Philippines posted 8,000 coronavirus cases in past week, says Health dep’t

November 21, 2022 | 8:07 pm

THE PHILIPPINES posted 8,004 coronavirus infections in the past week, with a daily average of 1,143 cases, according to health authorities.

The daily average from Nov. 14 to 20 fell by 12% from a week earlier, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin. Of the new cases, two were severe and critical cases.

DoH said it had verified 93 new deaths in the past week, 21 of which occurred from Nov. 7 to 20,

It said 493 of 2,358 intensive care unit (ICU) beds had been used as of Nov. 20, while 4,796 of 20,754 non-ICU beds were occupied. There were 568 severe and critical admissions, it added.

Meanwhile, more than 31 million shots of COVID-19 vaccines worth P15.6 billion were wasted, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

About 24 million doses expired due to a short shelf life while 7 million got wasted because of high temperature, or the vials were opened and not used, she said.

Almost 70% of the 31 million shots were bought by the private sector and local governments.

The coronavirus vaccines had a shelf life of six months.

Coronavirus vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos was also more pronounced in the latter part of the year, Ms. Vergeire said.

As of Nov. 17, about 73.6 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to data from the Health department.

About 21 million have received their first boosters, well below the 50% target earlier set by the government. The goal was lowered to 30% days before its booster campaign ended on Oct. 8.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano earlier said wasted coronavirus vaccines accounted for 12% of 250 million shots bought by the government.

She said vaccine waste in low- and middle-income countries had gone up to 30%, higher than the 10% threshold set by the World Health Organization.

DoH is set to hold a two-day vaccination drive on Dec. 5 to 7 targeting children aged 5 to 11 years.

Also on Monday, the US said it would donate $5 million (P287 million) to boost the Philippines’ vaccination drive against the coronavirus

The vaccine rollout would be under the Global VAX initiative, the White House said in a statement.

The US government said it would also invest $8 million to strengthen its global health security partnership with the Philippines to “help prevent avoidable outbreaks, detect health threats early and respond rapidly and effectively when outbreaks occur.

“The $8-million potential investment is subject to availability of funds.

The US has given the Philippines more than $46 million in COVID response assistance. Washington has also donated 33.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines in partnership under the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access or COVAX, which promote equal vaccine access.

In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set up a new office in the Philippines.

“These efforts reflect the United States’ prioritization of the US-Philippine health partnership under the global health Security agenda,” the White House said. — KATA

DFA to review Chinese ‘forceful’ retrieval of floating debris from PH Coast Guard

November 21, 2022 | 8:07 pm

Chinese-ship-04132021-PHLCOASTGUARD-FILE-PHOTO — PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD FILE PHOTO

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it would review a reported incident in the South China Sea wherein a Chinese vessel “forcefully retrieved” debris being towed by the Philippine Coast Guard.

“The DFA is aware of the incident and awaits the detailed reports from maritime law enforcement agencies. A thorough review will be conducted,” DFA Spokesperson Maria Theresita C. Daza told reporters via WhatsApp.

The Philippine military’s Western Command reported on Sunday morning that an unidentified floating object was spotted drifting west off Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa Island.

The island is part of the resource-rich Spratly Islands. It is about 12 nautical miles from China’s air and naval base at Subi Reef.

China took hold of Subi, which the Philippines calls Zamora, in 1988.

A Philippine Coast Guard vessel was towing the debris to the Naval Station Emilio Liwanag (NSEL) when a Chinese Coast Guard boat with bow number 5203 blocked its course twice.

The Chinese crew then deployed a rigid hull inflatable boat, cut the towing line attached to the NSEL rubber boat, and forcefully took the floating object

The Philippine Coast Guard then decided to return to Thitu Island.

“No member of the NSEL Team was injured during this incident,” Western Command Vice Admiral Alberto B. Carlos said in a statement. “This information has been reported to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for appropriate action.”

