TWITTER SPORTS @newsofbahrain OP-ED 8 Killing of Quds Force commander shows how multilateralism is in need of a reboot INSTAGRAM Stokes inspires /nobmedia 8 England to series- LINKEDIN WEDNESDAY newsofbahrain JANUARY 2020 levelling win 210 FILS WHATSAPP ISSUE NO. 8350 Ben Stokes produced an 38444692 explosive spell of bowling as FACEBOOK England beat South Africa /nobmedia by 189 runs inside the last MAIL hour of the fifth day of the [email protected] second Test at Newlands WEBSITE yesterday. P16 newsofbahrain.com

Gwyneth Paltrow: I’m semi-retired 14 CELEBS WORLD 5 Trump says Zuckerberg told him he’s FB’s ‘number one’ AUB launches Saudi arrests ‘most Expo sector boom new WhatsApp Business dangerous terrorist’ Update Riyadh TDT | Manama olice in Saudi Arabia ar- rested a man in the east- Mr Al Ammar is hli United Bank (AUB) ern city of Qatif after suspected of being Ahas launched a ground- Phe opened fire on a security involved in the kidnap breaking WhatsApp trans- patrol, state-run Al Ekhbariya and murder of a judge actional Business service TV said on Tuesday, adding and participating in a update as part of growing that he was wanted for rob- fierce gun battle with AUB’s WhatsApp based ser- beries on vehicles transport- police. vice range. ing cash. The first-of-its-kind in The man, Mohammed Hus- SOURCES Bahrain, the update in - sein Ali Al Ammar, was de - cludes three distinct fea- scribed the “most dangerous Judge Shaikh Mohammed tures allowing customers wanted terrorist”, Al Ekbariya Jirani was kidnapped in 2016 to inquire about their ac- said. after being taken in front of count summaries and the He is suspected of being his home in the eastern prov- last five transactions made involved in the kidnap and ince of Awamiya. with their accounts. murder of a judge and partic- Sheikh Jirani’s remains ipating in a fierce gun battle were found on a farm in the with police that killed one of- area in 2017. ficer and wounded another, The judge was the target of sources said. a number of attempts on his No further details of the life before his abduction. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy shootout were provided. He Sheikh Jirani was critical of Prime Minister, yesterday attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Bahrain International Exhibition also opened fire on a separate fellow Shiites in the kingdom and Convention Centre in Sakhir, which took place under the patronage of His Royal Highness. HRH the Crown Prince police patrol near a mosque and had accused some clerics highlighted that the Kingdom’s rapid development and modernisation across a wide range of fields confirms Bahrain is in Qatif. of being too close to Iran. progressing towards achieving its development goals. See Page 3

Mr Abutaleb

Group Head Digital Trans- formation, Samih Abutaleb, Deadly stampede said, “This launch is a fur- ther update on our existing More than 50 killed in stampede at Qassem Soleimani Iran funeral AI-supported WhatsApp Business service. With this we step into the next phase Anxious Iranians of offering innovative and in- • teractive digital experience gathered outside a city I could hardly breathe. to our customers, setting a hospital to check the I had a seizure, and my base for us to build on for lists of victims or show foot was crushed pretty additional services in the doctors pictures of bad under the weight of future.” all that crowd. See Page 10 their missing relatives. VICTIM Pompeo held Soleimani• responsible Inside, patient Ali Salaji, 28, re- for a Dec 27 rocket counted the crush as his mother tended to him. attack in Iraq in “I could hardly breathe. I had a DON’T MISS IT which a US civilian seizure, and my foot was crushed contractor was killed. pretty bad under the weight of all that crowd,” he told AFP. Kerman The streets of Kerman over- flowed with mourners, while Bahrain-UK others took refuge on hillsides strategic ore than 50 people were around the city, where the gener- 02 relations ‘on killed in a stampede al was to be buried at the martyrs’ Myesterday during a mas- Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin Qassem Suleimani during the final stage of funeral cemetery. track’ sive funeral procession in Iran for processions, in his hometown Kerman. After the stampede, Iranian a top general assassinated in a US media stopped broadcasting live Kingdom set drone strike, Iranian media said. er Qassem Soleimani, a hugely in the stampede in Kerman, Anxious Iranians gathered out- from the cemetery, with some to affirm its The tragedy came as grieving popular figure in Iran. semi-official news agency ISNA side a city hospital to check the outlets suggesting the buri - position crowds packed the hometown of More than 50 people were said, citing officials in the south- lists of victims or show doctors al might not take place before 03 Revolutionary Guards command- killed and 212 people injured eastern city. pictures of their missing relatives. morning. ‘as regional hub of expos, events’ RARE TRIP Parliament’s green light to Putin meets Assad in Syria 04 Reserve Force Damascus decree-law the war-torn country, where his strike in neighbouring Iraq. Peskov said Putin visited the Rus- Putin said that “a huge distance troops have been fighting along- Revolutionary Guard Gen sian command post in Damascus has been covered in terms of ussian President Vladimir side Syrian government forces Qassem Soleimani’s death has and met President Bashar Assad restoring Syria’s statehood and 210 fils (includes VAT) Putin visited Syria on since 2015. sparked calls across Iran for re- there. territorial integrity,” Peskov said. RTuesday and met with of- The visit comes amid height- venge against America. The two leaders were present- State news agency SANA gave ficials including President Bashar ened tensions between Iran — a US troops are based in eastern ed with military reports on the no further details about Putin’s Assad, Syrian state media and a key Syrian ally — and the United Syria, making the country a po- situation in different regions of visit only saying that he met with Kremlin spokesman reported. States, following the killing of a tential site of conflict with Iran. Syria. Assad in a Russian military base Putin’s visit is the second to top Iranian general in a US air- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry In his conversation with Assad, in the capital. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 02

Study on nosocomial infection at SMC Bahrain-UK strategic shows positive results Manama

n evaluation study of the hospital-acquired infec- Ation (HAI) at Salmaniya relations ‘on track’ Medical Complex (SMC) has shown positive results with a drop in some types of infec- Bahrain stresses the need to deescalate while confronting terrorism in all forms tions compared to internation- ally-accepted rates. The Commons statement re- President of the Supreme Procedures are The Undersecretary vealed that UK forces in the re- Council of Health (SCH) Lieu- being taken to • gion, including helicopters and tenant General Shaikh Moham- called for concerted ships, were ready to assist in the med bin Abdullah Al Khalifa deal with the international efforts to crisis if needed. Non-essential has affirmed that procedures nosocomial ease regional tensions. personnel had been relocated are being taken to deal with the infection at SMC from Baghdad to Camp Taji, the nosocomial infection at SMC in in light of the Secretary Morison military base 17 miles north of the light of the recommendations recommendations • Iraqi capital that is the current of the evaluation study which of the evaluation hailed the efforts of the base for around 400 members of His Royal Highness the Crown Kingdom to protect the Irish Guards. Prince, Deputy Supreme Com- study. the security and “As part of prudent planning, mander and First Deputy Pre- LT-GENERAL SHAIKH MOHAMMED stability of the region. Dr Shaikh Abdullah Mr Morrison a small team has been sent to mier directed to carry out while the region to provide additional chairing the coordination com- Dr Shaikh Abdullah stated with allied and friendly countries situational awareness and con- mittee meeting today. cordance with international- Manama that the Kingdom of Bahrain is to reduce escalation in the Mid- tingency planning assistance,” The SCH President pointed ly-approved standards. following the developments in dle East. Mr Wallace told MPs. out that the council, in co-op- Lieutenant General Shaikh oreign Ministry Under- the region, stressing the need In a related development, UK The Defence Secretary urged eration with the Health Min- Mohammed bin Abdullah Al secretary for Internation- to deescalate and confront ter- Defence Secretary Ben Wallace Tehran not to retaliate for the istry, will immediately start Khalifa added that the direc- Fal Affairs Dr Shaikh Ab- rorism in all forms and manifes- yesterday announced that UK strike on General Soleimani, say- implementing the directives tives of HRH Prince Salman dullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, tations. forces are “on standby” to assist ing Iran’s pattern of “aggressive of HRH the Crown Prince by bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown received a phone call from the The Undersecretary of the in the Middle East following the behaviour” including targeting stepping up measures to fight Prince, Deputy Supreme Com- Secretary of State for Middle Ministry of Foreign Affairs for escalation of tensions with Iran. dissidents in Europe and hijack- the infection. mander and First Deputy Pre- East Affairs at the British For- International Affairs called for Mr Wallace said the Govern- ing civilian ships “was never go- He noted that in line with the mier, reflects his continuous eign Office, Andrew Morrison. concerted international efforts ment has taken “urgent meas- ing to go unchallenged”. directives of HRH the Crown follow-up on the health sector During the call, the two sides to ease the tensions and stop in- ures” to protect British nation- “Her Majesty’s Government Prince to conduct an evalua- in the Kingdom of Bahrain and reviewed the close strategic re- tervening in the internal affairs of als and interests in the Gulf urges Iran to return to the nor- tion study on the hospital-as- utmost keenness on the health lations between the Kingdom of other states in order to maintain following the killing of General mal behaviour of the country it sociated infection at Salmaniya of the people. Bahrain and the friendly United regional security. Qassim Soleimani in a US drone aspires to be and resist the urge Medical Complex, the SCH has He expressed sincerest Kingdom and discussed means to For his part, Secretary Morison strike. to retaliate. mandated the National Health thanks and gratitude to HRH reserve the stability of the region hailed the efforts of the Kingdom He added that it is for the US to “None of us wants conflict, Regulatory Authority (NHRA) the Crown Prince for his keen- and combat terrorism. of Bahrain to protect the security explain if its decision was “ille- none of us wants our citizens, to conduct a comprehensive ness on optimising health ser- They also discussed the latest and stability of the region, stress- gal or not”, but said it was “clear our friends and our allies to be field audit of a programme to vices to achieve citizens’ aspi- developments in the region. ing that his country is working there was a case for self-defence”. put at risk.” combat infection at SMC in ac- rations.

Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, yesterday received the Commander of US Naval Forces, US Central Command, and US Fifth Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral James Malloy. The commander-in-chief lauded the deep- rooted friendship relations between the two countries, as well as ways to enhance them through unifying efforts, cooperation and coordination at various levels. He pointed out that the military co-ordination and defence co-operation between the BDF and the US armed forces would continue in order to achieve the interests of the two friendly countries, and address the Zayani Foods opened the first Costa Coffee shop at challenges, dangers and threats facing the Arabian Gulf region, stressing the Bahrain City Centre at an event held under the patronage need to intensify joint military and defence efforts to achieve security and of Ali Abdulhussien Maki, Assistant Undersecretary of stability across the region. Commercial Registration and Companies. An exciting new development for coffee connoisseurs all over the Kingdom, the launch is the first for Zayani Foods’ having recently been awarded full rights to develop and operate, the UK’s favourite coffee shop, Costa Coffee, in Bahrain. The Chairman of Al Zayani Investments and Al Zayani Foods, Nawaf Khalid Al Zayani, commented: “Today’s coffee drinkers are increasingly aware of what they like, everyone is effectively a coffee connoisseur. Our ambition is to anticipate and meet these needs, making great quality coffee accessible to everyone across the Kingdom and we are pleased to announce that this is the first of many new locations that will be opening soon across the nation.”

Public Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Bouainain received Special Investigation Unit (SIU) members led by Acting chairman Mohammed Khalid Al Haza’a, who submitted Al Noor International School has begun an immense training programme for students in ‘Robotics’ in 2017. The students of the ‘Robotics’ batch 2018-2019 were a copy of the SIU annual report. Dr Al Bouainain commended the statistics honoured during the certificate distribution for their zeal and commitment during the training. On this occasion, the school Director, Dr Muhammad Mashood and compiled in the report, showing a tangible drop in the rate of suspected Principal Mr Amin Mohammed Ahmed Hulaiwah awarded the certificates to 39 students. Zoya Nadeem Ahmed, a Grade 7 student, welcomed the gathering. She cases of abuse, compared to last year’s figures. He hailed the performance of thanked the school’s management for providing the students with such an opportunity to expand their computer knowledge and stimulate their interest in the the SIU members and employees, reflecting success in revealing suspected field of Robotics. Also present were the officials of school’s Quality Assurance Department, the Head Teachers and the Co-ordinators of the various sections of the criminal cases, commending speedy investigation of complaints. school also attended the ceremony. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 03 Kingdom set to affirm its position ‘as regional hub of expos, events’ HRH the Crown Prince lays the foundation stone of Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sakhir

strengthen the Kingdom’s event HRH the Crown infrastructure and enable Bah- • rain to host greater numbers of Prince emphasised larger events in the future. that the new Mr Al Zayani concluded by Convention Centre noting that the Convention Cen- reflects the Kingdom’s 149,000 tre will be a model site character- square metre main ised by an imposing infrastruc- efforts to increase building will include ten ture, as well as the highest stand- competitiveness, exhibition areas. ards in technology and service. contribute to economic The Bahrain International Ex- diversification hibition and Convention Cen- tre in Sakhir will be built on a and growth. meet the aspirations of Bahraini 309,000 square metres of land. citizens. The 149,000 square metre Works Minister During the ceremony, Zayed main building will include ten affirmed• that the project Al Zayani, Minister of Indus- exhibition areas, totalling 95,000 will serve the exhibitions HRH the Crown Prince, HH Shaikh Isa, HH Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Khalid, Ali Al Saleh and senior government officials try, Commerce and Tourism ex- square metres, along with dedi- at the function. pressed his appreciation for the cated areas for retail and events. sector, and develop the ongoing support HRH the Crown The facility will also include a national economy, as it confirms Bahrain is progressing tance as a means to attract even Centre reflects the Kingdom’s Prince has shown towards the 4,500 square metre conference will create more jobs and towards achieving its develop- more events to the Kingdom. efforts to increase competitive- International Exhibition and hall divided into three separate attract more investments ment goals. HRH the Crown Prince empha- ness, contribute to economic Convention Centre project, re- hi-tech rooms, in addition to With this in mind, HRH sised that the new Convention diversification and growth, and marking that it will significantly twenty-seven small and medium to the Kingdom. stressed the importance of con- sized conference and meeting tinuing to promote Bahrain as rooms. Manama a key tourism and investment HRH the Crown Prince was ac- destination, in order to support companied by HH Shaikh Isa bin is Royal Highness Prince the Kingdom’s comprehensive Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. A Salman bin Hamad Al development, led by His Majesty number of senior officials also HKhalifa, Crown Prince, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. attended the ceremony. Deputy Supreme Commander HRH the Crown Prince noted A few days ago, Works, Munic- and First Deputy Prime Minister, the significant growth of the ex- ipalities Affairs and Urban Plan- yesterday attended the founda- hibition and convention sector, ning Minister, Essam Khalaf, and tion stone-laying ceremony of which has transformed Bahrain Industry, Commerce and Tour- the Bahrain International Ex- into the destination of choice ism Minister, Zayed Al Zayani, hibition and Convention Centre for a number of high-level in- signed a contract to build the in Sakhir, which took place un- ternational and regional events, centre. der the patronage of His Royal as well as a number of corporate Works Minister affirmed that Highness. activities throughout the year. the project will serve the exhi- HRH the Crown Prince high- HRH the Crown Prince then bitions sector, and develop the lighted that the Kingdom’s rapid proceeded to lay the foundation national economy, as it will cre- development and modernisa- stone of the future Convention ate more jobs and attract more tion across a wide range of fields Centre, underlining its impor- A presentation on the project was held as part of the foundation-stone laying ceremony. investments to the Kingdom.

