Features

PARIS — From Yuri Gagarin to the first man on the Moon and the robot that landed on a comet, we look at 10 key dates in space exploration.

1957: Sputnik

Moscow launches the first satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957, ushering in the Cold War tussle for the cosmos.

The beach ball-sized aluminium sphere takes 98 minutes to orbit the Earth and sends back the first message from space, simple “beep-beep-beep” radio signals.

A month later Sputnik 2 carries the first living being to fully orbit the Earth, a dog named Laika, who dies after a few hours.

1961: Gagarin, first man

On April 12, 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space, completing a single, 108-minute orbit aboard Vostok-1.

Twenty-three days later Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space when he makes a 15-minute trip. 

On June 16, 1963 cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

It takes a full 40 years for the old Cold War rivals to be joined in space by a third country, when China sends up Yang Liwei onboard Earth orbiter Shenzhou 5.

1969: Walking on the Moon

US astronaut Neil Armstrong is the first man to step onto the Moon on July 21, 1969, Buzz Aldrin joining him around 20 minutes later.

Between 1969 and 1972, 10 astronauts — all American — walked on the Moon as part of NASA’s Apollo programme.

1971: Space station

The Soviet Union launches the first orbital space station, Salyut 1, on April 19, 1971.

Another Russian space station, Mir, follows. It is brought back to Earth in 2001 after 15 years in orbit.

Construction of the still-operating International Space Station (ISS) starts in 1998. The biggest man-made structure in space, it orbits Earth 16 times a day.

1976: Mars

US spacecraft Viking 1 becomes the first to successfully land on Mars on July 20, 1976 and sends back images of the Red Planet.

The robot Opportunity explored Mars between 2004 and 2018, with NASA’s Curiosity Rover still active there.

About 40 missions are sent to Mars, more than half of which fail.

1981: Space shuttle

The US space shuttle Columbia, the first reusable manned spacecraft, makes its first voyage on April 12, 1981.

It is followed by Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, which serve the ISS until the shuttle programme winds up in 2011.

The US has since depended on Russia to transport its astronauts to the ISS.

Two US shuttles were destroyed in flight, with the loss of 14 astronauts: Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.

1990: Hubble

Hubble is the first space telescope to be placed into orbit on April 25, 1990, 547 kilometres above the Earth.

It revolutionises astronomy, allowing scientists to observe the planets and distant stars and galaxies unimpeded.

2001: Tourism

On April 28, 2001 Italian American multi-millionaire Dennis Tito, 60, becomes the world’s first space tourist. He pays Russia $20 million to stay on the ISS for eight days.

In all, seven space tourists have taken Russian flights to the ISS.

The US company SpaceX is planning to launch its first space tourism mission at the end of 2021.

2008: SpaceX

SpaceX becomes the first private firm to successfully launch a rocket into the Earth’s orbit in September 2008.

Its Dragon cargo ship becomes the first commercial spacecraft to visit the ISS in May 2012, on a mission for NASA.

Since then, SpaceX has conquered the satellite launch market with its Falcon 9.

After flights in 2020, SpaceX has planned two other manned launches for NASA to the ISS in 2021, including one which will lift off from Florida on April 22 with French, American and Japanese astronauts.

2014: Comet landing

The European Space Agency places a small robot, Philae, on a comet more than 500 million kilometres from Earth on November 12, 2014. The first comet lander is part of a mission aiming to explore the origins of the Solar System.

The manmade object that is furthest away from the Earth is the unmanned US spaceship Voyager 1, launched in 1977 and still travelling.

In August 2012 it made it into interstellar space, about 13 billion miles from Earth.

2021: Moon to Mars

NASA sees the Moon as a pit stop for missions to Mars. It aims to send the first woman to the Moon by 2024.

Perseverance became the fifth rover to set wheels down on Mars on February 18, laying the groundwork for NASA’s first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet.

By Marlowe Hood
Agence France-Presse

PARIS — COVID-19 may damage sperm quality and reduce fertility in men, according to a new study based on experimental evidence.

The viral disease — which has swept the globe, claiming nearly 2.2 million lives — can cause increased sperm cell death, inflammation and so-called oxidative stress, researchers recently reported in the journal Reproduction. 

“These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by COVID-19,” the authors concluded.

Experts commenting on the research, however, said the capacity of the virus to compromise fertility in men remains unproven.

COVID-19 causes respiratory illness, especially in older people and those with underlying medical problems.

