Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-09-11 i Sunday Independent

CyberATTACKS are on the rise globally, with seriously negative implications for countries’ strategic, national, economic and social well-being. A cyberattack can be defined as an unauthorised attempt – successful or not – to infiltrate a computer or computer system for malicious purposes. Reasons for such attacks vary from financial gain to espionage. The authoritative international Cybercrime Magazine expects global cybercrime costs to grow by 15% a year over the next five years, reaching $10.5 trillion a year by 2025, reporting: “This represents the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history, risks the incentives for innovation and investment, is exponentially larger than the damage inflicted from natural disasters in a year, and will be more profitable than the global trade of all major illegal drugs combined.” A 2022 report by Surfshark,…

The prospect of making the transition from a “side-hustler” to the owner of a fully-fledged business may have serious appeal, but it’s important for entrepreneurs to resist the temptation to buy into romanticised notions of what it means to own your own business before you leap into the formal SME territory. However, if you feel that you are ready to take your business to the next level, these are some of the factors you need to consider when determining if your business is ready to take that next step with you: Is your business financially viable? Cash flow has consistently been placed as the biggest concern for South African SME owners over a number of years, according to Business Partners’ annual SME Index. Striking the balance between your personal financial…

Comic Con Africa is set to take place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec from September 22 - 25, with an amazing line-up of African artists who will showcase their talent at the continent’s largest multigenre pop- culture and gaming festival. Ahead of the festival, IOL Entertainment spoke with Nommo Award-nominated comic book artist and writer Bill Masuku, the Zimbabwe-born creator of Razor-Man, Welcome to Dead World and Captain South Africa. Masuku has been attending Comic Con Africa since 2018 after getting a “life-changing email” inviting him to the festival. It took him over an hour just to settle down and respond to the email as he was overwhelmed with emotion and admitted to “imposter syndrome” creeping in, at the time. He is glad that he responded “yes” as…

Fall (Cinemas nationwide) Best friends Becky and Hunter are adrenaline junkies. Becky suffers a great loss when her husband, Dan, falls to his death while rock-climbing. Fifty-one weeks after Dan's death, Becky is a depressed alcoholic who has distanced herself from her father, James, because he suggested that Dan was not as good a guy as Becky had made him out to be. In desperation to support Becky, Hunter invites her to climb a 2000-foot (610m) TV tower in the desert. Though Becky is hesitant, she changes her mind and decides not to live in fear. Shrines Of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (R225 on loot.co.za) 1926, and in a country recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus of a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of…

“Ding dong! The Witch is dead.” That’s the mood I’m picking up from social media following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. People around the world, especially those in former colonies of England are quick to point out the negative impact colonialism has had on their countries, and the lasting legacy of imperialism. The counter-argument is one should be respectful of the dead, and not revel in the pain the family must be feeling. Sure, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother has died. Sure, a nation has lost its royal figurehead. But let’s be real here: Ol’ Lizzy presided over the Commonwealth at a time when world wars were raging, independence movements were being put down by her government, “rebel” leaders were killed, revolutionists raped, tortured and murdered,…

AS THE country scrambles to avoid being grey-listed by international financial institutions, the robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm involving millions of undeclared foreign cash in his private residence might push the country over the edge. This is the view of Econometrix chief economist Azar Jammine, who was reacting to the Mutual Evaluation Report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog has raised concerns about the country’s significant deficiencies in anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) systems, which could result in a grey-listing. “The whole Phala Phala story is a classic manifestation of the concern that FATF and international investors have about our ability to control money laundering,” said Jammine. Ramaphosa is under pressure to provide information such as:…

THE ANC in the three provinces it governs in which its provincial chairperson is not the premier has assured the incumbents that their jobs are safe – for now. Gauteng’s David Makhura, North West’s Bushy Maape and Mpumalanga’s Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane are not the governing party’s chairpersons in their respective provinces and speculation has been mounting that their new political bosses could remove them. This came after the outcomes of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial conference effecting a change in leadership in government. Sihle Zikalala vacated his seat as premier after losing out at the conference. He was replaced by Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Makhura’s fate will be decided after consultations with ANC branches, including a cadres’ assembly to consolidate the province’s approach towards its national conference in December. ANC Gauteng provincial chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi,…