Visitors panic after fire erupts at City Centre building TDT | Manama

anicked visitors were evacuated as a precautionary measure after Pa fire broke out at City Centre building in Seef at around 10:45 am yesterday. Teams of Civil Defence instantly rushed to the site and extinguished the fire. Speaking to Tribune, Faabi H V, who was at one of the movies at the mall when fire broke out, said they were evacuated within no time. “We initially panicked. But within a few minutes we realised that things were brought under control,” she add- ed. Mr Al Zayani during his inspection visit to the mall. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister, Zayed Al Zayani, yester - is back to normal at the mall, and that tionary measures taken by the mall’s day paid an inspection visit to the the restaurant was not damaged, except management to address the situation, mishap site, where he was assured for its chimney. which, he said, contributed to the re- about the normal flow of work after Mr Al Zayani valued highly the Civil turn of the commercial movement in the success to put out the fire that Defence’s readiness and success in the mall quickly and smoothly. broke out from the chimney of a extinguishing the fire in no more than The minister also assured the visitors restaurant. 55 minutes. that everything is back to normal at Smoke billows out of the mall after fire breakout. The minister was informed that work He also highlighted the precau - the mall. Shariat court rejects woman’s divorce plea TDT | Manama However, the man refuted such accusa- future at risk. requesting her to inform him whenever tions, urging the court to decline the case “My client has been reserving all his she leaves the house. And this is something he High Shariat Court has rejected in a bid to keep the family afloat. financial resources for the welfare of his common in our society,” she added. a divorce case lodged by a woman in The pair has four children and the hus- Granting divorce would cause family to the point that he wasn’t spending As a result, the High Shariat Court ruled Ther fifties, citing that the evidence band affirmed that the pair had to stay huge damages to the children much on himself, although his children can in the man’s favour, stating that allowing she provided wasn’t sufficient. together under one roof to ensure the chil- given the fact that their father work,” the man’s lawyer told Prosecutors. the woman to divorce would cause huge The woman decided to leave her hus- dren receive the required care and support, is the only breadwinner. “The plaintiff claimed that my client damages to the children given the fact band, claiming he physically assaulted and pointing out that divorce means the end COURT RULING had locked up her and she wasn’t able to that their father is the only breadwin- insulted her. of the family and putting the children’s leave it. However, the truth is that he was ner. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 04

Renewable Energy Certificate scheme launched by SEA Parliament’s green light to TDT | Manama

r Abdulhussain Ali Mirza, President of the DSustainable Energy Au- Reserve Force decree-law thority (SEA), has signed a resolu- tion to adopt the programme for “Renewable Energy Certificates Private sector obliged to pay 30pc of wages of Reserve Force members (RECs)”, which will enter into force after it is published in the Official Gazette. This is considered A military reserve The RECs will be granted to • the owners of eligible solar en- a pioneering step force is a military ergy systems, who will be able in promoting organisation composed to register the renewable energy sustainable energy of citizen-soldiers of a they produce with the Sustaina- use in the Kingdom country who combine a ble Energy Authority. and clearly reflects The “Renewable Energy Cer- the commitment of military role or career tificates” will be granted to sys- with a civilian career. tem owners for each MWh pro- the wise leadership duced, offering a reliable means in encouraging the TDT | Manama to verify reports and claims relat- use of renewable ing to the production of renewa- energy. ajority of MPs yester- ble energy. DR MIRZA day voted for a de - This system will enable us- Mcree-law that obliges ers to overcome challenges that Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme private sector establishments may limit their capabilities to Commander and First Deputy pay 30 per cent of wages of indi- benefit from renewable energy Prime Minister, for their keen viduals conscripted in the mil- such as limited space, shading interest and tireless support and itary reserve force of Bahrain Majority of MPs voted to pass the decree-law. or other restrictions to installing follow-up to launch the “Renew- Defence Force (BDF). solar panels such as technical able Energy certificates”. This came as the lawmak- the majority of MPs conveyed reserve force and deals with the or financial constraints,the sys- He added: “This step is con- ers convened for their weekly their endless support to the amendment of Article 10 con- tem will enable them to invest sidered a pioneering step in meeting yesterday and debated legislation, taking into consid- cerning the reorganisation of in sustainable energy projects in promoting sustainable energy the legislation, which also man- eration the rapidly escalating The Government’s wages, salaries and allowances exchange for renewable energy use in the Kingdom of Bahrain dates the public sector to pay events in the region. submission of a decree for members of the force and certificates. and clearly reflects the commit- the salary of the reserve force During the discussion, De- law on amending the civilian volunteers. Dr Mirza stated that the Cabi- ment of the wise leadership of member who is called to serve fence Affairs Minister Ma - A military reserve force is a net approved at it’s meeting held the Kingdom of Bahrain in en- in the force in case of emergen- jor-General Abdullah bin Has- Reserve Force Law of military organisation composed on January 6, 2020, the mandate couraging the use of renewable cy, war, or general mobilisation san Al Nuaimi explained that the BDF is a result of of citizen-soldiers of a country that authorises him in his capaci- energy and promotion of energy measures. the reserve force was estab - the current situation in who combine a military role or ty as President of the Sustainable efficiency to ensure the sustaina- It stipulates that private sec- lished as a supportive force to the region, accelerated career with a civilian career. Energy Authority to issue a res- bility of the energy sector.” tor establishments shall con- the BDF back in 1987, adding that events, and regional These individuals consist of olution on “Renewable Energy The “Renewable Energy Cer- tribute to paying the wages of “the Government’s submission and international retired military personnel, as Certificates”. tificates” system is also an oppor- the members of the force for of a decree law on amending threats. well as civilian volunteers. In this regard, Dr Mirza ex- tunity for investors and financing one year, while BDF will bear the Reserve Force Law of the They are not always under tended his thanks and appreci- institutions to validate invest- the disbursement of salaries if BDF is a result of the current MAJ-GEN AL NUAIMI arms and their main role is to ation to the esteemed Council ment opportunities, finance sus- the soldiers continue serving in situation in the region, accel- be available to join the army of Ministers and to the Coordi- tainable energy projects, and ver- the force for more than one year. erated events, and regional and law-decree referred to the and fight when their military nation Committee chaired by ify the energy produced through The voting took place follow- international threats”. Council of Representatives in- requires additional manpower His Royal Highness Prince Sal- a reliable and approved national ing a prolonged debate, in which He mentioned that the cludes the development of the in cases of war or emergencies. man bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the program and associated tools. Proposal to allow Bahrainis abroad Society trains doctors on sign language vote in municipal polls rejected

tions only. The parliamentary The parliamentary and mu- • DID nicipal elections most recently and municipal held in 2018 were highly suc- elections most recently cessful. held in 2018 were KNOW There were a total of 365,467 highly successful. citizens who were confirmed eligible to vote in the the 2018 elections, according to the the TDT | Manama There were a total Executive Committee of the of 365,467 citizens 2018 elections. parliamentary proposal, The voters’ lists were con- who were confirmed The doctors who attended the workshop along with organisers. which aimed to enable eligible to vote in firmed after the High Civil Acitizens abroad to vote the the 2018 elec- Court of Appeals completed TDT | Manama mittee chaired by Dr Nezar Buka- tant for the doctors to know the in the municipal elections was the examination of all the ap- mal and Bahrain Deaf Society. essential terms and signs in this shot down by the Shura Council. tions. peals submitted to it by voters Dr Bukamal highlighted the language. The council stated that there in Bahrain and abroad, munic- against the decisions of heads he Bahrain Medical Soci- importance of this workshop, as “It is our moral and human- is demand from citizens for ipal council has little affect out- of supervisory centres. ety (BMS) has organised a statistics shows that more than itarian duty as doctors to make such an opportunity and such side of the country. The committee stated that Tworkshop to train doctors eight thousand deaf people in the every effort to improve serving measures would come only The proposal to allow there were 81,892 eligible in sign language, allowing them to Kingdom are visiting doctors. the patient including patients with a high financial cost. non-resident Bahrainis to vote voters in the 10-constituency communicate with deaf patients He also explained that the so- with special needs,” Dr Bukamal Since municipal councils in the elections was submitted Capital Governorate, 79,213 effectively and therefore describe ciety is willing to organise such stated. serve only Bahrainis residing in by the Public Utilities and En- in the 8-constituency Muhar- the appropriate treatment plan workshops, within its plans, to Dr Bukamal pointed out that Bahrain, Bahrainis abroad may vironment Committee of the raq Governorate, 125,870 in for them. train doctors and health care pro- the term “special needs” means not find it necessary to vote, the parliament. the 12-constituency Northern The workshop, which took viders on sign language. that this segment of society needs council stated. Currently, Bahrainis living Governorate and 78,492 in the place at the society’s headquarters “Learning the sign language is special care and special treatment, Although the parliament de- abroad are only allowed to par- 10-constituency Southern Gov- at Juffair, was organised jointly a challenge for anyone including and to find effective ways to com- cision affects citizens residing ticipate in parliament elec - ernorate. between society’s students com- the doctor. However, it is impor- municate with them. Deal signed to boost environmental research in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh goals in fields related to environmental, water and The agreement seeks the mutual exchange of The agreement seeks the mutual agricultural research, as well as the preservation consultations and experience, and implemen- • he minister of environment, water and ag- and protection of natural resources. tation of training programmes and specialised exchange of consultations and experience, riculture, and the minister of industry and Working groups will be formed to carry out workshops in the field of water to raise the scien- and implementation of training Tmineral resources, signed a scientific and follow-up tasks to implement joint projects, tific level of technicians on both sides. programs and specialised workshops in technical cooperation agreement between the for- studies and research, involving detailed technical It also seeks to exchange studies on rehabili- the field of water to raise the scientific mer’s ministry and the Saudi Geological Survey. studies related to protecting natural resources, tating the desert environment, and on changes The agreement comes within the framework and mitigating damage from environmental or occurring to vegetation cover and its relationship level of technicians on both sides. of cooperation to serve common interests and humanitarian disasters. to climate change and rain. 05 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 world Trump says Zuckerberg told him he’s FB’s ‘number one’

he said ‘I’d like to congratulate presidential election. you... you are number one on Trump himself has repeated- Facebook,’” Trump said. ly used Facebook and Twitter I had dinner with The president, speaking in a to push untrue statements and Mark Zuckerberg live interview with right-wing conspiracy theories. the other day and radio talk show host Rush Lim- Both those platforms have re- he said ‘I’d like to baugh, did not specify when the sponded by saying they will not congratulate you... dinner happened. attempt to weed out lies from you are number one A spokesman for Facebook politicians because their state- on Facebook said the last such dinner took ments fall under the category of place in October. “newsworthy” content. The president noted the im- Trump is number one on TRUMP portance of social media to his Facebook in terms of political messaging, which depends on ad spending, leading to accusa- bypassing much of the profes- tions that the company is unduly sional news media, which he influenced by the Republican. AFP | Washington accuses of bias against him. At the October dinner at the Trump, who has nearly 70 mil- White House, Trump and Zuck- lion followers on Twitter, told erberg were reportedly joined by resident Donald Trump Limbaugh that without the plat- Facebook board member Peter boasted Monday that form, “I think we’d be lost.” Thiel. PFacebook CEO Mark Zuck- “We wouldn’t be able to get After, Democratic presiden- erberg told him at dinner he is the truth out,” he said. tial candidate Senator Elizabeth “number one” on the global so- US social media platforms have Warren called for transparency cial media platform. come under criticism for ena- over Facebook’s links to Trump. “I had dinner with Mark bling misinformation and fake “What did they talk about?” Zuckerberg the other day and Donald Trump with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (file) news in the build-up to the 2020 Warren tweeted.

Pakistan passes law limiting age, tenure of army chief Facebook bans deepfake videos but Islamabad says parody clips still OK akistan’s parliament yes- Pterday passed laws limiting Washington the maximum age and tenure ral clip -- which was not a of the country’s army chief, a acebook will ban deepfake deepfake -- of House Speak- significant move in a country Fvideos ahead of the US elec- er Nancy Pelosi that appeared which has been ruled by the tions but the new policy will to show her slurring her powerful military for nearly still allow heavily edited clips words. half its existence. so long as they are parody or Facebook also gave no indi- The legislation came after satire, the social media giant cation on the number of peo- the supreme court last year said yesterday. ple assigned to identify and challenged Prime Minister Im- Deepfake videos are hyper-re- take down the offending vid- ran Khan’s decision to extend alistic doctored clips made us- eos, but said videos failing the appointment of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa ing artificial intelligence or pro- to meet its usual guidelines General Qamer Javed Bajwa, The bill now goes to the grams that have been designed would be removed, and those 59, by a further three years. senate, where it is expected to to accurately fake real human flagged clips would be reviewed Pakistan has been ruled by pass before being signed into movements. Facebook said it would begin removing clips that were edited -- beyond for by teams of third-party fact- the military for roughly half its law by the president. In a blog published follow- clarity and quality checkers. 72-year history, and the army Bajwa was appointed to lead ing a Washington Post report, The news agency has been is seen as the most powerful the military in 2016, taking Facebook said it would begin authentic,” the statement from paid by the social media giant to institution in the country. over from the popular General removing clips that were edited This policy does not Facebook vice-president Monika fact-check posts across 30 coun- The term for a military chief Raheel Sharif. -- beyond for clarity and quality extend to content Bickert said. tries and 10 languages as part of is supposed to be three years, Since taking power, howev- -- in ways that “aren’t apparent However, the statement add- a program starting in December but Bajwa was the latest in er, Bajwa and the military have to an average person” and could that is parody or ed: “This policy does not ex- 2016, and including more than a long line of generals to see been criticised for cracking mislead people. satire, or video that tend to content that is parody 60 organisations. their tenure extended. down on civil society. Clips would be removed if has been edited or satire, or video that has been Content labeled “false” is not The legislation passed in Pa- There have been nine army they were “the product of ar- solely to omit or edited solely to omit or change always removed from news - kistan’s lower house yesterday chiefs since Pakistan’s inde- tificial intelligence or machine change the order of the order of words.” feeds but is downgraded so also sets a maximum age of 64 pendence in 1947 following learning that merges, replaces words US media noted the new fewer people see it -- alongside for the chiefs of the army, air partition with India. or superimposes content onto guidelines would not cover a warning explaining why the force and navy. a video, making it appear to be FACEBOOK videos such as the 2019 vi - post is misleading. India suffers hottest decade on record AFP | New Delhi record cold in northern India in he last decade was India’s December. Thottest on record with the Last year also saw eight cy- national weather office calling clones form over the north In- the impact of global warming dian Ocean, below the record of “unmistakable” and extreme KNOW WHAT 10 last reached in 1976, including weather killing more than 1,500 five over the Arabian Sea, equal- people last year. ling the previous high of 1902, India, home to 1.3 billion peo- India’s five warm- the IMD said. ple, is at the forefront of climate est years on record “The impact of global warm- change suffering devastating all fell in the last ing on India is unmistakable,” floods, dire water shortages and decade, with 2016 IMD chief Mrityunjay Mohapa- baking temperatures. The south- the hottest tra told the Times of India. “The ern city of Chennai last year A shepherd and their livestock walk across a dried out reservoir on the outskirts of Chennai in June 2019. The drought-hit past year had extreme weather declared “day zero” as taps ran city saw only a fraction of the rain it usually receives during June and July during all seasons.” dry. record all fell in the last decade, The United Nations said in Temperatures between 2010 began in 1901, the Indian Mete- the seventh-hottest, the IMD temperatures of up to 51 Celsi- with 2016 the hottest. Eleven of December that the past decade and 2019 were 0.36 degrees Cel- orological Department said on said. us (123.8 Fahrenheit). Lighting the 15 warmest years were also was set to be the planet’s hottest sius (0.65 degrees Fahrenheit) Monday. They included 850 people and storms claimed another 380 during the past 15 years, the IMD since records began. Each of the above the long-term average, Extreme weather also claimed killed by heavy rain and flood- lives. said. The average for 2019 would last four decades has been hotter the hottest decade since records more than 1,500 lives last year, ing and another 350 in summer India’s five warmest years on have been higher were it not for than the preceding one. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 06

