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Turkish crisis turns books into vanishing luxuries

ISTANBUL (AFP) – Turkish doctoral student Gulfer Ulas saw the first edition of her favourite Thomas Mann collection published for 33 liras.

She found the second print of the same two-volume set selling months later at her Istanbul book shop for TRY70 (about USD6 at the latest exchange rate).

The jump exemplifies the debilitating unpredictability of Turkey’s raging economic crisis on almost all facets of daily life – from shopping to education and culture.

“I am a PhD student in international relations so I have to read a lot. I spend almost TRY1,000 a month on books on my reading list even though I also download from the internet,” Ulas said.

“Book prices are skyrocketing.”

The Turkish book industry – almost entirely dependent on paper imports – pinpoints one of the flaws in the economic experiment Erdogan has unleashed on his nation of 84 million people in the past few months.

Erdogan has ripped up the economic rule book by orchestrating sharp interest rate cuts in a bid to bring down chronically rising consumer prices.

Books are displayed inside a bookstore at Karakoy port in Istanbul on December 2. PHOTO: AFP

Economists struggle to remember the last time a big country has done something similar because cheap lending is widely presumed to cause inflation – not cure it.

Turks’ fears about further erosion of their purchasing power prompted a surge in gold and dollar purchases that erased nearly half the lira’s value in a matter of weeks.

The accelerating losses forced Erdogan last week to announce new currency support measures – backed by reportedly heavy exchange rate interventions – that have managed to erase a good chunk of the slide.

Few economists see this as a long-term solution. The lira now routinely gains or loses five per cent of its value a day.

Kirmizi Kedi publishing house owner Haluk Hepkon said he fears all this uncertainty “will compel people to prioritise buying essentials and put aside buying books”.

“You publish a book, and let’s say it becomes a hit and it costs TRY30. And you go to a second edition in a week and the price climbs to TRY35,” Hepkon told AFP.

“Then for the third or fourth printing, only God knows how much it will cost.”

Turkey’s last official yearly inflation reading in early December stood at 21 per cent – a figure opposition parties claim is being underreported by the state.

The next report on January 3 is almost certain to show a big bump because the lira’s implosion has ballooned the price of imported energy and raw materials such as those needed to make paper.

Applied economics professor Steve Hanke of Johns Hopkins University calculates Turkey’s current annual inflation rate at more than 80 per cent.

Turkish Publishers Association president Kenan Kocaturk said global supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have contributed to his industry’s problems by raising the price of unbleached pulp.

Turkey imports the raw material because its own paper mills have been privatised and then largely shut down.

“Only two of them continue production while the others’ machines were sold for scrap and their lands were sold,” Kocaturk said.

“Turkey is paying the price for not seeing paper as a strategic asset.”

Publishers are already trying to minimise risks by planning to put fewer books in print in the coming year.

The Heretik publishing house says it will not print some books “due to the rise in the exchange rate and the extraordinary increase in paper costs”.

Aras publishing house editor Rober Koptas said he was worried because printers represented a voice of ideological “resistance” in Turkey.

“Almost the entire press speaks in the same voice and the universities are being silenced,” said Koptas.

“But culture is just as important as food, and maybe more so given there is a need for educated people to address economic woes,” Hepkon of Kirmizi Kedi added.

Avid readers such as Ibrahim Ozcay said the crisis is already keeping them from buying their favourite books for friends.

“I was told that the book I want now costs TRY38 liras. I had bought it for TRY24,” said Ozcay.

“They say this is due to the lack of paper on the market, which does not surprise me.

Everything in Turkey is imported now,” he fumed.

Ukraine hospital candle fire kills three

KIEV (AFP) – Three people have died in Ukraine after a candle lit in memory of a patient who died of COVID-19 set fire to an intensive care unit, officials said yesterday.

On Tuesday, a hospital employee in Kosiv, a western town on the edge of the Carpathian mountains, lit a candle in memory of a recently deceased coronavirus patient according to local tradition, the emergencies services said.

