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Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18234 SAFAR 1, 1442 AH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Ice maidens set Human footprints dating back No cheerleaders, no fans: IPL 6 the ice on fire 22 120,000 years found in Saudi 37 pares down glitz in COVID era

Bedoon risks Channel ‘death route’ to Britain

See Pages 4 & 5

Walid (center), 29, a bedoon from Kuwait, sits in a dinghy with his brother’s family and other migrants as they illegally cross the English Channel from France to Britain on Sept 11, 2020.— AFP 2 Friday

Local Friday, September 18, 2020

Photo of the day When can we travel again?

KAFFEEKLATSCH

By Shakir Reshamwala

[email protected]

espite the coronavirus pandemic showing no sign of abating, governments around the world Dare opening up the economy and easing lock- downs. Schools have also opened in some countries. In many nations, this resulted in a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting authorities to clamp down again. But one sector that is still badly affected is the travel and airline industry. The United Nations said earlier this week the pandemic cost the global tourism sector $460 billion in the first six months of 2020. Airlines have ramped up pressure on the European Union to coordi- nate virus measures, demanding an end to quarantine “chaos” and access to reliable and quick testing. Myriad requirements by different countries has made travelling - if it’s even possible to do so - a headache. Some nations require a PCR test, some mandate com- pulsory quarantine of varying durations, some need A plane leaves contrails in the clear blue sky. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat travelers to download intrusive apps, some require all of the above, while others none. But weary people are desperate to travel again for leisure. In Taiwan, there are flights to nowhere, which circle the island and return back to the same airport of departure. In Thailand, a mothballed plane has been con- Time is wealth verted into a café to make patrons feel they are dining inflight. Some countries are only allowing flights within ‘travel bubbles’ with relaxed rules. muscles. Is not swimming something enjoyable? There IN MY VIEW In Kuwait, travel is mostly restricted to those heading are other sports that can be performed at home includ- to their home countries, to study abroad or for treat- ing aerobics and similar activities. ment. Stringent conditions are required to travel - Why don’t we hit the books? Reading is the best food including mandatory PCR tests. Passengers also cannot By Abdellatif Sharaa for the brain, whatever the book - scientific, fiction or even religious books. For those who cannot drop their arrive directly from 30-odd countries, further complicat- [email protected] ing matters. Those determined to arrive have to spend 14 mobiles from their hands can download anything online days in a third country, test COVID negative, download and read. Also, it is likely that you may have encountered a tracking app and quarantine at home upon arrival. he year 2020 is really the year of opportunity. certain events or incidents, so why not write about them This has dissuaded many in Kuwait from travelling. Yes, the year of opportunity! One may scream out in a story form - this will exercise your brains and you Both Kuwaitis and expats living in Kuwait are avid trav- Tloud that after the coronavirus, lost jobs, a stag- will get something out of these devices. elers, particularly in the summer months when the heat is nant economy, closed schools, being unable to travel, Another thing that we can benefit from the use of unbearable. This is a time when Kuwait empties out, with etc, what opportunity are you talking about? smartphones is photography, so why don’t young and explorers heading to all corners of the world. Obviously, Despite all the ills and drawbacks that took place this old people use their phones and take pictures, bearing in the summer of 2020 was an exception, with the entire year of which there are still more than three months to mind that each picture should mean something and have populace confined to the country, and during the curfew go, we had and have plenty of spare time! We had to a story behind it. and lockdown, at home, leaving people antsy. endure long hours at home. Some were working online, Talking about photography, why not start drawing? Every other person you meet these days says their but time was and is still abundant! My niece Mais, for example, started drawing and came travel plans were affected by the pandemic. Some still Why don’t we make a detour, change or enhance our out with several works, and each one is more beautiful haven’t applied for ticket refunds in the hope that they habits, and be serious about coming out with something. and intriguing than the one before it, and many of those can fly as soon as the crisis blows over, or because they Although we may be involved in work, jobs or even tak- who saw them appreciated the effort. Mais is an out- ing care of kids, many have extra hours that can be used fear airfares will skyrocket once restrictions are lifted standing high school student and about to get her final in beneficial things. You can do several things, but it is and it makes sense to hold on to their tickets, especially grades soon. She found time and polished her hobby. better to concentrate on one or two hobbies to practice since most airlines have waived rebooking charges. Hobbies are the most potent medicine against bore- them more often and enhance the performance of the Others do not want to pay hundreds of dinars for PCR dom and its practitioners may start making an extra body and mind. tests - both ways - for themselves and their families, and income out of them. By the way, there are many things Sitting home for longer hours makes one lazy, and this are waiting for things to return to normal. that can be learned online, and this is almost in every- may reflect on our physical activity and appearance, to Nobody knows when this pandemic will end, but one one’s reach in our modern day. the point that we become terrified when we see a thing is for sure - the moment the all-clear is given, peo- As Arthur Schopenhaur wrote: “Ordinary people weighing scale. So why don’t we exercise? Those who ple in Kuwait will return to their globetrotting ways. think merely of spending time. Great people think of can swim should hit the water, which helps tone the using it.”

4 Friday Local Friday, September 18, 2020

Walid (Second right), 29, a bedoon from Kuwait, sits in a dinghy with other migrants as they illegally cross the English Channel from France to Britain on Sept 11, 2020. — AFP photos

ritain! After years trekking through The crossing unfolds ($3,500) per person, they will board a small er?” asks Walid, 29. “Well, thanks be to countless countries, weeks in a filthy In a wood on the edge of the Grande- rubber boat with a rickety engine. God.” “So, do you have news?” “No...” Bcamp on the French coast, seven gru- Synthe railway line, under a makeshift tar- On a WhatsApp call, the silhouette of the “Tomorrow, inshallah?” “Inshallah...If it’s eling hours on a small boat tossed about by paulin tent, Walid and Falah are glued to smuggler pops up. They have never met good weather tomorrow, we’re going.” the Channel, Walid has finally made it. He’s their phone. It’s their holy grail, their only link him. These types of criminal networks, often For a month now, Walid has been waiting managed to cross the so-called death route. with the people smuggler who will give them Kurdish or Albanian, use go-betweens to with Falah and his girls, whom he met in His friend Falah, though, is still waiting. the green light to take to the sea. For €3,000 establish contact. “How are you, my broth- Frankfurt on the migrant route towards a bet- For three weeks, two AFP teams followed ter life - full of hope. “Even if this journey is Walid, a stateless man from Kuwait, Falah, nicknamed ‘the death route’, we want to an Iraqi and his two daughters, nine-year-old cross. “We’re heading into the unknown - Arwa and 13-year-old Rawane, who is there is just God, the water and us. Allah will severely diabetic, from the town of Grande- decide our fate,” says Falah. Synthe in northern France to Dover in the A reserved man in his fifties, Falah south of England via the choppy waters of escaped Iraq in 2015 when the Islamic State the Channel. group was in full expansion, joining hun- Just 33 km separate the French coast dreds of thousands of others on the road to from the white cliffs of Dover, visible on a Europe. Leaving his wife behind -a matter he clear day, but the crossing is one of the refused to dwell on - he travelled on foot world’s busiest - and most dangerous. Still, from Karbala in Iraq to Germany, which in more and more people are attempting the 2015 decided to welcome close to 900,000 risky passage. Between Jan 1 and Aug 31, migrants before closing its borders, via 6,200 migrants tried their luck, according to Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Croatia, French maritime authorities. In the whole of among others. 2019, 2,294 migrants attempted to cross. In Germany for two years, he felt he’d Those who have a bit more cash get an found a host country. But his requests for inflatable dinghy. Those who don’t resort to asylum failed, so he set off again. Falah, his paddleboards, kayaks or a simple rubber dark hair streaked with grey, said he’s not ring. In August, a 28-year-old drowned while “asking for the moon”. “I just want to live trying to cross on an inflatable dinghy. Last decently, I want my daughters to feel free year, four migrants were found dead at sea and safe.” or on a French beach. Walid (third left) stands with other migrants onboard the DHB Dauntless tugboat as they are Walid, meanwhile, is a “bedoon”, a state- brought to shore by the UK Border Force after illegally crossing the English Channel. less tribesman. These have no passport, and Friday 5 Local Friday, September 18, 2020

Kuwait won’t recognize them as citizens or foreign nationals which means they have no political, social or economic rights. He passed through Greece among other coun- tries where he left his fingerprints as part of the so-called Dublin Regulation that states the first EU country where asylum seekers arrive must deal with their applications. He’s disappointed in the European Union, which he says “doesn’t give you anything and ends up evicting you”. The choppy crossing doesn’t scare Walid, whose square, stubbly face is framed by mid-length black hair. “The hardest thing is not knowing when you’re leaving,” he says. “Before this, I had never stayed more than five days in the Walid walks with other migrants on an access ramp as they are brought Walid makes a phone call at a tent at a makeshift migrants camp in same place. But here, we don’t know if it’s to shore. Dunkirk, northern France, on Sept 4, 2020. tomorrow, in two days or in two months.”

‘Ready every night’ cross three times. The first and third times, It’s 8:00 pm. Walid and his group arrive the world’s sea traffic transits, French mar- The conditions need to be just right - a there were too many police patrols. “The on a beach some 25 km from Calais. The itime authorities tell AFP. clear sky, a calm sea and a lack of police second, we got to the beach. After waiting Channel waters are calm, the sky is clear. And the smugglers know that. So it is, that patrols. And they’re not alone. Dozens of for five hours, we carried and blew up the Police are patrolling the coast, and the Walid and his companions continue their migrants are waiting around in filthy condi- boat but at the last minute, we noticed the beams of their flashlights scour the sandy journey. The engine stalls, and then restarts. tions. Four years after the sprawling “Jungle” inflatable dinghy was torn and the smug- dunes. Hidden in a forest behind the beach, The border is just a few kilometers away. It’s camp was dismantled in Calais, some 30 km gler asked us to get off,” he says, dragging speaking in whispers, the group waits for an now 10:00 am, and a red shape emerges in west, Eritreans, Iranians, Afghans and on his cigarette. opportunity. the distance. It’s a lightship - a ship that acts Syrians continue to flock to the coast, hoping Weary and impatient, he doesn’t trust their Twice, a police patrol emerges and seizes as a lighthouse and marks the start of British to get to England. Those who manage are smuggler anymore, whom he believes is rip- a boat. It’s immediately replaced by the waters. quickly replaced by others who arrive, ping them off. Falah has already paid cash, smugglers who are determined to earn more Walid is ecstatic, drained, emotional. despite the regular dismantlement of so he’s stuck. But Walid hasn’t and decides than €40,000 per vessel, Walid explains. The Suddenly, he chucks his mobile phone in the makeshift camps. to change. He will pay more money, £3,000, night passes and it’s close to 7:00 am when water to erase all trace of his past, his neigh- As the wasps buzz angrily around, the but his new contact has a “100-percent” suc- three inflatable boats are hastily put on the bors throw their arms to the sky and shout. four kill time, sleeping little and badly as the cess rate, he says. The two men part ways. water, as the sun rises timidly. Walid’s group Soon, the British coastguards arrive to tow strident noise of the trains keeps waking goes first. The AFP team follows nearby in a them to the port of Dover. After a seven-hour them up. They’ve managed to find one burnt Engine stalls boat. Propelled by a weak engine, the boat crossing, the passengers set foot on British pan and another left by previous occupants, On Thursday, Sept 10 - one month and 13 slowly heads northwest. On board are 14 soil under hazy skies, like dozens of other allowing them to make food. They use empty days after he arrived in Grande-Synthe - people including women, a baby and chil- migrants that day. yoghurt pots as glasses, and sit on bits of warm sunshine and a light wind revive dren, all wearing bright orange lifejackets. Walid, wearing jeans, a dark jacket and a cardboard. Every day, Falah goes out of his Walid’s hopes. His smuggler confirms that Their only fear is to break down in French white mask, crams a few clothes into his way to find ice cubes to preserve his daugh- the crossing is imminent. “We don’t know waters, which would bring them back to small backpack. He is soon escorted into a ter’s insulin, which he keeps stocked up via until what time we’re going to wait before set- square one. bus to an immigration processing center in private donations and contacts, he says. ting off,” Walid says, as he goes to the meet- Dover. There, by law, people can officially When it’s good weather, they go and ing point. Arms thrown to the sky ask for asylum before being taken to a shel- wash in the nearby canal, and clean their Several kilometers away, Falah, who has Two hours after setting off, the Themis, a ter. Months of administrative procedures clothes in the murky water. They collect changed camp, is also ready to depart. French patrol vessel, comes level with the await. But Walid is determined to earn a liv- wood for their fire and meals from charity Hastily, he shoves his daughter’s medicine in dinghy. It sends the rubber boat’s position to ing, now that he is in Britain. On the other distributions a kilometer away. Dejection is a case and some croissants in a bag. “I’m surveillance units on either side of the side of the Channel, Falah is distraught. His no stranger - Falah has at times broken into scared to believe it because in over a month, Channel, but doesn’t intervene at sea - too group never attempted the crossing. Father tears. “Every night, you have to be ready to I’ve only seen the sea once,” he says. In risky, unless there is a problem. “As soon as and daughters are still waiting. — AFP leave everything behind. Otherwise, the boat England, “everything will be easier”, he we’re at sea, the priority is no longer to stop doesn’t wait. For two days, we even slept believes. “I’ll be able to work with my skills, in the crossing but to ensure we safeguard with our shoes on,” says Walid. the food service or car industry.” human lives” in an area where 25 percent of He has already tried - and failed - to

Walid (left) and Yasser, a migrant from Iraq, wash at a river at a Falah, an Iraqi migrant, prepares lifejackets to be ready for the Falah hugs his daughter Arwa after getting her ready to be makeshift migrant camp in Dunkirk on Sept 2, 2020. smuggler’s call at any moment in order to cross into Britain, at smuggled into Britain. a makeshift migrants camp in Dunkirk on Sept 10, 2020. 6 Friday Local Friday, September 18, 2020

awa Al-Qertas, Hessa Al-Saraawi, Dalal Al-Bader and Noora Quitainah perform during the Kuwait Winter RGames club figure skating competition in Kuwait City on Wednesday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

8 Friday Local Friday, September 18, 2020 KRCS establishes camp Lebanon receives for Sudan flood victims food, medical aid from Kuwait KHARTOUM: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) vol- unteers have set up a camp to shelter those affected by tor- rents and floods in the Wawise area north of Khartoum. In a statement to KUNA, KRCS Director General Abdulrah- man Al-Aoun said that they began distributing food and shelter aid in the Wawise region in coordination with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, noting that it is considered one of the areas most impacted by torrential floods. Aoun added that this relief aid is the start of more aid, which includes shelter materials such as tarpaulins, mos- quito nets, floor mattresses, blankets, cooking tools and hy- giene supplies. KRCS’ field team has plans and assessed requirements for the rest of the affected areas, as the dis- aster impacted over half a million people and left several dead and injured, he said. A truck carrries food and medical supplies donated by Kuwait to the He explained that the field team continues to inspect the Lebanese people. affected people due to the floods, in addition to continuing to implement various relief programs, pointing out that they have been informed of the situation. The hospitals were also BEIRUT: Lebanon received Wednesday a convoy of examined and were provided medicines and health supplies six truckloads of food and medical supplies donated under the supervision of the Sudanese ministry of health by Kuwait to the Lebanese people. Speaking to and the Sudan Red Crescent Society. KUNA, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) legal Sudanese authorities warned of the repercussions of the department Director Musaad Al-Enezi stated that the floods and declared a state of emergency countrywide for trucks were loaded with food and medical aid, in ad- a period of three months. Additionally, authorities also de- dition to two transportation cars granted to the cided to consider Sudan a natural disaster area after the in- Lebanese Red Cross to support people who suffered crease in rains and the rise of the Nile River to a record losses due to the devastating blast that occurred in level on Sept 6 in Khartoum. According to the Sudan Hu- Beirut on Aug 4. He added KRCS personnel were co- manitarian Aid Commission, over 557,000 people have ordinating with Kuwait’s embassy in Beirut and the been affected in 17 out of 18 states, as the rains and floods Lebanese Red Cross to deliver aid to all needy people killed 100 people, injured 50 others, collapsed over 111,000 after examining residents’ needs in several districts of Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) sets up a camp and distributes food in homes, destroyed 1,700 hectares of farmland and killed the capital. —KUNA northern Khartoum. —KUNA 5,500 livestock. —KUNA

portant role by training Iraqi forces Iraqi FM: Ties and discussions about ties with the al- FM hosts Iraqi speaker liance will continue. He said Iraq is fac- with Kuwait ing several challenges including the KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and acting Defense Minister COVID-19 crisis and collapse of oil Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah received yester- prices. Hussein noted that another day Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad Al-Halbousi, accompa- are excellent major challenge Iraq faces is the fight nied by a delegation on a three-day official visit to Kuwait. The against the so-called Islamic state. He two sides discussed bilateral relations and regional and interna- BRUSSELS: The new foreign minister said IS has collapsed due to military tional issues, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Upon his ar- of Iraq Fuad Hussein yesterday under- defeat, but yet “we see ISIS here and rival on Wednesday, Halbousi was received by National Assembly lined his country’s commitment to con- Fuad Hussein there and they are trying to reorganize Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem and many legislators, including Iraq tinue on the path of developing good themselves inside Iraq and Syria. Their Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi. —KUNA relations with Kuwait and other Gulf ficial visit to Europe as Iraqi foreign ideological threat remains.” countries. “We have good relations with minister, Hussein said he started his trip Hussein said that the main task of Gulf countries and we want to continue from Berlin, then to Brussels and from the new government in Baghdad is to this,” he told a press conference in the there he will go to Paris. Germany plan and have early elections next Brussels Press Club. Hussein noted that holds the current EU Presidency. year. “This democratic process is con- the first foreign minister to visit Bagh- “It is important for us to inform our tinuing in Iraq,” he said. The Iraqi for- dad when he was appointed was from European colleagues, friends and the eign minister said with neighboring Kuwait, followed by the Saudi foreign public opinion about what is going on countries including Iran, “we want to minister, and an Iraqi delegation visited in Iraq and the region,” he said. On have a balanced relationship and we Kuwait and Riyadh recently. Wednesday, the Iraqi foreign minister are asking them to respect the sover- “We have an excellent relationship met NATO Secretary General Jens eignty of Iraq and not to interfere in and we are also cooperating on how to Stoltenberg as well as EU High Repre- Iraqi internal affairs”. “The decision in face COVID-19,” he said. There is sup- sentative Josep Borrell and EU parlia- Iraq must be in the hands of the Iraqi port from Kuwait, from Saudi Arabia mentarians, and yesterday met the people,” he said, stressing that Iraq is and other Gulf countries to the Iraqi Belgian foreign minister. trying to keep away from regional and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah meets health sector, he added. On his first of- He said that NATO can play an im- international tensions. —KUNA Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad Al-Halbousi yesterday. —KUNA Friday 9

Local Friday, September 18, 2020 Assembly to conclude term after debating PM grillings Number of COVID positive MPs rises to 11

