mnuchin provided a Brussels in bid to ders with the EU will be compounded by import much-needed shot in the arm Tuesday when he tariffs. In Berlin, Germany’s Chancellor Angela said he had presented Democrat House Speaker Merkel said there was still a chance for a deal. But Nancy Pelosi with a new economic rescue pack- save Brexit deal she warned: “We must not endanger the integrity of age. The $916 billion (756-billion-euro) plan is the common market.” bigger than the $908 billion proposal put for- BRUSSELS: Prime Minister Boris Johnson was Merkel said Britain would have to accept that as ward last week by a bipartisan group of lawmak- headed for Brussels yesterday, with hopes for a the UK and EU legal systems move apart after ers. “With the markets starting to exhibit some post-Brexit trade deal hanging on crisis talks with Brexit there must be a way to ensure a “level play- year-end fatigue, any stimulus holiday stocking- EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Johnson’s dash back ing field for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow”. stuffer will come at a most welcome time and to the city where he made his name as an EU-bash- “Otherwise we’d end up with unfair conditions for ensure that well-subscribed equity markets will ing newspaper reporter marks an almost final competition which we can’t ask of our companies,” cross the year-end finishing line on a positive chance of a breakthrough before Britain leaves the she said. note,” noted Axi strategist Stephen Innes. EU single market. Focus in Europe was also heavily on Brexit. “A good deal is still there to be done,” Johnson Demolition claim British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has flown told the UK parliament before setting off for Johnson spoke by telephone to Von der Leyen on to Brussels for talks with EU chief Ursula Von Brussels, while insisting Britain would “prosper Monday to secure the last chance dinner invitation der Leyen, just weeks ahead of the December 31 mightily” with or without agreement. Talks are after negotiations between Barnier and Frost broke deadline for a post-Brexit trade deal. blocked over the issue of fair competition, with off without agreement. He will travel by plane and “Sentiment is positive... ahead of the meeting Britain refusing to accept a mechanism that would arrive late Wednesday for talks at the Berlaymont, between Prime Minister Johnson and the EU allow the EU to respond swiftly if UK and EU busi- the EU headquarters building he once wrongly LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson exits a car as he returns to 10 Downing Street in central Commissioner Von der Leyen,” said CMC ness rules diverge over time and put European firms reported was scheduled for demolition when he London yesterday. — AFP Markets analyst David Madden. “Volatility is at a disadvantage. covered Brussels as a newspaper journalist in the likely to be low throughout the session as some “Our friends in the EU are currently insisting early 1990s. traders will probably play the wait and see that if they pass a new law in the future, with which But officials on both sides expressed pessimism whether they would leave space to negotiate. game. There are no guarantees that a deal will we in this country do not comply, they want the ahead of the last-ditch encounter. Barnier, mean- “The sticking point in the negotiations is the be reached.” Britain made a gesture of good automatic right... to punish us and to retaliate,” while, gave a downbeat briefing to European minis- equivalence clause requested by the EU to avoid faith by withdrawing controversial elements of a Johnson said. ters ahead of today’s EU leaders summit, then distortions of competition if the UK refuses to align legislative package concerning the future border EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK coun- tweeted: “We will never sacrifice our future for the itself over time with EU tax, social and environmen- in Ireland. But while EU member Ireland said a terpart David Frost have narrowed the gaps over present. Access to our market comes with condi- tal standards,” he said. But a UK government source pact between the sides on post-Brexit Northern eight months but London insists it will reclaim full tions.” A senior Europan source said the question said: “If we can make progress at a political level it Ireland offered some hope for a broader trade sovereignty at the end of the year after half-a-cen- was whether the EU would respond automatically may allow Lord Frost and his team to resume nego- deal, optimism was at a premium. — AFP tury of close economic integration. If Britain leaves and unilaterally if commercial standards diverge, or tiations over the coming days.” —AFP Established 1961 9 Thursday, December 10, 2020 Business Airbnb, DoorDash lead ‘unicorn parade’ ending busy IPO year Unicorns taking advantage of lifestyle changes due to pandemic

SAN FRANCISCO: Airbnb and DoorDash make their rection,” said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle group. before unsuspecting public investors realize the busi- stock market debut this week as part of a “unicorn “You want to do an IPO and get your money before ness is not viable in its current form.” parade” capping a busy year for hot startups going that happens.” DoorDash is aiming high with an open- public. The startups known as unicorns-valued in the ing share price of $102, valuing the food delivery start- Travel rebound? billions-are poised to take advantage of a market hun- up at $38.7 billion overall for its stock market debut Airbnb, on the other hand, which has seen its busi- gry for young businesses promising fast growth, with Wednesday, according to US media reports. ness crushed along with the rest of the travel industry, some taking advantage of lifestyle changes due to the DoorDash would be valued at $32.4 billion based on promises to be a better bet once people around the coronavirus pandemic. outstanding common stock alone, not adding in private world return to vacationing and adventures, according This week’s big initial public offerings (IPOs) include stakes being held by insiders. That is still more than to New Constructs. food-delivery service DoorDash, which has seen a double the $16 billion that DoorDash was deemed The research firm said Airbnb “has a plausible path surge during COVID-19 restrictions, to be followed by worth during a private funding round in June. to profitability and growth” if it can contain costs while home-sharing platform Airbnb and e-commerce opera- San Francisco-based DoorDash is out to raise more expanding its global footprint. The vacation rental plat- tion Wish. Firms going public with lofty valuations, than $3 billion with the share offering. Renaissance form, expected to hit the market Thursday, has fared some in the tens of billions, have been concentrated in Capital said of the DoorDash IPO that the “December better than travel industry peers with its home-sharing technology, such as big data analytics group Palantir unicorn IPO parade begins.” Delivery of meals and gro- platform offering more appeal during the pandemic. A and cloud storage firm Snowflake earlier this year. ceries has boomed during the pandemic, with restau- key question is whether these emerging firms represent There have been 420 initial public offerings (IPOs) on rants offering no or limited dine-in options and people the future or are just a flash in the pan. A strong stock US markets so far this year, some 88 percent more that at fearful of exposure to COVID-19. market could bring out more IPOs including from the this point a year earlier, according to StockAnalysis.com. In this file illustration photo shows the logo of the online San Francisco-based DoorDash, which competes online financial groups such as Robinhood and SoFi. Companies have raised some $144.8 billion overall going lodging service Airbnb displayed on a tablet in Paris. — AFP with GrubHub and Uber Eats, operates a leading online Some analysts say the pandemic has distorted the public in US markets this year, the most by far in the past platform connecting people ordering food with those economy and that it’s too soon to know how these 25 years, according to Dealogic. “You are seeing some of willing to deliver it. emerging firms will fare. “How long will the party the strongest tech companies of the last five to seven Growth opportunities Some analysts are skeptical of the latest round of last? No one knows,” said Charlie Bilello of years come public, like Palantir,” Wedbush analyst Dan Startups are tapping into a prime time to raise mon- IPOs at current valuations. Investment research firm Compound Advisors in a research note, adding that Ives told AFP. “It has definitely been a strong year for ey in the public market while their business models look New Constructs chief executive David Trainer warned “IPO fever (is) as hot as it’s been since 1999-2000.” IPOs.” Appetite is particularly strong for “secular growth promising and the market is eager for opportunities, investors about the DoorDash market debut, branding it “While there are certainly parallels to manias of the stories” in sectors such as e-commerce, cybersecurity, according to analysts. “It is a case of striking while the “ridiculous.” Trainer argued that the DoorDash offering past, 2020 has taught us once again that every time is and cloud computing, Ives noted. iron is hot, because there is going to be a market cor- “holds no value... beyond bailing out private investors different,” he noted. — AFP

billion euros, after concluding that 245 pence per The London-listed company had already turned Global security share was “fair and reasonable”. The UK security down a £3.25-billion proposal from Allied in early titan, which in recent years has been caught up in November, arguing that this conditional approach had scandals across the world, added that it has rejected undervalued its prospects. giant G4S backs GardaWorld’s improved £3.7-billion bid which lodged Steve Jones, president and chief executive of Allied last week and was pitched at 235 pence per share. Universal, added yesterday that the group was £3.8bn US takeover The combined company will have total revenues of “delighted” to win the board’s recommendation. “Our around $18 billion with a “world-leading” integrated businesses know each other well, we share a similar security business and a strong international platform. culture and values and I am excited about what the LONDON: Bosses at British security giant G4S, “The combination of G4S and Allied Universal cre- combination of Allied Universal and G4S can deliver,” which guards sites including prisons, offices and ates the global leader in security with over 750,000 he said. “G4S has an excellent service offering, an Covid test-centers, yesterday backed a £3.8-billion employees, industry leading capabilities and unri- enviable global customer portfolio and it is led by a takeover from US rival Allied Universal that trumps a valled market coverage,” said G4S Chief Executive highly experienced management team.” G4S, which bid from Canada’s GardaWorld. G4S announced in a Ashley Almanza in the statement. “This unique and itself employs 533,000 staff across 85 countries, had statement posted on the London Stock Exchange that compelling combination will offer customers excep- faced a takeover tussle between Allied and its board was “unanimously recommending” Allied’s tional service and provides employees with an excit- GardaWorld with both suitors pledging to vastly new offer, worth the equivalent of $5.1 billion or 4.2 ing future.” improve its tarnished image. —AFP