A pan-African initiative by the Power Learn Project (PLP) aims to train one million people by 2027 so that Africans can take charge of their destiny, create jobs and make the continent rock as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). “Our goal is to drive transformative change for the youth of Africa through technology skill equipping. The programme will offer online junior software development training made up of curated programming languages, as well as soft skills in employability, entrepreneurship, and mental well-being,” said Mumbi Ndung’u, chief of growth and operations for the project. The #1millionDevs4Africa programme was launched at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg. The Power Learn Project is spearheading the initiative in partnership with Adanian Labs SA and the Start-up Business Campus. South Africa is the second…

Something is rotten in the state of South Africa. It is a play on Shakespeare’s observation in Hamlet that something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Amid the gloom, the news of another feather in the cap for the University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng should have served as hope for every rural and urban school child in South Africa. Phakeng, who schooled at Marapyane village and then Ikageng Primary in Ga-Rankuwa, is the inaugural winner of the Africa Education Medal for her work in education. The inspiring story of the township pupil conquering Africa looks set to crown a major education week which began on Thursday when Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande delivered a speech at the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in…

COSATU has blamed the country’s ailing economy and fierce rivalry among unions for the continued decline in its membership ahead of its national congress. Still the largest trade union federation in South Africa with just over 1.5 million members, Cosatu will hold its four-day 14th national congress in Johannesburg later this month. Membership numbers have declined by almost 60 000 since 2018 and Cosatu has shed over 416 000 members between 2015 and this year. Cosatu insists that membership of the labour movement has been greatly affected by retrenchments due to the economic downturn, greedy employers putting profit before people, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown. Figures provided by Cosatu reveal that the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and the National Union of Mineworkers…

AmaZulu were humbled at home by Chippa United after falling to a 2-1 defeat at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban yesterday. Usuthu gave away a penalty inside 10 minutes, which was converted by Roscoe Pietersen. The spot-kick came after Ramahlwe Mphahlele handled the ball in the box. A few minutes later, Riaan Hanamub looked to draw Usuthu level, but his shot was saved by Lloyd Kazapua. Things could have got worse for AmaZulu in the 20th minute, when Andile Mbenyane floated a ball towards Siphelele Luthuli, but goalie Veli Mothwa intercepted the pass. AmaZulu’s best chance to launch a comeback came after 30 minutes. A mistake from Chilli Boys defender Abdi Banda saw Augustine Kwem win the ball in a promising position. Pietersen subsequently cleared the follow-up shot by…

WHILE their attacking game was one of the best last season, the Bulls are so concerned about their defence that director of rugby Jake White is going to coach that department in this year’s United Rugby Championship. The Bulls lost 18-13 to the Stormers in last season’s final, but perhaps part of the reason for them running out of steam a bit at the Cape Town Stadium were their difficulties leading up to the title decider. They were on a play-off footing for much of the second half of the campaign after losing five out of their first six matches, which were all away from home – mainly due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in South Africa. That pressure took its toll as White had to play his virtual full-strength…

GAME of Thrones has a serious fandom community, some of who have fancied visiting the iconic locations from the film. With the release of House of the Dragon the passion for Game of Thrones has reignited as Google searches for “Game of Thrones filming locations” have increased by 153% globally in the last 12 months. Here is a list of film locations from Game of Thrones and the number of pictures these hidden hot spots have accumulated on Instagram thus far. This data was put together by online entertainment experts from Irish casino Slotbox.com. Itzurun Beach, Zumaia, Spain Itzurun Beach in Zumaia, also known as Dragonstone Beach, season 7, to Game of Thrones fans, seems to be the most popular. The beach, which is open to the public, has 8…