By B Izzak face of the coronavirus pandemic and financial policies. Ghanem also lashed out at opposition MP Mohammad Al-Mutair for crit- KUWAIT: The National Assembly is expected to conclude its icizing the speaker over deleting some of Mutair’s statements current four-year term after two sessions next week to debate made during the grilling of the interior minister. He said he deleted two grillings against the prime minister, the Assembly speaker said what he described as improper statements in the speech. yesterday. Marzouq Al-Ghanem said that the session on Tuesday Closing the Assembly term comes just two months before gen- will be devoted to the grilling of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh eral elections expected to be held in November-end, and which Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah over allegations of mismanagement are being described as very crucial. They come amid rife specu- and violations. The session on Wednesday will be devoted to de- lations by social media activists that leading opposition members bating and approving some laws, Ghanem said. and former MPs who have been living in self-exile in Turkey for “Then, the Assembly term will be closed depending on the de- the past two years are expected to be allowed to return home. velopments of the premier’s grillings” he said. MPs Abdulkarim Meanwhile, the number of MPs who have so far tested positive Al-Kandari and Al-Humaidi Al-Subaei filed separately to grill the for the coronavirus rose to 11. The health ministry is scheduled to PM two weeks ago over alleged failure to run the country in the test all MPs tomorrow. Second US airman dies on airbase in Kuwait KUWAIT: In the space of 72 hours, two airmen deployed to Kuwait have died in separate vehicle mishaps. Staff Sergeant Ronald J Ouellette, 23, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, died Sept 14 in a single-vehicle ATV crash on the flight line at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Defense Department officials announced Wednesday. The incident was not combat-related and is under investigation. MoH opens drive-thru The tragedy closely follows the death of another Massachu- setts-based airman deployed to Kuwait. On Sept 12, Senior Air- man Jason Kai Phan, 26, was killed in a “single-vehicle test station in Subhan noncombat-related” accident while he was conducting a patrol KUWAIT: The ministry of health will open a drive-through poly- around the perimeter of Ali Al Salem. That incident, which left two merase chain reaction (PCR) testing station in Subhan on Sunday, other airmen injured, is also under investigation. Phan was from an MoH official said yesterday. The new station, to open upon in- Anaheim, California, but was stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Ronald J Ouellette structions of Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah, will con- Massachusetts. duct swab tests and is part of the MoH’s efforts to conduct as many tests as possible to contribute to curbing the spread of the positive image of the Kuwaiti society. By tak- coronavirus pandemic, Dr Fahad Al-Qemlas, Director of Public Zain takes part in ing part in this campaign, Zain also reflects the Health, told KUNA. values of its own brand; “A Wonderful World”, The new station will start receiving people at 5:30 pm in its which the company is keen on effectively im- initial operation phase while an assessment of the service takes biggest cleanup plementing within the community. place, he said, before increasing working hours. People wishing ‘Let’s Do it Kuwait’, organized by Alnowair to undergo swab tests can make an appointment through the min- campaign in line with World Cleanup Day, mainly aims istry’s website: www.moh.gov.kw. This tool will start working with at promoting and enriching the importance of the operation of the Subhan testing facility. The objective of the KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service preserving the environment and keeping appointment is to avoid crowds, he said. —KUNA provider in Kuwait, announced its participa- Kuwait clean. The campaign will feature the tion in ‘Let’s Do it Kuwait’, the biggest na- participation of over 2000 volunteers, includ- tional cleanup volunteer campaign in the ing many ministers, undersecretaries, public history of Kuwait. The event coincides with and private sector leaders, global organiza- Expat detained while World Cleanup Day on Sept 19, and will wit- tions, ambassadors, and more. The campaign ness the participation of thousands of volun- is set to cover Al Jahra and Al Ahmadi Gov- teers. Zain’s participation in the campaign ernorates, and will witness high levels of com- values within members of the society. departing at airport comes as part of its extended partnership mitment and implementation of official health Alnowair is an initiative driven to spread KUWAIT: An Indian expat who disappeared as she was with Alnowair, the non-profit initiative that guidelines to protect participants from positive attitudes and happiness within all age leaving Kuwait has been detained by Kuwait immigration au- aims at bringing positive, social behavioral COVID-19. groups and all sectors of the community thorities. The 63-year-old woman, from the Udupi district of change in Kuwait. Zain’s extended partnership with Al- through the organization of events, activities, Karnataka state, called her daughter on Sept 12, the day she Zain’s presence in this national campaign, nowair, a non-profit initiative that aims at and campaigns all year round. Alnowair’s ef- was scheduled to fly home after working in Kuwait for 28 considered the biggest of its kind, comes in bringing positive, social behavioral change forts are centered around encouraging a years as a domestic helper. On the call she mentioned that line with its Corporate Sustainability and So- in Kuwait all year round, comes to affirm more positive lifestyle and creating positive there was a problem with her immigration and her daughter cial Responsibility strategy, through which the the company’s extreme keenness in sup- environments that drive positive change, ul- has not heard from her since. The reason for her detention is company is keen on supporting such innova- porting such national efforts that aim at timately imprinting a positive impact within unknown. tive initiatives that contribute to reflecting a promoting positive change and spreading participants. InternationalFriday FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Sally drenches US southeast; hits Gulf US sends top-level diplomat to Taiwan, defying China Page 18 Coast as hurricane Page 16

JAKARTA: Photo shows gravediggers carrying a coffin during a funeral for a victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Pondok Ranggon cemetery in Jakarta. — AFP WHO warns of ‘alarming’ transmission rates Europe cautioned against shortening quarantine periods

COPENHAGEN: The World Health Organi- length for self-isolation in case of exposure zation warned yesterday of “alarming rates of has been reduced to seven days. It is 10 days transmission” of COVID-19 across Europe in the UK and Ireland, and several more Eu- and cautioned countries against shortening ropean countries, such as Portugal and Croa- quarantine periods. The WHO’s regional di- tia, are currently considering reducing their rector for Europe Hans Kluge said the number recommendations. “Knowing the immense in- of coronavirus cases seen in September dividual and societal impact even a slight re- “should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.” duction in the length of quarantine can have... “Although these numbers reflect more com- I encourage countries of the region to make prehensive testing, it also shows alarming scientific due process with their experts and rates of transmission across the region,” he explore safe reduction options,” Kluge said, told an online press conference from Danish adding that the “concept of quarantine must capital Copenhagen. be protected” and “continuously adapted.” The health body also said it would not The 53 member states of WHO Europe change its guidance calling for a 14-day quar- have recorded nearly five million cases of antine period for anyone exposed to the novel Covid-19 and more than 227,000 related coronavirus. “Our quarantine recommendation deaths, according to the organization’s own of 14 days has been based on our understand- figures. The number of daily cases recorded is ing of the incubation period and transmission currently between 40,000 and 50,000, com- of the disease. We would only revise that on parable to a daily peak of 43,000 on April 1 - the basis of a change of our understanding of although testing in many countries has in- the science,” WHO Europe’s senior emer- creased considerably. A new record was set LONDON: A man remonstrates with a worker (left), about the lack of COVID-19 testing appointments, outside the entrance gency officer Catherine Smallwood said. on September 11, with some 54,000 cases to a novel coronavirus walk-in testing centre in East Ham in east London yesterday. — AFP In France for instance, the recommended recorded in 24 hours. — AFP Friday 11 International Friday, September 18, 2020 Hasidic pilgrims at Ukrainian border refuse to return despite Israel plea Kiev refuses their entry citing coronavirus KIEV: Hundreds of Hasidic Jews were still guard service, Andriy Demchenko said. He said massed at Ukraine’s border, with some saying that some 1,000 pilgrims were staying between they had no intention of leaving, even though Kiev Belarusian and Ukrainian border crossings, while has refused their entry citing coronavirus and Is- more people were in Belarus. Ultra-Orthodox rael has urged them to return. Tens of thousands members of the Israeli coalition had pressed of Hasidic Jews head to the central Ukrainian city Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enable the of Uman every Jewish New Year-which falls on tradition, despite the objection of health officials September 18-20 this year-to visit the tomb of who feared the crowded mass event would in- Rabbi Nahman, the founder of the Breslov Hasidic crease contagion. movement. The believers departed for Uman this year Call to return home even though both the Ukrainian and Israeli gov- But an Israeli minister indicated yesterday that ernments last month had urged them not to travel efforts to enable ultra-Orthodox believers’ access because of the pandemic. Speaking to AFP from to Uman had failed. “Ukraine announced it would- the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, one of ultra-Or- n’t allow entry via border crossings or any form thodox pilgrims, Itsik Cohen, said the believers of small delegation,” Higher Education and Water were hoping for divine intervention. Minister Zeev Elkin, who is Ukrainian-born, said “I’m waiting and praying that they open the on Twitter. “I call on our citizens to return to Israel UMAN, Ukraine: Hasidic Jews wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus disease walk in the town borders, so we can have the privilege of being and uphold the quarantine instructions upon their of Uman in central Ukraine, days before the Jewish New Year. — AFP with our Rabbi, God willing,” said Cohen, an Is- arrival.” Both Ukraine and Israel are keen to avoid raeli Breslov Hassid from Jerusalem. “We believe a spike in coronavirus infections, with Kiev clos- in God, and if God wants it this way, we need to ing the borders to foreigners until late September. The Hasidic Jews standoff on the border has led the pilgrims and show respect for their rights. Up do anything we can to show our determination, to Israel is set to be the first developed country to to diplomatic tensions between Ukraine and Be- to 3,000 Hasidic Jews have arrived in Uman for the very last minute.” Ukrainian authorities said enforce a second nationwide shutdown, to begin larus. Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday ac- the celebrations, local police said. Law enforce- the situation had not changed since Monday on Friday afternoon. cused Belarus of giving the pilgrims false hope ment has tightened security near Rabbi Nach- when crowds of believers began building up on Pilgrim Cohen dismissed the Israeli minister’s of entering despite the restrictions by spreading man’s tomb where pilgrims have congregated. the closed Ukraine border and pilgrims were still call. “Elkin doesn’t determine the reality, there’s “false encouraging statements” and “rumors” Ukraine has reported more than 166,000 cases of refusing to leave. a God in the world,” he said. The Belarus border that the Ukrainian border may still be open to coronavirus and 3,400 fatalities. Yesterday, “They are dancing, they are singing, they are guard service said 1,216 people had attempted foreigners. Ukraine reported a fresh daily record of 3,584 praying,” the spokesman for the Ukrainian border to cross since Monday, including 337 children. Minsk has called on Kiev to start dialogue with new coronavirus cases. — AFP

“The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded all of us Iranian judiciary took no account of claims- WHO urges safety of the vital role health workers play to relieve suf- Iran disregards made by Afkari himself in a complaint-that he fering and save lives,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom had been tortured into confessing with meth- for health workers Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing. “We all owe ods that included beating and having alcohol health workers an enormous debt, not just because outcry with squeezed up his nose. they have cared for the sick, but because they risk His execution came as the use of capital bearing brunt of their own lives in the line of duty.” The risks are not ‘hasty’ execution punishment in Iran-which sends more people only physical. The WHO pointed to “extraordinary to death every year than any country other coronavirus levels of psychological stress” on health workers, than China-is coming under increasing who have been asked to work long, draining hours PARIS: Iran has signaled it intends to ignore scrutiny after the government was rocked by battling Covid-19, living in constant fear of being GENEVA: Too many doctors and nurses are pay- a growing outcry over its use of the death protests prompted by increasing economic infected. Many are also living separated from their ing the ultimate price while battling Covid-19, the penalty against people arrested during anti- hardship. “It is deeply disturbing that the au- families, and facing social stigma amid fear they are government protests by executing with un- thorities appear to have used the death World Health Organization said yesterday as it carrying the virus. launched a charter aiming to boost safety for health usual swiftness a wrestler whose case had won penalty against an athlete as a warning to its international attention, activists say. Navid population in a climate of increasing social un- workers. The UN health agency said that the pan- Depression, anxiety Afkari, 27, a wrestler who had won national rest,” five UN rights experts said in a state- demic had exposed health workers and their fami- These strains are increasing the likelihood of competitions, was hanged on Saturday at Ade- ment Monday. lies to “unprecedented levels of risk”. While the depression among medical professionals, who labad prison in the southern city of Shiraz after Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher at Human coronavirus crisis has taken a heavy toll overall, were already more at risk of suicide than the gen- being convicted of committing a murder during Rights Watch, described as “unusual” the data from many countries and regions show that eral public in a number of countries prior to the healthcare workers have been infected at a far pandemic. One in four health care workers sur- protests that rocked the city two years ago. speed with which Afkari’s death sentence was higher rate than the general population. veyed for a recent study said they were struggling US President Donald Trump had urged Iran implemented. He had been sentenced to death Health workers represent less than three percent with depression and anxiety amid the pandemic, to spare the life of Afkari while international in October 2019 and the verdict was upheld of the population in most countries and less than while one in three said they had suffered insomnia, rights organizations had insisted allegations by an appeals court in April. “At least part of two percent in low- and middle income countries, the WHO said. In its charter presented Thursday, he had been tortured into confessing needed the system... feel that responding to interna- but account for around 14 percent of all Covid-19 the WHO emphasized the legal and moral obliga- to be investigated and that there was no firm tional outcry is backing down and could make cases reported to the WHO. In some countries, the tions governments have to ensure the health, evidence of his guilt. Using a technique that them more vulnerable,” she said. “There has proportion has been as high as 35 percent, the safety and wellbeing of health workers. The char- has been repeatedly denounced abroad, Iran- also been a growing anti-death penalty move- body said. On Wednesday, the International Council ter among other things calls on countries to de- ian state broadcaster IRIB on August 5 broad- ment inside the country against the sentences of Nurses said thousands of nurses had likely died velop programs that better protect the health and cast a purported confession by Afkari, in issued in connection to the protests. I think in the pandemic, pointing to numbers from just 44 safety of medical workers, and to combine them which he was shown reenacting the alleged they might fear that if they don’t show force countries showing 1,097 deaths by mid-August. with patient safety policies. — AFP crime scene. But activists are incensed that the they appear weak.” — AFP 12 Friday International Friday, September 18, 2020 Arms dealers move millions in Somali money transfers Al Hayashi suspected of aiding Islamic State and Qaeda