The candle was lit in the hospital’s intensive care unit where five oxygen concentrators had been operating, with equipment instantly catching fire.

“Ignorance of the elementary laws of physics and disregard for safety rules have led to irreparable losses,” the emergencies services said, describing the incident as a “terrible mistake”.

Three people – including two patients – were killed. Four other people were treated for severe burns. Deadly fires are common in the ex-Soviet nation due to poor compliance with safety regulations and ageing infrastructure.

In February, an oxygen explosion killed one coronavirus patient and injured another at a hospital in Chernivtsi.

The same month, four people died in the southwestern city of Zaporizhzhya after a fire ripped through the intensive care unit of a hospital.

Recapping Brunei’s year in sports

Fadhil Yunus

As the year 2021 looms to a close, it is safe to say that the sporting scene in Brunei Darussalam has been unsurprisingly quiet and inactive for the most part, largely due to the adverse effects and complications brought by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The closure of indoor and outdoor sports facilities and complexes, prohibition of mass gatherings and continued travel restrictions have all contributed to the absence of sporting activities including competitions, workshops and seminars both locally and abroad.

It also hasn’t been plain sailing for the local governing sporting bodies, which saw their plans heavily disrupted amid the cancellation of tournaments.

Nevertheless, there were promising signs at the start of the year, as selected sports were allowed to organise competitions following revised guidelines of de-escalation measures.

As sports facilities were open for training since the second half of last year, organising competitions for both team and individual sports received the green light in March amid an improved COVID-19 situation and reduction of social distancing measures in the country.

As part of the guidelines and with standard operating procedures in place, only a certain number of people were allowed to enter the competition venues.

The 37th National Day Celebration Squash Championship held at the National Squash Centre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex represented one of the first tournaments this year.

During the competition, Kyran Young claimed the top gong after a straight-set victory over Pengiran Hasnan bin Pengiran Anak Haji Rozanan in the men’s open final.

The former Wycliff College pupil became the second foreign player to win a local tournament after Malaysian junior star Harith Daniel Jefri in the BSRA 1st Suci Challenge Trophy Squash Tournament in 2019.

A week later, the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association (BDGA) – the country’s governing body for golf – organised the maiden Sonax Cup.

Golf produced memorable sporting moments inspired by the rivalry between talents Awangku Md Syakir bin Pengiran Haji Alli and Mohd Aritz Maldini bin Haji Abdul Majid.

The two have constantly battled for the top prizes in the country and it was no surprise that they were billed as genuine title contenders.

However, it was veteran Suhaimi Ibrahim who grabbed the limelight when he navigated his way to win the Sonax Cup at the Pantai Mentiri Golf Club (PMGC) yet again.

Looking at how the year panned out overall, few might argue that the most in-form player in golf is none other than Awangku Md Syakir. The national athlete won the 31st Pantai Mentiri Amateur Open Golf Championship title by eight shots in June, marking his second triumph in three appearances at the Mentiri-based venue.

His national teammate, Mohd Aritz Maldini, had a similar impact after lifting the 21st Pusat Ehsan Charity Golf Tournament in July, subsequently collecting the second of three coveted trophies in the country.

It was a sense of familiarity in local basketball as Easyway Basketball returned to the summit following victories in the 5.11 National Basketball League and the You-C1000 Basketball Cup in May and July.

Having fielded a number of experienced players in the team who have tasted success, TK Tea House romped to glory in the 5.11 Veteran Basketball League in June.

In June, the highly-anticipated Brunei Netball National League 2021 organised by the Brunei Netball Association (BNA) was finally launched following a lengthy wait.

The tournament saw national players separated into the six teams while local coaches put the knowledge they grasped during a workshop late last year to the test.

The Brunei Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) also made efforts to revive the swimming scene with the 28th Brunei Age Group Swimming Championships (Long Course) in April and the 5th Brunei Sprints and Masters (Short Course) Swimming Championships.

A number of new national records were also registered in both tournaments with rising junior star Hayley Wong breaking a longstanding record of 31 years.