Cupertino: The Apple “Far Out” event, one of the most anticipated tech events of the year, finally happened on Wednesday, bringing new gadgets galore including iPhones, watches and AirPods. For those who missed it, here’s the round-up. The event started with Apple CEO Tim Cook welcoming everyone from the Steve Jobs Theater at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. Following that, he went straight for the product launches of the night. Apple Watch Series 8 Apple has said that the Watch Series 8 can track changes in body temperature and has a crash detection feature, which the company says will function only when the user is driving. It will come in four colours: midnight, starlight, silver and product red along with three stainless steel finishes: silver, gold,and graphite. Apple…

ON SEPTEMBER 6, the Broad Pool of Ideas (BPI) held an awards ceremony. It was the first physical congregation of members after almost two-and-half years of Covid-19. This after the pandemic created conditions for virtual congregations via information technology. However, in-person events are much more invigorating, enabling the flow of ideas non-stop. I chatted to business guru Dr Hlengani Mathebula, chairperson of the awards proceedings, about the wealth and range of exchange on the BPI platform. In this library of exchange is the remaking of South Africa. The BPI bestowed a spectrum of awards on women who had done things which in their own mind and opinion might have not been big, but in the eyes of observers have been life-changing to humanity. Those nominated were people who have…

Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the weather is warming. Spring is here, and there are plenty of delightful spring days ahead. What better way to celebrate than with a delicious meal and a bottle of wine? From fresh produce to crisp wine, the spring season opens the way for some of our favourite indulgences. Lighter, fruitier, aromatic, and fresher wines seem to be the ones people will be enjoying this season and can be paired well with the dishes of the season. It is worth noting that the most important rule to food and wine pairings is that there are no rules. Experimentation reigns supreme when it comes to deciding what to drink with your favourite fare, as it can help you determine what you enjoy – and…

The sex scenes between the duke and Daphne on Netflix’s regency romance Bridgerton, and those between Daemon Targaryen and Mysaria on HBO’s House of the Dragon, have one thing in common: they were filmed with the use of an intimacy coordinator. The job is new to TV and film sets and started gaining prominence as the entertainment industry made changes to prioritise safety and mental health on set following the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017. A sex scene on a show such as Bridgerton might look spontaneous, but a lot of work goes into it making it as seamless and safe as possible. The intimacy coordinator talks to the director and actors beforehand about what they’re comfortable with simulating – or willing to simulate. They will work with…

We awoke to distressing news yesterday that power utility Eskom experienced additional breakdowns overnight and, as a result, was unable to “replenish the emergency generation reserves, which has worsened the current generation capacity constraints”. And as has come to be expected from such a communiqué, load shedding was immediately implemented, starting from 10am to the early hours of Monday at 5am. This Stage 4, rather extreme, was effected to avert a possible calamity in the coming weeks or, in Eskom’s stated terms, “to contain load shedding to lower stages next week”. All things being the same, this heads-up communication could have been welcome. This is textbook PR, highly laudable. The same PR machine has promised to return to the communities for an update tomorrow. But it is the unsaid that…

Eskom’s clampdown on townships that owe it billions in debt has been criticised as many areas get plunged into darkness. The townships of Soweto have borne the brunt of the power utility’s recovery plan, with many areas experiencing darkness and power cuts outside the load-shedding schedules. The University of Johannesburg's (UJ) Centre for Sociological Research and Practice (CSRP) has released a research report exploring Soweto’s experiences, responses, and solutions to the energy crisis in South Africa. Entitled “Energy racism: The electricity crisis in South Africa”, the CSRP research team used an ethnographic, door-to-door research methodology to answer questions about how ordinary township folk experienced the electricity crisis, and what impact it had on their lives. The research results contained in the 83-page report are captured in the…

THE activity in some libraries across Gauteng paints a bleak picture of the province’s reading culture. They are an essential resource for communities to stay informed and provide services. They are buildings regularly used by students, pensioners, working professionals, organisations and residents. They are enriched centres of creation, learning and community. In the City of Johannesburg’s commemoration of South Africa Library Week from March 14 to 20, the municipality said in a press release that they would repurpose libraries across the city to reflect the needed services by community members. Access to online resources, electronic devices and spaces for educational activities were needs highlighted by South Africans. A 2020 study by Director Mamphokhu Khuluvhe for the Department of Higher Education and Training found that the South African adult illiteracy rate…