The world has seen more than 100 million confirmed cases since the disease emerged in central China at the end of 2019.

Transmitted through respiratory droplets, the disease attacks the lungs, kidneys, intestines and heart. 

It can also infect male reproductive organs, impairing sperm cell development and disrupting reproductive hormones, earlier studies have shown. The same receptors the virus uses to access lung tissue are also found in the testicles.

But the effects of the virus on the ability of men to reproduce remained unclear.

Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki and Bakhtyar Tartibian from Justus-Liebig-University in Germany searched for biological markers that might indicate a negative impact on fertility. 

Analysis done at 10-day intervals for 60 days in 84 men with COVID-19 was compared to data for 105 healthy men. 

In the COVID-19 patients, sperm cells showed a significant increase in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance that can damage DNA and proteins in the body.

‘Strong note of caution’

“These effects on sperm cells are associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility potential,” said Maleki in a statement. 

“Although these effects tended to improve over time, they remained significantly and abnormally higher in the COVID-19 patients.”

The more severe the disease, the bigger the changes, he added.

The male reproductive system “should be considered a vulnerable route of COVID-19 infection and declared a high-risk organ by the World Health Organisation”, Maleki said.

Experts not involved in the study welcomed the research, but cautioned that more was needed before drawing hard and fast conclusions.

“Men should not be unduly alarmed,” noted Alison Campbell, director of embryology of the CARE Fertility Group in Britain. 

“There is currently no definitive evidence of long-lasting damage caused by COVID-19, to sperm or male reproductive potential,” she told the London-based Science Media Centre.

The results could have been skewed, she added, by the fact that men recovering from COVID were treated with corticosteroids and antiviral therapies, while the control group was not.

Allan Pacey, a specialist in male reproductive medicine at the University of Sheffield, raised a “strong note of caution” on how the data was interpreted.

Some of the indicators of decreased sperm quality could be due to factors besides COVID-19, he said, noting that more men in the COVID-19 group were overweight.

The simple fact that only one group was very sick — no matter the cause — also needed to be taken into account, he added.

“We already know that a febrile illness can impact on sperm production, regardless of what caused it.”

A standout in the mid-size mainstream front-drive saloon segment, the Honda Accord is a more rewarding drive than many ostensible competitors, but meanwhile has the class, comfort and kudos to punch above its category as viable premium mid-size segment alternative. 

Normally priced to reflect this position, the Accord is among the dearer end of the larger mid-size segment, yet, is a veritable bargain next to the premium category. However, with a mildly refreshed version recently announced and soon to arrive, the outgoing — now significantly discounted — 2020 Accord has never looked better.

A thoroughly classy car that well walks a fine line between the sporty and elegant in its aesthetic, the Accord cuts a contemporarily assertive figure that is tempered and comparatively inostentatious. Next to some unnecessarily aggressive competitors, it can even be seen as somewhat conservative but in a good way, in that its design promises just the right level of athletic ability that its drive-line and chassis can deliver. Without fake side ducts and vents nor overly-ridged or complex surfacing, the Accord is gracefully sporting in its proportions and stance.

Eager delivery

The Accord’s most assertive design aspect is its jutting shark-nose with the near obligatorily wide and full-length grille and slim squinting headlights, recessed deep beneath a full-width decorative chrome bar. Sculpted surfacing includes a scalloped clamshell bonnet, and gently arcing waistline crease. Meanwhile, the Accord’s rakish fastback-like roofline and its rising and prominent sill line are set on converging trajectories and a tapered, somewhat sportily low bootlid with integrated spoiler. Athletic yet elegant, the Accord’s stance seems both dignified, yet eager to pounce. Its rear meanwhile features integrated dual exhaust ports and boomerang-like lights.

Powered by a small turbocharged direct injection 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing and lift, the driven Accord EX-L packs a potent 192BHP at 5,500rpm and muscular 192lb/ft torque throughout an accessibly broad 1,600-5,000rpm band. Weighing in at a comparatively moderate 1,546kg and front-driven through silky smooth continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Accord’s turbo spools up quickly and delivers good response from standstill. With a small tug of the steering wheel and brief tyre chirp at full throttle, the Accord pounces through 0-100km/h in an estimated 8-seconds or less.

