THULHIJJA 9, 1442 AH MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021

16 Pages Max 45º Min 32º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 18489 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

NOTICE Few customers at livestock French shocker ‘Titane’ wins Nihonmatsu greets Kuwait’s 4 market before Eid Al-Adha Palme d’Or as Lee slips up Olympians in Kuwaiti style Eid Mubarak to all our readers! 13 15

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OPEC+ agrees on modest output boost from August Kuwait awarded higher production baseline as part of deal

VIENNA: The world’s leading oil producers Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak agreed yesterday to continue to modestly boost told public television channel Rossia 24 that the Amir greets people of Kuwait on Eid output from August, after the United Arab Emirates meeting confirmed “our desire to be constructive blocked a deal earlier this month. An OPEC+ meet- and to find a consensus”. “The pandemic is not yet ing agreed to raise output by 400,000 barrels per overcome, but we are seeing that thanks to vaccina- day (bpd) each month from August to help fuel a tion all over the world, demand for our production is global economic recovery as the pandemic eases, recovering as is the use of cars and air planes,” he the Vienna-based group said in a press statement. said. “It is therefore very important for us to fulfil The grouping will “assess market developments” our responsibilities and allow a recovery of the in December, it said. The deal also extends a deadline world economy.” on capping output from April 2022 to the end of Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and Minister of Higher 2022. Earlier in July, negotiations of OPEC+ mem- Education Mohammad Al-Faris, in a statement bers on easing production cuts became deadlocked received by KUNA after heading Kuwait’s delega- due to a row between the world’s largest oil exporter tion online, noted Kuwait’s achievement in agreeing Saudi Arabia and neighboring United Arab Emirates. to raise the country’s future baseline production to Since May, the 23-member grouping, which also 150,000 barrels per day, as part of extending the includes Russia, had raised oil output bit by bit, agreement, starting from May 2022. after slashing it more than a year ago when the He expressed his joy over the cooperation and coronavirus pandemic crushed demand. The aim understanding between all OPEC+ members for the was to return to pre-pandemic production levels, benefit of the oil markets, hailing the efforts of Saudi with the alliance still pumping 5.8 million bpd less Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz and his Russian than it was before the pandemic. counterpart Novak to reach the agreement. The sit- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah is received by HH the Crown Prince In a rare challenge to OPEC leader Saudi Arabia, uation is currently optimistic in oil markets, boosted Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah after he returned home on Saturday after a private visit the UAE rejected the proposed deal earlier this by the growing numbers of coronavirus vaccina- abroad. — KUNA month as “unjust”, leading to a stalemate. But in a tions and resumption of tourism in many countries, compromise, yesterday’s discussions agreed to adjust which created economic recovery and increased KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan yesterday relayed The Amiri Diwan, in turn, addressed Eid greet- output quotas next May for the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, demand for oil, said Faris. Eid Al-Adha greetings from HH the Amir Sheikh ings to HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and Russia and Saudi Arabia itself, meaning their actual Observers had expected a deal. “A flurry of talks Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to HH the Prime Minister. HH the Amir Sheikh cuts will be less. Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin were held on Saturday to try and close the gap,” Kuwait’s citizens and residents, wishing they Nawaf returned home on Saturday after a pri- Salman, who chairs the OPEC group, declined to say tweeted Herman Wang, an editor of S&P Global Platts, continue to live in amity, security and safety. vate visit abroad. — KUNA how the quotas were set and beneficiaries chosen, which specializes in coverage of the energy industry. saying it had been part of “consensus building”. Continued on Page 2

vast crowds that descend on Makkah News in brief Saudi stages in normal times when the ritual draws some 2.5 million pilgrims. Iran quake felt in Kuwait Since Saturday, groups of pilgrims second hajj have been performing the “tawaf” at KUWAIT: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake, occur- Makkah’s Grand Mosque, circling the ring in the southwest of Iran, was felt in Kuwait, of COVID era Kaaba, a large cubic structure draped in Kuwait National Seismic Network (KNSN) said golden-embroidered black cloth towards yesterday. Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, an official at MAKKAH: Hajj pilgrims streamed which Muslims around the world pray. KNSN, said the quake happened at 5:34 pm out of the holy city of Makkah and After that, they have been making their local time in Kuwait at a depth of 10 kilometers. into the Mina valley yesterday, way to Mina, where they will spend the The quake’s epicenter was 310 kilometers away launching the rituals of the great pil- night. Mina sits in a narrow valley sur- from Kuwait City, he added. KNSN is an entity grimage which Saudi Arabia is holding rounded by rocky mountains, some five affiliated with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific in a scaled-down form for a second kilometers from the Grand Mosque, and Research (KISR). — KUNA year. Only 60,000 fully vaccinated is transformed each year into a vast citizens and residents of the kingdom encampment for pilgrims. MINA: Pilgrims rest at their camp in Mina near the holy city of Makkah are allowed to take part, far from the Continued on Page 2 yesterday. — AFP Egyptian activist freed

CAIRO: Egyptian activist and journalist Esraa sexual assault, and their courts have imposed stiff sentence against Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Abdel-Fattah, one of the symbols of the 2011 Algeria, Morocco sentences. These measures have sparked interna- Raissouni for indecent assault. revolution, has been freed after nearly 22 months tional condemnation while critics at home say the In Algeria, which has been rocked by intermittent in pre-trial detention, lawyer Khaled Ali said intensify crackdown trials are politically motivated. Authorities, however, pro-democracy protests since 2019, press freedoms yesterday. Abdel-Fattah, 43, was arrested in Oct insist the judiciary is independent. are also being flouted, rights groups say. Prominent 2019 on charges of “spreading false news” and Today, a Moroccan court is due to deliver a ver- Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni was sentenced to “collaborating with a terrorist group”. Her on journalists dict in the trial of rights activist Omar Radi who has two years in jail in September for “inciting an detention sparked international condemnation, been in detention for almost a year on charges of unarmed gathering” and “endangering national uni- TUNIS: Authorities in both Morocco and Algeria with the US calling it “scandalous”. — AFP espionage and rape, which he denies. The case, in a ty”. “In the Algeria of 2021, a word can land you in have detained and put on trial several journalists on closed-doors trial criticized by human rights watch- prison, you have to be careful with anything you say charges ranging from harming national interests to dogs, comes on the heels of a July 10 five-year jail Continued on Page 2 Sudan inflation soars above 400%

KHARTOUM: Inflation in Sudan has jumped to a tweet said it was “concerned over more than 400 percent, state media reported Tensions over ongoing tensions” and urged that there yesterday amid popular discontent over rising be no “acts of incitement”. It also prices after a series of IMF-backed economic Aqsa incursions called for respect for the site’s status reforms. “The annual inflation reached 412.75 quo and urged Zionist, religious and percent in June, compared with 378.79 percent community leaders to urgently “calm in May,” the official news agency SUNA report- by Zionists down this explosive situation”. ed, quoting a government statement. — AFP The incident took place on the JERUSALEM: Zionist police clashed Jewish festival of Tisha B’av, marking with Muslim protestors yesterday at a the day of the year thousands of years Afghanistan recalls Pak envoy flashpoint Jerusalem Old City shrine as ago when, according to tradition, both Jews were headed there to mark a reli- Jewish temples located on the Temple KABUL: Afghanistan yesterday said it was recall- gious holiday, police said. The tensions Mount were destroyed. The holy site ing its ambassador to Islamabad and other senior and the Jewish pilgrimage to the highly lies in east Jerusalem, which the Zionist diplomats over “security threats” after the top sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque compound entity occupied and annexed in 1967, envoy’s daughter was briefly kidnapped in the were condemned by the Palestinians. but is administered by the Muslim Pakistani capital. While few details have been The Zionist entity’s rightwing Waqf organization. released about the incident, Afghanistan’s Ministry nationalist Prime Minister Naftali The Waqf condemned the “viola- of Foreign Affairs has said Silsila Alikhil was abduct- Bennett stood by the state’s decision to tions and attacks” carried out by ed for several hours on Friday by unknown individu- JERUSALEM: Members of the Zionist security forces stand guard as a group allow Jews to visit the site. The EU del- “Jewish fanatic groups, with the of Orthodox Jews enters the Al-Aqsa mosque compound yesterday. — AFP als and “severely tortured”. — AFP (See Page 7) egation to the Palestinian territories in Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Monday, July 19, 2021 Local Crown Prince congratulates Amir on return to Kuwait

Sheikh Nawaf receives phone call from Sultan of Oman

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and sen- Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- ior state officials. Sabah yesterday received a letter Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir from His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Al-Sabah received yesterday a Sabah, on the occasion of his return to phone call from Sultan of Oman Kuwait. In the letter, His Highness the Haitham Bin Tareq. Oman’s Sultan Crown Prince congratulated His congratulated His Highness the Amir Highness the Amir on his safe return on the advent of Eid Al-Adha, after the successful medical checkups expressing his best wishes to the abroad. In turn, His Highness the Amir people of both nations on this Islamic thanked His Highness the Crown occasion praying to Allah Almighty Prince for his sincere sentiments. to bestow His Highness the Amir with His Highness the Amir Sheikh everlasting health and wellness, and Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah further progress and prosperity to had returned home on Saturday after his country. His Highness the Amir a private visit abroad. Upon arrival, expressed the deepest thanks for His Highness the Amir was received by Sultan Haitham for his sincere feel- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh ings that reflected the deep-rooted Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, historical bilateral ties between both National Assembly Speaker Marzouq countries, wishing Sultan Haitham Al-Ghanem, senior Sheikhs, His everlasting health and wellness, and Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammad further progress and prosperity to Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Oman and its people under the wise Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- leadership of its Sultan. — KUNA KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is greeted upon his arrival back home. — Amiri Diwan photo

mation “harmful to public security”. The detention enabling the “incursions” of worshippers. Algeria, Morocco of Kareche, a correspondent for French-language Tensions over Newly sworn-in premier Bennett, who is from the newspaper Liberte in Tamanrasset in Algeria’s far Zionist entity’s religious right but heads a coalition intensify... south, came after he published an article on a including leftist and Islamist parties, said he had Tuareg protest movement in the area. Aqsa incursions... “instructed that the organized and safe visits by Jews Rights groups said yesterday an Algerian court to the Temple Mount continue, while maintaining Continued from Page 1 sentenced a journalist to two years in jail and sus- Continued from Page 1 order at the site”. In a second statement following the pended him from his state radio station job because Waqf and PA condemnations, Bennett stressed that or write,” said Drareni, freed in February under a of online posts. Sayed was not present for the ver- support and political cover of the (Zionist) gov- “freedom of worship on the Temple Mount will be presidential pardon for detainees of the Hirak dict on Saturday, and the court in the northwestern ernment,” it said in a statement carried by official fully preserved for Muslims as well”, pointing to the protest movement. city of Tabessa also issued an arrest warrant for Palestinian website Wafa, claiming the Zionist entity upcoming festival of Eid al-Adha. Two years ago, The head of media watchdog Reporters Without him, the CNLD prisoners’ support committee said. was “aiming for a religious war”. And the Palestinian when the Jewish and Muslim holidays coincided, vio- Borders (RSF), Christophe Deloire, is a vocal critic “The journalist Adel Sayed was sentenced in absen- Authority accused the Zionist entity of “tampering lence at the site left dozens of Palestinians wounded of the treatment of journalists in both Algeria and tia to two years in jail without parole... and took him with the security and stability of the region” by and led to seven arrests. — AFP Morocco. RSF has ranked Algeria 146 out of 180 off work at the radio station in Tabessa where he countries and territories in its 2021 World Press worked for 26 years,” CNLD said on Facebook. Freedom Index, while Morocco was at 136. “In Sayed reacted quickly with an ironic post on Algeria... and Morocco... the judicial system is being Facebook in which he said he would surrender to used to help silence journalists,” the report said. the authorities and was “honored to be imprisoned”. Human Rights Watch’s acting executive director He also “thanked” President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for the Middle East and North Africa, Eric for making his sentence possible. “I had never imag- Goldstein, sounded the alarm back in Aug 2020 ined such glory in the new Algeria: Two years in ahead of the verdict against Drareni. “Morocco and prison, an arrest warrant and a sacking after work- Algeria are neighbors and rivals... vying for diplo- ing at the radio station for 26 years,” Sayed wrote. matic supremacy in the Maghreb region, sparring The five-year prison sentence handed to over Western Sahara, and insulting each other’s Raissouni sparked rare criticism last Monday of governments daily via state-influenced media,” he Morocco by its influential ally the United States. said in a statement. The State Department said it was “disappointed” by “Algerian and Moroccan authorities might com- the ruling against Raissouni. “We believe the judicial pete in many domains, but when it comes to disliking process that led to this verdict contradicts the bold journalism and commentary, they agree,” he Moroccan system’s fundamental promise of fair tri- added. “Morocco’s modus operandi is to file a host als for individuals accused of crimes and is inconsis- of specific criminal charges, while the Algerian tent with the promise of the 2011 constitution and authorities prefer vaguely defined penal code His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s reform agenda,” offences,” Goldstein said. State Department spokesman Ned Price said. The sentence against Drareni, a symbol of the Price said Washington was also raising with struggle for press freedoms who worked for French- Rabat other journalists’ cases. RSF has said language TV5 and media watchdog Reporters Raissouni’s trial was “tainted by irregularities” and Without Borders (RSF), outraged fellow journalists. called for the release of the 49-year-old, who Drareni was arrested in Algiers in March 2020 while staged a hunger strike of more than 90 days. covering the pro-democracy Hirak movement, which Morocco’s prosecution insisted, however, that swept former strongman Abdelaziz Bouteflika from Raissouni had been “prosecuted for crimes that power in 2019. The protests continued after have nothing to do with his journalistic work”. Bouteflika’s ouster, with demonstrators demanding a Algeria and Morocco have also been tightening sweeping overhaul of a ruling system in place since the screws on foreign correspondents, making it Algeria’s 1962 independence from France. difficult for them to obtain accreditation. “This dis- Another emblematic figure of the crackdown in credits these countries and threatens to undermine MINA: Pilgrims walk in an alley at their camp in Mina near the holy city of Makkah yesterday. — AFP Algeria is Rabah Kareche, who was sentenced to their image, even some diplomatic ties,” said RSF’s one year in prison in April for spreading false infor- Deloire. — AFP no chronic illnesses. Saudi stages “I thank God that we received approval to come, even though we did not expect it because of the second hajj... small number of pilgrims,” said Abdulaziz bin Mahmoud, an 18-year-old Saudi. Saddaf Ghafour, a Continued from Page 1 40-year-old Pakistani woman travelling with her friend, was among the women making the pilgrim- Pilgrims were brought there yesterday on buses age without a male “guardian”, which was a which were only half-filled to respect social dis- requirement until recently. “It is a privilege to per- tancing rules, and authorities provided 3,000 elec- form hajj among a very limited number of pilgrims,” tric cars to transport the elderly and those with lim- she said. ited mobility. “We have applied social distancing Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than inside the camps, where there are four pilgrims in 507,000 coronavirus infections, including over each room. We have put barriers between each bed 8,000 deaths. Some 20 million vaccine doses have to apply social distancing,” tour operator Hadi been administered in the country of over 34 million Fouad told AFP. “For the common areas at the camp, people. The hajj, which typically packs large crowds like the prayer area and the cafeteria, we have into congested religious sites, is potentially a super- assigned a security company whose guards are spreader event for the virus. spread throughout the camp to make sure there is But the hajj ministry has said it is working on the no crowding.” “highest levels of health precautions” in light of the In the high point of the hajj, worshippers will pandemic and the emergence of new variants. today climb Mount Arafat. Also known as the Pilgrims are being divided into groups of just 20 “to restrict any exposure to only those 20, limiting the KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Faris takes part in the OPEC+ meeting yesterday. — KUNA “Mount of Mercy”, it is the site where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon. spread of infection”, ministry undersecretary Worshippers will undertake hours of prayers and Mohammad Al-Bijawi said. Aside from strict social plies by the end of April 2022. Benchmark oil prices Quranic recitals there. After descending the follow- distancing measures, authorities have introduced a OPEC+ agrees on rebounded as a result and have reached two-and-a- ing day, they will gather pebbles and perform the “smart hajj card” to allow contact-free access to half-year highs. The main international oil contracts symbolic “stoning of the devil”. camps, hotels and the buses to ferry pilgrims modest output... have been trading around $75 per barrel. The hajj, usually one of the world’s largest annual around religious sites. Economic rivalry was at the heart of the feud religious gatherings, is one of the five pillars of The hajj went ahead last year on the smallest scale between OPEC members as the Gulf states try to Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with in modern history. Authorities initially said that only Continued from Page 1 cash in on their vast oil reserves as they face the the means at least once in their lives. This year’s pil- 1,000 pilgrims would be allowed, although local beginning of the end of the oil era. Disagreements media said up to 10,000 eventually took part. “Public Oil prices - which had already been sliding between Saudi Arabia and UAE are usually grimage is larger than the pared-down version staged in 2020 but is drastically smaller than in nor- health teams are monitoring the health status of pil- owing to concerns about the global economy - resolved behind palace walls and rarely spill into grims around the clock upon their arrival in Makkah,” plummeted in April 2020 as coronavirus spread the open. Ministers from OPEC+ countries have mal times, creating resentment among Muslims said Sari Asiri, director of the hajj and umrah depart- around the world and battered global consumption, gathered frequently since the spread of the new abroad who are barred once again. Participants transport and supply chains. coronavirus to assess the market with the next were chosen from more than 558,000 applicants ment at the health ministry, of this year’s precautions. OPEC+ last year decided to withdraw 9.7 million meeting scheduled for Sept 1, according to yester- through an online vetting system, with the event Anyone found to be infected would be taken to isola- bpd from the market and to gradually restore sup- day’s statement. — KUNA confined to fully vaccinated adults aged 18-65 with tion facilities, he added. — AFP Established 1961 3 Local Monday, July 19, 2021 No COVID-19 vaccine without appointment, health ministry says