THE ANC wants far-reaching changes to the country’s immigration laws as the government it leads is embroiled in a legal battle with several NGOs over its plans to terminate the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) programme. Among the proposals the ANC hopes will be adopted at its national conference in December is an end to the practice of foreign nationals marrying South Africans to obtain citizenship by naturalisation. “Owing to a well-documented practice of marriages of convenience and the abuse of women, the acquisition of citizenship through marriage should be done away with in the new policy framework,” its draft resolution says. In addition, if a South African citizen marries a foreign national, their rights and consequences thereof should be governed by laws such as the Marriages Act and the Children…

THE “streets” have a lot of cultures and can play an instrumental role in moulding people carving a niche for themselves and propelling them to greater heights. Despite the vast potential streets possess, those who regard themselves as hustlers have been berated by society and are sometimes called lazy. But that is because society has preconceived notions of what is a career and how it should be. However, one can make a living from the streets and significantly impact the world. To help many understand the opportunities that exist and inspire others, youth-centric radio station YFM launched its audio and visual mini-series On The Road to zoom in on street culture and its role in various industries. The six-episode series taking place in the streets of Jozi, presented by a…

Despite the DA Youth calling for the scrapping of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and allegations levelled against its CEO, the agency has had some positive impacts. Since its inception in 2009, the NYDA has provided an opportunity for many young people to gain access to business development support to enable them to establish their businesses. The agency’s mandate covers youth development issues at national, provincial and local levels. Since its inception in 2009, many young entrepreneurs are living their dreams. In 2011, Vonani Mathebula established Brains Empowerment, a company that aims to bridge the gap between developed and underdeveloped communities through information, and guidance in the form of mentorship and the print media. She said: “There was a high rate of teen pregnancies, drug abuse and unemployment in…

Hats off to a long-serving monarch…

Cape Town City were off to a flying start in their CAF (Confederation of African Football) Champions League campaign after running out 2-0 winners over AS Otôho (Congo) at the Athlone Stadium yesterday afternoon. The match was a preliminary first round, first leg encounter. City will play the return leg next week at the Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat in Brazzaville, Congo. City, without head coach Eric Tinkler on the bench, started on a promising note at Athlone Stadium, their second match there in five days. Last Tuesday, City produced a below-par performance against Sekhukhune United in a goalless draw. Assistant coach Diogo Peral took charge, while Tinkler was seated in the grandstand. Yesterday’s team for the club’s CAF Champions League debut showed three changes with Craig Martin, Marc van Heerden and…

ORLANDO PIRATES (2) (2) TS GALAXY (0) (0) Once upon a time, Zakhele Lepasa was “a rocket”, shooting TS Galaxy to the stars of the Nedbank Cup crown as they beat giants Kaizer Chiefs in the final. But in his best game of the season so far, the Orlando Pirates striker scored a brace that sank Galaxy and sent Pirates to the top of the log table. The result must have pleased Jose Riveiro after his side battled up front in recent games. This win also lifted Pirates’ morale after they lost 1-0 to Maritzburg United, while it dimmed Galaxy’s bright start as they lost back-to-back. Galaxy had lost their last…

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took pole for the Italian Grand Prix after topping the times in qualifying at Monza yesterday. Leclerc finished 0.145 seconds ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen after posting his fastest lap on his final shot around the Temple of Speed to claim his eighth pole of the season. “Very happy with the lap, very happy with the performance, it’s been great weekend … I really hope we can finish just like in 2019,” said Leclerc, who won here three years ago. The man from Monaco is in prime position to record his first win since Austria in early July. This was Ferrari's 22nd pole at Monza on the famous Italian constructor’s 75th anniversary, marked by a dash of yellow on the team’s livery this weekend. Reigning champion…

In STELLENBOSCH there’s a township, Kayamandi, as you enter the famous town from the N1. You will never see pictures of this township when you look at pictures of the town that show beautiful vineyards and white Dutch-style architecture buildings. It also never features in the tech story of the town that has birthed some of the greatest technologies ever to come out of South Africa and the African continent. Very few, if any, young people from this township attend the University of Stellenbosch, which is a walking distance from where they live. This is about to change as the township is gearing itself to become the first Smart Township in the world. From October 2022, the township will embark on a process of addressing its business, health, education, transport,…