The teenage swimming sensation recorded a time of 2:55.10s in the women’s 200-metre breaststroke, thus lowering the time of 2:55.62s previously set by Nuralia binti Abdul Rahim in 1990.

For the Brunei Super League (BSL), the country’s top football league division, a season was also briefly held though it has since been cancelled, and saw the return of football powerhouse DPMM FC for the first time since the early 2000s.

Futsal also returned from a four-year long absence with teams divided into two groups in the newly-revamped Brunei Futsal League (BFL).

Meanwhile, in running, the Brunei Run in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace turned out to be a success despite a maximum cap of 250 participants in compliance with national COVID-19 guidelines.

With the country in search of long distance runners to represent the country in the international scene, Khairul Anuar bin Ramli’s reputation exceeds others as one of the leading runners after winning the men’s 10-kilometre category.

Despite being primarily absent in international competitions, the Sultanate was represented in the Tokyo Olympics by national sprinter Mohd Firdaus Ar-Rasyid bin Haji Mohd Idris and swimmer Muhammad Isa bin Ahmad.

For all the promise in the first half of this year, the sporting scene was hit with another setback following the second wave of infections in early August. Despite being familiar with the measures and restrictions having had the same experience in March last year, the suspension of sports activities and events and postponement of upcoming events led to another period of uncertainty as the country battled with the virus.

While the country’s sporting scene remained at a standstill, Bruneians who were based overseas excelled in their disciplines this year.

In October, Brunei swimmer Nur Haziq Ismail swam his way to three national open records in the men’s 400-metre, 800-metre and 1500-metre freestyle events at the TSA-AIMG swim meet at the Assumption University Suvarnabhumi Campus in Bangkok, Thailand.

The national swimmer is currently on a FINA scholarship based in Thanyapura, Phuket.

Elsewhere in Ireland, national fencer Wardatul Izzah binti Haji Ahmad Ramzuna claimed the silver medal in the women’s sabre event at the Irish Open. The country eased restrictions with the re-opening of indoor and outdoor sport facilities in November, though physical competitions are still put on hold.

Earlier this month, national swimmers Muhammad Isa bin Ahmad and Christian Nikles represented the country in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25-metre) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The pair, accompanied by national coach Wu Na, also finalised their preparations in their training base in Dubai in the build-up to the prestigious world meet.

Muhammad Isa made back-to-back history after setting two new national short course records with times of 1:04.09s in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke and 29.32s in the men’s 50-metre breaststroke.

 

Spain moves to reduce ‘garbage’ temporary contracts

MADRID (AFP) – Spain’s leftist Cabinet approved on Tuesday a landmark labour law reform which aims to reduce the use of temporary contracts and boost job security.

The reform, agreed with unions and employers, reverses business-friendly regulations introduced in 2012 by a previous conservative government during a deep recession that followed the 2008 global financial crisis.

Spain is currently the European Union (EU) nation where the use of temporary contracts is highest, but the reform tightens conditions for their use in the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy. It limits most temporary contracts to a maximum of three months and will allow temporary hiring only under certain circumstances.

Improper use of temporary contracts will be penalised with fines and social security penalties.

The reform also restores collective bargaining with unions as the main channel to negotiate contracts. Under the 2012 reforms, severance pay had been cut and trade union negotiating powers had been limited.

“This is the first agreement in more than four decades that reverses the trend of workers losing rights, bargaining power and wages,” Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz told a news conference after the Cabinet passed the reform.

“There are many women and young people in this country who have not had a contract that was not garbage in their entire lives.”

Changes to Spain’s labour laws are one of the reforms Brussels expected by the end of the year for Madrid to receive EUR140 billion euros (USD158 billion) from the European Commission’s coronavirus recovery programme. The reform must now be approved by Parliament, with a vote expected early in the new year.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialists and its junior coalition partners, hard-left party Podemos, hold only 155 of the 350 seats in Spain’s highly fragmentated Parliament.