NASA planet hunter finds Earth-sized world in Teen gets suspended jail term ‘Goldilocks zone’ for ‘false’ Cyprus rape claim Lawyers for the • The sentencing took place to loud woman, names shouts from protesters outside the court room withheld, The Israelis, aged say she was 15• to 18, were released Planet TOI 700 d is the first Earth-sized habitable-zone world discovered by without charge raped in the NASA’s planet hunter satellite The teenager’s seaside resort Washington • legal team say she was of Ayia Napa ASA said Monday that its planet hunter satellite TESS questioned by police had discovered an Earth-sized world within the habit- in the absence of a by 12 Israeli able range of its star, which could allow the presence of The British teenager covered her face as she arrives at Famagusta District Court N translator or lawyer in eastern Cyprus for the sentencing liquid water. teenagers in The planet, named “TOI 700 d”, is relatively close to Earth AFP | Paralimni, Cyprus -- only 100 light years away, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced during the annual American Astronomical Society their hotel meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Cypriot court yesterday “TESS was designed and launched specifically to find Earth- handed a British teen- room on July 17 sized planets orbiting nearby stars,” said Paul Hertz, NASA Aager a four-month sus- astrophysics division director. pended prison sentence after TESS initially misclassified the star, which meant the planets convicting her of falsely accus- appeared larger and hotter than they actually are. But several ing a dozen Israeli tourists of amateur astronomers, including high school student Alton gang rape. Spencer -- who works with members of the TESS team -- iden- The 19-year-old, who could Lewis Power, a British lawyer tified the error. have faced up to a year in jail, who is part of the woman’s legal “When we corrected the star’s parameters, the sizes of its smiled and hugged family at team, said she would leave Cy- planets dropped, and we realized the outermost one was about the end of a trial that sparked prus by the end of the day. the size of Earth and in the habitable zone,” said Emily Gilbert, protests in Britain and calls for An appeal to the Supreme a graduate student at the University of Chicago. tourists to boycott the island. Court “will begin in the next The discovery was later confirmed by the Spitzer Space Lawyers for the woman say few days”, but it is not clear the case was littered with in- when any case will be heard, vestigatory and legal mistakes Demonstrators call for a boycott on Cyprus in support of a British teenager because the “wheels of justice and issues, including repeated convicted of lying about being raped by Israeli tourists move very slowly in Cyprus,” refusals by the judge to consider he said. whether she was raped. The case has highlighted “a The sentencing took place gaping chasm in the treatment” to loud shouts from protest - of victims of sexual assault in ers outside the court room, Cyprus relative to other juris- including dozens of Israelis dictions, Power added. -- mainly women, but some The convicted British wom- men -- who travelled to Cyprus an’s mother and legal team say to offer moral support to the she has been suffering Post teenager. Traumatic Stress Disorder. As the judge delivered his The teenager’s legal team say sentencing, shouts of “Cyprus she was questioned by police in NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (pictured in an artist’s justice, shame on you” were au- the absence of a translator or illustration) was launched specifically to find Earth-sized planets orbiting dible in the court, despite po- lawyer acting on her behalf and nearby stars lice ordering journalists to close there was no transcript or video Telescope. windows and blinds. recording of the process. A few other similar planets have been discovered be - Other shouts from outside More than 50 Israelis flew to fore, notably by the former Kepler Space Telescope, but included “Judge, shame on you, Cyprus to stand by the woman this is the first discovered by TESS, which was launched in don’t you have a daughter too?” Activists protested outside the court in support of the British teenager as the at the sentencing, partly out of 2018. and “Blaming the victim is a sentence was handed down disgust that the boys were wel- TESS stabilizes on one area of the sky to detect whether second rape!” comed home as heroes, they objects -- planets -- pass in front of stars, which causes a tem- Lawyers for the woman, name a complaint of rape she was in- istered” concerns with Cypriot said. porary drop in the stars’ luminosity. This allows TESS to infer withheld, say she was raped in terviewed again by police and officials about the case. “I am happy that she is going the presence of a planet, its size and orbit. the seaside resort of Ayia Napa signed a retraction. Judge Michalis Papathana- home, but her conviction still Star TOI 700 is small, about 40 percent of our Sun’s size and by 12 Israeli teenagers in their The Israelis, aged 15 to 18, siou had told the young wom- stands,” said Namaa Morell, a only about half as hot. hotel room on July 17. were released without charge, an “statements you have given 20-year old mother. TESS discovered three planets in orbit, named TOI 700 b, c She fled in distress to her own allowed to return home and not were false”, as he convicted her “I see it as a success for to - and d. Only “d” is in the so-called habitable zone, not too far hotel and was examined by an called as witnesses. on December 30 of “public mis- day, but it doesn’t change the from and not too close to the star, where the temperature could in-house doctor, who called the chief”. conviction and that’s the main allow the presence of liquid water. police. ‘Gaping chasm’ He said during the trial that problem,” especially since at It is about 20 percent larger than Earth and orbits its star A group of Israeli teenagers Britain’s Foreign Secretary her account was beset by “con- least one of the boys is seeking in 37 days. “d” receives 86 percent of the energy that Earth were arrested and appeared in Dominic Raab has said he has tradictions, confusion, lack of to sue the British woman, she receives from the Sun. court, but 10 days after making “firmly and categorically reg- logic and exaggeration”. added. Arrest warrant issued in Japan for Carlos Ghosn’s wife Tokyo son implied it was a response anon. his shock November 19, 2018 rosecutors in Japan yes- to a press conference Carlos He had been freed on bail af- arrest. terday obtained an arrest Ghosn plans to give in Lebanon ter agreeing to strict conditions, She was initially prevented Pwarrant for Carole Ghosn, on Wednesday -- his first since with prosecutors arguing he from seeing her husband, who wife of former Nissan chief skipping bail in Japan. posed a flight risk. was held in detention for more Carlos Ghosn, who last month “Last time Carlos Ghosn an- The conditions included re- than 100 days after his arrest, jumped bail and fled the country. nounced a press conference strictions on contact with Car- and petitioned everyone from In a statement, prosecutors and got RE-arrested. This time, ole, which was reportedly among French President Emmanuel said they had obtained the war- the day before he is announced the reasons he decided to jump Macron to the White House rant on suspicion she made to speak out freely for the first bail and flee the country in an seeking his release. false statements during April time, they issued an arrest war- elaborately planned escape that Ghosn, a globe-trotting auto testimony to the Tokyo district rant for his wife Carole Ghosn,” has outraged Japanese officials. mogul who was once a giant of court about meetings with an the spokesperson said. Ghosn’s second wife, Carole the industry, accuses executives unnamed individual. Carlos Ghosn had been fac- vocally led the campaign for her at Japanese automaker Nissan A Ghosn family spokesperson ing trial in Japan on charges of husband’s freedom, insisting on of manufacturing the allegations said the issuance of the warrant financial misconduct, which he his innocence and slamming against him in a “plot” to prevent was “pathetic”. Carole Ghosn has vocally led the campaign for her husband’s freedom, insisting denies, before fleeing the coun- Japanese prosecutors for what closer integration with alliance In a statement, the spokesper- on his innocence try in late December for Leb- she deemed ill-treatment after partner Renault. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 07 South Korea’s Moon seeks Kim Jong Un visit to Seoul

A possible joint bid for Seoul Moon’s appeal came and Pyongyang to co-host the • 2032 Summer Games has even after Kim threatened been mooted, with Moon on a demonstration of a Tuesday calling the prospect “new strategic weapon” “a golden opportunity for the South and North to show to the Kim Jong Un has world that we are one people”. • But the two capitals have held said North Korea is no discussions on the candida- willing to live under cy, and sporting ties have since sanctions to preserve entered a deep freeze -- North its nuclear deterrent Korea gave up any prospect of its women’s football team playing in Tokyo rather than take part in AFP | Seoul a qualifying competition in the Moon Jae-in has tried to keep paths of communication open International sanctions have been imposed South next month. outh Korean President between North and South Korea, despite Kim Jong Un’s on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic Pyongyang has also demand- Moon Jae-in yesterday announcement of an end to his nuclear and missile test missile programmes ed the demolition of South Scalled for better relations moratoriums Korean-built tourism facili- with the North so leader Kim ties at Mount Kumgang in the Jong Un can visit Seoul, despite largely deadlocked -- Pyongyang that the condi- cast live. North, saying it will operate Pyongyang’s abandonment of has repeatedly lashed out at the tions for Chair- He also suggested Pyongyang tours there itself, and rejected its nuclear and missile test mor- South, saying it has “nothing to man Kim Jong and Seoul should consult on discussions with Seoul on the atoriums. talk” about any more with Seoul. Un’s reciprocal fielding a unified team at the issue. Moon’s appeal came after Kim One senior official has gone visit can be arranged Tokyo Olympics in July, which But Moon said he would push threatened a demonstration of as far as describing the South’s at an early date,” Moon An- would march together at the for the resumption of South Ko- a “new strategic weapon” at a presidency as a “shy dog barking said in his annual New alysts opening ceremony. rean visits to the peak, along four-day ruling party meeting more wildly”. Year address. suggested The two Koreas’ athletes took with the re-opening of the Kae- last week, where he never men- But Moon, who has long fa- The invitation for Kim to visit Moon’s call was now part together at the opening and song Industrial Complex where tioned South Korea. voured engagement with the Seoul dates from the two lead- unrealistic. closing ceremonies of the Pye- Southern firms employed North- Since the breakdown of Kim’s nuclear-armed North, doubled ers’ last summit, in Pyongyang “I’m willing to meet repeat- ongchang Winter Olympics in ern workers. summit with US President Don- down on his dovish approach. in September 2018, when the edly and talk ceaselessly” with the South two years ago, and Both projects would currently ald Trump in Hanoi last year -- “I hope South and North Ko- peninsula was basking in a dip- the North, Moon said in his half- subsequently formed a series of violate the international sanc- which left nuclear negotiations rea can make efforts together so lomatic rapprochement. hour speech, which was broad- joint teams in other events. tions imposed on Pyongyang.

Japan’s Abe to visit Middle East US eyes sanctions over Russian support for Venezuela Tokyo Washington reporters. the Russian role is increasingly apanese Prime Minister Abrams, who did not spec- important.” JShinzo Abe will visit Saudi he United States will take ify what the sanctions would Abrams did not speculate on Arabia, Oman and the United Taction in response to grow- be, said the US had been look- whether Russia was involved Arab Emirates next week as ing Russian support for Vene- ing closely at Russia’s role in in pushing Maduro to take con- regional tensions spike. zuelan President Nicolas Ma- Venezuela and would not allow trol of the opposition-majority Abe “will make the trip from duro, a senior US official warned the level of support to go un- National Assembly on Sunday, the 12th to 15th,” a spokesman Monday. US President Donald checked. which Washington currently from the prime minister’s Lib- Trump’s administration has Abrams said Russia was main- considers the only democratic eral Democratic Party said. sanctioned Maduro’s regime ly interested in “the oil econ- body in Venezuela. The prime minister an - and called it a dictatorship after omy” in Venezuela, while Ma- Police had prevented opposi- nounced the details of the visit he was re-elected in 2018. duro has grown increasingly tion leader and self-proclaimed during a meeting with party Shinzo Abe “We are looking at additional reliant on Moscow over the past interim president Juan Guaido executives. sanctions, personal sanctions, US State Department Venezuela year. from entering the parliament, “I’m deeply concerned about “I hope to contribute to economic sanctions that we envoy Elliot Abrams told reporters the “Russian companies are now and in his absence Luis Parra, a the tensions in the Middle peace and stability in the re- think will bring more pressure,” government was “looking at additional handling more than two-thirds, corruption-tainted opposition East,” he said, according to gion through diplomatic ef- Elliot Abrams, the State Depart- sanctions” in light of Russian support more than 70 percent of Ven- lawmaker, declared himself par- public broadcaster NHK. forts to ease tensions.” ment’s Venezuela envoy, told for President Nicolas Maduro ezuelan oil,” Abrams said. “So liament speaker.