This file photo shows a plant of German industrial conglom- Potential sectors for investment in Bangladesh erate ThyssenKrupp (foreground) and smoke from a coal- fired power station in Duisburg, western Germany. — AFP angladesh is one of the fastest growing maceutical API leading to the opportunity for global • Number of Companies: 130 economies in the world. A recent report of PwC, export to exceed $6 billion by 2025. After meeting, 98 • Ships made in Bangladesh are 15 percent cheaper Ba renowned economy reviewer projects that percent of local demand, Bangladesh is currently than even Chinese ships and are of the same quali- Bangladesh is going to be the 23rd largest global econ- exporting pharma-products to 147 countries across ty Green hydrogen: A omy in the world by 2050. The investors who are intel- four continents, including highly regulated markets in • The productivity of labors is good & average ligent and far-sighted, forward looking may be able to the European Union and Australia. The WTO TRIPS hourly labor charge in is only $ 1.00 fuel bursting with take this unique opportunity of investment advantage agreement permits Bangladesh to reverse-engineer • Global shipbuilding market size is $1,600 billion. 1 in Bangladesh. Its business friendly policies, suitable patented generics till 2033 to sell locally and export to percent of the global order for only small ships geographical location and skilled labor force at cheap markets around the world. Pharma manufacturers have market the amount will be worth $4 billion for climate-saving potential wages are the basic facilities to beacon the entrepre- made large investments into their state-of-the-art Bangladesh neurs. The potential investment areas in Bangladesh manufacturing facilities. Many companies have been • Present capacity is 0.84 percent of global ship- PARIS: In the battle against climate change, green cover wide range of opportunities. To facilitate the accredited by leading global regulatory authorities building production hydrogen is being hailed as a potential miracle fuel potential investor there is Bangladesh Investment including USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA), • Declared as “Thrust Sector” in a different policy. that could help the world’s worst-polluting industries Development Authority (BIDA), which is a government along with accreditation from authorities in the EU, • 5 percent incentive on export. slash carbon emissions. Hydrogen itself may have agency responsible for encouraging and facilitating UK, Canada, UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council, Australia plenty of uses, but governments and companies are investment in Bangladesh. For getting relevant informa- and Taiwan to exports items. Power sector increasingly turning their attention to how to produce tion, you may visit website of BIDA http://bida.gov.bd/. Recently Bangladesh started construction of the the resource in a climate-friendly fashion to make it Here, only few sectors are highlighted. 2.4-gigawatt (GW) Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant expected to go into operation in 2023. The largest truly green. Agri-business sector energy consumers in Bangladesh are industries and Zero-emissions panacea Bangladesh is one of the top five largest global the residential sector, followed by the commercial and Hydrogen is an abundant resource that gives off no exporters of fresh produce. The country fetched $909 agricultural sectors. Bangladesh will need an estimated emissions when it is burnt as fuel. No wonder govern- million, up 35 percent from that of FY 2018, by 34,000 MW of power by 2030 to sustain its economic ments and companies are falling over each other to exporting food-related products. The abundance of growth of over 7 percent. As the country progresses extol its virtues. Its use as a fuel for spacecraft has natural resources supports a range of highly profitable through a phase of development, automation is key to prompted many to tout it as the future of the transport investment opportunities in the agro-sector. Extremely its economy. With continued industrialization, the industry. European firm Airbus has said it wants to put fertile land presents excellent opportunities for importance of power generation and electricity supply the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial plane investors seeking to export or to meet the rapidly becomes a key government priority. The power sector into service by 2035. Many major automakers already growing local demand for agricultural products. is a capital-intensive industry; huge investments are required in order to generate additional capacity. manufacture models using hydrogen fuel cells. Private sector Power Generation Policy of Bangladesh Transport policymakers are taking note. Plans are Garments & textile sector afoot for hydrogen-powered trains in Germany and Bangladeshi factories design and produce products has offered attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Italy. In famously dirty industries, hydrogen is regard- for the world’s leading brands. Bangladesh is the 2nd ed as a particularly promising alternative to fossil fuels. largest global Ready Made Garment Exporter after Leather and leather goods Steelmakers like Germany’s Thyssenkrupp are experi- China. Its Textiles & Apparels (T&A) exports have Bangladesh has a long established tanning industry menting with creating hydrogen-powered furnaces. A increased last five years from $25.49 billion in 2015 to which produces around 3-4 percent of the world’s broad agreement exists that hydrogen fuel has huge $34.13 billion in 2019. This rapidly growing sector leather from a ready supply of raw materials. The potential benefits, but the process of creating it is still offers a unique competitive edge that supports prof- country is an established and attractive location to the subject of heated debate. itable expansion into new strategic markets. The Healthcare sector source and outsource the manufacture of leather growing trend in the T&A sector means that • Around $2 billion of the untapped healthcare, the products. The leather industry is ideally suited to Carbon conundrums Bangladesh is perfectly positioned to appeal to foreign market is now in Bangladesh. Bangladesh with its abundance of labor and natural Scientists have understood for centuries how investors. There are currently 4,500 operating gar- • Bangladesh spends around $2.04 billion abroad resources at internationally competitive rates. It con- hydrogen can be produced from water via a process ment factories in Bangladesh. for medical treatment in a year. This amount is 1.94 tributes more than $54.7 billion annually to the known as electrolysis whereby an electric current is percent of total GDP of Bangladesh. Economy. 207 tanneries produce 300 million ft2 of passed through water, splitting it into hydrogen and • The demand of healthcare growing 21 percent crust leather and 140.4 million ft2 of finished leather. ICT business sector oxygen. But this process requires power-which right ICT and IT related business services in Bangladesh annually. now is still generated largely by burning coal and gas. are a vibrant sector supported by an enthusiastic cul- • The demand for health care services is accelerat- Ceramics industry According to the International Energy Agency, ture and a government committed to providing a pro- ing because of increasing purchasing power of the Bangladesh produces high-quality bone china. The industry caters to 85 percent of the ever-growing global hydrogen production emitted 830 million tons business climate for all investors. The World Bank growing middle and upper middle classes. local demand and also serves a major portion of the of CO2 in 2017 — the equivalent of the combined reported: ICT service exports in Bangladesh account- export market: progressing towards being the 3rd emissions of Indonesia and the United Kingdom. ed for $5.25 million in 2017. 800 IT companies are Medical equipment sector largest sector in the next five years. The global market Governments and companies are mulling three main now thriving in the country and capturing a share of • The medical device market was projected to for ceramic products is predicted to be worth $408 options to make the process cleaner. the international markets. To attract investors, the $243.6 million in 2018 billion by 2025. Bangladesh, being a gas-rich, low- The first is “green hydrogen”, which uses electroly- Bangladeshi Government has established the • Hospitals in Bangladesh experienced up to 22.5 labor-cost economy, is perfectly positioned to be a sis of water powered by renewable energy. This would Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority (BHTPA), dedicat- percent growth in patients in 2011 strategic partner in production and supply of ceramic reduce emissions but it remains very costly. The sec- ed to establish, manage and operate technology busi- • The large medical equipment market of products. Ceramic products are currently exported to ond option is to obtain so-called blue hydrogen from ness parks throughout the country. Hi-Tech park is full Bangladesh is almost import dependent more than 50 countries including USA, Europe, New natural gas, capturing the CO2 during the process. of opportunities to invest in Hi-Tech industry and pro- • Medical equipment manufacturing is a potential Zealand and Australia. Firms including ExxonMobil and ENI are pushing for mote businesses which are knowledge and capital- sector to invest and set up plants in Bangladesh this, but the CO2 sequestration process remains based Information technology, Software Technology, • Huge private hospitals in recent years represent Government incentives uncertain and costly. The third option is low-carbon Bio-Tech, Renewable Green Energy & Tech, IT the best opportunity for selling expensive high- Potential investors may be encouraged to invest in hydrogen produced by electrolysis but using nuclear Hardware/Enabled-Services and R&D etc. are major end equipment and medical devices. Bangladesh because of government incentives in the electricity. China is the main proponent of this areas of investment in the Hi-Tech industry in • Government builds hundreds of new healthcare form of Tax holidays and tax exemptions, accelerated method, with nuclear energy falling out of favor else- Bangladesh. facilities and upgrades existing facilities and depreciation, exemption on import duties, tariff refund, where in the world. Governments are scrambling to equipment. double taxes prevention, bonded warehousing facili- frame policies encouraging the development of clean Pharmaceutical sector ties, ownership, repatriation of invested capital, divi- hydrogen. The EU wants to achieve between 12 and In Bangladesh, Pharmaceutical Export Ship building sector dend and others. Potential investors are always wel- 14 percent hydrogen in its energy mix by 2050, up Opportunities are projected to be over $450 million Among many sectors, ship building is an important come to invest Bangladesh, an Emerging Tiger of from two percent today. The bloc estimates the by 2025. Bangladesh will be producing its own phar- activity in Bangladesh. Some of the highlights are: South Asia. — Bangladesh Embassy, Kuwait required funding at between 180 billion euros ($218 billion) and 470 billion. —AFP 10 Established 1961 Thursday, December 10, 2020 Business KFH pioneer in keeping abreast of digital technology: Al-Roshood Pandemic has accelerated KFH’s strategy of digital transformation

KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) participat- of the 2035 vision as it is a world leading Islamic and expertise in areas outside of the banks’ tradi- ed in “Investing in Kuwait- Capitalizing on financial institution enabling national development tional scope. Transformation” digital conference hosted by FT and growth of the financial services industry while He explained that banks now offer a range of Live in partnership with fDi Magazine and Kuwait also helping facilitate the growth and diversification services ranging from consultation, analysis and Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). of investment efforts of many other economic sec- technical support to the creation of digital plat- In the “Investing in Kuwait’s Future” session, tors. He emphasized that that the private sector, in forms and apps. Al-Roshood added that Kuwaiti Abdulwahab Al-Roshood, Acting Group Chief particular the banking industry, is well prepared to banks should partner with Fintech companies to Executive Officer at Kuwait Finance House (KFH) add value to this ambitious plan. Given mega-infra- keep upgrading their services while innovating said that the spread of the COVID-19 virus has structure projects, Kuwaiti banking sector is well- new ones. This in turn creates opportunities for prompted vast policy responses by the local regula- equipped to play an important role to support the firms in tech sectors. “As Kuwait vision 2035 is set tors and financial sector. He added that as an emer- long-term development of Kuwait’s infrastructure. to leverage digitalization, Information and commu- gent response to the pandemic, local banks allowed Al-Roshood stressed the importance of eco- nication technologies spending in Kuwait is esti- a moratorium period of 6 months on all financing nomic diversification for creating new revenue mated to grow at a compound annual growth rate installments including waiver of profits and charges. streams amid the social and economic investment (CAGR) of 10.2 percent between 2019 and 2024, Abdulwahab Al-Roshood participating in the event Al-Roshood pointed out that banks were large- requirements supported by investment potential. reaching US$10.1bn by 2024. Growth will be driv- ly able to accommodate the unprecedented situa- This role involves financing of these projects, pro- en by the increasing adoption of advanced tech- energy, health care and education as well as it sees tion thanks to the higher level of capital and liq- viding comprehensive nologies including artifi- growth opportunities in all these business seg- uidity they accumulated compared to recent crisis banking services starting cial intelligence (AI), big ments. He pointed to the efficiency of Islamic episodes and the precautionary provisions they from basic financing data, cloud computing finance instruments in providing financing solu- allocated based on the regulatory requirements. activity to more complex and Internet of Things tions that meet customers’ requirements, adding He added that the close coordination between transactions as well as Kuwaiti banks (IoT).” He explained. that Islamic financial sector in Kuwait embraced monetary policy and prudential measures has consulting, trade facilities well-equipped to Al-Roshood said that the need to innovation, digital transformation and resulted in facilitatory policies regarding interest and other banking busi- Kuwait Finance House is a to design and introduce new products which add rates through cutting the discount rate to historical ness. He added that by support Kuwait’s leader in innovation to value and to develop new processes to gain cus- lows to reach 1.5 percent. Al-Roshood emphasized fully mobilizing the tal- infrastructure expand and enhance the tomers and market share. On the other hand, given that KFH has always been diligent and proactive in ented pool of highly edu- range of products and the saturated local market and the regulatory con- our business model and in our methodology in cated young Kuwaiti services. KFH released straints, Al-Roshood said that the Islamic banks embracing change and in dealing with crises. nationals, the banking the first fully automated put into consideration expanding into nascent During COVID-19, it succeeded in utilizing the sector is a vital contribu- 24hr digital self-branches Islamic finance markets abroad, where they can crises as an opportunity where KFH presented tor in achieving this vision. in Kuwait under the theme of KFH-Go and the first boost their market expertise and resources to itself as part of the solution rather than part of the Al-Roshood said: “We already activated our automated virtual queuing system for costumers, maintain growth. problem, fully utilizing its digital tools to facilitate role as KFH is involved in nearly every major showing the emphasis on convenience and higher KFH’s participation in the conference comes customer services. He mentioned that KFH tremen- financing deal in Kuwait, from financing govern- levels of service. Most importantly, KFH was with the aim of promoting digital transformation dously demonstrated its CSR strategy of support- ment and private companies for local projects to among the first to deploy a cross border remit- and stimulating the business environment to ing the government in its efforts and measures to financing their ventures abroad more recently tance service with RippleNet, putting KFH at the strengthen Kuwait’s position as a digital hub in the face the pandemic, adding that the pandemic has KIPIC’s LNG ventures. forefront of innovation in the region as KFH taps region, and to emphasize the role of foreign direct accelerated KFH’s strategy of digital transforma- into blockchain technology as an enabler for its investment. tion in terms of providing high-quality mobile Digital transformation growth. The conference discussed various topics and banking services without interruption and focusing Al-Roshood added that banks have already themes, such as: “Focus on the new Kuwait”, “The on health and safety of customers and employees. begun the transition of adopting and utilizing the Islamic finance new normal- the role of Kuwait’s technology and disruptive technologies. Many of these financial Al-Roshood said that in line with Kuwait 2035 telecoms sector in the post-COVID-19 world of Kuwait Vision 2035 institutions are teaming up with financial services vision, KFH supports and offers financing to sever- work”, and “Kuwait’s capital markets and econom- Al-Roshood said that KFH is a key component technology providers who own unique solutions al projects in vital sectors including infrastructure, ic development”.

diligence procedures. UBS chief faces prosecution Dutch prosecutors at the time detailed several examples of misused accounts that ING failed to crack over money laundering down on, saying that customers had From junk to veg: laundered hundreds of millions of THE HAGUE: A Dutch court yester- public responsibility for his actions,” it euros between 2010 and 2016. Vending machines day ordered the prosecution of the added. These included an international head of Swiss banking giant UBS, UBS said it had “full confidence” in telecommunications provider that adapt to virus crisis Ralph Hamers, over money-laundering Hamers to lead the bank. “UBS takes allegedly transferred bribes worth when he was CEO of the Dutch lender note of the decision of the Dutch millions of dollars via its bank ENNEVELIN, France: With business selling chocolate ING. Hamers led ING when it settled courts to order the public prosecutor accounts with ING to a company bars to office workers in meltdown owing to the a 775-million-euro ($940 million) to open an investigation of Ralph owned by the daughter of a former COVID crisis, French vending machine makers have laundering probe with Dutch authori- Hamers, in his capacity as the former Uzbek president. In another case a turned to experts on growth: farmers. ties in 2018 after it failed to ensure CEO of ING, relating to ING’s anti- women’s underwear trader laundered And for farmers who want to reach consumers that people were not hiding cash used money laundering compliance,” it said 150 million euros through a bank directly, vending machines offer a way to meet new for illegal purposes in its accounts. in a statement. account held at ING. “It should have demand and respect health regulations. Vending The Dutchman, 53, joined UBS in “UBS has full confidence in Ralph been clear to the bank that the mone- machines have been popping up alongside highways September, with the Swiss bank Hamers’ ability to lead UBS”. tary flows had little to do with the lin- In this file photo, the chief executive and near farms, and one of the main beneficiaries has describing him as the “right CEO to gerie trade,” prosecutors said. officer of Dutch banking giant ING, Ralph Hamers, gives a press confer- been Le Casier Francais, which is swamped by orders lead our business into its next chap- ‘Serious prohibited behavior’ When ING’s monitoring system did ter” having steered ING through the Hamers, who joined ING in 1991, generate alerts, they were never fur- ence in Brussels to present results of and expects to double the 1.2 million euros ($1.5 mil- the first half of 2012. —AFP lion) in sales it posted last year. The small firm of 22 2008 financial crisis. won plaudits for leading ING out of ther investigated and described by the employees based in northern France designs and builds The Hague court of appeal said in a the financial crisis, reimbursing a huge bank as “not unusual.” Hamers said at vending machines, including refrigerated models that statement that it was “of the opinion Dutch state bailout months ahead of the time that the bank “takes full decision yesterday that it was “impor- are connected to the internet. Since the coronavirus that there are sufficient leads for a schedule. But his time at the bank was responsibility” and that it was a “bad tant in a public criminal trial... that crisis pushed France to impose its first lockdown in successful prosecution of this former also dogged by controversy. The day for ING.” However later that year directors of a bank do not go unpun- March, business has been booming. “We receive a director as the de facto supervisor of amount that ING paid in 2018 includ- the bank also had to drop plans to ished if they have actually directed dozen inquiries a day,” said the company’s director the criminal offences committed by ed a 675 million euro fine and a reim- give him a massive pay hike, after a serious prohibited behavior. “Citizens Manuel Moutier. ING.” “The facts are serious, no set- bursement of 100 million euros which public outcry and criticism from must be able to see that such actions tlement has been reached with the ING underspent on staffing to prevent Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. are not accepted by the government Quick returns director himself, nor has he taken the crimes as well as carry out due The Hague appeals court said in its either,” it added. —AFP Not all result in an order, however, and it takes time to finalize a project that often includes bank financing. But Moutier says they now have “new clients, such as be reused meanwhile, a process known as carbon cap- company cafeterias and delicatessens so they can offer Carbon capture a ture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). dishes at any hour”. A machine from Le Casier Francais The procedure is not new, with the first site set up with a hundred small lockers costs 40,000-50,000 tool in climate fight, in Texas in the early 1970s. Despite growing interest in euros ($48,000-60,000). It is a sizeable investment, the technology, however, to date only about 20 sites but one that some producers say quickly pays for itself. exist worldwide, according to the Global CSS Institute, Benoit Soufflet, who farms vegetables outside the but at what cost? as it fights popular suspicion that CCS distracts from northern city of Lille, installed a machine with 60 lockers the goal of moving away from fossil fuels. The at the beginning of July. “In three months the 30,000 PARIS: Technology for capturing carbon from industri- International Energy Agency says the technology has euros invested has already been recovered,” he said, al emissions and storing it may still be in its early enormous potential and that it may play a “critical” thanks to 10,000-15,000 euros in revenue generated stages, but proponents believe it can become a major role in helping to smooth the path to achieving net each month. “Our farms are located alongside a super- tool in the fight against climate change. For its methods zero emissions. market ... and a lot of people would stop and ask to buy to rollout on a scale large enough to make a difference, “After years of slow progress, new investment a salad or a bunch of radishes, that gave us the idea,” he though, experts and critics say carbon capture and incentives and strengthened climate goals are building In this file photo, ships and coal are seen at Rajin har- added. If Soufflet previously worked mostly with whole- storage (CCS) still has to overcome a host of logistical new momentum behind CCUS,” the IEA said in a bour in North Korea’s northeastern city of Rason, near salers, the vending machines now account for 30-40 and financial hurdles. September report, pointing to 30 projects that have the borders of both China and Russia. -—AFP percent of his sales by volume. Part of that might be the CCS techniques are designed to capture and store come on stream in the last three years. The IEA main- fact that Soufflet, by cutting out the middleman, can carbon dioxide generated by power stations using fos- tains that CCUS has a positive role to play in sectors has made CCS a priority. Oil giants such as BP, Equinor, offer his products directly to consumers at a third of sil fuels as well as industrial plants from steelmakers to whose carbon footprint is hard to reduce significantly, Shell and Total are in the vanguard of its development. supermarket prices. refineries and petrochemical plants. Supporters see the such as cement production. technology has great potential to reduce greenhouse Equinor, Shell and Total are partners in a large Norwegian project to stock CO2 beneath the ‘Better than farm store’ gas emissions from power production, industry in gen- Advantages North Sea. “Oil companies have advantages com- “I didn’t expect such sales, it works better than our eral and fossil fuel refining. Hydrocarbons producers see the technology as a pared with other industries when it comes to operat- farm store,” Marie Froment, who installed a vending The captured CO2 is transported and reinjected into means of justifying their use of natural gas to produce ing in these CCUS activities,” says Moez Ajmi of machine with 88 lockers near her farm in Thun-Saint- hermetically sealed geological reservoirs-for example, electricity or hydrogen. The Oil and Gas Climate Ernst & Young France. —AFP Amand, a village of 1,100 residents close to the border in former oilfields-for permanent storage. A portion can Initiative (OGCI), which groups major sector players, with Belgium. The machine sells her dairy products along with other local produce including vegetables, apple juice, eggs and waffles. “With COVID, people prefer to currently being monitored with a view to re-start pro- executive of the trade association UK Major Ports Group, use the vending machine than go into the store,” she said. Honda pauses UK duction as soon as possible,” it said in a statement. The said the COVID-19 pandemic had “caused unprecedent- But it isn’t always easy to install connected machines Swindon plant, which Honda has earmarked for closure ed volatility in global supply chains”. “The situation at the in rural areas. “There are sometimes problems with the production after next year with the loss of 3,500 jobs, operates on a “just UK’s ports is improving following commitment of extra 4G connection,” said Mathieu Lucas, who farms in in time” production system under which parts arrive on resources, working closely with customers and ports Bailleul-le-Soc about an hour north of Paris. Having a COVID, Brexit delays site only when needed. Britain’s biggest container port across the UK taking on more traffic,” he said. connected machine that accepts card payments is at Felixstowe, in eastern England, has been experiencing “However, we are not complacent. Improvements important not only for the customers, but to deter van- LONDON: Japanese automaker Honda yesterday sus- coronavirus-linked delays for weeks and some cargo at UK ports will take time to work through supply dals seeking cash. Farmers also have to get their ducks pended production at its British plant after suffering a ships have been diverting to mainland Europe, notably chains, they remain very busy and the underlying in a row to fill the vending machine regularly. “We have shortfall in parts, after blockages at ports caused by Rotterdam in the Netherlands. problem is global.” The situation will be exacerbated a person on full-time for the machines, who stocks them the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit. But problems have also now spread to the port of if Britain crashes out of the EU’s single market at the at least twice a day. If the lockers are empty, clients Honda UK said it was pausing work for the day at its Southampton, in the south, as importers bid to stockpile end of the year without a deal, necessitating quotas won’t come back,” Soufflet said. —AFP only car plant in Europe, in Swindon, west of London, goods before a possible “no deal” outcome in trade talks and tariffs on cross-Channel trade for the first time in “due to transport-related parts delays”. “The situation is between the UK and European Union. Tim Morris, chief decades. —AFP 11