To approve the reform the government will have to win the support of several smaller leftist and regional parties, as it did for its 2022 budget.

Critics said the 2012 reform reduced job security but its defenders argue it helped bring down Spain’s unemployment rate from nearly 27 per cent in 2013 to around 16 per cent this year.

Thailand warns of spike in COVID-19 cases after ‘super-spreader’ event

THE STRAITS TIMES – Thai health authorities warned yesterday that residents should brace themselves for a potential jump in coronavirus cases after classifying the country’s first cluster of the Omicron variant as a super-spreader incident.

The Omicron cluster identified in the north-eastern province of Kalasin on December 24 has been linked to a couple who had travelled from Belgium and visited nightlife venues, concerts and markets.

The ensuing cluster has infected hundreds, with cases spreading to 11 other provinces, said senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong, citing how one of the nightlife venues linked to the cluster had been packed and did not have good ventilation.

“During the New Year, if you visit any place and it does not look safe, just don’t go,” Opas told a briefing.

Up to now, Thailand has reported 740 cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, including 251 in people who had come into contact with foreign arrivals, said Opas.

After coronavirus infections peaked in August above 20,000, daily case numbers have fallen to around 2,500 in the past week.

A health worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok. PHOTO: AP

But the Health Ministry’s planning scenario indicated that by March next year, daily infections could hit 30,000, with more than 160 deaths, without a faster roll-out of measures like vaccinations and testing, as well as greater social distancing.

If restrictions were tightened, daily cases could peak at 14,000 next February, with fewer than 60 daily deaths, the scenario showed.

In the first two weeks of January, government employees have been advised that they can work from home, coronavirus task force spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a separate briefing, where he urged the private sector to follow suit.

After detecting the first local Omicron infection last week, Thai authorities reinstated mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals and suspended a “Test & Go” programme that allowed vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine.

New alumni association members welcomed

Azlan Othman

Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) presented appointment letters to Alumni Association of UNISSA 2021/2023 executive members and appreciation certificates for members of the 2018/2021 session during an event recently.

UNISSA Rector cum chief guest Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal presented appointment certificates to 12 executive members, before calling on members to plan, implement and assist in the development of the association so as to enhance its credibility and image.

2019 Alumni Muhammad Dzulhilmi bin Haji Moharefendi has been elected as president of the UNISSA Alumni Association for 2021/2023 session.

The ceremony coincided with the presentation of appreciation certificates to mentors of the UNISSA Alumni Association 2018/2021 executive committee members and certificates to participants of the UNISSA Alumni official logo making competition.

Core officers of UNISSA, Head of Office of Career Development and Industry Networking UNISSA and invited guests of UNISSA Alumni Association also attended.

Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Rector cum chief guest Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal joins others at the event. PHOTO: UNISSA

Prizes for quiz, competition winners

Yusrin Junaidi

The Brunei History Centre recently held a colouring competition and a virtual quiz as part of the Brunei December Festival and Day of Action celebrations.

Head of Library and Learning Muhammad Syahmi bin Halimshah, in his capacity as the chairman of school holiday activities organised by the History Centre, awarded prizes to winners in an event at the History Centre yesterday.

The colouring competition was split into two categories: Category A for children aged seven to 10, and Category B for those aged 11-15. A total of 41 entries were received, and six winners were selected from each category.

The Category ‘A’ winners were Nur Thaqebah ‘Alya binti Osmawadi, Nur Thaqefah ‘Aufa binti Osmawadi, Nurul Ardyana Hanisah binti Roshiman, Audrey Nathania Haerudin and Damia Maisara binti Noor Asima Fadillah.

Category B’s top six were Nur Lailatul Fitriah binti Samali, Nur Afridelia Sahira binti Jofri, Syazanatul Shashellah binti Sahron, Nur Amanina Dania Azyyati binti Mohd Noh and Mohd Alif Haykal bin Samali.