NAIROBI: Somali money transfer companies tionally-sanctioned individuals. The Global Ini- Multiple identities manitarian aid. Cutting companies off from moved more than $3.7 million in cash between tiative analyzed nearly six years of transaction The report did not find any instances where banking is not the answer, said the report’s au- suspected weapons traffickers in recent years, records from the city of Bossasso, matching the other two companies, Dahabshiil and Taaj, thor, Jay Bahadur, former head of the UN panel including to a Yemeni under US sanctions for al- them with mobile phone records provided by se- made transfers to any sanctioned individuals. of experts. leged militant links, according to a report seen curity sources and database searches. But it noted instances where individuals were “Excluding companies from international by Reuters. The findings by a Geneva-based re- The report identified 176 transactions from able to make transfers with them using multiple banking services will punish families that rely on search group, the Global Initiative Against the last six years that it said appeared to be names and numbers, a violation of Somali law. them and drive financial flows underground,” he Transnational Organized Crime, could further linked to suspected weapons dealers in Soma- One man used 24 names between the four com- said. But he said companies must ensure their complicate attempts by Somali transfer compa- lia and Yemen. Nearly two-thirds were over panies, the report said. All four companies said agents follow anti-money laundering laws and nies to retain access to international banking the $10,000 threshold that should trigger an they did not allow customers to use multiple Somali authorities must improve enforcement. services. automatic report to regulatory authorities. identities or phone numbers. Dahabshiil also “Financial regulatory bodies in Somalia are un- Though they provide a lifeline to millions in They include two transfers totaling nearly said it has stopped doing transfers between So- derstaffed, under-resourced, and aren’t trusted the anarchic Horn of Africa nation, few banks will $40,000 to numbers linked to Sayf Abdulrab malia and Yemen. The companies did not say by domestic financial institutions,” he told do business with them because of the risk of Salem al-Hayashi after the US Treasury sanc- whether the six men named in the report are in Reuters. “They receive limited reporting data falling foul of international transparency and tioned him in 2017 for allegedly providing their databases. and aren’t able to take much action with what anti-money laundering regulations. Asked about weapons and financial support to al Qaeda in Apart from al Hayashi - the only one under they do receive.” the report, the Central Bank of Somalia, which the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State in US sanctions - three others whose names ap- Abdirahman M. Abdullahi, governor of Soma- regulates money transfer firms, said it was un- Yemen, the report said. pear in the suspect transactions were identified lia’s central bank, said cooperation was improving. aware of the transfers but would investigate and Al Hayashi could not be reached for comment. as suspected arms dealers in public reports by Somalia is working with the World Bank on de- was in general making progress in countering Somalia-based Amal Express and Iftin Express the United Nations panel of experts on Somalia. veloping a national identity card, he said. He said terrorism financing. handled the transactions, which used different Two were flagged - one as a proxy for al arrests have been made for breaking anti-money Contacted by Reuters, the four companies combinations of his name and nickname, the re- Hayashi, and one as an arms trafficker - in a con- laundering and terrorism financing law, citing the each said they did their best to comply with port said. Amal Express said a transfer slip fidential annex to a 2018 report by the same case of a trader convicted in August of running an global “know your customer” norms despite So- shown in the report and allegedly linked to al panel. Few Somalis have bank accounts. Money unregistered bank. The Financial Reporting Cen- malia having no national identity card. The firms Hayashi was a forgery. Iftin Express declined to transfer companies - often known as hawalas - ter, a Somali government watchdog, did not re- also said they maintained databases of interna- comment on individual transactions. are vital to economic activity and delivering hu- spond to requests for comment. —Reuters On Lebanon’s Clashes in Kashmir shores, the poor after 4 were killed board deadly dinghies SRINAGAR: Hundreds of angry residents clashed with government TRIPOLI: Suad Mohammad had hoped for a better life when her husband forces yesterday in the main city of Indian-administered Kashmir climbed into a dinghy to flee poverty-hit Lebanon, but he disappeared into after a firefight left three suspected rebels and a young woman the waves before he reached Cyprus. In her family home in the northern dead, police and witnesses said. Counterinsurgency police and fed- Lebanese city of Tripoli, Mohammad, 27, said she believed the Syrian father eral paramilitary forces surrounded the Batamaloo neighborhood of her two small children, 35-year-old Shady Ramadan, was dead. “I’m wait- of Srinagar after midnight following a tip-off that armed militants ing for my husband’s body,” she said, tears streaming down her face, as she were hiding inside a residential house, triggering an exchange of clutched her baby boy on her lap. fire. Three suspected rebels, believed to be locals, were killed in Ramadan is among dozens of Lebanese and Syrians to have tried to make the firefight that lasted several hours, police announced on Twitter. the illicit sea crossing to European Union-member Cyprus in recent weeks, TRIPOLI: Khaled Abdallah, a 47-year-old Lebanese migrant repatriated back after “One young woman also died during the encounter,” a police officer fleeing Lebanon’s worst economic crisis in decades. His family said he was undertaking an illicit sea crossing to Cyprus, smokes a cigarette as he stands told AFP. “The woman was caught in the crossfire. Her death is un- on a boat that drifted without food or water for a week in the Mediterranean along a pier in Lebanonís northern port city of Tripoli. —AFP fortunate,” director general of police Dilbagh Singh told reporters. sea before a United Nations peacekeeping ship rescued survivors on Mon- A paramilitary trooper was also injured during the firefight, day. Mohammad recounted how desperation drove her diabetic husband to three others from a boat off the country’s coast on Monday, the UN refugee Singh said. As news of the deaths spread hundreds of residents took embark on the dangerous trip to the shores of the island of Cyprus, 160 kilo- agency said. UNIFIL also said it retrieved the body of someone who had to the streets, throwing stones at government forces who fired tear meters away. “He fled Lebanon because of the grinding poverty to try to find died at sea. But relatives of those on board - who included several other mem- gas and metal pellets. The crowd shouted slogans, such as “Long us some money,” she told AFP, a lively toddler girl playing at her feet. bers of Mohammad’s extended family - claim at least four more either died live Pakistan” and “We want freedom”, according to an AFP pho- Lebanon’s financial crunch has seen tens of thousands lose their jobs or part or have gone missing. Ziad al-Bira, a relative, said two children had died of tographer at the scene. No injuries were immediately reported from of their salaries, sparked sharp inflation and pushed poverty rates up to en- hunger and thirst, and their bodies had been pushed overboard, while Ra- the clashes. Armed encounters between rebels and government compass more than half the population. Tripoli was one of Lebanon’s poorest madan and another had disappeared at sea. forces are frequent in the territory, but rare in the capital city.† cities even before the crisis, which has been compounded in recent months It all started on September 7, when they climbed into a dinghy after hav- The last such firefight occurred in June,†and left three local by the novel coronavirus pandemic and a catastrophic explosion at Beirut’s rebels dead and 15 houses destroyed in the heart of Srinagar. Yes- ing paid a smuggler five million pounds each (more than $660 at the market port that killed 190 people.† terday’s deaths came a day after similar protests in northeastern rate), he said. With the boat far over capacity, the smuggler “prevented them Before he left, Ramadan had tried to peddle ice creams from a cart, but Kashmiri town Sopore, where Irfan Ahmed Dar, 26, was found from coming aboard with their belongings, which included water, food and earned no more than 20,000 Lebanese pounds a day (now worth around dead hours after he was detained by police. Dar’s family allege baby milk,” Bira said. They ended up “stranded at sea without a guide, with $2.50 at the black market rate). “A bag of nappies alone costs 33,000 pounds, police tortured and killed him, later dumping his body in an open communication cut off for days on end, until the UNIFIL ship found them,” without even considering rent,” his wife said. area. —AFP he added. After the two children died, Ramadan swam off to try to find help. The UNIFIL peacekeeping force rescued 25 Syrians, eight Lebanese and “He left and never came back,” Bira said. —AFP Friday 13 International Friday, September 18, 2020 Algerian referendum looms as a test for president and opposition President, ruling elite, want to turn page on unrest ALGIERS: A vote on a new constitution in Alge- boune’s way. Their goal was to force from power ria in November marks a turning point for a the entire generation of officials that has ruled country that has been rocked by huge protests since independence in 1963, along with the mil- and political upheaval and which is now strug- itary and security figures in the background gling to move on from the tumult. For President who, they say, pull the strings. Influential people Abdelmadjid Tebboune, adoption of the charter in the Hirak, such as Islam Benatia, see the con- would be a welcome new beginning after his stitution as doing little to answer their demands predecessor and many top officials were top- and the referendum as a tactic to sideline their pled by mass demonstrations last year. movement. “We are in a state of obstruction. For the “Hirak” opposition movement, the Nov There is a lack of consensus over the constitu- 1 referendum will show what clout it still has, after tion that will be submitted to referendum with- its protests ended the 20-year rule of veteran out any real debate,” he said. leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika but failed to achieve The disquiet among Hirak activists was only its ambitions of deeper change. The weekly mass strengthened on Tuesday when an appeals court protests, which sought to sweep away the entire confirmed the jailing of journalist Khaled ruling elite, were put on hold when the coron- Drareni, only reducing his sentence from three avirus pandemic reached the north African coun- years to two, for his role in the protests. Several try in March. Abdelaziz Djerad, the prime other prominent Hirak supporters have also minister appointed by Tebboune in January, re- been imprisoned. Some in the movement see it cently told parliament the referendum should be as a signal from the authorities that they will not a “day for consensus” among all Algerians. tolerate any resumption of protests. Internally, It fits with Tebboune’s narrative of the mass Hirak supporters seem unsure whether to push demonstrations as a moment of national renewal for more street demonstrations or seek other PARIS: Protesters take part in a demonstration in support of jailed Algerian journalist Khaled that ousted corrupt officials and, its ends ways of pressing their case. Drareni in Paris. Drareni, 40, was sentenced in August to three years in jail for his coverage of achieved, is now over. “Hirak demands are in the the mass protest movement that toppled Algeria’s longtime president last year. — AFP new constitution. It is important to pass it,” Ab- Turnout key delhamid Si Afif, a senior ruling party member, Tebboune’s proposed constitution gives par- cause there has been no debate. It is unacceptable evant in any case - what matters is not so much the told Reuters. However, though it is now six liament more rights to open inquiries into govern- to pass it without discussion,” said Lakhdar laws as they are written, they say, as who enforces months since they last paraded through the ment work and limits the president to two terms Benkhelaf, a leading member of the Front for Jus- them and how. It all points to a vote in November boulevards of central Algiers, prominent figures in office. It has passed a vote in parliament despite tice and Development, an Islamist party. Many much like that which took place in December when in the leaderless opposition do not see it Teb- some opposition. “We boycotted the vote... be- street protesters regard the constitution as irrel- Tebboune was elected. — Reuters

room shows two water bottles on a desk, and an- Navalny team says other on a bedside table. Navalny’s team, wear- ing protective gloves, are seen placing items into The future is cyborg: Kaspersky study blue plastic bags. “Two weeks later, a German nerve agent found laboratory found traces of Novichok precisely finds support for human augmentation on the bottle of water from the Tomsk hotel on water bottle room,” the post said. “And then more laborato- LONDON: Nearly two thirds of people in significant technology trends today,” said ries that took analyses from Alexei confirmed leading Western European countries would Marco Preuss, European director of global that that was what poisoned Navalny. Now we consider augmenting the human body with research and analysis at Kaspersky, a MOSCOW: The nerve agent used to poison understand: it was done before he left his hotel technology to improve their lives, mostly to Moscow-based cybersecurity firm. “Aug- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was room to go to the airport.” improve health, according to research com- mentation enthusiasts are already testing detected on an empty water bottle from his hotel Previously, Navalny’s aides had said they sus- missioned by Kaspersky. As humanity jour- the limits of what’s possible, but we need room in the Siberian city of Tomsk, suggesting pected he had been poisoned with a cup of tea neys further into a technological revolution commonly agreed standards to ensure aug- he was poisoned there and not at the airport as he drank at Tomsk airport. Vladimir Milov, a for- that its leaders say will change every aspect mentation reaches its full potential while first thought, his team said yesterday. Navalny mer deputy energy minister and an ally of of our lives, opportunities abound to trans- minimizing the risks,” Preuss said. fell violently ill on a flight in Russia last month Navalny, said his team had outmanoeuvred the form the ways our bodies operate from Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s and was airlifted to Berlin for treatment. Labo- FSB security police with their quick thinking: guarding against cancer to turbo-charging neuroscience startup Neuralink last month ratories in Germany, France and Sweden have “They took the evidence from under their noses the brain. unveiled a pig named Gertrude that has had established he was poisoned by a Novichok and shipped it out of the country.” Navalny’s ally The Opinium Research survey of a coin-sized computer chip in its brain for nerve agent, a poison developed by the Soviet Georgy Alburov told Reuters “the bottles flew 14,500 people in 16 countries including two months, showing off an early step to- military, though Russia denies this and says it has with Alexei” when he was airlifted to Germany Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain ward the goal of curing human diseases seen no evidence. on Aug. 22. showed that 63% of people would con- with the same type of implant. The survey A video posted on Navalny’s Instagram ac- Navalny is the most prominent political op- sider augmenting their bodies to improve found that most people wanted any human count showed members of his team searching ponent of President Vladimir Putin, even though them, though the results varied across Eu- augmentation to work for the good of hu- the room he had just left in the Xander Hotel in he has not been allowed to form his own party. rope. In Britain, France and Switzerland, manity, though there were concerns that it Tomsk on Aug. 20, an hour after they learned he His investigations of official corruption, pub- support for augmentation was low - at just would be dangerous for society and open to had fallen sick in suspicious circumstances. “It lished on YouTube and Instagram, have reached 25%, 32% and 36% respectively - while exploitation by hackers. The survey showed was decided to gather up everything that could audiences of many millions across Russia. Ger- in Portugal and Spain it was much higher the majority of people felt that only the rich even hypothetically be useful and hand it to the many, France, Britain and other nations have de- - at 60% in both. would be able to get access to human aug- doctors in Germany. The fact that the case would manded explanations from Russia, and there “Human augmentation is one of the most mentation technology. — Reuters not be investigated in Russia was quite obvious,” have been calls for new sanctions against the post said. The video of the abandoned hotel Moscow. — AFP 14 Friday International Friday, September 18, 2020 A Nobel for Thunberg? In the age of climate change, COVID; it is possible Swedish green campaigner nominated for the second time OSLO: This year’s Nobel Peace Prize could go era of the coronavirus crisis, the committee to green campaigner Greta Thunberg and the could also choose to highlight the threat of Fridays for Future movement to highlight the pandemics to peace and security, said Dan link between environmental damage and the Smith, the director of the Stockholm Interna- threat to peace and security, experts say. The tional Peace Research Institute. winner of the $1 million prize, arguably the “There is a relationship between environ- world’s top accolade, will be announced in Oslo mental damage and our increasing problem on Oct. 9 from a field of 318 candidates. The with pandemics and I wonder whether the prize can be split up to three ways. Nobel Peace Prize Committee might want to The Swedish 17-year-old was nominated by highlight that,” he told Reuters. If the commit- three Norwegian lawmakers and two Swedish tee wanted to highlight this trend, he said, parliamentarians and if she wins, she would re- “there is obviously the temptation of Greta ceive it at the same age as Pakistan’s Malala Thunberg”. The Fridays for Future movement Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate thus started in 2018 when Thunberg began a school STOCKHOLM: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg holds a sign reading ‘School strike for Cli- far. Asle Sveen, a historian and author of sev- strike in Sweden to push for action on climate. mate’ as she protests in front of the Swedish Parliament Riksdagen in Stockholm. — AFP eral books about the prize, said Thunberg It has since become a global protest. would be a strong candidate for this year’s Thunberg and her father Svante, who some- award, her second nomination in as many times handles media queries for her, did not Not Trump cluding members of parliaments and govern- years, with the US West Coast wildfires and reply to requests for comment. Many were Other known candidates included the “peo- ments, university professors and past laureates. rising temperatures in the Arctic “leaving peo- skeptical when Greta, as she is often referred ple of Hong Kong”, NATO, Julian Assange, It is not known whether Donald Trump is ple in no doubt” about global warming. to, became the bookmaker’s favorite to win last Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden and nominated for this year’s prize, though he is up “Not a single person has done more to get year’s Nobel Peace Prize, especially with re- jailed Saudi activist Loujain Al-Hathloul. Other for next year’s award after a Norwegian law- the world to focus on climate change than her,” gards to her age, but her second nomination possible choices are Reporters Without Bor- maker named the US President for helping Sveen told Reuters. The committee has given could strengthen her chances. “Greta is re- ders, Angela Merkel and the World Health Or- broker a deal between Israel and the United the prize to environmentalists before, starting nominated, which was the case for Malala. I ganization, experts said, though it is unclear Arab Emirates. He is unlikely to win, Sveen with Kenya’s Wangari Maathai in 2004 for her said Malala was young when she was nomi- whether they are nominated. Nominations are and Smith agreed, not least for his dismantling campaign to plant 30 million trees across nated the first time and I said Greta was young secret for 50 years but those who nominate of the international treaties to limit the prolif- Africa, and in 2007 to Al Gore and the Inter- the first time she was nominated,” Sveen said. can choose to publicize their choices. Thou- eration of nuclear weapons, a cause dear to governmental Panel on Climate Change. In the Yousafzai won in 2014. sands of people are eligible to nominate, in- Nobel committees. — Reuters

‘Vaccine nationalism’ Rich countries snap Trump on Wednesday said he would begin rolling out a Global COVID-19 cases vaccine in America as soon as next month, contradicting doubts expressed by a top health expert in his administration up vaccine stocks in who said a jab was unlikely to be widely available until mid- to surpass 30 million 2021. “We’re very close to that vaccine as you know... We global race for jab think we can start sometime in October” or shortly thereafter, Global coronavirus cases are expected to pass 30 million Trump said. Democrats have expressed concern that Trump is pressuring government health regulators and scientists to yesterday, according to a Reuters tally, with the pandemic WASHINGTON: Rich nations representing a fraction of the approve a rushed vaccine in time to help his uphill bid for re- showing no signs of slowing. India was firmly in focus as global population have already bought up over half the prom- election in early November. the latest epicenter, although North and South America ised Covid-19 vaccine stocks, a study showed, as US Presi- “We’re within weeks of getting it, you know — could be combined accounted for almost half of the global cases. dent Donald Trump pledged to begin inoculating Americans three weeks, four weeks,” the president told a town hall ses- Global new daily case numbers reached record levels in re- within weeks. Big pharma is racing to produce an effective jab sion with voters in Pennsylvania Tuesday. But in an implicit cent days and deaths neared 1 million as the international to counter a virus that has now killed more than 935,000 peo- swipe at Trump’s America First approach to the pandemic, von race to develop and market a vaccine heated up. The offi- ple around the world and infected almost 30 million. der Leyen said Europe would support multilateral bodies such cial number of global coronavirus cases is now more than European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday as the World Health Organization with its attempts at a more five times the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded warned against “vaccine nationalism” that she said could put equitable rollout. “None of us will be safe until all of us are annually, according to World Health Organization data. lives at risk by depriving the most vulnerable in poorer nations safe - wherever we live, whatever we have,” she said. “Vaccine Around the world, there have been almost 1 million of immunity. But a study released by Oxfam showed a group nationalism puts lives at risk. Vaccine cooperation saves deaths, considered a lagging indicator given the two-week of wealthy countries representing just 13 percent of the world them.” incubation period of the virus. That has well exceeded the population has already secured the lion’s share of doses. “Ac- The global economy has been devastated by the pandemic, upper range of 290,000 to 650,000 annual deaths linked cess to a life-saving vaccine shouldn’t depend on where you with many nations still maintaining restrictions on their pop- to influenza. India on Wednesday became only the second live or how much money you have,” said Robert Silverman of ulations to contain fresh outbreaks. New Zealand was added country in the world, after the United States, to record Oxfam America. “Covid-19 anywhere is Covid-19 every- to the list of economic casualties yesterday when it reported more than 5 million cases. The south Asian nation, the where.” it had plunged into recession for the first time in a decade. world’s second most populous country, has been reporting The five leading vaccine candidates currently in late-stage The country posted a record contraction of 12.2 percent for more new daily cases than the United States since mid-Au- trials will be able to supply 5.9 billion doses, enough to inoc- the April-June quarter, which coincided with a strict lockdown gust and accounts for just over 16% of global known cases. ulate about three billion people, the Oxfam report said. Some from March to May. The United States has about 20% of all global cases, al- 51 percent of those jabs have been snapped up by the wealthy The decline follows a 1.6-percent contraction in the first though it has just 4% of the world’s population. Brazil, the world, including the United States, Britain, the European three months of 2020, confirming New Zealand is in recession. third worst-hit country, accounts for roughly 15% of global Union, Australia, Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, Switzerland But there was optimism that the stage had been set for a cases. It took 18 days for global cases to surge from 25 mil- and Israel. The remaining 2.6 billion have been bought by or strong recovery. “Going hard and early means that we can lion to more than 30 million. — Reuters promised to developing countries including India, Bangladesh, come back faster and stronger,” finance minister Grant China, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico. Robertson said. — AFP Friday 15 International Friday, September 18, 2020 Netherlands inventor’s mushroom coffins ‘turn corpses into compost’ The ‘Living Cocoon’ is the world first

DELFT, Netherlands: In the Netherlands you stuff that goes into the coffins but actually try can keep helping the planet after you die - by to enrich it and really be compost for nature.” opting for a living coffin made of mushrooms which speeds up the decomposition of your ‘Big hit’ body. The coffin turns corpses into compost The coffin is the same size and shape as a that enriches the soil thanks to mycelium, the classic coffin but its pale color is typical of root structure of fungi. The “Living Cocoon” mycelium. Inside is a bed of moss where the is a world first, according to Bob Hendrikx, body — and various insects and other soil who invented the idea in his student labora- creatures - will lie. Overall the coffin is much tory at Delft Technical University. “This is the lighter than a wooden casket. It’s also cheaper, world’s first living coffin, and actually last Sat- currently costing around 1,500 euros. Making urday the first human being in the Nether- the coffins requires a bit of foraging, first for lands was composted and returned into the moss from the forest, then collecting mycelium cycle of life,” he told AFP. The coffin was the from mushrooms, and then mixing that with final resting place for an 82-year-old woman, woodchips. whose body will decompose within two to “Slowly in seven days, it’s actually pretty three years. fast, it will grow into a solid material that is If a traditional coffin with varnished wood actually an organism,” said Hendrikx. “After- DELFT: This handout picture released by the biotech company Loop shows the ‘living cocoon’, a coffin made and metal handles is used, the process nor- wards it’s naturally dried by literally removing from mycelium which allows a fast-composting of the body. —AFP mally takes more than ten years. The casket it- the mould and just letting it be. So then the self will meanwhile disappear within 30 to 45 mycelium, the organism, becomes inactive. days. “It’s actually an organism, so it’s made “When it’s in the ground, it starts to get acti- compost, but from serendipity. Fascinated by wave. That has now become a start-up, from mycelium which is the root structure of vated again when a lot of moisture hits the the applications of mushrooms, he first tried called Loop, which has signed a deal with a mushrooms,” Hendrikx said. “They’re the organism. Then it starts the decomposition to make a “living house” for his thesis. But funeral home, while also causing a stir on so- biggest recyclers in nature”. “This is the most process.” when someone asked what would happen cial media. “Looking at the reactions we had natural way to do it... we no longer pollute the Hendrikx’s inspiration didn’t stem from a with the body of his grandmother if he left online, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be a big environment with toxins in our body and all the ghoulish fascination with bodies or human her inside the house, Hendrikx had a brain- hit,” he said. —AFP

