Police on the tarmac at Stuttgart airport, Germany. PHOTO: AP
FRANKFURT (AFP) – Climate activists demonstrated at four German airports yesterday morning, gluing themselves to the tarmac and bringing air traffic to a halt at two, operators said.
Activists ‘Letzte Generation’ (Last Generation) said its members had entered four German airports – Cologne-Bonn, Nuremberg, Berlin and Stuttgart – unfurling banners reading ‘Oil kills’.
“A total of eight people entered the runways as early as 5am and stuck themselves to the asphalt,” the climate organisation said in a statement.
They did not enter the runways.
But airport operators in the Nuremberg and Cologne-Bonn airport said that air traffic had still been suspended due to ongoing police operations. In Berlin and Stuttgart, the people stuck on the runway were quickly removed by police and air operations were not affected, police and airport sources told AFP.
Last Generation is known for mounting eye-catching protests – from throwing mashed potatoes at paintings in museums to glueing themselves on busy roads.
In July activists from the group halted traffic for two hours during the busy summer holiday season by gluing themselves to the tarmac at Germany’s busiest airport, Frankfurt.
Police on the tarmac at Stuttgart airport, Germany. PHOTO: AP
Jay Park shows the garlic light stick of his fandom on stage during a fan meeting at Myunghwa Live Hall. PHOTO: AP
SEOUL (AP) – Korean American star Jay Park is known for many things, including being a rapper and R&B artiste, as well as a garlic health drink enthusiast.
Park held a two-day fan meeting in Seoul recently for the first time in over a decade.
Between performing his hits, Park, known for his dedication to health drinks, minced garlic on stage for two fans who won a lucky draw to taste his garlic health drinks. During the show, fans waved garlic-shaped light sticks.
Hailing from Washington state, Park stumbled into South Korea’s competitive pop industry after his mother suggested he try out for a K-pop audition, which he initially thought was just a talent show.
He moved to South Korea, became a trainee under JYP Entertainment, and later debuted as a member of K-pop band 2PM.
His stint with the band was cut short in 2009 when his old online comments about his difficulty adapting to an unfamiliar country surfaced, drawing harsh criticism from the media and the public. He eventually parted ways with the band and returned to his hometown.
After Park’s return to the United States (US), public perceptions changed after people realised that his online messages had been taken out of context, leading to a strong demand for his return. He re-debuted as a solo artiste in 2010.
Korean American star Jay Park attends a fan meeting in Seoul, South Korea. PHOTO: APJay Park in a performance. PHOTO: APJay Park shows the garlic light stick of his fandom on stage during a fan meeting at Myunghwa Live Hall. PHOTO: AP
Park has become one of the biggest names in the Asian entertainment industry as a recording artiste, founder of three well-known South Korean music labels and an entrepreneur, with a Korean drink brand.
In an interview, Park talked about his long-overdue fan meeting and his upcoming foray into K-pop management with two bands set to debut.
His interview with The Associated Press has been edited for length and clarity.
It’s your first fan meeting in more than a decade. How did this come about and how was the meeting with fans?
I received a lot of support and love from the fans, but I felt like I never deserved that. I also wanted people to know the real me, as a person and as an artiste. My perception back then was like,
I didn’t want to rely on the fans too much and just continuously take money from them.
That’s not what I wanted to do. But I realised they want to show their support and it’s about (me) giving back as well. So right now it’s just a perfect opportunity to meet with my fans.
You just talked about the ‘real me’. Who is the real you? Is there a side of you that you want people to see more?
I don’t want people to see anything. If you see me, you see me. If you don’t, you don’t. I don’t have an artiste name.
My name is Jay Park. There’s not a lot of people that are active under their real name.
I’m probably like one of the only ones. I’ve been like that for, what, 16 years now? And I work with people that I want to work with. I do music that I want to do. I’m not hungry or thirsty for recognition anymore or to be accepted.
What was it like meeting your fans after a long time?