The Chinese Embassy did not respond to a Viber message seeking comment before the print deadline.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard collected a “white painted, curve shaped, and more or less six-meter-long metallic debris” retrieved by fishermen in waters off Occidental Mindoro, located northeast of Spratly Islands.

The Philippine Space Agency, in a statement on Nov. 9, said the debris is “highly likely” to be part of a “rocket fairing of Long March 5B” launched in late October. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

3 UN officials to visit PHL next year to assist with rights issues — Justice chief

November 21, 2022 | 8:06 pm

AT LEAST three officials of the United Nations (U.N.) will visit the Philippines early next year to look into and deliver programs that will help address the country’s human rights issues, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Monday.

At a livestreamed press briefing, Mr. Remulla said UN special rapporteurs on the sexual exploitation of children, freedom of expression, and extrajudicial killings will hold capacity-building programs in the country.

“We want to build the capacities of our experts, especially our forensics pathologists,” he said. “The Philippines does not deny problems, it is open to suggestions.”

Mr. Remulla noted that the government invited Morris Tidball-Binz, UN Special Rapporteur on extralegal killings and a forensics expert, to help train more forensic pathologists in the country.

Forensics pathologist Raquel B. del Rosario-Fortun earlier told One News that the country needs more toxicology laboratories as well as a forensic science institute to enhance criminal investigations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Remulla reiterated that the government has rejected UN recommendations on the legalization of abortion, divorce, and same-sex marriage as human rights in the Philippines is a “community-based” belief.

“We said, culturally, our values may conflict with many values they want to impose on us… We are not ready for that,” he told the same briefing.

Last week, the Philippines accepted 200 recommendations from member-states of the UN Human Rights Council, including extralegal killings and protecting journalists during its periodic review in Geneva last week.

The Justice earlier said the Philippines would respond to the remaining 89 recommendations “in due course.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

US to donate $5M to boost PHL COVID-19 vaccination campaign

November 21, 2022 | 8:06 pm

THE UNITED States will donate $5 million or about P286 million to boost the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign in the Philippines, according to the White House.

“[The US] intends to invest $5 million to further accelerate vaccine rollout through the Global VAX initiative,” it said in a statement.

The US government said it will also invest $8 million to strengthen its global health security partnership with the Philippines to “help prevent avoidable outbreaks, detect health threats early, and respond rapidly and effectively when outbreaks occur.”

The $8-million potential investment is subject to availability of funds.

The US has given the Philippines more than $46 million in COVID response assistance. Washington has also donated 33.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines in partnership with COVAX, a global platform for equal vaccine access.

“In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have established a new country office in the Philippines. These efforts reflect the United States’ prioritization of US-Philippines health partnership under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA),” the White House added.

The Philippines has wasted more than 31 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, amounting to P15.6 billion, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Monday.

Almost 70% of the wasted vaccines were procured by the private sector and local governments, she said.

Short life spans and temperature excursions were among the causes of vaccine wastage, Ms. Vergeire noted. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

DMW warns vs scammers in processing claims of unpaid OFWs in Saudi Arabia

November 21, 2022 | 8:06 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued a warning on Monday against individuals pretending to be middlemen in the compensation process for unpaid salaries of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia.

DMW Secretary Maria Susan V. Ople said they have also received reports of people impersonating department officers who contacted OFWs online about the promised settlement.

“We urge the public and media to report these individuals to us since we do not tolerate this disinformation to hijack the good news from our president’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia,” she said at a livestreamed press briefing.

Ms. Ople assured the claimants that there are no middlemen in the compensation process as the DMW and Foreign Affairs department are directly consulting with officials from Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Nov. 18, Ms. Ople said the Saudi government promised President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. that it would settle the unpaid salaries of Filipino workers in their country.

The promise was made during bilateral talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan told the same briefing the agency was set to meet with officials from Saudi Arabia late Monday to discuss the process of distributing the unpaid salaries.

“We will assure a smooth and transparent consultative process between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia,” Ms. Ople said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Sulu launches 380-member civilian sea patrol team as it reinforces gains vs Abu Sayyaf

November 21, 2022 | 8:05 pm

Sulu-BantayDagat-WESTMINCOM — SULU’s civilian auxiliary troop will help security forces patrol and protect the province’s coastal waters using 95 motorized boats. — WESTMINCOM

A SEA patrol team composed of 380 civilian armed forces has been launched in Sulu, known to have been a hotbed of the local terrorist and bandit group Abu Sayyaf, as the island province boosts security and economic development.

Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, in a statement on Monday from the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said the new Task Force Bantay Dagat will be working with security forces in protecting territorial waters, monitoring illegal fishing activities, and providing help in rescue operations.

The team, launched on Saturday at the province’s Maubuh Beach with their 95 motorized patrol boats, will undergo training to be facilitated by the military’s 11^th Infantry Division.

“The Western Mindanao Command witnessed the unity and cooperation shown by the local government officials and the citizens of Sulu to address the peace and development issues and concerns in the province,” WestMinCom commander Arturo G. Rojas said in the statement.

The Philippine Marine officer said the Bantay Dagat will reinforce efforts in curbing lawless activities.

“The establishment of the Task Force Bantay Dagat is a very good initiative to sustain peace in Sulu,” Mr. Rojas said.

Earlier this month, the military reported the surrender of over 150 members of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu, in addition to about 800 who had previously turned themselves in to authorities.

“We have engaged in offensive attacks as we are pursuing them for the crimes they had committed in the past. Several of their high-ranking officials have arrest warrants and we are implementing the law to bring them to justice,” Ignatius N. Patrimonio, commander of the 11^th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu, said in a briefing on Nov. 8.

The Bangsamoro regional government, which covers Sulu, announced in June the construction of a reformation center in the province to help former Abu Sayyaf members reintegrate and become productive citizens.

The P25-million facility will provide skills training as well as ideological belief reorientation, according to Bangsamoro Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo.

“We believe that the long-term solution is providing them a new (or correct) perspective of the interpretation of their religious belief,” Mr. Sinarimbo said during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony.

The Abu Sayyaf group had been notorious for abducting locals and foreigners for extortion, and in more recent years carried out terrorist activities as it allied with the extremist Islamic State. — MSJ

DoT says 3.8M visitors logged by northern Luzon regions

November 21, 2022 | 8:05 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) said a total of 3.8 million domestic and foreign visitors have been logged this year in the north Luzon area as of Nov. 18, signaling the continuing revival of the local tourism industry.

Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina G. Frasco, speaking during the recent North Luzon Travel Fair held in Clark, Pampanga, said she is confident that continued collaboration among industry players and promotional campaigns would sustain recovery.

“And while recently, we have reopened our country to international travel, I can see that we are well on our way to recovery because you are well on our way to the 9.6 million arrivals that you had in this side of the country prior to the pandemic,” Ms. Frasco said.

“The Philippines is ready to receive tourists and investments all over the world and North Luzon is ready to lead the way to light up the Northern Philippines,” she added.

The northern Luzon area covers four regions: Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera.

Ms. Frasco also reiterated that tourism is one of the government’s top priorities, adding that no region will be left behind in the development of the industry.

Several regions in central and southern Philippines also participated in the travel fair, which included business-to-consumer and business-to-business activities.

“Not only will we limit ourselves to the promotions of our sites, but most importantly we will ensure the institutional development of the entire industry by introducing changes by addressing gaps and most importantly by listening to the needs of the stakeholders,” Ms. Frasco said.

The DoT earlier reported that 2.025 million visitors have arrived in the Philippines as of Nov. 14, exceeding its 1.7 million tourist arrivals projection for 2022. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

House assures support for police academy modernization

November 21, 2022 | 8:05 pm

THE HOUSE leadership on Monday vowed to support the modernization of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and additional benefits for cadets.

“In an increasingly globalized, highly advanced society, there is a need to modernize the PNPA and educate our police corps with new methods, so they may have the competency and expertise to deal with criminals employing new schemes and technology in the commission of a crime,” House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement.

Mr. Romualdez said measures have been filed in the House of Representatives that seek to grant the academy autonomy to build infrastructure, procure appropriate equipment, and reorganize the school administration.

Several bills including House Bills 3507, 4103 and 4657 seek to strengthen the police academy by converting it into an autonomous institution in accordance with the Constitution.

Under the proposed measures, PNPA cadets will be classified as state scholars and the period of studies will be counted as part of government service.

“These measures are almost unanimous in their desire to establish a PNPA corps of professors and instructors, and to create a system of faculty, placement, promotion and development,” he said.

Mr. Romualdez also said Congress is allocating funds for the improvement of the Philippine National Police’s law enforcement capabilities, noting that the government is making sure crime is reduced through police presence and operations. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo

Hard-hit Beijing districts close schools as China COVID cases rise

November 21, 2022 | 6:26 pm

BEIJING — Students in schools across several Beijing districts buckled down for online classes on Monday after officials called for residents in some of its hardest-hit areas to stay home, as COVID cases in China’s capital and nationally ticked higher.

China is fighting numerous COVID-19 flare ups, from Zhengzhou in central Henan province to Chongqing in the southwest and for Sunday reported 26,824 new local cases, nearing the country’s pandemic peak in April. It also recorded two deaths in Beijing, up from one on Saturday, which was China’s first since late May.

Guangzhou, a southern city of nearly 19 million people that is battling the largest of China’s recent outbreaks, ordered a five-day lockdown for its Baiyun district, its most populous. It also suspended dine-in services and shut night clubs and theaters in Tianhe, home to the city’s main business district.

The latest wave is testing China’s resolve to stick to adjustments it has made to its zero-COVID policy, which calls for cities to be more targeted in their clampdown measures and steer away from catch-all lockdowns and testing that have strangled the economy and frustrated residents.

Asian share markets and oil prices slipped on Monday as investors fretted about the economic fallout from the intensifying COVID situation in China, with the risk aversion benefiting bonds and the dollar.

Several Chinese cities began cutting routine community COVID-19 testing last week, including the northern city of Shijiazhuang, which became the subject of fervent speculation that it could be a test bed for policy relaxation. This sparked worry among some local residents.

But late on Sunday, Shijiazhuang announced it would conduct mass testing in six of its eight districts over the next five days after new daily local cases hit 641. It also encouraged residents to shop online and ordered some schools to suspend in-person teaching.

“They lasted a week,” said one popular comment on Weibo on Shijiazhuang’s curbs, which was among the most viewed topics on the social media platform.

The capital Beijing reported 962 new infections, up from 621 a day earlier. Its sprawling Chaoyang district, home to 3.5 million people, urged residents to stay home, with school going online. Some schools in Haidian, Dongcheng and Xicheng also halted in-person teaching.

The People’s Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party on Monday published another article reiterating the need to catch infections early but avoid take a “one-size-fits-all” approach, its eighth such piece since China adjusted policy earlier this month.

‘FEELING THE STONES’
China’s recent efforts to make its COVID-19 curbs more targeted have sparked investor hopes of a more significant easing even as China faces its first winter battling the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Many analysts expect such a shift to begin only in March or April, however, with the government arguing that President Xi Jinping’s signature zero-COVID policy saves lives and is necessary to prevent the healthcare system being overwhelmed.

Experts warn that full reopening requires a massive vaccination booster effort and a change in messaging in a country where the disease remains widely feared. Authorities say they plan to build more hospital capacity and fever clinics to screen patients and are formulating a vaccination drive.

Oxford Economics said it only expects and exit from zero-COVID in the second half of 2023, with vaccination rates for the elderly still comparatively low.

“From an epidemiological and political perspective, we do not think the country is ready yet to open up,” it said in a Monday report.

Hao Hong, chief economist at GROW Investment Group, said in a separate note a gradual and managed reopening may already be underway, with rounds of back and forth as China “crosses the river while feeling the stones.”

“Despite the mounting challenges, it is not a question of whether China will reopen, but a question of over how long a period and how best to manage to minimize healthcare costs and potential lives lost,” he said. “We assign a probability of 4/5 to the gradual reopening scenario.” — Reuters

Malaysia’s Muhyiddin, Anwar race to form government as turmoil drags on

November 21, 2022 | 6:24 pm

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s political parties were given until Tuesday to submit prime ministerial candidates, as the royal palace extended a deadline for opposition rivals Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim to find more support after an election delivered a hung parliament.

The inconclusive result prolongs political instability in the Southeast Asian nation, which has had three prime ministers in as many years, and risks delays to policy decisions needed to galvanize an economic recovery.

Investors reacted negatively to the outcome of Saturday’s vote as the ringgit currency weakened and the Kuala Lumpur stock market slid over 1 percent in early trade on Monday.

Having initially asked political coalitions to submit the names of candidates for prime minister by 2 p.m. on Monday, the palace extended the deadline by a day.

King Al-Sultan Abdullah, plays a largely ceremonial role but has the power to appoint as prime minister a lawmaker he believes will command a majority.

Mr. Anwar’s multi-ethnic coalition won the greatest number of seats in the Saturday election with 82. Mr. Muhyiddin’s conservative Malay Muslim alliance took 73 seats, but then secured support from two smaller political blocs on Sunday, giving it control of 101 — still short of the 112 needed for a majority.

Mr. Muhyiddin’s bloc includes an Islamist party that has called for sharia law and that secured the largest number of seats of any single party.

The incumbent Barisan Nasional alliance, led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party — which had long been the dominant force in Malaysia — suffered its worst ever electoral performance, but could still end up playing a crucial role by throwing its support behind either of the leading candidates.

Media reported that Mr. Anwar’s coalition was meeting with Barisan on Monday morning, though Mr. Muhyiddin had been a junior partner in the outgoing government and had been a senior UMNO leader until a few years ago.

The decline of the graft-tainted UMNO party, which had led every government since independence from British colonial rule in 1957 up until its first defeat in the 2018 election, has ushered in a new uncertain phase in Malaysia.

Massive corruption, mostly related to the looting of billions of dollars from sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (IMDB), for which former prime minister Najib Razak was jailed earlier this year, seriously wounded UMNO’s image.

But up until recently, the country has a record of being one of the most politically stable in a region that has suffered its share of military coups, violent political upheavals, and insurgencies.

It would be a remarkable turnaround if UMNO were to back Mr. Anwar, who launched an anti-corruption reform movement when he acrimoniously left the party in the late-1990s. During his time in opposition, Mr. Anwar spent a decade in jail on convictions for sodomy and corruption, which he says were politically motivated.

His multi-ethnic coalition opposed the affirmative action program for ethnic Malays that was championed by UMNO. — Reuters

UK comedian shreds 10,000 pounds over David Beckham Qatar World Cup deal

November 21, 2022 | 6:23 pm

LONDON — A British comedian shredded 10,000 pounds ($11,900) in bank notes after giving the former England soccer captain David Beckham an ultimatum to pull out of his role as an ambassador for Qatar at the World Cup.

Mr. Beckham, who played for Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, is working for Qatar, which has been criticized for its treatment of foreign workers, LGBTQ+ rights and restrictive social laws.

Joe Lycett said last week he would donate the money to charity if Beckham agreed to cut ties with the World Cup host or he would shred the money before the tournament began.

On Sunday, Mr. Lycett dressed in a rainbow dress, posted footage of him putting two stacks of 5-pound notes into a woodchipper.

Mr. Lycett earlier said Mr. Beckham was a “a gay icon” who was working for Qatar, which is “one of the worst places in the world to be gay”.

Mr. Beckham has not publicly acknowledged or responded to the ultimatum.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and the country’s organizers of the World Cup have warned visitors against public displays of affection but say that everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or background, is welcome at the event.

The country has also denied accusations of abusing of workers and bribery to win the hosting rights. — Reuters

World Cup kicks off with Qatar ruler’s call to put aside divisions

November 21, 2022 | 5:53 pm

2022 FIFA World Cup-opening ceremony — A GENERAL VIEW during an opening ceremony before a group stage match during the 2022 FIFA World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium. — DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN-USA TODAY SPORTS

Valencia double helps Ecuador cruise past host Qatar

AL KHOR, Qatar — Qatar’s ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights.

The Muslim Gulf nation is staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament and has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination. Governing body FIFA hopes the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch.

Organizers have also denied allegations of bribery to win the rights to host soccer’s biggest event.

“People of all races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the crowd in a tent-shaped stadium.

“How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time,” the emir said in the ceremony, during which he kissed the hand of his father who abdicated in 2013.

Mr. Tamim arrived at Al Bayt stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and sat alongside other Arab leaders. A show unfolded on the pitch, featuring camels, American actor Morgan Freeman, Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS and Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi. Fireworks lit the sky.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among leaders at the stadium, where Ecuador later scored a 2-0 victory over Qatar, the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening game.

SOFT POWER
The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar’s soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain that ended in 2021.

The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay.

There were signs of other thaws as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, whose countries’ ties have been strained, shook hands in Qatar.

And for the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA.

Qatar hopes the event will cement it as a global player, display strength to rivals in the region and placate Qatari frustrations at mounting criticism of the host nation.

As they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal, Denmark’s and Germany’s team captains will wear One Love armbands. Organizers say all are welcome, while warning against public affection.

FAN FESTIVAL CHAOS
Throngs of fans are already in Doha, but the main rush will be later this week. Nevertheless, chaotic scenes broke out inside and outside a fan festival an hour before kick off after organizers allowed too many supporters to flood the precinct.

Crowd control will be key, with some 1.2 million fans expected to visit the city — more than a third of Qatar’s population, which itself is made up mostly of foreign workers who vastly outnumber Qatari citizens.

Qatari Ahmed Al-Kuwari, 69, opted to stay home with his family to watch the opening and match. “Qatar has been a workshop and bees’ nest,” he told Reuters of the construction frenzy, considering intense criticism of Qatar as “hypocrisy”.

Alcohol is banned at stadiums but is available at the FIFA Fan Festival and other venues. Argentina fan Julio Cesar said he expected a great atmosphere, saying “we’ll drink before the match”.

For Daniel Oordt from the Netherlands, however, there was a feeling of “constant pressure” not to say or do the wrong thing, adding, “it’s not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup”.

Outside the city’s edges, workers can watch matches in a sports arena in an industrial zone, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event. No alcohol was being served.

“Of course I didn’t buy a ticket. They’re expensive and I should use that money for other things — like sending it back home to my family,” Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters.

ENNER VALENCIA — NAOKI MORITA/AFLO SPORT

AL KHOR, Qatar — Ecuador eased past World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with first-half goals from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a one-sided affair that was the first opening game defeat for a host nation in the tournament’s history.

Ecuador’s all-time top scorer, nicknamed “Superman” at home, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken 31^st-minute header to give the South Americans a commanding first-half lead as the home side froze with the enormity of the occasion.

“Maybe the responsibility and the nerves got the better of us,” Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez said.

It could have been even worse for the Qataris in front of a 67,372 crowd at the tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium where they were kicking off the Middle East’s first World Cup.

Valencia had a third minute header disallowed for a marginal offside after shaky goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb flapped at the ball. — Reuters