camp. This should not prevent medical aid,” MSF complained Greek police transfer on Twitter. Over 12,000 people including entire families with elderly and newborns were left homeless when fire tore through the overcrowded and unsanitary Moria camp - built five years homeless migrants to ago at the height of Europe’s migrant crisis - on the night of Austria finds dozens September 8. Six young Afghans have been arrested in connec- tion with the incident, with four of them brought before a Les- new Lesbos camp bos magistrate on Wednesday. Thousands of the migrants have of people smuggled been sleeping under tarpaulins or tents at roadsides and in the LESBOS: Police on the Greek island of Lesbos yesterday car parks of closed supermarkets since the blaze. launched an operation to rehouse thousands of migrants who in refrigerated truck have been sleeping rough after their camp was destroyed by Asylum requests VIENNA: Dozens of migrants, including children, have fire, an AFP journalist said. At around 7am, officers were wak- Late Wednesday, around 1,000 tents, each able to accommo- been discovered hiding in a refrigerated truck, Austrian ing the migrants in their tents to take them to the temporary date between eight and 10 people, had been erected at the new police said Wednesday after arresting a suspected member centre that was hastily set up after Europe’s largest camp for site near Moria. Medical tents were to be set up, and two quar- of a network smuggling people through the European asylum seekers at Moria burned down last week. Quietly, with antine zones were planned for the several dozen people who have Union. The case recalled the 2015 tragedy of 71 decom- only the sounds of children crying, and under an already hot tested positive for coronavirus. The Greek migration ministry said posing bodies loaded in the back of a refrigerated vehicle sun the migrants folded their blankets, picked up bags contain- Tuesday that around 1,200 had entered the new camp. Aid abandoned on a highway in Austria. They had died of suf- ing whatever belongings they had saved from the fire and dis- groups said a few hundred more arrived on Wednesday, forced focation in Hungary and four smugglers - an Afghan and mantled their tents. by exhaustion after sleeping rough under a hot sun for a week. three Bulgarians - were convicted and jailed. Women and children with bundles on their backs were seen But many have refused to go, fearing they would be left waiting Police said in the current case, 38 people from Syria, gathering by a barricade police had set up on the road. “The for months to have their requests for asylum processed and trans- Iraq and Turkey, including six minors, were held last week aim is to safeguard public health,” police spokesman ferred to the Greek mainland or to another European country. after their truck pulled up in Lower Austria. The migrants Theodoros Chronopoulos told AFP, confirming that “an oper- The UN refugee agency on Wednesday urged Greece to said they had “been afraid they would die and suffered a ation is under way” which “responds to humanitarian aims.” He speed up asylum processes on Lesbos. “The idea is not that lack of oxygen” during the trip from Romania through said around 70 women police officers took part. Videos posted people remain for ever on the island of Lesbos, but that Hungary, a police statement said, without specifying where by police show women officers in white uniforms talking to mi- processes are accelerated so that people can leave gradually the truck was headed. Several passengers - who paid be- grant families. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which opened and in an orderly way” to the capital Athens or elsewhere on tween 6,000 and 8,000 euros ($7,100 and $9,500) for the an emergency clinic in the area, was barred from accessing the mainland, the UN agency’s chief in Greece Philippe Leclerc trip - managed to run into nearby fields when the vehicle their facility during the night, as rumours of the police opera- told reporters. Greece’s police minister Michalis Chrysochoidis stopped along a highway, leading witnesses to alert the au- tion spread, the group said early Thursday. this week said that “half” the migrants on Lesbos should be thorities. —AFP “A police operation is underway to take refugees to the new able to leave “by Christmas” and “the rest by Easter”.—AFP 16 Friday International Friday, September 18, 2020 Sally drenches US southeast; hits Gulf Coast as hurricane Catastrophic and life-threatening flood wreaks havoc PENSACOLA: Tropical Storm Sally has downed when Sally veered sharply east and came in for trees, flooded streets and homes and knocked a direct hit. People were left with no time to out power, reportedly killing one person, as it gather food or water, let alone cover windows pounded the US southeast with torrential rain. or place sandbags in front of doors. Pensacola The storm made landfall Wednesday morning resident Karen Sharp said: “I was afraid, I’m glad near Gulf Shores, Alabama along the border with it’s all over with, thank God we’re alive. Really.” Florida as a Category 2 hurricane. Jeff Gardner said his family was “surprised that Slow-moving Sally, which was subsequently we found ourselves inside the hurricane.” downgraded to a tropical storm, then lingered “You just sit there wondering if, you know, over parts of southern Alabama and the Florida your house is about to start to be ripped apart,” Panhandle where it caused severe flooding with the 47-year-old told AFP. Although his home copious amounts of rain, the National Hurricane was not destroyed, he said there “was just a con- Center said. “Catastrophic and life-threatening stant rush of wind the whole night.” The new flooding continues over portions of the Florida Three Mile Bridge over Pensacola Bay suffered Panhandle and southern Alabama,” the NHC massive damage with a section missing, and had warned. US media reported one fatality in the to be closed. At 10:00 pm, Sally had maximum coastal town of Orange Beach, Alabama but sustained winds of 35 miles per hour, the NHC Mayor Tony Kennon said he had no further de- said while warning of flooding in parts of Ala- tails, according to news site AL.com. bama, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Some of the worst reported flooding oc- Virginia. Sally was crawling towards the north- FLORIDA: A city worker drives through the flooded street during Hurricane Sally in downtown curred about 30 miles east in the city of Pen- east at nine miles per hour, the center added. The Pensacola, Florida. — AFP sacola, Florida, which has a population of around storm was expected to weaken as it moved fur- 52,000. Downtown streets resembled lakes with ther inland and become a tropical depression cars submerged to the tops of their wheels and overnight. More than 515,000 homes and busi- not expect the trajectory of the storm to shift so with winds of about 105 miles per hour. Alabama wind gusts whipping up whitecaps on the water. nesses in Alabama and Florida have lost power, much to the east or for it to be so strong. “No- Governor Kay Ivey, who declared a state of “Flooded roadways and intersections, along with according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. body was prepared for a Cat 2,” said Triana, emergency Monday ahead of the storm’s arrival, hazardous debris in roadways have become too whose home fortunately escaped without any warned residents that it may take time to re- numerous to list,” the Pensacola police tweeted. ‘Nobody was prepared for a Cat 2’ damage. “The forecasts for the cone and the cover. “Hurricane Sally has been a slow-moving “Please stay off roadways now.” David Triana, 57, a resident of Navarre, a strength of the storm did not indicate that it storm, which only adds to some natural delays in Northwest Florida residents were expecting town near Pensacola, said he and his neighbors would hit us so hard.” The NHC said Sally hit restoring power, water and other essential serv- rain and wind, but were largely caught off guard did not board up their homes because they did Gulf Shores, about 35 miles west of Pensacola, ices,” Ivey said. — AFP

specified procedural grounds, said Yang Zhan- Trump doubles down on vaccine China accused of qing, a veteran Chinese activist now in the US. Yang, who is coordinating two dozen lawyers in China who are secretly advising families, said timeline, contradicts expert blocking COVID the rejections have come via curt phone calls- WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump cine would be available to the general pub- not through official written explanations, as expressed renewed confidence Wednesday lic, he added. Redfield tweeted his support lawsuits legally required-apparently to avoid a paper that a viable Covid-19 vaccine would be for a potential vaccine Wednesday evening, trail. Staff at the Wuhan court refused AFP re- quests for comment. ready by October, directly contradicting a but cautioned Americans to be vigilant WUHAN: Wuhan pensioner Zhong Hanneng top administration health expert and facing about mitigating viral spread in the mean- endured every parent’s worst nightmare when fierce criticism from his Democratic elec- time. “The best defense we currently have Stonewalling coronavirus claimed her son in February, and- The virus emerged in Wuhan last December tion rival Joe Biden. Trump sowed confu- against this virus are the important mitiga- alongside other bereaved relatives-she wants sion about the issue with an extraordinary tion efforts of wearing a mask, washing but city authorities initially dragged their feet, to sue the local government she blames for his pressuring whistle-blowing doctors to keep public rebuke of one of his top health ex- your hands, social distancing and being death. But they have had their lawsuits abruptly perts who said masks were a leading careful about crowds. #COVID19”. The quiet. The Communist Party continues to down- rejected, dozens of others face pressure from play responsibility, even questioning whether weapon for fighting the pandemic and that contradiction between Trump and health authorities not to file, and lawyers are being a vaccine was unlikely to be widely avail- experts on an issue that has become a focal the pathogen originated in China, while trum- warned against helping them, according to peo- peting its later success in suppressing domestic able until mid-2021. point of the 2020 election campaign high- ple involved in the effort. The families accuse infections. It held a grand ceremony in Beijing “I think he made a mistake when he said lighted the lack of trust Biden said he and the Wuhan and Hubei provincial governments last week, where President Xi Jinping declared that. That’s just incorrect information,” the public have in the president’s handling of concealing the outbreak when it first the nation had passed an “extraordinary and Trump told reporters referring to Senate of the pandemic, which has killed nearly emerged there late last year, failing to alert the testimony by Centers for Disease Control 200,000 Americans. public, and bungling the response, allowing historic test” through a swift and transparent and Prevention director Robert Redfield. “When I said I trust vaccines, and I trust Covid-19 to explode out of control. response. “We’re very close to that vaccine as you the scientists, but I don’t trust Donald Trump It has killed nearly 3,900 in the city and over But Zhong tells a different story. By late Jan- know... We think we can start sometime in - this is what I meant,” Biden tweeted after 900,000 globally so far. “They say the epi- uary, the contagion was spreading rapidly in October” or shortly thereafter, Trump said. Trump’s remarks. Barely an hour earlier the demic was a natural calamity. But these serious Wuhan, but officials had still issued no citywide “I believe he was confused,” he said of Democratic nominee said Trump’s refusal to outcomes are man-made, and you need to find alarm. With the extended Lunar New Year fes- Redfield. “I am just telling you we are ready take key steps to tackle the pandemic, like who’s to blame,” said Zhong, 67. “Our family is tival approaching, Zhong and her son Peng Yi- to go as soon as the vaccine happens.” instituting national guidelines on social dis- shattered. I can never be happy again.” At least a 39-year-old primary schoolteacher-happily Redfield told lawmakers Wednesday that a tancing and testing, were “utterly disquali- five lawsuits have been filed with the Wuhan In- shopped at jam-packed stores. Millions of oth- “very limited” distribution to priority fying” for the presidency. The Democratic termediate Court, said Zhang Hai, whose elderly ers left Wuhan for the holiday, taking the infec- groups including first responders could nominee, speaking after receiving a briefing father died of the virus and who has emerged tion global. “We had no idea the buses were full begin in November and December, but that by public health experts, said he supported as a vocal advocate and spokesman for families of the virus... So we went out every day. We full implementation would take many more a rapid Covid-19 vaccine to help American of virus victims. didn’t even know about masks,” Zhong told AFP. months at least. “I think we’re probably life return to normal, but said the process Plaintiffs are each seeking around two mil- On January 24, as Wuhan finally began locking looking at late second quarter, third quar- should be guided by science and safety, not lion yuan ($295,000) in damages and a public down, she and Peng fell ill. She soon recovered, ter 2021” before a safe and effective vac- politics. — AFP apology. But the court has rejected suits on un- but he worsened. — AFP Friday 17 International Friday, September 18, 2020 Singapore, Helsinki, Zurich top index of world smartest cities A growing debate on the future of urban design LONDON: Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich are Madrid, while Britain’s second city Birmingham the world’s smartest cities, according to an index has risen up the index faster than London. Bris, published yesterday amid a growing debate on director of the IMD World Competitiveness the future of urban design for a post-COVID era. Center, said cities’ priorities in using technology From smart traffic cameras and car sharing apps varied widely. The Colombian city of Medellin - to pollution monitoring and free wifi for all, cities once notorious for its drug cartels but now a around the world are racing to embrace technol- posterchild for smart planning - has seen crime ogy, but researchers said the real test was drop after introducing free wifi, which made it whether citizens felt the benefits. “The world’s easier for people to report crime, he said. ‘smart’ cities don’t simply adopt new technology, Although many cities around the world they make sure it truly improves citizens’ lives,” have introduced car sharing schemes in a bid said Arturo Bris of the Swiss-based International to cut congestion, Bris said Moscow had been Institute for Management Development (IMD), particularly successful in persuading drivers which published the index. to join them after introducing free parking for The Smart City Index, now in its second users. Experts say COVID-19 has accelerated year, surveyed more than 13,000 people in 109 a shift towards more inclusive, greener, cities, focusing on how they perceived the im- smarter cities. Bris also predicted a growing pact of technology in five areas: health and trend towards smaller cities. “I think we’re safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and moving to a world where we will be more dis- governance. Others in the top 10 included persed. We will be safer if we live in smaller Auckland, Oslo, Copenhagen, Geneva, Taipei cities,” he added. City, Amsterdam, New York, while Abuja, He said the survey underscored that megac- Nairobi and Lagos ranked bottom. The index, ities often found it difficult to become smart. a collaboration with the Singapore University “Smaller cities have an advantage,” he added. “In SINGAPORE: People walk along Raffles Place during lunch break in Singapore. — AFP for Technology and Design, showed that many the case of Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich, their countries are developing smart secondary size allows them to invest significantly in tech- equipped with sensors, cameras and other atively low in the index. Bris said this was be- cities beyond their capitals. nology that reaches all citizens.” Although gadgets that can crunch data on everything cause of their size but also because of concerns The Spanish city of Bilbao ranked higher than China is developing hundreds of smart cities from pollution to public health, they ranked rel- about data privacy and surveillance. — Reuters

implemented employment projects, enhanced China hails Xinjiang vocational training, and expanded employment instead pledging administrative reform, an end channels and capacity”. It says vocational train- Japan’s new PM to “bureaucratic silos”, and greater digitaliza- ing for millions has improved the quality of the tion of government. He said he would seek jobs success; workforce. continued strong ties with Washington and “Xinjiang has built a large knowledge-based, Suga pledges to stable relations with China and Russia. But he criticism mounts skilled and innovative workforce that meets the offered no details and made no mention of on- requirements of the new era,” the report reads. tackle virus, going tensions with South Korea, or any Training includes teaching written and spoken specifics of his defense strategy, particularly towards North Korea. BEIJING: China lauded the success of its voca- Mandarin, labor skills and giving knowledge of kickstart economy tional and jobs schemes in the troubled Xinjiang urban life, according to the report, which says ‘Tough issues’ ahead region yesterday, just days after the US govern- rural people have started businesses or taken The 71-year-old takes the top job after ment said they were being operated from facili- employment in factories after state support. TOKYO: Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshi- ties run like “concentration camps”. Beijing has hide Suga pledged Wednesday to keep coro- decades in politics, most recently in the role Every year between 2014 and 2019, Xinjiang of chief cabinet secretary, where he was a key come under intense international criticism over gave “training sessions” to an average of 1.29 navirus infections under control and kickstart its policies in the resource-rich region, where an economy in recession, as Shinzo Abe left enforcer of government policy as well as million urban and rural workers, it says, adding spokesman. A long-time Abe adviser and rights groups say as many as one million Uighurs that employment policies “meet the people’s office after a record-breaking tenure. In his and other mostly Muslim minorities are being first remarks after being elected by parlia- right-hand man, Suga has said his run was in- needs (and) improve their wellbeing”. spired by a desire to continue his predeces- held in internment camps. However, the white paper warns there is a low ment earlier Wednesday, Suga emphasized his US customs said Monday it would bar a raft will be a cabinet of continuity, seeking to fur- sor’s policies. level of vocational skills and says “terrorists, sep- His new cabinet is full of familiar faces, of Chinese products from Xinjiang over fears of ther the policies championed by Abe. aratists and religious extremists” have encour- with Abe’s foreign and finance ministers stay- forced labor, saying “religious and ethnic minori- “We need to carry forward the policies aged the public not to learn Chinese, to “reject ing on, and the outgoing premier’s brother ties are... forced to work in heinous conditions that the Abe administration was pushing, I feel modern science, and refuse to improve their vo- appointed to lead the defence ministry. Suga with no recourse and no freedom”. Homeland that is the mission for which I have been cational skills”. Swedish clothing giant H&M said called,” Suga told reporters. He sidestepped won an easy victory in a vote in parliament, Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuc- this week it was ending its relationship with a Chi- where his ruling Liberal Democratic Party cinelli told reporters: “This is not a vocational questions on the possibility of a snap election nese yarn producer over accusations of “forced to consolidate his position, saying that “what holds a commanding majority. But he now centre, it is a concentration camp.” But Beijing labor” in Xinjiang, which is China’s largest cotton faces a raft of tough challenges, from imme- says the centers are for vocational training, nec- the public wants right now is that we manage growing area. Beijing has denied claims of forced to end the pandemic soon and at the same diate problems like the coronavirus and the essary for counter terrorism efforts and to pro- labor and in Tuesday’s report said it would take time we steadily restore the economy”. postponed Olympics, to longer-term issues vide education for alleviating poverty. “resolute action” against it. The EU meanwhile “Achieving both the prevention of the including a declining population. Yesterday the government published a white has urged China to allow independent observers spread of infection and rebuilding the econ- “Tough issues are mounting before the paper staunchly defending its policy in the re- to travel to the highly shriveled region. China this omy is what they desire most... We hope to do Suga cabinet,” said Shinichi Nishikawa, a pro- gion, where it says training programs, work week said experts were “welcome” but did not our best on this issue first.” He dwelled little fessor of political science at Meiji University schemes and better education mean life has im- detail if they would be allowed free access to the on political ideology or foreign policy goals, in Tokyo. — AFP proved. The report says Xinjiang has “vigorously controversial facilities. — AFP 18 Friday International Friday, September 18, 2020 Eyeing China, Pentagon plans larger, ‘more lethal’ US navy A range of unmanned, ships, submarines and aircraft WASHINGTON: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced tionally manned, unmanned and autonomous; and a broad range Chinese navy larger Wednesday an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with a of unmanned carrier-based aircraft. The plan is for a fleet of Esper reiterated that China is the top US security threat and range of unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines and air- ships more able to survive a high-intensity conflict, to project that the Indo-Pacific region is the “priority theater” for the US craft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China. The US power and presence, and to deliver precision strikes at very military. “Not only is this region important because it is a hub of Pentagon chief said a sweeping review of US naval power long distances, he said. An example, Esper added, is a new global trade and commerce, it is also the epicenter of great dubbed “Future Forward” had laid out a “game-changer” plan guided missile frigate program, producing ships with “increased power competition with China,” he said. that would expand the US sea fleet to more than 355 ships, from lethality, survivability, capability and capacity to conduct dis- A Pentagon report on the People’s Liberation Army re- the current 293. tributed warfare.” leased early this month said that Beijing has the world’s The plan, which requires adding tens of billions of dollars to He also said trials were underway on the Sea Hunter, a 132- largest naval fleet with 350 ships and submarines. Still, the US Navy’s budget between now and 2045, is aimed at main- feet (40 meters) trimaran drone that can autonomously survey Esper stressed, the Chinese navy lags in strength and capa- taining superiority over Chinese naval forces, seen as the pri- the seas for rival submarines for more than two months at a time. bility. “Even if we stopped building new ships, it would take mary threat to the United States. “The future fleet will be more “These efforts are the next step in realizing our future fleet, one the PRC years to match our capability on the high seas.” balanced in its ability to deliver lethal effects from the air, from in which unmanned systems perform a variety of warfighting Esper said reaching the goal of 355 ships means the navy the sea, and from under the sea,” Esper said in a speech at the functions, from delivering lethal fire and laying mines, to con- will have to grab a larger percent of the Pentagon budget, Rand Corp. in California. ducting resupply or surveilling the enemy,” Esper said. “This will but also that the United States has to put more resources The expansion will add “more and smaller” surface ships; be a major shift in how we will conduct naval warfare in the years into expanding and modernizing shipyards, where China has more submarines; surface and subsurface vessels that are op- and decades to come.” a clear advantage. — AFP With Pompeo trip, oil US sends top-level boom raises focus on diplomat to Taiwan, Guyana, Suriname defying China