What surprised me was a lot of my fans were a little more shy, I felt. But I think it’s because, for me, there’s no one that really manages my fandom.
So it’s like everybody’s just kind of scattered around, so when they all come together in one spot for the first time in 11 years, it’s kind of like awkward for them as well. It’s awkward for me.
So everyone was very shy. I’m glad that we can meet 11 years later and celebrate each other.
How do you keep up with trends?
I don’t keep up with trends. I have certain morals and certain standards, and I just abide by those standards.
And it’s led me to where I’m at right now. I never cut any corners. I don’t take shortcuts.
So I think that that’s taken me a long way. And I’ve always tried to be the best human being and try to carry myself as a good person.
You’ve hinted at an upcoming album. When is the release?
It’s supposed to come out in October. – Juwon Park
ANN/THE DAILY STAR – Whether you are winding down after a long day, seeking relief from a health ailment, or simply enjoying a moment of tranquillity chamomile tea stands out as a timeless and versatile herbal infusion.
Here are some of the benefits of chamomile tea that experts frequently highlight:
ALLEVIATES INSOMNIA
Chamomile tea enhances sleep quality. A study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that chamomile tea significantly improved the sleep quality of patients in intensive care units – suggesting potential benefits for those suffering from insomnia under less critical conditions as well.
AN ALLY IN IMMUNE DEFENCE
Brewing a cup of chamomile tea might also bolster your immune system. The tea contains compounds that are thought to have antibacterial properties, which can help prevent and ease colds while fighting off bacterial infections.
Furthermore, the presence of antioxidants in chamomile strengthens the body’s defence against deep-seated ailments.
SUPPORTS DIGESTIVE HEALTH
Drinking chamomile tea is also beneficial for the digestive system. It can help soothe the stomach, relieve bloating, and mitigate indigestion. A comprehensive review highlighted in the Journal of Herbal Medicine suggests that chamomile tea stimulates gastric juices, which aid in digestion and alleviate troublesome gastrointestinal symptoms. It’s a natural remedy often recommended for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
SKIN HEALTH AND MORE
Chamomile’s healing properties are also good for skin health. Applied topically or ingested as tea, chamomile can help alleviate skin irritations and conditions like eczema, due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s also used in cosmetic products for its ability to lighten the complexion and impart a healthy glow.
A word of caution: While chamomile tea is generally safe for many, it can have potential side effects. It may cause allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to plants in the daisy family.
Therefore, it’s prudent to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating it regularly into your regimen – especially if you have existing health concerns or are on medication.
Manchester United’s Manager Erik ten Hag lifts the FA Cup trophy last season. PHOTO: XINHUA
AFP – Manchester United kick-off the 2024/25 Premier League season at home to Fulham tonight before Manchester City begin the defence of their title at free-spending Chelsea on Sunday.
New Liverpool Manager Arne Slot will be under the spotlight on Saturday with a trip to newly promoted Ipswich for his first competitive game since succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
AFP Sports looks at what to expect from the opening weekend of the new season:
Manchester United’s shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City back in May went a long way to keeping Erik ten Hag in charge at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman has been backed by United’s new football operations hierarchy, led by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, and was handed a contract extension to 2026.
Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have arrived to strengthen Ten Hag’s squad for around GBP150 million (USD192 million).
But after finishing eighth last season – United’s worst ever Premier League finish – Ten Hag needs a fast start to the new campaign to dispell doubts he is the man to lead the club forward.
Fulham won at Old Trafford for the first time in 20 years in February.
Any repeat tonight will have United fans fearing another season to forget.
Manchester United’s Manager Erik ten Hag lifts the FA Cup trophy last season. PHOTO: XINHUA
Arne Slot faces a tricky start to his Premier League career when Liverpool travel to an Ipswich side back in the top-flight after a 22-year absence and buoyant after successive promotions.
Liverpool are yet to make a single signing in the transfer window but have been rampant in pre-season with eye-catching wins over Arsenal, United and Sevilla.