Winners with their prizes. PHOTO: YUSRIN JUNAIDI

Meanwhile, 28 participants battled it out in the virtual quiz on December 22 and 28.

The first series, coordinated by the Publication and Marketing Depatment of the History Centre, saw Mohd Nazirul Mubin bin Haji Ramlee, Nur Hasanah binti Haji Marsidi, Suwardi bin Salman, Siti Nur Wardinah binti Salman, Brad Jaron De Roma Fernandez and Nurul Alwani Damia binti Mohamad Hasrolley emerging as winners.

The second series, organised by the Library and Learning Department, saw Nur Thaqebah ‘Alya, Nur Thaqefah ‘Aufa, Suwardi bin Abdullah Salman, Nurul Mu’izzah Billah binti Muhammad Zulhilmi Mu’izzuddin, Mohammad Zulkifli @ Shahminan bin Awang Herman and Nurul Syasha binti Abdullah picked as winners.

The activities aimed to raise awareness on Brunei’s rich history, aside from instilling a sense of love for the monarch, religion and country.

Dinosaur statue stolen from outside store

Ben Hooper

UPI – An Oklahoma store is pleading for the return of a dinosaur statue stolen from outside the business under cover of night.

The Decopolis store on Route 66 in Tulsa said a man bearing a tool kit was recorded on security cameras outside the store on Sunday night moments before he was seen carrying away the store’s statue of a Deinonychus, a dinosaur from the early Cretaceous Period.

“If anyone in the neighbourhood finds a Deinonychus, let us know,” the store said in a Facebook post.

The business said a police report would be filed.

Shopping for a home security system

Laura Daily

THE WASHINGTON POST – There’s something about the holidays that gets me thinking about home security. Maybe it’s reading on Nextdoor about rampant neighbourhood porch piracy, or maybe it’s a recent stovetop mishap setting off the smoke detector. Even more troubling, maybe it’s the occasional power outage that disconnects me from the security call center, because my home phones, which use Internet, are dead. Am I as protected as I could – and should – be?

In the early 80s, installing a home security system meant drilling holes into window and door frames, screwing in sensors and running wires through walls to a central keypad, all powered by a large battery tucked away in a basement or closet. If you went all in, maybe you had a hard-wired smoke detector, too. That was pretty much the norm for homeowners, including me (my security system dates to 1999), until high-speed Internet, ultrafast wireless and smart home technology became the norm.

Goodbye wires, forgetting to arm your home or fretting if the electricity fails. Hello self-adhesive sensors, high-definition infrared cameras, app-based remote arming and touch-screen panels.

“The past 10 years or so have been amazing for home security,” said Senior Director of Product Development and Engineering Tim Rader at ADT, one of the leading suppliers of home security, with more than six million residential and commercial customers. “The pivot from wired to wireless allowed companies to install sensors in places we couldn’t get to before.

Then, fast-forward to next-gen systems, with smart home technology that can immediately identify if a window has been broken or in what room a fire has started.”

Wireless technology has also paved the way for homeowner-installed systems, said Chief Customer Experience Officer Doug Woodard with SimpliSafe, which launched DIY home security products in 2006.

“People are increasingly comfortable with installing and connecting home technology. Now they have an accessible and affordable way to customise and install their own security system with no long-term contract,” he said.

Whether you’re thinking about installing a new home security system or just want to upgrade your setup, there are some factors to consider. Even the most basic of online searches will return dozens of comprehensive reviews of home security systems, which is a good place to start.

Forensic alarm science and security expert in Tenafly, New Jersey, Jeffrey Zwirn said a properly designed system can save your life, but one size does not fit all. Start by asking yourself some questions. What are you trying to protect and/or guard against? Are you worried about break-ins, fires, carbon monoxide poisoning or a burst pipe flooding your basement? How important is customisation? Do you own or rent your home? Renters or those planning to move in a few years may want the flexibility of a DIY system, so they can take it with them when they move.

If you opt for professional installation, contact multiple companies willing to survey your home in person. “A pro can assess the home and the people who live there,” Zwirn said. You might also want coverage beyond the basics. For instance, if you don’t hear well, you may need multiple loud sirens. Or your home may need smoke detectors inside and outside each sleeping area. “This is one purchase where you may want to leave it to the professionals,” he said.

Zwirn said to beware of products or components that may not be up to national standards and codes. He suggested to get the make and model of everything being installed, then cross-check that each is UL compliant – meaning it is certified by UL, a global safety certification company – by searching for the product at productiq.ulprospector.com/en.

Rader said other initial queries should include: How long has the company been in business? Will the products work together? Who will do the installation: the company or a third-party subcontractor? Zwirn recommended dealing directly with a company instead of with an authorised dealer who may just be an intermediary. Expect to pay between USD1,500 and USD2,500 for a professionally installed system, Zwirn said.

For homes with systems that are more than 15 years old, you may want to consider upgrading. Contact your security provider for a free reassessment. According to Rader, you may only need to replace a few elements. Some wireless sensors can even be integrated into wired systems. The biggest change will probably be getting an upgraded keypad or touch-screen control panel. Although new panels typically use WiFi, they have a built-in battery-powered cellular module (a glorified micro cellphone) and battery backup, which should last at least 24 hours. In the case of a power or Internet outage, your system can still communicate with the security’s monitoring centre.

You may also want to consider add-ons such as temperature sensors, water sensors or glass-break sensors. If nothing else, during the assessment, have the technician test your fire alarm. This is the one component you can’t self-test, and it should be checked annually,
Zwirn said.

Those who want to save money while having flexibility may prefer the DIY option. Systems such as SimpliSafe, Ring, Blue by ADT and Abode Home Security typically offer peel-and-stick window and door sensors. These, plus additional components, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, glass-break detectors, outdoor cameras and sirens, all wirelessly communicate over radio frequencies with a base station that plugs into an electrical outlet.

You can choose the kind of sensors you want and where to place them. Setup is easy using the keypad or a smartphone. An average DIY package costs about USD200 to USD600, with additional costs for more sensors, cameras and monitoring. One consideration when selecting the DIY option is whether you have a smartphone, because some systems require an app for setup and monitoring. If you don’t own a smartphone, you should probably stick with a professionally installed system.

No matter the security system, perhaps the most important factor is the call centre – your emergency lifeline. When an alarm triggers, specialists contact first responders using direct lines of communication, not by using 911. In the past, call centres were secured facilities monitored 24/7, so someone was always there when needed. According to Zwirn, with the coronavirus pandemic, numerous operations allowed employees to work from home, and although many are now restaffed in person, some continue to use remote monitors.

“During an emergency, the alarm company is your partner,” Zwirn said. You don’t want someone working remotely who steps away from the monitor to let the dog out or who loses connection. Whether the security company owns and operates the call center or contracts with a third party, it should give you a guarantee in writing that its call center employees are not working from home. And although some DIY systems allow for self-monitoring, it’s not advisable.

Whether you are starting from scratch or upgrading your system, the bottom line is to know what you are getting. “You don’t want a false sense of security,” Zwirn said. “With an alarm system, you don’t have the luxury of a second chance.”

Djokovic out from ATP Cup in Australia

SYDNEY (AP) — Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Cup in Australia ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, organisers said yesterday.

No reason was given but the top-ranked Serb has declined to comment on his vaccination status in recent months and Australia’s strict regulations require all players, officials and fans to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

ATP Cup organisers disclosed Djokovic’s withdrawal in a roster update that included France replacing Austria in the 16-country event following the withdrawals of Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak. Dusan Lajovic will replace Djokovic for Serbia.

Fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev of Russia also pulled out, as did teammates Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy. The ATP Cup begins Saturday in Sydney.

The Australian Open men’s entry list announced in early December had the 34-year-old Djokovic at number one in what was seen as a further indication that he’ll be playing at Melbourne Park beginning January 17 despite Australia’s tight regulations.

The nine-time Australian Open champion is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

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Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

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