Thursday,December 10, 2020

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French doctor has bequeathed beautiful gesture,” Hermitage director cats that officially hunt for rodents A3,000 euros to celebrated cats that Mikhail Piotrovsky said on Monday. beneath Russia’s largest museum. live in the basement of the He proposed the amount left to the Over the past decade, the cats have Hermitage museum, a world-renowned cats be put towards improving the base- become “as popular as the museum’s art gallery in Russia’s second city Saint ment where they live. The history of the collection”, the Hermitage staff said. The Petersburg “We received information Hermitage cats dates back to the 18th Hermitage hosts an annual party for the (about the inheritance) this summer. At century when the museum, then called cats and has a website where locals can the moment the process of completing all the Winter Palace, was an imperial resi- adopt one of the rat hunters. —AFP the legal formalities is in the final stage,” dence in Russia’s former capital. the museum press service told AFP on Empress Elizabeth I-daughter of Saint Tuesday. The money was left by French Petersburg founder Emperor Peter the doctor Christophe Batard, who died at Great-in 1745 ordered cats to be brought This file photo shows a cat in front the age of 51. “Our French friend has to the palace to deal with a rat infestation. of the State Hermitage Museum in done a remarkable thing... it is such a Now the Hermitage is home to nearly 70 Saint Petersburg. — AFP

nearly 40-million-year-old skele- Aton belonging to what is popularly called a sabre-toothed tiger has sold for $84,350, a year after its discov- ery on a US ranch. The skeleton, about 120 centimeters (nearly four feet) long, was snapped up by a private collector in just one minute at an auction in Geneva on Tuesday. The original bones are those of a Hoplophoneus-not technically cats, they are an extinct genus of the Nimravidae family and once stalked the plains of North America. Such extinct predatory mam- mals are commonly known as sabre- toothed tigers. Also on sale was a Tyrannosaurus painting that hung for decades in a used in the panel depicting the baby Amunicipal building in Brussels has Jesus with Joseph, Mary and her mother been authenticated as the work of Saint Anne came from the same tree as Flemish master Jacob Jordaens, Belgian one used by Van Dyck. Art historian conservators said Tuesday. After analysis Constantin Pion said Van Dyck and Director of “Piguet Hotel des Ventes” auction house Bernard Piguet poses with a rare sabre- including dendrochronology-dating Jordaens “very likely” worked in Rubens’ toothed cat’s skeleton during a preview of the sale in Geneva. — AFP photos works from the wood panels they are studio at the same time. Jordaens used painted on-experts determined that it is the same composition, with variations, in Rex tooth which fetched just over fore scientific articles that ought to be the oldest known version of “The Holy three other “Holy Family” paintings held $6,000, while a 85-cm long fin from a studied and then shared with the public Family” by Jordaens, painted in the early by the Metropolitan Museum of New mosasaur-a marine reptile that in the in museums. 17th century. The “incredible discovery” York, the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg Cretaceous period was at the top of the Before the sale, Swiss collector Yann was made by the Royal Institute for and Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, the state- submarine food chain-was bought for Cuenin told AFP: “If we’re talking about Cultural Heritage with the help of interna- ment said. almost $8,000. A 75-million-year-old the sabre-toothed tiger, for example, it’s tional experts as part of an inventory of The discovery provides “something of ammolite-an opal-like organic gemstone not a skeleton which is of major scientif- cultural property in the Brussels district of a matrix of what he would do later,” Saint- in shades of red and orange-measuring ic interest, in the sense that it’s some- Saint-Gilles. Gilles cultural heritage expert Pierre 40 cm long by 36 cm wide remained thing which is already known to sci- The painting had hung high in an Dejemeppe told AFP. “It will give us a unsold because the reserve price was ence. “I am all for museums, but I am office in the Saint-Gilles municipal hall better understanding of later versions” of not met. Debate rages as to the right also in favor of objects living among us; since the 1960s. Jordaens, a leading the subject. After its restoration, the work balance between the scientific value of for there to be collectors, for pieces to Flemish Baroque painter along with Peter will be shown at the end of next year at such items and their worth on the open be bought and sold-that’s what brings Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, cre- the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of market. Some palaeontologists insist culture to life.” — AFP ated the work in 1617 or 1618 when he Belgium in Brussels.— AFP A rare sabre-toothed cat’s skeleton is dis- animal or plant fossils are not decora- was just 25, the institute said in a state- played at “Piguet Hotel des Ventes” auction tive objects for collectors, but witness to ment. The analysis found that the wood house during a sale preview in Geneva. the evolution of life on Earth and there-