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health urged people in In my view Kuwait yesterday to make sure that they arrive to take their COVID-19 vaccine only after they receive a text message detailing the time and place of their Two Thousand Dinars: vaccination. The ministry statement came in response to rumors which circulated on social A Lamentable Legacy media yesterday and claimed that people could get vaccinated without a prior appointment at certain By Nejoud Al-Yagout vaccination centers yesterday. Meanwhile, Kuwait began yesterday offering vaccines to children aged 12-15 ahead of the start of irst, we heard that residents above the age of 60 the school year in September. In the meantime, the would not be allowed to renew their residencies if ministry announced that COVID-19 vaccination Fthey did not hold a college degree. Then, after centers will remain open during the Eid Al-Adha outrage on social media (by locals, to be sure, since any holiday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Furthermore, it outrage by a resident would lead to arrest or deporta- noted that around 160,000 residents were vaccinat- tion), there was talk that the rule may not be imple- ed against COVID-19 in field vaccination campaigns mented; instead, we heard that those who came up with the decree would, at least, reconsider the age launched around Kuwait recently. bracket, perhaps hiking it up to residents over 70 years Kuwait had reported 1,226 new cases and 18 deaths of age (which in and of itself is lamentable). on Saturday, which put total infections and deaths at Then, it was back again to 60 a few months ago, but 384,573 and 2,211 respectively. Total active cases with a proposal to fine residents annually (that is when reached 16,855 as of Saturday, while 330 patients talk of KD 2,000 arose). This latter proposal brewed were receiving treatment in intensive care units, min- for a while until it was announced only recently - in the istry spokesperson Dr Abdallah Al-Sanad said. Total KUWAIT: People queue up for COVID-19 vaccine doses at a vaccination center in Kuwait yesterday. midst of a pandemic, in the throes of increased unem- recoveries stood at 365,507 as of Saturday when 1,515 —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat ployment and suicides and drug taking and crimes, and new recoveries were announced. in the whirlwind of murders and corruption - that the Public Authority of Manpower would “allow” residents above the age of 60 who do not hold university degrees to renew their residency provided they pay an annual fee of KD 2,000; as though by making it look like a favor, a permission granted, so to speak, the harsh brutality of the cost of remaining in Kuwait would seem less pronounced, brushed under the rug. Though already considered official by all of us who read about it in the news, it appears that the “decision” needs a couple more weeks, perhaps, to be considered bureaucratically official, unless a person with strings will use his position of power to take a stand against it. The likelihood of such a selfless act transpiring is well, let’s just say, unlikely. Highly unlikely. Although many residents above 60 who have grad- uated from college may have breathed a collective, perhaps even audible, sigh of relief, many others will be in tears, for they have parents and siblings aged 60 and above who live with or near them and who do not hold college degrees, and they themselves, holders of col- lege degrees, will not be able to afford such a fee to keep the family together. And what about us locals? We cannot ignore the two-thousand-dinar elephant in the room. Many of us who work in the public or private sector, with or without university degrees, or even with Master’s degrees and PhDs, would not ourselves be able (or willing) to pay such a lofty fee. Two. Thousand. Dinars. Imagine. And if we think this will not affect us, we are wrong. “They” are us! They, who we consider expatriates and foreigners and residents are us. We are them. We are one in this society. All of us. Each one of us, a thread of the same fabric, interwoven. What hurts us hurts them and vice versa. Let this register for all of us. Again and again and again. There are residents in their sixties who were born here and have lived here their entire lives; residents who do not want to go “home” because their “home” is here, in Kuwait, where they belong, with us. Kuwait is the land in which they want to be buried, in which their parents were buried. After all their years of service to Indian Doctors Forum our country, we are now showing them the door under the pretext of making rules we know people cannot releases health implement, all so that residents can leave of their own accord. But they will not leave of their own accord. Ever. They will leave because neither they nor their guide on COVID-19 university-degree-holding families were able to pay By Sajeev K Peter such an outrageous sum; they will leave because they are tired of living in a country that does not want them KUWAIT: Indian Doctors Forum, Kuwait here. So many have left already; others are waiting for released its annual ‘Health Guide 2021’ titled the right moment to leave. Others are waiting anxiously to see whether things will get better (or get worse). ‘COVID-19 Explained’ at an event organized by We cannot stay silent. We cannot. And the last thing the Indian Embassy, Kuwait on Saturday. Indian residents need is sympathy; if we are to feel sorry for Ambassador Sibi George released the health anyone, we should feel sorry for ourselves for who we guide. The launch event was also attended by have become. Instead of patronizing them with our Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary sympathy, residents should be applauded for their Mohammad Al-Kashti, Kuwait Medical resilience, their bravery, and their contribution. They Association President Dr Ahmad Thuwaini Al- KUWAIT: Indian Ambassador Sibi George, Mohammad Al-Kashti, Dr Ahmad Thuwaini Al-Eneizi, Dr should be rewarded; they should be given more bene- Eneizi; KIMS Secretary General Dr Fawaz Al- Fawaz Al-Refaee, Dr Amir Ahmed and senior doctors during the launch of the ‘Indian Doctors Forum fits as time elapses, not less. We have a lot to learn from Refaee and Indian Doctors’ Forum President Dr them. Even while many are treated as second-class Amir Ahmed, in addition to several senior doctors Health Guide 2021’ at the Indian Embassy on Saturday. members of the community, they stay, they work, and and Indian community representatives. they support their families. This rhetoric of residents “It is a rich repository of invaluable information worked hard to compile this health guide.” He said government and people of the friendly State of profiting from us is immature and arrogant; we must on all that we need to know about COVID-19 and the Indian Doctors Forum team is always in the Kuwait for all the kind assistance. My special remember they are doing us a favor, a huge one, by all the associated nuances explained lucidly by our forefront of the efforts of the embassy in ensuring thanks to all the concerned authorities who worked being here as well. We are in this together; and in a medical experts in plain, simple language. You the welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait. tirelessly, even during the holy month of Ramadan healthy community, that is how things work; we give would also be happy to note that the health guide is Talking about Kuwait’s invaluable support to and the day of Eid Al-Fitr, to ensure continuous and we take; we take and we give. being made available free of cost,” the ambassador India when the country faced a difficult situation flow of the much-needed medical oxygen from Some residents may still find a way to stay here, in said while releasing the guide. during the second wave of the pandemic with a Kuwait to India through successful air-sea bridge their home. But with this new “fine,” there is no way George said the embassy was very delighted to severe shortage of medical oxygen, the ambassa- operations,” he said. they can save money or help their families. And how partner again with Indian Doctors Forum and be dor said Kuwait was one of the major suppliers of “The Indian embassy will organize a virtual can we sleep at night knowing we are creating obsta- cles for residents to send money back home? How can part of an initiative that will be highly useful for medical assistance to India. “On behalf of the India event on July 29 to express gratitude to all those we sleep at night knowing that there is no money to everyone. Congratulating the Indian Doctors Forum government and the 1.3 billion people of the coun- who helped India overcome the second wave,” pay for a parent’s kidney transplant or a relative’s team, he said, “the entire editorial team who have try, I extend my sincere gratitude to the leadership, he stated. tumor removal or a child’s education because the mon- ey is being paid to an oil-rich country instead? What principles are we building our foundation on? These are certainly not our principles. And as long as we hold on to these pseudo-principles, we will continue to cre- Qurain warehouse fire under control ate laws which protect us and ostracize others, laws which are far, far away from the values of our heritage, founded on hospitality and inclusivity. Aren’t we tired of this us vs them attitude? Do we really want a Kuwait for Kuwaitis? Is this our legacy? Can’t we remember who we are? It’s done. All we can do now is lament and ensure we resurrect a new Kuwait based on the ideals of our welcoming forefathers who never flinched at demo- graphics. All we can do now is remember that what goes around comes around. This is a law. It is not a doomsday prophecy, but a warning, an invitation to recalibrate, a chance, an opportunity, to restore the karmic balance. This is our chance to wake up and ask ourselves: Is this our legacy? And we should ask ourselves this question every night. That way, we can rectify the situation before karma knocks on our door. Loudly and fiercely. Two thousand dinars. Let’s remember that num- ber. For it may come back to haunt those of us who KUWAIT: Firemen battled a blaze that gutted a warehouse in Qurain noting that firemen from three different fire stations dealt with the stayed silent, those of us who spoke out for justice yesterday morning. Wood and flammable liquids were kept in the blaze. No injuries were reported in the incident as an investigation only when it came to our rights and, often, at the warehouse located in the area’s markets zone, Kuwait Fire Force said, was opened, KFF added. expense of others. 4 Established 1961 Local Monday, July 19, 2021

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf Fewer customers than usual THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961 Founder and Publisher at livestock market before Eid YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. Email: [email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Pakistan Ambassador sends Eid greetings KUWAIT: Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait Syed Sajjad Haider released the KUWAIT: A vendor waits for customers at a sheep market in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh yesterday. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh following statement on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha: “On the auspicious By Ben Garcia occasion of Eid Al-Adha, I extend warm greetings to KUWAIT: For the second year, Muslims around the entire Kuwaiti leadership, world will celebrate Eid Al-Adha amid the coron- government and the broth- Ambassador of avirus pandemic. The Feast of the Sacrifice will again erly people of the State of be a low-key event for many, as the world struggles to Pakistan to Kuwait Kuwait. I also take this contain the virus. “In normal circumstances, we Syed Sajjad Haider opportunity to congratu- would’ve had many customers by now. But customers late Muslims all over the are few because of the pandemic; last year it was the world on Eid Al-Adha. I same,” Sunu, a Bangladeshi livestock vendor, told extend my warm greetings to all my fellow country- Kuwait Times. men residing in Kuwait and appreciate their role in Kuwait Times visited the livestock market yesterday the development of Kuwait. to observe preparations and inquire whether prices “We celebrate this special occasion as “Sunat-e- have been affected by the pandemic. “Prices are the Ibrahimi” in remembrance of the obedience of Hazrat same as last year, but we have more choice this time,” Ibrahim (AS) and the reverence of Hazrat Ismael said Sunu, who has been working at the livestock mar- (AS), who set an extraordinary example of sacrifice ket for the past seven years. The livestock market is and selflessness. Allah Almighty tested His chosen located in Rai near the Friday Market. servants by putting them to various challenges. These “Sheep from Romania are cheaper because they are great personalities have been fully successful in the smaller compared to Kuwaiti, Iranian and Jordanian tests, giving us a lesson that the key to success is to breeds,” he said. Jordanian sheep have a price tag of be steadfast in the face of trials and difficulties and to KD 120, Kuwaiti sheep are sold for KD 150 to KD 200, be ever ready to make any sacrifice. while Romanian sheep are available for KD 60 only. “This happy occasion will bring a lot of happiness The price of Australian sheep is between KD 60 and and accomplishments in our lives. We must not forget the KD 80, depending on the size, and there are sheep deserving people while celebrating the joyful moments. from Syria and Saudi Arabia as well. Currently, the world is faced with serious challenge of The vendor said livestock prices normally go up at COVID-19 pandemic and human beings all over the the time of Eid. “Today, barely a few people came to world are suffering due to this pandemic. United, we can purchase the sheep. Probably tomorrow we will have a defeat this challenge with resolve and commitment. bigger crowd of customers. Prices usually go up by KD “On this special occasion we reaffirm our resolve 5 to KD 15 per head when demand is high,” Sunu said. to abide by our religious and national values of Despite the pandemic, there haven’t been any peace, prosperity, compassion, commitment to the shortage of stocks. “We have enough stocks. There welfare of society, spirit of sacrifice and universal are very few activities, no company celebrations and brotherhood. By the virtue of this blessed day, we no parties, so we mostly rely on individual customers pray to Allah Almighty that peace and harmony pre- only,” he said. Children’s entertainment venues are still vails in our region as well as at global level. May Allah closed, while all summer activities and camps have guide us to the peace and prosperity.” been banned.

KUWAIT: Camels at the livestock market as people visit to buy sacrificial animal ahead of the Eid Al- Adha in Kuwait on Saturday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat International MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021 Police fire rubber bullets at protesters Tigray war spills into neighboring Oromia, Afar regions Page 6 denouncing Thai PM Page 7

SCHULD: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2ndR) and Rhineland-Palatinate State Premier Malu Dreyer (R) talk to residents during their visit in the flood-ravaged village of Schuld near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate state, western Germany, yesterday. —AFP Europe flood death toll tops 180 Merkel sees ‘surreal’ wreckage, Belgium death toll jumps to 27

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday that in dangerous conditions. Police deployed speedboats and than 300 million euros ($354 million) in emergency aid Divers, armoured vehicles she was horrified by the “surreal” devastation in the divers to recover bodies swept away in the torrents. for people who lost homes and businesses, with the cab- The scale of the flood impact was gradually becom- flood-ravaged region of Germany, as the toll in western Historic heavy rainfall also battered Switzerland, inet to approve a much larger reconstruction package ing clear in Germany, with damaged buildings being Europe reached at least 184 people dead with dozens Luxembourg and the Netherlands. As the waters began on Wednesday. The disaster has increasingly taken on assessed, some of which will have to be demolished, and still missing. Wearing hiking boots and offering pandem- to recede in Rhineland-Palatinate and neighbouring political overtones in Germany, which heads to the polls efforts under way to restore gas, electricity and tele- ic-safe fist bumps to rescue workers, the veteran leader North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), concern shifted south on September 26 for a general election that will mark phone services. walked through the village of Schuld in Rhineland- to Germany’s Upper Bavaria region, where incessant the end of Merkel’s 16 years in power. With experts say- In some areas, soldiers used armoured vehicles to clear Palatinate state, one of the two hardest-hit regions in rains inundated basements and led rivers and creeks late ing climate change is making extreme weather events the debris clogging streets. Local authorities in NRW and western Germany. Saturday to burst their banks. more likely, candidates vying to succeed her have called Rhineland-Palatinate said dozens of people remain unac- Merkel, who is retiring from politics after One person died in Berchtesgadener Land, a spokes- for more climate action. counted for across both states. They have stressed, how- September’s elections, listened to the accounts of resi- woman for the Bavarian district told AFP. In the eastern Armin Laschet, the premier of hard-hit North-Rhine ever, that disruption to communication networks made a dents where the swollen Ahr river swept away houses state of Saxony, authorities reported a “significant risk Westphalia (NRW) state and frontrunner in the race, precise assessment difficult, and the real number of miss- and left debris piled high in the streets. “It is a surreal, situation” in several villages. In Austria, emergency said efforts to tackle global warming should be “speed- ing could be lower. “I’ve lived here my whole life, I was eerie situation,” a visibly shaken Merkel told reporters, workers in the Salzburg and Tyrol regions were on high ed up”. But Laschet scored an own goal Saturday when born here, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” said as she pledged quick aid to rebuild. “It is shocking — I alert for flooding. The scenic town centre of Hallein was he was filmed laughing in the devastated town of Gregor Degen, a baker in the devastated spa town of Bad can almost say that the German language doesn’t have under water. Pope Francis expressed his “nearness” to Erftstadt in NRW, where a landslide was triggered by Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, near Schuld. words for the destruction that’s been wreaked.” the people of the stricken regions. “May the Lord wel- the floods. In the footage, Laschet could be seen chat- Across the border in Belgium, the death toll jumped to At least 157 people have died since Wednesday in come the deceased and comfort their loved ones, may he ting and joking in the background as President Frank- 27 with many people still missing. European Commission Germany’s worst flooding in living memory, police said. sustain the efforts of everyone who are helping those Walter Steinmeier gave a statement expressing his President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister In Rhineland-Palatinate state alone , authorities reported who have suffered serious damage,” he said yesterday. sympathies to grieving families. “Laschet laughs while Alexander de Croo visited the flooded areas of Rochefort 110 dead and 670 injured. At least 27 people have lost the country cries,” wrote the top-selling Bild daily. and Pepinster together on Saturday. “Europe is with you,” their lives in neighbouring Belgium. Rescue crews were ‘Sorry’ for laughing Laschet later apologised on Twitter for the “inappropri- von der Leyen tweeted afterwards. “We are with you in sifting through rubble to find victims and survivors, often German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz pledged more ate” moment. mourning and we will be with you in rebuilding.” —AFP

debris. She was shouting ‘save me, save me’,” Firoz Khan, 13 dead as petrol 23 dead in landslide, who was caught up in the downpour in Chembur, told AFP. “Her body was trapped in the mud. Somehow, I man- aged to pull her out. She had injuries in her legs. I nar- tanker explodes wall collapse in rowly survived this collapse.” Another resident, Manda Gautam Pradhan, said she had seen “rocks and mud... gushing down the hill along with the rainwater”. In the in Kenya India monsoon rains suburb of Vikhroli in the city’s northeast, six people were NAIROBI: Thirteen people were killed and others MUMBAI: At least 23 people were killed after several killed after a landslide hit five homes early Sunday, the seriously burned when a “huge fireball” engulfed a homes were crushed by a collapsed wall and a landslide NDRF added. crowd in Kenya as they siphoned fuel from an over- triggered by heavy monsoon rains in India’s financial cap- Building collapses are common during India’s June- turned petrol truck that ignited without warning. ital Mumbai, authorities said yesterday. September monsoon season, with old and rickety struc- Police said yesterday the death toll could rise, with Rainwater also inundated a water purification complex, tures buckling under days of non-stop rain. Last month, investigators trying to account for the missing, and disrupting supply “in most of the parts of Mumbai”, a 12 people were killed when a building collapsed in a Mumbai slum. And last September, 39 people died when charred bones found among the twisted wreckage of KISUMU: People stand next to a burnt out petrol tanker megacity of 20 million people, civic authorities said. A the fuel tanker. falling tree demolished a wall in the eastern suburb of a three-storey apartment block collapsed in Bhiwandi that burst into flames when it overturned in western near the financial capital. Mumbai has been hit by down- The truck collided with another vehicle and turned Kenya, while a crowd thronged to collect the spilling fuel, Chembur during yesterday’s early hours, burying nearby over late Saturday near Malanga, some 315 kilometres residents, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) pours since Saturday, with local transport services affect- on the busy highway between Kisumu and the border ed. The city’s civic body did not say when the water sup- (195 miles) northwest of Nairobi, on the busy highway with Uganda, yesterday. —AFP said. Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the rub- between Kisumu and the border with Uganda. ble, it added, with rescue operations ongoing. “In the adja- ply was expected to be restored, but advised residents to Onlookers rushed to the crash site with jerrycans cent house, I saw a small girl who was trapped in the boil the liquid before using it. —AFP to collect the leaking fuel but shortly after the truck not survive,” Otieno said from his hospital bed. exploded, consuming the crowd in a terrible inferno. in the capital Monrovia. Coastguards have pulled 11 “We were woken up by a very loud blast. When I ‘Burned with their motorbikes’ 15 missing people from the water, he said. A coastguard offi- rushed out, I saw a huge fireball and people were Charles Chacha, a local police chief in Siaya cial also told the press conference that 15 to 17 screaming,” said nearby resident Jack Odhiambo. County where the accident occurred, said 24 people after ship sinks people were still believed to be missing. Rescue Those on the scene first managed to getaway were in hospital with serious burns. Earlier, he said operations began late Saturday afternoon after the safely with some fuel, said witness Magdalene children were among those injured. Investigators were in Liberia authorities received a distress signal from a vessel Adhiambo. But others went back for a second round, still combing the charred wreckage and fear the death named Niko Ivanka. and the crowd grew larger as more and more people toll could climb. Nagbe, the maritime commissioner, said that the “The death toll we have as of now is still 13. These MONROVIA: Between 15 and 17 people are miss- arrived hoping to get lucky. “That’s when the fire ship had left Monrovia on Saturday morning and are bodies at the mortuary,” Chacha said. “However, ing after a vessel sank off the coast of Liberia, the started,” she said. was heading for the central port city of Buchanan Wycliffe Otieno said he had just started filling his we have people who are unaccounted for. We will West African state’s government and coastguard when it began to take on water. Early reports of the jerrycan when the slick around him ignited. “I was able require a proper examination to determine if there said yesterday. Search and rescue operations are incident suggested that the vessel sank in the to run to safety... I just don’t know how lucky I was, were people burnt completely at the scene, where ongoing, Liberia’s Maritime Authority southeast of the country. —AFP because I have been told the people we were with did bones were found.” —AFP Commissioner Eugene Lenn Nagbe told reporters