WASHINGTON: Mike Pompeo yesterday became the first US TAIPEI: A top US diplomat will arrive in Taiwan yesterday, the secretary of state to visit Guyana and Suriname as the discovery highest-ranking State Department official to visit in 40 years, in of oil fuels a sudden new interest in the small South American na- a further sign of Washington’s willingness to defy China and its tions. The stops come at the start of a three-day tour that will also campaign to isolate the self-ruled island. Keith Krach, undersec- take Pompeo to Colombia and the Amazonian border areas of retary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Brazil, part of his campaign to highlight the economic devastation was heading to Taipei to attend a memorial service for late pres- ident Lee Teng-hui on Saturday, the US State Department said. in Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela. Pompeo will meet freshly elected TAIPEI: Keith Krach (center, front of line wearing mask), US Undersecretary of State The trip, the second high-ranking US visit in as many months, leaders in Guyana and Suriname, which are also being courted by for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, alights from an aircraft with is likely to rile China, which baulks at any recognition of Taiwan China as the two nations - underdeveloped and with sharp ethnic his delegation after landing at the Sungshan airport in Taipei yesterday. —AFP and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalizing the dem- faultlines - seek a surge of investment. ocratic island. Relations between the United States and China are “I used to work at the State Department and getting any sec- at their lowest point in decades, with the two sides clashing over with the mainland - by force if necessary. retary of state to travel anywhere in Latin America and the a range of trade, military and security issues, as well as the coro- It has ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure Caribbean was a heavy lift,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice president navirus pandemic. “The United States honors President Lee’s on Taiwan since the 2016 election of Tsai, who rejects its view that of the Council of the Americas. “For him to go to both of these legacy by continuing our strong bonds with Taiwan and its vibrant the island is part of “one China”. In recent weeks, Taiwan has re- countries is extraordinary and shows that something big is hap- democracy through shared political and economic values,” ported a sharp increase in incursions by Chinese jets into its air pening.” ExxonMobil in 2015 announced it had found one of the spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement announcing defense identification zone. Yesterday, Taiwan’s defense ministry world’s largest oil reserves in years in the waters off Guyana, with Krach’s trip. said two Chinese anti-submarine planes crossed the boundary a the US giant also heavily involved in Suriname. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Krach, accompanied by assistant day earlier and were warned to leave. Guyana - best known to Americans as the site of the 1978 Jon- secretary Robert Destro, would also discuss “how to strengthen Washington remains the leading arms supplier to the island but estown mass suicide - was forecast before the Covid-19 pandemic bilateral economic cooperation” during his three-day visit. It de- has historically been cautious in holding official contact with it. to grow a staggering 85 percent this year, the highest of any na- scribed him as the highest-ranking State Department official to Relations have warmed dramatically under Trump, who has em- tion in the world. Pompeo’s trip comes as Guyana reviews its deal visit Taiwan since 1979, when Washington switched diplomatic braced Taiwan more closely as a way to hit back at authoritarian with Exxon in which the country would keep about half the oil recognition to Beijing from Taipei. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen Beijing, especially as he seeks re-election in November. But the revenue - an arrangement that some advocates for developing na- will host a dinner for the US delegation today. “We look forward United States has so far not strayed from the unwritten red line tions say is too paltry. A State Department official said that Pom- to more exchanges and discussions between Taiwan and the US on Taiwan, as it has not sent senior officials whose primary re- peo was not traveling to lobby for Exxon - but that he would to solidify the foundation for further collaborations, including eco- sponsibilities are foreign affairs or defense. encourage both countries to be responsible with the financial nomic cooperation, through undersecretary Krach’s visit,” her of- Lee, who died in July at the age of 97, was a towering figure in windfall. fice said in a statement. Taiwan’s history, helping the once authoritarian island transition Pompeo “will highlight through these meetings how US com- to a vibrant democracy and later angering China by pushing for panies throughout the hemisphere invest responsibly and trans- Warming relations it to be recognized as a sovereign country. When news of his parently,” the official told reporters. “This draws a stark contrast Beijing, whose relations with Washington have sharply deteri- death broke, Chinese state media called him “the godfather of Tai- with China, whose predatory loans and vanity projects saddle orated under President Donald Trump, has warned it “firmly op- wan secessionism”. Krach, with his economic focus, will be visiting countries in the Western Hemisphere with unsustainable debts,” poses” any official exchanges between Taiwan and the United as Taiwan seeks a trade deal with the United States. Taiwan re- he said. China - also hungry for the region’s lumber and minerals States. Last month, US cabinet member and health chief Alex Azar moved a major hurdle last month by easing safety restrictions on - has invited both nations into its Belt and Road Initiative, its visited to highlight Taiwan’s widely praised efforts to stop Covid- US beef and meat - welcome news for farmers, a key constituency global campaign to build infrastructure and win allies. —AFP 19. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be reunified for Trump, as the election approaches. — AFP Friday

Lifestylewww.kuwaittimes.net FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

A vendor wearing a facemask arranges his toy-shaped balloons on the Rajpath street near India Gate in New Delhi.— AFP

Human footprints dating back 120,000 years found in Saudi Arabia See Page 22 20 Friday Lifestyle | Feature Friday, September 18, 2020 All-women band in Iran struggles to break through

he men in the audience clapped and the women ululated as the band finished singing: it would have been com- Tmonplace except the venue was in Iran and the group on stage were all women. The catchy rhythmic music they played that balmy night is known as “bandari”. Its lyrics are from ancient folkloric songs, passed down the generations and familiar to many at the concert in an amphitheatre in the southern port of Bandar Abbas. Only this time, it was being performed by women in front of a mixed crowd. “It feels as if you have been seen at last” by “a new part of society,” said band member Noushin Yousefzadeh, who plays the oud, the Middle Eastern lute. “All that training has paid off at last.” Dressed in traditional clothing, the band was taking part in a state-organized festival to showcase “Persian Gulf music” and, as well as singing, also played their instruments. Before long, the audience was ecstatically singing along with the four- piece band. Such public expressions of joy are usually frowned upon by officials in Iran, which has been under strict Islamic rule for more than 40 years. Formed in late 2016 after a con- versation at the beach between two of the women, the band is called Dingo, which in the local dialect refers to the first wob- bly steps taken by infants. The show-staged last year-was only the second time they had performed in front of a mixed audi- ence. The first occasion was at the Shiraz Oud Festival in July 2018. “These festivals are a great opportunity because in nor- mal circumstances we cannot sing in front of men,” said drum- mer Faezeh Mohseni.

Many restrictions When performing for all-female audiences, Mohseni sings solo. But, informed only a few days before the festival that they had been selected and would be singing to both men and women, the band hastily re-arranged its routine. “We had to spend all those days rehearsing so that all of us could sing in Members of the Iranian all-women music band “Dingo” (from left) Malihe Shahinzadeh, Negin Heydari, Faezeh Mohseni, and chorus,” said Malihe Shahinzadeh, who plays the pippeh, a Noushin Yousefzadeh perform together at a concert during the state-organized “Persian Gulf music” festival at Avini Hall in Iran’s type of local drum. Public singing by women is not a clear-cut southern Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas. —AFP photos affair in the Islamic republic. No law specifically forbids it, ac-

Members of the Iranian all-women music band “Dingo” (from (From left) Malihe Shahinzadeh who plays the pippeh drum, Faezeh Mohseni, drummer of the Iranian all-women music band left) Malihe Shahinzadeh and Negin Heydari perform together Negin Heydari, who plays the kasser drum, Noushin Yousefzadeh “Dingo” performs with other band members at a concert. with other members at a concert. who plays the oud, and drummer Faezeh Mohseni pose together for a picture at a home studio called the “Dingo room”. Friday 21 Lifestyle | Feature Friday, September 18, 2020

(From left) Oud player Noushin Yousefzadeh, kasser drummer (From left) Kasser drummer Negin Heydari, pippeh drummer Noushin Yousefzadeh, a member of the all-women Iranian Negin Heydari, pippeh drummer Malihe Shahinzadeh, and drum- Malihe Shahinzadeh, and drummer Faezeh Mohseni practice music band “Dingo” who plays the Oud (Middle Eastern lute), mer Faezeh Mohseni practise together at a home studio called together at a home studio called the “Dingo room”. poses for a picture as she practises at a home studio called the the “Dingo room”. “Dingo room”.

Noushin Yousefzadeh, oud player of the Iranian all-women Noushin Yousefzadeh, a member of the all-women Iranian Women audience members applaud as they attend a perform- music band “Dingo” performs with other band members at a music band “Dingo” who plays the oud (Middle Eastern lute), ance by the Iranian all-women music band “Dingo”. concert. poses for a picture as she practises at a home studio called the “Dingo room”. cording to Sahar Taati, a former director at the music depart- with the dohol and pippeh. So now, whenever authorities arrange ment of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, festivals and shows like this one in their home town, they apply known as Ershad. and hope they will be selected, even if it means not knowing until Nonetheless, most clerics believe that the sound of female the last minute if they have been. singing is “haram”-or forbidden-because it can be sensuously But, the exhilaration of playing for mixed audiences is worth all stimulating for men and lead to depravity, she added. Secular the uncertainty and long hours of practice-in the “Dingo room”, a music is generally frowned upon by Shiite clergy, who see it as sound-proof den in the courtyard of one of their parents’ homes. entertainment that distracts from religion. Its ban, decreed soon Heydari described how happy her husband of 10 years, Sassan, after the 1979 Islamic revolution, was gradually lifted, firstly for said he was to be able to see her perform live on stage at last. The “revolutionary” music, meant to galvanise troops in the 1980-88 four musicians, two of whom have jobs, feel fully supported by Iran-Iraq war. Then, the emphasis was put on traditional Iranian their families and have many dreams for their band, from more music, in contrast to western variants deemed “decadent” by the performances inside Iran, to playing at venues abroad. “We want authorities, who waged a war against “cultural invasion”. After to make Dingo international,” said Mohseni, while Shahinzadeh is moderate Hassan Rouhani was elected president in 2013, suc- eager for the rest of the world to hear the music of her hometown. ceeding ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, staging mu- Their dedication paid off when they won a jury prize for their Members of the Iranian all-women music band “Dingo” (From sical events became somewhat easier. There are, however, still a performance at last year’s festival, where they wore colorful out- left to right) Malihe Shahinzadeh, Negin Heydari, Faezeh myriad of restrictions. Ershad must approve concerts and it re- fits with sequins and gold embroidery, traditionally worn in south- Mohseni, and Noushin Yousefzadeh perform together at a con- mains almost impossible for a female singer to perform alone, ern Hormozgan province. Since the concert, Negin Heydari has except in front of other women. But “women can sing to mixed cert during the state-organized “Persian Gulf music” festival left the band because of “artistic differences”, and her place has at Avini Hall. audiences if two or more women sing together, or a female solo been taken by guitarist Mina Molai. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 singer is accompanied by a male singer whose voice is always at pandemic, which has hit Iran particularly hard, has left a mark on the capital, Tehran. You may well come across a driver who least as strong as hers,” said Taati. That’s how a Persian adapta- Dingo’s progress in good and bad ways. It has dampened the plays Googoosh, a pre-revolution pop diva, who reemerged tion of the musical “Les Miserables” was performed in Tehran in band’s hopes of recording an album and prevented rehearsals but in North America in 2000 after years of silence in her home- the winter of 2018-2019, with female solos supported by the also given rise to new ideas. “The period of confinement has been land. Another might reach for a USB memory stick with songs voice of another singer in the wings. an opportunity for me to research the music of our region and by the late sisters Hayedeh and Mahasti, icons of the music also to improve my playing technique,” said Shahinzadeh. “Up scene before 1979 who are buried in California, in the United Introducing bandari abroad until now, we’ve only been doing covers of the bandari folk reper- States. You could also hear Gelareh Sheibani, a young The members of Dingo, who are all in their mid-20s to mid- toire, but now we’re thinking of creating original pieces,” she said. songstress based on the US west coast whose tunes are find- 30s, had tried a number of times to arrange performances for ing their way to Iran over the internet. That’s unless your mixed audiences themselves. But it was difficult to coordinate and Taxis and USBs cabbie prefers the Paris-based soprano Darya Dadvar, one of in the end “we just gave up”, said Negin Heydari, a former mem- Despite the religious limitations, female solo singing can the few women to have sung solo in front of a mixed audi- ber, who plays the kasser, a smaller drum usually played together still be heard by men in Iran, especially if you catch a taxi in ence since the revolution. —AFP 22 Friday Lifestyle | Feature Friday, September 18, 2020

This undated handout photo shows the first human footprint discovered at the Alathar ancient lake. — AFP photos This undated handout photo shows elephant trackway. Human footprints dating back 120,000 years found in Saudi Arabia

round 120,000 years ago in what is now northern Saudi Arabia, a small band of Ahomo sapiens stopped to drink and for- age at a shallow lake that was also frequented by camels, buffalo, and elephants bigger than any species seen today. The people may have hunted the large mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey. This detailed scene was recon- structed by researchers in a new study published in Science Advances on Wednesday, following the discovery of ancient human and animal foot- prints in the Nefud Desert that shed new light on the routes our ancient ancestors took as they spread out of Africa. Today, the Arabian Peninsula is characterized This undated handout photo shows animal fossils erod- by vast, arid deserts that would have been inhos- ing out of the surface of the Alathar ancient lake deposit. pitable to early people and the animals they This undated handout photo shows a view of the edge of the Alathar ancient lake deposit and surrounding hunted down. But research over the last decade typically representing a few hours or days, a res- landscape. has shown this wasn’t always the case-due to olution we tend not to get from other records,” natural climate variation it experienced much he said. The prints were dated using a technique region at the time, and based on stature and ered, and it’s likely that carnivores were attracted greener and more humid conditions in a period called optical stimulated luminescence-blasting mass estimates inferred from the prints. to the herbivores at Alathar, similar to what is known as the last interglacial. “At certain times light at quartz grains and measuring the amount “We know that humans were visiting this lake seen in African savannas today. It was previously in the past, the deserts that dominate the interior of energy emitted from them. at the same time these animals were, and, unusu- known that early humans spread to Eurasia via of the peninsula transformed into expansive ally for the area, there’s no stone tools,” said southern Greece and the Levant, exploiting grasslands with permanent freshwater lakes and A Green Arabia Stewart, which would have indicated the humans coastal resources along the way, but the new re- rivers,” explained study co-author Richard In total, seven out of the hundreds of prints made a longer term settlement there. “It appears search shows that “inland routes, following lakes Clark-Wilson of Royal Holloway. discovered were confidently identified as ho- that these people were visiting the lake for water and rivers, may have been particularly impor- The paper’s first author Mathew Stewart, of minin, including four that, given their similar ori- resources and just to forage at the same time as tant” too, said Stewart. “The presence of large the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, entation, distances from one another and the animals,” and probably to also hunt them. animals such as elephants and hippos, together Germany, told AFP the footprints were discovered differences in size, were interpreted as two or The elephants, which had gone extinct in the with open grasslands and large water resources, during his PhD field work in 2017 following the three individuals traveling together. The re- nearby Levant region some 400,000 years ago, may have made northern Arabia a particularly erosion of overlying sediments at an ancient lake searchers argue these belonged to anatomically would have been particularly attractive prey, and attractive place to humans moving between dubbed ‘Alathar’ (meaning “the trace” in Arabic). modern humans, as opposed to Neanderthals, on their presence also suggests other plentiful Africa and Eurasia,” added the study’s senior au- “Footprints are a unique form of fossil evi- the basis that our extinct cousins aren’t known freshwater resources and greenery. In addition thor Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Insti- dence in that they provide snapshots in time, to have been present in the wider Middle East to the footprints, some 233 fossils were recov- tute for the Science of Human History. — AFP Friday 23 Lifestyle | Features Friday, September 18, 2020

rounded by plants. Schwarzenegger “These funds are so massive they are capa- ble of remaking societies. We have a tremen- says pandemic dous opportunity here.” Schwarzenegger said money should be invested into building “a clean energy economy”, providing “sustainable ‘opportunity’ jobs” and upgrading buildings to make them more energy efficient. Schwarzenegger had in- for climate tended to travel to his birth country Austria for the summit but cancelled his trip following the ormer California governor Arnold advice of doctors-cheering on participants in- FSchwarzenegger yesterday said the stead from an office with a poster of himself in coronavirus crisis was a “tremendous younger days as a body-builder in the back- opportunity” to rebuild devastated economies ground. with clean energy. Speaking virtually at a cli- Among other speakers at the Austrian mate summit that his non-profit organization World Summit, which was launched four years holds annually in Austria, the Hollywood star ago, were Austrian, Slovakian and Croatian said the pandemic, which has killed almost a million people and caused massive economic leaders, as well as European Commission vice downturns worldwide, was “a window of op- president Frans Timmermans and other inter- portunity to act right now”. “Forward-looking national public figures. EU chief Ursula von der decisions are needed right now, right now as Leyen vowed Wednesday in her first annual trillions of dollars and trillions of euros are State of the European Union address that Eu- Participants sit in front of a video screen displaying Austrian-American actor, businessman and former being poured into rebuilding economies and rope would lead the global search for a coro- governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger during the Austrian World Summit on climate action infrastructure in the wake of the coronavirus,” navirus vaccine while rebuilding its shattered organized by The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative in Spanische Hofreitschule in Vienna, Austria, he said on screen, speaking from a podium sur- economy with a green recovery plan. —AFP yesterday. —AFP

This photograph shows research fellow from Nanyang Technology This photograph shows research fellows from Nanyang Technology This photograph shows a research fellow (right) from Nanyang University checking sound level passing through the window of a University checking sound level passing through the window of a Technology University checking the sound levels passing through mock-up room in Singapore. — AFP photos mock-up room in Singapore. the window of a mock-up room in Singapore. Sick of city din? Try ‘noise-cancelling headphones’ for your flat ick of noise from construction work, speeding trains and While blocking the racket from outside, it also “lets in the nat- car alarms flooding in through the open window of your ural ventilation and lighting through the windows,” he told AFP, Stiny apartment in a crowded metropolis? Scientists be- at a lab where a prototype of the device had been set up. The lieve they have found a way for city dwellers to let in fresh air system can reduce incoming sound by 10 decibels, and works while reducing the urban cacophony-and it is a bit like popping best on noises like trains or building work-but it won’t block un- massive, noise-cancelling headphones onto your flat. Under the predictable, high frequency sounds such as dogs barking. Gan system devised in Singapore, 24 small speakers are placed on hopes allowing people to keep windows open for natural venti- the metal grille of an open window to create what researchers lation will reduce the use of energy-hungry air conditioners, and termed an “acoustic shield”. might improve people’s health by cutting noise, which causes When noise such as traffic or a subway train is detected, the problems such as disturbed sleep. speakers generate sound waves that cancel out some of the din- Some might balk at the idea of placing 24 tiny speakers on much in the same way some high tech headphones work. It is one of their grilles, although the researchers are working on a like “using noise to fight noise,” said Gan Woon-Seng, who leads version of the system that obstructs windows less. They hope This photograph shows a research fellow from Nanyang Technology the research team from Nanyang Technological University in the to eventually sell the device to those who want to install it in res- University checking the sound levels passing through the window space-starved city-state, where many complain of noise flood- idential buildings. — AFP of a mock-up room in Singapore. ing into apartments. 24 Friday Lifestyle | Features Friday, September 18, 2020

ondon Fashion Week kicked off yesterday with a livestreamed show from Burberry but without the hordes Lof industry insiders, A-listers and journalists who usually flock to it from around the world. The twice-annual event aimed to be both more intimate and open, organizers say, with the coronavirus pandemic meaning only a handful of “physi- An undated and unplaced handout photo received from the A detailed view of the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree. cal” shows will be staged. Around 80 designers will present Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland their latest collections during the six days of showings, some yesterday shows a detailed view of the Gympie-Gympie stinging in catwalk presentations but most via videos posted on the tree. — AFP photos Fashion Week’s official website. Among the designers daring to hold public parades-with plenty of social distancing-are London-based Turkish creator Bora Aksu, luxury knitwear pioneer Mark Fast and the Chinese brand PRONOUNCE. Their shows will be broadcast live online, “an essential tool for our brand to express our seasonal message on a global scale,” Fast told Vogue Business. “An online streaming of a fashion show will reach tens of thou- sands on the day, and hundreds of thousands, if not more, throughout the season.”