Victory at Portman Road would bring some relief to Liverpool fans still coming to terms with the end of Klopp’s iconic reign.
The Reds could then build some momentum with a comfortable run of fixtures to come before the October international break.
But Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe is confident of maintaining Ipswich’s proud home record over the past two seasons.
“We’re going to empty the tank and give everything we’ve got,” Tuanzebe told the BBC.
“They’re just humans” he added. “It is just 11 v 11 on the pitch. Not many teams win at Portman Road and we intend to keep it that way.”
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has a baptism of fire against his former club.
Maresca was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City before leading Leicester to promotion from the Championship last season.
The Italian inherits a chaotic situation at Stamford Bridge with a first team squad now boasting over 50 players and question marks over the future of most of them.
Chelsea’s issues were exposed in a torrid pre-season, that included a 4-2 defeat to City in the United States.
By contrast, there have been few changes for Guardiola’s champions.
Brazilian winger Savinho is the only new arrival, while Argentine forward Julian Alvarez departed this week for Atletico Madrid.
City’s England trio of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, plus Spanish midfielder Rodri, only returned to training this week after competing in the Euro 2024 final and are unlikely to start against Chelsea.
Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate during a match. PHOTO: XINHUA
AFP – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are beginning a new era following the departure of Kylian Mbappe and the reigning French champions have so far kept a low profile as they prepare for life without the superstar forward.
Mbappe moved to Real Madrid when his contract expired in June, ending a prolific seven-year association with the Qatar-owned club in which he struck a remarkable 256 goals to become their all-time top scorer.
The France captain therefore leaves an enormous void, so big that PSG appear to have decided there is no one player who could possibly fill it adequately.
Coach Luis Enrique takes his team to Normandy to face Le Havre tonight on the opening night of the new Ligue 1 campaign without any glitzy new signing having arrived to directly replace Mbappe.
PSG have nevertheless spent money in Europe’s summer transfer window, and they may still move for a top-class striker before the deadline at the end of the month.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who previously starred in Ligue 1 for Lille, has been linked with a move to the French capital, although it is unclear whether he would fit in with Luis Enrique’s preferred style of football.
For now, though, PSG’s efforts in the transfer market have been focused elsewhere, with an estimated EUR125 million (USD132.2million) invested on three players.
Nineteen-year-old Portuguese midfield prodigy Joao Neves, who appeared for his country at Euro 2024, has arrived from Benfica for EUR59.9 million, a fee which could rise by EUR10 million when bonuses are factored in.
The defence has been strengthened with the recruitment of Ecuador centre-back Willian Pacho, 22, from Eintracht Frankfurt for up to EUR45 million.
PSG’s first summer signing was the Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, 25, from Krasnodar in his homeland for a reported EUR20 million. He will provide competition for first-choice custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Meanwhile, Mbappe apart, the Parisians have kept hold of the spine of their team from last season and have also incorporated teenage Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Moscardo after signing him from Corinthians in January but allowing him to stay there on loan for six more months.
French international wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola will be expected to build on impressive performances last season, while the hope is that Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos – scorers of 23 goals between them in the last campaign – will step up to help fans forget Mbappe.
Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate during a match. PHOTO: XINHUA
AFP – Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba reported a 29-per-cent fall in quarterly profit yesterday as it battles sluggish consumption during an economic slowdown.
Net income attributable to shareholders came in at CNY24.3 billion (USD3.3 billion) in the quarter ending June 30, Alibaba said in a corporate filing, down from CNY34.3 billion in the same period in 2023.
Alibaba runs some of China’s most popular e-commerce apps and its performance is widely considered an indicator of broader economic trends.
China released another series of disappointing indicators yesterday, despite recent government measures to boost growth.
Alibaba’s revenue for the first quarter was CNY243.2 billion, up four per cent from the previous year.
“In this quarter, we continue to invest for growth in our core businesses while reducing losses in other business units through operating efficiency,” chief financial officer Toby Xu said in the filing.
Alibaba made USD5.8 billion of share repurchases in the first quarter, part of an effort to reassure investors amid narrowing profits.