Australia firefighters race to SpaceX launches 3rd batch of Starlink satellites contain blazes as heatwave looms Washington

paceX on Monday launched Sits third batch of 60 mini-sat- ellites into orbit, part of its plans to build a giant constellation KNOW WHAT of thousands of spacecraft that will form a global broadband internet system. Musk hopes eventually The cluster of 60 satellites separated successfully from a to control three to five Falcon 9 rocket above the ocean percent of the global in- between Australia and Antarc- ternet market -- a share tica an hour after its launch valued at $30 billion a Firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer died battling blazes in late December from Cape Canaveral, Florida year, or 10 times what at 9:19pm (0219 GMT Tuesday). SpaceX is earning from Sydney The satellite deployment, its space launches, and Shane Fitzsimmons. which was filmed live by a cam- The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Inset, Elon Musk He described current con- era onboard the rocket, brings plough the profits back irefighters raced to con- ditions as “much more fa - the total number of satellites SpaceX’s goal is to control a next year. into rocket and space- Ftain massive bushfires in vourable” but warned “we are that are part of the US compa- huge share of the future inter- Astronomers say the prolif- ship development. southeastern Australia yes- expecting hotter weather to ny’s Starlink network to just net market from space. Several eration of the bright metallic SpaceX’s boss also terday, taking advantage of return later in the week”. under 180. rivals have the same ambition, satellites could seriously de- entertains a long-time a brief drop in temperatures Dozens of vast blazes con- But that figure could one day including London-based startup grade the night view, interfer- dream of colonizing and some much-needed rain- tinue to burn out of control total 42,000, resulting in far OneWeb and giant US retailer ing with both optical and radio Mars. fall before another heatwave across the east of the country more crowded skies, which has Amazon, whose Project Kuiper astronomy. strikes later this week. and there are growing fears raised concerns among astron- is far less advanced. But SpaceX argues it has tak- Exhausted volunteers that two fires in New South omers that they may one day en steps to reduce the satellites’ told AFP. cleared ground vegetation Wales and Victoria could con- threaten our view of the cosmos. Astronomy concerns reflectivity and is testing an ex- “The real test will be the and carried out controlled nect to form another uncon- To put that into context, there His California-based compa- perimental darkening treatment days following launch when burns before temperatures and trollable megablaze. are currently around 2,100 ac- ny has so far received US author- on one of the satellites. the smallsats are close together winds were expected to pick Rainfall on Monday offered tive satellites orbiting our plan- ization to launch 12,000 satel- Laura Forczyk, a space ana- and in a lower altitude before up again by Friday. modest relief, but it was not et, according to the Satellite lites in several different orbits, lyst, said the measures’ effec- ascending to their final orbit. “It really is about shoring up heavy enough in most areas Industry Association. and it has applied to launch as tiveness was still uncertain. Astronomers and stargazers will protection to limit the damage to extinguish the fires, and The launch was broadcast live many as 30,000 more. “SpaceX has not yet eased be able to compare the bright- potential and the outbreak of in some places it hampered by SpaceX, a company created SpaceX says its satellite con- the minds of astronomers con- ness of this current batch of the fires over the coming days,” firefighters’ preparations by by tycoon Elon Musk, who is stellation will be operational for cerned about the reflectivity smallsats compared to previous said New South Wales Rural making back-burning more also chief executive of Tesla. Canada and the northern US by of their Starlink satellites,” she versions.” Fire Service commissioner difficult. MY MOTHER SAID I MUST ALWAYS BE INTOLERANT OF IGNORANCE BUT UNDERSTANDING OF ILLITERACY. THAT QUOTE OF THE SOME PEOPLE, UNABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, DAY WERE MORE EDUCATED AND MORE INTELLIGENT THAN COLLEGE PROFESSORS. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 MAYA ANGELOU

Killing of Quds Force commander shows how multilateralism is in need of a reboot It is unprecedented since the Second World War for one state to claim that it had the right to assassinate senior officials in another

SHOLTO BYRENES The difference is that bin Laden and Al Baghdadi were any questions are outlaw terrorists, and it is raised by the death of doubtful that either could have MIranian commander been taken alive, even if there Qassem Suleimani. Had Don- had been any desire to do so; Al ald Trump, the US president, Baghdadi blew himself up when thought through all the reper- cornered by anti-ISIS forces, cussions for the region and be- and bin Laden had weapons in yond before ordering the drone his room when he was shot to strike that killed him? Unfor- death by US Navy Seals in his tunately, that seems unlikely. hideout in Pakistan in 2011. Will it make America safer? The IRGC might have been Former US president Barack designated a terrorist organisa- Obama’s national security ad- tion by the Trump administra- viser Susan Rice thinks not; tion but that was only last April. and neither, evidently, does the And Suleimani, by contrast, had US state department, which has been a very high-ranking gen- advised its citizens to leave Iraq eral in Iran for more than 20 immediately. years. Many believe that he was I will leave the immediate the second-most important fig- future to others to debate. My ure in Iran, more powerful than question about Suleimani’s kill- the elected president. ing is simple: was it legal? Even if the attack was to pre- Some might ask why it is vent imminent attacks on US worth bothering with such pet- personnel, as the White House tifogging niceties. Was Suleim- has put forward as justifica - ani not, like Osama bin Laden tion – which is disputed – it and Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, has been unprecedented since responsible for thousands of the Second World War for one deaths? Did he not deserve the state to claim openly that it had same himself? As commander the right to assassinate senior “Outside the context of active 20th century. In 1958, former one way or another. Until Mr math of the attack: “You can of the Quds Force of the Islam- officials in another. Agnes Cal- hostilities, the use of drones or US president Dwight Eisen - Trump – whose official, rather argue for a special prerogative ic Revolutionary Guard Corps lamard, the United Nations spe- other means for targeted kill- hower even declared May 1 to than covert, assertion of the to carry out such killings. Or and arguably chief executor of cial rapporteur on extrajudicial, ing is almost never likely to be be known henceforth as “Law right to kill extra-judicially is you can argue for a rules-based Iran’s aggressive interventions summary or arbitrary killings, legal.” Day” and said “the world no by definition outside of and order that binds all states. But abroad for decades, including was clear. The targeted attack This matters deeply because longer has a choice between entirely contradicts the rule doing both at the same time... its military backing of Bashar on Suleimani and his compan- the US has been the foremost force and law. If civilisation of law. looks just plain ridiculous.” He Al Assad in Syria and Hezbollah ions, she wrote on Twitter, was advocate for an international is to survive it must choose As Professor Patrick Porter, a pointed out that using the same in Lebanon, his responsibility is likely “unlawful” and violated rules-based order founded on the rule of law.” Nearly all his leading international relations logic, Russia could have justi- undisputed. international human rights law. the rule of law since the mid successors have echoed him academic, put it in the after- fied assassinating CIA officials

Afghanistan could become battleground for US-Iran proxy war – much to its detriment It would almost certainly trigger internal strife as various minorities and their militias with longstanding relationships with Tehran react against their own government

RICHARD OSLON port of Chabahar has emerged as a significant entrepot for t is safe to assume that Iran landlocked Afghanistan. The US will react to the killing of has tacitly accepted the devel- IQassem Suleimani through opment of this supply line as an violent but asymmetric means. alternative to Pakistan and a way An Iranian counter-strike might for India to develop commercial not come immediately but Teh- links with Afghanistan. ran is sure to mobilise its various For these reasons, the Afghan proxies and identify ways to in- government has tried to strad- flict pain on the US. While the dle the US-Iran divide, rather first reaction is likely to be in than choose sides. Consistent Iraq or elsewhere in the region, with this approach, President among the possible venues for Ashraf Ghani tweeted after the a counter-strike could be Af- strike: “The Islamic Republic ghanistan. of Afghanistan is gravely con- Afghanistan has not been a cerned about a possible increase significant playground in the es- in violence in the region. In my calating US-Iran confrontation. telephone conversation with Tehran largely supported the US the US secretary of state, I once overthrow of the Taliban regime again emphasised that Afghan and, notwithstanding the fact soil must not be used against that then president George W a third country or in regional Bush put Iran in the “Axis of conflicts.” Evil”, Tehran has seen its inter- Mr Ghani has good reason to ests in Afghanistan as largely stay out of the US-Iran confron- coincident with Washington’s, tation, since Iran has a readi- even as it formally opposed the ly-available Afghan proxy, the US troop presence. Iran has Fatemiyoun Brigade. Drawn generally supported the Kabul from the large Afghan refugee regime; its recently-developed population in Iran, as many as relationship with the Taliban is 50,000 of them, primarily from It falls under the Islamic Rev- which deployed the brigade in nificant diplomatic presence But the longer-term questions probably a hedging strategy for the Shiite Hazara minority com- olutionary Guard Corps – the Syria. But it could easily shift and unofficial community of of Afghanistan’s role in this fight a US drawdown. munity, have served since the force of which Suleimani’s Quds its operations to Afghanistan. Americans, Afghanistan does will be determined as much in More significantly, the Iranian force’s establishment in 2013. Force was also an element – With 12,000 US troops, a sig- not lack targets. Washington as in Kabul or Teh-

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing MY MOTHER SAID I MUST ALWAYS BE INTOLERANT OF IGNORANCE BUT UNDERSTANDING OF ILLITERACY. THAT TODAY 1973 1975 1977 1981 QUOTE SOME PEOPLE, UNABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, DAY IN OF THE Watergate scandal: The trial Ella T. Grasso becomes Governor of Three bombs explode in Moscow, Russia, A local farmer reports a UFO sighting in DAY WERE MORE EDUCATED AND MORE HISTORY of seven men accused of illegal Connecticut, the first woman to serve Soviet Union, within 37 minutes, killing Trans-en-Provence, France, claimed to be INTELLIGENT THAN COLLEGE PROFESSORS. entry into Democratic Party as a Governor in the United States seven. The bombings are attributed to an “perhaps the most completely and carefully WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 MAYA ANGELOU headquarters at Watergate begins. other than by succeeding her husband. Armenian separatist group. documented sighting of all time”.