Punchy and nuanced

Smooth and muscular with generous mid-range pull and a distant guttural snarl at higher revs, the Accord’s compact but punchy engine delivers its best at relatively low revs, but is nevertheless eager and perky to its rev limit, with good throttle control and lift-off precision. Its CVT is meanwhile seamless through ratios and while there are no simulated fixed ratios to manually select, it is, however, responsive to throttle input and allows the engine to rev freely, and helps return modest 7.2l/100km fuel efficiency. Observed consumption during demanding test drive conditions was meanwhile unexpectedly low.

Confidently strident on steep inclines, the Accord’s CVT meanwhile features “Sport” and “Low” positions for better responsiveness and to keep revs simmering high at lower speeds. One of the sportiest front-drive saloons in its class, the Accord is at home through fast sweeping bends, hill climbs and through brisk snaking country lanes. Turning tidily into corners with its quick and light 2.3-turn steering, the Accord changes direction eagerly and delivers good textured feel and feedback for road and vehicle position, for its segment, and allows for confident flick of the wrist driving.

Sporty yet supple

Grippy and committed through fast sweepers, snaking lanes and even hairpin hill climbs, the Accord is nothing short of a joy to drive across sprawling countryside roads. However, it is at its best being pushed close to but not quite at its dynamic limits to avoid the expected understeer when being driven too hard and tight into lower traction corners. That said, and despite its front-drive architecture’s front weight bias, the accord can also be nudged out at the rear before stability controls quickly step in.

A confident, stable and reassuring ride at speed, the Accord is a natural long distance cruiser and is also comfortable, manoeuvrable and responsive in town. Through imperfect and textured lanes, the Accord comes into its own, and fluently and forgivingly absorbs and dispatches lumps and bumps, and remains composed and controlled in vertical and lateral movement. Settled and buttoned down over crests and dips, the Accord’s ride quality is nuanced and comfortable, and only feels slightly firm over the most jagged imperfections, owing to moderately low profile 225/50R17 tyres.

Comfort and convenience

Supple and settled with good cabin refinement, the Accord delivers a relaxed yet alert and focused driving environment. Seated in comfortable, supportive and well-adjustable seats, the Accord’s driving position and suspension vertical control work to keep the driver feeling in control and at the heart of proceedings. Controls are meanwhile user-friendly and within easy reach, and include clear digital instrumentation, driver-oriented gear lever and chunky contoured steering wheel. Cabin room is generous in front, while rear seating provides good legroom, and decent headroom, even with the low-slung roofline and optional sunroof.

Classy, uncomplicated and pleasantly conservative inside, the Accord’s cabin offers better visibility than many cars with similarly rakish rooflines, while materials used are of good quality textures, fit and finish, and include dark wood dash panels. Well thought out, it features useful storage spaces and good 473-litre luggage volume with decent bootlid aperture, flat floor and under-floor spare tyre. Driven in higher spec EX-L guise, the Accord features numerous mod cons and safety features, including reversing camera and sensors, multiple airbags, memory seats and more, currently at JD33,900 for 2020 models.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 1.5-litre, transverse turbocharged 4-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 73 x 89.5mm

Compression ratio: 10.3:1

Valve-train: 16-valve, direct injection, DOHC, variable valve timing and lift control

Redline: 6,500rpm

Gearbox: Continually variable transmission (CVT), front-wheel-drive

Transmission ratios: 0.405-2.645

Reverse/final drive: 1.8-2.645/3.238

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 192 (195) [143] @5,500rpm

Specific power: 128.2BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 124.2BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 192 (260) @1,600-5,000rpm

Specific torque: 173.5Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight: 168.2Nm/tonne

0-100km/h: 8-seconds (estimate)

Fuel consumption, urban/extra-urban/combined: 8.1-/6.5-/7.2-litres/100km

Fuel capacity: 56-litres

Length: 4,889mm

Width: 1,862mm

Height: 1,460mm

Wheelbase: 2,830mm

Track, F/R: 1,600/1,610mm

Headroom, F/R: 1,062/1,053mm

Legroom, F/R: 1,198/1,144mm

Shoulder room, F/R: 1,651/1,600mm

Hip room, F/R: 1,566/1,557mm

Luggage volume: 473-litres

Kerb weight: 1,546kg

Weight distribution, F/R: 59.7 per cent/40.3 per cent

Steering: Electric-assisted rack & pinion

Steering ratio: 11.77:1

Lock-to-lock: 2.3-turns

Turning Circle: 11.6-metres

Suspension, F/R: MacPherson struts/multi-link

Brakes, F/R: 292mm, ventilated discs/282mm, discs

Tyres: 225/50R17

Price, on-the-road: JD33,900 (third party insurance)

By Dr Tareq Rasheed
International consultant and trainer

We are born twice: The birth of our body along with our ID (Identification), showing our names, place and date of birth and nationality. However, our real birth is our second birth: The birth of the mind, heart and soul. It’s when we can answer the most important question in our lives — who am I?