First on Twitch ustralia is notorious for its venomous spiders, snakes Vetter, an associate professor at the University of Britain’s Burberry kicked off the week with a show broad- and sea creatures, but researchers have now identi- Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, said the casted online at 12:00 GMT. For the spring-summer 2021 col- Afied “scorpion-like” toxins secreted by a tree that can research team discovered a new class of neurotoxin lection, Riccardo Tisci, its Italian designer, collaborated with cause excruciating pain for weeks. Split-second contact miniproteins, which they christened ‘gympietides’. the German artist Anne Imhof for a “radical meeting of fashion with the dendrocnide tree, a rainforest nettle known by its “Although they come from a plant, the gympietides are and art”. This uninhabited wilderness show was streamed live indigenous name gympie-gympie, delivers a sting far more similar to spider and cone snail toxins in the way they fold for the first time on Amazon-owned Twitch, a platform that potent than similar plants found in the US or Europe. The into their 3D molecular structures and target the same pain popularized communal video gaming by including comments tree, which has broad oval- or heart-shaped leaves, is pri- receptors-this arguably makes the gympie-gympie tree a from players and spectators. marily found in rainforest areas of northeast Queensland, truly ‘venomous’ plant,” she said. Australia is already infa- “Twitch unlocks an exciting new space where our Burberry where it is notorious among hikers. A team of Australian sci- mous for its venomous fauna including snakes, box jellyfish, community can be digitally transported to feel like they have a entists say they now better understand why the gympie- blue-ringed octopus and funnel-web spiders, although virtual seat at our live show,” said Rod Manley, the company’s gympie’s sting haunts those unlucky enough to brush up deaths in humans from bites or stings are rare. Vetter said chief marketing officer. “It is an interactive experience where against its leaves. the long-lasting pain inflicted by the tree may be explained guests can connect with both our brand and each other whilst Victims report an initial sting that “feels like fire at first, by the gympietides permanently altering the chemical personalizing their viewing journey,” he added in a statement. then subsides over hours to a pain reminiscent of having makeup of the affected sensory neurons-not due to the fine Other highlights of the week include the collections of for- the affected body part caught in a slammed car door”, the hairs getting stuck in the skin. The scientists hope their mer Spice Girl turned designer Victoria Beckham, London- University of Queensland researchers said Thursday. In the research, published in peer-reviewed journal Sciences based South Korean creator Eudon Choi and Briton Molly final, drawn-out stages, simply taking a shower can reignite Advances, will eventually help lead to better pain relief Goddard. In normal times, fashion labels typically compete to the pain. Though the gympie-gympie is covered in fine nee- treatment for people who have been stung.— AFP stage their shows in the most extravagant settings, hoping to attract VIPs and influencers posting photos from the event. dle-like hairs similar to other nettles, previous testing for But amid ongoing restrictions due to the virus, which has common irritants such as histamines came up empty. Irina claimed more than 41,600 lives in Britain and where cases are climbing again, fashion has moved firmly to the internet. Elle UK editor-in-chief Farrah Storr said she is preparing to watch the week’s opening shows from her kitchen table “in my cash- mere joggers”. “In the front row, it will just be me and my two dogs looking at clothes that I hope people can wear in six months,” she told the Daily Mail.

Emergency fund Despite the new reality, London Fashion Week organizers have hailed the fact that the event is being held. “(It) is one of the few international events to still be going ahead in London, proving the industry’s resilience, creativity, and innovation in difficult times,” the British Fashion Council (BFC) said in a statement. The fashion industry, which employs over 890,000 people in Britain, contributed £35 billion ($45 billion, 38 billion euros) to the country’s GDP last year. But the BFC warned it “faces enormous challenges due to the impact of Covid-19” and has set up a £1-million emergency fund to help design- ers. Traditionally devoted to women’s fashion, this September Fashion Week is the first to switch to a new-normal “gender neutral” format, showcasing men’s, women’s and mixed col- Photo shows the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree. lections.— AFP Friday 25 Lifestyle | Travel Friday, September 18, 2020

Photo shows the workshop via zoom Photo shows British theatre artist, Thomas Wilson with another artist on stage.

ritish theatre artist, Thomas Wilson recently performance arts for twenty years and currently gave a new meaning to my life”, she underlined concluded the Kinetic theater workshop works as an assistant program director at Rose noting that she learnt poetic and musical move- Bheld within the Theatre Sanctuary 2 festival Bruford College and is specialized in Kinetic the- ment methods. Participant Farah Al-Hajly organized by LOYAC’s Academy for ater and social creativity theatre. stressed that Kinetic theater is one of the most Performance Arts (LAPA). In this regard, Wilson Commenting on the workshop, participant glamorous worlds in theatre and that she had praised the participating youth noting that he Abdul Malek Al-Shezawi from Oman expressed loved it for years and developed passion for it enjoyed working with them. He also explained his joy on taking part in the workshop presented while studying at the higher institute for theatrical British theatre artist, that the workshop focused on introducing the by such an international artist. Participant arts. Thomas Wilson principles and tools of Kinetic theater. Khadija Abdullah stressed that she enjoyed the Notably, Thomas Wilson has been teaching workshop and felt that it was so inspiring. “It

Abdul Malek Al-Shezawi from Oman

Farah Al-Hajly 26 Friday Lifestyle | Feature Friday, September 18, 2020

San Lucas Island becomes Costa Rica’s 30th national park.— Courtesy Office of the First Lady of Costa Rica.

an Lucas Island has recently been des- San Lucas Island National Park is made up located 60 miles from San Jose. The purpose ignated Costa Rica’s 30th national park. of both land and coastal areas and covers 1.8 of the new park is to encourage visitors to dis- SLocated off the Pacific coast of the Gulf square miles. It features new trails, toilets, cover the country’s hidden gems, develop of Nicoya, the beautiful island once housed water and electricity systems and 24-hour sur- sustainable tourism and contribute to the one of the most notorious prisons in Latin veillance. The island is reached via a 40- socioeconomic development of the area. America and was also a wildlife refuge. minute boat ride from the city of Puntarenas,

The island is reached via a 40-minute boat ride from the city of Puntarena. San Lucas Island National Park is made up of both land and coastal areas. Friday 27 Lifestyle | Features Friday, September 18, 2020

It is the second national park in the region of ers’ lives were short and treatment was brutal. Its says Gustavo Segura Sancho, Costa Rica’s Puntarenas, with the first being Coco Island former buildings are considered cultural heritage tourism minister. “It will greatly surprise visitors National Park. The wildlife that can be found on sites, and over 50 guides have been trained to looking for quieter spots when on holiday.” the island includes howler monkeys, spiders, show the historical island. —www.lonelyplanet.com snakes, deer and pheasants. From 1873 to 1991, “San Lucas Island is part of Costa Rica’s his- it was a penal island founded by the dictator tory and heritage, so we are very pleased to Tomas Miguel Guardia GutiÈrrez, where prison- reopen it as the country’s 30th national park,”

San Lucas Island is located off the Pacific coast of the Gulf of Nicoya.

acebook on Wednesday announced it Luxottica brands and Essilor lens technology Facebook said in a post about the project. Project Aria research participants will would launch its own smart glasses in smart glasses that tap into the internet to “Such a device could help us perform record in Facebook offices, their homes, and Fnext year which connect to smart- help people stay connected with friends and everyday tasks better-like finding your keys, public spaces, but won’t record anything in phones as part of an alliance with eyewear family. “Combining a brand that is loved and navigating a new city, or capturing a venues such as stores or restaurants without titan EssilorLuxottica. The Ray-Ban branded worn by millions of consumers around the moment; but it could also open up an entirely written consent from the establishments. eyewear, a move by Facebook into wearable globe with technology that has brought the new way of moving through the world.” Recording will only be allowed in the homes tech, is an early step in a project to create world closer together, we can reset expecta- of wearers with consent from all members of futuristic eyewear that augments real-world tions around wearables” said Luxottica chief Privacy designs the household, the company said. views with data or graphics from the internet, wearables officer Rocco Basilico in a Facebook stressed privacy and data pro- Separately, Zuckerberg announced second- according to chief executive Mark release. “We are paving the way for a new tection are priorities in the project, particular- generation Oculus Quest head gear made Zuckerberg. “They are going to be the next generation of products destined to change ly when it comes to cameras built into eye- lighter, more powerful available for order at step on the road to augmented reality glass- the way we look at the world.” wear. The technology firm was evidently try- $299, a price lower than its predecessor. es, and they look pretty good too,” Zuckerberg cautioned that there is still ing to avoid the kind of backlash that vexed Oculus Quest 2 will begin shipping on Zuckerberg said in a streamed presentation much work to be done to perfect stylish a Google Glass smart eyewear project after October 13. Zuckerberg has described virtu- opening a developers conference devoted glasses infused with sophisticated augment- it launched seven years ago. Cameras built al reality as the next major computing plat- to its virtual reality platform Oculus. Technical ed reality capabilities. Challenges include into Glass gear sold to developers sparked form, and it has the potential to reduce the specifications of the smart glasses to be pro- developing sensors, camera capabilities and enough outrage to have them banned in sense of separation common when working, duced by the Franco-Italian firm were not software for “mapping” what wearers see some businesses. Google backed off plans learning, or socializing remotely due to the disclosed. around them in real time so scenes can be for a consumer version of Glass and focused pandemic. — AFP Zuckerberg explained that engineers in a augmented with virtual imagery. “Imagine a on business uses. Only about 100 people Project Aria team are experimenting with the pair of glasses that add a 3D layer of useful, will be involved in testing Aria prototypes at eyewear. The partnership will blend contextually relevant and meaningful infor- the outset, primarily in the San Francisco and Facebook apps and technologies with mation on top of the physical world,” Seattle areas, according to Facebook. 28 Friday

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Dr. Hamoud Abdullah Alarouj ENT Consultant, Laryngologist Kuwait Board of Otolaryngology. Experienced In: Laryngology Fellowship, McGill Management of benign and malignant vocal cord lesions. University- Canada. Vocal cord augmentation. Fellow of the European Board of Diagnosis and treatment of spasmodic dysphonia. Otolaryngology – Head & Neck surgery. Adenotonsillectomy using latest techniques. Member of the American Academy of Myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion. Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Surgery for the deviated nasal septum. Member of the British Laryngological Endoscopic sinus surgery. Association. Diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis. Member of the European Laryngological Tympanoplasty. Society. Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo. Member of the Canadian Society of Thyroid surgery Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Diagnosis and treatment of snoring.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 Business

New Zealand plunges into Huawei prices rise in China Boeing 737 MAX crashes: 34 recession; economy shrinks 35 on fears of chip shortage 36 ‘Horrific’ result of lapses

SINGAPORE: A traveller stands near automated check-in kiosks inside the departure hall of a terminal of the Changi International Airport in Singapore. — AFP Asian international travel plunges 97.5% Travelers snap up scenic ‘flights to nowhere’ SYDNEY: Qantas Airways Ltd said a seven-hour depending on the seating class and the 134 avail- bans are lifted. Chen Shu Tze, 44, an engineer from ceived widespread criticism from environmental- scenic flight over Australia’s Outback and Great able seats were quickly snapped up, a Qantas Taipei, said she signed up for the flight because ists and online commenters. “First, it encourages Barrier Reef had sold out in 10 minutes, as it joined spokeswoman said yesterday. the voucher made it a good deal and she missed carbon-intensive travel for no good reason and a growing trend in Asia offering “flights to “It’s probably the fastest selling flight in Qantas being able to travel - especially to South Korea, a second, it is merely a stop-gap measure that dis- nowhere” that take off and land at the same air- history,” she said. “People clearly miss travel and favorite destination. “The pandemic has a devas- tracts from the policy and value shifts necessary port. Tough border restrictions to keep the coro- the experience of flying. If the demand is there, tating impact on the tourism and airline industry, to mitigate the climate crisis,” said awareness navirus under control have led to a 97.5% plunge we’ll definitely look at doing more of these scenic so I want to help boost the economy, and I miss group SG Climate Rally. in international travel in the region, according to flights while we all wait for borders to open.” Tai- flying,” she told Reuters. All of the countries where Singapore Airlines said it is considering several the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. wan’s EVA used one of its iconic Hello Kitty livery the flights are on offer have relatively low numbers initiatives but no final decision has been made on Many frequent flyers miss getting on planes planes for a special father’s day flight last month, of COVID-19 cases by global standards. Among whether to offer sightseeing flights. Qantas said it and airlines including Taiwan’s EVA Airways Corp while ANA used an Airbus SE A380 that usually other airline stunts, Thai Airways International would pay to offset the carbon emissions on its and Japan’s ANA Holdings Inc, desperate for rev- flies to Honolulu for a 90-minute flight with a PCL this month opened a pop-up restaurant on scenic flight from Sydney, though online critics enue and to keep their pilots’ licences current, Hawaiian experience on board. the ground, offering in-flight meals served from noted that would not actually reduce emissions. have offered special sightseeing flights. The Qan- Tickets costing $6,888 Taiwan dollars ($236) airline seats to would-be travelers. The concept of scenic flights is not new. Antarctica tas flight, in a Boeing Co 787 typically used for for a Tigerair Taiwan flight from Taipei that will cir- Flights has chartered Qantas jets for scenic flights long-haul international journeys, will fly at low lev- cle over South Korea’s Jeju Island reportedly sold Climate concerns over Antarctica for 26 years. An Air New Zealand els over Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney out in four minutes. The price includes a one-year Singapore Airlines Ltd is also eyeing scenic Ltd sightseeing flight over Antarctica in 1979 Harbor before landing back in Sydney. Tickets cost voucher for round-trip tickets from Taiwan to flights from next month, the country’s Straits Times crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people between A$787 and A$3,787 ($575 and $2,765) Korea, which can be used after COVID-19 travel newspaper reported on Sunday, an idea that re- on board. — Reuters 34 Friday

Business Friday, September 18, 2020 Stocks buckle, dollar stirs as divided Fed disappoints European, Asian stocks, S&P500 futures down 1% LONDON: The dollar stirred and equities re- “Those who were expecting more input from coiled yesterday after a divided US Federal Re- Fed monetary policy after the adoption of an av- serve dented stimulus hopes, TikTok’s erage-inflation target regime remained disap- tug-of-war clobbered tech stocks and dire Eu- pointed,” UniCredit analysts wrote in a note. ropean car sales underscored coronavirus trou- “While the Fed expects the Fed funds rate to re- bles. Traders were also watching Bank of Japan main flat through 2023, it will need more time to and Bank of England meetings as well as plenty assess the status of the economy and to change more too, but the tone was set by the events its remaining tools accordingly.” The stronger overnight at the Fed and in the tech war. dollar inflicted some damage in emerging mar- The Fed extended its ‘dot plot’ forecast of un- kets too. Turkey’s battered lira hit its latest record changed US interest rates out to end-2023, but low , Argentina announced new capital controls going no further than that, and upgrading growth and there was a third straight day of falls for east- forecasts so that GDP is now seen reaching pre- ern European currencies. pandemic levels next year rather than in 2022. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares The downtrodden dollar rebounded across the outside Japan had lost 1% overnight after five board, given it its best daily rise in over a week straight days of gains while Japan’s Nikkei shed against a basket of other top currencies and 0.6%. “In essence, high-tech shares were over- punting the euro back under $1.18. Bond markets bought and we’ve seen a correction since early seemed less enlivened with US Treasuries and this month,” said Soichiro Monji, chief strategist German Bunds both quiet in early European at Nishimura Securities in Kyoto. “I think that is trading though choppy equities markets were still continuing, with the Fed just being a fresh JAKARTA: A man pulls his cart filled with household items for sale in Jakarta yesterday. — AFP making up for it. trigger.” The Fed said it would keep interest rates Tech stocks shed 1.6% after US President near zero until inflation is on track to “moderately Donald Trump’s had warned China’s ByteDance exceed” the central bank’s 2% inflation target tiabank in Toronto. “Nevertheless, markets are Wednesday. The yen was little moved at 104.98 to should not keep control of the US operations of “for some time.” priced for basically one outcome here and that is the dollar having hit a 1-1/2-month high of 104.80 social media platform TikTok, a move that had New economic projections released with the little inflation and no hikes for years to come.” per dollar overnight. With focus on new Prime also seen Chinese heavyweight Alibaba drop policy statement showed most policymakers see Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is seen by some as a more than 4% overnight. Banks, automakers and interest rates on hold through to at least 2023, BOJ, jobs strong opponent of a higher yen, some traders said miners were the biggest sectoral fallers though, with inflation not breaching 2% over that period. The Australian dollar lost 0.4% to $0.7278, the market may be tempted to test his resolve on all dropping as much as 2%. Volkswagen, Renault “Of course, sensible people wouldn’t really hold having erased earlier gains made after stronger- the currency. “One interesting speculative trade in and PSA Group fell between 2.5% and 3% after anyone to macro forecasts that far out so we’ll than-expected local jobs data. The Chinese yuan the near-term will be to long the yen ahead of the industry data showed European car sales fell by cross that bridge when we get to it,” said Derek also dropped about 0.35% to 6.7686 per dollar, coming long weekend in Japan,” said a senior trad- 17.6% in August. Holt, head of capital markets economics at Sco- stepping back from a 16-month high hit on ing manager at a major Japanese bank. — Reuters