ar from the rifle cracks that occa- says Vasquez. “The mother does not let Fsionally rip through the rainforest go of her baby. And the little one falls as local tribesmen hunt mature attached to its mother. Sometimes, the primates for their meat and soft pelts, a pellets can injure or even kill it.” The sanctuary in a corner of the Colombian adult’s flesh is roasted on a wood fire, Amazon is offering new life to the as the meat is prized. The small sur- orphaned monkeys left behind. The vivors are sold as pets or exhibited to refuge run by a local leader, Jhon Jairo tourists visiting the indigenous commu- Vasquez, is giving them a second nities of the Triple Frontier region. A Wooly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) is chance-while gradually changing atti- The lucky ones are rescued by touched by the director of the tudes in the area-in the indigenous set- Corpoamazonia, the Colombian govern- Maikuchiga foundation, Jhon Jairo tlement of Mocagua on the banks of ment agency in charge of environmental Vasquez. the Amazon. Vasquez has proved to protection, based in nearby Leticia. be a father figure for one of the Luis Fernandez Cuevas, its director, and resources for the refuge. At dawn, orphans, a three-month-old female said 22 young primates have been Vasquez prepares a breakfast of oat woolly monkey, or Lagothrix, he’s recovered since 2018. Sometimes porridge and vitamins for his charges. named Maruja. The pair have become these are the result of “voluntary surren- “When they are psychologically inseparable on his hikes through the ders” by people who claim to have traumatized, it can take them a long rainforest, carrying the little primate in found them by chance, in order to avoid time to adjust. They can’t see a child, a sack on his back. “I have become the an investigation for trafficking or illegal a man...They tremble,” he said. They father, and she’s become the daugh- possession of the animal. In Colombia will also have to slowly adapt to the ter,” said Vasquez, 38. “An indigenous and neighboring Brazil, it’s illegal to wild, to know how to recognize “the family ate the mother.” Aerial view of the indigenous community of Mocagua, near Leticia, Colombia, where the remove any animal from the wild to keep sounds of danger” from the jungle and Maikuchiga foundation is located. as a pet. the habits of predators. Rehabilitation Prized and Vulnerable for these monkeys comes to an end Long prized by indigenous hunters found the Maikuchiga animal refuge orphans continue to arrive in Monkey business when they leave the 4,000 protected for their meat and furry pelts, the woolly located in the middle of the 700-strong Maikuchiga from other parts of the Vasquez looks after five other pri- hectares of Mocagua. Little by little, monkey is now classified by the Tikuna indigenous community in Amazon. Since its creation, the refuge mates here: the woolly monkeys Helena they find their way through the trees International Union for the Conservation Mocagua. Since 2006, he has been try- has rehabilitated about 800 monkeys, and Abril, an owl monkey (Aotus) called and move in packs, learning what their of Nature as Vulnerable, appearing on ing to convince locals of the damage according to Vasquez. Papinanci, and two squirrel monkeys mothers could not teach them. “We the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened caused by “over-hunting,” as well as a The community is located at a spot in (Saimiri Sciureus), Mochis and Po. realize that they have completed their Species. Given their thick brown coat flourishing illegal wildlife market. “It’s the Amazon called the Triple Frontier, “Here, they are given a new opportunity rehabilitation when they disappear,” and grey appendages, young woolly hard,” he says. Reluctant at first, the where Peru, Colombia and Brazil meet. in life, the opportunity to become mon- says Vasquez. — AFP monkeys like Maruja are often hunted Tikunas have developed a taste for eco- There is a long history of monkeys being keys again,” he says. But Maikuchiga is for the pet trade, with their mothers tourism. “Rehabilitated” hunters have hunted here for meat or for ritual pur- financed by tourism, and the coron- sometimes killed in the process. become guides who now “protect their poses. They are still shot from trees, avirus pandemic has hit the region hard, Fourteen years ago, Vazquez helped wildlife,” says Vasquez. But traumatized mother and baby entwined as they fall, choking off tourist dollars for the locals

Night monkeys are seen next to a sign read- An infant Wooly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) An infant Wooly monkey (Lagothrix Wooly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) surround the director of the Maikuchiga foundation, Jhon ing “Primate rehabilitation area.” climbs over the head of the director of the lagotricha) touches a journalist during its Jairo Vasquez, in the indigenous community of Mocagua, near Leticia, Colombia. Maikuchiga foundation, Jhon Jairo Vasquez. rehabilitation at the Maikuchiga foundation. Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Thursday, December 10, 2020

A member of staff poses with props made for the A member of staff poses with a dinosaur skeleton of a Fantastic Beasts film series. pachycephalosaur, which scientists later named it “Dracorex hogwartsia” to celebrate Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy of the Harry Potter franchise.

A member of staff poses with a prop of a Hungarian Horntail dragon made for the Fantastic Beasts film series at the A member of staff poses with projection display featuring A member of staff poses with props and costume made for press view of Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature exhibition at Natural History Exhibition in London. — AFP photos all the species appearing in the exhibition. actor Eddie Redmayne for the Fantastic Beasts film series.

ans of J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic leading authority on fantastic beasts. The real world today,” she said. “I think it will sea oarfish which fuelled myths of huge tract their bodies at will. “The real world FBeasts” will already be familiar with 2001 book was turned into a hit fantasy really give the audience an extra insight sea serpents is featured, as are giant nar- is in many ways weirder, stranger and nifflers, occamy and demiguise film franchise starring Eddie Redmayne, into the amazing world of nature.” whal tusks. more fantastical than anything in our while unicorns, dragons and mermaids whose costume also features in the exhi- They are exhibited alongside the uni- imagination can cover,” said Buckley. “I have been the stuff of legends for cen- bition, which runs from Wednesday to ‘Extraordinary abilities’ corn hair-infused wands of Harry Potter’s think there are lots of examples of that turies.Now London’s Natural History August next year. The head of conserva- The first part of the exhibition looks at friend Ron Weasley, and his arch-enemy within the show. To actually see that... Museum has scoured its vast collection tion at the Natural History Museum, the animals included in the books such Draco Malfoy. Curator Louis Buckley said and understand a bit more how amazing- for an exhibition to celebrate strange Lorraine Cornish, said curators looked at as the niffler, which resembles a platypus visitors will also be able to explore “the ly adaptable animals are is truly breath- beasts in all their forms, including those the characteristics of Rowling’s inventions and whose penchant for shiny things extraordinary abilities, behaviors and taking.” A total of 12 fantastic beasts created by the Harry Potter author. and compared them with their own col- makes it a good treasure hunter. An properties of real animals”, such as their from the world of wizardry are analyzed, “Fantastic Beasts. The Wonder of Nature” lection. occamy is described as a plumed, two- mating rituals, display and camouflage. A which the museum hopes will help trans- is a collaboration between the museum, Then from a long-list, they honed the legged winged creature with a serpentine demiguise’s impressive ability to disap- form its dusty image and pique the the BBC and Warner Bros, and comes as exhibits down to more than 100 speci- body, while a demiguise is a peaceful pear has been likened to that of butter- curiosity of newer, younger audiences. the venue reopens after months of coron- mens that appear in the show. “By taking herbivore that can make itself invisible flies who can disguise themselves as The venue has indicated the exhibition avirus-enforced closure. some of these fantastic beasts that peo- and predict the future. leaves for protection. will eventually go on tour to a number of The show promises to plunge visitors ple around the world have enjoyed Also featured are dragons, unicorns An occamy’s capacity to grow or countries. — AFP straight into a world well known to Harry watching on film or reading in the books, and mermaids, which are more well- shrink into available spaces is compared Potter fans, where they learn about the we’ve been able to highlight some of the known in public consciousness. A skele- to that of Galapagos marine iguanas or “magizoologist” Newt Scamander, the fantastic beasts that actually exist in the ton of an eight-meter-long (26-feet) deep pufferfish, which can expand and con-

he world’s longest-running TV soap ‘Dramatic flashes’ Topera, Britain’s cosy working-class Coronation Street’s national treasure series “Coronation Street,” celebrat- status at home has even seen it play a ed 60 years on screen yesterday, defying role in public life. Margaret Thatcher visit- social changes and the pandemic. ed the set in 1990 while prime minister. Pealing cathedral bells, a discussion in As the daughter of a grocery store own- parliament and stamps featuring charac- er, she lambasted the corner shop for ters were among the special events selling alcohol, the minister for media and marking the anniversary. The series data, John Whittingdale, reminisced in revolving around a corner shop and pub parliament last week. In 1998, the in a fictional town in northern England boundary between fiction and fact called Weatherfield was first aired on blurred as Labor prime minister Tony December 7, 1960. Blair said he was ordering an investiga- It was expected to run for a couple of tion into the case of character Deirdre months but it proved an instant hit. Since Rachid, wrongfully jailed for fraud. In real Fans gather on the 40th anniversary of John Lennon’s death at the “Imagine” mosaic at Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park on then the show, with its battleaxe matri- life, Blair’s father-in-law, Tony Booth, was December 8, 2020 in New York City. — AFP photos archs, cobbled streets and nostalgic a former actor on the show. trumpet-led theme music, has kept its Critics have accused the show of los- place as one of the top-rated shows on ing some of its character and salty commercial channel ITV. Known as humor, and resorting to sensational “Corrie” for short, a decade ago it events to win ratings. “It was always became the world’s longest-running tele- about strong women. Over the past vision soap opera, still lagging behind decade they’ve moved from character to the 69-year-old BBC radio show The dramatic flashes of action,” the Sunday Archers. It vies for ratings with the BBC’s Times critic Gillian Reynolds lamented in darker “Eastenders”, set in a fictional August. Indeed the show’s dramatic high east London borough, which is a com- points have included a tram crashing off parative newcomer at 35. a viaduct on its 50th anniversary. John Whiston, the head of ITV in the Altogether there have been 146 deaths, North, has described Coronation Street including 24 murders. Yet the show has as “a guide to humanity with a little bit of won praise for groundbreaking storylines, comfort blanket thrown in along with a lit- including the first trans character in a tle bit of sharp, northern wit.” The show’s British soap opera, Hayley Cropper, in speciality is “strong women and feckless the late 1990s. Its audience has fallen men”, he said. While characteristically from its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, English, the show has an international when top-rating episodes would gain In this file photo taken on May 17, 1971 Music legend John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono In this file photo Yoko Ono speaks during the audience too, particularly in Canada, over 20 million viewers. Reflecting a pose for photographers in Cannes 17 May 1971 where they presented their movies unveiling of her first permanent US art instal- where it has aired on CBC since the wider shift away from scheduled televi- ‘Apotheosis’ and ‘The Flu’ lation in Chicago, Illinois. 1960s. “Generations of Canadians have sion, episodes now may have seven or grown up with Corrie in their homes,” eight million viewers, including those said Sally Catto, CBC’s general manager watching online. —AFP of entertainment, factual and sports pro- gramming.