We must have a valid secondary ID to embark on our journey. ID here is short for Identity. Ask yourself: 

1. What are my skills and competencies?
2. What are my passions and my desires in life?
3. What are the values that control my choices, decisions and attitudes?

Your skills

1. Technical skills depend on the field of study and speciality (skills of doctors are different from engineers, different from accounting and so on…)
2. Interpersonal skills include communication, problem-solving, decision making, public speaking, social skills, planning, organising, just to name a few
3. Language and digital skills require mastering more than one language (your native language and English, for example) or mastering technology literacy

Your values

Values are reflected in our decisions and in our attitudes. They are gained from our parents, teachers, society and culture and influence the choices we make. Once we follow our passion and values and use our skills and competencies, our life journey can become enjoyable and fruitful. 

Your compass

Each one of us has a specific calling in our lives, but very few of us follow it and we often get lost along the way. A compass can help us set sail towards a more fulfilling life. 

The following questions will help you set your compass:

• Where do you see yourself two years from now? 
• Where do you want to be seven to ten years from now? 
• What do you want to achieve in life?

Setting objectives and goals help clarify our direction. Start with short-term objectives, heading towards intermediate objectives, then move on towards your biggest goals.

Your priorities

So you’ve determined your ID and you are moving in the right direction. It’s time now to get your priorities in order. There is no time to waste! Set your schedule and ensure that you are spending your time in a way that accurately reflects your priorities in the following areas: 

• Personal level: Schedule a time for self-development, rest and reenergising
• Family level: Invest in your relationships, making time for family
• Organisational level: We spend about 40 per cent of our time working, so spend it in a job that ignites your passion for work; otherwise you may experience boredom, stress and even depression
• Community level: Schedule time for your friends and for serving your community
• Spiritual level: Prayer and meditation enrich us and give us the energy to move forward

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

GENEVA — The pandemic has rolled back years of progress towards equality between men and women, according to a report released on Wednesday showing the crisis had added decades to the trajectory towards closing the gender gap.

A range of studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, who have lost jobs at a higher rate than men, and had to take on much more of the extra childcare burden when schools closed.

The effects will be felt in the long-term, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), which in its annual Global Gender Gap Report found that the goalposts for gender parity appeared to be moving further away.

The organisation, which usually gathers the global elite in the plush Swiss ski resort of Davos each year, had found in its previous report, published in December 2019 right before the pandemic hit, that gender parity across a range of areas would be reached within 99.5 years.

But this year’s report shows the world is not on track to close the gender gap for another 135.6 years.

“Another generation of women will have to wait for gender parity,” the WEF said in a statement.

The Geneva-based organisation’s annual report tracks disparities between the sexes in 156 countries across four areas: Education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

Workplace equality 

in 267 years

On the plus side, women appear to be gradually closing the gender gap in areas such as health and education.

But inequality in the workplace — which has long appeared to be the stickiest area to fix — is still not expected to be erased for another 267.6 years.

And the pandemic has not helped.

The WEF pointed to a study by the UN’s International Labour Organisation showing that women were more likely to lose their jobs in the crisis, in part because they are disproportionately represented in sectors directly disrupted by lockdowns.

Other surveys have shown that women were carrying a greater share of the burden of increased housework and childcare during lockdowns, contributing to higher stress and lower productivity levels.

Women were also being hired back at a slower rate than men as workplaces opened up again, according to LinkedIn data referenced in the report.

“The pandemic has fundamentally impacted gender equality in both the workplace and the home, rolling back years of progress,” WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi said in the statement.

“If we want a dynamic future economy, it is vital for women to be represented in the jobs of tomorrow,” she said, stressing that “this is the moment to embed gender parity by design into the recovery”.

Political gender 

gap growing

It was in the political sphere that the march towards gender parity did the biggest about-face, with several large-population countries seeing the political gender gap widen, the WEF study found.

Women still hold just over a quarter of parliamentary seats worldwide, and only 22.6 per cent of ministerial positions.