A family member told AFP that visi- tions of a ceasefire deal agreed by rebel bombardment. Bordering Turkey, the Syria regime tors had gathered to congratulate a male backer Turkey and government ally northwestern Idlib region is home to relative on getting married when the Russia in March 2020 to stem a regime around three million people, more than shelling struck their home. Earlier in the offensive on the jihadist-dominated half displaced by fighting in other parts fire kills 7 day, rockets fired by pro-government stronghold. of war-torn Syria. Many rely on humani- forces killed six civilians in the village of An AFP photographer in Ehsim saw tarian aid to survive. EHSIM: Syrian regime artillery fire killed Sarja, including three children and a res- rescue workers under floodlights cut The region is dominated by Syria’s seven civilians including three children in cue worker, meaning at least 13 were through a collapsed ceiling to retrieve former Al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir the country’s last major rebel bastion of killed in total in Idlib on Saturday. The the body of a woman. Bundling her body al-Sham, but other rebel groups are also Idlib, a Britain-based war monitor said shelling in Ehsim came hours after up in a blanket, they then gently lowered present. Syria’s war has killed around yesterday. The shelling hit in the village President Bashar al-Assad took the oath it down a ladder and carried it into an half a million people and forced millions of Ehsim late Saturday, in the south of of office for a fourth term, pledging to ambulance. more to flee their homes since starting in EHSIM: Members of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) the Idlib region, the Syrian Observatory “liberate” areas still beyond government The Observatory said she was among 2011 with the brutal repression of anti- remove the body of a woman from the rubble of a house hit for Human Rights said. control. The deaths are the latest viola- four women and three girls killed in the government protests. —AFP by regime artillery fire in the village of Ehsim. —AFP 6 Established 1961 International Monday, July 19, 2021 South Africa president rallies base as riot cleanup goes on Violence will damage S Africa’s reputation and set back economic progress

SOWETO: South African President Cyril victimising their black counterparts. Ramaphosa joined post-riot clean-up efforts yes- terday as his government warned against vigilan- ‘We are still scared’ tism and sought to avert racial conflict following the “If we hear that people are being racially profiled unrest. The country was gripped by more than a at roadblocks set up in the area... (people) including week of chaos that claimed more than 200 lives as police, are being intimidated, violated and in looters ransacked shopping centres and unidentified extreme cases people are being beaten up, and groups torched key industrial infrastructure and their cars are searched and torched (this) is simply blocked trade routes. criminal and won’t be tolerated,” he said in a state- The violence was the worst in post-apartheid ment late Saturday. South Africa and erupted after former president A taskforce of 10 detectives would be deployed Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail for to the area to investigate the deaths of 20 people snubbing a corruption inquiry. His trial for graft in a during the mayhem, he added. Of the 212 people separate case is due to resume today. reported killed nationwide, some were shot and “We all admit there were lapses... we will gather others died in looting stampedes. ourselves and do a proper review,” Ramaphosa told Alongside the human and economic toll, offi- a crowd outside a mall in the Soweto township. cials closed several beaches around Durban “People want to defend what we have in the form of warning of possible contamination after a chemi- democracy, our constitution and economy.” cal spill at a factory set ablaze during the may- Ramaphosa is under mounting pressure as only one hem. Ramaphosa will visit malls in Soweto town- of the suspected masterminds of what officials have ship, the most populous part of Gauteng called an attempted “insurrection”, which caused an Province-the country’s economic powerhouse- estimated $1 billion of damage, has been arrested. which also saw rioting and looting, to support When asked if he would shake up his ministers business owners with clean-up efforts. responsible for security he said: “We are reviewing “The leadership of the (ruling) African National the situation, yes.” Access to basic necessities like Congress (ANC) will assess the damage caused by DURBAN: Community members of Inanda community begin cleaning up the looted Dube Village Mall in food has become a pressing issue in the areas the recent looting and vandalism and to engage Durban yesterday. After the area was severely affected for several days by looting and unrest, local resi- affected by looting, arson and violence as many communities and various stakeholders in the dents are trying to return to normality. —AFP stores were destroyed while others remain closed. rebuilding and reconstruction programme,” the par- Many in the worst-hit KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) ty said in a statement. province are now going hungry. At a branch of Yesterday marks Mandela Day, in honour of accounts for 7 percent of GDP, worry that the vio- Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the Grace family church in Durban, trestle tables democratic South Africa’s first president Nelson lence will damage South Africa’s reputation and set AFP. “The world is looking at us with those (nega- were piled high with donated fresh vegetables Mandela, and would be a day of jubilation for the back economic progress. Traffic was back to normal tive) eyes, but we want to tell them that South and bread to prepare food parcels for those in ANC under normal circumstances. Pope Francis along a main highway linking the country’s north to Africa has a lot of good people and we have a lot need of food. Police Minister Bheki Cele has prayed for South Africa yesterday, saying that vio- the Port of Durban which had been closed for days. of good stories to tell,” said Siyanda Nxumalo, a warned against “vigilante acts” after residents of lence had rocked the country “already hit by health But businesses in Durban are seeking security headteacher in Durban, who helped to clear up the Phoenix outside Durban, a township of mostly and economic challenges because of the pandemic”. assurances. “In as much as we are over the hurdle Dube Village Mall outside Durban following the Indian-origin South Africans, were accused of Many in industry, particularly tourism which now, we are still scared,” Zanele Khomo of the unrest. —AFP

he was staying when contacted by COVID tracing UK govt in COVID officials from the National Health Service (NHS). Sunak acknowledged the outcry provoked by Downing Street’s initial statement, after millions of Invisible wounds: confusion ahead schoolchildren and workers were forced to stay home under the tracing rules. “Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restric- France faces up of ‘freedom day’ tive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren’t LONDON: The UK government was thrown into the same for everyone is wrong,” he tweeted. “To to war trauma turmoil yesterday by its own rules on COVID self- that end I’ll be self isolating as normal and not tak- isolation just as it controversially prepares to ditch ing part in the pilot.” The development came just as PARIS: Christophe came close to death in pandemic curbs in England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government prepares to ditch most pan- Afghanistan, Raphael saw one body bag after another Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak will be demic restrictions in England today, despite daily in the Sahel region of Africa, while Omar does not working remotely in the week ahead after they came infection rates now topping 50,000 — behind only even want to talk about what he experienced on the into contact with a person infected with COVID, LONDON: File photo shows Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Indonesia and Brazil. battlefield. Bit by bit, the trauma settled in, over the Downing Street said. Johnson gives an update on relaxing restrictions Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed on imposed on the country during the COVID-19 pandemic course of many years. Labour party, said the government was in “chaos” Saturday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and at a virtual press conference inside the Downing Street The French military recognises the problem of after sending mixed messages about what it expects was now self-isolating for 10 days. He had a Briefing Room. —AFP Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for its troops, the public to do from today. “Yet again the “lengthy” meeting with Johnson on Friday, according among the busiest and most exposed in the Western Conservatives fixed the rules to benefit themselves to the Sunday Times, and also appeared alongside world in terms of active deployments in deadly envi- and only backtracked when they were found out,” he ronments. But it is seeking to ease the trauma other ministers in parliament last week. The prime thanks to school summer holidays starting this week said. “They robbed the bank, got caught and have and the onset of hotter weather. But he conceded endured by thousands of them with new techniques minister nearly died of COVID last year. now offered to give the money back.” that the pandemic’s current wave may not peak until also practised by Western allies including Canada and Initially, a Downing Street spokesperson said both Johnson and Sunak were taking part in a gov- September. the United States. ‘Pingdemic’ ernment pilot that enables them to continue working Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s health spokesman, Omar, 35, a former navy commando, has battled The government insists that with two-thirds of from their offices, while self-isolating outside of said the government was being “reckless” with its the adult population now fully vaccinated, the risk PTSD for a decade, causing his relationship to break work. Yet in an update after a storm of anger over plans for today, echoing many scientists who say the can be managed despite rising infections, and up and repeated hospitalisation after deployment in the announcement, the spokesperson reversed posi- reopening endangers global health. “We are against Monday has been dubbed “freedom day” by many Guiana in 2012 and then the experience in tion and said neither official was participating in the opening up without any precautions in place,” UK media. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Afghanistan that he still refuses to discuss. Youssef, pilot, but would conduct business remotely. Ashworth told the BBC, attacking in particular the BBC television it was still the “logical moment” to 44, a former military intelligence agent, took part in Johnson will remain at the prime minister’s coun- government’s plan to drop a mandate for wearing replace legal diktats with “personal judgement”, numerous operations that left him sometimes violent, try retreat at Chequers northwest of London, where masks. —AFP sometimes filled with fear. “An unpleasant force surges up in you, your family abandons you, people don’t really understand,” he told AFP. Some 2,800 declared victory in late November after government French soldiers were found to be suffering from psy- Tigray war spills forces took the Tigray capital Mekele, but TPLF lead- chological injuries from 2010 to 2019, five times more ers remained on the run and fighting continued. than the number with physical injuries. Last month the war took a stunning turn when pro- In the ground army alone, 70 percent of the 1,000 into neighboring TPLF forces retook Mekele, Abiy declared a unilateral injured servicemen on long-term sick leave suffer ceasefire and the army mostly pulled out of Tigray. from PTSD. The problem has become all the more Oromia, Afar regions But after rebel leaders launched a new offensive acute with France’s almost decade-long deployment intended to regain control of western and southern in the Sahel region of Africa to fight jihadists, where Tigray — contested areas that have been occupied by ADDIS ABABA: Rebels in Ethiopia’s war-hit Tigray 50 of its troops have been killed and some 5,000 fighters from Amhara region, which borders Tigray to have carried out operations against pro-government the south — Abiy vowed to “repel” them. The govern- French troops are operating. For victims such as troops in neighboring Afar region, a spokesman said ment has since mobilised forces from regions that had Omar and Youssef, who like other sources asked for yesterday, opening a new front in the widening eight- previously been untouched by the conflict, including their surnames not to be disclosed, conventional month conflict. Oromia. A spokesman for Afar region did not respond sports rehabilitation and therapy had little effect. To The “very limited action” targeted special forces to requests for comment yesterday. better support them, the French armed forces are now and militia fighters from Oromia region, Ethiopia’s ARKAY: Members of the Amhara militia gather in the experimenting with a new approach, already success- largest, who were massing along the Tigray-Afar bor- ‘Ethiopia’s cancer’ village of Adi Arkay, 180 kilometers northeast from the fully applied in Canada, Israel and the United States der, the rebel spokesman, Getachew Reda, told AFP. A state media report published Saturday night city of Gondar, Ethiopia. —AFP to offer a step-by-step re-emergence into daily life “We took those actions to ensure those forces are accused the TPLF, which the government deems a ter- and help planning a future. sent back to Oromia, and we have managed to do rorist organisation, of blocking aid into Tigray via Afar TPLF operations. “We have also conducted successful that,” Getachew said, adding that there were some using “heavy shelling” and “heavy artillery.” operations in Wag Hemra, which is in Amhara region, casualties but he could not provide figures. “Rejecting the ceasefire by the federal government, No white coats and even as we speak some units are operating in “Our action was very limited to dispersing the TPLF is trying hard to expand the conflict into Afar This is the principle behind Athos House, a resi- between Mai Tsebri (in western Tigray) and adjoining peasant militia from Oromia that was mostly press- region,” the Ethiopian News Agency report said. dence run by the military in Toulon in the south of Amhara territory,” he said. ganged into fighting the useless war.” Ethiopian Getachew denied any aid delivery had been disrupted. France which looks after some 15 veterans who have In a statement posted on Twitter yesterday, Abiy Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray “Where the fighting happened, there is no major stared death all too closely in the eye. Here, there are referred to the TPLF “junta” as “Ethiopia’s cancer”. “As last November to detain and disarm leaders of the highway that is being used for aid purposes,” he said. no white coats or hospital beds but sporting activi- the saying goes, a Satan which stays long cannot be region’s then-ruling party, the Tigray People’s Getachew confirmed yesterday that rebel units ties, communal meals, painting, DIY and vocational removed immediately,” he said. “It is inevitable that it activities to learn new skills for jobs after the military. Liberation Front (TPLF). were also active in northern Amhara region, where last He said the move came in response to TPLF attacks resists in one way or another. But surely, the junta will The veterans are free to come and go as they week AFP journalists saw thousands of militia fighters on federal army camps. The 2019 Nobel Peace laureate be removed so that it will not grow again.” —AFP please. “They can find peace among themselves,” said mobilising in border towns in advance of planned anti- Luc de Coligny, a former French marine who leads the residence. A similar one can also be found outside the much higher, in part because of low testing rates. AFP that “red alert” meant that states should “fully southwestern city of Bordeaux. Nigeria puts six Last week, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control deploy all COVID-19 prevention and containment “We are aspiring to something other than therapy said it had detected the highly contagious Delta vari- measures in place” and intensify “testing, identification, for those affected,” said doctor Xavier Desruelles, a ant of the virus, putting officials on alert for a third treatment and isolation of infected persons.” medical adviser to the army chief of staff. “They must states on ‘alert’ pandemic wave. “The Presidential Steering Committee But the presidential steering committee added in its learn to get used to life again while they have a ten- on COVID-19 (PSC), has put six states and the Federal statement that “all states... should heighten their state dency to close in on themselves.” Omar has found over virus fears Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert as part of the pre- of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols new hope here. “We are surrounded by comrades ventive measures against a third wave of the pandem- put in place.” “These steps are critical as we begin to ic,” Secretary to the Government of the Federation see worrisome early signs of increasing cases in with the same experience, we understand each other,” ABUJA: Nigeria has put six states and its capital on he said. He has returned to sport, lost weight and Boss Mustapha said in a statement. Nigeria,” Mustapha said. “red alert” over rising coronavirus cases, the govern- The states concerned are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, With Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha next week, found a smile. He is also preparing to end his military ment said late on Saturday, urging caution ahead of the Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the FCT. Lagos, the coun- also called Eid el-Kabir in Nigeria, the government career by starting training as a heating engineer. Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Africa’s most populous try’s commercial capital, has been the epicentre of recommended that prayers be held outdoors and that Youssef makes clear his “desire to be cured” and country, with some 210 million residents, has officially Nigeria’s outbreak, accounting for more than a third of indoor gatherings should be limited. It also recom- wants to find a job that involves “green spaces”, say- recorded around 169,000 cases and 2,126 deaths from the nationwide total. Spokesman for the Secretary to mended the suspension of the traditional Durbar festi- ing: “Office, computer, I couldn’t.” —AFP COVID-19, but the real figures are believed to be the Government of the Federation Willy Bassey told val showcasing horse riding displays. —AFP Established 1961 7 International Monday, July 19, 2021 Taleban leader ‘favours political settlement’ to Afghan conflict ‘Let us resolve our issues among ourselves and rescue our homeland from the prevailing crisis’

KABUL: The Taleban’s supreme leader Hibatullah he added. The insurgents have capitalised on the last Akhundzada yesterday said he “strenuously favours” stages of the withdrawal of US and other foreign a political settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan troops from Afghanistan to launch a series of light- even as the hardline Islamist movement has launched ning offensives across large swathes of the country. a sweeping offensive across the nation. The The group is now believed to control roughly half of announcement comes as representatives of the the nation’s 400 districts, several important border Afghan government and Taleban insurgents sat down crossings, and have laid siege to a string of vital for a new round of talks in Doha over the weekend, provincial capitals. stirring hopes that the long stalled peace talks were The Taleban have long appeared to be united, being resuscitated. operating under an effective chain of command, and “In spite of the military gains and advances, the carrying out complex military campaigns despite Islamic Emirate strenuously favors a political settle- perennial rumours of splits among the organisation’s ment in the country,” Akhundzada said in a message leadership. Questions remain over how firm of a hand released ahead of next week’s Muslim holiday of Eid the Taleban’s leaders have with commanders on the al-Adha. “Every opportunity for the establishment ground and whether they will be able to convince of an Islamic system, peace and security that pres- them to abide by a potential agreement if signed. The ents itself will be made use of by the Islamic leader’s statement notably made no mention of a for- Emirate,” he added. mal ceasefire call for the Eid holidays. For months, the two sides have been meeting on and off in the Qatari capital, but have achieved little if Temporary ceasefires any notable success with the discussions appearing to Over the years, the Taleban have announced a have lost momentum as the militants made enormous series of short truces during Islamic holidays that ini- BALKH: In this picture taken on July 15, 2021, Afghan militia fighters keep a watch at an outpost against Taleban gains on the battlefield. The two sides were due to talk tially spurred hopes that a larger reduction of vio- insurgents at Charkint district in Balkh Province. — AFP again. The Taleban leader said his group remained lence would be implemented in the country. However committed to forging a solution to end the war but the group has more recently been criticised for using The US-led military coalition has been on the vital air support they provide, allowing for a com- slammed “the opposition parties” for “wasting time”. the temporary ceasefires to resupply and replenish ground in Afghanistan for nearly two decades fol- plete Taliban military takeover or the start of a mul- “Our message remains that instead of relying on their fighters, allowing them to launch withering lowing an invasion launched in the aftermath of the ti-sided civil war in a country awash with large foreigners, let us resolve our issues among ourselves onslaughts on Afghanistan’s security forces once the September 11, 2001 attacks. Fears are growing that stockpiles of weapons following nearly four and rescue our homeland from the prevailing crisis,” truce expires. Afghan forces will be overwhelmed without the decades of fighting. — AFP Young Pakistani’s Daughter of Afghan Taleban idealism envoy to Pakistan ends with death

briefly kidnapped PESHAWAR: The last time Abdul Rasheed’s family saw him alive was in May, when the young Pakistani ISLAMABAD: The daughter of Afghanistan’s left for Afghanistan to fight for the Taleban. He ambassador to Pakistan was briefly kidnapped returned home last week in a cardboard coffin. while on her way home in the capital Islamabad, The militant group is waging an offensive across the governments of both countries said Saturday. Afghanistan’s countryside, snapping up territory and Silsila Alikhil was abducted for several hours and leaving the Afghan forces facing a crisis with the US “severely tortured by unknown individuals”, and NATO all but gone. Many Pakistanis, inspired by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a religious faith or community pressure, have joined the statement. “After being released from the kidnap- fight across a border that doesn’t distinguish between pers’ captivity Ms Alikhil is under medical care at the Pashtuns who live either side. GREAT BARRIER REEF: File photo shows an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of the Whitsunday hospital,” the statement said. Pakistan’s ambassa- Islands, along the central coast of Queensland. — AFP “Rasheed sacrificed his life for a great cause,” dor to Kabul was summoned to lodge a formal Rasheed’s uncle, Maroof Khan, a Muslim cleric, told complaint, the ministry added. AFP over the phone from his home on the outskirts of Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Najibullah sations against other member states” of UNESCO, he Peshawar, just a few hours from the Afghan border. Alikhil’s daughter was assaulted in her car, before Throngs of people visited to congratulate the family China denies politics added. Both China and Australia are among the 21 the interior minister later published a statement nations on this year’s heritage committee, which is after hearing news of the 22-year-old’s death. saying she had been kidnapped. “Prime minister “He went there with a spirit of jihad. Now his young evaluating nearly 50 new sites that could be added to Imran Khan has directed the interior minister behind UNESCO its more than 1,100 World Heritage list. friends want to be martyred like him,” Khan added. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to utilise all resources to Pakistan’s interior minister earlier this month publicly The designation can be a boon for tourism, while apprehend the person involved in the kidnapping move on Barrier Reef encouraging governments to protect cultural or envi- acknowledged that the families of Afghan Taleban of the daughter of the Afghan ambassador in fighters were living in the country’s capital, while ronmental treasures. Australia has assailed the recom- Islamabad,” Ahmed himself tweeted. mendation to add the Great Barrier Reef to the in-dan- members of its rank-and-file were brought to the PARIS: A top Chinese official said yesterday that Islamabad is leafy, spacious city with relatively country for medical treatment or to be buried. ger list after seeing the 2,300-kilometre (1,400 miles) tight security and a population of around one mil- political tensions between Beijing and Australia were system lose half its corals since 1995. Pakistan has a long, complicated history with the not behind a UNESCO recommendation to place the lion people. The security of the ambassador and his Taleban. Since fleeing the US invasion of Afghanistan It says it has spent billions of dollars to clean up family has been tightened, Pakistan’s foreign min- Great Barrier Reef on its endangered list. Deputy edu- in 2001, the group’s leaders have been largely based in coastal waters and says global warming is responsible istry said, adding that the safety of the diplomatic cation minister Tian Xuejun is chairing this year’s Pakistan, where they have been allowed to regroup, for the mass coral “bleaching” that occurs when the missions were “of the utmost importance”. meeting of the UN cultural agency’s heritage commit- recruit and manage the insurgency from the safety of invertebrates do not have enough algae to provide Relations between the two neighbours have tee, which comes after years of worsening relations Pakistani cities. The issue is a particularly sensitive one nutrients. long been strained. Kabul accuses Islamabad of between China and Australia. The Great Barrier Reef for Islamabad, which has long been accused of sup- UNESCO experts counter that pollution run-off has offering a safe haven to Taleban militants who are has been put on a list of World Heritage sites that porting the hardline fundamentalists even while bat- contributed to a drop in water quality, pointing in par- waging a major campaign across the Afghan coun- could be put on the in-danger list after losing half of tling a Taleban offshoot within its own borders. The ticular at the Carmichael Coal Mine, and say clean-up tryside. While Islamabad says Kabul turns a blind its corals since 1995. Afghan and US governments have begged Islamabad efforts have fallen short. “Politics have subverted a eye to militant groups launching attacks on Australia has assailed the move, blaming global proper process and for the World Heritage Committee to bring the leadership to heel and force the Taleban to Pakistan from its soil. hammer out a peace agreement. warming for the loss, while UNESCO experts argued to not even foreshadow this listing is, I think, As fighting raged, war of words heated up this that pollution run-off has contributed to the loss. appalling,” Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan week between the two neighbours, with Afghan Asked at an online press conference about “Australian Ley said in June. ‘University of Jihad’ vice-president accusing the Pakistani military of The Taleban emerged in the southern Afghan city of government allegations” that Beijing pressed to have But Tian said “the recommendation to include the providing “close air support to Taleban in certain Kandahar during the civil war that followed the Soviet the Barrier Reef listed as endangered, Tian said the Great Barrier Reef on the endangered list was made areas”. Pakistan strongly denied the claim, with a withdrawal from the country. But its ranks were filled decision was based “on reports and data provided by after an evaluation by the UICN,” the International foreign ministry statement saying the country with tens of thousands of Afghan refugees who had Australia itself.” Union for Conservation of Nature, one of three advi- “took necessary measures within its territory to fled to Pakistan. Some Pakistani nationals also joined. “Australia should fulfil its obligations to protect sory bodies to the heritage committee. A decision on safeguard our own troops and population”. — AFP world heritage sites instead of making baseless accu- the reef’s status is expected around July 23. — AFP Security analyst Tahir Khan told AFP that authori- ties had more recently clamped down on people crossing to fight in Afghanistan, but the porous border testers scattering, coughing non-stop as they tried to chipped away at Thailand’s economy, the government’s in the rugged countryside meant some still made it. Police fire rubber rinse their eyes with saline solution. By late afternoon, the handling of the pandemic has become one of the move- “The number of Taleban fighters from Pakistan is much two sides were standing off as clouds of gas rose in the ment’s main grievances. lower than in the past,” Khan said. bullets at protesters air. It remains unclear how many were injured. Thailand announced earlier this week it would pair a “Now the Afghan Taleban are so numerous they dose of the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine with the UK- don’t need fighters from Pakistan.” Many-including ‘Just give us good vaccines’ developed AstraZeneca after authorities found that hun- Rasheed-had graduated from Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania denouncing Thai PM Exactly one year ago, thousands of protesters dreds of medical staff who received Sinovac jabs had madrassa near Peshawar, which was given the nick- amassed at the Democracy Monument calling for Prayut’s contracted the virus. “You do not need to do any mix- name the “University of Jihad” for its fiery ideology resignation, the rewriting of the constitution and reforms and-match vaccines-just give us good vaccines,” BANGKOK: Thai police deployed rubber bullets, tear and the number of Taliban fighters it has produced. to the kingdom’s long-unassailable monarchy. Prayut had demanded a young protester yesterday. For decades, Pakistani madrassas have served as gas and water cannon against protesters in Bangkok yes- managed to hold onto power after 2019 elections-which Acclaimed Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul terday as demonstrators defied COVID-19 restrictions to incubators for militancy, indoctrinating tens of thou- were held under an army-scripted constitution-while also highlighted the country’s situation on Saturday dur- sands of refugees who have few other options for edu- call for Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s resignation and popular opposition figures were increasingly hit with ing his acceptance speech for the jury prize at Cannes for mark the one-year anniversary of a pro-democracy cation than the fire-breathing lectures from hardline legal troubles. “Memoriam”. “I’m really lucky to be standing here and clerics. Rather than crack down on the institutions, movement. The kingdom is currently facing its worst That protest marked the beginning of a movement while many of my countrymen cannot travel. Many of COVID-19 wave, registering daily case records as hospi- successive governments in Islamabad-who rely on the that has widened the discourse on taboo topics, including them suffer greatly from the pandemic with the misman- tals buckle under pressure. Exacerbating the toll has support of Islamist parties in coalition governments- the role of the royal family-protected under a draconian agement of resources, of health care and vaccine acces- been the government’s slow procurement of vaccines, have largely given the madrassas a free hand. defamation law. But as the impact of COVID-19 rapidly sibility,” he said.—AFP which has drawn criticism as Thailand’s economy reels from increasingly severe restrictions on businesses. Taleban flags Defying rules prohibiting gatherings of more than five Rasheed’s family do not know exactly when or people, protesters piled mock body bags flecked with red where he died, only that it happened somewhere in paint near the intersection of the capital’s Democracy eastern Nangarhar province. Two police sources in Monument. “We will die from COVID if we stay home, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province told AFP that at least that is why we have to come out,” shouted a protest four dead bodies of Pakistani fighters had arrived from organiser, who listed three demands. Afghanistan in recent weeks. “Prayut Chan-O-Cha must resign without any condi- There were chaotic scenes in Rasheed’s hometown tion; the second is a budget cut to the monarchy and when his body was brought back. Video clips posted army to be used against COVID, and the third is to bring to social media and confirmed by his family showed in mRNA vaccine.” A giant banner with a picture of hundreds of people clamouring to touch his coffin and Prayut-the mastermind of a 2014 coup-was unfurled on chanting religious slogans, some waving Taleban flags. the road, with protesters then stomping on his face. Khan, his uncle, was later arrested and handed a two- As they marched on the Government House, they week jail sentence. He was charged with organising an were led by a frontline group wearing gas masks and illegal gathering and propagating terrorism, a police hard hats and were joined by motorbike drivers who spokesman told AFP. As visitors continued to pay their hoisted the mock body bags. But authorities deployed respects this week, Rasheed’s father Nasir Khan sat on water cannon early and blocked the main road, forcing a traditional wooden charpoy bench, wearing glasses BANGKOK: Pro-democracy protesters push a fake guillotine past Democracy Monument as they march to protesters to retreat. along with a flowing white beard. “Rasheed was a Government House to call for the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha in Bangkok Authorities also fired rubber bullets and tear gas, bright student,” Nasir Khan said. “I pray that Allah yesterday. — AFP according to AFP reporters on the ground. It sent pro- accepts the martyrdom of my son.” — AFP 8 Established 1961 Monday, July 19, 2021 International Earth’s richest man Jeff Bezos to blast off into space Joining Bezos will be female aviator Wally Funk, who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever astronaut

NEW YORK: Jeff Bezos, the richest desert called Launch Site One, some 25 The crew will spend a few minutes person in the world, is set to join the miles (40 kilometers) north of the near- beyond the Karman line — the interna- astronaut club tomorrow on the first est town, Van Horn. The event will be tionally recognized boundary between crewed launch by Blue Origin, another live streamed on BlueOrigin.com begin- Earth’s atmosphere and space, at 62 key moment in a big month for the ning an hour and a half before. miles altitude (100 kilometers), as the fledgling space tourism industry. The spacecraft peaks at 65 miles high (106 mission comes days after Virgin Richest, oldest and youngest kilometers). Galactic founder Richard Branson Joining Bezos on the fully They will be able to admire the curva- crossed the final frontier, narrowly autonomous flight will be barrier- ture of the planet — and the inky black besting the Amazon magnate in their breaking female aviator Wally Funk, of the rest of the universe — from large battle of the billionaires. who at 82 is set to be the oldest ever windows that comprise a third of the Blue Origin’s sights are, however, set astronaut, Dutch teenager Oliver cabin’s surface area. The booster returns higher: both literally in terms of the alti- Daemen, the company’s first paying autonomously to a landing pad just north tude to which its reusable New Shepard customer, who will become the of its launch site, while the capsule craft will ascend compared to Virgin’s youngest astronaut. freefalls back to Earth before deploying spaceplane, but also in its future ambi- Rounding out the four-member crew three giant parachutes, and finally a tions. Bezos founded Blue Origin back is Jeff Bezos’ brother Mark, a financier thruster, to land gently in the west Texas in 2000, with the goal of one day build- who directs the Bezos Family desert. ing floating space colonies with artifi- Foundation and works as a volunteer cial gravity where millions of people firefighter. The pair are best friends, and Bigger prizes will work and live. Jeff shared the moment he asked his Beyond the first flight, relatively little Today, the company is developing a younger sibling to join him in a viral is known about Blue Origin’s future heavy-lift orbital rocket called New video on Instagram last month. tourism plans. The company has a histo- Glenn and also a Moon lander it is Notably absent is the mysterious ry of secrecy, its existence only becom- hoping to contract to NASA under the winner of a $28 million auction for a ing public knowledge three years after Artemis program. “They’ve had 15 seat, who had “scheduling conflicts” and its creation. It then pursued a policy of WEST TEXAS: File photo obtained May 19, 2021, courtesy of Blue Origin, shows a close- successful New Shepard uncrewed will take part in a future flight, and has “self-imposed silence” until 2015. up of the New Shepard rocket as it launches in West Texas. —AFP flights and we’ve been waiting years to asked to remain anonymous, the com- Unlike Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin see when they’re going to start flying pany said. After lift-off, New Shepard hasn’t officially started selling tickets — how well the industry recovers from International Space Station. people,” Laura Forczyk, founder of will accelerate towards space at speeds Daemen won his spot through the auc- accidents “which there inevitably will Beyond tourism, Blue Origin would space consulting firm Astralytical, told exceeding Mach 3 using a liquid hydro- tion process. The company wants two be, because spaceflight is inherently like to supplant SpaceX as NASA’s AFP, calling it an “exciting time” for gen/liquid oxygen engine with no car- more flights this year, then “many more” risky.” Elon Musk’s SpaceX will enter leading private sector partner, and sees enthusiasts. bon emissions. in 2022, it told AFP. the fray in September with an all-civil- New Shepard as “sort of the stepping New Shepard will blast off at 8:00 The capsule soon separates from its Forczyk, the analyst, said it will all ian orbital expedition on its Crew stone and also the way to make money am Central Time (1300 GMT) on July 20 booster, and the astronauts unbuckle depend on the level of demand that is Dragon, and is tying up with another along the way for the greater ambition,” from a remote facility in the west Texas and begin to experience weightlessness. generated by these early flights, and company, Axiom, for visits to the said Forczyk. —AFP

small subspecies of the endangered Two bears head brown bear, but no longer exist in the wild in Syria or Lebanon, the UK- for US from based Bear Conservation group says. Space tourism Animals Lebanon director Jason Meir crisis-hit Lebanon said the bears were likely imported from eastern Europe. lifts off BEIRUT: Two endangered Syrian They had been supposed to travel brown bears were headed to a new life LONDON: After years of waiting, Richard Branson’s in late 2019, but banking restrictions in the United States yesterday after journey to space this month on a Virgin Galactic vessel linked to Lebanon’s economic crisis, being rescued from cramped condi- was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. Instead, then the coronavirus pandemic had tions in a Lebanese zoo, two charities the jaunt attracted significant criticism — about its car- postponed the trip. Four Paws, an said. Homer and Ulysses, each aged 18 bon footprint. international organisation also taking and weighing 130 kilos (280 pounds), With Jeff Bezos set to launch on a Blue Origin rock- part in the relocation, said it had first had been living in a zoo near the et tomorrow, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX planning an all- met the bears in November 2019. southern city of Tyre, animal rights civilian orbital mission in September, the nascent space “Trapped in tiny cages, some small- association Animals Lebanon said. tourism industry finds itself facing tough questions er than a ping-pong table, the bears They were freed “after convincing about its environmental impact. Right now, rocket had no water, sporadic food, and inad- launches as a whole don’t happen often enough to pol- the zoo owner that they deserve better equate shelter from the weather,” it lute significantly. “The carbon dioxide emissions are than the small cement cages they were said in a statement. “Both bears not totally negligible compared to other human activities or kept in for over ten years”, it said in a only suffered from malnutrition but even commercial aviation,” NASA’s chief climate advi- statement. The bears were to be flown also extreme stress.” Meir said he was out of Beirut late yesterday, headed for sor Gavin Schmidt told AFP. aware of about 30 lions and tigers as TYRE: One of two Syrian brown bears is sedated and examined before the Wild Animal Sanctuary in the US But some scientists are worried about the potential well as around 10 more bears still kept being prepared to be transferred to the United States by members of the for longer term harm as the industry is poised for major state of Colorado. as exotic pets and in private zoos in global animal welfare organisation Four Paws yesterday. —AFP growth, particularly impacts to the ozone layer in the still Syrian brown bears are a relatively the Mediterranean country. —AFP poorly understood upper atmosphere. Virgin Galactic, which came under fire in op-eds on CNN and Forbes, as well as on social media, for sending its billionaire founder normal level. “It’s time to take stock,” said Valerie to space for a few minutes in a fossil fuel-guzzling Historic flood engulfs Stefenatto, the 32-year-old communications manager, as spaceship, says its carbon emissions are about equiva- she walked the premises in rubber boots, telephone in lent to a business-class ticket from London to New York. hand. “The priority now is to secure the factory and to get The company “has already taken steps to offset the renowned Belgian the electricity back on, to see if the machines are still work- carbon emissions from its test flights and is examining ing or not.” Vats of raw ingredients had been knocked over opportunities to offset the carbon emissions for future chocolate factory or burst and the smell of chocolate drifted through the air. customer flights, and reduce our supply chain’s carbon At Galler and at other businesses across the south and footprint,” it said in a statement to AFP. But while east of the country, questions will be asked. Why were CHAUDFONTAINE: As the floodwaters receded in the transatlantic flights carry hundreds of people, Virgin’s meteorologists’ and climate scientists’ warnings unheed- emissions work out to around 4.5 tonnes per passenger river valleys of industrial eastern Belgium, the smell of cocoa was mixed with the stench of spilled fuel oil and ed? Why did the government not act? Here, when the river in a six passenger flight, according to an analysis pub- level started to rise on Wednesday, staff stacked sandbags lished by French astrophysicist Roland Lehoucq and col- churned up river mud. Among the many businesses knocked temporarily out of action by the unprecedented and shut off production, but they had no way of predicting leagues in The Conversation. the wall of water that hit on Thursday. That’s roughly equivalent to driving a typical car inundation was the Galler factory, home to one of the CHAUDFONTAINE: Photo shows piled up material at the “The factory has been here since 1976. We’ve never around the Earth, and more than twice the individual country’s iconic luxury chocolate brands. Galler chocolate factory, destroyed by a severe flood- annual carbon budget recommended to meet the objec- Built on the banks of the now churning Vesdre river, in known a flood in Vaux-sous-Chevremont,” Stefenatto ing following heavy rainfalls, in Vaux-sous- tives of the Paris climate accord. “The issue here is really Vaux-sous-Chevremont in Chaudfontaine commune out- sighed. Things could have been worse. Stocks of finished Chevremont, near Chaudfontaine. —AFP one of disproportionate impacts,” Darin Toohey, an side the city of Liege, the plant ships high-end bars to afi- chocolate were stored in a depot on higher ground, north of atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado, cionados as far away as Japan. In Belgium, which styles itself Liege, and the wider commune has seen five residents killed 1,700 tonnes of chocolate per year and turned over 30 Boulder told AFP. the world capital of chocolate, it is accredited to supply the and dozens left homeless. “We have colleagues who have million euros. It had ambitious expansion plans, backed by “I actually grew up on the space program and that royal court of Philippe, king of the Belgians, alongside the lost everything,” Stefenatto said, as exhausted workers a Liege consortium and by foreign investors. got me into science.... but if someone offered me a free likes of Godiva and Leonidas. But, after a week of torrential found plastic chairs on the parking area. “To get get back on “We don’t yet know how long it’s going to take. One, ride, I would be very nervous taking it because I would rains sent waves of water surging down the narrow valleys our feet, we’ll have to focus on the morale of the troops.” two, three months? It’ll depend whether we decide to know that my own footprint is way larger than it should of this former coal-mining area near the German border, focus on certain markets, Belgian or European,” be,” he said. part of the front wall of the plant has collapsed. Plans on hold Stefenatto told AFP. The storms have now moved east But a delivery truck and its 10 metre container has been and south, bringing devastation to Germany and threat- Cleaner fuels possible Taking stock tossed across the loading area, and it’s too soon to say ening Austria’s Alpine valleys. The final economic and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo uses a type of syn- Tools and workstations are swept into piles, and muddy when the 60-strong workforce will be able to get back to human toll in Belgium, where a least 27 are dead, is not thetic rubber as fuel and burns it in nitrous oxide, a work. Before the coronavirus pandemic, Galler produced powerful greenhouse gas. The fuel pumps black carbon water has stained the walls 1.8 metres (six feet) above its yet known. —AFP into upper stratosphere, 30-50 kilometers (18 to 30 miles) high. Once there, these particles can have multiple impacts, dancefloor espoused a similar view-with so many office has already announced that it will not enforce from reflecting sunlight and causing a nuclear winter As clock strikes coronavirus vaccine doses available, why should the new mandate, which according to the sheriff, is effect, to accelerating chemical reactions that deplete the those who have already been inoculated have to suf- not based on science. ozone layer, which is vital to protecting people from fer because of those who aren’t? “If you’re refusing “It’s going to be hard to enforce,” said Ruben, harmful radiation. “We could be at a dangerous point,” midnight, LA to get the vaccine, that’s on you now,” said Stephen manager of Trunks bar. “There’s nothing we can do.” said Toohey, who wants more scientific investigations into Bennett, 21. Anthony Bawn, a 36-year-old screen- “I’m not going to shove them on people’s faces,” these effects before the launches become more frequent. reinstates masks writer, agreed. “Why should we feel responsible for sighed another bar manager. As midnight struck at Virgin has said it wants to conduct 400 flights a year. individuals who don’t want to protect their own Micky’s, a worker tapped on his watch and hurriedly Compared to Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo LOS ANGELES: In a West Hollywood nightclub, peo- body?” he asked. “If they force me to (wear a mask), distributed masks to the establishment’s dancers. spaceplanes, Blue Origin’s are much cleaner, according ple flirted, danced, and got close-all mostly to a recent paper by scientist Martin Ross of I’m going to go home.” The barmen hesitated, before masking up them- Aerospace, which Bezos’ company plugged on Twitter. unmasked-despite the fact that at midnight, Los selves-but on the dancefloor, nothing much changed. That’s because it burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxy- Angeles became the first US city to order a return to ‘Not my problem’ Leo Johnson had his mask in his pocket. “I’m vaccinat- gen, which combusts as water vapor. Ross’ paper found masks indoors. At Revolver, a bar blasting out For Los Angeles authorities, who announced the ed,” he said. “I have my mask in my pocket... I will not Blue Origin’s vertical launch reusable rocket causes a Madonna’s best hits, clubbers were warned in the return to mandatory mask wearing in the middle of wear my mask if they don’t ask me to.” hundred times less ozone loss and 750 times less cli- queue-no mask, no entry. the week, there’s a delicate balance to strike-the city It was, he pointed out, difficult to chat people up mate forcing magnitude than Virgin’s, according to The ultimatum sent one young man, David, has only really reopened in the last few weeks, and with half your face covered-a position shared by ballpark calculations. But that doesn’t mean it’s totally scrambling to the nearest supermarket to buy one so no-one wants to spoil the party. Adrian Barrios, 26. “In a bar setting, so much of your clean. “It takes electricity to make liquid oxygen and as to not miss precious dancing time. But once inside But thanks to the Delta variant, COVID-19 cases communication is through your smile and body lan- liquid hydrogen,” Ross told AFP. “You could go back the venue, despite rising COVID infection rates, it are the highest they’ve been since March, and the guage,” he said. “A lot of that is inhibited through and calculate how much electricity was used to make was a different story. “I feel a little out of place,” said United States has not yet introduced any form of vac- masks.” For 26-year-old Krista, however, the solution the propellant,” he said. “It depends how far back in the 22-year-old Ashley Gutierrrez, one of the few wear- cine passport. Many have chafed at the mask reintro- was to lean in: resplendent in a rhinestoned mask, she supply chain you look.” —AFP ing a mask. Many of those that AFP spoke to on the duction, however. The Los Angeles county sheriff’s chose to protect herself, but do it in style. —AFP Established 1961

MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021 NBK reports 1H2021 net profit of KD 160.8m Total assets grew by 6.4% year-on-year to KD 31.6 billion

KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait (“NBK”, the “Bank” or the “Group”) has • The Group’s performance demonstrated its solid announced its financial results for the six- • A gradual recovery has been achieved year-to-date while growth prospects in addition to the stability and diver- month period ended 30 June 2021. NBK the future course of the pandemic and its impact on eco- sity of the Bank’s balance sheet reported a net profit of KD 160.8 million nomic activity remains uncertain ($534.0 million), improving by 44.7 percent • Long-term flagship initiatives are on track with cost year-on-year. • We are more committed than ever before to integrating management on the radar Net profit for the three-months ended impactful ESG strategies across all aspects of our business 30 June 2021 reached KD 76.5 million • Strategy remains anchored in the diversity of our ($254.0 million), a year-on-year increase • We are focused on delivering long-term sustainable growth operations and accelerating digital excellence; hedg- of 128.8 percent from the comparable Nasser Al-Sayer across all business segments Isam J Al-Sager ing against uncertainties period in 2020. Performance and operating highlights 1H 2021: and activity. We are cautiously optimistic levels of activity to remain gradual.” ing has led to considerable reductions in ing positive signs across sectors including • Net operating income of KD 452.5 mil- that this trend will continue as the year NBK remains committed to supporting energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, buoyant demand for credit by households lion ($1.5 billion), increasing by 9.2 progresses, which bodes well for the the economies where it operates including and water consumption. Meanwhile, our and a tentative acceleration in project percent compared to 1H 2020 national economy and for the banking sec- that of Kuwait, its businesses, citizens, support for the vaccination rollout, includ- activity in Kuwait, with about KD 2.2 billion • Total assets grew by 6.4 percent year- tor. The expansionary budget announced and residents. By delivering on our social ing for our own staff, is an important part of ($7.3 billion) expected to be tendered in on-year, to KD 31.6 billion ($104.9 bil- by the Kuwait government for 2021-2022, as well as economic responsibilities to the our social commitment. 2021. lion) together with higher oil prices contributing country, we are helping to build a stronger The soundness of NBK’s fundamen- Although the low interest rate environ- • Total loans and advances grew by 5.3 more to state revenues, are positive for future for all. In this respect, we are more tals, our focus on efficiency, and our insti- ment continues to challenge and pressure percent year-on-year to KD 18.5 billion the business environment. However, the committed than ever before to integrating tutional strength as a national and regional margins, the Bank proved resilient in pre- ($61.5 billion) future course of the pandemic and its impactful ESG strategies across all leader are enabling us to respond effec- serving margin levels. Moreover, our flag- • Customer deposits decreased by 0.9 impact on economic activity remains aspects of our business. Our headquar- tively to the temporary challenges that we ship digital investments, a key pillar of our percent year-on-year to KD 17.4 billion uncertain and we expect return to normal ters relocation to a new LEED gold build- face. We are maintaining a conservative strategy, continues to be on track and we ($57.8 billion) approach to risk, and to prudent balance are effectively managing its related costs. • Solid asset quality metrics, with sheet management, and focused on con- Our strategy remains anchored in the NPL/gross loans ratio at 2.45 percent tinuing to drive excellence in performance diversity of our operations, with business and an NPL coverage ratio of 152 against these metrics across our operating various segments making strong contribu- percent markets.” tions to bottom line. Our scope to increase • Robust Capital Adequacy Ratio of 18.2 NBK Group Chief Executive Officer, digitalization has achieved further success percent, comfortably in excess of regu- Issam J Al-Sager, commented: “NBK’s in delivering efficiencies within the organi- latory requirements performance in the first half demonstrated zation and improving the convenience and Commenting on the results, NBK a number of strengths including solid quality of our products and services to Group Chairman, Nasser Al-Sayer, said: asset growth, driven by increasing loans customers. We are now focused on accel- “Macroeconomic challenges and disrup- and advances as business volumes have erating our drive towards digital excellence tion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic begun to gradually normalize. The Group’s as we look forward after an extended peri- continued to create headwinds in the first net operating income grew by 9.2 percent od of uncertainty. We are proud to report half of 2021. Despite this, the gradual year-on-year to KD 452.5 million ($1.5 bil- that NBK continues to receive international recovery that we achieved in the first quar- lion). Moreover, the stability and diversity recognition and respected awards, includ- ter continued into the second, with of our funding mix on the other hand ing ranking first among Kuwaiti banks in increased vaccine penetration and some proved its vitality to the Group and the The Banker magazine’s list of the Top easing of mobility and other restrictions trustworthiness embedded in clients 1,000 World Banks, and 9th in the Middle leading to improved business confidence towards NBK in such times. We are see- East, in June 2021.” 10 Established 1961 Business Monday, July 19, 2021 Ahli United Bank reports net profit of KD 18m for H1 2021 Total assets grew up to reach KD 4.44 billion at the first half end

KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank K.S.C.P announced its Mudhaf, Chairman of Ahli United Bank said despite between different components of its capital thus surrounding the banking results for the first six months of this year. the recovery signs, the continuing uncertainty as continue its growth journey. The proceeds of the sector. Accordingly, the bank has recorded a net profit for for COVID-19 pandemic, including any possible Sukuk will be deployed to support the expansion Al-Humaidhi added: the first half of 2021 amounting to KD 18 million coronavirus variants and the resulting tightening of strategy adopted by the Bank. The positive results of the which is higher by two percent than the KD 17.7 precautionary measures - and the extent of their Dr Al-Mudhaf expressed his thanks and appre- Bank uphold the efficien- million of net profits recorded for the same period impacts, have prompted the Bank to continue its ciation to the bank’s shareholders and clients for cy and resilience of the last year. conservative policy in managing various risks by their support to the bank under these exceptional policies and procedures The total assets have grown up to reach KD supporting its provisions to be able to face any conditions. He also thanked the Central Bank of that helped the bank 4.44 billion at the end of the 1H2021, (KD 4.37 bil- possible decline in the quality of assets, in addition Kuwait and all the regulatory, health and security develop its operations. lion in December 2020). The net financing receiv- to taking all necessary measures to protect its authorities, praising the efforts of the Executive These efforts were ables have grown to reach KD 3.17 billion at the employees and clients. Management and all the Bank’s staff that enabled crowned by the many end of June 2021 representing a growth of two per- Dr Al-Mudhaf pointed that AUB is still carrying the bank to manage this crisis and deal with its awards the Bank received cent compared to KD 3.10 billion recorded at the out its community-based role in supporting gov- consequences. Al-Mudhaf also praised the excep- during this period, includ- Dr Anwar Al-Mudhaf end of 1H2020. Customer deposits portfolios have ernment efforts in combating the spread of tional efforts made by the front-line staff in differ- ing the “Best Bank in reached to KD 3.07 billion at the end of June 2021 COVID-19, expressing his optimism about the ent branches to meet client urgent needs during the Private Banking, Kuwait 2021” by International representing a growth of 10 percent compared to improvement of the general scene at the level of all various stages of the crisis. Business Magazine. AUB was conferred this Award KD 2.79 billion recorded at the same period last sectors, including the banking sector, with the Jehad Al-Humaidhi, the Acting Chief Executive in recognition of its success in creating an effective year. (Finances KD 3.11 billion and deposits KD reduction of COVID-19 impacts and gradual Officer at AUB said: AUB has managed to maintain model that has been achieved on the ground for its 3.01 billion in December 2020). returning to normal life with the success of the the momentum of its financial performance and services provided to clients of Private Banking and The Capital Adequacy Ratio has reach 20.02 national efforts in confronting the virus. Dr Al- operations, overcoming the consequences imposed Wealth Management, and the “Best Banking CIO of percent at the end of June 2021 which is comfort- Mudhaf hoped that the current year will witness a by COVID-19 pandemic with minimal damage, and the Year Kuwait 2021” award by Global Banking ably higher than the CBK current minimum great success in strengthening the Bank’s financial succeeded in converting challenges into growth and Finance Review conferred to Abdullah Yousef required ratio of 11 percent. The available margin position, especially after the great achievement opportunities in various areas of the Bank’s busi- Jaragh, the General Manager of Information will support the expansion in financing, services attained by issuing the Banka successful pricing ness, through in-depth study of the market require- Technology at AUB. This award is a recognition of and operations as per the Bank’s determined plans. and issuance of $600 million Non-convertible ments, with its concern to provide advanced bank- the Bank’s ability to provide an advanced IT infra- The capital base of the Bank was boosted after the Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Capital Mudaraba Sukuk. ing services and solutions that meet the needs of its structure and the outstanding contribution of successful issuance and pricing of its $600 million The Sukuk Certificates attracted more than $1.8 valued client, both individuals and corporate, within Jaragh in supporting the industry. non-convertible Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Capital billion in orders at peak, covering three times the resilient and smooth procedures and transactions In conclusion, Al-Humaidhi expressed her thanks Mudaraba Sukuk size of the target issue. The issuance was success- that meet their aspirations. and appreciation to the AUB’s management and The bank continued to follow a conservative fully listed in both Euronext Dublin in Ireland and Al-Humaidhi stressed: “We will continue to employees for their cooperation and dedication, policy when any facilities are classified as non-per- in Nasdaq Dubai, which is again a clear indication focus on expanding the bank’s digital offers by which had the greatest credit for the Bank’s suc- forming. Nevertheless, the non-performing facilities of the confidence in the bank’s solid performance enhancing our operating model and continuing to cess in attaining these good financial results. We remained as low as 1.99 percent of the overall as a leading Islamic financial institution in the make strategic investments in our technology would also like to reassure our valued clients of the finance portfolio with a provision coverage ratio of region. Through this issue, we managed to provide platforms, to provide seamless experience for our Bank’s readiness and its solid financial position, 212.6 percent (excluding collaterals) at the end of a good source to support the bank’s capital, which clients. This ensures that we will continue to which enable it to provide all banking services, tak- June 2021. diversifies the sources of finance and capital, sup- achieve attractive returns for shareholders and ing all precautionary measures to maintain the Commenting on the results, Dr Anwar Al- ports the Bank’s finance base and strikes a balance strengthen our position in view of the changes safety of its clients and employees. In Los Angeles, ‘tiny Spain inches ahead homes’ spring up with pension reform for homeless people LOS ANGELES: In a parking lot in Los Angeles, a vil- MADRID: Spain will pay workers to postpone retire- lage of miniature prefab houses has sprung up, one of ment as part of a pensions reform strategy that ana- several sites in America’s second-largest city where lysts warn does not go far enough to cut a huge deficit so-called “tiny homes” are being put up to help the in the system. With nearly 30 billion euros ($36 billion) homeless get back on their feet. The City of Angels has of annual losses in 2020 and rising, Spain’s social a large homeless population, second only to New York. security budget is one of the biggest contributors to Tens of thousands live rough-their tents, and their dis- the country’s ballooning public deficit. tress, are plain for any resident or visitor to see. The European Commission has long demanded In the Tarzana neighborhood, 76 tiny homes paid that Spain reform its pension system and has made it a for by the city have been erected. Each is 64 square condition for accessing European Union economic feet (six square meters), and is equipped with two recovery funds. Under a planned reform unveiled ear- beds and shelving as well as air conditioning and heat- lier this month that aims to get more people to work ing. Each one costs $6,500 and can be set up in just longer, Spain will give cheques worth up to 12,000 90 minutes. Toilets and showers are shared, and state- euros ($14,000) per year to retirement-age workers of-the-art washing machines face large, bright orange who postpone their retirement. tables under umbrellas. The set-up feels a bit like a Retiring early on the other hand would lead to a campground. reduction in monthly payments. But the reform, which Zuri-Kinshasa Maria Terry, 46, has just moved into must still be approved by Spain’s fragmented parlia- the Tarzana development. The former stripper says ment, will also restore the indexation of pensions to she ended up on the streets a year ago, after two inflation. “Pensioners will no longer have to worry LOS ANGELES: Staff members (left) collect intake information from a new arrival at the Tarzana Tiny Home weeks in intensive care because she had contracted about the evolution of their pension,” socialist Budget Village which offers temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness in the Tarzana neighborhood Covid-19, and waited two months for the tiny home Minister Maria Jesus Montero told a news conference of Los Angeles. —AFP village to open. “It was the scariest thing in the freak- last week after the cabinet approved the reform. A ing world to be out there,” Terry told AFP, adding she conservative government eliminated indexation in was “still grasping” the fact that she had found a uation, according to Vansleve. Builders Project, says the tiny homes can be “a very 2013, although in 2018 it hiked pensions in line with steady place to live. “Once you’ve got a case plan, we’re going to positive transition” for some, but he said he worried inflation following protests by pensioners against their In addition to allowing a certain privacy, she said assign you a tiny home and you’re going to work that about “the concept that solutions could be found by loss of purchasing power. The 2013 reform also gradu- the main advantage of the tiny homes is “safety,” as plan however long that takes,” he added. Residents trying to resolve the symptoms, as opposed to the ally increased the legal retirement age to reach 67 in compared to either living on the street or in a tradi- have access to medical care and therapy, and three underlying issue.” For Shayla Myers, a senior attorney 2027 from around 65 years currently. tional shelter. meals a day are provided. They are given lodging for at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, one prob- three months at a time, which is renewable until the lem is that “there is far too little affordable housing for ‘Not sustainable’ ‘Building a case plan’ resident finds permanent housing, according to people to exit out of these shelter facilities and into Rafael Pampillon, head of the economics depart- The Tarzana site is guarded 24 hours a day, and Brandon Hanner, the NGO’s program manager for the permanent housing.” ment at Madrid’s IE Business School, said that raising while residents do not get to keep the keys to their Tarzana site. While acknowledging that tiny homes are a better pensions in line with inflation every year was “outra- tiny homes, they can lock it from the inside, explains Roots of the crisis option for some, Myers insisted that these homes are geous”. “The system is not sustainable. Pensions Rowan Vansleve, chief finance and administration The first village of tiny homes in Los Angeles opened in fact “incredibly expensive” because of the operat- should be frozen,” he told AFP. Demographics compli- officer of Hope of the Valley, a non-governmental in early 2021 and several more followed. Similar initia- ing costs-and that California must do more. “There is cate the picture. Spanish has one of the world’s organization that manages the development. The tives have sprung up in recent years elsewhere in no way to solve the homelessness crisis without longest life expectancies-around 83 years according process begins with “a really hot shower, getting a California, including San Jose, and in Seattle. For those addressing the root causes, which are poverty, to the World Health Organization-and Europe’s lowest great meal and then building out a case plan” to who advocate for the homeless, the projects are a wealth inequality and a lack of affordable housing fertility rate after Malta’s. help the new resident get out of their precarious sit- mixed bag. Mayer Dahan, founder of the Dream options,” she said. —AFP As a result, the number of youths under the age of 25 who enter the labor market each year is 30 percent less than those over 40, said Pampillon. Javier Diaz Gimenez, an economics professor at the IESE Business School, outbreak among students celebrating in the Balearic said that while other southern European nations like Teeth gritted, Spain Islands that quickly spread across the country. On July 8, Italy and Greece face the same problem, “in Spain France warned its nationals against travelling to Spain or reform has been put off, the consensus has been to deny tourism rides Portugal on holiday because of a spike in Covid-19 cases the problem.” “People live longer, therefore they cost caused by the highly-contagious Delta variant. The move more, therefore their pensions should be lowered. That is sparked outrage across the Pyrenees although France’s hard because it means not keeping a promise to people ‘COVID rollercoaster’ top diplomat later modified the warning, saying only that who are about to retire” and who expect a certain sum vaccination was a must before travelling to Spain. after paying into the system for years, he added. Germany also declared all of Spain to be a risk area MADRID: The prospects for Spain’s tourism sector are last week, including its two popular archipelagos-the getting bleaker, with European reservations slowing over ‘Up in the air’ Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearic Isles in soaring COVID cases, but industry figures hope the sum- the Mediterranean. The Balearic Islands were down- The government has said that details of the mer won’t resemble the catastrophe of 2020. The planned pension reform will be ironed out in the graded by Britain as well this week to its “amber” travel MADRID: The tourism season in Spain started on a posi- Exceltur tourism association said this week that it had list, removing them from the green list where they had autumn. It will have to adjust payments based on seen a sudden slowdown in reservations after the French tive note: bookings at seaside hotels-which in April and available funds and extended life expectancy. Social been placed in late June. The move means that from May were 80 percent lower than in 2019 — improved in and German governments urged their citizens to avoid Monday, any non-vaccinated British travellers will have Security Minister Jose Luis Escriva recently sparked Spain, which has seen a recent surge in infections. June, meaning the figure was only 60 percent below an uproar by suggesting that baby boomers-those to quarantine for 10 days after returning from the the same period two years ago, Exceltur said. “Bookings were going well but have slowed down, espe- islands. born in the post-WWII baby boom between 1946 and cially from France,” Jorge Marichal, head of the Spanish 1964 — would eventually have to accept lower pen- Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation ‘Last minute’ too dramatic.” Visitors were being very cautious, she said, sions, and quickly backtracked. With a general election (CEHAT), told Spain’s RTVE public broadcaster. “The largely booking “at the last minute” with hotel occupancy expected in two years, no party wants to risk alienat- “Any announcement from the authorities in our main situation changes very quickly and within hours. The visitor markets has an immediate impact,” Maria rates not exceeding 65-70 percent on weekdays, at a time ing the large block of older voters by proposing pen- whole summer will be the same-a roller-coaster ride in of year when they would normally be “overbooked”. But sion cuts, said Pampillon of the IE Business School. Frontera, head of the Balearic Islands’ hotel federation, which we will have to make decisions as we go along.” told Cadena Cope radio. Before the pandemic, the on the southern Costa del Sol, a hotspot for British holi- “Everything is up in the air,” he added. The season started on a positive note: bookings at daymakers, bookings have surged in recent days after Jordi Fabregat of the Esade business school said islands’ largest visitor groups were British, French and seaside hotels-which in April and May were 80 percent German nationals. But even though new bookings have London lifted quarantine requirements for all vaccinated part of the problem is that Spain offers generous pub- lower than in 2019 — improved in June, meaning the fig- returning travellers, said Javier Hernandez of the region’s lic pensions, with monthly payments amounting to 80 slowed, few travellers had cancelled their bookings out- ure was only 60 percent below the same period two right, she said. “For now, we’re getting more reservations hotel association. He said hotel occupancy rates were percent of a worker’s final salary compared with an years ago, Exceltur said. At the start of July, the govern- expected to average around 60 percent in July and average of 55 percent for all of Europe. “There is not than cancellations.” The same scenario is playing out on ment restated its aim of drawing 45 million visitors this the Costa Brava in northeastern Spain where the French August, barring any last-minute surprises. the habit in Spain of saving for retirement,” he added. year, around half the number in 2019. Before the pan- Economic devastation caused by the pandemic The only chance for a deep, sustainable reform of the account for nearly half of all foreign tourists. While the demic hit in spring 2020, Spain was the world’s second- warnings have slowed reservations, “bookings are still nonetheless remains visible with nearly one in four pension system is if “there is pressure from the most popular tourist destination after France, and the hotels on the Costa del Sol not opening at all, and close European Union,” said Fabregat. —AFP coming in,” said Judit Lloberol, head of the Costa Brava’s sector accounted for around 12 percent of the economy. hotel association. to one in five in the Balearic Islands, industry figures But the situation has deteriorated rapidly following a mass “There have been some cancellations but it’s not been show. —AFP 11 Established 1961

Business Monday, July 19, 2021 Middle East telecom operators collaborate to support Open RAN • Zain, Etisalat Group, stc, Mobily and du come together to commit on implementation of Open RAN solutions • Initiative to drive innovation, cost efficiencies and customer mobile experience

KUWAIT: Zain Group, Etisalat Group, stc, Mobily, and du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), are joining forces to push forward the implementation of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) solutions in their existing telecom net- S&P downgrades works, share their industry knowledge and experience setting a clear path to drive innovation for the ICT sec- tor across the Middle East. Kuwait’s credit rating The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the five operators confirms commitment to to A+ from AA- deploy Open RAN across their footprint, providing an KUWAIT: Kuwait was downgraded by Standard opportunity to traditional RAN vendors to adopt open & Poor’s Global Ratings for a second time in less interfaces, software and hardware to build more agile than two years after a fall in oil revenue and and flexible mobile networks in the 5G and 4G era, increased spending pressured the country’s fiscal support new entrants with innovative solutions and outlook. The sovereign credit rating was cut one achieve cost efficiencies in RAN deployments. level to A+ from AA-, the fifth-highest invest- This partnership will open immense opportunities ment-grade level, according to a statement Friday. for operators and the telecom ecosystem with the S&P now rates Kuwait two notches lower than availability of interoperable, competitive and commer- Fitch Ratings and on par with Moody’s Investors cial grade Open RAN products, building a framework Service, which lowered its own assessment of the to exchange best practices and technical outcomes. For country last year for the first time . S&P’s outlook customers, they will gain advantage with service cater- for Kuwait is negative. “The downgrade reflects ing to the local market requirements with faster time to the persistent lack of a comprehensive funding market while using the most advanced mobile access strategy despite the central government’s ongoing networks. With operators focusing on introducing soft- sizable deficits,” according to S&P analysts. “We ware capabilities in the Open RAN environment it will consider that these persistent delays could ulti- bring technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Today’s announcement signals the entry into a new era said: “Driving innovation and Open RAN deployment is mately leave Kuwait more vulnerable to potential forefront. Nawaf Al-Gharabally, Zain Group’s Chief of operators’ collaboration in Middle East to accelerate the shared responsibility of every telecom operator. At future terms-of-trade shocks.” The rating agency Technology Officer, commented: “This joint and inno- the development of Open Network technologies, which du, we are committed to working with our regional downgraded the sovereign in March 2020, citing vative initiative by like-minded and visionary regional helps in diversifying our strategic technology growth.” counterparts, which will enable us to create further val- materially lower oil prices. Although crude mobile operators is truly inspirational as it brings multi- He added: “Our commitment has always been to ue by increasing infrastructure flexibility and efficiency rebounded this year to more than $70 per barrel, ple benefits to all our stakeholders and further deliver a best-in-class mobile network to our deserving while accelerating technology adaption and network a delay to proposed laws that would allow the enhances the Middle East telecom sector’s position on customers. This is an exciting milestone in stc’s digital expansion across the UAE.” government to borrow or withdraw from its $700 the ICT world map.” transformation journey; stc will continue to endeavor to With Open RAN the industry is working towards billion Future Generations Fund has left the treas- Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat always lead the market towards digital transformation, standards and technical specifications that define open ury cash-strapped amid increased spending dur- Group, said: “This is an extraordinary opportunity for in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.” interfaces within the radio system, including hardware ing the pandemic and delayed reforms. the Middle East operators to come together to pro- Eng. Alaa Malki, Chief Technology Officer at Mobily, and software, so that networks can be deployed and Kuwait’s economy will grow by only 0.5 per- mote the development of an open technology that will said: “Mobily is keen to strengthen this partnership, operated based on mix-and-match components from cent in real terms in 2021, following a 8.9 percent help to enhance the flexibility and efficiency of our net- which copes with the latest innovations in ICT sector, different suppliers. Operators will be able to draw on contraction last year on oil production cuts and works. I am excited about this partnership that will fos- as it improves the services provided to customers and the reinvigorated supplier innovation to drive cost effi- pandemic effects, according to S&P. It expects ter a diverse and secure 4G/5G ecosystem based on build an advanced open access network. ciencies and more flexibly deliver customized services Kuwait’s central government deficits will average Open RAN solutions. This is also a testimony to Almalki added: “The implementation of Open RAN in response to evolving customer demands. 17 percent of GDP over 2021-2024. Kuwait’s gov- Etisalat’s commitment and leadership in innovation in solutions supports the flexibility and provides more The introduction of Open RAN, virtualization and ernment has been unable to borrow since its the ICT sector and to development and adoption of innovation in managing the network for more efficient automation will enable a fundamental change in the debut Eurobond in 2017, forcing it to rely on its Open RAN ensuring the best network experience for operations. Mobily is willing to exert all efforts for the way operators manage networks and deliver services. General Reserve Fund instead. Liquid assets there our customers.” Haitham Alfaraj, Senior Vice President success of this partnership and forge several partner- Operators will be able to add or shift capacity more are close to being depleted, forcing the Finance of Technology and Operations in stc Group, said: “stc is ships that push forward the development and innova- quickly for end users, automatically resolve network Ministry to push through other measures to meet committed to the introduction of latest technologies tion in the ICT sector.” incidents or provide enterprise level services on- spending needs. and innovative 5G/4G mobile networks solutions. Saleem Al-Blooshi, Chief Technology Officer, du, demand for industry.

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6,500.000 *'$)* '   //   6,450.000 Markrket Summary: " 66,400396.630 000 • LasLa t week has shownn some divvergeence when comparing Premiemieier  0 6,350.000 +*)('&%%*$# "*!$ %+*)('& %!$#' '  %!' %%&' "*!$ %+*)('& %%* *' % $ 6,300.000 and have both valualue and volumeme increased, Premier market volume 6,250.000 dropped 24%% while valuee iincreased only 3% which sshows the 6,200.000   weaknessof the Premieier markket index whenever reaching the 6,150.000 + * resistancce level. 6,100.000      All ShShare PricePi IndeI d xYTDYTD 6,050.000 •WhWhWhilehil ththe PPremiemmiei r markketitisuunablebl tooverrcome theth resisi tance  6,000.000 leevels, yet it’s holho ding its place at the supportort levels which illustrate 00/   5,950.000 &*&%%&' ))'$& %))'$ %%! &'+)*) %*$# %%&' +*)('& %+!& %  5,900.000 rebounddindi in the coming couple of weeks supported by Q2 results, 5,850.000  0   / 0 speciallyallyala Banks’ results. 5,800.000   0    0 5,750.000 %%%%%%%%%%%'$!*  *)' ! &*)'$  *$#  $' ')+' $#   / 0 + 5,700.000 thet resistancece at 6430 whilee keeppingng the support levels at 6330 and 5   5,650.000 %%%%%%%%%)'+!') +*)('& ! &*)'$ 
$' ')+' &'   5,600.000 resistance at 700000 while wh keepinng the supsupport at 6880 and 6720.  5,550.000 Main market on Thuhururssday has overcome thee resistance at 5335 and 5,500.000 marching towards 57000w while keeeping the suppoport at 5240 and 5150. 04/1 20/1 28/1/2021:1 15/2 Mar 15/3 Apr 15/4 May 18/5 Jun 15/6 Jul 15/7 12 Business Monday, July 19, 2021 Mining and metals companies accelerate focus on sustainability Schneider Electric, AVEVA join hands to drive sustainability initiatives

DUBAI: Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automa- tion, and AVEVA, a global leader in industrial soft- ware, driving digital transformation and sustainabili- ty, announced yesterday that their combined tech- nology offerings are supporting the sustainability initiatives of mining companies in four key pillars: energy efficiency, yield improvement, low green- house emission technology adoption, and new green processes. Global decarbonization is heavily reliant on the Martin Provencher Ben Kirkwood sustainable production of minerals and commodities. A thriving and healthy mining and metals sector is crucial for the global economy and to support the WW Mining. “Efforts to innovation of new technologies and materials need- hit sustainability targets ed for climate change reduction, environment pro- and gain greater visibility Speakers from Schneider Electric, AVEVA, IDC, Rio Tinto and Vale at the event tection, and the circular economy. Schneider and control over opera- Electric and AVEVA are providing the tools required tions will enable corpo- rate insight and action trols,” said David Willick, VP North America, embracing a secure, cloud-first approach to visual- by organizations to make informed decisions that Mining, Minerals and Metals Segment, Schneider ize and contextualize enterprise-wide processes will empower people across the mining, minerals, relating to energy, water usage, and management Electric. “Digitalization is a critical evolution for the across global operations. The combination of and metals value chains to be more strategic in their resources industry, and Schneider Electric and Schneider Electric’s energy management solutions, choices based on sound advice with sustainability in of the operational envi- ronment. IDC’s global AVEVA are uniquely qualified to help. We are automation systems and services, and AVEVA’s mind. They are assisting operators and managers in experts at marshalling the power of connected sys- Digital Mining Transformation solutions enable our David Willick analysis of the revenue these choices leaving these organizations well posi- tems and human insight to bring operational per- customers to transform conventional mining opera- tioned to tackle some of the challenges associated growth and profitability of industrial companies formance to its highest level. Together, we have won tions into intelligent, resilient and sustainable with adopting sustainable practices, potentially the trust of the world’s leading companies with undertakings.” resulting in reduced operating costs and thus pro- shows that those with a committed and ongoing sus- tainability-based strategy combined with a long- thousands of implementations onsite and in the Corporate Knights recently named Schneider viding the rare ability of appeasing all stakeholders. cloud. Today our joint customers can benefit from Electric the world’s most sustainable company. According to an IDC Technology Spotlight, term, funded, digital transformation agenda consid- erably outperform their competitors.” our shared customer-centric innovation culture, According to the IDC Technology Spotlight, sponsored by AVEVA and Schneider Electric, unmatched R&D capabilities, and extensive sector- Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform combined Transitioning to Sustainable Mining, Minerals and Digitalization specific expertise.” with AVEVA’s Digital Mining and Metals Metals Practices, the top three market pressures “Although the benefits of digital transformation Transformation solutions can provide the opera- driving the sustainability agendas of mining and The IDC Technology Spotlight also reinforces the fact that as the industry continues to experience are crystal clear, the mining industry has thus far tional and organizational insight required to make metals organizations are: been limited by legacy infrastructure, data inade- sustainable operations and improved decisions • Need to improve brand equity backlash from its perceived stagnant position on sustainability, platforms with added analytics are quacies, and piecemeal optimization programs,” through the collection and analysis of data. The • Reduce the risk of an adverse event said Martin Provencher, Industry Principal, Mining, partner companies aim to decarbonize the mining, • Ensure compliance with current and future enabling improved operational efficiencies while enhancing the visibility of the changes being made. Metals and Materials, AVEVA. “Increasingly viru- minerals and metals value chains through the provi- regulations lent cyberattacks and a growing mandate for decar- sion of an industrial IoT platform with technology “Technology has a critical role to play in sup- “Digitally integrated operations can address key areas of an organization’s sustainability agenda by bonized minerals have further emphasized the and software elements supporting the capability for porting mining companies,” said Ben Kirkwood, importance of having high data availability and energy management and automation. Senior Research Manager, IDC Energy Insights - combining power and process intelligence and con-

rams to sacrifice during the Islamic In Senegal, festival of Eid Al-Adha-also called Tabaski-which begins next week. Senegalese breeders only devel- Travel happy giant sheep oped the variety over the past 20 years, according to Diop, to accentuate with Ooredoo prized for Eid the sheep’s proportions and physical beauty. DAKAR: A ram the size of a small Abou Kane, another top breeder, roaming bundles pony tosses its head inside a sumptu- has dozens of Ladoum tethered under ous pen illuminated by flashing disco a white tent in the center of Dakar to KUWAIT: Summer has always been the per- lights, before lunging at some ewes half sell for Tabaski. His clients will pay up fect season for travelling, and the holiday sea- its size. The skittish animal lives on a to 2 million CFA francs (3,000 euros, son has started. Thus, Ooredoo Telecom, the rooftop in Senegal’s capital Dakar, $3,600) for a sacrificial animal. “It’s an first to introduce innovative digital services in alongside a dozen ewes, in an enclo- exceptional breed that you can find Kuwait, launched its roaming bundles at com- sure featuring ceiling fans, faux chan- nowhere else,” he says, praising the petitive prices designed to fulfill its customers’ needs while travelling. deliers and multi-colored lighting. sheep’s “splendor”. By subscribing to any of the roaming bun- The plush surroundings underscore dles; “Ooredoo Passport” or “My Country”, the deep affection owner Abdou Fatah ‘Mystify the neighbors’ DAKAR: A herdsman keeps watch over his sheep in the Keur Massar sheep mar- customers will no longer need to purchase a Slaughtering flashy rams for Diop has for the breed of sheep ket. Thousands of sheep are transported to Dakar ahead of Tabaski (Eid Al- local SIM card to enjoy telecommunication Tabaski has become a marker of sta- known as Ladoum, which are native to Adha) celebrations. — AFP services, enabling them to enjoy unlimited ben- tus in Senegal. But prices are far out the West African country. “It’s a pas- efits including unlimited Internet, calls within the sion. I forget everything,” Diop says of reach for many in the country, visited destination and to more than 70 coun- of his sheep, adding that he spends where about 40 percent live on less for the nicest sheep is a uniquely to choose the nicest animal. “God tries; all from their Ooredoo Kuwait number. more money on them then he does on than $1.90 (1.70 euros) a day, accord- Senegalese phenomenon and that demanded of us a sacrifice,” he said. Further, customers no longer have to worry his family. ing to the World Bank. customers are picky. “You really shouldn’t choose just any- about the rigors associated with mobile con- But the sheep are still money-spin- There is still pressure to buy a “Every Senegalese wants a big thing”. Some argue that the pursuit of nectivity while travelling. ners. Businessman Diop, 40, sells lambs good-looking sheep, however. In ram” the 61-year-old added, which beauty in sheep has little to do with The “Ooredoo Passport”, the first of its kind sired by his prize ram to other Ladoum Dakar’s largest ruminants’ market, can “mystify” the neighbours and Tabaski, however. in the State of Kuwait, enables all prepaid and breeders who want to improve their herders in colorful robes stroll among make children happy. Not all sheep El Hadji Mamadou Ndiaye, an postpaid Internet customers to enjoy roaming herds, for the equivalent of thousands. thousands of bleating sheep and goats. are exorbitant. Talla said many go for imam at Dakar’s Great Mosque, said services around more than 70 countries, as well Many are similarly enamored with Traders from neighboring Mali and 60,000 CFA francs (90 euros, $107), the rules dictate that the sacrificial as the opportunity to choose from the daily, sheep in the mostly Muslim nation of Mauritania have come ahead of for example. animal be of a certain age, among weekly or monthly Internet or voice plans with Senegal, where there are popular tele- Tabaski to serve the city’s clientele. other measures, but say nothing of an unlimited benefits with flexible validity starting vision programs dedicated to the ani- The market does a roaring trade ‘Crackpots’ animal’s size or beauty. from KD 1 per day. The “My Country” roaming mal. The most prized variety are the over the festival period, according to Several traders interviewed by AFP Culture, as well as individual vani- bundle supports one country, in which it gives Ladoum: a smooth-haired breed with its president Mamadou Talla, clear- said that costs of upkeep and transport ty, play a role in the market for enor- customers the unlimited benefits available only curled horns that can reach imposing ing about 150,000 euros ($180,000) justified the seemingly high price of mous Tabaski sheep, he suggested. “If in the customers’ chosen country and will not heights of 1.2 meters (4 feet) or more at a day in sales and supplying half of ordinary Tabaski sheep. For the deluxe you’re not a crackpot, you just follow roam outside it, and they can choose from 27 the shoulder. A wealthy elite also pays the 260,000 sheep consumed in animals, breeder Abou Kane argued the criteria that are demanded,” countries. Hence, the offer is valid for 30 days small fortunes for magnificent Ladoum Dakar. Talla, 61, said that competing that the rich have a religious obligation Ndiaye said. —AFP for KWD Ooredoo has customized these pack- ages to fulfill the lifestyle of its customers and give them the best value at competitive prices. NBK Money Markets Report driving the soaring demand to the limited used car ease concerns over the Fed’s response to surging Hence, all Ooredoo roaming bundles start their market. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly inflation. Powell pushed back against suggestions journey from the plane with inflight roaming. invoked used car prices as evidence for the tempo- that the regulator might be complacent about infla- Existing Ooredoo customers can choose from rary nature of the current inflation surge. tion risks, saying that the Fed was ready to act if subscribing to a Voice (internet and minutes) or Fed maintains Other factors having a hand in the rising figures needed to tame prices and that he sympathized with internet plan or purchase and Internet SIM, included travel related expenses such as airfare, hotel public concern over rising prices. “I know people are while for non-existing customers they can pur- prices and car rental costs, all rising due to lock- very worried about inflation, we hear that loud and chase a SIM to utilize it abroad. its stance amid downs being loosened. Energy prices also surged as clear from everybody, it is really going through the Americans shook off pandemic restrictions and took economy and through every business,” said Powell. rising inflation to the roads again. Fed officials had predicted in June Powell largely stuck to his view that the inflation that their preferred gauge of core inflation would rise increases would be transitory and will eventually sub- KUWAIT: Consumer price index, a key measure of by 3 percent this year before mellowing down to 2.1 side. Powell did not break any new ground on mone- Burgan Bank offers inflation for the Federal Reserve was released on percent in 2022. But Tuesday’s reading saw econo- tary policy during the three hour hearing, he reiterat- Tuesday where it showed the pace of US consumer mists believing that the surprisingly high inflation ed that the central bank would continue discussions for Youth Account prices has accelerated unexpectedly in June. could pressure the regulator to consider slowing later this month on reducing its $120bn in monthly The reading showed CPI rose last month at its monetary stimulus by reducing asset purchases soon- asset purchases, and that the Fed is not yet debating a holders at Unique Hype fastest pace since August 2008, surging 5.4 percent er than previously though. The Biden administration rise in its main interest rate from its rock bottom level. from the previous year, while surpassing the 5 per- has previously expressed confidence that the surge in Powell sought to strike a balance between accept- KUWAIT: On the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Burgan cent increase reported in May and the 4.9 percent prices would subside, and continued to defend that ing that the inflation readings had caught the fed off- Bank is offering its Youth account customers a KD 50 rise forecasted by economists. On a monthly basis, view after the data were published. The White guard so far, while also stressing that the big picture discount at Unique Hype. Unique Hype is one of the the data showed price gains of 0.9 percent, the House’s Council of Economic Advisers on Tuesday had not changed. He said “It is still the same story. It trendiest stores for streetwear clothing, limited-edition biggest one month jump since June 2008. Core CPI, stressed in a series of tweets that, outside of disrup- is still the same parts of the economy that are pro- sneakers and apparel. Burgan Bank Youth cardholders the figure that strips out volatile items such as food tions related to the pandemic and supply chain issues, ducing this inflation. It is a pretty narrow group of can avail the offer on the shoes collection throughout and energy, rose from a yearly increase of 3.8 percent core CPI had risen by 0.22 percent month over things that are producing these high readings, but we the Eid holiday at Unique Hype store at Al-Hamra Mall. in May to 4.5 percent in June. month, relative to 0.28 percent in May and 0.31 per- are anxious like everybody else to see that inflation Burgan Bank’s partnership with Unique Hype is The inflation figure had investors, economists and cent in April. “We’re at a place where a set of pan- pass through.” He also urged lawmakers to have part of the Bank’s objective to expand and diversify its policy makers scrutinizing the reading in the middle demic related services are still normalizing their “faith” in the Fed’s judgment that it was still riskier to promotional offers to the Youth account customers. of a debate about the risk of runaway consumer prices back to where they were before the pandemic. tighten policy too early than too late. “We really do Burgan Bank has majority owned subsidiaries, collec- prices, fueled by ultra-accommodative fiscal and We’re in a world where we see a very concentrated believe and virtually all forecasters do believe that tively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”, in the monetary policy. Looking at the numbers it is appar- bottleneck around autos, and everything else in the these things will come down of their own accord as MENAT region supported by one of the largest ent that price jumps have so far been most significant core series we’re seeing deceleration,” a White House the economy reopens - it would be a mistake to act regional branch networks, which includes Gulf Bank in sectors directly affected by the coronavirus pan- official said on Tuesday. prematurely.” Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq demic. The highest driver being prices of used cars A day following the release of the US inflation & Lebanon), Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), which have soared due to a semiconductor shortage, date, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell testified in Kuwait and fully owned Burgan Bank Turkey. Furthermore, semiconductors are an essential component in build- front of the Congress, where he fended questions Kuwaiti dinar Burgan Bank has a presence in the UAE through its ing new cars, and the shortage made new cars scarce, from Republicans and Democrats alike, in a bid to USD/KWD closed last week at 0.30055 corporate office, Burgan Financial Services Limited. Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Monday, July 19, 2021

French director Julia Ducournau poses on stage Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve poses with with her trophy after she won the Palme d’Or her trophy during a photocall after she was for her film “Titane”. awarded with the Best Actress Prize for her part in the film “Verdens Verste Menneske” (The Worst Person In The World)”.

Hong Kong director Tang Yi poses with her tro- French director Julia Ducournau poses on stage with US actress Sharon Stone, French actor Vincent Lindon, French actress Agathe Rousselle and US phy during a photocall after she won the Palme Italian director Marco Bellocchio poses during director and Jury President of the 74th Cannes Film Festival Spike Lee after she won the Palme d’Or for her film “Titane” during the closing ceremony d’Or - Short Film for her film “All the Crows in a photocall after he received an honorary of the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. — AFP photos the World”. Palme d’Or.

hock-fest “Titane” took home the top It was a huge night, too, for the previ- said: “I apologize for messing up.” But eccentric Los Angeles pop duo Sparks. Spit tests Palme d’Or prize at Cannes on ously unknown Norwegian actress then he almost fluffed the presentation The second-prize Grand Prix was shared There were doubts early in the festival SSaturday, revealed early at the clos- Renate Reinsve, who was rocketed to again, starting to announce the winner between Iran’s two-time Oscar winner about the COVID logistics, with some fes- ing ceremony in an embarrassing slip-up stardom by her role in “Worst Person in rather than presenter Sharon Stone, by Asghar Farhadi (“A Hero”) and Finland’s tival-goers grossed out by the spit tests by jury president Spike Lee. French direc- the World”. Her role as a twenty-some- which point Ducournau was giggling in the Juho Kuosmanen (“Compartment No.6”), required every 48 hours, and criticism on tor Julie Ducournau is only the second thing searching for her identity and pin- audience. She still broke into tears when while best screenplay went to Japan’s social media over unmasked attendees in woman to scoop the prize, for a movie the cinemas at early premieres. that was one of the wildest, sexiest and Restrictions were tightened, partying most violent ever shown at the Cannes scaled back, and even though the stars film festival. couldn’t quite keep themselves from hugs “It’s the first film ever where a Cadillac and kisses on the red carpet, the festival impregnated a woman. That blew my appeared to pass without a major out- mind!” Lee said. “That’s genius and crazi- break. ness together.” “Titane” tells the story of a But there was still plenty of star power. woman who kills without a care, with brutal Tilda Swinton was ubiquitous on the red scenes that had many cinemagoers shield- carpet, appearing in five films of the offi- ing their eyes during the opening night. cial selection. She starred in “Memoria” by Lee, the first black man to lead the jury, Thailand’s former Palme winner read out the winner at the very start of the Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which prize ceremony, rather than introducing the Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi poses Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul poses US actor Caleb Landry Jones delivers a speech shared the third-place jury prize with first award of the night for best actor. with his trophy after he won the Best with his trophy after he was jointly awarded on stage after he was awarded with the Best “Ahed’s Knee” by Nadav Lapid. But After an awkward pause and regroup- Screenplay prize for the film “Drive My Car”. with the Jury Prize for the film “Memoria”. Actor Prize for his part in “Nitram”. Swinton was clear that her proudest ing, the best actor award went to US actor moment was receiving the Palm Dog Caleb Landry Jones for his chilling per- balling through relationships was a sensa- the official announcement was made, and Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Takamasa Oe award on behalf of her three spaniels, formance in “Nitram” about Australia’s tion, and caught the 33-year-old totally told the crowd: “This evening has been for “Drive My Car”. who appeared with her in “The Souvenir worst mass shooting. Making a film about unprepared. “No one has seen me in any- perfect because it’s been imperfect. The race had been wide open this Part 2”. “Honestly, this is the prize to get,” the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, in thing,” she told AFP after the premiere. Thank you for letting the monsters in.” year, with critics pointing to many possible she said at Friday’s canine ceremony, as which 35 people died, triggered harsh crit- “The other day I woke up and I puked. The only other woman to win the top prize successors to “Parasite”, the South she tied the red collar prize around her icism of director Justin Kurzel in Australia. And today I woke up and I cried.” is Jane Campion for “The Piano” in 1993. Korean hit which took home the last neck. — AFP But critics were won over at the Cannes Other winners on the night included Palme in 2019 before making history by premiere, with Variety calling it a “devas- ‘Letting the monsters in’ Leos Carax as best director for “Annette”, triumphing at the Oscars. Last year’s fes- tating study of atrocity” that shows “quiet When it finally became time to the flamboyant rock opera starring Adam tival was cancelled because of the pan- respect for the victims’ dignity”. announce the Palme d’Or for real, Lee Driver and Marion Cotillard, and written by demic.

avirus lockdowns reinvigorated hobbyists to remain anonymous. and attracted new ones, with investors Campobasso doesn’t sell his card of Deal! Sports helping to send prices skyrocketing. “It’s Curry but he does strike a deal worth had a massive impact,” Jacob Salter, $11,000. A 44-year-old collector calling product manager at Bleecker Trading himself Cage Lawyer, who owns a Jordan trading cards which hosted the trade night in New York, card worth half a million dollars, says trad- said of the pandemic. “People were ing cards are now increasingly seen as boom in home, they were bored, cooped up in astute investments. “People view them as their house, reliving their childhood. They an alternative asset class now, something started buying sports cards,” added the akin to art and cryptocurrency. People are pandemic-era US 25-year-old. The early days of lockdown looking for something to put their money coincided with the release in April 2020 of in to hedge against inflation,” he explains. hit Netflix series “The Last Dance”, about The frenzy is a boon for the growing nside an unassuming store in New Michael Jordan’s celebrated Chicago number of investment groups now trading York’s Greenwich Village, around a Bulls team of the 1990s. It sent demand in sports cards. Alt, which invests in untra- Idozen men unlock black briefcases, for Jordan memorabilia soaring and con- ditional assets, estimates that the trading remove sports cards and begin to trade tributed towards basketball cards taking card market is currently worth $15 billion. them - a growing hobby and industry that center stage in the sports trading card It splashed out the $5.9 million on the has boomed during the pandemic. world, which had long been dominated by autographed Curry card. Collectable is Excitement is high after a San Francisco- baseball. another company that engages in frac- based investment fund announced earlier In February this year, a rare Jordan tional ownership where investors buy that day that it had bought a card of card signed by the six-time NBA champi- Traders exchange sports cards at Bleecker Trading in New York on July 6, 2021. — AFP photos shares in cards. Golden State Warriors’ basketball star on himself sold for $1.44 million at auc- PWCC is a trading card marketplace Stephen Curry for $5.9 million, setting a tion, breaking the previous record for a include rarity and condition. All of the the value of their cards. that holds auctions and runs a secure new record. card of his by $500,000. A LeBron James cards are encased in see-through plastic vault where owners can store their cards. Michael Campobasso, a 38-year-old rookie card fetched $5.2 million in April. “slabs”, which the traders proudly display ‘Assets’ It expects to do over $500 million in sales jewelry dealer, hopes that sale will spur Basketball cards dominate exchanges at on racks inside hard suitcases that have He once paid $50,000 in a partial cash- this year, roughly three times what it did in interest in his highly graded card of Curry the Bleecker Trading event, where organ- combination number locks due to their trade transaction for rising NBA star Luka 2020, according to business development from the three-time NBA champion’s rook- izer Salter estimates the total value of contents’ high-value. Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks who will director Jesse Craig. “We’re very confi- ie 2009-10 season. “After that card this is cards in the room over the course of the For 28-year-old Vahe Hekimian, col- represent Slovenia at this summer’s dent that our industry is going to keep probably one of his more coveted cards. night at $20 million. lecting sports cards started as a hobby Olympics. The most valuable trade of the growing,” he said. — AFP I’d sell it for $80,000,” says Campobasso, The authenticity of the cards have all that morphed into his main source of night exceeds $90,000 and involves multi- who paid $25,000 for it last year. been attested to by grading companies, income. “It’s a passion. I love it. But I also ple cards, including of baseball hotshot The sports trading card industry has which rate them on a scale of one to ten, sell to keep going,” he tells AFP, explain- Shohei Ohtani and young NFL quarter- been growing for several years but coron- with ten being the highest. Ratings factors ing that sports stars’ performances impact back Justin Herbert. Those involved want

NBA star Michael Jordan cards are displayed. Soccer star Lionel Messi cards are displayed at Bleecker Trading. A trader selects a card. 14 Sports Monday, July 19, 2021 Rovanpera becomes youngest WRC race winner with Estonia Rally victory TARTU, Estonia: Kalle Rovanpera, a drivers’ championship to 37 points over driver to reach the podium when he fin- 20-year-old Finn, became the youngest Toyota team-mate Welshman Elfyn ished third in Sweden. winner in the World Rally Championship Evans who was fifth. This season he finished second in the when he took the Estonia Rally yester- Home hope and four-time race winner Arctic Rally on home snow before going day. Rovanpera beat Hyundai’s Craig Ott Tanak won three stages yesterday, one better on Sunday just across the Breen by almost a minute and broke the including the closing power stage, but Gulf of Finland less than five months lat- record of another Finn, Jari-Matti finished 22nd more than 1hr 2mins slower er. Rovanpera is often compared to Latvala, now his boss at Toyota, who was than Rovanpera after temporarily aban- another prominent young driver, Max 22 when he claimed his first victory in doning on Friday following three punc- Verstappen, who is leading the Formula Sweden in 2008. tures on his Hyundai. He moved up to One standings for Red Bull. The former Skoda driver, who lives in fourth in the overall standings, leap- Also the son of a driver, the Estonia, was joined by his father Harri, a frogging Tanak, and is 14 points behind Dutchman, who came through the Red one-time rally winner, at the finish line. third-placed Neuville. Bull driver development program, made “It has been a difficult season and it’s Rovanpera had held the lead in his Formula One debut in 2015 at 17 really nice to get it here in Estonia. It’s Estonia since Friday’s fourth stage as he years 5 months and 15 days, before win- almost a home rally and a lot of fans followed in his dad’s footsteps after ning his first Grand Prix in 2016 at 18 were here supporting,” Rovanpera told Harri’s Sweden Rally victory in 2001. years 7 months and 15 days. “I’ve heard the WRC’s website. Rovanpera junior was just 11 months old it before and I think it’s pretty flattering,” “It has been a long season so far with at the time of his father’s sole success said Rovanpera who has been connected not so good results, but we proved that and began driving aged eight. He started to Red Bull since he was 16. the pace is there and now we can bring it competing as a 14-year-old in Latvia and Rovanpera has plenty of time to KYAPA, Estonia: Finland’s driver Kalle Rovanpera and Finland’s co-driver Jonne Halttunen home which is good,” he added. Belgian won the national title in 2016 and 2017. dethrone the youngest ever WRC steer their Toyota Yaris WRC car during stage 15 Mustvee of the WRC Rally Estonia, the sev- Thierry Neuville finished third for champion, Britain’s Colin McRae, who enth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, on Saturday near Kaapa, Estonia. —AFP Hyundai, 1min 12sec behind, after win- Son of a driver won the title in 1995 at 27 years, 7 ning three of the day’s stages and finish- He made his debut at the Wales Rally months and 25 days. “He is part of a experience,” said his first boss at Toyota, humor. He told AFP that he chose 69 as ing second in the other three. Seven-time GB later that year and claimed his first new generation of drivers but he seems four-time world champion Tommi his car number because: “That way, champion Sebastien Ogier finished points in Australia the following month. to be ready despite his young age and Makinen. While Rovanpera rarely smiles when I put the car on its roof, the num- fourth to extend his overall lead in the Last year, Rovanpera was the youngest knows how to analyses with a lot of in public he is not without a sense of ber stays the same”. — AFP Three people shot outside baseball stadium in US capital WASHINGTON: Three people were shot outside a baseball stadium crowded with thousands of spectators in the US capital on Saturday, causing the game to be abruptly halted as fans were ush- ered out. Police initially tweeted four people had been shot, but Washington police second in com- mand Ashan Benedict later said there were three wounded in the incident. He said two of those hit were in one of two vehi- cles that was involved in a shootout. The third victim WASHINGTON: People are seen leaving the Nationals Park stadium as the game between the Nationals and was a woman on the sidewalk outside the stadium the San Diego Padres was interrupted due to a shooting outside the stadium in Washington, DC, on where she had been attending the game. “At no time Saturday. — AFP during this incident were individuals inside the stadi- um attending the game in any type of danger. This of people sprinting away from the stands. The United Washington, DC. Police tweeted that the investiga- was not an active shooter incident. Everything took States has a long and painful history of deadly gun tion was active but that “it appears there is no ongo- place outside the stadium,” Benedict told reporters. violence, in the form of a steady daily toll of shootings ing threat at this time.” He said the woman was “expected to be OK.” as well as high-profile mass killings that have targeted The department initially said two people had AFP journalists who were at the game said some schools, workplaces and shopping centers. been shot, and then later added that further “victims spectators had rushed for the exits after hearing a associated with this incident walked into area hospi- dozen or more gunshots outside the stadium, while Non-life threatening wounds tals for treatment of gunshot wounds.” The others remained in their seats at the announcer’s The lights of multiple police cars lit up the street Washington Post quoted police as saying two of the initial urging. and sirens could be heard as the crowd attending wounded had non-life threatening injuries, with a Several bursts of automatic gunfire could be clear- the game between the Washington Nationals and the man shot in the leg and a woman shot in the back. ly heard in the stadium in footage of the game posted San Diego Padres was asked to leave the stadium, in The condition of the third person was not immedi- on social media, while another video showed streams the Navy Yard neighborhood of southern ately known. — AFP KUWAIT: Kuwait’s wheelchair basketball team captain Hamad Al-Adwani (right) receives the championship trophy. Charlo, Castano battle to draw in super welterweight showdown Kuwait wins LOS ANGELES: Jermell Charlo and Argentina’s Castano, another 114-114 Brian Castano fought to a draw and the third raised eyebrows by Arab wheelchair Saturday, denying either a historic scoring it a one-sided 117-111 in favor victory that would have crowned one of American Charlo. Both fighters of them the first four belt undisputed thought they won the bout, Charlo basketball crown champion in boxing’s super welter- because he almost knocked down his weight division. rival in the second round and Castano KUWAIT: Kuwait Disabled Sports Club The showdown marked the first because he controlled the tempo in wheelchair basketball team won the Arab time all four 154-pound belts were on the middle rounds. Championship after beating Jordan 49-37. the line with Charlo keeping his three “A draw isn’t what I wanted to Club Chairman Shafi Al-Hajiri dedicated the (WBC, WBA and IBF) and Castano hear,” said Charlo. “I won this fight. I win to HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad retaining the WBO strap as a result of hurt him a lot more. My power is seri- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince the draw. But the fight proved to be ous. I had him in trouble in the second Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, closer than expected with more- and 10th rounds. This is my first time the government and people of Kuwait. Hajiri aggressive Castano proving he could experiencing something like this. This congratulated the athletes for winning this take Charlo’s best punch and deliver comes with boxing — wins, losses first event after the suspension of internation- heavy blows of his own, especially in and draws.” Charlo was looking for al participation due to the coronavirus pan- the middle rounds at the AT&T the spectacular knockout, while SAN ANTONIO: Jermell Charlo (right) and Brian Castano (left) exchange punches demic. He said the club will reward the players Center in San Antonio, Texas. Castano was the more patient of the with $20,000. during their Super Welterweight fight at AT&T Center on Saturday in San Antonio, Judges delivered a split decision two, using a combination of body and Texas. — AFP draw with one having it 114-113 for head shots to score. — AFP

became the first club to win back-to-back Ahly punish 10-man Champions League titles three times. South Africa-born Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane, Chiefs to win CAF who supported Chiefs as a child, became the first African coach to win the competition three times. Champions League He succeeded in 2016 with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, and again with Ahly last CASABLANCA: Egyptian club Al-Ahly won a season in an all-Egyptian final against fierce record-extending 10th CAF Champions rivals Zamalek. Ahly pocket $2.5 million for win- League title on Saturday with a 3-0 final vic- ning the Champions League and are guaranteed tory over 10-man South African rivals Kaizer at least another $3.5 million when they compete Chiefs in Casablanca. Mohamed Sherif scored in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. his sixth goal of the competition after 53 min- Before travelling to the Far East, the Egyptian utes to put the Cairo Red Devils ahead at an club that have won 22 African titles will play empty Stade Mohammed V because of the CAF Confederation Cup winners Raja coronavirus pandemic. Casablanca of Morocco in a one-off match for A brilliant goal from Mohamed ‘Afsha’ the CAF Super Cup. It was a bitterly disappoint- LA CORUNA, Spain: Kuwaiti boxer Hamza Behbehani (left) participates in his first professional boxing match. Magdy on 64 minutes left little doubt about the ing first appearance in the final by Chiefs, whose outcome in a disappointing finale to the mar- lone CAF title came 21 years ago when they won quee African club competition. Amr el Sulaya the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup. cult. “My opponent began with a strong and fast hook in an attempt to knock me out, but I was able rubbed salt into the wounds of Chiefs with a The Soweto outfit matched Ahly early on and Kuwait’s Behbehani to regroup quickly and was able to hit him with third goal on 74 minutes, slamming a back-heel had the lone shot on target in the opening half several punches that dropped him to the mat sever- past Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi. with an effort by Serbian forward Samir wins first pro duel al times, prompting the referee to stop the match,” Chiefs were struggling to contain Ahly late Nurkovic that Ahly goalkeeper and captain he added. He said there will be several matches in the first half when they suffered a massive Mohamed el Shenawy comfortably saved. LA CORUNA, Spain: The first professional ahead leading to the world championship. World blow with the red-carding of Happy Mashiane. Starting the second half with 10 men, Chiefs Kuwaiti boxer Hamza Behbehani launched his pro Boxing Council (WBC) representative in Kuwait The forward stamped on the right leg of full- packed their defense in the hope of snatching career with a bang, as he knocked out his opponent Mishal Al-Fajji lauded this achievement for Kuwait, back Ahmed Tawfik and, after initially flashing victory through a breakaway goal or a penalty in the first match held in La Coruna, Spain. which reflects the high standard Kuwait sport has a yellow card, the Burundi referee checked the shootout. But the resistance lasted just eight min- Behbehani expressed his happiness to raise the reached. “We will continue supporting Behbehani foul on a monitor and changed his decision. utes before being undone by a superb pass from Kuwaiti flag high in an international boxing champi- all the way to reaching the world championship, and It was a historic victory for Ahly, who Tawfik that Sherif chipped over Akpeyi. — AFP onship. He said the match, though short, was diffi- this needs more effort and hard work,” he said. Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, July 19, 2021 South African cases spark cluster scare in Olympic Village TOKYO: Two South African footballers and a video would be safer, so I am amazed that the virus even analyst have tested positive for the coronavirus in the got inside there. I think it’s dangerous,” cosmetics Tokyo Olympic Village, officials said yesterday, rais- company employee Riyoka Kasahara, 23, said. ing fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony. The cases further darkened a gloomy ‘Extra strain’ atmosphere around the 2020 Games, which will final- Separately, South Korean International Olympic ly open after a year’s delay on Friday but remain Committee member Ryu Seung-min tested positive widely opposed by the Japanese public. on arrival in Japan and was placed in isolation, a Players Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi spokesman for the body said. On Saturday, IOC pres- and analyst Mario Masha are in isolation after testing ident Thomas Bach appealed for Japanese fans to positive, Team South Africa said, adding that the show support for the Games, saying he was “very whole delegation had been following anti-coron- well aware of the skepticism” surrounding the event. avirus rules. “They have been tested on arrival, daily Athletes are arriving to find a restrictive environ- at the Olympic Village and complied with all the ment, with daily testing, social distancing and no mandatory measures,” a statement said. South movement possible outside the Olympic “bubble”. Africa’s rugby sevens coach Neil Powell also tested They are under orders to leave Japan 48 hours after positive and is in isolation in the Japanese town their event. In another example of the difficulties, where the squad are training. Australia’s entire athletics team was quarantined “The timing of the positive results suggests that NARITA: Members of the Netherlands delegation wait for screening and COVID testing upon their arrival on a flight before departure after a member of their entourage the PCR test in these individuals was done during the from Amsterdam at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture yesterday, ahead of the 2020 Olympic returned an inconclusive test. The official later tested incubation period of the infection, which is how they Games in Tokyo. — AFP negative. “We expect that there’ll be cases associated could be negative in South Africa and then positive in with these Games and really what’s going to matter is Japan,” said chief medical officer Phatho Zondi. how we respond to that and to ensure that there’s no Organizers earlier said two athletes and a member ments and dining areas in Tokyo, will house 6,700 stringent anti-coronavirus conditions with athletes complacency,” said David Hughes, medical director of of their support staff had become the first cases in athletes and officials at its peak when the Games get tested daily. the Australian Olympic team. the Olympic Village, without identifying those underway. “Mingling and crossing of populations is very lim- On Saturday, Games chief Seiko Hashimoto admit- involved. Fifty-five cases linked to the Games have The Tokyo Games will be held largely behind ited. We keep the risk to an absolute minimum level,” ted athletes are “probably very worried” about com- been discovered this month, including four athletes. closed doors to prevent infections. The Japanese cap- Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi ing to Japan, pledging full transparency over COVID Competitors are flying in from around the world ital remains under a coronavirus state of emergency said yesterday. “We can ensure that transmission cases. Japanese and Olympic officials have also been for the pandemic-delayed Olympics, which are facing and has been battling a sharp uptick in cases. between the various groups is almost impossible.” forced onto the defensive over a welcome reception a backlash in Japan due to the risk of fresh COVID Olympic officials have been at pains to play down the But Tokyo residents appeared unsettled by the for Bach attended by 40 people, while Tokyo remains outbreaks. The Olympic Village, a complex of apart- health risks of the Games, which are taking place in cases in the Village. “I thought the Olympic Village under a coronavirus state of emergency. — AFP

football, judo, boxing and athletics as well as rowing. For Iraq’s Olympians, But this year just one other Iraqi apart from Ryadh qualified as of right — sprinter Dana Hussein, 35, for the women’s 200 meters. the Tokyo dream Hussein left it to mid-June to claim her berth with a qualifying time of 22.51 seconds as she took gold in the is just taking part pan-Arab athletics championship in Tunis. Two other Iraqis were handed wildcard slots after coming close to their qualifying scores — 400 meter specialist Taha BAGHDAD: For the four Iraqi athletes who have made Hussein and shooter Fatima Abbas. The four makes up it to Tokyo, there is no realistic talk of medals. Having Iraq’s smallest squad of Olympians since its Games in overcome war, politics and pandemic, their dream is London in 1948. simply to participate. With state financial support cut off by political infighting for most of the run-up to the Uday’s long shadow Games and their locked-down foreign coaches unable Iraq’s Olympians were all children when Saddam to offer more than virtual advice, Iraq’s small squad of Hussein’s long years in power came to an end in the Olympians got there almost entirely by their own US-led invasion of 2003. But the country’s Olympic TOKYO: Kuwaiti Olympic shooting team pose for a group picture with locals from the Japanese city of Nihonmatsu. efforts. Right up to November of last year, when a new movement is only now recovering from the brutal two- national Olympic chief was elected, watched over by decade grip of the dictator’s sadistic eldest son Uday the International Olympic Committee by video link, who allegedly tortured athletes he deemed to have Iraq’s very participation in the Games was in doubt. A underperformed. nearly two-year battle for control of the National The committee Uday headed was dissolved by the Olympic Committee’s $25 million budget had seen Iraq US-led occupation authority after the invasion along ostracized by the IOC and its athletes deprived of the with all of the other instruments of Saddam’s rule. But monthly stipends they rely on to prepare for competi- the manner of its dissolution, and the uncomfortable tions. But despite the loss of state financial support fact that Saddam’s Iraq took part in multiple Olympics and the difficulties of travelling to qualifying events before the dictator’s overthrow, left a question mark during the coronavirus pandemic, two Iraqi hopefuls over the legitimacy of the body that replaced it. managed to qualify for Tokyo. That cleared the way for the sports ministry to launch a campaign to oust it in February 2019, leaving Training by email athletes in financial limbo as the rump committee bat- Rower Mohammed Ryadh, 27, will take part in the tled for control with a commission appointed by the men’s single sculls for the second Games in a row. But ministry. A new committee was finally set up last year he has no illusions about his medal chances after his which held fresh elections to the IOC’s satisfaction in French coach of the past nine years, Vincent Tassery, November and Iraq returned to the Olympic fold. was prevented by restrictions linked to the pandemic But little of the state funding filters down to help from travelling to Baghdad for the rower’s training ses- individual athletes cover the travel and training costs sions on the Tigris. “I have a French trainer and involved in qualifying. “What’s sad is that you go to Kuwaiti Olympic swimmers are greeted by locals from the Japanese city of Nihonmatsu.— KUNA photos because of COVID he hasn’t been able to come to Iraq these qualifying events and our authorities really don’t so he sends me instructions by e-mail that I have to care,” sprinter Dana Hussein told AFP. “It’s taken me 18 work on by myself,” Ryadh told AFP at his makeshift warming banner is now displayed at the hotel’s months of effort to book my place in Tokyo. I myself training base on the river bank. had to pay many of the costs of getting training Kuwait’s Olympians entrance to encourage the athletes before and after “So the goal is just to take part in the Olympic their training. In appreciation for Kuwait’s support fol- abroad because the athletics federation has very limit- Games. We both know it’s not worth even thinking ed means.” Hussein called for the Iraqi authorities to lowing the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, about a medal,” the rower admitted. To date, Iraq has in Nihonmatsu Nihonmatsu City, located about 200 km northeast of draw up a long-term plan for the investment in sports won just a single Olympic medal — a silver for infrastructure the country was deprived of during Tokyo, has applied to host the Kuwaiti team for a pre- weightlifting in Rome in 1960 — but it is not for want City greeted in style games training camp. decades of war and international sanctions. “We need of trying. At the 2016 Rio Games a total of 21 Iraqi ath- a long-term roadmap — money, equipment and a At least 10 top Kuwaiti players are partaking in the letes competed in an array of disciplines including Tokyo Games due between July 23 and August 8. Lara modern sports infrastructure,” she said. — AFP TOKYO: Kuwait’s Olympians staying in the Japanese Dashti and Abbas Qali will compete in swimming, city of Nihonmatsu have received a warm welcome Abdulrahman Al-Fadhel in rowing and Mohammad Al- from locals in the surprising Kuwaiti style that would Musawi in Karate. The other contenders are the shoot- make them feel at home. Upon their arrival, a group of ers Abdulrahman Al-Faihan, Mansour Al-Rashidi, people from the Nihonmatsu Chamber of Commerce Abdullah Turgi Al-Rashidi and Talal Turgi Al-Rashidi. and Industry has greeted Kuwait’s delegation near In the field-and-track, the participating Kuwaiti cham- their hotel with a large banner reading in the Kuwaiti pions are Yaaqoub Al-Yoha and Madhawi Al- dialect of Arabic, “We are with you. Go for it. Welcome Shemmari. here,” Vice-President Hideharu Ohta of the chamber An online seminar aiming at familiarizing the local said yesterday. “We hoped to extend our welcome to residents with Kuwait was held earlier this month, in the athletes of Kuwait, which offered us tremendous which Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) representative in support in response to the earthquake. As physical Japan Miyoko Ishigami presented a one-hour lecture contact with them is prohibited due to COVID-19 con- about the Kuwaiti life and culture. The event, organ- cerns, we arranged a support event in this way while ized by the city’s chamber of commerce, included talks maintaining social distancing,” Ohta said. between Ishigami and former State Minister for “We sincerely wish that the Kuwaiti Olympians will Foreign Affairs Masahisa Sato, which was later joined fully restore their energies here, which is rich with lush by the former Representative of Japan Cooperation BAGHDAD: Iraqi rower Mohammed Ryadh practices for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the Tigris River in the capital greenery, and that they will produce outstanding Center for the Middle East’s “Japan Desk” in Kuwait, Baghdad on June 8, 2021. — AFP results in the upcoming games,” he added. The heart- Akira Tanaka. — KUNA

this problem for four years,” Ghazal said. sports, but the latest was at the 2004 Athens Games. Syria eyes Olympic “I am adamant on coach Imad Sarraj... but he Firas Mualla, a former open water swimmer and the works in Oman and we are trying to get him to current head of the Syrian Olympic Committee, insist- success in Tokyo Tokyo,” he added. Since returning from a few months ed the team of six competitors had prepared well. of training in Oman in March, Ghazal has had to train Alongside Ghazal, they include weightlifter Man without his coach, as the pandemic further complicat- Asaad, showjumper Ahmed Hamsho, swimmer Ayman despite huge challenges ed international travel. “The coronavirus affected the Kalzieh, triathlete Mohamed Masso and Hind Zaza, a course of the training plan,” he said. “My preparation 12-year-old table-tennis player and the team’s only for the Rio Olympics was better,” added the athlete, female member. DAMASCUS: Syria is aiming to secure the war-bat- who has not participated in any international compe- Mualla said training this year was more challenging tered country’s fourth-ever Olympic medal in Tokyo, but one of its few world-class athletes is less opti- tition since 2019. than preparations for Rio, but hopes were high, espe- mistic after struggling to access coaching and facilities cially for the promising Asaad who finished 15th in the ‘Nothing is impossible’ for the past four years. The decade-long civil war and super heavyweight 105kg class five years ago. “We the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have drained With little access to his coach, Ghazal said his con- are optimistic about Man Asaad and his preparations Syria’s resources and left elite sport low on the list of fidence had taken a hit. “I don’t know the truth of my were good. Asaad and Majd Ghazal are our most priorities. High jumper Majd Eddin Ghazal, who fin- caliber,” he said. But the jumper with a personal best prominent team members,” he said. “We hope Man will ished seventh at the 2016 Rio Olympics before winning of 2.36 meters still holds out hope he could snatch a win a medal.” But Asaad is still recovering from a a bronze medal a year later at the world champi- medal in Tokyo, which will probably be the 34-year- shoulder injury he sustained at the 2020 Asian onships in London, has trained for years under Syrian old’s last Olympics. “Tokyo will be the fourth time I Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan. “After the participate in the Olympics and I am optimistic,” he Asian championship, I started having shoulder pains DAMASCUS: Syrian high jump player Majd Eddin Ghazal coach Imad Sarraj, who he hails as one of the best in the country. But Sarraj moved to Oman in 2017 to train said. “Nothing is impossible if the prerequisites for and I hope to get through it,” he said. Undeterred, he trains for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tishreen Sports City in success are made available,” he added. Syria has won trains everyday with his brother and coach, Qais, fol- Damascus on June 30, 2021. — AFP the national team there, leaving Ghazal without a coach close at hand. “We have not found a solution to a total of three Olympic medals in three different lowing a “calibrated and comprehensive plan”. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021 Bucks beat Suns to move one win from end of 50-year NBA drought

PHOENIX: Powered by 32 points from of our city, it’s important. It’s going to Giannis Antetokounmpo and late heroics be meaningful. But you have to go from Jrue Holiday, the Milwaukee Bucks make plays. You have to make things moved within one win of their first title in happen. Our guys, I think they’ll be 50 years by defeating the Phoenix Suns ready to do that.” 123-119 on Saturday in the NBA Finals. Teams winning game five to take a 3- Khris Middleton added 29 points 2 edge in the finals have won the title 72 while Holiday contributed 27 points, 13 percent of the time, 21 of 29 in all. assists and a crucial steal from Phoenix “Tables are turned. Now we’re the des- star Devin Booker that led to his alley- perate team,” Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton oop pass to Antetokounmpo for a dunk said. “We had our chances of being up in the final seconds to shut down a late and trying to finish the job. They’re up rally by the host Suns. and now we got to go get it.” The Bucks seized a 3-2 lead in the Middleton, who finished with seven best-of-seven championship series with rebounds and five assists, scored 11 game six tomorrow in Milwaukee. A sev- points in the third quarter and enth, if needed, would be played Antetokounmpo added eight to lift the Thursday in Phoenix. “One game away,” Bucks ahead 100-90 entering the fourth. Holiday said. “We can’t get too high on The Bucks, who fell behind by 16 points the horse. We know the last game is the after the first quarter, stretched their hardest to win. We know they will come lead as large as 14 points before the out and play desperate. We’ve got to do Suns rallied. the same thing.” Booker, who scored a game-high 40 With the Suns seeking a go-ahead points, hit a layup and a 3-pointer and basket in the dying seconds, Holiday Chris Paul followed with a layup to pull stole the ball from Booker and tossed a the Suns within 120-119. Booker high pass to Antetokounmpo for a slam rebounded a Holiday miss only to have dunk. Middleton added a final free throw Holiday make the steal and the lob to PHOENIX: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns during Game Five of the 2021 to seal the Suns’ fate. “Big time steal by Greek star Antetokounmpo for the jam. NBA Finals on Saturday at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. — AFP Holiday and great pass,” Antetokounmpo Holiday, who rebounded from 4-of-20 said. “He trusted me, threw the ball up shooting in game four to hit 12-of-20 in want to score but that’s not the most rebounds and six assists, said it was the Seeing the Suns squandering the big there. It was a great play by Holiday.” game five, figured Booker would try to important thing. I want to make it hard game the Bucks had awaited when all lead was painful for Booker. “We came The Bucks could become only the take the crucial shot and double teamed for them defensively.” The Bucks need three of their big stars had impressive out and did what we intended to do and fifth team in NBA Finals history to win him defensively. “We knew he wanted to only one more win to end a half-century games. “It was the game for us to get we let it go,” Booker said. “They stayed the crown after dropping the first two ball and wanted to take that last shot,” title drought. “We’ve got to keep playing going, all three of us,” he said. “It was a with it and played resilient. Tough loss.” games. “Going home to our fans is a Holiday said. “He turned right to me. I good basketball and hopefully we can great game for us. We went down 16, Paul had 21 points and 11 assists for great opportunity for us,” Bucks coach got the steal. Giannis was screaming for get a win,” Antetokounmpo said. we kept our composure and we came Phoenix while Bahamas big man Ayton Mike Budenholzer said. “The support it and I threw it as high as I could. I do Antetokounmpo, who had nine back to win.” had 20 points and 10 rebounds. — AFP