Its results contrasted starkly with rival shopping app operator JD.com, which announced a whopping 92.1 per cent increase in profit for the past quarter.
Yesterday’s results come at a time when Alibaba is increasingly being challenged by Pinduoduo, another shopping app whose parent company owns internationally popular budget shopping app Temu.
As sluggish growth hits consumers’ wallets, more shoppers are turning to generally lower-priced items on the Pinduoduo app rather than Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall platforms.
AFP – Teenage star Lamine Yamal is carrying the weight of expectations as Hansi Flick’s Barcelona face the unenviable challenge of dethroning a fearsome Real Madrid side as Spanish champions this season.
The German coach replaced club legend Xavi Hernandez at the helm and welcomed new arrival Dani Olmo last week, but last season’s La Liga winners Madrid signed superstar French striker Kylian Mbappe earlier this summer.
The forward joins Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and other star names to ensure Barcelona begin the season as firm underdogs to Los Blancos.
The Catalan giants won nothing last season and surrendered their Spanish crown in a deeply disappointing campaign, but 17-year-old Yamal’s emergence shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Many believe Barcelona need a left winger and a deep-lying midfielder to put themselves in a position to fight for silverware but the club’s economic struggles make those dreams unlikely after Olmo’s arrival.
Flick’s side beat Madrid in pre-season during a tour of the United States but were brought crashing down to earth last Monday by Monaco, who enjoyed a 3-0 win in the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy curtain-raiser at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium in their final friendly.
“We didn’t play with our normal speed or normal combinations, we lost a lot of balls,” said Flick.
BERNAMA – The ringgit ended lower against US dollar at the close despite the lower United States (US) consumer price index (CPI) data last night, indicating that lower inflation will enable the US Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates.
At 6pm, the ringgit slid to 4.4350/4405 versus the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.4170/4235.
The US CPI in July came in lower at 2.9 per cent on a yearly basis from three per cent in June.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit has gained considerably against the greenback ever since signals for the rate cut in the US has gained momentum.
Yesterday, ringgit closed at its strongest level in 16 months after it revisited the 4.41 level.
“Plus, the anticipation for a strong second quarter 2024 gross domestic product in Malaysia to be announced tomorrow has resulted in traders to be more sanguine on the prospect of further appreciation in the ringgit.
“Nonetheless, currency movement is not linear and they are subject to market volatility as traders might want to realise some profits,” he told Bernama.
At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It went down versus the Japanese yen to 3.0092/0132 from 3.0027/0073 at yesterday’s close, depreciated against the British pound to 5.7007/7078 from 5.6754/6838 and weakened vis-a-vis the euro to 4.8838/8899 from 4.8684/8756 previously.
Meanwhile, the ringgit traded lower against ASEAN currencies.
The local note dropped versus the Singapore dollar to 3.3657/3699 from 3.3582/3634 at Wednesday’s close and was lower against the Philippine peso at 7.79/7.80 compared with 7.75/7.77 previously.
AFP – Bryson DeChambeau, who captured his second United States (US) Open title in June, sees a chance to go lower than his stunning 12-under par 58 when the LIV Golf Greenbrier starts today.
The 30-year-old US golfer matched the lowest score on a major golf tour last year when he shot a final-round 58 with a closing birdie to win the event at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
“I don’t know how to explain it. Just kind of semi-blacked out I guess,” DeChambeau said.
“To make the 40-footer on the last hole for 58, that was just the cherry on top.
“A special place in my heart forever… probably one of the most special moments of my entire life.”
He matched the 58 fired by countryman Jim Furyk at the 2016 Travelers Championship as the lowest rounds on either the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.
DeChambeau said on Wednesday he expects 57 and maybe lower scores are out there.
“Breaking 58, I’m sure someone is going to do it at one of these times at some point,” DeChambeau said. “We’re just too good now. There’s going to be a time where everything kind of lines up.