On its current trajectory, the political gender gap is not expected to close completely for another 145.5 years, the report found.

That marks a 50 per cent hike from the estimated 95 years in the 2020 report, WEF pointed out.

Progress across the categories varies greatly in different countries and regions.

The report pointed out that while Western European countries could close their overall gender gap in 52.1 years, countries in the Middle East and North Africa will take nearly 142.4 years to do so.

Overall, the Nordic countries once again dominated the top of the table: The gap between men and women was narrowest in Iceland, for the 12th year running, followed by Finland and Norway. 

New Zealand took fourth place, ahead of Sweden.

WASHINGTON — Facebook said Wednesday it was revamping its main user feeds to give people more control over what they see on the leading social network, with less reliance on algorithms.

The change enables users to control and prioritise on what Facebook calls its "News Feed," or the main element seen when people log onto Facebook.

This will allow people to see more from their friends and contacts, and enable users to turn off the Facebook algorithm entirely and see posts in chronological order if they choose.

The move comes with Facebook facing heightened scrutiny for its role in promoting harmful content and misinformation, including from its algorithms.

The revamp makes it possible for users to switch between an algorithmically ranked feed and one sorted chronologically with the newest posts first.

"The goal of News Feed is to connect you to what matters most to you: the people in your life, interesting content and the world around you,¨ Facebook said in a blog post.

Other changes being introduced give users more control over who can comment on a specific public post and an expansion of Facebook´s "Why am I seeing this?" to better understand its ranking algorithm.

In a separate post, Facebook vice president Nick Clegg defended the company's use of algorithms, which have faced criticism as being opaque and driving polarisation.

Clegg said algorithms are largely driven by the user.

"The personalised 'world' of your News Feed is shaped heavily by your choices and actions," he wrote.

"This is the magic of social media, the thing that differentiates it from older forms of media. There is no editor dictating the front page headline millions will read on Facebook. Instead, there are billions of front pages, each personalised to our individual tastes and preferences."

PARIS — Hydrogen could potentially power trains, planes, trucks and factories in the future, helping the world rid itself of harmful emissions.

Here is a look at where the industry stands in various sectors:

Cars and trucks

Hydrogen fuel cell electric cars are already on the road. 

Toyota launched the Mirai sedan, the world’s first mass-market hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, in late 2014 while Hyundai unveiled its Nexo SUV in 2018.

The starting retail prices are high for the average consumer, however, at around $50,000 in the United States and higher in Europe.

Other hurdles are a lack of recharging stations and the need for large reservoirs that eat up seating space.

Several automakers and equipment manufacturers have nonetheless unveiled substantial investment plans to improve the vehicles and develop race cars as well.

A likely place to start is with freight transport, where hydrogen could replace diesel fuel.

Vehicles can be refilled quickly, they have substantial autonomy, weight is not a problem and they are allowed in urban centres that might otherwise be off-limits to heavy trucks.

Hyundai has already rolled out prototypes, and GM, Traton (Volkswagen) and Toyota are accelerating the development of their own models.

US start-up Nikola created a short-lived buzz with its promise of a hydrogen-fuelled truck before acknowledging it still had a long way to go.

Several companies propose buses that run on hydrogen fuel cells, but the sector is still at the experimental stage.

Train prototypes

Hydrogen-fuelled trains are tipped as a good alternative to diesel for trains that cannot run on electricity.

They will need a dedicated refuelling network however.

French manufacturer Alstom has been testing such a train in Germany since late 2018, and is ready to build rolling stock.

SNCF and four French regions are expected to sign a contract for the trains this week, with a goal of putting a prototype on the rails in 2023, followed by pilot programmes in 2024-25.

Airplanes: 2035

The air transport sector is betting on hydrogen to cut 2005 pollution emission levels in half by 2050.

Two main paths are being explored at present, the first being directly as a fuel for jet engines, which will mean overcoming serious technical obstacles and modifying the design of aircraft.

Even at -253ºC, hydrogen takes up four times as much space as kerosene, which is what planes use at present.

A second possibility is to combine hydrogen with carbon dioxide to produce a synthetic fuel that can be used by itself or with kerosene without major engine modifications.

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has made hydrogen-fuelled planes a strategic priority, and is targeting 2035 as the date for at least one of three concepts to come to fruition.