Gross domestic product (GDP) statistics show the construction sector has not yet recovered from Covid-19 and is still 24 percent smaller than before the pandemic, but there are signs of a slow improvement, according to Optimum Investments economic adviser Dr Roelof Botha. He said indications of a “very slow, but very sure” improvement in construction activity included an improvement in the value of new buildings completed in the second quarter, and improving private sector capital formation, with particularly the hospitality sector likely to show some improvement in this regard, in the short term. He said large infrastructure investment by the state was “chugging along” at a low level, something he expected would improve as the national government had started taking steps to improve service delivery capacity at major municipalities. He…

According to a study, there is a direct link between increased artificial sweetener consumption and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. The study was published in The BMJ. The findings indicate that these food additives, consumed daily by millions of people and present in thousands of foods and drinks, should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar, in line with the current position of several health agencies. Artificial sweeteners are widely used as no- or low-calorie alternatives to sugar. They represent a multi- million dollar market and are found in thousands of products worldwide, particularly ultra-processed foods such as artificially sweetened drinks, some snacks, and low calorie ready meals. Several studies have linked the consumption of artificial sweeteners or artificially sweetened…

Don’t be fooled by the deceptively virtuous start to Vanessa Gazy’s thriller, Echoes, it is a mindf**k of note that devolves into a soap-esque drama. The 7-part series opens with Gina McCleary (Michelle Monaghan) frantically trying to reach her identical twin sister Leni (also played by Monaghan). The deafening silence becomes unbearable with her calls to Leni as well as Jack (Leni’s husband), played by Matt Bomer, unanswered. When she finally hears back, it is from Jack, who informs her that Leni is missing. There is a strong suspicion that she has been abducted by horse thieves. Shaken by the news Gina grabs the next flight to Mt.Echo – the hometown where they grew up with their father Victor (Michael O’Neill) and older sister Claudia (Ali Stroker), who has been…

Guys really have it easy when it comes to clothes. I’m sure there are many men reading this right now who are shaking their heads and rolling their eyes at what I’ve just said. But, come on now guys, you have to admit that because your options are fewer, it does kind of make it a bit easier to choose what to wear and especially what to shop for. While ladies have everything from skirts, dresses and shorts to all sorts of tops and shirts, guys only have pants, shorts, T-shirts and shirts. However, there are still men who will get to a clothing store and not know what to buy, or simply buy all the wrong items. If you’re wanting to put together a great wardrobe, you need to…

When the longest-reigning monarch breathed her last breath on Thursday, the world stood still in mourning. Queen Elizabeth ll didn’t only leave a great legacy. She has given unforgettable fashion moments that are distinctly hers. From pastels to florals, bold and brights to evening elegance, she will be remembered for her style. A few of her unforgettable looks. Her Coronation Probably her biggest fashion moment and, of course, the greatest milestone in her life was that of her coronation day. The designer responsible for her exquisite gown was Norman Hartnell. Made of silk, the dress reportedly required the expertise of no less than six embroiderers. The design of the dress featured floral emblems of both the UK and other states within the Commonwealth of Nations. This included the English…

It is in the interests of global peace that a fair and balanced agreement is reached with Iran and the world community regarding nuclear non-proliferation. It is purely an academic issue about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and intentions. Other non-nuclear countries could assemble nuclear weapons within two years if they choose to do so. They are South Korea, Egypt, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Australia. According to reliable American and British intelligence reports, Iran has not yet decided to acquire nuclear weapons. The irony of this whole nuclear saga is that Israel is a fully-fledged nuclear military power, and has a doctrine that envisages nuclear first and second, strike capabilities from land, air and sea. It has an impregnable second strike capability based on its advanced German-built submarines. It is a…