Killing of Quds Force commander shows how multilateralism is in need of a reboot Wide Angle TOP Books, E-Books It is unprecedented since the Second World War for one state to claim that it had the right to assassinate senior officials in another or Audio Books? TWEETS4 SHOLTO BYRENES The difference is that bin There is no doubt that in 2014, the international com- respect for it and who pursue Laden and Al Baghdadi were many Chinese are sincere in munity condemned him but it their interests with complete any questions are outlaw terrorists, and it is was true that until 1954, Crimea disregard for borders, laws and 01 raised by the death of doubtful that either could have their claims to most of the had been part of Russia for the integrity and sovereignty of MIranian commander been taken alive, even if there South China Sea, despite more than one-and-a-half cen- other nation states. Qassem Suleimani. Had Don- had been any desire to do so; Al the protestations of the lo- turies. Its transfer as a “gift” I have argued time and again ald Trump, the US president, Baghdadi blew himself up when cal rival claimants who say to Ukraine by the then Sovi - that the global rules-based thought through all the reper- cornered by anti-ISIS forces, there is no historical basis et leader Nikita Khrushchev order’s regulations and insti- JOEL INDRUPATI cussions for the region and be- and bin Laden had weapons in to them whatsoever. was an essentially symbolic re- tutions need to be reformed yond before ordering the drone his room when he was shot to drafting of borders within the drastically to reflect the world hanks for the call @ here do you read? And how? E-book? strike that killed him? Unfor- death by US Navy Seals in his greater USSR. The area was still of the 21st century, rather than TrealDonaldTrump On a plane?” tunately, that seems unlikely. hideout in Pakistan in 2011. overwhelmingly Russian and the Anglosphere dominated and for your strong “W Bill Gates was asked this, by TIME Will it make America safer? The IRGC might have been should not, perhaps, have been years in which the US and the messages of sympathy, magazine interviewers. Former US president Barack designated a terrorist organisa- separated from its motherland UK created most of the criti - support and friendship “I keep thinking I should go digital sometime, but I Obama’s national security ad- tion by the Trump administra- by the break-up of the Soviet cal global architecture – from for Australia during our still like to read the old-fashioned way, since I write viser Susan Rice thinks not; tion but that was only last April. Union. the UN to the World Bank and terrible bushfire season. a lot of notes in the margins”, he had replied (TIME, and neither, evidently, does the And Suleimani, by contrast, had There is no doubt that many International Monetary Fund – Thanks also to the Amer- 5 Jun 2017). US state department, which has been a very high-ranking gen- Chinese are sincere in their that persists to this day. ican people for their And I thought, here is a man who convinced an advised its citizens to leave Iraq eral in Iran for more than 20 in the 1980s, on the grounds claims to most of the South But that requires defending many messages of sup- entire generation to go digital. And yet, he remains immediately. years. Many believe that he was that they were sponsoring ji- China Sea, despite the protesta- the principle of that order, even port. Australia and the US loyally wedded to the traditional. I will leave the immediate the second-most important fig- hadist opponents of Afghani- tions of the local rival claimants while all should accept that it are great mates. The former US president Barack Obama, too, has future to others to debate. My ure in Iran, more powerful than stan’s Soviet-backed govern- who say there is no historical needs a radical reworking. For @ScottMorrisonMP released a list of his favourite books of 2019. question about Suleimani’s kill- the elected president. ment. basis to them whatsoever. Many we would be in a truly Hob - Last week, in Obama’s Instagram post, he used the ing is simple: was it legal? Even if the attack was to pre- It seems unlikely that anyone Irish nationalists regard it as besian world – in which brute 02 words, “the dog-eared paperback we grab off the Some might ask why it is vent imminent attacks on US in the Trump administration a grave injustice that the six might, not rights and laws, shelf to give to a friend”, telling us that he too likes worth bothering with such pet- personnel, as the White House would look kindly on such an counties of Northern Ireland would be the chief determinant the traditional mode of reading. tifogging niceties. Was Suleim- has put forward as justifica - argument. Neither, however, remain under British rule. The of relations between nations – But this column today does not relate to the books ani not, like Osama bin Laden tion – which is disputed – it are they willing to address the people of the Chagos Islands without it. The great powers Bill Gates or Barack Obama read. It relates to the and Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, has been unprecedented since fact that when the US shows it had to wait 54 years for the UN’s must lead by example and, if changing modes of reading in these changing times; responsible for thousands of the Second World War for one is willing to flout international highest court to declare that there is to be any American ex- in this digital age. deaths? Did he not deserve the state to claim openly that it had law, or even norms, it weakens the UK’s detachment of their ceptionalism, it should be as E-books or print or audiobooks? Where are we same himself? As commander the right to assassinate senior “Outside the context of active 20th century. In 1958, former one way or another. Until Mr math of the attack: “You can the whole rules-based order it archipelago from Mauritius the greatest upholder of that akistan is very clear going? of the Quds Force of the Islam- officials in another. Agnes Cal- hostilities, the use of drones or US president Dwight Eisen - Trump – whose official, rather argue for a special prerogative has supposedly been fighting during decolonisation in 1965 order, even when it might not Pon its position: we “Audiobooks are in the midst of a boom, with ic Revolutionary Guard Corps lamard, the United Nations spe- other means for targeted kill- hower even declared May 1 to than covert, assertion of the to carry out such killings. Or endless foreign wars to uphold. was unlawful. be convenient for it to do so. stand for peace, stabili- Deloitte predicting that the global market will grow and arguably chief executor of cial rapporteur on extrajudicial, ing is almost never likely to be be known henceforth as “Law right to kill extra-judicially is you can argue for a rules-based There are of course times So, no, the international The almost certainly illegal ty & security in region. by 25 per cent in 2020 to US$3.5 billion (£2.6 billion)” Iran’s aggressive interventions summary or arbitrary killings, legal.” Day” and said “the world no by definition outside of and order that binds all states. But when countries feel that they rules-based order is far from US killing of Suleimani sug - I’ve reiterated this to all says a BBC report (bbc.com, 6 Jan 2020). abroad for decades, including was clear. The targeted attack This matters deeply because longer has a choice between entirely contradicts the rule doing both at the same time... have genuine claims that inter- perfect and does not provide gests that Mr Trump has not stakeholders in my recent Publishers of books in all formats made almost $26 its military backing of Bashar on Suleimani and his compan- the US has been the foremost force and law. If civilisation of law. looks just plain ridiculous.” He national law does not and will solutions that satisfy all. It has the slightest care for its main- conversations. Active di- billion in revenue last year in the U.S., with print mak- Al Assad in Syria and Hezbollah ions, she wrote on Twitter, was advocate for an international is to survive it must choose As Professor Patrick Porter, a pointed out that using the same not recognise. When Vladimir to be maintained even in the tenance. He should do, for if it plomacy to de-escalate ing up $22.6 billion and e-books taking $2.04 billion, in Lebanon, his responsibility is likely “unlawful” and violated rules-based order founded on the rule of law.” Nearly all his leading international relations logic, Russia could have justi- Putin, the Russian president, face of countries and state ac- were to crumble we would all tensions is the need of according to the Association of American Publishers’ undisputed. international human rights law. the rule of law since the mid successors have echoed him academic, put it in the after- fied assassinating CIA officials annexed Crimea from Ukraine tors like Suleimani that show no miss it – even him. the hour.Violence must annual report 2019. According to the be avoided. We’ll contin- industry research group Nielsen’s ue with efforts. Over five million annual books and consumer survey, @SMQureshiPTI hours of audio “while book sales through shops increased 7% in 2016, the e-book content was sales had declined by 4%” (Physical 03 listened to in 2015 books still outsell e-books — and and Audiobooks. here’s why, cnbc.com, 19 Sep 2019). com saw this figure So, is the physical book still on Afghanistan could become battleground for US-Iran proxy war – much to its detriment the rise? Was the increase in e-book increase to over sales, a mere fad? Is reading books eight million hours on your tablet or kindle, now passé? It would almost certainly trigger internal strife as various minorities and their militias with longstanding relationships with Tehran react against their own government in 2016. I am, anyway, one of those who n our current prima- switched to a new digital format. Iry field, some people For the last three years, I have been treat healthcare as a ‘listening’ to books, on the ‘Audible’ app. While driv- RICHARD OSLON port of Chabahar has emerged Critics of the able deal can be had. most, the resupply of those bas- right, and others don’t. ing to and from work, I find it convenient to ‘listen’ as a significant entrepot for administration’s approach Critics of the administration’s es has to take place through Pa- Doesn’t make you ene- to books. t is safe to assume that Iran landlocked Afghanistan. The US have argued for an ongoing approach have argued for an kistani air space, meaning that mies, it makes you dif- The app enables me to go back 30 seconds, or a will react to the killing of has tacitly accepted the devel- ongoing US counter-terrorism Pakistan needs to be on board ferent. Abroad, being in minute, or even more, if I get momentarily distracted; Qassem Suleimani through opment of this supply line as an US counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan and, in for the confrontation with Iran diff parties doesn’t mean with just a click on my steering wheel button. But, I mission in Afghanistan violent but asymmetric means. alternative to Pakistan and a way some quarters, for retaining – by no means a sure thing. you dislike each other. It there are many times when I wish I could underline An Iranian counter-strike might for India to develop commercial and, in some quarters, US bases to counter China and A decision to fight Iran from means you acknowledge or highlight something. not come immediately but Teh- links with Afghanistan. for retaining US bases to Russia in Central Asia. These Afghanistan would also pres- your differences and And then, there are also times when I wish I could ran is sure to mobilise its various For these reasons, the Afghan counter China and Russia in arguments, however, have not ent a terrible dilemma for the come together in coali- go back to a certain chapter of the book. The app proxies and identify ways to in- government has tried to strad- Central Asia. had much purchase with the Afghan government – forcing tion. allows you to ‘bookmark’, but it is not that simple. flict pain on the US. While the dle the US-Iran divide, rather administration. The US force the country to choose between @AOC Especially, if you are driving! first reaction is likely to be in than choose sides. Consistent in Afghanistan is at the end of its powerful but distant patron, Excellent narrators, with appropriate voice, pro- Iraq or elsewhere in the region, with this approach, President rather long tether, with its aerial or its dangerous and vengeful 04 nunciation and emotive expression, bring out ‘au- among the possible venues for Ashraf Ghani tweeted after the and terrestrial supply lines flow- neighbour. Moreover, a US de- diobooks’ to life in myriad colours of imagination. a counter-strike could be Af- strike: “The Islamic Republic ing through Pakistan, which has cision to stay would almost cer- For instance, I had thoroughly enjoyed listening ghanistan. of Afghanistan is gravely con- been at best ambivalent about tainly end any possibility of a to ‘The Book Thief’, ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’, ‘The Afghanistan has not been a cerned about a possible increase the Afghan adventure. And a negotiated settlement with the Fault in Our Stars’, and now enjoying ‘The Anarchy’ significant playground in the es- in violence in the region. In my tiny toehold in Afghanistan does Taliban. by William Dalrymple, mainly because of the narra- calating US-Iran confrontation. telephone conversation with ran. Should the US, as seems not seem a weighty counter to It is hard to see how using Af- tors’ style. Tehran largely supported the US the US secretary of state, I once likely, wind up in prolonged great power competition in in- ghanistan as a platform against But the flip-side of listening to audiobooks is that overthrow of the Taliban regime again emphasised that Afghan low-intensity conflict with ner Asia. Iran would not prolong that un- reat interview with you cannot easily go back to specific passages. and, notwithstanding the fact soil must not be used against Iran, the American perception But the utility of the US pres- fortunate country’s agony. A US G@GOPLeader Kevin I am a hybrid reader, actually. Using printed pages that then president George W a third country or in regional of Afghanistan’s utility might ence in Afghanistan could in- war against Iran from Afghan McCarthy on @foxand- and also audio apps. Bush put Iran in the “Axis of conflicts.” well change. The Donald Trump crease if the US finds itself in territory would almost certainly friends. “There was no And, clearly, I am not alone. Over five million Evil”, Tehran has seen its inter- Mr Ghani has good reason to administration has sought a po- prolonged conflict with Iran. trigger internal strife as various urgency with the Articles hours of audio content was listened to in 2015 and ests in Afghanistan as largely stay out of the US-Iran confron- litical settlement to the Afghan The temptation of retaining Ba- minorities and their militias, of Impeachment because Audiobooks.com saw this figure increase to over eight coincident with Washington’s, tation, since Iran has a readi- conflict and, like its predecessor, gram Airfield – and the even who have had decades-long there was no case.” million hours in 2016 (Global Audiobook Trends and even as it formally opposed the ly-available Afghan proxy, the has had the ultimate objective of greater temptation of Shindand relationships with the Iranian @POTUS Statistics for 2017). US troop presence. Iran has Fatemiyoun Brigade. Drawn drawing down US forces. While Air Base, in western Afghanistan regime, react against their own I love my Audible App. Maybe, you love your Kindle generally supported the Kabul from the large Afghan refugee the diplomacy has been charac- – might be too much for military government. And the Iranians or Kindle Fire. regime; its recently-developed population in Iran, as many as terised by fits and starts, the ad- planners and the US department have a readily-available Afghan Disclaimer: (Views expressed But, admit it, the touch and feel of a real book is relationship with the Taliban is 50,000 of them, primarily from It falls under the Islamic Rev- which deployed the brigade in nificant diplomatic presence But the longer-term questions ministration still seems to seek of defence to resist. militia. The foreign proxy war by columnists are personal and different. And, oh, that wonderful new-book smell! probably a hedging strategy for the Shiite Hazara minority com- olutionary Guard Corps – the Syria. But it could easily shift and unofficial community of of Afghanistan’s role in this fight an end to the Afghan war that Of course, there would be that has dominated Afghanistan need not necessarily reflect our Maybe that smell too is an endangered luxury to a US drawdown. munity, have served since the force of which Suleimani’s Quds its operations to Afghanistan. Americans, Afghanistan does will be determined as much in involves negotiating with the complications with such basing for the past four decades would editorial stances) some of us. More significantly, the Iranian force’s establishment in 2013. Force was also an element – With 12,000 US troops, a sig- not lack targets. Washington as in Kabul or Teh- Taliban – provided an accept- arrangements. First and fore- get a new lease on life. (The writer’s twitter handle: @joelindrupati)

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing 10 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 business

During a group photo opportunity KIMS opens multispecialty centre in Askar Hospital, and Jacob Thomas, Group said: “With the addition The multispecialty Executive Director – Operations of KBMC Askar, we aim to cater • & Projects (GCC), KIMS Health- to a large audience of people centre located on care Group. Top officials from who are working and residing Avenue 52 in Askar KIMS’ other units attended the in the industrial area.” event. Ahmed Jawahery, Chairman The centre will Aptly located on Avenue 52 in of KBMC and President of RBH, provide• services of Askar, the multispecialty cen- said: “KBMC Askar’s ideal loca- tre aims at exclusively serving tion will allow companies and general medicine the population residing in and residents to access our medical and urgent care around Askar. services in their vicinity a lot KBMC Askar is equipped with easier.” TDT | Manama GP clinics, in addition to facili- Jacob Thomas, Executive Di- ties and services such as – Xray, rector – Operations & Projects lab and pharmacy. The Centre (GCC), KIMS Healthcare Group, IMS Bahrain Healthcare will provide services of general said: “Since 2004, KIMS has been (KBH) has launched its medicine and urgent care. KIMS spreading wellness through its Kfifth healthcare insti - will also provide, on visiting institutions namely – Royal tution in Bahrain - KIMS Bah- basis, services of its specialist Bahrain Hospital in Salmaniya, rain Medical Centre ( KBMC) doctors such as - orthopaedics, KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre Askar. general surgery, internal med- in Umm Al Hassam and Muhar- The KBMC Askar facility was icine, dermatology, and others. raq and RBH Medical Centre in inaugurated through a soft open- The KBMC Askar facility was inaugurated through a soft opening held at the Centre’s premises. Speaking on the occasion of Riffa. Through KBMC Askar we ing held at the Centre’s prem- KBMC Askar’s launch, Dr Sher- continue providing high-qual- ises. ny were Dr Sheriff Sahadulla, ficer, KIMS Healthcare Group, KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre iff Sahadulla, Chief Executive ity healthcare in an affordable Present during the ceremo- Group Chief Executive Of - Ahmed Jawahery, Chairman, and President, Royal Bahrain Officer of KIMS Healthcare manner.” AUB updates WhatsApp India predicts 5pc growth Reuters | New Delhi istry of Statistics said in a statement. business service ndia yesterday forecast 5 per Manufacturing is forecast Icent growth for the current to grow 2.0pc in 2019/20, TDT | Manama accounts. Along with enabling experience to our customers, financial year, which will likely compared to 6.9pc growth in money transfers within their setting a base for us to build on prompt the finance minister 2018/19, the Ministry of Statis- hli United Bank ( AUB) AUB accounts including cross for additional services in the to opt for extra fiscal stimulus tics said. Aannounced launching a currencies by contacting the future.” when she presents the annual Construction is likely to grow WhatsApp transactional Busi- bank through WhatsApp, AUB He added: “ AUB is the budget next month. A cashier checks Indian rupee notes 3.2pc in 2019/20, compared to ness service update as part of said its WhatsApp Business is first bank in Bahrain to pro - The government is expected inside a room at a fuel station in 8.7pc the previous year, while growing AUB’s WhatsApp based identified by a green badge en- vide such a service through to announce tax concessions Ahmedabad, India the farm sector is forecast to service range. suring the security and encryp- WhatsApp. It is part of for individuals and increase grow 2.8pc, compared to 2.9pc The update, according to tion of messages/ transactions. our digital transformation spending on infrastructure af- pees ($1.4 trillion) in infrastruc- a year earlier, the statement AUB, includes three distinct Group Head Digital Trans- strategy.” ter cutting corporate tax rates ture over the next five years in said. features allowing customers formation, Samih Abutaleb, The service is currently live, last year, officials and econo- a bid to make India a $5 trillion The statistics ministry will to inquire about their account said, “With this we step into and customers can firsthand mists said. economy by 2025. release growth data for the summaries and the last five the next phase of offering an in- experience the features of this Finance Minister Nirmala Gross domestic prod- October-December quarter on transactions made with their novative and interactive digital new digital service. Sitharaman last week unveiled uct is estimated to grow Feb. 28, along with revised full- a plan to invest 102 trillion ru- 5.0pc in 2019/20, the Min - year growth estimates. Bentley returns to profitability With this we step into the next Reuters | London phase of offering an innovative 2019, operating profit stood at and interactive digital ritish luxury carmaker 65 million euros (55.4 million experience to our customers, BBentley returned to prof- pounds)), according to pre- setting a base for us to build itability in 2019, helped by a 5 viously released figures from on for additional services in per cent sales increase after a Volkswagen. the future strong performance in Europe In 2018, the marque reported and the Americas, the Volkswa- a loss of 288 million euros due gen-owned brand said yester- Adrian Hallmark to delays in the start of the Con- SAMIH ABUTALEB day. return to profitability, demon- tinental GT model and the effect GROUP HEAD DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, Sales reached 11,006 vehi- strates the successful imple- of exchange rates. cles last year, boosted by the mentation of our turnaround, Sales in China fell by just over new Continental GT Convert- and sends a clear signal for the 12pc to 1,940 models, which ible model and a series of de- potential of Bentley for 2020,” Bentley said was due to the rivatives and limited edition said Chief Executive Adrian lack of availability of cars as models. Hallmark. the Continental GT only arrived “This result secures Bentley’s In the first nine months of in December. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 11