virus-related restrictions were eased significantly. Ardern re- N Zealand plunges tains a strong lead in opinion polls and is expected to retain Australian unemployment office, despite the ugly pre-election economic figures. Fi- nance Minister Grant Robertson said it could have been much into recession as worse, with budget papers in May predicting a 23.5 quarterly falls, raising recovery hopes decline and Treasury forecasting a 16 percent drop just this economy shrinks week. “There is no way that any political party could claim SYDNEY: Australia’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.8 percent that there would not have been a recession in New Zealand in August, spurring hopes that the worst of a coronavirus-fuelled re- during this period,” he said. “This is a one-in-100-year global cession may have passed. The country’s statistical agency said yes- WELLINGTON: New Zealand plunged into recession for the economic shock.” terday that unemployment had fallen 0.7 points from the 7.5-percent first time in a decade yesterday, as data confirmed a record- rate posted in July, with the economy adding 111,000 more jobs. Aus- breaking economic collapse that forced Prime Minister Jacinda ‘This was traumatic’ tralia is experiencing its first recession in almost 30 years, prompting Ardern to defend her pandemic response ahead of next month’s The opposition National Party said the figures showed a the government and central bank to embark on a vast stimulus spend- general election. The 12.2 percent contraction in April-June was change of government was needed because Ardern’s admin- ing program to avert a full-blown depression. “by far the largest” since records began, national data agency istration could not properly manage the economy or the pan- Around a million people have lost their jobs and many more have Stats NZ said, with the country put into a strict lockdown for demic response. “It is now official that we are in the deepest been forced to take pay cuts or seen hours slashed. Yesterday’s fig- almost two months and the country’s borders closed. recession in living memory and it’s proof that New Zealand ures smashed economists’ forecasts of a rise in the jobless rate to Ardern rejected opposition accusations that the tough needs a National-led government now that has a very clear around eight percent. But beyond the headline figure - which is sea- measures had pushed the economy “off a cliff”, saying the re- plan,” National leader Judith Collins said. sonally adjusted - there was some cause for concern. The number of strictions helped contain the virus, which allowed business to She said New Zealand “compares very unfavourably” with people present in the job market, hours worked and underemploy- resume far earlier than in many other countries. The centre-left neighbouring Australia, which recorded an economic contrac- ment remained largely unchanged - pointing to an economy still in leader, who will go to the polls re-election on October 17, also tion of seven percent in the June quarter after adopting a serious pain. pointed out that New Zealand had recorded just 25 Covid-19 more flexible approach to lockdowns and border controls. Prime Minister Scott Morrison cautioned that the “effective rate” deaths, out of a population of five million. “Success for me is New Zealand’s most recent recession was in 2008-09 and of unemployment was still well above 10 percent, while claiming “we saving people’s lives, supporting and saving people’s busi- until the first three months of this year it had recorded non- are doing better than almost every other developed economy in the nesses, coming out the other side (of the crisis) faster, quicker stop quarterly growth since 2010. The second-quarter decline world”. Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade and with more activity,” she told reporters. “I back our results.” follows a 1.6-percent contraction in the first three months of Unions, said “921,000 Australians are now unemployed and another She said the economic pain of lockdown in the June quar- 2020, confirming widespread expectations that New Zealand 1.5 million are underemployed”, criticizing the government for plans ter would be followed by a rebound in July-September, when is in recession. — AFP to withdraw pandemic wage subsidies. — AFP Friday 35 Business Friday, September 18, 2020 Biden warns UK: No trade deal unless you respect N Irish deal Societe Generale sees 80% probability of a no deal LONDON: US Democratic presidential candi- decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ire- though the next days are key,” said one of the “abandon any and all legally questionable and date Joe Biden warned the United Kingdom that land between pro-British Protestant unionists EU diplomatic sources. Johnson told The Sun unfair efforts to flout the Northern Ireland pro- it must honour the Northern Irish peace deal as and Irish Catholic nationalists. The EU says any that the EU was being “abusive” to Britain tocol of the Withdrawal Agreement.” He called it extracts itself from the European Union or breach of the Brexit treaty could sink trade talks, and risking four decades of partnership. He on Johnson to “ensure that Brexit negotiations there would be no US trade deal. “We can’t allow propel the United Kingdom towards a messy said the UK must “ring-fence” the Brexit deal do not undermine the decades of progress to the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace exit when it finally leaves informal membership “to put in watertight bulkheads that will stop bring peace to Northern Ireland and future op- to Northern Ireland to become a casualty of at the end of the year and thus complicate the friends and partners making abusive or ex- tions for the bilateral relationship between our Brexit,” Biden said in a tweet. border between Northern Ireland and EU-mem- treme interpretations of the provisions.” So- two countries.” “Any trade deal between the US and UK must ber Ireland. ciete Generale analysts said yesterday they Engel said Congress would not support a free be contingent upon respect for the Agreement now see an 80% chance that Britain and the trade agreement between the United States and and preventing the return of a hard border. Pe- No deal? EU will fail to strike a trade deal before the the United Kingdom if Britain failed to uphold riod.” Johnson unveiled legislation that would The EU’s Brexit negotiator told the bloc’s 27 end of the year. its commitments with Northern Ireland. The let- break parts of the Brexit divorce treaty relating national envoys that he still hoped a trade deal ter was signed by Representatives Richard Neal, to Northern Ireland, blaming the EU for putting with Britain was possible, stressing that the Biden William Keating and Peter King. Johnson is a revolver on the table in trade talks and trying coming days would be decisive, three diplomatic Biden, who has talked about the importance pushing ahead with his plan. His government to divide up the United Kingdom. sources told Reuters. Michel Barnier addressed of his Irish heritage, retweeted a letter from Eliot reached a deal on Wednesday to avert a rebel- He says the United Kingdom has to have the the gathering on Wednesday and the three Engel, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of lion in his own party, giving parliament a say ability to break parts of the 2020 Brexit treaty sources either participated in the discussion be- the US House of Representatives, to Johnson over the use of post-Brexit powers within its he signed to uphold London’s commitments hind closed doors or were briefed on its content. calling on the British leader to honor the 1998 proposed Internal Market Bill that breaks inter- under the 1998 peace deal which ended three “Barnier still believes a deal is possible Good Friday peace deal. Engel urged Johnson to national law. — Reuters

its Kirin chips on Sept. 15 because of US meas- ByteDance says Huawei phone ures to cut off its chipmaking unit HiSilicon from vital technology. HiSilicon relies on software from US firms China will have to prices rise in such as Cadence Design Systems Inc or Synop- sys Inc to design its chips, and outsources pro- approve its US China on fears duction to TSMC, which uses US-made equipment. TikTok deal of chip shortage Wholesale traders at the market said they had been busy for the last month meeting extra demand for online sales, with prices of higher- BEIJING: China will need to approve SHENZHEN: Chinese consumers are rushing to end phones rising every few hours. They were ByteDance’s proposed deal with Oracle Corp buy smartphones from Huawei Technologies uncertain how much supply remained at distrib- for its TikTok app, the Chinese company said Co Ltd featuring its high-end Kirin chips, fear- utors. Huawei does not disclose inventory infor- on Thursday, indicating how its bid to stave off ing curbs on the firm’s access to US technology mation. A spokesman told Reuters the firm a ban in the United States could be further will soon cut off production of its premium continues to operate according to demand. complicated. Oracle has submitted a proposal handsets. Phone vendors in Huaqiangbei, the It likely has chip inventory to last through the to the Trump administration that will allow it to world’s largest electronics market located in first half of next year, said analyst Will Wong at become a technology partner in the TikTok the southern city of Shenzhen, said prices for consultancy IDC. “One option for them to have app, as ByteDance hopes to head off a Trump new and used Huawei phones had risen Kirin chips last longer is to ship less for the rest order that it divest TikTok’s US operations. steadily over the past month, by around 400 to of the year,” Wong said. Last week, Huawei said CALIFORNIA: The logo of Chinese video app Tik- The proposal envisages making TikTok 500 yuan on average. it planned to introduce its Harmony operating Tok is seen on the side of the company’s new of- Global a US-headquartered company. But US The Porsche design model of Huawei’s flag- system on smartphones next year, in part to fice space at the C3 campus in Culver City, in the ship Mate 30 was selling for 14,000 yuan overcome US limits on its access to Alphabet President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised westside of Los Angeles. — AFP questions about ByteDance’s plans to keep a ($2,067), from 10,000 yuan in January, one ven- Inc’s Android. Yet analyst Mo Jia at Canalys said majority stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations and dor said. The phone was available at a similar launching Harmony would only be a “symbolic innovation” if Huawei no longer had the chip said he did not favor the idea of the Chinese price on online marketplace Taobao. Consumers transfer of technology such as TikTok’s user supplies to make high-end phones. — Reuters firm retaining control, after six Republican law- recommendation algorithm to foreign buyers. are increasingly worried over the supply of com- makers urged him to reject the proposal. Reuters has reported that the Oracle deal ponents for newer handsets, said one vendor. Trump has said he would ban TikTok in the would not require ByteDance to apply to Chi- “The Huawei phones are getting expensive United States as early as Sunday if ByteDance nese authorities for an export licence for Tik- but that’s supply and demand,” said the vendor, does not comply amid US concerns that the Tok’s algorithm. who gave her name as Xiao. “If people like the company could pass user data to China’s Com- ByteDance and its founder Zhang Yiming brand, they’ll pay more - and who knows how munist Party government. An outright sale of have faced public criticism in China for good the chips they’ll have in the future will be?” TikTok’s operations or technologies was not seeming to give in to US pressure after it was The US government last year moved to prevent included in ByteDance’s proposal to the United reported it was contemplating a sale of Tik- most US companies from conducting business States, Chinese state media reported on Thurs- Tok’s US operations to Microsoft Corp. with Huawei, saying the world’s biggest maker of day citing a separate statement from the com- Some netizens said they would stop using mobile telecommunications equipment and pany. ByteDance declined to comment when Douyin, ByteDance’s Chinese version of Tik- smartphones was ultimately answerable to the asked about this by Reuters. Tok. “ByteDance, as it works to find a solu- Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly de- When asked about ByteDance’s comments tion to keep TikTok’s U.S. business alive, is nied being a national security risk. regarding the need for China’s approval, the walking a tightrope between the demands of Last month, the United States further tight- foreign ministry on Thursday urged the United the U.S. government on the one side and the ened restrictions to choke its access to commer- States to respect the principles of the market expectations of both the Chinese govern- cially available chips, prompting Taiwan economy and fair competition, and to stop ment and public on the other,” said Mark Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) politicizing normal economic and trade coop- Natkin, managing director at Marbridge to stop shipping wafers to Huawei. Richard Yu, BEIJING: People walk past the Huawei logo eration. China late last month updated its ex- Consulting. “It can’t afford to make any mis- chief executive of Huawei’s consumer business, during the Consumer Electronics Expo in port control rules to give it a say over the steps along the way.” — Reuters subsequently said the company will stop making Beijing. — AFP 36 Friday Business Friday, September 18, 2020 Musk Method: Learn from partners then go it alone Investors awaiting ‘Battery Day’ announcements on Sept 22 LONDON: Elon Musk is hailed as an innovator clined to be named. “And for better or worse - cruitment - to bring key technologies under cobalt as well as highly automated manufactur- and disruptor who went from knowing next to sometimes better, sometimes worse - he thinks Tesla’s control, people familiar with Tesla’s strat- ing processes to speed up production. nothing about building cars to running the he can do it better, faster and cheaper.” egy said. They said the aim was to build a heavily world’s most valuable automaker in the space of Tesla has battery production partnerships vertically integrated company, or a digital ver- ‘Straight for mars’ 16 years. But his record shows he is more of a with Panasonic, South Korea’s LG Chem and sion of Ford Motor Co’s iron-ore-to-Model-A Panasonic is partnered with Tesla at the $5 fast learner who forged alliances with firms that China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co production system of the late 1920s. billion Nevada “Gigafactory”, while CATL and had technology Tesla lacked, hired some of their Ltd (CATL) that are expected to continue. But “Elon thought he could improve on everything LG Chem supply cells to Tesla’s Shanghai fac- most talented people, and then powered through at the same time, Tesla is moving to control pro- the suppliers did - everything,” said former Tesla tory, where battery modules and packs are as- the boundaries that limited more risk-averse duction of cells - the basic component of electric supply chain executive Tom Wessner, who is now sembled for its Model 3 sedan. Panasonic partners. vehicle battery packs - at highly automated fac- head of industry consultancy Imprint Advisors. recently said it is planning to expand its produc- Now, Musk and his team are preparing to tories, including one being built near Berlin, Ger- “He wanted to make everything.” Batteries, a big tion lines in Nevada, which supply the cells that outline new steps in Tesla’s drive to become a many and another in Fremont, California where chunk of the cost of an electric car, are central to then go into the battery modules assembled next more self-sufficient company less reliant on sup- Tesla is hiring dozens of experts in battery cell the Musk method. While subordinates have ar- door by Tesla. But the Nevada Gigafactory part- pliers at its “Battery Day” event on Sept 22. engineering and manufacturing. gued for years against developing proprietary nership almost didn’t happen, according to two Musk has been dropping hints for months that “There has been no change in our relation- Tesla battery cells, Musk continues to drive to- former Tesla executives. significant advances in technology will be an- ship with Tesla,” Panasonic said in a statement ward that goal. “Tell him ‘No’, and then he really Musk ordered a team to study battery man- nounced as Tesla strives to produce the low- provided by a company spokeswoman. “Our re- wants to do it,” said a third former Tesla veteran. ufacturing in 2011, according to one former ex- cost, long-lasting batteries that could put its lationship, both past and present has been The changes in battery design, chemistry and ecutive, but eventually partnered with electric cars on a more equal footing with sound. Panasonic is not a supplier to Tesla; we production processes Tesla expects to reveal Panasonic in 2013. Now, Tesla is testing a bat- cheaper gasoline vehicles. are partners. There’s no doubt our partnership next week are aimed at reworking the math that tery cell pilot manufacturing line in Fremont New battery cell designs, chemistries and will continue to innovate and contribute to the until now has made electric cars more expensive and is building its own vast automated cell manufacturing processes are just some of the betterment of society.” Tesla did not respond im- than carbon-emitting vehicles with combustion manufacturing facility in Gruenheide in Ger- developments that would allow Tesla to reduce mediately to a request for comment. engines. Reuters reported in May that Tesla is many. The roller-coaster relationship with its reliance on its long-time battery partner, planning to unveil low-cost batteries designed Panasonic mirrors other Tesla alliances. During Japan’s Panasonic, people familiar with the situ- Make everything to last for a million miles. Tesla is also working its development alliance with Germany’s Daim- ation said. “Elon doesn’t want any part of his Since he took over the fledgling company in to secure direct supplies of key battery materi- ler , which was an early investor in Tesla, Musk business to be dependent on someone else,” said 2004, Musk’s goal has been to learn enough - als, such as nickel, while developing cell became interested in sensors that would help one former senior executive at Tesla who de- from partnerships, acquisitions and talent re- chemistries that would no longer need expensive keep cars within traffic lanes. — Reuters

Boeing 737 MAX Southwest grounds crashes: ‘Horrific’ 130 Boeing 737-800 result of lapses airplanes over data

NEW YORK: Congressional investigators blamed two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes on “repeated and serious failures” by WASHINGTON: Southwest Airlines Co said late Wednesday the company and air safety officials, according to a report re- it temporarily grounded 130 Boeing 737-800 aircraft after leased Wednesday that called for an overhaul of the US aviation it discovered discrepancies in aircraft weight data. The Dal- regulatory system. “The MAX crashes were not the result of a las-based airline said in a statement that “out of an abun- singular failure, technical mistake or mismanaged event,” said the dance of caution, we have temporarily ceased flying the report, which blasted both Boeing and the Federal Aviation Ad- respective aircraft to enter the correct weights of the aircraft ministration. “They were the horrific culmination of a series of ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION: Boeing Company logo is seen on a building in question into the system and reset the program.” South- faulty technical assumptions by Boeing’s engineers, a lack of in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. Congressional investigators west said the discrepancy in weight data is 75 lbs. The airline transparency on the part of Boeing’s management, and grossly in- blamed two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes on ‘repeated and se- said the temporary halt to flights would “cause some delays sufficient oversight by the FAA.” rious failures’ by Boeing and air safety regulators, according to a and/or cancellations; however, we anticipate the impact to The 239-page report released by congressional Democrats is report released on September 16, 2020. — AFP our operation to be minimal.” the culmination of an 18-month probe by the House Transportation Boeing didn’t immediately respond to a Reuters request and Infrastructure Committee into crashes of Lion Air and for comment. In January, the US Federal Aviation Adminis- Ethiopian Airlines planes that together claimed 346 lives. The latest from regulators, and undue influence by the company on FAA tration (FAA) said it was seeking to fine Southwest $3.92 in a series of withering reviews of the crashes, the document adds higher-ups, which marred oversight. million for alleged weight infractions on 21,505 flights on to scrutiny of both Boeing and the FAA as the agency manages the Much of the analysis centers on the Maneuvering Charac- 44 aircraft between May 1, 2018 and Aug. 9, 2018. The FAA process of requiring upgrades to the plane before it is cleared to teristics Augmentation System (MCAS), an anti-stall system alleged that Southwest operated the flights with incorrect fly again. The MAX has been grounded since March 2019. that has been seen as a central factor in both crashes because It is “clear that at Boeing, safety comes after cost-cutting, it activated improperly and repeatedly pointed the jets down- operational empty weights, and center of gravity or mo- profit maximization and share price pumpage,” said Paul Njoroge, ward, preventing pilots from regaining control of the planes. ment data, which is used to determine how many passen- who lost his entire family on the Ethiopian Airlines crash. “The un- The system suffered from “faulty design,” and Boeing down- gers and how much fuel can be safely carried and where grounding process of the 737 MAX planes should be halted until played the importance of the system by failing to classify MCAS cargo should be located. A February report by the Trans- the FAA recaptures its authority over Boeing.” The report flagged as a “safety-critical” mechanism that would have triggered portation Department’s Office of Inspector General said numerous failings, including pressure within Boeing to rush the tighter oversight. The Chicago-based company also concealed the FAA violated its own guidance in addressing non-com- MAX out in order to compete with an Airbus plane, a “culture of crucial information about the system, not even alerting pilots to pliance by Southwest. — Reuters concealment” in which the plane maker withheld key information its existence, the report said. — AFP Friday 37 Sports Friday, September 18, 2020 Maxwell and Carey hit hundreds as Australia clinch ODI series over England England suffered their first home ODI series defeat in five years