When former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser and his legal team met the public protector investigators on Thursday, they were shocked to discover that Gcaleka hasn’t done much after taking over. The case’s chief investigator, Xolani Dlamini, didn’t even have Fraser’s complete affidavit which he submitted to the Rosebank police station in June when he opened a criminal case against Ramaphosa and his head of security, General Wally Rhoode. The Sunday Independent can today reveal that when the four public protector investigators including Dlamini met with Fraser on Thursday, they didn’t even have a set of questions to ask him. Fraser’s lawyer, Eric Mabuza, said yesterday: “We went to assist them after they had sent us a letter requesting a meeting with Arthur. But it was clear during the…

BEING a father is a special process but it comes with challenges that manifest themselves in most men’s relationships. One then needs to come up with ways to navigate that, something that is not always easy. This was the topic of discussion in the Amatyma movement’s conversation between the founder and businessman Thato ‘TT’ Mbha and actor Cedric Fourie. The pair spoke about how Fourie navigated his journey to fatherhood. He said he believed it was important for parents to be present in their children’s lives. “My belief is very simple – presence is key. “The less present you are in my life, the more distant you become – emotionally, mentally, and physically. “We have to spend time with our children because you want them to see the beauty…

South Africa is experiencing a water crisis that’s reaching its breaking point. It is brought on by the dire effects of climate change and the national government’s mismanagement. The impending consequences and reactive measures of the ANC-led administration have led to thousands of South Africans struggling for access to human rights. The government’s predicted reactionary response is a telltale sign of their ill-preparedness to deal with a matter that was much forewarned. The apartheid government was warned on two occasions (in 1970 and 1990, respectively) that the country’s water infrastructure would severely deteriorate. Vanishing Waters, a book published in 1998 by UCT zoologists Bryan Davies and Jenny Day, predicted that the country would rapidly run out of water due to the demand of a growing population outstripping the supply. This,…

A maths boffin and A-student, a boy from a village near Brits in the North West harboured dreams of becoming a veterinarian. But a chance encounter with a Good Samaritan turned his fortunes around and he’s never been happier! Science’s loss became art’s gain. Michael Mfisa, 38, says he never imagined even in his wildest dreams that he’d ever wield a brush to dabble in art. Today he’s gaining quite a reputation as a growing – and brilliant – Ndebele painter. He’s so good at it that often when he’s done, he stands back to admire his work and thinks there was a third hand helping him on a project. “I started in 2003,” Mfisa says, “somewhat by accident. Even at school, I was not interested in art. I met…

FOOTBALL, or soccer, is regarded as the most popular sport around the world, with an estimated four billion fans. There are many reasons for this, which include the actual easy-to-understand laws of the game and the simple nature of the sport – you could roll up a few plastic bags into a ball to play, and it’s just about kicking it around and into the opponents’ net. That has resulted in most global companies investing vast sums of money in the sport. Contrast that to rugby, which is a complex game where the laws are difficult to understand, and which comes from an amateur era ruled by committee. There are only 20 teams in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, compared to 32 for this year’s Fifa World Cup, which will…

As the South African and broader African hospitality market continues to recover post-Covid-19, investment and development activity is set to ramp up as the sector evolves post its biggest ever crisis. Industry expert Wayne Troughton, the CEO of HTI Consulting, says there are various themes and trends that are hot right now, “especially as the industry rebounds and leading players reposition themselves from a product, planning, funding and development pipeline perspective”. Among the most notable trends for him is how the operational and investment landscape has shifted post the pandemic, how markets and products are adapting to these changes, and what the recovery and forward bookings look like for the coming season. “HTI Consulting is conducting research with tour operators, travel agents and hotel operators. The results of these surveys…

Ernestas Tyminas and Darina Karpitskaya met in Beijing via Couchsurfing, a travel app which links solo travellers together. Tyminas, a marketing manager at a Colorado newspaper at the time, had taken a break from work to backpack through Asia, and Karpitskaya, a flight attendant at the time, had been grounded in Beijing for two days because of mechanical problems with her return flight. After spending a day together, the pair planned to meet again in Asia a month later. The couple’s second date was a “crazy one-month adventure” to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Tyminas said that he decided in the Philippines that he wasn’t going back to his old life and after returning to Colorado, he quit his job, sold his belongings and moved to Europe. Karpitskaya revealed…