Bryson DeChambeau. PHOTO: XINHUA
“It’s like runners breaking the four-minute mile. It was one person that broke it, and the next year there were 12 or whatever. I feel like that opens up the door.
“I believe there will be a 57 at some point, even a 56 potentially. It’s going to just get more consistent over the course of time. We’re just too good now.”
Greenbrier has offered up two other sub-60 scores in elite-level events.
Australian Stuart Appleby fired a 59 at the 2010 PGA Greenbrier Classic in the final round to win the event.
In 2019 at the PGA’s Greenbrier event, US golfer Kevin Chappell shot 59 in the second round and went on to finish level-47th.
“They’re all playing well to shoot in the 50s, but this place, it breeds that confidence in you, like you start making putts,” two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson said.
“And then it builds from there.”
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters winner, likes the chances for a sub-60 round this week.
“These greens are so pure that if you’re hitting the ball really well and giving yourself a lot of looks, once that putter gets hot, you have an opportunity,” he said.
“There’s a decent amount of short enough holes where you’re going to have a lot of wedges. The par-5s, you’re getting to both of them with irons in your hand.”
DeChambeau, who played with a new driver last year when he made 13 birdies and only a lone bogey at the par-three eighth, birdied six of the first seven holes and the last four.
He said the 58 sparked his run to his major win this year.
“I had been struggling with my golf game, not really understanding how to get the job done,” DeChambeau said. “Just didn’t feel like I had it to win.
“That’s what jump-started me to how I’ve been playing this past year, jump-started me to winning the US Open this year and continuing to play some really stellar golf,” he added.
A person walks in front of Tokyo Stock Exchange building in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AP
AP – Asian shares were mostly higher yesterday after the latest update on United States (US) inflation came in almost exactly as economists expected, and data on Japan’s economy showed relatively healthy growth.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.8 per cent to finish at 36,726.64. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2 per cent to 7,865.50. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.3 per cent to 17,054.92, while the Shanghai Composite surged 1.0 per cent to 2,877.73.
Trading was closed in South Korea for Liberation Day, a national holiday.
Japan’s Cabinet Office data showed the world’s fourth largest economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 per cent in the April-June period, marking a rebound from the contraction in the previous quarter.
The annual rate shows how much the economy would have grown or contracted, if the quarterly rate had continued for a year. Domestic demand grew a robust 3.5 per cent from the previous quarter on the back of healthy household consumption and private sector investments, as well as government investments. Exports grew a booming 5.9 per cent.
A major element of uncertainty, which focused on currency fluctuations and interest rates lately, now turned to the political sector, as Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party picks a new leader after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he wouldn’t seek reelection.
The next leader is likely to be from his party, signalling continuity in Japan’s basic pro-US, pro-business policies, but there is no clear successor. Some analysts think a younger candidate would have a better chance of getting more voter support.
The latest data for China made for a mixed picture, with retail sales for July showing an upside while property investment and manufacturing were less cheerful.
“The slowdown of investment and weak private sector and household confidence also present a strong case for stepping up fiscal stimulus. Many market participants would favour demand-side policy support,” said chief economist Greater China at ING Economics Lynn Song. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent to follow up on one of its best days of the year and climb within 3.7 per cent of its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 242 points, or 0.6 per cent, to finish a day above the 40,000 level for the first time in nearly two weeks. The Nasdaq composite edged up less than 0.1 per cent.
Treasury yields were also relatively steady in the bond market after the US government said consumers paid prices that were 2.9 per cent higher last month for gasoline, food, shelter and other things than a year earlier.
The data should keep the Federal Reserve on track to cut its main interest rate at its next meeting in September, after keeping rates at an economy-crunching level in hopes of stifling inflation.
The two-year Treasury yield edged up to 3.95 per cent from 3.94 per cent late on Tuesday.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.78 points to 5,455.21. The Dow gained 242.75 to 40,008.39, and the Nasdaq composite rose 4.99 to 17.192.60.
A person walks in front of Tokyo Stock Exchange building in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AP