NEON is a computationally created virtual being that looks and behaves like a real human, with the ability to show emotions and intelligence. Samsung unveils AI-powered digital avatar

touted a new kind of artificial chors, spokespeople, or movie ers in games, NEON goes further emotions and expressions. atives, financial advisors, health- The NEON creators intelligence called NEON, pro- actors” or even “companions by enabling interactions that can “We have to wait and see what care providers or concierges. • duced by the independent Sam- and friends.” incorporate human emotion. this means,” Gold said. “We have always dreamed of said the new virtual sung unit Star Labs. “NEONs will be our friends, Although the artificial hu - “But it has major implications such virtual beings in science humans are the But some industry experts collaborators and companions, mans may borrow features from for many fields like customer fictions and movies,” Mistry product of advances questioned the lack of detail continually learning, evolving real people, “each NEON has his service, help desk functions, en- said. in technologies provided by Samsung on the and forming memories from or her own unique personality tertainment, and of course could “NEONs will integrate with our underlying technology. their interactions,” said Pranav and can show new expressions, also be used to ‘fake’ a human world and serve as new links to a “As far as we can tell, there’s Mistry, chief executive of the lab. movements, and dialogs,” the interacting with a live person for better future, a world where ‘hu- Industry experts no mystery here at all. NEON is The NEON creators said the company said. bad or illegal purposes.” mans are humans’ and ‘machines questioned• the lack just digital avatars — comput- new virtual humans are the Avi Greengart of the consul- are humane.’” of detail provided er-animated human likenesses product of advances in technol- New kind of deepfake? tancy Techsponential said the The laboratory was launched by Samsung about as deserving of the ‘arti- ogies including neural networks The announcement comes avatars could be realistic but also in 2019 by Mistry, who had ficial human’ moniker as Siri,” and computational reality. amid a proliferation of AI-ma- “creepy.” previously been a senior Sam- said the specialised tech website, According to Star Labs, NEON nipulated computer videos “Leaving aside how impres- sung vice president and head Las Vegas The Verge. is inspired “by the rhythmic known as “deepfakes,” and sive the technology is, will NEON of innovation at Samsung “Don’t worry about any ‘ AI complexities of nature and ex- growing concerns about how be used in ways that people like, Mobile. Samsung lab yesterday android uprising’ — these aren’t tensively trained with how hu- they could be used to deceive or just tolerate, or actively hate?” He was known for develop- unveiled a digital av - the artificial humans you’re mans look, behave and interact.” manipulate. he said. ing Sixth Sense, a gesture-based Aatar it described as an looking for,” it added. The avatars “create life-like Some analysts fear these fakes According to Samsung and wearable technology system AI-powered “artificial human,” According to the Califor - reality that is beyond normal could be misused during an elec- Star Labs, NEON offers avatars built at the Massachusetts In- claiming it is able to “converse nia-based unit of the South Ko- perception to distinguish, with tion campaign to exacerbate po- with lifelike reality “that is be- stitute of Technology. and sympathize” like real peo- rean giant, the technology allows latency of less than a few milli- litical tensions. yond normal perception to dis- The India-born Mistry also ple. for the creation of customized seconds.” Jack Gold, analyst at J. Gold tinguish.” worked on projects with Micro- The announcement at the digital beings that can appear While digital avatars have long Associates, said Samsung may The company envisions com- soft and Google and the National opening of the 2020 Consumer on displays or video games and been able to be programmed for be ahead of the pack if it can mercial opportunities to create Aeronautics and Space Admin- Electronics Show in Las Vegas could be designed to be “TV an- specific tasks such as role play- develop avatars that can show avatars to be service represent- istration. Highlights from the events at CES

Toyota’s ‘Woven City’ he Japanese auto giant said Tit would create a “woven city” on 70 hectares (175 acres) at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, to test autonomous driving and other technologies. “Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda Chinese consumer electronics giant Samsung’s rolling robot ball, named LG said its smart televisions were Samsung also showed a television that small scale like this, is a unique (L) and Danish architect Bjarke Ingel TCL offered a glimpse at three new Ballie, tracks its owner around the being enhanced to give viewers can pivot from portrait to landscape opportunity to develop future reveal plans for a prototype “city” of smartphones, one tailored for super- home assisting with tasks real-time answers about what is modes the future technologies, including a digital fast 5G networks happening on screen operating system for the city’s advantage of full productivi- TV leader LG Electronics and super-fast 5G networks, and Sebastian Seung, chief re- be available in other countries infrastructure,” said company ty, using sense of the AI to do media companies including promised all would come in at search scientist at Samsung in 2020. president Akio Toyoda. things automatically like re- WarnerMedia, A+E Networks, less than $500 at launch later Electronics, described the tiny He was joined by Danish ar- stocking your fridge or taking Crown Media Family Networks, this year. robot as a fitness assistant and a TV watching back chitect Bjarke Ingels of the Bja- out the trash, or even taking and NBC Universal. TCL revealed it is working on mobile interface to help people hinese TV colossus Sky- rke Ingels Group (BIG), which care of how healthy you are,” Beginning this year, owners a phone with a screen that folds in various situations. Cworth is taking its line-up will collaborate on the project. Ingels said. of LG’s new webOS Smart TVs like a book, and a visor headset “It’s a remote control that to the US and Europe, with 8K The city will be designed for will be able to shop on-screen that gives an experience like helps seniors control all the resolution models that boast around 2,000 people, including LG goes shopping for things they spy on partic- looking at a 110-inch television smart devices in the home, and artificial intelligence along Toyota employees and visiting G said its smart televisions ipating networks’ shows, ac- screen. Both of those were pro- calls for help if they need it,” he with cameras that watch the researchers, with sustainable Lwere being enhanced to give cording to TheTake. totypes in development. told a CES keynote. watcher. construction materials, in- viewers real-time answers to “Shoppable video has been The South Korean consumer “We believe adding camer- home robotics to assist with questions about what is hap- talked about since the days of Samsung’s rolling robot electronics giant also showed a as to TVs will become a new daily living and sensor-based pening on screens -- from sports Rachel’s sweater on ‘Friends,’” amsung scored points with “Sero” television that can piv- worldwide trend,” Skyworth AI to check occupants’ health. to news to films, and even help said TheTake co-founder and Sits rolling robot ball, named ot from portrait to landscape chief executive Tony Wang said Ingels told the news confer- them find and buy what a par- chief executive Tyler Cooper. Ballie, which tracks its owner modes the way smartphones while unveiling its latest line-up ence the city would have dif- ticular actor may be wearing. around the home. or tablets do in an appeal to of displays. ferent types of thoroughfare for Technology created by start- 5G under $500 The ankle-high robot was generations raised with mobile Artificial intelligence built autonomous vehicles, pedestri- up TheTake aims to provide hinese consumer elec - designed as a “life companion” internet viewing habits. into the cameras in TVs can han- ans and “micro mobility” vehi- a comprehensive “shoppable Ctronics giant TCL of- and fits into the company’s vi- The Sero, which means “ver- dle video calls, take pictures, cles such as scooters and bikes. video experience” through fered a glimpse at three new sion of “human centered” arti- tical” in Korean, debuted in and even track body motion for The smart homes “will take new partnerships with smart smartphones, one tailored for ficial intelligence. South Korea last year but will fitness or game applications. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 12

Hyundai to make flying cars for Uber air taxis Financials boost UAE stocks Reuters

tocks in United Arab Emir- ates rose yesterday, boost- Sed by financial-services shares, while petrochemical stocks sent the Saudi market down. On Sunday, Gulf stocks de- clined, with Kuwait falling the most in two years on their first day of trade following a US at- tack in Iraq that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, ramping up tensions in the region. People take photos of a model of Hyundai’s S-A1 electric vertical takeoff and With no immediate retalia- landing (eVTOL) aircraft built in partnership with Uber to create an air taxi tion, some of the tension abated. network, during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas That helped to push oil and gold prices lower on Tuesday as Las Vegas partnership to allow for the investors booked profits. short-range air taxis to be “af- In Dubai, the index advanced yundai announced Mon- fordable for everyone.” 2 per cent, driven by a 3.6pc leap Hday it would mass pro - Eric Allison, head of Uber duce flying cars for Uber’s Elevate, appeared at the CES Closing Bell aerial rideshare network set event with Hyundai to discuss SAUDI  0.1pc to 8,199 pts to deploy in 2023. the partnership. Traders on the floor of Saudi Stock market (Courtesy of Amazons) The South Korean manufac- Uber has announced it had ABU DHABI  1pc to 5,057 pts turer said it would produce the selected Melbourne to join DUBAI  2pc to 2,745 pts in blue-chip developer Emaar velop 1.2 million square meters down 1pc. four-passenger electric “ver- Dallas and Los Angeles in be- QATAR  0.3pc to 10,382 pts Properties and a 2.4pc gain by of land. State-owned Saudi Aramco tical take-off and landing ve- coming the first cities to offer its largest bank, Emirates NBD. Abu Dhabi’s index closed up fell 0.4pc to 34.4 riyals ($9.17). hicles” at “automotive scale,” Uber Air flights, with the goal BAHRAIN  0.5pc to 1,592 pts The Kuwait index rose 1.3pc 1pc as First Abu Dhabi Bank The Qatari index slipped without offering details. of beginning demonstrator OMAN  0.1pc to 3,948 pts with most stocks on the index gained 1.1pc. Telecoms firm Eti- 0.3pc with Qatar Islamic Bank The deal announced at the flights in 2020 and commercial KUWAIT  1.3pc at 6,809 pts ending higher. National Bank salat was up 0.7pc. shedding 1.1pc and Qatar Inter- Consumer Electronics Show operations in 2023. Of Kuwait rose 1.5pc and Agil- Saudi Arabia’s benchmark national Islamic Bank declining in Las Vegas could help Uber, Hyundai is using CES to ity Public Warehousing was up index edged down 0.1pc, with 2pc. which is working with oth - show the S-A1 model aircraft 1.8pc after it Saudi British Bank dropping Egypt’s market was closed on er aircraft manufacturers, to with a cruising speed up to 180 was awarded a project to de- 2.2pc and Saudi Basic Industries Tuesday for a public holiday. achieve its goal of deploying miles (290 km) per hour. air taxi service in a handful of The aircraft utilizes “dis- cities by 2023. tributed electric propulsion,” Jaiwon Shin, head of Hyun- designed with multiple rotors dai’s urban air mobility divi- that can keep it in the air if one sion, said he expects the large- of them fails. Musk dance moves launch Tesla SUV scale manufacturing to keep The smaller rotors also help costs affordable for the aerial reduce noise, which the com- systems. panies said is important to programme at new China factory “We know how to mass pro- cities. duce high quality vehicles,” The Hyundai vehicle will be Shin told a news conference piloted initially but over time The $2 billion at CES. will become autonomous, the • He said he expected the company said. Tesla Inc factory started delivering cars in just 357 days

Sony to test self-driving cars to Reuters | Shanghai boost sensing, safety techs lon Musk showed off his Edance moves at the launch of Tesla’s Model Y electric sports utility vehicle pro - gramme at its new Shanghai fac- tory yesterday, where the com- pany delivered its first cars built outside the United States to the public. The $2 billion Tesla Inc fac- tory started delivering cars in just 357 days, a record for global automakers in China. The first 10 customers from the public re- ceived their China-made Model Sony revealed the plan as it unveiled an electric concept car with 33 3 sedans on Tuesday. Billionaire CEO Musk danced enthusiastically on stage at the event, then stripped off his jacket and flung it aside to embedded sensors Billionaire CEO Musk danced reveal a T-shirt with a cartoon of the factory. enthusiastically on stage at the with the help of Bosch, Con- event, then stripped off his jack- vehicle deliveries in its fourth The concept car is tinental and other partners, et and flung it aside to reveal quarter. News of production • also incorporates Sony’s in-car a T-shirt with a cartoon of the ramp-up in its China factory developed with the help entertainment systems with factory. In a tweet, he labelled and upbeat early deposits for of Bosch, Continental spatial audio technology. the video “NSFW” - not safe for its recently launched pickup and other partners Sony is aiming to start test work. truck have also supported its rides during the next financial He predicted that “ultimately share price. Reuters | Tokyo year starting in April to check Tesla Model Y will have more Construction of Tesla’s first the performance of its auto- demand than probably all the plant outside the United States related technologies, a spokes- other cars of Tesla combined”, began in January and produc- ony Corp said it would start man said. The company has no with his voice cracking with tion started in October. Stesting self-driving cars as plans to produce its own cars, emotion at times while talking The factory started with a early as this year to beef up the he added. about the progress of the Shang- production capacity of 150,000 company’s sensing and safety Sony dominates the market hai factory. Model 3 sedans and Tesla aims technologies, as the Japanese for smartphone image sensors, The ceremony was attended to push that to 250,000 vehicles electronics and entertainment but has been trying to catch up by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong a year, including Model Y, in the giant accelerates its automo- with ON Semiconductor Corp and other senior government plant’s first phase. tive push. in sensors for automotive ap- officials. Tesla unveiled its Model Y in The factory started with a production capacity of 150,000 Model 3 sedans Sony revealed the plan as it plications. Tesla executives, however, did March 2019 and said in October unveiled an electric concept “It’s not an exaggeration to not provide further details on that production of the electric than Model 3, while production Model 3 sedans are priced at car with 33 embedded sensors, say that mobile has been the the progress of the China-made compact SUV at its Fremont costs are roughly the same. 355,800 yuan before subsidies. including image sensors and mega-trend of the last decade,” Model Y project. A Tesla repre- facility was running ahead of Tesla’s China website esti- Shanghai Vice Mayor Wu solid state light detection and Sony Chief Executive Officer sentative declined to comment schedule, adding at the time that mates the starting price for Qing said he hoped to see Tesla ranging (Lidar) sensors, at the Kenichiro Yoshida said at a further. it expects to launch the model Model Y vehicles at 444,000 extend its cooperation with the Consumer Electronics Show CES press conference. “I be- Tesla’s shares are trading by summer 2020. yuan ($63,911.56). It will an - city and for the car maker to (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday. lieve the next megatrend will close to their record high after It has said that margin expec- nounce the retail price later, the manufacture more models at its The concept car, developed be mobility.” it beat Wall Street estimates for tations are higher for Model Y website says. The China-made Chinese plant. 13 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

غغغغغغ (JOKER (15+)(THRILLER/CRIME/DRAMA غ (REALMS (18+) (CRIME/HORROR) FROZEN 2 (PG)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY CITY CENTRE: 7.45 + 9.45 + 11.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM CITY CENTRE: 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II): 11.15 AM + 1.15 + 3.15 + 5.15 + 7.15 + 9.15 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II):11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ZAZIE BEETZ, ROBERT DE NIRO RYAN KELLEY, MADISON MCKINLEY, PRAYA LUNDBERG KRISTEN BELL, IDINA MENZEL, JOSH GAD غغغغ(MALEFICENT 2: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG SAB KUSHAL MANGAL (PG-13) DABANGG 3 (PG-15)(HINDI/ACTION/COMEDY) CITY CENTRE:12.00 + 4.45 + 9.30 PM OASIS JUFFAIR : 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PM OASIS JUFFAIR :2.00 + 7.45 PM ANGELINA JOLIE, TERESA MAHONEY, MICHELLE PFEIFFER CITY CENTRE:12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 2.30 + 8.30 PM SEEF (I): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 1.30 + 4.45 + 8.00 + 11.15 PM DRIVING LICENCE (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) AKSHAYE KHANNA, PRIYAANK SHARMA, RIVA KISHAN SALMAN KHAN, SONAKSHI SINHA, WARINA HUSSAIN OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL (PG-15) STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG-13) AL HAMRA: 6.00 + (12.00 MN THURS/FRI.) CITY CENTRE: 10.45 AM + 1.30 + 4.15 + 7.00 + 9.45 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/ OASIS JUFFAIR:2.15 + 8.00 PM FRI) CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE (ATMOS) : 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN DAISY RIDLEY, MARK HAMILL, ADAM DRIVER CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D) :12.00 + 2.45 + 5.30 + 8.15 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE (VIP I) :12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM WADI AL SAIL12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PM DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK BLACK, KEVIN HART AL FELOUS (THE MONEY) (PG-15)(ARABIC/COMEDY/CRIME) OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.30 AM + 5.15 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) SEEF (I):11.15 AM + 1.45 + 4.15 + 6.45 + 9.15 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II):(12.45 MN THURS/FRI) WADI AL SAIL: 10.45 AM + 1.45 + 3.45 + 6.15 + 8.45 + 11.15 PM TAMER HOSNY, ZEINA, KHALID EL-SAWI