German aerospatial research group DLR and Boeing are interested in the hybrid fuel concept, but the sector does not have the luxury of putting all its eggs in one basket, notes Sheila Remes, head of sustainable development at the US planemaker.

Heavy industry

Heavy industry also has climate targets to meet by 2050, and hydrogen appears to have an edge in the cement, chemical and steel sectors.

According to the Hydrogen Economy outlook published by BloombergNEF, a financial information company, so-called green hydrogen produced from water and sustainable electricity could cost between $0.80 and $1.60 per kilo by 2050.

That would make it competitive with natural gas in most countries.

Hydrogen is already widely used in the process of making fertiliser.

French industrial gas group Air Liquide estimates that between 2030 and 2040, more than half its hydrogen sales will be to the industrial sector, with another 40 per cent going to transportation and 10 per cent used for “diverse activities”.

Steel giant ArcelorMittal, which aims to curb global emissions by 30 per cent in less than 10 years, has launched a project with Air Liquide at a plant in Dunkirk, northern France, that is already an experimental leader in Europe.

The northern German cities of Bremen and Hamburg also have plans to test hydrogen in the steel-making process.

In La Mede, southern France, energy companies Total and Engie are working on a solar-powered bio-refinery that is projected to produce 5 tonnes of green hydrogen a day to be used to make agrofuels. 

Air Liquide has other energy projects under development in Normandy and Canada.

PARIS — First it was snakes, and then the endangered pangolin before Asian ferret badgers were put in the dock.

Scientists have been scrutinising a Noah’s Ark of animals to find out whether — and how — the coronavirus was transmitted from bats to humans, with the prime suspect changing from one study to another.

Cats, dogs, badgers, lions and tigers have also been in the spotlight — not to mention minks, which have been culled in the millions.

After AFP published findings of a report by experts convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday, here is a recap of the suspects.

Snakes

Scientists were quick to accuse the bat of being the origin from the time the virus emerged in China in late 2019.

A study sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in January 2020 found that COVID-19 was closely related to a strain that exists in bats, which would be the “native host”.

Bats are hosts for many other strains of coronavirus.

But the scientists say that COVID-19 must have passed through another yet-to-be-identified species known as an “intermediate host”.

A second study published shortly after in the Journal of Medical Virology fingered snakes as the possible culprit.

The report was immediately brushed aside by other experts who said the guilty party was probably a mammal, as was the case with SARS, which came from the civet, a small nocturnal animal prized in China for its meat.

The pangolin

Researchers at the South China Agricultural University said in February 2020 the endangered pangolin, a mammal whose scales are used in Chinese medicine, may be the “missing link” between bats and humans.

This anteater was one of the wild animals sold at the Huanan market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, to which most of the first known cases of COVID-19 were linked. 

But whether the pangolin is the culprit is not known at this stage.

Cats and dogs vulnerable

A pet dog was quarantined in Hong Kong later that same month after it tested “weak positive” to the virus when its owner was infected.

Cases were then reported in cats.

Ferrets and hamsters have also tested positive, along with tigers and lions in captivity.

Scientists have stressed that domestic animals are vulnerable to the virus but cannot infect humans.

Millions of minks culled

Suspicion has also fallen on mink, which are bred for their valuable fur.

In June, the WHO said that Dutch workers apparently infected with the coronavirus by minks could be the first known cases of animal-to-human transmission.

Cases of COVID in mink farms were then detected in several other European Union countries including Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Sweden, as well as in the United States.

In July tens of thousands of minks were culled in The Netherlands and a month later hundreds of thousands more followed when the government brought forward a total ban on the industry to the end of the year.

Denmark — which had three times more mink than people — ordered all of the country’s 15 to 17 million minks to be culled in November.

Copenhagen warned that the mutation via the mink, dubbed “Cluster 5”, could threaten the effectiveness of any future vaccine.

Missing link

A mission of international WHO experts who visited Wuhan had no shortage of suspects, from rabbits to ferret badgers to raccoons and civets. 

Their long-awaited report obtained by AFP Monday said it was “likely to very likely” that the virus jumped from bats to humans via an intermediate host, but they were not able to say what that missing link might be.

In fact it was also “possible to likely” that the virus jumped directly from bats, they added.

The fifth incarnation and latest successor to the car formerly known as the Optima, Kia’s popular mid-size saloon now adopts the model line’s Korean market K5 moniker. A sportily assertive design since its third generation, the latest K5, however, dials up the aesthetic aggression several notches.