MANCHESTER: Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey Maxwell told Sky Sports. both hit brilliant hundreds as Australia sealed a “We thought if we could take it as deep as we dramatic series win over world champions Eng- could, myself and Alex, we might be a chance at land in the third one-day international at Old the back end.” England captain Eoin Morgan Trafford on Wednesday. said Australia were “too good for us”, adding: Australia, chasing a target of 303, were all but “To lose two wickets for no runs and then post out of the game at 73-5 when Maxwell came to over 300 is a huge positive for us. I think Jonny the crease. But an Australia record sixth-wicket Bairstow was outstanding today. stand of 212 between Carey (106) and Maxwell “Carey and Maxwell played outstandingly (108) helped give the tourists a 2-1 success as well.” England were left to rue the Carey being England suffered their first home ODI series de- caught on nine off an Archer no-ball as they feat in five years. ended a coronavirus-hit season by suffering Earlier, Jonny Bairstow had revived England their first series defeat in 18 matches across all from the depths of 0-2 with a superb hundred formats. Australia’s success was all the more that saw them to 302-7 after the opener creditable as star batsman Steve Smith missed watched from the other end as left-arm quick all three matches after suffering a head injury Mitchell Starc removed Jason Roy and Test cap- batting in the nets. tain Joe Root with the first two balls of the game. Pace bowler Woakes took the first two wick- Sam Billings (57) and Chris Woakes (53 not ets early in Australia’s chase, having captain out) also hit valuable fifties. Maxwell’s hundred Aaron Finch lbw and Marcus Stoinis caught off was just his second century in 113 matches at this a leading edge at midwicket. And Australia were level, with Carey’s innings the wicketkeeper’s 55-4 when Morgan saw his decision to bring on maiden century in his 39th ODI. Root rewarded by the occasional off-spinner But when Maxwell holed out off leg-spinner taking two wickets for three runs in six balls. MANCHESTER: Australia’s Mitchell Starc (C) scores the winning runs in the last over during the one-day Adil Rashid, Australia still needed 18 off 15 balls. Root clean bowled David Warner (24) with a international (ODI) cricket match between England and Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester. —AFP That became 10 off six when Carey, whose cen- fine delivery that angled into the left-hander be- tury came off 106 balls, was superbly caught by fore turning sharply away. He then had all- enth six, off medium-pacer Tom Curran. completing a 53-ball fifty before he became one a diving Mark Wood at third man off Jofra rounder Mitchell Marsh spooning a simple catch Morgan won the toss and batted on a fresh of three wickets for in-form leg-spinner Adam Archer. New batsman Starc, however, hit his first to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. pitch. But from the first ball, Roy edged a drive Zampa. Bairstow went to his century in style ball, from Rashid, for six and sealed victory with And when Marnus Labuschagne was run out, off Starc to backward point. Next ball, Starc had with a legside six off a 90 mph delivery from Pat two balls to spare with a four. Australia were 73-5 in the 17th over. But the big- Root lbw with an inswinger, the batsman not Cummins. Bairstow’s tenth century in 83 ODIs “It probably wasn’t the ideal situation when I hitting Maxwell, the last of Australia’s recognised bothering with a review. came from 116 balls, including 10 fours and two came in but being the last batter, I suppose I had batsmen, took advantage of a short boundary Left-hander Morgan survived the hat-trick sixes, before he was bowled by Cummins’s a bit of license to go for it right from the start,” and brought up an 84-ball hundred with his sev- before Billings gave Bairstow excellent support, slower ball. — AFP

Yet president of the Board of Control for into their barrels and into the zone.” No cheerleaders, no Cricket in India, Sourav Ganguly, expects a Slumping Indians He stymied the Tigers in his first outing against surge in viewership for the 13th edition with the them this season, tossing seven scoreless innings fans: IPL pares down matches scheduled for India’s evening primetime and striking out 11 on Aug. 15. He’s 4-1 in five ca- TV slots. turn to Bieber reer starts against Detroit with a 1.82 ERA. Bieber “They (broadcasters) are actually expecting recorded his 100th strikeout of the season in his glitz for COVID era the highest rating of IPL this season because at Detroit last start. He reached that mark in just 62 1/3 in- they believe if (people) don’t turn up in the nings, the lowest number needed to reach 100 Ks NEW DELHI: The much-delayed Indian Premier ground, they will be actually watching on their since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. League starts tomorrow without its customary television sets,” said Ganguly. NEW YORK: The Cleveland Indians need some- Whether the team’s regular catcher will be behind glitz and glamour, but the Twenty20 tournament “There is a positive in everything.” Ganguly one to stop their slide. Shane Bieber tops the list the plate in the opener of the four-game series is is expected to be a welcome relief to cricket fans said crowds could even return to the stands later of players who can do that. a big question mark. Roberto Perez sat out during the coronavirus pandemic. in the 53-day tournament, which ends on No- The Indians (26-23) carry an eight-game los- Wednesday’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Chicago The short-form extravaganza normally starts vember 10. “Because of the Covid and infection, ing streak to Detroit yestrday but they’ll have Cubs with right shoulder discomfort. in March but along with other major interna- you don’t want people to be too close to each their ace on the mound. “Today, he’s going to get rested and get treat- tional sporting events was postponed as coun- other, but very soon you will see there will be 30 Bieber was tagged with his first loss this sea- ment,” acting manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said. tries went into virus lockdowns. It was then percent people in the ground with social dis- son today despite another quality outing. He held “Hopefully he’s ready to go tomorrow. He said he’s moved to the United Arab Emirates as cases rose tancing,” the former captain said. Minnesota to three runs on five hits in seven in- available, but we need him healthy for the rest of in India. All the eight teams have been in strict, “They are properly tested and allowed to nings but the Indians’ offense produced just one the way.” bio-secure ‘bubbles’ since landing in the UAE, enter the ground. But I think that is going to hap- run. Bieber (7-1, 1.53 ERA) gave up two homers The Detroit Tigers (21-27) will go with their with the competition set to kick off when de- pen over a period of time.” Rajasthan Royals in that game, ending a streak of five consecutive prized rookie, right-hander Casey Mize, on fending champions Mumbai Indians take on batsman Robin Uthappa believes the tournament starts without allowing a long ball. Thursday. He’s still looking for his first major Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Septem- will buoy cricket-lovers after a year hit by sport- “I felt good all night,” Bieber said afterward. league victory entering his sixth start. ber 19. ing postponements and cancellations. “Most def- “It really came down to I made two mistakes, and Mize (0-1, 5.85) didn’t allow a hit for the first There will be no gala opening ceremony for initely, it is going to be really special this year, they were big, and they took advantage of them. five innings against the Chicago White Sox in his the world’s richest T20 league, and the games simply because of what we all have gone through They were on one of my better pitches — it last outing on Friday. He came out with one out in will be played behind closed doors at three ven- as a human race,” Uthappa said in a video posted wasn’t too great tonight. But they were both on the sixth after issuing a walk and a double. Both ues including Dubai and Sharjah. on the IPL’s official website.—AFP sliders, hanging sliders, just spinning right back runners ended up scoring.—Reuters 38 Friday

Sports Friday, September 18, 2020 Halep through in Rome despite sluggish start, Pliskova, Azarenka advance ‘Perfect start’ for Nadal on Rome return

ROME: Top seed Simona Halep overcame a Kenin. After winning the Western & Southern couple of hiccups in her first match at the Italian Open last month and losing the U.S. Open final Open in Rome to beat wildcard Jasmine Paolini in New York over the weekend, Azarenka had 6-3 6-4 and move into the third round on no problems switching from hardcourt to clay Wednesday. in just four days. “Different surface was defi- The 28-year-old Wimbledon champion has nitely challenging but I feel like I adapted very only lost twice this year but found herself a well,” Azarenka said. “I felt that this was a great break down in both sets before she recovered match for me to figure it out, the first match on to seal her first victory since winning the Prague clay. Earlier, In his first match in over six Open a month ago. World number two Halep, months, Rafael Nadal swept aside fellow who had skipped the US Open due to COVID- Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta on Wednesday to 19 concerns and opted to stay in Europe and reach the third round of the Italian Open. practice on the claycourts ahead of the French The nine-time Rome winner came through 6- Open, looked sluggish at the Foro Italico with 1, 6-1 against 18th-ranked Carreno Busta, a re- 14 winners offset by 15 unforced errors. cent semi-finalist at the US Open. “I was a little bit tight at the beginning, it was “It was a perfect start for me. It was solid, tough to get a rhythm in the whole match,” good shots on the forehand and backhand. I Halep told reporters. “It’s always tough in the didn’t expect to play that well,” Nadal said. first match of the tournament and she played re- “Maybe Pablo was a little bit tired from a ally well. I felt like I played very well when great tournament there in New York, but think- needed.” Halep had received a bye into the sec- ing about myself, I played a very solid match ond round but was far from her best on serve and very serious and doing a lot of things very and was broken five times in the match. well. So very happy.” However, Paolini was also let down by seven The world number two has not played since ROME: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a backhand to Venus Williams of the USA on day three of the double faults in the match and Halep capitalised winning in Acapulco at the end of February, opt- Women’s Italian Open at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. — AFP on her second serve, winning 15 of 17 points to ing to skip the US hard court tour because of take the opening set. coronavirus concerns. The 34-year-old will She switched gears late in the second to take next play either Canadian Milos Raonic or Serb things. But the things that I have to improve, the on and off not every single day since the be- the game away from the Italian, who was play- Dusan Lajovic for a place in the quarter-finals. only way to improve is to keep practicing with ginning. “I had to come back very slow. “After ing a top-10 player for only the second time in Nadal, a 12-time French Open winner, is the the right attitude and intensity and to spend two months without touching a racquet, I her career, as Halep finished the match after second seed behind world number one Novak hours on the competition matches. needed to make things step by step, trying to converting her eighth break point. Djokovic in the tune-up for the final Grand Slam “And today have been a positive start for me. avoid injuries. “And of course after the lock- Second seed Karolina Pliskova started her of the season at Roland Garros on September “This year, of course situation is different, down, the body had some issues, too. Just trying title defence with a 6-3 6-3 win over Barbora 27. But he does not believe the brutal switch but I gonna keep trying my best,” added the to do the things the best way possible to come Strycova, converting four break points and from hard to clay surface will be a disadvantage Spaniard who did not pick up a racquet during back when I felt ready.” Nadal, who has a 62-6 smashing 26 winners past her Czech compatriot. for his rivals at the French Open. lockdown. “Then I started to practice on hard record in Rome, is attempting to capture a Meanwhile, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka beat “If Roland Garros is this week, maybe yes, for a while. And then I switch to clay. record 36th ATP Masters 1000 title, which American Venus Williams 7-6(7) 6-2 to set up (but) Roland Garros is two weeks away so I “But I really do not remember when, hon- would break a tie with four-time former Rome a second-round clash with third seed Sofia don’t think so.” “Of course I have to improve estly, but quite a lot. But I have been practicing champion Djokovic. —Agencies

Adebayo’s block to deny Jayson Tatum the Murray wants Margaret Heat, Celtics ready chance to tie with 3.7 seconds left that garnered the most attention postgame. It didn’t hurt that Magic Johnson tweeted it was the best defensive Court Arena renamed for more thrills play he had ever seen in the playoffs. “I would agree with (Magic),” said Butler. “I in Game two really would. I think what Bam did to save that over anti-gay views game and to make sure that we win it by put- ting his body on the line, that really is a really LONDON: Three-time Grand Slam champion certainly have spoken up, which is a positive ORLANDO: If Game 1 was any indication, the great play.” Andy Murray has urged officials to consider re- thing. “As far as renaming the venue. I think that first Eastern Conference finals to be devoid of a “No. 1,” said Adebayo in ranking the play naming Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena over yes, it’s something the sport should consider. I No. 1 or 2 seed won’t lack for excitement. The among the highlights of his three-year career. the Australian’s anti-gay stance, saying: “I don’t don’t know who makes the final decision on that Miami Heat got the better of the Boston Celtics “Playoffs, game on the line — No. 1 play.” think her values are what tennis stands for”. but I don’t think her values are what tennis 117-114 in overtime on Tuesday to kick off the The effort by Adebayo helped Miami ensure Murray’s comments follow calls from WTA stands for. historic best-of-seven tilt. The teams will look to its ninth win in 10 playoff contests. Meanwhile, founder Billie Jean King to remove Court’s name “When you get to the Australian Open you bring similar energy as Game 2 tips off Thursday the loss has Boston trailing for the first time in a from one of the main stadiums at the Australian want to concentrate on the tennis. Court’s views night at the NBA bubble near Orlando. series in these playoffs. Open’s Melbourne Park venue and a welter of detract from that,” said Murray, who has been Game 1 featured a 14-point comeback for the “It was a great game, two great teams who criticism for her controversial views from other men’s singles runner-up five times at the Mel- Heat in the fourth quarter before Jimmy Butler play really hard,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart senior figures in the sport. bourne Grand Slam tournament. and Bam Adebayo were the heroes in overtime. “She has obviously offended and upset a lot Court, who won a record 24 Grand Slam sin- said. “They got the plays that they needed that Butler completed the game-winning three- mattered. They did their job, and it’s up to us to of people over the years,” said Murray in an in- gles titles, has become a divisive figure in tennis, point play with 12 seconds remaining, but it was terview with Pridelife.com. “I think the players and especially at the Australian Open. —AFP come back in Game 2 and do ours.”—Reuters Friday 39 Sports Friday, September 18, 2020 Leeds, Southampton crash out in second round of League Cup Hull win Yorkshire derby 9-8 on penalties LONDON: Leeds and Southampton were the Brentford narrowly missed promotion to the Premier League casualties in the second round Premier League for the first time when they lost of the League Cup on Wednesday as League the playoff final to Fulham last month, but One Hull won a Yorkshire derby 9-8 on penalties showed they do have the quality to compete at Elland Road, while Saints lost 2-0 at home to with top-flight teams despite losing top scorer Brentford. Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa. On their first appearance in the top-flight for Two goals in six minutes towards the end of 16 years, Leeds were unlucky not to hold Liver- the first half from Christian Norgaard and Josh pool to a thrilling draw at Anfield on Saturday, Dasilva handed the Bees a place in the third but Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to make 11 changes round. Everton enjoyed a far more comfortable backfired as his side were far less clinical against night as Carlo Ancelotti’s much-changed team a team two divisions below them. were still too good for League Two Salford City, Mallik Wilks’s early deflected effort gave the who are part-owned by a cast of former Man- Tigers something to hold on to and, despite chester United stars including David Beckham. handing club Spanish international forward Ro- Michael Keane was the only man to keep his drigo his first start, Leeds failed to muster a re- place in the Everton side form Sunday’s impres- sponse until deep into stoppage time when sive 1-0 win at Tottenham and opened the scor- Ezgjan Alioski fired home. ing on eight minutes. A marathon shootout followed with both Gylfi Sigurdsson then put the tie to bed with LEEDS: Leeds United’s English midfielder Ian Poveda (3R) fails to make it past the Hull defence during sides missing just one of their first eight penal- his 100th goal in English football before Moise the English League Cup second round football match between Leeds United and Hull City at Elland Road ties before Jamie Shackleton’s spot-kick was Kean added a late penalty. in Leeds, northern England. —AFP saved and Alfie Jones sent Hull into round three. Fulham and West Brom bounced back from Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl named being soundly beaten in their first matches back a strong side at St Mary’s but still got no re- in the top-flight last weekend. Fulham a 1-0 win at Ipswich. Hal Robson-Kanu and Callum Robinson. Bristol sponse from their disappointing start to the sea- Aleksandr Mitrovic was recalled to the Scott West Brom eased past League Two Harro- City were also comprehensive 4-0 winners over son at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Parker’s starting line-up and his header earned gate 3-0 thanks to goals from Rekeem Harper, Northampton. — AFP

Neymar was sent off for slapping Gon- bic remarks to Gonzalez, as reported by Messi scores twice Neymar receive zalez on the back of the head and accused Spanish media. the Spaniard of calling him a “monkey”. PSG defender Layvin Kurzawa incurred Gonzalez denies the allegation. a six-match ban for kicking out at Marseille as Barcelona win two-match ban “We know there was an exchange of left-back Jordan Amavi, who was hit with a words. But right now, there isn’t enough cer- suspension of three games after he too was BARCELONA: Lionel Messi scored twice on Wednesday as tainty to call in the players,” said Sebastien dismissed. Barcelona beat second-division Girona 3-1 in a preseason PARIS: Neymar received a two-match ban Deneux, president of the disciplinary com- Leandro Paredes was banned for two friendly. Messi helped set up Philippe Coutinho, back from Wednesday for his red card against Mar- mission. games after he was sent off for a clash with his loan at Bayern Munich, for the first goal after 21 minutes. seille as the French league announced it He said the investigation would study the fellow Argentine Dario Benedetto, who was The Argentine scored his first after 45 minutes, spinning would open an investigation into accusa- footage further to determine whether there also red-carded and will be suspended for on the edge of the penalty area and drilling a shot in off the tions of racism by the Brazil forward against was enough evidence to substantiate the Marseille’s game with Saint-Etienne on base of the far post. He scored his second, with a deflected Alvaro Gonzalez. claims of racist abuse. Thursday. shot, after 50 minutes. Angel Di Maria will also be summoned to The goal will be to establish “what was Neymar watched Wednesday’s 1-0 win He went off after an hour. Messi only returned to training the league’s next disciplinary commission actually said and what was actually heard”, at home to Metz from the stands as PSG at the start of last week after saying he wanted to leave the meeting on September 23 over claims he Deneux added, while insisting the commis- registered their first points of the season club. Messi started Barcelona’s first friendly on Saturday, spat at Marseille defender Gonzalez during sion would only rule on “objective, tangible courtesy of a stoppage-time Julian Draxler playing 45 minutes without scoring in a 3-1 victory over PSG’s 1-0 loss which ended with a mass elements.” The probe could also potentially goal, after successive opening defeats for third-tier Gimnastica Tarragona. brawl and five players sent off. interpret whether Neymar made homopho- the first time since 1984/85.—AFP Earlier on Wednesday, La Liga president Javier Tebas said he was pleased Messi had stayed at Barcelona. “Messi lishing a more attractive, fluid style of football exit to Lyon. Juve hope Pirlo, who won a World is important for our competition,” said Tebas, at an event to Juve enter uncharted deemed to be lacking under predecessors Cup, two Champions Leagues and six Italian promote the Liga sticker collection. “He is a player who was Massimiliano Allegri and Maurizio Sarri. High league titles, can transmit his winning mentality born in our competition... and hopefully he will finish his ca- waters with Pirlo expectations for a 41-year-old novice who as well as his vison of the game. reer in our league.” only received his professional coaching licence “They say of him that he is predestined, but Barcelona used 20 players in Wednesday’s game at the on Wednesday, days before the 2020-2021 Guardiola or Zidane, when they started, they club’s training centre but neither Uruguayan forward Luis ROME: As a player, Andrea Pirlo was a genius season gets under way. “It’s Juve, it’s normal to already had a little experience as a coach,” Suarez nor Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal appeared. Man- on the ball. But as a coach the former Italy and have to win. It was the case as a player, it will said former Italy teammate Fabio Cannavaro. ager Ronald Koeman said after the game he had talked to Juventus star remains an unknown quantity. also be as a coach,” warned Pirlo. His arrival at “The idea of the game, he has it, clearly. But Suarez and acknowledged Barcelona might not be able to The ‘Maestro turned Mister’ starts his reign on Juventus has sparked hopes in Italy that he can now he will have to be able to transmit it to a sell him. the Juve bench against Sampdoria on Sunday, follow footballing greats Zinedine Zidane and group,” added the coach of Chinese club “If finally he does not find a team and ends up staying, he in a debut season expected to reap a 10th Pep Guardiola’s managerial success. Guangzhou Evergrande. His first weeks as a will be one more player for the squad,” said Koeman. consecutive Italian league title and a first The former Italy and Juventus star stepped coach were devoted to dialogue with senior Barcelona are due to start their league campaign on Sep- Champions League in 25 years. in after Sarri was ejected after just one season players, reported to have been lacking under tember 26 or 27 against Villarreal. — AFP He is expected to do all this while estab- following the team’s Champions League last 16 61-year-old Sarri.— AFP Established 1961 h i il i h bi lf

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Halep through in Rome as Pliskova, Azarenka advance See Page 38

ROME: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates winning a point against Venus Williams of the USA on day three of the Women’s Italian Open at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. — AFP