THE GRUDGE (15+) (HORROR/THRILLER/DRAMA) OASIS JUFFAIR : 12.00 + 2.15 + 4.30 + 6.45 + 9.00 + 11.15 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP):2.00 + 6.30 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE:10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 9.45 + 12.00 MN + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI) CITY CENTRE (VIP II) : 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM SEEF (II): 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM + (12.30 MNTHURS/FRI) غ (WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM GOOD NEWWZ (15+)(HINDI/COMEDY/DRAMA ANDREA RISEBOROUGH, DEMIAN BICHIR, JOHN CHO OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM SEEF (I): 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM CATS (PG) (MUSICAL/DANCE/FANTASY) AKSHAY KUMAR, KAREENA KAPOOR, DILJIT DOSANJH CITY CENTRE11.30 AM + 2.00 + 4.30 + 7.00 + 9.30 + 12.00 MN غغغ SEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM 21 BRIDGES (PG-15)(CRIME/ACTION/THRILLER) 21 WADI AL SAIL: 11.00 AM + 3.45 + 8.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM JAMES CORDEN, JUDI DENCH, JASON DERULO CHADWICK BOSEMAN, SIENNA MILLER, STEPHAN JAMES THAMBI (PG-13)(TAMIL) OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.30 AM + 5.15 + 11.00 PM غغغغغغغ غغغغ (RICHARD SAYS GOODBYE (18+) (COMEDY/DRAMA) TRAUMA CENTRE (PG-15)(THRILLER KARTHI, JYOTHIKA, SATHYARAJ OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 11.45 AM + 4.15 + 8.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 2.30 + 7.15 + 12.00 MN CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM SEEF (II): 11.45 AM + 2.00 + 4.15 + 6.30 + 8.45 + 11.00 PM VALIYAPERUNNAL (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) SEEF (II): 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM BRUCE WILLIS, NICKY WHELAN, STEVE GUTTENBERG OASIS JUFFAIR: 1.45 + 7.45 PM WADI AL SAIL: 1.30 + 6.15 + 11.00 PM SHANE NIGAM, HIMIKA BOSE, JOJU GEORGE JOHNNY DEPP, ZOEY DEUTCH, RON LIVINGSTON IP MAN 4 (PG-15)(ACTION/DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY) CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 3.45 + 9.00 PM (THRISSUR POORAM (PG-15) (MALAYALAM غ (NORM OF THE NORTH 3: KING SIZED ADVENTURE (G SEEF (I): 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM OASIS JUFFAIR :11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 1.00 + 5.15 + 9.30 PM DONNIE YEN, SCOTT ADKINS, KWOK-KWAN CHAN SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG) WADI AL SAIL: 8.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE:11.45 AM + 1.45 + 3.45 + 5.45 PM AL HAMRA: 12.00 + 9.00 PM غ (OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 10.45 AM + 3.00 + 7.15 + 11.30 PM KNIVES OUT (PG-15)(CRIME/COMEDY/THRILLER SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 2.30 + 6.45 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE:11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM JAYASURYA, SWATHI REDDY, GAYATHRI ARUN WADI AL SAIL: 12.00 + 2.00 + 4.00 + 6.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.45 AM + 5.45 + 11.45 PM JENNIFER CAMERON, BRIAN DOBSON, MICHAEL DOBSON CITY CENTRE:DUBBED IN ARABIC: 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 PM DANIEL CRAIG, CHRIS EVANS, ANA DE ARMAS SEEF (II): 11.15 AM + 1.30 + 3.45 + 6.00 + 8.15 + 10.30 PM MUNTHIRI MONCHAN (PG-15) (MALAYALAM) DISTURBING THE PEACE (PG-15) (ACTION/DRAMA) SEEF (II):DUBBED IN ARABIC: 12.15 + 4.30 + 8.45 PM LE MANS ‘66 (PG-13)(DRAMA/SPORT/BIOGRAPHY) AL HAMRA:3.00 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.15 AM + 3.45 + 6.00 + 10.30 PM MANESH KRISHNAN, DEEPIKA ANIL, SALIM KUMAR, ANJALI NAIR, VISHNU SEEF (II): 11.45 AM + 1.45 + 3.45 + 5.45 + 7.45 + 9.45 + 11.45 PM CITY CENTRE: 12.45 + 6.00 + 11.15 PM NAMBIAR GUY PEARCE, DEVON SAWA, KELLY GREYSON WADI AL SAIL: DUBBED IN ARABIC: 1.30 + 8.15 PM MATT DAMON, CHRISTIAN BALE, JON BERNTHAL WILL SMITH, TOM HOLLAND, KAREN GILLAN

MOVIE REVIEW Sab Kushal Mangal: A long, aimless comedy film The film breaks out of an uneasy mess by a contrivance, and tries to steer towards lightness by making Baba, the local yokel, fall for the very girl he has ‘uthwaaoed’

ments and nifty dialogues by Akshaye Khanna Brijendra Kala and, of course, • the supporting cast that includes goofs about in an stalwarts like Supriya Pathak atrocious comedy Kapoor, Satsih Kaushik and DON’T MISS IT Rakesh Bedi. irst-time director Karan The autorickshaw scene, in Vishwanath Kashyap has which Supriya Pathak and Kau- Fdone a good job of making shik, dressed as a Muslim couple, a cute rom-com that falters only Sab Kushal Mangal try to get their son Pappu away during the last 15 minutes in its does have a few re- from the clutches of Babasahab 134 minutes length. deeming features but may remind you of those crazy Sab Kushal Mangal never has it is unlikely to make scenes from Andaz Apna Apna. a dull moment. the list of memorable But the film belongs to the From Akshaye Khanna as brilliant Akshaye Khanna as the comic-villain Babasahab comedies in Hindi the comic-villain Babasahab Bhandari, or Priyaank Sharma cinema Bhandari. as Pappu Mishra (his hairstyle He single-handedly irons out perhaps goes with the char - all the film’s creases and makes it acter), the ‘celebrity’ host of a the rom-com it’s supposed to be. reality show Musibat Odh Li His equally fantastic sidekicks Maine, in the mould of Deepak Maine exposes Babasahab’s his- bring comic relief as well as in- Chaurasia, or Riva Kishan as The cast of ‘Sab Kushal Mangal’ in a still trionics from a TV studio in Del- fuse the film with its gangster the bubbly Mandira aka Manda, hi, ironically falls prey to Baba- quotient. Bhandari’s and Mishra’s love in- Set in the sleepy town of Colo- his electorate by kidnapping eli- pandits and brokers, where mar- sahab’s ‘goondagardi’ and that’s It is only the film’s climax that terest in the film, all look and act enlganj in Jharkhand, the film’s gible bachelors and forcing them riage proposals are accepted and how his journey with Mandira leaves much to be desired. believable. plot revolves around forced mar- to marry brides from Karnalganj. rejected based on how much begins. Kashyap’s adept handling of You can easily connect with riages. Karnalganj is one hell of dahej a bride’s father shells out. It’s not just the love triangle the film in the first half and most them as someone you may have Bahubali, aka, Babasahab, a a town with its own peculiar Pappu Mishra, also from Kar- that keeps you engaged. of the second does not justify the met or heard about from a friend. budding politician, tries to win grooms’ market, replete with nalganj, whose Mudibat Odh Li There are many hilarious mo- manner in which the film ends. 14 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Beyonce Knowles

Golden Globes Gwyneth Christian Bale to 2020: Paltrow: I’m semi-retired star in “Thor: Love Beyonce and Thunder’’? slammed Los Angeles Los Angeles by netizens Los Angeles scar-winning star ctor Christian Bale is in ne- Gwyneth Paltrow says she Agotiations to join Marvel inger-actress Ois semi-retired from act- Studios “Thor: Love and Thun- Beyonce ing. der”. SKnowles is At the red red carpet at the 77th Golden If the deal is sealed, it would being slammed in Globe Awards here, Paltrow confessed be Bale’s first big franchise mov- the virtual world that her lifestyle company, Goop, is now her ie since his final performance for failing to give top priority in her career. as Bruce Wayne (Batman) in actor Joaquin “I’m sort of semi-retired a bit from acting 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises”, Phoenix standing because I have a company (Goop) that I do,” reports variety.com. ovation after his Paltrow told E! News. The fourth film in the “Thor” Golden Globe win. At the ceremony, the actress looked stun- franchise, which is slated to Phoenix won the ning in a sheer rustic gown. open on November 5, 2021, will Golden Globe for Best She also admitted that she had no in- be directed by “Thor: Ragnarok” Actor in a Motion Picture tention of diving into another serious filmmaker Taika Waititi, with - Drama for his portrayal of acting role like “The Politician”. Chris Hemsworth playing the the mentally unstable loner “But I’m married to the writ- titular superhero. Arthur Fleck in comic book er (Brad Falchuk), and he Actress Tessa drama “Joker”. asked me to do the show. Thompson The actor got a standing He said he was writing it will also be ovation when his name was for me,” she said. reprising announced. The 38-year-old When pointed out that she her role from singer’s decision to remain seat- surprised people that she “Ragnarok” as ed at that moment at the event, found the time to co-star in Valkyrie. Christian Bale held at the Beverly Hilton hotel “The Politician”, she respond- Natalie Port- on Sunday, has caused quite a stir, ed: “I’m Goop from head- man will be returning to the reports dailymail.co.uk. to-toe, (Brad) is very franchise for the first time since The singer, who arrived an hour late charming, he’s very 2013’s “Thor: The Dark World”. to the ceremony, made a silent state- convincing.” It’s unclear what role Bale ment about her views about the win. would be playing in the film. At the San Diego Comic Con last year, Marvel Studios chief Karan Singh Grover Kevin Feige said that Portman’s Kangana inspired to Bill Hader, Rachel Bilson make Jane Foster will take up Thor’s consider marriage relationship official at Globes pens loved-up post on hammer Mjolnir in “Love and thanks to this man Los Angeles Bipasha’s birthday Thunder”, and take up the per- Male sona of the Mighty Thor. Mumbai ctors Bill Hader and Rachel Bilson have put an end to their dating ru- here is finally a man Amours by coming together on the red Bipasha Basu ctress Bipasha Basu turned Chris Hemsworth Tin Bollywood who in- carpet of 2020 Golden Globes. and Karan a year older on Tuesday, donates $ 1 million spired Kangana Ranaut to Hader appeared on the red carpet don- Singh Grover Aand her spouse Karan Sin- settle down in marriage, and ning classic black tuxedo with a black gh Grover is leaving no oppor- to fight Australian he is married! jacket. Bilson stunned in a black low-cut tunity to shower love upon Before you jump to con- dress with frilly sleeves. her. bushfires clusions that Kangana The two were first rumoured to be dat- Taking to social media, Los Angeles has found the man of her ing just be- Karan, who is current- dreams, let us clarify: Kan- fore Christ- ly holidaying with Bi- ollywood star Chris gana was merely talking mas, when pasha in the Maldives, HHemsworth on Tues- about filmmaker Nitesh Ti- Hader took posted an emotional day announced that he is wari, who is the husband of Bilson home note for her. donating USD 1 million to Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, who to Tulsa, “Wish you a very fight against the Australian has directed her upcoming Oklahoma, very very happy bushfire. film, “Panga”. to meet his birthday my darling The 36-year-old actor, “Undeniably, I have al- family. In sweet little baby who lives in Byron Bay, ways felt it is difficult to find November, bumbi pie monkey New South Wales, shared someone who will be on the they were princess! @bipa- a heartfelt video on Insta- same level. However, after spotted in a Los shabasu. May the gram urging his followers having met Nitesh Tiwari, Angeles restau- universe shower you to muster up whatever they and noticing them so am- Bill Hader, Rachel Bilson rant, reports dai- with infinite abun- can for the nation’s char- icable and loving in their lymail co.uk. dance, joy, love and ities. marriage, my opinion on Hader was nominated for Best Perfor- success!!! Be the bright “Like you, I want to sup- marriage has changed. He mance by an Actor in a Television Series – shining light that you are port the fight against the supports his wife so whole- Musical or Comedy for his role in HBO’’s and shine brighter with bushfires here in Australia,” heartedly. Marriage seems “Barry”. every passing day! You are Hemsworth wrote. possible to me now,” Kan- He lost to Ramy Youssef, who scooped God’sgift to all of us especial- “My fami - gana told Deccan Chronicle, up the trophy for the Hulu comedy series, ly me! Thank you so much ly and I are reports filmibeat.com. “Ramy”. for being born my love,” he contribut- wrote on Instagram. ing a mil- CLASSIFIEDS lion dol- lars. Hope- fully, you Baftas ‘20: Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Joker’ leads with 11 nominations Chris London guys can chip tle Women”), Charlize Theron in too. Every Hemsworth odd Phillips superhero film (“Bombshell”) and Renee Zellwe- penny counts so whatever “Joker” leads the nomina- ger (“Judy”) will be competing for you can muster up is greatly Ttion pack for the 2020 Brit- Leading Actress trophy. appreciated. Beyond appre- ish Academy of Film and Televi- “Joker”, which traces trans- ciative to everyone around sions Film Awards (BAFTAs), with formation of loner Arthur Fleck the world for their well actor Joaquin Phoenix in the race (Phoenix) from an aspiring stand- wishes and donations. It to grab the Best Actor accolade. up comedian to a super villain, is really does make a differ- Quentin Tarantino’s “Once also in the race to win the Best ence, so dig deep! Love ya,” Upon A Time In Hollywood” and Film award, along with “1917”, he added. Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” “The Irishman”, “Once Upon A Hemsworth’s announce- scored 10 nominations apiece. ing it out with Leonardo Dicaprio Time In Hollywood” and “Par- ment comes a day after the 17th January, 2020 Sam Mendes’’ war drama “1917” (“Once Upon A Time In Holly- asite”. devastating bushfires dom- has nine nods. wood”), Adam Driver (“Marriage Phillip is in contention to win inated the stage during the Just a day after winning a Story”), Taron Egerton (“Rocket- Best Director, battling it out 77th Golden Globe Awards Golden Globe for Best Actor in man”) and Jonathan Pryce (“The with Sam Mendes (“1917”), Mar- in Los Angeles, with many a Motion Picture for the mov- Two Popes”). tin Scorsese (“The Irishman”), award winners including Rus- ie, Joaquin has emerged as the Actress Jessie Buckley “Wild Quentin Tarantino (“Once sell Crowe and Joaquin Phoe- Please Call / WhatsApp: +973 38862215, 33784481, 33911860 contender for the Leading Actor Rose”), Scarlett Johansson (“Mar- Upon A Time In Hollywood”) nix using platform to draw trophy at BAFTAs. He will be fight- riage Story”), Saoirse Ronan “Lit- and Bong Joon-Ho (“Parasite”). attention to the ongoing crisis. 15 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 sports

BIC hosts back-to-back days of Open Track and Sainz takes Dakar lead Ultimate track experience Carlos Sainz victorious for Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team in third stage of 2020 Dakar Rally TDT | Manama

ahrain JCW X-Raid Team’s Carlos Sainz, with Bco-driver Lucas Cruz, claimed an impressive victory amongst the cars competitors yesterday in the third stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Sainz steered their no. 305 challenger to first place after Cars in action at BIC completing the 489-kilometre leg in three hours 48 minutes TDT | Manama and one second. BETTER They were more than three- ahrain International Cir- and-a-half minutes ahead of Bcuit (BIC) hosts a busy their closest rivals Nasser Al weekend for speed enthusi- KNOW Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel asts with back-to-back days of of Toyota Gazoo Racing. adrenaline-pumping events, Bahrain JCW X-Raid team- including Open Track Day and mates Stephane Peterhansel and the Ultimate Track Experi- The Clio Cup car is a Paulo Fiuza were classified sev- ence. Renault-manufactured enth in their no. 302 car, more These are two of the most racing machine. It than 10 minutes behind Sainz popular activities at “The features a 1.6-litre Tur- and Cruz. Sainz and Cruz race through the desert during the third stage yesterday Home of Motorsport in the The world’s most fearsome Middle East” as they put mo- bocharged engine that off-road race continued in the Following yesterday’s third huge 453km marked as special. torsport lovers right in the can generate up to city of Neom yesterday, with stage results, Sainz and Cruz The Dakar Rally, an annual heart of the action. 220bhp and 6,000rpm 404km of the course marked moved to the top of the general event which was first launched Open Track will be held on as special. ranking for cars. They have a in Paris 1979, ran from Europe to Friday along BIC’s 5.412-kilo- can generate up to 220bhp “I think it was a really nice combined time of 11:00:20 af- the Senegalese city it is named metre Grand Prix Circuit while and 6,000rpm. The passenger stage, with fantastic landscapes,” 33 ter three stages so far, and are after for decades, then moved to the Ultimate Track Experience experience can be bought for said Sainz. “There wasn’t much stage victories have nearly eight minutes ahead of South America in 2009, where it takes place on Saturday (Janu- BD26.500. time to see it, but it was really been earned by Carlos second-placed Al Attiyah and remained until this year’s event. ary 11) on BIC’s 2.55-kilometre The Radical SR3 boasts an nice. Lucas did a really good Sainz in his career Baumel. Saudi became the first coun- Inner Track. RPE-Suzuki Generation 1,340 job with the navigation and we Peterhansel and Fiuza moved try in the region to play host to Friday’s Open Track is DOHC engine. It can go from really attacked hard. On the last up to fifth on the standings. the challenge, gaining the right scheduled from 9am until 5pm. zero to 100kmh in 3.4 seconds, part of the stage we were open- Stage four today will see the to hold it for the next five years. It is expected to draw in scores and it has a six-speed sequen- ing the way, but it was okay. It’s and a lot of kilometres pushing competitors leaving Neom as A total of 550 drivers from 62 of participants looking to drive tial gearbox and paddle gear- still really early though. hard, but you never know - an- the race heads to Al-`Ula 676km nations are exploring the vast their sports cars or ride their shift system. The SR3 passen- “When you see racing on a day ything can happen any day. The away. It will be another chal- and formidable desert terrains motorbikes along a world-class ger ride costs BD37. like this, anything can happen, navigation is also tricky, but so lenging day when it comes to of the largest country in the re- racing facility. At the Ultimate Track Expe- you know. We spent a lot of time far, so good.” the overall classification, with a gion. The cost to take part is rience on Saturday, race fans BD89.500 for the full day and will be able to enjoy the activ- BD63 for a half day. There is ity from 8am until 4pm. also an option of a single ses- It is set to include drives in a sion for BD26.500. Discounts Clio Cup and in a Radical SR1 are available for those who prototype, as well as a second Saini, Thakur help India cruise to victory book in advance. straight day for thrilling pas- Also set to be held as part senger rides in the Clio Cup AFP | Indore on a key 51-run stand for the of the Open Track Day are the car and the ultra-quick Radical third wicket. Jaguar Experience, and pas- SR3. ast bowler Navdeep Saini led But it was the Indian bowlers senger experiences in a Clio The drive in the Clio Cup Fa disciplined Indian bowling who set the platform for victory Cup sports car and Radical SR3 car can be purchased for performance to set up a sev - after Kohli won the toss and prototype. BD115.500. The Radical SR1 en-wicket win over Sri Lanka in elected to field first. Delivered through a unique prototype features a 1,340cc the second Twenty20 interna- Sri Lanka kept losing wickets and tailored drive, the Jaguar engine which can generate tional in Indore yesterday. at regular intervals despite a Experience has been designed 185bhp. It launches from zero Saini returned impressive fig- brisk start but it was wrist spin- to ensure that all guests are to 100kph in 3.6 seconds. This ures of 2-18 while fellow pace- ner Kuldeep Yadav’s two key given a dynamic, hands-on and drive costs BD126, and com- man Shardul Thakur claimed strikes including Kusal Perera, memorable time in a Jaguar pleting the Clio Cup drive is a three wickets to help restrict for 28, that further put a lid on F-Type. The cost for the Jaguar prerequisite to taking part in Sri Lanka to 142 for nine, a to- the islanders’ scoring. Experience is BD63. the SR1 experience. tal the hosts surpassed in 17.3 Saini, who bowled opener The Clio Cup car is a Re- Both the Clio Cup and SR3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the Danushka Gunathilaka for 20, nault-manufactured racing passenger rides will be the three-match series. The open- claimed Bhanuka Rajapaksa machine. It features a 1.6-li- same price as they were on ing match was rained off. India’s Navdeep Saini reacts during the match caught behind for nine as Sri tre Turbocharged engine that Friday. KL Rahul, who top-scored chase on a good batting pitch. review. Lanka slipped to 104 for five. with 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasa- Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 Pace spearhead Jasprit Bum- who made 32, on his return from ranga sent back the two openers before falling to paceman La- rah also took a wicket on his injury, put on 71 runs for the as he bowled Rahul with a goog- hiru Kumara, and skipper Virat return from a four-month injury opening wicket to lay the plat- ly and then dismissed Dhawan Kohli, who made an unbeaten lay-off by bowling Dasun Shana- Shaikh Khalid Cup endurance race set form for India’s comfortable lbw after a successful Sri Lanka 30 and hit the winning six, put ka with a slower ball. TDT | Manama Al Khalifa directed Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endur- n endurance race for the ance Federation (BREEF) Pres- Acup of Supreme Council ident Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla for Youth and Sports ( SCYS) Al Khalifa to ensure the good Verstappen to stay at Red Bull until 2023 First Deputy-Chairman and organisation of the race. Bahrain Olympic Committee He urged BREEF committees AFP | London Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes if contract extension with Ferrari “I want to win with @redbull (BOC) President Shaikh Khalid to start preparations for the the six-time world champion, last month. and @HondaRacingF1, our goal bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be race, which is expected to draw ax Verstappen has signed also out of contract at the end Verstappen, who finished is to fight for a World Champi- held on Saturday. participation from all stables, Ma new contract with Red of the season, moves to Ferrari. third in the drivers’ champion- onship together.” His Majesty the King’s Rep- ensuring a highly competitive Bull until 2023, the Formula One But Verstappen, an eight- ship last season, tweeted: “Very Red Bull team principal resentative for Charity Works event. team announced yesterday. time Grand Prix winner, has proud and happy that @redbull- Christian Horner said: “With and Youth Affairs, Nation - He said that the riders have The 22-year-old Dutchman’s now committed his long-term racing will stay my home until the challenge of the 2021 reg- al Security Advisor and Su - gained an edge, lauding their deal was due to expire this year, future to Red Bull. 2023. We started this journey ulation changes on the horizon preme Council for Youth and outstanding performance dur- and he had been earmarked as The move follows Charles together and they have support- continuity in as many areas as Sports Affairs (SCYS) Chair- ing the National Day endur- a potential candidate to replace Leclerc’s signing of a five-year ed me from day 1. possible is key. man Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad ance championship. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 16 Bahrain kick off AFC U23 campaign Kingdom’s Olympic team target Tokyo Games as they set out for AFC U23 Championship

TDT | Manama Only the top three national liminary round along with Aus- teams from the field of 16 book tralia, Iraq and hosts Thailand. ahrain are aiming to make their tickets to Japan, and de- They kick off their campaign history and qualify for the spite the massive challenge against the host Thais today in Bmen’s football tourna- ahead of them, Ben Chammam is a match scheduled for a 4.15pm ment of the Summer Olympic confident they can make history. kick-off, Bahrain time. The game Games for the first time, says “My team is Bahrain’s future will be played at Rajamangala Olympic team head coach Samir and we have been preparing National Stadium in Bangkok. Ben Chammam as the Bahrainis for the competition since 2017,” Ben Chammam expressed begin their campaign today in he said yesterday during his his delight to be playing in the the 2020 AFC U23 Champion- pre-tournament Press confer- championship amongst the best ship in Thailand. ence in Bangkok. “I trust my under-23 teams in Asia, and is Bahrain are making their players and I believe we have a looking forward to facing Thai- debut in the prestigious Asian great chance to make history and land in their first fixture. Football Confederation (AFC) qualify for Tokyo 2020.” “I think we are lucky to be tournament, which also acts as Bahrain are the only team playing our opening match the continental qualifying com- competing for the first time in against Thailand, a game that petition for this year’s Tokyo the under-23 championship. will be interesting and one Olympics. They are in Group A for the pre- which will see the host team re-

Ben Chammam, right, with the head coaches of the other national teams yesterday at their pre-tournament Press conference

ceiving a lot of support,” he said. Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khal- “However, we faced similar ifa, manager Abdulla Al Muta- circumstances in Indonesia wa, media coordinator Ahmed last year during a friendly tour- Mahdi and other officials. nament and we know what to I trust my players Following their opening match expect and that we must con- and I believe we today, the Bahrainis play Iraq on centrate fully for 90 minutes to have a great chance Saturday before closing out their ensure we get the three points.” to make history and group campaign against Austral- Ben Chammam said that Bah- qualify for Tokyo ia on Tuesday next week. Also rain will do their best to win 2020 today, Iraq and Australia face off their game against the Thais. at a different venue. He noted that his players are BEN CHAMMAM Bahrain must finish in the top totally focused on winning and two in Group A to advance to the that they are ready to give their quarter-finals. Group B consists very best for the full 90 minutes. san Alkarani, Ahmed Sheroo- of Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia He added that their roster in- qi, Hussain Jameel, Ahmed and Syria; Group C features de- cludes three players who were Saleh, Abdulaziz Khalid, Adnan fending champions Uzbekistan, a part of the victorious men’s Fawaz, Hamad Shamsan, Sayed South Korea, China and Iran; national squad that won the 24th Hashem Isa, Hassan Madan, and Group D comprises Viet- Arabian Gulf Cup last month, Ahmed Fadel, Abbas Alasfoor, nam, North Korea, Jordan and namely Mohammed Marhoon, Sayed Mohammed Ameen, Jas- the UAE. Mohammed Al Hardan and sim Khleef, Yousef Habib, Anwar The last eight will be played Ahmed Bughammar – and said Ahmed, Salem Adel and Ammar on January 18 and 19, followed their presence gives their team Mohammed. by the semi-finals on January 22. a boost. Meanwhile, the pre-tourna- The match for third place will The rest of the squad includes ment technical meeting was held be held January 25 and then the Bahrain Olympic team players during training yesterday in Bangkok Abdulrahman Al Ahmadi, Faisal yesterday. Representing Bah- gold medal game the following Ibrahim, Hamza Al Jabn, Has- rain were Olympic team director night.

Stokes inspires England to series-levelling win Serena breezes into AFP | Cape Town second round in Auckland en Stokes produced an ex- Bplosive spell of bowling as England beat South Africa by 189 runs inside the last hour of the fifth day of the second Test at Newlands yesterday. The win levelled the four- match World Test champion- ship series. South Africa were bowled out for 248, with the last wicket falling when only 8.2 overs were left in the match. Stokes took the last three wickets in the space of 14 balls Serena Williams of USA plays a forehand in her first round match against to clinch the victory. He finished Camila Giorgi of Italy with three for 35. Reuters | Auckland as the 23-times Grand Slam South Africa defied the Eng- winner prevailed in blustery land bowlers for most of the day. op seed Serena Williams conditions, stretching her un- Only three wickets fell before Tkick-started her Auckland beaten run against her Italian tea as South Africa defended Classic singles campaign with opponent to five matches. grimly after starting the day on an easy 6-3 6-2 victory over “It was really fun to be out 126 for two after being set an Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi here and back again,” Williams improbable 438 to win. yesterday. said. “It’s really good to know Opening batsman Pieter Ma- Ben Stokes celebrates dismissing Vernon Philander to seal England’s victory Playing her first singles I still have some power in my lan, making his debut, made 84 match since losing last year’s arms and legs.” in 369 minutes and 288 balls be- De Kock, who made 50, had derson moved to leg slip and U.S. Open final to Bianca Williams, who advanced fore he fell to Sam Curran with been troubled by Joe Denly’s Van Der Dussen promptly Andreescu, the 38-year-old to the doubles quarter-finals the second new ball. But he was leg-spinners into rough out- glance the next ball straight to Williams fired eight aces with Caroline Wozniacki on the only player to be dismissed side his off stump –- but fell to Anderson. and was hardly troubled by Monday, is on course to face before lunch and tea. It meant a short ball which he pulled to Stokes produced an inspired Giorgi. 15-year-old compatriot Coco England needed five wickets 14 midwicket. spell of fast, hostile, short- Williams broke the Italian’s Gauff in the quarter-finals in the last session, with a min- balls were enough for Ben Van der Dussen batted for 194 pitched deliveries to have serve three times, while re- should both advance. imum of 31 overs to be bowled. Stokes to take the last minutes and 140 balls, scoring Dwaine Pretorius and Anrich maining unbroken herself in “I definitely think the dou- Quinton de Kock fell to a rare three wickets and lead only 17, before falling to a smart Nortje caught in the slips off a first round-match lasting 68 bles helped me a lot, especially loose shot after he and Rassie England to victory tactical move by England. He successive balls before he took minutes. with my serve,” the American van der Dussen had batted to- had been batting solidly against the final wicket when Vernon Giorgi, 28, could not cope added. “I served pretty decent, gether for more than two hours. Stuart Broad when James An- Philander was caught at gully. with Williams’ powerful serve considering the conditions.”