ohn Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono on ed the words: “Over 1,436,000 people Tuesday, a shrine featuring flowers, JTuesday marked the 40th anniver- have been killed by guns in the U.S.A. photos and a small holiday tree had sary of the legendary musician’s since John Lennon was shot and killed already cropped up on the “Imagine” shock murder with a call for gun control. on December 8, 1980.” At 40 years old, mosaic that anchors the memorial in “The death of a loved one is a hollowing Lennon had returned to songwriting Central Park. In her tweet commemorat- experience,” tweeted the 87-year-old shortly before his death, having taken a ing Lennon’s death, Ono included a artist, who still lives in the Dakota build- five-year hiatus to raise his young son number of hashtags including #guncon- ing in Manhattan outside of which her Sean. The couple was returning home to trol now and #end gun violence. husband was shot four decades ago. New York’s famous Dakota building She also hashtagged the National “After 40 years, Sean, Julian and I still across from Central Park, when disgrun- Rifle Association, the powerful US miss him. ‘Imagine all the people living tled Beatles fan Mark David Chapman organization that has for decades bat- life in peace,’” she wrote, quoting the shot Lennon dead. “Tell me it isn’t tled to loosen and eliminate firearms 1971 song she co-wrote with Lennon true!” Ono cried in horror. control legislation. Lennon’s eldest son that became the best-selling single of After Lennon’s murder, Ono commit- Julian, 57, paid homage to his father, his solo career. ted to preserve his memory, funding the tweeting a photo with the message “As Ono, who witnessed her husband’s construction of the Strawberry Fields Time Goes By....”— AFP In this file photo Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall comes out of the Rovers Return Pub murder at close range, also tweeted an memorial in New York that’s become a during a visit to the set of British television soap opera ‘Coronation Street’, in Manchester, image of the former Beatle’s shattered point of pilgrimage for fans and mourn- north-west England. — AFP and bloodied spectacles, which includ- ers across the globe. By mid-morning 14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, December 10, 2020

Photo of the day News in brief

Indian wicketkeeper Patel retires

NEW DELHI: India’s Parthiv Patel, who was the youngest Test wicketkeeper when he made his debut against England in 2002 retired from all cricket yesterday. Overshadowed for much of his career by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Patel, who was 17 years and 153 days on his international debut, played his 25th and last Test for India in 2018. “Today, I announce retirement from all forms of cricket and as I bring down curtains on this 18- year-old cricketing journey, I feel heavier with gratitude for many,” the 35-year-old said in a state- ment. He added that India’s management had “showed generous amount of confidence and faith in a 17-year-old boy to play for India”. Patel made his debut under Sourav Ganguly, current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He had a batting average of over 31, including six half-cen- turies, in his stop-start career. —AFP

Moukoko becomes youngest player

SAINT PETERSBURG: Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, aged 16 years and 18 days, became the youngest player in Champions League history on Tuesday when he came off the bench in a 2-1 victory away to Zenit Saint Petersburg. Cameroon-born Moukoko, who made his European debut as a 58th-minute substitute in Russia, broke the previous record of Celestine Babayaro, who was Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Alexander Albon of Red Bull Racing play backgammon in Istanbul. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com 16 years and 87 days when he played for Anderlecht in November 1994. Dortmund, who had already qualified for the last 16, equalized within minutes of Moukoko’s introduction, with Lukasz Piszczek can- celling out Sebastian Driussi’s first-half goal. Axel Witsel’s low shot from the edge of the area on 78 minutes won the game for Dortmund as they Rugby ex-internationals to take secured top spot ahead of Lazio in Group F. —AFP WCup hero Goromaru to retire legal action over brain injuries TOKYO: Japan rugby star Ayumu Goromaru, who enjoyed cult status after leading his country to a his- toric World Cup win over South Africa, will retire at the end of the 2021 domestic season, his club Thompson ‘has no recollection of winning the 2003 World Cup’ announced yesterday. The 34-year-old was estimat- ed as the world’s richest player following his per- formances at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, LONDON: England World Cup winner representing more than 100 players, whose training sessions were contact sessions battling forever and ultimately I won’t Steve Thompson is among a group of for- ages range from their 20s to their 50s. using a scrummage machine and I would win,” he said. “I am a walking time bomb. where he scored 24 points in “Miracle of Brighton” mer internationals planning legal action Many of whom are showing symptoms be in the thick of things, with all the pres- I feel like I am treading on eggshells with 34-32 victory over the Springboks. Goromaru’s against rugby authorities over brain of neurological problems and Boardman sure pushed on me. myself.” Boardman said senior figures in rugged good looks and distinctive goal-kicking injuries, the law firm leading the case said said he wanted World Rugby to make “It was not uncommon for me to be the game had been discussing the issue of stance earned him a huge following in Japan, with a yesterday. Thompson, who said he has no immediate changes to address the issue, left dazed, seeing white spots and not head injuries since at least 1975. But he bronze statue and a “Master of Ninjas” title among recollection of winning the 2003 World which is also a growing concern in foot- knowing where I was for a few seconds. added: “Inexplicably, the game’s approach the honors bestowed on the fullback, who also had a Cup, is part of the group, along with ball. “The obvious first step is for World Sometimes I would pass out completely. It to concussion seems to have become less giraffe named after him at a Japanese zoo. another ex-England player Michael Rugby, RFU and WRU to stop being in was just an accepted part and parcel of progressive in the professional era, as Goromaru-mania even prompted fans to flock to see Lipman and former Wales international denial and acknowledge that there is a training.” Popham, 41, was diagnosed with evidenced by the three-week mandatory a Buddha statue said to be in a similar pose to that Alix Popham, according to law firm problem,” Boardman added. Thompson, traumatic brain injury, early onset demen- break following a concussion being the pin-up struck in his pre-kick routine. —AFP Rylands. 42, was diagnosed with early onset tia and probable CTE in April. He said the reduced to just six days in 2011. The planned action is against World dementia and probable CTE (chronic diagnosis had turned his world upside “Whilst health and safety has moved in Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the traumatic encephalopathy) in November. down. “We had an answer as to why I was the wrong direction, the professional Welsh Rugby Union, for “failure to protect “I have no recollection of winning the struggling so much, but my future looked game has become a game with increasing Zhang Jienalin to make history (the claimants) from the risks caused by World Cup in 2003, or of being in so bleak. Mel and I only married last year, collisions as players get heavier, stronger concussions”. The players have also created Australia for the tournament,” he said. we were hoping to have another child too, and faster.” The 15 commandments to SHANGHAI: Zhang Jienalin will make history this 15 “commandments” which they feel World “Knowing what I know now, I wish that I but that’s just not going to be possible make the game safer include the abolition week when she becomes the first female golfer to Rugby should adopt to make the game had never turned professional. I went now,” he added. of zero-hours contracts that compel play- compete in the 26-year history of the Volvo China safer. Thompson, Lipman and Popham are from working on a building site and train- Lipman, 40, was diagnosed with early ers to play when injured in order to get Open. The tournament in Shenzhen usually has part of a test group of eight players, but ing twice a week to training every day, onset dementia and probable CTE three paid and a limit to the number of contact European Tour status and is for men only but the Richard Boardman of Rylands said he was sometimes twice a day. “Many of those weeks ago. “This is something I will be sessions permitted in training. —AFP coronavirus and consequent travel restrictions sees it tweaked this year into a domestic event. The 24- year-old Zhang, who is ranked 484th in the world, won her first title in the recent mixed-field Hangzhou Mohammed Jaffar International Championships. On that occasion women were competing from forward tees, but in southern China she will tee it up on the same length to participate in course as her male rivals. “For me this week it’s all about driving distance. I failed to hit the green in two Dakar Rally shots on many of the par fours in practice today,” Zhang said in a press release. “The greens here are KUWAIT: Motocross and Red Bull Athlete Mohammed also very difficult and are playing quite fast. —AFP Jaffar announced his in the upcoming Dakar Rally which will take place for the second consecutive year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Jaffar has seen considerable success in motocross rallies across the COVID-hit Hamilton feeling better region and is a fan-favorite in his home country of Kuwait. Jaffar joins in the footsteps of Red Bull team- YAS MARINA: Formula One world champion Lewis mates who’ve competed in the Dakar Rally, like fellow Hamilton said he has suffered “one of the hardest GCC driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT), and Toby Price (AUS), who are 3-time and 2-time winners of the Dakar weeks for some time” after testing positive for Rally, respectively. coronavirus but is hopeful of driving in the season- The 43rd edition of the historic event begins January ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 35-year-old 3, in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This marks Briton missed last Sunday’s penultimate round in the third consecutive year in which the entire race takes Bahrain after contracting coronavirus while on holi- place within the borders of a single country. This is the day in Dubai. Speaking in an Instagram video from second year in Saudi Arabia since its move from South his quarantine period spent in Bahrain, he said: “I America, where it had been held for a decade. 2021 sees know I’ve not been in touch this past week but it’s Kuwaiti motocross racer Jaffar make his Dakar Rally definitely been one of the hardest weeks that I’ve debut in the motorbike category. “This will be the first had for some time. “I’ve just been focusing on time I will get to participate in the Dakar Rally,” recovering and trying to get back in shape so I can Mohammed Jaffar said. “It’s a huge challenge, indeed.” get back in the car and race in Abu Dhabi. “I woke The race is famous for its difficult terrain, long drive up today feeling great and got my first workout in times, and having to read the map as you go. Unlike so I just wanted to send you guys a message of closed-circuit races, there’s no footage and no possibility positivity, let you know I’m OK. “I hope that I can of the digital road book, which, according to organizers, of team practice on the track beforehand. The rally is seen get back in the car soon.” —AFP as a supreme test of driver, car, and crew. Even teams will be more accurate and helpful in certain areas than the with excellent Dakar experience will find their battles to standard print version. The print edition will still be made overcome. “This race is tough on anyone, no matter your available to those who prefer it. racing background.” Jaffar said. This year brings with it The road book will be distributed to teams 10 minutes Warner ruled out of India Test several new challenges, as well what the race organizers before the start of the race. The route will take them from expect to be a boon for the participants. the starting point of Jeddah through several major areas SYDNEY: Australia’s star opening batsman David Of interest to Mohammed Jaffar and his team are the of the country, with a rest day planned in Ha’il. This will rule changes pertaining to the motorbike category. The give the teams time to regroup before the final stretch. Warner has been ruled out of the first Test against first is a time penalty for piston changes, and a complete The 2021 Dakar rally will end on January 15, where it India, but will try to return for the blockbuster sec- ban on any mechanical work on motorbikes at the refuel- started, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Jaffar will ond installment on Boxing Day, Cricket Australia ing stations. The race organizers hope that this will mean represent Kuwait with the Red Bull KTM Team starting said yesterday. Warner is recovering from a strained a more careful rally run, as keeping the engine healthy will January 3, at the Dakar Rally. To find out more about adductor muscle that forced him to limp out of become a top priority. This will surely change the strate- Mohammed Jaffar’s participation in the Dakar Rally, visit Australia’s second one-day international against gies teams will implement. This year will see the addition @mo_jaffar on Instagramor visit redbull.com India last month, after a knock of 83. “I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it’s best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue but added that it will hand a golden opportunity hand over some of his captaincy duties per- working on getting back to full fitness,” the 34- Kohli absence creates to a younger player. In an interview with AFP, manently. Tendulkar would not, however, join year-old said in a statement. “The injury feels a lot the record-setting batsmen said India’s bench that debate, saying instead: “Let’s under- better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own ‘void and opportunity’ strength would help as they bid to win a second stand, this is not about individuals. It is about mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 percent straight Test series in Australia. Kohli will only our team and the best part about Indian ready for Test match conditions. “That includes run- says India’s Tendulkar lead the side in the first of the four Tests-start- cricket right now is there is bench strength.” ning between the wickets and being agile in the ing in Adelaide on December 17 - before Still, he admitted Kohli would be missed. field. Right now I feel I am short of being able to NEW DELHI: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar returning home for the birth of his first child. “When you lose an experienced player like play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a said captain Virat Kohli’s departure will leave a There have also been calls from some vet- this there is without any doubt a void,” the difference.” —AFP “void” for India in their Test tour of Australia, erans for India’s skipper in all three formats to former India captain said.—AFP 15 Sports Thursday, December 10, 2020 Jackson lifts Ravens over Cowboys in NFL matchup Ravens beat Dallas 34-17 WASHINGTON: Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson cepted a Dalton pass and on the next play, Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another connected with Miles Boykin on a 38-yard touch- Tuesday as the Ravens beat Dallas 34-17 in an down pass to put the Ravens ahead 14-10. NFL game rescheduled from last Thursday due to Justin Tucker added a 50-yard field goal with COVID-19 issues. Jackson, coming back from a 50 seconds remaining in the second quarter to COVID-19 layoff, completed 12-of-17 passes for lift the Ravens ahead 17-10 at half-time. Jackson 107 yards and ran 13 times for 94 yards as the found Marquise Brown in the back left corner of Ravens improved to 7-5, one game out of the last the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass to AFC playoff spot. boost Baltimore’s lead to 24-10. The Cowboys The Cowboys fell to 3-9, two games behind came away empty on their next drive thanks to a NFC East division co-leaders Washington and third missed field goal kick by Zuerlein and the the New York Giants. After throwing an intercep- Ravens drove for a 22-yard Tucker field goal to tion that set up a 31-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal seize a 17-point advantage. for Dallas, Jackson drove the Ravens downfield Dalton flipped a 2-yard touchdown pass to and scored on a fourth-down 37-yard run up the Amari Cooper with 3:59 remaining but Baltimore, middle. Jackson made the longest touchdown run which ran for 294 yards, answered on a 5-yard ever surrendered by the Cowboys to a quarter- touchdown run by JK Dobbins with 2:08 remain- back, lifting Baltimore ahead 7-3 late in the first ing to create the final margin. Former Cowboys quarter. receiver Dez Bryant did not play for Baltimore Tony Pollard answered with a 66-yard kickoff against his ex-teammates after testing positive return for Dallas to set up a 13-yard touchdown for COVID-19 just before kickoff. “I’m going to pass from Andy Dalton to Michael Gallup just 41 go ahead and call it a quit for the rest of the sea- BALTIMORE: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes past defensive end DeMarcus seconds into the second quarter for a 10-7 son,” Bryant tweeted after being benched. “I can’t Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 8, 2020. —AFP Cowboys’ lead. Baltimore’s Patrick Queen inter- deal with this.” —AFP

called Kralovec ahead of July’s Czech Cup final, Celtic Glasgow, have denied any wrongdoing and Champions League in which Sparta Prague beat Slovan Liberec 2-1 said they want “thorough investigation” of the to reach the Europa League group stage. case. Berbr was one of 19 people detained by referee implicated “Very simply, I need just one political thing, police in October as part of an organized group OK? You will understand. Josef Krula stopped in the match-fixing case, four of whom have end- MLS lost nearly by on Monday,” Berbr said, according to the ed up in custody. in match-fixing case wiretap. Krula is Sparta’s sports manager and a He stepped down from his position as a result. $1 billion in former referee. Kralovec, who answered that he A 66-year-old former referee, Berbr held his did understand, came under fire after the game post since 2013 and according to local media has PRAGUE: Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, who as he had notably refused to send off Sparta been pulling the strings in Czech football for revenues officiates in the Champions League, has been midfielder Martin Frydek for stepping on an years. Media have made allegations over Berbr in implied in a local match-fixing scandal, Czech opponent, despite calls from the video referee. relation to corruption cases and bullying at the NEW YORK: Major League Soccer lost near- media said yesterday. The case involves former On Tuesday night, the 43-year-old Kralovec FACR, but he has never been charged. His wife ly $1 billion in revenues in a pandemic-hit 2020 Czech Football Association (FACR) deputy head managed the Champions League game pitting Dagmar Damkova, the first female referee in the season, commissioner Don Garber said Roman Berbr, who has been in custody over sus- Chelsea against Krasnodar. Sparta, who have lost Czech Republic, stepped down from a post on Tuesday, and it must make key decisions for pected match-fixing since October. Citing police a chance to advance from the Europa League the UEFA referees committee following the 2021 without knowing when spectators might wiretaps, the DNES broadsheet said Berbr had Group H also comprising AC Milan, Lille and charges. — AFP fill stadiums again. Garber said the 26-team league is concerned about next year’s prospects even with a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon as it would be unable to handle another year like 2020. “The losses have been dramatic,” said Garber. “Clubs are going to have to manage their economics as diligently as possible. We’ll make adjustments... that’s the reality of managing a pro sports league in the middle of a pandemic.” MLS concludes its 25th campaign Saturday when the defending champion Seattle Sounders try to capture their third title in five seasons by beating the host Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final. The season was shut down after two weeks last March by COVID-19. Teams returned with an “MLS Is Back” tournament won by Portland in a bubble atmosphere in Orlando, then finished the season in empty home stadiums. “Our revenue for the enterprise, our league and our clubs, is down almost a bil- lion dollars compared to last year,” Garber said. Teams have announced layoffs, players took a 5 percent pay cut and MLS has laid off 20 attack relentlessly, until the 49th minute when percent of its staff. “We’re at the peak of the Kuwait League Bader Al-Mutwaa scored the winning goal in a pandemic,” Garber said. “This pandemic is rag- brilliant manner following a foul. ing at far deeper and more critical levels than it roundup: Nasr In another match, Yarmouk were able to out- was even when we postponed the league in play Shabab 5-2 as they grabbed their first win in early March. “Right now our teams have been the ranking league, and raised their point total to 5 able to manage... through their own equity infu- receive first defeat points leaving the last place to Sulaibkhat on goal sions and ability to put debt on their clubs.” difference. Yarmouk’s goals were scored by Udai MLS also had the extra expenses of chartering By Abdellatif Sharaa Al-Dabbagh, Athby Shihab and Fahad Al-Rajhi, players to matches and funding the bubble to while Shabab’s goals were scored by Abdallah recover some match telecast money. KUWAIT: There is no longer an undefeated team Ashkanani and Abdallah Al-Bather. “While that was able to allow us to capture in Kuwait’s Football League as Nasr were handed In the third match of the night, Burgan and some revenue, the expenses of housing so many their first defeat as Qadisiya beat them 0-1. Fahaheel came out with a 1-1 draw, and this makes players and operating those games and creat- Qadisiya had an offense-minded formation as their total 11 points each. Fahaheel scored early as ing the virtual stadiums were enormous,” Bader Al-Mutawaa was placed up front along with Mohammad Abdelhadi scored with a header in the Garber said. “The impact of all this is probably Lucas Gaucho, backed by Seif Al-Hashan, Ahmad third minute. Meanwhile, Burgan did not back off deeper than what we expected and that is con- Al-Dhafiri with Udai Al-Saifi behind them. Al-Nasr and continued to attack. Several opportunities cerning to us... We’re concerned about what was keen on neutralizing Qadisiya with counter were wasted until Rami Abu Shunaiba was able to this will look like leading into 2021 and are attacks in mind. The second half saw Qadisiya score the equalizer at the end of the first half. working, as I’m sure everybody could imagine, on figuring out how we could manage through that. “I’m very hopeful that 2021 will be a way better year than 2020, because I don’t think any business could sustain the kind of impact we Street artist unveils mural sustained in 2020 for two years in a row.”

MLS back in mid-March? to ‘Saint’ Diego Maradona While key media rights deals are locked in until the end of 2022, MLS eyes a mid-March BUENOS AIRES: Tributes to late Maradonian Church in 1998 with the start with no sign of fans being allowed back football legend Diego Maradona have former footballer as its godhead. into venues as every area faces different included plans to rename a stadium Segatori’s “Saint Diego of the Boca COVID-19 safety restrictions. “We can’t wait and a street in his honor and put his Neighborhood” mural shows for an understanding of the impact on the vac- face on a banknote. Now, a giant mural Maradona holding up a ball from the cine,” Garber said. “We aren’t going to know has been painted in Argentina to 1986 World Cup, where he captained that and we have to set a schedule prior to that. remember the icon, who died last Argentina to victory. “He’s special, he’s “Just the idea that the vaccine is available month. Street artist Alfredo Segatori, (a) patron of artists, the dispossessed does not give us an indication fans will be 50, has painted a huge mural 20 meters and sportsmen, too. That’s sort of the returning to stadiums. It’s not just about fans. high (65 feet) and 40 meters wide in connotation we want to give this proj- It’s about are we going to retain as much of our the Argentine capital Buenos Aires to ect,” said the street artist. sponsor and media revenue. “We’re going to honor the country’s favorite son. Segatori said he had long thought need some flexibility but we are not going to be The mural is in the heart of the tra- about such a project, but that it was able to wait to make a decision until somebody ditional Boca neighborhood that is always “for later.” However, news of decides fans will be able to attend.” home to the imposing Bombonera sta- Maradona’s death on November 25 BUENOS AIRES: Argentine street artist Alfredo Segatori paints a mural of late Austin FC is set to join MLS as an expansion dium where Maradona once played for from a heart attack caused the artist Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on Dec 1, 2020. — AFP club in 2021, when new stadiums in Columbus domestic giants Boca Juniors. “Now I “total sadness,” and he started paint- and Cincinnati are also set to open. The league say I have a religion, that religion is ing immediately. “We were missing a is set to welcome Charlotte in 2022 and new Diego. I want to believe in ‘the Diego’- Diego here in this neighborhood,” said In fact, Napoli have decided to Maradona with “a beautiful expres- clubs in Sacramento and St. Louis in 2023 to lift we’re proposing a little bit of fantasy, Segatori. There are other murals of rename their stadium after Maradona, sion of calm and good vibes from up MLS to 30 teams. “For all that we achieved metaphor and imagination,” said Maradona in Buenos Aires-such as in who guided the club to its most suc- above.” “Maradona always had a together, I can proudly say that this year will be Segatori. Villa Fiorito, the neighborhood where cessful period, winning two Serie A close relationship with artists, many a season we’ll remember forever,” Garber said. There’s nothing new about the idea the star was born, or on the walls at his titles and the UEFA Cup. It was while bands dedicated songs to him, and in “And from these challenging times, Major of sanctifying Maradona: Franco- first club Argentinos Juniors-but not in playing for Napoli that Maradona led this pandemic context in which art League Soccer will continue to persevere, we Spanish musician Manu Chao wrote a Boca. There’s even one in Naples, his native country to glory at the has been hit hard by the pandemic, will continue to grow, we will continue to song about Saint Maradona, while a where he spent seven years playing 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Segatori we needed a wink from Diego,” emerge even stronger than ever.” — AFP group of supporters founded the for Napoli. said he was “successful” in depicting Segatori said. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

Rugby ex-internationals to take Kuwait’s League roundup: Jackson lifts Ravens over 14legal action over brain injuries 15 Qadisiya overpower Nasr 15 Cowboys in NFL matchup

Man United exit Champions League

Racism row interrupts PSG game; Juventus crush troubled Barcelona

The Bottom Line No to racism

By Ahmad Jabr

[email protected]

UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir ATuesday night was interrupted when players of both teams walked out of the field in protest against a racist remark that the fourth official allegedly made against a member of the Turkish side’s coaching staff. The incident sparked outrage worldwide; the hashtag #notoracism quickly became the number one trending topic on Twitter following the incident on a night when European football giants Juventus and Barcelona were also playing a decisive match. While this incident can be described as the latest episode of a racism problem that has plagued European football in recent years, what makes it even more outrageous this time is that unlike previous cas- es where racist comments were usually made by fans or players against opposing team members, the alleged racist remark on Tuesday was made by a ref- eree that UEFA selected to officiate a high-profile match in the final round of the group stage of Europe’s biggest annual football competition. LEIPZIG: Leipzig’s Dutch forward Justin Kluivert scores the 3-0 goal past Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea during the UEFA Champions League Group H The Romanian fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, football match RB Leipzig v Manchester United in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on December 8, 2020. — AFP appeared to describe Basaksehir’s assistant coach Pierre Webo, a former Cameroon international player, as “black”. He can be heard saying in Romanian: “The PARIS: Manchester United were knocked out of black one over there. This is not possible. Go and the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat by RB identify him. That guy, the black one,” in reference to Leipzig on Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Webo. Basaksehir’s Senegalese forward Demba Ba, qualification for the last 16 was overshadowed by who was sitting on the bench, could later be heard a racism row involving a match official that caused remonstrating with the official in English, saying: their game against Istanbul Basaksehir to be sus- “When you mention a white guy, you never say ‘this pended for 24 hours. Cristiano Ronaldo scored white guy’, you just say ‘this guy’, so why when you two penalties as Juventus blew away Lionel mention a black guy do you say ‘this black guy?’” Messi’s struggling Barcelona 3-0 to wrest first UEFA has promised a ‘thorough investigation’ into place in Group G away from the Spanish giants. the matter, but it’s safe to say that the latest case has Lazio also secured a spot in the knockout dealt a huge blow to its efforts not only to eliminate rounds for the first time in two decades following racism from the sport, but also to prove that they a tense 2-2 draw at home to Club Brugge in the have been taking serious steps to fight this problem. pouring rain in Rome. Requiring just a point to Giving the referee the benefit of doubt would be advance, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side fell behind to illogical - it is impossible to assume he would not an Angelino goal inside two minutes in Germany. recognize that the term he uttered wouldn’t be taken Amadou Haidara soon added a second and United as a major offense in today’s interconnected world. and were trailing 3-0 heading into the final quar- It wasn’t too long ago when many athletes took a ter after a Justin Kluivert strike. strong stand against racism, as Black Lives Matter Bruno Fernandes’s penalty and a deflected Paul protests flared around the world after the death of Pogba header gave United a lifeline but Leipzig, George Floyd during his arrest in Minneapolis in who reached the semi-finals last term, held on to May. A football referee would have to be aware of that, as well as the negative connotations of his reck- move top of Group H on 12 points. “We started less choice of words. too late. We showed great spirit to come back But putting most of the blame on the referee again, but you can’t give a team a 3-0 lead and would be wrong. UEFA follows strict standards when expect to come back,” said Solskjaer. selecting the officiating teams for matches held under Leipzig must wait until Wednesday to find out its umbrella. If the recent incident is any indication, it whether they finish first or second in the section, is proof that European football’s governing body after the contest between last season’s runners- needs to start by upgrading those standards to make up PSG and Turkish champions Basaksehir was sure its representatives have zero racist backgrounds, interrupted with the score 0-0 in the 14th minute. PARIS: Istanbul Basaksehir’s French forward Demba Ba (right) gestures past Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian for- and also possess the basic understanding of what Players walked off in Paris amid allegations of ward Neymar (left) and Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe after the game was suspended amid behavior and language are considered racially offen- racism by the fourth official, in an unprecedented allegations of racism by one of the match officials during the UEFA Champions League on December 8, 2020. — AFP sive in a hyper-globalized world. incident in European football’s elite club competi- Among the widespread criticism of the incident - tion. The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant from players, football analysts and fans alike, there coach Pierre Webo, the former Cameroon inter- sidelined with COVID-19, edging their oppo- youngest player in Champions League history as were still some remarks that unfortunately tried to national, was shown a red card during a fierce nents on head-to-head record and heaping he came off the bench in a 2-1 victory away to downplay the event, saying that the referee made an row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish more pressure on Ronald Koeman. “We’re very Zenit Saint Petersburg. Cameroon-born Moukoko, ‘honest mistake’. But what happened Tuesday night is club appearing to accuse the official of using a happy. We knew it was almost mission impossi- who made his European debut as a 58th-minute bigger than just one incident. It brought into the racist term. ble (to come top),” Ronaldo told Movistar. “It substitute in Russia, broke the previous record of spotlight an underlying racism problem that still Television microphones picked up a furious was a difficult task but we played well. The key Celestine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 87 causes severe injustices against minorities in Europe. Webo repeatedly asking why a racist term had been was to start the match well and from there we days when he played for Anderlecht in November Yet, there are many people - inside and outside used to describe him. Turkish President Recep saw it was possible.” 1994. Europe - who still don’t see the huge racism problem Tayyip Erdogan said he “strongly” condemned the Weston McKennie scored in between Dortmund, who had already qualified for the that the continent suffers from as a big issue. incident, while UEFA announced it would open a Ronaldo’s two spot-kicks at the Camp Nou as last 16, equalized within minutes of Moukoko’s Therefore, it is necessary that UEFA takes strict “thorough investigation”. In a statement, UEFA con- Barca, off to their worst La Liga start in 33 years, introduction, with Lukasz Piszczek cancelling out action that matches the severity of this problem. firmed the game would, “on an exceptional basis”, were denied a sixth win from six in Europe. Sebastian Driussi’s first-half goal before Axel Otherwise, it would send a message that fighting restart from where it was stopped on Wednesday at “Frankly, I was surprised at how we started, as if Witsel scored the winner. Jorginho spared racism is still not a priority; a message that will tran- we weren’t really hungry to win the match,” said Chelsea’s blushes as his penalty rescued a 1-1 scend the boundaries of sports. Sport has historically 1755 GMT, “with a new team of match officials”. PSG, who advanced following United’s loss, will Koeman. Denys Popov’s header earned Dynamo draw against Krasnodar in Group E following been a place that brought people together regardless Kiev a 1-0 victory over their former star Serhiy Remy Cabella’s opener in London. Frank of race, religion or any other social category. The claim top spot with victory. Rebrov and Ferencvaros in the group’s other Lampard’s side were already assured of finishing most recent incident shows there is still a long way to game, offering them a place in the Europa League. top, while goals from Jules Kounde and two go to make sure it remains that way. Let us hope that Moukoko enters record books UEFA takes a step in the right direction. Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus avenged a 2-0 home Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Youssef En-Nesyri eased Sevilla to a 3-1 victory loss to Barcelona in October when Ronaldo was Moukoko, aged 16 years and 18 days, became the at Rennes. — AFP