Riding on a longer, lower and wider new platform and decidedly more upscale inside, the new K5 is available globally with a several drive-train options delivering up to 286BHP, but it is the K5 Hybrid version that will prove most popular on Jordanian roads.

Moody makeover

Introduced for the 2021 model year, the new K5 Hybrid may be familiar in driving dynamic and power-train, but less so in its design direction, which is overtly dramatic even in standard non-GT guise. Inspired by Kia’s much praised Stinger sports fastback, the K5 adopts several design cues including a similarly sporty fastback-style profile, with rakishly low roofline seamlessly trailing to a short, high-set rear deck. That said, the K5 is however a saloon with a traditional boot, like its Hyundai Sonata cousin and unlike its Stinger sister and Kia halo model’s lift-back. 

Unapologetically sporty in its athletic proportions, hunkered down cabin, narrow glasshouse, and broad and low stance, the K5’s styling meanwhile includes an intricate bumper design, prominent sill-line, sharp creases and aggressive faux elements like front gills and rear vents, diffuser and bumper-integrated ports. With bulgingly muscular and contrasting concave and convex surfacing, the K5’s most palpably predatory element is its sharp-edged shark-nosed grille and moodily slim, heavily browed headlights. Deeply recessed, the K5’s full width grill is echoed by slim full-width rear lights, both of which lend a Dodge-like dramatic disposition.

Muscular combination

Hyper aggressive in design for a middle of the road, eco-oriented family car, the K5 Hybrid may not be a performance saloon, but packs a good punch when both combustion engine and electric motor are operating in unison. Developing 153BHP at 6,000rpm and 140lb/ft 5,000rpm from its naturally-aspirated 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and 51BHP at 1,770-2,000rpm and 151lb/ft at 0-1,770rpm from its parallel electric motor, the K5 Hybrid can call upon a meaningfully effective combined output of 192BHP at 6,000rpm and perhaps up to 270lb/ft as low as 1,770rpm.

Versatile and muscular riding its substantial low- to mid-range torque wave, the K5 Hybrid completes the 0-100km/h benchmark in an estimated 9-seconds and overtakes with authority. Confident on fast inclines for shorter bursts — rather than sustained sportily driven hill climbs — before its batteries are depleted, it loses some of its flexibility when relying on its combustion engine to haul its estimated 1.6-tonnes under such conditions. The K5 Hybrid is comparatively quick recharging its batteries, as it feeds off the combustion engine and reclaims kinetic energy through regenerative braking.

Improved integration

Improved over its predecessor, the K5 Hybrid benefits from what seems slightly longer pure EV driving and has smoother electric-combustion integration. At full throttle lift-off, the electric motor meanwhile seemed quicker winding down, but not as immediate to cut power as a pure combustion engine. Returning frugal quoted 4.7l/100km fuel efficiency, the K5 Hybrid drives its front wheels through a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Smooth shifting between ratios and responsive to single ratio manual input downshifts, it isn’t quite as sophisticated or quick as non-hybrid K5 versions’ 8-speed automatic gearbox. 

A comfortable, quiet and stable highway cruiser or town car, the K5 Hybrid is a natural long distance companion that smoothly irons out most road imperfections, if slightly on the firm side in its primary reaction to particularly jagged lumps and bumps owing to its sportily low profile 215/55R17 tyres. Easy to manoeuvre with its light steering and rear view camera and parking sensors, which make up for its low roofline’s visibility, the K5 Hybrid is meanwhile refined inside with a comfortably adjustable driving position and driver-oriented dash and console.

Comfort and class

Better handling and with better roll control than its predecessor, the K5 Hybrid is best in regular daily driving and when pushed within its comfort zone, rather than at outright dynamic limits. Tuned for smoothly pliant comfort, it delivers good stability and control, but could benefit from slightly firmer vertical compression and rebound control. Tidy turning into corners, its steering is accurate and well-damped, if not especially nuanced for road feel. Meanwhile, grip limits are better communicated with stability control in ‘off’ position, but is slightly over-cautious when fully engaged, with early intervention through hard driven corners.

Classier inside than before, the K5 is sportily elegant with a user-friendly infotainment screen, chunky steering wheel, Jaguar-like rotary gear selector and ridged dashboard. Refinement, fit, finish and materials are also improved with matt wood accents and thick leatherette upholstery, while convenience and safety equipment levels are generous for its segment and include four USB ports, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and panoramic sunroof. Front space is generous and rear space good for most, but the stylishly low roofline exacts a slight headroom penalty for tall passengers. Boot space is well-packaged and spacious, despite under-floor hybrid components.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 2-litre, transverse 4-cylinders, & parallel electric motor

Bore x stroke: 81 x 97mm

Valve-train: DOHC, 16-valve, continuously variable valve timing

Gearbox: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive

Petrol engine power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 153 (156) [114] @6,000 rpm

Electric motor power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 51 (52) [38] @1,770-2,000rpm

Combined power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 192 (195) [143] @6,000rpm

Petrol engine torque, lb/ft (Nm): 140 (190) @5,000rpm

Electric motor torque, lb/ft (Nm): 151 (205) @0-1,770rpm

Combined torque, lb/ft (Nm): 270 (367) @1,770rpm (estimated)

0-100km/h: 9-seconds (estimate)

Fuel consumption, extra-urban: 4.7l-litres/100km

CO2 emissions: 107g/km

Fuel capacity: 60-litres

Length: 4,905mm

Width: 1,860mm

Height: 1,445mm

Wheelbase: 2,850mm

Overhang, F/R: 945/1,110

Track, F/R: 1,623/1,630mm

Minimum ground clearance: 135mm

Aerodynamic drag co-efficiency: 0.27 (estimate)

Headroom, F/R: 975/950mm

Leg room, F/R: 1,171/894mm

Shoulder room, F/R: 1,473/1,425mm

Hip room, F/R: 1,437/1,437mm

Luggage volume: 453-liters

Doors/seats: 4/5

Kerb weight: 1,600kg (estimate)

Steering: Electric-assisted rack and pinion

Lock-to-lock: 2.6-turns

Turning circle: 10.97-metres

Suspension, F/R: MacPherson struts/multilink

Brakes F/R: Ventilated discs/discs, regenerative braking

Tyres: 215/55R17

Price, including licensing and registration: JD29,000

By Chirsteen Haddadin
Certified Money Coach

Money is a common cause of conflict and tension in relationships. Reflecting on your and your spouse’s money beliefs and how they formed is the first step to understanding the mindset behind your financial behaviours, allowing for real shifts and changes in your financial reality. 

A child’s relationship with money

When Fatima was eight years old, her parents took her to the bank for the first time and opened a savings account for her. Her parents were keen on setting a healthy example for the family of financial planning. As a result, Fatima grew up believing that money requires attention and diligence as she watched her parents meet all the family’s needs in an efficient and timely manner while saving for her education and investing in their retirement.

In a different household, Faisal grew up with two hard-working parents living paycheck to paycheck, figuring things out as they moved along with no plan or guidance. His parents often fought and had heated arguments about money. Faisal grew up believing that money is a source of stress and pain and decided early on in life to avoid money topics. He continued a behavioural pattern of spending all his earnings, maxing his credit and dealing with any money problem as it emerged with quick, half-baked solutions that required his minimum time and effort.

A couple’s relationship with money and each other

Years later, Fatima and Faisal met, fell in love and got married. Faisal’s carelessness and sometimes recklessness around money started triggering an obsessive behaviour in Fatima. She started focusing on their money challenges, the aimless spending and the lack of savings and financial clarity. She expected Faisal to step up and lead their family’s financial management, not aware that Faisal was emotionally incapable of leading this transformation. The more Fatima pushed him, the more Faisal withdrew. The wider the gap got between them, the more they drifted apart. 

After hard, honest, emotional and highly empathetic conversations between Fatima and Faisal, they understood how their childhood experiences, memories and perceptions had built their beliefs around money. Fatima’s sense of clarity around money was related to her sense of security and how she expected Faisal to provide that sense of security. Faisal believed that money conversations cause tensions and stress, leading him to avoid money conversations and hence a lack of financial awareness. 

Toward a healthier relationship

Once Fatima and Faisal understood the “why” behind their opposing money attitudes that caused so much misunderstanding in their relationship, they began to shift their money beliefs to better serve them as a couple and as a family.

Fatima accepted the fact that both she and Faisal were responsible for their financial security. Her money conversations with Faisal changed from “I expect you to do this” to “we need to do this” turning herself, her discipline and skill to being part of the solution.

Faisal accepted the fact that money conversations and plans can help you avoid money worries and future stress, and has grown fond of their money conversations where they budget, set goals and targets for themselves and plan for their future.

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine